EANSO East African Nature and Science Organization Journals
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The Moderating Role of Age Group in the Gender Pattern of Risky Sexual Behaviours among Secondary School Adolescent Students in Mbarara, Uganda: A Cross-Sectional Study
Full text linkThis cross-sectional study investigated the moderating role of age group in the gender pattern of risky sexual behaviours (RSB) among secondary school students in Greater Mbarara, Uganda. A sample of 326 students (56.7% female; M age = 17.3 years) from eight schools completed an anonymous questionnaire. Hierarchical multiple regression analysis revealed a significant moderating effect of age group on the gender-RSB relationship. Simple slopes analysis demonstrated a critical developmental pattern: the gender gap in RSB was non-significant in early adolescence (Lower Secondary), emerged in middle adolescence (Middle Secondary), and intensified dramatically in late adolescence (Upper Secondary), where males reported substantially higher risk. The findings demonstrate that the gender disparity in RSB is not a fixed constant but a dynamic outcome that escalates across adolescence. This underscores the necessity for educational policy to abandon one-size-fits-all interventions in favour of developmentally-tiered, gender-responsive strategies that address the evolving risks and social norms specific to each stage of adolescenc
Gusii Oral Poetry and Mitigation of Effects of Climate Change
Full text linkEnvironment and climate–change issues, such as global warming, are of late the nerve centre of discourses in various international fora. It is undeniable that the rate of loss of biodiversity around the globe is alarmingly high and of grave concern. The losses occur through extinctions caused by the fragmentation and destruction of natural habitat, pollution, over-exploitation, the introduction of exotic species, and monocultural activities. In the foregoing, hazards emanating from climate change, such as global warming, are outrightly threatening the peaceful existence of humanity on the globe; hence, saving the remaining world’s biodiversity should become an imperative public policy issue at the international, regional, and national levels. Despite this being the case, there still exists a lacuna in the salient role played by the concerted efforts of oral arts in mitigating the negative effects of climate change. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the efficacy of selected Gusii oral poems in ameliorating the hazards of climate change. The study used an eclectic theoretical approach, first using a deconstructive method in analysing the selected oral poems in order to arrive at the multiple meanings embodied therein and how they are a boon towards the efforts of nature conservation. Keeping in mind that art is a form of ideological state apparatuses which interpellates its subjects into a prescribed thought pattern, the deconstructive analysis of the oral poems was augmented by Althusserian Marxism to validate the argument that the ideas constructed and transmitted by the selected oral poems are potent with power to hail their subjects towards rededicating their efforts towards the conservation of biodiversity. The study purposefully sampled five oral poems from a universal population of twenty-five oral poems, which were collected during the fieldwork session in the twin counties of Kisii and Nyamira in Western Kenya. Snowball research strategy was employed during the period of collecting the oral poems from various artists. Alongside an in-depth scrutiny of the poems, interviews, and a deconstructive analysis of the poems were used in determining the meanings elucidated by the oral poems. The findings of this study have demonstrated that when tapped properly, oral poetry is an effective vehicle for augmenting the already existing efforts of environmental and biodiversity conservation around the world
Linguistic Features Used in Development Discourse in Kimeru FM Radio Stations in Kenya
Full text linkThis paper examines the linguistic features employed by political leaders in development discourse in Kimeru FM radio stations in Kenya. It specifically focuses on how language is used to frame issues of sustainable development. Guided by Norman Fairclough’s Critical Discourse Analysis theory, the study adopted a qualitative research design, particularly a focused descriptive approach. Data were drawn from twenty purposively sampled talk shows and interviews on Muuga FM and Meru FM, covering the period between 2020 and 2024. The programs were downloaded from online platforms, transcribed, and analysed using a lexical–grammatical checklist. The findings revealed that political leaders used distinct linguistic features, including nominalisation, passivisation, transitivity, modality, and ideological framing, to construct and advance development narratives. These linguistic choices enabled the leaders to control the representation of development processes, manage responsibility, and reinforce their authority in public discourse. The study concludes that linguistic strategies are central in shaping how development is perceived and communicated in Kimeru FM radio stations
Accessibility and Affordability of Water Services Among Low-Income Households in Mogadishu, Somalia: The Role of Displacement and Socioeconomic Factors
Full text linkAccess to safe, reliable, and affordable water remains a pressing challenge in Mogadishu, Somalia, particularly among low-income and displaced populations. This study investigates household-level water accessibility and affordability and employed a quantitative cross-sectional survey design and collected data from 384 low-income households selected through stratified random sampling across four districts in Mogadishu. A structured questionnaire was used, and data were analysed using descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, t-tests, and multiple linear regression. Reliability analysis confirmed strong internal consistency of the scales (Cronbach’s alpha > 0.70). Descriptive findings revealed that while households reported relatively high physical access to water, concerns persisted regarding frequent interruptions and limited confidence in future availability. Affordability emerged as a critical barrier, with most households spending more than 3–5% of their income on water and reporting difficulty paying bills on time. Inferential analyses highlighted that internally displaced persons (IDPs) experience significantly lower accessibility than non-IDPs (p < 0.001), while income strongly predicted affordability (β = 0.34, p < 0.001). Water price was a significant predictor of accessibility but not affordability in multivariate analysis. These findings underscore the compounded effects of displacement, low income, and high tariffs in limiting the realisation of the human right to water in Mogadishu. Policy implications include the need for targeted subsidies, lifeline tariffs, and stronger regulatory oversight to ensure equity and sustainability in water provision
Effect of Social Media Management Strategies on Students’ Engagement and Academic Participation in Benue State University, Makurdi
Full text linkThis study assesses the effect of social media management strategies on the enhancement of students’ engagement and academic participation in Benue State University. The study employs a quantitative research approach with a cross-sectional design. The study focused on a population of 25 postgraduate and 75 undergraduate students in Benue State University, utilising 100 respondents as the sample size. Data were collected using questionnaires and analysed descriptively. Questionnaire tagged: Social Media Management Strategies and Students’ Academic Participation Questionnaire (SMMSSAPQ) were the instrument used for data collection. Validity of the instrument was done by an expert in education management at Benue State University (BSU). The findings revealed that social media management strategies impact on students’ engagement in educational institutions in the study area, and there were major challenges in integrating social media into the educational system. The paper recommends holistic strategies to maximise social media’s educational benefits while mitigating its drawbacks; institutions should develop comprehensive social media policies that outline purposeful academic usage while minimising distractions
Reclaiming the Throne: Feminist Resistance and the Upstaging of Patriarchal Power in Wangari Maathai’s Unbowed and Phoebe Asiyo’s It Is Possible
Full text linkMany feminists argue that their basic rights have continued to be violated by patriarchal control. As a result, this study looked at how Asiyo (2018) and Maathai (2006) subverted patriarchy in their respective autobiographical literary works, Unbowed, and It is Possible. The autobiography subgenre enables writers to describe their life’s events from a more intimate perspective, particularly for women authors. The goal of this study was to critically examine the politics of gender and analyse how patriarchy is subverted. Simone de Beauvoir and Helene Cixous’s feminist literary theory (1996) was incorporated into the study’s eclectic theoretical framework. The main argument of this theory is that women’s positions in patriarchal society are skewed and unsustainable, and that it is possible to undermine the dominant hierarchy. This was combined with Saint Augustine of Hippo’s (2014) autobiography theory, which is predicated on the essential ideas of subjectivity and objectivity and maintains that the autobiographer is selective in what they choose to write. The study used a descriptive research design to read, examine, and evaluate data from the purposively collected texts because of their textual nature. According to this study, women have been objectified, stereotyped, denied access to positions of authority, and had their property disowned. Furthermore, it was found that Maathai and Asiyo recounted their real-life experiences from a close-up viewpoint while using a variety of fictional devices to combat marginalisation. In conclusion, research results confirm gender norms in patriarchal societies, elevate women’s autobiographies as sophisticated academic achievements, and create endowments for gender standardisation
The Contributions of Service Quality on the Growth of Banks in Tanzania: A Case of CRDB Bank Plc Branches in Mbeya City
Full text linkThe aim of this study was to assess the contribution of service quality to the growth of banking services, a case of CRDB Bank Plc Branches in Mbeya city. The study was guided by one specific objective: to evaluate the contribution of service reliability on the growth of banking services. A mixed-methods research design was adopted. The study sample consisted of 114 respondents, including bank officials purposively selected from key departments and customers randomly sampled at the CRDB Bank Zonal office. Primary data were collected through structured questionnaires and semi-structured interviews. Quantitative data were analysed using SPSS version 24.0 through descriptive and regression analysis, while qualitative data were analysed thematically. The findings revealed that reliability was a significant determinant of banking growth, with 73.2% of customers affirming accurate transaction completion and 67.6% perceiving uninterrupted services. Dependable information provision further strengthened customer confidence, though 39.5% of respondents reported occasional service downtimes, undermining reliability perceptions. Dependability during urgent needs was positively rated, with most customers confirming trust in CRDB’s ability to deliver during emergencies. Regression results confirmed that reliability strongly predicted banking growth (p < .001), emphasising its role in driving trust, loyalty, and service uptake. Conclusively, the study demonstrates that service reliability is central to CRDB’s growth strategy. Enhancing transaction accuracy, minimising downtimes, and improving dependability in urgent situations remain essential for sustaining customer satisfaction and competitive advantage in Tanzania’s banking sector
Assessing the Accessibility of Local Government Loans for Startup Businesses: Evidence from Northern and Central Tanzania
Full text linkThis study assesses the accessibility of local government loans in supporting startup business growth in selected councils of Northern and Central Tanzania, specifically Dodoma City, Meru District, and Hai District. Although Tanzania’s Local Government Finance Act legally mandates Local Government Authorities (LGAs) to allocate 10% of their own-source revenues as interest-free loans to women, youth, and persons with disabilities, empirical evidence on the accessibility of Local Government Loans for startup businesses remains limited. Using a quantitative cross-sectional research design, data were collected from 256 startup entrepreneurs through structured questionnaires. Descriptive and inferential analyses were conducted using SPSS to examine loan accessibility, application outcomes and barriers. The findings reveal that 63 (28.0%) of startups accessed LGA loans, while 134 (67.7%) of the loan applications were fully approved. The principal barriers to loan acquisition identified by respondents included bureaucratic delays, insufficient collateral, and inadequate access to information regarding loan application procedures. Policy interventions focusing on capacity-building, strengthened monitoring, and expanded loan accessibility are recommended to improve the developmental outcomes of local government loans. Overall, the study contributes to the understanding of state-facilitated financial empowerment strategies in emerging economies and provides actionable insights for policymakers, LGAs, and development practitioners seeking to promote grassroots entrepreneurship
The Influence of Social Media on Millennial Workforce Performance. A Case Study of Zimbabwe Small to Medium Enterprises
Full text linkThis study investigated the influence of social media on the millennial workforce in Zimbabwean SMEs, focusing on productivity, job performance, work-life balance, and job satisfaction. Utilising a mixed-methods approach, data were collected from 150 millennial employees through surveys and semi-structured interviews. Quantitative analysis revealed that professional use of social media positively impacted job performance, while excessive personal use detracted from productivity. Qualitative findings supported these results, highlighting that social media aids networking and access to information, yet poses distractions. Additionally, social media facilitated flexible work arrangements, improving work-life balance for 65% of participants. However, 35% reported stress due to blurred work-life boundaries. These findings align with existing literature, suggesting that while social media can enhance professional development and productivity, it also requires effective management to mitigate its negative aspects. The study emphasises the need for SMEs to develop clear social media policies, provide training, and promote work-life balance. Policymakers are encouraged to create regulatory frameworks supporting responsible social media use, and further research is recommended to explore long-term impacts and psychological effects. This comprehensive analysis offers actionable insights for optimising social media's role in enhancing the millennial workforce's performance in Zimbabwean SMEs, contributing to both academic discourse and practical applications in contemporary business environment
The Contribution of Credit Availability to the Growth of Small and Medium Businesses in Rural Shurugwi
Full text linkThis paper examined how the accessibility of loans affects the performance of the small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) within Shurugwi Rural, Zimbabwe. Using a mixed methodology, the study involved the use of quantitative data from 385 SME respondents and the use of qualitative data from 20 SME stakeholders and lenders. Findings indicate that there is a negative counterintuitive relationship between credit access and long-term SME performance. Some businesses had registered growth of revenues in the short term after taking loans, but the growth was not sustainable, and, on average, credit-accessing SMEs recorded lower revenue and employment growth than those accessing funds through personal savings or informal sources. High interest rates, strict collateral terms, and short repayment terms were the main obstacles to effective credit use that, taken together, redirected resources from business growth to debt repayment and to risky business failure. Qualitative responses highlighted the emotional and economic burden of restrictive conditions of lending to entrepreneurs. The results emphasise the incompatibility of existing financial products with rural SMEs and the need for a more flexible and context-driven lending experience and financial literacy interventions. Formal credit is likely to remain a barrier instead of an accelerator of sustainable economic growth and development in Shurugwi Rural unless there are such reform