Browsing by Author "Dr. Stephen Asatsa"

Now showing 1 - 6 of 6
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    An Assessment of Collaboration between Community-Based Informal Approaches and Government Formal Child Protection Structures in Mwingi Central-Sub County, Kitui County
    (www.jriiejournal.com, 2021-10) Titus Mutia Kithome; Dr. Wilkster M. Shanyisa; Dr. Stephen Asatsa
    Effective child protection framework requires a holistic approach where all actors are involved. This study was conceived to assess the level of collaboration between community–based informal approaches and government formal child protection structures in Mwingi central sub county. The study adopted mixed methods research design where data collection and analysis was done through both qualitative and quantitative methods. Both probability and non-sampling procedures were used to select a total of 433 respondents who included 399 adult members of the households, 24 children aged between 12-17 years and 10 key informants who participated in this study. The study was guided by the systems theory and the collecteddata was analyzed through thematic content analysis and descriptive statistics which involved the use of Statistical Packagefor Social Science (SPSS) version 20. The study results showed that there was poor close working relationship betweenstructured child protection systems and community-based informal structures and the working relationship between the twoapproaches was greatly hampered by factors like: low visibility of government officials within the study region, communitymistrust of government officials, and corruption by some government officials. The study recommends that there should morecollaborative effort in child protection for better results.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Influence of Posttraumatic Growth on Posttraumatic Stress Disorder among Refugees in Nairobi County, Kenya
    (www.jriiejournal.com, 2021-06) Henrietta Amen Usunobun; Dr. Stephen Asatsa; Dr. Elijah Macharia
    Most refugees have frequently been subjected to a variety of potentially traumatic events, which have a wide range of negative consequences for their mental health and quality of life. However, some have also reported positive personal changes, and post-traumatic growth related to these potentially distressing events. This study was restricted only to Nairobi County, which accommodates most of the urban refugees in Kenya (UNHCR, 2020). The study used a simple random sampling technique for the quantitative strand and purposive/convenient sampling technique for the qualitative strand to select respondents. A sample of 133 respondents, which was determined using Yamane’s formula, was selected. Quantitative data were collected using standardized questionnaires; the 21-item posttraumatic growth inventory (PTGI) and 20-item Posttraumatic stress disorder checklist (PCL-5). This study adopted the embedded mixed method research design by combining correlational and phenomenological research design. The study revealed a weak negative relationship between Posttraumatic stress disorder and posttraumatic growth (p˂ 0.01, r = -.319).This implies, as individual who had gone through traumatizing experience progress in posttraumatic growth, the level of post-traumatic stress disorder decreases with time. This indicates that continuous psychological and psychosocial assistance are considered as coping skills that facilitate posttraumatic growth.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Influence of Posttraumatic Growth on Posttraumatic Stress Disorder among Refugees in Nairobi County, Kenya
    (www.jriiejournal.com, 2021) Henrietta Amen Usunobun; Dr. Stephen Asatsa; Dr. Elijah Macharia
    Most refugees have frequently been subjected to a variety of potentially traumatic events, which have a wide range of negative consequences for their mental health and quality of life. However, some have also reported positive personal changes, and post-traumatic growth related to these potentially distressing events. This study was restricted only to Nairobi County, which accommodates most of the urban refugees in Kenya (UNHCR, 2020). The study used a simple random sampling technique for the quantitative strand and purposive/convenient sampling technique for the qualitative strand to select respondents. A sample of 133 respondents, which was determined using Yamane’s formula, was selected. Quantitative data were collected using standardized questionnaires; the 21-item posttraumatic growth inventory (PTGI) and 20-item Posttraumatic stress disorder checklist (PCL-5). This study adopted the embedded mixed method research design by combining correlational and phenomenological research design. The study revealed a weak negative relationship between Posttraumatic stress disorder and posttraumatic growth (p˂ 0.01, r = -.319).This implies, as individual who had gone through traumatizing experience progress in posttraumatic growth, the level of post-traumatic stress disorder decreases with time. This indicates that continuous psychological and psychosocial assistance are considered as coping skills that facilitate posttraumatic growth.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Influence of Posttraumatic Growth on Posttraumatic Stress Disorder among Refugees in Nairobi County, Kenya
    (www.jriiejournal.com, 2021) Henrietta Amen Usunobun; Dr. Stephen Asatsa; Dr. Elijah Macharia
    Most refugees have frequently been subjected to a variety of potentially traumatic events, which have a wide range of negative consequences for their mental health and quality of life. However, some have also reported positive personal changes, and post-traumatic growth related to these potentially distressing events. This study was restricted only to Nairobi County, which accommodates most of the urban refugees in Kenya (UNHCR, 2020). The study used a simple random sampling technique for the quantitative strand and purposive/convenient sampling technique for the qualitative strand to select respondents. A sample of 133 respondents, which was determined using Yamane’s formula, was selected. Quantitative data were collected using standardized questionnaires; the 21-item posttraumatic growth inventory (PTGI) and 20-item Posttraumatic stress disorder checklist (PCL-5). This study adopted the embedded mixed method research design by combining correlational and phenomenological research design. The study revealed a weak negative relationship between Posttraumatic stress disorder and posttraumatic growth (p˂ 0.01, r = -.319).This implies, as individual who had gone through traumatizing experience progress in posttraumatic growth, the level of post-traumatic stress disorder decreases with time. This indicates that continuous psychological and psychosocial assistance are considered as coping skills that facilitate posttraumatic growth.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Mental health policy and system preparedness to respond to COVID-19 and other health emergencies: a case study of four African countries
    (South African Journal of Psychology, 2021-05) Tholene Sodi; Mahlatse Modipane; Kwaku Oppong Asante; Emmanuel Nii-Boye Quarshie; Dr. Stephen Asatsa; Julia Mutambara; Sibusiso Khombo
    As a result of a long colonial history and subsequent developmental and economic challenges, many African countries have struggled to put in place adequate policies, systems, and associated infrastructures to address the health and social needs of their citizens. With the COVID-19 pandemic threatening human lives and livelihoods, concerns are raised about the preparedness and readiness of health policies and systems in African countries to deal with these kinds of health calamities. More particularly, questions can be asked about the preparedness or even existence of mental health policies and associated systems to help individuals and communities in Africa to deal with the consequences of COVID-19 and other health emergencies. In this article, we analyse the existing mental health policies of four African countries paying attention to the capacity of these legislative provisions to enable psychology professionals to deal with psychosocial problems brought about by COVID-19. We use Walt and Gilson’s Policy Triangle Framework to frame our analysis of the existing mental health policies. In line with this conceptual framework, we review the role played by the different factors in shaping and influencing these mental health policies. We further explore the challenges and opportunities associated with existing legislation and mental health policies. We also reflect on the reports obtained from each of the four countries about the role that psychologists are playing to deal with the associated psychosocial problems. Based on our policy analysis and country reports, we highlight strengths and gaps in these policies and give recommendations on how mental health policies in these countries can be strengthened to respond to COVID-19 and future health emergencies.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Role of Community-Based Informal Approaches in Child Protection in Mwingi Central Sub-County, Kitui County
    (www.jriiejournal.com, 2021-10) Titus Mutia Kithome; Dr. Wilkster M. Shanyisa; Dr. Stephen Asatsa
    The study was designed to investigate the role of community-based informal approaches in child protection in Mwingi Central Sub County, Kitui County. In order to address the above-stated objective, the study adopted a transformative worldview with an emphasis on mixed methods research design. The study used both probability and non-probability sampling methods, and 2 divisions, 5 locations, and 24 villages were chosen for the study using simple random sampling. Data was collected from a sample of 399 adult members of the households using questionnaires; 24 children aged 12-17 years (both in and out of school) through in-depth interviews’; and from 10 key informants. The study was guided by the systems theory and the collected data was analyzed through thematic content analysis descriptive statistics which involved the use of Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 20. The study results revealed that members of the community were more familiar with and preferred the use of community-based child protection approaches than the formal government child protection units. The study recommends that child protection practitioners should strive to close the gap between the formal and informal community-based child protection approaches to ensure that there is a cohesive approach to child protection.