CW-Department of Psychology

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    Partnership in Improving Quality of Obstetric Fistula Care: A Family Systems Perspective
    (Kenyatta University, 2017) Muchiri, Karega
    Literature review reveals that women in treatment for obstetric fistula commonly present with various psychological symptoms including depression, shame, diminished self-esteem, post-traumatic stress, somatic complaints, avoidant and resignation coping and, resentment. This is as a result of the familial as well as social dynamics inherent in the course of recovery. These dynamics include, among others, abandonment, discrimination, social ostracism and marginalization. Family Systems approaches postulate that change in one part of the system, leads to change in the whole system. Obstetric fistula thus leads to unhealthy functioning in the family system in different forms including disrupted marital relationship and limited social support. The knowledge gap that the study sought to investigate related to specific family focused systemic interventions either applied during intervention or proposed as part of the continuum of care in the treatment of Obstetric fistula. The study employed a systematic review of studies conducted on treatment and care of Obstetric Fistula patients. This review revealed a gap in systemic family focused interventions, by public health practitioners and other relevant stakeholders, geared towards restoring healthy family functioning, despite evidence that resuming social roles as wives and mothers was found to be a predominantly positive rehabilitation experience. This paper proposes a partnership between psychologists and public health practitioners in implementing family systems focused interventions aimed at restoring healthy family functioning and thus improving the quality of continuum of care among Obstetric Fistula patients
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    Applications of biotechnology in fostering health and well-being: directions for health and medical research in developing countries
    (Kenyatta Universiry, 2003) Mumah, S. C. J.; Muoma, J. V. 0.; Mwaniki, J. W.
    Biotechnology and Globalization are the two critically important forces of the 21st century, which not only carry with them immense potential benefits in medicine, but also risks. Biotechnology has a considerable potential for improving human health of the developing countries now and in thefuture since information generated by advances in genetics and biotechnology has major benefits for the prevention, diagnosis and management of communicable and genetic diseases. While the benefits of technological advances in biotechnology may be obvious, regulatory principles and capacities at both National and International levels are inevitable to sajeguard the publlc health against potential risks and hazards resulting from research and its application. Such principles as the WTO and TRIPS on intellectual property rights and patenting and Cartagena protocols on biosafety become imminent. Some of the applications of biotechnology in medicine and agriculture include, among others, DNA diagnostics in the management and control of communicable diseases and identification of drug resistant organisms; control and management of genetic disorders; production of genetically modified agricultural products. Although these applications are likely to benefit comparatively more of the poor countries today than the richer countries, most biotechnology research is carried out in the developed world and is primarily market-driven. Most of Sub-Saharan countries currently have either rudimentary, fragmentary or not yet being able to evolve biotechnology capabilities. There is however, an urgent need to initiate a process whereby developing countries can gain the kind of expertise in biotechnology, which is required for application to their own particular health needs. This paper discusses the ethical issues, , potential risks intellectual property rights and applications of biotechnology infostering health and well-being. It also points out the future direction of biotechnology and its enormous potential for improving health care in resource poor developing countries of the Sub-Saharan Africa region
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    Parities and disparities in attaining global health: the way forward for developing countries
    (Kenyatta Universiry, 2003) Mumah, C. J. S.
    The 20th Century witnessed a revolution in human health and well being. Average life expectancy at birth in many industrialized countries nearly doubled from around 45 years in 1900 to more than 70 years in 1999 (UN, 1976). Less developed counties also enjoyed dramatic, albeit less extensive, improvements in living standards and declines in mortality. However, as some health threats have receded, others have emerged. Some disease causing microbes have become resistant to medicines commonly used to treat them. Aspects of modern life appear to encourage unhealthy behavior, such as smoking, high fat diets and risky sexual practices. And, there is substantial gap in mortality and disability among and within countries. A growing recognition of this disparity prompted the World Health Organization to mount an international effort to attain "health for all" (WHO, 2000). This paper looks at trends in health over the past century and identifies the ways that nations could adopt to pursue the goal of better global health. It explores the multiple factors that determine health, stressing the need for action from the individual to the international level to improve health.
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    The role of counseling in school ministry
    (2013) Maingi, Lydiah Wanjiru
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    Relationships
    (2012) Maingi, Lydiah
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    Emotions
    (2014) Maingi, Lydiah