Charles R Newton
Biographic Data
| ID | 2162932 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Charles R Newton |
| GIVEN NAMES | Charles R |
| FAMILY NAME | Newton |
| SIGNATURE | NEWTON C R |
| AFFILIATIONS | Kenya Medical Research Institute |
| ORCID | 0000-0002-6999-5507 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 50 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 6 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 50 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2006 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2025 |
| H-INDEX | 1 |
The relationship between lifetime trauma exposure and psychosis in a multi-country case-control study in Africa
Background: Exposure to traumatic events is a known risk factor for psychosis. Additionally, psychosis may be a risk factor for exposure to traumatic events. There are little data on the relationship between traumatic events and psychosis in sub-Saharan Africa, particularly in large, cross-country samples using the same instrument. Methods: In a case-control study, 21,606 adults were recruited with psychosis (cases) and 21,329 adults without any …
Socio-medical factors associated with neurodevelopmental disorders on the Kenyan coast
Neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) are a group of conditions with their onset during the early developmental period and include conditions such as autism and intellectual disability. Occurrence of NDDs is thought to be determined by both genetic and environmental factors, but data on the role of environmental factors for NDD in Africa is limited. This study investigates environmental influences on NDDs in children from Kenya. This case-control s…
Contextualization and adaptation of the child and adolescent mental and behavioural disorders module of the mhGAP-IG in Kilifi and Nairobi counties in Kenya
The Mental Health Gap Action Programme Intervention Guide (mhGAP-IG) was developed by the World Health Organization as a key tool for delivering evidence-based mental healthcare in non-specialized settings. The mhGAP-IG requires contextualization and adaptation to ensure local relevance. However, evidence on adapting the Child and Adolescent Mental Disorders (CMH) module of the mhGAP-IG is limited. This study contextualized and adapted the 2016 m…
Impact of co-morbid common mental disorder symptoms in people with epilepsy in Ethiopia on quality of life and functional disability
The objective of this study was to investigate the impact of common mental disorder (CMD; depression/anxiety) symptoms and risky substance use in people with epilepsy in Ethiopia (four districts) on quality of life (QoL) and functioning over 6 months. A prospective cohort study was carried out. Multivariable linear regression followed by structural equation modelling (SEM) was employed. In the multivariable regression model, neither CMD symptoms …
Cross-cultural equivalence of the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10) across four African countries in a multi-national study of adults
The Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10) has been widely used to screen psychological distress across many countries. However, its performance has not been extensively studied in Africa. The present study sought to evaluate and compare measurement properties of the K10 across four African countries: Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, and South Africa. Our hypothesis is that the measure will show equivalence across all. Data are drawn from a neuropsyc…
Association between psychosis and substance use in Kenya. Findings from the NeuroGAP-Psychosis study
The findings of this study suggest that psychotic illnesses are associated with an increased likelihood of using various substances. These findings are consistent with those of previous studies; however, it is crucial to investigate further the potential for reverse causality between psychosis and substance abuse using genetically informed methods
Utility of the 3Di short version in the identification and diagnosis of autism in children at the Kenyan coast
The Swahili version of the 3Di provides information on autism traits, which may be helpful for descriptive research of endophenotypes, for instance. However, for accuracy in newly diagnosed autism, it should be complemented by other tools, e.g., observational clinical judgment using the DSM criteria or assessments such as the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule. The construct validity of the Swahili 3Di for some domains, e.g., communication, s…
Attitudes and perceptions towards epilepsy in an onchocerciasis-endemic region of Tanzania
Despite high awareness of epilepsy, there is insufficient understanding, negative attitudes, and perceptions, including misconceptions and stigma about this neurologic condition. Community-based education programmes are essential for promoting proper healthcare-seeking behaviour and dispelling myths
Suicidal attempts and ideations in Kenyan adults with psychotic disorders
Suicidal ideation and SB are common in persons with psychotic disorders in this African setting and are associated with sociodemographic factors, such as young age and unemployment, and clinical factors, such as family history of suicidality. Interventions targeted at the community (e.g., economic empowerment) or at increasing access to care and treatment for persons with psychotic disorders may reduce the risk of suicide in this vulnerable popul…
Cerebral palsy and developmental intellectual disability in children younger than 5 years
Objective: Children with developmental disabilities are associated with a high risk of poor school enrollment and educational attainment without timely and appropriate support. Epidemiological data on cerebral palsy and associated comorbidities required for policy intervention in global health are lacking. This paper set out to report the best available evidence on the global and regional prevalence of cerebral palsy (CP) and developmental intell…
The burden of neurological impairments and disability in older children measured in disability-adjusted life-years in rural Kenya
Neurological impairment (NI) and disability are common in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), but the overall burden in terms of morbidity and mortality in older children remains unknown. We estimated the burden of NI in disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), years of life lost to premature mortality (YLLs), and years lived with disability (YLDs) for older children in a defined rural setting in Kenya. We used empirical and literature estimates to model th…
Behavioural and emotional comorbidities in school-aged children with neurological conditions in Kilifi, Kenya, and their long-term consequences
BACKGROUND: Neurological conditions and mental health problems are common in children in low- and middle-income countries, but the risk factors and downstream impact of these problems on children with neurological conditions are not reported. OBJECTIVE: To determine the association of neurological conditions with behavioural and emotional problems in children, the prevalence and risk factors of behavioural and emotional problems, and long-term im…
Perspectives of key stakeholders on educational experiences of children with autism spectrum disorders at the Kenyan Coast
There is an urgent need for contextually relevant evidence-based identification, placement and management services to be put in place to meet the educational needs of children with ASD
Validating measures of stigma against those with mental illness among a community sample in Kilifi Kenya
Kiswahili versions of the MAKS, RIBS and a modified version of the CAMI are valid for use in the study population. Stigma against people with mental illness may not be an enduring trait in this population
Psychosocial and mental health challenges faced by emerging adults living with HIV and support systems aiding their positive coping
In this rural setting, emerging adults living with HIV face various challenges at the individual, family, and community level, some of which are cross-cutting. Our findings underscore the need for designing multi-level youth-friendly interventions that can address modifiable challenges encountered by emerging adults living with HIV in this and similar settings. Such interventions should incorporate appropriate context-specific support structures …
Long-Term Mental Health and Quality of Life Outcomes of Neonatal Insults in Kilifi, Kenya
We examined the mental health and quality of life (QoL) outcomes and their correlates of school-aged survivors of neonatal jaundice (NNJ), hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE), and a comparison group. The Child Behavior Checklist and the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory were administered to assess the mental health and QoL of 375 children (134 with NNJ, 107 with HIE, and 134 comparison group) aged 6 to 12 years [Median age 9 (interquartile ra…
Development of self-help groups for caregivers of children with disabilities in Kilifi, Kenya
Self-help groups have the potential to progress in resource-poor settings. However, critical to group progression are literacy and numeracy skills amongst the members, their geographical proximity, regular meetings of the group, viable income generating projects and strong leadership
Contextualizing and pilot testing the Mental Health Gap Action Programme Intervention Guide (mhGAP-IG) to primary healthcare workers in Kilifi, Kenya
The adapted mhGAP-IG version two can be used across coastal Kenya to train primary healthcare providers. However, successful implementation in Kilifi will require a review of new evidence on the burden of disease, improvements in the mental health system and sustained dialogue among stakeholders
Economic burden and mental health of primary caregivers of perinatally HIV infected adolescents from Kilifi, Kenya
Our study indicates that HIV/AIDS is associated with a significant economic burden for caregivers of adolescents living with HIV. Results underscore the need for developing economic empowerment and social support programmes that reduce the economic burden of caring for perinatally infected adolescent. These efforts may improve the mental health and quality of life of caregivers of adolescents living with HIV
Socio-ecological determinants of alcohol, tobacco, and drug use behavior of adolescents in Kilifi County at the Kenyan coast
Alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use form a risk factor for health and social problems during adolescence. From a socio-ecological model, perceptions of 85 young people and 10 stakeholders on the types of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs used and the predisposing and protective factors were explored; among adolescents at the Kenyan Coast in the Kilifi County. We found that the consumption of home-brewed alcohol, tobacco and marijuana smoking, an…
Mortality of neurological disorders in Tanzania
Background: Neurological disorders (ND) have a profound consequence on human productivity, quality of life and survival. There are limited data on the burden of ND in Tanzania due to insufficient coverage of civil and vital registration systems.Objectives: This study was conducted to estimate mortality of ND in all ages in Tanzania using data from the Sample Vital Registration with Verbal Autopsy (SAVVY) study.Methods: Multistage random sampling …
Measuring performance on the Healthcare Access and Quality Index for 195 countries and territories and selected subnational locations
BACKGROUND: A key component of achieving universal health coverage is ensuring that all populations have access to quality health care. Examining where gains have occurred or progress has faltered across and within countries is crucial to guiding decisions and strategies for future improvement. We used the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study 2016 (GBD 2016) to assess personal health-care access and quality with the Healthc…
Persons with disabilities as experts-by experience
BACKGROUND: The last decade has seen improved public awareness of disability in sub-Saharan Africa. However, negative and stereotypical views of disability still persist in many communities. We conducted a study to promote awareness of disability in rural Kenya, using a process of reflection and education. This paper reports on the second aspect - education. The research question was: How can personal narratives of living with disability affect c…
A contextually relevant approach to assessing health risk behavior in a rural sub-Saharan Africa setting
The KRIBE-Q assembled in this study is a psychometrically sound instrument for adolescents in rural coastal Kenya and feasible to administer via ACASI. This measure may be useful for surveys and planning interventions in similar settings
Young people's and stakeholders' perspectives of adolescent sexual risk behavior in Kilifi County, Kenya
A lack of research exists around the most common forms of sexual risk behaviors among adolescents, including their underlying factors, in Sub-Saharan Africa. Using an Ecological Model of Adolescent Behavior, we explore the perceptions of 85 young people and 10 stakeholders on sexual risk behavior of adolescents in Kilifi County on the coast of Kenya. Our findings show that transactional sex, early sexual debut, coerced sex, and multiple sexual pa…
Young people's and stakeholders' perspectives of adolescent sexual risk behavior in Kilifi County, Kenya
A lack of research exists around the most common forms of sexual risk behaviors among adolescents, including their underlying factors, in Sub-Saharan Africa. Using an Ecological Model of Adolescent Behavior, we explore the perceptions of 85 young people and 10 stakeholders on sexual risk behavior of adolescents in Kilifi County on the coast of Kenya. Our findings show that transactional sex, early sexual debut, coerced sex, and multiple sexual pa…
Socio-ecological determinants of alcohol, tobacco, and drug use behavior of adolescents in Kilifi County at the Kenyan coast
Alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use form a risk factor for health and social problems during adolescence. From a socio-ecological model, perceptions of 85 young people and 10 stakeholders on the types of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs used and the predisposing and protective factors were explored; among adolescents at the Kenyan Coast in the Kilifi County. We found that the consumption of home-brewed alcohol, tobacco and marijuana smoking, an…
Constructing Tests of Cognitive Abilities for Schooled and Unschooled Children
It is frequently necessary to assess children with little or no schooling to determine their level of cognitive functioning, especially in developing countries. It is not possible, however, to assume that assessments will hold equal validity for children with and without the experience of schooling. The authors, therefore, set out to create a battery of tests suitable for both schooled and unschooled children. They assessed 973 schooled and 645 u…
Immunization coverage and risk factors for failure to immunize within the Expanded Programme on Immunization in Kenya after introduction of new Haemophilus influenzae type b and hepatitis b virus anti…
Vaccine coverage was high before and after introduction of pentavalent vaccine, but most doses were given late. Coverage is limited by seasonal factors and family size
Constructing Tests of Cognitive Abilities for Schooled and Unschooled Children
It is frequently necessary to assess children with little or no schooling to determine their level of cognitive functioning, especially in developing countries. It is not possible, however, to assume that assessments will hold equal validity for children with and without the experience of schooling. The authors, therefore, set out to create a battery of tests suitable for both schooled and unschooled children. They assessed 973 schooled and 645 u…
An increase in the burden of neonatal admissions to a rural district hospital in Kenya over 19 years
There is clear evidence of increasing burden in neonatal admissions at a rural district hospital in contrast to reducing numbers of non-neonatal paediatrics' admissions aged ≤ 5 years. Though the inpatient case fatality for all admissions aged ≤ 5 years declined significantly, neonates now comprise close to 60% of all inpatient deaths. Simple indicators may identify neonates at risk of death
Common values in assessing health outcomes from disease and injury
Years lived with disability (YLDs) for 1160 sequelae of 289 diseases and injuries 1990–2010
Disability-adjusted life years (Dalys) for 291 diseases and injuries in 21 regions, 1990–2010
Early production of the passive in two Eastern Bantu languages
The passive construction is acquired relatively late by children learning to speak many languages, with verbal passives not fully acquired until age 6 in English. In other languages it appears earlier, around age 3 or before. Use of passive construction in young children was examined in two Eastern Bantu languages spoken in Kenya (Kiswahili and Kigiriama), both with frequent use of passive. The passive was used productively very early (2;1) in th…
Speech and Language Disorders in Kenyan Children
This study sought to adapt a battery of Western speech and language assessment tools to a rural Kenyan setting. The tool was developed for children whose first language was KiGiryama, a Bantu language. A total of 539 Kenyan children (males=271, females=268, ethnicity=100% Kigiryama. Data were collected from 303 children admitted to hospital with severe malaria and 206 age-matched children recruited from the village communities. The language asses…
The Performance of Children Prenatally Exposed to HIV on the A-Not-B Task in Kilifi, Kenya
The aim of the study was to investigate early executive functioning in young children from 6-35 months of age. The study involved 319 randomly selected children from the community, 17 HIV exposed but uninfected children and 31 HIV infected ARV-naive children. A variation of the A-not-B task was used. While there were no group differences in total correct, perseverative errors, nor maximum error run, a significant percentage of children were unabl…
Global, regional, and national incidence and mortality for HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria during 1990–2013
Global, regional, and national levels and causes of maternal mortality during 1990–2013
Closing the mental health treatment gap in South Africa
BACKGROUND: Nearly one in three South Africans will suffer from a mental disorder in his or her lifetime, a higher prevalence than many low- and middle-income countries. Understanding the economic costs and consequences of prevention and packages of care is essential, particularly as South Africa considers scaling-up mental health services and works towards universal health coverage. Economic evaluations can inform how priorities are set in syste…
Un artiste-antiquaire en Egypte au XIXe siecle, textes reunis par Mercedes Volait
Although Prisse d’Avennes ended his days in poverty, he left a substantial archive (ultimately preserved by the Bibliothèque Nationale) unlike many other artists and scholars. His son wrote a biography, or rather a hagiography. Prisse is an enigmatic figure in the history of Egyptology and the study of medieval Egypt. His work in many fields lives on in the wonderful illustrated books he published, the finds he brought back to France, and in the …
Global, regional, and national comparative risk assessment of 79 behavioural, environmental and occupational, and metabolic risks or clusters of risks in 188 countries, 1990–2013
Global, regional, and national disability-adjusted life years (Dalys) for 306 diseases and injuries and healthy life expectancy (Hale) for 188 countries, 1990–2013
Global, regional, and national incidence, prevalence, and years lived with disability for 301 acute and chronic diseases and injuries in 188 countries, 1990–2013
Developmental inventories using illiterate parents as informants
Communicative Development Inventories (CDIs, parent-completed language development checklists) are a helpful tool to assess language in children who are unused to interaction with unfamiliar adults. Generally, CDIs are completed in written form, but in developing country settings parents may have insufficient literacy to complete them alone. We designed CDIs to assess language development in children aged 0;8 to 2;4 in two languages used in Coast…
Global, regional, national, and selected subnational levels of stillbirths, neonatal, infant, and under-5 mortality, 1980–2015
BACKGROUND: Established in 2000, Millennium Development Goal 4 (MDG4) catalysed extraordinary political, financial, and social commitments to reduce under-5 mortality by two-thirds between 1990 and 2015. At the country level, the pace of progress in improving child survival has varied markedly, highlighting a crucial need to further examine potential drivers of accelerated or slowed decreases in child mortality. The Global Burden of Disease 2015 …
Measuring the health-related Sustainable Development Goals in 188 countries
BACKGROUND: In September, 2015, the UN General Assembly established the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The SDGs specify 17 universal goals, 169 targets, and 230 indicators leading up to 2030. We provide an analysis of 33 health-related SDG indicators based on the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study 2015 (GBD 2015). METHODS: We applied statistical methods to systematically compiled data to estimate the performance of…
Global, regional, and national life expectancy, all-cause mortality, and cause-specific mortality for 249 causes of death, 1980–2015
BACKGROUND: Improving survival and extending the longevity of life for all populations requires timely, robust evidence on local mortality levels and trends. The Global Burden of Disease 2015 Study (GBD 2015) provides a comprehensive assessment of all-cause and cause-specific mortality for 249 causes in 195 countries and territories from 1980 to 2015. These results informed an in-depth investigation of observed and expected mortality patterns bas…
The Association Between Childhood Seizures and Later Childhood Emotional and Behavioral Problems
OBJECTIVES: Emotional/behavioral disorders are often comorbid with childhood epilepsy, but both may be predicted by social disadvantage and fetal risk indicators (FRIs). We used data from a British birth cohort, to assess the association of epilepsy, single unprovoked seizures, and febrile seizures with the later development of emotional/behavioral problems. METHODS: A total of 17,416 children in the 1958 British birth cohort were followed up unt…
Everyone has a secret they keep close to their hearts’
In this African community, vertically acquired HIV-infected adolescents face a complex set of social, economic and medical challenges. Our study points to the urgent need to develop multisectorial intervention support programmes to fully address these challenges
Global, regional, and national incidence, prevalence, and years lived with disability for 328 diseases and injuries for 195 countries, 1990–2016
BACKGROUND: As mortality rates decline, life expectancy increases, and populations age, non-fatal outcomes of diseases and injuries are becoming a larger component of the global burden of disease. The Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study 2016 (GBD 2016) provides a comprehensive assessment of prevalence, incidence, and years lived with disability (YLDs) for 328 causes in 195 countries and territories from 1990 to 2016. METHO…
Healthcare Access and Quality Index based on mortality from causes amenable to personal health care in 195 countries and territories, 1990–2015
BACKGROUND: National levels of personal health-care access and quality can be approximated by measuring mortality rates from causes that should not be fatal in the presence of effective medical care (ie, amenable mortality). Previous analyses of mortality amenable to health care only focused on high-income countries and faced several methodological challenges. In the present analysis, we use the highly standardised cause of death and risk factor …
Global, regional, and national disability-adjusted life-years (Dalys) for 333 diseases and injuries and healthy life expectancy (Hale) for 195 countries and territories, 1990–2016
BACKGROUND: Measurement of changes in health across locations is useful to compare and contrast changing epidemiological patterns against health system performance and identify specific needs for resource allocation in research, policy development, and programme decision making. Using the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study 2016, we drew from two widely used summary measures to monitor such changes in population health: di…
Medicine (44 works) · Environmental health (27 works) · Psychology (25 works) · Psychiatry (20 works) · Population (16 works) · Public health (15 works) · Global Maternal and Child Health (13 works) · Demography (12 works) · Mental health (10 works) · Nursing (10 works)