Effects of Employee Behavioral Factors on HACCP System Practices in Four and Five Star Rated Hotels in Nairobi County, Kenya

Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) is a globally recognized food safety program advanced as a suitable program to minimize or eliminate the risk of food contamination. Successful implementation of HACCP System requires appropriate employee support. This study sought todetermine the influence of employee behavioral factors on HACCP system practices in four and five star-rated hotels in Nairobi County.A total of 255 hotel cooks and 33 chefs participated in the study. Analysis of the data utilized a set of descriptive statistics that provided detailed description of the study variables. To establish the statistical significance of the hypothesis,multiple linear regression analysis was conductedat 95 percent confidence level (α = 0.05).The study established the existence of a statistically significant positive relationship between employee behavioral factors and HACCP system practices. Rrecommendations to hotel managers and other food production industry practitioners on enhancement of employee behaviour for effective HACCP system implementation are provided. Keywords: Employee Behavioral Factors, Food Safety, HACCP System Practices, Star- Rated Hotels DOI: 10.7176/JTHS/48-05 Publication date: April 30th 202

The Assessment of Community Development Policies in Kenya

This paper gives a discussion of the role of community development policies in Kenya. The paper traces the genesis and rationale of community development policies. Particular emphasis is paid on the implementation of the policies and their contribution to community development since independence. The paper presents a discussion of the performance of the various community development strategies adopted by the Kenya government since independence. Strengths and weaknesses of each of the strategies adopted by the government are assessed. The paper further discusses the major challenges encountered in the implementation of policies which include inadequate financial resources and the non-inclusion of the local people. The paper concludes by highlighting the importance of public participation in the implementation of policies. Recommendations on the way forward with regard to community development work in Kenya are presented. Keywords: Community development, Public participation, Policies and Strategies

Explaining the continuing high prevalence of trachomatous trichiasis unknown to the health system in evaluation units: a mixed methods explanatory study in four trachoma-endemic countries

BACKGROUND: We explored reasons for continuing higher-than-anticipated prevalence of trachomatous trichiasis (TT) unknown to the health system in population-based prevalence surveys in evaluation units where full geographical coverage of TT case finding was reported. METHODS: A mixed-methods study in Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria and Tanzania was conducted. We compared data from clinical examination, campaign documentation and interviews with original trachoma impact survey (TIS) results. RESULTS: Of 169 TT cases identified by TIS teams, 130 (77%) were examined in this study. Of those, 90 (69%) were a match (both TIS and study teams agreed on TT classification) and 40 (31%) were a mismatch. Of the 40 mismatches, 22 (55%) were identified as unknown to the health system by the study team but as known to the health system by the TIS team; 12 (30%) were identified as not having TT by the study team but as having TT by the TIS team; and six (15%) were identified as unknown to the health system in the TIS team but as known to the health system by the study team based on documentation reviewed. CONCLUSIONS: Incorrectly reported geographical coverage of case-finding activities, and discrepancies in TT status between TIS results and more detailed assessments, are the key reasons identified for continuing high TT prevalence

Male circumcision and HIV infection in four cities in sub-Saharan Africa.

OBJECTIVES: To explore the role of male circumcision in the spread of HIV infection in four urban populations in sub-Saharan Africa. DESIGN AND METHODS: A cross-sectional population based study was conducted in four cities in sub-Saharan Africa with different levels of HIV infection. HIV prevalence among adults was relatively low in Cotonou (Benin) and in Yaoundé (Cameroon), and exceeded 25% in Kisumu (Kenya) and in Ndola (Zambia). In each city, a random sample was taken of men and women aged 15-49 years from the general population. Consenting study participants were interviewed about their sociodemographic characteristics and their sexual behaviour, and were tested for HIV, herpes simplex virus type 2, syphilis, gonorrhoea and chlamydial infection. Men underwent a genital examination. RESULTS: In Cotonou and in Yaoundé, the two low HIV prevalence cities, 99% of men were circumcised. In Kisumu 27.5% of men were circumcised, and in Ndola this proportion was 9%. In Kisumu, the prevalence of HIV infection was 9.9% among circumcised men and 26.6% among uncircumcised men. After controlling for socio-demographic characteristics, sexual behaviour and other sexually transmitted infections, the protective effect of male circumcision remained with an adjusted odds ratio of 0.26 (95% confidence interval = 0.12-0.56). In Ndola, the prevalence of HIV infection was 25.0% in circumcised men and 26.0% in uncircumcised men. The power was insufficient to adjust for any differences in sexual behaviour. CONCLUSIONS: The differences in epidemic spread of HIV are likely to be due to differences in the probability of transmission of HIV during sexual exposure as well as differences in sexual behaviour. Male circumcision is one of the factors influencing the transmission of HIV during sexual intercourse, and this study confirms the population level association between HIV and lack of male circumcision, as well as a strong individual level association in Kisumu, the only city with sufficient power to analyze this association