Effect of Risk Prevention Techniques on Theft in Public Hospitals in Embu County, Kenya

Majority of Kenyan people receive health services from public hospitals. There is a need then toensure that personal and hospital properties as well as people are fully protected from theft. To guarantee this protection, public hospitals have adopted risk prevention techniques aimed at reducing the frequency and severity of theft incidences. Unfortunately theft in public hospitals has become a common problem with statistics showing that hospital theft stands at 61% compared to other hospital crimes in Kenya. Cases of stolen medicine, hospital equipments and stolen babies are being reported almost now and then. The purpose of the study was therefore to determine the association of risk prevention techniques on theft in public hospitals. The study adopted a descriptive research design. The population of the study was 1608 staffs. A sample of 161 junior staff was obtained and a complete census of 56 senior staff was done. Data was collected using questionnaires. Data was analyzed using frequencies and percentages and the results presented in cross tabulations. Chi-square was used to test the hypothesis. Statistical Package for social Sciences (SPSS) facilitated the analysis. The results revealed that most public hospitals had adopted various techniques aimed at reducing theft in hospitals. The results further revealed that there was a significant association of risk prevention technique with theft in public hospitals since results obtained p value 0.046<0.05 and chi-square value of 20.00 at 5% significance level. This study will form a basis of policy formulation on risk control techniques and theft matters in public hospitals in Kenya and also provide a basis for further research in field.