https://ir-library.mmust.ac.ke/xmlui/handle/123456789/38 Sun, 12 Jul 2026 13:26:05 GMT 2026-07-12T13:26:05Z https://ir-library.mmust.ac.ke/xmlui/handle/123456789/3611 UTILIZATION OF MASS MEDIA FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF PATIENTS’ RIGHTS IN MT. ELGON SUB-COUNTY, BUNGOMA COUNTY, KENYA Nkangi, Felister Nyaera This study sought to investigate the utilization of mass media messages for the implementation of patients’ rights among the public of the Mt. Elgon sub-county, Bungoma County. In health, media has been used to popularize new diseases and medical services offered. However, there is little information on its contribution in patients’ rights communication. Globally patients’ harm contributes to over 2.6 million deaths annually among low and middle-income countries. Patients’ rights violation cases have continued to be reported in Kenya despite the policies contained in the new Kenyan constitution promulgated in 2010 and the Kenya National Patients’ Rights Charter 2013. This is attributed to low health literacy levels on patients’ rights among the public. This questions mass media’s role of informing, educating and monitoring implementation of such policies in society. The study objectives were to: examine the nature of media messages disseminated on patients’ rights among residents of Mt.Elgon sub-county; determine the perception of public towards mass media messaging on patients’ rights among residents of Mt.Elgon sub-county; establish the challenges faced in the dissemination of mass media messages on patients’ rights among residents of Mt.Elgon sub-county and determine suitable mass media messaging for effective implementation of patients’ rights among residents of Mt.Elgon sub-county. The study was guided by the tenets of the agenda setting theory and the diffusion of innovations theory of the mass media. Exploratory sequential research design of the mixed methods research approach was applied. The study was conducted in Chemoge and Kaptama sub-locations of Mt. Elgon Sub-County and the population studied included: adult residents of the identified sub-locations, media practitioners and health policymakers. From a total population of 13204 adult residents, using Mungenda and Mugenda (2003), 10% was selected for the study totaling 130 persons. Further, 72 members of the population were purposively selected for focus group discussions. In addition, 8 key informants including 2 health policy experts and 6 health journalists drawn from leading national media houses in Kenya were interviewed. Data was collected through tools a questionnaire, interview guides (one for health policy experts and another for health journalists), and a focus group discussion schedule. Content validity was analyzed and reliability calculated Cronbach Alpha coefficient, .84 was obtained. Trustworthiness of qualitative methods and data was observed. The qualitative data collected was analyzed thematically while descriptive statistics were generated from quantitative data with the aid of SPSS. The findings revealed that over 68% of the respondents had not been reached with mass media on patients' rights. Further, audio-visual messages were commonly used in addressing patients' rights rated at 54%. The few messages disseminated have been centered on sporadic happening through news programs and this has contributed to the pessimistic perception registered by focus group discussants. Further, the few messages on patients' rights had not been implemented because they fail to meet the suitability criteria suggested. The study recommends that health journalists should adopt in-depth coverage of patients’ rights to increase awareness and practice investigative journalism in monitoring the implementation of these rights across health facilities. Fri, 01 Nov 2024 00:00:00 GMT https://ir-library.mmust.ac.ke/xmlui/handle/123456789/3611 2024-11-01T00:00:00Z https://ir-library.mmust.ac.ke/xmlui/handle/123456789/3610 UTILIZATION OF MASS MEDIA FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF PATIENTS’ RIGHTS IN MT. ELGON SUB-COUNTY, BUNGOMA COUNTY, KENYA Nkangi, Felister Nyaera This study sought to investigate the utilization of mass media messages for the implementation of patients’ rights among the public of the Mt. Elgon sub-county, Bungoma County. In health, media has been used to popularize new diseases and medical services offered. However, there is little information on its contribution in patients’ rights communication. Globally patients’ harm contributes to over 2.6 million deaths annually among low and middle-income countries. Patients’ rights violation cases have continued to be reported in Kenya despite the policies contained in the new Kenyan constitution promulgated in 2010 and the Kenya National Patients’ Rights Charter 2013. This is attributed to low health literacy levels on patients’ rights among the public. This questions mass media’s role of informing, educating and monitoring implementation of such policies in society. The study objectives were to: examine the nature of media messages disseminated on patients’ rights among residents of Mt.Elgon sub-county; determine the perception of public towards mass media messaging on patients’ rights among residents of Mt.Elgon sub-county; establish the challenges faced in the dissemination of mass media messages on patients’ rights among residents of Mt.Elgon sub-county and determine suitable mass media messaging for effective implementation of patients’ rights among residents of Mt.Elgon sub-county. The study was guided by the tenets of the agenda setting theory and the diffusion of innovations theory of the mass media. Exploratory sequential research design of the mixed methods research approach was applied. The study was conducted in Chemoge and Kaptama sub-locations of Mt. Elgon Sub-County and the population studied included: adult residents of the identified sub-locations, media practitioners and health policymakers. From a total population of 13204 adult residents, using Mungenda and Mugenda (2003), 10% was selected for the study totaling 130 persons. Further, 72 members of the population were purposively selected for focus group discussions. In addition, 8 key informants including 2 health policy experts and 6 health journalists drawn from leading national media houses in Kenya were interviewed. Data was collected through tools a questionnaire, interview guides (one for health policy experts and another for health journalists), and a focus group discussion schedule. Content validity was analyzed and reliability calculated Cronbach Alpha coefficient, .84 was obtained. Trustworthiness of qualitative methods and data was observed. The qualitative data collected was analyzed thematically while descriptive statistics were generated from quantitative data with the aid of SPSS. The findings revealed that over 68% of the respondents had not been reached with mass media on patients' rights. Further, audio-visual messages were commonly used in addressing patients' rights rated at 54%. The few messages disseminated have been centered on sporadic happening through news programs and this has contributed to the pessimistic perception registered by focus group discussants. Further, the few messages on patients' rights had not been implemented because they fail to meet the suitability criteria suggested. The study recommends that health journalists should adopt in-depth coverage of patients’ rights to increase awareness and practice investigative journalism in monitoring the implementation of these rights across health facilities. Fri, 01 Nov 2024 00:00:00 GMT https://ir-library.mmust.ac.ke/xmlui/handle/123456789/3610 2024-11-01T00:00:00Z https://ir-library.mmust.ac.ke/xmlui/handle/123456789/3609 UTILIZATION OF MASS MEDIA FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF PATIENTS’ RIGHTS IN MT. ELGON SUB-COUNTY, BUNGOMA COUNTY, KENYA Nkangi, Felister Nyaera This study sought to investigate the utilization of mass media messages for the implementation of patients’ rights among the public of the Mt. Elgon sub-county, Bungoma County. In health, media has been used to popularize new diseases and medical services offered. However, there is little information on its contribution in patients’ rights communication. Globally patients’ harm contributes to over 2.6 million deaths annually among low and middle-income countries. Patients’ rights violation cases have continued to be reported in Kenya despite the policies contained in the new Kenyan constitution promulgated in 2010 and the Kenya National Patients’ Rights Charter 2013. This is attributed to low health literacy levels on patients’ rights among the public. This questions mass media’s role of informing, educating and monitoring implementation of such policies in society. The study objectives were to: examine the nature of media messages disseminated on patients’ rights among residents of Mt.Elgon sub-county; determine the perception of public towards mass media messaging on patients’ rights among residents of Mt.Elgon sub-county; establish the challenges faced in the dissemination of mass media messages on patients’ rights among residents of Mt.Elgon sub-county and determine suitable mass media messaging for effective implementation of patients’ rights among residents of Mt.Elgon sub-county. The study was guided by the tenets of the agenda setting theory and the diffusion of innovations theory of the mass media. Exploratory sequential research design of the mixed methods research approach was applied. The study was conducted in Chemoge and Kaptama sub-locations of Mt. Elgon Sub-County and the population studied included: adult residents of the identified sub-locations, media practitioners and health policymakers. From a total population of 13204 adult residents, using Mungenda and Mugenda (2003), 10% was selected for the study totaling 130 persons. Further, 72 members of the population were purposively selected for focus group discussions. In addition, 8 key informants including 2 health policy experts and 6 health journalists drawn from leading national media houses in Kenya were interviewed. Data was collected through tools a questionnaire, interview guides (one for health policy experts and another for health journalists), and a focus group discussion schedule. Content validity was analyzed and reliability calculated Cronbach Alpha coefficient, .84 was obtained. Trustworthiness of qualitative methods and data was observed. The qualitative data collected was analyzed thematically while descriptive statistics were generated from quantitative data with the aid of SPSS. The findings revealed that over 68% of the respondents had not been reached with mass media on patients' rights. Further, audio-visual messages were commonly used in addressing patients' rights rated at 54%. The few messages disseminated have been centered on sporadic happening through news programs and this has contributed to the pessimistic perception registered by focus group discussants. Further, the few messages on patients' rights had not been implemented because they fail to meet the suitability criteria suggested. The study recommends that health journalists should adopt in-depth coverage of patients’ rights to increase awareness and practice investigative journalism in monitoring the implementation of these rights across health facilities. Fri, 01 Nov 2024 00:00:00 GMT https://ir-library.mmust.ac.ke/xmlui/handle/123456789/3609 2024-11-01T00:00:00Z https://ir-library.mmust.ac.ke/xmlui/handle/123456789/3591 INTERPLAY BETWEEN ETHNIC IDENTITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN SELECTED COUNTIES OF WESTERN KENYA SINCE 1963 Mukanda, Samuel Wafula Ethnic identity is one issue that has remained highly contested as regards economic freedom and development in the world today. As independence dawned on the nation-state of Kenya, there were waves of excitement. The liberated citizens had high expectations of a strong lithified nationhood that would embrace inclusivity, equal distribution of the national resources, sustainable development as well as living in unity, peace and liberty. This study generally interrogated the interplay between ethnic identity and economic development in Kenya since 1963. The study specific objectives were to; trace the origins, nature and development of ethnic identity in Kenya; asses the influence of ethnic identity on economic development in Kenya since 1963, examine the legal policies and institutional framework in addressing effects of ethnic identity in Kenya and finally evaluate the challenges and opportunities in the interplay between ethnic identity and economic development challenges in Kenya since 1963. In the scope, the study was conducted in Kenya, addressing the period since 1963, when Kenya gained self-rule. The study was conducted in 7 Counties in Kenya since they were occupied by all the 45 ethnic groups. Literature review was conducted and knowledge gaps were identified. It adopted Instrumental Marxist theory and Relative Deprivation theory. The study was qualitative in nature. It adopted historical research design. The target population included political leadership, community elders, social workers, residents of the seven counties and experts on historical matters. The data collected was analyzed by the use of content analysis and its presentation done thematically. The study used, purposive and snow ball sampling techniques to identify various respondents to be involved in the study. The study findings demonstrate that: Since Kenyan’s independence in 1963, Kenyan politics has been bedeviled by ethnic politics as a result of ethnic polarization and sentimental coloration of all national issues. Further, marginalization, inequalities and other forms of disparities have also been the result of ethnicity and ethnic-based politics, which have since colonialism been a central basis of discrimination. Additionally, through the promotion of equality and the addressing of the underlying effects of ethnic identity, Kenya has the potential to pave the way for a future that is more inclusive and prosperous for all of its citizens. Lastly, the politicization of resource allocation, favoring regions or communities based on ethnic affiliations, has engendered stark disparities in infrastructure development, service provision, and access to economic opportunities. The study observed that: It became evident that the country's socio-political landscape was deeply influenced by tribal divisions. Also, ethnic divisions have hindered progress by perpetuating inequalities in resource allocation and fostering a climate of favoritism. Moreover, existing policies often fail to adequately address the root causes of ethnic tensions and disparities in Kenya. Finally, by implementing comprehensive reforms and inclusive policies that transcend ethnic boundaries, Kenya can overcome divisive forces and harness its cultural diversity as a driver of sustainable economic development. From the foregoing observation, the study concludes that, while Interpretivism philosophy advocates for practical and adaptable solutions, the entrenched nature of ethnic identity in Kenya highlights the complexity of societal challenges that defy simplistic remedies. It is recommended that, the implementation of comprehensive civic education programs is necessary. On top of that, there is need for the establishment of inclusive economic policies in Kenya. Also, there is need to reform the legal system to promote equality and non-discrimination in Kenya. Lastly, there is a need to implement inclusive economic policies that prioritize equitable resource distribution and promote the participation of all ethnic groups in economic activities. Fri, 01 Nov 2024 00:00:00 GMT https://ir-library.mmust.ac.ke/xmlui/handle/123456789/3591 2024-11-01T00:00:00Z