Effects of traditional religious belief system of the Igbo group on the effectiveness of leprosy control programmes in Anambra and Ebonyi states of southeast Nigeria

The objective of this study is to verify the effects of religious belief system on the effectiveness of leprosy control programmes in Anambra and Ebonyi states of Southeast Nigeria. The complementary objective is to ascertain the dominant mode of disposition to leprosy among residents of the two states and to account for the role of religious belief system in shaping such disposition to leprosy among residents. The design for the study was cross-sectional survey method. Three instruments, questionnaire, focused group discussion (FGD) and in-depth interview (IDI) were combined for optimum results. There were four categories of respondents, namely, the general public, persons affected by leprosy, leprosy control staff and officials of World Health Organization (WHO) and the donor agency operating in the two states. All residents of the two states constituted the population of study but a sample size of 1116 adult /members, adequate for applicable statistical techniques were study participants on who a uniform set of structured questionnaire schedule were administered to generate quantitative data. They were selected through combination of cluster and random sampling methods. Qualitative data via FGD were generated from purposively selected persons affected by leprosy from State Leprosy Treatment Registers. Also, purposively selected Leprosy Control Staff and officials of WHO and the donor agency operating in the two states were respondents to IDI sessions. The Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software was employed in data analysis. Frequency tables, bar charts, chi-square and multiple regressions were used for analysis and hypothesis testing. It was found that religious belief system was a major socio-cultural factor affecting the effectiveness of leprosy control in the area. Other minor factors were lack of community participation, poverty, poor political commitment/ funding, low literacy level of both patients and the public. It was recommended that aggressive public enlightenment through public, private and local media and prohibition of socio-cultural practices that promote the spread of leprosy be adopted to enhance effectiveness of leprosy control in Anambra and Ebonyi states.Key words: leprosy, leprosy control, religious belief system, stigmatization, disposition to lepros

The rivalry between quantitative and qualitative techniques in sociological research: a discourse

This paper examined quantitative and qualitative techniques as applicable to sociological research. It reviewed their characteristics, merits and problems and decried seeming rivalry and tendency for some sociologists to view the two approaches in opposition. It argues that although either quantitative or qualitative technique may have comparative advantage in some specific research circumstances, yet the two techniques are mutually inclusive and complement each other in sociological inquiry. The two techniques are therefore relevant for fuller appreciation of social reality. Keywords: Rivarly, Quantitative, Qualitative, Research, Mutual co-existence, Complementar

Governance and associated social roles of masquerades among the Igbo of southeast Nigeria in an era of globalization: A critical appraisal.

The objectives of this paper are twofold. First is to verify and document governance and associated social roles played by masquerades among the Igbo of Southeast Nigeria. The second objective is to account for how globalization has impacted on such roles of masquerades over the years and to recommend the way forward. Two social Anthropological methods were combined and complemented library research for optimum results. These are oral interviews and participant observation. The researcher used oral interview delivered in Igbo language to gather information that was later analyzed and integrated. Those interviewed included purposively selected elders, titled men, church leaders, shrine priests, women leaders, community executives, and masquerade cult members. Participant Observation took the form of the researcher personally observing aspects of masquerade activities of Igbo people. Being an initiate of the masquerade cult, the researcher participated in the social functions of the group. The method of participant observation proved particularly useful to this study because it ensured a relaxed environment in which responses or activities of subjects remained natural and genuine given their familiarity with the researcher. The study found that among the Igbo, masquerades perform very important governance and associated social roles relevant to control of social behavior of members of the society. However, the impact of globalization and social change on masquerade roles has been tremendous over the years. Also, urbanization, Western education, colonization and Christian religion have affected the traditional roles of masquerades in a number of ways. Despite the impact of these factors, masquerades have remained resilient and an important feature of socio-political life of Igbo society. Their operations have undergone modifications instead of total decay and are still used in contemporary times. It was recommended, among other things, that activities of masquerades be enshrined in legal status of the Igbo area to strengthen them and protect those who enforce such masquerade rightsKeywords: masquerades, governance, social control, globalization, social role