Background: Globally, alcohol use is responsible for 320 deaths every hour, and the impact is more among those in the younger age group. Despite the adverse health and social challenges associated with alcohol use, alcohol remains the most used and abused psychoactive substance among young adults. Our study aimed at determining the prevalence, correlates and frequency of alcohol use among young adults in two Nigerian universities. We further explored the role of family structure, family support and religion/religiosity on alcohol use in this study setting. Such findings could help to inform public health policy formulation in the country. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted in two selected universities in the North Central region of Nigeria. The study was conducted among a final sample of 784 students selected using stratified random sampling. An interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to collect data on ever and current alcohol use and frequency of alcohol use between February and April 2018. The data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results: The level of ever and current use of alcohol was 43.5 and 31.1%, respectively. The mean frequency of alcohol use among the study participants was three days, but ten days among current alcohol users. In the adjusted model, male sex, age above 19 years, infrequent attendance of religious rituals, and belonging to rich/middle-class family were significantly associated with a higher likelihood of ever use and current use of alcohol, while living in the same household as one's father was associated with lower odds of current and ever use of alcohol. Conclusion: There is a high rate of lifetime and current use of alcohol among university students in the study setting. Alcohol use was significantly associated with living with parents, religion and religiosity. Both high and low socioeconomic status were associated with alcohol use. There is a need to implement measures in controlling alcohol manufacturing and marketing as well as policies regulating alcohol outlets establishment around educational institutions as well as the working hours in such outlets. Finally, there is a need to organise interventions aimed at reducing this unhealthy social norm among students in this setting.

Despite being a country of various blue stockings, Indian daughters particularly from the countryside and lower socioeconomic hierarchy have remained the victims of unfairness in learning opportunities from ancient to modern time. The present research work tries to examine the regional progress and inequality in education and determinants of lower educational prospects of girls in India on the basis of secondary data. Here, the disparity index and correlation coefficient are applied to analyze the gender discrepancy of education and the relationship between literacy and its major determinants respectively. It has been examined that despite the celebration of longtime independence, it is very distrustful to accept that one fourth proportion of the population of the country is not capable to read and write to an easy cohesion of words with understanding in any of language. Though various plans have been launched with prime target of enhancing the female literacy, yet in all over the nation, the disparity in literacy still exists which demands some impressive efforts for bringing the equity.

The purpose of this study is to assess the perception of public service in Nigeria from the standpoint of young and middle‐aged adults in Ibadan, Nigeria with a view to determining its performance and contribution to national development. Concurrent triangulation mixed methods research design was adopted in this study to collect primary data from young and middle‐aged adults in Ibadan, Nigeria. Descriptive and inferential statistics described quantitative data and principal component analysis (PCA) extracted two factors. In addition, thematic content analysis was adopted to analyze qualitative research data. Findings showed that respondents had a negative perception of public service in Nigeria both in terms of its operation and reward. Job security was perceived positively but corruption/bad behavior in the public service was most perceived negatively. Also, final year undergraduates most perceive public service negatively and public paid workers least perceived public service negatively. Knowledge of this study will benefit Nigerians who render and enjoy public services, and will be most useful for the Nigerian public service to formulate policies that will prevent self‐interested, inefficient, ineffective, and unproductive public service workforce. This study measures, for the first time, perception of Nigerian public service in terms of its operation and reward. Studies that will investigate the rationale behind young and middle‐aged adults' negative perception of and high preference for careers in Nigerian public service are recommended. Also, improvement in service delivery and in the conditions of Nigerian public service will help in correcting the negative view.

Purpose This study aims to investigate the historical antecedent of baranda practice, marketing strategies of Onibaranda, as well as the benefits and challenges associated with baranda practice. Design/methodology/approach Using exploratory research design, primary data were collected from 27 interviewees in two purposively selected markets in Ibadan. Responses were audio-taped, transcribed, proofread, categorized into themes and, finally, content analyzed to decrypt the underlying thought patterns and processes. Findings The findings showed that the origin of the age-long practice of baranda was unknown. It was also discovered that Onibaranda used various, dynamic and situational marketing strategies to carve a niche for themselves, in response to the demand of the markets in which they operate. Lastly, the results showed that while some stakeholders see Onibaranda as useful and necessary marketing agents that uniquely connect sellers and buyers, others outline the ignoble role that Onibaranda play in their bid to create valuable exchanges between sellers and buyers. Practical implications Knowledge of this study is germane to informal market stakeholders both in Yorubaland and across the globe. Social implications Unless baranda practice is properly regulated, various ills associated with it might discredit the numerous benefits inherent in the practice. Concerted effort by all market stakeholders is, therefore, highly imperative so as to provide rules and regulations that will guide and check the excess practices of Onibaranda in the study locations, as this will enhance customer satisfaction, sellers’ profits and smooth continued operation of Onibaranda. Originality/value This empirical study represents the first attempt to examine the structure and praxis of Onibaranda in Ibadan.

For long time now, the issue of drug abuse and addiction and its myriad concomitant problems has unremittingly resonated under academic and research spotlights in many parts of the world. Numerous authors and researchers have regularly assessed the costs (social, economic, and health) of illicit drug use on the lives of users, non-users and other members of the community (Schulte and Hser, 2014; Gans, 2019; NIDA, 2019). Despite the numerous dark sides of illicit drug consumption and various cross-cutting tasks employed nationally, regional and internationally; the problem of illicit drug use by people from different walk of life is not waning; and has consequently become a global phenomenon. Indeed, the issue of drug use and abuse cuts across race, gender, creed, and occupational divides, and is steadily on the rise in recent years (Ekpenyong, 2012). It is estimated that about 230 million people (5%) out of the world's adult population have used an illicit drug at least once in the last 12 months of the survey (UNODC, 2012). In the same vein, several studies have shown that there is a strong correlation between driving under the influence of psychoactive drugs and auto accident. These studies and many others have underscored the fact that illicit drugs easily impair driving performance by reducing significantly people's driving ability (Stough and King, 2010; Alcohol and Drug Foundation, 2019; NIDA, 2019). Consequent upon this revelation, many countries in Europe and America have tightened their driving laws, increased penalties, and changed some of their strategies to address this growing problem (EMCDDA, 2007). Drug abuse among commercial drivers is major public health challenge. Involvement of commercial drivers in drug use and abuse can increase the risks of road crashes and other related automobile accidents. The impact of commercial drivers driving under the influence of psychoactive drugs can be substantial, damaging individual lives, properties, while shifting resources from other priorities, particularly within health practices. With the increase in the rate of road traffic accidents and other related injuries in many states across Nigeria, commercial bus drivers have also been fingered in the use of illicit substances when discharging their duties. According to the World Health Organisation (2007), studies from low-middle income countries show that 4%-69% of injured drivers Akinnawo, E. O.

Background: Globally, psychoactive substance use (PSU) and sexual harassment of female undergraduates are strongly linked and regarded as major public health concerns. However, research efforts on these problems are yet to be given adequate attention in Nigeria. Objectives: This study examined the patterns and predictive influence of PSU on exposure to sexual harassment and the self-esteem of female undergraduates. Patients and Methods: Stratified sampling was used to select 500 female polytechnic undergraduates (mean age = 20.8), across four randomly selected departments, who responded to Sexual Experiences survey (SES), Substance Abuse Prevalence scale (SAPS), and Rosenberg Self- Esteem scale. Data collection took place in the school community within five days. Frequency counts were employed to analyze participants’ demographic characteristics, while multiple regression analysis was used to answer the research questions. Results: Reported patterns of sexual harassment were 62.8%, ranging from 7.4% rape to 39.2% sexual contact. 26.8% of the sexual harassment took place in the school environment with school mates and teachers as perpetrators. The prevalence of PSU was 73.4%. A significant positive correlation was observed between age and PSU, between age and sexual harassment, and between PSU and sexual harassment. PSU significantly predicted exposure to sexual harassment (R2 = 0.065, P = 0.005) but failed to predict self-esteem significantly (R2 = 0.028, P = 0.115). Conclusions: Our findings revealed the need to urgently curtail sexual harassment of students, considering the threats it poses to the Nigerian academic clime and its staggering cost to the current and future states of the Nigerian society at large.

Purpose The purpose of this study is to subject faith-based organizations (FBOs)-operated social reintegration programs for recovering drug addicts to scrutiny to understand their effectiveness in addressing the three-pillar social needs. Design/methodology/approach Using concurrent mixed methods research design, a sample size of 156 respondents, 15 in-depth interviewees and 12 key informants was selected purposely from three FBOs and three National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) State Command Areas in Nigeria. Data were collected using questionnaire survey, interviews, observation and document review, and then analyzed using descriptive and content analyses. Findings Findings showed nine different noncore social reintegration programs for recovering drug-addicts with different required rates of participation and diverse purposes. Also, the results showed that the three-pillar social needs of recovering drug addicts for successful reintegration into the society were not provided for by the FBOs. Finally, findings showed that majority of the respondents were only slightly satisfied with the overall services rendered at the selected FBOs, and these services were not properly monitored by relevant government agency. Social implications Appropriate regulations that will check and balance the activities of treatment providers involved in social reintegration is recommended to achieve optimal level of physical, psychological and social health for recovering drug addicts. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge ,this is a pioneer study that investigated faith-based social reintegration programs for recovering drug addicts in Nigeria.

A continuous threat to the efficiency of human functioning, interaction and relationship due to depression serves as a rationale for this study, and it shows the need to gauge the influence of selected bio-social factors and marital adjustment on depression among perceived highly stressed couples in Ondo State, Nigeria. Adopting a correlational design, 175 highly stressed couples were selected using a multi-stage sampling technique (stratified, proportionate, purposive and random sampling techniques) and responded to standardised measures. Frequency and percentage were adopted to describe the bio-social factors of the respondents. Pearson Product Moment Correlation was used to test the inter-relationship among the variables, while a two-step hierarchical regression analysis was used to test the hypotheses. The result revealed that gender, religion and educational qualification predicted depression among highly stressed couples. It was also indicated that depression decreases among highly stressed couples along with a significant increase in their marital adjustment. It was concluded that bio-social factors, such as gender, religion, educational qualification, and marital adjustment, were significant predictors of depression. And factors such as age, family type, and nature of employment had no significant relationship with depression among perceived highly stressed couples.