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PERSONALITY ATTRIBUTES AS INFLUENCERS OF MICRO-ENTERPRISE GROWTH AT KAMUKUNJI IN NAIROBI, KENYA
Full text linkABSTRACTSeveral studies indicate significant relationship between personality attributes and microenterprisegrowth.Acorrelationalsurveyon354micro-enterprisesmanufacturingmetallicproductsat Kamukunji stipulate positive and negative influences between personalityattributes and vertical plus horizontal growth in employees, sales, departments anddivisions. Data collection using structured questionnaire administered face to face signifiesthat desire to be boss and desire to succeed propels growth. Personality attributes model(60.85% variance explained), Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin (KMO = .82) measure of samplingadequacy, and Bartlett’s test of sphericity (.001) remain statistically significant. The 13hypotheses designate 61.54% acceptance and provides the relationship between personalityattributes and micro-enterprise growth. The study implies that there exists a positiverelationship between personality attributes of an entrepreneur and growth of microenterprises
Impact of neurosurgical site infections on patient expenditure at a national referral hospital in Kenya: a cost of illness study
Full text linkBackground: Neurosurgical site infections result in prolonged hospitalisation and increased treatment costs. Cost of illness studies are important in computing the total costs of treatment of disease, as they quantify the burden of disease in terms of direct costs, productivity losses and intangible costs. Neurosurgical site infections do not occur at a high rate in most clinical settings. Their economic impact has been assumed to be minimal, and most studies have not exclusively studied their economic impact. Objective: To assess the economic burden of treatment of surgical site infections among trauma patients admitted at the neurosurgical ward of Kenyatta National Hospital. Methods: A prospective cost of illness study was conducted between April 2015 and June 2015 as part of a larger prospective cohort study. The patient perspective was adopted. The time horizon was the hospitalization period of the patients, which was a median of ten days. No discounting was done because the study was done within a year. A micro costing approach was used to compute direct costs on medication, laboratory and radiologic tests, cost of surgical procedures and nursing care, and direct non-medical costs incurred by patients for the average 10 day hospitalisation period. Productivity losses were also computed. Results: The total median cost of treating patients with neurosurgical site infections was higher, at USD 203.95 than that of patients without infection at USD 141.20. The median cost on antibiotics was USD 18.70 while that of non- antibiotic drugs was USD 33.03. The total median cost on laboratory and radiologic tests was USD 20 and USD 55 respectively. The key cost drivers were expenditures on meropenem, phenytoin, urea, electrolyte and creatinine tests and CT scans. With regards to costs of services, care-giver costs accounted for the highest median expenditure, followed by costs of surgery and nursing care. Conclusion: Neurosurgical site infections increase hospitalisation duration and costs. Prevention of these will reduce patient expenditure. Key words: cost of illness, neurosurgical site infection, productivity losse
Ethyl linalool and diethyl phthalate from Pycnanthus angolensis (Welw.) Warb.
Full text linkBackground: Pycnanthus angolensis (Welw.) Warb. belongs to the family, Myristiceae. Extracts of the plant are used in African ethno-medicine to treat diabetes, lumbago, wounds, arthritis, anemia, mouth-thrush, scabies, infertility and skin-fungal infections amongst many others. Flavonoids, terpenes, fatty acid derivatives and quinones had previously been isolated from different organs of the plant. Before now, very scanty literature exits on organic fractions from where specific compounds had been obtained. Objectives: To study the chemical and biological parameters of the ethyl acetate fraction obtained fractionation of crude ethanol extract of the leaves of Pycnanthus angolensis. Methodology: The leaves were to be extracted cold with 50 % ethanol and the obtained aqueous crude extract partitioned with ethyl acetate. Furthermore, the ethyl acetate fraction was to be subjected to silica gel column chromatography and the isolated compounds screened for both antibacterial and antifungal activities using the microbes namely, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Candida albicans. Results: Two isolates coded NG-2 (pale yellow compound; 62 mg; Rf. (0.53); [α]D20 (+3º); [n]D20 (1.4009) and NG-4c (off-white compound; 36 mg, Rf (0.24); [α]D20 (0º); [n]D20 (1.5006) whose identities have been revealed to be 3-ethoxy-3, 7-dimethyl-1, 6-octadiene (ethyl linalool) and diethyl phthalate (1, 2-benzenedicarboxylic acid diethyl ester) respectively using the MS and IR spectral techniques. Both NG-2 and NG-4c were strongly bacteriostatic against E. coli, but recorded no activity against S. aureus and C. albicans. Conclusion: The isolation of the two compounds is being reported for the first time from the ethyl acetate fraction of the plant. Hence, NG-2 and NG-4c would serve as chemotaxonomic markers for this species and the genus, Pycnanthus in general. Keywords: Pycnanthus angolensis; fraction; ethyl linalool; diethyl phthalate: antimicrobia
Predictors of Adequate Ambulatory Anticoagulation among Adult Patients in a Tertiary Teaching and Referral Hospital in Kenya
Full text linkBackground: Local anticoagulation services are inadequate and substantially underutilized despite compelling evidence showing that their appropriate use significantly reduces the risk of thromboembolic complications. Objectives: To determine the predictors of adequate ambulatory anticoagulation services in Kenyatta National Hospital. Methodology: A cross sectional study between December 2014 and April 2015 among 102 adult outpatients on anticoagulation using consecutive sampling was done. Information abstracted into a predesigned data collection tool included participants’ sociodemographic characteristics, regular sources of supply of anticoagulant, clinic pre-appointment reminders, indications of treatment and international normalized ratio tests. Data were analyzed using IBM Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 21.0 and logistic regression was used to determine independent predictors of adequate anticoagulation, which was defined as international normalized ratio ranging 2 - 3. Results: Females were majority (76.5 %) and only 27.5 % of patients had adequate anticoagulation control. The indication of warfarin for heart valve surgery (p=0.014) and deep venous thrombosis (p=0.021) were associated with adequate anticoagulation. Age above 60 years was associated with poor anticoagulation (p=0.006). Logistic regression revealed that the independent predictor of adequate anticoagulation was warfarin use due to heart valve surgery (OR=3.1; 95% CI: 1.2 – 7.9, p=0.017). Conclusions: Ambulatory anticoagulation control in the hospital is poor. Further investigation is required to find out the reasons behind adequate anticoagulation in heart valve surgery patients. Key Words: Ambulatory anticoagulation, anticoagulant, outpatient, international normalized ratio tests
Analgesic and Anti-inflammatory Activities of the Residual Aqueous Fraction of Carissa edulis Root Bark (Vahl) in Experimental Animals
Full text linkBackground: Carissa edulis is a spiny evergreen shrub that may reach a height of 5 feet and an equal breadth. The bark is grey and smooth with straight woody double-pronged spine often in pairs. The plant is a native of South Africa. It grows in tropical African region and Arabia. It has been used in the traditional treatment of malaria, headache, glandular inflammation, rheumatism and chest complaints among others for many years and their efficacy is widely acclaimed among the Hausa communities of northern Nigeria. Hence, there need for verification of these folkloric claims. Objectives: The current study aimed at evaluating the analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities of the residual aqueous fraction of the ethanol root bark extract of C edulis in mice and rat models. Methodology: Acetic acid-induced writhing and tail immersion test in mice were used to assess analgesic properties, while anti-inflammatory effect was tested using carrageenan-induced paw oedema in rats. Results: The fraction (150, 300 and 600 mg/kg) and standard drugs significantly (p<0.05) reduced the number of writhes and prolonged the pain reaction time, in acetic acid-induced writhing and tail immersion models respectively. Similarly, the fraction (300 and 600 mg/kg) and ketoprofen (10 mg/kg) exhibited significant (p<0.05) decrease in the paw oedema at 1, 2, 3 and 4 hour intervals, while at 150 mg/kg, the decrease was significant at only third hour. Discussion: The study has shown that the residual aqueous fraction of C. edulis possesses analgesic and anti-inflammatory activity, thus, justified the traditional use of the plant in pain and inflammatory conditions. Keywords: Carissa edulis, writhes, inflammation, analgesic, fractio
The Relationship between Diversification Strategies and Capital Structure of Non-Financial Firms Listed At the NSE
Full text linkPurpose-This study was carried out with an aim to analyze the effect of diversification strategies on capital structure of non-financial firms listed at NSE. The study focused specifically on analyzing the effect of product (related and unrelated) and geographical diversification on capital structure. Methodology-An exploratory study design was used to collect data, with the population of the study being 64 firms listed in NSE. Out of the 64 firms, 41 non- financial firms were selected as the sample of the study. Data was collected from secondary sources, NSE and capital market authority. Data collected was analyzed through STATA by the use of panel data regression analysis. Findings- Related product diversification had a coefficient of 21.5(p-value=0.007) indicating that it has a significant relationship with capital structure. The study results show that debt is the most preferred form of financing in related product diversification strategies. Unrelated product diversification had a coefficient of 22.7(p value =0.006) indicating that it has a significant relationship with capital structure.The findings of this study show that debt is the most preferred form of financing in unrelated product diversification strategies. Geographical diversification had a coefficient of 0.178 (p-value=0.799) indicating that it doesn’t have a significant relationship with capital structure.Geographical diversification boosts the worth of shareholders by taking advantage of specific assets and by accelerating functioning flexibility. Implications-This study recommends that firms can increase their market power through increasing their new products and markets, which can be financed though debt financing. In addition, the management of firms should strive towards having optimum capital structure by increasing their equity level and reducing dependence on debts so as to avoid being cash strapped and debt ridden. This study also recommends that firms focus on geographic diversification as it has advantages such as lower cost of production, but it should not be financed through debt or equity. Value- Relevant government authorities, who formulate policies to guide companies and protect consumers, would benefit from important information the study would provide for this purpose
University Teaching and Research for Development in Africa: Industry Linkages
Full text linkThis study sought to contribute to knowledge by assessing the extent to which industrylinkage strategies influence performance of universities in Kenya. Resource based viewwas used as the main theory anchoring the study. Cross-Sectional survey was adopted asthe research design. The population of the study consists of sixty five (65) public andprivate universities incorporated in Kenya. Out of this, a sample of forty seven (47)universities which had undergone at least one graduation cycle was taken. Primary andsecondary data was collected using semi-structured questionnaires and review of existinguniversity documents and regulatory bodies websites respectively. The instrument wastested for reliability and found fit. Analysis was undertaken using correlation andregression analyses to test hypotheses. Analysis of variance was also used to determine thedifferences between group means. Coefficient of variation (C.V) was also used to measurevariability and consistency in scores of different universities when standard deviation andarithmetic means are compared. Out of the targeted forty seven (47) respondents fromforty seven (47) universities, a total of forty four (44) questionnaires were returned,representing 94% response rate. It was established that positive and significantcorrelations existed between industry linkage strategies and university performance. Theresults provided have rich implications for theory, policy and practice. The significance offirm resources and linkage components in strategy formulation and implementation cannotbe overlooked. The findings offer insights to university authorities and policy makers byanswering the question on the role of industry linkage strategies and universityperformance. The key recommendation that the study offers to the stakeholders, is theneed to consider industry linkage aspects during strategy formulation and implementationprocess in order to substantially exploit the synergies resulting from enhanced symbioticcorrelations between university education and the industry. The main limitation of thisstudy is that primary data was collected from only one respondent per university but common methods bias was mitigated through the use of additional secondary data tovalidate primary data. Thus, the limitation did not affect the credence of the results aspresented and discussed. Secondly, although it was not possible to include all thedeterminants of institutional performance, balanced score card was appropriately used torepresent financial and non-financial aspects that constitute performance indicators
STRATEGIC PLANNING AND PERFORMANCE OF PUBLIC ENTITIES: THE MODERATING EFFECTS OF FIRM CHARACTERISTICS
No full textPerformance of any organization is in actual sense a function of many other factors. Areview of literature relating to corporate performance show that strategic planning is animportant factor in performance of organizations, however, it is not strategic planningalone that influence the performance of a corporation, firm characteristics, also comeinto play. The broad objectives of the study was to establish the influence of firmcharacteristics on the relationship between strategic planning and performance. Thestudy was oriented by the positivist view which uses surveys to verify hypotheses andstatistics, especially quantitative statistics for analysis. The population of interest was all state corporations in Kenya . The study employed a descriptive cross-sectional survey design. Data was collected from the top managers using questionnaires. Hierarchicalregression analysis, specifically interaction analysis was conducted on the collected data.The study found that firm characteristics have moderating effects on the relationshipbetween strategic planning and performance of state corporations in Kenya. The studyhas made important theoretical contributions by highlighting the factors that moderatethe relationship between strategic planning and performance of state corporations inKenya. The study has further provided important insight to policy makers, strategicmanagement practitioners and to academicians
Accessibility of medicines used in the management of substance use disorders in selected hospitals in Nairobi
Full text linkBackground: Substance use disorder is a complex chronic disease that requires a multidisciplinary approach in treatment. Pharmacotherapy is one of the components in the treatment of this condition. This study sought to assess the accessibility of medicines used in the treatment of substance use disorders in both a public and a private health facility in Nairobi. Methodology: This descriptive cross-sectional study with both qualitative and quantitative components was carried out in April and May 2015 at two hospitals in Nairobi, Mathare Mental Hospital (public) and Chiromo Lane Medical Centre (private). Data on availability and affordability was collected from the two sites and the WHO performance indicators for health facilities used to assess availability. Affordability was determined using the daily wage of the lowest paid government worker. Interviews with the key informants were conducted to determine factors that influence the accessibility of the medicines. Results: About 50% of medicines on the Kenya Essential Medicines List for management of substance use disorders were available in Mathare while Chiromo Lane had all of them. The mean stock out duration was 8 months and 0.5 months in Mathare and Chiromo Lane, respectively. More than 67 % of the medicines required less than a single day’s wage to buy a month’s supply in Mathare while in Chiromo Lane all the medicines required more than a single day’s wage to purchase. The cheapest medicine required 0.3 days wage to purchase while the most expensive drug required 50 days wage to purchase. Conclusion: Medicines for the treatment of substance use disorders had limited availability but were relatively affordable in Mathare while their availability was better in Chiromo Lane but with limited affordability. The Kenya Essential Medicines List for substance use disorders requires updating to include newer and more efficacious medicines. National guidelines for the treatment of substance use disorders should be developed and disseminated. Key words: Substance use disorders, pharmacotherapy, accessibility and affordabilit
Oil Retail Pricing and Price Controls: A case of Oil Marketing Sector in Kenya
Full text linkPurpose- the study sought to foremost, determine the effect of international crude oil prices and exchange rate on average monthly retail prices of four oil products in Kenya and to secondly, establish the relationship between the monthly oil retail prices in the period before and after introduction of price controls. Methodology- a descriptive longitudinal design was adopted utilizing secondary data. Multiple regression analysis and simple correlation analyses were used for data analysis. Findings- the two predictors had a significant effect on average monthly retail prices for all the products though they had a lesser explanatory power on average monthly oil retail prices in the period after introduction of price controls compared to the period before thereby suggesting that price controls had caused some effect on average monthly retail oil prices of all the four oil products. In the period before introduction of price controls, monthly international crude oil prices and exchange rates explained much of Super prices and little of Kerosene prices; after the introduction of price controls, the two variables explained more of Diesel prices but very little of Regular prices. A positive correlation between average monthly retail prices of Super and Diesel products in the period before and after introduction of price controls was documented unlike Kerosene and Regular whose prices exhibited a negative correlation. Implications-both predictors were found to be key in explaining monthly oil retail prices singly; there is noted need for ERC to consider other factors in setting maximum monthly oil retail prices due to the low coefficient of determination documented. Value- ERC to consider other factors in setting maximum oil retail price ceilings and researchers to study other factors explaining oil retail pricing other than the two predictor variables of the study