Tertiary Institutions’ Social Health Insurance Program:Awareness, knowledge, and utilization for dental treatment among students of a Nigerian University

Background: Awareness and knowledge can play key roles in influencing the utilization of health insurance programs in Nigeria.Objectives: This study aims to investigate the awareness and use of the Tertiary Institutions/Voluntary Participant Social Health Insurance Program (TISHIP) for undergraduate dental services.Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted in the Enugu Campus of the University of Nigeria and the study population comprised full-time undergraduate students of the institution with a total sample size of 400.Results: Majority (66.7%) of the respondents were aware of the TISHIP, but 37% were aware that it covered dental treatments, and 16.1% had received dental treatment under TISHIP. Fifty point eight percent (50.8%) of the respondents were not registered under the insurance program. The reason respondents had not registered was because majority (49.7%) were not aware of the compulsory registration into the scheme. Respondents agreed that TISHIP would promote equity in healthcare delivery (57.5%), promote improved health facilities (39.4%), and 52.5% were willing to participate in the scheme while 47.9% were undecided on whether TISHIP was worth the financial contribution. Presumed high cost of dental treatment (51.9%) and non-availability of materials for dental treatment at dental facilities (50.8%) were factors that affected the utilization of TISHIP (P < 0.05).Conclusion: Despite the positive effect of TISHIP in cushioning the cost of dental care, utilization is poor, thus there is a need to scale up awareness among the students’ population

Poverty and Sex Work Migration in Edo State, Nigeria

Sex work-related migration has been on the increase in Nigeria, causing worry for domestic and global authorities. Human trafficking occupation largely adds to the increasing figures of sex work migrants and has put the image of the country in a bad light. Of the drivers sustaining sex work migration in Nigeria, economic drivers feature strongly in the literature. In Edo state, the occupation is reputed as an escape route from poverty and low resources. This accounts for why sex work migrants from the state are reported to enjoy support from family members. Therefore, addressing sex work migration would have to take into consideration the poverty situation of the migrants and their family support systems. The importance of this to the global conversation on poverty is to offer evidence that will help countries in the Global North gain value for their resources, as they spend heavily seeking to curb this kind of migration. It will also stimulate domestic ideations that are economically valued. Theories of intersectionality and capability provided the framework for the review. Additionally, the roles of social workers are recommended

Social media and insecurity of cultural values:Implications for social work practice in Nigeria

Societies define their relevance and gauge the extent to which they are protected from decadence, through their values orientation and conformity. Once these values are eroded or at threat, they scream for the ‘good old days’ regardless of development they claim to have attained. With the world increasingly intensified into a single whole as a result of sophisticated and quick technologies, of which social media is principal, cultural exchange seems common. It is now obvious that social media contents and usage portend cultural and developmental implications for societies. It is in this regard that this paper brews a research and practice perspective for social workers who are trained to be culturally sensitive. It proposes a social media security measure that will see to curtailing the undue influences exercised on indigenous cultural values of Nigerians. This security measure will be championed by social workers and achieved through inter-disciplinary cooperation, social media and physical sensitization and advocacy, as well as clinical/structural interventions. The paper draws its references from theoretical and empirical literature while dependency and critical theory serve as its theoreticalframework

Social media and insecurity of cultural values:Implications for social work practice in Nigeria

Societies define their relevance and gauge the extent to which they are protected from decadence, through their values orientation and conformity. Once these values are eroded or at threat, they scream for the ‘good old days’ regardless of development they claim to have attained. With the world increasingly intensified into a single whole as a result of sophisticated and quick technologies, of which social media is principal, cultural exchange seems common. It is now obvious that social media contents and usage portend cultural and developmental implications for societies. It is in this regard that this paper brews a research and practice perspective for social workers who are trained to be culturally sensitive. It proposes a social media security measure that will see to curtailing the undue influences exercised on indigenous cultural values of Nigerians. This security measure will be championed by social workers and achieved through inter-disciplinary cooperation, social media and physical sensitization and advocacy, as well as clinical/structural interventions. The paper draws its references from theoretical and empirical literature while dependency and critical theory serve as its theoreticalframework

Synergizing perspectives in social work:Blending critical theory and solution-focused model

One lacuna in social work practice is the temptation to excessively focus on treating the environment without commensurate treatment for the individual and vice-versa. This is further fostered by learning conservative and liberal perspectives in social work as independent of themselves, without efforts to synthesize them. It is for this purpose that this paper hopes to achieve a synthesis of two theories that are respectively typical of explaining societies and individuals at both extremes. Thus, while the critical theory makes for explaining place of societal structures in remedying problems faced by clients, solution focused therapy concentrates on remedies residing within the client’s potentials, resources and strengths. Data will be sourced from secondary sources, while concept mapping will aid in illustrations.

Climate Change and Effects:A Qualitative Experience of Selected Older Adults

The African Union 2063 Agenda confirms that Africa bears the brunt of the impact of climate change. It becomes more troublesome for older adults who are frail and vulnerable. Lack of eco-friendly policies and activities in Nigeria is a challenge. The study sampled 11 older adults aged over 65 years who dwell within the Nsukka campus of the University of Nigeria. A combination of purposive and snowball sampling techniques was adopted, while analysis was done thematically. Findings showed that the older adults reported health, economic, and social implications of climate change on them. They suggested the need for vanguards of ecological rights, promotion of eco-friendly culture for Nigeria, and promulgation of policies addressing climate change, so as to cushion the impacts of climate change on them. The roles “green-oriented” social workers could play are discussed.</p

Entrepreneurship education and young female adults in Nigeria

In respect to achieving balance between human needs and scarce resources, entrepreneurship is increasingly becoming the acceptable order. People tend to be dissatisfied with earnings from salaries and wages, and employers are downsizing in a bid to accommodate the economic realities of present times. It has always been of concern that females who grapple with the consequences of patriarchy, homemaking and frail dispositions tend to fall below the pecking order of wealth creation. Thus, this paper asserts the importance entrepreneurship education from formal and informal platforms to surmount challenges faced by young female adults as they weigh on their abilities to create wealth. It recommends the use of mentorship, informal entrepreneurship education, wider entrepreneurship education coverage, community services and full fledge entrepreneurship education package to encourage young females on their quest for entrepreneurship

Entrepreneurship education and young female adults in Nigeria

In respect to achieving balance between human needs and scarce resources, entrepreneurship is increasingly becoming the acceptable order. People tend to be dissatisfied with earnings from salaries and wages, and employers are downsizing in a bid to accommodate the economic realities of present times. It has always been of concern that females who grapple with the consequences of patriarchy, homemaking and frail dispositions tend to fall below the pecking order of wealth creation. Thus, this paper asserts the importance entrepreneurship education from formal and informal platforms to surmount challenges faced by young female adults as they weigh on their abilities to create wealth. It recommends the use of mentorship, informal entrepreneurship education, wider entrepreneurship education coverage, community services and full fledge entrepreneurship education package to encourage young females on their quest for entrepreneurship