Perception of alcohol availability, promotion and policy by Nigerian university students

As a follow-up to the Monitoring Alcohol Marketing and Promotion in Africa (MAMPA) project conducted in Nigeria and three other countries in Africa, a survey of Nigerian students was conducted to assess their perceptions of alcohol promotion and policy in the country. Nearly five hundred students drawn from five faculties in the University of Uyo, Nigeria completed a perception of alcohol policy survey, in which they indicated their levels of agreement with statements on alcohol policy. The sample consisted of 265 (53.9%) male and 227(46.1%) female students; with age range of 16-37 years (mean of 24.8 years). Findings revealed that respondents were in support of policy options that sought to reduce availability of alcohol (in terms of access and cost). They also agreed with statements on alcohol as the cause of health and social problems; supported strong laws against drunk-driving; and agreed with the statement that the industry flouts self-imposed code on alcohol advertising. Chi-square analyses of data however confirmed the hypothesis that drinkers will significantly differ from non-drinkers in their perception of alcohol policy in Nigeria. The implications of these findings were discussed in the context of the development of effective alcohol control policy in Nigeria and other low and middle-income countries.Key Words: Perception, alcohol policy, alcohol advertising, university student

Alcohol marketing in Africa: not an ordinary business

Alcohol was the cause of nearly five million deaths globally in 2010, an increase of over one million deaths recorded ten years earlier. It was the leading risk factor for disease in southern sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), fifth in the East and West, and sixth in the Central African region. Several factors account for the increasing harm associated with alcohol in Africa among which are the availability of a wide variety of alcoholic beverages, rising urban populations, more disposable income to purchase alcohol, and unrestrained marketing and promotion of alcohol. Using a variety of strategies, producers of alcohol target young people and women with aspirational messages and other exhortations in an unprecedented onslaught of marketing and promotion which is increasingly being recognized as detrimental to public health and social welfare. Missing in the discussion on alcohol in most African countries is a clear understanding that alcohol marketing is not an ordinary economic activity and that the business of alcohol (an addictive substance with high potential for harm) can subvert the rights of individuals and the principles of democracy which many African societies are struggling to enthrone. This paper discusses these issues with particular attention to the harms caused by alcohol (to drinkers and non-drinkers alike), the potential for far-reaching harms to individuals and the society at large if the present scenario continues, and how these harms can be averted or minimized with the implementation of evidence-based policies.Key words: Alcohol marketing, alcohol promotion, Africa, alcohol advertisin

Social Media: Enlarging the Space for User-Generated Community Journalism

Social media have to a large extent competed with the traditional media in terms audience size. Social media have enjoyed a large following because of interactivity and utility in bringing about User-Generated community journalism. Social media have also brought about re-definition of news and news determinants as well as enhanced democratization of communication. For the traditional mass media to remain effective or relevant to their audience, social media and their contents should be incorporated into their channels. By so doing, contents of the mass media would go a long way to reflect the interest of the community or their audience members. Keywords: Social media, enlarging the space, use-generated community journalism

A Comparative Analysis of Nigerian and United States Secondary School Administrative Structure, Practices, and Problems

This study, which portrays the administrative structures and practices in the secondary schools in Nigeria and the United States, might shed some light on the things both countries have in common and their differences. Nigeria and the United States share educational, economic, political, and social interests

Highly-Skilled Black African Immigrant Women’s Narratives on Healthcare Workplace Experiences and Socioeconomic Integration

Many highly skilled Black African immigrants are concentrated in low-wage positions among occupations in the healthcare industry. This education–occupation mismatch has contributed to substantial labor market hurdles affecting socioeconomic integration in the host country. The purpose of this qualitative narrative inquiry study was to gain a deeper understanding of highly skilled Black African immigrant women’s daily experiences within the U.S. healthcare workplace and the implication of these experiences on their socioeconomic integration. A qualitative narrative inquiry was conducted involving 7 highly skilled Black African immigrant women in the U.S. healthcare workplace. The study was framed by 2 fundamental concepts: talent management and integration needs of highly skilled women Black African immigrants. Five conceptual categories were revealed via thematic analysis of the narratives. The findings clearly demonstrated that the challenges facing highly-skilled Black African immigrant women with social integration, social class change, ethnicity and gender bias are faced by all African American women in the healthcare workplace. These issues were often compounded by marginalization of their talents and contributions simply because of their immigrant status. The findings should act as a catalyst for social change highlighting the professional challenges faced by highly-skilled Black African immigrant women in the healthcare workplace and its connection to their socioeconomic integration in their host country, which creates the potential for a positive outcome for the migrant women and the host society as well as better capture and utilization of the talent of these highly-skilled immigrant Black African migrant women

Health Care Disparities and Chronic Disease Burden: Policy Implications for NGOs

The purpose of this capstone is to develop a program to address health literacy among African American adults. The social cognitive theory and the health belief model was used to create a model of an age appropriate, culturally sensitive program with a pre and post test to improve the health literacy in this population. The Community Health Literacy Improvement Program (CHIP) is a pilot program that will consist of a four week didactic intervention focused on combating prose, document, and quantitative health illiteracy. This program will be implemented through a community based nonprofit organization. Participants who complete the CHIP program will be able to identify risk factors for chronic diseases, assess their ability to avoid chronic diseases, and be able to locate community health resources. This proposed intervention will show that community based nonprofit organizations have an important role to play in building community buy in and establishing the agency necessary for community based, culturally sensitive programs such as CHIP to succeed

Kant’s Categorical Imperative as a Base for Philosophy of Social Studies Moral Education in Nigeria

Kant’s philosophy has in it some bases of moral actions which he outlines as categorical imperatives. This philosophical base advocates for moral duties for duty sake and not for exterior motives. Many moral problems have been identified in Nigerian society as ensuing from actions or behaviours arising from exterior motives as the bases for actions. Testing Kant’s moral principle against the moral requirements in the context of Social Studies Education, it has been found out that Kant’s moral imperative if adopted in Social Studies Education as a philosophical base will enhance effectiveness of Social Studies as a discipline aimed at producing morally positive citizens in Nigeria. From the above study, some recommendations were made

Effective political stability in Nigeria through responsive democratic education processes: some philosophical perspectives

Political stability arising from individual and collective actions are some of Nigeria’s current challenges. The researcher set out to study possible philosophical means of enhancing in learners the skills to contribute to political stability in Nigeria. The researcher speculated that related ineffectiveness of our education arises from exclusive democratic approaches to curriculum implementations in attempt to be learner centered. Research questions were raised. Multiple philosophical research methods of speculation, analyses and prescription were used in the study. A philosophical study of possible exclusive democratic approaches in classroom practices revealed the need to complement our education processes with appropriate level of content centered approaches to enhance learners’ skills to perform action that bring about political stability. The study gave some guides for inclusive democratic education theory formulation and classroom practices. Conclusions were drawn and consequent recommendations were made.Keywords: Learner centered curriculum, classroom practices, education and political stabilit