EANSO East African Nature and Science Organization Journals
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Enhancing Men's Participation in Maternal Health Care Services: An Analysis of Socio-Economic Predictors in Arusha City
Get PDFThis study examines the socio-economic factors that hinder men’s participation in maternal healthcare services in Kaloleni and Ngarenaro wards, Arusha, Tanzania. Although male involvement is crucial for improving maternal and neonatal outcomes, particularly in antenatal and postnatal care, men’s engagement remains limited due to several persistent barriers. Probit regression analysis revealed that economic constraints (β = 1.502, p < 0.001), cultural norms (β = 1.678, p < 0.001), limited access to healthcare services (β = 1.134, p < 0.007), and time constraints (β = 2.273, p < 0.001) are significant obstacles to men’s participation. Conversely, education on maternal health (β = 1.245, p < 0.001) was found to have a positive impact on involvement. These findings underscore the critical need for targeted interventions that challenge traditional gender roles and raise awareness of the benefits of male participation. The study advocates for comprehensive, gender-sensitive policies and strategies, including enhanced healthcare accessibility, culturally appropriate educational campaigns, and the development of inclusive maternal health policies. Addressing these barriers is essential for increasing male involvement in maternal healthcare, thereby improving maternal and neonatal health outcomes and contributing to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals related to health and gender equalit
Pregnancy Outcomes of Mothers with Sickle Cell Disease: A Retrospective Review of Patients Seeking Delivery Services in a Regional Referral Hospital, Western Kenya
Get PDFBackground: Western Kenya has a high burden of sickle cell disease (SCD) with 4.5% of children born with sickle cell disease. We aimed to describe the demographic characteristics and pregnancy outcomes of women with SCD at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH). Methods: The hospital records department retrieved all files they could identify of women who were known to have SCD and had delivered at the hospital between October 2017 and December 2022. Data was analyzed using STATA version 16.0. Results: Thirty files were retrieved representing 30 women who delivered in the hospital. The mean age was 26 (18 to 36) years. Most 14 (46.7%) had a term delivery. The maternal mean haemoglobin level was 8.72g/dl (range 5.6-13.5). Twelve (40%) had moderate hemoglobin concentration (8-10g/dl) and only 3 (10%) had severe anemia with HB below 6.5g/dl. A majority (76. %) had normal vaginal delivery. The Caesarean section rate was 23%. There was no maternal mortality; one pregnancy was a multiple birth resulting in 31 babies. Nearly all (93%) of the babies had an APGAR score of more than 7 at five minutes, 5 (16.67%) required NBU admission for various reasons, while one (3.33%) of the babies died within 24 hours of birth. Three of the women used Hydroxyurea at some point in their pregnancies and all had morphologically normal babies. Discussion: Our study findings are comparable with other case series; no maternal death was documented, however, we noted fetal outcomes which are comparable to the regional indices. Conclusion: Though pregnancy in SCD is fraught with adverse outcomes, our series demon strates that good outcomes are feasible
Effect of Cost of Construction of Medium-Level Building Projects on Project Productivity in Kirinyaga County, Kenya
Get PDFThe construction industry is important in society, the economy and the environment. Despite its importance, it is faced with the challenge of the increasing world's urban population at a rate of 200,000 people per day who require affordable housing, social transportation and utility infrastructure. To counter this challenge, the industry will be under a moral obligation to transform by way of reducing construction costs, improving the use of scarce materials and making more eco-efficient over time. Therefore, this study's objective was to evaluate the effect of the cost of construction of medium-level building projects on project productivity in Kirinyaga County, Kenya. The total costs of construction (cost stack) are split into hard costs, soft costs and unforeseen costs. The methodology adopted for data collection was through the administration of structured questionnaires to select seven categories considered to be the main key stakeholders in the construction of building projects. These comprised landlords/homeowners, architects, structural engineers, quantity surveyors, building contractors, construction project managers, and Ministry of Housing and Infrastructure officials. To analyze the results, descriptive statistics and correlational analysis were used. In the analysis, emphasis was placed on the evaluation of the effect of the cost of construction on project completion time, quality and costs. Results from the study show that key factors affecting project productivity through increased costs are delay in payment to contractors and suppliers, high cost of construction materials and choice of construction materials. Other factors are the level of project complexity, site topography, architectural design errors and changes as well as structural design errors and changes
Community Attitude on INSPIRE Strategies for Mitigating Violence Against Children. A Case of Mbeya City Council
Get PDFViolence against children (VAC) is a serious issue in Tanzania and globally at large. Factors for its occurrence are known and community participation is highly recommended and needed in VAC prevention. Violence against children can be prevented if the global community acts now, acts wisely and acts together. Implementation and enforcement of laws, norms and values, safe environments, parent and caregiver support, income and economic strengthening, response and support services, and education and life skills (INSPIRE) are vital strategies for this success. This study assessed the community’s participation in the implementation of INSPIRE strategies in Mbeya City. A hundred randomly selected community members and 9 key informants were selected based on the stake they had. Community surveys, key informant interviews, focus group discussions and documentary reviews were used in data collection. The Statistical Product for Service Solution (IBM-SPSS) version 20 was used to analyze quantitative data through descriptive and inferential statistics (factor analysis). Content analysis was used to analyze qualitative data. The study reveals that; community members had positive attitudes on INSPIRE strategies with moderate practices. However, interference from the witnesses, rate of reporting and exposing perpetrators were reported as resulting from fear of being blamed for the consequences especially when VAC cases reach at police or the courts of law. The study concluded that the community’s positive attitude toward INSPIRE strategies is influenced by a moderate level of awareness. The study recommends that; the community’s awareness and capacity building should continue to enhance positive attitudes and improve practices to stop VAC
An Anatomy of Ethnic Gangsterism and Militant Nationalism in Kenya: The Case of Nairobi, 1940-1963
Get PDFTowards the end of the 1940s, Nairobi was characterized by momentous political conflict. A large proportion of Africans were said to be living outside the confines of colonial supervision, a situation that resulted in gangsterism and serious anarchy. Extensive research has been carried out on various dimensions of this episode, revealing that militarism and anarchy were deeply rooted in unresolved issues revolving around economic deprivation and the political exclusion of Africans by the colonial authorities. Some aspects of this violent agitation however remain unexplored. It’s demonstrated in this study that the urban poor in post-1945 Nairobi, pushed to the limits of human endurance, created their own alternative society in clandestine opposition to the forces of law and order. Examining the anarchy, however, reveals a nexus between anti-colonial militancy and ethnic acrimony. The study reveals that tribalism remained an important influence on daily life and political allegiances in the African locations. Armed with various weapons, Kikuyu gangs roamed the streets, terrorizing people of other communities. The spate of militant activity in Nairobi alienated the non-Kikuyu elements in the African population. Anti-colonial militarism thus had far-reaching implications on inter-ethnic relations in Nairobi. The ethnic question remained critical in political transitions that took place in Nairobi city in the post-Mau Mau period. The study was carried out in Nairobi County, particularly in the colonial ‘African locations’ of Pumwani and Shauri Moyo. It entailed the collection and analysis of data from both primary and secondary sources. Primary data was collected from oral informants and the Kenya National Archives while secondary data came from newspapers, books, magazines and dissertations. Data was then corroborated and both context and content analysis were done to guarantee consistency, reliability and validity of the information. A historical research design based on qualitative procedures was employed. Interpretation was done within the Marxist theoretical framework. Marxists hold that social and political behaviour can be reduced to economic motives, and ethnicity is an important force in political behaviour
The Legacy of Colonial Policies on Agricultural Development in Independent Kenya; 1954 to 1992
Get PDFThe LDSB schemes of 1961/62 formed the second phase and a continuation of the official colonial agricultural policy (Swynnerton Plan of 1954). However, the political situation in the immediate pre-independence period derailed its implementation as the Land Development and Settlement Board (LDSB) was disbanded on June 1st 1963 and replaced with the Central Land Board. It is the Central Land Board that supported the implementation of five-year 'one-million-acre’ schemes for the land purchase in the former ‘scheduled’ areas. From this background, the paper examines how the colonial agricultural policy initiated in 1954 continues to serve as the main agricultural policy in independent Kenya today. Yet, policymakers can re-engineer a new appropriate agricultural policy to promote economic development in the 21st century. Thus, the study sheds light on the legacy of colonial agricultural policy in independent Kenya by examining a pioneering LDSB scheme in the Ndalat Settlement Scheme in Nandi County, Kenya. The paper adopts a historical descriptive design with a sample size of 30 key informants conveniently sampled from 16 farmers, four cooperative society officials, five pioneering settlement officials, two Ministry of Agriculture officials, and three retired agricultural officers. The interview was the main research instrument supplemented by archival and government policy documents. The findings indicated that all the LDSB schemes were part of the colonial agricultural policy to reduce the pressure on land resources and were experimental in design. This colonial agricultural policy is credited with settlement programs, large-scale agricultural development, commercialization of food crops, and the institutionalization of producer cooperatives and statutory marketing boards. The study concluded that this colonial policy still dominates agricultural development in independent Kenya today. The study recommends that there is a need to revamp the agricultural policy to support the socio-economic development in Kenya
The Role of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) in Influencing Climate Change Policy: The Case of PACJA at COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan
Get PDFOver 40,000 delegates from all over the world gathered in the city of Baku, Azerbaijan, the transcontinental country bordering Eastern Europe and West Asia for the 29th edition of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Conference of Parties (COP29). Adopted in 1992 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (Dawson & Spannagle 2008), the Conference of Parties set the limits on the emission of greenhouse gas (GHG) to prevent the dangers of climate change. 195 countries adopted the Parish Agreement in 2015 at the 21st Conference of Parties (COP 21), committing to undertake more efforts to keep a global temperature rise in this century below 2°C. Over the years, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) have recorded tremendous impact and influence over policy decisions in key areas of the economy within nations and transnational structures. The paper examines the realities of the Pan-African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA) within the global climate change corridor, and their contributions towards influencing climate change policies at COP29 held in Baku, Azerbaijan, particularly advocacy efforts, high-level intergovernmental and civic engagement activities to drive policy changes
Contribution of Biodiversity Spatial Patterns on Development of Ecotourism Outcomes in Akagera National Park, Rwanda
Get PDFThe rapid decrease in biodiversity has become an urgent issue for ecosystems worldwide, with over one million species currently at risk of extinction due to human activities such as habitat loss, pollution, resource overexploitation, and climate change impacts. Although the relationship between biodiversity and ecotourism is established, little is known about how spatial patterns of biodiversity affect ecotourism outcomes in Akagera National Park, indicating a gap in research regarding the impact of these spatial patterns. This article aimed to assess the effects of biodiversity distribution, habitat quality, wildlife presence, and ecotourism services on developing ecotourism outcomes in Akagera National Park, Rwanda. The study utilized primary quantitative data collected through a structured survey questionnaire involving 133 respondents from a targeted sample size of 134, from RDB, REMA, Kayonza District, Akagera Hotel, and beneficiaries reached through a stratified sampling technique. The quantitative analysis employed the Statistical Package for Social Science version 25.0, applying descriptive statistical analysis to determine the mean and standard deviation, as well as inferential statistical analysis using the analysis of variance test to analyze correlation, significance levels, and regression between study variables. The multiple regression model was used, and findings indicated a positive correlation and significant effects of biodiversity distribution, habitat quality, wildlife presence, and ecotourism services on developing ecotourism outcomes in Akagera National Park. The overall correlation coefficients, R=0.844, and R2 = 0.712, indicate that the independent variables contributed 71.2% to the dependent variable. The findings revealed a general positive view of biodiversity well distributed in Akagera National Park, though there is a gap in the diversity of beautiful flora categories to attract tourism revenues, with habitat quality being fully available and wildlife presence activities being correctly managed, with inadequate management of wild animals and human conflict resulting from protecting the park to prevent wild animals conflicting nearby homes. Finally, there was a general positive view of the ecotourism services available in Akagera National Park, which attract tourists and contribute to the development of ecotourism outcomes, yet a gap in the availability of water springs in Akagera Park was identified, which would enhance its attractiveness. The study concluded that there is a generally positive perception that spatial patterns of biodiversity have significantly contributed to the development of ecotourism outcomes in Akagera National Park, Rwanda. The MoE, RDB, and their partners were recommended to add diverse flora in Akagera National Park, to manage human-wildlife conflict by erecting fences around the park to prevent animals from entering nearby homes, to create water bodies, to increase biodiversity to boost tourism revenue, and to enhance the park's appearance. Researchers were recommended to explore unstudied factors influencing ecotourism outcomes, contributing 28.8% to its development
Capital Structure and Financial Performance of Manufacturing Companies Listed at the Nairobi Securities Exchange in Kenya
Get PDFThe mix of debt and equity that a business uses to finance its operations is referred to as its capital structure. Thus, it is the configuration of an organization's primary financial sources. Funding for this study came from equity, loan financing, and lease financing. One of the key choices that managers of a company must make in order to accomplish the company's objectives is capital structure. Finding out how capital structure impacted the financial performance of manufacturing companies listed on the Nairobi Securities and Exchange was the main goal of the study. The study's specific goals were to ascertain how the financial performance of manufacturing companies was impacted by loan finance, which was the primary source of outside funding, equity finance, which included the amount of retained profits reinvested in the company, and lease finance, which is defined as the agreement made between a specific asset owner (lessor) and the lessee. Four theories—trade-off theory, pecking order theory, information signalling theory, and agency theory—formed the basis of the study's theoretical model. In order to finish the study, a descriptive research design was used in conjunction with a quantitative research approach. Nine manufacturing firms that are openly traded on the NSE were surveyed. The NSE and the financial statements made public by Kenyan manufacturing companies listed on the NSE provided secondary data for the study. Secondary data was collected annually between 2013 and 2022. The study's instrument for gathering data was a data collection sheet, and a panel regression model was used. Descriptive and inferential analysis were also used to draw conclusions from the information gathered. An indirect association was discovered when the impact of loan financing was investigated. While the relationship between equity finance and return on equity revealed a clear association, a lower level of loan finance was linked to an increase in the return on equity of the enterprises under consideration. Additionally, the statistical study showed that the dependent variable, return on equity, and the chosen capital structure factors had a strong association. According to this study, the model has a strong explanatory power, accounting for almost 93% of the variance in return on equity
The Impact of Coaching Practice on the Sustainability of Family-Owned Tourism Businesses in Mahe Island, Seychelles
Get PDFThis study examined the impact of coaching practices on the sustainability of family-owned tourism businesses in Seychelles. Although the benefits of coaching in the business sector are well documented, research on its impact on the sustainability of family-owned tourism enterprises remains scarce. Employing a descriptive survey design, the study gathered data via questionnaires from 253 owners/ CEOs/ managers of family-owned tourism businesses on Mahé Island. The findings indicate a strong positive correlation between coaching practices and business sustainability, with coaching practices accounting for 36.5% of the variation in sustainability outcomes. The participants acknowledged the role of coaching in enhancing leadership effectiveness, decision-making, employee engagement, and conflict resolution. The study recommends that management adopt these practices to bolster the resilience, adaptability, and sustainability of family-owned tourism businesses in the Mahé Island tourism market. The results align with transformational leadership theory, highlighting the potential of coaching to steer family-owned businesses toward sustainable practices through internal motivation and value. This study contributes to the understanding of how coaching practices support the long-term viability of family-owned tourism businesses in the Seychelles, underscoring the importance of coaching programs in skill development, performance improvement, and fostering adaptability. Future research could explore the specific coaching techniques that are most effective for family-owned tourism businesses in the Seychelles. Longitudinal studies may help assess the long-term impact of coaching on business sustainability. Additionally, comparative studies between coached and non-coached family-owned tourism businesses could offer further insights into the effectiveness of these practices in the context of Mahé Islan