A national cholera epidemic with high case fatality rates--Kenya 2009.

BACKGROUND: Cholera remains endemic in sub-Saharan Africa. We characterized the 2009 cholera outbreaks in Kenya and evaluated the response. METHODS: We analyzed surveillance data and estimated case fatality rates (CFRs). Households in 2 districts, East Pokot (224 cases; CFR = 11.7%) and Turkana South (1493 cases; CFR = 1.0%), were surveyed. We randomly selected 15 villages and 8 households per village in each district. Healthcare workers at 27 health facilities (HFs) were surveyed in both districts. RESULTS: In 2009, cholera outbreaks caused a reported 11 425 cases and 264 deaths in Kenya. Data were available from 44 districts for 6893 (60%) cases. District CFRs ranged from 0% to 14.3%. Surveyed household respondents (n = 240) were aware of cholera (97.5%) and oral rehydration solution (ORS) (87.9%). Cholera deaths were reported more frequently from East Pokot (n = 120) than Turkana South (n = 120) households (20.7% vs. 12.3%). The average travel time to a HF was 31 hours in East Pokot compared with 2 hours in Turkana South. Fewer respondents in East Pokot (9.8%) than in Turkana South (33.9%) stated that ORS was available in their village. ORS or intravenous fluid shortages occurred in 20 (76.9%) surveyed HFs. CONCLUSIONS: High CFRs in Kenya are related to healthcare access disparities, including availability of rehydration supplies.

Assessing the usability of a Willingness to Quit smoking questionnaire in a sample of active tobacco smokers: A qualitative study.

Background and objectives: Tobacco products are conceivably the most accessible addictive substances. Its use contributes to numerous negative health outcomes both in the developed and developing world. The objective of the study was to assess the usability of a Willingness to Quit smoking questionnaire; a concise questionnaire used to assess the readiness of active tobacco smokers to stop smoking, and also guiding in constructive conversations between healthcare workers and clients regarding stopping smoking.Methods: In this study, 25 active tobacco smokers and four healthcare workers of different cadres were interviewed. Participants were given the Willingness to Quit smoking questionnaire and asked to fill and comment on its usability, ease of comprehension and plausibility in the healthcare system settings.Results: All the 25 active tobacco smokers demonstrated their readiness to stop smoking. It was reported that the Willingness to Quit smoking questionnaire triggered the intention to stop smoking and effectively guided the interviews between the healthcare workers and clients who had expressed the intention of stopping smoking.Conclusion: The Willingness to Quit smoking questionnaire is a valuable tool in clinical practice as it can be used to prompt tobacco cessation dialogues between healthcare workers and clients attempting to stop smoking.