Archives-May 2018

The past half-decade has witnessed exponential use of the social media in Kenya. This has been made possible through enhanced internet connectivity especially through the use of mobile phones. Cybercrime has therefore emerged as a serious threat. Surprisingly, cybercriminals appear undeterred by the prospect of arrest and prosecution as they operate with impunity on the internet posing a risk to the financial health of corporations, privacy of the citizens who use the internet and also posing a threat to the security of the nation. The media has reported numerous occasions when cybercriminals have managed to interfere with the operations of the state. The alleged interference of Russian hackers in the 2016 US presidential election demonstrated how cybercriminals posed a threat to democratic institutions and democratic processes. Similar allegations were made in relation to the2013 and 2017 presidential elections in Kenya. It has also been reported that the terrorist group, ISIS (Islamic State of Syria and Iraq) has unit of hackers known as the Cyber Caliphate whose primary function is to propagate the ISIS agenda online. Most recently, the members of parliament in Kenya called upon the Inspector General of the Police and mobile service providers to launch investigations into cons who are registering numbers in their names and sending obscene images. This paper will examine the laws governing cybercrime in Kenya and make suggestions on law review to deal with the cybercrime menace.

This study was undertaken to assess the characteristics of solid waste generated in the three campuses of the university viz Abuja, Delta and Choba campus. Open dumpsites were identified in each campus and a representative sample of solid waste (5kg) was obtained. The results showed that food waste contributed the highest percentage composition of 35.9% in Choba followed by Abuja (25.49%) and Delta Park (17.39%). Paper had the highest percentage composition of 26.45% in Delta Park, followed by Abuja Park (23.14%) and Choba (10.71%). Wood had the least composition of 1.96% in Abuja Park but absent in Delta and Choba Park. The results further showed that food waste had the highest composition of M.S.W generated in Choba (Weight kg) 3.55, followed by Abuja Park (2.6) and Delta Park (2.1) while wood had the least weight generated of 0.20 in Abuja Park and absent in Delta and Choba Park. The data analysis revealed that there was no significant difference in the composition of waste in the different campuses at p<0.05. It is believed that given the characteristics of these waste streams, an integrated solid waste management system in the University will enhance the adequate utilization of the various categories of solid waste in the areas of resources, recovery and waste-to-energy.

Physico-chemical parameters of brackish and freshwater of the New Calabar River were studied between October to December, 2016, using standard methods. The comparative results showed the mean temperature (27.77±0.170 and 28.00±0.180C), pH (7.12±0.01 and 6.23±0.03), total dissolved solids (2657.00±24.0mg/L and 9.90±0.14mg/L), salinity (6269.95±67.25mg/L and 7.19±0.04mg/L), dissolved oxygen (6.34±0.06mg/L and 6.09±0.01mg/L), biochemical oxygen demand (17.53±0.11mg/L and 51.06±0.20mg/L) for brackish and freshwater respectively. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed a significant difference (p < 0.05) in pH, TDS, TSS, DO, BOD and COD whereas temperature showed no significant difference (p > 0.05) when both water bodies are compared. The physico-chemical parameters from both water bodies were favourable for fish production although some were to a large extent above the WHO limits. The study revealed the need for continuous pollution monitoring and management programme of surface water in Rivers State and Nigeria as a whole.

The study was retrospective and cross-sectional study where hospital records were accessed to establish patient-nurse ratio in relation to deliveries conducted monthly between 2011 and 2015 to establish staff workload. 167 nurses were engaged with the aim of determining psychosocial risk factors, prevalence and effects on maternal care outcomes at selected level 4 and 5 private and government health facilities in Mombasa County through a modified Copenhagen Psychosocial questionnaire. Cluster sampling was used to pick hospitals on the basis of levels; stratified sampling to identify the respondents; and systematic sampling to determine every Kth staff involved in the study. Data analysis was done using SPSS package, whose findings indicate that patient/nurse ratio was higher in Government Hospitals compared to private hospitals accounting for approximately 1:4 and 1:3 respectively. Generally, majority of the respondents had a positive perception about their work environment despite 66.9% perceiving to a large extent that their work was emotionally demanding, 80.9% their work exposed them to undue pressure/demands from their patients and relatives and only 58.6% felt somewhat or to a small extent motivated and involved. Due to this perception about current work environment, 70% of the respondents considered looking for work elsewhere with only 22.9% willing to remain working in their respective work places. Further analysis indicated that work environment influenced by 65.8% the decision to change jobs due to lack of motivation and failure to involve them in decision making. This perception, however, differed across private and GoK hospitals, male and female, and across the different age brackets.

Developing countries lack proper segregation practices leading to biomedical waste management. (Muhwezi, 2014). This has led to accidental injections with contaminated syringes causing 21 million hepatitis B virus (HBV) infections, 2 million hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections, and 260,000 HIV infections globally(HCWMP 2016-2021). The aim of this study was to assess the biomedical waste handling practices amongst healthcare workers in Mombasa County hospitals. Cross-sectional study design, stratified random. Data collection instrument were structured questionnaire and observational charts. Data was analyzed using SPSS Version 22 where comparison of mean by ANOVA was used to test significance of the results at 0.05 significant levels. Despite having knowledge on segregation and risks of exposure to biomedical waste 71.1%(1.17±0.157) of the respondents were exposed to biomedical hazards, sanitary staff(15.6% (2.11±0.123))of the respondents were less educated ( certificate the highest level) and lacked key information on biomedical waste guidelines of precautionary principle and government strategic plan on hospital waste management. 42.2 %( 1.21±0.091) of the respondents lacked adequate supply of color-coded waste containers leading to mixing of biomedical waste. 36.7 %( 1±0.00) of the respondents were informed of government medical waste management plan while 63.3% (1.14±0.46) had no idea P=0.277(>0.05). In conclusion, waste handling practices in Mombasa sub county hospitals are inadequate in relation to WHO,2014 guidelines due to deficient segregation and handling equipment and low level of awareness. I therefore recommend the review of the current waste management program and development of a more proactive approach that will ensure adequate supply of waste handling equipments and improve awareness on proper handling practices.

Healthcare workers(HCW) are at risk of medical sharps injuries. According to the Kenya national policy on injection safety, 58% of healthcare workers have suffered these injuries. It has long been recognized that needlestick and other injuries from sharp objects place healthcare workers at risk of infection. The main objective of this research was to determine the outcomes of preventive and controls measures against medical sharps amongst HCW at Sub-County hospital in Mombasa County. The study sought to determine health workers adherence to safety guidelines available and determine the prevalence of needle-stick injuries at the county hospitals. This study focused on the HCW of different cadres. Questionnaire were distributed to the respondents of different job cadres of healthcare workers at the hospitals including Nurses, Clinical Officers, Lab Technologists, Public health officers, dentists, waste handlers/support staff who were selected proportionate to the sample frame. Interviews were done on the chosen wrkers. The research adopted a Descriptive cross sectional research design by employing both qualitative and quantitative data collection tools. A checklist was used to observe occupational risks and adherence related to exposure to medical sharps including needle sticks. The findings were collected and analysis done by use of Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS), version 22.0 and presented using pie charts, contingency tables, and bar charts. Dentists were found to have the highest level of exposure to sharp injuries [X2 (DF= 1, N= 117) = 0.408, p= 0.05].This was consistent with the findings that all dentists indicated that they re-cap used sharps. Recapping of sharps being a critical risk to sharp injuries was practiced more by those who got lower frequency of on-job training. On-job training on infection control had no effect on knowledge of risks involved with sharps injuries where those without exhibiting awareness and practiced safe disposal of sharps to a great extent [X2 (DF= 4, N= 117) = 0.109, p= 0.05]. The use of sharp disposal containers was one of most commonly used method and had significant reduction in exposure to sharp injuries. Personal protective equipment use such as safety boots increased level of protection against medical sharps injuries while others such as hand gloves had insignificant importance. The level of adherence to preventive control measures was found to be quite low and significantly affected the outcomes of the available control measures. Low level of adherence was established at both management level and personnel level where enforcement and practice respectively were found to be deficient. With a prevalence of about 43%, medical sharps injuries at Sub-County hospitals in Mombasa County is found to be of great concern as established in this study.

Fahr’s syndrome is a rare neurodegenerative disorder characterized by bilateral, symmetrical deposition of calcium in the basal ganglia, thalamus, cerebral cortex, dentate nucleus, cerebellum subcortical white matter, and hippocampus. It usually presents in the fourth or fifth decade with seizures and extra pyramidal symptoms initially and then gradually progressive cognitive impairment. It is mostly associated with a disorder of calcium and phosphate metabolism, but can also be due to infectious, metabolic, or genetic diseases. A 10 year old girl presented with history of recurrent seizures, headache, and tetany since the age of 6 years. On examination Chvostek and Trousseau signs were positive, bilateral cataract and papilledema were present. Laboratory tests showed ionic calcium of 0.47 mmol/L. Electrocardiography showed prolonged QT interval. Computed tomography scan of the brain showed bilateral symmetric calcification of lentiform nuclei and the subcortical fibers of fronto-parietal region. Final diagnosis of our case was fahr’s syndrome secondary to hypoparathyroidism based on further investigations. 

The paper deals with the fate of homo gravitas. As an archetype of the existing humans, homo gravitas is mirroring in Heraclitus’ universe like into its whole. In spite of this privileged astral position, homo gravitas is experiencing trouble with its own life at home, on the earth and behaves cruelly to its environment. This paper brings proof that all trouble is due to some disconnections occurring with its gravitational and energetic ties. Some of the damage lasts for a long time, but most has been produced during the former cultures. Those disconnections disturb what Paracelsus called the inner harmony of humans and psychic disorders result. They disclose the existing conflicts between the body and the mind. It was evaluated that 25% of total population is seriously affected by the disease called here schizophrenia astralis. It is not an infecting disease, but its danger increases with population growth. By raising awareness and eliminating its causes with equanimity, schizophrenia astralis can be eradicated before it is too late. Then, with a well-balanced body-mind couple, homo gravitas automatically becomes homo astralis. Anyway, there is no longer need to emigrate on other planets or meet aliens.

Gender Based Violence occurs in all socio-economic and cultural setups even in tribal NFHS 3 data shows high percentage of domestic violence among tribes in Jharkhand. Women are socialized to accept, tolerate, and even rationalize domestic violence and to remain silent about such experiences. Various research?s on violence against women shows that Intimate partner violence is associated with negative physical and mental health sequel i.e. depression, low self-esteem, alcohol abuse and sexual and reproductive health issues, and HIV/AIDS. Household survey was administered among respondent age 15-49 years, following two stage sampling design to represent the state. Overall 247 tribal women and 217 men were on Santhal Tribes in Jharkhand. The analysis shows that those who consume alcohol are considerably more likely to get involved in violence against the women leading to reproductive health vulnerabilities like STI/RTI outcomes. The study suggests that better understanding of the causes of violence against women will be useful in designing both prevention programs and interventions with men as center of all the programs. The research has begun to identify childhood exposure, high alcoholism to later high masculinity.

The purpose of this paper is to present a numerical analysis of an unsteady three dimensional MHD flow of dusty fluid past an infinite inclined porous plate in presence of Soret effect, Dufour effect, radiation effect and Hall effect with variable temperature and concentration embedded in porous medium. At time t^'>0 the plate moves with constant velocity u_0 and at the same time, the plate temperature and concentration levels near the plate decreased exponentially with time t'. The governing boundary layer equations of flow problem are transformed into non linear partial differential equations using non dimensional quantities and solved numerically by Crank-Nicolson finite difference method. The obtained results for velocity profiles along x^' direction and z' direction, temperature profile and concentration profile are discussed through graphs and physical significance of quantities skin friction, Nusselt number, Sherwood number also discussed through tables. It is found that there are slightly change in velocity profile in x'-axis but measure change in z'-axis.