Background: Respectful Maternity Care (RMC) is a basic human right for every childbearing woman. Acts of disrespectful maternity care and abuse are commonly reported worldwide and are recognized as a powerful deterrence to facility based childbirth than the traditionally known accessibility. In Kenya, acts of disrespect and abuse are frequently reported. Objectives of the study: To assess the prevalence of disrespectful maternity care and abuse among women seeking maternity care services at the Kenyatta National Hospital, Nairobi. Methods: This study was conducted at the Kenyatta National Hospital maternity wards. A descriptive study design was employed and targeted 164 respondents. The study utilized an interviewer administered questionnaire and an observational checklist to collect required data. Participants were sampled using simple random sampling method. Data was collected between July 15 th and July 30 th 2017 and was entered, cleaned and analyzed using SPSS

Background: Patients who suffer cardiac arrest are susceptible to cerebral hypoxia and ischemia that leads to poor neurological outcomes in and out of hospital settings. Sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) is a leading cause of death in the USA and Canada [1]. Cardiac arrest patients', who have return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC), may have poor functional outcomes as a result of hypoxic and ischemic insults sustained during and after the arrest period [2]. The neurological insults are largely dependent on the efficiency and quality of post resuscitation care offered by the health care providers [3]. For more than five decades now, the prognosis of sudden cardiac arrest has changed for the better in first world countries following the adoption of therapeutic hypothermia/ targeted temperature management (TH/TTM) during post resuscitation care. Locally, the situation is different. Critical Care Units (CCUs) at Kenyatta National and referral hospital (the largest public hospital in Kenya) has a mortality rate of 45% following cardiac arrest (KNH Monthly mortality minutes, 2010). Anecdotal evidence shows that TH/TTM has to some extent, been embraced locally, more so in the private hospitals following the adoption of recommendations from American Heart Association, ILCOR as well as the continuous professional development training programs offered, such as, Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS). The investigator sought to find out the level of awareness on TH/TTM post cardiac arrest, among health care providers working in Kenya's largest public referral hospital in Nairobi.Objective: To determine the level of awareness of therapeutic hypothermia/ TTM among healthcare providers at Kenyatta National Hospital's (KNH), CCU.Methods: This was a cross sectional descriptive study conducted at the KNH's 22 bed-Main CCU. Once ethical clearance was obtained, healthcare providers who worked in the CCU were purposively selected. A total of 54 participants consented to participation. Results:The investigator revealed that, a majority of the health care providers who participated in the study were critical care nurses (n=38, 71%). Most of the health care providers' years of working experience in the CCU was between 1-5 years (n=23, 43%). A majority of the participants were aware of TH/TTM 35(65%) however the healthcare providers designation did not translate to awareness level of TH/TTM (p=0.211, 95%CI). All participants affirmed that TH/TTM was not being practiced in KNH-CCU, there was no protocol on TH/TTM and that there was need for it to be introduced in the hospital's CCUs (p<0.001, 95%CI). The investigator concluded that, the participants were aware of TH/ TTM in the management of patients post cardiac arrest however this did not translate into clinical practice for all the healthcare providers in this study. The recommendations therefore are; strengthening the current level of awareness and practice through Continuous Professional Development (CPD) among health care providers on TH/ TTM and, development of TH/ TTM protocol at the i...

Background of the study: Most drugs given as Microinfusion require infusion pumps to administer. They are very potent with very narrow therapeutic index and any small changes on the process results in enormous effects to patients. The nursing profession has a duty to advocate for patients rights as well as do no harm. One of the core goals of nurses is medication administration; this puts nurses in the last line of defence against medication administration errors (MAEs). This study aimed to look into the roles played by nurse that hamper the efforts to reduce the Microinfusion MAEs on which minimal studies have been done. Objective: This study determined the competency level influencing the administration of Microinfusion medication by critical care nurses at Kenyatta National Hospital’s (KNH) Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Significance of study: Local data in the area of Microinfusion MAEs is not available, specifically KNH’s ICU. This study therefore sought to breech this gap and hopes to influence policy on management of critical patients, patient safety, environment, and curriculum development so as to reduce Microinfusion MAEs. Methodology: This study used a descriptive cross-sectional study design, simple random sampling was used to pick 64 participants. Quantitative data was analyzed by both descriptive and inferential statistics, which included regression analysis. Descriptive statistics were presented by use of the mean, percentages and standard deviation. Chi-square was used to determine statistical significance of the differences in proportions and logistic regression was used to identify factors that lead to Medication administration errors. Necessary ethical approval was sought. Results: The prevalence of MAEs was at 64.1% in the last six months, 65.6% 0f the respondents reported lack of supportive supervision, 37.5% of the respondents reported not to know mechanisms in place for reporting Microinfusion medication errors. This prevalence was of statistical significance when cross tabulated with critical care nurses competency level (p<0.05) on aspects such as; having prescription checks [95%CI= 0.000-17.9; p=0.008], working experience, type of medication error, checking weight of patients [p=0.019], reporting of the errors [95%CI = 0.1-0.8; p=0.019], documenting drug errors and monitoring patients after drug administration. Conclusion and recommendation: The prevalence of Microinfusion administration errors in KNH-ICU is high. There is need to ensure that nurses are always equipped with adequate knowledge and experience in drug administration through trainings and mentorship programs as this will reduce  medication errors and increase  safety of patient  in health facilities.

Background: The majority of Kenya's population lives in rural areas with limited access to higher education. A blended ‘eBSc Nursing’ programme was created to bridge the gap. Aims: To explore users' views on the effectiveness of the pilot blended e-learning BSc Nursing programme in Kenya. Methods: A mixed methods approach was used in data collection. All students in the pilot eBsc Nursing programme were sampled and focus group discussions were held with lecturers and mentors. Findings: The majority of the pilot cohort (84%) were satisfied with the quality of training and the inherent flexibility of the model. Offline e-learning sites were only accessible to 64% of learners. Limited ICT skills among lecturers were a concern to 46% of the respondents. Trainers were of the opinion that the in-service eLearners either performed at equal to or better than conventionally-trained BscN students. Conclusions: There was a positive user response to the eBscN upgrading programme. Learner support systems required more strengthening to deliver on desired objectives.