An Investigation on Impact of Free Primary Education on Quality of Education in Kenya Primary Schools

Primary education in Kenya has become a constitutional right for every school going child. This was in fulfillment of international obligations like Education for All by 2015, in order to achieve this Kenya government introduced Free Primary Education (FPE) in 2003 to achieve universal primary education (UPE) by 2005. This noble policy in Kenya benefited 1.3 million school going children who would not have afforded many levies charged by primary schools. This notwithstanding the programme was implemented without proper preparation compromising the quality of education. The study looked at the implication of text book ratio, teacher’s pupils’ ratio and teachers’ perception on the quality of FPE in Kenya. The study used survey design whereby quantitative and qualitative data was generated. The target population was 71 public primary schools in Embu East Sub- County in Kenya. Simple random sampling procedure was used to select a sample of 30% of target population. The instruments used included open and closed ended questionnaires which were administered by the researcher to the respondents mainly schools head teachers and teachers. The data was analyzed through statistical programme where percentages were got and deductions made. The study found out that FPE had improved enrolment by 68%. Over 50% reported that the text book ratio was 1:3, teacher pupil ratio was observed to be more than 1:40 in 31.8% of the sampled cases and the perception on quality was found to be good at 86.4% of the respondents. The findings recommended adequate funds should be availed for FPE programme to ensure adequate teachers and textbooks to improve quality of education in Kenya Primary schools. Keywords: Free Primary Education (FPE), quality education, teacher-pupil ratio, text book ratio perception, pupil, teacher, head teacher

Forecasting Future Customer Call Volumes: Case study

Forecasting future volumes of customer calls in call centers has proved to be a tedious and challenging task. This study, using time series analysis proposes two adequate ARIMA (p, d, q) models that are suitable to forecast two volumes of customer calls, IVR Hits Volumes and Offered Call volumes. 1472 times series data points from date 01/01/2014 to 11/01/2018 were obtained from a call center based in Kenya on the two variables of interest (IVR Hits Volumes and Offered Call volumes). The appropriate orders of the two models are picked based on the examination of the results of the ACF and PACF plots. The AIC criterion is used to select the best model for the data. The best ARIMA model for log IVR Hits volumes is ARIMA (5, 1, 3) with and the best ARIMA model for log Offered Call Volumes is ARIMA (6, 1, 3) with . The two models are recommended to model and forecast the daily arrival volumes of customer call data. The obtained forecast will be used in providing insights for appropriate workforce management

MARKETING PRACTICES, MARKET ORIENTATION AND PERFORMANCE OF TOUR FIRMS IN KENYA: A MEDIATED APPROACH

ABSTRACT The study objectives was to assess the mediating effect of marketing practices on therelationship between market orientation and performance of tour firms in Kenya. Extant literaturesuggests that the relationship between market orientation and firm performance may be mediated.While the conceptual arguments for such a relationship are well established, empirical evidence onthe precise nature of this link has been both limited and ambiguous. The current study providesfurther evidence on the positive links between market orientation and firm performance through amediated approach. The study population comprised 104 tour firms registered with KenyaAssociation of Tour Operators. A descriptive cross-sectional survey was used. Primary data werecollected using semi-structured questionnaires. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics,inferential statistics and regression analysis. The results of the study revealed a mediating effect ofmarketing practices on the market orientation and firm performance relationship. Specifically, theresults show that marketing practices partially mediate the market orientation and firmperformance relationship as R2 increased from .307 to .634. The regression coefficient reducedfrom .575 to .572 and was statistically significant at 0.05 level of significance. The study offeredfurther credence into the positive relationship between market orientation, marketing practices andperformance through a mediation approach in Kenyan tour firms.Keywords: Marketing practices, market orientation, tourism, tour firms, firm performanc

Human metapneumovirus epidemiological and evolutionary patterns in Coastal Kenya, 2007-11

Background: Human metapneumovirus (HMPV) is an important global cause of severe acute respiratory infections in young children and the elderly. The epidemiology of HMPV in sub-Saharan Africa is poorly described and factors that allow its recurrent epidemics in communities not understood. Methods: We undertook paediatric inpatient surveillance for HMPV in Kilifi County Hospital (KCH) of Coastal Kenya between 2007 and 2011. Nasopharyngeal samples collected from children aged 1 day–59 months admitted with severe or very severe pneumonia, were tested for HMPV using real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Partial nucleotide sequences of the attachment (G) and fusion (F) surface proteins of positive samples were determined and phylogenetically analyzed. Results: HMPV was detected in 4.8 % (160/3320) of children [73.8 % (118/160) of these less than one year of age], ranging between 2.9 and 8.8 % each year over the 5 years of study. HMPV infections were seasonal in occurrence, with cases predominant in the months of November through April. These months frequently coincided with low rainfall, high temperature and low relative humidity in the location. Phylogenetic analysis of partial F and G sequences revealed three subgroups of HMPV, A2 (74 %, 91/123), B1 (3.2 %, 4/123) and B2 (22.8 %, 28/123) in circulation, with subgroup A2 predominant in majority of the epidemic seasons. Comparison of G sequences (local and global) provided a greater phylogenetic resolution over comparison of F sequences and indicated presence of probable multiple G antigenic variants within the subgroups due to differences in amino acid sequence, encoded protein length and glycosylation patterns. Conclusion: The present study reveals HMPV is an important seasonal contributor to respiratory disease hospitalization in coastal Kenya, with an evolutionary pattern closely relating to that of respiratory syncytial virus

Analysis of factors influencing formulation of strategic plans

Abstract The issue of organisational direction for organisations worldwide has generated growing interest in the recent past. As a result, formation of strategic plan by many organisations has attracted growing concerns due to environmental pursuit of organisational growth and survival in the long run. This study explores the link between formulation of school strategic plans with employee motivation, availability of funds, support by top school leadership, government policy and employee knowhow. The paper specifically analyses the factors that influence the formulation of strategic plans in secondary schools in Embu North District, Embu County, Kenya. The study was carried out in 24 public secondary schools in Embu North District, Embu County, Kenya. The following persons were involved; 24 Principals, 24 Chairpersons of Board of Governors and 24 Chairpersons of Parents Teachers Association in all the schools. Data was collected primarily through structured questionnaire and analysed using spearman's rank correlation analysis. The findings at 0.05 significance level indicated that employee motivation, availability of funds, support by top school leadership, government policy and employee skills had a statistical relationship with formulation of strategic plans in public secondary schools in Embu North district

Influenza surveillance among children with pneumonia admitted to a district hospital in coastal Kenya, 2007-2010

Background: Influenza data gaps in sub-Saharan Africa include incidence, case fatality, seasonal patterns, and associations with prevalent disorders. Methods: Nasopharyngeal samples from children aged <12 years who were admitted to Kilifi District Hospital during 2007–2010 with severe or very severe pneumonia and resided in the local demographic surveillance system were screened for influenza A, B, and C viruses by molecular methods. Outpatient children provided comparative data. Results: Of 2002 admissions, influenza A virus infection was diagnosed in 3.5% (71), influenza B virus infection, in 0.9% (19); and influenza C virus infection, in 0.8% (11 of 1404 tested). Four patients with influenza died. Among outpatients, 13 of 331 (3.9%) with acute respiratory infection and 1 of 196 without acute respiratory infection were influenza positive. The annual incidence of severe or very severe pneumonia, of influenza (any type), and of influenza A, was 1321, 60, and 43 cases per 100 000 <5 years of age, respectively. Peak occurrence was in quarters 3–4 each year, and approximately 50% of cases involved infants: temporal association with bacteremia was absent. Hypoxia was more frequent among pneumonia cases involving influenza (odds ratio, 1.78; 95% confidence interval, 1.04–1.96). Influenza A virus subtypes were seasonal H3N2 (57%), seasonal H1N1 (12%), and 2009 pandemic H1N1 (7%). Conclusions: The burden of influenza was small during 2007–2010 in this pediatric hospital in Kenya. Influenza A virus subtype H3N2 predominated, and 2009 pandemic influenza A virus subtype H1N1 had little impact

Ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants used by the people of Mosop, Nandi County in Kenya

Background: Throughout the history, nature has provided mankind with most of their basic needs, which include food, shelter, medicine, clothes, flavours, scents as well as raw materials. Given that they are an integral part of cultural heritage, medicinal plants have played a significant role in human healthcare systems around the world. Investigating various biological resources for use as medicines requires ethnomedicinal studies.Methods: Data on utilization of ethnomedicinal plants from local healers in Kenya’s Mosop Sub-County in Nandi County was documented through open-ended, semi-structured questionnaires. A number of quantitative indices, such as the Use Citation (UC), Informant Consensus Factor (ICF), Use Value (UV), Frequency of Citation (FoC) and Relative Frequency of Citation (RFC) were used to convey the potential medical benefits, vitality and variety of the ethnomedicine.Results: 102 informants provided information on 253 ethnomedicinal plant species, classified into 74 families. There were 249 native plant species identified, along with few exotic species: Senegalia senegal (L.) Britton, Persea americana Mill, Carica papaya L. and Solanum betaceum Cav. Of all recorded species, 32% and 27% were herbs and trees, respectively. Among plant parts, leaves were most frequently utilized (27%) and roots (26%), while decoctions (21%) were the most widely used formulations. The dominant family was Asteraceae, with 28 species, followed by Lamiaceae, with 19 species. The highest ICF value was 0.778 for a number of parasitic and infectious illnesses, including ringworms, athlete’s foot rot, tetanus, typhoid, intestinal parasites, abscesses, malaria, and amoebiasis. The study’s data validates the region’s widespread use of traditional medicinal plant remedies.Conclusion: The current study will lay a foundation of knowledge for future research investigations. The abundance of knowledge regarding ethnomedicinal species and their medicinal applications will stimulate further phytochemical and pharmacological research, which could lead to the discovery of potentially significant pharmaceuticals

Access to Cancer Care in Kenya: Patients’, Survivors’, Caregivers’ and Health Providers’ Perspectives

Access to health care remains a complex notion with varying interpretations and no universally accepted definition. At least half of the world’s population lacks access to essential health services. The literature identifies “6As” dimensions of Access: Accessibility, Affordability, Availability, Adequacy /Appropriateness, Acceptability and Approachability. This paper employs these dimensions in documenting factors that were found to influence access to cancer care in Kenya. Health and Industry studies were conducted sequentially. The health part of the study reported in this working paper, employed a convergent parallel mixed methods study design which was undertaken in three counties of Meru, Nairobi and Mombasa. A total of 405 patients were interviewed in public sector health facilities, four focus group discussions with cancer survivors and 22 in-depth interviews with caregivers, health workers and policy makers held. Affordability of cancer services was enabled largely by cash payment with incremental use of National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) from entry in health care up to the first treatment, but the high costs of cancer services were a major challenge. Payments for tests, treatment and indirect costs including transport and accommodation potentially impoverished many patients and their families as well as social networks . Facilities were financially supported by County Government funding, business and non-profit partners, and collaborations between health facilities to reduce indirect costs for the patients. Approachability was facilitated by community outreach services, local networks, awareness and knowledge promotion. However, better linkage between the community and health facility was required, especially for screening services. Availability: 30% of survey participants indicated that something they needed at the health facility was unavailable. The missing items included: medication, tests, treatment therapies, pain relief and essential commodities. Qualitative findings identified additional requirements including oncology staff and equipment. Patients also considered aspects of care that were unacceptable, and mentioned fear, stigma, cultural influences, religious and alternative beliefs. Nonetheless, having information and support from family, friends and other patient’s facilitated acceptability of cancer services. Accessibility in terms of distance and time to reach cancer care services located at county or national referral facilities was reported as a challenge for many. Communication, including lack of clarity, mis-diagnosis and non-disclosure of relevant information emerged as an appropriateness concern. It is important to note that the six access dimensions interact and therefore, may not be addressed separately. When these aspects of access to cancer care are facilitated, then access can be improved. Hence, a holistic health system approach to access is desirable, while emphasis should be put on enhancing diagnostic capabilities at lower levels of care in line with the objective of Universal Health Coverage. Mutually supportive interventions to strengthen access can include wider insurance coverage, extended staffing and improved information. When challenges to any of the access dimensions remain, then access to cancer care is undermined

Adapting agriculture to climate change - An evaluation of yield potential of maize, sorghum, common bean and pigeon pea varieties in a very cool-wet region of Nayandarua County

Soil and water conservation, use of more adaptive crop genotypes and crop diversification are widely accepted as some of the management practices that can help reduce agriculture vulnerability to impacts of climate change. A study was conducted to evaluate the yield potential of maize, sorghum, common bean and pigeon pea varieties under different water management, plant densities and fertility levels in Nyahururu, Central Kenya. The study involved three experiments. The first experiment evaluated the growth and performance of three varieties (early maturing, medium maturing and late maturing) of maize, sorghum, pigeon pea and common bean. The experimental design was a completely randomized block design (RCBD) replicated three times. The second experiment evaluated maize and sorghum yield response to water conservation and three fertiliser rates (0, 20 and 40 kg N/ha). The third experiment assessed the effect of water conservation measures on crop yields of common bean and pigeon pea grown under three plant densities (low, medium and high). Tied ridge tillage was used as the water conservation measure and disc plough as the control in the second and third experiments. Results showed that water conservation in general did not have a significant effect on crop yield though they were improved. The medium density pigeon pea gave the highest grain (719 kg/ha) followed by low (688 kg/ha) and high plant density (687 kg/ha), though not significant at 0.95 confidence level. Similar trends were observed with common bean grain and dry matter yield. Tied ridges tended to lower maize yield compared to flat tillage while it increased sorghum yields but the difference was insignificant. When average across the tillage systems, the highest maize grain (5553 kg/ha) and dry matter (14298 kg/ha) yield was obtained in plots without N fertilizer. Sorghum dry matter was highest (11333 kg/ha) in plots with 40 kg N/ha and lowest (7903 kg/ha) in plots with 20 kg/ha N. In the variety experiment, the EM pigeon pea variety (ICPL 84091) yielded the greatest grain (881 kg/ha) while the late maturing variety (ICEAP 00040) gave the least (565 kg/ha). The LM maize variety (DK8031) yielded the highest grain (5701 kg/ha) and dry matter (18843 kg/ha). The LM sorghum variety (Macia) had 47% and 49% dry matter yield advantage over MM (Kari Mtama 1) and EM (Gadam) varieties, respectively. The yields for common bean varieties tended to vary with seasons. So what are the conclusions

Prognostic value of biochemical parameters among severe COVID-19 patients admitted to an intensive care unit of a tertiary hospital in South Africa

Background: Data on biochemical markers and their association with mortality rates in patients with severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) admitted to intensive care units (ICUs) in sub-Saharan Africa are scarce. An evaluation of baseline routine biochemical parameters was performed in COVID-19 patients admitted to the ICU, in order to identify prognostic biomarkers. Methods: Demographic, clinical, and laboratory data were collected prospectively from patients with PCR-confirmed COVID-19 admitted to the adult ICU of a tertiary hospital in Cape Town, South Africa, between October 2020 and February 2021. Robust Poisson regression methods and the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve were used to explore the association of biochemical parameters with severity and mortality. Results: A total of 82 patients (median age 53.8 years, interquartile range 46.4–59.7 years) were enrolled, of whom 55 (67%) were female and 27 (33%) were male. The median duration of ICU stay was 10 days (interquartile range 5–14 days); 54/82 patients died (66% case fatality rate). Baseline lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) (adjusted relative risk 1.002, 95% confidence interval 1.0004–1.004; P = 0.016) and N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) (adjusted relative risk 1.0004, 95% confidence interval 1.0001–1.0007; P = 0.014) were both found to be independent risk factors of a poor prognosis, with optimal cut-off values of 449.5 U/l (sensitivity 100%, specificity 43%) and 551 pg/ml (sensitivity 49%, specificity 86%), respectively. Conclusions: LDH and NT-proBNP appear to be promising predictors of a poor prognosis in COVID-19 patients in the ICU. Studies with a larger sample size are required to confirm the validity of this combination of biomarkers