ali abdullahi

Quantitative research has permeated and dominated health research in Nigeria. One of the oldest and the most commonly used quantitative research designs are KAP (knowledge, at-titude and practice) surveys. Although KAP surveys are important approaches to assessing distribution of community knowledge in large-scale projects, such surveys are often inundated by challenges, especially with regard to accurate measurement and understanding of social con-struction of health and illness. This paper examines contemporary ontological, epistemological, axiological and methodological discourses in the qualitative research approach and argues for adequate utilisation of the qualitative approach in health research in Nigeria. The qualitative approach deepens understanding of cultural milieu regarding health beliefs and socio-cultural issues surrounding medical therapy, as well as health seeking behaviour. Therefore, this paper argues for a more participatory research methodology in the understan...

Using a combination of qualitative research techniques this study has investigated the place and the roles of senior caregivers in the management of malaria in children in rural communities of Nigeria. The study was conducted in Okanle and Fajeromi in Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State. The study shows that a variation may exist between young and older caregivers with respect to desire for modern or traditional medicines in the treatment of malaria. While most senior caregivers continued to rely on herbal treatment regimens, younger parents seemed to have preference for modern treatment but not without difficulties. Given their important position within the extended family structure, senior caregivers seemed to also possess tremendous influence on health care decision making process. The study suggests the need to incorporate senior caregivers in health promotion strategy related to malaria control in rural communities.

Using multiple qualitative methods, this study investigated the perceived threat and perceived susceptibility of children under five years of age to malaria, and willingness of the caregivers to use the ITNs in the prevention of malaria in selected rural and urban areas of Nigeria. The health belief model (HBM) is the theoretical anchor of the study. Samples included mothers, fathers and grandparents whose child/ward had manifested malaria symptoms at one time or another and who had reported or failed to report such cases at the available health centres. Other respondents were community leaders, health workers and traditional pharmacists popularly known as elewe-omo. The study found that malaria was perceived as a serious health problem and a threat to the children by the majority of the respondents. However, high perceived threat of malaria did not guarantee widespread use of the ITNs owing to limited access and poor distribution networks. Some measures for equitable and sustainabl...

This study examined the correlation between loneliness and four dimensions of psychological well-being (PWB) of old people in South Africa as they vary by their socio-demographic characteristics. Respondents were a non-probability/random sample of 301 elderly in Buffalo City, South Africa (female = 69.1%, male = 30.9%; mean age (old age home /private home) = 75.43 /74.39 years, SD (old age home /private home) = 7.25 /7.68 years; black = 57.9%, white = 42.1%) were used. The respondents completed the Ryff Psychological Well-being Scale (RPWBS) and the University of California Loneliness Scale (UCLALS). Hierarchical regression analysis results indicate ethnicity is predictive of loneliness. Specifically, black people had both lower levels of loneliness and autonomy compared to the white elderly. Moreover, white elderly with low levels of loneliness had higher levels of self-acceptance compared to the black elderly. These findings suggest ethnic affiliation to moderate self-acceptance, environmental mastery, and autonomy; except for purpose in life. Interventions to support the elderly with loneliness should prioritise building their social capital base for psychological well-being.

Society creates perimeters within which its members are expected to operate and employ sanction to stimulate, reinforce and dissuade certain behaviours. Social values generally define what society considers appropriate, right, noble or worthy behaviour. They drive the goals individuals set for themselves. However, when societal values are built on wrong principles or are clearly inconsistent, members’ goals become illfocused .This paper attempts to clarify some conceptual issues on social values, and traces the problem of online advance fee fraud, otherwise called yahoo-yahoo, among Nigerian youths to Nigeria values crisis and inconsistency. It sees this crisis as permeating every stratum of the Nigerian society and argues that a society that celebrates wealth, regardless of its source will produce a generation of youths who will in their pursuit of wealth indulge in all kinds of social vices, including cyber crime and criminality. It considers values re-orientation a panacea for cy...

Society creates perimeters within which its members are expected to operate and employ sanction to stimulate, reinforce and dissuade certain behaviours. Social values generally define what society considers appropriate, right, noble or worthy behaviour. They drive the goals individuals set for themselves. However, when societal values are built on wrong principles or are clearly inconsistent, members’ goals become illfocused .This paper attempts to clarify some conceptual issues on social values, and traces the problem of online advance fee fraud, otherwise called yahoo-yahoo, among Nigerian youths to Nigeria values crisis and inconsistency. It sees this crisis as permeating every stratum of the Nigerian society and argues that a society that celebrates wealth, regardless of its source will produce a generation of youths who will in their pursuit of wealth indulge in all kinds of social vices, including cyber crime and criminality. It considers values re-orientation a panacea for cy...