43 research outputs found
Plasmodium infection, anaemia and mosquito net use among school children across different settings in Kenya.
Get PDFOBJECTIVE: To investigate risk factors, including reported net use, for Plasmodium infection and anaemia among school children and to explore variations in effects across different malaria ecologies occurring in Kenya. METHODS: This study analysed data for 49 975 school children in 480 schools surveyed during a national school malaria survey, 2008-2010. Mixed effects logistic regression was used to investigate factors associated with Plasmodium infection and anaemia within different malaria transmission zones. RESULTS: Insecticide-treated net (ITN) use was associated with reduction in the odds of Plasmodium infection in coastal and western highlands epidemic zones and among boys in the lakeside high transmission zone. Other risk factors for Plasmodium infection and for anaemia also varied by zone. Plasmodium infection was negatively associated with increasing socio-economic status in all transmission settings, except in the semi-arid north-east zone. Plasmodium infection was a risk factor for anaemia in lakeside high transmission, western highlands epidemic and central low-risk zones, whereas ITN use was only associated with lower levels of anaemia in coastal and central zones and among boys in the lakeside high transmission zone. CONCLUSIONS: The risk factors for Plasmodium infection and anaemia, including the protective associations with ITN use, vary according to malaria transmission settings in Kenya, and future efforts to control malaria and anaemia should take into account such heterogeneities among school children
Evaluation of the Contribution of Knowledge Transfer in Determining Strategic Thinking Competence Among County Education Managers in Kenya
Get PDFThe research sought to evaluate the contribution of knowledge transfer on the strategic thinking capabilities of the managers of the county education level of the Ministry of Education (MOE). The study had the following research objectives: to determine the individual manager’s access to organisation’s knowledge resources as an enabler to the strategic thinking competence, to determine the effect of the knowledge transfer culture on the strategic thinking competence, to establish the effect of knowledge transfer structures on strategic thinking competence and finally, to establish contribution of knowledge transferred via implementation of ISO 9001-2008 standards in facilitating strategic thinking competence of the county education managers. The study sampled 15 counties and a total of 104 education managers in different departments. The questionnaire was the main instrument for data collection. The study used descriptive statistics to find the effect of the various variables on strategic thinking competence. Regression analysis to confirm the nature and the strength of the relationship between the dependent variable and independent was carried out. The study found that the strategic thinking competence of the managers was affected by the knowledge transfer variables of; access to knowledge resources, knowledge transfer culture, knowledge transfer structures and knowledge transferred via implementation of the ISO 9001-2008 standards. The study recommends that MOE should set appropriate knowledge reservoirs and knowledge transfer structures to ensure that the managers of the devolved levels have the appropriate knowledge resources at their disposal.
Key words: strategic thinking competence, knowledge, knowledge transfer, and public secto
J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr
Get PDFBackgroundPopulations with higher risks for HIV exposure contribute to the HIV epidemic in Kenya. We present data from the second Kenya AIDS Indicator Survey to estimate the size and HIV prevalence of populations with high-risk characteristics.MethodsThe Kenya AIDS Indicator Survey 2012 was a national survey of Kenyans aged 18 months to 64 years which linked demographic and behavioral information with HIV results. Data were weighted to account for sampling probability. This analysis was restricted to adults aged 18 years and older.ResultsOf 5088 men and 6745 women, 0.1% [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.03 to 0.14] were persons who inject drugs (PWID). Among men, 0.6% (CI: 0.3 to 0.8) had ever had sex with other men, and 3.1% (CI: 2.4 to 3.7) were males who had ever engaged in transactional sex work (MTSW). Among women, 1.9% (CI: 1.3 to 2.5) had ever had anal sex, and 4.1% (CI: 3.5 to 4.8) were women who had ever engaged in transactional sex work (FTSW). Among men, 17.6% (CI: 15.7 to 19.6) had been male clients of transactional sex workers (TSW). HIV prevalence was 0% among men who have sex with men, 6.3% (CI: 0 to 18.1) among persons who injected drugs, 7.1% (CI: 4.8 to 9.4) among male clients of TSW, 7.6% (CI: 1.8 to 13.4) among MTSW, 12.1% (CI: 7.1 to 17.1) among FTSW, and 12.1% (CI: 5.0 to 19.2) among females who ever had engaged in anal sex.ConclusionsPopulation-based data on high-risk populations can be used to set realistic targets for HIV prevention, care, and treatment for these groups. These data should inform priorities for high-risk populations in the upcoming Kenyan strategic plan on HIV/AIDS.CC999999/Intramural CDC HHS/United State
Is the 'little man' finally protected? : an exploration of minority shareholder protection in South Africa under the Companies Act of 2008
No full textIncludes bibliographical references
Ruthe. Samuele. [Ruth, and I. Samuel Chapters I to IV, in the Gitonga language].
No full textPhotocopy.Mode of access: Internet
Enhancing Information Literacy for Vision 2030 and Beyond: Introducing quality to education
Get PDFThis article is more of a political statement, though the author has no particular interest in politics. It is borne out of the realisation that politics play a major role in national education systems and successes, or, put the other way round, national education is positively or adversely affected by national politics. National policy formulation and budgetary allocations are political processes. The article therefore looks at a cross-section of issues affecting the Kenyan system with a particular interest in the accusations of weakness and failure in order to find a hope and a probable solution. It dwells mostly on local media reports on educational issues, analysing them and seeks to challenge stakeholders to invest more in education, look at the curriculum and to focus education on the kind of society it is expected to produce. In this modern day there is need to equip graduates with life-skills, over and above passing examinations. Information literacy skills enable an individual to conduct independent information research, efficiently retrieve the information using modern technologies, critically evaluate their findings and effectively apply relevant information into their day-to-day situations. This way, individuals would be less prone to making less informed decisions and being swayed by social currents. They would also become more successful in performance of their job tasks, become evidence-based practitioners and achieve life-long learning. This would be an information competent generation marching on to the achievement of Vision 2030 and beyond
Factors associated with falls among elderly persons living in Gatanga Sub-county, Murang'a County: A descriptive cross-sectional study v1
No full textFalls are the leading cause of morbidity and mortality among the elderly people with a third of them falling annually thus contributing to majority of injuries in this age group. Preventing falls can significantly reduce the burden of illness from falls. In Kenya, the incidence, prevalence and risk factors of falls in elderly aged 65 years and above are not known. The main objective of this study was to determine the prevalence and factors associated with falls among elderly persons living in Gatanga Sub-county, Murang’a County, Kenya. A descriptive cross-sectional study design was used. Using systematic random sampling, 424 out of 9146 study participants residing in their homes were identified. Using structured interview forms data was collected on socio-demographic, socio-economic, lifestyle and medical factors, and fall or non-fall status from September 2016 to August 2017. Statistical analysis was done with STATA 13.0 to establish the distribution and characteristics of falls. Factors that were associated with the falls in the multivariate analysis were blindness (OR=27.6, CI=7.9-96.9), diabetes (OR=7.7, CI=2.4-34.5), engaging in crop farming (7.3, CI=4-13.6), female gender (OR=6.8, CI= 3.4 -13.3), syncope (OR=6.4, CI=1.5-27.6), wounds (OR=5.5, CI=2.0-14.9), frailty for non-disabled index (OR=4.5, CI= 2.8 -7.3), difficulty in carrying out usual activities (OR=3.9, CI=1.8-8.4), dependency on relatives/well-wishers for hospital bills payment (OR= 3.3, CI=1.7–6.6), current medications use (OR=3.1, CI=1.7-5.8), engaging in animal husbandry (OR=3.0, CI=1.6-5.4), hearing impairment (OR=2.9, CI=1.5-5.8), use of assistive walking devices (OR=2.8, CI=2.0-4.0), neck pains (OR=2.4, CI=1.3-4.7), lower back pains (OR=2.3, CI=1.1-5.0), headache (OR=2.2, CI=1.0-4.6) and memory loss (OR=2.1, CI=1.1-4), The study found that falls are a significant problem of the elderly in this region. There is need to come up with policies recognizing falls as a problem of the elderly and initiate preventive public health intervention measures aimed at mitigating the problem. </p
Key learnings from COVID-19 to sustain quality of life for families of individuals with IDD
No full textCOVID-19 has very publicly had profound impacts on the health system of every country in the world. Over 4.5 million people have lost their lives. School closures worldwide where up to 1.6 billion of the world’s children have been out of school, are also prominent in world news. Behind these public impacts are the families. In this paper, we focus on the experiences of families with people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) through analysis of two data sets: the emerging research literature and contributions from our author team who have lived experience of intellectual and developmental disability in the context of COVID-19. From these two data sets, we discern five themes of the impact of the pandemic: on health, on education, on services and supports, on families and finally on relationships beyond the family. We conclude with lessons from those living with intellectual and developmental disabilities, the carers and the individuals themselves to draw implications for supporting families in the context of disability during future pandemics.No Full Tex
Fintech Predictive Modeling and Performance of Investment Firms in Kenya
No full textPredictive analytics is concerned with the prediction of future trends and outcomes. The
approaches used to conduct predictive analytics can be classified into machine learning
techniques and regression techniques. This study dteremined the influence of fintech
predictive modeling on performance of investment firms in Kenya. The study population was
57 investment firms. The study employed mixed method research design by incorporating
descriptive and explanatory research designs. Data was collected using questionnaires and an
in-depth interview guide. Coefficient of fintech predictive modeling has a positive and
significant effect on performance of investment firms. The study concluded that fintech
predictive modeling allows investment firms to forecast business growth and customer
behaviour chnages. It is important for an investment firm to be able to understand business
growth by accurately forecasting future growth and survival. Moreover, it is of vital necessity
to understand changes in customer buying/consumption behavior so as to develop products
and services that suit their needs and preferences. As a result, predictive modeling is required
to project future business growth and changes in customer consumption pattern
