Primary Teacher Trainees Preparedness to Teach Science: A Gender Perspective

The purpose of this study was to determine Primary Teacher Education (PTE) Trainees’ perceptions regarding their preparedness to teach science in primary schools. A descriptive survey research design was used and stratified proportionate random sampling techniques used to select 177 males and 172 females. The study found out that more male trainee than female trainees had studied the three science subjects in secondary schools. Overall more male trainees than female trainees expressed high level of conceptual understanding of science subject content and SPS. More male trainee than female trainees further indicated they were ready to teach science during teaching practice and after training. The study recommends that science tutors to use SPS approach in teaching of PTE science, PTE to ensure trainees have high mastery of science subject content and SPS and to provide a gender-appropriate training to demystify gender differences in performance in science and promote gender equity in science education. The study further recommends that affirmative action be used in subject specialization selection to ensure gender parity in science education. Finally Kenya National Examination Council to include practical science examination measuring competency to teach science. Key words: Science Process Skills and Science Content, Inquiry Based science Educatio

Unmet Need for Contraception Use among HIV Positive Women in Kwale County, Kenya

Introduction: The HIV pandemic has been one of the biggest challenges in public health across the world since its emergence. Millions are still getting infected every year, despite all the efforts made to prevent new infections. The use of modern contraceptives is one of the strategies used in preventing vertical transmission of HIV by averting unplanned pregnancies, yet the uptake among HIV infected women is still below expectations especially in rural communities with fewer resources. Therefore this study aimed to determine the contraceptive use among HIV- positive women in Kwale County, Kenya. Materials and Methods: The cross-sectional study design was used, interviewing 347 HIV positive women aged 15-49 years who had been attending selected Comprehensive Care Clinics in Kwale County, for at least three months. Questionnaires were used between March and April 2021 to collect data from participants based on a systematic sampling with a skip interval used to select the participants. Data were managed and analysed using Ms Excel and STATA 16, respectively. A P-value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The contraceptive prevalence rate was 79% (95% CI 74.3; 82.9) and the unmet need for contraception was 21% with 18% and 3% was the unmet need for limiting and spacing, respectively. The most commonly used modern contraceptive methods were injectables (48%) followed by implants (36%) then condoms (8%) and 4% were on hormonal pills. Older women aged between 45 and 49 had the highest unmet need for contraception (16;4.6%)[ X2=53.9031, p=0.000]. Marital status [X2=68.7855, p=0.000] and parity [X2=, 7.9921 p=0.018] were also associated with contraceptive use. Conclusion: The contraceptive prevalence rate and unmet needs were 79% and 21% respectively among HIV-positive women of childbearing age in Kwale County. Age of 45-49 years, widowed, and nulliparous status was associated with unmet needs for contraception. Recommendations: Literature indicates that spousal support encourages women to use contraceptives. Therefore, National and local governments should prioritize endorsing policies and programs targeting widowed and unmarried women to encourage them to utilize modern contraceptives

Gender-Based Violence and Associated Factors Among Adolescent Girls in Kakuma Refugee Camp, Turkana County, Kenya

Gender Based Violence (GBV) has been rampant in refugee camps as documented by the Independent International Commission of inquiry. Incidences were reported in 45% of Syrian refugees who resided in Lebanon refugee camps and 47 % of those who dwelt in Kurdistan region of Iraq. In Uganda 425 incidences were reported from 13 districts. 61% of women accessing GBV centers in Dadaab Refugee camp reported an increase in intimate partner violence. The broad objective of this study was to determine Gender based violence and associated factors among adolescent girls. The Ecological Model of Violence guided this research. The specific objectives were to determine the prevalence of gender-based violence. The study adopted analytical cross-sectional research design. The number of adolescents who reside in Kakuma Refugee camp is 16307 as per the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees [UNHCR] records. This study was done in all the 4 regions of Kakuma Refugee camp (Kakuma 1, Kakuma 2, Kakuma 3 and Kakuma 4) which were purposely selected to ensure proper representation of all nationalities and diverse cultural backgrounds. Using simple random sampling researcher picked the first student on the admission list and every fifth student on that list for interview. However, the number of participants was proportionate to the population of adolescent girls in that region as follows: - Kakuma 1 had 132 respondents representing 34.38%, Kakuma 2 had 116 respondents representing 30.21%, Kakuma 386 respondents representing 22.4% while Kakuma 4 had 50 respondents representing 13.02%. This gave a sample size of 384 respondents as demonstrated by the Fischer’s formula. Quantitative data was collected in this study through questionnaires. Self-administered questionnaires were used for literate middle and late adolescents under the supervision of research assistants. Ethical consideration was approval from Kenyatta University Ethics and research committee, National Commission for Science Technology and Innovation, and the camp leadership, while informed consent and assent was signed by the respondents. Descriptive statistics were used to determine prevalence of gender based violence. The overall prevalence of adolescent GBV in Kakuma refugee camp was found out to be 60.4%. From composite analysis, the overall prevalence of sexual violence was 22.7%, physical violence 52.1% while emotional violence was at 48.7%. This study concluded that In Kakuma Refugee Camp, it was found out that the prevalence of physical violence was the highest form of adolescent GBV. To improve the overall welfare of teenage girls, this research recommended that initiatives reinforcing social support systems should be improved, boost the efficacy of governmental interventions, and execute targeted interventions that specifically tackle the underlying factors contributing to gender-based violence, such as poverty and cultural norms

Alternative Education and Return Pathways for Out-of-School Youth in Sub-Saharan Africa

This background paper was prepared as part of the Mastercard Foundation's Secondary Education in Africa (SEA) initiative. The study was conducted by the African Population and Health Research Center's (APHRC) Education and Youth Empowerment (EYE) unit.The study was a desk review that relied on secondary data, and organizing and synthesizing available information on OOSY. A literature search focusing on SSA was conducted using academic databases and grey literature to find information on as many models as possible. The literature was synthesized into key features in alternative provision of education and training for OOSY and pathways back to formal education... A total of 190 articles that met the set criteria were retrieved and 66 of these were included in the review. More than 15 project reports (grey literature) were accessed online and used to develop case studies.... Additionally, the short case studies were enriched through telephone and Skype interviews with program staff and relevant senior government officers.

Imunização subcutânea na infecção do camundongo pela Leishmania major: eficácia dos promastigotos mortos pela formalina combinada com adjuvantes

Promastigotos mortos pela formalina (FKP) de Leishmania major combinados com Montanide ISA 720 (MISA), BCG ou alumen foram usados na vacinação de modelo murino cutâneo de leishmaniose (CL). Aumento significante e específico de resposta IgG anti FKP foram detectados tanto no FKP com alumen como naquele com BCG comparados ao MISA-FKP (p < 0,001). Aumento significante da proliferação esplênica de linfócitos de memória foi obtida nos camundongos vacinados com MISA-FKP quando comparados aos grupos vacinados com alumen-FKP ou BCG-FKP (p < 0,01). As maiores respostas por interferon-gama foram observadas no grupo BCG-FKP seguido pelo MISA-FKP enquanto que o alumen-FKP deu a menor resposta. No grupo MISA-FKP foram obtidas reduções significantes do tamanho das lesões quando comparado aos grupos vacinados com BCG/adjuvante de alumen-FKP. Embora o grupo BCG-FKP tenha mostrado a maior resposta por interferon-gama, não houve controle das lesões cutâneas. Redução significante no número de parasitas foi observada tanto no grupo vacinado com MISA-FKP como no BCG-FKP (p < 0,001). Houve boa correlação entre a carga parasitária e o nível de interferon-gama indicando que a resposta do interferon-gama é parâmetro sensível do estado imunológico. Em conclusão, MISA-FKP é a forma mais eficaz de vacina contra a leishmaniose cutânea murina.Formalin-killed promastigotes (FKP) of Leishmania major, in combination with Montanide ISA 720 (MISA), BCG or alum were used in vaccination of an inbred murine model against cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL). Significant and specific increases in anti-FKP IgG responses were detected for both alum-FKP and BCG-FKP compared to MISA-FKP (p < 0.001). Significant increases in splenic lymphocyte recall proliferation was obtained in the MISA-FKP vaccinated mice compared to alum-FKP or BCG-FKP vaccinated groups (p < 0.01). The highest interferon-&#947; responses were observed in the BCG-FKP group followed by the MISA-FKP while the alum-FKP gave the least responses. Significantly reduced lesion sizes were obtained in the MISA-FKP group compared to the BCG/alum adjuvants-FKP vaccinated groups. Although the BCG-FKP group showed the highest IFN-&#947; responses, it failed to control cutaneous lesions. Significant reductions in parasite numbers were observed in the MISA-FKP and BCG-FKP vaccinated groups (p < 0.001). There was a good correlation between parasite burden and IFN-&#947; level indicating IFN-&#947; response as a sensitive parameter of the immune status. In conclusion, MISA-FKP is the most efficacious vaccine formulation against murine cutaneous leishmaniasis

Trends in clinical characteristics and outcomes of Pre-ART care at a large HIV clinic in Nairobi, Kenya: a retrospective cohort study

BACKGROUND: The success of antiretroviral therapy in resource-scarce settings is an illustration that complex healthcare interventions can be successfully delivered even in fragile health systems. Documenting the success factors in the scale-up of HIV care and treatment in resource constrained settings will enable health systems to prepare for changing population health needs. This study describes changing demographic and clinical characteristics of adult pre-ART cohorts, and identifies predictors of pre-ART attrition at a large urban HIV clinic in Nairobi, Kenya. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort analysis of data on HIV infected adults (≥15 years) enrolling in pre-ART care between January 2004 and September 2015. Attrition (loss to program) was defined as those who died or were lost to follow-up (having no contact with the facility for at least 6 months). We used Kaplan-Meier survival analysis to determine time to event for the different modes of transition, and Cox proportional hazards models to determine predictors of pre-ART attrition. RESULTS: Over the 12 years of observation, there were increases in the proportions of young people (age 15 to 24 years); and patients presenting with early disease (by WHO clinical stage and higher median CD4 cell counts), p = 0.0001 for trend. Independent predictors of attrition included: aHR (95% CI): male gender 1.98 (1.69–2.33), p = 0.0001; age 20–24 years 1.80 (1.37–2.37), p = 0.0001), or 25–34 years 1.22 (1.01–1.47), p = 0.0364; marital status single 1.55 (1.29–1.86), p = 0.0001) or divorced 1.41(1.02–1.95), p = 0.0370; urban residency 1.83 (1.40–2.38), p = 0.0001; CD4 count of 0–100 cells/µl 1.63 (1.003–2.658), p = 0.0486 or CD4 count >500 cells/µl 2.14(1.46–3.14), p = 0.0001. CONCLUSIONS: In order to optimize the impact of HIV prevention, care and treatment in resource scarce settings, there is an urgent need to implement prevention and treatment interventions targeting young people and patients entering care with severe immunosuppression (CD4 cell counts <100 cells/µl). Additionally, care and treatment programmes should strengthen inter-facility referrals and linkages to improve care coordination and prevent leakages in the HIV care continuum

Education Management Information System (EMIS) and Learning Management in Informal Schools: A Case of Bridge International Schools, Nairobi-Kenya

Learning management and education management information systems (EMIS) in informal schools: a case study of bridge international schools in Nairobi is the focus of this study. This research set out to answer three main questions: (i) how effective is EMIS at boosting teacher management efficiency in NFS; (ii) what role does EMIS play in reducing or eliminating NFS learning challenges; and (iii) where exactly in Nairobi County's Kibera slums do NFS exist? The study's theoretical framework was constructivism. The researcher employed a Convergent parallel design mixed-methods strategy and zeroed in on a select group of respondents. 15 principals, 45 instructors, and 240 students (one focus group discussion with eight students per grade level) were randomly selected. Questionnaires and in-person interviews were used to compile the data. Descriptive statistics and SPSS for Windows version 21 were used to handle and analyse the collected data. Tables, frequencies, and percentages were used to display quantitative data, while questionnaires and interviews were used to display and analyse qualitative data. Schools should embrace the incorporation of education management information system (EMIS) and learning in informal settings, according to the study's findings, because school leadership and management play a crucial role in mitigating the negative impact EMIS has on Bridge International Academies' pedagogical approach. Kenya's Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology (MoEST) benefited greatly from the study's findings on the impact of EMIS on student learning and its suggestions for the ministry's future policymaking and ICT implementation. Researchers are encouraged to use the study's findings to further their own knowledge of EMIS in non-formal education systems, to test hypotheses, or as background reading for future investigations

Amyloid precursor protein drives down-regulation of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation independent of amyloid beta

Amyloid precursor protein (APP) and its extracellular domain, soluble APP alpha (sAPPα) play important physiological and neuroprotective roles. However, rare forms of familial Alzheimer’s disease are associated with mutations in APP that increase toxic amyloidogenic cleavage of APP and produce amyloid beta (Aβ) at the expense of sAPPα and other non-amyloidogenic fragments. Although mitochondrial dysfunction has become an established hallmark of neurotoxicity, the link between Aβ and mitochondrial function is unclear. In this study we investigated the effects of increased levels of neuronal APP or Aβ on mitochondrial metabolism and gene expression, in human SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells. Increased non-amyloidogenic processing of APP, but not Aβ, profoundly decreased respiration and enhanced glycolysis, while mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) transcripts were decreased, without detrimental effects to cell growth. These effects cannot be ascribed to Aβ toxicity, since higher levels of endogenous Aβ in our models do not cause oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) perturbations. Similarly, chemical inhibition of β-secretase decreased mitochondrial respiration, suggesting that non-amyloidogenic processing of APP may be responsible for mitochondrial changes. Our results have two important implications, the need for caution in the interpretation of mitochondrial perturbations in models where APP is overexpressed, and a potential role of sAPPα or other non-amyloid APP fragments as acute modulators of mitochondrial metabolism