Journals.aua.ke (Adventist University of Africa)
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Predictors of Rape among Never-Married Young Females in Rural and Urban Communities in Nigeria
Full text linkElectronic and print media have reported increased incidences of rape among different age groups. Never-married young females appear to be the main targets of this social menace. What predisposing factors make never-married young females a significant target in the growing epidemic of rape in Nigeria? This study seeks to provide an answer. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among young women randomly selected across Nigeria. Descriptive statistical tools and logistic regression were used to analyze the survey data using SPSS 26. The data were obtained from a subsample of 751 never-married females (10 years and older) surveyed in a larger study conducted in mid-2022. The findings suggest that the national incidence of rape among the study population is 19.2%. The rural-urban differences revealed that rape incidence among never-married females is higher in urban communities than in rural communities. Ethnicity, substance use, and childhood family background were significantly associated with rape incidence (p<0.05). Therefore, advocacy will likely be impactful if exhilarated child protection laws and aggressive campaigns against substance use, especially among young females are considered in its design and implementation
Ethical Leadership Challenges in the Age of Artificial Intelligence: An In-depth Analysis
Full text linkArtificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming decision-making across various sectors, introducing both opportunities and ethical challenges for leadership. While AI enhances efficiency and innovation, concerns, such as algorithmic bias, transparency deficits, and accountability gaps, pose significant risks to governance. This study examines these ethical dilemmas through real world cases, including Amazon’s recruiting tool, Olay’s algorithmic audit, IBM Watson for Oncology, and predictive policing via COMPAS, to assess their impact on leadership frameworks and the necessity for proactive ethical oversight. Through a comprehensive interdisciplinary analysis, this paper explores traditional ethical leadership models alongside emerging AI governance frameworks, notably the Ethical Management of Artificial Intelligence (EMMA) model. By synthesizing research across ethics, psychology, and management, this study demonstrates how leaders must integrate technical expertise with ethical sensitivity to align AI adoption with organizational values and societal expectations. These findings underscore the crucial need for explainable AI (XAI), bias audits, and transparent accountability structures to promote trust in AI systems. To address these challenges, this study recommends a multi-stakeholder approach that prioritizes interdisciplinary collaboration, continuous ethical monitoring, and enforceable AI governance policies. Ethical AI leadership necessitates adaptive oversight to ensure that AI innovation benefits humanity without perpetuating systemic biases or ethical blind spots
Social Policy Gaps and the Welfare Burden of Informal Sector Workers in Nigeria
Full text linkThe informal economy has consistently contributed to social and economic development through income and job creation, thereby enhancing people’s well-being. This paper examines the implications of existing policy gaps in Nigeria’s informal sector and how these gaps contribute to the welfare burden on informal-sector workers. The study provides a description of the informal economic sector and offers a general overview based on relevant literature. Data from the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics (NBS), the International Labor Organization (ILO), and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) were used to assess the size and components of Nigeria’s informal economy, as well as its role in the country’s economic growth and the welfare of its people. The study finds that informal sector significantly supports welfare through job creation and functions as an economic shock absorber. The study concludes that the government should recognize and prioritize the informal economy in its development policies and implement a more inclusive and equitable social protection framework to lessen the welfare burden on informal-sector workers
Nutrition Knowledge, Attitude, and Health Practices Among Public School Teachers in the Philippines
Full text linkBackground: Public school teachers play a critical role in the success of education systems, particularly in developing countries. Despite their importance, the health and well-being of these educators are often neglected. This study sought to evaluate elementary school teachers' nutrition knowledge, attitudes, and health practices in a developing country.
Method: A survey research design was employed to gather data from elementary school teachers. The survey assessed their nutrition knowledge, attitudes toward nutrition, and related health practices.
Results: The findings indicated a high level of agreement among the participants regarding their nutrition knowledge, attitudes, and health practices. Correlation analysis revealed statistically significant relationships among these three variables. Furthermore, socioeconomic characteristics were significantly associated with teachers’ nutrition knowledge, attitudes, and health behaviors.
Conclusion: Enhancing nutrition knowledge, attitudes, and health practices of public-school teachers is vital for improving their overall well-being and, by extension, the quality of education. Continued research and sustained intervention are necessary to promote a holistic approach to teacher health, contributing to the broader advancement of education in developing countries
Determinants of Childbirth Choice in Rural Senegal: Mixed-Methods Analysis Using Data from the Niakhar Demographic Surveillance System
Full text linkBackground: Faced with high rates of home births and maternal mortality, the Senegalese government has made enormous efforts to improve the provision of care. However, the use of health facilities for home births remains a challenge.
Materials and methods: The study used a mixed-methods approach. Data from women who gave birth in the Niakhar observatory area between 1983 and 2020 were used, and chi-square tests and qualitative analyses were performed.
Results: The results show that all variables are significant at the 0.5% level. Women giving birth at home were those who were married, griottes, poor, uneducated, aged 35-49, had given birth more than four times and had had fewer than two antenatal consultations. Qualitative results showed that physical condition, lack of understanding, privacy concerns of older women and economic barriers all contributed to the increase in the phenomenon.
Conclusion: In rural areas, health problems are complex and require a more integrated approach. Determinants can run counter to the public policies put in place. It is therefore essential, when developing health policies, to integrate measures adapted to the type of population.
The Role of AI in Shaping the Discharge of Duties of University Administrators: A Systematic Review
Full text linkThis systematic review examines the implementation of artificial intelligence (AI) in university administration, focusing on AI tools, ethical issues, prospects, and challenges of AI use by university administrators. Drawing from 23 relevant articles published in Scopus-indexed journals between 2009 and 2023, the findings reveal that AI technologies, including chatbots, predictive analytics, machine learning, natural language processing, and student information systems, are increasingly integrated into university operations to enhance decision-making. The findings also highlight ethical issues, particularly those related to data privacy, algorithmic bias, transparency, and accountability. The absence of specific ethical frameworks and legal regulations risks violating individual rights and institutional integrity. The review further identifies that interdisciplinary collaboration, staff training, and structured deployment strategies are necessary to fully leverage AI’s transformative potential. Challenges hindering effective adoption, including infrastructure deficits, limited technical expertise, data privacy and security, institutional resistance to change, and unresolved ethical and legal issues, are also discussed. Ultimately, the paper underscores the transformative potential of AI in higher education while emphasizing the need for responsible and inclusive implementation practices
Perceptions of Smoking Cessation Counselling among Physiotherapists in Benin City, Nigeria
No full textBackground: Physiotherapists regularly manage conditions affected by smoking, providing an opportunity to support smoking cessation efforts. This study examined physiotherapists’ perceptions of smoking cessation counseling and identified barriers affecting their practice in Benin City, Nigeria.
Methods: A cross-sectional survey was administered to licensed physiotherapists across three local government areas of the Benin city municipality. Data were analyzed descriptively, and Likert scale responses were merged into agreement and disagreement categories.
Results: All respondents recognized smoking as harmful, and 74% believed that cessation counselling should be part of physiotherapy practice. The key barriers included low personal motivation and negative personal experiences. Patient nonadherence and doubts regarding cessation strategies were also frequently cited.
Conclusion: Physiotherapists support smoking cessation counselling but require additional training and organizational reinforcement. Integrating smoking cessation content into professional education may strengthen clinical practice
The Relevance of Mosaic Health Laws in Contemporary Public Health Practice
No full textThe Torah/Pentateuch instituted health laws for the Israelites during their exodus from Egypt to Canaan around the 13th or 15th century BC. This literature review examines the Old Testament health laws and their contemporary relevance to public health. It analyses the Old Testament’s guidance on quarantine (Lev. 13–14), sanitation (Deut. 23), dietary restrictions (Lev. 11; Deut. 12:23), personal hygiene (Lev. 15; Num. 19), and sexual health (Lev. 18). These laws highlight early disease control principles that mirror modern public health concepts of isolation, sanitation, food safety, and behavioral change interventions. Communal responsibility was culturally and ethically emphasized, combined with a focus on spiritual values and stigma reduction. Although these laws are theocratic, their disease-prevention benefits extend beyond any religion. A limitation in implementing these laws within a pluralistic society is their theocratic orientation, which may restrict their adoption among those who do not follow Abrahamic religions. Therefore, this study recommends integrating faith-based and cultural perspectives into health policies to foster interdisciplinary dialogue. This suggests the need to deploy Old Testament laws to encourage the adoption of optimal health practices
Environmental and Behavioral Factors Associated with Childhood Diarrhea in the Rural Health Zone of Maluku I, Kinshasa, DR Congo
No full textBackground: Diarrhea accounts for nearly one in five child deaths, with approximately 1.5 million annual fatalities, mainly in peri-urban and rural settings with poor living conditions. This study assessed environmental and household Behavioral factors associated with childhood diarrhea in Maluku I.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 239 households with children aged 0–59 months. Data were collected using structured questionnaires and analyzed using logistic regression, with associations expressed as odds ratios (ORs) and p-values (<0.05).
Results: The prevalence of childhood diarrhea was 21.3%. Households with clean yards showed an 11-fold lower risk (OR = 0.09; 95% CI: 0.01–0.88; p = 0.039), whereas access to improved water reduced the risk by 7.7-fold (OR = 0.13; 95% CI: 0.11–0.29; p < 0.001). Lack of handwashing at critical times emerged as the strongest risk factor, increasing the likelihood of diarrhea approximately six-fold (OR = 6.13; 95% CI: 2.09–18.00; p < 0.001).
Conclusion: Childhood diarrhea in Maluku I remains highly prevalent and is strongly influenced by modifiable environmental and behavioral factors, highlighting the need for targeted interventions
Ghana's Healthcare Crossroads: A Five-Year Analysis of Systemic Challenges, Media Discourse, and Policy Responses (2020-2025)
No full textGhana’s health system has been confronted with persistent human, material resource and governance challenges, straining service delivery. These problems include issues of the “no bed syndrome,” difficulties with access to dialysis care, brain drain, and the enigma of jobless nurses amid health workforce shortages. Delays in engaging pharmacists, unpaid house officers, and bureaucratic hurdles that characterized the clearing of Global Fund–donated products further exposed the hidden cracks in systemic inefficiencies. The “No Bed Syndrome” mirrors not only inadequate infrastructure but also the gaps embedded within patient flow and referral mechanisms. Dialysis care, long hampered by exorbitant costs and access impediments, has recently been included in the Ghana National Health Insurance Scheme’s package of care, amid questions on sustainability. Economic constraints and difficult working conditions fuel health worker migration, while many skilled nurses remain unemployed due to delays in financial clearance. Similarly, problems within the pharmacy workforce echo breaches in planning and fiscal management. Addressing these health system vulnerabilities requires local investment, streamlined clearance processes, enhanced compensation, stronger primary healthcare, transparent, and accountable policies to build a robust, fair system