https://repository.seku.ac.ke/handle/123456789/14 2026-04-24T20:35:34Z 2026-04-24T20:35:34Z Owuor, Steven O. Yakub, Adams Nyambuga, Charles https://repository.seku.ac.ke/handle/123456789/8379 2026-04-23T09:54:40Z 2020-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: The frequency of content with elements of negative behaviour published in the pulse magazine Authors: Owuor, Steven O.; Yakub, Adams; Nyambuga, Charles Abstract: Globally the print media has made strides in publishing content that is appealing to readers. The Kenyan mainstream newspapers have established colourful and sensational pullouts to attract youthful audience. Among the most popular free pullout entertainment magazines is the ‘Pulse’ which is accessed by the youth in secondary schools and may have a behavioural impact on them. This paper analysed the frequency of content with elements of negative behaviour published in the Pulse that would likely motivate secondary school students to engage in practices such as sexual activities, alcohol consumption and night partying which may lead to teenage pregnancies, sexually transmitted diseases, school dropouts, prostitution and drug abuse. A sample size of 46 magazines were purposively drawn from a study population of 52 weekly Pulse magazines running from January to December 2018. The revelation that the magazine published a high frequency of content with elements of negative behaviour was of concern due to the likelihood that the youth would engage in risky behaviour if given a chance leading to outcomes detrimental to their health and academic performance. The study will assist education policy makers,the media, and academicians in establishing ethical policies during the development of print media content. Description: DOI: https://doi.org/10.55197/qjssh.v1i4.24

2020-01-01T00:00:00Z Owuor, Steven O. Nyambuga, C. Yakub, A. https://repository.seku.ac.ke/handle/123456789/8378 2026-04-23T08:17:15Z 2020-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Kisumu County secondary school students’ preferences to content published in the pulse magazine in retrospect to negative behaviour Authors: Owuor, Steven O.; Nyambuga, C.; Yakub, A. Abstract: Globally the print media has made strides in publishing content that is appealing to readers. The Kenyan mainstream newspapers have established colourful and sensational pullouts to attract youthful readers. Among the most popular free pullout entertainment magazines is the ‘Pulse’ which is accessed by the youth in secondary schools and its content may be having a behavioural impact on them. The objective of the study was to establish the preference secondary school students have to content published in the Pulse on negative behaviour that is likely to motivate students to engage in practices that contribute to cases of early pregnancies, sexually transmitted diseases, and drug abuse. The study was guided by the Media Dependency Theory by Ball-Rokeach and DeFluer [1], showing audience dependency on media information. The study adopted a cross-sectional design targeting a population of 24,539 students. A sample size of 393 was drawn from the population of 24,539 students using Yamane [2], sample size formula. The study thereafter administered questionnaires to the 392 students. The study established that 356 respondents out of the 393 found content in the Pulse magazine appealing at a frequency rate of 90%. This was of concern due to the likelihood that the youth would engage in risky behaviour if given a chance leading to outcomes detrimental to their health and academic performance. The study will assist education policy makers, the media, and academicians in establishing ethical policies during the development of print media content. Description: DOI: 10.36348/sjhss.2020.v05i10.002

2020-01-01T00:00:00Z Kimiti, Jacinta M. https://repository.seku.ac.ke/handle/123456789/8356 2026-04-20T12:30:25Z 2026-04-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Kimiti_Farmer indigenous knowledge on courses of soil fertility decline in semi-arid south eastern Kenya Authors: Kimiti, Jacinta M. Abstract: A study was carried out in the semi-arid south eastern Kenya to establish existing soil fertility conservation strategies and farmer perspective on causes of soil fertility decline in the sites. Four sites were selected and random household interviews were conducted using structured questionnaire. A total of 119 households were interviewed. Results obtained indicated that about 90% of the farmers used farmyard manure erratically and only 2% of the farmers used inorganic fertilizers. Further, about 85% of the farmers used conservation structures to check soil erosion and evidence of erosion on farms was rare. However, about 64% of the farmers interviewed indicated that the main course of soil fertility decline in the study sites was soil erosion. The results further revealed that between 60 and 67% of household heads had only primary school education. We concluded that the most probable cause of soil decline in the study sites was soil nutrient depletion through nutrient mining by crops and that there is need to sensitize farmers on appropriate use of manures and incorporation of inorganic fertilizers in crop production

2026-04-01T00:00:00Z Kiruki, Harun M. van der Zanden, Emma H. Zagaria, Cecilia Verburg, Peter H. https://repository.seku.ac.ke/handle/123456789/8333 2026-04-08T08:05:50Z 2019-10-15T00:00:00Z

Title: Sustainable woodland management and livelihood options in a charcoal producing region: An agent-based modelling approach Authors: Kiruki, Harun M.; van der Zanden, Emma H.; Zagaria, Cecilia; Verburg, Peter H. Abstract: Woodland resources provide livelihoods for millions of people in Africa. Concerns about the impact of human utilization of woodlands have led to vigorous debates on woodland degradation. Ecological and socio-economic empirical data and understanding of the socio-ecological system have been synthesized in an agent-based model (ABM) to explore different woodland management options for a dynamic, semi-arid region in Kenya. In our simulations we accounted for the impacts of drought frequency, charcoal price changes, improved management practices and taxation of charcoal for a 20-year period to assess woodland changes in a spatially explicit way and evaluate the numbers of actors that can benefit from charcoal harvesting as a livelihood option. The model is based on an agent typology derived from 150 household interviews that focused on livelihood strategies and decision-making processes. Furthermore, the model integrates knowledge from vegetation plots and focus group meetings. From the model simulations we learn that favorable prices, improved management and taxation do not directly have the anticipated impact on woodland resources, as the improved conditions lead to fewer constraints on involvement in charcoal making. This reduces the positive impacts of these measures on the woodland quality but, at the same time, allows a larger number of actors to benefit from charcoal harvesting. Results show a very strong decrease in woodland area under the base scenario thereby reducing possibilities for households to supplement their incomes with charcoal making. Increased droughts and low prices for charcoal lead to early depletion of woodlands and reduction in livelihood options. Taxation stabilizes the number of charcoal producers but does not stop the depletion of woodland area. Woodland loss can only be prevented by controlling the number of charcoal makers and the amount of charcoal harvesting. Description: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2019.07.016

2019-10-15T00:00:00Z