School of Medicine and Health Sciences
Permanent URI for this collectionhttp://41.89.31.6:4000/handle/123456789/315
Welcome to School of Medicine and Health Sciences collection.This collection contains Journal articles published by faculty affiliated to the school.
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Item Effect of Health System Factors on Uptake and Utilization Of Linda Mama Initiative in Kajiado North Sub-County, Kenya(International Journal of Social Sciences and Information Technology, 2024-07) Kendagor, Lydia; Nyavanga, Eunice; M’Mayi, ConsolataMaternal mortality continues to pose a significant public health challenge, with over 300,000 women losing their lives annually during childbirth. In response, policymakers have implemented free maternal healthcare services as a crucial policy intervention. In June 2013, the Kenyan Government introduced the Linda Mama healthcare service, exempting maternal services from user fees across all public health facilities. The primary objective was to encourage skilled delivery and ultimately reduce pregnancy-related mortality. Despite these efforts only 26 percent of mothers In Kajiado North Sub-county aged 19 to 40 had enrolled for the Linda Mama service, falling below both the national average of 61.5 percent and the government's target of 100 percent. We conducted a study to investigate the barriers to uptake of the Linda Mama initiative and utilization of services offered under the initiative. The proportion of uptake of Linda Mama Programme, how socio-demographic, knowledge & perceptions and health system factors affect the uptake of the Linda Mama Initiative were the specific objectives. This paper presents findings from a cross-sectional study conducted between 2018 and 2020 in Kajiado North Sub-County, involving 551 participants. Descriptive statistics were employed, alongside the Chi-Square test for inferential statistics. Correlation analysis was used to explore how health system factors have influenced the uptake and utilization of the Linda Mama service. The results reveal that respondents were generally aware of the government's policy on free maternal healthcare. However, significant gaps persist in terms of infrastructure development, the ratio of health workers to patients, timely provision of essential supplies, and the long distances to health facilities. These findings underscore the urgent need for increased investment in infrastructure, as well as financial and human resource allocation to the healthcare sector within County Governments.Item COVID-19 Containment Policy Measures and their Effect on Access to HIV Services for Persons Living With HIV in Ruaraka Sub-County, Kenya(International Journal of Professional Practice (IJPP), 2022-03) Chirchir, Purity Jerop; Kimani, Makobu; M’Mayi, ConsolataThe spread of the novel coronavirus disease in 2019 (COVID-19) worldwide led to the introduction of mitigation and containment responses designed to stem the heightened transmission of the virus. These measures hindered face-to-face provision of healthcare, which has traditionally formed the foundation for HIV treatment, testing, and prevention services. Although the containment policy guidelines might have been effective in limiting infections, they had serious economic ramifications, which indirectly caused fear and anxiety among people living with HIV (PLHIV). Accordingly, this study assessed the effect of COVID-19 containment measures on access to HIV services for persons living with HIV. Further, the study explored the impact of these measures on the psychological health of PLHIV, including their knowledge on the virus and the coping strategies they adopted to enable them access HIV services amidst COVID-19. The study adopted a cross-sectional research design and targeted a population of 914 respondents, out of which 298 respondents constituted the sample size. Proportionate stratified and systematic random sampling approaches were used to select respondents, while a questionnaire was used to collect data. The study used a self-reported questionnaire (SRQ-20) to screen for existence of psychological distress. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences was used to analyze the data using both descriptive and inferential statistics. The findings established that COVID-19 containment guidelines, such as stay at home requirement, hindered access to HIV services. The study concluded that the outcomes of these guidelines contributed to psychological distress; coping strategies used by PLHIV to enable them access HIV services did not completely mitigate against the limited access; and people living with HIV had knowledge of the symptoms and high risk factors of COVID-19. The study recommends the Ministry of Health to integrate digital health into the delivery platforms of HIV services.