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\n \n \n \nPosted 23/09/2022. Peter Macharia and colleagues propose a geostatistical modelling framework that accounts for the uncertainty in the residence location of students from school-based infection sample surveys when only school location data are available. The proposed framework offers inferential benefits by leveraging spatial access and school catchment models to improve standard geostatistical approaches.
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\n \n \n \nPosted 29/07/2022. Ring-stages are the predominant parasite forms detected in the blood of humans infected with Plasmodium falciparum. Fauzia Musasia, Faith Osier and colleagues found that their active destruction through antibody-dependent phagocytosis predicted how well individuals responded to an experimental malaria infection. Targeting ring-stages may limit exponential parasite multiplication and prevent the progression to clinical malaria
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\n \n \n \nPosted 06/07/2022. Chikungunya Virus (CHIKV) has been associated with neurological illness in many parts of the world, but there have been no reports of CHIKV-associated neurological illness in Africa. This study by Doris Nyamwaya and George Warimwe reveals that CHIKV infections are relatively more common than cerebral malaria and bacterial meningitis among children hospitalized with neurological disease in coastal Kenya, and systematic surveillance should be an urgent priority.
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\n \n \n \nPosted 17/06/2022. Reducing the devastating impact of COVID-19 requires the use of best available evidence to inform responses. Fatuma Guleid, Edwine Barasa and Researchers at the KEMRI-Wellcome Trust carried out knowledge translation (KT) activities to support national COVID-19 policy-making. In the study, we describe our experiences and the impact of KT in responding to public health crises.
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\n \n \n \nPosted 17/05/2022. In this study, Margaret Nampijja, Agnes Mutua, Sarah Atkinson and colleagues found that lower maternal and infant hemoglobin levels were associated with reduced psychomotor scores at 15 months, and lower infant hemoglobin levels were associated with reduced language scores. These findings emphasize the importance of managing maternal and child anemia.
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\n \n \n \nPosted 06/05/2022. Animal studies suggest an important role of iron in neurodevelopment. In this systematic review, Agnes Mutua, Sarah Atkinson and colleagues found limited evidence for the effects of iron supplementation on neurodevelopment in African children despite the high burden of iron deficiency in this population. Further well-conducted studies are needed.
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\n \n \n \nPosted 12/04/2022. Evidence on the costs of delivering COVID-19 vaccines are useful inputs in planning for resource mobilization, and can inform vaccine priority setting decisions. Stacey Orangi, Edwine Barasa and colleagues present the unit costs of procuring and delivering the COVID-19 vaccine in Kenya across various vaccination strategies. These cost estimates can be used to inform local policy and may further inform parameters used in cost-effectiveness models.
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\n \n \n \nPosted 08/04/2022. Kwashiorkor, a type of severe malnutrition associated with oedema, has been known for centuries but its mechanism remains elusive. This research by Jay Berkley and colleagues confirmed that low plasma albumin levels are necessary but not sufficient for oedema formation. Our findings suggest that lymphatic drainage may be impaired, which is a new discovery.
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\n \n \n \nPosted 18/03/2022. Steven Wambua and colleagues analysed monthly reports on utilization of outpatient and immunization services between Jan-2018 and Mar-2021 by all health facilities in Kenya to quantify the impact of COVID-19 on the utilization of the health services. Data was obtained from the District Health Information Software 2 (DHIS 2). We observed varied effects of the pandemic, with significant drops in attendance for most outpatient services while immunisation services remained unaffected.
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\n \n \n \nPosted 26/11/2021. Steven Wambua and colleagues analysed monthly reports in 204 Kenyan hospitals and quantified the impact of COVID-19 on utilization of inpatient services. Data was obtained from the District Health Information Software 2 (DHIS 2). We observed significant drops in monthly volumes of live-births, over-fives admissions for medical, and surgical care with the greatest declines in the under-five\u2019s admissions.
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\n \n \n \nPosted 04/03/2022. In a secondary analysis of a transfusion trial, Kathryn Maitland and colleagues showed that of 3188 children with severe anaemia (haemoglobin < 6 g/dl) 41% received a whole blood transfusion. Compared with whole blood, children receiving packed cells had a worse haemoglobin correction by 8 hours, required more additional transfusions and had longer hospital stays. We found no adverse effects of whole blood compared to packed cells.
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\n \n \n \nPosted 02/03/2022. There are many benefits of vaccinating population against COVID-19 including a reduction in transmission, likelihood of severe disease, and pressure on health system. We assessed geographic inequalities in vaccine access in Kenya over the past year and show that despite on-going efforts, only 30% of adult population will have been vaccinate by April 2022, highlighting the disproportionate access to vaccine is Africa population.
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\n \n \n \nPosted 25/02/2022. The burden of neurological impairments in older children from Africa remains unknown. Modelling empirical and literature estimates, Jonathan Abuga and colleagues demonstrate the high burden of fatal and non-fatal outcomes associated with active and lifetime epilepsy, and moderate/severe impairments in cognitive, motor, vision and hearing functions among older children (5-14) residing in a rural setting along the Kenyan coast. Interventions to prevent premature mortality and improve the wellbeing of these children are needed
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\n \n \n \nPosted 16/02/2022. Severe malaria is a medical emergency requiring prompt supportive and parenteral (intravenous/intramuscular) treatment. Beatrice Amboko and colleagues showed the inadequacy of the readiness of primary public health facilities to deliver appropriate pre-referral care to children with severe malaria in Kenya between 2017 and 2021.
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\n \n \n \nPosted 15/02/2022. In this cost of illness study, Aishatu Adamu and colleagues found that in children aged <5 years, a week-long hospitalisation with pneumonia or invasive pneumococcal disease resulted in substantial costs to the health provider and households. Expenses were catastrophic for a third of the households, and for over half of the poorest households.
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\n \n \n \nPosted 08/02/2022. There has been very little research on the epidemiology of severe malaria for over 20 years. Alice Kamau and colleagues analysed 52,000 malaria admissions from 49 settings across East Africa. Under high transmission, malaria hospitalisation was concentrated in children <5. Severe malaria anaemia is currently the most common severe disease presentation. Spatially and age targeting interventions, including chemoprevention and vaccines, will have the maximum benefit in areas where prevalence of infection is \u226510%.
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\n \n \n \nPosted 08/12/2021. The prevalence of malaria parasite in the population is a key metric used for disease stratification. At sub-national levels, this prevalence is strikingly heterogenous, transcending national borders in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. Approximately 12.7 million people in East Africa continue to live in areas with over 30% prevalence. This mapping by Victor Alegana and colleagues highlights why countries must work together to reduce burden and prevent further malaria deaths.
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\n \n \n \nPosted 22/09/2021. Kelvin Mokaya, Sarah Atkinson and colleagues found that children with severe malaria anaemia have higher risk of non-typhoidal Salmonella bacteraemia, and lower levels of the iron-regulating hormone, hepcidin (even with Salmonella coinfection) compared to other forms of malaria. Reduced hepcidin may increase iron availability for bacterial growth in the Salmonella-containing vacuole.
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\n \n \n \nPosted 01/09/2021. Rob Paton, Alice Kamau and colleagues analysed a data series of over 6000 hospital records of malaria admissions among children aged 3 months to 9 years. A 25% reduction in transmission halved the rate of severe malaria hospitalization. Severe malaria remains a burden predominantly in children under 5 years, regardless of the level of malaria transmission.
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\n \n \n \nPosted 30/07/2021. A reliable catchment area is essential to define community needs (education, health care and social care) and population denominators. However, catchments are often implemented based on convenience disregarding implications on accuracy, planning and service seeking behaviour. Peter Macharia and colleagues revisit the issue by considering common approaches, key issues, and best practices in defining a reliable service catchment area
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