Democracy and education for human development with special reference to women and Kenya

Democracy and development are given great importance in the contemporary world as exemplified by the increasing number of countries that have adopted multiparty governments and the 1990s UNDP's emphasis on equitable human development. The UNDP considers active democratic participation as crucial for engendering the human development goal of enlarging people's opportunities for choice. The Organization suggests a human development paradigm and recommends that each country formulates its own comprehensive strategy for realizing it.Following these views, this current study focusing on Kenya attempts to identify and examine a multi-dimensional democratic framework for realizing the principles and components of the paradigm. The researcher adopts a philosophical approach which involves conceptual and critical analyses of 'democracy for human development' and of how education could enhance it. Particular attention is paid to the women's case in the endeavour to find ways of redressing gender disparities in political and socio-economic development in Kenya.The work is organized into eight chapters and it addresses the following issues:• the criteria for participatory democracy for engendering human development• the historical background of democracy for human development in Kenya and in some selected influential countries• the interrelationship between democracy for human development and education• the implications of the researcher's democratic criteria for human development for Kenyan government policies and statements.The thesis concludes: (i) that the criteria for democracy for human development can be categorized into prescriptive, methodological, developmental, opportunities, protective and pragmatic dimensions, (ii) that the Kenyan history of democracy for human development shows shortfalls, (iii) that formal education could be used to promote democracy for equitable human development for both genders and (iv) that Kenyan government policies and statements indicate commitment to promoting democracy for equitable human development for both women and men but the reality shows some discrepancies.The researcher therefore argues that, human and overall development may be engendered by: (i) improving democratic participation for both women and men, (ii) instituting formalized democratic procedures for effective self-expression for all people and for distributing power, duties and responsibilities equitably, (iii) developing appropriate skills, qualities and attitudes in people, (iv) providing relevant political, socio-economic and educational opportunities, (v) protecting human rights, and (vi) contextualizing democratic strategies in societal affairs. These requirements need concerted efforts by the school, the family, the church, and the community.If these findings and conclusions are considered, they might be useful to policy-makers, educationists and other researchers in the collaborative efforts which are necessary for developing a valid country strategy for enhancing human and overall development in Kenya

Education Research Gender, Education and Development - A Partially Annotated and Selective Bibliography

Community/Rural/Urban Development,

Organoids Increase the Predictive Value of in vitro Cancer Chemoprevention Studies for in vivo Outcome

Epidemiological and preclinical data suggest that antioxidants are protective against prostate cancer whose pathogenesis has been linked to oxidative stress. However, the selenium and vitamin E Cancer Prevention Trial (SELECT), found no efficacy for selenium in reducing prostate cancer incidence while vitamin E was associated with an increased risk of the disease. These results have called in to question the models used in preclinical chemoprevention efficacy studies and their ability to predict in vivo outcomes. Chemoprevention agents have traditionally been tested on two dimensional monolayer cultures of cell lines derived from advanced prostate cancers. But as SELECT demonstrates, results from advanced disease models were not predictive of the outcome of a primary chemoprevention trial. Additionally, lack of cell-matrix interactions in two dimensional cultures results in loss of biochemical and mechanical cues relevant for native tissue architecture. We use recent findings in three dimensional organoid cultures that recapitulated the SELECT trial results to argue that the organoid model could increase the predictive value of in vitro studies for in vivo outcomes

Integrating Oral PrEP Into Family Planning Services for Women in Sub-saharan Africa: Findings From a Multi-Country Landscape Analysis

Integration of HIV and family planning (FP) services is a renewed focus area for national policymakers, donors, and implementers in sub-Saharan Africa as a result of high HIV incidence among general-population women, especially adolescent girls and young women (AGYW), and the perception that integrating HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) into FP services may be an effective way to provide comprehensive HIV and FP services to this population. We conducted a focused desk review to develop a PrEP-FP integration framework across five key categories: plans and policies, resource management, service delivery, PrEP use, and monitoring and reporting. The framework was refined via interviews with 30 stakeholders across seven countries at varying stages of oral PrEP rollout: Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, South Africa, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. After refining the framework, we developed a PrEP-FP integration matrix and assessed country-specific progress to identify common enablers of and barriers to PrEP-FP integration. None of the countries included in our analysis had made substantial progress toward integrated PrEP-FP service delivery. Although the countries made progress in one or two categories, integration was often impeded by lack of advancement in other areas. Our framework offers policymakers, program implementers, and health care providers a road map for strategically assessing and monitoring progress toward PrEP-FP integration in their contexts

A case study of Catholic University of Eastern Africa

Dissertation for the degree of Master of Science in Information TechnologyThe study sought to evaluate the use of electronic databases in academic institutions. A case study was done for Catholic University of Eastern Africa. The main focus for the study was to investigate the level of awareness of the electronic databases among the community in academic institutions, investigate the extent and purpose of use, find out the challenges encountered in the use of electronic resources and also find out who actually uses the electronic databases in academic institutions and for what purpose are the electronic resources being used. It also set out to investigate the relationship between the use of electronic databases and the computing skills of the patrons. Relationship between the training on the use of the electronic databases and the level of use was also investigated. A survey was done through a questionnaire which was submitted to academic staff and postgraduate students. The sample comprised of 40% (60 out of 148) of the academic staff and 40% (73 out of 182) of the postgraduate students. The study revealed that there is high awareness (94%) of the electronic databases subscription by the CUEA community; the extent of use is average (65%). Majority of the users were the postgraduate students. Challenges experienced include; lack of connectivity, slow internet connectivity, lack of personal computers and password problems

Information Needs and Seeking Behavior of Young Small-Scale Dairy Farmers in Murang’a County, Kenya

Access to agricultural information influences the farming practices adopted by farmers. Small scale dairy farmers need frequent access to agricultural information to cope with modern dairy farming practices. Inefficient access and dissemination of dairy agricultural information can negatively affect the production level of dairy products. The study sought to assess the information needs and seeking behavior of young small-scale dairy farmers in Murang’a County, Kenya. The area has experienced low dairy agricultural productions despite its high potential in dairy farming. The study established that all the young dairy farmers required dairy agricultural information however dairy agricultural information is not readily available to them. Also, factors such as lack of exposure, lack of confidence, illiteracy, inadequate time and lack of funds negatively affected their information seeking behavior. The study therefore recommended the government to; recruit more extension officers within Murang’a County to ensure improved extension services, set up agricultural resource centers with qualified information providers to assess, select, market and acquire useful agricultural resources, improve infrastructure and set up cyber cafes within the sub counties and also educate dairy farmers on the use of technologies in accessing agricultural information

Information Communication Technologies (Icts) Employed By Young Farmers in Access and Use of Dairy Agricultural Information in Murang’a County, Kenya

Information Communication Technology (ICT) has changed the way information is created, stored, accessed and disseminated. It has the potential to enhance access and use of agricultural information by farmers in rural areas thereby improving their farming practices. The study was undertaken to assess how young farmers use ICT technologies in accessing and using dairy agricultural information in Murang’a County, Kenya. The study aimed at assessing the awareness by farmers on technologies available for use in accessing agricultural information and strategies used by farmers in accessing and using dairy agricultural information as a way of promoting dairy farming production. The results of the study revealed that 88% of the farmers agreed that they were aware of the use of technology in accessing agricultural information. 75% of the respondents used radio where television was rated second while mobile phones were rarely used. Majority at (80%) never used technologies such as computers, CD/DVD and social media to access and use dairy agricultural information. Three quarters (75%) preferred using other sources such as extension workers, friends, and relatives over technology. All the extension officers interviewed used technology to acquire and disseminate information. Radio was highly used, followed by internet/web services and social media. The study concluded that dairy farmers have limited access to modern technologies such as mobile phones in access and use of agricultural information. The Kenya National Library Services in collaboration with the Department of Livestock Production should set up exhibitions and information literacy programs for dairy farmers. Infrastructure should be improved in the rural areas of Murang’a County by setting up Cyber cafes within the subcounties and educate dairy farmers on the use of ICT technologies to access and use agricultural information

Determinants of contraceptive use among postpartum women in a county hospital in rural KENYA

Abstract Background There is a high unmet need for limiting and spacing child births during the postpartum period. Given the consequences of closely spaced births, and the benefits of longer pregnancy intervals, targeted activities are needed to reach this population of postpartum women. Our objective was to establish the determinants of contraceptive uptake among postpartum women in a county referral hospital in rural Kenya. Methods Sample was taken based on a mixed method approach that included both quantitative and qualitative methods of data collection. Postpartum women who had brought their children for the second dose of measles vaccine between 18 and 24 months were sampled Participants were interviewed using structured questionnaires, data was collected about their socio-demographic characteristics, fertility, knowledge, use, and access to contraceptives. Chi square tests were used to determine the relationship between uptake of postpartum family planning and: socio demographic characteristics, contraceptive knowledge, use access and fertility. Qualitative data collection included focus group discussions (FDGs) with mothers and in-depth interviews with service providers Information was obtained from mothers’ regarding their perceptions on family planning methods, use, availability, access and barriers to uptake and key informants’ views on family planning counseling practices and barriers to uptake of family planning Results More than three quarters (86.3%) of women used contraceptives within 1 year of delivery, with government facilities being the most common source. There was a significant association (p ≤ 0.05) between uptake of postpartum family planning and lower age, being married, higher education level, being employed and getting contraceptives at a health facility. One third of women expressing no intention of having additional children were not on contraceptives. In focus group discussions women perceived that the quality of services offered at the public facilities was relatively good because they felt that they were adequately counseled, as opposed to local chemist shops where they perceived the staff was not experienced. Conclusion Contraceptive uptake was high among postpartum women, who desired to procure contraceptives at health facilities. However, there was unmet need for contraceptives among women who desired no more children. Government health facility stock outs represent a missed opportunity to get family planning methods, especially long acting reversible contraceptives, to postpartum women