Traditional variables and utilization of health care services among women of childbearing age in Bekwarra local government area of Cross River state, Nigeria

Introduction: Improvement in maternal healthcare for women of child-bearing age at the grassroots level has necessitated the need to access and use health care services. Previous studies focused mainly on demographic, economic, and some social factors, with little concentration on traditional variables, such as cultural and religious practices, particularly among women of child-bearing age. Purpose: This study examined the effect of cultural and religious factors on the utilization of health care services among women of child-bearing age in the Bekwarra Local Government Area of the Cross River State, Nigeria. Methodology: For this study, descriptive survey design was used. A purposive sampling technique was used to select a total of 217 respondents from the ten wards of the Bekwarra LGA of Cross River State. A self-developed questionnaire with a reliability value of 0.84 was used as the instrument for data collection. Data were analyzed with the use of inferential statistics of simple linear regression.  Results: The outcome of the study showed that cultural practices and religious beliefs significantly affect the utilization of health care services among women of child-bearing age in Bekwarra LGA Recommendations: based on the findings of the study it was recommended that traditional rulers, clan heads and village heads should be educated on the need to sensitize their subjects especially women of child bearing age to seek and utilize health care services in their area to reduce maternal and infant mortality rate

Psychological variables and consumption of healthy meals among first cycle students in Calabar metropolis, Nigeria

INTRODUCTION: Many higher education students indulge in risky eating behaviours which tend to affect their physical, psychological and academic health. Previous studies have tried to understand the trend in students’ eating patterns without paying adequate attention to contributing factors. PURPOSE: This study evaluated the influence of selected psychological variables on the consumption of balanced diets among students in two public universities in Calabar Metropolis, Nigeria. METHODOLOGY: A research question was posed, and a formulated hypothesis to guide the study. The study adopted the descriptive survey research design. A total of 12,530 faculty of education students spread across two public universities in Calabar Metropolis constituted the population of this study. A sample of 125 students was randomly selected through the stratified technique. A four-point questionnaire was used for data collection after validation by experts. Descriptive statistical measures such as mean, standard deviation, and percentages answered the research question. The null hypothesis was tested at the .05 level of significance using the one-sample t-test analysis. RESULTS: Findings revealed that the influence of psychological variables (such as stress, emotions, and mental state) on students’ consumption of balanced diets is not significantly low. RECOMMENDATIONS/CLASSROOM IMPLICATIONS: Based on the findings of this study, it was recommended that students cultivate the habit of always eating quality meals rich in nutrients, irrespective of their psychological state, to maintain a healthy life

Resource supervision and teaching effectiveness: Perspectives of physical and health education lecturers in train-the-trainer institutions in Nigeria

The study assessed perspectives in the supervision of human and material resources and its contribution to the teaching effectiveness of Physical and Health Education Lecturers’ in Colleges of Education in South-South region of Nigeria. Two null hypotheses were formulated based on the specific objectives of the study. A 35-item questionnaire was developed by the researchers and used for data collection. A sample of 69 Physical and Health Education lecturers from 7 colleges out of 12 who offer Physical and Health Education were selected through the status sampling technique. Pearson Product Moment correlation was used in data analyses. It was revealed that teaching effectiveness of Physical and Health Education lecturers had significant relationship with the supervision of human resources in the colleges of education; also, involvement of lecturers in facilities supervision had significant influence on Physical and Health Education lecturers teaching effectiveness. Based on the findings, it is concluded that human resource and facilities supervision are institutional predictors of Physical and Health Education lecturers teaching effectiveness in these colleges of education. It was recommended that staff selection process should strictly be supervised by credible academics and recruitment based on merit. In addition, that lecturer (human resource) should be given opportunity to develop their professional capacities, through in-service training, conference and workshop. Thirdly, Lecturers of Physical and Health Education should be made to participate in practical supervision of equipment, facilities and other materials used in the facilitation of physical and health education activities

Ethical issues and tobacco usage among secondary school students in Cross River State, Nigeria

Introduction: Even though tobacco is not a banned substance, there are moral principles guiding its use and advertisement. Among the ethical or moral principles guiding tobacco use are the sale of tobacco products to minors and the smoking in public places. Enforcement of legislation on such moral principles appear to be weak or nonexistent. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine ethical (moral) issues and the use of tobacco among secondary school students in Calabar Education Zone of Cross River State, Nigeria. Methodology: The study was guided by three research questions. The survey research design was adopted in the study. The population of the study comprised 6,361 public secondary school students from 77 public secondary schools in the study area. Stratified and proportionate sampling techniques were used in selecting a sample of 620 respondents from 25 randomly selected secondary schools in the area. The instrument used for the study is a self-structured and administered questionnaire tagged: “Ethical Issues and Students' Tobacco Use Questionnaire (EISTUQ).” The instrument was treated using the Cronbach Alpha reliability method, to obtain internal consistency. A coefficient of .864 suggests that the instrument was usable for data collection. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and percentage. Results: The result of the analysis indicated that a ban on direct sales of cigarettes to minors, open advertisement of tobacco products, and ban on smoking in public places, significantly influenced students' use of tobacco respectively. Recommendations: Based on the results, it was recommended that government at all levels, should strictly enforce the ban on direct sales of cigarettes to minors; open advertisement of tobacco products through various advertorial channels; and ban on smoking in public places

A Descriptive Analysis of Social Media Usage as Predictors of Study Habits among Students with Intellectual Disabilities in Calabar Metropolis: Implications for Inclusive Education

Aim: This study is a descriptive analysis of Facebook and WhatsApp as predictors of study habits among SSII students with disabilities in Public Secondary Schools of Calabar Metropolis of Cross River State, Nigeria: Implications for inclusive education. Two study objectives were stated to guide the study and achieve its goals. Two research questions were formulated. A literature review was carried out based on the variables under study, as research gaps were also stated. Method: The study utilised the descriptive survey research design. The population of Senior Secondary School II (SSII) students with disabilities in Calabar Metropolis comprises 3,814 from 24 public Secondary Schools. The study used a stratified random sampling technique. Out of 3,814 respondents, 763 respondents were sampled for the study. A validated 15-item four-point modified Likert scale questionnaire was the instrument used for data collection. The face and content validity of the instrument was established by experts in Test and Measurement from the University of Calabar, Calabar-Nigeria. The reliability estimates of 0.82 for the instruments were established using the Cronbach Alpha method. A descriptive analysis of frequency, percentages, mean, and standard deviation was used to test the research questions posed for the study. Results: The results obtained from the data analysis revealed there is a high extent of the impact of Facebook on study habits among SSII students with disabilities, and there is also a high extent of the impact of WhatsApp on study habits among SSII students with disabilities in Public Secondary Schools of Calabar Metropolis of Cross River State, Nigeria Conclusion: Based on the study's findings, it was concluded that Facebook and WhatsApp utilisation significantly impact study habits among SSII students with disabilities in Public Secondary Schools in the study area. Recommendation: Based on the result of the study, it was recommended that there should be a continuity of inclusive education policies and social media usage in Cross River State and Nigeria at large

Psychological variables and healthy meal consumption among first cycle students in Calabar Metropolis, Nigeria

INTRODUCTION: Many higher education students indulge in risky eating behaviours which tend to affect their physical, psychological and academic health. Previous studies have tried to understand the trend in students’ eating patterns without paying adequate attention to contributing factors. PURPOSE: This study evaluated the influence of selected psychological variables on the consumption of balanced diets among students in two public universities in Calabar Metropolis, Nigeria. METHODOLOGY: A research question was posed, and a formulated hypothesis to guide the study. The study adopted the descriptive survey research design. A total of 12,530 faculty of education students spread across two public universities in Calabar Metropolis constituted the population of this study. A sample of 125 students was randomly selected through the stratified technique. A four-point questionnaire was used for data collection after validation by experts. Descriptive statistical measures such as mean, standard deviation, and percentages answered the research question. The null hypothesis was tested at the .05 level of significance using the one-sample t-test analysis. RESULTS: Findings revealed that the influence of psychological variables (such as stress, emotions, and mental state) on students’ consumption of balanced diets is not significantly low. RECOMMENDATIONS/CLASSROOM IMPLICATIONS: Based on the findings of this study, it was recommended that students cultivate the habit of always eating quality meals rich in nutrients, irrespective of their psychological state, to maintain a healthy life