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Antibiogram patterns of uropathogenic Escherichia Coli and socio-demographic factors of patients attending Kericho County Hospital.
No full textEscherichia coli is the common cause of primary urinary tract infections (UTIs). UTIs are the
most common non-intestinal infection in women worldwide. Antimicrobial susceptibility
testing provides information that allows physicians to select the 21 most appropriate
antimicrobial agents for treating a specific infection. A cross-sectional study was conducted
at Kericho County Hospital patient’s clinic between January and June 2015. A total of 133
urine samples were collected and used to investigate the prevalence of UTIs and to determine
the antimicrobial profile of extraintestinal E. coli clinical isolates among patients. UTIs were
diagnosed using mid-stream urine culture on standard media. The bacterial isolates recovered
were tested against trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, gentamycin, amikacin, ceftriaxone,
ciprofloxacin, cefoxitin, cefepim, imipenem, ampicillin and amoxicillin-clavulanic acid using
Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion technique. Data was entered in MS Excel spread sheet and
analyzed by using SPSS version 21. Among the 133 specimen examined 106 (79.7%) showed
significant bacterial growth. E.Coli was the most pre-dorminant 38 (35.8%), followed by
Staphylococcus aureus 31 (29.2%), Klebsiella pneumonia 18 (17%), Psedomonas aeruginosa
15 (14.2%) and Proteus mirabilis 4 (3.8%). Out of 38, Escherichia coli isolates 22 (58%)
from females and 16 (42%) from male. Approximetly 16 (73%) of the isolates were resistant
to trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole and 20 (91%) resistant to amoxicillin clavulanic acid; 21
(96%) were susceptible to imipenem and 18 (82 %) amikacine. E. coli showed high
sensitivity to imipenem and amikacine but resistant to trimethoprin-sulfamethoxazole and
amoxicillin-clavunic acid. Chi-square analysis indicated no association between gender of
patient and pathogens isolate (p = 0.835). Out of 106 isolates, Escherichia coli was the most
prevalent clinical isolate (p value = 0.905) although there was 38 isolates, no association
between the age of patient and pathogens isolated in patients indicating a possibility of an
equal chance of being infected irrespective of age. Escherichia coli was the most prevalent
causative organism, showing multi drug resistance pattern. Considering the relatively high
rates of UTIs and drug resistance observed in this study, continued local, regional, and
national surveillance is warranted. Imipenem and amikacine should be considered as drug of
choice for empirical treatment of community acquired uncomplicated UTIs in patients in
Kericho County hospital
Emergency contraception use among female students in institutions of higher learning in Thika town, Kenya.
No full textContraception is a method for the prevention of pregnancies and other related effects after
unprotected intercourse. Before zygote implantation, it is known as emergency contraception
(EC). Global research on EC has shown that it is largely underutilized in developing countries.
Knowledge of EC by students is low due to its limited access. The study envisioned at
determining knowledge, attitude and practices on EC among female students in Mount Kenya
and GRETSA Universities in Thika town, Kiambu County. A descriptive cross sectional design
was adopted, where a total of 370 students from the two universities were enrolled. Permission
was sought from the relevant authorities in the institutions and only eligible consenting female
students were selected. A pre-designed, pre-tested, self-administered multiple response
questionnaire was used to collect data on socio-demographic characteristics, knowledge,
attitudes and practices on EC. The data was entered into Microsoft excel and analyzed using
SPSS™ package version 20. Chi-square test was used to compare different variables (age,
education level, marital status, religion and knowledge on contraceptives) and to determine
associations between the variables tested in the study. Students within three age ranges namely;
20-24 (70%), 25-30 (8%), 30-35 (1%) and 0.8% above 35 years were interviewed. The results
indicate that contraceptive use is significantly associated with older women having a higher
tendency of using them as compared to younger ones (p value 0.004). Approximately 36% of the
students used contraceptives while 32% had used at one time in their lives. Religion and source
of contraceptive knowledge had a significant effect on its use, both having (p value of 0.001).
Marital status and having children had a significant influence to those who are married and those
who have children were more likely to be users (p value=0.00). Place of residence on the other
hand had no significant influence (p value= 0.1). Knowledge of adverse effects of EC use had a
significant influence on their health and those associated with serious health outcome rarely used
them (Table 10). Female students who believed that EC could be used 1-2 times and 3-4 times
utilized it more compared to those who claimed they were not aware (p value 0.001). The
attitude towards its cogency had a significant effect on their use (p value 0.003). Students who
used EC, were more likely to recommend their use (p value=0.0002). The attitude on whether EC
should be provided in the campus, circumstance in which one would recommend and availability
did not influence its use (p value above 0.05). The same trend was observed on whether they
were likely to use in future. Current EC users are more likely to use them in future (p -value=
0.001). The most common types of contraceptive used previously were implant 41%, pills 11%,
condoms 40% and EC 8%. In spite of data being obtained from the two Universities, there was
no difference between data among the two groups of students. Results obtained from this study
will aid in enhancing a better understanding of knowledge attitudes and practices of these female
students with regards to EC in Kiambu County. It will also provide baseline information which
will serve as a guide for strategists and policymakers in placing appropriate interventions for the
rising problem of unwanted pregnancies and the risk of acquiring sexually transmitted infections.
The study findings cannot be generalized in the whole country since they only represent a single
town (Thika) in Kiambu County. Similar studies should be extended to other Counties
throughout the country and information on EC be conveyed along with other contraceptives for;
better control and monitoring of unplanned pregnancies that may result in illegal abortions.
Awareness programs should be instituted in areas lacking the necessary facilities, expertise and
access to reproductive health care
Strategies to Enhance Access and Use of E-Resources by Postgraduate Students in Selected University Libraries in Kisii County, Kenya
No full textElectronic information resources subscribed into by academic libraries play a vital role in addressing
varied user information needs and engender research and development among them. However, recent
studies have indicated that there is limited access and use e-resources among postgraduate students
in academic and research institutions in Kenya. Low consumption of e-resources has been attributed to
limited awareness of existing about e-resources, poor training on access and uses the resources, lack
of access to computers facilities for access, poor internet connectivity, and lack of information
searching skills among others. This study was to assess the strategies to enhance access and use oferesources
by postgraduate students in selected academic libraries in Kisii County, Kenya. A survey
research design aimed at identifying library users’ opinion on the access and use of e-resources was
used. Stratified sampling was used to identify the students-respondents and simple random sampling
used to select the library staff. While questionnaires were employed to collect data from postgraduate
students and library staff, library staff in-charge of e-resources were interviewed. The study sample
comprised eighty (88) postgraduate students and library staff out of a population of six hundred and
seventy two (672). The data to be collected will be analysed using SPSS according to the research
objectives and presented using tables, bar graphs and pie charts. The study showed among other
findings, that there are increased access and us
Factors affecting materials management in construction firms in Kenya: a case of Kenya Steel and Construction Limited head office
No full textAn investigation of the effectiveness of teachers’ Characteristics on curriculum implementation In secondary schools in Gatundu North Sub-County, Kiambu County, Kenya
No full textCurriculum implementation has faced numerous challenges and has been a concern to many
education stakeholders. Thus, the study intended to examine the effectiveness of teachers’
characteristics on curriculum implementation in secondary schools in Gatundu North Sub-county,
Kiambu County, Kenya. The objectives of the study included; teachers’ preparedness, level of
education, attitudes and discipline in relation to curriculum implementation. The study was guided
by The Curriculum Theory. The study adopted mixed methods approach since the study involved
collecting and analyzing quantitative and qualitative data. The study applied concurrent
triangulation design which enabled the researcher to use the quantitative and qualitative methods
during the same timeframe and with equal weight. The target population for this tudy comprised
of 27 principals and 523 teachers all totaling to 550. Using The Central Limit Theorem of sample
size determination, a sample of 8 schools, that is, 29.1% of 27 and 300 respondents, that is, 29.1%
of 550, were sampled. The researcher then applied cluster sampling to create 5 cluster based on
the number of zones. From each stratum, purposive sampling was applied to sample 2 secondary
schools, 2 principals and 31 teachers. Questionnaires were used to collect data from teachers
whereas interview schedules were used to gather data from principals. Piloting of research
instruments was conducted to establish validity, reliability, credibility and dependability.
Reliability was obtained using split-half technique and reliability coefficient, r = 0.65, obtained
using Pearson’s Product Moment Correlation Method indicating high internal consistency.
Credibility of qualitative data was ascertained by data triangulation through multiple analysts or
experts whereas dependability was established by reporting each qualitative data collection process
in detail to enable the researcher to repeat the inquiry and achieve similar results. Data analysis
began by identifying common themes. Relevant information was assigned codes and labels.
Frequency counts of the responses were then obtained to generate information about the
respondents and to illustrate the general trend of findings on the various variables that are under
investigation. Qualitative data was analyzed thematically along the study objectives whereas
quantitative data was analyzed using descriptive statistics such as frequencies and percentages
whereas inferential statistics was analyzed suing ANOVA in Statistical Packages for Social
Science (SPSS version 21). The findings of the study were presented using tables. The study
established that teachers are very important in curriculum implementation. This is manifested
through different characteristics which include; preparedness, level of education, attitudes and
discipline. The study thus recommends that teachers should attend more seminars and conferences
to acquire more skills on preparedness to be able to implement the demands and objectives of new
curriculum. Teachers should proceed with personal development programmes to uplift their level
of education. Teachers should understand that the nature of their attitude is critical determinant
towards the success of any curriculum implementation. Thus, they should develop positive as a
way of motivating the students to perform better. Teachers should ensure that they utilize their
instructional time effectively to ensure that syllabus is covered in time ad continue to adhere to the
2requirements of curriculum objectives in order to boost students’ holistic growt
Human Resource management practices and employee performance in the manufacturing Companies ( A case for Thika in Kiambvu County of Kenya)
No full textAn investigation of the decentralization and centralization on purchasing activities in an organization(a case of government ministries in Nairobi)
No full textUNDERSCORING PAULO FREIRE’S FREEDOM AS ESSENCE OF EDUCATIONAL PRACTICE IN KENYA
Get PDFIn its endeavor to make education relevant to the needs of the
Kenyan people, educational reforms could perhaps underscore
Paulo Freire’s concept of banking education. Freire articulates
the banking concept of education as a hindrance to the realization
of the essence of education as practice of freedom. In the banking
model education climate, students are often treated as receptacles
for the knowledge that comes from the instructor, and are
therefore not given a free orientation to their own ideas. This
articulation of education stifles critical thinking, because students
are taught to disassociate their educational improvement from
their experience. The banking approach puts education in crisis
because critical thinking or first order thinking that is fundamental
to human experience fails to cultivate its importance to the skills
and information demonstrated in a classroom
