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Research Papers
Direct financial assistance for improved maternal and child health data: a pilot study supporting the health management information system in Malawi
This pilot study in Malawi explored whether direct financial support to district-level Health Management Information System (HMIS) offices could improve the quality of maternal and child health (MCH) data. Implemented in Mwanza district, the intervention allowed HMIS staff to plan and prioritize activities based on local needs. Compared to three control districts, Mwanza showed notable improvements in data availability, completeness, and consistency over a 10-month period. Interviews confirmed the intervention was well received, with staff favoring the autonomy it provided. The findings sugges
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Research Papers
Implementation of community case management of malaria in malaria endemic counties of western Kenya: are community health volunteers up to the task in diagnosing malaria?
This study evaluated the effectiveness of community health volunteers (CHVs) in diagnosing malaria using rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) under Kenya’s Community Case Management of malaria (CCMm) strategy. Conducted in four malaria-endemic counties with a 27% prevalence rate, the study compared 200 RDT results from CHVs with those from experienced medical laboratory technicians (MLTs), using microscopy as a reference. The findings showed a high level of agreement (kappa score of 0.89) between CHVs and MLTs, with CHVs achieving 95% sensitivity and 94% specificity. These results affirm that CHVs
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Research Papers
Management of Psychosocial and Sexual Complains Among Cancer Patients in the African Context: A scoping review
This paper addresses the critical gap in specialized psychosocial and sexual therapies for cancer patients within the African context. It aims to identify deficiencies in healthcare providers' capacities to manage these aspects of cancer care and proposes an algorithm tailored to African settings. Through a scoping review conducted across multiple databases from January 2000 to March 2021, six studies were identified that met the eligibility criteria. These studies were analyzed to chart psychosocial and sexual complications associated with cancer and its treatment, highlighting the need for c
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Research Papers
Analysing 3429 digital supervisory interactions between Community Health Workers in Uganda and Kenya: the development, testing and validation of an open access predictive machine learning web app
This study explored the use of artificial intelligence to support supervision of Community Health Workers (CHWs) through a machine learning web application called CHW supervisor, which was designed to automatically code instant messages exchanged between CHWs and their supervisors. Developed using 2,187 messages from Uganda and validated on 1,242 messages from Kenya, the app’s performance was compared to human coders. While human coders showed high agreement (88–95%, Cohen’s kappa 0.7–0.91), the app achieved moderate accuracy (73–78%, kappa 0.51–0.56). The findings highlight that
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Research Papers
COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy: Vaccination intention and attitudes of community health volunteers in Kenya
This study assessed COVID-19 vaccination intentions among community health volunteers (CHVs) in four Kenyan counties—two urban (Mombasa, Nairobi) and two rural (Kajiado, Trans-Nzoia). It found a high overall intention to vaccinate at 81%, though vaccine hesitancy remained at 19%, with county-level variation ranging from 10.2% to 44.6%. Key factors influencing vaccination intention included trust in vaccine manufacturers and the Ministry of Health, belief in vaccine safety, and confidence in government risk management. The findings highlight that contextual, individual, and vaccine-spe
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Research Papers
Highlighting a Digital Platform to Assess Young People Needs: Reaching and Engaging Adolescents and Young Adults for Care Continuum in Health Project (REACH)
This study describes the development and pilot testing of the REACH-AYA digital survey app, designed to identify protective and risk behaviors among young people (ages 10–24) in Nairobi, Kenya. Using a user-inclusive, five-step design thinking process, the app featured 98 skip-logic-enabled questions across 10 behavioral and psychosocial domains. A pilot with 33 youth informed refinements, and the app was later launched via social media, reaching 1,101 users—of whom 80% completed the survey. The study demonstrates the feasibility and effectiveness of user-centered digital tools in enga
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Research Papers
Voices from the Youth in Kenya Addressing Mental Health Gaps and Recommendations
This study focused on identifying mental health challenges faced by adolescents and young people (AYP) in Kenya and developing actionable recommendations to address them. Through an AYP-led meeting involving 41 participants—including Ministry of Health officials, academics, and implementing partners—key challenges were categorized into three themes: legislative, service provider/Ministry of Health, and individual-level factors. Recommendations included expanding insurance coverage, enhancing community health interventions, creating adolescent-friendly spaces, training youth champions, impl
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Research Papers
Viability of Point of Care Ultrasound screening in Primary Health Care Setting: A Kenyan Experience
Amref International University piloted a sustainable business model to improve access to point-of-care obstetric ultrasound (POCUS) in primary health care settings, addressing the low uptake of ultrasound screening in developing countries. One year post-intervention, 1,250 pregnant women were screened by trained midwives at an affordable fee of USD 5 per scan. Most women (85.7%) found the service accessible and affordable, and 91% recommended scaling it up. Continuous mentorship enhanced midwives’ skills, and the model showed strong social impact and financial viability, with potential to br
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