Emergency Preparedness and Response to Ibadan Flood Disaster 2011: Implications for Wellbeing

Purpose –This paper aims to investigate the emergency preparedness and response to Ibadan 2011 Flood Disaster in Oyo State, Nigeria. This is with a view to derive recommendations for improving preparedness for emergency situations to reduce impact of disaster and providing prompt response to victims. Design/Methodology/Approach – Both qualitative and quantitative methods were utilised to collect the data analysed in this research. Key informant interviews were conducted using open ended questions with participants from National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Oyo State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) and other stakeholders. The survey made use of questionnaires to collect primary data for the quantitative aspect. Triangulation of the data collected was done to enhance credibility. Findings- The respondents agreed that the flood disaster was caused by acts of man and nature. Also the affected community in Ibadan were not effectively informed to enable them prepare. for the flood disaster by the state emergency agencies due to financial constraints and ineffective communication system. Although the various emergency agencies within the state and the country fairly responded when the flood occurred, the disaster could not be managed due to lack of adequately trained personnel for response and rescue operation and inadequate equipment for rescue operation. Flood disaster can often cause short-term or long-term disruptions within the family which could change the lives of family members dramatically and negatively impact the family members’ wellbeing. Recommendations were suggested to the public and to the appropriate authorities. Originality value – This study established the gap in preparedness and poor response to disaster and provides recommendations. Flood affects and displaces more people than any other disaster either naturally induced or man-made in Nigeria. It also causes more damage to properties and disrupts businesses. Flood disaster has negative implications on the wellbeing of affected people in the community, society and on the nation as a whole. DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2014.v5n8p50

Influence of Personality Traits, Peer Group Pressure and Parental Monitoring on Alcohol use among In-School Secondary Students in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria

Objective: Alcohol consumption has been found to be common among adolescents in various studies globally. It has been associated with public health problems, high risk lifestyles, mental disorders, eating disorders, risk taking attitudes, failure in school and increased drop-out rate. This study therefore, investigated the influence of personality traits, peer group pressure and parental monitoring on alcohol use among in-school secondary students in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria. Method: Survey design was adopted for the study. The researchers randomly selected Ibadan South - East Local Government Area out of eleven (11) Local Government Areas in Ibadan, for the study. Simple random sampling technique was used to select three (3) public secondary schools out of nineteen (19) secondary schools in Ibadan South-East Local Government Area while accidental sampling technique was used to select (298) in-school secondary students. Four research instruments were used to collect data. Analysis of data was carried out using mean and percentage while the hypotheses were tested using simple multiple regression and t-test statistics

Perception of Nigerian tobacco control law by consumers of tobacco products in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria

Tobacco use in any form has been identified for decades as a source of diseases and avoidable deaths all over the world. Cognizant of this fact, the Federal Government of Nigeria has, over the years, put in place successive laws to control the consumption of tobacco products. This study surveyed the awareness of tobacco control law by consumers of tobacco products; reasons for tobacco consumption;  knowledge of harmful effects of tobacco consumption on smokers; adverse effects on non-voluntary smokers; willingness to quit smoking; and reasons for unwillingness to quit. Neutralization and Rational Action theories were used as the basis for the study while survey  research design was adopted. Multi-stage sampling technique was adopted to select the eight wards in the two communities while simple random sampling technique was used to select four hundred and ninety-four participants for the study. The respondents completed standardised questionnaire which measured the constructs under study. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse the data collected. Among other findings, 103 (15%) of the respondents are aware that cigarette smoking can cause cancer while 85 (13%) are aware that nonvoluntary smokers could develop heart diseases. A good number of the respondents 193 (41%) opined that tobacco warning messages are exaggerated; 209 (45%) – that the messages are distorted; 212 (45%) that the messages are boring. From the totality of the opinions expressed by respondents on the various issues covered by this study, it is obvious that many consumers of tobacco products are not aware of the measures put in place to curtail the consumption of tobacco products. To achieve the goal of safeguarding public health through tobacco smoking control, the paper recommends effective enforcement by the regulatory agencies and intensive awareness creation to educate members of the public on the health risks associated with consumption and exposure to tobacco products

Influence of Personality Traits, Peer Group Pressure and Parental Monitoring on Alcohol use among In-School Secondary Students in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria

Objective: Alcohol consumption has been found to be common among adolescents in various studies globally. It has been associated with public health problems, high risk lifestyles, mental disorders, eating disorders, risk taking attitudes, failure in school and increased drop-out rate. This study therefore, investigated the influence of personality traits, peer group pressure and parental monitoring on alcohol use among in-school secondary students in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria. Method: Survey design was adopted for the study. The researchers randomly selected Ibadan South - East Local Government Area out of eleven (11) Local Government Areas in Ibadan, for the study. Simple random sampling technique was used to select three (3) public secondary schools out of nineteen (19) secondary schools in Ibadan South-East Local Government Area while accidental sampling technique was used to select (298) in-school secondary students. Four research instruments were used to collect data. Analysis of data was carried out using mean and percentage while the hypotheses were tested using simple multiple regression and t-test statistics

Influence of occupational stress on quality of parent-child relationship among mothers in the Oyo State civil service

The quality of parents-child relationship between parents and their children have been found to be linked to the health and social wellbeing of the children. Most times, parents are stressed from working to earn a living for their family thereby impacting the quality of parent-child relationship. This research work sought to examine the influence of occupational stress on the quality of parent-child relationship among multiparous mothers.The study adopted an ex-post facto research design. The research was conducted on multiparous mothers working in the Oyo State civil service. Systematic and simple random sampling technique was adopted during the course of the research. Three hundred and nine (309) multiparous mothers participated in the study. The mean age of mothers being (40.6yrs)SD (1.08). A structured questionnaire was used to collect data from the participants. Three hypotheses were formulated and tested using multiple regression and one way ANOVA.Results revealed that the components of occupational stress; workload, interpersonal problems, temporal problems, reward system, leadership problems and inadequate working facilities jointly accounted for 18% of the variance of quality of parent-child relationship (R= .43, R2 = .18, F =3.98; p<.01). The analysis further revealed that workload (β=.91, t = 2.59, p>.01) have the highest independent influence on quality of parent-child relationship among multiparous mothers with a beta value of .91. The result further showed that there is a significant joint influence of demographic variables on quality of parent-child relationship among multiparous mothers (F=2.49; p<.05), participant’s income (β=.16; t=2.10; p˂.05) and educational qualification (β=.15; t=2.03; p˂.05) had significant independent influences on quality of parent-child relationship among multiparous mothers. High income earning mothers who earn above N51,000 scored significantly higher on the quality of parent-child relationship (F=2.96; p˂.05) which shows that high income earning parents have a higher quality parent-child interaction.The study concludes that occupational stress contributes significantly to the quality of parent-child relationship amongmultiparous mothers, with workload having an individual influence on quality of parent-child relationshi

Demographics and Depression as Determinants of Perceived Quality of Life During COVID-19 Lockdown among Nigerians

The quality of life of Nigerians has been threatened due to the COVID-19 lockdown. This different experiences during this period could have been detrimental to their mental health. This study therefore investigated demographics and depression as determinants of quality of life among the general population during the COVID-19 lockdown in Nigeria. A descriptive design was adopted in this study. Two hundred and sixty-six (266) persons participated in the study. Five hypotheses were generated, tested and analysed. The result revealed that depression had a significant influence on the quality of life of Nigerians during the lockdown [t (164) = 7.45; P<.01]. Further, those with low depression levels were reported to have a higher quality of life (Mean = 77.87; SD = 13.98) compared to those with high levels of depression (Mean = 64.78; SD = 14.36). It was shown that no significant gender difference existed in the quality of life [t (264) = .50; P>.05]. The findings also revealed that employment status had no significant influence on quality of life [F (3, 262) = 1.13; P>.05]. Psycho-demographic predictors (depression, age and level of education) jointly predicted quality of life [R = .44; R2 = .19; F (3. 262) = 20.53; P<.01] and collectively accounted for about 19% variance in quality of life. However, only depression had a significant independent influence on quality of life (β = -.43; t = -7.71; P<.05). The study concluded that depression had a significant influence on quality of life during COVID-19 lockdown among the general population in Nigeria. It is therefore recommended that urgent intervention should be organized for the general population in terms of assessment and treatment of depression to avoid postCOVID psychological breakdown among Nigerians