Background: Exclusive breastfeeding is among the low-cost, high-impact interventions with proven effectiveness in reducing neonatal mortality. Objectives: The primary objective of this study was to determine the breastfeeding practices during the neonatal period (use of pre-lacteal feeds, adherence ...

A variety of the classic green tea plant, Camellia sinensis, was developed and is exclusive to Kenya. Due to high content of anthocyanin polyphenols in its leaves, the beverage obtained from this variety is purple in color and is the origin of the name purple tea. This work had two main purposes....

We investigate the effects of diet diversity on health outcomes indicated by the body-mass index (BMI) of Kenyan women in their reproductive age (15-49 years). We estimate the demand for diet diversity (which is a proxy for diet quality) and analyse its relationship with BMI by allowing the effect...

Traditional medicinal plants have been used for decades in folk medicines in the treatment and management of several ailments and diseases including diabetes, pain, ulcers, cancers, and wounds, among others. This study focused on the phytochemical and antidiabetic activity of the commonly used...

Introduction: Long-acting pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) options could overcome barriers to oral PrEP persistence during pregnancy and postpartum. We evaluated long-acting PrEP preferences among oral PrEP-experienced pregnant and postpartum women in South Africa and Kenya, countries with high PrEP ...

Background: Whether prebiotic human milk oligosaccharides (HMO), such as 2'-fucosyllactose (2'-FL) and lacto-N-neotetraose (LNnT), enhance iron absorption in infants is unknown. Moreover, whether maternal HMO profile affects absorption of iron fortificants or the effects of prebiotic...

The gut microbiota evolves rapidly after birth, responding dynamically to environmental factors and playing a key role in short- and long-term health. Lifestyle and rurality have been shown to contribute to differences in the gut microbiome, including Bifidobacterium levels, between infants. We...

Background: Early growth and body composition may influence the risk of obesity and health in adulthood. Few studies have examined how undernutrition is associated with body composition in early life. Objectives: We assessed stunting and wasting as correlates of body composition in young Kenyan...

Background: The World Health Organization recommends mothers breastfeed exclusively for the first six months of their infant's life. However, women living with HIV in low resource settings face many barriers to recommended infant feeding practices such as fear of HIV transmission and perceived milk ...

Background: For optimal functionality, immune cells require a robust and adaptable metabolic program that is fueled by dynamic mitochondrial activity. In this study, we investigate the metabolic alterations occurring in immune cells during HIV infection and antiretroviral therapy by analyzing the...