MST-Department of Psychology

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Influence of print and electronic media on selected social behaviour and relationships among school going adolescents in Nairobi, Kenya
(2003) Mbogoh, Lenny J. Muthonl
Media is said to influence the character of a child and adolescent in adulthood. Kenya has had a rapid expansion of media whose large proportions of features are western oriented. This study sought to find out the influence of print and electronic media on selected social behaviour and relationships of school going adolescents in Nairobi, Kenya from the adolescent's perspective. It sought to identify the types of media adolescents accessed and their media preference, investigate the extent to which media influences adolescents' fashion preference, establish the influence of media on peer and parent-adolescent relationship and establish the influence of media on drug consumption. A sample of 156 respondents in day secondary schools in Nairobi, Kenya was selected for the study. To them questionnaires were administered and three focus each comprising of 10 participants were carried out. Descriptive data analysis was done by use of the Statistical Package of Social Sciences (SPSS). Pearson Product Moment Rank Correlation Coefficient was computed to test for the relationships between the variables. The data were presented in frequency tables, pie charts and graphs. The study revealed that the respondents mainly engaged in media related leisure activities with listening to music being the most popular activity. In the electronic media category, radio and television were reported to have been used more frequently. Time spent watching television was reported to have been the major cause of disagreements between the respondents and their parents. Relational focused media was highly preferred by the respondents. Consequently, media was reported to have positively influenced the respondents' relationships with their parents and peers. However, denial by parents to meet some purchase demands requested by the adolescents some of which were prompted by media welled up feelings like ( XVI betrayal, disappointment and anger in the respondents. Information on prevailing fashion trends was mainly sought from television and magazines. There was a positive Pearson Product Moment Relationship between respondents whoread novels and listened to radio and their supported for premarital sex. More boys than girls engaged in dating. Fashion preference was highly influenced by television and magazines. Peers, advertisements and movies were found out to significantly influence adolescents towards drug consumption. . The adolescents reported having liked to have developmental issues affecting them addressed by both their parents and media. They also reported having preferred censorshiplreduction of pornographic features in the media they accessed. Based on the findings of the study, Media is a good education tool available to the society. It can be used to effectively reach the adolescents given that most of the respondents engage in media related activities during their free time. Media slots targeted for adolescents would be more effective if they were done during music or comedy shows and movies. Music related approaches should be incorporated since listening to music was reported as the most engaged in leisure activity by a majority of adolescents. An explanation by parents to the adolescents on the underlying reasons that caused the parents to deny the respondents purchase requests would reduce parentadolescent conflicts on such issues. Also parents should try to keep their promises of purchase made to the adolescents.
An investigation into the incidents of child abuse in Kawangware slum area: counselling implications
(Kenyatta University, 2004) Kirubi, Josephine Audry Maina; Nwoye, A.
The purpose of the present study was to establish the key incidents of child abuse among children in Kawangware slum area, point out the principal culprits in child abusive behaviour, compare child abuse rates between the rich and the poor and point out the principal indicators of an abused child. The following questions were considered: 1. Which are the most severe incidents of abuse against the children from Kawangware slum area? 2. Who are the perpetrators of acts of abuse against children? 3. (a) To what extent are the poor and rich children abused? (b) Is the variation in magnitude due to socioeconomic backgrounds of their homes? 4. Which indicators of abuse are particularly prevalent among children from Kawangware slum area? The sample of study comprised two hundred children, a hundred from underprivileged families and the other hundred from rich families. The sample stratum from the rich was collected by use of stratified random sampling procedure. The data was collected through a general questionnaire. r The following two hypothesis were tested: 1. Majority of the victims of child abuse are from low social class families. 2. More than 60% incidents of abuse are perpetrated against children by their own relatives. Frequencies, ranks, percentages and ratios were employed. These are necessary statistical tools in a descriptive survey like this study. The results of the percentages and ranks produced significance differences between the abuse rates in the two sub groups. The poor were reckoned to have very high magnitude of abusive behaviour. Implications of the findings were drawn and recommendations made to improve the situation.
An investigation into the causes of teacher stress in selected public high schools in - Nairobi, Kenya
(Kenyatta University, 2005) Mburu, Ruth Kagure
In this paper, an investigation into the causal factors of stress among teachers in selected Public high schools in Nairobi Province of Kenya has been described. Data was obtained by means' of a questionnaire which was taken personally by the researcher to teachers in 18 public high schools in Nairobi Province of Kenya. The response rate was 82% (144/180). The data was analysed using descriptive statistics and presented using frequencies and percentages. Content analysis of free response information was used to give substance to statistical findings. Though the rating of the overall stress indicated manageable stress amongst the teachers, when analysed individually the main stressors were issues related to the Teacher Service Commission TSC), the teachers' employer. The highest stressors were methods of promotion, methods of evaluating teachers, one's chances of promotion then remuneration in that order. Unlike in previous studies where remuneration came fir.st, in this study it was overtaken by the issue of promotion. From the calculation of the frequencies and percentages, the variables of age, gender and length of service were seen to influence the levels of stress in the teachers. Those with Type 'A' personality were also found to be more prone to stress than their counterparts with Type 'B' personality. Majority of the teachers did not report debilitating symptoms of stress which is an indicator that they were coping relatively well with their assignments. Recommendations for -practice include the streamlining of promotion of teachers by the Teacher Service Commission (TSC) by ensuring that once a teacher stayed in a certain job group for a fixed length of time, he/she would be automatically moved to the next job group without undergoing vigorous and stressful interviews. Also suggested was the introduction of a fairer method of ranking schools by looking at the entry points of the students and assessing the added value the teachers give to those students. An introduction and continuation of preparatory courses for headteachers which include counselling was also recommended as well as having professional counsellors in schools capable of handling teacher issues. In future, researchers may need to extend this research to rural areas to see if the stressors there are the same as in Nairobi, which is an urban centre.
Eysenck's Introversion-Extraversion Theory: A Test of Psychological Orientation of Prisoners in Lang'ata and Thika Prisons, Kenya
(Kenyatta University, 2005) Maina, Faith Wanjiku
The major purpose of this study was to investigate Eysenck's Introversion - Extraversion Theory as a test of psychological orientation of prisoners in Lang'ata and Thika prisons, Kenya. The study also aimed at finding out the percentage of Kenyan prisoners' score on psychoticism scale and also the extent to which psychoticism is related to gender. The central idea was to critically analyse the counselling implications of the findings. A descriptive survey design was used in the study. The study subjects consisted of 120 prisoners from both Thika and Lang'ata prisons out of which 93 of them generated usable questionnaire data. The random sampling procedure was used to derive the sample. Eysenck's Personality Inventory (EPI) on Introversion -Extraversion and Psychoticism was used to collect the data. - Both descriptive and statistical analyses were done. Pearson's Correlation was done to test the hypothesis to establish if there were any significant relationships between the variables investigated. The findings show that a larger percentape of Kenyan prisoners were extroverts and also have a high psychoticism score. It was also discovered that men have a higher psychoticism score. The implications of the results were critically examined. The results were found to be of interest in Kenyan prisons and related settings and especially in the personal-social Counseling Unit. Recommendations were made for prison authorities, counselors and for future researchers.
Counselling needs of children in some selected rehabilitation schools in Kenya: a study in personal orientation
(Kenyatta University, 2005) Ambira, Susan
Childrenare a basic resource for proper continuity of any society and utmost care must be taken to ensure their safety and survival. Rehabilitation centres are created with the sole purpose of re-socializing children with behavior disorders in order to rebuild their selfesteem so that they can fit back into the society. However, evidence has shown that these centres often than not have little understanding of the children's real needs, or the most appropriate ways of engaging them in these programs. This has led to many rehabilitation programs remaining largely inadequate and ineffective. In order to understand these children better and to provide them with proper guidance and counseling, their personal orientation,which reflects the inner-self, needs to be assessed. The major purpose of this st~dy was to explore the personal orientation of children in habilitation schools in Kenya with an intention of developing an appropriate counseling approach that is relevant to the needs of the children. To realize the purpose of the study! a survey design was adopted. The survey subject comprised 110 children from four rehabilitation schools in Kenya. Stratified random sampling was used to choose the sample population. Primary data was collected by use of questionnaires and interview schedule. The POI contained both open-ended and structured questions. Informal discussions were held where necessary to seek clarification and additional information from the respondents. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) was used for data processing and analysis. The first stage of processing and analysis involved computation of frequencies, percentages and generation of tables. The second stage involved testing of hypotheses by use of ANOV A and the t-test statistic to test for independence of association. The results show that children in rehabilitation schools are non-self actualizing. These findingssuggest that these children are other-directed and time incompetent and live in the past or future with a lot of regrets and sentiments. There is need therefore to develop a comprehensiveprogramme for children in rehabilitation schools that involve the orientationof these children towards positive concept of personal growth. The outline for the guidanceprogramme for these children should be developed focusing on areas of needs identifiedby the POI.
Certainty in career choice among Kenyatta University students implications for career counseling
(2007) Maingi, Lydiah Wanjiru
While the career development process is life-long, choices made during the college years are particularly significant in setting the foundation for future professional options. Selecting a career can be a daunting task for many University students who must balance their own interests with what is available in the various Universities as with their academic performance. It is in this view that the researcher aimed at investigating the career certainty of the university students. Stratified sampling was used to enhance representation of the student population while the academic advisors were randomly sampled .The main research instruments utilized in the study were questionnaires and interviews. The data gathered was both qualitative and quantitative. Qualitative was thematically presented in narrative form while quantitative statistics involved the use of frequencies, totals, percentages, and tabulation. Correlation techniques by Pearson’s product-moment correlation (r) were carried out to analyze the degree of relationships between the variables while Chi-square and analysis of variance were done to determine the significant differences between the variables. It was found out that though the students claimed to have high level of career certainty, this fact was disputed by their academic advisors and their other results in the other variables of the study. There were many factors that affected the students’ career choices amidst them being their level of occupational information, their decision- making ability and their level of clarity in their personal attributes and resources. The need for career counseling across all the levels of education was highly revealed by the findings of this study
An assessment of factors related to the effectiveness of government rehabilitation schools for delinquent adolescents in Nairobi and Kiambu.
(2007-10) Gachara, Esther G.
The problem adolescence delinquency is a worldwide social phenomenon. Of most concern is the impact of delinquency on the adolescence, their families, and the society at large, and the relationship between delinquency and adult crime, which has also been on the rise. It has been argued that delinquency leads to adult crime and therefore a life long career. There is need therefore to deal with adolescence delinquency to curb the trend of adolescents maturing to adulthood with criminal behaviors. The government of Kenya has established rehabilitation schools with the aim of correcting and reforming the delinquent adolescents into productive citizens. The rehabilitation schools then have programs designed to meet this objective ...!The study aimed at assessing the factors related to the effectiveness of rehabilitation schools with particular attention to the availability of rehabilitative programs, rehabilitative qualities of the rehabilitators, parent's involvement, school environment and at identifying the intervention measures that can increase the effectiveness .. This was done using a descriptive survey with the target population being the children, staff members of the rehabilitation schools in Nairobi and Kiambu. Stratified random sampling was applied to get samples of the subgroups in the population. The research instruments were questionnaires; interview schedules and observation checklist while data collection procedures were structured interviews and observations. The data was analyzed using both manual and computer programs and presented using descriptive statistics in form of percentages and frequency distribution.
The Psychological Challenges Experienced in Retirement by Police Officers: A Case Study of the Administration Police Officers in Kenya.
(Kenyatta University, 2011) Muthondeki, David Kabera
The purpose of this study was designed to explore the psychological challenges of retirement on police officers with the specific focus on the impact it has on their lives outside the service. Retirement is a complex issue that is closely associated with stress that has significant effects on the psychological wellbeing of individuals. This study was designed to explore the psychological challenges of retirement on police officers with the specific focus on the impact it has on their lives outside the service. Using a transactional Model advanced by Richard Lazarus and Susan Folkman (1984) and Robert Atchley (1983) Phase Theory, this study sought to establish the psychological challenges that may face the officers at retirement and how they are prepared to deal with the challenges. A mixed method descriptive survey research design was used for the study. The sample of the population for the study was drawn from the retired Administration Police officers. Purposive sampling technique was used to select the sample from different administrative cadres in the force. Questionnaire was the main instruments for data collection. Quantitative data was analyzed by means of descriptive statistics. On the other hand Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) was used to analyze the qualitative data from open ended questions. The study found that many of the retired police officers were not prepared. They perceived retirement phase as unproductive. They felt the government never prepared them considering the nature of their work which contributed in one way or the other for them not ready for retirement. It was found that many were not able to cope and adjust with retirement hence were lonely, frustrated and unhappy. It was concluded that preretirement counseling is pertinent in police department which should encompass all types of challenges police face during their active phase in police work and in retirement phase. The study recommended that preretirement counseling and career counseling should start immediately the police are recruited in the police academy. They should also introduce psychological services, training and support which will help the police in relieving the psychological pressures related with police work and police retirement. The study concluded that training would help the officers develops productive cognitive and coping techniques in police careers and transition to retirement. The government also should put some policies to guide the establishment of the welfare for police retirees. Finally honoring of police retirement should be done as significant event. Further research on police retirement and family, effectiveness of Critical Incidents Debriefing were recommended on debriefing the police after traumatic events for example police operations.
Factors influencing adolescent precocity to sexual practice: a case study of secondary school students in Nairobi province, Kenya
(2011-12-27) Kimani, G.W.Karanja.
The purpose of this study was to examine factors that were responsible for adolescent precocity in sexual matters. The study was also carried out to explore the consequences of adolescent sexual practices and to establish how parents, churches, policy makers were dealing with this trend. The overall objective was to come up with viable ways adolescents could be assisted for coping with their sexual drives. The sample for the study consisted of a total of 229 Form Three students from five selected schools in Nairobi. Data was collected through a Self-Report questionnaire. Descriptive statistics in form of percentages, means and frequencies were utilized to describe the trend of the results. To the null hypothesis investigated, the chi square (XZ) and the t -test statistics were used. The results show that factors responsible for adolescent precocity in sexual matters were: mass media, peer influence, access to drugs and alcohol, and extreme sex drive. The implications of the results were discussed and recommendations preferred. It is expected that the findings of the study will be of immense relevance to Kenyan educational administrators, school authorities, teachers, counselors and parents in their work with these adolescents.
A Case Study of Domestic Violence against Women in Kapsowar Division of Marakwet District: Implications for Counselling
(2011-12-27) Kimosop, F.
The primary purpose of this study was to find out the causes and forms of domestic violence against women in Kapsowar division of Marakwet District and to discuss their implications for counseling. A sample of 65 women residing in Kipsaiya, Kapsowar and Koibarak locations which make up Kapsowar division was selected using a simple random sampling technique, for it enabled each of the elements in the target population an equal chance of being selected. The researcher personally administered the questionnaire to the respondents and also conducted several interview schedules. Percentages and frequencies were used to describe the trend of the results. One way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was employed to test the null hypotheses investigated. The results show that the major contributing factors to domestic violence against women in Kapsowar division of Marakwet District are financial/money issues, alcoholism, infidelity/unfaithfulness among partners, religious affiliations, gossips and association with friends. It was also discovered that the most common forms of domestic violence against women are physical abuse, economic abuse, psychological abuse, emotional abuse and social abuse. The implications of the results were discussed and recommendations for both counseling practice and research were made. It is expected that the findings of this study will inform policy makers, Non-governmental organizations and church organizations in formulating policy guidelines geared towards combating the problem of domestic violence against women. Family/couple therapists, social workers and church leaders could use these findings to plan and employ appropriate interventions to prevent the problem of domestic violence against women.
Psychosocial effects of palliative care-giving on primary care-givers of elderly people with advanced cancers in Manyatta constituency, Embu county, Kenya
(Kenyatta University, 2012) Mugendi, Teresia Njeri; Wasanga, C.M.; Mwenje, M.
Global statistics show that people providing primary palliative care to cancer victims are faced by different challenges ranging from fear of impending death, economic, social, stigma, loss of function or place in the society, emotional bum-out e.t.c., all of which impact negatively on their emotional wellbeing. The purpose of the study was to investigate psychosocial effects of palliative care-giving on primary palliative care-givers attending elderly people with advanced cancers in Manyatta constituency, Embu County. The study was informed by two theories; Social Role Theory and Transactional Stress Model. The findings of this study helped to recommend counseling intervention measures that may help to curb the perceived psychosocial effects. In this study, descriptive research design was used in order to capture subjective feelings of the respondents. A sample was drawn using purposeful sampling technique. Stratified random sampling was also used to get representative sample of 30 respondents from all administrative division in the Constituency. The data was collected using questionnaires. The data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and presented in frequency distributions, means, ranks and percentages. Majority of the primary care-givers were spouses of the patients, and their psychosocial needs were financial, training, counseling and social support from other stakeholders. The researcher established that care-giving roles were demanding and exhausting, hence they interfered with normal life causing isolation, anxiety, hostility and hopelessness. However, these roles could also bring positive emotion feelings such as love and intimacy with the patient. The findings of this study may help to identify appropriate interventions strategies that could help to mitigate the psychosocial effects of palliative care-giving on primary care-givers. The researcher recommended that a lot of social support, counseling and basic care-giving training should be given to the primary care-givers to support them. It is also recommended that the palliative care-givers be provided with counseling therapies on regular basis. The knowledge gained from this research is helpful in recommending guidelines that may help in the formulation of appropriate counseling interventions by the Ministry of Health, Hospices, Policy makers, Counselors and other stakeholders working with terminally ill people.
Peer versus parental conformity among adolescents in secondary schools in Kitui District, Kenya
(2012-01-03) Mukala, J. Musau
This was a study of peer versus parental conformity among adolescents in secondary schools. The purpose of the study was to find out who the adolescents would follow in making decisions affecting them if the views of their peers differed with those of their parents. The study also investigated intervening variables such as age, the type of issue, and gender with regard to the conformity to parents or peers. The sample was drawn from secondary schools in Kenya. Stratified random sampling procedure was used to select a sample of 300 subjects, comprising form one and form four students. Out of these 150 were boys while 150 were girls. A questionnaire was used to collect the data on peer versus parental conformity and other personal information on the subject such as age and gender. Results of the study revealed that adolescents conformed to their parents on issue such as personal grooming leisure class, discipline and religion. While it was also noted that girls conform more to parents than boys on matters related to personal grooming, class discipline and social activities. It was concluded that in order to effectively counsel the adolescents, there was need to work at improving peer and parental concepts in order to bring about understanding between parents and their adolescent children. Teachers should include parents in counseling their children.
Attitudes towards abortion among university undergraduatet students in two selected puplic universities in Kenya : implications for counselling
(2012-01-06) Nthangi, Agnes
It is currently estimated that 26-31 million legal and 10-20 million illegal abortions are performed each year worldwide. The estimated worldwide total abortions (legal and illegal) range between 36-53 million yielding an annual rate of 32-46 million abortions per 1,000 women of reproductive age. In Africa alone, over 1.5 million illegal abortions are procured annually, while in Kenya it is approximated that about 300,000 abortions are procured each year. The major purpose of this study was to investigate attitudes towards abortion among Kenyan university students, and the main reasons that motivate the female students to procure abortion. The study also aimed at finding out the extent to which gender, religious affiliation, age, area of residence, economic status of parents, and faculty, influence their attitudinal trends. The main aim was to establish the abortion perspectives that students subscribe to in relation to the pre-identified perspectives of prochoice, pro-life and situationalist moderates, and to critically analyse the counselling implications of the findings. To realise the purpose of the study, a descriptive survey design was adopted. The study subjects comprised 205 students from Nairobi and Kenyatta Universities. Stratified random sampling procedure was used to choose the sample population. Primary data was collected by use of a questionnaire, which contained both open-ended and structured questions. Purposive informal discussions were held where necessary to seek clarification and additional information from the respondents. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) was used for data processing and analysis. Both descriptive and inferential analysis was conducted. The first stage of processing and analysis involved computation of frequencies, means and percentages and generation of tables and charts. The second stage involved testing of hypotheses by use of chi-square, ANOVA and t-test. It was discovered that variables of religion, parental income, and faculty significantly influenced the students' attitudes towards abortion in relation to some of its three facets namely foetal personhood, morality and legalisation. The students also gave their opinions regarding factors that motivate female university students to procure abortion. The three highly ranked factors were: fear of humiliation, fear of discontinuing studies, and financial constraints. The implications of the findings were critically examined and the findings were found to be of significant importance in constructing programmes for youth personal-social counselling in the area of sexuality I and its related issues such as abortion. Recommendations were made for counsellors, parents, teachers, religious leaders, students, legal and educational policy makers, and future researchers.
Assessment of counselling needs among high school students in Nyamira division, Nyamira district, Kenya
(2012-01-11) Orina, Margaret Evans
The current study was carried out to explore and assess the counselling needs of high school students in Nyamira Division, Nyamira District, Kenya. The chief aim was to classify the categories of' problems that are faced by these students and the strengths or limitations designed to meet them. The current study was designed to assess the counselling needs of high school students. The research was designed to find out the types of counselling needs high school students had and the extent the counselling services in tile school managed to attend to these needs. Seven mixed secondary schools were selected using random sainplirrg and one single sex girls school was purposively selected. 80 students were randomly selected who took part in the study. The study sample also included 8 teacher counselors and 8 bead teachers in the schools studied. The researcher employed a survey descriptive research design and made use of the questionnaires interview schedule and an observation checklist to collect data. The findings show that indeed high school students had counselling needs that ranged from family to personal problems. It was also established that although all schools had counselling rooms and some resource materials, these were rarely utilized in most cases to meet the students' needs. The implications of these findings were examined and recommendations were made to improve the counselling services in schools.
A study of adolescents' views on the nature of parents-adolescents and adolescents- peer relationship in Nairobi Province
(2012-02-15) Makau, Joyce Mwongeli; Tumuti, S. T.
This study was designed to establish the nature of parent-adolescent and adolescent peers relationship according to adolescents' views. The researcher further intended to find out whether adolescents' gender, age, peer involvement and school type had any significant influence over the nature of parent-adolescent relationship as well as identify their areas of disagreement. The study had the following objectives: 1. To establish the nature of parent-adolescent relationship as viewed by the adolescents. 2. To determine whether there are differences in the nature of parentadolescent relationship according to the gender and age of the adolescent. 3. To investigate the nature of adolescent-peer relationship and determine whether parent-adolescent relationship is influenced by the adolescent's level of involvement with peers and school type. 4. To identify the most common areas of disagreement, as perceived by the adolescents. To get the required data, a random sample of 189 teenagers from six secondary schools in Nairobi Province were selected and questionnaires administered. Data were analysed by use of frequencies, percentages and means. One way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), t-and chi-square tests were used to test the hypotheses. Study findings revealed that majority (78.3%) of the adolescents had good or very good relationship with their mothers as compared to 42.9% with the fathers and 60.6% with both parents. Only a small percentage (9.0% and 10.6%) with mother and father respectively described their relationship with their parents as not good. Generally, the results show that most adolescents enjoy good relationship with their parents. But a higher percentage of teenagers (56.6%) enjoyed a good relationship with the mother as compared to those who enjoyed a good relationship with the father (26.6%). However, the adolescent-peer relationship was weaker (19.5575) as compared to that of adolescent-father (31.6270) and adolescentmother (35.2767). Therefore, adolescents relate differently with their peers as compared to the way they relate with parents The adolescent's gender and age did not significantly influence the nature of parent-adolescent relationship. But the teenager's level of involvement with peers significantly influenced the nature of parent-adolescent relationship. As per the school type the adolescent attended, there was a significant difference on the nature of relationship with the father, but neither with the mother, nor with both parents. Adolescent's choice of friends was the most common and serious area of parent-adolescent disagreement. This was followed by academic performance and coming home late respectively. Results also revealed that if adolescents were honest and free with their parents they would discuss the areas of disagreement between them and their parents. Therefore, it is recommended that, both parents and adolescents should ensure that there is good communication between them so as to solve any arising disagreement. At the same time, the parents should learn to relinquish power and control over their adolescents gradually as they progress in development. Consequently, adolescents should be involved in decision-making in all areas that concern them in an adult-to-adult atmosphere. This way, it is assumed that the adolescents will feel appreciated, part of the rules, and have a responsibility to honour and respect the decisions reached.
An investigation into the effectiveness of rehabilitation programmes in selected centres of former street children and adolescents in Nairobi, Kenya
(2012-02-15) Mvungu, Eunice Njeri
The problem of street children is a worldwide social concern. There is virtually no city anywhere in the world without the presence of street children. Although the street children phenomenon is a global problem, it is more prominent in Latin America, Asia and Africa. In Kenya, the problem of street children first began in the early 1950s when the colonial system broke up families by imprisoning men and women or taking them away to the concentration camps. Since then, the number of these children has been increasing to unmanageable levels by the year 2403 prompting the Kenya government to institutionalize all the street children and families so as to have them rehabilitated. The study was aimed at establishing the effectiveness of rehabilitation prog selected centres for former street children and adolescents manned by Nairobi City Council. A descriptive survey method was used to collect the data for the study. A total of three centers were purposively sampled. From the centres, 151 children and adolescents out of a total population of 820 were also sampled using the same method. Fourteen staff members from the centres were also selected purposively for the study. Questionnaires were used as the main tool for data collection. Additionally an interview schedule and an observation checklist were used to verify the data obtained_ The data obtained were analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). Descriptive statistics such as means, percentages and frequency distributions were used to analyze various variables. The data were then organized, categorized and reported thematically. The results were presented in tabulated percentages. The findings of the study revealed that rehabilitation services provided include basic needs, counselling and medical care, among others. At the centres, the rehabilitatees are exposed to a number of activities such as laundry and personal grooming, cooking their meals and keeping the center clean that are viewed as being rehabilitative. The rehabilitatees declared that the programme had given them hope for a bright future. The staffs in the centres were found to be adequate in terms of numbers but were said to be uncommitted in their work hence negatively affecting the performance of the programme. The study also found that all the three centres did not have enough facilities. However, the programme was found to be rehabilitative and the rehabilitatees' attitude towards it was positive. It was therefore concluded that the rehabilitation programmes in the three centres are reasonably effective.
Effectiveness of drug rehabilitation programs on behavior modification of drug addicts in Nairobi County
(Kenyatta University, 2013) Nzomo, Regina Nduku; Kathungu, B.; Sirera, A.
According to the World Drug Report (2007), approximately 200 million people, about 5% of the world's population aged between 15 and 64 years have either been forced" or voluntarily sought help of rehabilitation centers for behavior modification. These rehabilitation centers over years have admitted drug addicts into their rehabilitation programs meant to bring about behavior change among the rehabilitees. However, little is known about the effectiveness of the programs offered. The purpose of the study was to investigate the effectiveness of drug rehabilitation programs on behavior modification of drug addicts in rehabilitation centers in Nairobi County and establish the existing rehabilitation programs put in place to help the drug addicts. The study design was cross sectional as methods of data collection. The study population was the staff and the rehabilitees of the purposively sampled ten (10) rehabilitation centers in Nairobi County. Questionnaires were used as tools for collecting data, one for the staff and questionnaire guided interview for clients. The study mainly found out that: Drug users' evaluation in terms of assessment emerges was the key program offered by rehabilitation centers in Nairobi County; staff members in rehabilitation centers in Nairobi County were sufficiently trained, with a good number of them holding degrees, diplomas and certificate from reputable institutions. They also posses proficiency in drug management and rehabilitation tasks; rrehabilitation centers in Nairobi County carried out continuing/after care services to their clients using psychological interventions, and personal empowerment of the rehabilitees; financl~1 impediments like lack of sufficient staff, medication and facilities as well as inconsistent follow ups are the major challenges facing rehabilitation centers in Nairobi County; these challenges can only be curbed by sufficient funding of these institutions to enable employment of adequate staff and acquisition of better infrastructure to enable enhanced individual attention to rehabilitees. The study recommended that: rehabilitation centers management should foster establishment and implementation of a comprehensive drug rehabilitation schedule that caters to the individual needs ofa rehabilitee and at the same time manages rehab time to avoid boredom among the patients; rehabilitation centers staff should gain insights on various needs of the rehabilitees to avoid unnecessary strife in the rehabs. They should also learn to handle the rehabilitees with professionalism to enable a successful rehabilitation process; rehabilitees in the rehabilitation program should also learn a number of personal management tips to help them adequately plan for and make the most out of the period they are in the rehab center; The Ministry of Special Programs should look into various problems encountered by staff and clients in rehabilitation centers. The ministry should then formulate policies on the funding and staffing of these centers to facilitate a sound drug rehabilitation process
Risk factors and coping strategies for occupational stress among prison officers in Nairobi county in Kenya
(Kenyatta University, 2013) Gatebi, Sophia; Kathungu, B.; Olaly, W.
Occupational stress has been considered a major problem in the service industry. It affects the health of employees and also reduces the work productivity of an organization. It is predicted that by the year 2020, stress will be a major cause of workplace ill health in the world if no precaution is taken against the problem. Statistics indicate that majority of prison. officers, like most other workers, go through major stress. Limited studies have been done on risk factors and coping strategies for occupational stress among male and female prison officers. The current study sought to. investigate whether there are male and female differences with regard to experiencing of work-related stress, risk factors for occupational stress and coping strategies among male and female prison officers in Nairobi County. The study was guided by the Effort-Reward Imbalance theory which forms the basis of the study.The study used descriptive survey design.The target population for the study were the prison officers in all the 6 prisons in Nairobi County. Multistage sampling approach, combining purposive sampling for prisons and stratified random sampling for prison officers was used to obtain the required sample of 114 respondents. A questionnaire was used to collect data which was analyzed using descriptive statistics. Frequencies, percentages and graphs were used to present the data. The study provided data on risk factors and coping strategies for occupational stress specific for male and female prison officers in Nairobi County prisons. The study found that majority of prison officers were stressed in the work place due to occupational stress or sand this affected their social life, health and productivity. Sharing of houses was highly reported by the prison officers as the major risk factor causing high occupational stress closely followed by housing conditions, working under pressure, availability of job promotions, risking being injured on the job, and working conditions. As much as positive coping strategies are used by majority of the prison officers, the study findings indicate that there are a large number of prison officers who use negative coping strategies for occupational stress such as taking a lot of alcohol, drug abuse and peddling, absenteeism from work while others are in perseverance of the stress. According to the study fmdings, majority of the officers felt that causes of occupational stress can be alleviated through several measures such as improving working conditions, increasing the number of houses, avoiding pressure to juniors, providing counselling services, and time management.The data may be useful to policy makers and implementers in the prisons department by providing evidence that may inform the development and implementation of policies focusing on the unique needs of both male and female prison officers with regard to prevention and reduction of stress.
Psychosocial factors that affect girls' academic performance in secondary schools in Kenyenya, Kisii county, Kenya
(Kenyatta University, 2013) Makworo, Beatrice Kwamboka; Wasanga, C.M.; Olaly, W.
Female education is recognized as a critical pathway in promoting social, political and economic development. In Kenya, in spite of the progress made in narrowing the gender gap in education, still some parts of the country record low performance in girls' education from secondary to tertiary colleges and universities and this not only deprives them of opportunities but also sustains the gender gap in leadership and professional fields. The aim of this study, was to investigate psychosocial factors that affect the girls's academic performance in secondary schools in Kenyenya sub-county in Kenya. Kenyenya was chosen for study because in the KCSE result of 2009 , 2010 and 2011 no girl from the area managed to score an 'A' or 'A' - . In this study the social learning theory of Albert Bandura was used. The objectives of the study were: Investigating the girls' attitude towards school, finding out the girls' interactive relationship with teachers, finding out the teachers' attitude towards girls education and finding out the girls' academic self-concept. The study employed descriptive survey research design. The target population of the respondents was 1200 girls, 2400 boys and 24 class teachers. 12 secondary schools were randomly selected from which a sample of 120 girls, 84 boys and 12 class teachers were chosen. The study had a total population of 216 respondents. The data was collected using two sets of questionnaires; the class teachers and the students'. The instruments were piloted in two schools which were not included in the study. Cronbach coefficient alpha method was used to estimate the reliability of research instruments. Data was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). Descriptive statistics were used to analyze quantitative and qualitative data. The research found out that girls have a negative attitude towards school, most teachers have a positive attitude towards girls' education though others feel that girls need more support than boys, girls' illicit relationship with teachers negatively affect girls' performance and (51.7%) of the girls portrayed a negative academic self - concept. The research findings of the study can assist the government, the policy makers, the ministry of education and teachers in creating programmes that .can motivate girls 'to work hard. The study can also inform the teachers' on the need to change their attitude towards girls' educational needs and find ways of engaging them to do better. The secondary schools administration and the government should instigate relevant measures to help curb illicit relationships of teachers with the girls.
Relationship between Parent-Child Communication about Alcohol and Adolescent's Usage among High School Students in Nairobi County, Kenya
(Kenyatta University, 2013-06) Waweru, Veronica Njoki
The study was occasioned by epidemiological data which shows that alcohol use is a rampant and present in the society mostly affecting the youth. The study explored the relationship of parent-child communication about alcohol and adolescent usage among high school students in Nairobi County. The objectives of the study were to: establish the proportion of parents who communicate to their children about alcohol; find out the nature (i.e. content, frequency, and timing) of parent-child communication about alcohol; establish the percentage of high school adolescents using alcohol; and establish the relationship between parental communication and adolescents' use of alcohol. The study adopted a descriptive survey research design in which data was collected through a questionnaire administered in a group to test the variables being studied.A total population of 200 students between the ages of 16-18 years was sampled using simple random and multi-stage sampling techniques from the selected sample of nine secondary schools across Nairobi County. Data collected from the study was coded and analyzed using the statistical package for social sciences (SPSS). The study found that a higher proportion of adolescents that took part in the study were involved in alcohol use, taking different types of alcoholic drinks. The timing, content and frequency of communication from the parents to the children were found to influence the extent of alcohol use among adolescents. The parent-child communication was found to be beneficial in reducing the alcohol intake by the adolescents. The study notes that gender, type of the school, and availability of alcohol as being important factors affecting the use of alcohol by the adolescents. The head teachers at different schools, especially those segregated on gender basis need to put in place strict measures to address the issues of alcohol while parents should control the availability of alcoholic drinks in their homes.

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