Assessing interventions available to internally displaced persons in Abia state, Nigeria

Internally displaced persons are faced with several problems, such as sexual violence, and deserve appropriate intervention, especially in view of the increasing prevalence of HIV/AIDS and other infections in Nigeria. This study attempts to assess interventions offered by governmental authorities and organizations to internally displaced persons and to identify gaps in services as well as to identify what needs to be strengthened. Method: The author reviewed relevant published and unpublished documents and collected data by interviews with semi-structured questions. Twenty-five organizations and government and police departments and 55 internally displaced persons were interviewed. Results: None of the organizations, including governmental institutions, provided social services or assistance in prevention of HIV/AIDS to internally displaced persons. The main services provided by 17 (68%) organizations to 43 (78.2%) of internally displaced persons were provision of food, clothing and money, but these were provided on an ad hoc basis. Only 3 organizations (12%) included spiritual counseling and resolution of communal conflicts in their services. Conclusion: The fact that most organizations, including the government, do not have services for internally displaced persons indicates lack of support for internally displaced persons. The government should be urged to include these people in most prevention services, including HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment. This should help reduce the national prevalence of HIV/AID

Sexual behaviour and inheritance rights among HIV- positive women in Abia State,

In developing countries, culture favours males for economic ventures more than females. There is evidence that allowing HIV positive women inheritance rights will mitigate negative economic consequences of HIV/AIDS and other related risks. This study aimed to examine the extent to which HIV positive women have access to family resources in Abia State, Nigeria. Data collection instruments were questionnaire, focus group discussion and interview guides using 98 HIV positive women in network of people living with HIV/AIDS. Five key informants were also interviewed to authenticate women's responses. Results showed that 85 (86.7%) of the women were denied rights to family resources. Thirty-eight (64.4%) of them had negative relationship with their family members for demanding their husbands' property. Because of limited fi nancial assistance, the women took two types of risks in order to survive in the communities. Twenty-fi ve women (25.5%) earned their livelihood by acting as hired labourers to others in the farm. More that half (55.1%) of the HIV positive women were practicing unprotected sex. Although as high as 79.6% of women were aware of risks of unprotected sex, 54 (55%) of them practised it. The commonest reason for taking the risk was sex partners' dislike for condom use. The high proportion of HIV positive women who were denied access to family resources, could suggest lack of care and support. If this denial continues, Government‘s efforts to reduce HIV prevalence would yield no signifi cant result. There is therefore need for organized community education programme that emphasizes the benefits of empowering women living positively with HIV/AIDS economically. Keywords: inheritance rights, HIV/AIDS, sexual behaviour, Nigeria Tanzania Journal of Health Research Vol. 10 (2) 2008: pp. 73-7

Creating and sustaining healthy work environment for professional advancement in health care institutions: a case study of nursing students’ clinical posting in Abia State

Background: The need for nursing students to care and support patients especially those living positively with HIV and AIDS as well as those with terminal diseases should not be underestimated. By training, nursing students are expected to interact cordially with patients and other health care professionals but most times, the reverse is the case. Inter-professional and interpersonal education prepare nursing students on clinical posting to provide quality health care services to all patients irrespective of their ages and health conditions. Therefore, creating healthy work environment by encouraging team work, integrating treatment and prevention services to promote good health is imperative in ensuring patients’ safety, and enhanced inter-professional relationship.Methods: A two-day pre-clinical seminar which centered on professionalism, teamwork, interpersonal and inter-professional relationships, as well as effective communication to guarantee healthy work environments was carried out. The pre-clinical seminar was also used to prepare 186 nursing students on their expected roles during the twelve weeks’ clinical posting in health institutions. At the end of the students’ posting, two days post-clinical seminar aimed to harness students’ experiences, views and performances, as well as the teachers’ observations during the clinical posting was conducted. Thereafter, all comments on performances, observations, experiences and other remarks from the teachers and students were grouped together and analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively.Results: A good proportion of the students 142 (76.3%) established good interpersonal relationship with the patients who are HIV positive while 135 (72.6%) had effective inter-professional interaction with health care workers. Also 135 (72.6%) had good team work relationship with other health care professionals. There were better health care services to clients as evidenced by 95 (51.1%) of students who shared case managements with the health care workers and 122 (65.6%) of the students who used mobilization and advocacy to identify pressing challenges like inter-professional conflicts, poor uptake of messages about treatment and referrals as well as malnutrition among children. A respectable number of the students, 144 (77.4%) collaborated with colleagues to provide nutrition to malnourished children to improve their nutritional status, while 75 (40.3%) assisted in resolving some inter-professional conflicts.Conclusions: Students’ initiatives in management of cases, inter-professional and interpersonal learning experiences during clinical postings increased students’ understanding of teamwork and professionalism as well as promoted friendlier environments that guaranteed better health care services to patients

Enhancing payment for municipal services through communication dynamics and emerging innovation options

Abstract: This study investigated if the application of communication dynamics and sustainable innovation options could enhance payment for municipal services in the North West province of South Africa. A mixed methods research approach was adopted and data was collected from 384 residents in a quantitative study using self-administered questionnaires and 13 municipal role-players in the qualitative phase using face-to-face interviews. Data was analysed using SPSS (Version 24) in the quantitative phase and Atlas-ti (Version 8.2) in the qualitative phase. Results indicated that municipal role-players have not completely adopted communication options such as mobile phones, social media, YouTube, emails, the Internet and call centers in communicating and sending bills to residents. Furthermore, the promotion to pay for services is not enhanced by introducing sales promotional tools. The study recommends that the municipal role-players should communicate with residents using diverse communication platforms such as mobile phones, social media, YouTube, emails, the Internet, call centers and introduce sales promotional tools

Effects of seed size and nursery media on the germination and seedling growth of Plukenetia conophora

Research on the effects of seed size, soil-based and soilless media to determine the best condition for increased seedling production of African walnut was carried out at the green house of Department of Crop Science and Technology, Federal University of Technology, Owerri. Seed size was categorized into 10.23 to 10.31g (for large seeds) and below 10.23g (for small seeds). Soil-based nursery medium was sawdust mixed with topsoil volume by volume (v/v) 1:1, while soilless was sawdust alone. The experiment was a 2×3 factorial in a complete randomized design with 6 replications. Data were collected on number of days to emergence, plant height at 4, 8, and 12 weeks after planting (WAP), and number of leaves at 4, 8, and 12 WAP. Data collected were tested with analysis of variance (ANOVA), and treatment means were separated with Fishers least significant difference at 5% level of probability. Result showed that large seeds planted on soil-based media performed best in all the assessed traits. The inference is that high quality seedlings of African walnut can be produced by planting large seeds in soil-based media

Availability of Childhood Social Services in Leprosy Settlements in Southern Nigeria

Background: Children of leprosy patients deserve social services such as free education, health care services including HIV/AIDS prevention like others. The extent to which these children benefit from such services is not clear. One expects that since they are exposed to health hazards in settlements that they would benefit immensely from preventive health care and other services. Study investigates the extent to which such services are available to them. Methods: Study was carried out in 3 purposively selected leprosy settlements, Uzuakoli in Abia State, Ohaozara in Ebonyi State and Ogbomoso in Oyo State using 86 children from 10 years and above who are available during study. Structured questionnaire and interview schedule were instruments used. Data were analyzed with Stat Pac Gold package. Results: Provision of social services to children of leprosy patients studied is limited. Only 13(16.5%) of the children said their parents did not pay school fees. The rest paid. However, despite payment of fees, higher proportion of children in Abia State 43(95.6%) more than in Oyo State 36(87.9%) went to school P = .03. About 42(97.7%) of children in Abia State and 30(83.3%) in Oyo State lack knowledge of HIV prevention. Neither reproductive health services including HIV/AIDS prevention nor prophylactic treatments are available to them. Conclusion: In view of above results, increased social services including HIV/AIDS prevention, prophylactic treatments and health promotions are recommended.Contexte: Les enfants de patients l\ue9preux m\ue9ritent des services sociaux tels que l'\ue9ducation gratuite, les services de sant\ue9 incluant la pr\ue9vention du VIH/SIDA et autres pathologies. L'importance du b\ue9n\ue9fice tir\ue9 de ces services par ces enfants n'est pas claire. On s'attend \ue0 ce que vu leur exposition aux risques sanitaires dans les villages, ils b\ue9n\ue9ficient immens\ue9ment des services de sant\ue9 et autres. Des \ue9tudes \ue9valuent dans quelles mesures ces services sont disponibles pour eux. M\ue9thode: L'\ue9tude a \ue9t\ue9 men\ue9e dans trois l\ue9proserie s\ue9lectionn\ue9es: Uzuakoli dans l'\ue9tat d'Abia, Ohaozara dans l'\ue9tat d'Ebonyi State et Ogbomoso dans l'\ue9tat d'Oyo avec recrutement de 86 enfants, \ue2g\ue9s de 10 ans ou plus et qui sont disponibles au cours de la p\ue9riode d'\ue9tude. Les instruments utilis\ue9s \ue9taient un questionnaire structur\ue9 et des entretiens programm\ue9s. Les donn\ue9es ont \ue9t\ue9 analys\ue9es \ue0 l'aide du logiciel Stat Pac Gold. R\ue9sultats: La disponibilit\ue9 des services sociaux pour les enfants de patients l\ue9preux au cours de cette \ue9tude est limit\ue9e. Seulement 13 (16,5%) ont affirm\ue9s que leurs parents ne payaient pas de frais scolaires. Les autres paient. Cependant, malgr\ue9 le paiement des frais, une importante population d'enfants dans l'\ue9tat d'Abia 43 (95,6%) plus que dans l'\ue9tat d'Oyo 36 (87,9%) allaient \ue0 l'\ue9cole (p=0,03). Environ 42 (97,7%) des enfants dans l'\ue9tat d'Abia et 30(83,3%) dans l'\ue9tat d'Oyo manquent de connaissance sur la pr\ue9vention du VIH. Aucun service de sant\ue9 de la reproduction incluant la pr\ue9vention du VIH/SIDA ni les traitements prophylactiques ne sont disponibles pour eux. Conclusion: Au vu des r\ue9sultats ci dessus, il est recommand\ue9 de renforcer les services sociaux incluant la pr\ue9vention du VIH/SIDA, les traitements prophylactiques et la promotion de la sant\ue9

Enhancing democracy through public participation process during COVID-19 pandemic : a review

Abstract:The public participation process is deemed essential as it enhances partnerships between the government and citizens during the decision-making process. This study perused the meaning and merits of public participation, and how democracy could be enhanced through the public participation process during COVID-19 pandemic. The Democratic Decision-Making Theory and the Technological Acceptance Model underpinned the study. These theories highlighted the need to include the citizens in the decision-making process and the relevance of the South African government to support and educate the public on the usefulness of adopting information science to achieve effective governance, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. A qualitative study was applied in this study and data were collected from secondary sources such as articles, government legislation, textbooks, and the Internet. Major findings depict that public participation involves a process by which the parliament and provincial legislatures refer to the citizens, individuals, government entities, and concerned organisations in the decision-making process to achieve good governance. The public participation process establishes partnerships and relationships, promotes addressing the needs of the citizens, and enhances the collective decision-making process. It was discovered that numerous communication dynamics could be used to enhance public participation process during the COVID-19 pandemic. Studies from several scholars further revealed that electronic media is the most effective communication dynamics to be applied in the public participation process during the COVID-19 pandemic and these include Short Message Service (SMS), WhatsApp group messages, Facebook messages, Electronic mail (e-mail), and Zoom virtual presentations. The study recommends that the South African government should apply a mix of these electronic media options in the public participation process to enhance democracy during the COVID-19 pandemic

Assessing the effect of the lack of pharmaceutical manufacturing on healthcare provision in Botswana

Purpose: The lack of pharmaceutical products in Botswana has been a serious concern as citizens experience adverse health outcomes due to poor access to effective treatments. This study investigated the effect of the lack of pharmaceutical manufacturing on healthcare provision in Botswana. Systems Theory underpinned this study. This theory specifies the importance of component parts to work in unison to achieve a specific objective. An interpretivist research paradigm was adopted, which enhanced gaining knowledge on the fundamental reasons for the dearth of drugs/medicine in the Botswana healthcare system. Methodology: A qualitative research approach and an exploratory research design were selected for this study. These two methods enhanced the interviewing thirty-four participants such as doctors, nurses, pharmacists, inventory employees, and the public on the reasons for the shortage of drugs and how this affects citizens. Data were collected using open-ended interviews and responses were gathered from participants from a historical point of view. After the collection of data, an analysis was conducted using Atlas-ti Software (version 8.2). Themes and categories were generated and were discussed by corroborating them with the literature review findings.   Findings: Findings from the study indicate that the reasons for medical stockout include poor planning by medical authorities, the emergence of new diseases, the lack of public private partnerships, logistic issues such as organizational red tape during tender decisions, ordering less than national demand by medical procurement officials, delays in import permits, delays by suppliers, and transportation challenges. The effects of medicine stockout include the healthcare system’s inability to cure diseases, an increase of deaths, failure to control disease, continued stockouts, worsening of sicknesses, non-compliance of patients, failure to meet treatment outcomes, and an increased cost of medicines. The study recommends among others, that the government should support local pharmaceutical manufacturing, allow private companies to participate, and discourage sole distributorship.                                                                  Originality/Value: This research Assessing the effect of the lack of pharmaceutical manufacturing on healthcare provision in Botswan

Talent Management Practices in the South African Public Service

Talent management refers to the attraction, selection, and retention of employees, which involves a combination of HR processes across the employee life cycle. This study explored the best practice in talent management to ensure high potential talents are employed and retained due to the rising rate of employee turnover in the South African public service. A literature review and meta-analysis were conducted to explore different authors' views on the three main objectives of the study, which are to know the competencies of talent managers in developing high potential employees; explore the mechanisms talent managers can adopt in keeping high potential employees and to reveal the best practices in talent management. Findings from the study revealed that talent management is essential in assisting the employees in advancing their skills, improving their performance, and feeling engaged and motivated, thus allowing them to achieve desired goals. The ability to facilitate good planning, decision-making, change management, interpersonal relationships, emotional intelligence, programme implementation, and learning opportunities are the competencies required of talent managers to develop potential talents. Effective communication and feedback, promotion and advancement, efficient leadership, work-life balance, good organisational culture, development and training, and organisational commitment are the competencies required of talent managers to retain talents in the organisation. Regarding the best talent management practice, the study recommended that talent managers should specify the skills they need and select from a diverse pool of candidates. Other factors include onboarding practices, learning and development, performance management, an effective reward system, and a succession plan