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Background The effects of COVID-19 on harmful traditional practices such Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C) and Child, Early or Forced Marriages (CEFM) have not been well documented. We examined how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected FGM/C and CEFM in Kenya, Uganda, Senegal, and Ethiopia. Methods A cross-sectional study design with a mixed methods approach was used. Household surveys targeting women and men aged 15–49 years in Kenya (n = 312), Uganda (n = 278), Ethiopia (n = 251), and Senegal (n = 208) were conducted. Thirty-eight in-depth interviews with programme implementers and policymakers were carried out in Kenya (n = 17), Uganda (n = 9), Ethiopia (n = 8), and Senegal (n = 4). Results In Kenya, the COVID-19 pandemic has contributed to the increase in both FGM/C and CEFM cases. Minimal increase of FGM/C cases was reported in Uganda and a significant increase in CEFM cases. In Ethiopia, the COVID-19 pandemic had a limited effect on changes in FGM/C and CEFM. In Senegal, there were minimal effects of COVID-19 on the number of FGM/C and CEFM cases. The pandemic has negatively affected implementation of interventions by the justice and legal system, the health system, and civil societies. Conclusions The pandemic has had varied effects on FGM/C and CEFM across the four countries. Across the four countries, the pandemic has negatively affected implementation of interventions by the various sectors that are responsible for preventing and responding to FGM/C and CEFM. This calls for innovative approaches in intervening in the various communities to ensure that women and girls at risk of FGM/C and CEFM or in need of services are reached during the pandemic. Evidence on how effective alternative approaches such as the use of call centres, radio talk shows and the use of local champions as part of risk communication in preventing and responding to FGM/C and CEFM amid COVID-19 is urgently required.

BackgroundThe effects of COVID-19 on harmful traditional practices such Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C) and Child or Forced Marriages (CFM) have not been well documented. We examined respondents’ perceptions on how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected FGM/C and CFM in Kenya, Uganda, Senegal, and Ethiopia.MethodsA cross-sectional study design with a mixed methods approach was used. Data collection on participants’ perceptions on the effects of COVID-19 on FGM/C and CFM took place between October-December 2020. Household surveys targeting women and men aged 15–49 years in Kenya (n = 312), Uganda (n = 278), Ethiopia (n = 251), and Senegal (n = 208) were conducted. Thirty-eight key informant interviews with programme implementers and policymakers were carried out in Kenya (n = 17), Uganda (n = 9), Ethiopia (n = 8), and Senegal (n = 4).ResultsIn Kenya, the COVID-19 pandemic has contributed to the increase in both FGM/C and CFM cases. Minimal increase of FGM/C cases was reported in Uganda and a significant increase in CFM cases. In Ethiopia, the COVID-19 pandemic had a limited perceived effect on changes in FGM/C and CFM. In Senegal, there were minimal perceived effects of COVID-19 on the number of FGM/C and CFM cases. The pandemic negatively affected implementation of interventions by the justice and legal system, the health system, and civil societies.ConclusionsThe pandemic has had varied perceived effects on FGM/C and CFM across the four countries. Generally, the pandemic has negatively affected implementation of interventions by the various sectors that are responsible for preventing and responding to FGM/C and CFM. This calls for innovative approaches in intervening in the various communities to ensure that women and girls at risk of FGM/C and CFM or in need of services are reached during the pandemic. Evidence on how effective alternative approaches such as the use of call centres, radio talk shows and the use of local champions as part of risk communication in preventing and responding to FGM/C and CFM amid COVID-19 is urgently required.

This study is the continuation of a broader eating disorder study with a focus on males, which examines the influence of body image, sociocultural attitudes, appearance anxiety, and depression on disordered eating behaviors among college students. Based on EAT-26 scores, 10.5% of males were at risk of an eating disorder. Body image dissatisfaction was almost as common among males (65.2%) as females (68.6%) and BMI was not a significant predictor of dissatisfaction. Among participants who reported dissatisfaction with their bodies, eating disorder risk was higher among females than males. While there were differences between men and women in general, at-risk men and women showed quite similar self-report ratings on most measures of the SATAQ scale. The main gender difference was that Social Appearance Anxiety and Depression were significant predictors of eating disorder risk among females, but not males. This study indicates that risk of an eating disorder is more prevalent among males than previously reported. The risk is significant for college students as a whole and it is important to have preventative measures before disordered eating behaviors turn into an eating disorder.

Submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master in Public Policy and Management at Strathmore University. Evidence linking social capital to lower levels of mortality exists. However, little is known about the relationship between social capital and utilization of maternal health services in resource-poor countries such as Kenya. The maternal health goal under the Millennium Development Goal showed slow progress. Maternal health indicators are largely informed by utilization of various services. This study sought to examine the association between structural social capital and the utilization of three types of maternal health services—antenatal care, skilled delivery, and family planning in informal settlements. The study’s objective was to examine the influence of bonding, bridging and linking social capital on the utilization of maternal health services in Kibera informal settlements, Nairobi, Kenya. This study interviewed 391 women who had given birth in the years 2015 and 2016. Questionnaires were administered to these women and interviews were conducted among leaders of community based organizations, Ministry of Health staff, Ministry of Social services staff, and local leaders using a Key Informant Interview guide. Independent variables ─ bonding, bridging and linking social capital were examined in relation to the dependent variables on utilization of the three types of maternal health services (antenatal care, skilled delivery and family planning). Data from the study was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The analysis indicated that bonding social capital was not significant in the utilization of the three types of maternal health services. Bridging social capital was significant in utilization of family planning services only. Linking social capital was significantly associated with utilization of antenatal care services and family planning with both positive and inverse relationships. None of the three types of social capital influenced skilled delivery. The findings of this study will be useful in informing maternal health strategies and programs as well as informing health policy on the important forms of social capital for availing maternal health services in informal settlements. Key words: Maternal health, Social Capital, Informal Settlements

How consumers evaluate garment quality affects consumers’ decision-making, hence it is imperative to study how consumers evaluate quality. The purpose of the study was to contribute to a better understanding of how consumers evaluate garments and how variables such as fashion leadership, fashion involvement, and gender influence garment evaluation. Participants were 309 students from two Midwestern universities. A convenient stratified sample was used. The Garment Quality Evaluation Scale (GQES) was used to measure garment quality, the measure of fashion innovativeness and opinion leadership was used to subdivide participants into fashion leaders and fashion followers, and the Fashion Clothing Involvement Scale was used to divide participants into high and low fashion-involved consumers. MANOVA (multivariate analysis of variance) and ANOVA (analysis of variance) results indicated that how consumers evaluated garment quality was significantly influenced by fashion leadership, fashion involvement, and gende...

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that leads to chronic, systemic inflammatory reaction that primarily affects synovial joints. Current cytokine based therapies are effective and safe. However, they have a challenge of having short plasma half-life and even higher doses are required to manage the conditions. The processes involved in production using phage and viral technologies are expensive. Herbal medicines have been used for long and are considered safe and effective as medicines for many inflammatory related diseases. Many plants also posit as a potent anti-inflammatory agents. Evidence for use of herbal plants in both human and animal trials in studies suggest significant potential of application in herbal formulation in management of rheumatoid arthritis. Specifically, many studies suggest the direct effect of managing the agents of inflammation as a way of managing rheumatoid arthritis. Most evidence links the involvement of pro-inflammatory cytokines (interleukin-1, TNF-α, IFN-α, and NF-ÐoB) to the long term. It has also been suggested that the use of protective cytokines such as (Interleukin-4, Interleukin-6, Interleukin-8). Key pathways involve cyclooxygenase 1 and 2, 5-Lipooxygenase, formations of metalloproteinases, and inhibition of formation of prostaglandin E2. Use of herbal medicines has potential of improving joint conditions in rheumatoid arthritis. Use of herbal extracts offers better, cheap and affordable solution for long term management of rheumatoid arthritis in patients. They also show potential of offering multifunctional approaches to the management of the conditions through their anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory mechanisms. Further studies are required to demonstrate the mechanisms involved in activation of protective cytokines in the management of rheumatoid arthritis.

The purpose of this study was to examine how various appearance issues and depression may relate to disordered eating among female college students. The appearance issues analyzed in this study were: level of body dissatisfaction, body mass index (BMI), social appearance anxiety (SAA), and social-cultural attitudes toward appearance. The questionnaire was distributed to volunteer students during regularly scheduled classes. Students, both study participants and non-participants, were furnished with information on where to get help if they had concerns about disordered eating behavior, appearance-related anxiety, or depression. Participants were 370 female undergraduate students enrolled at one Midwestern University in the United States. This study provided statistical evidence that college females at risk of acquiring an eating disorder had significantly larger differences between their current body shape and their ideal body shape, scored significantly higher in the sociocultural attitudes toward appearance, had more SAA, and depress ion compared to those less at risk of acquiring an eating disorder. However, the BMI of college females at risk of acquiring an eating disorder did not differ significantly from the BMI of college female students less at risk. This study contributes to a better understanding of disordered eating and how it relates to appearance issues, and depression.

To obtain a clearer understanding of spatial visualization ability, research needs to detail the information-processing demands and solution strategies used by individuals. Strategy use is integral to successful performance of spatial tasks. The purpose of this study was to identify, categorize, and verify strategies that students use to solve items on the Apparel Spatial Visualization Test (ASVT). A two-part study was conducted; in the first part, subjects reported their problem-solving processes while solving the ASVT. Analysis of subjects' reports resulted in the Use of Strategy Questionnaire (USQ) specific for the ASVT. In the second part of the study, the USQ was used to verify the strategies identified in the first part. Results concurred with previous literature that different individuals use different strategies to solve the same spatial cognitive task.

Reference interval in biochemistry laboratories provides guidelines to the clinicians to interpret the client’s results. A population of 120 healthy individuals are required in establishing reference ranges to achieve the required and acceptable statistical confidence as per National committee of clinical laboratory standard. To establish the reference ranges for paediatrics and young adults (below 17 years) posse challenges for this category, ethical clearance and need of consent from the guardian for the subject under the study. The main aim of this research was to establish the paediatric reference ranges for renal, cardiac and pancreatic function for young adults in Taita Taveta Population. A prospective study was carried out on 577 healthy young adults and paediatric population from Taita Taveta County, Kenya. Study findings reveal significant variations of renal, cardiac, and pancreatic reference ranges for Taita Taveta, Kenya compared to those supplied by the manufacturers together with the reagent kits in addition to those in literature done in the western world. It is in tandem with findings done in many other studies. This study therefore confirms the need for laboratories to develop their own reference values for their own populations.

This study investigates how performance on a spatial task in apparel design was influenced by use of strategy. The sample consisted of 278 undergraduate apparel design students from six universities in the United States. Instruments used to collect data were the Apparel Spatial Visualization Test (ASVT) and Use of Strategy Questionnaire. Use of strategy influenced performance on the ASVT. Some strategies were superior to others by the fact that they led to a higher percentage of correct responses on the ASVT, for example, landmark extraction, checking, and previous knowledge. Because use of strategies influenced performance on a spatial task, further research could investigate methods of training students in the choice of appropriate strategies.

The study investigated how performance on a spatial task in apparel design was influenced by training and strategical information processing style. The sample constituted 278 undergraduate apparel design students from six universities in the U.S. Instruments used to collect data were the Apparel Spatial Visualization Test (ASVT) and the Strategical Information Processing Style (SIPS). ANOVA results showed a significant difference in performance on the ASVT between students with more training and those with less training in apparel design. There was no significant difference in performance on the ASVT between students with more training and those with less training in apparel design. There was no significant difference in performance on the ASVT as a result of students’ preferred strategical information processing styles. Findings of the study indicated that performance on a spatial visualization task was influenced by training but not by strategical information processing style.