A STUDY OF DRUGS USE AWARENESS AMONG STUDENTS IN KENYA

The study aims to assess the substance use related literacy among the medical students in government based medical college in the Nairobi, Kenya. The methodology of the study was cross sectional based on survey method. Result states that majority of students reported there is presence of substance abusing youths are existed in their classrooms. Results also shows that there is low level of self-intake substance and increase assertiveness as found among medical students

Effects of Competitive Strategy on the Performance of Deposit Taking SACCOs in Nairobi County, Kenya

The Sacco sector has globally experienced growth and diversification in the range of products and services that the sector provides in the market. In Kenya, Deposit Taking Saccos (DTSs) have been licensed to provide a wide range of products and services to their members and customers. The objective of this study was to establish the effect of competitive strategy on the performance of Deposit Taking Saccos in Nairobi County, Kenya. The study was anchored in the Resource Based View (RBV) of the firm. The study hypothesized that there is a relationship between competitive strategy and organization performance. Descriptive research design was applied. The population of the study – a census, comprised of all 42 DTSs in Nairobi County, Kenya. The study involved obtaining data from every member of the population through a questionnaire. The study results support the position that competitive strategy has a positive effect on organization performance. This finding is consistent with the results of previous studies. This implies that policy makers, administrators and managers of DTSs have to formulate generic competitive strategies for enhancement of organizational performance. Keywords: Competitive Strategy, Performance, Deposit Taking Saccos (DTSs

Prevalence and risk factors of adverse events during treatment of drug resistant tuberculosis in a setting of high human immunodeficiency virus co-infection in Namibia : 2009-10

Magister Public Health - MPHNamibia is currently coping with a dual burden of human immunodeficiency (HIV) and HIV-associated tuberculosis (TB). In 2010, HIV prevalence was 18.8%, the TB case notification rate was 634 per 100,000 population, while TB/HIV co-infection was 58% in 2009. There were 372 reported cases of drug-resistant TB (DR-TB) in 2009. This study assessed the prevalence, profile and outcome of adverse events (AEs) associated with the treatment of DR-TB, and risk factors for the adverse events. The researcher used a cross-sectional design. Data was collected from the treatment records of all patients treated for DR-TB (N = 59) at the study facility between January 2008 and February 2010. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the frequency of the adverse events and logistic regression to analyse the association between possible risk factors and (specific) adverse events, with stratification (sub-group analysis) and multivariate analysis to adjust for measured confounders. Results of logistic regression analysis are reported as odds ratio (OR), 95% confidence interval (CI) and p-value, where p<0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. A total of 141 adverse events were experienced by 90% (53/59) of patients in the sample. HIV-associated TB occurred in 31 (53%) of the sample. The prevalence of gastrointestinal tract (GIT) adverse events was 64%, tinnitus 45%, joint pain 28% and decreased hearing 25%. Abdominal pain, rash, nausea, decreased hearing and joint pain were found to be more common in people living with HIV than in HIV-negative patients. Moderate-to-severe adverse events were mostly experienced after four weeks of DR-TB treatment (OR 6.4; 95% CI 1.6 – 25.6, p= 0.01). Drug-resistant TB patients who were coinfected with HIV were more prone to experiencing three or more adverse events (OR 3.9; 95% CI 1.2 – 13.6, p= 0.03). Patients treated with zidovudine-based ART were at an increased risk of experiencing nausea (OR 7.5; 95% CI 1.1 -51.5, p=0.04). Females were associated with an increased risk of skin rash (OR 15.7; 95% CI 1.7 – 143.7, p=0.01). The use of cycloserine-based DR-TB regimens was associated with joint pain (OR 6.5; 95% CI 1.6 – 25.8, p=0.01), while the risk of ototoxicity was associated with the use of amikacin-containing regimens (OR 12.0; 95% CI 1.3 – 111.3, p=0.03). Adverse events were found to be more common among patients treated for DR-TB (90% prevalence), particularly during the intensive phase of TB therapy. Most of these adverse events were mild and tolerable. Some adverse events were more common among DR-TB patients who were co-infected with HIV than in HIV-negative patients. The characteristics and risk factors of the serious adverse events need further research. The use of cycloserine-based DR-TB regimens was associated with joint pain. Findings of the risk factor analysis are inconclusive because of the small sample size, which severely limited the power of the study. Clinicians should invest more time in the prevention and management of adverse events, and should pay greater attention to the needs of HIV co-infected DR-TB patients who are using second-line anti-TB medications, especially those who are concomitantly undergoing treatment using antiretroviral medicines

The Effect of Human Resource Management Practices on Employee Outcomes: A Study of Firms Listed on the Nairobi Securities Exchange

Most empirical research on the link between Human Resource Management Practices (HRMP) and employee outcomes has concentrated on the private sector, yet understanding this relationship in publicly listed firms, in the Developing World context is equally important. The effect of HRMP on employee outcomes - has not been established amongst Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE) listed firms, yet theory has demonstrated that HRMP can have an effect on employee outcomes. This study was motivated by the desire to fill this gap in knowledge. The study objective was to assess the relationship between HRMP and employee outcomes. The research design was cross sectional descriptive survey. Data was collected using a self-administered questionnaire, from a population of 60 NSE listed firms. The response rate was 36(60%). Descriptive statistics, correlation and regression techniques were used to analyze the data. The results indicate that HRMP have a significant effect on employee outcomes. This study confirms the findings of previous studies that have found a significant link between HRMP and employee outcomes. It was recommended that firms have to ensure that they formulate Human Resource Management Practices that will lead to employee outcomes that can enhance employee commitment, competence and empowerment. This will assist the firms towards attainment and sustenance of superior and competitive advantage in their activities. Keywords: Human Resource Management Practices (HRMP); Employee Outcomes; Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE

Influence of Internal Organizational Factors on E-procurement Adoption in Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises in Nyeri County Kenya

Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs) are considered as major pillars of the modern market economies given that they play critical economic and social roles world over more so in developing countries like Kenya. Though E-procurement provides benefits that SMEs could gain from, some internal organizational factors have inhibited effective E-procurement adoption in SMEs. The objective of this study was to assess the influence of internal organizational factors on E-procurement adoption in Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises in Nyeri County Kenya. The study hypothesized that internal organizational factors do not have a significant influence on E-procurement adoption in Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises in Nyeri County Kenya. The study was guided by the Resource Based Theory. In the study, internal organizational factors was the independent variable and E-procurement adoption was the dependent variable. The study used a self-administered questionnaire for data collection that was issued to 105Small and Medium-Sized Enterprise business owners within Nyeri County. A Pilot study was conducted by administering 5 questionnaires and reliability test done by use of Cronbach alpha. Data analysis was conducted using regression and correlation analysis in order to determine the relationship between the variables. The results were presented in tables and the findings discussed. Based on the findings the study concluded that internal organizational factors like employee knowledge, size of an organization, staff retention, trust on technology and perceptions of manager, influence E-procurement adoption in Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises. The findings of this study can assist in deepening the understanding of the challenges that hinder E-procurement adoption by SMEs for managers and policy makers as well as form a body of knowledge for referencing to scholars and academicians. Keywords: Internal organizational factors, Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises, E-procurement DOI: 10.7176/EJBM/12-33-04 Publication date: November 30th 202

Mediating Influence of Information Technology Infrastructure in the Relationship Between Supply Chain Process Integration Capabilities and Supply Chain Performance of Public Universities in Kenya

Research conducted under Research Authorization Permit NACOSTI/P/IT/97613/18539 of 20th September, 2017 issued by National Commission for Science Technology and Innovation, Kenya. The Technical University of Kenya sponsored the PhD Course. Abstract The purpose of the study was to investigate the mediating effect of information technology infrastructure in the relationship between Supply Chain Process Integration Capabilities (SCPIC) and Supply Chain Performance (SCP) of public universities in Kenya. Information technology was hypothesized to have a positive mediation influence on the relationship between supply chain process integration capabilities and supply chain performance of public universities in Kenya. The study was grounded on Resource Dependency Theory and adopted a descriptive survey design.  A self-administered questionnaire was distributed to 31 public universities in Kenya. The response rate was 81%. Descriptive statistics, correlation and regression techniques were used to analyze the data. The results of the study show a statistically significant relationship between SCPIC and supply chain performance. The approach for testing the mediation was adopted from Memon, Cheah, Ramayah, Ting, &amp; Chuah, (2018). The results show that the relationship between SCPIC and SCP is mediated by information technology infrastructure. The study contributes to our understanding of the effect of information technology infrastructure in the relationship between supply chain process integration capabilities and supply chain performance of universities. From the study, an integrated information technology infrastructure enables consistent and real-time transfer of information between supply chain management related applications and functions that are distributed across partners. The study recommends that public universities should invest in technology not only in their institutions but also in partnership with stakeholders like suppliers so as to streamline operations in the supply chain for organizational competitiveness. Keywords: Supply chain process integration capabilities, Information technology infrastructure, Supply chain performanc

Moderating Effect of Career Guidance on the Relationship Between Introductory Accounting Course on Students’ Choice of Accounting as a Major in Kenyan Universities

The objective of the study was to find out the moderating effect of Career guidance on the relationship between Introductory Accounting Course teaching methodology, course content, instructor’s influence and performance on students’ choice of Accounting as a major in Kenyan universities. Career guidance was hypothesized to have no moderating effect on the relationship between Introductory Accounting Course; teaching methodology, course content, instructor’s influence and performance on Students’ choice of Accounting as a major in Kenyan universities. The study adopted a positivistic philosophical approach. A Descriptive Ex-Post Facto Research design was employed. The study sampled 330 students undertaking Bachelor of Commerce degree in twelve selected Kenyan universities. The researchers applied for a research permit from National Commission for Science Technology and Innovation (NACOSTI) to facilitate data collection from the selected twelve Kenyan universities. The study adopted a mixture of purposive and stratified random sampling techniques to select the sample of students from the target population. A pilot study was conducted. The study adopted a logistic regression model. The null hypothesis that career guidance has no moderating effect on the relationship between Introductory Accounting Course teaching methodology, course content, instructor’s influence and performance on students’ choice of Accounting as a major in Kenyan universities was thus rejected. A conclusion was drawn that career guidance has a moderating effect on the relationship between Introductory Accounting Course; teaching methodology, course content, instructor’s influence and performance on students’ choice of Accounting as a major in Kenyan universities. The policy implication of the study is that those responsible for university education have to give due attention to career guidance to strengthen the opportunities for students to choose Accounting as a major, given the low uptake of the specialization. The study focused on the moderating effect of career guidance on the relationship between Introductory Accounting Course; teaching methodology, course content, instructor’s influence and performance on students’ choice of Accounting as a major in Kenyan universities as opposed to other studies that hitherto focused on aspects like earnings, job market conditions and career opportunities as influencers of career choice among students in universities. Keywords: Teaching Methodology, Introductory Accounting Course, Career Guidance, Accounting Major.

Joint Effect of Supply Chain Process Integration Capabilities, Information Technology Infrastructure and Government Policy on Supply Chain Performance of Public Universities in Kenya

Although the individual effects of supply chain process integration capabilities, information technology infrastructure and government policy on performance have to some extent been researched on, the joint effect has not been subjected to research. The objective of the study was to establish the joint effect of supply chain process integration capabilities, information technology infrastructure and government policy on supply chain performance of public universities in Kenya. It was hypothesized that the joint effect of supply chain process integration capabilities, information technology infrastructure and government policy on supply chain performance of public universities in Kenya is different from their individual effects. The study was guided by the resource based view (RBV). The study adopted a descriptive survey design.  A self-administered questionnaire was distributed to 31 public universities in Kenya with a target of 62 respondents one from procurement and one from the information communication technology departments respectively. The response rate was 81 per cent. Descriptive statistics, correlation and regression techniques were used to analyze the collected data. The results of the study indicate that there is a joint effect of supply chain process integration capabilities, information technology infrastructure and government policy on supply chain performance of public universities in Kenya of R2 =0.688, F= 34.586, at P&lt; 0.05. The implication of the study is that policy makers and implementers have to formulate superior supply chain process integration capabilities, information technology infrastructure and government policy to achieve high levels of supply chain performance in public universities. This can build robust and agile end to end supply chains, policies, procedures, and practices for attainment of competitive advantages in operations. Keywords: Supply chain process integration capabilities, information technology infrastructure, government policy, supply chain performance, public universities DOI: 10.7176/PPAR/10-11-06 Publication date: November 30th 202

Moderating Effect of Competitive Strategy on the Relationship between Employee Outcomes and Performance of Firms Listed on the Nairobi Securities Exchange

The role of competitive strategy in the relationship between employee outcomes and firm performance has not been established with the selected set of variables, yet theory has demonstrated that competitive strategy can have an effect on this relationship. This study was motivated by the desire to fill this gap in knowledge. The objective of the study was to assess the moderating effect of competitive strategy on the relationship between employee outcomes and firm performance. The research design was cross sectional descriptive survey. Data was collected using a self-administered questionnaire, from a population of 60(100%