Social Studies

The degree of violence in Nigeria’s Niger Delta has become endemic and are too far-reaching to be ignored: for the inhabitants of this area, there are constant environmental hazards and security threat, The study, therefore, examined the community relations strategies used by oil companies in managing the crises in the Niger Delta. The study population comprised the community relations units of oil companies in the Niger Delta (among which Shell, Chevron and Agip were selected) and the indigenes of Omoku and Obrikom communities in Rivers State and Eruemukohwarien, Tisun and Kolokolo communities in Delta State. Both quantitative (survey) and qualitative (key informant interview and focus group discussion) methods of data collection were employed. The respondents for the survey were randomly selected while those for the interviews and focus groups were purposively selected. The study established that conflicts between oil companies and host communities had serious implications for the two parties and that the community relations strategies adopted by the selected oil companies were not adequate in preventing and resolving conflicts in the Niger Delta. That was because there was a lacuna between the strategies the oil companies believed host communities preferred for conflict resolution and the ones actually preferred by those communities. The research, therefore, recommend that to reduce conflict between oil companies and host communities in the Niger Delta, companies should be mindful of conflict propelling factors identified by the respondents and stated in the work, they should improve on their community relations strategies in order to impress the community and most importantly, they should introduce grassroots approach to the implementation of their strategies

Healthcare workers(HCW) are at risk of medical sharps injuries. According to the Kenya national policy on injection safety, 58% of healthcare workers have suffered these injuries. It has long been recognized that needlestick and other injuries from sharp objects place healthcare workers at risk of infection. The main objective of this research was to determine the outcomes of preventive and controls measures against medical sharps amongst HCW at Sub-County hospital in Mombasa County. The study sought to determine health workers adherence to safety guidelines available and determine the prevalence of needle-stick injuries at the county hospitals. This study focused on the HCW of different cadres. Questionnaire were distributed to the respondents of different job cadres of healthcare workers at the hospitals including Nurses, Clinical Officers, Lab Technologists, Public health officers, dentists, waste handlers/support staff who were selected proportionate to the sample frame. Interviews were done on the chosen wrkers. The research adopted a Descriptive cross sectional research design by employing both qualitative and quantitative data collection tools. A checklist was used to observe occupational risks and adherence related to exposure to medical sharps including needle sticks. The findings were collected and analysis done by use of Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS), version 22.0 and presented using pie charts, contingency tables, and bar charts. Dentists were found to have the highest level of exposure to sharp injuries [X2 (DF= 1, N= 117) = 0.408, p= 0.05].This was consistent with the findings that all dentists indicated that they re-cap used sharps. Recapping of sharps being a critical risk to sharp injuries was practiced more by those who got lower frequency of on-job training. On-job training on infection control had no effect on knowledge of risks involved with sharps injuries where those without exhibiting awareness and practiced safe disposal of sharps to a great extent [X2 (DF= 4, N= 117) = 0.109, p= 0.05]. The use of sharp disposal containers was one of most commonly used method and had significant reduction in exposure to sharp injuries. Personal protective equipment use such as safety boots increased level of protection against medical sharps injuries while others such as hand gloves had insignificant importance. The level of adherence to preventive control measures was found to be quite low and significantly affected the outcomes of the available control measures. Low level of adherence was established at both management level and personnel level where enforcement and practice respectively were found to be deficient. With a prevalence of about 43%, medical sharps injuries at Sub-County hospitals in Mombasa County is found to be of great concern as established in this study.

There exist a linkage between poverty- corruption – and insecurity in Nigeria and these vices affect the socio-economic and political development of Nigeria. The objective of this work therefore, is to underscore the vices of corruption and insecurity as banes to the socio- economic development of Nigeria, and consider the powers of the economic and financial crime commission in curbing these vices. Using questionnaires and in-depth interviews, data were drawn from 100 members of staff of the EFCC. he work adopted the Yaro Yameni formula in order to determine its sample size and a simple random sampling technique to give each element of the population an equal chance of being selected. Findings revealed that the EFCC is incapacitated in the performance of its duties especially when offenders are high profiled elites/members of the ruling party, leading to delays in court trials, unsubstantiated judgment, or outright dismissal of cases. The work recommends that considering the linkage between poverty, corruption and insecurity in Nigeria, public funds should be utilized to create more job opportunities and sincere or transparent empowerment programmes should be created to engage the youth thereby distracting them from being used to perpetrate violence. Again, a prerequisite for holding political or public office should be the prospective holder’s reputation in previous workplace, fear of God, corruption history, and love for humanity.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the analysis of physical fitness components and playing ability of Tamil Nadu Badminton Junior Ranking Players. To achieve this, 60 badminton players (40 boys and 20 girls) were selected from various districts of Tamil Nadu and age ranged from 13 to 15 years. Physical fitness components namely speed, agility, strength, flexibility, reaction time, balance, leg power and explosive power. It was measured by conducting 30 mts dash, 10 yards shuttle run, sit-up test, bend and reach test, Nelson hand reaction, stork balance, Sargent jump and standing broad jump. Hicks clear skill test were used to assess the badminton skill of the selected subjects. Pearson Product moment coefficient of correlation with significant level at (p<0.05) was used to examine the correlations between smash skill and speed, agility, strength, flexibility, reaction time, balance, leg power and explosive power. The analysis of data of boys badminton players revealed that clear skill was positively correlated with the strength (r = 0.318), and explosive power (r = 0.388), whereas agility (r = -0.476) was negatively correlated with the clear skill. No significant correlation was observed between speed, flexibility, reaction time, balance, leg power and clear skill of boys badminton players. The results in the case of girls badminton players shows that the clear skill was positively correlated with flexibility (r = 0.541), leg power (r = 0.596), explosive power (r=0.593), and negatively correlated with the speed (r = -0.381), agility (r= -0.669). On the basis of results no significant correlation was observed between strength, reaction time, balance and clear skill of girls badminton players.

Traditional products of Iran were created based on cultural needs and people’s beliefs and customs as well as functional needs. This study aimed to guide designers in designing new product based on cultural factors for Iranian people. In this study, the researcher wanted to experience his perception about cultural factors that influenced creating a particular traditional product in Iran and to study how these can contribute to designer practices. This study involved with qualitative method where interview has been conducted to identify specific traditional products, which have strong influence of cultural factors. Fifteen “Cultural Factors” has been identified, which can be beneficial to the designers for future product development.

Responders who search and rescue people in collapsed buildings and structures face individual and organizational challenges. These challenges are surmountable if responders and their institutions tactically endeavor to address them so that more lives are saved. This study sought to determine strategic options for the improvement of response during urban search and rescue. Findings revealed that many responders and organizations lacked code of conduct for responders and were financially and materially deficient during deployment and therefore relied on partnership and collaborations from other first line response organizations to be able to effectively carryout their work.

Mortality refers to the state or condition of being subject to death that occur within a population. It is a basic demographic component of population change. Mortality and its causes vary both in space and time due to the factors such as advancement in medicines, propagation of education, improvement of nutritional level and improvement in general conditions of sanitation. Many demographic studies have revealed that mortality levels vary with the racial characteristics since every ethnic society has their own culture, socio-economic background, and attitudes. Sri Lanka has a multi ethnic condition and the levels of mortality in such ethnicities are diverse from one to another. Main purpose of this paper is to identify the trends in CDR, NMR, IMR, CMR, ASDR and CSDR and causes for the mortality in Indian Tamil population in Osborn Estate in Nuwara-Eliya District after 1980s. Finding the causes for the prevailing trends and examination of current socio-economic and health situation in the estate are the minor objectives. Both primary and secondary data were used for this study. Mortality trends were analyzed by using relevant annual death reports from 1984 to 2012 collected from the Osborne Estate Hospital. Questionnaire survey was conducted to identify the socio-economic and health care situation in the estate with the help of 75 households those who were selected randomly from six divisions in Osborne Estate. Analysis was done with the help of SPSS 17.0, Minitab and Microsoft Excel 2010 computer tools. According to the trend analysis, downward trends were found for CDR, NMR, IMR and CMR and slight upward trend for ASDR in 15-30 age group and downward trend for ASDR in 60 + age group in the target population. Causes for the deaths have totally changed from 1984 to 2012 and specifically hypertension was found as the major cause for the general mortality in present day. Suicide is one of the major causes for deaths among youth population due to poor thinking. Advancement of health condition is the main reason for declining trend of child mortality in currently. The study suggests to draw an extensive attention to youth population and to conduct counseling programs in order to minimize the suicide cases. Increasing of workers’ wages is positive impact for improving their demographic condition further.

Present study was designed to investigate the role of instructional practices in determining students’ satisfaction. Major objectives of the study include, comparing instructional practices adopted by private and public sectors universities. It was descriptive in nature in which university students’ satisfaction was measured in relation with teachers’ instructional practices. Here instructional practices were taken as independent variable while students’ satisfaction was considered as dependent variable of the study. For sampling a stratified random sample of 700 respondents was collected from respondents of two distinct groups’ i.e., students, and teachers. Two different tools were developed and use to get the views of students, and teachers in public and private sector universities. Collected data was analyzed statistically (descriptive and inferential statistics) in relation with objectives of the research. Various statistical tests such as mean, Standard Deviation, Analysis of variance, correlation and regression were used to explore research variables with the help of SPSS 21. On the basis of results it reveled that students of public sector universities are more satisfied with instructional practices of their teachers.

Objective: To describe the strengths and weaknesses of current media to act as a prime tool to tackle rural poverty and help in development. Design: A descriptive, cross sectional study design, collecting relevant quantitative and qualitative data was conducted. A data on retrospective histories and experiences of poverty was also captured to link the exposure pattern on the availability of government assistances through media vehicles. Setting: Urban community comprising of reporters and journalists belonging to different media houses in East Khasi Hills District from both the print and electronic media. Results: The working journalist in the State suggested that the media should create awareness programmes and make people aware of the schemes and loans being provided by the government. In addition, the media should also highlight the needs of the poor. These working professionals are consciously aware of its role but mentioned that they find it difficult in allotting space to information on government monetary benefits to the masses through their media houses. Conclusion: This study concludes that media has been ignoring poverty for too long. Media’s role in projecting and highlighting government’s assistance to help alleviate economic poverty in the State is a highly conscious elucidation endorsed by all.

Festivals and traditional ceremonies are part of the cultural heritage of Africa. This is why the traditional Egungun festival in Yorubaland, till date, still enjoys indigenous monopoly. However, its resources as a unique cultural asset of Africans are presently under-utilized and therefore need to be further explored for greater relevance with the sophistication and demands of contemporary age. This, thus, constitute the subject of this paper. The paper, therefore, focuses on the exploration of the content and form of traditional egungun Ado festival in order to define the basis for its enduring value in Ado Ekiti. This is discussed from analytical and mythological perspectives. The paper establishes that for any art to thrive, it must remain dynamic. And more interesting, the paper unravels the dynamics, the beauty, the uniqueness and multiple potentials of this Egungun Ado festival. Through interviews, personal experience and observation, the paper posits that Egungun Ado festival plays pivotal roles in the social, religious and political milieu of the Ado people and has remained a rallying point. It concludes that Egungun Ado festivals with its rich content and form are crucial to the nation building process in African societies and in fact, capable of yielding great dividends in the global economy if appropriately explored. However, it is imperative that African countries implement credible cultural policies to index and protect the vulnerability of aspects of this Yoruba culture in the face of Western encroachments and onslaught of Islam and Christianity.