Leveraging Technology-Mediated Adult and Distance Learning for Economic Growth in Africa#

Following the rudiments of contextual analysis, and based on theoretical and philosophical analyses, this paper explores how technology mediated adult and distance learning might contribute to the economic growth of Africa, all things remaining equal. It proceeds from the perspective of analysing the related contextual situations of selected countries in Africa through the brief review of Africa's technology readiness, and posited that the possible gains that could be made from the application of adult and distance learning are tacitly located in somewhat perfect management of systems and sub-systems in education and the economy. Based on this analysis, it was proposed that whatever might be the state of Internet and technology readiness Africa has achieved, the successful creation of the nexus for economic growth is circumscribed unless the continent's political stability is assured now and in the future

MATERNAL MORTALITY AND PUBLIC HEALTH ADULT AND CONTINUING EDUCATION: A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF NIGERIA AND SOUTH AFRICA

Maternal mortality is a serious public health issue for Nigeria and South Africa. This is so because maternal mortality is an indicator of the level and efficacy of public health investment and performance for both countries. This study focuses on the experience of these two countries in order to determine if South Africa’s governmental policies, level of government corruption, and traditional practices directly lead to its comparably better maternal health statistics. South Africa has demonstrated lower ratios of maternal mortality and more consistent improvement in maternal health indicators than Nigeria because of stronger government support for maternal health, effective policies to improve accessibility, and availability of maternal healthcare. And when there is a constant reporting and reflection of the unpredictability of the rate at which the phenomenon occurs, the critical need arises not just for a comparative measurement of the scale of occurrence but, more so, the centrality of applying a multi-sectoral approach to the mitigation of this public health issue. This paper proceeds with that assumption by first exploring the incidence of maternal mortality using a comparative analysis lens. It then identifies the structures and processes in adult and continuing education that could be adapted in contributing valid ideas to the reduction of maternal mortality in Nigeria and South Africa

Socio‐Demographic Modelling of Maternal Mortality with Implications for Community Learning and Action

Maternal mortality remains a serious global public health problem. The paper examines the socio‐demographic factors associated with maternal mortality with implications for community learning and action in developing areas. The data analyzed were obtained from a sample of 20,467 women aged 15‐49 years whose recent delivery occurred in the five years preceding the survey. Stata 12 computer software was used to carry out data analyses. Data analyses were done at univariate and bivariate levels. Results from the univariate analysis indicated that the proportion of mothers who did not deliver in a healthcare facility was (67 per cent) against the thirty per cent of mothers who delivered at a healthcare facility. About sixty‐four per cent of the women did not indicate interest in seeking professional assistance. This was followed by 36 per cent of those who sought assistance. All the background variables at the bivariate levels showed their influence on the cost of the facility, except the place of residence (P = 0.808). Contrariwise, all the variables relating to the distance to a healthcare facility were significant during delivery (P <0.001). This means that both availabilities of transport and healthcare facility cost are important proximate determinants through which socio‐economic, demographic and cultural factors influenced maternal mortality risk. Based on these outcomes, we conclude that policies and community learning and action programs aimed at encouraging pregnant women to seek professional assistance should help to increase the prevalence of delivery in healthcare facilities, thereby reducing the risk of maternal mortality

The effect of women’s status on desired family size with implications for community based participatory action

This study explored the effect of women’s status on desired family size with the implications for community based participatory action. The population included all married women at the reproductive age (15-49) years.A questionnaire titled “effect of women’s status on desired family size with the implications for community based participatory action” consisting of 40 items was validated and tested for reliability and administered to 250 respondents who were selected through a multistage sampling technique modified by simple random sampling method which was adopted. A multinomial regression analysis was applied. Data was analyzed by the Stata (version 12) software. The findings indicate that a greater intention to limit childbearing is associated with exposure to media promoting family planning, current use of contraceptives, as well as future use of contraceptives, household decision making. In conclusion, a moderate proportion of women desired to limit or reduce their desired family size but there was a low connection to women’s educational status, their age at marriage, as well as the level of occupation, thus improving access to family planning services to women who have achieved their fertility goals would be greatly important, as well as boosting the age at marriage, increasing awareness, and enhancing husband's occupation, would greatly make an impact. It is proposed that the community-based action consisting of community orientation and action could help in mitigating existing challenges

Multivariate Analysis of Maternal Mortality with Implications for Community Participatory Action Learning

Maternal mortality is a global public health issue that requires urgent multi-disciplinary action, especially ones that are designed with the determined commitment of the community itself. The data analyzed and reported in this paper consisted of responses from 20,467 women aged 15-49 years whose delivery occurred in the five years preceding the survey. Stata 12 computer software was applied in the data analyses, and at the multivariate level, using the Binary Logistic Regression and the Likelihood Ratio (LR) statistical test of significance. The binary logistic regression included all the six background variables with the two intervening variables, that is, “transport too far” and “facility cost too much”. Results showed that women who confirmed not being able to visit healthcare facility due to lack of transportation coupled with the fact the fact that health facility costs are less likely to seek the assistance of healthcare professionals for the delivery of their babies. On the other hand, there were mothers who responded “No”, that is, the cost was not too much and the health facility not too far respectively yielded a statistical value of 0.8 and 0.9, P > 0.195 and 0.533. The likelihood ratio (LR) test to determine the extent to which availability of transport and facility cost helped to explain the effect of the background variables on assistance received yielded a highly significant result (chi-square = 737 on 2 degrees of freedom, P < 0.001). This means that both availability of transport and facility cost are important proximate determinants through which socioeconomic, demographic and cultural factors influence maternal mortality risk in Nigeria. Based on these findings, we conclude that policies and programs targeted at mobilizing communities to identify danger signs and activate emergency transport systems and the introduction of creating innovative digital health tools can help providers deliver higher quality services more effectively. And these can be effectively strengthened by including sufficient measures of community participatory action learning on a large scale

Trends in maternal health facilities utilization and women’s autonomy in Nigeria (2013‐2018): Attainment of sustainable development goals‐5

Maternal health has emerged as a global priority because of a significant gap in the status of the mother’s wellbeing between the developed and the less developed countries. Women’s equality and empowerment are one of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, aimed at ending and eliminating all forms of discrimination and violence against women and girls both in public and private spheres. The Decision‐making power of women is one of the essential factors which influence maternal healthcare service utilization. This study aims to assess the association between women’s autonomy and the use of healthcare facilities for delivery in Nigeria. In all, a total of (n = 19,654), 2013 NDHS and (n = 21,340), 2018 NDHS women were analyzed in this study. The association of the socioeconomic and demographic variables, women’s autonomy, and healthcare utilization was analyzed using Pearson’s chi‐square test in the bivariate and binary logistic regressions. Bivariate analysis indicated that all the background factors across the five years preceding the survey have a significant association with the women’s autonomy during their last pregnancy (P < 0.001). The utilization of healthcare facilities was found to be high and encouraging among Nigerian women. The participation of women in the decision‐making process regarding healthcare should be increased for better utilization of healthcare facilities for delivery in Nigeria. These findings made, are based on the recommendations which provide women with equal opportunity of having access to education, health care, decent work, and decision‐making processes, which will fuel sustainable economies and humanity at large for all ages in Nigeria

Gendered experiences of social disengagement among selected professionals in Nigeria and South Africa

The study of aging and society with regards to the worthiness and validity or otherwise of the social disengagement theory is controversial and some researchers do not agree with its principles. Some of the critics of this theory have continued to argue that quite often this disengagement is enforced rather than voluntary, and this process tend to “condemn” otherwise active retired adults to withdrawal from society. This paper was informed by the need to thoroughly investigate the validity or other otherwise of the social disengagement theory with regards to how it may be influenced by gender as it is commonly argued that retired male adults may not experience disengament in the same ways as their female counterparts. The qualitative design was adopted as it was deemed the best in attempting to get true meanings of how different genders experience disengagement in Nigeria and South Africa.The findings reveal that both genders in the chosen contexts experience disengagement in almost the same way, and the similarity of the African extended family system as it operates may be held accountable for this observation. Based on this findings, suggestions were made as to how the viable systems may be strengthened so that they can be of more value to Africans.Keywords: Disengagement, Engagement, Society, Interactions, Support And Transfe

Adult Basic Education and the preparation of South African youth: towards an agenda for the future

This descriptive paper proceeds with the assumption that the expectations, aspirations and challenges of the South African youth of the future could be so intricate that no single system of education can adequately satisfy their demands for learning within one segment of the entire lifespan. This is one major reason why adult basic education could become so critical and worthy of an academic discourse of this nature even as South Africa grapples with a myriad of strategies for meeting the needs of its youth. Adult basic education should be one of the critical human resource development strategies South Africa needs because it continues to harbor a large number of adult illiterates many of whom are youth and 55 percent of them female. The Kha ri Gude Mass Literacy Campaign launched in February, 2008 has been planned to ensure that between 14th April, 2008 and the end of 2015, South Africa should be totally rid of its burden of illiteracy. But the challenges the South African youth of the future must contend with go beyond illiteracy. This discourse therefore makes some major propositions for consideration and immediate action in anticipation of the coming of a growing and restive population that could be stirred up by social and economic winds in an increasingly connected wider world