The Effects of HIV/AIDS on Human Resource Operations in the Hospitality Industry: A Case Study of the Coastal Region of Kenya

Nzioka, Alice Mueni (2007) The Effects of HIV/AIDS on Human Resource Operations in the Hospitality Industry: A Case Study of the Coastal Region of Kenya. Masters thesis, Kenyatta University.

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Abstract

There are about 39.5 million people globally living with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Sub-Saharan Africa has the highest prevalence with just over 24 million people who are HIV positive. Kenya has approximately 1.3 million people infected. The International Labour Organization estimates that 28 million workers are HIV positive. Tourism is the second largest industry in Kenya, providing jobs, tax, revenue, and foreign currency to this country. There is no study in Kenya on the effects of HIV/AIDS in the hospitality industry. The purpose of this study was to examine the extent to which HIV/AIDS has affected the human resource operations in the hotel sector in the Coast region of Kenya. The study examined HIV/AIDS related absenteeism, loss of productivity, labour costs, and labour turnover, and their effects on human resource operations in the hotel sector. Stratified random sampling was employed to select 57 hotels out of the 76 classified hotels in the region. Questionnaire, focus group discussion and a retrospective analysis of document were used for data collection. The Spearman Rank Correlation Coefficient, the Pearson Correlation Coefficient and the Chi-Square were used. The results were presented in charts, frequency tables, percentages, and histograms. The Spearman Rank Correlation Coefficient indicated a positive relationship between absenteeism and labour costs. The Pearson Correlation Coefficient indicated a positive relationship between HIV/AIDS related heath care costs and hotels clinic attendance. Significance was accepted at p < 0.05. The Chi- Square Test indicated a X'calculated > X2 tabulated at 95% confidence level and hence rejecting the hypotheses. The results showed that absenteeism due to morbidity and mortality of HIV/AIDS related illnesses was significant. Further operational costs rose from Ksh. 532,000 in 2000 to Ksh. 819, 000 in 2004. The death rate rose by 2% between 2000 and 2004 while funeral costs rose by 2% within the same period. Employee absenteeism rose from 1,560 labour days in 2000 to 3,446 labour days in 2004. Hotels experienced attrition in skills, increase in labour costs as well as reduced performance levels. All these affected productivity and profits. From the findings of this study it is concluded that HIV/AIDS appears to have impacted negatively on the hotels in terms of absenteeism of workers, loss of skills and knowledge, increase in operating costs as well as reduced performance levels. It is recommended that all hotels should have well-elaborated HIV/AIDS prevention programmes and concerted mitigation strategies. The hotels should develop HIV/AIDS workplace policies and intensify awareness and prevention campaigns.

Item Type: Thesis (Masters)
Subjects: H Social Sciences > HD Industries. Land use. Labor > HD28 Management. Industrial Management
H Social Sciences > HF Commerce
R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine > RA0421 Public health. Hygiene. Preventive Medicine
Divisions: Africana
Depositing User: Tim Khabala
Date Deposited: 19 Jan 2018 14:33
Last Modified: 19 Jan 2018 14:33
URI: http://thesisbank.jhia.ac.ke/id/eprint/3152

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