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Item Determinants of cancer care pathways at Wajir County, Kenya: patient perspectives(Researchecancer, 2025-02-12) Affey, Fatuma; Halake, Dabo Galgalo; Wainaina, Grace Muira; Osman, Hussein Ali; Ndukui, James G; Abdourahman, Houda; Abdihamid, OmarBackground: Cancer represents a major public health issue with substantial morbidity and mortality in low-resource settings such as Kenya. This study focuses on Wajir County in northern Kenya, a region with limited cancer care infrastructure and high unmet needs. Despite recent efforts to decentralize cancer care in Kenya, including establishing regional cancer centres in Garissa, Nakuru, and Mombasa, access to screening, diagnostics, and treatment remains constrained, particularly in rural areas. The absence of comprehen- sive cancer care pathways and a specialized oncology workforce in Wajir County exac- erbates challenges in early detection, treatment, and palliative care. The study evaluated the availability of cancer care services at Wajir County Referral Hospital (WCRH), includ- ing screening, diagnostic services, treatment modalities, and referral systems. The study further explores the gaps in cancer care, focusing on patient perspectives, and proposes potential solutions to address these challenges. Methods: This study used mixed-methods (qualitative and quantitative) methods to understand cancer care from the perspective of patients at WCRH. It involved adult patients (over 18) with a confirmed cancer diagnosis who were receiving treatment or follow-up care between February and April 2024. Data were gathered through inter- views and surveys, with research assistants helping with language translation and com- munity navigation. The study collected information on demographics, cancer types, and prevalence rates, which were analysed using descriptive statistics. The qualitative data focused on patients' experiences with cancer awareness, treatment, and care gaps, and were analysed for common themes. Ethical approval was obtained, and informed consent was given by all participants. Results: This study involved 25 cancer patients (12 males, 13 females) receiving treat- ment at WCRH. The most common cancers were esophageal (44%), cervical (28%), breast (24%), and prostate (8%). Delays in diagnosis were significant, with 12% of patients wait- ing over 6 years, 24% waiting 4–6 years, and 40% waiting 1–3 years before seeking care. Most diagnoses were made at WCRH (64%), with others diagnosed at the Garissa Can- cer Centre (22%) or in Nairobi (20%). Diagnostic tools available at WCRH included pap smears, mammograms, PSA tests, ultrasound, CT scans, and biopsies. However, access to these tools was limited, with barium swallow (32%) being the most frequently used for esophageal cancer, followed by pap smears, biopsies, and ultrasound (16% each). Patient awareness of cancer screening was higher for cervical (68%) and breast cancer (60%) but lower for prostate cancer (32%) and esophageal cancer (4%). Despite awareness, only 8% had previously undergone screening. Regarding treatment, most patients (80%) were aware of surgical options, while fewer knew about chemo- therapy (28%) or palliative care (12%). When treatment was unavailable at WCRH, most patients preferred the Garissa Cancer Centre (80%) or Nairobi (52%). Financial challenges were the primary barrier to treatment for 88% of patients, and patients suggested improving local cancer care, subsidizing treatment, and enhancing early detection and screening services. Conclusion: The findings indicate a high burden of late-stage cancer diagnoses, insufficient cancer screening and treatment services, and limited access to cancer care pathways and patient navigation systems. These results underscore the urgent need for improved cancer care pathways, enhanced awareness, and increased healthcare capacity to reduce cancer morbidity and mortality in northern Kenya. This study contributes to understanding the cancer care landscape in Wajir County and provides a foundation for future health policy initiatives aimed at bridging existing gaps in cancer care.Item : SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOAL NO. 17: EXPLORING WAYS IN WHICH PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP (PPP) CAN FOSTER SUSTAINABLE GROWTH AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE. A CASE OF KENYAN UNIVERSITIES(Umma University, 2025-02-06) Wanjau, Jackson; Maguta, AnnThe 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development with its 17 Sustainable Development Goals and 169 targets was adopted by the UN’s 193 member states in September 20155. Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 17 calls for strengthening the means of implementation and revitalizing the Global Partnership for Sustainable Development5. In particular, it calls for investing and fortifying the global partnerships to achieve sustainable development. The UN 2030 Agenda is global in nature and expects cooperation by both developed and developing countries to ensure no state is left behind. Thus the importance of SDG Goal 17 that encourages partnerships between different stakeholders viz: Public Sector, Private Sector, International Agencies and Civil Society organizations. The Goal of this Research Paper was to examine how Public Private Partnerships (PPP) can foster Sustainable Growth and Corporate Governance in Kenyan Universities.The study was guided by the following objectivesItem Challenges of Sustainable Development in Societies: A Systematic Literature Review(Umma University, 2025-02-06) Wanjau, Jackson; Maguta, AnnSustainable development is a relatively new policy dimension in most countries especially for the developing world. The year 2030 Agenda which was adopted by the 193 member states of the United Nations at the General Assembly held in September, 2015 provides for 17 sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). These goals set out all aspects of trans-formative development from inclusive economic, social and environmental matters. The 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), further, sets out the benchmark for states to gauge themselves towards the collective sustainable development. The objective of this paper is to examine some of the identified buildings blocks and challenges of sustainable development. Design/methodology/approach In writing this paper, a comprehensive Systematic Literature Review of 10 peer-reviewed scientific journal articles, including a content analysis, was conducted.Item BUILDING BACK-BETTER THROUGH CLIMATE FINANCE AS A TOOL FOR ENVIRONMENTAL DIPLOMACY: A SYSTEMATIC LITERATURE REVIEW(Umma University, 2025-02-06) WANJAU, JACKSON; MAGUTA, ANNIn the recent times, the world has been trying to incorporate Climate Finance as a tool for Environmental Diplomacy in environmental agreements despite the fact that it is usually regarded as the most complex diplomatic process. According to National Geographic Society (2024), diplomacy refers to representatives of different groups discussing such issues as conflict, trade, the environment, technology, or maintaining security. Environmental diplomacy aspect commenced at the 1992 UN Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) in Rio de Janeiro commonly referred to as the “Earth Summit”. This was a major gathering of heads of state where nearly 180 nations participated. As an upshot of UNCED conference, governments could no longer ignore environmental matters in the greater aspects of national policy and further it became clear that everyone has a stake in the condition of the environment.Item Influence of Cultural Competence Training among Health Care Workers on Patient Satisfaction and Health Outcomes in Diverse Communities(Asian Journal of Research in Nursing and Health, 2024-10-30) Musembi Mary; Affey, FatumaThis study aimed at exploring impact of cultural competence training on enhancing patients satisfaction and improving health outcomes within such communities. Study Design: Analytical-cross sectional study design approach was applied in this study, both qualitative and quantitative methods were utilized to collect data. Relationship between cultural competence training and its effects on patient satisfaction and health outcomes was examined as well as mechanisms through which cultural competence training influences healthcare delivery in diverse settings was explored. Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted in Kiambu Level 5 Hospital in Kiambu County, Kenya. This region hosts a mixed population with varying cultures, and it is a level 5 hospital with high referrals of various cases from different parts of the county. The area provided conducive environment for this study since it borders Nairobi and its populationItem Home and School Based Parental Involvement as Predictors of Access and Retention in Public Primary Schools in Kajiado County, Kenya(2024-10-11) Kerei K. Beatrice,; Nangithia Robert; and Mwai M. JosephParental involvement in children's education has consistently been associated with improved academic performance. Despite government efforts to provide free primary education, many public schools in Kenya still faces challenges related to access and retention. The issue is more pronounced in regions like Kajiado county where socioeconomic and cultural dynamics, including nomadic pastoralist lifestyles, can affect children’s schooling. This study therefore, sought to investigate home and school based parental involvement as predictors of access and retention in public primary schools in Kajiado County, Kenya. The study was guided by Epstein’s Six Types of Parental Involvement Model. Using a descriptive survey design, the study collected data from 10 schools, targeting 100 teachers. The Krejcie and Morgan Table from 1970 was utilized to determine a sample size of 80 respondents, who were selected through simple random sampling techniques. Data was collected using a structured questionnaire, which was first piloted to assess its validity and reliability. Descriptive statistics was used to analyse the data. The findings revealed that parental financial contributions, involvement in learning, provision of resources and participation in academic activities affects pupils access and retention. The study recommends several strategies to improve access and retention in Kajiado County public primary schools.Item Financial Inclusion and Stock Market Developmentin Kenya; ACase of Kajiado County(Blue Print Academic Publishers, 2024-09-22) Munene, Wanja Agnes; Koech, AlexThe Group of Twenty (G20) recognizes that financial inclusion as a key enabler in the fight against poverty. In effort to alleviating poverty in Kenya, the government identified the stock market as a key avenue in mobilizing resources. The Development of its stock market is thus vital avenue that could be used to mobilize investment funds required for implementation of vision 2030 projects. However, the stock market is contributing less than one percent of growth financing against the government expectation of ten percent. This study therefore, sought to investigate the effect of financial inclusion on stock market development in Kenya. The specific objectives were to determine the effects of access to financial services, usage of financial services, quality of the products and the service delivery on stock market development in Kenya. Using stratified random sampling, a sample size of 482respondents was drawn from a target population.Multiple regression Model was employed in order to determine the relationship between financial inclusion and stock market participation in Kenya. The study found out there was a strong positive relationship between financial access, usage and product quality and stock market development.Also, financial access(β=.061, p<0.05), usage(β=.083, p<0.05)and product quality(β=.476, p<0.05)has a positive and statistically significant effect on stock market development in Kenya.In addition, the study found that most of the responses on advanced financial literacy questions were performed below average indicating low financial literate levels among the respondents.The study recommends that the county government initiate programs that will enhance financial inclusion in the county, this will not only enhance stock market development but also other market sectors.Item Unveiling the hidden battle: Impact of Charlson comorbidities index on critical illness rate and mortality among hospitalized COVID-19 patients, comparing vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals in Kenya: A retrospective study(African Journal of Medical and Health Sciences, 2024-01) Isinta, M. Elijah; Kitagwa, W.; Halake, Dabo G; Wang, YouxinFatal outcomes were observed in hospitalized COVID-19 patients, particularly among those who were unvaccinated and had comorbidities. Robust research is needed to validate these findings in both vaccinated and unvaccinated groups. The study, involving 1792 COVID-19 patients, explored the links between comorbidities and fatal outcomes. This single-center retrospective cohort study employed Cox proportional hazard regression to analyze the impact of comorbidities on COVID-19 fatalities, adjusting for age, sex, smoking and vaccination status. Males experienced severe illness (75%) or mortality (76.8%). Notably, most people admitted to the ICU were over 31 years old (96.2%), with individuals over 60 years old facing the highest fatality rate (61.6%). The proportion of ICU admissions increased with the Charlson Comorbidities Index (CCI), with CCI 1-3 at 51.0% and CCI >4 at 52.6%. Mortality linked to CCI was 55.4% for CCI 1-3 and 52.6% for CCI >4. The risk of ICU admission and mortality both increased with higher CCIs. Common comorbidities such as obesity, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, chronic liver disease, chronic pulmonary obstructive disease, cancer/malignancy, chronic kidney disease and hypertension predicted critical illness and mortality among COVID-19 patients. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC-ROC) for predicting critical illness was 0.90 (95% CI: 0.89-0.93), and for mortality, it was 0.90 (95% CI: 0.88-0.91). Additional factors, such as HIV and rheumatoid arthritis, independently predicted critical illness and mortality. The risk of critical illness and mortality showed an increase with the Charlson Comorbidities Index, both among vaccinated and unvaccinated individualsItem Exploring Public-Private Partnerships for Sustainable Growth and Corporate Governance in Kenyan Universities(BluePrint Academic Publishers, 2024-01-27) Wanjau, Jackson; Maguta, AnnKenyan universities are grappling with the dual challenge of achieving sustainable growth amidst financial constraints and ensuring effective corporate governance to meet global standards. Therefore, this study explored Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) for sustainable growth and corporate governance in Kenyan Universities. The study was guided by Institutional theory and Resource dependence theory. Descriptive research design was utilized in the study. The target populations were 96 top university management staff from 35 Universities in Kenya. Using Yamane’s formula, a sample size of 77 respondent was arrived at. Neyman allocation formula was used for sample size distribution. Stratified sampling technique was used to select respondents. Structured questionnaires were used to collect primary data. Content validity and Cronbach's alpha was used to determine validity and reliability of the research instruments. Descriptive (frequencies, percentages, mean and standard deviation) was adopted to analyse collected data. The findings revealed universities uses joint venture partnerships, strategic partnerships, special purpose vehicle arrangement, build - transfer-and-operate and contract PPPs arrangements in the financing of infrastructure projects. Further, the respondents were to a little extent satisfied with use of green building design architecture, conservation of energy practices, conservation and preservation of water as an operational practice in PPPs. Lastly, they were to a moderate extent satisfied with the fact that implementation of operational practices is done with a focus on promoting effective corporate governance in universities in Kenya. Given the respondents' limited satisfaction, there is a need for universities and PPP stakeholders to intensify efforts in incorporating and promoting these sustainable practices. This involves leveraging innovative technologies, strategic partnerships, and rigorous monitoring to ensure that sustainability becomes a central tenet of future PPP initiatives.Item The Effect of Organization Agility on Organization Performance in the Time of Covid-19: A Case of Universities in Kenya(Journal of Business, Economics and Management Research Studies, 2024-01-28) Wanjau, Jackson; Maguta, AnnThe COVID-19 pandemic has ushered in an unprecedented era of challenges, particularly for institutions of higher education worldwide. In Kenya, universities have grappled with disruptions to traditional academic operations, including the sudden shift to remote learning, financial uncertainties, and changes in student and staff dynamics. This dynamic context has underscored the importance of organizational agility as a critical determinant of performance in the face of uncertainty. The ability of universities to swiftly adapt, innovate, and strategically respond to the evolving landscape is paramount for maintaining operational continuity, sustaining educational quality, and safeguarding the well-being of their academic community. Therefore, this study assessed the effect of organization agility on organization performance in the time of Covid-19 in universities in Kenya. The study was anchored The Path Goal Theory and Expectancy Theory. The study utilized mixed research design. The target population was 68 Chartered Public and Private Universities in Kenya. Structured questionnaire was distributed to human resource officer and top management officers from 34 selected universities. Construct validity and Cronbach's alpha was to determine validity and reliability of research instruments. Data was analysed descriptively and inferentially using multiple linear regression. Human resources agility had a positive and significant affect organization performance (β =0. 317; p=0.000). Also, innovation agility had a positive and statistically effect on organization performance (β =0.182; p=0.016). Further, information technology agility had a positive and statistically effect on organization performance (β =0.163; p=0.020). Lastly, strategic agility had a positive and statistically effect on organization performance (β =0.196; p=0.014). Based on the findings, it is recommended that universities institutions should strategically invest in enhancing agility across these four agilities.