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Factors affecting ability and willingness of community members to enrol Improved Community Health Fund in Dodoma and Iringa regions
Get PDFFinancial protection has been recognised as an important element within the healthcare financing system of many low and middle-income countries. Pre-payment schemes have been advocated as a means of curbing high out of pocket expenditure and achieving universal health coverage. A number of financing reforms have been taking place, however there is a limited rigorous contextual evidence on the willingness-to-pay (WTP) for the recently Improved Community Health Fund (iCHF) in Tanzania. The study took place in district councils of Dodoma and Iringa regions. Data were collected from a household survey conducted in 2021. Contingent valuation methodology was used to elicit households’ the willing to pay (WTP) for iCHF premium using the bidding game technique. In addition, the relationship between WTP and other socio-economic variables was examined using logistic regression models. Majority 88% respondents said they will repay their package after expiry considering the quality of the services provided by health insurance. The results showed a statistically significant negative relationship 0.526 (p = 0.034) between household aged above 55 years of age and WTP. More specifically, as age increases above 55 years, the likelihood to pay for health insurance premium decreases. We also found a positive statistically significant relationship 1.882 (p = 0.034) between the household with small business and WTP, which suggest the individuals with small business are in a better position to pay for iCHF premium compared to those with formal employment. It is important to educate the households to raise awareness about the benefits of being a member of insurance scheme in both formal and informal sector. The households should be encouraged to formalize their small business, this will improve their income and enrolment into the insurance schemes. The benefit packages should be revised to fit the need of the people as WTP was also influenced by the nature of the packages
Impact of State Controlled Consumptive Management Approach on Community Economic Benefits from Conserved Natural Resources in Tanzania: Case of the Great Mahale Ecosystem
Get PDFThis paper tried to answer the core question of whether protective management policies of natural resources can sustain the economic benefits expected from them by communities living around the natural resources in Tanzania. The paper is based on multiple linear regression analysis of cross-sectional data collected from 400 community members selected from 10 purposefully selected villages surrounding the Great Mahale Ecosystem in Western Tanzania, where a 3 A 1-4 scale questionnaire was administered. The findings revealed that, state-controlled consumption of firewood, logging and timbering had negative effects on potential community economic benefits from the natural resources. State-controlled access to firewood was the only variable that was found insignificant. The state-controlled consumptive policies on tourism and hunting, farming practices proximity to the conserved natural resource, wildlife games and wild fruits as well as access to medicinal plants were found to be beneficial to surrounding communities. The development of tourist hunting blocks would improve consumptive utilization not only under government-managed natural resources but also under communal-indigenous approach. There should also be an integration of consumptive and non-consumptive approaches such as sustainable timber harvesting to maximize community economic benefit
Adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards and Financial Performance of Listed Manufacturing Firms in Nigeria
Get PDFThis study reviewed the literature on the effect of the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) adoption on financial performance of listed manufacturing firms in Nigeria. Forty-five journal articles on the subject published between 2012 and 2021 were analyzed. The study employed a narrative literature review. The review focused on determining whether there wre any significant differences between the financial performance measurements of listed manufacturing firms operating in Nigeria that were prepared using IFRS-compliant financial statements and local Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP). Second, to determine whether financial performance indicators developed using IFRS-compliant financial statements exhibit superior performance than those developed using local GAAP. The Studies reviewed employed secondary data, which were sourced from the annual reports of companies listed on the Nigerian Exchange Group, and the data were analyzed using panel regression analysis. According to the analysis of the literature, IFRS financial ratios are more accurate performance indicators than local GAAP financial ratios. Further investigation indicated that there were no notable discrepancies between the financial performance indicators (financial ratios) reported by listed manufacturing firms operating in Nigeria under local GAAP and IFRS-compliant financial statements. The study concluded that a company's financial performance (return on capital employed) improves in direct proportion to how closely it complies with IFRS disclosure guidelines. The study recommended that to sustain the positive effects of compulsory and voluntary financial performance disclosure, manufacturing firms should be concerned with the disclosure of important information at every point in time
Assessment of Quality of Water Resource from Great Ruaha River and Allied Water Sources Serving Domestic Purposes at Pawaga Division
Get PDFThis study intended to assess water quality from Ruaha River and allied water sources serving domestic purpose in Pawaga division. By using standard methods triplicate samples from sixteen (16) different sites were collected and analyzed for physicochemical parameters and bacteriological values. The conductivity of analysed samples ranged between 1 – 286 µS/cm which is lower than the TBS threshold 2,500 µS/cm. The TDS ranges between 107 – 2235.8 mg/L during the wet season and 49.0 – 2,616.3 mg/L during the dry season. The level of Na+ ranges between 0.2 – 104.4 mg/L during rainy season and 0.8 -119 mg/L during dry season. Nitrate levels ranges between 0.4 – 101.4 mg/L during rainy season and 0.3 – 107.9 mg/L during dry season. This may be contamination from fertilizers, municipal wastewaters, feedlots, septic systems in river water. Sulphate concentration ranges between 0.3 – 93.0 mg/L during rainy season and 3.7 – 98.9 during dry season. Sulphate can also be produced by bacterial or oxidizing action as in the oxidation of organo-sulphur compounds and the more common sinks are pyrite, gypsum, and sulphate reduction. The study concluded that, water supplied by Pawaga water supply must be treated to eliminate microbial, physical and chemical pollution prior to domestic water supplies. It recommended that Government should strengthen water intervention management and carry out intervention measures to improve water quality and reduce water pollution’s impact on human health. The control of water pollution can be done by increasing monitoring of wastewater disposal into rivers, carrying out an inventory and identifying water pollution sources
Role of Reward System on Teacher Motivation in Public Secondary Schools in Ilala Municipality
Get PDFThis study sought to link performance, the level of teachers’ motivation and the reward systems existing in public secondary schools in Ilala Municipality. The study involved a total of 397 respondents including teachers, quality assurers, and heads of schools as key respondents to whom questionnaires and interviews were administered (only 20 participants were involved in the interview out of 397). Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics. The study findings revealed that there was no relationship between the level of teachers’ motivation and the reward systems existing in public secondary schools. While the reward system such as timely salary payment, the existence of timely rewarding system with clear performance standards set for rewarding, and existence of fair opportunities for professional development among teachers are linked to performance. However, findings further revelaed that the majority of teachers were demotivated by factors such as lack of transport, office space, housing facilities, poor working conditions, such as, shortage of classrooms, which resulted into having packed classrooms. Other factors include unclear reward system and low salaries compared to other professions. It is recommended that rewarding systems should be clear and communicated to teachers. Ilala Municipality should ensure the availability of teachers houses in school proximity, adopting clear guidelines for rewarding teachers, ensure that teachers are paid reasonable salaries, improving teacher working environment such as ensuring availability of teaching resources in schools. It is also recommended that, future research should be expanded to other regions of Tanzania; and includes more variable; such as issues of workload, stress and stress management and mental health towards employees’ performance. The analysis techniques also should include multilevel analysis as it is expected to have groups and nested data. To conclude, the government should improve teaching and learning environment
Amalgamated Theory of Microfinance, Microcredit and Empowerment
Get PDFThis study examined the application of microfinance, microcredit and empowerment variables in Microfinance Institutions (MFI) studies. The study also evaluated the application of microfinance theory, microcredit theory and empowerment theory to determine if a single theory unifies the concepts of microfinance, microcredit and empowerment. The paper used a systematic literature review methodology and analysed 56 articles to substantiate the theories and their related variables. The review showed that most studies used the terms microfinance and microcredit interchangeably. Moreover, the study exposed that scholar’s link microfinance and microcredit to various forms of empowerment. The assessment further revealed that there were scant studies that have assessed how microfinance and microcredit influenced all empowerment categories. Moreover, studies have not integrated microfinance, microcredit and empowerment into one theory. As a result, this study proposes a unified theory that incorporates microfinance, microcredit and empowerment concepts
Estimation of Persistent Organic Pollutants releases and emission levels from Healthcare Waste in Mwananyamala and Temeke Regional Hospitals in Tanzania
Get PDFThis study estimated the amount of polychlorinated dibenzodioxin (PCDDs) and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) from healthcare wastes generated in Mwananyamala and Temeke regional hospitals located in Dar es Salaam using Standardized Toolkit for sources of persistent organic pollutant (POPs) developed by UNEP. Healthcare wastes were collected in different categories and measured for fourteen (14) consecutive days. By using a weighing scale machine, the assessment of the healthcare waste generation rate in each hospital was measured. The average amount of healthcare waste were 67.12 Tons/year and 105.34 Tons/year at Mwananyamala and Temeke hospitals respectively. The recommended tolerable daily intake (TDI) of dioxin/furans for an adult is 1.75 x 10-10 g I-TEQ/day. The value obtained in this study (2.38 x 10-4 g 1-TEQ/day) at Mwananyamala hospital and 3.62 x 10-4 g 1- TEQ/day at Temeke is about 1.36 x 106 and 2.07 x 106 times higher than the recommended value for adults respectively. It is hereby recommended the emission of dioxin/furan from hospitals must be controlled and if possible, reduced to below the recommended limit. More detailed studies and the permanent monitoring of air quality around different healthcare facilities would be appropriate
Examination of Pedagogical Practices of Secondary School Physical Education Teachers in Tanzania
Get PDFThe study on which this paper is based examined the pedagogical practices of secondary school teachers in teaching Physical Education (PE) in Tanzania. The data from two experienced PE teachers were collected through interview, lesson observation and documentary review and they were analyzed thematically. Findings indicated that PE teachers predominantly use teacher-centred teaching approaches and lecture teaching methods. This teaching approach and methods as used in teaching PE classes did not involve learners and they thus limited students’ mastery and denied them the opportunity to practice the intended skills during and after the lesson. Inadequate facilities and equipment for teaching PE also affected teachers’ pedagogical practices. It was concluded that the teacher-centred teaching approach dominated in most of the observed PE classes. It is recommended that PE teachers be advised to abide by the requirements of the syllabus. They should be given in-service training on how to apply learner centred teaching approach and to use their local environment to improve their pedagogical practices
Reflections on the Birth of the University of Dodoma, by Idris S. Kikula : Mkuki na Nyota Publishers, 2023. Viii+pp. 182, ISBN 978-9987-084-78-4
Get PDFMkuki na Nyota Publishers, 2023. Viii+pp. 182, ISBN 978-9987-084-78-
Team Work Practices and Employee Performance in Local Government Authorities in Tanzania
Get PDFThis paper examined the effects of team work practices on employee performance of local government authorities in Tanzania. The specific objectives were to; determine the influence of shared vision, employee respect, employee ethics, collective decision, team level trust, intrapersonal skills and team cohesiveness on employee performance in LGAs. The study used multiple regression analysis to test the set hypotheses and construct the model. The study was based on cross-sectional survey design in which the quantitative approach was used to collect and analyse data from 368 employees. Research data was collected using a structured survey questionnaire as a research instrument where both descriptive and inferential statistics were used to arrive at conclusions. The study findings showed that shared vision, intrapersonal skills, trust and cohesiveness had the statistically positive and significant relationship between teamwork practice and employee performance. Further, findings revealed that shared decision, respect and workplace ethics were statistically insignificant. The study concluded that LGAs should create an environment that assists shared decision, respect and workplace ethics since this in turn will increase performance of employees. The study recommends team work practices be considered as part of organisations strategy to improve employee performance