Globally, public health measures like face masks, hand hygiene and maintaining social distancing have been implemented to delay and reduce local transmission of COVID-19. To date there is emerging evidence to provide effectiveness and compliance to intervention measures on COVID-19 due to rapid spread of the disease. We synthesized evidence of community interventions and innovative practices to mitigate COVID-19 as well as previous respiratory outbreak infections which may share some aspects of transmission dynamics with COVID-19. In the study, we systematically searched the literature on community interventions to mitigate COVID-19, SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome), H1N1 Influenza and MERS (middle east respiratory syndrome) epidemics in PubMed, Google Scholar, World Health Organization (WHO), MEDRXIV and Google from their inception until May 30, 2020 for up-to-date published and grey resources. We screened records, extracted data, and assessed risk of bias in duplicates. We rated the certainty of evidence according to Cochrane methods and the GRADE approach. This study is registered with PROSPERO (CRD42020183064). Of 41,138 papers found, 17 studies met the inclusion criteria in various settings in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs). One of the papers from LMICs originated from Africa (Madagascar) with the rest from Asia 9 (China 5, Bangladesh 2, Thailand 2); South America 5 (Mexico 3, Peru 2) and Europe 2 (Serbia and Romania). Following five studies on the use of face masks, the risk of contracting SARS and Influenza was reduced OR 0.78 and 95% CI = 0.36–1.67. Equally, six studies on hand hygiene practices reported a reduced risk of contracting SARS and Influenza OR 0.95 and 95% CI = 0.83–1.08. Further two studies that looked at combined use of face masks and hand hygiene interventions showed the effectiveness in controlling the transmission of influenza OR 0.94 and 95% CI = 0.58–1.54. Nine studies on social distancing intervention demonstrated the importance of physical distance through closure of learning institutions on the transmission dynamics of disease. The evidence confirms the use of face masks, good hand hygiene and social distancing as community interventions are effective to control the spread of SARS and influenza in LMICs. However, the effectiveness of community interventions in LMICs should be informed by adherence of the mitigation measures and contextual factors taking into account the best practices. The study has shown gaps in adherence/compliance of the interventions, hence a need for robust intervention studies to better inform the evidence on compliance of the interventions. Nevertheless, this rapid review of currently best available evidence might inform interim guidance on similar respiratory infectious diseases like Covid-19 in Kenya and similar LMIC context.
An organization’s ability to implement its strategy successfully is a result of its ability to overcome obstacles leading to poor strategy implementation. However, a myriad of factors can potentially affect the process by which strategic plans are turned into organizational action. This study sough to determine the factors influencing the implementation of strategic plans in small manufacturing firms in Nairobi County. Specifically, the study examined the effect of strategic innovation, strategic leadership and organizational culture on implementation of strategic plans in small manufacturing firms in Nairobi County. The study was informed by the Contingency theory. The study adopted a descriptive survey research. The study targeted 50 small manufacturing firms in Nairobi County. Purposive sampling was used to select a manager and supervisor in each of the small manufacturing firms. A sample size of 100 respondents was used. A multiple regression analysis was used to establish the relationship between institutional factors and the implementation of strategic plans. SPSS statistical software was used to analyze the data. The results indicated that strategic innovation and implementation of strategic plans in small manufacturing firms is positively and significantly related. Strategic leadership and implementation of strategic plans in small manufacturing firms is positively and significantly related. Lastly, results showed that organization culture and implementation of strategic plans in small manufacturing firms is positively and significantly related. The study concluded that strategic innovation, strategic leadership and organizational culture significantly influence implementation of strategic plans in small manufacturing firms. The study recommends that the small manufacturing firms’ should understand the role organization culture play in management of organizations. They should be in a position to build a culture that is aligned to the strategic plans that they adopt. The small manufacturing firms’ managers should also develop strategic leadership to coordinate all the other resources to attain the desired goals. Strategic leadership determines success or failure of a strategic plan. Key words: Strategic Innovation, Strategic Leadership and Organizational Culture, Strategic Plans & Small Manufacturing Firms
The study sought to establish the influence of educational strategies on online learning in Kenyan institutions of higher learning amid COVID 19 Pandemic. Higher learning institutions, like every other educational institution were forced to close down to curb the spread of covid-19. As centers of innovation across the world, universities were expected to come up with solutions. Higher learning institutions in Kenya embraced online learning. Naturally, there were concerns as to whether such institutions can handle such a massive transformation seemingly overnight. These institutions had to initiate online lectures as well as exams in some cases in order to continue with a school calendar that had already suffered greatly as a result of the covid-19 pandemic. The transition has not been perfect and has faced a number of challenges. The paper used a desk study review methodology where relevant empirical literature was reviewed to identify main themes. A critical review of empirical literature was conducted to establish the influence of educational strategies on online learning in institutions of higher learning in Kenya. The study concludes that the educational strategies have a positive influence on online learning and can be applied individually or collectively depending on the circumstances. The study recommends that institutions of higher learning in Kenya should apply cooperative learning activities in online learning. The study also recommends that institutions should also use differentiation strategy so as to use different techniques for different students and that institutions of higher learning apply the behavioral approach technique by encouraging good behaviors by praise and motivation. Keywords: Educational Strategies, Online Learning, Covid 19, Higher Learning
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