A Text Messaging–Based Support Intervention to Enhance Pre-exposure Prophylaxis for HIV Prevention Adherence During Pregnancy and Breastfeeding: Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial
Background: Cisgender women in Kenya are at elevated risk of HIV acquisition during pregnancy and post partum. Acute HIV infection during pregnancy and breastfeeding accounts for approximately one-third of all vertical HIV transmissions. The World Health Organization recommends offering oral tenofovir-based pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) to pregnant and postpartum women who are HIV negative but at […]
The PRECISE (PREgnancy Care Integrating translational Science, Everywhere) Network’s first protocol: Deep phenotyping in three sub-Saharan African countries
Background: The PRECISE (PREgnancy Care Integrating translational Science, Everywhere) Network is a new and broadly-based group of research scientists and health advocates based in the UK, Africa and North America. Methods: This paper describes the protocol that underpins the clinical research activity of the Network, so that the investigators, and broader global health community, can […]
A Challenging Knowledge Gap: Estimating Modes of HIV Acquisition Among Adolescents Entering HIV Care During Adolescence
Characterizing HIV acquisition modes among adolescents with HIV (AHIV) enrolling in care during adolescence is a challenging gap that impacts differential interventions. We explored whether primary data collection with targeted questionnaires may address this gap and improve understanding of risk factors and perceptions about adolescents’ HIV acquisition, in Kenyan AHIV entering care at ≥10 years, […]
Shamba Maisha: A pilot study assessing impacts of a micro-irrigation intervention on the health and economic wellbeing of HIV patients
HIV/AIDS negatively impacts poverty alleviation and food security, which reciprocally hinder the rapid scale up and effectiveness of HIV care programs. Nyanza province has the highest HIV prevalence (15.3%), and is the third highest contributor (2.4 million people) to rural poverty in Kenya. Thus, we tested the feasibility of providing a micro-irrigation pump to HIV-positive […]
Prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV in Kenya: Challenges to implementation
Background: The prevention of mother-to-child transmission of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is lauded as one of the more successful HIV prevention measures. However, despite some gains in the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV (PMTCT) in sub-Saharan Africa, mother-to-child transmission rates are still high. In Kenya, mother-to-child transmission is considered one of the greatest health […]
Spatial pattern and determinants of institutional delivery in Ethiopia: Spatial and multilevel analysis using 2019 Ethiopian demographic and health survey
Background In Ethiopia, despite the progress that has been made to improve maternal and child health, the proportion of births occurring at health institutions is still very low (26%), Which significantly contribute to a large number of maternal death 412 deaths/100,000 live births. Therefore, this study intended to determine spatial pattern and factors affecting institutional […]
Improving service uptake and quality of care of integrated maternal health services: The Kenya kwale district improvement collaborative
Background: Health-related millennium development goals are off track in most of the countries in the sub-Saharan African region. Lack of access to, and low utilization of essential services and high-impact interventions, together with poor quality of health services, may be partially responsible for this lack of progress. We explored whether improvement approaches can be applied […]
Prevalence and factors associated with covert contraceptive use in Kenya: a cross-sectional study
Background: Family planning (FP) is a key intervention for preventing unplanned pregnancies, unsafe abortions, and maternal death. Involvement of both women and their partners promotes contraceptive acceptance, uptake and continuation, couple communication and gender-equitable attitude. Partner involvement is a key strategy for addressing about 17.5% of the unmet needs in FP in Kenya. This study […]
Agricultural and finance intervention increased dietary intake and weight of children living in HIV-affected households in Western Kenya
We tested whether a multisectoral household agricultural and finance intervention increased the dietary intake and improved the nutritional status of HIV-affected children. Two hospitals in rural Kenya were randomly assigned to be either the intervention or the control arm. The intervention comprised a human-powered water pump, microfinance loan for farm commodities, and training in sustainable […]
Applying a gender lens to understand pathways through care for acutely ill young children in Kenyan urban informal settlements
Background: In many African settings, gender strongly influences household treatment-seeking and decision-making for childhood illnesses. While mothers are often the primary engagers with health facilities, their independence in illness-related decisions is shaped by various factors. Drawing on a gender lens, we explored treatment-seeking pathways pre- and post-hospital admission for acutely ill young children living in […]
