The nature and trends of agricultural research development in Africa : an informetric study

The study recognizes Agriculture as the mainstay activity of most economies in Africa and analyses research nature and trends in the discipline by using descriptive informetrics and focusing on seven indicators, by using the AGRICOLA and ISI-E databases from 1991 to 2005. We observed that research output in the discipline is much higher in South Africa and Kenya, and research collaboration is greater than non-collaborative research output and collaboration is less among African countries. The most popular research domains were found to exist in environmental science, soil science, plant/crop production and [agricultural] economics. Helpful conclusions and recommendations for an Agricultural policy, capacity and research orientation have been made

Trainees internet usage in psychotherapy practice in teacher training colleges, Kenya

Information Communication and technology in particular internet aimed at widening access to flexible distance education and psychotherapy in learning institutions. In developed countries online psychotherapy has been practiced in learning institutions. However there is limited information on whether it has been established in public teacher training colleges in Kenya as an alternative approach to psychotherapy practice. Teacher trainees in Kenya are at the early adulthood stage of human growth and development. This is a critical period with myriads of psychological, social, and academic issues which affect them, most of which require a personal and confidential psychotherapeutic intervention. One of the key objectives of the study was to establish the trainees’ internet usage in Psychotherapy practice in Public Teacher Training Colleges in the Lake Region, Kenya. This paper explores the teacher trainees’ level of internet usage within their workbased training situation, especially for psychotherapy practice with a view of giving a critical perspective of evidence based approach for this practice. Teacher trainees will be able to access and interact online with their psychotherapist, give reports, and provide peer reviewed presentations that relate to psychotherapy practice. The study findings will challenge trainees to embrace technology integration policy within the college, especially the internet in psychotherapy practice. The findings may assist the government, non-governmental organization and professional psychotherapists to allocate more resources for the development of psychotherapy practice in Teacher Training Colleges

Online psychotherapy practice in public teachers training colleges in the lake region, Kenya

Introduction of Information Communication and technology in particular internet aimed at widening access to flexible distance education in institutions of learning. This included the practice of online psychotherapy in learning institutions. In developed countries online psychotherapy has been practiced for many years. However there is less information on whether it has taken root in public teacher training colleges in Kenya. The purpose of this study was to examine Online Psychotherapy practice in Public Teacher Training Colleges in the Lake Region, Kenya. The Objectives of this study were to establish the attitude of tutors and trainees towards online psychotherapy practice, identify resources available for online psychotherapy practice, determine the trainees’ level of usage of online services, to find out advantages and disadvantages of online psychotherapy practice and to find out the factors that contribute to online psychotherapeutic relationship in teacher training colleges in the Lake Region, Kenya. The study utilized the Person Centered Theory and Technology Acceptance model for conceptual framework. Questionnaire for the tutors and trainees and in depth interview for lead counselors based on the objectives were used to collect data. The study population comprised 2200 and a sample size of 327 from the five teachers training colleges. The study adopted purposive sampling procedure to select 40 tutor counselors from the five teacher training colleges. Sampling techniques used to select trainees were stratified and simple random sampling procedures. Streams were identified as strata and 287 trainees were selected from the eight streams from each of the five colleges. The streams were further sub divided according to gender then followed by simple random sampling procedure for each gender to obtain averagely 7 cases from each second year class totaling to 57 trainees from each college and 287 from the five teachers training colleges. The research supervisors of Rongo University viewed the instruments of research to ascertain their validity. Reliability of the instrument was established by test retest procedure and a reliability co-efficient of +0.6 was reported. The study utilized descriptive survey design and data was analyzed using descriptive statistics with the aid of computer program that is Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20. The findings of the study revealed that the respondents had a positive attitude towards online psychotherapy practice. The study also established that online resources are available and this provides a platform for online psychotherapy practice in teachers training colleges. The results further found that there was high level of usage of online services among tutors and trainees. The study findings challenged trainees and tutor counselors to embrace technology integration policy in teachers training colleges. Therefore, the Ministry of Education should allocate more resources for the development of online psychotherapy practice in Teachers Training Colleges. There is also need for the Ministry of Education to ensure that similar future research is carried out in all the teachers training colleges in Kenya

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The research trends of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences Research at the University of Zululand, 1994 - 2008

The Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences departments play a fundamental role in university education and in promoting the vision and mission of the University of Zululand. This paper explores definitions of Humanities and the Social Sciences, and the terms ‘research’ and ‘research output’, and examines the status and challenges of research management at the University of Zululand to evaluate research in the cited departments. A bibliometric method was used to analyse the trends and challenges of Humanities and Social Sciences research by using research data reflecting on ongoing and completed Arts, Humanities and Social Science research publications submitted by staff and students from 1994 – 2008 to the university’s Research Office. Data was analysed by categorising research output according to overall research publication by department, publication in accredited (SAPSE) journals by each department, author productivity, and research output by categories. Pearson’s correlation analysis was applied to test whether there was any correlation between registered research projects and research publications. Results indicate that strong AH&SS research engagement and publication exist at the university. Most research output was in the form of journal articles and conference papers. There was also growing postgraduate research output in the form of Masters and Doctoral dissertations. AH&SS research is generally multidisciplinary in nature. We noted that the system for capturing completed Masters and Doctoral research reports at the university is inadequate. The paper raises other issues that are important for AH&SS research and development. Keywords: Research, research trends, humanities, social sciences, arts, humanities and social sciences, informetrics, University of Zululan

The Politics and Economics of Body Image and Sexuality in Africa: Thoughts from a Path Less Travelled

Body image is internal and external. It is seen by ourselves and by others. Social body image constructs seem to be built on what is deemed to be beautiful within our cultural contexts, which in turn is perceived as valuable and in turn has higher social standing because everyone else looks up to it. The politics of body image is often a ‘black and white’ affair, without much room for manoeuvring. You are either the strong male or the weaker female. Together with the outward appearance, the sexualities of the bodies must also complement each other. But it is a semi-artificial construct which not all people can adhere to, much less attain, though they all try. What happens then with women or men who defy these constructs of body image and sexuality – who turn them on their head? How does the society adjust to these kinds of individuals in its already defined and constructed political arena? This article seeks to expose the lived realities of persons who fail to conform to the expectations of the society, namely sexual and gender minorities

Routine radiographic findings in clinically healthy edentulous jaw bones of patients seeking their first set of complete denture prostheses

Objective: To describe the role of routine radiographic examination of clinically healthy completely edentulous jaws prior to fabrication of the first set of complete dentures.Design: Cross-sectional retrospective descriptive study.Settings: The departments of Conservative and Prosthetic Dentistry, and Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Oral Medicine/Oral Pathology, Dental Maxillofacial Radiology of the School of Dental Sciences, University of Nairobi.Results: One hundred and eighty eight records were examined of which only 47(25%) had radiographic records. One hundred and fifty two significant radiographic findings and indices were recorded, which included retained roots, impacted teeth, significant radioluscencies and radiopacities, calcified stylohyoid ligament, extensive alveolar bone resorption, condylar changes and mandibular cortical index.Conclusion: This study confirms the high diagnostic yield of routine preprosthetic treatment radiographic examination. It also puts into perspective various anatomical indices in the jaw which, with proper interpretation, may determine or influence management decisions and prognosis in individual patients

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