COHES

Factors associated with Isoniazid preventive therapy among HIV patients attending comprehensive care clinic at Chuka County referral hospital, Kenya

Thu, 05 Mar 2026 00:00:00 GMT

Factors associated with Isoniazid preventive therapy among HIV patients attending comprehensive care clinic at Chuka County referral hospital, Kenya Mbuba, Dickson Gitonga Background:Tuberculosis (TB) in humans is caused by bacilli Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex. AIDS is an immunodeficiency disease caused by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) (Mindachew et al., 2014). HIV breaks down the body's defense against infection and immune system by destroying specific white blood cells (CD4 cells) weakening the immune system hence the body cannot fight an illness attack such as tuberculosis (Cook, 2009). Materials and Methods: A descriptive cross sectional study design adopted with the target population being the zero positive patients attending Comprehensive Care Centre (CCC) services at the facility. Systematic random sampling method used as the sampling technique. Data collection was interviewer administered questionnaire and focused group discussion. Quantitative information was be analysed using SPSS version 25. Chi square method used to test the association between dependent and independent variables. Data presented in tables, pie charts, bar graphs and narrations. Results:The study found out that there was a significant association between quality of service by the caregiver and Patients who completed medication on Isoniazid Preventive Therapy. Further results showed that there was insignificant association between sex and compliance with IPT. Results showed that there was a significant association between the marital status and compliance with isoniazid preventive therapy (IPT. The study established that there was significant association between the taking of the IPT drug and reason for taking the drug. Further, the study established that there was significant association between the side effects of the IPT drug and compliance to Isoniazid Preventive Therapy among HIV patients attending CCC at Chuka referral hospital. Findings further found that association between friendliness of the Hospital staff was significant. The study found out that association between waiting time at the Hospital and compliance with IPT was significant. Conclusion:Research showed that association between health education and compliance with IPT was significant. These results were, shared with hospital administration in order to understand factors that contribute to non-adherence to isoniazid preventive therapy, for necessary action to be, taken in order to increase the uptake of isoniazid preventive therapy. These results are, expected to be crucial for HIV/TB collaborative activities in reducing the mortality rate, morbidity rate and mental complications of TB in people living with HIV/AIDS. Key word: Tuberculosis, HIV, Isoniazid, Therapy MSc Research Publication

Determinants of unintended pregnancy among women attending antenatal clinic at Kenyatta National Hospital

Thu, 04 Dec 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Determinants of unintended pregnancy among women attending antenatal clinic at Kenyatta National Hospital Ojuok, Rose Aluoch Background: Unintended pregnancy predisposes women of child-bearing age to risk factors like maternal deaths, poor child outcomes, mental illness because of stress, risky abortion, and vertical transmission of HIV. According to the Kenya Demographic Health Survey in 2014, 34% of the pregnancies were unintended and in the year 2020 it rose to 41.9% (Monitoring, 2020). Determinants of unintended pregnancy among women attending antenatal clinics in Kenya is diverse and is poorly understood due to no representative information. The objective of the study was to determine the factors associated with unintended pregnancy among women attending antenatal clinic particularly their individual factors, family planning practices and health facility-based factors. Method: A cross-sectional study design. Data was collected using a structured administered questionnaire from 227 participants. The proportion and determinants of unintended pregnancy was derived using bivariate analysis and multivariate logistic regressions. Results: In this study, a third (29.9%) of the pregnant women reported that their existing gravidity was unintended. Individual factors such as age less than 25 years [AOR 8.1 (95% CI 1.4-48.6)), p=0.001], use of contraceptive method [AOR 7.9 (95% CI 2.5-25.0), p<0.001] and the woman being the sole decision-maker on when to get pregnant [AOR 3.8 (95% CI 1.3-11.2), p=0.014] were significantly associated with unintended pregnancy. Conclusion: The study area had quite a significant proportion of unintended pregnancy underscoring the need for health facilities to enhance targeted contraceptive counselling during antenatal and postnatal clinics. Reinforcing effective utilization of family planning services in the pursuit to decrease unintended pregnancy not only in Nairobi but also in Kenya. MSc Research Publication

Urinary Tract Infection among Adults Seeking Medicare at Kiambu Level 5 Hospital, Kenya: Prevalence, Diversity, Antimicrobial Susceptibility Profiles and Possible Risk Factors

Wed, 03 Dec 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Urinary Tract Infection among Adults Seeking Medicare at Kiambu Level 5 Hospital, Kenya: Prevalence, Diversity, Antimicrobial Susceptibility Profiles and Possible Risk Factors Kimunya, Fredrick Wanja Urinary tract infections are among the most prevalent extra-intestinal infec tions, with high prevalence globally. This cross-sectional study established prevalence of bacterial aetiology causing urinary tract infection (UTI) and their antimicrobial susceptibility profiles. A questionnaire was used to cap ture socio-demographic data and possible UTI risk factors among the 206 consented adults seeking medicare at Kiambu Level 5 Hospital. The collected midstream urine samples were subjected to dipstick analysis, microscopy and culture for UTI diagnosis. Results: The overall prevalence rate of UTIs was 27.6%, with women’s prevalence rate being significantly higher at 80.7% compared to men 19.2%. Pregnant women had UTI prevalence at 34% which was higher than other sets of participants. Women who did not frequently change their underpants daily had a higher UTI cases at 34.8%. Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Klebsiella pneumoniae were the most preva lent bacterial pathogens at 38.5%, 21% and 19.3%, respectively. Antimicrobial sensitivity analysis revealed high resistances towards Sulfamethoxazole and Ampicillin at range between 50% - 85%, suggesting that these drugs are no longer effective for UTI empirical treatment. The resistance patterns towards Cefotaxime, Cefepime and Ciprofloxacin were below 40%. However, more resistance patterns at a range between 14% - 40% revealed towards Amoxicil lin-clavulanic and Nitrofurantoin imply that these are drugs remain potent but there is the need to revise the current UTI management guidelines. In ad DOI: 10.4236/aim.2021.118028 Aug. 2, 2021 360 Advances in Microbiology F. Wanja et al. dition, to elude treatment failure, innovation of prophylactic measures is key to halt UTI contraction and offer support to pharmaceutical industries that have fewer new antibiotics in the pipeline. Keywords Urinary Tract Infection (UTI), Risk Factors, Antimicrobial Resistance and Antimicrobial Susceptibility Profile MSc Research Publication

Uptake andacceptability of oral HIV self testing in the context of assisted partner services in Western Kenya: A mixed-methods analysis

Thu, 27 Nov 2025 00:00:00 GMT

Uptake andacceptability of oral HIV self testing in the context of assisted partner services in Western Kenya: A mixed-methods analysis Mudhune, Victor e Abstract Integrating HIV self-testing (HIVST) into assisted partner services (APS) has potential to increase identification of people with HIV in the community, but little is known about accept ability of HIVST among partners traced via APS. We assessed characteristics of APS part ners testing with HIVST, and factors influencing HIVST uptake and acceptability in a cluster randomized control trial on APS+HIVST. Using convergent parallel mixed-methods design, weevaluated socio-demographic and behavioral characteristics of APS partners who were offered HIVST or provider-delivered testing, and purposively selected a sub-set of partners for in-depth interviews (IDIs). Descriptive and log-binomial regression analyses were per formed controlling for health facility clusters, while IDIs were thematically analyzed applying the theoretical framework of acceptability. Among 3312 partners who were offered HIVST or provider-administered testing through APS, 2724 (82.2%) used HIVST. There was no asso ciation between partner demographics and HIVST uptake. HIVST use was less likely than provider-delivered testing among those identified as a casual (adjusted relative risk (aRR) = 0.93; 95% Confidence Interval (CI) 0.88–0.98) or transactional (aRR = 0.90; 95% CI 0.87 0.94) partner compared to those in a defined relationship. HIVST use was slightly lower amongthoseoffered the option of an additional kit when compared to those only offered one kit (aRR = 0.93; 95% CI0.88–0.98). In the IDIs (N = 24), partners reported that HIVST was a viable option for individuals who do not find provider-delivered testing suitable or convenient. For the APSpartners, ‘intervention coherence’, ‘self-efficacy’, and ‘ethicality’ presented as most significant theoretical framework of acceptability constructs. APS providers played a critical role in creating HIVST awareness and driving acceptability. Increasing HIVST aware ness andproviding tailored solutions will empower APS clients optimize their HIV testing PhD Research Publication