Prevalence and correlates of depressive disorders in commercially sexual exploited children: A cross-sectional study in Mombasa, Kenya.

BACKGROUND: Commercial sexual exploitation of children (CSEC) is a global concern and is among the common forms of sexual violence against children. In Kenya, about 32 % of girls and 16 % of boys experience sexual violence before the age of 18 years. While much has been written about the impact of child sexual exploitation, there's little on the prevalence of depressive disorders among CSE children. OBJECTIVES: This study was conducted to assess the prevalence and correlates of depressive disorders among CSE children in Mombasa, Kenya. PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING: The study was conducted among CSE children (10-17 years) in Mombasa County. METHODS: A cross-sectional study conducted between May 2021 and June 2022. A total of 409 CSE children were enrolled, using a case management approach. Data was collected using the child identification tool and the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), at the first counselling session to determine the prevalence of depression levels. RESULTS: Of the 409 children, 367 (90 %) were girls while 42 (10 %) were boys. The mean age was 15 years (10-17) (SD = 1.4, t = 0.765). In 286 (70 %) 'Depression unlikely' was recorded, while 123 (30 %) 'Depression likelihood.' Prevalence of mild to severe depression was significantly higher in girls than boys (p = 0.002). Other determinants of depression were having a primary level of education (p = 0.03) and being an orphan. (p = 0.03). CONCLUSION: It is important to prioritize mental health interventions such as screening and early diagnosis of mental health among CSE children in order to prevent and manage both short and long term effects.

Laboratory and Field Evaluation of the Crystal VC-O1 Cholera Rapid Diagnostic Test.

Cholera is a severe acute, highly transmissible diarrheal disease which affects many low- and middle-income countries. Outbreaks of cholera are confirmed using microbiological culture, and additional cases during the outbreak are generally identified based on clinical case definitions, rather than laboratory confirmation. Many low-resource areas where cholera occurs lack the capacity to perform culture in an expeditious manner. A simple, reliable, and low-cost rapid diagnostic test (RDT) would improve identification of cases allowing rapid response to outbreaks. Several commercial RDTs are available for cholera testing with two lines to detect either serotypes O1 and O139; however, issues with sensitivity and specificity have not been optimal with these bivalent tests. Here, we report an evaluation of a new commercially available cholera dipstick test which detects only serotype O1. In both laboratory and field studies in Kenya, we demonstrate high sensitivity (97.5%), specificity (100%), and positive predictive value (100%) of this new RDT targeting only serogroup O1. This is the first field evaluation for the new Crystal VC-O1 RDT; however, with these high-performance metrics, this RDT could significantly improve cholera outbreak detection and improve surveillance for better understanding of cholera disease burden.

Potassium iodate levels in processed edible salts available in retail shops throughout Kenya, 2013.

OBJECTIVE: Iodine-deficiency disorders, due to insufficiency of iodine in the diet, are a global public health problem. The Kenyan Food, Drugs and Chemical Substances Act stipulates that processed retail-available edible salts contain 50-84 mg of potassium iodate (KIO3) per kilogram of salt. The present study determined the status of KIO3 levels in commercial salts, for public health action.Design/Setting/SubjectsAs part of the Kenya Demographic and Health Survey 2013, field workers collected salt samples from seven different local manufacturers/packers across eight regions of the country and sent them to the National Public Health Laboratory (NPHL) for KIO3 titration analysis. RESULTS: A total of 539 samples were collected and analysed at NPHL. The samples had a mean KIO3 of 62 mg/kg. Thirty-three (6 %) samples had KIO3 of 84 mg/kg. CONCLUSIONS: The study found that 62 % of salts sampled met the Kenyan standards, 24 % were below the required limits and 13 % were above the recommended range. Continuous monitoring of edible salts at the retail level is important to detect brands not adhering to standards and trace them for remedy. However, governmental efforts should be directed to the quality control and quality assurance of the salt-manufacturing industries.