Effect of Micro Insurance by Microfinance Institutions on Women Empowerment: A Case of Nakuru CBD, West Sub County, Kenya

The evolution of  microfinance institutions in Kenya is seen as a catalyst for promoting women empowerment. One of the services provided by microfinance institutions is the micro insurance. Micro insurance refers to low premium, low coverage insurance services provided to low income clients excluded from commercial insurance schemes. In Kenya, already some insurance and non insurance  institutions have welcomed micro insurance by introducing products such as Afya Bora by CIC and Salama Sure by UAP with Faulu Kenya offering Faulu Afya. Most of these products focus on primary risks such as Livestock and Crop , Health , Funeral and Life insurance. Scarce studies have devoted to the topic as many  have relied to micro credit as overall microfinance institutions services here in Kenya. Hence the study sought to assess the effect of micro insurance by microfinance institutions on women empowerment in Nakuru CBD, West Sub County, Kenya. The study was guided by an objective namely to assess the effect of micro insurance by microfinance institutions in Nakuru CBD, West Sub County, Kenya. This study adopted the descriptive research. A sample of 127 respondents were selected from a population of 293 using simple random technique. The study adopted the use of a questionnaire as the primary data collection instrument that was constructed on a five point Likert scale. The data collected was analyzed using  Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) and tools such as frequencies, percentages and Chi Square test of good fit were used. Inferential statistical analysis was done by use of Pearson’s Correlation Coefficient to establish the relationship between the dependent and independent variables. Analyzed data was presented inform of  statistical tables. Results show that micro insurance is statistically insignificant and negatively affect women empowerment. This study concludes that penetration of micro insurance services should be able to reach women. Some of the recommendations  made included; the need to a further study to distinctively identify the effect of micro insurance by MFIs in group lending on women empowerment, further understanding the effects of new areas of microfinance such as that of micro-insurance services to help design better products, gain a competitive edge and stimulate the market in the long term for sustainable development. Keywords: Micro insurance, Women Empowerment DOI: 10.7176/RJFA/11-18-08 Publication date:September 30th 202

Effect of Micro Insurance by Microfinance Institutions on Women Empowerment: A Case of Nakuru CBD, West Sub County, Kenya

The evolution of  microfinance institutions in Kenya is seen as a catalyst for promoting women empowerment. One of the services provided by microfinance institutions is the micro insurance. Micro insurance refers to low premium, low coverage insurance services provided to low income clients excluded from commercial insurance schemes. In Kenya, already some insurance and non insurance  institutions have welcomed micro insurance by introducing products such as Afya Bora by CIC and Salama Sure by UAP with Faulu Kenya offering Faulu Afya. Most of these products focus on primary risks such as Livestock and Crop , Health , Funeral and Life insurance. Scarce studies have devoted to the topic as many  have relied to micro credit as overall microfinance institutions services here in Kenya. Hence the study sought to assess the effect of micro insurance by microfinance institutions on women empowerment in Nakuru CBD, West Sub County, Kenya. The study was guided by an objective namely to assess the effect of micro insurance by microfinance institutions in Nakuru CBD, West Sub County, Kenya. This study adopted the descriptive research. A sample of 127 respondents were selected from a population of 293 using simple random technique. The study adopted the use of a questionnaire as the primary data collection instrument that was constructed on a five point Likert scale. The data collected was analyzed using  Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) and tools such as frequencies, percentages and Chi Square test of good fit were used. Inferential statistical analysis was done by use of Pearson’s Correlation Coefficient to establish the relationship between the dependent and independent variables. Analyzed data was presented inform of  statistical tables. Results show that micro insurance is statistically insignificant and negatively affect women empowerment. This study concludes that penetration of micro insurance services should be able to reach women. Some of the recommendations  made included; the need to a further study to distinctively identify the effect of micro insurance by MFIs in group lending on women empowerment, further understanding the effects of new areas of microfinance such as that of micro-insurance services to help design better products, gain a competitive edge and stimulate the market in the long term for sustainable development. Keywords: Micro insurance, Women Empowerment DOI: 10.7176/RJFA/11-18-21 Publication date:September 30th 202

Respiratory Distress in the Newborn with Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia

Primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) is inherited in a predominantly autosomal recessive manner with over 45 currently identified causative genes. It is a clinically heterogeneous disorder that results in a chronic wet cough and drainage from the paranasal sinuses, chronic otitis media with hearing impairment as well as male infertility. Approximately 50% of patients have situs inversus totalis. Prior to the development of chronic oto-sino-pulmonary symptoms, neonatal respiratory distress occurs in more than 80% of patients as a result of impaired mucociliary clearance and mucus impaction causing atelectasis and lobar collapse. Diagnosis is often delayed due to overlapping symptoms with other causes of neonatal respiratory distress. A work up for PCD should be initiated in the newborn with compatible clinical features, especially those with respiratory distress, consistent radiographic findings or persistent oxygen requirement and/or organ laterality defects

Career choices and global health engagement: 24-year follow-up of U.S. participants in the Indiana University-Moi University elective

Background Global health experiences evoke a profound awareness of cultural differences, inspire learners to prioritize professional values, and provide a lens for addressing global health care challenges. This study compares the long-term career and practice choices of participants in a 2-month Indiana University-Moi University, Kenya elective from 1989–2013 with those of a control group. Methods Global health elective (GHE) participants and a random sample of alumni without GHE experience were surveyed on their clinical practice, public health and global health activities. Results Responses from 176 former participants were compared with a control group of 177 alumni. GHE participants were more likely than similar controls to provide care to underserved U.S. populations (p=0.037), spend time in global health, public health, and public policy activities (p=0.005) and be involved in global health advocacy (p=0.001). Using multivariable analysis, GHE participants were more likely to be generalists (p<0.05), report that healthcare costs influenced medical decision-making (p<0.05), and provide healthcare outside the U.S. for ≥1 week/year (p<0.001). Conclusions Many years out of training, GHE participants were more likely to be generalists working with underserved populations, to be cost-conscious in their healthcare decision-making, and to be involved in global health, public health or public policy. Implications With the primary care provider shortage and need for greater awareness among providers of healthcare costs, our study shows that that global health experiences may yield broader benefits to the U.S. medical system

Lung clearance index in children with sickle cell disease

Introduction The lung clearance index (LCI) derived from the multiple breath washout test (MBW), is both feasible and sensitive to early lung disease detection in young children with cystic fibrosis and asthma. The utility of LCI has not been studied in children with sickle cell disease (SCD). We hypothesized that children with SCD, with or without asthma or airway hyperreactivity (AHR), would have an elevated LCI compared to healthy controls. Methods Children with SCD from a single center between the ages of 6 and 18 years were studied at baseline health and completed MBW, spirometry, plethysmography and blood was drawn for serum markers. Results were compared to healthy controls of similar race, age, and gender. Results Healthy controls (n = 35) had a significantly higher daytime oxygen saturation level, weight and body mass index but not height compared to participants with SCD (n = 34). Total lung capacity (TLC) z-scores were significantly higher in the healthy controls compared to those with SCD (0.87 [1.13] vs. 0.02 [1.27]; p = .005) while differences in forced expiratory volume in 1 s z-scores approached significance (0.26 [0.97] vs. −0.22 [1.09]; p = .055). There was no significant difference in LCI between the healthy controls compared to participants with SCD (7.29 [0.72] vs. 7.40 [0.69]; p = .514). Conclusion LCI did not differentiate SCD from healthy controls in children between the ages of 6 and 18 years at baseline health. TLC may be an important pulmonary function measure to follow longitudinally in the pediatric SCD population