University of Nairobi

About: University of Nairobi is a education organization based out in Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Health care. The organization has 6702 authors who have published 10777 publications receiving 231294 citations. The organization is also known as: UoN & IAU-020319.

Increased Risk of HIV Acquisition among Kenyan Men with Human Papillomavirus Infection

Abstract: BACKGROUND Few data on the effect of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection on human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) acquisition are available. METHODS HIV-seronegative, sexually active, 18-24-year-old Kenyan men participating in a randomized trial of male circumcision provided exfoliated penile cells from 2 anatomical sites (glans/coronal sulcus and shaft) at baseline. The GP5+/6+ polymerase chain reaction assay ascertained a wide range of HPV DNA types at the baseline visit. The risk of HIV infection was estimated using Kaplan-Meier methods and hazard ratios from proportional hazards models. RESULTS Of 2168 uncircumcised men with baseline HPV data, 1089 (50%) were positive for HPV DNA. The cumulative incidence of HIV infection by 42 months was 5.8% (95% confidence interval [CI], 3.6%-7.9%) among men with HPV-positive glans/coronal sulcus specimens, versus 3.7% [95% CI, 1.8%-5.6%] among men with HPV-negative glans/coronal sulcus specimens (P = .01). Controlling for subsequent circumcision status, baseline herpes simplex virus type 2 serostatus, and sexual and sociodemographic risk factors, the hazard ratio for HIV infection among men with HPV-positive glans/coronal sulcus specimens was 1.8 (95% CI, 1.1-2.9), compared with men with HPV-negative glans/coronal sulcus specimens. CONCLUSION The results suggest an independent increased risk of HIV seroconversion among HPV-positive men. If this finding is confirmed in other studies, HPV prevention could be another tool for HIV prevention.

Risk factors of gastrointestinal nematode parasite infections in small ruminants kept in smallholder mixed farms in Kenya.

Abstract: Helminth infections in small ruminants are serious problems in the developing world, particularly where nutrition and sanitation are poor. This study investigated the burden and risk factors of gastrointestinal nematode parasite infections in sheep and goats kept in smallholder mixed farms in the Kenyan Central Highlands. Three hundred and seven small ruminants were sampled from 66 smallholder mixed farms in agro-ecological zones 1 (humid) and 3 (semi-humid) in the Kenyan Central highlands. The farms were visited once a month for eight months during which a health and production survey questionnaire was administered. Fecal samples were collected at each visit from each animal. Fecal egg counts (FEC) were performed using the modified McMaster technique. Associations between potential risk factors and FEC were assessed using 3-level Poisson models fit in SAS using GLIMMIX macro. Correlations among repeated observations were adjusted for using three different correlation structures. A rise in FEC was observed two months after the onset of rains. Farmer education, age category, de-worming during the preceding month and grazing system were significant predictors of FEC. Additionally, there were significant interactions between grazing system and both de-worming and age category implying that the effect of grazing system is dependent on both de-worming status and age category; and that the effect of de-worming depends on the grazing system. The most important predictors of FEC in the study area were grazing system, de-worming status and education of the farmers. Since several factors were important predictors of FEC, controlling gastrointestinal helminths of small ruminants in these resource-poor smallholder mixed farms requires a sustainable integrated helminth control strategy that includes adoption of zero-grazing and more farmer education probably through extension services. Achieving improved helminth controls in these resource-poor farming systems offers an opportunity to increase small ruminant productivity and hence has a potential of improving the livelihood of the resource-poor farmers.

Review of Ongoing Activities and Challenges to Improve the Care of Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Across Africa and the Implications for the Future

Abstract: Background: There has been an appreciable increase in the number of people in Africa with metabolic syndrome and Type 2 diabetes (T2DM) in recent years as a result of a number of factors. Factors include lifestyle changes, urbanisation, and the growing consumption of processed foods coupled with increasing levels of obesity. Currently there are 19 million adults in Africa with diabetes, mainly T2DM (95%), estimated to grow to 47 million people by 2045 unless controlled. This has a considerable impact on morbidity, mortality and costs in the region. There are a number of issues to address to reduce the impact of T2DM including improving detection rates and current access to services alongside addressing issues of adherence to prescribed medicines. There are also high rates of co-morbidities with infectious diseases such as HIV and tuberculosis in patients in Africa with T2DM that require attention. Objective: Document ongoing activities across Africa to improve the care of patients with T2DM especially around issues of identification, access, and adherence to changing lifestyles and prescribed medicines. In addition, discussing potential ways forward to improve the care of patients with T2DM based on ongoing activities and experiences including addressing key issues associated with co-morbidities with infectious diseases. Our Approach: Contextualise the findings from a wide range of publications including internet based publications of national approaches coupled with input from senior level government, academic and other professionals from across Africa to provide future guidance. Ongoing Activities: A number of African countries are actively instigating programmes to improve the care of patients with T2DM starting with improved diagnosis. This recognises the growing burden of non-communicable diseases across Africa, which has been neglected in the past. Planned activities include programmes to improve detection rates and address key issues with diet and lifestyle changes, alongside improving monitoring of care and activities to enhance adherence to prescribed medicines. In addition, addressing potential complexities involving diabetes patients with infectious disease co-morbidities. It is too early to fully assess the impact of such activities, Conclusion: There are a number of ongoing activities across Africa to improve the management of patients with diabetes including co-morbidities. However, more needs to be done considering the high and growing burden of T2DM in Africa. Ongoing research will help further benefit resource allocation and subsequent care.

The future of the savannah ecosystems: ecological islands or faunal enclaves?

Abstract: ummary Various savannah reserves are examined to determine whether they are likely to lose substantial numbers of large herbivores if they become isolated. The relationship between the number of ungulate species and the size of each reserve is examined and compared to predictions established from existing island biogeographic studies. In the case of the savannah reserves, no significant relationship was found. However, when the data were re-analysed for reserves of similar habitat, significant though low z-values of 0.04 and 0.08 were established. For discrete ecosystems rather than reserves a steeper z-value of 0.14 was found. It is suggested that the z-value for the savannah ecosystems is lower than the typical value of 0.22 for other land mass islands because of the ubiquitous distribution of most large herbivore species and their long history of co-evolution. The significance of island biogeographic theory to the design of nature reserves is limited, at least in the savannahs. Most of the variation in the number of species in areas which can be practically established as reserves can be explained by habitat and landscape diversity. Whether the savannah reserves became faunal islands will be decided by political and economic policies and practices rather than the principles of ecological design. The design of reserves in the past is considered to have been based on sound ecological principles in most cases, even though these were not recognized at the time. Resume Diverses reserves a savane sont examinees afin de determiner si elles sont susceptibles de perdre un nombre important de grands herbivores si elles deviennent isolkes. La relation entre le nombre d'especes d'ongules et la taille de chaque reserve est examinee et comparee aux predictions etablies a partir d'etudes sur des ilots biogeographiques isoles. Dans le cas des reserves e savane, aucun type de relation significative n'a ete trouve. Cependant, lorsque les donnees furent analysees a nouveau pour des reserves a habitat similaire, des valeurs significatives bien que faibles de z= 0.04 a 0.08 ont eteetablies. Pour des ecosystemes discrets au lieu de reserves, une valeur plus raide de z= 0.14 fut trouvee. Il est suggere que la valeur de z pour les ecosystemes de savane est plus faible que la valeur typique de 0.22 pour les autres ilots de massifs terrestres a cause de la distribution uniquiste de la plupart des especes de grands herbivores et la longue histoire de leur co-evolution. L'application de la theorie des ilots biogeographiques au cas de reserves naturelles est limitee, du moins en ce qui concerne les savanes. La plupart des variations du nombre des especes dans les zones qui pourraient etre erigees en reserve peuvent etre expliquees par la diversite des habitats. Les reserves a savane deviendront des ilots faunistiques davantage selon les decisions politiques et economiques que les principes ecologiques. On considere que la gestion des reserves fut base dans le passe sur les principes ecologiques de base, meme si ceux-ci n'etaient pas encore reconnus a cette epoque.

Investigating The Influence Of Synoptic-scale Monsoonal Winds And Mesoscale Circulations On Diurnal Weather Patterns Over Kenya Using A Mesoscale Numerical Model

Abstract: The Regional Atmospheric Modeling System (RAMS) developed at Colorado State University (CSU) was used to investigate the influence of the large-scale monsoonal winds and the mesoscale local circulations on the diurnal precipitation pattern over Kenya. Three basic experiments were performed. In the first control experiment (CONTROL), RAMS was initialized using observational data (“variable initialization”) from the global analyzed ECMWF 2.5° × 2.5° data of 0000 UTC 14 April 1985. The model was integrated forward in time for 24 h to simulate the large-scale flow fields over Kenya. Full physics including moist convection were implemented in the model. The model outputs were validated against available observations in order to determine the ability of the model in replicating the synoptic climatology prevailing over the study domain. In the. second experiment (MESO), the model simulation was started from an atmosphere at rest in order to exclude the large-scale flow from the model runs. This experime...