Browsing by Author "Gitome, Josephine"

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    Condom use and Culture of Life: The Roman Catholic Church Dilemma in the Wake of New HIV Infection
    (International Institute for Science, Technology and Education (IISTE), 2018) Musili, Telesia K.; Gecaga, Margaret; Gitome, Josephine
    The World has devotedly committed to ending HIV and AIDS epidemic by 2030. However, the latest global data demonstrate among other challenges an increase in new HIV infections. In 2015 there was an increase of new HIV infections from 1.8 million to 2.4 million, an average of 2.1 million. In light of this challenge of increasing new HIV infections, a scrutiny on the effectiveness of HIV prevention strategies and measures is important. Abstinence, fidelity and condom use are among the strategies that have been lauded to prevent further transmission of HIV infections. However, the Roman Catholic Church (RCC) stance and repression of condom use by her adherents bars the positive strides of preventing the spread of HIV. This paper addresses the possible grounds for review of the RCC negative stance on condom use. This is premised on the famous Pope John Paul II’s culture of life theology that upholds not only the sanctity of human life but also the intrinsic value and dignity of the human person. A phenomenological approach was employed in guiding this discourse. The following concepts illuminate this worth course. They include the primacy of subjective interiority in sexual choices, valued inter-relational sociability of human persons and pursuance of eschatological hope. In this era of HIV and AIDS, we argue for a relational eschatology rather than a punitive eschaton. This is believed to cushion a time that is permeated with relational challenges that are meant to steer the values of love and trust. Keywords: Condom use, culture of life, HIV and AIDS, new infections, church teaching on sexuality
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    The Effectiveness of Handbooks and Teaching Materials Used For Holistic Nurture of Children Aged 5-13 Years in Nairobi Baptist Church, Nairobi County, Kenya
    (2023) Gitome, Josephine; James, Ruth Muthei
    This study dealt with contemporary developments in the holistic nurturing of children in Sunday school (SS) teaching in the Nairobi Baptist Church (NBC) which is one of the major support systems for church growth. The researcher was motivated to study Holistic Nurture to Children (HNC) because of the many issues and challenges that hound children like fighting, stealing, unruly behaviour patterns, wrong morals, drug abuse, teenage pregnancies, and evil vices among others affecting the traditional beliefs in children ministry globally. These problems make the approaches adopted for children's ministry a great challenge in Kenya. The empirical basis was defined by 5-13-year-olds in NBC. To understand the complex and dynamic nature of such phenomena, the study endeavoured to unravel and understand the HNC in NBC. The study assumed that there were some subtle underlying factors that (might) hinder the effective holistic nurture of children in NBC. These include history, handbooks and materials. The study was anchored on three key theories: Kelvin E. Lawson (Cognitive Spiritual theory), James Fowler (faith development theory) and Ivan Pavlov (Social learning theory). NBC was the study locale. Handbooks and materials nurtures discovery in the child in all areas, the leaders are facilitators of faith formation and activities help children to construct knowledge. Purposive sampling was used to select fifty (50) participants. The sample was in proportion to the population size which was 500. This study adopted a descriptive survey on HNC in NBC. Both qualitative and quantitative methods were employed. The primary research instrument used were questionnaires, interviews, and Focus Group Discussions. In the analysis of the data, the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) 16.0 was used. The primary and secondary sources were consulted. Holistic approaches included preparing the process for examination of the whole person: physical, mental/emotional, spiritual and social. The findings of the study dispelled obscurity on issues that affect HNC on holistic formation, as well as providing a safe alternative on how children should develop in the four areas to experience balanced growth. Thus, the study proposed useful ways of handling children for their holistic development. They included: first, the support by the whole congregation; secondly, children make early decisions to know God when guided by holistic approaches. The study further suggested the need to incorporate the biblical values which are unified in the integration of a child's learning. It is hoped that the findings of this study will contribute to policy formulation regarding the spiritual nurture of children. The findings may contribute to the existing literature on the holistic nurture of children.
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    Extent to Which the African Men are Able to Meet Physiological, Safety, Belongingness, Esteem and Self Actualization Needs for themselves and Family in Daadab Refugee Camp, Garrisa County, Kenya
    (Global Journals Inc. (USA), 2014) Wang'eri, T. W.; Tumuti, Sammy; Mugambi, Doyne Kageni; Mutweleli, Samuel Mutua; Gitome, Josephine; Njogu, Marangu
    The intention of this paper was to investigate the extent to which the African men in Dadaab refugee camps are able to meet physiological, safety, belongingness, esteem and self actualization needs for their families. To achieve this, the study sought to find out if the men were able to provide food for their children and if they were able to satisfy their sexual needs. The study further wished to establish if the men moved with their family members to the camp and if they were able to carry out their responsibilities as was expected of them and if they felt respected and fulfilled. Maslow’s (1970) hierarchy of needs theory was used to ground the study. A sample of 192 respondents aged between15 year to 55 years was selected for the study with the majority coming from Somalia while a few came from Ethiopia, Sudan, south Sudan, Congo and Uganda.
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    Female Genital Mutilation: A Religio-Cultural Sensitive Issue Determining Maternal Health Care Choices among Somali Women in Dadaab Refugee Camp, Kenya
    (ESI Preprints, 2022-08) Gitome, Josephine; Kahumbi, Newton; Mainah, Muthoni; Kituku, Jacqueline M.; Mwoma, Teresa; Ndegwa, Priscilla; Bagelman, Jennifer
    The paper addresses Kenya’s development challenges in maternal health care with a specific focus on the impact of traditional birth attendants (TBAs) and female genital mutilation (FGM) among the refugees. It purposes to achieve four objectives: to discuss the persistence of FGM among Somali women in Ifo Refugee Camp, to establish the hospital process of providing maternal health care to mothers who have gone through FGM; find out the level of preparedness of the midwives to handle mothers with religio- cultural concerns such as prayer, non-involvement of male nurses and how the practice of FGM contributes to the preference of TBA by mothers. The study assumes that midwives’ training may not have effectively addressed FGM, a social-cultural sensitive issue affecting childbirth and care. Secondly, the specific support of midwives in refugee camps contexts remains limited. A qualitative research approach was used in the study, involving Snowballing sampling method, in-depth interviews, and focus group discussions (FGDs). These methods brought out pertinent issues that make TBAs the preferential option for some mothers in spite of the presence of level 4 category hospitals in the refugee camps. In case of birth complications, the mother’s choice for TBA delays the family’s decision to take her to the hospital and for health care workers to save mother and child. The shortage of midwives and the presence of male midwives in hospitals make some Somali mothers seek assistance from TBAs. There is a need to contextualize midwifery training by enhancing the curriculum with evidencebased /mother-centered skills
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    Respectful maternal care and by who? perspectives of Somali community at IFO refugee Camp, Dadaab, Kenya
    (International Journal of Pregnancy & Child Birth, 2022) Kituku, Jacqueline; Mwoma, Teresa; Gitome, Josephine; Kahumbi, Newton; Ndegwa, Priscila; Mainah, Muthoni; Bagelman, Jen
    Respectful maternity care is where women are accorded the freedom to make informed choices, protects them from any form of harm and harassment, provides continuous support during labour and child birth and also upholds their privacy, confidentiality and dignity. Previous studies have demonstrated that any care deemed to disrespect the woman may henceforth determine her care seeking behaviour. In the lacuna created by some forms of disrespect of women of child bearing age in the healthcare system, some women may seek alternative care from traditional birth attendants, who are neither skilled nor able to promptly recognize, manage or refer complications arising during pregnancy, labour, child birth and puerperium. Globally, the high maternal mortality rate is associated with preventable complications which occur during pregnancy, labour, child birth and the puerperium, with those who encounter near misses or who narrowly survive death, end up suffering lifelong disability which affects their quality of life. Services offered by traditional birth attendants (TBAs) continue to be sort by a few women of reproductive age in both rural and urban settings including Dadaab, despite the availability of both public and private health facilities. TBAs are preferred among the Somali community as they are deemed to offer a type of care that is regarded as being respectable to the woman and her family as well as being aligned to their culture and religion. Hence, this study aimed to investigate the perspectives of the Somali community residing in Dadaab refugee camps on respectful maternal care. A qualitative study was conducted at Ifo refugee camp in Dadaab, where three TBAs, two save mothers, two married men and two expectant women were interviewed. Two focused group discussions were conducted among the men and pregnant women. The TBAs and the save mothers were interviewed. The TBAs were also video recorded as they performed some of their activities. Data was coded, categorized into thematic areas and the content was analyzed. The findings demonstrated that TBAs and save mothers accorded the women both social and psychological support during pregnancy, child birth, and postnatal period, and treated them with respect. They accompanied the mother throughout the labour and childbirth and gave her so much encouragement. The findings further revealed that cultural beliefs and practices such as prayer, disposal of the placenta and the gender of the care provider, play a big role in maternal care of the women. The placenta is valued as a significant part of the woman’s body and thus has to be buried according to their culture, as opposed to it being disposed of after giving birth in a health facility. Respectful maternal care should be accorded to all women irrespective of their background and should also be culturally sensitive
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    The Great Commission and Presbyterianism Showcasing Tumutumu Parish, Mathira Sub-County, Kenya
    (Jumuga Journal of Education, Oral Studies, and Human Sciences, 2025-05) King’ori, Monicah; Gitome, Josephine; Gathogo, Julius
    The research article examines the implementation of the Great Commission (Matthew 28:16–20) in the Presbyterian Church of East Africa (PCEA), and focuses on Tumutumu Parish in Mathira Sub-County, Nyeri County, Kenya. It explores the way in which baptism, spiritual growth, and Christian education contributes to the fulfilling of the Great Commission, from conversion to mature discipleship, as theoretically guided by David Bosch’s mission paradigm theory. Using a descriptive design, the study targeted 882 individuals, with 89 participants selected through stratified random sampling. Data were collected through questionnaires, interviews, and Focus Group Discussions, and then analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively using Statistical Package for Social Sciences. Findings revealed that, despite the presence of mission oriented activities like baptism, spiritual growth initiatives, and Christian education in PCEA Tumutumu parish, these efforts have not led to a meaningful spiritual transformation among the congregants. This disconnect is mainly due to structural weaknesses, including inadequate discipleship, poor baptismal preparation, over-dependence on a single evangelist, and a lack of diverse, structured Christian education programs. It recommends improved baptismal preparations, implementation of structured discipleship, diversifying Christian education, empowering more leaders, and enhancing congregants’ engagement so as to bridge the gap between ecclesiastical activities and spiritual transformation.
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    Use of Social Media for Evangelisation: A Case of Full Gospel Churches of Kenya (Fgck)-Meru County
    (Consortium Publishing, 2022) Kathambi, Fridah; Gitome, Josephine; Bwire, John P.
    The study’s objective was to analyse the use of social media in evangelisation. The study employed a descriptive research design to seek information from various congregants. Interview guides, observation schedules, Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) and questionnaires were used to collect data. The clergy and lay leaders were interviewed, and the congregants of different age groups filled out questionnaires. Key informants were selected by the use of a purposive sampling technique coupled with stratified random sampling. Qualitative data were analysed using thematic analysis, whereas descriptive quantitative data analysis was performed in SPSS 21. The results indicated that social media had been used for evangelisation through ICT tools such as mobile phones and computers. However, the use of social media for evangelisation has been faced with various challenges, including lack of internet connectivity, misuse of social media by non-Christians through posting of pornographic materials and unavailability of ICT tools. Some proposed ways of mitigating these challenges include educating Christians on the proper use of social media for evangelisation and maintaining active Gospel-based church websites.