Arts and Social Sciences Journal

The purpose of the research is to determine high school teachers’ skill rate in designing exam questions in physics subject. The statistical population was all of physics exam shits for two semesters in one school year from which a sample of 364 exam shits was drawn using multistage cluster sampling. Two experts assessed the shits and by using appropriate indices and z-test and chi-squared test the analysis of the data was done. We found that the designed exams have suitable coefficients of validity and reliability. The level of difficulty of exams was high. No significant relationship was found between male and female teachers in terms of the coefficient of validity and reliability but a significant difference between the difficulty level in male and female teachers was found (P<0.001). It means that female teachers had designed questions that are more difficult. We did not find any significant relationship between the teachers’ gender and the coefficient of discrimination of the exams.

Male involvement in the programme on Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission (PMTCT) of HIV/AIDS is investigated in Ilala Municipality, Dar es Salaam region in Tanzania. Knowledge, attitude, communication behaviors among partners, awareness, and how they affect the uptake of the PMTCT services are among the factors considered. A sample of 192 study units was used. Structured, administered questionnaires and in-depth interviews were used as data collection instruments. Questions relating to uptake of PMTCT and associated factors such as outlined in the introduction were asked. Data were analyzed by using SPSS Chi-Square test and logistic regression modules were used in the analysis. Significant relationships between knowledge/attitudes and follow up to the uptake of PMTCT services were observed. The study revealed that communication barriers between pregnant women and their husband/partners are the limiting factors of follow up to uptake and utilization of PMTCT services. Logistic Regression Analysis shows that all the limiting factors of knowledge, attitude, and communication behaviors among partners have had a greater chance of influencing a follow up to the uptake of PMTCT services. HIV/AIDS education aimed at increasing knowledge and PMTCT awareness among clients/partners within the community is still low. Stigmatization is singled out as a matter to be addressed. PMTCT utilization acceptance requires a change of cultural attitude in the community.

This is a paper which examines the causes, symptoms, predisposing factors, prevention, and control of neonatal tetanus in African children. Neonatal tetanus was found to be the leading cause of death among neonates. It was found to result mainly from social and environmental factors, such as poor hygiene, use of non-sterile materials in treating the stump of umbilical cords in newborns, poor attendance to antenatal clinic, high-level illiteracy, and non-utilization of tetanus toxoid immunization. Based on the findings recommendations were proffered, which include: legislation in favor of anti-tetanus immunization as prerequisite for contracting marriages in courts in African countries; strategic and vigorous immunization exercise should be embarked upon at various levels; public enlightenment campaign targeted at exposing the nature of the disease to the entire public be carried out by ministries of health at state and federal level, Non-Governmental Organizations, and other health agencies.

The article takes a critical look at attitudes and reactions towards repentant examination cheats. Specifically, the author examines the issue of examination malpractice and efforts made at informing external examination bodies of former examination cheats and reactions of the awarding body and society that may amount to cynicism. What are the implications of these attitudes and reactions to external examinations, former examination cheats and the general educational development of any country?

The paper addresses the issues relating to Nigerian politics and the crisis of accountability which has become all pervading. The political terrain has been polluted and the general picture is that it is now a terrain for quick ascendancy to power and privileges and not a means of service. Service component of politics in Nigeria has been relegated to the background. The paper also examined the genesis of political recklessness in Nigeria with its attendant manifestations. It also x-rayed the dimensions of accountability. The issue of corruption was identified as the strongest display of lack of accountability in Nigerian politics.

This paper highlights the challenges and experiences of the researchers in an academic institution where the research project which initially began as part of an academic research initiative expanded to helping a marginalized community in need. As social science researchers in a technological university which emphasizes natural science research, opportunities and motivation to carry out social research is a challenge. Furthermore, as minorities among academicians from the Engineering and Technology disciplines, obtaining funding and carrying out community based research is also difficult. In this paper, we share the conception of Living Literacies, a literacy programme for the Orang Asli, an indigenous community in Malaysia, and share the challenges we faced in executing this project.

To date, the developmental stages of substance civilization in human society have gone through the Stone Age, the Bronze Age, the Iron Age, the Steel/Cement Age, and the Silicon Age based in the dividing standard (typical materials) proposed by one of the authors. Further, we believe that human society has entered into the Nanomaterials Age. The developmental history of nanomaterial, the evolutionary process of nanomaterials during the Silicon material age, and the reasons that the world has entered the Nanomaterials Age are analyzed and discussed herein. In addition, we have identified the time when human society entered the Nanomaterials Age. Therefore, the theory of six eras of the development of human substance civilization has a complete exposition.

Providing care especially to the elderly, takes a huge toll, both physically and emotionally on the caregiver. With the population of the elderly growing in Nigeria, one of the emerging issues is the care and support of elderly persons in years to come. Few people are prepared for the responsibilities and tasks involved in caring for the aged because of the stress involved. This study investigates the experiences of caregivers of elderly relatives. Questionnaires were distributed to 330 respondents. Result shows that there exists a significant relationship between caregiver’s age and level of stress (p=0.001). The sex of care receiver, the level of education of caregivers, level of education of care receiver are all significantly related to the level of stress. The role of social workers in future care and support of the elderly in Nigeria is discussed.

Modern drama generally depicts a moral and spiritual wasteland and the resultant crises in the modern society. O’Neill’s modern art is a clear instance of the gravity of the impending spiritual and ethical crises. However, little has been written to explain what the specific nature of this crisis is? Moreover, how does it emerge in his tragic art? How far it adheres or differs from the traditions of tragedy? The study takes into consideration these to explore various dimensions of ethical crises in O’Neill’s modern theatre. It concludes that the predominance of ethical crises in diverse fashions is an obstacle to block rise in anti-Americanism and dissolve emerging conflict between Pakistani civil society and American desire for greater association with the civil society at micro level in Pakistan.