African Journal of Empirical Research
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Do health programs improve health outcomes? A dive into Tanzania’s 2007-2017 primary health care initiative
Get PDFThe complexity of the health sector in Tanzania, characterized by underfunding and human resource shortages, necessitated the establishment of several health programs. One of the crucial programs established was the Primary Health Services Development Program (2007-2017), which aimed to strengthen the accessibility of primary health services in all Tanzanian regions at the district level. Although any intervention could lead to better outcomes for the program, studies quantify its impact inadequately, and some yield inconclusive or conflicting results regarding how the programs influence the outcome variable. Employing Tanzania National Panel Surveys (wave 1 and 3) in the analysis, this study investigates the impact of the Primary Health Services Development Program (PHSDP) on maternal and child health using the Difference-in-Difference method. Results indicated that the program’s implementation increased the likelihood of pregnant women delivering their children in a health facility and being attended by skilled personnel during giving birth by 43% and 53%, respectively, compared to when the program was not implemented. Moreover, using a bed net during pregnancy and after birth increases the probability of a child\u27s health improvement by 82%. The study also finds that it takes time for the impact of the program to be realized because, at the initial stage of the program’s implementation, people hesitate to attend health facilities due to misinformation in the health market and cultural beliefs about the new health information. The study recommends that it is essential to analyze the quality of care in these facilities and whether the increase is uniformly distributed across different regions and socio-economic groups. Moreover, there is a need for sustained efforts in training healthcare workers and increasing community awareness about the benefits of skilled birth attendance
Effect of technical and vocational education and training on youth self-employment in Rwanda: A case study of Rusizi District, Rwanda
Get PDFThis study investigates the determining factors associated with Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVET) on youth self-employment in Rwanda, particularly focusing on the TVET program implemented by Rusizi district. This included detecting the enterprise typologies established by TVET graduates, assessing their contributions to the local labour market, and investigating whether there was any association between graduates of TVET and job creation. The theories used were Search-matching Theory, Human Capital Theory and Lifelong Learning Theory. The study employed a descriptive research design. Through descriptive statistical analysis, the study collected data from 72 self-employed youths out of a total target population of 258 that was derived using the Yamane formula. Information was gathered using a questionnaire and interview guide. The study results further show that TVET graduates are contributing significantly to job creation in the district. They do a range of entrepreneurial activities, from masons, vendors (caterers/event decorators), and poultry farmers, through production to sales, and mobile/computer repair. TVET graduates are job creators; they use skills in painting and decoration (95.5%), masonry (98.4%) and machinery operation. 95.5% Through in-demand skill development (95.5%), business startup (92.6%) and entrepreneurship promotion (98.4%), resulting in job creation The following chart shows that 95.5% of the employers agree that TVET contribution to job creation is vital because it provides occupation-specific skills, while 98.5% argue that TVET helps in addressing skills shortages and enhances worker productivity. The study identifies key job creation areas stemming from TVET, including painting and decoration, shoe-making, masonry, lumbering, machinery operation, and carpentry. The findings indicate that TVET plays a crucial role in fostering skill development, promoting the establishment of owner-operated firms, and encouraging business initiatives, which collectively contribute to the diversification of the local economy. Furthermore, a significant relationship is established between TVET and job creation, underscoring its importance in enhancing employment opportunities for the youth in Rusizi district. The study thus suggests a reinforcement of entrepreneurship-education programs and closer linkages between TVET centres and industries as the key areas that policymakers should focus on going forward. It further suggests greater investment in TVET infrastructure, policies that promote young entrepreneurs, and raising awareness among politicians about the importance of TVET. It also discourages youth from pursuing self-employment by training, urging them to rely a lot on mentorship as well as consistent learning and specialising in niche markets with the embracement of innovation
The influence of financial management capacity of refugee-led organisations on education access of refugee children in Nairobi metropolitan area, Kenya
Get PDFResearch has shown that refugee children around the world have limited access to education compared to their host community counterparts. In Kenya, it has been observed that encamped refugee children have better access to education than their counterparts in urban contexts. Whereas Refugee-Led Organisations (RLOs) have emerged as significant intermediaries to bridge this gap of access to education, the problem has persisted. This study, using an exploratory descriptive design, investigated how the financial management capacity of RLOs in the Nairobi Metropolitan Area influenced access to education for refugee children. It used a mixed-methods approach based on pragmatic philosophy and anchored to Batterlanffy’s open systems theory and Rostow’s modernisation theory. Data was collected using a structured questionnaire administered to 51 members of 20 RLOs, selected through stratified purposive sampling. Quantitative data was analysed using descriptive, correlational, and linear regression methods, whereas qualitative data was analysed through thematic analysis. A significant positive relationship was found between financial management capacity and access to education. Pearson correlation results demonstrated that fundraising capacity was the strongest predictor (r = 0.56-0.60), followed by financial control systems (r ≈ 0.49), while basic financial management infrastructure, though necessary, was insufficient alone. Regression of the financial management capacity against education access showed statistical significance [F(1,49)=18.049, p<.001], indicating that financial management capacity accounts for 26.9% (R² = .269) of the variance in education access. The regression equation, Education Access = 0.260 + 1.329 (Financial Management Capacity), demonstrated that for every one-unit increase in financial capacity, supported education access increases by 1.329 units. These results were corroborated by qualitative results, which demonstrated that most RLOs were unable to attract significant donor funding, limiting their ability to help refugee children access education. The study concluded that the financial management capacity of RLOs significantly influenced the education access of refugee children in urban setups. It recommends investment in financial management capacity-building for RLOs to enable them to be more attractive to potential donors
Cultural Factors Affecting English Performance in Rwandan Public Higher Learning Institutions: A Case Study of Third-Year Students at the University of Rwanda
Get PDFResearch has shown that cultural factors may affect the learning of a second language. However, no such a study has been conducted in Rwanda to identify cultural factors that may affect the acquisition of English. The present research, therefore, was carried out to explore the effect that cultural factors exerted on the students’ performance in the English language. The study was guided by Vygosky’s socio-cultural theory according to which one’s culture is among factors influencing performance in a second/foreign language. The target population was third-year students from the University of Rwanda. Using a case study design, the study hinged on qualitative approach to conduct one-on-one semi-structured interviews with 109 respondents recruited through random procedure from a population of 1257 students. For data analysis, the inductive approach was applied and emerging themes from students’ responses were grouped into typologies. Findings revealed that most respondents believed cultural factors were detrimental to the development of proficiency in English while few attested that these factors affected their English positively. The findings also allowed the researchers to make recommendations to policy makers and teachers for promoting students’ communication skills in English
The Effects of Perceived Efficacy Beliefs in Covid-19 Television Messages on Vaccine Adoption Behavior Among Youths in Kiambu County, Kenya
Get PDFThe media play a key role when in sharing information during a pandemic. Knowledge on pandemics is shaped by the content aired via different channels of communication. The television messages on pandemic’s efficacy beliefs are designed to influence action. Borrowing from extended parallel model, perceived efficacy beliefs contain perceived response efficacy and perceived self-efficacy thus people’s reactions during stressful instances varies. This is because when individuals receive threat messages, they outweigh messages which increases their perceived efficacy. The effects of threatening messages depend on the magnitude of emotional response and efficacy beliefs. As such, the study aimed at determining the effects of perceived efficacy beliefs Covid-19 television messages on vaccine adoption behavior among youths in Kiambu County, Kenya. The study adopted cross-sectional research design and was a mixed research. The research design accounted for rejection and acceptance behavior after the vaccines were made available in August 2021.By use of simple random and convenience sampling techniques 384 youths were obtained for questionnaires. However, out 384 respondents only 346 respondents participated in the questionnaires. From the frequency analysis on perceived response efficacy 97.3% youths had perceived response efficacy beliefs while 2.7% lacked perceived response efficacy. The Chi-square test returned statistically significant results (X2=0.001, df=1, p=0.003). Additionally, 96.8% youths had perceived self-efficacy while 3.2% lacked perceived self-efficacy with Chi-square test results of (X2=0.025, df=1, p=0.014). These findings demonstrated that people acquire beliefs on threat control after receiving risk information. The perceived efficacy beliefs in Covid-19 television messages led to low vaccine uptake among youths in Kiambu County. The perceived efficacy beliefs are important, thus a starting point for more research on what informs the media reports when covering health issues such as pandemics
Decoding the Support Needs of Parents of Children with Autism in Kenya
Get PDFOnline social forums have been used by parents of children with disabilities as a support system where they freely share information, experiences, and their worries. The objective of this study was to examine the kinds of social support sought or received by parents of children with autism in Kenya, in order to understand their care and support needs. Data in the form of chat messages was collected from a parents WhatsApp forum by downloading it through the group administrators. Drawing on the social support theory, the study utilized the content analysis method to analyze the chat messages posted by parents. A deductive approach was employed to code the data into various themes using the Social Support Behavior Code. The study findings revealed that most parents of children with autism sought and received emotional support, followed by informational support. In addition, the study established that the needs of parents of children with autism revolved around finding solutions related to their children with autism, mainly focusing on behavior management, access to education and addressing delays in developmental milestones. Further, parents\u27 conversations revealed a need to know how to deal with the high burden of care associated with nurturing a child with autism. The study concludes that parenting and caring for a child with autism is associated with a high burden of care and imparts on the wellbeing of the parent. The study thus recommends the design, testing, and implementation of parental support programs to meet the emotional and informational support needs of parents. The study also recommends concerted efforts by stakeholders to develop a behavior management toolkit to support the parent in nurturing care, and establishment of respite centers for parents to relieve the high burden of care
Exploring Teachers’ Lived Experiences with Regard to Alternatives to Corporal Punishment in Addressing Moral Decline in Secondary Schools in Bungoma County, Kenya
Get PDFMoral formation constitutes a fundamental undertaking of every educational system. The absence of adequate moral principles among the learners invariably impedes progress for both the learner and the teacher. As a consequence, numerous strategies are consistently implemented to confront moral deficiencies in a learning environment. The purpose of this study was to explore teachers’ lived experiences in regard to alternatives to corporal punishment in mitigating moral decline among learners in secondary schools in Bungoma County, Kenya. The study objective was as to explore teachers\u27 lived experiences with regard to alternatives to corporal punishment in addressing moral decline in secondary schools in Bungoma County, Kenya. The study was grounded on a communitarian philosophy, which examine the way shared conceptions of the good are formed, transmitted, justified, and enforced. An interpretive phenomenological design was utilised. The study employed two philosophical methods for the purpose of bringing out methodological triangulation. Hermeneutic phenomenology was utilized in order to extract the lived experiences of the teachers handling discipline in secondary schools. Philosophical analysis was aimed at facilitating Socratic dialogue and establishing logical coherence from the extracted lived experiences. The target population comprised of deputy principals and heads of guidance and counselling from secondary schools in Bungoma County. To provide a representative sample, this study utilised purposive sampling in choosing schools. A sample size of four deputy principals and four heads of guidance and counselling was chosen. The sample size was guided by the principles of hermeneutic phenomenological research which is concerned mainly with the depth and not the breadth of the information. Information utilised in this study was sourced from both primary and secondary data. Primary data was collected using unstructured phenomenological interviews. Secondary data was gathered from articles from peer referred journals, government policy documents and reports, thematic text books, internet sources, pioneer projects, theses and newspaper articles that allude to issues of moral concern in the Kenyan context. Primary data was analyzed through IPA and secondary through document analysis. The study established that, based on the logic of Kants metaphysics of morals, the alternatives to corporal punishment as stipulated were not sufficient to address the moral decline among secondary school learners in Kenya. The study concluded that without a philosophical foundation, the proposed alternatives to corporal punishment in secondary schools in Bungoma County, Kenya, are insufficiently effective in addressing moral decline. The study therefore recommended that alternatives to corporal punishment should be anchored on communitarianism for them to be effective enough in handling learners behavioural problems. Additionally, Socratic mode of teaching should be emphasized in order to prepare teachers for moral development among the learners
Challenges in the Interplay between Ethnic Identity and Economic Development in Western Kenya since 1963
Get PDFThis article delved on the relations that co-exist between ethnic identity and economic development with a special focus on Western part of Kenya. Its main objective focused on the challenges arising from the two entities. Various literatures were reviewed that built on the findings of the study. Interpretivism philosophy ideas were used to inform the findings supplemented by instrumental Marxism and Relative Deprivation Theories. Due to its historical nature, the research adopted historical research design. The research targeted 47 ethnic groups in Kenya, and therefore, due to the use of purposive and snowball techniques, the sample size reached was 192 respondents. Oral interviews, Focus group discussions and Open ended questionnaires were used to collect data, supplemented by secondary sources. Data collected was analyzed both by use of content and thematic techniques. The research article found out that; ethnic divisions have often fueled political instability, leading to periodic episodes of violence, electoral tensions, and governance crises not only in western Kenya, but also nationally and even globally. Conclusively, it is recorded that; the polarization of ethnic identities in public discourse adds another layer of complexity, hindering the potential for inclusive growth and fostering division. Finally, the research article recommends that; promoting inclusive governance that ensures fair representation and participation of all ethnic groups in decision-making processes will help reduce political instability and foster unity
English
No full textThe research investigated the performance characteristics of three imported wax prints available in the Ghanaian market. Laboratory tests were conducted on the chosen fabrics using standard testing procedures. The evaluated parameters included tensile strength, elongation, dimensional stability, colourfastness, abrasion resistance, and thread count. The collected data were analysed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) for Windows version 25. The results indicated that, while the initial tensile strength of the fabrics complied with the specifications of the Ghana Standards Authority, noticeable reductions were observed after washing, particularly in the weft direction. The colourfastness findings were generally satisfactory, although some samples exhibited lower resistance to staining. The selected fabrics met the standard requirements for dimensional stability, but they did not meet the specified standards for fabric weight and yarn count. ANOVA results highlighted significant differences between the three selected fabrics in key quality parameters, including thread count (warp and weft) and mass per unit area. The post-hoc analysis identified Fabric “A” as significantly different from the other fabrics in thread count (warp and weft) and mass per unit area, indicating unique structural features. In summary, the study confirms that while a fabric may initially meet industry standards, its properties may change after washing, particularly in terms of strength and elongation, raising concerns about long-term durability. It is suggested that extensive performance tests be carried out on other fabrics in the market to help meet consumer expectations
Peer and family support as determinants of female participation in sports among trainees in teacher training colleges in Kenya: ENGLISH
Get PDFThe under-representation of women in sports in Kenya is a significant issue, with lower levels of participation evident in various studies. Despite this, there is limited research specifically addressing the role of peer support in sports participation and evaluate the role of family support in female participation in sports among trainees in teacher training colleges in Kenya. The main objective of the study was to assess the role of peer and family support in female sports participation among trainees in teacher training colleges in Kenya. The study was based on the Socio-ecological Theory. The study targeted 1 private and 19 public Teachers Training Colleges in Kenya. These colleges were organized into regions: the Rift Valley, Nyanza, Coast, Eastern, Western, Central and Nairobi. A cross-sectional survey research design was adopted to conduct the research. The study target population was 672 female participants, whereas the sample size which was calculated using the sample determination table by Adam (2020) was 279. Structured questionnaires were administered to the respondents with the assistance of trained research assistants. Data was analyzed descriptively. Results demonstrated that (42.5%) of the respondents agreed there was meaningful support from their families and peers with a mean (3.9) and S.D. (1.22). The study established that social support from family and peers S.D. (1.15) were associated with female participation in sports. It was further concluded that strong social support systems, especially from family and peers (56.0%), are essential for sustaining female participation in sports, both recreationally and professionally. The study recommended that colleges improve their support systems by inculcating stronger involvement of families in their children’s sport participation