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Citizen-centric perspectives on election administration and democratic process in Nigeria's fourth republic
(2024-10-01) Kolawole, Egbewole Isiaka; Kazeem, Sanni Oluwole; Omololu, Fagbadebo; Tomilayo, Akindele Iyiola
Elections are inevitable for democratic nourishment and their processes are a pathway to ideal legitimate political leadership. The core intent of the paper is to appraise two decades (1999-2019) of the democratic process in Nigeria's elections administration vis-a-vis citizen-centric viewpoint with reference to Lagos State. This research relies on primary and secondary sources of data collection. It adopted participatory democratic theory, precisely Dahl Polyarchy as a theoretical foundation. The findings of the study revealed that the 2003, 2007, and 2011 general elections were marred with various irregularities, but the non-interference disposition in 2015 by incumbent governments and leadership of INEC projected the mandate with fairness through better technological innovations. It was also revealed that the 2019 general elections possessed a typical element of the 2011 general elections with the conspicuous low turnout as its climax. The paper recommended among others, that there is a need for more continuity of the technological initiative in election administration, electoral management system (EMS) research, Continuous updating of voters' registers, and adjustments of operational and administration of logistics to make INEC more trustworthy referees in future elections.
Leveraging principal component analysis of crime trends to drive innovation in industry, policy, and society
(EnPress Publisher, 2025-01) Khanyile, Thabiso; Adeliyi, Timothy T.; Aroba, Oluwasegun J.
Given the multifaceted nature of crime trends shaped by a range of social, economic, and demographic variables, grasping the fundamental drivers behind crime patterns is pivotal for crafting effective crime deterrence methodologies. This investigation adopted a systematic literature review technique to distill thirty key factors from a corpus of one hundred scholarly articles. Utilizing the Principal Component Analysis (PCA) for diminishing dimensionality facilitated a nuanced understanding of the determinants deemed essential in influencing crime trends. The findings highlight the necessity of tackling issues such as inequality, educational deficits, poverty, unemployment, insufficient parental guidance, and peer influence in the realm of crime prevention efforts. Such knowledge empowers policymakers and law enforcement bodies to optimize resource allocation and roll out interventions grounded in empirical evidence, thereby fostering a safer and more secure societal environment.
Strengthening primary care for diabetes and hypertension in Eswatini : study protocol for a nationwide cluster-randomized controlled trial
(Springer Science and Business Media LLC, 2023-03) Theilmann, Michaela; Ginindza, Ntombifuthi; Myeni, John; Dlamini, Sijabulile; Cindzi, Bongekile Thobekile; Dlamini, Dumezweni; Dlamini, Thobile L.; Greve, Maike; Harkare, Harsh Vivek; Hleta, Mbuso; Khumalo, Philile; Kolbe, Lutz M.; Lewin, Simon; Marowa, Lisa-Rufaro; Masuku, Sakhile; Mavuso, Dumsile; Molemans, Marjan; Ntshalintshali, Nyasatu; Nxumalo, Nomathemba; Osetinsky, Brianna; Pell, Christopher; Reis, Ria; Shabalala, Fortunate; Simelane, Bongumusa R.; Stehr, Lisa; Tediosi, Fabrizio; van Leth, Frank; De Neve, Jan-Walter; Bärnighausen, Till; Geldsetzer, Pascal
Background
Diabetes and hypertension are increasingly important population health challenges in Eswatini. Prior to this project, healthcare for these conditions was primarily provided through physician-led teams at tertiary care facilities and accessed by only a small fraction of people living with diabetes or hypertension. This trial tests and evaluates two community-based healthcare service models implemented at the national level, which involve health care personnel at primary care facilities and utilize the country's public sector community health worker cadre (the rural health motivators [RHMs]) to help generate demand for care.
Methods
This study is a cluster-randomized controlled trial with two treatment arms and one control arm. The unit of randomization is a primary healthcare facility along with all RHMs (and their corresponding service areas) assigned to the facility. A total of 84 primary healthcare facilities were randomized in a 1:1:1 ratio to the three study arms. The first treatment arm implements differentiated service delivery (DSD) models at the clinic and community levels with the objective of improving treatment uptake and adherence among clients with diabetes or hypertension. In the second treatment arm, community distribution points (CDPs), which previously targeted clients living with human immunodeficiency virus, extend their services to clients with diabetes or hypertension by allowing them to pick up medications and obtain routine nurse-led follow-up visits in their community rather than at the healthcare facility. In both treatment arms, RHMs visit households regularly, screen clients at risk, provide personalized counseling, and refer clients to either primary care clinics or the nearest CDP. In the control arm, primary care clinics provide diabetes and hypertension care services but without the involvement of RHMs and the implementation of DSD models or CDPs. The primary endpoints are mean glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and systolic blood pressure among adults aged 40 years and older living with diabetes or hypertension, respectively. These endpoints will be assessed through a household survey in the RHM service areas. In addition to the health impact evaluation, we will conduct studies on cost-effectiveness, syndemics, and the intervention's implementation processes.Discussion
This study has the ambition to assist the Eswatini government in selecting the most effective delivery model for diabetes and hypertension care. The evidence generated with this national-level cluster-randomized controlled trial may also prove useful to policy makers in the wider Sub-Saharan African region.Trial registration
NCT04183413. Trial registration date: December 3, 2019.Job satisfaction and organisational commitment amongst employees in the South African department of education : issues and challenges
(Learning Gate, 2024-12-04) Ndaleni-Sibiya, Lindiwe-Memory; Fagbadebo, Omololu; Mbandlwa, Zamokuhle
It is common in the Umlazi and Pinetown districts of the Department of Education (DoE) that employees resign before their retirement age. Available data showed that 1,310 employees of the DoE in the two districts have resigned in the past five years. This is an indication of a sharp rise in staff turnover, with its impacts on the quality of education and service delivery. This study examined how the working environment of the districts influences job satisfaction. With 249 participants, using a mixed method, the study further examined the correlation between job satisfaction and employee turnover and how intrinsic and extrinsic motivational factors influence job satisfaction at the districts. examines how the working environment of the Department’s districts influences job satisfaction. The study further examines the correlation between job satisfaction and employee turnover at the Department of Education, as well as how intrinsic and extrinsic motivational factors influence job satisfaction. The findings of the study indicate that there is a correlation between job satisfaction and organisational commitment. The findings further indicate that due to lack of job satisfaction, employees are less committed and loyal to their organisation. The study further suggests further research on strategies that can be implemented to improve employee job satisfaction and employee commitment for the benefit of the organisations.
Assessment of professional pricing strategies in the built environment : case study of South Africa
(Seybold Publications, 2025-01-01) Ramabodu, Molusiwa Stephan; Nena, Tholang David
Inequality in professional fees across built environment professions poses a significant challenge within the
construction industry. This study employs document analysis, focusing on projects as case studies, to investigate
fee structures across various professions, including quantity surveyors, project managers, architects, structural
engineers, civil engineers, electrical engineers, mechanical engineers, and occupational health and safety officers.
The analysis reveals considerable variability in fee percentages across projects, suggesting that fee determination
is influenced by factors such as project complexity, size, risk, location, and market conditions. Despite this
variability, certain patterns emerge, such as higher fee percentages for projects with increased complexity or value.
Additionally, competitive pricing strategies are observed, with professionals adjusting fee percentages to remain
competitive within the market. These findings underscore the importance of tailored fee structures, informed by
project-specific requirements and industry standards, to address the issue of inequality in professional fees and
ensure fair compensation for built environment professionals.