Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Prevalence Of Lifestyle Cardiovascular Risk Factors And Estimated Framingham 10-Year Risk Scores Of Adults With Psychotic Disorders Compared To Controls At A Referral Hospital In Eldoret, Kenya, Edith Kwobah, Nastassja Koen, Ann Mwangi, Lukoye Atwoli, Dan Stein

Brain and Mind Institute

Introduction: Lifestyle factors such as smoking, alcohol use, suboptimal diet, and inadequate physical activity have been associated with increased risk of cardiovascular diseases. There are limited data on these risk factors among patients with psychosis in low- and middle-income countries.

Objectives: This study aimed to establish the prevalence of lifestyle cardiovascular risk factors, and the 10-year cardiovascular risk scores and associated factors in patients with psychosis compared to controls at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in Eldoret, Kenya.

Methods: A sample of 297 patients with schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, or bipolar mood disorder; and 300 controls matched for age and sex …

Psychometric Evaluation Of The Computerized Battery For Neuropsychological Evaluation Of Children (Benci) Among School Aged Children In The Context Of Hiv In An Urban Kenyan Setting, Rachel Maina, He Jia, Amina Abubakar, Miguel Perez-Garcia, Manasi Kumar, Jelte M. Wicherts

Brain and Mind Institute

Introduction Culturally validated neurocognitive measures for children in Low‐ and Middle‐Income Countries are important in the timely and correct identification of neurocognitive impairments. Such measures can inform develop‐ ment of interventions for children exposed to additional vulnerabilities like HIV infection. The Battery for Neuropsy‐ chological Evaluation of Children (BENCI) is an openly available, computerized neuropsychological battery specifically developed to evaluate neurocognitive impairment. This study adapted the BENCI and evaluated its reliability and validity in Kenya.

Methodology The BENCI was adapted using translation and back‐translation from Spanish to English. The psy‐ chometric properties were evaluated in a case–control study of 328 …

Interpersonal Psychotherapy’S Problem Areas As An Organizing Framework To Understand Depression And Sexual And Reproductive Health Needs Of Kenyan Pregnant And Parenting Adolescents: A Qualitative Study, Manasi Kumar, Obadia Yator, Vincent Nyongesa, Martha Kagoya, Shillah Mwaniga, Joseph Kathono, Isaiah Gitonga, Nancy Grote, Helena Verdeli, Keng Yen Huang

Brain and Mind Institute

Background: Peripartum adolescents experience signifcant interpersonal transitions in their lives. Depression and emotional distress are often exacerbated by adolescents’ responses to these interpersonal changes. Improved understanding of pregnancy-related social changes and maladaptive responses to these shifts may inform novel approaches to addressing the mental health needs of adolescents during the perinatal period. The paper aims to understand the sources of psychological distress in peripartum adolescents and map these to Interpersonal Psychotherapy’s (IPT) problem areas as a framework to understand depression.

Method: We conducted interviews in two Nairobi primary care clinics with peripartum adolescents ages 16–18 years (n=23) with …

Prevalence And Risk Factors Associated With Depression In Pregnant Adolescents In Nairobi, Kenya, Albert Tele, Joseph Kathono, Shillah Mwaniga, Vincent Nyongesa, Obadia Yator, Onesmus Gachuno, Dalton Wamalwa, Beatrice Amugune, Zul Merali, Manasi Kumar

Brain and Mind Institute

Background: Adolescent parenthood can be associated with a range of adverse outcomes for young mothers such as depression, substance abuse, and posttraumatic stress disorder. Identification of depression and understanding risk factors among pregnant adolescents is important for development of appropriate interventions and programs focused on adolescent mental health. This paper reports on the findings of the prevalence of depression and its associated risk factors among pregnant adolescents in Nairobi, Kenya.

Methods: We recruited 153 pregnant adolescent (14-18 years) who were accessing maternal health services in one of two Nairobi County primary health care facilities in the cross-sectional survey …

Perceptions And Knowledge Towards Covid-19 Vaccine Hesitancy Among A Subpopulation Of Adults In Kenya: An English Survey At Six Healthcare Facilities, Jasmit Shah, Abdulaziz Mansur Abeid, Karishma Sharma, Soraiya Manji, Jamila Nambafu, Robert Korom, Keya Patel, Rajiv Patel, Reena Shah, Sayed Karar

Brain and Mind Institute

Background: Vaccine hesitancy, as defined by the WHO, is the reluctance or refusal to vaccinate despite the availability of vaccines and is one of the ten threats to global health in 2019. Vaccine hesitancy remains a complex matter influenced by multiple factors, especially in sub-Saharan Africa.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study between November 2021 and January 2022 among the general adult public seeking care at six different healthcare facilities in Kenya. The survey, in English, consisted of questions based on demographics, knowledge, and attitudes, including hesitancy towards the COVID-19 vaccine.

Results: Of the 3996 surveys collected, 55.1% were from …

A Four-Component Framework Toward Patient-Centered, Integrated Mental Healthcare In Kenya, Manasi Kumar, Thomas L. Osborn, Cyrus Mugo, Hossein Akbarialiabad, Osman Warfa, Wangui Muthigani Mbuthia, Christine Wambugu, Carol Ngunu, Fatima Gohar, Shillah Mwaniga

Brain and Mind Institute

Background: How can we fast-track the global agenda of integrated mental healthcare in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) such as Kenya? This is a question that has become increasingly important for individuals with lived experiences, policymakers, mental health advocates and health care providers at the local and international levels.

Discussion: This narrative synthesis and perspective piece encompasses an overview of mental health care competencies, best practices and capacity building needed to fast track patient responsive services. In that vein we also review key policy developments like UHC to make a case for fast-tracking our four-step framework.

Results: While there is …

Depression And Its Associated Factors: Perceived Stress, Social Support, Substance Use And Related Sociodemographic Risk Factors In Medical School Residents In Nairobi, Kenya, Sayed Shah Nur Hussein Shah, Ahmed Laving, Violet Caroline Okech-Helu, Manasi Kumar

Brain and Mind Institute

Abstract: Background: Little data exists regarding depression and its associated factors in medical residents and doctors in Sub-Saharan Africa. Residents are at high risk of developing depression owing to the stressful nature of their medical practice and academic training. Depression in medical residents leads to decreased clinical efficiency, and poor academic performance; it can also lead to substance abuse and suicide. Our primary aim was to measure depression prevalence among medical residents in Kenya’s largest national teaching and referral hospital. Secondary aims were to describe how depression was associated with perceived stress, perceived social support, substance use, and educational environment. …

Perinatal Depression And Its Impact On Infant Outcomes And Maternal-Nurse Sms Communication In A Cohort Of Kenyan Women, Alyssa Hummel, Keshet Ronen, Amritha Bhat, Brenda Wandika, Esther M Choo M. Choo, Lusi Osborn, Maneesh Batra, John Kinuthia, Manasi Kumar, Jennifer A. Unger

Brain and Mind Institute

Abstract: Background Perinatal depression is broadly defined as depressive symptoms during pregnancy or within the 12 months following delivery, affecting approximately 20-25% of pregnant and postpartum women in low- and middle-income countries. The wide accessibility of mobile phones allows mobile health (mHealth) interventions to be considered a solution to identify perinatal depression and provide appropriate referrals for treatment. This study, nested in a larger SMS communication project, examined the prevalence and correlates of perinatal depression, determined the association between antenatal depression and infant morbidity/mortality, and compared SMS communication patterns between women with and without perinatal depression. Methods This was a …