Background: In spite of extensive efforts on blood donation programs conducted worldwide, the availability of adequate blood supply continues to be a demanding challenge in developing countries, including Kenya. This study was conducted with the objective to assess factors influencing voluntary blood donation practices among students of private universities in Thika town, Kiambu County, Kenya.Methods: This cross-sectional study using both qualitative and quantitative methods was conducted at Mount Kenya University and Gretsa University. Multi-stage sampling was used to select 385 students from the two universities. Questionnaire was used in gathering information from students. The Pearson chi-square analysis and p value<0.05 were found statistically significant. Logistic regressions analysis was used to predict factors influencing blood donation.Results: The study found that knowledge and the time respondents received information on blood donation in university were predictive factors influencing blood donation. The study also found that 57.1% of the respondents received information on blood donation from high school. In addition, 60% of the students were identified as having no blood donation history. Respondent major reasons for not donating blood were not asked to donate (44.3%), lack of information (28.5%), and fear of needles (23.2%). Some of the donors identified negative effects of post-blood donation such as dizziness, tiredness, and feeling weak.Conclusions: The study concludes that not asking students to donate and lack of timely information on blood donation were the main reasons for low blood donation practices among students in private universities in Thika Town, Kiambu County, Kenya.

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Health information is a powerful vehicle for enhancing community health and it highlights both the problems and opportunities that exist for development. In Uganda, there are cases where decisions have been made without using health information in primary health care units. The existing capacity inadequacy to efficiently utilize information to track service use patterns over time to determine the impacts of policy and service delivery improvements in Uganda is one of the key weaknesses. With the support of the Ministry of Health, the government of Uganda is implementing projects to build and enhance the nation’s web-based national health information system (DHIS2), which collects data from all health systems and allows for making decisions based on evidence on the delivery of health services. The broad study objective was to establish the factors influencing the utilization of routine health information for decisions making among the health workers. The research design was based on an analytical cross-sectional design. The target population for this study was 260 health workers specifically targeting those involved in the use of routine utilization of health information. Purposive sampling was used to select the key informants and other respondents were selected using simple and stratified random sampling. The self-administered structured questionnaire and key informants’ interviews were used to collect data from respondents. The analysis of the quantitative data was done using descriptive statistics consisting of tables, bar graphs, pie charts, frequency, percentages, mean and standard deviations. Logistic regression analysis was conducted for establishing the association amongst the variables. The study established that technical factors (χ2=801.069; p=0.001), organizational factors (χ2=895.224; p=0.000), and behavioural factors (χ2=994.559; p=0.000) had a significant influence on utilization of routine health information for decision making. Talk of significant predictors of utilization of routine health information for decision making, technical factors (p = 0.013) had the greatest influence on utilization of routine health information for decision making among health workers at health facilities followed by organizational factors (p = 0.049). The study recommends that management of health facilities in Moyo district to create organizational culture through increased demand for and use of routine health information for evidence-based decision making in all aspects. The study further established areas of the routine health information system that requires to be reinforced and backed up to ensure the use of routine data in health facility to make decisions.

Background: The study analysed risk factors associated with diarrhea prevalence among underfive children in Galkayo District Puntland State, Somalia.Methods: The study used analytical cross-sectional survey conducted in Galkayo, from February to March 2020. The inclusion criteria were caregivers with underfive children, and exclusion criteria were children over five years, caregivers who have no underfive children and children with chronic diarrhea. Sample of 385 was calculated using Yamane formula. Caregivers were randomly selected using simple random sampling after cluster sampling. The researcher administered structured questionnaires, collected data from eligible caregivers using interview guide and elicited on diarrhea perceptions. Quantitative data was analysed using SPSS, qualitative data was identified common and sub-themes.Results: The study found diarrhea was affecting 30% of underfive children. The presence of two under-fives in the household was associated with high diarrhea prevalence [OR=1.93, 95% CI= (1.21, 3.08)]. Low educational level of underfive caregivers were associated with high diarrhea occurrence [OR=1.36, 95% CI= (0.68, 2.66)]. Households headed by non-biological mothers, diarrhea prevalence was high [OR=0.06, 95% CI= (0.00, 0.50) and OR=0.17, 95% CI= (0.03, 0.79)] respectively. Those children under the care of employed caregivers, diarrhea occurrence was high [OR=2.41 (0.99, 5.80)]. Poor personal hygiene (32%), sanitation (28%), and water quality (28%) were attributed to the cause of diarrhea among children.Conclusions: The study recommends, practice of child spacing, improve caregivers’ basic education to better understand risk factors and seek treatment, establish routine water quality surveillance at source and at household level, conduct awareness behaviour change by promotion of handwashing.

Background: Globally, 280 million people are estimated to have depression. Depression has been associated with negative treatment outcomes and reduced quality of life. The study aimed to determine the prevalence and correlates of depression among HIV-positive women at Mama Lucy Kibaki hospital in Kenya.Methods: A facility-based cross-sectional analytical study design that employed a mixed-method approach. The study employed systematic random sampling to select 183 HIV-positive women. The patient health questionnaire (PHQ-9) was used to screen for depression. Data analysis used statistical package for social sciences. Chi-square test and logistic regression were used to test and measure association.Results: The prevalence of possible depression was 35.6%. Depression was significantly associated with food insecurity (AOR=8.186, C.I=2.950-22.718), low income (AOR=3.766, CI=1.088-13.030), physical exercise (AOR=64, CI=0.039-0.627), maladaptive coping style (AOR=9.585, CI=3.100-29.634), stressful life event (AOR=47, CI=0.005-0.088), intimate partner violence (AOR=36, CI=0.086-0.857), opportunistic infections (AOR=5.8, CI=0.081-0.366) and side effects of antiretroviral (AOR=7.6, CI=0.029-0.601). Themes from qualitative findings were; low socioeconomic status, stigma and opportunistic infectionsConclusions: The study revealed a high prevalence of depression but they were more likely to be depressed if they were food insecure, had low income, adopted maladaptive coping styles, experienced a stressful event, intimate partner violence, had opportunistic infections and experienced side effects of antiretroviral. Future mental health interventions should focus on these factors in the prevention and management of depression among HIV-positive women.