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mHealth-based peer mentoring for prevention of alcohol and substance abuse among first year university students: protocol for quasi-experimental intervention
No full textObjective: The use of psychoactive substances increases university students’ general morbidity and mortality. Universities run programs to prevent psychoactive substance use since they are associated with the risk of poor academic outcomes. The University of Nairobi (UoN) trains peer mentors who counsel students to prevent substance use. There is, however, inadequate feedback and no evaluation of the effectiveness of this method. This study will pilot mobile health (mHealth) based peer mentoring, evaluate and provide feedback about implementation. It will be based in two campuses of UoN, Nairobi, Kenya.
Methods: Three phases study. In the first phase, a baseline survey determines students’ knowledge about, attitudes toward, and prevalence of substance use at baseline and the end of the intervention phase. Second phase, mHealth based intervention using a quasi-experimental design. Participants 100 mentors (50 intervention and 50 control groups). Intervention group using mHealth screens for substance use, provide structured brief intervention and treatment referral. A comparative control group, using a paper-based guide will deliver the same program. Phase three, mentors during focussed group discussions will share their experiences.
Results: Data will be collected on implementation, acceptability and substance use patterns. Data analysis using descriptive, inferential statistics and thematic content analysis for qualitative data.
Conclusions: The study will provide evidence on the implementation and acceptability of mHealth among university students. This will inform national and regional substance use prevention policy and practice.
Abbreviations: ASSIST: Assessment of Smoking and Substance Involvement Test; AUDIT: Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Tool; KAP: Knowledge, Attitude, and Prevalence; mHealth: Mobile Health; RDSDQ: Researcher Designed Socio-Demographic Questionnaire; UNODC: United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime; USA: United States of America; WHO: World Health Organizatio
Unusually Low Arcuate Artery in a Kenyan Cadaver
No full textThe arcuate artery is one of the two major branches of the dorsalis pedis artery that supply the dorsum of the foot including interdigital spaces. The artery’s origin varies but in almost all cases it branches in the proximal third of the dorsum of the foot. During routine dissection of the right foot in a black Kenyan, we encountered a case where the artery was located and branched in the distal third of the dorsum of the foot, at the level of the metatarsophalangeal joint. This is much more distal than previously reported in prevailing literature. This artery did not give off any dorsal metatarsal arteries but gave the digital arteries directly. The dorsalis pedis artery, lateral and medial tarsal arteries had normal course in this foot
Gender Differences in the Pattern of Socio-Demographics Relevant to Metabolic Syndrome Among Kenyan Adults with Central Obesity at a Mission Hospital in Nairobi, Kenya.
No full textAbstract
INTRODUCTION:
Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a risk factor for cardiovascular-related morbidity and mortality. Although the risk factors for MetS are well documented, differences in gender-based demographics among Kenyan adults with central obesity are lacking.
AIM:
Determine gender differences in the pattern of socio-demographics relevant to metabolic syndrome among Kenyan adults with central obesity at a mission hospital, Nairobi.
METHODS:
A cross-sectional baseline survey involving adults (N = 404) with central obesity aged 18-64 years, as part of a community-based lifestyle intervention study. Respondents were systematically sampled using the International Diabetes Federation definition for MetS. Lifestyle characteristics, anthropometric, clinical and biochemical markers were measured and analyzed using SPSS.
RESULTS:
High (87.2%) MetS prevalence associated with advanced age in males (p < 0.001) and females (p = 0.002) was observed. MetS was likely among divorced/separated/widowed (p = 0.021) and high income males (p = 0.002) and females (p = 0.017) with high income. Unemployed males (p = 0.008) and females with tertiary education (p = 0.019) were less likely to have MetS. Advanced age was likely to lead to high blood pressure, fasting blood glucose and triglycerides (p < 0.05). Males were more likely (p = 0.026) to have raised triglycerides, while females (p < 0.001) had low high density lipoproteins.
CONCLUSION:
A high prevalence of MetS associated with social and gender differences among Kenyan adults with central obesity. These underscore the need to look beyond the behavioral and biological risks and focus on every nuance of gender differences in addressing MetS and CVDs
