International Journal of Current Aspects

Determining the Application of Innovative Simulation-Based Medical Teaching and Learning Among Staff in Selected Kenya Medical Training College Campuses offering Medical Laboratory Sciences in Kenya

2023-05-06T10:44:02+00:00

Simulation is a teaching learning and assessment strategy used in medical education to prepare medical laboratory students for clinical practice. Simulation-based learning is aimed at bridging the gap between theory and practice through the use of innovative teaching strategies and thus it is considered the best alternative teaching, learning and assessment tool in preparing medical laboratory students for practical and professional life. Traditional methods of educating medical laboratory students are no longer sufficient in the present times largely influenced by the emergence of new infections, technology, and multimedia. In general, scarce literature supports the use of simulation to benefit medical laboratory student in areas of knowledge, value and realism. However, little emphasis has been placed to make application of the method. The aim of the study was to determine the extent of the application of innovative simulation-based medical teaching and learning among staff in selected Kenya medical training campuses offering medical laboratory sciences in Kenya, with a view of improving the application of the simulation strategy. The study employed the census sampling technique. Data collection tools were structured questionnaire, interview, checklist and observation which were used for data collection to obtain information from the respondents. Quantitative data analysis was conducted using the Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) software version 22 for windows. Qualitative data was analyzed using content analysis. Both descriptive and inferential statistics particularly the Chi-square test statistics were used in data analysis. P-value was used to test the normality of the spread of the ages. From the findings, majority of the lecturers, 39 (83.0%) indicated that they understood and defined simulated medical laboratory experiences both actual and anticipated. The respondents reported that simulation-based teaching and learning enables them to earn continuous professional development (CPD) points. All the lecturers 47(100%) agreed that educational validity of simulation-based teaching and learning was one among the factors that shaped their decision to implement simulations. The principals cited issues such as untrained simulator instructor staff in MLS, lack of adequate infrastructure, as part of challenges they encountered while implementing innovative simulation-based teaching and learning. From the study, it was concluded that simulation-based teaching and learning was not applied uniformly across the MLS department, indicating a lack of standardization in training hence the knowledge, attitudes as well as skills acquired by the students before they graduate were not in line with the public expectation. There is a need for Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC) management to ensure uniform application of innovative simulation-based teaching and learning across all MLS departments and hence standardization in training of medical laboratory sciences professionals.

Evaluating Implementation Status of the National Guidelines for Covid-19 Hygiene and Sanitation in Primary Schools of Marsabit County, Kenya

2023-05-30T03:29:44+00:00

Globally, erupting in late 2019 in China, COVID-19 pandemic became a monumental public health policy problem and threat to humanity of our time. As of June 13, 2021, the pandemic affected close to 176 million people and caused over 3.8 million deaths and disrupted global economies leading to loss of jobs and livelihoods. From a public health perspective, African countries like Kenya, need greater investments in water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) interventions as the first line of defence to effectively mitigate against the pandemic. The objective of this study was to identify and assess the level and status of hygiene and sanitation implementation of COVID-19 national guidelines in four schools in three sub counties of Marsabit County in northern Kenya. COVID-19The study adopted a cross sectional design and mixed method in data collection. In addition, review of secondary literature both quantitative and qualitative data were collected during October to December 2022. Data was collected through administering questionnaires targeting 284 respondents, key informant interviews and focused group discussions with selected opinion leaders. Quantitative data was analysed using SPSS ver25 and univariate and bivariate statistical techniques were applied. Descriptive analysis using thematic technique was used to analyse qualitative data. The study findings observed that the current school based intervention for COVID-19 prevention included wearing of face masks (86%), practicing social distance (65%), hand washing with water (52%), and using alcohol based hand sanitizers (64%). It also revealed key factors influencing covid19 interventions: barriers to uptake included: lack of enforcement (84.2%), shortage of WASH facilities (78.9%), lack of funds (76.8%), lack of trained staff (70.4%), inadequate facilities (88.7%), lack of awareness (50.0%), poor attitude and ignorance (76.4%), accessibility (37.3%), cultural and religious factors (70.1%).This study concludes that while knowledge of transmission and prevention were found to be high; access to many of the essential support systems and WASH facilities remain a major challenge in the schools in Marsabit. These challenges were also identified from the findings of qualitative study. The study advances key recommendations notably: promotion of school-based training and sensitization of teachers and workers; increased financial support for provision of hygiene and sanitation facilities and preventive support supplies; expansion of community sensitization using radio, television, mass media and school drama clubs; and finally, enhanced financial and budgetary support from national and county governments, donors, and non-governmental organizations to implement robust WASH interventions especially in schools in the Arid and Semi-Arid regions of Kenya.

Utilization of Nutritional Information for Health Purposes in Loima Sub-County in Turkana County, Kenya

2023-06-11T07:11:15+00:00

The study will assess the role of traditional communication system in nutritional and health awareness among pastoralist in the 21^st century. Nutritional information, broadly defined, refers to knowledge of concepts and processes related to nutrition and health including knowledge of diet and health, diet and disease, foods representing major sources of nutrients, and dietary guidelines and recommendations. Those included in the study will be NGO Managers, NGO county co-coordinators, Pastoralists in Loima-sub-county and county government ministry of health officers that will be randomly selected. The objective of the study will be to investigate whether organizations performance at Comply industries ltd is influenced by targeted talent management. The target population will consist of 5 top management heads of NGOs departments, 5 NGOs Turkana County co-ordinators, 3 Department of Health Nutrition and Dietetics Officers (County government of Turkana) 1 Head of Nutrition County government of Turkana, 1 Loima sub-county Head Nutritionist, 1 Loima sub-county Nutritionists, 15 Loima sub-county coordinators, 50 Turkana County pastoralists, 1 ward administrative, 1 village administrative and 1 chief, 15 Loima sub-county registered teachers. 1 Librarian Kenya National Library (Turkana County branch). The total number of target population therefore will be 100 respondents. The study adopted a stratified sampling technique to administered the questionnaire to the different strata with the same characteristics. The different nutritional communication approaches were used to. disseminate information to the community. In addition, the interview schedules were administered using selective sampling strategies to identify potential respondents for the stud. This study will adopt a descriptive research design. The study will collect qualitative data using questionnaires and qualitative data using interview guide. The interview questionnaire was subdivided into three sections: section A providing respondents bio data; section B and C tackles close ended questions as per the study objectives. The findings of the study will be analyzed using SPSS version 23 to generate tables, pie charts, and graphical representation and the analysis done to assess the median, mean, standard deviation, and percentiles of the data findings. The interview schedule will be recorded, transcribed, and coded as per the study themes to analyze the responses as per study themes. The two schedules: interview and questionnaires will be subjected to pilot test to assess the time and the effectiveness of the questions towards achieving the objectives of the study.

Challenges in Accessing and Utilizing Information in Digital Resource Platforms by Academic Staff in Selected Public Universities in Kenya.

2023-08-12T06:27:31+00:00

Digital resource platforms have gained significant recognition as valuable tools for education and research within universities. These platforms enable easy access, sharing and dissemination of information, leveraging the advancements in information and Communication Technologies (ICTs). Nonetheless, users of these platforms face challenges in effectively accessing and utilizing these information resources due to complexities in navigation. This issue arises from a mismatch between user expectations and the design of information platforms, which hinders seamless access and utilization of information. This may adversely affect teaching and research output that are core mandates of universities. The purpose of the study was to explore challenges that academic staff experience in accessing and utilizing information in digital resource platforms in the selected public universities in Kenya. The study was based on a pragmatic paradigm where it adopted a mixed method approach. This enabled the research to collect both quantitative and qualitative data that complemented each other in collecting accurate and reliable data. Purposive and census sampling techniques were used to draw respondents from the targeted population. The sample size was 113 respondents comprising 86 academic staff, four university librarians and 23 library staff in charge of digital content. Statistical Packages for Social Sciences was used to analyze quantitative data while thematic analysis was used for qualitative data. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and presented in form of tables, charts and verbatim reports. The findings showed that academic staff had inadequate digital literacy skills and slow in adopting technology that resulted in ineffective access and under-utilization of e-content. Major challenges faced by academic staff were limited range of digital resource platforms, unattractive visual design, inadequate digital literacy skills and technological dynamism. The study recommended for increased digital resource platforms to facilitate wider access, development of appealing visual design and continuous digital literacy training among users.

Pedagogical Transformation: Effects of Open Educational Resources on Teaching in Higher Institutions of Learning in Kenya

2023-08-17T06:14:05+00:00

OERs are viewed as providing chances to provide access to high-quality educational and informational materials globally in this age of digitization. By enabling access to digital materials, academic institutions are utilizing the technological revolution to transform teaching and research. With the removal of financial, legal, and technical barriers, more academic institutions and faculty members are now able to access digital materials online, transforming teaching and research on a global scale. OERs have made it possible to offer accessible and free information resources for everyone in the academic setting since they are affordable and customizable. When aiming at certain audiences, the capacity to adapt and adjust material offers a significant benefit. The growing need for instructional materials and learning tools in contrast to the dire budgetary circumstances at many institutions. The purpose of this study is to review pedagogical transformation effects of Open Educational Resources on teaching in higher institutions of learning in Kenya.

Effects of Communicable Diseases on Maternity services in selected MNCH priority counties’ Public Health facilities in Kenya: A Case of COVID-19.

2023-08-26T05:21:18+00:00

Covid-19 is a rapidly evolving pandemic which has affected both developed and developing countries. Maternity services in low resource countries are adapting to provide antenatal and postnatal care midst a rapidly shifting health system environment due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Over the years there has been progress in reducing maternal and new-born mortality and stillbirths in Kenya and the globe. However, in the wake of covid-19 pandemic, perinatal women and their frontline health services providers especially nurses and midwives have been cited to bear the brunt of the pandemic. This has largely been linked to the limited access to Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) requirements and the fear of contracting the disease within health services delivery points. There have been adverse effects of maternal and new-born care outcomes due to coronavirus disease. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of coronavirus disease (COVID 19) to maternity services in selected levels III and IV public health facilities within five (5) Counties in Kenya. The five MNCH priority counties selected included Nairobi, Migori, Kilifi, Isiolo and Garissa. A two-stage sampling approach was used to select health facilities in the 5 MNCH priority counties with the sampling frame comprising all MNCH priority counties in Kenya. The study employed cross-sectional and observational retrospective approaches. Data was collected from the midwifery managers and maternity registers in a total of 28 levels III and IV facilities. Open Data Kit (ODK) formatted tools were used to collect data from maternity services facility managers and maternity registers in the selected facilities. Data collected from maternity registers covered the period of four months before covid-19 pandemic and four months during the covid-19 pandemic. A two-days training programme comprising of introduction to study objectives and instruments as well as review of the instruments, practice interviews and data collection was conducted. Data was analysed using STATA Version 15. Descriptive statistics and measures of central tendencies were used to analyse the demographic details of the respondents and health related variables of interests. Chi-square test and fishers exact test were used to find association between facilities that had diagnosed COVID-19 cases and their demographic characteristics. For all tests, a p-value < 0.05 was taken as statistically significant. A total of 31 midwifery managers were interviewed and a total of 801 maternity records (400 before COVID and 401 during COVID-19 pandemic) were obtained from levels 3 III (66%) and IV (34%) facilities across 5 MNCH priority counties in Kenya [Nairobi (27%), Garissa (10%), Isiolo (20%), Kilifi (23%) and Migori (20%)]. On Overall representation, Level III facilities were slightly over half (51.6%) and level IV facilities had 48.4% representation. Most of the maternity services managers interviewed (48.4%) had worked for less than 3 years in their respective stations and the majority (67.7%) had a diploma in either Nursing or midwifery as their highest level of professional education. Overall, the managers indicated that ANC visits had reduced (67.9%), referrals of mothers with complications got delayed (29%), mothers feared delivering in hospitals (64.5%) and possibly some mothers were delivering with the assistance of TBAs (45.2%). The managers reported that New-born care services were the most affected by the pandemic (54.8%) followed by ANC services (45.2%). Immunization services were the least affected (35.5%). The managers (41.9%) reported reduced uptake of FP commodities and a reduction in exclusive breastfeeding (12.9%). Majority (51.6%) of the managers confirmed there was an increase of unplanned pregnancies (90.4) during the pandemic period with limited opportunity to educate ANC clients (74.2%). It was observed that 48% of the facilities surveyed had diagnosed a covid-19 case yet only 61.3% and 54.8% of the facilities had access to masks and hand sanitizers respectively. Facility records indicated a 19% higher ANC attendance before COVID than during COVID-19 pandemic period. Neonatal deaths increased significantly during Covid-19 period ((P=0.010) by 38%. Live births significantly increased by 15% during the pandemic (p<0.0001). Other significant increases were observed in mothers with labour complications (p=0.0003) and number of mothers that underwent caesarean sections(p<0.001) during the pandemic period. There was no sufficient statistical evidence on whether the uptake of FP commodities, post-partum complications, immunizations and maternal mortalities were affected by the covid-19 pandemic. The Covid-19 pandemic caught maternity service providers and the local health systems unaware. The fear of the pandemic had a cross-cutting effect on utilisation of maternity services. Continuous training of health services providers on emergency response to pandemics and health system preparedness is vital in order to have resilient service delivery points.

Hurdles to Knowledge Management Application in Enhancing Service Delivery at The National Land Commission Nairobi County, Kenya

2023-09-04T03:03:50+00:00

Efforts to address the ongoing problem facing Kenyan communities may be summed up by the National Land Policy and the National Land Commission. The issue has exacerbated by the rapid transition from the traditional method of land ownership in Kenya, where land is held in common, to a scenario in which land is held by individuals and the affluent could gain an advantage over the poor without knowledge management and any pushback from the community. The study's focus was on the knowledge management practices used by the Kenya National Land Commission, with the ultimate goal of enhancing the quality of those practices and the services they provide to the general public. Therefore, the study sought to investigate hurdles to knowledge management application in improving service performance at the National Land Commission, Nairobi County. A descriptive survey methodology was used for this study. The sample size was 150 people including NLC managers, customer service representatives, secretaries and customers and it was selected using stratified random selection to ensure that it is representative of the institution as a whole. The study was able to gather both primary and secondary information through conducting surveys and scheduling interviews. Cronbach's alpha was utilized to determine the reliability of the research instruments in the Test-retest technique. Means, percentages, standard deviations, tables, and figures were used to display the findings of inferential and descriptive statistics performed on the gathered data in SPSS (version 23). The biggest barriers that hurt knowledge management implementations are awareness, time, and culture. Many KM programs struggle to gain traction because they aren’t marketed in a way that cuts through the noise and resonates with employees. The study recommends that the organizational management must understand where and in what forms knowledge exists. The organization need to create a culture that values and rewards knowledge sharing, providing employees with the tools and resources they need to share knowledge through knowledge management tools, training programs and communication channels. For the organization to achieve the goal of knowledge management practice, they should enable and promote a culture of learning and development, creating an environment where employees are encouraged to share information to better the collective workforce. The organization should brainstorm catchy terms and phrases to talk about KM, along with a logo or motto that aligns with the organization’s culture and values.