Social Media and the dynamism of customer relationship marketing: An empirical analysis of customers’ acceptance of the realm of virtual CRM

Purpose-The advancement of social media in the servicing of customers has made it an unwritten rule for organizations to use virtual platforms for CRM purposes. However, the extent to which customers are accepting virtual CRM is something worth investigating in order to ensure that organizations do not move away from traditional ways of providing CRM to their customers without knowing the feelings and perceptions of customers with regards to virtual CRM. “Service quality is a crucial facet of information system success in e-commerce in which customer service is essential”, (DeLone and McLean, 2003), as quoted by (Kang and Kim, 2017). The provision of “service” is detrimental to successful Customer service, therefore determining the role information systems play, through social media that is cardinal to business survival. Design/Methodology/Approach- Data was collected via an online survey administered through social media platforms, as well as observation and interviews. A total of 170 surveys were answered, as well as 10 interviews conducted and 10 businesses on various social media platforms were observed. The study takes on an explorative design using mainly qualitative data. The research used grounded theory as an approach to analyse the data for final interpretation. Findings- Results showed that the more a customer interacted with a particular business on social media the more the customer built a relationship with that company thereby enhancing CRM. The results are proof that virtual platforms are in actual fact, helping businesses enhance CRM and build or enhance customer brand acceptance. The study also shows that customers generally have a positive perception towards the use of virtual CRM. Originality/Value- This study is of value to organizations all over the world who may feel or be anxious with the use of social media platforms for CRM purposes. The idea behind the use of CRM for the building of long lasting customer relationships is vital because without the knowledge needed to administer CRM through social media can be devastating and may cause irreparable damage to a business not vested in the role social media plays in CRM

Compliance With Infection Prevention Guidelines By Health Care Workers at Ronald Ross General Hospital Mufulira District

Objective: To determine the level of health-care workers’ compliance with Infection Prevention Guidelines and identify factors that influence compliance at Ronald Ross General Hospital, Mufulira District. Methods: A quantitative study was carried out in 2007. Convenient sampling method was used. Data was obtained using a self administered interview schedule and an observation checklist. A total of 77 health care workers who included Doctors, Registered Midwives and Nurses, Enrolled Midwives and Nurses, clinical Officers, Laboratory Technicians and physiotherapists took part in the study. Additionally, 40 out of the 77 interviewed health workers were observed carrying out at least one procedure requiring compliance with the Infection Prevention (IP) guidelines. Results: The study revealed that, high compliance was associated with inclusion of Guidelines in the Curricular, high knowledge of infection prevention/hospital acquired infections, positive attitude towards infection prevention and availability of materials for infection prevention. The study further reviewed revealed varied levels of compliance on different components of infection prevention. The highest level of compliance (100%) was with single use of needles and syringes while the lowest (35.1) was with decontamination of needles and syringes with 0.5% chlorine solution prior to disposal. Compliance with hand hygiene was moderate (61%). Conclusion: The study findings suggest a need for inclusion of Infection Prevention Guidelines in the health workers’ curricular, provision of in-service training in infection prevention protocols and improvements in the supply of materials for infection prevention

Access barriers to maternal healthcare services in selected hard-to-reach areas of Zambia: a mixed methods design

Introduction: poor access to maternal health services is a one of the major contributing factors to maternal deaths in low-resource settings, and understanding access barriers to maternal services is an important step for targeting interventions aimed at promoting institutional delivery and improving maternal health. This study explored access barriers to maternal and antenatal services in Kaputa and Ngabwe; two of Zambia´s rural and hard-to-reach districts. Methods: a concurrent mixed methods approach was therefore, undertaken to exploring three access dimensions, namely availability, affordability and acceptability, in the two districts. Structured interviews were conducted among 190 eligible women in both districts, while key informant interviews, in-depth interviews and focus group discussions were conducted for the qualitative component. Results: the study found that respondents were happy with facilities´ opening and closing times in both districts. By comparison, however, women in Ngabwe spent significantly more time traveling to facilities than those in Kaputa, with bad roads and transport challenges cited as factors affecting service use. The requirement to have a traditional birth attendant (TBA) accompany a woman when going to deliver from the facility, and paying these TBAs, was a notable access barrier. Generally, services seemed to be more acceptable in Kaputa than in Ngabwe, though both districts complained about long queues, being delivered by male health workers and having delivery rooms next to male wards. Conclusion: based on the indicators of access used in this study, maternal health services seemed to be more accessible in Kaputa compared to Ngabwe

Instruments of health and harm: how the procurement of healthcare goods contributes to global health inequality

Many healthcare goods, such as surgical instruments, textiles and gloves, are manufactured in unregulated factories and sweatshops where, amongst other labour rights violations, workers are subject to considerable occupational health risks. In this paper we undertake an ethical analysis of the supply of sweatshop-produced surgical goods to healthcare providers, with a specific focus on the National Health Service of the United Kingdom. We contend that while labour abuses and occupational health deficiencies are morally unacceptable in the production of any commodity, an additional wrong is incurred when the health of certain populations is secured in ways that endanger the health and well-being of people working and living elsewhere. While some measures have been taken to better regulate the supply chain to healthcare providers in the UK, further action is needed to ensure that surgical goods are sourced from suppliers who protect the labour and occupational health rights of their workers

Adolescent Girls Empowerment Programme: Research and evaluation baseline technical report

The theory of change behind the Adolescent Girls Empowerment Program (AGEP) posits that adolescent girls are empowered by acquiring social, health, and economic assets. Girls can draw on these assets to reduce vulnerabilities and expand opportunities, thereby increasing their likelihood of completing school, delaying sexual debut, and reducing the risk of early marriage, unintended pregnancy, acquisition of HIV, and so on. AGEP serves vulnerable adolescent girls in Zambia aged 10–19 in two age cohorts: 10–14-year-olds and 15–19-year-olds. AGEP operates in ten “master sites,” five urban and five rural, in four provinces of Zambia. The three core components of AGEP in Zambia are: safe spaces, savings accounts, and health vouchers. The primary aim of the research outlined in this baseline technical report is to obtain as rigorous an assessment as possible of the impact of AGEP on mediating, and on longer-term demographic, reproductive, and health outcomes among vulnerable adolescent girls as they age from 10–19 in 2013 to 14–23 in 2017

Perspectives on ART adherence among Zambian adults living with HIV: insights raised using HIV-related disability frameworks.

Anti-retroviral treatment (ART) has improved the survival of people living with HIV in Africa. Living with chronic HIV comes with new health and functional challenges and the need to manage ART adherence. The Sepo Study applied disability frameworks to better understand living with chronic HIV while using ART. The study followed 35 people (18 women, 17 men) living with HIV and on ART 6 months or longer in private and public health facilities in Lusaka, Zambia over 18-months (2012-2015). A total of 99 in-depth interviews were conducted. Conventional content analysis and NVIVOv10 were applied to analyse the data. Participants were adhering to ART at the times of the interviews and therefore less likely to report major challenges with adherence. Three main themes emerged from the data related to adherence. Firstly, ART was regarded as "giving life", which underscored adherence. Secondly, all participants described strategies for to managehealth and functional limitations, which they attributed as side-effects or chronicity. Thirdly, participants described experiences of uncertainty, including the efficacy of new regimens, potential loss of functioning, risk of new health problems, and death. Long-term ART managment in Africa needs to integrate rehabilitation approaches to address functional limitations, uncertainties, strengthen and support for adherence

Types of episodic disability among people living with HIV in Zambia.

HIV is increasingly recognized as a chronic illness which may result in episodic disability related to the effects of the virus, side effects of medication, co-morbidities and consequences of aging. Little is known about the episodic disability experiences of people living long-term with HIV in resource-limited countries, which is best understood by following people over time. This qualitative longitudinal study examined the episodic disability experiences and the applicability of four types of episodic disability among people living with HIV and on anti-retroviral therapy in Zambia. We interviewed 31 men and women living with HIV on 3 occasions at 6-month intervals (total of 93 interviews) examining the processes of change over time. We used disability models to inform the interviews exploring impairments/symptoms, activity limitations and participation restrictions. Longitudinal analyses of transcribed interviews confirmed the applicability of four types over time: stable, increasing disability, decreasing disability and significant fluctuations. Analyses highlighted the extent to which determinants of health contributed to the disability experienced. The use of disability models revealed the importance of environmental and social influences on disability and quality of life. The indicators of the type of episodic disability could be used clinically to help understand the nature and potential triggers of the episodes

Childbirth care practices in public sector facilities in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia: A descriptive study

Objectives: To explore reported hospital policies and practices during normal childbirth in maternity wards in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, to assess and verify whether these practices are evidence-based. Design: Quantitative design, in the form of a descriptive questionnaire, based on a tool extracted from the literature. Setting: Nine government hospitals in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. These hospitals have varied ownership, including Ministry of Health (MOH), military, teaching and other government hospitals. Participants: Key individuals responsible for the day-to-day running of the maternity ward. Measurements: Nine interviews using descriptive structured questionnaire were conducted. Data were analysed using SPSS for Windows (version 16.0). Findings: The surveyed hospitals were found to be well equipped to deal with obstetric emergencies, and many follow evidence-based procedures. On average, the Caesarean section rate was found to be 22.4%, but with considerable variances between hospitals. Some unnecessary procedures that are known to be ineffective or harmful and that are not recommended for routine use, including pubic shaving, enemas, episiotomy, electronic foetal monitoring (EFM) and intravenous (IV) infusion, were found to be frequently practiced. Only 22% of the hospitals sampled reported allowing a companion to attend labour and delivery. Key Conclusions: Many aspects of recommended EBP were used in the hospitals studied. However, the results of this study clearly indicate that there is wide variation between hospitals in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia in some obstetric practices. Furthermore, the findings suggest that some practices at these hospitals are not supported by evidence as being beneficial for mothers or babies and are positively discouraged under international guidelines. Implications for practice: This study has specific implications for obstetricians, midwives and nurses working in maternity Units. It gives an overview of current hospital policies and practices during normal childbirth. It is likely to contribute to improving the health and well-being of women, and have implications for service provision. It could also help in the development of technical information for policy-makers, and health care professionals for normal childbirth care

Traditional beliefs and practices in the postpartum period in Fujian Province, China: a qualitative study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p><it>Zuo yuezi </it>is the month postpartum in China associated with a variety of traditional beliefs and practices. We explored the current status of <it>zuo yuezi </it>from social, cultural and western medical perspectives.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We interviewed family members (36) and health workers (8) in Fujian Province, selecting one rural and one rapidly developing urban county. We asked about their traditional beliefs and their behaviour postpartum. We used a framework approach to identify main themes. We categorised reported behaviour against their probable effects on health, drawing on Western standards.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Respondents reported that <it>zuo yuezi </it>was commonly practiced in urban and rural families to help the mother regain her strength and protect her future health. <it>Zuo yuezi </it>included: dietary precautions, such as eating more food and avoiding cold food; behavioural precautions, such as staying inside the home, avoiding housework and limiting visitors; hygiene precautions, such as restricting bathing and dental hygiene; and practices associated with infant feeding, including supplementary feeding and giving honeysuckle herb to the infant. Respondents reported that the main reasons for adhering to these practices were respect for tradition, and following the advice of elders. Categorised against Western medical standards, several <it>zuo yuezi </it>practices are beneficial, including eating more, eating protein rich food, avoiding housework, and daily vulval and perineal hygiene. A few are potentially harmful, including giving honeysuckle herb, and avoiding dental hygiene. Some women reported giving infants supplementary feeds, although <it>zuo yuezi </it>emphasises breast feeding.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p><it>Zuo yuezi </it>is an important ritual in Fujian. In medical terms, most practices are beneficial, and could be used by health staff to promote health in this period. Further research on reported potentially harmful practices, such as supplements to breast feeding, is needed.</p