Background
The Amref Alternative Rites of Passage (ARP) model was initiated in 2009. To date, about 20,000 girls have been supported by their communities to denounce female genital mutilation/cutting ...(FGM/C) and graduate into ‘maturity’ through ARP. While this intervention has been implemented for decades, there is limited evidence of its effectiveness in ending FGM/C. In order to ascertain the effectiveness of this intervention, Amref has developed a digital tracking tool to follow up on girls who have and haven’t gone through the ARP. The key research question is: what effect does ARP have on incidences of FGM/C, teenage pregnancy and child, early and forced marriages among adolescent girls and young women?
Methods
The study will adopt a stepped-wedge cluster randomised controlled trial design to assess the effectiveness of the ARP model on the incidence of FGM/C; teenage pregnancy; child, early and forced marriage; and educational attainment. We selected one cluster in Kajiado County where recent ARPs have been conducted as the intervention site at the beginning of the study and 3 wards/clusters in Narok County as control sites. Approximately 604 girls aged 10-18 years who reside in selected sites/clusters in Kajiado and Narok counties will be recruited and followed up for 3 years post-exposure. Quantitative data analysis will be conducted at bivariate and multivariate levels. Content/thematic analysis approach will be used to analyse qualitative data.
Ethics and dissemination
The study obtained ethical approval from the Amref Ethics and Scientific Review Committee (AMREF-ESRC P1051-2021). The findings of this study will be shared with local, national and regional stakeholders working in ending FGM/C, teenage pregnancy, and child, early and forced marriages.
Registration
– Pan-African Clinical Trials Registry (PACTR202208731662190).
Regular monitoring of bacterial susceptibility to antibiotics in clinical settings is key for ascertaining the current trends as well as re-establish empirical therapy. This study aimed to determine ...bacterial contaminants and their antimicrobial susceptibility patterns from medical equipment, inanimate surfaces and clinical samples obtained from Thika Level V Hospital (TLVH), Thika, in Central Kenya. Three hundred and five samples were collected between the period of March 2021 to November 2021 and comprised urine, pus swabs, catheter swabs, stool, and environmental samples. Bacterial identification and antimicrobial susceptibility were performed using VITEK 2 and disc diffusion respectively. We observed that Coagulase-negative Staphylococci (28 /160, 17.5%) were the most commonly isolated species from clinical samples followed by E. coli (22 /160 13.8%) and S. aureus (22/160, 13.8%). The bed rails were the mostly contaminated surface with S. aureus accounting for 14.2% (6/42). Among the clinical samples, pus swabs yielded the highest number of pathogens was pus (92/160). Trauma patients had the highest proportion of isolates (67/160, 41.8%). High level of antimicrobial resistance to key antimicrobials, particularly among Enterobacterales was observed. Extended Spectrum Beta Lactamase (ESBL) phenotype was noted in 65.9% (29/44) of enteric isolates. While further ESBL genetic confirmatory studies are needed, this study highlights the urgent need for actions that mitigate the spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
Citizen science is gaining increasing prominence as a tool for science and engagement. However, despite being a potentially valuable tool for sustainable development, citizen science has little ...visibility in many developing countries.
We undertook a collaborative prioritisation process with experts in conservation and the environment to assess the potential of environmental citizen science in East Africa, including its opportunities, benefits and barriers. This provided principles that are applicable across developing countries, particularly for large‐scale citizen science.
We found that there was great potential for citizen science to add to our scientific knowledge of natural resources and biodiversity trends. Many of the important benefits of citizen science were for people, as well as the environment directly. Major barriers to citizen science were mostly social and institutional, although projects should also consider access to suitable technology and language barriers.
Policy implications. Citizen science can provide data to support decision‐making and reporting against international targets. Participation can also provide societal benefits, informing and empowering people, thus supporting the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. In developing countries, innovation is needed to further develop culturally relevant citizen science that benefits participants and end users. This should be supported through regional networks of stakeholders for sharing best practice.
Foreign Language Swahili
Sayansi ya wananchi inaendelea kuongezeka kwa umaarufu kama chombo cha sayansi na ushiriki. Hata hivyo, licha ya kuwa chombo cha thamani cha maendeleo endelevu, sayansi ya wananchi haionekani sana katika nchi nyingi zinazoendelea.
Tulifanya mchakato wa ushirikiano wa kutoa vipaumbele pamoja na wataalamu wa uhifadhi na mazingira ili kuchunguza uwezekano wa sayansi ya wananchi ya mazingira katika Afrika ya Mashariki, ikijumuisha fursa, faida na vikwazo. Hii ilitoa kanuni zinazoweza kutumika katika nchi zinazoendelea, hasa kwa sayansi ya wananchi kwa kiwango kikubwa.
Tuligundua kuwa kuna uwezo mkubwa wa sayansi ya wananchi ili kuongeza ujuzi wetu wa kisayansi kuhusu nyenzo za asili na mielekeo ya bioanuwai. Faida muhimu nyingi za sayansi ya wananchi zilikuwa kwa watu, lakini moja kwa moja kwa mazingira pia. Vikwazo vikuu kwa sayansi ya wananchi vilikuwa kijamii na kitaasisi hasa, ingawa miradi inapaswa pia kufikiria upatikanaji wa teknolojia zinazofaa na vikwazo vya lugha.
Athari za sera ni kama ifuatavyo. Sayansi ya wananchi inaweza kutoa data kusaidia kuunda maamuzi na kuandika ripoti ili kufikia malengo ya kimataifa. Ushiriki unaweza pia kutoa faida za jamii, kuwajulisha na kuwawezesha watu na kwa hiyo kuunga mkono Malengo ya Maendeleo ya Umoja wa Mataifa. Katika nchi zinazoendelea kunahitaji kuwa na ubunifu ili kuendeleza sayansi ya wananchi inayofaa utamaduni inayopata washiriki na watumiaji wa mwisho. Hii inapaswa kuungwa mkono kupitia mitandao ya kikanda ya washikadau kwa kugawana taratibu bora.
The Anopheles stephensi mosquito is an invasive malaria vector recently reported in Djibouti, Ethiopia, Sudan, Somalia, Nigeria, and Ghana. The World Health Organization has called on countries in ...Africa to increase surveillance efforts to detect and report this vector and institute appropriate and effective control mechanisms. In Kenya, the Division of National Malaria Program conducted entomological surveillance in counties at risk for An. stephensi mosquito invasion. In addition, the Kenya Medical Research Institute conducted molecular surveillance of all sampled Anopheles mosquitoes from other studies to identify An. stephensi mosquitoes. We report the detection and confirmation of An. stephensi mosquitoes in Marsabit and Turkana Counties by using endpoint PCR and morphological and sequence identification. We demonstrate the urgent need for intensified entomological surveillance in all areas at risk for An. stephensi mosquito invasion, to clarify its occurrence and distribution and develop tailored approaches to prevent further spread.
Regular monitoring of bacterial susceptibility to antibiotics in clinical settings is key for ascertaining the current trends as well as re-establish empirical therapy. This study aimed to determine ...bacterial contaminants and their antimicrobial susceptibility patterns from medical equipment, inanimate surfaces and clinical samples obtained from Thika Level V Hospital (TLVH), Thika, in Central Kenya. Three hundred and five samples were collected between the period of March 2021 to November 2021 and comprised urine, pus swabs, catheter swabs, stool, and environmental samples. Bacterial identification and antimicrobial susceptibility were performed using VITEK 2 and disc diffusion respectively. We observed that Coagulase-negative Staphylococci (28 /160, 17.5%) were the most commonly isolated species from clinical samples followed by E. coli (22 /160 13.8%) and S. aureus (22/160, 13.8%). The bed rails were the mostly contaminated surface with S. aureus accounting for 14.2% (6/42). Among the clinical samples, pus swabs yielded the highest number of pathogens was pus (92/160). Trauma patients had the highest proportion of isolates (67/160, 41.8%). High level of antimicrobial resistance to key antimicrobials, particularly among Enterobacterales was observed. Extended Spectrum Beta Lactamase (ESBL) phenotype was noted in 65.9% (29/44) of enteric isolates. While further ESBL genetic confirmatory studies are needed, this study highlights the urgent need for actions that mitigate the spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
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