WhatsApp has become a medium of communication with the potential of promoting collaborative environment with peers, patients and general population. Till date, no analysis of professional WhatsApp ...groups' activities exists in physiotherapy. The official WhatsApp group chats of the Association of Clinical and Academic Physiotherapists of Nigeria (ACAPN) was analyzed. A total of 20760 chats were gleaned from July 2020 to June 2021. Videos, audios and emoticons were excluded in the analysis. Administrative permission to conduct was obtained from ACAPN leadership. Two consenting physiotherapists who had never deleted their ACAPN group chats shared and exported all chats to a Gmail. The social presence theory for group communication was used as the framework of analysis. Thematic content analysis was used to analyze qualitative data. Descriptive statistics of frequency and percentages were used to summarize data. Based on social presence theory classifications, interactive messages (64.5%) followed by cohesive messages (30%) were predominant. Members used the platform more for expression of emotions affectively (100%), referring explicitly to others' messages interactively (56.6%) and for greetings (phatic and salutation) cohesively (61.8%). Qualitative themes indicate that all three categories of social presence theory communications were present sufficiently with interactive category being the most common, as members used the WhatsApp platform to interact, construct and share knowledge. Group WhatsApp platform is a veritable means of communication and an indicator of level of social presence among Nigerian physiotherapists. Communication among Nigerian physiotherapists is mostly interactive, then cohesive and affective in terms of dynamics.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
The Consortium for Advanced Research Training in Africa (CARTA) aims to transform higher education in Africa. One of its main thrusts is supporting promising university faculty (fellows) to obtain ...high quality doctoral training. CARTA offers fellows robust support which includes funding of their attendance at Joint Advanced Seminars (JASes) throughout the doctoral training period. An evaluation is critical in improving program outcomes. In this study; we, CARTA fellows who attended the fourth JAS in 2018, appraised the CARTA program from our perspective, specifically focusing on the organization of the program and its influence on the fellows' individual and institutional development.
Exploratory Qualitative Study Design was used and data was obtained from three focus group discussions among the fellows in March 2018. The data were analyzed using thematic approach within the framework of good practice elements in doctoral training-Formal Research Training, Activities Driven by Doctoral Candidates, Career Development as well as Concepts and Structures.
In all, 21 fellows from six African countries participated and all had been in the CARTA program for at least three years. The fellowship has increased fellows research skills and expanded our research capacities. This tremendously improved the quality of our doctoral research and it was also evident in our research outputs, including the number of peer-reviewed publications. The CARTA experience inculcated a multidisciplinary approach to our research and enabled significant improvement in our organizational, teaching, and leadership skills. All these were achieved through the well-organized structures of CARTA and these have transformed us to change agents who are already taking on research and administrative responsibilities in our various home institutions. Unfortunately, during the long break between the second and the third JAS, there was a gap in communication between CARTA and her fellows, which resulted in some transient loss of focus by a few fellows.
The CARTA model which builds the research capacity of doctoral fellows through robust support, including intermittent strategic Joint Advanced Seminars has had effective and transformative impacts on our doctoral odyssey. However, there is a need to maintain the momentum through continuous communication between CARTA and the fellows all through this journey.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Background and aim
The advent of academic social networking tools (ASNTs) has brought a paradigm shift to academic culture and practice dynamics; however, there is an apparent dearth of information ...on its adoption among health professions academics in developing countries. This study aimed to assess knowledge, use, and perceptions of ASNTs among physiotherapy educators in Nigeria.
Methods
This cross-sectional study involved 20 consented physiotherapy educators from five universities in South-west Nigeria offering physiotherapy degrees. A self-administered questionnaire with adequate face and content validity was employed to assess knowledge, perception, barriers, and use of ASNTs. Descriptive statistics of frequency and percentages were applied.
Results
A majority of the respondents had knowledge and utilized ASNTs such as Research Gate (80%), Google Scholar (80%), Google Plus (70%), LinkedIn (50%), and Academia.edu (50%). Mynetresearch (5%) and Lameresearch (5%) were not popular, while Llaslo.com, Quarzy, and Myscience.ch were not known. ASNTs were used to raise personal profiles in the research community (100%), publicize research (95%), share authorized content (85%), attract funds (65%), attract future employers (65%), and actively discuss research and discover job opportunities (45%). Electricity failure (70%), lack of infrastructural facilities (70%), unavailability of internet facilities (60%), lack of technical knowhow (45%), time constraints (45%), and personal factors (45%) were the significant barriers in utilizing ASNTs.
Conclusion
Nigerian physiotherapy educators were knowledgeable and adopted most ASNTs. Power failure, lack of technical know-how, infrastructural and internet facilities, and personal factors limit the utilization of ASNTs among Nigerian physiotherapy educators.
Government communication is crucial for building public support for policies and achieving good governance outcomes. This study assessed maternal health portrayals in newspaper sponsored by or ...originating from sub-national governments as a measure of political priority for maternal mortality reduction in Southwestern, Nigeria. Maternal health messages published in newspapers over a 7-year period on Ekiti, Ondo and Osun States selected by the ‘most similar case’ technique, were assessed based on frequency, prominence, slant and sponsorship of reportage. Ondo and Ekiti States had the highest (64.6%) and the lowest (16.4%) number of mentions respectively on raising awareness about maternal health and related programmes. In addition, the highest positive (95%) and negative (50%) news slant were recorded for Ondo and Osun State respectively. Also, Ondo, Ekiti and Osun State governments sponsored 77.5%, 61.5% and 26.7% of all maternal health newspaper portrayals on their states respectively. There were significant differences in the frequency (z=152.425; p=0.001), slant (z=295.394; p=0.001) and sponsorship of reportage (z=142.211; p=0.001) of maternal health messages across the States. Ondo State government demonstrated significantly greater political priority for safe motherhood with respect to newspapers reportages compared to Ekiti and Osun States. The significant decline in maternal mortality in Ondo State is positively associated with increased government sponsored/sourced press portrayal of maternal health. National and sub-national governments’ efforts should comprise, as a matter of priority, communication for safe motherhood if Nigeria is to facilitate progress in the goal to improve maternal health.
A human rights-based approach that recognizes that women deserve the right to health is critical to achieving equitable reduction of maternal mortality in Nigeria, a country that is the second ...largest contributor to global maternal mortality. This study evaluated the extent to which the Abiye safe motherhood policy of the Ondo State government of Nigeria incorporated human rights-principles in its formulation and implementation. The study involved interviews and focus group discussions and the OHCHR human rights principles served as the basis for the thematic analysis of data. Findings indicate that the Abiye initiative exemplified the core principles of human rights-based approach to maternal health. Whereas, the initiative showed stronger practice in terms of the principles of participation, empowerment, non-discrimination and international assistance, there was limited indication of adherence to accountability, transparency, and sustainability principles. The Abiye safe motherhood initiative responded to maternal health needs in fairly acceptable and equitable ways; allowing the creation of opportunities and enabling conditions for the fulfillment of the health rights of reproductive-age women. It is recommended that governments at all levels should prioritize incorporating human rights-based standards into new or existing programs in a way that meets the core needs of respect and welfare of every woman in pregnancy and childbirth.
The study examined the perception of Nigerian elites on the role of the Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) in foreign policy formulation and implementation. It investigated how the nature and ...structure of the Nigerian State shaped the nation's foreign policy bureaucracy as represented by the MFA. The study employed primary and secondary data. Primary data were collected through unstructured interview. Respondents were purposively selected from the academia as well as from among the senior officers of the MFA, the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA) and the Institute for Peace and Conflict Studies (IPCS) totaling 25 altogether. The eligibility criteria included knowledge of and contribution to the subject matter, as well as expertise and active participation in Nigeria's foreign policy process. Secondary data were sourced from official documents, books, journals, newspapers, news magazines, and Internet-based materials. Data were analyzed using thematic content analysis. From the result, 75% of respondents perceived the MFA as simply a rubber-stamp for the desires and preferences of the President and their kitchen cabinet. 65% of respondents held the view that the Federal Cabinet, National Assembly, think-tanks, and research-based institutions that should be decision units alongside the MFA, appeared to be for the most part, sidelined in foreign policy making. About 60% of respondents submitted that the political, socio-economic, religious, linguistic and ethnical configuration of the Nigerian state and its characteristic differences, impinged on foreign policy decisions and pursuits. The study concluded that the role of Nigeria's Ministry of Foreign Affairs in many cases was undermined. It was seen to be more visible in foreign policy implementation than in decision-making; allowed only marginal roles in decision making or simply used as mere administrative machinery to implement the desires and preferences of the political head and their kitchen cabinet.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, ODKLJ, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Government communication is crucial for building public support for policies and achieving good governance outcomes. This study assessed maternal health portrayals in newspaper sponsored by or ...originating from sub-national governments as a measure of political priority for maternal mortality reduction in Southwestern, Nigeria. Maternal health messages published in newspapers over a 7-year period on Ekiti, Ondo and Osun States selected by the 'most similar case' technique, were assessed based on frequency, prominence, slant and sponsorship of reportage. Ondo and Ekiti States had the highest (64.6%) and the lowest (16.4%) number of mentions respectively on raising awareness about maternal health and related programmes. In addition, the highest positive (95%) and negative (50%) news slant were recorded for Ondo and Osun State respectively. Also, Ondo, Ekiti and Osun State governments sponsored 77.5%, 61.5% and 26.7% of all maternal health newspaper portrayals on their states respectively. There were significant differences in the frequency (z=152.425; p=0.001), slant (z=295.394; p=0.001) and sponsorship of reportage (z=142.211; p=0.001) of maternal health messages across the States. Ondo State government demonstrated significantly greater political priority for safe motherhood with respect to newspapers reportages compared to Ekiti and Osun States. The significant decline in maternal mortality in Ondo State is positively associated with increased government sponsored/sourced press portrayal of maternal health. National and sub-national governments' efforts should comprise, as a matter of priority, communication for safe motherhood if Nigeria is to facilitate progress in the goal to improve maternal health. Keywords: Maternal health, safe motherhood, newspapers, public portrayal, government communication, Nigeria.
Background The Consortium for Advanced Research Training in Africa (CARTA) aims to transform higher education in Africa. One of its main thrusts is supporting promising university faculty (fellows) ...to obtain high quality doctoral training. CARTA offers fellows robust support which includes funding of their attendance at Joint Advanced Seminars (JASes) throughout the doctoral training period. An evaluation is critical in improving program outcomes. In this study; we, CARTA fellows who attended the fourth JAS in 2018, appraised the CARTA program from our perspective, specifically focusing on the organization of the program and its influence on the fellows' individual and institutional development. Methods Exploratory Qualitative Study Design was used and data was obtained from three focus group discussions among the fellows in March 2018. The data were analyzed using thematic approach within the framework of good practice elements in doctoral training-Formal Research Training, Activities Driven by Doctoral Candidates, Career Development as well as Concepts and Structures. Results In all, 21 fellows from six African countries participated and all had been in the CARTA program for at least three years. The fellowship has increased fellows research skills and expanded our research capacities. This tremendously improved the quality of our doctoral research and it was also evident in our research outputs, including the number of peer-reviewed publications. The CARTA experience inculcated a multidisciplinary approach to our research and enabled significant improvement in our organizational, teaching, and leadership skills. All these were achieved through the well-organized structures of CARTA and these have transformed us to change agents who are already taking on research and administrative responsibilities in our various home institutions. Unfortunately, during the long break between the second and the third JAS, there was a gap in communication between CARTA and her fellows, which resulted in some transient loss of focus by a few fellows. Conclusion The CARTA model which builds the research capacity of doctoral fellows through robust support, including intermittent strategic Joint Advanced Seminars has had effective and transformative impacts on our doctoral odyssey. However, there is a need to maintain the momentum through continuous communication between CARTA and the fellows all through this journey.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
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