Influence of Gender Streamed (Boys’ and Girls’ Only) Classes on Coeducational Secondary Schools’ Mathematics Teachers Perceptions in Nakuru, Uasingishu, Kericho and Baringo Counties of Kenya

The skills acquired in mathematics provide a country with a human resource that is highly educated and able to tackle most of the country’s social economic problems. However, the performance of students at the KCSE mathematics examinations in Kenya has been dismal for many years. In addition, majority of the girls in particular have been performing poorly in the subject compared to the boys. As a possible remedy to this, single sex classes within coeducational secondary schools were created. There is however limited research, which has been carried out to  compare mathematics teachers’ perceptions between single and mixed sex classes in coeducational  secondary schools in Kenya. Therefore, this study was designed to find out the effects this intervention. The study adopted an ex post facto causal comparative research design. A sample of 203 mathematics teachers from county and sub county co-educational secondary schools (those with mixed sex and single sex classes) in Nakuru, Uasingishu, Kericho and Baringo counties of Kenya participated in the study. Data was obtained using self-report questionnaires for mathematics teachers. The instrument was pilot tested and validated to improve it before actual data collection. A Chronbach alpha reliability coefficient was calculated and an index of 0.87 obtained. The collected data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and ANOVA at a significant level of alpha (α) equal to 0.05.The findings show that mathematics teachers’ perceptions of their classes are positive irrespective of the class gender composition. The findings further show that there were no statistically significant differences in their perceptions between single sex and mixed sex classrooms in both the sub county and county schools.  The results from the study have yielded valuable information that may inform the intervention in Kenya’s coeducational secondary schools and advice policy makers, teachers and administrators of the schools on appropriate measures to undertake to enhance its effectiveness in the teaching and learning of mathematics. Keywords: Gender streamed classes, mathematics teachers, Perceptions, Coeducational secondary schools

Influence of HIV/AIDS Counselling Services on the Quality of Life of Church Members in Selected Churches in Nakuru Municipality, Kenya

Globally and in the Africa continent HIV/AIDS has become a pandemic that has affected more than 34 million people. The world has responded to the pandemic by creating counselling services to improve the quality of life. Churches are increasingly getting involved in HIV/AIDS Counselling Services to help improve the quality of life of church members in Nakuru Municipality. However, no studies have been conducted to assess the influence of HIV/AIDS counselling services on the quality of life of church members in Nakuru Municipality. The purpose of this study was to assess the influence of HIV/AIDS counselling services on the quality of life of church members in selected churches in Nakuru Municipality. This research adopted an ex Post facto causal comparative research design. The target population of the study was Shabab Africa Inland Church, Nakuru West -Presbyterian Church of East Africa- and Christ the King Cathedral- Catholic Church in Nakuru Municipality with a population of five thousand, six hundred and forty three (5643) members. Accessible population of 225 respondents was the sample for the study; these included 3 pastors, 27 men, 114 women, 75 youth, and six counsellors. Questionnaires were used to collect data. Experts from the Department of Psychology, Counselling and Educational Foundations were consulted to assess the content, construction and face validity of the questionnaires and a pilot study was conducted in Deliverance Church Nakuru. The reliability of questionnaires was estimated by use of Cronbach alpha reliability coefficient where values above 0.70 were accepted. Data was analysed using descriptive statistics (frequencies and percentages) using the Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) programme. The study recommends and the government in motivating people to get involved in establishing and utilising counselling services to enhance the quality of life of the people in churches in Nakuru County

The Relationship between Students’ Attitude towards Mathematics and their Mathematics Self-Concept and Achievement in the Military Science Programme of Egerton University, Kenya

Knowledge of mathematics as a tool for use in everyday life is important for the existence of any individual and society. It is for this reason that tertiary institutions take mathematics as part of professional development. Despite the importance of mathematics as a basic preparation for full participation as a functional member of the society, the performance in the subject has been poor as shown in national examinations in Kenya. The general trend in students’ performance in mathematics in the military science programme of Egerton University indicates higher percentage of graduates who underachieve in the subject. This study sought to investigate the relationship between Students’ attitude towards mathematics and their mathematics self-concept and achievement in the military science programme offered at Egerton University in Kenya. The guiding theory was based on the Systems Approach theory. Correlation research design was used in the study. The study population was 145 student officers (Cadets) enrolled in the military science programme of Egerton University in Kenya. Sample size for the study was the entire population. Two instruments were used namely: Self  Descriptive Questionnaire III (SDQ III) and Students’ Mathematics Attitude Scale (SMATS). These instruments were validated and pilot tested for suitability and reliability. The study found the reliability for Students’ Mathematics Self Concept (SMSC) and SMATS to be 0.86 and 0.82 respectively using Cronbach’s alpha, hence were reliable. Questionnaires solicited information on the students’ academic background and their mathematics scores in KCSE. Students’ Mathematics Achievement Scores (SMAS) were mathematics scores in University examinations. Data was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics to test the stated hypotheses at alpha (?) level of 0.05. Pearson moment correlation was used to test hypotheses. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) was used for data analysis. This study is important to understand factors that affect students’ attitude towards mathematics and their mathematics self concept and achievement in order to embrace mathematics as a utility subject in school and life Keywords: Mathematics, Self Concept, Attitude, Achievement, Tertiary institutions, Keny

Digital auscultation in PERCH: Associations with chest radiography and pneumonia mortality in children.

BACKGROUND: Whether digitally recorded lung sounds are associated with radiographic pneumonia or clinical outcomes among children in low-income and middle-income countries is unknown. We sought to address these knowledge gaps. METHODS: We enrolled 1 to 59monthold children hospitalized with pneumonia at eight African and Asian Pneumonia Etiology Research for Child Health sites in six countries, recorded digital stethoscope lung sounds, obtained chest radiographs, and collected clinical outcomes. Recordings were processed and classified into binary categories positive or negative for adventitial lung sounds. Listening and reading panels classified recordings and radiographs. Recording classification associations with chest radiographs with World Health Organization (WHO)-defined primary endpoint pneumonia (radiographic pneumonia) or mortality were evaluated. We also examined case fatality among risk strata. RESULTS: Among children without WHO danger signs, wheezing (without crackles) had a lower adjusted odds ratio (aOR) for radiographic pneumonia (0.35, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.15, 0.82), compared to children with normal recordings. Neither crackle only (no wheeze) (aOR: 2.13, 95% CI: 0.91, 4.96) or any wheeze (with or without crackle) (aOR: 0.63, 95% CI: 0.34, 1.15) were associated with radiographic pneumonia. Among children with WHO danger signs no lung recording classification was independently associated with radiographic pneumonia, although trends toward greater odds of radiographic pneumonia were observed among children classified with crackle only (no wheeze) or any wheeze (with or without crackle). Among children without WHO danger signs, those with recorded wheezing had a lower case fatality than those without wheezing (3.8% vs. 9.1%, p = .03). CONCLUSIONS: Among lower risk children without WHO danger signs digitally recorded wheezing is associated with a lower odds for radiographic pneumonia and with lower mortality. Although further research is needed, these data indicate that with further development digital auscultation may eventually contribute to child pneumonia care