Browse all publications filed under Health Sciences.
Influence Of Strategic Communication On Service Delivery In Public Level Four Hospitals In Nairobi County Kenya
October 18, 2025Despite the critical role communication plays in modern healthcare systems, public level four hospitals in Nairobi County continue to experience inconsistencies in service delivery, often attributed to fragmented or ineffective strategic communication frameworks. Strategic communication serves as a coordination mechanism, guiding the formulation, execution, and monitoring of healthcare delivery strategies. This study investigated the influence of strategic communication on the effectiveness of service delivery in Nairobi’s public level four hospitals. Grounded on Stakeholder Theory and Resource-Based View, the study adopted a descriptive design and positivist philosophy. A sample of 286 respondents was drawn from a target population of 1012 staff across hospitals using stratified random sampling. Data was collected through structured questionnaires, analyzed using descriptive statistics, correlation, and multiple linear regression. Results showed a significant positive relationship between strategic communication and service delivery (r = 0.734, p < 0.01), with regression analysis confirming a predictive effect (β = 0.653, R² = 0.543, p < 0.05). The study concludes that internal communication flow, clarity of roles, stakeholder engagement, and feedback mechanisms are integral to service delivery. It recommends institutionalizing structured communication strategies to enhance transparency, staff cohesion, and patient-centered service.
Influence Of Socioeconomic Factors On Postnatal Care PNC Services Utilization In Samburu North Sub County Samburu County Kenya
October 18, 2025Postnatal care (PNC) services are essential for reducing maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality. Despite this importance, PNC uptake remains low in many parts of sub-Saharan Africa, including Kenya. Community-level factors such as socioeconomic, geographical, cultural, and health system determinants may strongly shape utilization patterns. This study assessed the influence of community factors on the utilization of PNC services in Samburu North Sub-County, Samburu County, with a focus on socioeconomic, geographical, cultural, and health system determinants. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 384 women of reproductive age who had delivered within the last two years. Data was collected using a structured interviewer- administered questionnaire, complemented by hospital record reviews. The tool captured socio- demographic details, community-level determinants, and PNC attendance. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics, Chi-square tests, and multivariate logistic regression, with significance set at p < 0.05. Overall, 46.1% of respondents utilized PNC services, while 53.9% did not. Socioeconomic factors significantly associated with PNC uptake included education level (p = 0.008), employment status (p < 0.001), household income (p < 0.001), decision-making autonomy (p < 0.001), and savings group membership (p < 0.001). Geographical factors also influenced utilization: women living more than 10 km from a health facility were less likely to use PNC (p < 0.001), while access to good roads (p < 0.001) and affordable transport (p < 0.001) increased uptake. Health system factors such as emergency access (p = 0.006), responsive care (p < 0.001), and receiving PNC information during ANC (p = 0.002) were also strong predictors. In the multivariate model, the strongest independent predictors included employment (OR = 11.17, p < 0.001), savings group membership (OR = 7.24, p < 0.001), good road infrastructure (OR = 8.63, p < 0.001), family support (OR = 7.48, p < 0.001), and health awareness during ANC (OR = 8.99, p < 0.001). PNC utilization in Samburu North Sub-County is suboptimal, with less than half of mothers accessing services. Utilization is shaped by a combination of socioeconomic empowerment, infrastructural accessibility, household support, and health system responsiveness. Strengthening women’s economic empowerment, improving transport and road networks, promoting savings groups, and enhancing respectful and informative care during ANC may significantly improve PNC uptake.
Influence Of Performance Planning On Health Workers
October 18, 2025Effective performance management is crucial for delivering health services. It is a key component of the healthy workforce pillar in health systems, contributing significantly to optimal healthcare outcomes. By evaluating and enhancing employee performance, performance management systems help healthcare organizations maximize the contributions of healthcare professionals towards expected health outcomes. Performance planning is a vital part of performance management systems. It is a strategic process that ensures organizational goals are achieved through collaboration with staff. This involves setting SMART goals by both employers and employees and creating a plan to achieve these goals. The study aimed to investigate the impact of performance planning on the performance of medical staff in public hospitals in Nairobi County, Kenya. The goal was to understand how performance planning within performance management systems affects health workers' performance. The study was based on goal-setting theory. A cross-sectional descriptive survey design was used. Stratified random sampling method was used to recruit 594 health professionals from Mama Lucy, Mbagathi, and Makadara Hospital. 17 physicians, 201 nurses, and 21 clinical officers were sampled. Pretest study was conducted to evaluate validity and reliability of the research tool, with internal consistency measured using Cronbach's alpha coefficient. Primary data was collected through self-administered questionnaires. SPSS was used to code and analyze raw data. Inferential statistics and descriptive methods were employed for data analysis. Regression model was used to explore the relationship between independent and dependent variables. Results were presented using frequencies, means, standard deviations, and percentages. Findings indicated that clear job descriptions, setting SMART goals, and employee motivation significantly influenced health workers' performance. The study highlighted the importance of reliable plans, offering consistent evaluations, constructive feedback, and employer support. The research suggests, hospitals can enhance patient care quality by fostering a culture of accountability, recognition, and motivation, leading to improved performance.
Determinants Of Prolonged Length Of Stay In Ooutpatient Therapeutic Programs Among Severely Malnourished Children At Kakuma Refugee Camp Kenya
October 18, 2025Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality in humanitarian settings. Outpatient Therapeutic Programs (OTPs) are designed to treat uncomplicated SAM with an expected length of stay (LOS) of 6–8 weeks, yet reports from Kakuma Refugee Camp suggest longer durations. Understanding determinants of LOS can inform strategies to improve recovery and program efficiency. The objectives involve to determine the proportion of children experiencing prolonged LOS in OTP (≥9–12 weeks) and to identify socio- demographic, household and healthcare access factors associated with LOS among children aged 6–59 months in Kakuma Refugee Camp, Kenya. descriptive cross-sectional study of 178 SAM cases (6–59 months) enrolled in OTPs was conducted using simple random sampling from program registries. Data were collected via caregiver questionnaires and program records on child characteristics, caregiver/household factors, and healthcare access/utilization. Analyses in SPSS v25 included descriptive statistics and Pearson correlations with significance at p<0.05. Of 178 children, 46.1% (n=82) achieved the expected LOS (6–8 weeks) and 53.9% (n=96) had prolonged LOS (9–12 weeks). Significant positive correlations with longer LOS included higher birth order (r=0.25, p=0.021), more under-five children in the household (r=0.22, p=0.011), receipt of aid/relief support (r=0.17, p=0.023), recent illness (r=0.186, p=0.043), participation in health education sessions (r=0.176, p=0.048), availability of medication/nutritional supplies (r=0.195, p=0.041), and satisfaction with healthcare services (r=0.204, p=0.031). Protective (negative) correlations were observed for caregiver education (r=−0.17, p=0.025) and caregiver marital status (married) (r=−0.21, p=0.014) . Over half of SAM cases in Kakuma experienced prolonged LOS in OTP. Later birth order, larger numbers of under-five children, aid dependence, recent illness, and certain service-use indicators were associated with longer stays, whereas caregiver education, marital stability, frequent clinic attendance, and consistent SAM treatment availability were associated with shorter stays. Interventions to strengthen caregiver education and support, ensure uninterrupted SAM supplies, and promote regular attendance could reduce LOS and improve outcomes
Influence Of Service Digitization On Occupational Safety Among Health Workers In Public Hospitals In Mombasa County
October 18, 2025Occupational safety in public hospitals has increasingly been threatened by outdated manual processes, under reporting of incidents, and delays in hazard management, which compromise both employee welfare and organizational performance. Despite global advances in technology, many Kenyan hospitals continue to experience inefficiencies, unsafe environments, and strained service delivery due to limited adoption of digital tools. This persistent gap underscores the urgent need for empirical studies to establish whether service digitization can meaningfully strengthen occupational safety policies and practices in resource-constrained healthcare settings. The purpose of the study was to examine the effect of service digitization on occupational safety policies in public hospitals in Mombasa County, Kenya. The study was guided by the Technology Acceptance Model and Diffusion of Innovation Theory, which explain the adoption and integration of digital systems in organizational contexts. A descriptive research design was employed, targeting a population of 1,278 hospital staff across administrative, clinical, and support categories. Stratified random sampling was used to ensure proportional representation, and the sample was determined using Yamane’s formula. The final sample size was 303 respondents, comprising 78 administrators, 165 medical staff, and 60 support staff. Data was collected using structured questionnaires and analyzed with both descriptive and inferential statistics. Correlation analysis revealed a moderate positive relationship between service digitization and occupational safety (R = 0.413, p < 0.01). Regression analysis further confirmed that service digitization significantly explained 17% of the variance in occupational safety policies. These findings imply that digitization, though not the sole determinant, is a key driver of improved workplace safety. It is concluded that service digitization should be prioritized in public hospitals to minimize risks and enhance compliance with safety procedures. The study recommends continuous investment in digital infrastructure and capacity building, alongside the integration of robust safety-monitoring systems into hospital policies, to sustain positive safety outcomes.