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Effect of time of Azolla incorporation and inorganic fertilizer application on growth and yield of Basmati rice
No full text7 Azolla tissue contains 5% N, which is slowly released into the soil upon decomposition. Timing of incorporation is therefore important for maximum benefit to a crop. The effect of time to incorporate Azolla biomass on growth and yield of rice was investigated in Mwea-Kenya. Treatments consisted of 7.5 t ha-1 Azolla biomass applied at transplanting, 7.5 t ha-1 Azolla applied at 21 days after transplanting (DAT) and 30 kg N ha-1 inorganic N applied in splits at O, 21 and at 55 DAT. There were control treatments without Azolla and without inorganic N application. The treatments were laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. Phosphorus and potassium were applied at 50 Kg ha-1 each as P2O5 and K2O. Plant height and tiller numbers were recorded at 21 (rooting/tillering), 32 (tillering), 42 (maximum tillering), 60 (flowering) and 75 DAT (heading) while yield parameters were determined at physiological maturity (120 DAT). Data were analysed using SAS software and means separated using the least significant difference test (p≤0.05). Azolla incorporation at transplanting significantly enhanced panicle m -2 , grain weight and grain yield while incorporating it at 21 DAT only significantly enhanced panicle m-2 . Higher environmental temperatures enhanced Azolla effect. The effect of Inorganic N significantly increased plant height, tiller number, grain weight and spikelets panicle-1 . However, percentage grain filling was reduced. The effect of interaction between Azolla application and inorganic N was significant on spikelets panicle-1 and grain weight. Observations therefore indicate that the effect of Azolla on yield and yield components was more when incorporated at transplanting
Neonatal, infant, and child mortality among women exposed to intimate partner violence in East Africa: a multi-country analysis.
No full textBACKGROUND:
Most neonatal, infant, and child deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), where incidence of intimate partner violence (IPV) is highest in the world. Despite these facts, research regarding whether the two are associated is limited. The main objective was to examine associations between IPV amongst East African women and risk of death among their neonates, infants, and children, as well as related variables.
METHODS:
Analysis was conducted on data drawn from the Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) conducted by ICF Macro/MEASURE DHS in five East African countries: Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda. The analytical sample included 11,512 women of reproductive age (15-49 years). The outcome variables, described by proportions and frequencies, were the presence or absence of neonatal, infant, and under-five mortality. Our variable of interest, intimate partner violence, was a composite variable of physical, sexual, and emotional abuse; chi-square tests were used to analyze its relationship with categorical variables. Adjusted odds ratios (aOR) were also used in linking sexual autonomy to independent variables.
RESULTS:
Children born to women who experienced IPV were significantly more likely to die as newborns (aOR = 1.3, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.4-2.2) and infants (aOR = 1.9, 95% CI: 1.6-2.2), and they were more likely to die by the age of five (aOR = 1.5, 95% CI: 1.01-1.55). Socioeconomic indicators including area of residence, wealth index, age of mother/husband, religion, level of education, employment status, and mass media usage were also significantly associated with IPV. After regression modelling, mothers who were currently using contraceptives were determined less likely to have their children die as newborns (aOR = 0.5, 95% CI: 0.3-0-7), as infants (aOR = 0.5, 95% CI: 0.3-06), and by age five (aOR = 0.4, 95% CI: 02-0.6).
CONCLUSION:
Understanding IPV as a risk indicator for neonatal, infant, and child deaths can help in determining appropriate interventions. IPV against women should be considered an urgent priority within programs and policies aimed at maximizing survival of infants and children in East Africa and the wellbeing and safety of their mothers
Living Kidney Donor Dropout At The Kenyatta National Hospital Transplant Program.
No full textBACKGROUND.
Kidney transplantation involves transplanting a healthy kidney to a patient with ESRD. Donors can either be living or deceased. Living donation offers the advantage of optimal preparation of both the recipient and the donor and allows better logistical control. Not every potential donor that starts the evaluation process eventually donates a kidney. The reasons for this are varied and range from medical contraindications to social or ethical dilemmas.
METHODS.
We conducted a retrospective descriptive study at the Kenyatta National Hospital transplant clinic. Medical records of all living kidney donors who enrolled into the transplant program during the period from January 2010 to September 2018 were obtained. All donors that did not successfully donate to their intended recipient were segregated and data pertaining to their sociodemographic characteristics and reason(s) for exclusion were obtained and data analysed using statistical package for social scientists (SPSS) version 22.0 for windows.
RESULTS.
The study was conducted between October and December 2018. During this period medical files of 286 donors that were evaluated during the period between, January 2010 and September 2018, were obtained. A total of 121 medical records of donors who were excluded were analysed. There was a male preponderance with a male to female ratio of 1.8 :1. The mean age was 33.4 years, majority (69.3 %) had post primary education and 46.8% were siblings to their intended recipients. The donor dropout rate was 42.3%, with the most common reason for donor exclusion being a medical contraindication at 52.3%. Of these, hypertension, diabetes and renal disease accounted for 24.1%. 22.4% and 29.3% respectively. Psychosocial reasons accounted for 22.5% while those excluded because of an immunological contraindication were 7.2%. Only two donors were excluded due to a surgical contraindication. Other reasons for exclusion (19.8%) were related to the intended recipient and included, recipient demise (10 donors), severe cardiovascular disease that rendered the recipient not transplantable (9 donors) or in other cases the availability of a more suitable donor (5 donors). Majority of donors (56.4%) were excluded in the early stages of the donor evaluation process (stage 1 to stage 3). Majority of the donors (75.7%) made between one to four visits prior to exclusion, while only a minority (2.7%), made greater than 8 visits before being excluded. The mean duration of time between donor enrollment and donor exclusion was 33.7 weeks with a median of 2.5 weeks. The shortest time taken before donor exclusion was less than a week with the longest duration was almost 78 weeks.
CONCLUSION.
In this study, we report a moderate rate of living donor drop out. The main reason for exclusion was a medical contraindication, with majority having renal disease, hypertension or diabetesa
Department of Psychiatry, University of Nairobi, ; bDepartment of Mental Health, School of Medicine,
Moi University, Eldoret, Keny
Steering Energy Transitions through Landscape Governance: Case of Mathare Informal Settlement, Nairobi, Kenya
No full textPoor households in urban informal settlements face a big challenge in accessing clean energy
for cooking, heating, and lighting. We use Kenya’s Mathare informal settlement as a landscape site to
better understand how cross-sector collaboration can enhance access to sustainable energy in informal
settlements. We also demonstrate that academics are well-placed in facilitating multi-stakeholder
engagements between community members, experts, and policy actors. This is pursued by drawing on
the results of two energy research projects (CoDEC and AfriCLP). We employ a landscape governance
framework to re-conceptualise the findings from the CoDEC and AfriCLP projects. Specifically,
we use the ecological, socio-cultural, and political dimensions of landscape governance to discuss the
relationships between energy demands and other landscape issues in the case study. In conclusion,
the paper recommends landscape governance as a promising approach for integrating energy issues
with other competing landscape interests, while also encouraging cross-sector collaboration
Maize (zea mays l.) growth and yield response to tillage methods and fertilizer combinations in the Midland Agro-ecological Zones of Kenya
No full textThe trials were set up in Busia, Embu and Kirinyaga Counties to assess the effect of tillage methods and application of different fertilizer combinations on maize productivity in the lower and upper midland agro-ecological zones of Kenya. Tillage methods were no-tillage (NT) with crop residue retention as mulch (+CR) (NT+CR) and conventional tillage (CT) without crop residue retention on farm surface (-CR) (CT-CR) while fertilizer combinations were NK, NP, PK, NPK, and NPK+CaMgZnBS. The N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Zn, B and S nutrients were applied at the rates of 120, 40, 40, 10, 10, 5 and 26.3 kg ha-1, respectively. The trials were laid in a randomized complete block design with a split-plot arrangement and replicated three times. The results showed that maize leaf area index, plant height, aboveground biomass, crop growth rate, and grain yield were significantly higher under CT-CR than under NT+CR in most of the sites. The CT-CR system out-yielded NT+CR system by 0.3 t ha-1 and 0.6 t ha-1 maize grain in Alupe and Kirinyaga, respectively. However, NT+CR system out-yielded CT-CR system by 0.4 t ha -1 maize grain at Embu. Across all the sites, application of PK and NPK+ZnBMgCaS fertilizer combinations resulted, respectively, in lowest and highest maize shoot biomass, leaf area indices, crop growth rates, plant heights, and grain yields. Based on this result alone, the potential of conservation agriculture in improving yields compared to conventional tillage could not be conclusive despite consistently recording higher soil moisture content across all sites and better yields in Embu. Again, application of a wide range of nutrients may be beneficial to maize production in the study areas as evidenced in the study. Therefore, we recommend multi-season and multi-location trials to comprehensively assess the impact of tillage methods and fertilizer management, particularly in relation to micronutrients.The trials were set up in Busia, Embu and Kirinyaga Counties to assess the effect of tillage methods and application of different fertilizer combinations on maize productivity in the lower and upper midland agro-ecological zones of Kenya. Tillage methods were no-tillage (NT) with crop residue retention as mulch (+CR) (NT+CR) and conventional tillage (CT) without crop residue retention on farm surface (-CR) (CT-CR) while fertilizer combinations were NK, NP, PK, NPK, and NPK+CaMgZnBS. The N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Zn, B and S nutrients were applied at the rates of 120, 40, 40, 10, 10, 5 and 26.3 kg ha-1, respectively. The trials were laid in a randomized complete block design with a split-plot arrangement and replicated three times. The results showed that maize leaf area index, plant height, aboveground biomass, crop growth rate, and grain yield were significantly higher under CT-CR than under NT+CR in most of the sites. The CT-CR system out-yielded NT+CR system by 0.3 t ha-1 and 0.6 t ha-1 maize grain in Alupe and Kirinyaga, respectively. However, NT+CR system out-yielded CT-CR system by 0.4 t ha -1 maize grain at Embu. Across all the sites, application of PK and NPK+ZnBMgCaS fertilizer combinations resulted, respectively, in lowest and highest maize shoot biomass, leaf area indices, crop growth rates, plant heights, and grain yields. Based on this result alone, the potential of conservation agriculture in improving yields compared to conventional tillage could not be conclusive despite consistently recording higher soil moisture content across all sites and better yields in Embu. Again, application of a wide range of nutrients may be beneficial to maize production in the study areas as evidenced in the study. Therefore, we recommend multi-season and multi-location trials to comprehensively assess the impact of tillage methods and fertilizer management, particularly in relation to micronutrients
Fish Husbandry Practices and Water Quality in Central Kenya: Potential Risk Factors for Fish Mortality and Infectious Diseases
No full textFish mortality has an enormous impact on the aquaculture industry by reducing fish production and slowing industrial growth. A cross-sectional study was carried out in Kirinyaga County, Central Kenya, to evaluate potential risks of fish mortality and disease transmission and suitability of pond water for rearing fish. A semistructured questionnaire that focused on general information, management practices, and disease history was administered to 92 small-scale fish farmers. Parasitological examination of fish sampled from selected farms (farms that were reporting mortality at the time of sampling) was done by following the standard procedure. Water quality parameters for 33 ponds were evaluated in situ (recorded on pond site) and ex situ (analysed at the laboratory) following the standard methods. The risks were assessed by adjusted odds ratio based on univariate regression analysis. Prevalent fish husbandry practices that were found to be associated with fish mortality and acquisition of pathogens in the study area were the use of raw livestock manure (0R = 1.500), high fish stocking density (0R = 1.168), and feeding fish on homemade rations (0R = 1.128). Parasitological investigation found infestation with Diplostomum spp., Dactylogyrus spp., Clinostomum spp., and Piscicola leeches. Water temperature and pH were found fit for rearing fish. Of the 33 fishpond water samples tested, 1 (3%) and 6 (18%) exceeded the recommended limits of <100 mg/L and <0.2 mg/L of nitrate and nitrite, respectively. Of the 29 fishpond water tested, 15 (59%) exceeded the recommended limits of <100 mg/L of total ammonia. The findings show that the use of raw livestock manure, high fish stocking density, high nitrates and nitrites, and high ammonia levels in fishponds are potential risk factors for fish mortality and acquisition of infectious pathogens in a pond environment in a rural setup, in Central Kenya. There is a need to address the above factors in small-scale farming practices to minimize fish loss and also to prevent the occurrence and spread of infectious pathogens
Survey data on factors that influence the adoption of soil carbon enhancing practices in Western Kenya
No full textThe data described in this paper were collected in Western Kenya, specifically in Kakamega and Vihiga Counties. The data were collected from 334 households with the aim of assessing factors that facilitate or constrain the adoption of practices that enhance the sequestration of soil carbon. The data were collected through a structured questionnaire that was designed in SurveyCTO. The data were later downloaded from SurveyCTO servers and exported to STATA version 14 for cleaning and analysis. This data can be used by researchers to assess the probability and extent of adoption of specific soil carbon enhancing practices in the two counties of Western Kenya. Additionally, it can be utilized to access the impact of adopting soil carbon enhancing practices on maize and beans yield at both the plot and the farm level
Making devolution work for livestock trading in Northern Kenya
No full textKEY HIGHLIGHTS
Devolution has improved administrative state functions at the county levels iover Kshs. 50 Billion, with Garissa receiving an allocation of Kshs. 7 billion, In 2018, the World Bank through The North and North-Eastern Development Initiative (NEDI), invested US500,000, without including the formal taxation of goats, sheep, and camels, Limited skilled officials is slowing the positive impact of devolution to the counties in northern Kenya, Overreliance on brokers and wrong time of sales are poor marketing strategies that attract losses s/n northern Kenya. In 2018/2019 FY, counties in northern Kenya received an annual budget o
Sex determination from dimensions of distal tibiae in adult Kenyans: A discriminant function analysis
No full textPurpose: To assess the utility of the dimensions of the distal tibial articular surface in determining the sex of an individual in a sample Kenyan population. Basic procedures: A total of 156 tibiae were obtained for the present study from the Department of Human Anatomy, University of Nairobi and the osteology collection of the National Museums of Kenya, Nairobi. Measurements were taken directly from the bone using a digital pair of vernier calipers (Sealey Professional Tools™). Morphometric data were analyzed and measurements were expressed in means ± standard deviation. The independent Student's t-test was used to determine statistically significant differences in the means of the measured morphometric variables between male and female subjects. A step-wise multivariate discriminant analysis was carried out to produce a linear function to compare the measurements of the tibia. Main findings: Male subjects had statistically significant (p <0.05) larger dimensions of the fibular incisura, tibial plafond and medial malleolus. The width of the tibial plafond had the highest discriminating power amongst the measured dimensions of the tibia correctly classifying 73.0% of tibiae. Principal conclusion: The width of the tibial plafond has high discriminative power in sex determination using the dimensions of the distal tibia. The linear equation derived from incorporating the length of the tibial plafond and the depth of the fibular incisura could correctly classify 75.7% of the tibiae. The dimensions of the distal tibial articular surfaces can therefore be used in determination of the sex of an individual with reasonable accuracy
Predictors of post-mastectomy breast reconstruction in Kenya
No full textGichuru, S., Kedera, T., Wanjeri, J., & Ndaguatha, P. (2020). Predictors of post-mastectomy breast reconstruction in Kenya. Annals of African Surgery, 17(1)