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.

Ages of eruption of the permanent teeth in Kenyan African and Asian children

Abstract: Mean ages of eruption of the permanent teeth (except 3rd molars) in African and Asian children were derived from a cross-sectional study of 2847 children aged 4-14 years, in selected nursery and primary schools in Nairobi, Kenya. Except for the premolars, the mandibular teeth erupted earlier than the maxillary ones in both races. The mandibular incisors and canines erupted earlier by 0.9-1.1 yr in Africans and 0.6-0.8 yr in Asians, and the molar by 0.2-0.4 yr in both races. The maxillary premolars were ahead of mandibular premolars by 0.1-0.2 yr in both races. The females were ahead of males in both races. Compared with the Asians, the African permanent teeth erupted earlier by 0.2-0.7 yr. The most frequent order of eruption in Africans is Mand I1, Mand M1, Max M1, Mand I2, and Max I1 between 5-7 years, while in the Asians the most frequent order is Mand M1, Mand I1, or Max M1, Max I1 and Mand I2 between 6-8 years. The incidence of Cusp of Carabelli in Africans and Asians is about 19-25%.

The prevalence of depressive symptoms among adolescents in Nairobi public secondary schools: association with perceived maladaptive parental behaviour.

Abstract: Objective: Depression in adolescents is a matter of concern because of its high prevalence, potential recurrence and impairment of functioning in the affected individual. The study sought to determine the prevalence of depressive symptoms among adolescents in Nairobi (Kenya) public secondary schools; make a comparison between day and boarding students; and identify associated factors in this population. Method: A random sample of school going adolescents was taken from a stratified sample of 17 secondary schools out of the 49 public secondary schools in Nairobi province. The sample was stratified to take into account geographical distribution, day and boarding schools, boys only, girls only and mixed (co-education) schools in the capital city of Kenya. Self administered instruments (EMBU and CDI) were used to measure perceived parental behaviour and levels of depression in a total of 1,276 students excluding those who had no living parent. Results: The prevalence of clinically significant depressive symptoms was 26.4%. The occurrence was higher in girls than it was in boys p<0.001. Students in boarding schools had more clinically significant depressive symptoms compared to day students (p=0.01). More girls exhibited suicidal behaviour than boys (p<0.001). There was a significant correlation between depressive symptoms and suicidal behaviour (p<0.001). CDI scores correlated positively with age (p<0.001) with an increase in CDI score with unit increase in age among students 14-17 years old, perceived rejecting maternal parenting behaviour (p<0.001), perceived no emotional attachment paternal behaviour (p<0.001), perceived no emotional attachment maternal behaviour (p<0.001), and perceived under protective paternal behaviour (p=0.005).Conclusion: Perceived maladaptive parental behaviours are substantially associated with the development of depressive symptoms and suicidal behaviour in children. Key words: Depression; Adolescent; Parent; Kenya

HIV-1 RNA dysregulates the natural TLR response to subclinical endotoxemia in Kenyan female sex-workers.

Abstract: Background Subclinical endotoxemia has been reported in HIV-1 infected persons and may drive systemic immune activation and pathogenesis. Proinflammatory responsiveness to endotoxin (LPS) is mediated by Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4). We therefore examined the association between plasma LPS levels, HIV RNA, and TLR4 expression and cytokine responses in the blood of HIV infected and uninfected participants in a cohort of female sex-workers in Kenya.

Identification and distribution of viruses infecting sweet potato in Kenya

Abstract: Four hundred and forty-eight symptomatic and 638 asymptomatic samples were collected from sweet potato fields throughout Kenya and analysed serologically using antibodies to Sweet potato feathery mottle virus (SPFMV), Sweet potato chlorotic stunt virus (SPCSV), Sweet potato mild mottle virus (SPMMV), Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV), Sweet potato chlorotic fleck virus (SPCFV), Sweet potato latent virus (SwPLV), Sweet potato caulimo-like virus (SPCaLV), Sweet potato mild speckling virus (SPMSV) and C-6 virus in enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). Only SPFMV, SPMMV, SPCSV, and SPCFV were detected. Ninety-two percent and 25% of the symptomatic and asymptomatic plants respectively tested positive for at least one of these viruses. Virus-infected plants were collected from 89% of the fields. SPFMV was the most common and the most widespread, detected in 74% of the symptomatic plants and 86% of fields surveyed. SPCSV was also very common, being detected in 38% of the symptomatic plants and in 50% of the fields surveyed. SPMMV and SPCFV were detected in only 11% and 3% of the symptomatic plant samples respectively. Eight different combinations of these four viruses were found in individual plants. The combination SPFMV and SPCSV was the most common, observed in 22% of symptomatic plants. Virus combinations were rare in the asymptomatic plants tested. Incidence of virus infection was highest (18%) in Kisii district of Nyanza province and lowest (1%) in Kilifi and Malindi districts of Coast province. © 2004 Association of Applied Biologists.