African Journal of Emerging Issues

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN FAMILY COHESION AND PSYCHOLOGICAL DISTRESS AMONG THE YOUTH IN MIDDLE-LEVEL COLLEGES WITHIN NAIROBI CITY COUNTY, KENYA

Elizabeth Maina Ndungi — 2024-11-23

Purpose of the Study: The study investigated the relationship between family cohesion and psychological distress among young people in middle-level colleges in Nairobi City County, Kenya

Problem Statement: Globally, research has demonstrated increased levels of psychological distress among youth. Studies further suggest a decline in family cohesion. While research on psychological distress and family cohesion exists, it has mainly focused on the general youth population and university students, leaving out a majority of youth in middle-level colleges

Methodology: The study employed a correlation design to examine the prevalence of psychological distress and levels of family cohesion among 18-25-year-old students. Using the FACES and K10 scales, data was collected from 411 students in 20 public and private colleges.

Results: The results revealed a significant negative correlation between family cohesion and psychological distress (r = -.747). A considerable number of respondents exhibited unbalanced levels of cohesion (69.1%) and a high prevalence of psychological distress.

Conclusion: These findings highlight the importance of family cohesion in mitigating psychological distress among young people. The study's implications for mental health support, guidance, and counseling programs in middle-level institutions are discussed.

Recommendations: The study recommends that young people engage in self-reflection regarding family cohesion and seek professional help when needed, while college administrators should implement counseling programs and psycho-educational sessions to address psychological distress. Additionally, policy makers in relevant ministries should develop comprehensive policies that promote family cohesion and create awareness about youth psychological distress through targeted family intervention strategies.

Keywords: Family Cohesion, Psychological Distress, Youth, Middle-Level Colleges-Kenya

IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF HEALTH TALKS GIVEN BY NURSES AND MIDWIVES AT NSAMBE HEALTH CENTER OUTPATIENT DEPARTMENT

Vera Kabanda — 2024-11-28

Purpose of Study: This quality improvement (QI) project aimed to enhance the delivery of health talks at Nsambe Health Center’s outpatient department by empowering nurses and midwives with skills to deliver consistent, relevant, and impactful health talks.

Methodology: A needs assessment identified gaps in health talk delivery, leading to the development of a health talk schedule and training for nurses and midwives. Key interventions included creating guidelines, training staff, and implementing monitoring tools for quality assurance. The project incorporated continuous quality improvement to sustain changes and track health talk delivery progress.

Result: The project achieved a significant improvement in health talk delivery, with the number of sessions increasing from 0% to 60%, surpassing the target of 50%. The success was attributed to structured scheduling, the increased use of IEC (Information, Education, and Communication) materials, and the active engagement of nurses and midwives. The implementation of a monitoring system helped ensure consistency and quality in delivery. Challenges such as inconsistent supervision were addressed by empowering facility leaders to sustain the changes.

Conclusion: The project showed that improving health talk delivery and training healthcare workers significantly enhances patient outcomes and informed decision-making.

Recommendation: To sustain the improvements, ongoing training and evaluation are recommended. Additionally, introducing new topics to maintain audience engagement and updating health talk materials regularly will help further enhance the quality and impact of the health talks. Continuing efforts to empower healthcare leaders to oversee and support these changes is crucial for long-term success.

Keywords: Health Talks, Quality Improvement, Patient Education, Nurses, Midwives, Donabedian Model, Malawi.

USE OF ICT AND KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT TO STRENGTHEN UNIVERSITIES’ POSITION IN THE SOCIETY IN KENYA

Sharon Onditi — 2024-11-29

Statement of the Problem: The problem identified in this study is the lack of full integration and application of Information Communication Technology (ICT) and Knowledge Management (KM) activities in Kenyan universities, which affects their ability to strengthen their societal position as leaders in research, teaching, learning, and community service.

Purpose of the Study: The purpose of the study was to explore the integration of ICT and KM in Kenyan universities and their role in strengthening these universities' position in society. The paper aimed to provide insights into how ICT and KM could be innovatively managed within the universities to better serve societal needs and enhance their academic and community roles.

Research Methodology: The study employed a non-probability sampling method to collect data. The researcher analyzed statements, open-access journals, and electronic documents relevant to ICT, KM, and technological innovation in Kenyan universities. The research methodology involved examining the applicability of KM pillars and the current status of ICT and KM integration in these institutions.

Findings and Discussion: The findings showed that the current use of ICT and KM in Kenyan universities had not been fully exploited. The research highlighted the importance of ICT infrastructure and KM practices for the universities’ societal positioning. It also revealed several barriers to the effective use of ICT and KM, including inadequate technological infrastructure and insufficient knowledge-sharing practices.

Conclusion: The study concluded that ICT and KM could play a significant role in improving the societal position of Kenyan universities. However, for these benefits to be realized, universities needed to enhance their ICT infrastructure, better manage knowledge, and develop skills related to KM.

Keywords: Use of ICT, Knowledge Management, Strengthen Universities’ Position, Society in Kenya

THE INFLUENCE OF TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT ON ORGANIZATIONAL PERFORMANCE IN EDUCATION BASED STATE COOPERATION IN KENYA

Henry Kambagha Juma — 2024-12-03

The importance of talent management in Education Based State Corporations in Kenya is ensuring that the corporations are future oriented and that means that they have to have competent skills in place for them to be able to grow and perform in the future that is increasingly competitive and unpredictable, but not to wait for future challenges before attempting to solve them through deliberate talent management programmes. The specific objective of this study was to establish the influence of training and development on organizational performance in Education Based State Corporations. The target population comprised of Senior Managers of the four selected education-based State Corporations; this group has been chosen because talent management and organizational performance decisions are made at these levels. The study population was 180 respondents. The respondents were the Departmental and Divisional Heads, and Human Resource Managers in the Education Based State Corporations. For data analysis, descriptive and inferential statistics were used. The SPSS Version 27 software was used for data analysis for this study descriptive survey was used as the research design. Data was presented in the form of figures, charts and tables. A self-administered questionnaire was used as the main method of collecting data. The findings revealed that R squared was 0.616 and an adjusted R squared of 0.606 showing that training and development explained 61.6% of the variations in organizational performance. The regression coefficient results revealed that training and development had a positive but insignificant influence on organizational performance in education based state corporations in Kenya (β =.020, p=.612>.05).

Key Words: Development, Organizational Performance and Training

REDUCING THE PREVALENCE OF UNCONTROLLED BLOOD GLUCOSE IN PATIENTS UNDER TREATMENT IN THE NCD UNIT AT BUTARO HOSPITAL

Zirikanu Muremyi Norbert — 2024-12-04

Purpose of Study: This quality improvement (QI) project aimed to reduce the prevalence of uncontrolled blood glucose among diabetic patients at Butaro Hospital’s NCD Unit, focusing on patients with HbA1c levels above 7%.

Methodology: Ten patients with persistent uncontrolled blood glucose were selected for targeted interventions, which included educational sessions, home visits, regular monitoring, mobile reminders, and group therapy. The project utilized a pre-and post-test design, incorporating behavior change theories to identify barriers and encourage patients to self-manage their diabetes.

Results: Over six months, the project achieved a reduction in average blood glucose levels from 220 mg/dL to 150 mg/dL, and HbA1c levels from 9% to 7%. The results highlight the effectiveness of comprehensive, patient-centered care and community support in improving glycemic control.

Conclusion: The project demonstrated that a combination of targeted interventions, regular monitoring, and technology can significantly improve glycemic control in diabetic patients in low-resource settings.

Recommendation: To ensure sustainability, the project recommends continuous professional development for healthcare providers, involving families in patient care, and utilizing technology for ongoing patient follow-up. Future interventions should focus on maintaining a holistic, collaborative approach to diabetes management for improved long-term outcomes

Keywords: Diabetes management, uncontrolled blood glucose, HbA1c, glycemic control, patient education, behavior change theories, Butaro Hospital, non-communicable diseases, quality improvement, low-resource settings

INFLUENCE OF CREATIVITY ON PERFORMANCE OF KENYAN OWNED AIRLINE ENTERPRISES

Zacchaeus Ivutha Syengo — 2024-12-05

Purpose of Study: This research aimed to investigate the influence of creativity on the performance of Kenyan-owned airlines, focusing on how entrepreneurial mindset and innovation impact business success within the industry.

Statement of Problem: The performance of Kenyan-owned airlines is influenced by various factors, with creativity being a key driver of success. This study seeks to understand the role of creativity in improving operational efficiency, customer loyalty, and overall business performance in the Kenyan airline industry.

Methodology: The study adopted a positivist research philosophy and utilized an exploratory research design. A descriptive survey design was employed, targeting 47 licensed Kenyan-owned airlines, from which a sample of 42 firms was selected through simple random sampling. The sample consisted of 32 passenger airlines and 10 cargo carriers. Data were collected from two respondents in each airline—chief executive officers and senior-level managers—resulting in a total sample size of 84. Structured questionnaires were used for primary data collection, and both descriptive and inferential statistics were applied. A regression model was employed to analyze the relationship between creativity (independent variable) and performance (dependent variable).

Result: The study found a significant positive relationship between creativity and the performance of Kenyan-owned airlines (R = 0.556). The coefficient of determination (R² = 0.309) indicates that creativity accounts for 30.9% of the variation in airline performance. The findings suggest that creative practices, such as innovation in service delivery and strategic market positioning, contribute substantially to business success in the industry.

Conclusion: The study concludes that creativity is a critical factor influencing the performance of Kenyan-owned airlines.

Recommendation: The study recommends that airline leaders foster a culture of creativity and innovation within their organizations.

Keywords: Creativity, performance, Kenyan owned airlines

EXTERNAL DEBT SUSTAINABILITY AND DEBT DYNAMICS: THE CASE OF KENYA

David Haritone Shikumo — 2024-12-06

Purpose of Study: This study examines the sustainability and dynamics of Kenya's external debt, utilizing the International Monetary Fund (IMF)-World Bank Debt Sustainability Framework (DSF) alongside empirical estimations of a fiscal reaction function. The analysis explores the evolution and structure of Kenya’s external debt and evaluates its sustainability based on recent debt sustainability analyses (DSA) conducted by the Kenyan government. Data were collected from sources such as the World Bank, IMF, Central Bank of Kenya, and the Kenyan National Treasury.

Problem Statement: Public debt, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, has become an increasing concern, with Kenya facing a rising external debt burden driven by large infrastructure projects and the need to finance budget deficits. The DSA reveals that while the present value of Kenya's debt-to-GDP ratio remains within the threshold, the debt service-to-exports ratio exceeds recommended limits, indicating pressure on export earnings. However, projections suggest gradual improvements in debt sustainability, with the debt-to-GDP ratio expected to significantly decrease by 2042.

Results: Empirical results from Kenya’s fiscal reaction function underscore the critical role of past fiscal balances. For public debt, lagged fiscal balances significantly and positively influence current fiscal balances, with stronger effects observed in models accounting for policy changes. The results also suggest that while public debt ratios are generally positive, their impact is statistically weak. For external debt, lagged fiscal balances similarly demonstrate a robust positive influence, whereas the external debt-to-GDP ratio has a limited and insignificant impact. The output gap's effect varies, highlighting mixed sensitivity to economic performance across models. The Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) models generally show better explanatory power than the Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) models, emphasizing broader economic factors' role in fiscal dynamics.

Conclusion: These findings suggest that Kenya’s fiscal policy is responsive to past performance, underlining the importance of fiscal discipline for debt sustainability. Despite current high debt levels, long-term projections point to improved debt sustainability, contingent upon fiscal consolidation and the rationalization of capital spending. The study recommends that the government prioritize prudent debt management, favor concessional financing with favorable terms, and adopt a balanced borrowing strategy to mitigate the risks associated with debt accumulation.

Keywords: External Debt, Public Debt, Debt Sustainability Analyses, Fiscal Reaction Function, Fiscal Balances, Debt Sustainability Framework, Debt Accumulation