Factors Influencing Utilization of Cervical Cancer Screening Services in Kenya: the Case of Nyeri County

Globally, cervical cancer continues to be a major cause of mortality and morbidity among women with developing countries accounting for more than 86% of the deaths from the disease. In Kenya, cervical cancer ranks as the second most frequent cancer among women: regrettably, with 80% of the cases presented during the late stages of the disease when the scope of successful treatment is limited. An opportunity to prevent occurrence of cervical cancer exists through cervical cancer screening for early detection and treatment of precancerous lesions before these develop to cancer. However, only a negligible proportion of women benefit from cervical cancer screening services in developing countries, including Kenya. The purpose of this descriptive survey study was to determine the factors influencing utilization of cervical cancer screening services; and focused on the women seeking maternal and family planning services at Central Provincial General Hospital, Kenya. The study established that, as in most developing countries, utilization of cervical cancer screening services was low, regardless of the women's education level, autonomy in decision making and even good family support. The low level of awareness on the need for screening services and the long waiting time at the clinic for those seeking the services were identified as the two key issues that negatively influenced the utilization of the screening services, It is therefore recommended that the Ministry of Health and other agencies, including individuals of good will, collaborate in designing and implementing awareness campaigns through the media and other appropriate avenues, including one-to-one encounters, targeting both men and women in the communities. It is also recommended that the male partners support their women in accessing this vital life-saving service

Burkina Faso women empowerment and welfare project

It has been proven that the poor have the desire and motivation to do something to change their situation. They may be short of ideas of how to wiggle themselves out of an uncomfortable situation but they surely have the inner resource when they are gently nodded in the right direction. This was proven in a project that was carried out in Burkina Faso among poor urban women. The project further revealed that sustainable development cannot be attained without integration. To address the root causes of poverty; gender inequities, HIV/AIDS and the environment should be addressed together. Activities that provide and permit access to basic necessities like education and health should be integrated in the project too. To assure sustainability of the project CED practitioner should avoid introducing complex technology or financially unattainable practices but should, to the extent possible, use local resources and build on the local knowledge. In this project local resource persons, locally available material - mostly recycled - were utilized. The project drew largely from local knowledge and values will ensure continuity of the activities even after external support has ceased. Finally, following the principle of subsidiarity the management of the project activities should to the extent feasible be left to the beneficiaries. The targeted women in this project managed the savings and loan project, using the self help group model, to improve their personal businesses. (Author abstract)Macharia, D. G. (2007). Burkina Faso women empowerment and welfare project. Retrieved from http://academicarchive.snhu.eduMaster of Science (M.S.)School of Community Economic Developmen

EFFECTIVE USE OF MOBILE PHONES IN ENHANCING EDUCATION OUTCOMES IN KENYA - A HISTORICAL STUDY ON FACTS AND MISCONCEPTION OF MOBILE PHONES USES BY STUDENTS

The primary objective of the educational process is the development of the thinking of learners. This paper deals with the development of learners' thinking in mathematics, in the transition from the acquisition of calculation algorithms to the acquisition of the algorithmic rules. Algorithmic rules need to be understood and it means the need to change the way of teaching. A substantial change in teaching is the use of question-answer system. This system is described in the paper in terms of pedagogy and psychology, and all these facts lead to comprehensive view of the application of the system in teaching mathematics. In the next part of the article we describe the features of learners thinking. When the method of substitution is taught properly, these features enrich the learners‘ thinking. The method of substitution is the first algorithmic rule.  Article visualizations

Estimating Hypothetical Bias in Economically Emergent Africa: A Generic Public Good Experiment

This paper reports results from a contingent valuation based public good experiment conducted in the African nation of Botswana. In a sample of university students, we find evidence that stated willingness to contribute to a public good in a hypothetical setting is higher than actual contribution levels. However, results from regression analysis suggest that this is true only in the second round of the experiment, when participants making actual contributions have learned to significantly lower their contribution levels. As globalization expands markets, and economies such as Botswana’s continue to modernize, there is a growing need to understand how hypothetical bias will influence the valuation of public goods.hypothetical bias, public good, willingness to pay, Botswana, Environmental Economics and Policy,

Factors Influencing Utilization of Health Services in Kenya: The Case of Homa Bay County

In order to improve efficiency in health service delivery in Kenya, the Ministry of Health has developed structures through inter-sectoral collaboration at various levels. Despite efforts by the government and key stakeholders to improve health sector, utilization of health services still remains a major challenge. The purpose of the study was to investigate factors that influence utilization of health services in Homa Bay County, Kenya. The study employed survey design and focused on health beneficiaries, District Health Management Team and other key health stakeholders, and used both quantitative and qualitative data. Quantitative data was collected through household interviews of 384 respondents and qualitative data was generated through Key Informant Interviews of 16 respondents. The study reveals that health financing, service delivery, quality, accessibility and equity influence utilization of health services in Homa Bay County. It is for these reasons that the study recommends that the government should allocate adequate budget towards health services, avail adequate trained health workers, and improve infrastructure in health facilities as well as drugs and other supplies. There is also need for further research on cultural factors influencing utilization of health services

Communalism Versus the Incentive to Free-Ride: Experimental Results From Economically Emergent Africa

This paper reports results from a public good experiment conducted in the African nation of Botswana. Our findings provide a test of whether\u27 African communalism\u27 influences willingness to contribute to the provision of public goods. As globalization expands markets, and economies such as Botswana\u27s continue to modernize, there is an increasing need to understand how cultural factors might influence the valuation of public goods. We find evidence that stated willingness to contribute to a public good in a hypothetical setting is higher than actual contribution levels in a real setting. However, this is only true in the second and final round of the experiment, when participants in the real setting have learned to significantly lower their contribution levels. The results draw into question the existence of a communal spirit in economically emergent Africa when it comes to the provision of public goods

Modelling Fluid Flow in an Open Rectangular Channel with Lateral Inflow Channel

In this paper, the flow of an incompressible Newtonian fluid through a man-made open rectangular channel with a lateral inflow channel is investigated. We have considered the effects of angle, the cross-sectional area, velocity and length of the lateral inflow channel on the velocity in the open rectangular channel. The equations governing the flow are the continuity and momentum equations of motion, which are highly nonlinear and cannot be solved analytically. Therefore, an approximate solution of these partial differential equations is determined numerically using the finite difference method

Institutional canopy of conservation : governance and environmentality in East Africa

The project studied impacts of conservancy experiments on local livelihoods, attitudes, and natural resource practices, assessing effectiveness of environmentally specific models in community conservation, while reconciling the imperatives of sustaining biodiversity alongside improvement of community livelihood conditions in the East Africa region. Findings show local people are involved in biodiversity conservation in various ways. 53% of study respondents perceived that local people are involved in anti-poaching activities, with local people abiding by regulations designed for biodiversity conservation. The Institutional Canopy of Conservation (I-CAN) program was a 7-year research initiative led by the African Conservation Centre (ACC) and McGill University (Canada)

Weed species in tomato production and their role as alternate hosts of 'Tomato spotted wilt virus' and its vector 'Frankliniella occidentalis'

'Tomato spotted wilt virus' (TSWV) is an important plant virus that infects a wide range of hosts including weeds making its management difficult. A survey was undertaken to establish the occurrence of weed species in tomato production systems in Kenya and their role as hosts of TSWV and its vectors. Selected weed species were further evaluated for their reaction to TSWV, transmission efficiency by 'Frankliniella occidentalis' and ability to support thrips reproduction. Of the 43 weed species identified in the field, 29 species had been reported as hosts of TSWV, twowere non-hosts and 11 had no record of their status. Among the more common species, 'Amaranthus hybridus', 'Solanum nigrum', 'Tagetes minuta' and 'Datura stramonium' were susceptible to the virus and supported high levels of thrips reproduction. The TSWV could not be transmitted to 'Galinsoga parviflora' and 'Sonchus oleraceus' by 'F. occidentalis' despite them being highly susceptible in mechanical transmission tests. There was a significant correlation between feeding damage and number of larvae of 'F. occidentalis' on different weeds. Occurrence of weeds that support thrips reproduction and are good hosts of TSWV is a clear indicator of their role in epidemiology and the importance of their management for disease control