A5034901368- Parasites and Host Interactions
- Child Nutrition and Water Access
- Global Maternal and Child Health
- Parasite Biology and Host Interactions
- Water Governance and Infrastructure
- Trace Elements in Health
- Community Health and Development
- Participatory Visual Research Methods
- Urban and Rural Development Challenges
- Water resources management and optimization
Kenya Medical Research Institute
2010-2020
Maseno University
2018
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
2015
Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria
2015
Center for Global Health
2015
Although accurate assessment of the prevalence Schistosoma mansoni is important for design and evaluation control programs, most widely used tools diagnosis are limited by suboptimal sensitivity, slow turn-around-time, or inability to distinguish current from former infections. Recently, two tests that detect circulating cathodic antigen (CCA) in urine patients with schistosomiasis became commercially available. As part a larger study on young children, we evaluated performance diagnostic...
Previous studies suggest that humans can acquire immunity to reinfection with schistosomes, most probably due immunologic mechanisms acquired after exposure dying schistosome worms.We followed longitudinally two cohorts of adult males occupationally exposed Schistosoma mansoni by washing cars (120 men) or harvesting sand (53 in Lake Victoria. Men were treated praziquantel each time S. infection was detected. In car washers, a significant increase resistance reinfection, as measured the...
Although schistosomiasis burden is greatest among school-age children (SAC) (6-15 years of age), infection preschool-age (PSAC) (1-5 years), may be underestimated in endemic areas. We conducted a cross-sectional study evaluating Schistosoma mansoni 1-15 age highly community Kenya. Diagnostic tests included stool exam (Kato/Katz technique), serum testing for schistosome-specific antibodies, and urine circulating cathodic antigen (CCA). Overall, 268 SAC 216 PSAC were enrolled; prevalence...
Recent years have witnessed an increase in the use of community based participatory research (CBPR) tools for understanding environment and health issues facilitating social action. This paper explores application utility photovoice water, sanitation, hygiene (WASH) behaviours catalysing led solutions to change behaviours. Between June August 2013, was conducted with eight (8) women Usoma, a lakeshore Western Kenya follow-up meeting (baraza) May 2014 discuss findings members government...
Background Schistosomiasis, a parasitic disease that affects over 200 million people, can lead to significant morbidity and mortality; distribution of single dose preventative chemotherapy significantly reduces burden. Implementation control programs is dictated by prevalence rates, which are determined costly labor intensive screening stool samples. Because ecological human factors known contribute the focal schistosomiasis, we sought determine if specific environmental geographic could be...
Background Mass drug administration (MDA) using praziquantel is the WHO-recommended approach for control of schistosomiasis. However, few studies have compared impact different schedules MDA on resultant infection levels. We wished to evaluate whether annual was more effective than less frequent treatments reducing community-level prevalence and intensity Schistosoma mansoni infections. Methods performed a cluster randomized trial (ISRCTN 14849830) 3 frequencies over 5 year period in 75...
Schistosomiasis remains a major public health problem in Kenya. The World Health Organization recommends preventive chemotherapy with praziquantel (PZQ) to control morbidity due schistosomiasis. Morbidity is considered linked intensity of infection, which along prevalence used determine the frequency mass drug administration (MDA) school-age children. We determined impact annual school-based MDA on children across all primary and high school years using repeated cross-sectional study design...
World Health Organization recommendations for the timing and target population mass drug administration (MDA) schistosomiasis are based on prevalence of infection in school children within a given community. In large study comparing MDA approaches Schistosoma mansoni control, we evaluated whether egg burdens 9- to 12-year-old students reflected levels young adults same Cross-sectional surveys preadolescents (9–12 years old) were compared with those first year (5–8 225 villages (20–55 150...
Achieving the proposed water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) post-MDG goals will require targeted measures if human right to water sanitation is ever be realized. Particularly in rural areas, among urban poor populations marginalized communities where access remains low, an important vehicle raise attention inequalities access. In this paper, we explore journey of Usoma, a small community Western Kenya, as they move toward realization sanitation. face international pressure for increasingly...
Recently, health measurements have broadened to include the assessment of quality life (QOL). This study was conducted assess whether short form World Health Organization (WHO) QOL questionnaire (WHOQOL-BREF) an effective tool for measuring morbidity due Schistosoma mansoni infection and it could detect impact treatment with praziquantel. A total 724 adults 18–85 years age were enrolled. At baseline, S. prevalence 73.2% by stool examination 75.4% circulating cathodic antigen, there no...
Abstract Background World Health Organization guidelines recommend preventive chemotherapy with praziquantel to control morbidity due schistosomiasis. The primary aim of this cross-sectional study was determine if 4 years annual mass drug administration (MDA) in and secondary schools lowered potential markers infected children 1 year after the final MDA compared prior initial intervention. Methods Between 2012 2016 all students two three within kilometers Lake Victoria western Kenya received...
About 3.6 billion people worldwide lack access to safely managed sanitation service. To bridge service gaps, informal businesses have emerged as alternative providers meet the needs of unserved populations. Informal workers include persons who empty septic tanks, clean toilets, sewers, and manage public toilets. They provide a fundamental particularly in areas where municipal is limited. Through qualitative methodologies, this paper explores lived experiences associated health risks women...
Summary This study evaluated potential changes in antischistosome immune responses children from schools that received 4 rounds of annual mass drug administration ( MDA ) praziquantel PZQ ). In a repeated cross‐sectional design, 210 schistosome egg‐positive were recruited at baseline western Kenya (baseline group). Another 251 the same age range and diagnosed with infection by microscopy (post‐ In‐vitro schistosome‐specific cytokines plasma antibody levels measured ELISA compared between 2...