Stratford Peer Reviewed Journals and Books
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Effect of Financial Structure on Financial Performance of Listed Commercial Banks in Kenya
No full textThe purpose of the study was to determine the effect of financial structure on financial performance of listed commercial banks in Kenya. Specifically, the study sought to: establish the effect of retained earnings on financial performance of listed commercial banks in Kenya, determine the effect of short term debt on financial performance of listed commercial banks in Kenya, establish the effect of long term debt on financial performance of listed commercial banks in Kenya and assess the effect of share capital on financial performance of listed commercial banks in Kenya. Panel research design was adopted and targeted all the eleven (11) listed commercial banks in Kenya for a period between 2015 and 2019. Census approach was adopted in researching all the 11 listed commercial banks in Kenya. With the aid of STATA software, data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and panel regression analysis. The findings revealed that retained earnings positively and significantly affected financial performance of commercial banks, there was a positive but insignificant relationship between short term debt and financial performance; the study also found that long term debt positively and significantly influenced financial performance of listed commercial banks in Kenya. Finally, the study established that there was a positive and significant relationship between share capital and financial performance of listed commercial banks in Kenya. The study concluded that financial performance of listed commercial banks in Kenya had been erratic between the year 2015 and 2019 in which some banks had been registering rising return on assets as others register declining financial performance in terms of return on assets. It was thus recommended to the management of listed commercial banks in Kenya that they should strive to make sound and well informed decisions when it comes to the financial structure they settle for in financing operations in their banks.
Keywords: Financial, Structure, Performance, Retained earnings, short term debt, Long term debt, Share capital
Management Accounting Techniques and Firm Performance of Major Construction Companies in Nigeria
No full textTo remain competitive, construction companies must continually improve and one way is by use of the right MATs. The adoption of MATs can help organizations to improve their financial performance continually and consequently overall national economic development. This study investigated influence of management accounting techniques on the firm performance of construction companies in Nigeria. The objectives were, to assess firm performance level of construction companies in Nigeria, to examine the influence of activity-based costing (ABC), strategic analysis, and budgeting practices on firm performance. The study used quantitative research design while the target population was all the 35 major construction firms. The sample size was 13 companies. The research used questionnaire to gather data from 170 managers. The study used descriptive statistics and inferential analysis. The study found that ABC, strategic analysis, and budgeting practices had positive relationship with firm performance. The study concludes that the companies employed ABC to improve firm performance. The study concludes that most companies used both internal and external analysis to improve performance. The study concludes that many companies failed to involve all departments during budgeting. The study recommends that companies should increase resources to complete projects within stipulated time frame. The study recommends that the policies should be enhanced by conducting researches and regular evaluation to improve business environment for the realization of improved performance of the construction companies.
Key words: Management Accounting Techniques, Activity-Based Costing, Firm Performance, Strategic Analysis, and Budgeting Practice
Cancer Prevalence in Wajir County, Kenya: Estimation Using Cancer Data at the Healthcare Facilities
No full textIn Kenya, Cancer is the third highest cause of mortality (7% of deaths per year), after infectious diseases and cardiovascular diseases. Cancer diagnosis and treatment is facing serious challenges in Kenya where the treatment facilities are inadequate, unavailable or ill equipped. The cancer prevalence and burden in Wajir County, Kenya is largely unknown since there are no records, studies or information available. The purpose of this study was therefore to estimate cancer prevalence in Wajir County based on the cancer data available at the healthcare facilities in the County. The study was guided by the following specific objectives; to estimate the prevalence rates of cancer in Wajir County based on demographic characteristics; to identify the prevalent cancer cases and their types in the area and to examine trends in cancer prevalence over the period 2014 to 2019. This study used quantitative method approach to collect and analyze the data. Facility-based retrospective record review was employed to estimate the prevalence of cancer in Wajir County between 2014 and 2019. The target population included all the cancer patients served between 2014 through 2019 at all the health facilities in all the six sub counties in Wajir County. This study used secondary data collected by reviewing cancer patients’ records at the facilities. The quantitative data obtained from the records was analyzed by descriptive statistics using SPSS version 25.0. Results were presented on tables, charts and bars. The findings revealed that the recorded cancer cases were more prevalent among women (50.20%) than men (49.80%). Regarding age distribution, the study found that most (23%) of the patients were aged between 51-60 years, 20.3% were aged between 61-70 years, 12.5% were aged between 41-50 years, while 4.4% were aged between 10-20 years. The findings indicated that only 1.2% of the cases were aged at least 90 years. In terms of prevalence, the study found that the top six most prevalent types of cancer in the county were; cancer of the oesophagus (69.3%) as the most prevalent type of cancer in the region, this was followed by cancer of the stomach (10.4%), prostate cancer (8.6%), cancer of the cervix (3.5%) and cancer of the liver at 1.1%. The study further established that there was consistent increase in cancer cases in Wajir County over the six year period. The rise in cancer cases was attributed to poor health seeking behaviour among the population, lack of essential facilities and inadequate awareness among the population. The study therefore recommends that there is need to strengthen the health system on cancer management particularly on screening services and creation of cancer awareness among the population in Wajir County. Additionally, the study recommends that there is need to conduct further studies on cancer prevalence based on the population to determine the pattern of the disease geographically in Wajir County.
Keywords: Cancer, Prevalence, Estimation, Cancer Data, Healthcare Facilities, Waji
Nurses’ Description of their Lived Experiences on Ethical Distress
No full textWorkplace distress is the physical and emotional outcomes that usually result when there is disparity between the demands of the job and the amount of control the individual has in meeting those demands. Stress occurs anytime and it indicates that the demands placed upon the person have exceeded the person's personal resources, whether these resources are physical, emotional, economic, social or spiritual. Thus, workplace stress occurs when the challenges and demands of work become excessive, the pressures of the workplace exceed the worker's ability to handle them and job satisfaction turns to frustration and exhaustion. Thus, the aim of the study was to describe nurses’ lived experiences on ethical distress. A qualitative phenomenological design was used. The findings showed that the key informants described their lived experiences on ethical distress as frustrations, stressors, hardships and challenges resulting from lack of resources and overwhelming responsibilities of nurses. It was found that the nurses in Kenya have similar lived experiences on ethical distress and this lived experiences are described as scarcity of resources and overwhelming responsibilities. The study concluded that nurses experience the same situations despite being located in different areas which include Nairobi and Kisii. The study also concluded that nurses are entitled to numerous responsibilities although it is more than they can handle and these responsibilities become overwhelming and cause distress. The study recommended that the county governments should strive to provide adequate human, material resources and improve on infrastructure. The study also recommended that proper measures should be put in place to curb absenteeism and punctuality.
Keywords: Lived experiences, Ethical distress, Nurses, Keny
Influence of interactional Justice on Performance of commercial banks in Turkey
No full textThe purpose of the study was to examine the influence of interactional justice on the performance of commercial banks in Turkey. The study adopted the descriptive research design. The data was collected from the managers of the banks and the support staff. The study used questionnaires to gather the information. Besides, the interview guides were used to collect the data. The results of the study showed that interactional justice is positively related to performance. Interactional justice includes the aspect of respect, dignity in one's treatment, courtesy, motivation, encouragement, sharing relevant information with employees and also giving out fair and detailed information to everyone without any form of discrimination. The study noted that establishing justice in the workplace is an effective tool that can be undertaken by companies seeking innovation, imagination and initiative. It has been acknowledged that the prominence of justice in organizations adds to boosting the efficiency degree of people through boosting their commitment and constructing a bridge of trust between staff members and management. Those organization that administers high practice of the interactional justice have high chances of producing significant performance. The study concluded that a unit increase or improvement in interactional justice leads to increased employee performance by 0.1469 units. The study recommended that Turkey's banks need to emphasize much on increasing the interactional justice within the organizations. The banks emphasize much on increasing respect and dignity in one's treatment, showing courtesy to the employees, motivation, encouragement, sharing relevant information with employees and also giving out fair and detailed information that is satisfactory to everyone. High commitment and performance are expected to be achieved when interactional justice is maximized. The interactional justice within the banks needs to be the norm of the day.
Keywords: Interactional Justice, Performance, commercial banks, Turke
Resilient Nurses Coping with Covid Care: A Longitudinal Study of Psychology, Values, Resilience, Stress and Burnout
No full textFindings are presented from 2020 follow-up study of 159 senior hospital nurses involved in the front-line care of COVID patients in urban centres in Northern England, prior to the “second wave” of COVID patients in November, 2020. A typology of nurses from measures completed in 2018 identified 4 types: a. ‘Soldiers’; b. ‘Professionals’; c. ‘Highly Stressed’; d.‘ High Achievers’. In 2020 further measures of adjustment stress (including PTSD), and self-actualization were added to earlier measures of personality, adjustment, work-life stress, and career intention. Principal component and cluster analyses identified 3 main types in the 2020 follow-up cohort: A ‘Actualizing Professionals’; (N=59); B ‘Strong Professionals’ (N=55); C ‘Highly Stressed Nurses’ (N=30). Highly stressed nurses identified in 2018 had mostly left nursing, so the 30 highly-stressed nurses in 2020 were mainly a newly-identified group, who included all nurses (N=14) identified as having PTSD symptoms. The research model driving this research is that of Critical Realism which identifies the process of morphogenesis which creates a constructive dialogue for social change on behalf of nurses, who faced almost overwhelming stress in caring for COVID patients. We have identified two types of dedicated nurses with a hardy personality style which has helped them face severe stress in emerging as psychologically strong, self-actualizing individuals, dedicated to the higher values of nursing.
Key Words: Nurses, COVID, Longitudinal Study, Critical Realism, Hardy Personality, Self-Actualization, Nursing Value
Job Stressors and Burnout among Immigrant Nurses Caring for the Elderly in the United States of America: The Role of Working Environment Conditions
No full textAs the US wrestles with immigrant policy and caring for an aging population, data on immigrants’ role as health care and long-term care workers can inform both debates. Previous studies have examined immigrants’ role as health care and direct care workers (nursing, home health, and personal care aides) but not that of immigrants hired by private households or nonmedical facilities such as senior housing to assist elderly and disabled people or unauthorized immigrants’ role in providing these services. The US elderly population grows, health care workforce shortages (which already limit care) are expected to increase in the coming decades. The Institute of Medicine projects that 3.5 million additional health care workers will be needed by 2030. Nurse burnout is a widespread phenomenon characterized by a reduction in nurses’ energy that manifests in emotional exhaustion, lack of motivation, and feelings of frustration and may lead to reductions in work efficacy. The shortage of health care providers is a major concern worldwide. Clinician burnout is a threat to US health and health care. At more than 6 million in 2019, nurses are the largest segment of our health care workforce, making up nearly 30% of hospital employment nationwide. Nurses are a critical group of clinicians with diverse skills, such as health promotion, disease prevention, and direct treatment. The study sought to investigate job stressors and burnout among immigrant nurses caring for the elderly in the United States of America: The role of working environment conditions. The study established that Immigrant health care workers are, on average, more educated than US-born workers, and they often work at lower professional levels in the US because of lack of certification or licensure. They work nontraditional shifts that are hard to fill (such as nights and weekends), and they bring linguistic and cultural diversity to address the needs of patients of varied ethnic backgrounds. This nursing shortage has been associated with both work and personal conditions, such as unrealistic job expectations, poor work conditions, work demands that exceed resources, poor collegial relationships, increased work hazards, and poor autonomy and control over practice. In addition to shortage, health care sector in US has special situation of massive increase in demand on health care services. This has strengthened nurses’ feelings of dissatisfaction and burnout.
Key words: Job, Stressors, Burnout, Immigrant, Nurse, Caring, Elderly, Work, Environment, US
Critical Review on the Impact of Residential Schools in Canada
No full textResidential schools were advertised as a chance for Aboriginal children to have a “free and equal chance with children in urban centers. However, this was far from the case; students were mistreated and taught to despise their Aboriginal culture and embrace European culture. They were presented as free and serene places where children would receive education, be allowed to play and run like any other Canadian school. The reality was far from this picture-perfect image that was presented to the public; students were abused, over-worked and underfed. Assiniboia Indian Residential School was one of the first residential high schools in Manitoba. It offered older children more freedoms compared to other residential schools. Although it was far from perfect, with many aboriginal children facing sexual assault, living structured lives, and being taken away from their families, the school treated students better than most residential schools allowing students to go into the city, work for some pocket money and live less structured lives. The study undertook a critical review with aim of assessing the impacts of Residential Schools.
Keywords: Residential Schools & Canad
Adequacy of Financial Resources Provided By both the Government and Stakeholders in Sustaining Children in the LCBPs in Kajiado County
No full textKenya’s primary school Net Enrolment Rates increased from 80.3% in 2003 to 91.1% in 2016. Gender parity in access also improved at primary level, increasing from 0.95 in 2005 to stabilize at 0.97 (2016). The education sector is faced with regional and gender disparities in most of the education performance indicators with Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASAL) counties registering the lowest performances. Majority of the ASAL Counties have continued to register a Net Enrolment Rate of below 50%; against the best performing county that posted NER of 107.5% (2016). The county of Kajiado had a NER of 79.1% in 2016 which is below the national average of 91.1%. The Government of Kenya established low-cost boarding primary schools (LCBPs in the ASAL regions and pledged to provide boarding facilities, food items and all other supplies while the parents provide students personal effects to operationalize the LCBPs initiative. Eleven (11) of the (392) Kenya’s LCBPs were in Kajiado County with an enrollment of 4,176 in 2016 and were under enrolled by the national standards. There was, therefore, need to evaluate the LCBPs program in Kajiado County to propose strategies that respond to the educational needs for Nomadic-pastoral communities. This process evaluation of the LCBPs used Sequential Mixed method, cross sectional and a case study designs. The sample of the study was drawn from all pupils, teachers, and head teachers in low-cost boarding primary schools in Kajiado County. Education officials and representatives of development partners supporting provision of education in Kajiado County provided useful information. Data was collected using questionnaires, interview schedules as well as observation of facilities. The findings of the evaluation established that LCBPs their present form did not respond to the educational needs of the nomadic and pastoral communities of Kajiado County. Most of the schools were under-enrolled, underfunded, had inadequate facilities, understaffed with teachers and other support staff. The food served was of low quality and inadequate. This study recommends review the concept of LCBPs, with a view to establishment of LCBPs institutional framework paying special attention to the development of financing foundation guided by a rationalized unit cost of maintaining a child in the school.
Keywords: Adequacy, Financial, Resources, Government, Stakeholders, Sustenance, LCBPS, Kajiado, Kenya
Homeschooling and Learners’ Academic Achievement: Evidence from the United States of America
No full textThere is solid evidence that homeschooling has made notable gains in absolute numbers and percent of the school-age population in nations as diverse as Australia, Brazil, Canada, England, Japan, Mexico, South Africa, South Korea, Scotland, and Russia. Home education’s rebirth after about a century of quiescence has surprised many educators, sociologists, political scientists, historians, and theologians, and has captured the imagination and engagement of hundreds of thousands of families. One of the most common and widely accepted ways to assess the learning of students and the effectiveness of their educational environments is via academic achievement as measured by standardized tests. Through literature review, through scholarly articles, interviews, and a survey, research reveals that homeschooling will continue to be on the rise. Thus, homeschooled children tend to score higher or similar compared to regular children attending public schools. Children become more responsible for themselves, and have control of their education. Homeschooling is an alternative to education for children who do not adjust well. While homeschooling allows students to focus only on what is important to them, it makes learning more enjoyable, since they are learning at their own pace, and at the same time affects their academic achievement in many ways. There were an estimated 4.5 to 5.0 million homeschool students in grades K-12 in the United States during March of 2021 (roughly 8% to 9% of school-age children). There were about 2.5 million homeschool students in spring 2019 (or 3% to 4% of school-age children). The homeschool population had been growing at an estimated 2% to 8% per annum over the past several years, but it grew drastically from 2019-2020 to 2020-2021. Studies have shed light on the extra sleep needed in teenage years, yet the conventional school system often requires students to stay up late finishing homework and get up early to rush to their morning classes. Homeschool offers some great advantages when it comes to scheduling: less rushing in the morning sets kids up for less stress overall in their day, longer sleep ins are important for mental and physical wellbeing as well as better focus and work ethic throughout the day and homeschooled children can take breaks throughout the day as needed and are less likely to burnout and form negative associations with school and learning. Homeschoolers are becoming sought-after for higher education. Many colleges and universities have begun to modify their admission practices to not only allow for, but to encourage, homeschoolers to apply for admission.
Keywords: Homeschooling, Learners’, Academic, Achievement, United States of Americ