Call number: LD2668 .T4 1978 D45 / Master of Science

This study examined the relationship between child rearing practices and ethnic identity in interracial and Yoruba children in Nigeria. An in-depth study of 20 interracial and 20 Yoruba families was conducted. Three methods of measuring ethnic identity (a doll choice technique, Draw-A-Person and 'Tell me about yourself') were administered to 20 interracial and 20 Yoruba children (aged 6-9 years) in the home environment. A questionnaire was administered to the mother in each family to measure the extent of use of 'elite' Yoruba child rearing practices. A separate questionnaire was'also administered to fathers. The mothers' questionnaire responses were correlated with the children's test-results. The doll choice technique and Draw-A-Person were found to be more successful than 'Tell me about yourself'. However, an additional 'food preference' measure was extracted from 'Tell me about yourself'. The results indicated that Yoruba children showed a stronger Yoruba identity than interracial children and that the majority of children in both groups showed correct owngroup identification. As expected, Yoruba mothers were found to use more Yoruba child rearing, practices than interracial mothers. A significant relationship between child rearing practices and ethnic identity was found in the interracial group but not in the Yoruba group. Correlations between doll play, Draw-A-Person and the food preference measure were generally low. Race of experimenter (white and Yoruba) did not affect children's test results. Results were interpreted within a family interactions framework and with considerations given to the social and cultural background of the subjects. It was suggested that socialization may be important for the development of ethnic identity in the 'minority' interracial children but not in the 'majority' Yoruba children. The implications of this finding for interracial children in other societies and for other ethnic minority groups was discussed.

Ph.D. / Background: Most recent data have shown a slight reduction in the incidence of malaria in Nigeria. However, cases of malaria in children younger than five years of age have continued to escalate amidst ‘simple’ and ‘effective’ treatment options. The realisation of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) – to halve the burden of malaria by 2015 – is becoming increasingly unrealistic in Nigeria following the alarming rates of malaria in children. Apart from the ecological and environmental factors, socio-cultural and behavioural factors might be responsible for the staggering cases of malaria in children in local communities in Nigeria. It was against this background that a sociological study of health care service utilisation was conducted among caregivers of children with malaria. The study investigated the perceived threat of malaria; how the local understanding of malaria affects the recognition of signs and symptoms, perceived aetiology, treatment-seeking patterns and the use of insecticide treated nets (ITNs). The socio-generational changes in the healthcare seeking behaviour between young and older mothers as well as differences in the patterns of health care service utilisation between rural and urban subjects were also interrogated. Method: This study adopted a qualitative research design using complementary methods. A total of 40 semi-structured interviews, 20 in-depth interviews and four focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted with caregivers and health workers. The respondents included young and older parents between the ages of 25 and 80 years whose children or wards below the age of five had manifested malaria symptoms at one time or another. A purposive sampling procedure was used to select sample for the study. The study was conducted in two selected rural areas; Okanle and Fajeromi; and one urban centre; Ilorin, Kwara State of Nigeria. Findings: The research indicated that the perceived aetiology, symptoms and treatment of malaria in children were largely influenced by the socio-cultural patterns of the communities studied. The study found that the first line of treatment for children with malaria in the communities of study was usually home treatment using traditional herbal medicines. The use of modern health care facilities is usually seen as the last resort. The traditional beliefs about causes of malaria, affordability and trust in herbal medicines, on the one hand, were found to be responsible for the widespread use of herbal medicines in the treatment of malaria in children. On the other hand, poor service delivery, lack of money, attitudes of medical personnel, mixed feelings about the efficacy of modern medicines and lack of trust in the community health centres were some factors found to be responsible for delays in seeking modern health care services when children have malaria. More importantly, the decision to seek treatment from either traditional or modern sources was largely influenced by the network of informal social interaction and social support at household and community levels. In addition, the study also found some changes in the patterns of health care seeking behaviour of young and older caregivers but generally found no differences in the patterns of health care seeking behaviour between rural and urban participants. Finally, the study found that the majority of the respondents were not aware of the effectiveness of the ITNs. Consequently, there was a high dependence on the use of traditional preventive measures which included a local leaf known as “ewe-efon” translated as “mosquito leaf”. Apart from the perceived corruption and mismanagement at the level of distribution of the ITNs, lack of appropriate knowledge about the effectiveness of the ITNs was discovered to be responsible for the widespread non-acceptance of the ITN in the prevention of malaria in children.

This study sought to explore the views of healthcare workers regarding paediatric anti-retroviral therapy (ART) adherence in Nigeria. An exploratory descriptive qualitative research design was used to identify and describe healthcare workers’ views in Kano and Lagos, Nigeria. Three focus group discussions were held. The transcribed data was analysed using the framework approach of data analysis. Healthcare providers perceived poverty, illiteracy, stigma and discrimination, inappropriate care approaches, and parental dynamics as factors influencing ART adherence. Recommendations for enhancing paediatric ART adherence levels in Nigeria included: mainstreaming adherence counselling in paediatric ART and adopting a comprehensive family centred care approach were identified as measures for improving paediatric ART adherence. Other measures included free ART services, quality improvement in paediatric ART services, parental empowerment and stigma and discrimination reduction programmes. / Health Studies / M.A. (Public Health)

This study sought to explore the views of healthcare workers regarding paediatric anti-retroviral therapy (ART) adherence in Nigeria. An exploratory descriptive qualitative research design was used to identify and describe healthcare workers’ views in Kano and Lagos, Nigeria. Three focus group discussions were held. The transcribed data was analysed using the framework approach of data analysis. Healthcare providers perceived poverty, illiteracy, stigma and discrimination, inappropriate care approaches, and parental dynamics as factors influencing ART adherence. Recommendations for enhancing paediatric ART adherence levels in Nigeria included: mainstreaming adherence counselling in paediatric ART and adopting a comprehensive family centred care approach were identified as measures for improving paediatric ART adherence. Other measures included free ART services, quality improvement in paediatric ART services, parental empowerment and stigma and discrimination reduction programmes. / Health Studies / M.A. (Public Health)

The purpose of this study was to determine whether gifted pupils can master an enriched advanced level curriculum in mathematics using self-regulated learning strategies. A mathematics curriculum for class five primary school learners in Nigeria was developed for this study. An empirical study was conducted on primary five pupils who were seen to be significantly gifted in mathematics. The study employed the quantitative method of research, that is, the true experimental research. The pre-test, post-test control group design was used. Sixty gifted pupils who participated in a mathematics enrichment programme (MEP) were assigned into two groups of the control group and experimental group with thirty pupils forming each group. The control group was exposed to direct teaching (DT) while the experimental group used self-regulated learning (SRL) strategies. Four teachers served as facilitators in the MEP. The teaching and learning activities were carried out at a higher cognitive level as opposed to the regular curriculum, ensuring that the contents of the MEP were enriched and accelerated. Pupils in both the experimental group and the control group were administered a pre-test, problem-solving exercises, and post-test. These pupils also completed an attitudinal questionnaire to provide feedback about the MEP. The empirical results show that gifted pupils in primary five are capable of self-regulating their own learning through self-monitoring, self-evaluation, and self-reinforcement. The empirical results also show that there is a significant relationship between self-regulated learning, gifted learners, and an enriched advanced level differentiated curriculum as a realistic alternative to the present regular curriculum for gifted pupils in the mainstream of education. The findings further show that the lack of differentiation of instruction, lack of facilities such as libraries, media centres, and support materials contributes to low achievement of gifted pupils. Furthermore, the findings show that pupils were challenged and motivated with the MEP to the extent that they were engaged to think divergently and applied their metacognitive skills in finding solutions to mathematical problems. Therefore, the findings of this study could have significant implications for the future direction of gifted primary school education as well as teacher education. This study has made a significant contribution to the existing body of knowledge for implementing an enriched advanced level curriculum using SRL strategies for mathematically gifted pupils in the mainstream of primary school education.