178 research outputs found
A Literary Critic of Socialization on Gender Stereotype in Three Children’s Books by Meja Mwangi
No full textThe study sought to critically analyze how gender stereotype has been portrayed in Meja Mwangi children’s books; Little White Man, The Boy Gift and Striving for the Wind. Children’s literature has focused on children’s social and moral development in the children’s books. However, the issue of gender stereotype is present in many children’s books. This is likely to affect children’s social life from the way they view children’s books with gender stereotype. Objectives of this study analyzed how gender roles, character’s personalities and socialization portray gender stereotype in children’s books. The study analyzed children’s books, specifically for ages 10 and 14. The study hoped to create awareness of how children get exposed to gender stereotype in children’s books. In addition, the study anticipated in drawing the attention of the parents, to gender stereotyped children’s books. This research study is therefore a useful material for reference to other researchers and readers. The study was guided by Lawrence Kohlberg's Cognitive Development Theory: The concept of Gender Constancy. The study was conducted through qualitative research design. The three story books were selected from the target population using purposive sampling technique. Then researcher used content analysis, as a method of qualitative analysis in order to analyze the selected sample. From research findings, gender stereotype is evident in the children’s books by Meja Mwangi. The author portrays roles according to the genders. There are those roles that are only meant for male characters and female characters. The personality traits that are portrayed for the women and girls are weak and they depend on the male characters. While the men do not depend on the women and instead, they are brave and tough. The society highly regards the male characters as opposed to the female characters. From the conclusions made from the analysis of the research data, there are situations where the author challenges gender stereotype. In a particular illustration, the female character is portrayed having strong and courageous personalities. Also, the male character is portrayed performing chores associated with the women. However, much needs to be done, in curbing gender stereotype in children’s books. Both genders should be portrayed with equal roles, having some personalities. Social set-up should accommodate both female and male characters, in order to avoid gender stereotype portrayed in children’s books. In conclusion, the study suggested recommendations to parents and teachers in using gender neutral children’s books, which promote gender equality among girls and boys. Hence, the study provided sufficient and effective information in order to improve the quality of children’s books and a positive impact in children’s social life and moral development.
Keywords: Gender Stereotype, Children's Literature, Socialization, Literary Criticism, Meja Mwang
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Clinical epidemiology of malaria under differing levels of transmission
No full textEThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo
Supplier Relationship Management Practices and Project Procurement Performance in Kenya: A Case of Nairobi City County
No full textMaster of Business Administration in Project Management and Supply Chain Management.Supplier Relationship Management practices in Nairobi City County have historically faced significant challenges, contributing to procurement inefficiencies and corruption. This study aimed to explore the effect of SRM practices on procurement performance in Nairobi City County projects. The study's objectives were to: examine the relationship between supplier collaboration and project procurement performance; determine the relationship between contract management and project procurement performance; assess the relationship between risk management and project procurement performance; and determine the moderating effect of procurement ethics on the relationship between SRM practices and project procurement performance in Nairobi City County. The theoretical framework incorporated stakeholder theory, Transaction Cost Economics (TCE) Theory and Resource-Based View (RBV) theory. The study employed a descriptive and correlational research design, targeting 496 individuals in Nairobi City County. A sample size of 149 participants was selected. Data was collected using questionnaires and analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The study found that supplier collaboration, contract management, and risk management practices all had positive relationships with project procurement performance. However, there were significant shortcomings in areas such as information sharing, contract amendments, and risk analysis. Procurement ethics was found to positively moderate the relationship between SRM practices and performance. The study concluded that while some SRM practices were effectively implemented, there were substantial areas for improvement, particularly in transparency, risk management, and ethical practices. The study recommends that Nairobi City County enhance joint planning and information sharing with suppliers, implement more transparent contract management procedures, develop robust risk mitigation strategies, and strengthen adherence to ethical procurement principles. Additionally, regular training and review of SRM practices are recommended to ensure their continued relevance and effectiveness.Daystar University, School of Business and Economic
Factors Hindering Credit Disbursement to Women by Deposit Taking Micro-Finance Institutions in Machakos Town
No full textA Research Project Report Submitted to the Chandaria School of Business in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirement for the Degree of Masters in Business Administration (MBA)The purpose of the study was to determine the factors hindering women from accessing credit facilities offered by micro-finance institutions. The research was guided by the research questions as follows: How do institutional, legal and regulatory frameworks affect access to credit by women in Kenya? How do socio-cultural factors affect access to credit by women in Kenya? What strategies can be adopted by financial institutions in Kenya to enhance access of credit by women?
The study was conducted in Machakos, Kenya as an emerging market where a descriptive research design was adopted. The study population consisted of 4 Deposit Taking Micro Finance Institutions (DTMFIs). A total of 55 respondents who are the employees of various DTMFIs within Machakos were issued with structured questionnaires. After all the data was collected, data cleaning was carried out and analyzed using quantitative techniques. Graphs, tables and pie charts were used to present frequencies and percentage while tables were prepared using each variable or indicator.
The study findings revealed that there exists a significant relationship between institutional, legal and regulatory framework and women access to finance. The study also revealed that there is a positive significant relationship between socio cultural factors and women access to credit in Kenya. This implies that indeed women access to credit in Kenya is largely influenced by socio cultural factors. The study further established that the following strategies have been used by Micro Finance Institutions (MFIs) to enhance access to credit by women. These strategies include eencouraging group formation, investing in marketing activities including advertising, personal selling, continuous innovation and development of new products, networking and collaborating with other DTMFIs to capitalize on operational synergies, unchanging product portfolio, easing the process of account opening will attract more women to seek credit, research and development will help introduce new products which will attract more women seeking credit and finally encouraging Insider Lending and Client Education will avail more funds for women seeking credit.
The study recommends the need for MFIs to act in a manner that ensures that indeed the collection of data relating to women ventures as well as the creation of gender- sensitive indicators which can easily be accessed while also be used when it comes to information on the new initiatives notwithstanding the assessment as well as monitoring and evaluation of the progress made. Additionally it is important for MFIs to promote collaboration across sectors working when it comes to integrating a gender- sensitive approach in their work, in order to create a platform that enables them to share data, experiences and lessons learned, making these efforts smoother, stronger and sustainable. The study further recommends that people need to be encouraged to be able learn how to write business proposal so as to be able to access credit.
A study focusing on the MFI sector where very high levels of diversity are likely to be experienced would bring out a new dimension on the factors hindering women access to credit. Future studies may also cross-sectional research design for firms in other sectors of the economy which would further add value in understanding of the concept under study
Maximizing the impact of print media in church development in the Presbyterian Church of East Africa (P.C.E.A.) (Kenya), 1997
No full textAccording to the report of the Communications Committee of the Presbyterian Church of East Africa (P.C.E.A.) to the 15th General Assembly, the church is aware of the immensity of information, education and revelation that can be shared and disseminated through the print media in the church. 1 However, to effectively disseminate the Gospel through the print media requires some creativity and administrative initiatives in the national office and particularly in the division of Communications and Publishing. As an initiative proposal, this dissertation examines how the P.C.E.A. has used print media from the missionary period (early 1900) to the mid-1990s, and offers proposals for maximizing print media impact in church development and social transformation. This dissertation is the final stage and result of a Doctor of Ministry project study and research conducted in Kenya and the United States between 1993 and 1997. Four parts comprised of eight chapters compose the dissertation. Part I is the ministry setting, containing chapters One and Two. Chapter One is a brief description of the nation of Kenya in terms of geography, history and politics. It is the wider context of this project. Chapter Two introduces the Presbyterian Church of East Africa as the central setting of the project. The history, the organizational structure and theological stance of this church are here discussed. Part II is the main body of the dissertation. It is the ministry issue, and it is divided into Chapters Three and Four. Chapter Three contains the history of print media in the P.C.E.A., with some remarks on the early beginnings of print media in Europe. Chapter Four is a brief examination of biblical and theological basis for print media use. Part III is the project, containing Chapters Five and Six. Chapter Five includes a review of six key texts which have been helpful in this research. The texts are: Keeping Your Church Informed by Austin Brodie; 2 Let the People Know: A Media Handbook for Churches by Charles Austin; 3Communications Media in the Nigerian Church Today by Boniface Ntomchukwu; 4 How to Publicize Church Activities by William J. Barrows, Jr.; 5 Communication for Development by Karl Lundstrom; 6 and Hope for Africa by G. Kinoti. 7 This chapter also includes questionnaire responses from a cross section of participants in Kenya and America, including the P.C.E.A. ministers living in Atlanta at the time, and members of the International Class of First Presbyterian Church-Atlanta. Chapter Six includes interviews, briefs from some P.C.E.A. leaders, and workshop proceedings from the P.C.E.A. Nkoroi and Chuka churches and from First Presbyterian Church-Atlanta. Part IV is the project evaluation. This final part contains Chapters Seven and Eight. Chapter Seven discusses recommendations for possible implementation of the proposals or suggestions made in the dissertation. These primarily relate to finance, training and structural innovations and changes. Chapter Eight is the conclusion, restating the purpose of the project. It emphasizes questions of faith and the sense of urgency in doing whatever it takes to maximize the impact of print media in the P.C.E.A. for God's glory and the blessing of the church
Heritability of malaria in Africa
No full textBackground
While many individual genes have been identified that confer protection against malaria, the overall impact of host genetics on malarial risk remains unknown.
Methods and Findings
We have used pedigree-based genetic variance component analysis to determine the relative contributions of genetic and other factors to the variability in incidence of malaria and other infectious diseases in two cohorts of children living on the coast of Kenya. In the first, we monitored the incidence of mild clinical malaria and other febrile diseases through active surveillance of 640 children 10 y old or younger, living in 77 different households for an average of 2.7 y. In the second, we recorded hospital admissions with malaria and other infectious diseases in a birth cohort of 2,914 children for an average of 4.1 y. Mean annual incidence rates for mild and hospital-admitted malaria were 1.6 and 0.054 episodes per person per year, respectively. Twenty-four percent and 25% of the total variation in these outcomes was explained by additively acting host genes, and household explained a further 29% and 14%, respectively. The haemoglobin S gene explained only 2% of the total variation. For nonmalarial infections, additive genetics explained 39% and 13% of the variability in fevers and hospital-admitted infections, while household explained a further 9% and 30%, respectively.
Conclusion
Genetic and unidentified household factors each accounted for around one quarter of the total variability in malaria incidence in our study population. The genetic effect was well beyond that explained by the anticipated effects of the haemoglobinopathies alone, suggesting the existence of many protective genes, each individually resulting in small population effects. While studying these genes may well provide insights into pathogenesis and resistance in human malaria, identifying and tackling the household effects must be the more efficient route to reducing the burden of disease in malaria-endemic areas
Evidence for over-dispersion in the distribution of clinical malaria episodes in children.
No full textBACKGROUND: It may be assumed that patterns of clinical malaria in children of similar age under the same level of exposure would follow a Poisson distribution with no over-dispersion. Longitudinal studies that have been conducted over many years suggest that some children may experience more episodes of clinical malaria than would be expected. The aim of this study was to identify this group of children and investigate possible causes for this increased susceptibility. METHODOLOGY AND PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Using Poisson regression, we chose a group of children whom we designated as 'more susceptible' to malaria from 373 children under 10 years of age who were followed up for between 3 to 5 years from 1998-2003. About 21% of the children were categorized as 'more susceptible' and although they contributed only 23% of the person-time of follow-up, they experienced 55% of total clinical malaria episodes. Children that were parasite negative at all cross-sectional survey were less likely to belong to this group [AOR = 0.09, (95% CI: 0.14-0.61), p = 0.001]. CONCLUSIONS AND SIGNIFICANCE: The pattern of clinical malaria episodes follows a negative binomial distribution. Use of lack of a clinical malaria episode in a certain time period as endpoints for intervention or immunological studies may not adequately distinguish groups who are more or less immune. It may be useful in such studies, in addition to the usual endpoint of the time to first episode, to include end points which take into account the total number of clinical episodes experienced per child
Defining childhood severe falciparum malaria for intervention studies.
No full textBackground Clinical trials of interventions designed to prevent severe falciparum malaria in children require a clear endpoint. The internationally accepted definition of severe malaria is sensitive, and appropriate for clinical purposes. However, this definition includes individuals with severe nonmalarial disease and coincident parasitaemia, so may lack specificity in vaccine trials. Although there is no “gold standard” individual test for severe malaria, malaria-attributable fractions (MAFs) can be estimated among groups of children using a logistic model, which we use to test the suitability of various case definitions as trial endpoints. Methods and Findings A total of 4,583 blood samples were taken from well children in cross-sectional surveys and from 1,361 children admitted to a Kenyan District hospital with severe disease. Among children under 2 y old with severe disease and over 2,500 parasites per microliter of blood, the MAFs were above 85% in moderate- and low-transmission areas, but only 61% in a high-transmission area. HIV and malnutrition were not associated with reduced MAFs, but gastroenteritis with severe dehydration (defined by reduced skin turgor), lower respiratory tract infection (clinician's final diagnosis), meningitis (on cerebrospinal fluid [CSF] examination), and bacteraemia were associated with reduced MAFs. The overall MAF was 85% (95% confidence interval [CI] 83.8%–86.1%) without excluding these conditions, 89% (95% CI 88.4%–90.2%) after exclusions, and 95% (95% CI 94.0%–95.5%) when a threshold of 2,500 parasites/μl was also applied. Applying a threshold and exclusion criteria reduced sensitivity to 80% (95% CI 77%–83%). Conclusions The specificity of a case definition for severe malaria is improved by applying a parasite density threshold and by excluding children with meningitis, lower respiratory tract infection (clinician's diagnosis), bacteraemia, and gastroenteritis with severe dehydration, but not by excluding children with HIV or malnutrition
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