International Journal of Bahamian Studies
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Parenting Styles and Student Academic Performance in The Bahamas
Full text linkInternational evidence suggests that parenting styles have a significant impact on academic success. However, there is paucity of Caribbean literature on this phenomenon. The current Bahamian study utilises a quantitative method to examine the relationship between parenting styles and students’ academic performance, using Diana Baumrind’s authoritarian, authoritative, and permissive parenting styles model. The sample consists of 582 randomly selected parents and 582 students. The survey instrument comprises a demographic questionnaire and the Parenting Styles and Dimensions Questionnaire (PSDQ) enabling parents to self-report parenting styles on a five-point Likert scale. Grade point averages from school records were used to measure academic performance. Reliability analyses revealed overall good internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha = .80) for the PSDQ on the Bahamian parent sample. Pearson product-moment correlation analyses indicate no statistically significant relationship between the authoritative, authoritarian and permissive parenting styles and students’ academic performance in The Bahamas. Low to moderate correlations resulted between the authoritative and authoritarian parenting styles, respectively and academic performance. A moderate negative correlation was yielded between the permissive parenting style and academic performance. Results from this study are intended to broaden the literature on parenting styles and the impact thereof on academic performance in The Bahamas and the Caribbean
How Much Does It Cost to Be Middle Class in The Bahamas?
Full text linkThis study estimates cost-of-living expenses for middle-class families in The Bahamas. It is an extension of the 2020 Bahamas Living Wages Survey (2021b) that provided cost-of-living estimates for lower-income families using the Anker and Anker methodology that combines primary data collection through surveys with analysis of secondary data using statistical reports and government documents. The study reveals that, as of March 2024, a middle-class family of four requires an income of 10,100 monthly if living in Grand Bahama. These estimates are higher than the updated estimates generated for lower-income families by 104% in New Providence and by 53% in Grand Bahama. This brief report may be a starting point for informing policies related to wages, living costs and living standards in The Bahamas
The Use of Seaweed Sargassum sp. Extract as a Bio-Fertilizer
No full textThe study examined the effects of Sargassum sp. (seaweed) extract on the growth of chickpea plants (Cicer arietinum). The seaweed extract was applied to the chickpea plant either as a foliar spray or as a soil conditioner. Results indicated that foliar application of the extract significantly enhanced germination rates, achieving 100% compared to 70% for soil conditioner, 90% for synthetic fertilizer, and 80% for control. Conversely, applying the seaweed extract to the soil as soil conditioner increased the biomass and height of the chickpea plants. This increase in biomass and height was ascribed to the decrease in soil salinity. Additionally, the seaweed extract improved nitrate and phosphorus uptake which contributed to plant growth. Together, these results suggest that seaweed extract can be used as an alternative to synthetic fertilizers, especially in the Bahamian context. It also suggests that applying seaweed as an extract does not increase soil salinity as previously observed when the seaweed itself was used as a soil conditioner
The Changing Profile of University of The Bahamas Graduates
Full text linkThis paper uses graduation data to show the changes which have occurred in the profile of the University’s graduates from 1976 to 2023 as it enters is 51st year of operation. The data demonstrate the rise and fall in the number of graduates receiving Associate degrees. The decline in the number of graduates obtaining Associate degrees can be connected with the rise in the number of graduates receiving Baccalaureate degrees. While the Strategic Plan 2009-2019 of The College of The Bahamas (College of The Bahamas, 2009) considered the College era to be associated with two phases, “Creation and Early Growth: The College of The Bahamas: 1974-1995” and the “Transition Era: From College to University, 1995-2009”; the graduation data show a complex ongoing picture of change and consolidation since the College was granted university status in 2016. The 2019-2024 Strategic Plan stated that it “builds on the previous plan by recognising the institution’s responsibility to the growth and development of the individual and the nation, its commitment to sound undergraduate and graduate programmes” while at the same time acknowledging the institutions’ heritage by reinforcing “ the foundation upon which University of The Bahamas continues to be built.” (University of The Bahamas, 2019, p9)
Caribbean Nurse Turnover: A Scoping Review
Full text linkNurse turnover in the Caribbean has resulted in continuous shortages and chronic understaffing, jeopardizing the ability of health systems to provide essential services and negatively impacting patient care and outcomes. Despite extensive global research on nurse turnover over the past 40 years, the Caribbean has been largely overlooked by researchers. This study maps and summarizes the existing empirical and grey literature, identifying key themes and knowledge gaps concerning nurse turnover in the Caribbean. We employed Arskey and O’Malley’s methodological approach and collaborated with a health sciences research librarian to develop a search strategy. We searched 12 electronic databases and used Google and Google Scholar to locate relevant literature. Two reviewers independently screened and extracted data, compiling it into qualitative and numerical thematic summaries. The study uncovered a significant scarcity of literature, with only five articles published between 1999 and 2017, mostly quantitative and using cross-sectional methods. Two major themes emerged: mental health challenges and the need for supervisory and organizational support. This review highlights specific predictive factors of turnover intentions among nurses in English-speaking countries of the Caribbean. It also reveals the limited research available on this topic, demonstrating the need to prioritize nursing research on retention and turnover. This study concludes that future researchers should use a multi-disciplinary, geographically wide approach to develop tailored interventions, enhance nurse well-being and promote health system resilience
Sexual and Psychological Abuse of Men in Heterosexual Relationships in The Bahamas
Full text linkThis paper describes the treatment of heterosexual men in The Bahamas by their intimate partners. An internet study surveyed 335 married and 922 unmarried men in The Bahamas who were currently in intimate relationships with women. The study found that behaviours of concern were inflicted by women on their male partners both inside and outside of marriage. Overall, 14% of respondents reported experiencing sex against their will. Married and unmarried men were equally likely to report experiencing unwanted sexual intercourse in their current relationship, and unmarried men were more likely than married men to have been physically hurt by their current partner. Married men who admitted to being victims of unwanted sexual intercourse by their wives were more likely to report having been physically hurt by their wife than those who had not experienced unwanted sex. Psychological abuse was more evident for unmarried than married men. These findings suggest that men may need more help in coping with abuse than is commonly recognized. Investigating why abusive behaviours, including unwanted sex, were more common outside of marriage than inside of marriage may be a useful area of future research in the Bahamian community
Legal Rape in The Bahamas: A Scoping Review
Full text linkThe Bahamas is reported to have a high per capita number of rapes and this has led to concerns about rape in general and other issues concerning gender-based violence. The focus of this scoping review of the literature, while cognizant of these concerns, is more narrowly focused on the act of a husband forcing his wife to have sexual intercourse with him when she does not wish to do so.
 
Some Alternative Thoughts on Endogenous Development: Sustainable Grand Bahama Conference 2022
No full textFollowing the third Sustainable Grand Bahama Conference held in 2022 under the theme Diversifying and Expanding Our Economy, this contribution seeks to reinforce the importance of a national development framework for The Bahamas that considers the country’s historical, social, cultural, institutional, and political influences. It is argued here that qualitative policy intervention ought to be an important positive force within the context of transnationalism, financialization, and imperfect competition, as socioeconomic advancement is a continuous work in progress for countries at all levels of development. The methodological approach utilised in the article is based on a distinctively Bahamian developmental state perspective alongside aspects of international political economy. The main focus of this contribution is to sketch out the policy framework that might be advisable to develop and diversify Bahamian production lines—given the country’s excessive reliance on tourism and financial services—while helping the country move to the next level of socio-economic progress. A developmental state with Bahamian characteristics is proposed here as a necessary policy framework for the support of selected industries of high potential and achievability while leaving space for further social and political advancement
A Study of Atmospheric Aerosols in The Bahamas Using Camera Lidar and Star Photometry Techniques
Full text linkAerosols, the tiny suspended particles in the atmosphere, are a widely studied topic around the world due to their effects on the Earth’s radiation budget, climate change, and human health. Knowledge of the spatial and temporal distribution of aerosols is essential to assess air pollution and predict potential climate change. This study measured aerosol optical depth (AOD) and altitude-dependent aerosol extinctions in Nassau, The Bahamas simultaneously using a camera-based imaging lidar (CLidar). The bistatic geometry of the setup which consisted of a wide-angle lens fitted to a charge-coupled device (CCD) camera, allowed for the measurement of extinctions at all altitudes at once without requiring expensive timing electronics common to lidars. A case study was conducted on November 5, 2018. The top of the boundary layer beyond which aerosol extinction was nearly zero was detected at ~ three km above sea level. Due to the excellent resolution of the CLidar at lower altitudes, variations of aerosol concentrations within the boundary layer are efficiently detected. Optical depth was measured using the same CLidar camera at the same time, utilising star photometry, and was found to be 0.043 ± 0.040. The value falls within the range of assumed values of AOD near the regions obtained from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) Aqua satellite
Comparative Analysis of Soil Health in Backyard Farms on Multiple Islands of The Bahamas
Full text linkFood insecurity is a major concern in The Bahamas due to our inadequate food and agricultural infrastructure and heavy reliance on imports. To mitigate this threat, the Bahamian government has been encouraging homeowners to engage in backyard farming. However, the success of backyard farming relies on the presence of healthy soils. In this study, we conducted a comparative analysis of soil health in backyard farms across several islands in The Bahamas. Our analysis focused on key indicators such as nutrient availability, pH, salinity, water-holding capacity, and organic carbon. Our results revealed that none of the 38 soil samples analysed fell within the optimal range for all of the selected indicators. Our results suggested that soil treated with synthetic fertilizer did not exhibit higher nutrient availability compared to naturally fertilized or unfertilized samples. Additionally, through correlation analysis, we found a positive relationship between organic carbon and water-holding capacity. Conversely, negative correlations were observed between pH and nitrogen, as well as organic carbon and pH. These correlations imply that optimizing pH levels and enhancing water holding capacity may play a crucial role in improving soil health in The Bahamas, with particular attention to increasing organic carbon content