SWAP’s Research Department
Since March 2007, SWAP’s research department has been engaged in various research studies on public health in collaboration with local and international research partners. The research has been conducted in different counties of Western Kenya where there is high burden of disease. The main aim of the research department is to evaluate the health and economic impact of public health interventions, technologies and products. The department has an efficient pool of researchers that have technical expertise and experience in conducting baselines, surveillance, evaluations and feasibility studies. Through partnership and collaboration with various organizations, SWAP has published close to 70 studies in peer reviewed international journals. These research findings have been instrumental in informing policies and implementation models worldwide. Internally, the research department has been helpful in modeling of implementation and evaluation of intervention impact. Research findings have been disseminated to the County Department of Health and Education, SWAP employees and the beneficiary communities through a community feedback mechanism. SWAP projects and interventions have been continuously adjusted based on evidence to keep up with the changing trends and community needs. SWAP now outsources its research activities to various research partners. The water lab has become an essential asset to provide evidence through testing water, waste water, products, technologies and WASH interventions. SWAP has diversified its research with studies on WASH and Waste Management, Infection Prevention and Control, Early Childhood Development, Clean Energy Cook Stoves, SATO Pan, Maternal and Child Health, Menstrual Hygiene Management, Neglected tropical diseases, Cholera, COVID-19 and Malaria Waste Water Based Epidemiology among others.
CURRENT RESEARCH STUDIES:
Achieving sustained early child development impacts at scale
This research project involves a total of 1008 households with children aged 6-18 months from 60 total villages located across 3 sub counties in Kisumu and Vihiga County. The study experimentally tests the relative effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of two different delivery models for an ECD responsive parenting intervention. Delivery agents will be trained community health volunteers. The study is in collaboration with the University of Southern California and the National Early Childhood Network, County Department of Health, National Government Administration and Community Health Promoters. Midline surveys ongoing and booster session. The study has a remote arm where mothers are provided with smart phones to join session and share educational videos remotely.
Monitoring morbidity, evaluation and reduction of intestinal schistosomiasis and soil transmitted helminthiasis.
It’s a 5-year study supported by CDC whose focus is to determine schistosomiasis-associated liver morbidity and markers for monitoring and evaluation of morbidity, and a level of water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) that correlates with more effective reduction in prevalence after mass drug administration (MDA) in a schistosomiasis (SCH) and soil-transmitted helminthiasis (STH) control program in endemic areas of western Kenya. The study has both cross sectional and longitudinal designs
Chlorine Generation at Healthcare Facilities
The STREAM Chlorine Generator provides a continuous flow of chlorine solution from common salt and electricity. The chlorine-based solution generated by the STREAM chlorine generators complies with national and international guidelines for disinfecting surfaces, medical devices, and instruments. SWAP continued to give technical support, collects data and monitors distribution and use. Ongoing research continued to determine whether chlorine production in health care facilities using the STREAM generator is feasible and practical. The chlorine production has been essential during cholera outbreak. In collaboration with Washington State University, CDC and PATH SWAP is supporting the installation and training as well as ongoing monitoring of use and distribution of three additional STREAM Chlorine Generators at Health Care Facilities in Migori County, an area which was recently affected by the cholera outbreak.
Development of picture comprehension
This study was to investigate whether children’s understanding of pictures is related to children’s early experience with pictures and if learning materials and early cognitive assessment tools that involves pictures can help teachers, researchers, and policy makers. This study was done in collaboration with Stanford University targeting children between 3-9 years.
Hospital Based Chronic Kidney Disease Study.
A collaboration between the University of Illinois at Chicago, University of Colorado and JOOTRH Nephrology Department. The objective was to determine whether or not an epidemic of chronic kidney disease is occurring in Western Kenya, and if so, to identify environmental and occupational factors associated with the condition.
Some of SWAP Research Staffs