Lucy Gitonga

• phd
• Head of Faculty at Chuka University

Background: The choice of maternity care model is a pivotal decision in every expectant mother's journey, influencing her pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum experience. Objective: This integrative literature review explores various maternity care models, their long-term effects, and their impact on safety, cost-effectiveness, quality, and accept...

The midwifery-led care model improves maternal and neonatal health outcomes. For midwives to autonomously utlise a midwifery-led care model, they must know what it entails within available practice guidelines. Little is known about practitioners’ knowledge and practice of this model in Embu County. The study found that there are gaps in knowledge a...

Breast cancer remains the most commonly diagnosed cancer among women, affecting 34 women per every 100,000. This has led to high number of fatalities annually, which need to be mitigated. Establishing alternative conventional therapies such as working on mindfulness-based stress (MBS) may be a good alternative to improve prognosis and survival rate...

Background: Cancers are leading cause of death in developed nations and the second leading cause of death in developing nations. One of the most frequently diagnosed cancers among men is Prostate cancer (PCa) Objective: This research study aimed at exploring the patient?s and family?s perceptions towards diagnosis of prostate cancer in Tharaka Nith...

Background: Prevalence of non-communicable diseases like hypertension is raising hence a burden to low resource countries like Kenya. Purpose of the study was to determine factors affecting health seeking behaviour in hypertensive patients in Imenti North sub county, Kenya.Methods: A cross-sectional study design and cluster random sampling method w...

Background: Non-adherence to hypertensive medication continues to be�come a contributing factor to hypertensive complications like stroke, heart attacks, kidney disease heart failure. Associated factors to non-adherence are complex, are both internal and external to the patient and are difficult to extrapolate. Reports from Chuka referral hospit...

Background: Data are skewed on the role of Socio-demographic, nutritional and adherence related factors on the influence of nevirapine plasma concentrations among Kenyan population. This study rigorously determined these three factors on nevirapine plasma concentrations among HIV patients receiving HIV treatment in two regions known for high preval...

Background: Patients’ clinical outcomes and pharmacogenetic factors are important predictors of nevirapine (NVP) plasma concentration. This study evaluated the association of socio-demographic factors and Cytochrome P450 2B6 (CYP2B6) polymorphisms with NVP plasma concentrations among patients receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART) treatment in west...

There is growing interest among the public in demography since demographic change has become the subject of political debates in many countries. Statistics on demography are used to support policy-making and monitor demographic behaviour of political, economic, social and cultural perspectives. Most studies have used descriptive statistics to study...

It is through family planning that unplanned pregnancies can be prevented. Post partum method of contraception is highly recommended because it is long acting, convenient, safe and highly effective with minimal side effects. According to the Meru Hospital records for the year 2017, the immediate PPIUCD uptake was very low at 3.4 %. The purpose of t...

Abstract Global contraceptive use is at 64%, Africa lagging behind at 33.4%. Kenya has an unmet need for family planning at 23%. Hormonal injections are the most used in Africa at 9.8% and Intra-Uterine Contraceptive Devices at 3.8%. Low uptake of 3.4% was reported in Meru Hospital and lack of literature on im- mediate Post Partum Intra Uterine...

Abstract Family planning allows people to attain their desired number of children and determine the spacing of pregnancies. It is important to promote uptake of family planning services because it is one of the four pillars of the Safe Mo- therhood Initiative to reduce maternal death in developing countries. It is al- so enshrined in health relat...

Continuing professional development (CPD) continues to gain acceptance as a model for health care professionals to engage in lifelong learning. Little is known about how CPD participants put the experience and the new knowledge into practice and whether it has impact on patient care outcomes. The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the...

Introdruction: Mentorship was a one to one reciprocal relationship between a more experienced and knowledgeable mentor and a less experienced mentee. Objective: The study aim was to evaluate barriers of formal and informal nursing mentorship programs in Kenya public universities. Methods: The study utilized a cross-sectional study design. It used b...

Midwifery education in many countries currently follows a didactic curricular model where students learn through classroom lecture with little opportunity for skills practice, simulation and role play needed to develop critical thinking, values and the clinical decision making abilities needed for effective practice. Many midwifery students graduat...

Malaria is a leading cause of deaths globally. Rapid and accurate diagnosis of the disease is key to its effective treatment and management. Identification of plasmodium parasites life stages and species forms part of the diagnosis. In this study, a technique for identifying the parasites life stages and species using microscopic images of thin blo...

Background Increases in the proportion of facility-based deliveries have been marginal in many low-income countries in the African region. Preliminary clinical and anthropological evidence suggests that one major factor inhibiting pregnant women from delivering at facility is disrespectful and abusive treatment by health care providers in maternity...

Malaria is a leading cause of deaths globally. Rapid and accurate diagnosis of the disease is key to its effective treatment and management. Identification of plasmodium parasites life stages and species forms part of the diagnosis. In this study, a technique for identifying the parasites life stages and species using microscopic images of thin blo...