Stratford Peer Reviewed Journals and Books
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Effect of Cultural Norms on Teenage Pregnancy in Kilifi County- Kenya
No full textThis study sought to determine the impact of social-cultural norms on the rise in teen pregnancy in Kilifi County. According to hospital records, Kilifi County has a high rate of female births. The study used a cross-sectional survey design based on the Psychosocial Theory of Abraham Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs and Albert Bandura's Social Learning Theory. In Kilifi County, the target population consisted of 700 pregnant teenage mothers, 500 household heads, 300 nurses (midwives), and 70 sub-county children officers. A sample of 70 pregnant teenage mothers, 50 household heads, 30 nurses (midwives), and seven sub-county child welfare officers. The study employed questionnaires and interview schedules. Quantitative data was evaluated using descriptive statistical tools such as mean, percentage, and frequency. Semi-structured questionnaires were used to collect data from 70 pregnant teenage mothers, 50 household heads, and 30 midwives. Data from 7 child welfare officers was gathered using interview schedules. Tables, graphs, and charts were used to present the information. A thematic analysis was used to organize and compile qualitative data. For ethical considerations, authority was sought from Kenyatta University's graduate school, a permit was obtained from NACOSTI and the ethics committee, and information collected was kept confidential and anonymous. According to the findings, social-cultural norms, poverty, a lack of sex education, inactive child protection policies, and parental marital status (divorce) all had a significant impact on teenage pregnancy in Kilifi. The findings indicate that there is a high rate of teen pregnancy in the area. Empowering low-income families, conducting sex education, and demonstrating the consequences of negative social and cultural norms and practices are recommended.
Keywords: Cultural Norms, Teenage, Pregnancy, Kilifi County, Keny
Strategic Leadership and Good Governance in the Public Sector: A Case of County Governments in Kenya
No full textThe study sought to examine the influence of strategic leadership on good governance in Kenya's county governments, focusing on how strategic leadership dimensions—visioning, strategy formulation, implementation, evaluation, and ethical leadership—drive compliance with governance principles. Persistent governance challenges, such as corruption and resource mismanagement, have undermined devolution's potential, necessitating a leadership approach to embed ethics and accountability. Guided by Authentic Leadership Theory and Strategic Leadership Theory, the study employed a positivist research philosophy and a cross-sectional research design. Data for this study were collected through structured questionnaires administered to a representative sample of employees from eight counties, selected using stratified random sampling. The findings revealed a significant positive relationship between strategic leadership and good governance, with strategic leadership explaining 69.2% of the variation in governance outcomes. Among the key factors, leader character and strategic visioning demonstrated the strongest impact, underscoring the critical role of ethical leadership and visionary planning in fostering transparency and accountability. The study concluded that strategic leadership is essential for embedding ethical practices as routine behaviors and for building resilient and transparent governance systems. It recommended prioritizing the development of strategic leadership, aligning public sector reforms with leadership objectives, and instituting robust accountability structures to ensure sustainable governance and ethical compliance in county governments.
Keywords: Strategic leadership, good governance, county governments, ethical practices, compliance with ethics, public sector reforms, transparency, accountability, leadership development, Kenya, strategic visioning, strategy formulation, strategy implementation, strategy evaluation, leader character
A Critical Examination of Dominant Worldviews and Value Systems: Exploring How Culture and Identity Shape Perspectives
No full textThis conceptual paper examines how culture and identity shape worldviews and values. Worldviews include beliefs about life, reality, right, and wrong, while value systems reflect cultural norms and priorities. Global leaders must navigate diverse worldviews. Complex cross-cultural interactions can challenge organizational identity and reveal implicit leadership biases. To examine dominant paradigms and their effects. Cultural theory and social identity inform analysis. This literature-based study examines worldview, culture, and identity definitions and dimensions. Worldviews influence behavior, decisions, and sacrifice, research shows. However, globalization changes worldviews. Values differentiate public and private norms. Generational culture instills fairness and freedom values. Individualism-collectivism, power distance, and indulgence-restraint vary culturally. Self-concepts and social positions shape identity. Intense global experiences can challenge deeply held assumptions and change identity. Culture can inspire creativity. Christian worldview is biblical, not worldly. When personal and corporate values align, organizational culture aligns. Global leaders must understand diverse worldviews, values, and identities to promote cross-cultural communication. In conclusion, complex reciprocal dynamics shape values, identity, and worldviews.
Keywords: Dominant, Worldviews, Value Systems, Culture, Perspective
Relationship Between Integrative Leadership and Performance of Public Boarding Secondary Schools in Frontier Counties: Moderating Effect of Stakeholder Engagement
No full textThis paper sought to ascertain the moderating role of stakeholder on the relationship between integrative leadership and the performance of public boarding secondary schools in selected Counties under the Frontier Counties Development Council (FCDC) of Kenya. Empirical studies on the relationship between integrative leadership and performance and the moderating role of stakeholder engagement was critiqued. The target population included all public boarding secondary schools from four Counties with a sample size of four hundred and forty (N=440). Questionnaires and interview guides were used to gather information. Data was analysed using quantitative and qualitative analysis. Descriptive statistics was used to summarize quantitative data, while inferential statistics were used to test the study hypothesis. The moderating effect of stakeholder engagement was assessed, and results were explained using a coefficient of determination, analysis of variance and regression coefficients. Hierarchical regression analysis with an interaction term (a product of integrative leadership and stakeholder engagement) was introduced as an additional predictor in 3 steps and results revealed that the introduction of stakeholder engagement had an enhancing moderating effect on the relationship between integrative leadership and the performance of public boarding secondary schools.
Keywords: Integrative Leadership, Stakeholder Engagement, Performance of Public Boarding Secondary Schools, Moderating Role, Frontier Counties Development Council (FCDC)
Philosophy of Leadership
No full textThe paper focuses on the philosophy behind the best form of leadership in the twenty-first century. Various forms of leadership have evolved over time in response to the needs of the people. The evolution of leadership theories demonstrates that at any given time, individuals face various demands that require them to adapt to a new type of leadership. The twenty-first century is no exception, with numerous technological advancements and changes in workplace demographics. However, the various changes in the workplace can be addressed while employing a dynamic leadership approach. The dynamic leadership philosophy calls for a leader who promotes individual motivation, is open to new ideas, and fosters workplace collaboration. As a result, such a leader encourages employees to give their all while working and adapting to changes in the environment, particularly technological advancements. Therefore, such a leadership approach encourages all individuals to participate in achieving the goals of their workplace.
Keywords: Philosophy, Leadership, Motivation, Ideas, Collaboratio
Moderating Effect of Technology Staff Competence on the Relationship between Scanning Technological Attributes and Custom Revenue Performance: A Case Study of Jomo Kenyatta International Airport
No full textThe study sought to establish the moderating effect of technology staff competence on the link between scanning technological attributes and custom revenue performance at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. Data were gathered from 229 customs officers from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport using a questionnaire based on an explanatory research design. Hypotheses testing utilized linear regression, Hierarchical regression analysis and mod graphs. technology staff competence. The study found that Baggage scanning accuracy has a positive and significant effect on custom revenue performance, cargo scanning efficiency has a positive and significant effect on custom revenue performance, customs declaration scanning has a positive and significant effect on custom revenue performance, scanning technology integration has a positive and significant effect on custom revenue performance. The study also found that technology staff competence moderates the relationship between baggage scanning accuracy, cargo scanning efficiency, customs declaration scanning, scanning technology integration and custom revenue performance. The study suggested that the management should ensure that any problems that would lead to inefficiency and ineffectiveness of the scanning technology is attended to with urgency and that all staff dealing with scanning technology should be properly trained. The policy makers were also advised to make policies that will guide the management of JKIA customs department to effectively and efficiently use scanning technology in the scanning process.
Keywords: Baggage Scanning Accuracy, Cargo Scanning Efficiency, Customs Declaration Scanning, Scanning Technology Integration, Custom Revenue Performance, Technology Staff Competenc
Challenges Faced in Linen Management and Effect on Guest Satisfaction in Selected Hotels in the Upper East Region of Ghana
No full textHotels face various challenges in their operations, with linen loss being inevitable. This study investigated the challenges with linen management and its impact on guest satisfaction in selected hotels in the Upper East Region of Ghana. A cross-sectional survey research design was employed using quantitative and qualitative approaches. The sample comprised 52 hotel employees from 24 star-category hotels, including general managers, supervisors responsible for accommodation and laundry, and the president of the regional hotel association. Data were collected through questionnaires and semi-structured interviews. Descriptive statistics, including means and standard deviations, and multiple linear regression for inferential statistics, were used to test the hypothesis at a 5% significance level. The findings revealed that hotels face linen management challenges, including linen theft, unauthorized movement of linen within departments, and the use of linen for cleaning spills. Additionally, hotels lacked the technology to track linen movement. Hypothesis testing showed that challenges in linen management significantly affected guest satisfaction (R = 0.522, R² = 0.272, F = 3.441, p = 0.010), leading to the rejection of the hypothesis that linen management challenges have no significant effect on guest satisfaction (p = 0.010 < 0.05). Approximately 27.2% of guest satisfaction variance could be attributed to the predictor variables in linen management challenges. The study recommended that hotel management intensify education for both staff and guests to reduce linen loss. Furthermore, each hotel could consider forming a committee to review linen management practices and address related challenges.
Keywords: Linen Management Challenges, Customer Satisfaction, Selected Hotels, Upper East Region, Ghana
Ethics: Tackling the Ethical Dilemma in Grief Counseling
No full textThe complicated field of healthcare as it relates to grief counseling presents a number of moral conundrums. Practitioners must make difficult decisions on a daily basis that can have a significant impact on their work, patients, and clients. Moral precepts that direct a person's behavior or how they conduct themselves in their particular profession are the essence of ethics. Healthcare professionals, including clinicians, are frequently guided by a multitude of varying rules, principles, and opinions. This particular book chapter addresses the significance of ethics in grief counseling with regard to decision-making. It defines professional codes of ethics in detail and stresses their significance for the delivery of moral counseling. It also examines boundary crossings and boundary violations, the necessity of a moral process in decision-making, counselors' and clinicians' practice guidelines, which source of ethics is most significant, transference and countertransference as well as dual/multiple roles. It is noteworthy to note that healthcare professionals have a fiduciary duty to uphold the ethics and standards of their professional associations and regulatory bodies. As a result, managing an ethical conundrum is constant.
Keywords: Ethics, Boundary Crossings, Boundary Violation, Transference and Countertransferenc
Relations between Totems and Humans, the Dagara of Jirapa in the Upper West Region of Ghana, and Indigenous Belief Systems and Lessons for Modern Environmental Conservation
No full textThis essay investigates how the Dagara totemic relationship with totems may be used to protect biodiversity. The Jirapa municipality, one of the municipalities in Ghana's Upper West Region, is the subject of this essay. The study looked into how the totemic connection could be used to advance biodiversity protection and conservation in the Jirapa municipality and elsewhere. It made use of a phenomenological research. No matter where they are located, people who share a totem or, for that matter, a common ancestor, have similar belief systems and take part in similar cultural rituals, according to the study. One of the most important findings of the study was that people would go to great lengths to protect and never destroy their totems, whether they were plants or animals. Because they considered it to be one of them, the people whose totem it was protected the object. This resulted in the preservation of several plant and animal species. Totems represent family, clan ties, and what people view as appropriate or wrong behavior, according to one conclusion. The participants' conversation led them to the conclusion that totems are spiritual beings that defend their human relationships. In conclusion, there are numerous ways that this link might be used to protect biodiversity. The report makes the suggestion that modern conservation organizations, agencies, and partners use indigenous cultural practices in their conservation programs. In order to increase natural resource conservation, communities where these kinds of traditional or cultural practices are still practiced should be encouraged to maintain and spread these traditions abroad.
Keywords: Jirapa, Dagara, totems, symbiotic relationships, and conservation of natur
The Impact of Autism on Parents' Lived Experiences
No full textThe study sought to understand and describe the lived experiences of parents raising children with autism, comparing the experiences of mothers and fathers. The study employed a phenomenological qualitative research design, conducted at Cebu Kid's Center for Autism Foundation, Mandaue City. Using snowball sampling, nine parents of children aged 3-12 participated in semi-structured interviews. The study found that parents often face significant stress and challenges, including financial strain, lifestyle changes, and lack of support from healthcare providers. Additionally, parents primarily sought information online rather than from doctors, highlighting a gap in the patient-provider relationship. The study also revealed shortcomings in public special education schools, such as inadequate facilities and an unfavorable student-teacher ratio. The study concludes that comprehensive support systems are essential for parents of children with autism, including better healthcare communication, improved educational resources, and family-centered mental health interventions. The study recommends that healthcare providers create therapeutic relationships with parents, governments improve working conditions for special education teachers, and mental institutions offer family-focused interventions. Increasing public awareness about autism and providing continuous support for parents are also crucial steps to enhance the overall well-being of families affected by autism.
Keywords: Autism, Lived Experiences, Phenomenological Research, Parental Stress, Support System