JOURNAL ARTICLES

SELF-CARE PRACTICES AMONG ADULT PATIENTS NEWLY DIAGNOSED WITH TYPE 2 DIABETES MELLITUS IN SELECTED LEVEL FIVE HOSPITALS IN KENYA

2026-05-13T00:00:00Z

SELF-CARE PRACTICES AMONG ADULT PATIENTS NEWLY DIAGNOSED WITH TYPE 2 DIABETES MELLITUS IN SELECTED LEVEL FIVE HOSPITALS IN KENYA Ndirangu, Loise Nyambura Background: Self-care practices refers to patient’s real-life application of the knowledge acquired on diabetes management. In Kenya, the prevalence of diabetes related complications has been on the rise and this has been linked to poor self-care practices. Objective: To determine the self-care practices among adult patients newly diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM). Materials and Methods: Descriptive cross-sectional design was adopted. A total of 124 patients newly diagnosed with T2DM were randomly recruited from the selected hospitals. Data was collected using a questionnaire modified from the Diabetes Self-Management Questionnaire (DSMQ). Descriptive analysis was done to generate frequencies while chi-square was used to assess association between variables (p≤ 0.05 at 95% CI). Results: Of 124 respondents, 70 (56.5%) were females with most 35 (28.2%) belonging to the age group between 60-69 years. Regarding the duration of T2DM since diagnosis, 45 (36.3%) reported that they were diagnosed at least four months ago. Poor self-care practices were noted in 69 (55.6%) of the respondents, with the mean and standard deviation being 4.92 (±1.10), mean score ranging from 0 to 10. However, there was no significant association between self-care practices and respondents’ characteristics. Conclusion and Recommendation: Self-care practices among the respondents was poor, hence the need for clinicians to conduct a needs assessment among patients PhD Research Publication

ACTIVATION LEVELS AMONG ADULT PATIENTS NEWLY DIAGNOSED WITH TYPE 2 DIABETES MELLITUS IN SELECTED LEVEL FIVE HOSPITALS, KENYA

2026-05-01T00:00:00Z

ACTIVATION LEVELS AMONG ADULT PATIENTS NEWLY DIAGNOSED WITH TYPE 2 DIABETES MELLITUS IN SELECTED LEVEL FIVE HOSPITALS, KENYA Ndirangu, Loise Nyambura Background: Globally, prevalence of diabetes related complications has been on the rise and linked to poor skills and knowledge on the recommended self-care practices. Objective: To establish activation levels among adult patients newly diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM). Method: Descriptive cross-sectional design was utilized to collect data from 124 randomly selected patients who were newly diagnosed with T2DM in the selected health care facilities. Data was collected using a closed ended questionnaire and the Patient Activation Measure® then analyzed using SPSS version 26. Descriptive analysis was done to generate frequencies while chi-square was done to assess association between the independent and dependent variables using a confidence interval of 95%. Results: Females were the majority 70 (56.5%) with most participants 35 (28.3%) being between 60-69 years. Regarding duration of T2DM since diagnosis majority 45 (36.3%) reported four months. Only 45 (36.3%) had normal Body Mass Index (BMI) while 42 (33.9%) were obese. Low patient activation levels were noted in 88 (71.0%) of the study participants. The mean (SD) for the patient activation levels was 53.28 (±7.27) corresponding to activation level 2. Variables found to have a statistically significant association were religion (p=0.024) and clinical duration of T2DM (P=0.031). Conclusion: Activation levels were found to be low indicating low levels of confidence, knowledge and skills among adult patients newly diagnosed with T2DM. Therefore, clinicians need to adopt evidence-based strategies aimed at empowering newly diagnosed patients so as to activate them in adjusting their self care practices. PhD Research Publication

Factors associated with Isoniazid preventive therapy among HIV patients attending comprehensive care clinic at Chuka County referral hospital, Kenya

2026-03-05T00:00:00Z

Factors associated with Isoniazid preventive therapy among HIV patients attending comprehensive care clinic at Chuka County referral hospital, Kenya Mbuba, Dickson Gitonga Background:Tuberculosis (TB) in humans is caused by bacilli Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex. AIDS is an immunodeficiency disease caused by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) (Mindachew et al., 2014). HIV breaks down the body's defense against infection and immune system by destroying specific white blood cells (CD4 cells) weakening the immune system hence the body cannot fight an illness attack such as tuberculosis (Cook, 2009). Materials and Methods: A descriptive cross sectional study design adopted with the target population being the zero positive patients attending Comprehensive Care Centre (CCC) services at the facility. Systematic random sampling method used as the sampling technique. Data collection was interviewer administered questionnaire and focused group discussion. Quantitative information was be analysed using SPSS version 25. Chi square method used to test the association between dependent and independent variables. Data presented in tables, pie charts, bar graphs and narrations. Results:The study found out that there was a significant association between quality of service by the caregiver and Patients who completed medication on Isoniazid Preventive Therapy. Further results showed that there was insignificant association between sex and compliance with IPT. Results showed that there was a significant association between the marital status and compliance with isoniazid preventive therapy (IPT. The study established that there was significant association between the taking of the IPT drug and reason for taking the drug. Further, the study established that there was significant association between the side effects of the IPT drug and compliance to Isoniazid Preventive Therapy among HIV patients attending CCC at Chuka referral hospital. Findings further found that association between friendliness of the Hospital staff was significant. The study found out that association between waiting time at the Hospital and compliance with IPT was significant. Conclusion:Research showed that association between health education and compliance with IPT was significant. These results were, shared with hospital administration in order to understand factors that contribute to non-adherence to isoniazid preventive therapy, for necessary action to be, taken in order to increase the uptake of isoniazid preventive therapy. These results are, expected to be crucial for HIV/TB collaborative activities in reducing the mortality rate, morbidity rate and mental complications of TB in people living with HIV/AIDS. Key word: Tuberculosis, HIV, Isoniazid, Therapy MSc Research Publication

Determinants of unintended pregnancy among women attending antenatal clinic at Kenyatta National Hospital

2025-12-04T00:00:00Z

Determinants of unintended pregnancy among women attending antenatal clinic at Kenyatta National Hospital Ojuok, Rose Aluoch Background: Unintended pregnancy predisposes women of child-bearing age to risk factors like maternal deaths, poor child outcomes, mental illness because of stress, risky abortion, and vertical transmission of HIV. According to the Kenya Demographic Health Survey in 2014, 34% of the pregnancies were unintended and in the year 2020 it rose to 41.9% (Monitoring, 2020). Determinants of unintended pregnancy among women attending antenatal clinics in Kenya is diverse and is poorly understood due to no representative information. The objective of the study was to determine the factors associated with unintended pregnancy among women attending antenatal clinic particularly their individual factors, family planning practices and health facility-based factors. Method: A cross-sectional study design. Data was collected using a structured administered questionnaire from 227 participants. The proportion and determinants of unintended pregnancy was derived using bivariate analysis and multivariate logistic regressions. Results: In this study, a third (29.9%) of the pregnant women reported that their existing gravidity was unintended. Individual factors such as age less than 25 years [AOR 8.1 (95% CI 1.4-48.6)), p=0.001], use of contraceptive method [AOR 7.9 (95% CI 2.5-25.0), p<0.001] and the woman being the sole decision-maker on when to get pregnant [AOR 3.8 (95% CI 1.3-11.2), p=0.014] were significantly associated with unintended pregnancy. Conclusion: The study area had quite a significant proportion of unintended pregnancy underscoring the need for health facilities to enhance targeted contraceptive counselling during antenatal and postnatal clinics. Reinforcing effective utilization of family planning services in the pursuit to decrease unintended pregnancy not only in Nairobi but also in Kenya. MSc Research Publication