scholarly journals Assessment of awareness of pharmacy profession as a career among secondary school students in Kaduna state, Nigeria

2021 ◽  
pp. 803-809
Author(s):  
Abbas Musa ◽  
Muhammad Garba Magaji ◽  
Raliya Muhammad Bello

Background: Pharmacists play prominent roles in the health care system and enjoy a wide variety of inter-related careers, placing them among the high-ranking health professionals. Aim: To assess the awareness of pharmacy as a career among secondary school students in the Zaria and Giwa educational zones of Kaduna State, Nigeria. Method: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in secondary schools located in the Zaria and Giwa educational zones in Kaduna state, Nigeria; a sample of 278 students completed a 26-item questionnaire. Results: The respondents displayed a fair knowledge of pharmacy (mean score of 9.8 out of 20), with significant differences in awareness observed between males and females (p=0.026), students from private and public schools (p<0.001), and those from schools located in urban and rural areas (p<0.001). Conclusion: The students had a fair knowledge of pharmacy careers and pharmacists' roles and characteristics.

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 720-727
Author(s):  
O. F. Bamise ◽  

The research evaluated among secondary school students the time spent in reading and the reading materials preferred. The purpose for which they read was also identified. A cross-sectional survey design was adopted which focused on public secondary schools of Osun State, Southwest, Nigeria. A multistage random sampling technique was used to select 1101 senior secondary school students from 12 public schools covering the 6 educational zones of Osun State. A 20 item Reading Habit Scale was used. The questionnaire was administered with the aid of a research assistant and retrieved immediately from the volunteers after completion. One thousand and seventy-nine copies of the questionnaire were analyzed, 43% of the respondents were boys while 57% were girls. Only 18.6% of the respondents were daily long-time readers (>1 to 6 hours per day) which comprised 17% of the boys and 20% of the girls. Boys more than girls read past questions and solutions while girls more than boys read textbooks and subject teachers note. Boys (98%) more than girls (97%) indicated they read in order to get better grades in tests and examinations. Conversely, girls more than the boys read for a better understanding of topics taught by the teacher and for pleasure (84:76%). A statistically significant gender difference exists with respect to “reading for pleasure” (x=8.92, p=0.003). Most of the students have poor reading habits with respect to daily reading time. Girls were more daily long-time readers and also read for pleasure.


Author(s):  
Gunn Pungpapong ◽  
Rasmon Kalayasiri

Objective: To assess prevalence and factors associated with depression, anxiety and stress among adolescents experiencing lockdown during the 2019 coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in both Asian and Western countries. Material and Methods: From May-June 2020, secondary school students were enrolled in an online cross-sectional survey, through social media; including, but not limited to, Instagram, Snapchat, WhatsApp and LINE. We assessed the presence and severity of depression (Patient Health Questionnaire-9), anxiety (Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale-7) and stress (Perceived Stress Scale-10) within the last month, and assessed significant associations with demographics, degree of social distancing, and other associated issues using univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses.Results: From 392 respondents (56.4% male, 43.1% female), from Thailand (59.2%), the United Kingdom (26.5%) and other countries (14.3%), we identified depressive symptoms in 58.7%, anxiety in 40.3% and high levels of stress in 9.7%. By multivariate analysis, we found significant associations between being female and depression and anxiety, being in late secondary school years and depression, and changes in patterns of substance use and anxiety and stress. Participants not located in Thailand had increased risk of depression.Conclusion: Our study demonstrated depression, anxiety and stress in six, four and one out of ten adolescents, respectively, who were experiencing lockdowns due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We found female gender, older school years, and changes in substance use patterns to be significantly associated with these mental health conditions.


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 359-365
Author(s):  
Monica a ◽  
◽  
A. Abuh ◽  
Nwaba A. Attah ◽  
◽  
...  

Physics is among the significant science subjects taught at the secondary school level in Nigerias education system. There has been a growing concern about the poor performance in physics in Nigeria. The present study was aimed to determine teachers likability as a factor that could influence students attitudes towards physics. The study adopted a cross-sectional survey. The population of the survey includes secondary school students in the Kogi State of Nigeria. Participants comprised males and females senior secondary school students. They were mainly pooled from the science class. One hundred and thirty-nine students participated in the study. Data was collected using a Teachers Likability Scale and the Physics Attitude Scale (PAS). The result revealed that most of the respondents indicated a negative attitude toward the subject (M = 0.87, SD = 0.35), while few (M = 0.18, SD = 0.39) showed a positive attitude towards the subject. A linear regression model was conducted to test the study hypothesis.The result showed that teachers likability statistically significantly predicted attitude towards physics F(1,137), 124.617 P< .05. The study concluded that a teachers likability is a significant predictor of attitude towards physics. Thus, it is recommended that teachers should be more facilitators than strict instructors.


Author(s):  
Ebelechuku Francesca Ugochukwu ◽  
Chinyere Ukamaka Onubogu ◽  
Kenneth Nchekwube Okeke ◽  
Victoria Chikodili Ofora ◽  
Chinenye MaryQueen Uju

Background: Obesity in children is universal affecting all ethnicities, ages, gender and social classes. Public school children consist mainly of the less affluent strata of society, and consequently may not be opportuned to avail themselves of necessary public health interventions as their private school counterparts.          Objective:This study aimed to determine the prevalence of obesity using various anthropometric indices and association of certain factors with obesity among public secondary school students.    Methods:A cross-sectional school-based questionnaire and physical assessment of 593 students aged 10 – 17 years in public schools in Nnewi, Southeast Nigeria was carried out.                                                             Results: There were 289  boys and 304 girls, giving an approximate ratio of 1:1. Most of the students were from the middle and lower socio-economic levels. Girls were physically less active and consumed more junk food than the boys. The mean weight and height varied significantly with age in males, females and both sexes combined together (p <0.001). In general, girls were heavier than boys, while the boys were slightly taller than the girls. Age varied significantly with BMI (P<0.001 for girls and boys), WC (P<0.001 for girls and boys) and WHtR (p=0.034 for boys and 0.024 for girls). BMI performed better than WC and WHtR in identifying children with obesity. When compared with BMI, WC had a sensitivity of 5.2% and a specificity of 100.0% with a positive predictive value of 100.0% and a negative predictive value of 90.7%. WHtR had a sensitivity of 31.0% and a specificity of 99.8% with a positive predictive value of 94.7% and a negative predictive value of 93.0%. BMI had a strong correlation with both WC and WHtR although correlation was stronger with WC (R=704) compared to WHR (R=641). Among the students 9.8% were in the obese/overweight group, made up of 96.6% females, out of which 64.1% were older adolescents aged 15-17 years. Reduced physical activity played a major role in enhancing obesity/overweight, while socio-economic level and diet did not. After logistic regression analysis, age and sex remained significantly associated with being overweight or obese. The odds of being overweight or obese was 32 times in females compared to males and twice in in late adolescence compared to early adolescence.                                                                                                                                      Conclusion:  The obesity/overweight of older adolescent public secondary school girls buttress the importance of physical exercises in curbing obesity. Although easier to perform and very specific, WC and WHtR seemed to miss many adolescents with obesity when compared to BMI.  Therefore, a combination of these indices is recommended while screening adolescents for obesity.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gunn Pungpapong ◽  
Rasmon Kalayasiri

Abstract Background: Stressors introduced to adolescents by COVID-19 social distancing measures may cause mental health problems to (re)surface. We studied depression, anxiety and stress among adolescents experiencing lockdown. Methods: From May-June 2020, secondary school students were enrolled in an online cross-sectional survey through social media. We assessed presence and severity of depression (PHQ-9), anxiety (GAD-7) and stress (PSS-10) in the last month, demographics, degree of social distancing, and other associated issues.Results: Of 392 respondents (56.4% male, 43.1% female), mostly from Thailand (59.2%) and UK (26.5%). We identified depressive symptoms in 58.7%, anxiety in 40.3% and high levels of stress in 9.7%. We found, by multivariate analysis, significant associations between being female and depression and anxiety, being in late secondary school years and depression, and changes in patterns of substance use and anxiety and stress.Conclusions: We propose that girl-centred mental health support platforms should be readily available and tailored to fit specific countries’ contexts. Schools must closely monitor and act upon any concerns which arise from their students and must also monitor mental health wellbeing as changes in academic routine due to COVID-19 could be drastic for some. Harm reduction services must adapt and utilise innovative telemedicine interventions, tailored towards adolescent users.


Author(s):  
T. J. M. S. Raju

<div><p><em>The present study aimed at the relationship between the socio-Economic Status and Academic Achievement among secondary school students of Prakasam District of Andhra Pradesh, India. A number of investigations conducted so far in the field of Socio Economic Status (SES) indicated a significant relation between achievement and SES.  After independence the SES of secondary school students in both urban and rural areas have registered a remarkable change.  On account of phenomenal advancement in science and technology the conditions of the people have changed a lot.</em></p><p><em>The data were collected from 200 secondary school students by using the tools socio-economic status tool measures the dimensions of educational, economic, social, cultural and occupational determinants.  The academic achievement tool consists of the test items of mathematics, general science and social studies.  Later the data were analyzed with the statistical procedures like mean, standard deviations, critical ratios, Chi-square test and r-values.  The results were discussed according to the significant values.  Based on the results certain conclusions were drawn. Over all observation of the study some educational implications were given.</em></p></div>


Author(s):  
Nik Mohd. Rahimi Nik Yusoff ◽  
Kamarulzaman Abd. Ghani ◽  
Zawawi Ismail

Kajian ini bertujuan untuk menilai tahap kemahiran kefahaman mendengar bahasa Arab di kalangan pelajar sekolah menengah agama negeri. Reka bentuk kajian yang digunakan dalam kajian ini ialah kaedah tinjauan semasa. Sebanyak lima aspek kefahaman mendengar bahasa Arab yang dinilai dalam kajian ini. Lima aspek kefahaman mendengar tersebut ialah; (i) kefahaman mendengar bunyi bahasa Arab; (ii) kefahaman mendengar makna perkataan secara leksikal; (iii) kefahaman mendengar makna perkataan secara kontekstual; (iv) kefahaman mendengar teks secara literal; dan (v) kemahiran mendengar teks secara inferential. Kajian ini dijalankan di sekolah–sekolah menengah agama negeri di Kelantan. Keputusan menunjukkan subkemahiran pertama berada pada tahap tinggi; subkemahiran kedua dan ketiga berada pada tahap sederhana; dan subkemahiran keempat dan kelima berada pada tahap lemah. Kata kunci: kemahiran kefahaman mendengar, sub–sub kemahiran kefahaman mendengar, bahasa Arab The aim of this study was to evaluate the level of Arabic listening comprehension among state religious secondary school students. There were five aspects of Arabic listening comprehension, which were evaluated in this study. The research design which was used in this study was cross sectional survey. The five aspects of Arabic listening comprehension were; (i) Arabic sound; (ii) word meaning lexically; (iii) word meaning contextually; (iv) texts meaning literally; and (v) texts meaning inferentially. This study was carried out at state religious secondary schools in Kelantan. The results showed the first sub skills was at a high level, the second and third sub skills was at a moderate level, and the fourth and fifth sub skills was at a weak level. Key words: listening comprehension skills, listening comprehension sub skills, Arabic language


2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammed Othman ◽  
Nasrin Aghamohammadi ◽  
Nik Daliana Nik Farid

Abstract Background Shisha smoking has re-emerged in the Middle East in the last two decades and has spread rapidly in these communities. Information about shisha smoking in adolescents in Sudan is deficient. Hence, the aim of this study is to estimate the prevalence of shisha smoking among adolescents and determine the associated factors. Methods This study is a school based cross sectional study among secondary school students in Khartoum State - Sudan that targets both male and female students aged 14–17 years. A total of 3387 students from 29 public and private schools were selected by multi stage random sampling. The participants completed an anonymous self-administered questionnaire which was based on Arabic version of the Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS). Results The response rate was 100% in schools and among participants, 57.3% were females and 51.6% were from public schools. The overall prevalence of those who had ever smoked shisha was 13.4%, and among male students the prevalence was 16.8%, while it was 10.9% in females. The associated factors were poor academic performance OR 2.90 CI 95% (1.21–6.94), friends smoking shisha OR 2.39 CI 95% (1.65–3.45), friends smoking cigarettes OR 2.76 CI 95% (1.90–4.01), peer pressure to smoke shisha OR 13.76 CI 95% (7.86–24.07) and unexpectedly restriction of selling shisha to minors OR 2.21 CI 95% (1.28–3.82). Conclusion The prevalence of those who had ever smoked shisha is among the lowest in Middle East region; therefore, regular surveillance system is needed. A well-structured peer based comprehensive tobacco control programmes that are supported by strict and rigorous anti-tobacco regulations which control both commercial and social resources of tobacco are needed to contain this issue among adolescents.


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