Dr. Florence Okwara

Title/ Qualifications: MB Ch B, MMed (Paed), PhD (Public health). Department/Unit/Section: Paediatrics and Child Health Contact Address: 19533, 00202, Nairobi, Kenya Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Position: Lecturer Area of Specialization: Pediatrics and Child health Research Interests: Developmental and behavioral paediatrics, child health, infectious diseases and tropical diseases in children Download CV

PUBLICATIONS

• Okwara FNO, Donald KA, Caregiver perspectives, experiences, and service satisfaction, and health service utilization among families of children with neuro-developmental disorders at a tertiary center in a low-resource setting. Journal of Research in Autism Disorders, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rasd.2023.102285

• Okwara FNO, Stanzi MR, Donald KA, Health service utilization by young children with autism spectrum disorder versus global developmental delay at a tertiary center, in a resource-limited setting. Journal of developmental and behavioral paediatrics, (J Dev Behav Pediatr 00:1–10, 2022)

• Okwara FN, Oyore JP, Were FN, Gwer S.  Correlates of isoniazid prophylaxis failure for tuberculosis prevention among child household contacts with infectious tuberculosis in high burden settings in Nairobi, Kenya - a cohort study.  BMC Infectious Diseases. Doi: 10.1186/s12879-017-2719-8

• Okwara F, Oyore J P, Were F. Challenges that fraught isoniazid prophylaxis as a child tuberculosis prevention strategy in children household contact with adults with tuberculosis from high burden settings, Nairobi, Kenya; East and Central African Medical Journal, 2014:1 (2): 82- 88.

• Okwara F, Makewa D, Karo E. Cryptococcal meningitis in a 5-month-old HIV negative child with Rickets - case report; East and Central African Medical Journal. 2015: 2 (2): 92- 94.

• Okwara FN, Obimbo E, Wafula E, and Murila. F Bacteraemia, Urinary tract infections and malaria in hospitalized febrile children in Nairobi. Is there an association?  East African Medical Journal. Vol 81, No. 1, January 2004.

• Musyoka JN, Okwara FN, Yonge S, Uptake of prevention of mother-to-child transmission of human immunodeficiency virus interventions among infected mothers attending health facilities in Mombasa County, Kenya. International Journal of Community Medicine and Public Health, 2024 May; 11(5):1742-1749

• Lumonje IK, Okwara FN, Too W, Factors affecting utilization of available SRH services by youth living in the streets of Nakuru Town, Nakuru County. East African Journal of Health and Science, Volume 4, Issue 1, 2019.

• Ndungu EW, Okwara FN, Oyore JP. Cross-sectional survey of Care-seeking for acute respiratory illness of children under 5 years in rural Kenya: American Journal of Pediatrics. Vol 4, No 3, 2018, pp 69-79.                                                      Doi 10.11648/j.ajp.20180403.05

• Korir E, Okwara FN, Okumbe G,2018.Menstrual hygiene management practices among primary school girls from a pastoralist community in Kenya - a cross sectional survey. The Pan African Medical Journal. 2018;31:222. doi:10.11604/pamj.2018.31.222.13521

• Ndungu EW, Okwara FN, Oyore JP. 2018,Cross sectional survey of Care-seeking for acute respiratory illness of children under 5 years in rural Kenya:American journal of pediatrics.Vol 4, No 3, 2018, pp 69-79.Doi 10.11648/ j.ajp.20180403.05

• Okwara FN, Oyore JP, Were FN, Gwer S2017Correlates of isoniazid prophylaxis failure for tuberculosis prevention among child household contacts with infectious tuberculosis in high burden settings in Nairobi, Kenya - a cohort study.BMC Infectious Diseases.Doi: 10.1186/s12879-017-2719-8

• Makau GM, Okwara FN, Oyore JP: 2015 ‘Early Infant Diagnosis’ and treatment of HIV among HIV exposed and infected infants in Baba Dogo and Kariobangi slums, Nairobi County, East and Central African Medical Journal 2078 - 5909 2 (2): 80- 88.

• Okwara F, Makewa D, Karo E. 2015 Cryptococcocal meningitis in a 5 month old HIV negative child with Rickets- a case report East and Central African Medical Journal 2078 - 59092 (2): 92- 94.

• Okwara F, OyoreJ P, Were F 2014 Challenges that fraught isoniazid prophylaxis as a child tuberculosis prevention strategy in child household contacts of adults with tuberculosis from high burden settings, Nairobi, Kenya; East and Central African Medical Journal 2078 - 5909 1 (2): 82- 88.

• Masinde AL, Okwara FN, Okello AB. 2012 Prescribed food diets for HIV infected children. Lambert academic Publishing, 2012. ISBN:978-3-659-14354-0.

• Okwara F., Obimbo E, Wafula E,  Murila.F., 2004, Bacteraemia, Urinary tract infections and malaria in hospitalized febrile children in Nairobi. Is there an association?, East African Medical Journal., Vol 81, No. 1, January 2004.

Conferences/Workshops/Seminars Attended

Conferences Attended

-          The 17^th to 24^th Annual Scientific Conferences of the Kenya Paediatrics Association, Pride in Hotel, Mombasa, April 2022.

-          The 4^th International Developmental Paediatrics Association Congress was held in Lebanon, Beirut.  – 2021, Virtual presenter.

-          The 3^rd International Developmental Paediatrics Congress (IDPAC), Manila, Philippines, December 2019.

-          Alternatives to breastfeeding and specialized infant feeding formulas, Organized by Lipitis Nutrition, Dubai, October 2015.

-          First global conference on ‘Patient-centred Care’, organized by the School of Medicine, Kenyatta University, Sept 2015.

-          International Congress on Tropical Paediatrics, organized by the Kenya Paediatrics Association, Nairobi, June 2014.

-          Food and Nutrition in Children conference organized by the Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Kenyatta University, June 2014.

-          The sixth HOPE meeting with Nobel laureates, organized by the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, in Tokyo, Japan, in March 2014.

-          The 8^th International Conference on ‘Mother and Child Handbook’ organized by the Ministry of Public Health, and the International Committee on the MCH Handbook, Kenya, May 2012.

-          The 3^rd to the 13^th Annual Scientific Conference of the Kenya Paediatrics Association, Mombasa, April of each year 2002-2012.

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

Affiliation of Professional Bodies

• Member of the East African Academy of Childhood disabilities
• Member of the International Society for Autism Research (INSAR)
• Member of the International Developmental Paediatrics Association (IDPA)

• Member of the Paediatric Neurology and Development Association of Southern Africa (PANDA-SA)
• Member of the Association of Human Genetics in Africa (AHGA)
• Member of the Deciphering developmental Disorders in Africa (DDD-Africa)
• Member of the Kenya Paediatrics Association (KPA).
• Member of the Kenya Women in Medicine Association (KWMA).
• Member of the Kenya Medical Association (KMA).

AWARDS & RECOGNITION

• Fellow, College of Paediatrics of South Africa (2020)
• Best Junior Researcher Award – School of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, 2021.
• African Paediatric Fellowship Program Scholar (2018- 2020)
• HOPE Fellow – Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (2015)