East African journal of public health
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East Afr J Public Health · Dec 2009
The quality of food, clothing and shelter provided to orphaned children under foster care in Kibera slums in Kenya.
To assess the quality of foster care with regard to the provision of food, clothing and shelter to orphaned children under foster care. ⋯ The quality of foster care is poor and the quantity is inadequate. There is evidence that families are struggling to provide adequate and good quality of food, clothing and shelter to orphaned children, exposing them to the risk of malnutrition, low self-esteem and respiratory tract infections.
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East Afr J Public Health · Dec 2009
Prevalence and determinants of hypertension in the urban and rural population of a north Indian district.
Hypertension is a major contributor to the cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in industrialized countries. Reports suggest that hypertension is rapidly increasing in developing countries like India. Non-communicable diseases are likely to overshadow infectious diseases in the coming years and pose a heavy strain on health budgets in our country. In this study we have tried to study the prevalence of hypertension in a north Indian population based on the recently formulated criteria of the JNC-7 and to identify the determinants of hypertension. ⋯ A high prevalence of hypertension was seen in the urban and rural population of a north Indian district Risk factors of hypertension were age and gender in urban as well as rural population. Diabetes, higher BMI values, decreased level of physical activity and increased waist circumference also significantly contributed to the risk of hypertension, which necessitates intervention at the primary health care level for its prevention.
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East Afr J Public Health · Dec 2009
Social marketing and the fight against malaria in Africa: population services international (PSI) and insecticide treated nets (ITNS).
This textual analyses on Social marketing, Insecticide Treated Nets (ITNs) and Population Services International (PSI) were undertaken to achieve two objectives: (a) to contribute to the continuing debate and search for a better strategy for combating malaria in sub-Saharan Africa; and (b) to contribute to theory building on social marketing. The analyses revealed that Malaria has reached an epidemic proportion and despite major inroads by PSI in combating malaria on the principles of social marketing, the strategies of pricing and segmentation of the clients are not appropriate for Sub-Saharan African countries that are mired in absolute poverty where majority of the rural communities eke a living on less than a dollar per day and the health sector does not receive priority attention from policy makers and politicians. The descriptive statistics and a one sample t test for the sampled countries suggest that sub-Saharan countries have not even met the hypothesized 5% investment of their GDP on health, compared to their counterparts, the developed countries, who are all above this figure. ⋯ The paper concludes by agreeing with Professors Curtis and Sachs that comprehensive malaria control in Africa is achievable by 2010, at the minimal cost if sound principles of public health and economics are observed. Millions of lives can be saved and Africa will be given vital help in escaping from the viscous circle of poverty and diseases that continue to grip the continent. The target for all intervention efforts should be to eliminate the cost factor and ensure free distribution of all malaria related treatment products.