African Thoracic Surgery | 01 February 2004
Mobile Health Clinics in Urban Nairobi Slums: A Tuberculosis Prevention Initiative Among Youth 18-25
K, u, t, w, o, n, g, e, M, a, t, i, g, o, r, e, k, o, ,, O, m, o, n, d, i, K, i, n, y, a, n, j, u, i, ,, M, w, a, n, g, i, G, i, t, o, n, g, a
Abstract
Urban Nairobi slums face significant health challenges, including tuberculosis (TB). Youth aged 18-25 are particularly vulnerable to TB due to lifestyle factors and social determinants. A mixed-methods approach was employed, including surveys (\(n=300)\) and qualitative interviews (\(n=50)\). Data were analysed using thematic analysis and descriptive statistics. Among surveyed participants, 45% reported having used mobile health clinics for TB screening. Participants expressed high satisfaction with the mobile clinic services regarding accessibility and confidentiality. Mobile health clinics provide a feasible and popular option for TB prevention among urban youth in Nairobi slums. Further studies should explore long-term impacts of these initiatives on TB prevalence rates, while scaling up efforts to include other high-risk groups.