Dividend Policy and Share Price Volatility in Kenya

This paper seeks to determine the impact of dividend policy on share price volatility in Kenya. A number of theoretical mechanisms have been suggested that dividend policy vary inversely with share price volatility like the duration effect. The study used data from the actively trading companies listed in the Nairobi Securities Exchange for a period of ten (10) years from 1999 – 2008. The estimation is based on multiple regression analysis between dividend policy measures (dividend payout ratio and dividend yield) and Share price volatility. From the regression results showed dividend is the major determinants of share price volatility in NSE (? =-0.470, ?<0.05). Dividend yield negatively positively affect share price volatility (? =0.124, ?<0.05). Thus, the higher the payout ratio the less the share price volatility, and the higher the dividend yield the lower the share price volatility. Keywords: share price volatility, dividend payout, dividend yield, Nairobi Stock Exchang

Properties of Prosopis juliflora and its potential uses in Asal areas of Kenya

A study was done to determine the potential for processing and using Prosopis juliflora for commercial purpose. The effects of the plant on the soil were evaluated as a measure of determining its influence on the environment. Preliminary analysis of three soils samples per site where showed that the highly infested areas had higher moisture content of 10.5+1.35% and was significantly different at 5% level. The pH value of 8.7+1.03 was slightly lower compared to the low infested areas and was not significantly different at 5% level. However, both soils had almost the same bulk density and ECE of 1.1 g/cm3 and 0.03 dm/S respectively. The soil calcium content of 0.88+0.009 mg/l in the high density area was significant low at 5% level whereas the organic carbon content of 1.13+0.027% was significantly high. No significant difference was observed for the magnesium, sodium, potassium, organic matter and phosphorus content at 5% l. Plant samples of Prosopis juliflora were also tested for their nutritive values, especially the leaves, pods, bark and roots. Preliminary results showed that the leaves contain the highest amount of calcium of 6.38+0.248%. However, the leaves are not consumed green by the animals indicating high toxicity. The pods, bark and roots were also found to contain significant proportions of calcium at 5% level. The different parts of the plant had relatively lower phosphorus content of less than 0.25%. Magnesium was higher in the bark at about 3.5% whereas potassium was higher in the pods at about 2%. Nitrogen was higher in the leaves at about 2.5% indicating the suitability of the plant leaves as a nitrogen fixer in the soil. The tissues also showed very high content of vitamin C especially in the green pods (46.3+5.18 m/100g). Thus the pods, leaves and bark can be used as natural sources of vitamin C. The high ash content of 8.9+1.19% in the bark was significantly different at 5% level when compared to the content of the leaves but not other plant parts. This showed high roughage in the plant parts. The nutritive value of the pods showed their high potential for development of nutritive products including juice, wine, gum, powder, essential oils and beverages. The yield for aloe roots as fermenting agent was about 7.1% on 9th day in Prosopis extract having sugar media, 6.3% for yeast, Prosopis extract and honey on the sixth day and 6.1% for extract, sugar and baobab on the sixth day.Key words: Prosopis juliflora, properties, analysis, potential use

Ascaris lumbricoides Infection Following School-Based Deworming in Western Kenya: Assessing the Role of Pupils' School and Home Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene Exposures.

Water, sanitation, and hygiene (WaSH) technologies and behaviors can prevent infection by soil-transmitted helminth species independently, but may also interact in complex ways. However, these interactions are poorly understood. The purpose of this study was to characterize how school and home WaSH exposures were associated with Ascaris lumbricoides infection and to identify relevant interactions between separate WaSH technologies and behaviors. A study was conducted among 4,404 children attending 51 primary schools in western Kenya. We used multivariable mixed effects logistic regression to characterize how various WaSH exposures were associated with A. lumbricoides infection after annual school-based deworming. Few WaSH behaviors and technologies were independently associated with A. lumbricoides infection. However, by considering relevant interdependencies between variables, important associations were elucidated. The association between handwashing and A. lumbricoides depended largely upon the pupils' access to an improved water source. Among pupils who had access to improved water sources, A. lumbricoides prevalence was lower for those who handwashed both at school and home compared with neither place (odds ratio: 0.38, 95% confidence interval: 0.18-0.83; P = 0.01). This study contributes to a further understanding of the impact of WaSH on A. lumbricoides infection and shows the importance of accounting for interactions between WaSH technologies and behaviors

Good food hygiene practices in urban informal settlements of Kisumu, Kenya

Good food hygiene practices reduce faecal contamination in child food, but do not reduce enteric infections and child diarrhoea. Children in urban settlements are more susceptible to diarrhoea because of poor sanitation and overcrowding. The purpose of this study was to delineate food handling practices in urban settlements, to inform an intervention aimed at reducing enteric infections. Data was collected using observation and in-depth interviews. Twenty one out of 31 caregivers who participated in the study were biological mothers, the remaining were relatives or nonrelatives. Over half the infants had several alternative caregivers providing care in or outside the home. Food preparation and feeding was done by the caregiver providing care when the child was hungry. These findings imply that child care in the informal settlements is done by multiple caregivers, suggesting that food hygiene interventions should give attention to all likely child caregivers to reduce diarrheal disease

Webuye health and demographic surveillance systems baseline survey of soil-transmitted helmints and intestinal protozoa among children up to five years

Background. The intestinal parasitic infections (IPIs) are globally endemic, and they constitute the greatest cause of illness and disease worldwide. Transmission of IPIs occurs as a result of inadequate sanitation, inaccessibility to potable water, and poor living conditions. Objectives. To determine a baseline prevalence of IPIs among children of five years and below at Webuye Health and Demographic Surveillance (HDSS) area in western Kenya. Methods. Cross-sectional survey was used to collect data. Direct saline and formal-ether-sedimentation techniques were used to process the specimens. Descriptive and inferential statistics such as Chi-square statistics were used to analyze the data. Results. A prevalence of 52.3% (417/797) was obtained with the male child slightly more infected than the female (53.5% versus 51%), but this was not significant (χ2=0.482, P>0.05). Giardia lamblia and Entamoeba histolytica were the most common pathogenic IPIs with a prevalence of 26.1% (208/797) and 11.2% (89/797), respectively. Soil-transmitted helminths (STHs) were less common with a prevalence of 4.8% (38/797), 3.8% (30/797), and 0.13% (1/797) for Ascaris lumbricoides, hookworms, and Trichuris trichiura, respectively. Conclusions. Giardia lamblia and E. histolytica were the most prevalent pathogenic intestinal protozoa, while STHs were less common. Community-based health promotion techniques are recommended for controlling these parasites

Webuye Health and Demographic Surveillance Systems Baseline Survey of Soil-Transmitted Helminths and Intestinal Protozoa among Children up to Five Years

Background. The intestinal parasitic infections (IPIs) are globally endemic, and they constitute the greatest cause of illness and disease worldwide. Transmission of IPIs occurs as a result of inadequate sanitation, inaccessibility to potable water, and poor living conditions. Objectives. To determine a baseline prevalence of IPIs among children of five years and below at Webuye Health and Demographic Surveillance (HDSS) area in western Kenya. Methods. Cross-sectional survey was used to collect data. Direct saline and formal-ether-sedimentation techniques were used to process the specimens. Descriptive and inferential statistics such as Chi-square statistics were used to analyze the data. Results. A prevalence of 52.3% (417/797) was obtained with the male child slightly more infected than the female (53.5% versus 51%), but this was not significant ( 2 = 0.482, > 0.05). Giardia lamblia and Entamoeba histolytica were the most common pathogenic IPIs with a prevalence of 26.1% (208/797) and 11.2% (89/797), respectively. Soil-transmitted helminths (STHs) were less common with a prevalence of 4.8% (38/797), 3.8% (30/797), and 0.13% (1/797) for Ascaris lumbricoides, hookworms, and Trichuris trichiura, respectively. Conclusions. Giardia lamblia and E. histolytica were the most prevalent pathogenic intestinal protozoa, while STHs were less common. Community-based health promotion techniques are recommended for controlling these parasites

Transfer of newborns to neonatal care unit: a registry based study in Northern Tanzania

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Reduction in neonatal mortality has been slower than anticipated in many low income countries including Tanzania. Adequate neonatal care may contribute to reduced mortality. We studied factors associated with transfer of babies to a neonatal care unit (NCU) in data from a birth registry at Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre (KCMC) in Tanzania.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A total of 21 206 singleton live births registered from 2000 to 2008 were included. Multivariable analysis was carried out to study neonatal transfer to NCU by socio-demographic factors, pregnancy complications and measures of the condition of the newborn.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>A total of 3190 (15%) newborn singletons were transferred to the NCU. As expected, neonatal transfer was strongly associated with specific conditions of the baby including birth weight above 4000 g (relative risk (RR) = 7.2; 95% confidence interval (CI) 6.5-8.0) or below 1500 g (RR = 3.0; 95% CI: 2.3-4.0), five minutes Apgar score less than 7 (RR = 4.0; 95% CI: 3.4-4.6), and preterm birth before 34 weeks of gestation (RR = 1.8; 95% CI: 1.5-2.1). However, pregnancy- and delivery-related conditions like premature rupture of membrane (RR = 2.3; 95% CI: 1.9-2.7), preeclampsia (RR = 1.3; 95% CI: 1.1-1.5), other vaginal delivery (RR = 2.2; 95% CI: 1.7-2.9) and caesarean section (RR = 1.9; 95% CI: 1.8-2.1) were also significantly associated with transfer. Birth to a first born child was associated with increased likelihood of transfer (relative risk (RR) 1.4; 95% CI: 1.2-1.5), while the likelihood was reduced (RR = 0.5; 95% CI: 0.3-0.9) when the father had no education.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>In addition to strong associations between neonatal transfer and classical neonatal risk factors for morbidity and mortality, some pregnancy-related and demographic factors were predictors of neonatal transfer. Overall, transfer was more likely for babies with signs of poor health status or a complicated pregnancy. Except for a possibly reduced use of transfer for babies of non-educated fathers and a high transfer rate for first born babies, there were no signs that transfer was based on non-medical indications.</p

Global Patterns and Controls of Nutrient Immobilization On Decomposing Cellulose In Riverine Ecosystems

Microbes play a critical role in plant litter decomposition and influence the fate of carbon in rivers and riparian zones. When decomposing low-nutrient plant litter, microbes acquire nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) from the environment (i.e., nutrient immobilization), and this process is potentially sensitive to nutrient loading and changing climate. Nonetheless, environmental controls on immobilization are poorly understood because rates are also influenced by plant litter chemistry, which is coupled to the same environmental factors. Here we used a standardized, low-nutrient organic matter substrate (cotton strips) to quantify nutrient immobilization at 100 paired stream and riparian sites representing 11 biomes worldwide. Immobilization rates varied by three orders of magnitude, were greater in rivers than riparian zones, and were strongly correlated to decomposition rates. In rivers, P immobilization rates were controlled by surface water phosphate concentrations, but N immobilization rates were not related to inorganic N. The N:P of immobilized nutrients was tightly constrained to a molar ratio of 10:1 despite wide variation in surface water N:P. Immobilization rates were temperature-dependent in riparian zones but not related to temperature in rivers. However, in rivers nutrient supply ultimately controlled whether microbes could achieve the maximum expected decomposition rate at a given temperature