AFRICAN JOURNAL OF SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND ENGINEERING (AJSTE)

EVALUATING THE LEVEL OF PERSONAL RESILIENCE AMONG HEALTHCARE WORKERS AT KCRH, KIRINYAGA COUNTY, IN KENYA.

MUIGA M., NDANU J., NJOROGE M. — 2024-09-09

Personal resilience, a multifaceted concept encompassing determination, endurance, adaptability, and recuperability, is crucial for healthcare workers who frequently encounter high-stress and traumatic events. Resilience enables individuals to not only endure but also thrive in adversity, protecting against burnout and fostering psychological well-being. This study investigates the level of personal resilience among healthcare workers at Kerugoya County Referral Hospital (KCRH) in Kirinyaga County, Kenya, focusing on vicarious trauma and its effects. A descriptive research design was employed, involving a sample of 149 healthcare workers at KCRH. Data was collected using the Adult Personal Resilience Questionnaire (APRQ). There was moderate vicarious trauma levels (score of 33.3) and substantial resilience across four dimensions: determination (4.42), endurance (4.18), adaptability (4.06), and recuperability (3.93). Healthcare workers at KCRH exhibited substantial resilience across all dimensions, with determination and endurance scoring the highest. Thus, despite facing significant challenges, including high stress levels and exposure to traumatic events, the workers demonstrated strong determination, perseverance, adaptability, and ability to recover from setbacks. However, the moderate level of vicarious trauma highlights the need for targeted support and interventions to mitigate its impact. These findings underscore the importance of personal resilience in helping healthcare workers manage the demands of their profession. High resilience levels suggest that these workers possess the capacity to navigate adversities effectively, but the presence of moderate vicarious trauma indicates a need for enhanced support systems. There is need for Hospital administrators and policymakers to prioritize initiatives aimed at building resilience among healthcare workers. This can include implementing tailored training programs, providing robust mental health support, and fostering a supportive work environment. Further research is recommended to explore specific strategies and interventions that can effectively enhance resilience and well-being in diverse healthcare settings.

ASSESSING THE LEVEL OF VICARIOUS TRAUMA AMONG HEALTHCARE WORKERS AT KCRH, KIRINYAGA COUNTY, IN KENYA.

MUIGA M., NDANU J., NJOROGE M. — 2024-09-09

Vicarious trauma is referred to the emotional and psychological distress experienced by health care workers, who directly absorb the traumatic experiences of patients, thus disrupting their sense of emotional safety, trust, self-esteem, and intimacy. The broad objective of this study was to measure the level of vicarious trauma among healthcare workers at Kerugoya County Referral Hospital (KCRH), Kirinyaga County. The study sampled 149 healthcare workers using multistage sampling procedure. Questionnaires were used to collect data; Socio-Demographic Questionnaire, Vicarious Trauma Scale (VTS). The data was analyzed using statistical software SPSS version 27 and presented in summary tables, detailing frequencies, percentages, means, and standard deviations. The study findings show that healthcare workers at KCHR showed a moderate level of Vicarious Trauma levels with a score of 33.3. The data hold significant importance for evidence-based decision-making, particularly in designing tailored healthcare training and support networks and provides vital insights for hospital administrators to implement effective interventions. Policymakers can use this data to formulate policies addressing trauma management and worker well-being, thus directly impacting management of mental health issues which is a growing public health concern.

RE-ENGINEERING UNIVERSITY LIBRARY SERVICES WITH EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES IN KENYA: PROSPECTS AND CHALLENGES

UBAGA E., KIARIE G., ROTICH K. — 2024-09-09

The current wave of advancements in technology has significantly altered the quality of services provided by university libraries, as well as the expectations that society has of them. Consequently, if university libraries don't start utilizing emerging technologies to enhance delivery of information and services, they risk becoming obsolete in the twenty-first century. It is against this background that this paper examines prospects and challenges associated with use of emerging technologies by university libraries in Kenya. By studying emerging technologies and their application in university libraries, librarians in Kenya will be able to foster new ways of service delivery which will help them to maintain their competitiveness in drawing and retaining patrons. This article reviews previous studies, explores various emerging technologies available in Kenya, how they can be utilized by university libraries and the challenges arising from their implementation. Results show that there are many opportunities for improving service delivery in Kenyan university libraries through emerging technologies such as mobile technologies, Instant Messaging, QR Code, mobile Apps, among others. However, although Kenyan university libraries are making efforts towards adopting emerging technologies for service delivery, the rate of adoption is still slow, and the variety of technologies being adopted is still narrow in comparison to the options available. This has been attributed to challenges such as lack of ICT skills, limitation of funds, policies, support from top management, as well as power outage, poor attitude of library staff and poor infrastructure. The study recommends that university libraries in Kenya should adopt emerging technologies in order to deliver exceptional services. Additionally, training of library staff, improving ICT infrastructure and top organization support amongst other factors should be put in place in order to enhance adoption of emerging technologies.

DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY AND COMMUNITY EMPOWERMENT: BRIDGING THE RURAL- KNOWLEDGE CENTER GAP

KIMOTE, Zipporah, MUTUNGA, Daniel — 2024-09-09

Rural communities in developing countries continue to experience marginalization due to centralization of services in urban areas and institutions. The imbalance in distribution of resources and provision of services isolates rural communities making them remain ignorant of the advancements that can lead to their own socio-economic empowerment. Rural communities lack access to innovations and knowledge necessary for their transformation due to lack of good and effective channels for relaying information or mechanisms that can enable them to tap the knowledge they need to broaden their world view, interpret their situations, and address the barriers that prevent them from getting access to digital technologies. Government and non-government agencies through their research and practices have generated knowledge and information on different issues that have distracted community transformation over the years and which if properly disseminated would enhance the problem-solving ability of the communities. Knowledge would free and empower people from ignorance and set them on a firm path to discovering themselves, interpret reality with confidence, and making decisions that would improve their well-being. This paper argues that rural communities can be empowered by bridging the digital gap through enhanced knowledge management strategies. Through an extensive review of existing literature, this study seeks to explore different strategies for disseminating knowledge to communities using digital technology and examine how government agencies, not-for-profit organizations and local community initiatives can facilitate access to information and enhance digital literacy among rural communities. The findings of the study would potentially advise policy on digital empowerment of rural communities with the view to enabling them tap into the existing opportunities to better their lives.

EFFECTS OF TECHNOLOGICAL CHANGES ON LIBRARY OPERATIONS AND SERVICES AT EGERTON UNIVERSITY LIBRARY

KIPLAGAT S.,MAGUT H. — 2024-09-09

The introduction of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) has caused notable alterations in operations and services provided by libraries. This has brought up a number of managerial and technical problems that, if left unchecked, could affect information management. The study’s goal was to evaluate how technological advancements have affected library operations and services in order to provide a framework for managing technological advancements in libraries as they relate to Egerton University's information management procedures. The study to track the technologies that Egerton University Library had implemented, identify technological advancements and their effects on staff competencies, services, and library operations, and suggest a framework for integrating new ICTs into service management. The Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL) was chosen by the study as its theoretical foundation. The research was conducted using a case study method within a qualitative paradigm. Fifty (50) responders, including professional and paraprofessional library staff as well as four (4) employees from the Procurement and ICT departments, were chosen using the purposive sample technique. Face-to-face interviews were used to gather data, which was then thematically analyzed. The study found that the advantages of adopting technology far outweighed the drawbacks. Thus, technological advancements and modifications cannot be evaded by any organization/institution and more so libraries and information centres worldwide.

PRESERVING THE PAST, ENSURING THE FUTURE: CHALLENGES AND INNOVATIONS IN DIGITAL PRESERVATION OF INFORMATION

NJUGUNA A., KIMOTE Z. — 2024-09-09

The task of digital preservation, which entails safeguarding enormous amounts of knowledge for future generations, is crucial for contemporary society. The intricate field of digital preservation is examined in this paper, with a particular emphasis on how the variety of formats and sources calls for fundamental adjustments in preservation methods. In the ever evolving technological landscape, reactive and flexible methods are needed; traditional ones are no longer adequate. Concerning digital archiving, the primary objectives of this research are data integrity, obsolescence, and the ongoing threat of technological revolution. An extensive guide to long-term digital data storage is to be provided, along with an explanation of new methods and technologies created to address these concerns. An in-depth and comprehensive literature review and analysis of pertinent case studies form part of the methodology. Important subjects comprise metadata standards, emulation, format migration, and cooperative initiatives in the preservation community. Anticipated results include a thorough grasp of the challenges encountered by digital preservation initiatives as well as an investigation of effective strategies and resources to get past these roadblocks. This study enhances to the current of knowledge on digital preservation by pointing out obstacles and providing workable fixes for long-term preservation. It emphasizes the necessity of modifying conservation methods to take advantage of evolving technological capabilities and advocates for an active, future-focused approach to safeguarding the enduring legacy of our digital heritage.