Faculty of Health Sciences (FHS)

The Prevalence of Depression and Intimate Partner Violence Against Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Clinic at Kenyatta National Hospital

2026-03-30T09:24:31Z

The Prevalence of Depression and Intimate Partner Violence Against Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Clinic at Kenyatta National Hospital Mwakio, Caroline W Background: The incidence ofIPVis high in Africa while depression is a major concern in developing countries. Mental health and women's well-being are still a major challenge in Kenya. Problem Statement: There is a paucity of published scientific literature on depression and IPV in pregnant women in Kenya. Broad Objective:To determine the association of depression and IPV in pregnant women. Specific Objectives: 1). to determine the prevalence of depression among pregnant women attending the ANC and 2). todetermine the prevalence of IPV among pregnant women in the same study group Methodology: A cross-sectional analytic quantitative design was used to recruit a sample size of 324 ANC patients at KNH, Nairobi. Systematic random sampling was used to select the respondents. The Sociodemographic, Depression and IPV Data collected through the use of a structured questionnaire, PHQ-9 and WHO IPV instrument. SPSS used for statistical analysis. Results presented in tables, charts and narratives. Results: The prevalence of antenatal depression was (91) 29%; prevalence ofIPV was (52) 16%. There was an association between antenatal depression and IPV (p = 0.033). Discussion: This study's findings revealed that exposure to spousal violence during pregnancy is a risk factor for antenatal depression. Conclusion: In Kenya, women are at risk of developing antenatal depression and experiencing IPV in pregnancy, both leading to detrimental health efIe~ts. Recommendations: 1). Provision of GBV and SRH follow up care services at the ANC. 2). Free IPV services to be implemented to completion by KNH and Ministry of Health. 3). Involving mass media,in disseminating GBVRC information. 4). Psychological interventions to be implemented such as marital therapy for couples and interpersonal therapy for unmarried women experiencing IPV. 5). Need to increase regular assessments of mental illnesses in Primary Health Care Setting.

Relationship Between Perceived Parenting Behavior and Psychiatric Morbidity Among Delinquent Adolescents in Rehabilitation Schools, Nairobi County

2026-01-29T11:19:23Z

Relationship Between Perceived Parenting Behavior and Psychiatric Morbidity Among Delinquent Adolescents in Rehabilitation Schools, Nairobi County Mbuge, Maurine A Background: Studies have indicated that juveniles with experiences of lacking affection from their guardians and excessive levels of dismissiveness and demandingness portrayed externalizing, aggressive, and delinquent behaviors with dismissiveness by the guardian as the strongest projection for hostility levels, delinquency, and attention problems, in juveniles and grownups. (Buschgens et al., 2010). The focus on outcomes of the associations linking guardians and teenagers is key as the influence of parenting on adolescents continues to affect behavior into adulthood (Hoskins, 2014a). In addition, the frequency of most mental conditions usually observed in grownups has seen a large increase in juveniles and young people in the recent past. Objective: The objective of this research is to obtain documentation for the types of perceived parenting behavior and find out the frequency of psychiatric morbidity among delinquent adolescents admitted to the Rehabilitation Schools of Nairobi County. The specific objectives are to find out the frequency of perceived parenting behavior amongst delinquent juveniles admitted in Rehabilitation Schools of Nairobi County, to find out the frequency of psychiatric morbidity amongst delinquent juveniles admitted in Rehabilitation Schools of Nairobi County, and to assess the association between perceived parental behavior and psychiatric morbidity among delinquent adolescents admitted in Rehabilitation Schools of Nairobi County. Study Design: The research will employ a cross-sectional descriptive study design using quantitative methods of collecting data

Awareness of Red Flags in Acute Low Back Pain and Their Assessment Among Primary Healthcare Physicians in Nairobi, Kenya

2026-01-27T12:25:46Z

Awareness of Red Flags in Acute Low Back Pain and Their Assessment Among Primary Healthcare Physicians in Nairobi, Kenya Wanjau, Maureen Background: Back pain (BP) is a highly prevalent health issue that affects a significant portion of the general population. It is a leading cause of disability on a global scale. Red flags of back pains are critical indicators and symptoms that are identified through a thorough examination of a patient's history and a detailed clinical assessment and serve as important clues, suggesting the possibility of a significant underlying disease that may not be immediately apparent. These red flags are crucial in guiding doctors and medical practitioners in making decisions about the necessity for additional diagnostic tests, specialist referrals, or immediate interventions. Globally a significant number of primary care physicians do not follow the guidelines on red flags in back pains. There is need to identify the knowledge and practice gaps in implementation of red flags to improve patient care. Objectives: To assess the knowledge and practice on red flags on care of patients with low back pains amongst non-specialist health care workers in outpatient departments at 5 urban hospitals in Nairobi, Kenya. Methodology: Descriptive cross-sectional study carried out at 5 urban centers within Nairobi namely, Kenyatta National Hospital, Mbagathi Hospital, Aga Khan University Hospital, Mama Lucy Hospital, Mater Hospital. Stratified proportionate sampling was used where 119 primary healthcare physicians were recruited into the study. Data analysis: The analysis utilized both descriptive and inferential analysis where for descriptive analysis frequencies and percentages were used. Proportion of study participants with adequate level of awareness on low back pains was determined by calculating the proportion of the total scores of all questions, converted into percentage and rated using Blooms criteria which established that a score of ≥80% was considered adequate level of awareness. Level of assessment was also scored using Blooms criteria where a percentage score of ≥60 was considered good level of assessment based on Blooms criteria. Fischer’s exact test or Pearson chi-square were conducted to investigate association between respondent characteristics with both awareness and assessment. Stata 16.0 was used for data analysis. Results: The mean age was 33.3(SD±4.2) years with majority of them aged between 30 and 40 years, 53%(n =63) of the primary healthcare physicians were male. Majority of the respondents were resident 66.4%(n =79). In investigating years of experience, 52.1%(n =62) had between 6 to 10 years of experience while 39.5%(n =47) had ≤5 years of experience and 42%(n =50) of the respondents had formal training. Majority of the primary healthcare physicians were able to identify some of the red flag signs for acute back pain although the self-reported confidence in identifying the red flags was low with a lower overall knowledge level of 27%. The findings established that gender (p =0.026) and having training on red flags identification (P<0.001) were significantly associated with assessment. The results also showed that age ( p =0.023), gender (p =0.033), cadre (p =0.013) and receiving formal training (p =0.008) on red flags were significantly associated with level of awareness. xiii Conclusion and recommendations: Level of awareness and assessment of red flags for acute back pain is low hence there is need for implementation of comprehensive and continuous training programs focusing on red flag identification for acute back pain

Medication-related Problems Among Adult Patients With Diabetes at Kenyatta National Hospital Outpatient Clinic

2026-01-27T12:20:13Z

Medication-related Problems Among Adult Patients With Diabetes at Kenyatta National Hospital Outpatient Clinic Mundia, Mary W Background: The IDF estimated that in 2017 there were 451 million people with diabetes worldwide and the figure was expected to rise to 693 million by 2045. WHO estimates the prevalence of diabetes in Kenya to be 3.3% and it is expected to rise to 4.5% by 2025. The prevalence of MRPs is on the rise and studies show that anti-diabetic drugs are associated with many MRPs. Study objective: The main objective of this study was to establish the prevalence, types and factors associated with MRPs among adult diabetic outpatients at KNH. Study Methods: The study was an analytical observational cross-sectional study carried out at Kenyatta National Hospital. The data was collected for three months. It involved 280 adult diabetic outpatients attending the clinic at KNH who were recruited using consecutive sampling. Patients who met the eligibility criteria were recruited and interviewed using a pretested data collection form. MRPs identified were classified according to Hepler-Strand Classification. Data was analyzed using STATA version 13(StataCorp Inc., USA). Descriptive statistics was conducted. Multivariable logistic regression was done to identify factors associated with MRPs. Results: The study showed that 235 (83.9%) of the respondents had at least one of the MRPs. Adherence was the most common with a prevalenceof 203(72%). Reasons for non-adherence were costly drugs (118, 42.1%) and 85 (30.4%) alluded to forgetting to take drugs, 61 (21.8%) of the respondents had drug safety problems,82 (29.3%) had drug effectiveness problems, and 27(9.6%) had conditions not treated as drug indication problems. Age and number of drugs were found to be statistically significant independent predictors. Patients 50 years and above were 2.4 times as likely as younger patients to have an MRP, (AOR =2.4, 95%CI, 1.1, 3.9, p = 0.023), while patients taking 5 or more different types of drugs were 1.3 times as likely as patients taking fewer than 5 drugs to have an MRP, (AOR =1.3, 95%CI, 1.15 2.5, p < 0.001). Conclusion: Prevalence of MRPs was high at 84%. The most common one was non-adherence to medication. Thus, it is essential to consider improving patient support through encouraging caregivers to remind them when to take drugs as well as initiate health education programs to improve knowledge on drugs and adherence