This is Dr Atwoli's CV current as at October 2020.
PDF Upload:
(Last updated: October 27, 2020)
Recent Publications
Takahashi R, Wilunda C, Magutah K, Mwaura-Tenambergen W, Atwoli L, Perngparn U. {Evaluation of alcohol screening and community-based brief interventions in rural western Kenya: A quasi-experimental study}. Alcohol and Alcoholism. 2018;53.Abstract
© The Author 2017. Medical Council on Alcohol and Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. Aims: To assess the effectiveness of community-based alcohol brief interventions (ABI) implemented by community-health workers with and without motivational talks (MT) by former drinkers, in reducing harmful and hazardous alcohol consumption.Methods: We conducted a three-arm quasi-experimental study (one control and two intervention groups) between May and December 2015 in Kakamega County, Kenya. Participants were hazardous or harmful alcohol drinkers with an Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) score of 8-19 at baseline. One intervention group received only ABI while the other received ABI + MT. The interventions' effects on AUDIT scores were analysed using linear mixed models. Logistic regression was used to analyse the interventions' effects on low-risk drinking (AUDIT score {\textless} 8) after 6 months.Results: The study included 161 participants: 52 in the control group, 52 in the only ABI group and 57 in the ABI + MT group. The mean AUDIT scores were lower in the intervention groups at 1, 3 and 6 months post-intervention; the ABI + MT group showed a greater reduction. The mean AUDIT scores over a 6-month period were lower in both intervention groups compared with the control group. The odds of low-risk drinking were almost two times higher in both intervention groups than in the control group, although the effect of only ABI on low-risk drinking was not significant.Conclusions: ABI + MT and only ABI were associated with a reduced mean AUDIT score among hazardous and high-risk drinkers in this resource-limited setting. ABI + MT was also associated with low-risk drinking in this population.Short summary: Community-based alcohol brief interventions implemented by community-health workers accompanied by motivational talks by former drinkers were associated with reduced hazardous and harmful alcohol consumption in a rural setting in western Kenya.
Kwobah E, Epstein S, Mwangi A, Litzelman D, Atwoli L. {PREVALENCE of psychiatric morbidity in a community sample in Western Kenya}. BMC Psychiatry. 2017;17.Abstract
© 2017 The Author(s). Background: About 25{%} of the worldwide population suffers from mental, neurological and substance use disorders but unfortunately, up to 75{%} of affected persons do not have access to the treatment they need. Data on the magnitude of the mental health problem in Kenya is scarce. The objectives of this study were to establish the prevalence and the socio-demographic factors associated with mental and substance use disorders in Kosirai division, Nandi County, Western Kenya. Methods: This was a cross sectional descriptive study in which participants were selected by simple random sampling. The sampling frame was obtained from a data base of the population in the study area developed during door-to-door testing and counseling exercises for HIV/AIDS. Four hundred and twenty consenting adults were interviewed by psychologists using the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview Version 7 for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual 5th Edition and a researcher-designed social demographic questionnaire. Results: One hundred and ninety one (45{%}) of the participants had a lifetime diagnosis of at least one of the mental disorders. Of these, 66 (15.7{%}) had anxiety disorder, 53 (12.3{%}) had major depressive disorder; 49 (11.7{%}) had alcohol and substance use disorder. 32 (7.6{%}) had experienced a psychotic episode and 69 (16.4{%}) had a life-time suicidal attempt. Only 7 (1.7{%}) had ever been diagnosed with a mental illness. Having a mental condition was associated with age less than 60 years and having a medical condition. Conclusion: A large proportion of the community has had a mental disorder in their lifetime and most of these conditions are undiagnosed and therefore not treated. These findings indicate a need for strategies that will promote diagnosis and treatment of community members with psychiatric disorders. In order to screen more people for mental illness, we recommend further research to evaluate a strategy similar to the home based counseling and testing for HIV and the use of simple screening tools.
Braitstein P, Ayaya S, Ayuku D, DeLong A, Atwoli L. {Child abuse and neglect in charitable children's institutions in Uasin Gishu County, Kenya: A challenge of context}.; 2017.
- 1 of 16
- ››