Critical Review: The Role of Mixed Methods in Education Research

The critique of the article was based on; the issue/problem research addressed and why, methodology and the key findings .Mixed methods research is a combination of both qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis, where quantitative data has closed ended questions. On the other hand qualitative data consists of open ended information gathered through interviews. Therefore this paper explores the role of mixed methods in research. Mixed methods research is defined as an approach in relation to research question that call for real life contextual factors in terms of socio cultural aspects that may enable a researcher to understand a given community in reference to the study of interest by having the investigstion of study being done within philosophical and theoretical positions (Johnson, Onwuegbuzie, & Turner, 2007)

Ethnobotanicals for management of the brown ear tick Rhipicephalus appendiculatus in western Kenya

This thesis describes the results of a study to assess the effect of ethnobotanical products on the behaviour of the brown ear tick Rhipicephalus appendiculatus, the main vector of East Coast fever in sub-Saharan Africa. Ethnoknowledge of the Bukusu people in western Kenya on tick control and management was evaluated to identify plants that affect livestock ticks, using participatory action research approaches. More than 150 plant species spread over 110 genera and 51 families were identified and documented. From these, eight plants were selected and their essential oils extracted and used for screening in the laboratory on their behavioural effects on ticks. From these, the plants Tagetes minuta and Tithonia diversifolia were chosen for further studies. The essential oils of these two plants were further extracted and used in laboratory and field bioassays. From the laboratory assay, using a dual-choice apparatus, it was found that essential oils of both T. minuta and T. diversifolia affect tick climbing behaviour, representing a repellent response. Dose response effects were observed. On steers, differential effects to the essential oils were observed with R. appendiculatus, which prefer to feed mainly inside the ears of the host animal. It was found that treatment of the ear region with the essential oils of both T. minuta and T. diversifolia significantly deterred ticks from reaching the ear. The essential oils of T. minuta and T. diversifolia were evaluated in the field and significantly shown to affect R. appendiculatus and other ticks naturally attached to the host animals. The essential oil of T. minuta affects R. appendiculatus and other ticks more than the essential oil of T. diversifolia. The results suggest the potential for essential oils to be incorporated in the on-host “push” and “push-pull” strategy for the control and management of R. appendiculatus, other affected livestock ticks and associated tick-borne diseases among the resource-limited livestock farming community in tropical Africa. <br/

Increasing Kenya's Agricultural Competitiveness: Farm Level Issues

The objective of this paper is to address the farm level issues that affect the production costs and so the competitiveness of domestic food and commercial production. It compares domestic production prices of key food commodities with the equivalent parity prices to assess the extent to which the domestic prices for maize, wheat, and sugar, and export and domestic crops are competitive. This paper identifies and assesses the factors that influence domestic production costs. It also identifies strategies that could increase food and export crops’ productivity, by that reducing production costs and encourage competitiveness of the domestic production.Food Security, Food Policy, Kenya, Maize, Wheat, Sugar, Marketing, Q18,

Community Led Total Sanitation to Reduce Household Diarrhea Morbidity in Nyando District

Community-led total sanitation (CLTS) is an innovative way to achieve communities free from open defecation. The purpose of the study was to show the association between CLTS and the Reduced Household Morbidity in the whole of Nyando District. The study was a comparative cross sectional study and was carried out in Nyando Sub County.Overall 47.3%of household members still defecated in the open the previous day (6.7% in intervention site compared to 74.6% in the control site, p&lt;0.0001), and a two week prevalence of diarrhea was 17.4% (11.1% in the intervention site compared to 21.6% in control site)

Clinical Outcomes Following Management of Adult Femoral Shaft Fractures by Surgery and Traction at Thika Level 5 Hospital

Objective: To compare the clinical outcomes of femoral shaft fractures managed surgically and conservatively by traction. Design: A prospective quasi experimental study at the Thika level 5 hospital. Methods: 148 adult patients who had sustained traumatic fractures of femur were prospectively enrolled and assigned into two treatment groups.69(46.6%) patients were enrolled in group A and managed surgically by intramedullary nailing while 79 (53.4%)patients were enrolled in group B and managed by skeletal traction. Patients were purposively assigned into group A after they were able to afford the implants into the surgica group and the rest into the conservative group. Clinical outcomes that were assessed in the wards and clinics included malunion rates, mobility and limb length discrepancy up to three months post discharge. Data was collected by history, physical examination and radiological evaluation using a standardized questionnaire. The data was compiled and analyzed using SPSS version 17. Persons’ chi square, odds ratio and logistic regression were used to measure associations, risk analysis and multivariate analysis. Results: No significant difference was noted between the two groups in terms of demographic data, fracture type and co;morbidities. Malunion rate of more than 5 degrees was seen in 11(15.9%) patients in group A compared to 34(43.1%) patients in group B (p&lt; 0.001). Seven patients (10.1%) in group A had limb shortening greater than 2 cm compared to 20 patients(25.3%) in group B (P&lt;0.011).Good functional outcomes were achieved in 38 patients (55.1%) who underwent surgery compared to 23 patients (29.1%) managed by traction (p&lt; 0.004) Conclusion: The data indicates a better clinical outcome of managing femoral shaft fractures by surgery as compared to traction. It also indicates that clinicians in regional referral hospitals should be encouraged to use operative methods in femoral shaft fracture management primarily without delay. Keywords: fracture shaft femur, clinical outcome, malunion, functional outcome, limb shortenin

A Comparative Study of Dry Ports in East Africa and China

The period between 1970s and 1990s witnessed a number of global changes. Significant ones were; liberalization of trade, deregulation of many economies, and emergence of economic integrations of countries and regions. These changes in addition to innovation and advancement of ICT impacted on trade and the shipping sector. Thevolume of trade, the cargo transported by sea, and the number of shipping vessels increased thus putting pressure on existing sea ports. Dry ports were introduced as a way of accessing the hinterland and also reduce the pressure on the bottle necked, congested and inefficient sea ports. Theadoption of dry port concept began in Europe and North America, followed by Asia, South America and then Africa. This trend created the need to conduct studies about this sector. This paper therefore tries to compare historical perspectives, developing mode, and management model of the dry ports sector in China, a high income developing country, under a socialist system, with advanced shipping infrastructure, against the East African region, which is characterized with low income countries, free market policies, anda largely less developed shipping infrastructure. The paper also presents discussions on the pros and cons of both systems from which, conclusions and recommendations are drawn to support future studies and policy formulation. This paper not only serves the purpose of contributing to existing academic knowledge in respect to dry ports, but it also gives the policy makers and practitioners in the logistics and trade sectors a chance to compare the practices in the two developing regions and apply what is suitable for a particular case. Keywords: Comparative study, Dry Ports, East Africa, Chin

Knowledge and attitude of women on the available PMTCT services at the antenatal clinic of the Coast Province General Hospital

Introduction: Several high profile events of the last decade have served as catalysts for the now widely  available prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV services. However, Kenya continues to face challenges in assuring that all women in need of PMTCT services receive the full package.Methods: Background: Methods: A cross sectional survey was undertaken. Systematic sampling method  was used for sample selection. Data was collected using pretested structured questionnaires. Data was  analyzed in SPSS and Epi Info using bivariate and multivariate logistic regression.Results: Approximately 75% of participants were seeking PMTCT services in CPGH for the first time, 71% knew of their HIV status. About 95% of participants were satisfied with privacy during testing. Clients who  had never delivered in CPGH had a significantly (pConclusion: Participants seeking PMTCT services had poor HIV knowledge; but reported positive experiences and good provider – client relationship. However for a successful PMTCT program in CPGH attention needs to be paid in the patient experiences as they seek other reproductive services

Cross-sectional study on effect of civil society organizations interventions on individuals infected with HIV in Busia County Kenya

Since the discovery of HIV in the early 1980s in Kenya, Civil Society Organizations have played a major role in its fight. The aim was to study effect of intervention on improved health, nutrition and income generation activities on individuals infected by HIV. A cross-sectional study was undertaken as a baseline with aquasi experimental study design to compare intervention and non intervention sites. Two hundred and seventeen (217) respondents out of which 69.1% were females and 30.9% males selected from four sub counties of Busia County. A structured questionnaire was administered to people infected with HIV in CSO intervention and non intervention sites. In depth interviews and Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) were performed using a guide. Structured forms guided the performance on clinical examination and anthropometry procedures. The Statistical Package for Social Scientist software was used to analyze quantitative data. Frequency distributions were calculated and visualized and Chi square test with odds ratios computed. NVIVO statistics software was used to analyze qualitative data. Audio and video recordings were transcribed verbatim, line by line coding used to manage discrete units of text, and data segments reviewed to illustrate people’s perspectives. A majority of respondents had primary level education (46.3%) and was self-employed (72.1%). HIV/AIDS awareness was high in both the non-intervention (84%) and intervention (79.8%) site, with access to information playing a major role in people’s understanding of HIV/AIDS (p&lt;0.01). Majority of respondents (95.2%) in intervention and non-intervention (96.2%) sites had easy access to ARVs, with 48.1% sourcing drugs privately. Approximately 44.1% sourced ARVs therapy from government facilities with 30.3% from CSOs. Distance to health facilities was the main challenge for those accessing ARV drugs in intervention (22.0%) and non-intervention (39.7%) sites, (OR=2.3 (95%CI=1.2-4.5), p=0.01) was greater in the non-intervention sites. Lack of cash for transport (25% versus 27%) and weakness in the body (11% versus 16.4%) were other challenges as recorded. Most respondents (93.9%) had good ARV uptake, with 74% having reported no major health problems in the recent three months. Only 7% of respondents examined clinically had abnormal blood pressure. Mean body temperature was 36.43 degrees Celsius (std. dev. =0.734). Regarding weights classification, 13.7% of the respondents were underweight, 58.9% normal, 7.3% overweight, and 5% were obese and weights differed by gender (p&lt;0.01) significantly. A large proportion (89.1% in intervention and 94.3% in non-intervention sites) of respondents was aware of good eating habits although they practiced poor eating patterns. In the morning, the trend was (71.9% and 62.4% in the intervention and non-intervention sites) respondents eat nothing. ‘Ugali’ (posho) and traditional vegetables was the most common type of food eaten during lunch (31.0% in intervention and 34.1% in the non-intervention site) and dinner (33.6% intervention and 25.1% in non-intervention sites). Fruits are hardly consumed by majority (42.1% and 45.3%). Provision of ARV (intervention (81.3%) and non-intervention sites (84.3%), (X2(df) =0.32(1), p=0.57) was the most common mode of support received. In focus groups discussion sessions, respondents mentioned of no direct financial benefits received from CSOs although many say they recognize what the government has done for them. In their discussion, it was revealed that CSOs initiate short term projects which do not last and when they wind up get compromise when projects end. This survey demonstrates the essential role played by implementing partners (CSOs) on improved health, nutrition and socio economic status. Influence on better access to medication, balanced diet, and economic change probably contributes to living a better and healthier life for those infected with HIV.Afr J Health Sci. 2017; 30(2):57-7

Risk factors for severe acute malnutrition among children aged 6-59 months admitted at Lubango Pediatric Hospital, Angola

Background: The 4th Millennium Development Goal (MDG) is to reduce the mortality rates among underfives by two thirds between 1990 and 2015. Efforts to prevent child deaths need to be stepped up in order to meet that target but the challenge is how to reduce morbidity and mortality among children with SAM. In SSA, the nutritional and health situation is worsening. The hospital case fatality rates(CFR) for SAM remain high due to faulty case management in resource-poor settings. Despite the improved understanding of the clinical management of SAM, the CFR among admitted children in SSA has remained between 20- 30%. This study sought to determine the social demographic and clinical risk factors associated with severe acute malnutrition among children admitted at Lubango Pediatric Hospital. Methods: This was a case-control design where cases were compared with age and sex -matched controls with weight for height. Data was collected using an interviewer administered structured questionnaire, with caregivers as respondents: Clinical history and examination was conducted by a trained clinician eliciting duration of illness and categorizing symptoms such as fever and cough among others. The Nutritional status of the child was determined using anthropometric measurement. A pre- HIV test counselling was done to the care takers and the ones who gave consent, an HIVantibody test was conducted to the child using Determine and unigold HIV rapid test followed by a post-test counselling for both the HIV positive and negative children. For children who had been admitted the same year, the files were found for confirmation of the diagnosis of the previous admission(s).Results: The significant predictors of severe malnutrition were family order, HIV test results, previous history of admission with diarrhea and malnutrition, duration of breast feeding and number of previous admissionsConclusion: The burden of severe malnutrition is still high among children admitted in hospital. There is need to strengthen breast feeding campaigns and family planning strategies. Further clinicians need to be proactive in assessing the risk of malnutrition in HIV positive children and children with recurrent admissions especially with malnutrition and diarrhea

Health Seeking behavior; perspective of the Marginalized Somali Community in Garissa County, a Semi-Arid Region of North Eastern Kenya

Appropriate medical care seeking could prevent a significant number of deaths and complications due to ill health. Unfortunately, healthcare seeking behaviors (HSB) differs according to place, the affected, disease types, beliefs and the opportunities to seek care. These decisions are not isolated to individuals but are embedded in a broader household and social organizational decision process and the capacity to allow seeking of care. This descriptive cross-sectional community-based study used a multistage cluster sampling method to enrol consenting adults from different households located in the seven (7) sub-counties in Garissa County. The data were collected by interviewing 405 adult population and the answers reported in pretested structured questionnaires. Among the surveyed respondents, the mean age (±SD) was 35.17 (12.9) years, 68.1% had no formal education, 72.8% were female and 81.2% were married. Health care seeking during the latest illness was reported by three quarters of the respondents (n=293, 72.3%). The treatment or advice during the latest illness was sought by the majority in the Government / public hospitals (n=226, 55.5%), followed by in the private hospitals (n= 37, 9.1%) and among Traditional or homeopathic or spiritual healers (n = 28, 6.9%). In multivariate analysis, household headship, possession of health insurance, reasons for choosing preferred healthcare facility, durations prior to seeking treatment and the perceived three common illnesses in the community were associated with seeking treatment during the latest illness both in any of the healthcare facility and in the government/public hospitals. Gender, occupation and reasons for choosing preferred healthcare facility independently influenced seeking treatment during the latest illness both in any of the health facility and in private hospitals.  Durations prior to seeking treatment was the only independent factor associated with seeking treatment both in any of the healthcare facility and among Traditional or homeopathic or spiritual healers. During the latest illnesses among this marginalized population, appropriate health seeking behavior was significantly high with the majority preferring the government/public facilities. Gender, occupation, household headship, possession of health insurance, reasons for choosing preferred hospital, availability and the preference of current health facility, duration with illness and perceived illnesses in the community are the predictors of HSB. Improvement in education, health facilities and medical services in the community, introduction of community based integrated management of common community illness are imperative to improve HSB among the Somali community in this Semi-arid region of Kenya. Keywords: Health seeking, Latest illnesses, Somali community, Semi-arid County of Keny