RP-Department of Psychology

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Relationship between Substance Abuse and Sexual Violence among Women in Informal Urban Settlements in Nairobi City County, Kenya
(EANSO, 2024-05) Sitati, Vivian; Kipnusu, Robert C.
Sexual assault is against the law in Kenya. Yet many people, particularly women and girls, continue to experience Sexual and Gender-based Violence (SGBV) without receiving much assistance, suggesting that the regulations in place are ineffective. Drug and substance abuse has also become prevalent, especially among persons living within informal urban settings. This with the attendant rise in cases of domestic and SGBV means that there is a growing need for a deeper understanding of the nexus between drug abuse and sexual violence against women, and in particular, within Nairobi's informal urban settlements. Many women in Kenya have experienced sexual or physical assault. The research sought to determine the relationship between substance abuse and sexual violence among women in Nairobi City County's informal urban settlements; The Social Learning Theory guided this research adopting a correlation study design with a target population of 139 women in the groups who have experienced GBV and SGBV. Using stratified selection and proportional sampling approaches, the Yamane formula was utilized to calculate the sample size of 106 respondents. Information was gathered through questionnaires. Descriptive statistics as well as inferential statistics like Pearson moment correlation and chi-square analysis, were used to analyse the data. From the study, it was indicated that both substance abuse and sexual violence have tremendous negative consequences on the health, socioeconomic, emotional, and psychological disposition of a person. The study also demonstrated the rise in drug and substance abuse led to an increase in cases of sexual violence. This shows that efforts to combat drug use and substance abuse have not been successful. Therefore, the study suggests that the government develop more potent methods of combating drug use and substance abuse.
Academic Engagement and Grit as Correlates of Academic Burnout among Form Three Students in Nyandarua County, Kenya
(IJSSHR, 2024) Gichomo, David; Oluoch, James; Ngunu, Susan
Academic burnout is a condition that arises from students’ feeling of exhaustion and incompetence in academics. The academic burnout might be due to multiple factors such as school assignments, continuous assessment tests among other examinations. These may lead to academic disinterest and students’ unexplained absenteeism. This study intended to establish the relationship between academic engagement and academic burnout among form three students in Kipipiri Sub-county in Nyandarua County, Kenya. Students experiencing academic burnout may face maladjustment that may seriously affect their academic path. Students in Nyandarua County secondary schools experience academic burnout. The aim of this study therefore, was to determine the relationship between academic engagement and academic burnout. Work engagement theory was used to guide this study. Correlation research design was employed. Form three students were the target population 1,152 (572 boys and 580 girls) from 8 secondary schools in Kipipiri Sub-county. The sampling methods that were used in the study are purposive sampling, proportionate sampling and simple random sampling. The sample comprised of 349 participants from 8 secondary schools. Research tools used consisted of the Utrecht work engagement scale meant for students and academic burnout scale. A pilot study was carried out using 36 students selected randomly in one of the schools within Kipipiri Sub-county. To ascertain validity of the research instrument, the researcher presented them to expert (supervisors) for scrutiny. Cronbach’s alpha coefficient was used to ascertain the reliability of the research instruments. Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS version 25) was used to compute inferential and descriptive statistic. The study established that there exists a significant negative relationship between academic engagement and academic burnout. r(345) = -.68, p< .05. The study recommended that teachers should come up with guidance programs and other more relevant interventions to help students boost their academic engagement in order to reduce academic burnout.
Assessment of Depressive Symptoms Severity among Secondary School Adolescents in Kiambu County, Kenya
(EdinBurg, 2023) Ngata, Theresia Wangari; Mvungu, Eunice Njeri
Depressive symptoms have different levels of severity such as mild, chronic as well as acute. The symptoms may lead to feelings of hopelessness, emptiness, sadness, and helplessness. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the severity of depressive symptoms that are manifested by secondary school students in Kiambu County. The targeted population was secondary school adolescents in Kiambu County. Data was collected using standardized instruments. The adolescent depressive symptoms severity was assessed using the Patient Health Questionnaire9: Modified for Teens (PHQ-9: teens). The findings on the severity of depressive symptoms manifested by the adolescents revealed that 38.6% of students had mild depression, 24.2% had minimal depression, 20% had moderate depression, 13.3% had moderately severe depression and 3.9% had severe depression. The study recommends the need for the Ministry of Education to hire counselors and psychologists to provide mental health services in secondary schools. This will assist students in managing depressive symptoms. The study further recommends that school management introduce programs aimed at bringing parents and students together to discuss family issues affecting student’s mental health.
Influence of Anxiety on Non Adherence to Tuberculosis Treatment among TB Patients in Selected Chest Clinics in Mombasa County, Kenya
(EJTAS, 2023) Osoo, Victor Okello; Oteyo, John Samson
Purpose. The aim of this study was to determine the influence of anxiety on Non adherence to tuberculosis treatment among Tb patients in selected chest clinics in Mombasa County, Kenya Methodology. The study adopted correlation research design as guided by the hypothesis that anxiety had an effect on Nonadherence to tuberculosis treatment. It was conducted in Mombasa County, Kenya in 3 selected Chest clinics. All tuberculosis patients were the target population. Convenience sampling was used to identify those registered and on active treatment while simple random sampling was used for those who accepted to participate in the study. Data collection was done using questionnaires that had both open and close ended questions. Descriptive statistics helped in data analysis which were then presented using frequencies, percentages and tables Results. 312 respondents were interviewed, 91% reported that anxiety affected their Tb treatment. 75% of them reported that side effects of the Tb medicines were the reason they had anxiety, 16.3% said the long duration of therapy while 8.7% stated that misinformation was the cause. 17.3% of respondents with severe anxiety had moderate Nonadherence to their Tb treatment. Summary, Conclusion and Recommendation. From the result the study noted that the two most common triggers of anxiety in tuberculosis patients were Side effects and the long duration of treatment. It was noted there exists a relationship between anxiety and Non adherence but the association was not significant as indicated by chi-square (X2(4, 312) = [2.532], p = [p=.639]). Screening and assement of patients on long term treatment would be needful in helping manage comorbidities.
Social Competence as a Correlate of School Adjustment among Form One Students in Murang’a County, Kenya
(IJIRAS, 2023) Ndung’u, Mary Ngina; Isoe, Jasper; Mwangi, Cecilia; Ireri, Anthony
Most students face a lot of difficulties in adjusting to their new school environment when they join secondary schools. This has been reported among form one students in Murang'a County. As more students struggle to fit in and cope with school adjustment challenges, the issue has grown to be a major source of concern. It has resulted in major problems for certain students who have developed a negative attitude and behavior toward the school, making it difficult for them to engage in studying. Little effort has been made to investigate the factors that contribute to students' poor adjustment to new school environment. The purpose of the study therefore was to investigate social competence as a correlate of school adjustment amongst form one students. The study adopted correlational research design to establish the relationship between social competence and school adjustment. The target population of this study included all 6043 form one students in the county. The study sampled 362 students from 12 out of 51 secondary schools.Purposive sampling was used to choose Murang'a South Sub-County. The 12 secondary schools were sampled using a stratified sampling procedure. To confirm the validity and reliability of the research instruments, piloting was carried out in one school with a sample of 20 (10 boys and 10 girls). The quantitative data collected were analyzed using SPSS. Social competence among students and school adjustment showed a positive and significant correlation with school adjustment, r (347) =.39, p <.05. A statistically significant difference in adjustment between boys and girls was also found by the independent t-test, t (347) = 3.26, p<.05. This suggests that form one boys and girls' levels of school adjustment differ significantly in favour of boys. The findings imply that boys adjusted more successfully than girls. The study recommends that in order to strengthen and guarantee students' school adjustment, instructors and all other school stakeholders should increase students' social competence.
Analysis of Psychological Well-Being of Secondary School Teachers; A Review of Literature
(IPRJB, 2022) Gakinya, Grace Wanjiru; Wasanga, Christine; Kipnusu, Robert
Purpose: The goal of the study was to conduct an investigation into the psychological wellbeing of teachers in secondary schools. Methodology: The research strategy used was a desktop review. Google Scholar was used to track the foundational references and relevant scholarly articles. To fulfill the inclusion criterion, papers from the past ten years were used. Findings: Teachers' mental health was found to be correlated with both their self-efficacy and their work surroundings, independent of their demographics. Teachers' psychological well-being was found to be positively correlated with their levels of affective and normative commitment, which in turn was found to be positively correlated with teachers' levels of job satisfaction, desire to get involved in their work, and sense of competence on the job. Unique Contribution to Theory, Policy and Practice: Based on the findings of this study, it is clear that assisting educators in developing their teaching competency and efficacy, as well as providing them with the tools they need to cope with workplace pressures, can have a positive effect on their mental health. It is also advised that, at the program level, supportive environments for both educators and students should be established. Psychotherapy based on the Cognitive Behavioral Theory (CBT) will be used to examine how emotions and actions are expressed through one's ability to think. This theory should be applied in future as it proposes new methods of thinking that will result in better behavioral and emotional reactions.
Level of Anxiety among Tuberculosis Patients in Selected Chest Clinics in Mombasa County, Kenya
(IPRJB, 2023) Osoo, Victor Okello; Oteyo, John Samson
Purpose: The aim of this study was to explore the levels of anxiety among Tuberculosis patients in selected chest clinics in Mombasa County, Kenya. Methodology: The research adopted correlational design. The study was conducted in selected three chest clinics in Mombasa County. All tuberculosis patients diagnosed with active tuberculosis disease who are registered and collect their medicines from selected chest clinics in Mombasa County was the targeted population. Convenience sampling was applied because only patients on TB treatment within the period of study were interviewed. Simple random sampling was used to select participants from each stratum to be involved in the study. The sample size involved 200 TB patients. The research adopted questionnaire which consisted of both open ended and closed ended questions to collect data. The study adopted a questionnaire in collection of data. The questionnaire contained both open ended and close ended questionnaire. The researcher used descriptive statistics to help in organizing of data and it would also be helpful in summarizing of data for ease of making interpretations. Statistical Package for Social Science version 25 aided in data analysis. Frequency, percentages and moment was used in data analysis. Findings: From the study it was also clear that 17.3% of those respondents with moderate non-adherence had severe anxiety, 91% reported that anxiety affected their non-adherence. Side effects of the medication, long duration of treatment and misinformation were the main triggers of anxiety at 75%, 16.3% and 8.7% respectively. The analysis of data showed that 51.3% of the respondents experienced mild anxiety, 27.2% moderate anxiety while 21.5% had severe anxiety. Some of the factors that the respondents stated triggered their anxiety included; side effects of the medicine 75%, 16.3% long duration of therapy and 8.7% said misinformation about Tb treatment made them become anxious. Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: The Care Seeking Behaviour may be used to anchor future studies relating to the level of anxiety to treatment among TB patients. According to the theory, a patient is motivated to seek treatment for a certain ailment when they have positive feelings about the available treatment options and they have been reassured thus have reduced anxiety. The study recommended that there is need for screening and intervention of mental health conditions like anxiety and depression among TB patients to mitigate non-adherence of TB treatment. This should be done through screening, assessment and use of evidenced based psychological intervention. There is need for community awareness to demystify diagnosis and treatment of TB, mitigate stigma and discrimination associated with TB and promotion of social support to TB patients in seeking and adhering to TB treatment.
Examining the Relationship between Selected Demographics and Levels of Vicarious Trauma among Teachers Working In Educational Assessment and Resource Centres in Kenya
(Centre for Democracy, Research and Development (CEDRED, 2023) Sirera, Merecia; Oteyo, John; Githae, Eunice; Njeri, Eunice; Chege, Lydia; Malasi, Flora; Mutheu, Jane
In the past two decades, there has been a rapid growth in research evidence showing that teachers working in educational assessment and resource centres (EARCs) are at risk of vicarious trauma (VT). Whilst the causes VT may be diverse, understanding personal demographics as indicators of potential vulnerability can help to support EARCs avoid exposure to extreme VT. However, studies that examine the association between individual demographic characteristics and traumatic symptoms are scarce, particularly in sub-Saharan African countries. This article reports part of the results of a cross-sectional survey-based PhD study on the emotional effects of vicarious trauma on professional development among teachers in educational assessment and resource centres in Kenya. The results presented in this document are based on a random sample (n = 107) of special needs teachers from Kenyan EARC centres. The study found that approximately 27.1% (at least 2 in every 10) of teachers working in EARCs exhibit traumatic symptoms, risk factors for VT. The study also found that there is no single demographic structure that uniquely characterises the group of teachers at risk for VT; however, teachers who had prior training in functional assessment (FA) were significantly less vulnerable to VT. The study also found that early career teachers with less than 10 years of professional experience exhibited significantly higher levels of VT compared to more experienced teachers. Other personal demographics that tend to influence levels of VT to a mild extent include highest level of academic training and gender where those with bachelor’s degree and male teachers tend to exhibit slightly higher levels of VT. It should be noted that age was not a significant factor in almost all cases. The study recommends the development of VT management skills in induction programmes for newly recruited EARC teachers. The study recommends establishment of EARC support system and mechanisms domiciled at the grassroot level.
Level of Non-Adherence to Tuberculosis Treatment among TB Patients in Selected Chest Clinics in Mombasa County, Kenya
(IPRJB, 2023) Okello, Osoo Victor; Oteyo, John Samson
Purpose: The aim of this study was to explore the levels of non- adherence to tuberculosis treatment among TB patients in selected chest clinics in Mombasa County, Kenya. Methodology: The research adopted correlational design. The study was conducted in selected three chest clinics in Mombasa County. All tuberculosis patients diagnosed with active tuberculosis disease who are registered and collect their medicines from selected chest clinics in Mombasa County was the targeted population. Convenience sampling and simple random sampling was used. The sample size involved 200 TB patients. The research adopted questionnaire which consisted of both open ended and closed ended questions. The study adopted a questionnaire in collection of data. The questionnaire contained both open ended and close ended questionnaire. The researcher used descriptive statistics to help in organizing of data and it would also be helpful in summarizing of data for ease of making interpretations. Statistical Package for Social Science version 25 aided in data analysis. Frequency, percentages and moment was used in data analysis. Findings: Data analysis from this study that was summed and transformed into categories revealed 83% of the respondent’s experienced moderate nonadherence, 12.2% low non-adherence while 4.8% had high incidences of non-adherence. Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: Rational Emotive Theory may be used to anchor future studies relating to levels of nonadherence to TB treatment among TB patients. In this study, anxiety over the Tb diagnosis would be the activating agent, patient belief about treatment and treatment course and Non-adherence the consequence of the irrational belief. The study recommended that there is need for patients to be empowered with information on the importance of adherence to TB treatment to mitigate incidences of treatment failure and multidrug resistant tuberculosis through health education using health practitioners.
Effectiveness of a Music Based Intervention in Enhancing Problem Recognition among Clients with Substance Use Disorders in Residential Treatment Centers in Kenya
(Nacada, 2022) Antony, Chege; Muchiri, Karega; Beatrice, Kathungu
The treatment of clients with substance use disorders (SUDs) is a challenge especially when they lack insight into the substance use problem. Such clients may not seek treatment and if they do, may not benefit much from it. Therefore there was a need to enhance problem recognition (PR) among such clients. The study sought to determine the effectiveness of music-based intervention (MBI) in enhancing problem recognition among clients with substance use disorders in residential treatment in Kenya. The objective was to determine if there were significant differences in PR between clients exposed to MBI and the control group in a selected residential treatment center in Kenya. The study used a quasi-experimental, nonequivalent control group pretest posttest design. A total of 40 clients participated in the study, with the experimental and control group having 20 participants each. Findings revealed that the experimental group had significantly higher levels of PR at post-test compared to the control group after controlling for various covariates, suggesting that MBI in addition to treatment as usual may have contributed to increased PR in the treatment group. This indicates that the MBI was effective in enhancing PR among clients with SUDs. Therefore, the MBI may be used as an evidencebased complementary intervention in enhancing problem recognition among clients with SUD in treatment settings in Kenya.
Centering Decriminalization of Suicide in Low–And Middle–Income Countries on Effective Suicide Prevention Strategies.
(Frontiers in Psychiatry, 2022) Ochuku, Brenda K.; Natalie, E. Johnson; Osborn, Tom L.; Wasanga, Christine M.; Ndetei, David M.
Globally, over 800,000 people die by suicide every year. For every one completed suicide, 20 more attempts have been made. As previous attempts are one of the strongest predictors of future suicide, help-seeking in moments of crisis, particularly after an attempt, may have important implications for suicide prevention. Unfortunately, the criminalization of suicide in several countries hinders help-seeking, increases the stigmatization of those who attempt suicide and obstructs the accurate tracking of suicides. Here, we highlight the negative eects of suicide criminalization and discuss evidence-based strategies for suicide prevention such as means restriction, improved mental health literacy and access to psychosocial support, and responsible media coverage of suicide
Long Term Health Outcomes of Adolescent Character Strength Interventions: 3 To 4 Year Outcomes of Three Randomized Controlled Trials of the Shamiri Program
(BMC, 2022) Conerly, Katherine E. Venturo; Natalie, E. Johnson; Osborn, Tom L.; Pufer, Eve S.; Rusch, Thomas; Ndetei, David M.; Wasanga, Christine M.; Mutiso, Victoria; Musyimi, Christine; Weisz, John R.
Background: Adolescents in low- and middle-income countries in need of mental health care often do not receive it due to stigma, cost, and lack of mental health professionals. Culturally appropriate, brief, and low-cost interventions delivered by lay-providers can help overcome these barriers and appear efective at reducing symptoms of depres‑ sion and anxiety until several months post-intervention. However, little is known about whether these interventions may have long-term efects on health, mental health, social, or academic outcomes. Methods: Three previous randomized controlled trials of the Shamiri intervention, a 4-week, group-delivered, layprovider-led intervention, have been conducted in Kenyan high schools. Shamiri teaches positively focused interven‑ tion elements (i.e., growth mindset and strategies for growth, gratitude, and value afrmation) to target symptoms of depression and anxiety and to improve academic performance and social relationships, by fostering character strengths. In this long-term follow-up study, we will test whether these mental health, academic, social, and characterstrength outcomes, along with related health outcomes (e.g., sleep quality, heart-rate variability and activity level measured via wearables, HIV risk behaviors, alcohol and substance use), difer between the intervention and control group at 3–4-year follow-up. For primary analyses (Nanticipated=432), youths who participated in the three previous tri‑ als will be contacted again to assess whether outcomes at 3–4-year-follow-up difer for those in the Shamiri Interven‑ tion group compared to those in the study-skills active control group. Multi-level models will be used to model trajec‑ tories over time of primary outcomes and secondary outcomes that were collected in previous trials. For outcomes only collected at 3–4-year follow-up, tests of location diference (e.g., t-tests) will be used to assess group diferences in metric outcomes and diference tests (e.g., odds ratios) will be used to assess diferences in categorical outcomes. Finally, standardized efect sizes will be used to compare groups on all measures. Discussion: This follow-up study of participants from three randomized controlled trials of the Shamiri intervention will provide evidence bearing on the long-term and health and mental health efects of brief, lay-provider-delivered character strength interventions for youth in low- and middle-income countries.
The Network Approach: A Path to Decolonize Mental Health Care
(Frontiers in Public Health, 2023) Alemu, Rediet Emebet Getnet; Osborn, Tom L.; Wasanga, Christine M.
The violent colonial history of psychiatry in Africa prevents individuals from helpseeking. Because of this history, mental health care is now stigmatized, and clinical research, practice, and policy fail to capture the salient features of distress across African communities. If we are to transform mental health care for all, we must adopt decolonizing frameworks to ensure mental health research, practice, and policy are enacted in a manner that is ethical, democratic, critical, and serves the needs of local communities. Here, we present that the network approach to psychopathology as an invaluable tool in achieving this purpose. The network approach recognizes mental health disorders not as discrete entities, but rather as dynamic networks that are made of psychiatric symptoms (called nodes) and the relationships between these symptoms (called edges). This approach can pave a path to decolonizing mental health care by alleviating stigma, allowing context-based understanding of mental health and mental health problems, opening new avenues for (low-cost) mental health care and empowering
Does Family Structure Predispose Youth to Drug Use: the Case of Kajiado County, Kenya
(Nacada, 2021) Chege, Antony; Kathungu, Beatrice
There is evidence suggesting that drug use among the youth is common and has extensive effects on their social, health and economic lives. It is critical that this issue be addressed by understanding the factors that are associated with drug use in order to guide the development of targeted prevention programs. Family factors can either increase the risk or protect the youth from drug use. There is need to understand how family factors such as the structure of the family influence drug use among the youth. Guided by the structural family model this study sought to find out the relationship between family structure and drug use among youth in Kajiado County, Kenya. The study used the correlation study design and targeted youth between ages 10-25. To obtain the sample of 356 respondents, a multi-stage sampling procedure was used. Data was collected using a questionnaire, assessing family structure and drug use patterns. The chi square test was used to analyze the data. According to the findings, there were significant differences in recent, current and daily drug use between youth from double-parent and single-parent families, with those from single-parent families having the highest rates. These findings suggest that NACADA, youth organizations and other mental health practitioners concerned with drug use among youth should design drug use prevention programs that target youth from single-parent families who seem to be at a higher risk than their counterparts from double-parent families.
Efficacy of a Music-Based Intervention on Enhancement of Treatment Motivation among Clients with Substance Use Disorders in Residential Treatment in Kenya
(AJOL, 2022) Chege, Antony; Kathungu, Beatrice; Karega, Muchiri
Although evidence suggests that music-based interventions (MBI) may help enhance treatment motivation, their efficacy is generally untested among the Kenyan population. This motivated the current study to test the efficacy of a MBI on treatment motivation of clients with substance use disorder (SUD) in a selected treatment center. Subjects were 40 clients in a residential treatment facility with two branches. A quasi-experiment, nonequivalent control group pre-test post-test design was used. The treatment group, with 20 clients in branch A, received MBI in addition to treatment as usual (TAU) while the control, comprising 20 clients in branch B, only received the TAU in the same period. A Treatment Motivation (TM) test using the TCU/SRF Treatment Motivation scale was administered to both groups before and after the four weeks of MBI on the treatment group. Findings showed that the treatment group had significantly higher levels of treatment motivation at post-test compared to the control group after controlling for various covariates, suggesting that MBI may have contributed to the increased TM in the treatment group. This implies that MBI may be a promising intervention in enhancing treatment motivation among clients with SUD in treatment settings in Kenya.
Factors Influencing Uptake of Career Counselling Services among University Students in Nairobi City County, Kenya.
(JFP, 2021) Kathungu, Beatrice; Wasanga, Christine
Failure to take up career counselling services among university students continues to be a concern for learning institutions and policy makers. The concern has been marked by policy interventions aimed at ensuring graduates access career information. In Kenya, universities have developed policies and programmes that encourage uptake of career counselling services. Despite these attempts, there has been minimal uptake of the services among students. The purpose of the study was to assess the level of uptake of career counselling services in Kenyan universities. The target population was fourth-year undergraduate students. A stratified simple random sampling method was used. Standardized instruments were used to collect data. Data was analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics and presented using tables. Quantitative data was analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences, version 24. The level of uptake of career counselling services was low. The study recommended clear policies and guidelines that would reinforce career counselling programmes in universities in Nairobi City County.
A Comparative Study on HIV-Related Attitude and HIV High Risk Behavior among Kenyan and American University Students
(Kenyatta University, 2015) Olaly, Wilfrida H. A; Venable, Riley H
The purpose of conducting this research was to investigate the relationship between attitude toward HIV/AIDS and the degree of sexual behavior among university students in Kenya and the United States of America. The sample consisted of 240 university students out of which 121 were from Kenya while 119 were from the United States. Pearson Correlation and Multiple Regression were used to analyze the data. Three hypotheses were tested to find out the relationship between attitudes toward HIV/AIDS as measured by a modified version of the Texas Southern University AIDS Risk Survey Schedule and sexual behavior of targeted college students at the .05 alpha level or better. The findings showed that attitude toward HIV/AIDS contributed significantly to the degree of sexual behavior among university students in the United States independently, and both universities combined but not among Kenya students
Effectiveness of Teacher Counsellors’ Delivery of Guidance and Counselling Services towards Enhancing Discipline among Students in Olokurto Division, Narok County, Kenya
(IISTE, 2015) Kamundia, I. Robert; Kinga, Thomas N.
While education is expected to change the behaviour of learners positively by moulding them into self respecting and self- reliant individuals, discipline related issues have been at the fore of educational debates as students encounter challenges associated with adolescence. Cases of truancy, drug abuse, immorality, destruction of property and loss of life, are however, indicators of the existence of a conflict between educational aims and discipline among secondary school students. This is despite the provision of guidance and counselling services in schools, hence the need to examine the effectiveness of guidance and counselling in enhancing discipline among secondary school students. The objective of study was to examine the effectiveness of examine the effectiveness of teacher counsellors’ service delivery of guidance and counselling services towards enhancing discipline among secondary school students in Olokurto Division, Narok County, Kenya. Descriptive survey design was employed in the study and a questionnaire was used obtain data from respondents. Person centred theory advanced by Carl Rogers guided the study. The study population comprised 861 students, 12 teacher counsellors and 6 deputy principals drawn from the six public secondary schools in the division. Stratified and simple random sampling techniques were employed to sample 129 students for the study. Schools, deputy principals and teacher counsellors in the division were purposively sampled. Using test-retest method, the instruments yielded a reliability coefficient of r = 0.76, thus accepted for the study. Data were analyzed using the SPSS software version 20.0 and presented in tables, charts, graphs, means, frequencies and percentages. The study established that teacher counsellors could not effectively deliver guidance and counselling services due to their low levels of training, heavy workload, lack of resources and facilities. The study recommends training of guidance and counselling teachers, reduction of teaching load for teacher counsellors and strengthening of school guidance and counselling departments through provision of resources and facilities. The findings and recommendations of this study, if implemented will be useful to policy makers in the Ministry of Education, heads of secondary schools, counselling personnel and students through improved services from more informed teacher counsellors.
Ibuka Institution and Group Therapy Curative Factors in Healing Psychological Problems of Women Sexually Violated During 1994 Genocide Against Tutsi in Rwanda
(Pakistan Journal of Social Sciences, 2019) Ntete, J.M.; Wasanga, C.M.; Sirera, M.A.M.
All along women had untold suffering as a result of sexual violence due to the shame and stigma associated with it. When 1994 genocide against Tutsi happened in Rwanda, sexual violence became a weapon of war where young girls and women were a target that led to death, incurable diseases, unwanted pregnancies, children with neglect, destruction of families-wives and husbands separated and girls and women sexually violated became hopeless to get husbands and remarry, respectively, to mention but few. Ibuka Institution created in 1995 was to provide psychosocioeconomic and legal assistance to survivors of 1994 genocide but still women sexually violated couldn’t open up and seek psychological assistance because of the stigma associated to sexual violence. Ibuka thought and initiated group therapy in 2009 to try help women sexually violated. It was in this line that the current study was to find out if women sexually violated achieved the curative factors in group therapy initiated by Ibuka. Testified by 40 women sexually violated through interviews and focus group discussions from Busog o, Kinigi and Muhoza Sectors of Musanze District in Northern Prov ince where group therapy was being used to approach their psychological problems, curative factors were identified in group therapy and indicated positively the remedy in terms of biological, socio-economical, spiritual and psychological spheres according to the findings. The silence was broken to curb shame and humiliation through information giving, they fought isolation through improved interpersonal relationships, they benefited group cohesiveness, by offering a sense of belong ing, acceptance and approval, there was reunification with families, further education for those who wanted to study, treatment in the country was availed in different hospitals and abroad for those with incurable diseases was planned, income generating activities for some were initiated and inclusion in families to combat stigma was improved. It was in this line therefore that the research findings built on identifying curative factors that proved essential to the healing of psychological problems of women sexually violated in Rwanda is recommended to other people who experience emotional pain but find it difficult to open up and seek help.
African Perspective of Sources of an Individual’s Motivation to Behaviour and its Implications on Multicultural Counselling: Case of Kenyan Universities
(International Journal of Scientific and Research Publication, 2019-05) Wathoni, Gathaara Hellen; Sirera, Merecia Ann; Wasanga, Christine
Cultural perspectives of individuals motivation are not clearly understood and this presents a challenge in effective conceptualization and contextualization of clients’ problems in therapy. To understand this behaviour of Africans in Kenyan culture, both cross-sectional survey and ethnographic research design were used. The study was carried out in Kenyan universities due to their rich cultural diversity. Multi-stage sampling procedures were used for the study. The sample size for the study was 360 but due to the return rate of 82.4% for questionnaires, ended up being 298 participants: students, lecturers, and counselling psychologists. Data collection tools for the study were questionnaires, interview schedules and focus group discussion guides. Quantitative data was analysed in Statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) and presented in tables and figures. The qualitative data were transcribed, and categorised according to themes and sub-themes and later discussed by linking them with the study objectives. The results on sources of an individual’s motivation to behaviour showed that: the African family was mainly extended to members outside the nuclear family and thus it influenced an individual’s motivation to behaviour. Collective moral standards of the extended family promoted the right behaviour for the individual and social welfare. Prohibitive norms and taboos were strictly observed because of the severe punishments that befell those who violated them. Religious motives enabled Africans to make moral choices and decisions. Punishments and penalties were used to advance the cause for right behaviour among Africans in Kenya. In conclusion, culture influences people’s motivation to covert and overt behaviour and thus the therapists especially those from different cultures need to understand it to make therapy relevant and meaningful to the African descent clients. The study recommended that cultural worldview and perspective of personality be incorporated into therapy alongside mainstream Euro-American perspectives to make counselling more meaningful to clients from different cultures.

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