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Role of the church in promoting positive ethnicity in Kenya: A case of National Council of Churches of Kenya in Nakuru sub-county.
No full textThe Church has been held in high esteem in the fight against evils that threaten destroy the social fabric and national unity. However, in Kenya the Church has not been spared when it comes to ethnic and tribal antagonism. The purpose of the study was to establish the role of the Church in promoting positive ethnicity among different ethnicity in churches in Nakuru Sub-County. The study was carried out in Nakuru Sub-county ¬with a focus on NCCK member churches. The target population in this study included the clergy and church leaders. Purposive sampling was used to select a sample of 81 respondents from 27 churches. The study was based on descriptive survey. Data was collected using questionnaires and analyzed both qualitatively and quantitatively with the aid of the Statistical Package for social sciences (SPSS). The analyzed data was presented in the form of figures, frequency tables and percentages. The study concludes that the main peace-building and reconciliation activities used by the church promoted positive ethnicity in Nakuru Sub-County. The clergy had received some formal education and were thus in a position to understand and appreciate their roles as the clergy and to promote positive ethnicity among the ethnic communities in Nakuru sub-County. However, the Church's involvement in the country's politics undermined the role of the Church in promoting positive ethnicity in Nakuru Sub¬ The study recommends that the Church be actively involved in activities that promote positive ethnicity in Nakuru Sub-County. It is also recommended that the Church should desist from direct involvement in the country's politics as this undermines the role of the Church in promoting positive ethnicity in Nakuru sub-county. The findings of the study expected to provide the church leaders with information on the strategies that can enhance ethnic cohesion and harmony in Kenya
The case of Tanykina community health insurance plan, Nandi County, Kenya.
No full textHealth financing mechanisms aims to achieve universal coverage for all and protection against the financial burden during illness. Community Based Health Insurance is one of the alternative sources of health financing especially in the rural and informal sectors. Tanykina Community Health Plan (TCHP) is a community based health insurance targeting the rural population and dairy farmers of Nandi North Sub County of Nandi County. Despite the wide coverage of the program, there is still low health care utilization in the sub-county. Using the Health Belief Model as the theoretical framework, the study purpose was to evaluate the clients and community perception of the services offered by Tanykina Community Health Plan and the influence they have on the utilization of health services by clients. The specific objectives were to evaluate the clients and community perceptions on the services offered by TCHP, to review the respondents' characteristics that determine the utilization of health services and to review the health provider factors that affect the utilization of health services by the clients of TCHP. This was a cross-sectional study design. Data was collected in March 2015 on a sample of 336 patients attending health facilities that offer services to clients of TCHP and the community at large. Systematic random sampling technique was used to determine the study sample. Data was collected using a structured interviewer administered questionnaire and analyzed by STATA version 10. Statistical tests were employed at 0.05 level of significant. Qualitative data was analyzed based on thematic framework to support the quantitative results. A total of 336 patients participated in the study of which 169(50.2%) were enrolled members of TCHP while 167(49.8%) were none members. Of all the respondents 183(54 %) were female and 163(48.5%) had attained at least secondary level of education. The enrolled members had the majority 94(55.6 %) being female and 91(53%) having attained college level of education compared to 82(49%) of the none-members. The average age of all the respondents was 41years. The level of education was highly correlated with increased healthcare utilization (p=0.069) though this was not statistically significant. Increased level of satisfaction correlated positively with increased used of outpatient services and this was statistically significant (p=0.05). The perceived availability of information was however no statistically significantly associated with increased utilization of health services in either outpatient department (p=0.112) or inpatient department (p=0.939). The increased level of perceived acceptance was highly associated with increased utilization of inpatient services (p=0.04). Being male increased the level of perceived acceptance by 10 % compared to the female counterparts. With regard to in-patient health services an additional increase in the level of education of the insured members and the duration of membership significantly increases the utilization of these services by 0.19 and 0.89 respectively. However, the duration of membership was statistically significant (p=0.008) in influencing the level of in-patient utilization. I recommend managers of community based health insurance to continuously evaluate the perceptions that the members have in order to improve utilization of health services. There is need to regularly monitor community based health insurance with respect to client satisfaction to enable prompt action by managers to act to increase the effectiveness of these schemes in achieving universal coverage
NAIROBI COUNTY, KENYA.
Get PDFEmbracing modern technology is one among very many ways of improving efficiency and reducing costs within Health care organizations. While the integration of information and health services potential benefits cannot be disputed, there are many challenges which affect its adoption, in fact, majority of organizations have abandoned their newly acquired system only to go back to their old manual system. This study sought to review the design, implementation and operation of Health Management Information System (HMIS) in Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) Nairobi County. Specific objectives were a) to determine the design criteria phase of HMIS at KNH, b) to assess the implementation of HMIS at KNH, and c) to evaluate the operation of HMIS at KNH. This was a descriptive cross-sectional study. The study sample was 263 respondents who filled a structured questionnaire and 40 key informant interviewees. Data collected from the field was analyzed through the use of univariate and bivariate statistics. The study revealed that in the design phase, there was significant stakeholder involvement and this manifested through definition and identification of the KNH's HMIS, clear understanding of the purpose and process in the design requirements and thus an indication that the design criteria was observed during the HMIS implementation. In the implementation phase, the fmdings indicated that while the other attributes had a significance, gender did not have a significant association with HMIS implementation p=0.901. The fmdings indicated that the level of management and duration of employment were significantly associated with HMIS implementation at KNH. In the operation phase, respondents said the benefits of electronic HMIS were improved efficiency and reduced workload. More than half (53.1%) of health workers felt that the electronic HMIS in KNH had achieved its objectives which will lead to effective utilization of HMIS and better healthcare service delivery. Overall KNH had successfully implemented HMIS. In recommendation KNH in collaboration with the MOH need to come up with a standardized policy for implementing interventions, improve the current infrastructure, and develop a plan for monitoring and evaluation of the HMIS
Factors influencing uptake of maternal health services initiatives among mothers: a case study of Nakuru-Kenya.
Get PDFStrengthening health Service delivery is very important in improving maternal mortality which remains an urgent problem to be addressed in developing countries around the world. Kenya has a very high maternal mortality rate which stood at 471 per 100,000 live births compared to other developing countries of 230 per 100,000 live birth and 16 per 100,000 in developed countries while Nakuru County had a maternal mortality rate of 374 per 100,000 live births despite being one of the counties with the best infrastructure, high number of health workers and better health care financing. This revelation is an indication of an ineffective health systems leading to poor uptake of MHS. The broad objective of this study was to assess factors influencing uptake of maternal health services initiatives among mothers in Nakuru County. The specific objectives were: to determine if the clients characteristics influenced uptake of maternal health initiatives, to assess levels of awareness of maternal health initiatives and to establish if the organization of health services influenced uptake of maternal health services in Nakuru County. The study was undertaken in Nakuru County between January and April 2015. The study was a cross-sectional in design where both qualitative and quantitative approaches were used. A total of fifteen level 4 hospitals (9 private and 6 public) were purposively selected for the study. The sample size was obtained by use of Cochran 1963 formula where 233 mothers were included in the study as respondents and sampled using systematic sampling and purposive sampling was used 8 health workers who were in-charge of MCH services in their respective facilities, these were included to be part of a focus group discussion (FGD). The data was collected using semi structured questionnaires for mothers and FGD guide. Quantitative data was analyzed using SPSS version 20 and presented in tables, percentages and pie charts while Qualitative data was analyzed using excel sheet software. To understand the relationship between variables, inferential statistics was done using Chi-square Test and P-values obtained. The response rate was 233(100%). The finding of the study indicated that a client's characteristics like age, education, religion, marital status and employments have significant influence on the uptake of MHS and the level of education was the best predictor of uptake of MHS initiatives, mothers had low levels of awareness of MHS initiatives with the least being in emergency obstetric care (EmOC) and free maternity services (FMS) which had a median of 1 (that is slightly aware). The least P-value was in free maternity services (P-value=.037). The poor organization of services affected the uptake of maternal health services especially due to acute shortage of staffs (that is hospitals operating below 50%), intermittent supplies of drugs, poor healthcare financing and services setup. In conclusion, client's characteristics influence uptake of MHS, mothers had low levels of awareness on MHS initiatives and poor organization of health services affect uptake of MHS. Therefore, the researcher recommended that :Community opinion leaders should be involved in decision making process to increase uptake/utilization of maternal health services among the low education class, door to door awareness campaigns especially of free maternity and emergency obstetric services be carried out within community through community own resource persons (CORPs) and Health facility management forums should be created to improve organizational approaches that will make services more user friendly to the community. Further Studies can be done on the impact of devolution of health services on access to maternal health services among mothers
A comparative assessment of Mirihini and Midoina community units in Kilifi County, Kenya.
Get PDFhealth system strengthening. In line with the pillar, a Maternal, Newborn and Child Health (MNeCH) Project was initiated by the Ministry of Health and World Vision Kenya in Bamba Division, Kilifi County. The project's goal was to strengthen health systems at the facility and community levels; thus, improve demand for health services, including Antenatal Care (ANC). One of the strategies used by the project to achieve its goal was to strengthen community health referral system. Although studies conducted in various contexts demonstrate the potential of such referral systems in improving ANC indicators, in Kenya, there was a dearth of academic information regarding the subject. This study was initiated to achieve three objective: determine whether providing maternal health education to pregnant women had any influence on ANC attendance in Mirihini (an intervention community in Bamba Division) and Midoina (a control community in the neighboring Bahari Division); determine whether issuing referral advice forms to patients has any influence on ANC attendance in the two communities; as well as establish whether promoting partner support had a significant influence on ANC attendance in the intervention and control communities. This study adopted the static group control design to assess the influence of community health referral practices on ANC attendance in the intervention and control communities. Primary data were sourced from 246 mothers of children aged below 2 years; male and female parents of children aged 2 to 4 years, as well as Community Health Volunteers (CHVs). Quantitative analysis yielded descriptive statistics and cross-tabulations with Chi-square (x2) tests. Qualitative data were transcribed, described and analyzed systematically to reveal themes and patterns. Maternal health education: In Mirihini, there was no significant association between providing maternal health education on the ideal number of ANC visits and women's achievement of optimal ANC attendance (x2 = 1.423, df=1 & a p-value = 0.233); hence, the null hypothesis (H01) was not rejected. In Midoina, a significant relationship between the two aspects was obtained (x2 = 3.109, df = 1 & p-value = 0.078), which led to rejection of the null hypothesis (H01). Referral documentation: In Mirihini, issuing referral documents to pregnant women significantly associated with their achievement of optimal ANC attendance (x2 = 8.308, df =1 & p-value = 0.004). Consequently, the null hypothesis (H02) was rejected. In Midoina, there was no significant association between two aspects (x2 = 0.823, df = 1 & p-value = 0.185); hence, the null hypothesis (H02) was not rejected. Male involvement: In Mirihini, partner counseling significantly associated with women's achievement of optimal ANC attendance (x2 = 14.175, df = 2 & p-value = 0.001), which led to rejection of the null hypothesis (H03). However, in Midoina, there was no significant relationship between the two aspects (x2 = 3.710, df = 2 & p-value = 0.156); thus, the null hypothesis (H03) was not rejected. The intervention and control communities varied in terms of the influence of maternal health education, issuance of referral documentation and partner counseling, on women's achievement of optimal ANC attendance. The study recommends the need for: improved facilitation of CHVs to deliver more information on maternal health; project officers to strengthen supervisory support to CHVs by engaging with MoH to provide reporting materials and ensure consistency of monthly review meetings. Besides, there is need for MoH to involve more male CHVs to influence changes in knowledge and perceptions towards ANC attendance among men
How public libraries in Meru County, Kenya, address the business information needs of small-scale enterprises.
Get PDFThe purpose of the study was to explore how public libraries in Meru County, Kenya, address the informationneeds of small-scale business enterprises (SBEs) in the region. It was carried out from 2013 to 2015. A quanti-tative approach and survey research design were adopted to collect data from SBE traders and staff from threepublic libraries in Meru County. The study found that the business information needs of SBEs are myriad, sector-specific and cut across all stages of business development. These needs are fulfilled by consulting informalinformation resources and places. The few SBEs traders who were using public libraries for business informationexpressed high levels of satisfaction. The study concludes that public libraries have facilitative and functional rolesof providing business information to SBEs by collaborating with like-minded stakeholders. The study recommendssymmetrical dissemination of business information and the re-positioning of public libraries as communitydevelopment centers by providing value-based and sector-specific business information solutions
Effects of information sharing on supply chain performance of manufacturing firms in Nairobi County. Kenya
No full textThe accepting of supply chain performance (SCM) has become a necessary requirement for staying competitive in the universal race and for enhancing profitably. Of late, information sharing is attaining the attention of the researchers. This research, therefore, sought to establish the effects of information sharing on supply chain performance of manufacturing firms in. Nairobi County, Kenya. The specific objectives of the research were to determine the effect of sales information sharing, order information sharing, sharing delivery information and customer and supplier firm relationships on supply chain performance in the manufacturing firms in Nairobi County, Kenya. A descriptive research design was adopted for the purpose of assessing the research's general intent. The research's target population constituted 463 Nairobi County based manufacturing firms. A sample of 100 firms was chosen using proportionate stratified random sampling. Primary data was collected using questionnaires which were administered through drop and pick later method. Data collected was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Statistical package for social sciences was used to aid in data analysis. The findings were presented using figures and tables. The research found out that sales information sharing, order information sharing, sharing delivery information and customer and supplier firm relationships affected supply chain performance in the Nairobi County, Kenya manufacturing firms to a great extent. The independent variables relationship with supply chain performance was positive from the regression analysis. The research established that information sharing enabled manufacturing firms establish market trades which enabled prior planning for on-time delivery and speed of response. Further deductions were that through sharing of order information, firms were kept updated with changes in purchase order and this facilitated the developments of highly precise and reliable order plan which results to reduction in costs of supply chain. The researcher recommends that the management of the manufacturing firms should put in place more sales information sharing procedures and technologies in order to beef up the sharing level. Finally, the researcher recommends that manufacturing firms without computer links with suppliers need to invest in them so as to improve the sharing of information
Effects of financial competitive environment on the performance of SACCOS in Meru county. Kenya
No full textThe major function of savings and credit co-operative society is to receive contributions from members and give Joans to members at competitive rates of interests. For a Jong period SACCO has operated a closed shop type of business enjoying almost monopoly power on its market niche without any competition from other institutions. This has made the SACCO to relax and forget to continuously advertise its products, diversify its services and improve their quality as well as innovate of new products. Today SACCO has been caught unaware by commercial banks that have aggressively penetrated into its business circles by introducing the unsecured loans targeting members of public including the members of the SACCO. Many studies had concentrated on efforts on the shortcomings of the co-operative laws in general and lending policies particular in the promotion, development and operations of savings. They had overlooked the aspect of liberalization which has brought new changes and made financial sector more competitive. The study was motivated by rivalry and competition in the SACCO sector which caused ripples in the SACCO business that the print media and the press had described as "banks battle it out for potential customers with SACCO". The study was intended to investigate the effects of financial competitive environment on the performance of Saccos. The variables of the study were technology, net expansion, products development and agency banking. The target population of the study was 56 credit managers of the Saccos at Meru County. Due to the population size of the credit managers of 56 Saccos in Meru County, the research used census approach. Both primary and secondary data collection method was used. Primary data was collected by use of questionnaires while secondary data was obtained from Sacco annual audited accounts and websites. In addition, the study used Cronbach' s Alpha to test the reliability of the instruments. The following theories were used, traditional banking theory, finance theory, modern portfolio theory and Joan pricing theory. 30% of the respondents indicated that the Sacco had an Auto branch while 70% of the respondents said that their Sacco did not have an Auto branch. Majority 90% of the respondents indicated that the Sacco's had not adopted agency banking while only 10% of the respondents indicated that the Sacco had adopted agency banking in their operations. There also existed a strong and positive correlation between net expansion and agency banking with a correlation coefficient of 0.579 and significance level of 0.0389. The correlation was statistically significant since its P- value was less than 0.05. According to the findings, technology, agency banking, product portfolio were important factors in influencing the performance of Sacco's since their P values were less than 0.05 for all the variables except net expansion which had a P value of more than 0.05. It is therefore recommended that Sacco's should adopt banking, use MIS, and improve their product portfolio
Determinants of effectiveness of student leaders in their administrative roles. A case of secondary school prefects in Nyeri South sub county
No full textCalls for inclusions of student leaders in the decision-making structures and administration in schools have led to various attempts by the Ministry of Education to put in place structures for inclusion such as the prefect body and the student council. The effectiveness of the prefects in their roles is however debatable since the cases of student unrest continue to be recorded in schools. The purpose of the study was to examine the determinants of effectiveness of secondary school prefects in their administrative roles. The study sought to examine the criterion for appointing prefects, explore the programs used by schools to prepare and induct prefects to perform leadership roles, to establish the extent of involvement of prefects in the governance of the schools and to examine the challenges facing prefects in their administrative duties. The study adopted descriptive research design and targeted 34 deputy principals, 680 teachers, 990 prefects and 4760 students in the 34 schools in Nyeri South Sub County. It used a sample comprising of 4 deputy principals, 88 teachers, 90 prefects and 98 students. Questionnaires and structured interview schedules were used to collect data. A pilot study involving 10% of the sample size was conducted in order to enhance the reliability and validity of research instruments. The data from the questionnaires and interviews was analyzed with aid of Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS v.20) software using percentages and averages. Both qualitative and quantitative methods were used in analyzing the data. The study found out that the level of effectiveness of the prefects was perceived as average by both students and the teachers. On the criteria of appointing prefects it was found that good conduct is considered most when appointing prefects and that the administration played the largest role in the appointment of prefects. The criteria of appointing prefects were found to be student centered but undemocratic. It was also found out that all the schools use a form of strategy to induct the prefects with a majority of the schools using seminars and workshops. However both prefects and the teachers perceived the induction programmes used to be inadequate to prepare prefects to effectively discharge their duties. The respondents expressed the need of involvement of the prefects in the decision making process in the schools. However, majority of the respondents were of the opinion that the extent of involvement of prefects in decision making is low. Challenges originating from the individual incompetence of prefects included lack of adequate leadership skills, lack of self motivation, indecisiveness and poor communication skills. Challenges emanating from the prefect system included lack of appreciation from the administration, lack of proper role clarity, time management issues, lack of exposure on practice of student leadership, abuse of powers and privileges, lack of involvement in decision making and lack of support from the administration. Challenges originating from the student body included lack of cooperation, rebuke, ridicule, intimidation and bullying from the other students. Based on the findings of the study, it is recommended that the process of appointing prefects be made more participatory whereby all the stakeholders of the school should be involved. Secondly, qualities required for effective leadership such as leadership qualities, conduct and accountability should be emphasized when appointing prefects. Thirdly, prefects should be involved more in decision making on the issues concerning the welfare of the students. Further, they should be included in the key decision making organs of the school such as BOM and PT A. Once the recommendations are implemented, most challenges faced by the prefects will be alleviated and the level of effectiveness of the prefects will be enhanced. The study findings have highlighted the factors that can enhance the effectiveness of the prefect system in public secondary schools
Effectiveness of teaching methods on nursing students at kenya medical training college, Nairobi
Get PDFOne of the key priorities of pre-registration nurse education programs is to equip nursing students with the clinical skills and knowledge appropriate for the demands of the nurse's role, which entails safe practice and ensuring that patient care needs are effectively met. Therefore, regardless of whether this education is delivered at diploma, undergraduate or graduate level, it is essential that the most effective teaching methods are utilized to maximize learning and promote professionalism. This study was based at the Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC), Nairobi, and aimed to establish the effectiveness of teaching methods on Diploma nursing students at KMTC, Nairobi Campus. The study's specific objectives were to establish the students' perception of effectiveness of Lecture, Demonstration of Skills, and Group Discussion Teaching Methods, and to determine the extent .to which these teaching methods were used on Diploma Nursing students at KMTC, Nairobi Campus. The study utilized the descriptive design, whereby the data collected provided an account and description of individuals, groups and situations. The design also described what existed and it helped to uncover new facts about the effectiveness of teaching methods as utilized in KMTC, Nairobi. The target population was Diploma nursing students who joined the college between the years 2010 and 2013, both years included. A total of one hundred and fifty students, representing each of the years of study, were randomly selected, and exposed to a pretested, self administered questionnaire. Data obtained was analyzed using STATA version 12 and presented using descriptive and inferential statistics. Qualitative data was put into sub-domains for each of the three teaching methods under study, and compared with quantitative statistical findings. The study found that Diploma nursing students in KMTC Nairobi had a negative perception towards the Lecture Teaching Method; most considered it as not being effective in helping them attain learning objectives for the program. They considered Demonstration of Skills teaching method to be effective and had a positive perception towards it. For the Group Discussion teaching method, the diploma nursing students in KMTC Nairobi considered it effective based on the frequency in which it was used. The study concluded that the lecture teaching method was not effective, but that it still had a role to play in the training of nursing students, whereas the Demonstration of Skills and Group discussion teaching methods were effective since they enhanced integration of theory into practice and improved the students' ability to think creatively. The study recommended that the training of nurses should be focused on changing of educational methods from traditional to new teaching methods that enhance active learning, since the main goal of nursing education is to transfer nursing science to students and help them enhance the required skills and insights for nursing care