National Youth Service Corps Members Research Articles

Knowledge, attitude and practice of preconception care among female National Youth Service Corps Members in Lagos State

Background: Maternal and neonatal mortality statistics in Nigeria are poor, and the burden of deaths from preventable causes is on the increase. Preconception care has been documented to reduce maternal mortality. This study was undertaken to assess knowledge, attitude, and practice of preconception care among female National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members in Lagos State.Methodology: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 370 female corps members without a history of pregnancy. A multistage sampling technique was used to select the participants. A semi-structured, self-administered questionnaire was used for data collection, and data was analyzed with Epi-Info 7 software. The Chi-square and Fisher’s exact tests were used to determine the association between socio-demographic characteristics and the outcome variables with level of significance set at p<0.05.Results: Out of 370 respondents with mean age 21 years ± 8.5), 48.9% had fair knowledge of preconception care, 30.5% and 20.5%had poor and good knowledge respectively. The majority of aware respondents (92.5%) exhibited a positive attitude to preconception care. Good practice was reported among 47.3%, fair practice 35.1% and poor practice by 17.6% of the respondents. A statistically significant association was found between education level (p = 0.047), course of study (p < 0.001) and knowledge. Education level (p= 0.037) and course of study (p = 0.026) were significantly associated with practice.Conclusion: Preconception care knowledge was fair among study population; attitude was positive while practice was good. Preconception care health education should be implemented to create awareness among female corps members.

The Impact of Entrepreneurship Institutions on Access to Micro-Financing for Sustainable Enterprise in an Emerging Economy

The emergence of entrepreneurship institutions, as a mechanism, is not only for sustainability, but access to micro-financing for entrepreneurs has also become pivotal owing to the heightened spate of economic degradation, growing poverty rates, and an upsurge in rural–urban migration, all currently occurring across the globe. This study adopted a descriptive survey research method, gathering data by using a questionnaire that served as the basis for analysis. Regression analysis techniques from the Statistical Package for Social Science were used to test the hypothesis. The study’s participants and research population, respectively, comprised 711 active National Youth Service Corps members from the Aniocha-North Local Government Area in the Delta State in Nigeria. The results indicate that entrepreneurship institutions impact entrepreneurs’ access to micro-financing and enterprise sustainability in emerging economies. Hence, the study recommends, as a policy implication, that entrepreneurship institutions should be established with capacity to provide for micro-finance enterprises, which will guarantee their sustainability, productivity and viability.

Gender and educational exposure as predisposing factors of youth restiveness in Kwara state, Nigeria

INTRODUCTION: Reports of growing cases of cultism, ethnic militia, kidnapping, armed robbery, thuggery and agitations of Nigerian youths on alarming dimensions are seriously becoming a matter of grave concern to all and sundry. The rate at which youths take up arms is quite disturbing as many family become victims of this spate of violent upsurge. PURPOSE: This study investigated the role of gender and educational exposure as predisposing factors of youth restiveness in Kwara State, Nigeria. METHODS: The study presented a systematic analysis, rich theoretical and empirical description of the role of gender and educational exposure in youth restiveness in Kwara State, Nigeria. The sample of this study comprised 450 respondents (294 male and 156 female) from the population of 2,953 batch A National Youth Service Corp members posted to Kwara State in the month of May, 2015. The instrument used for data collection was an 18 item researchers’ self-structured questionnaire titled “Gender and Educational Exposure Youth Restiveness Predisposing Scale (GEEYRPS). The reliability coefficient for the instrument using Cronbach coefficient alpha was 0.78. RESULTS: Results revealed among others the increasing rate of female youth’s involvement in restive acts and ineffective socialisation of today’s Nigeria child towards meeting societal expectations for gender roles as predisposing factors of youth restiveness. Study equally reveal the quality of socialisation education acquired at home and school as a potential predisposing factor of youth restiveness. Significant relationship exists between gender and agitation of restive youths as well as between educational exposure of youths and their agitation. RECOMMENDATIONS: Recommendations include the need for parents to be alive to their responsibilities of inculcating into their children moral values and character training to strengthen their self-control skills and stabilise them against participation in youth restiveness.

Self Employment Motivation of National Youth Service Corp Members in Nigeria

The focus of this study was aimed at investigating effects of entrepreneurial skills acquisition on self-employment, as to redress the ills of unemployment in Nigeria. The study which was designed as a descriptive survey evaluated the mediating effects of psycho- social factors on the relationship between entrepreneurial skills acquisition and self-employment in Nigeria. Instrument for data collection was close ended questionnaire, which was designed with five options: strongly agree, agree, undecided, strongly disagree and disagree; in line with the five (5) points modified Likert scale. The instrument was tested for validity and reliability and found suitable for the study. The population of the study was Twenty-Two Thousand, Eight Hundred and Seventy Six (22,876), serving National Youth Corps members in South- East, Nigeria. Using Borg and Gall (1973) technique, sample size of Four Thousand, Four Hundred and Twelve (4412) was deduced, though the study was conducted using 4,400 copies of questionnaire that were received fully completed and usable. Data generated from the study were analyzed using descriptive statistics: tables, frequencies, percentages, graphs, pie charts and histograms. Five distinct hypotheses were formulated to guide the study, and were tested using Ordinary Least Square (OLS) regression inferential statistics, with the help of e-view, version 9. All tests were carried out at significance level of 0.05 and 10% degree of freedom (df). The study revealed that entrepreneurial skills variables: business skills, technical skills and personal entrepreneurial skills have significant positive effects on self-employment in Nigeria. The study also established that psycho- social factors (self- motivation and social influence) have significant positive effect on self-employment in Nigeria. The research concluded that with adequate effort in motivating the students and enhanced positive social influence, entrepreneurial skills acquisition will encourage nascent entrepreneurship activities and stimulate existing entrepreneurs to high performance. Hence the study recommended, among others that tertiary institutions and other entrepreneurial training centres should enrich their curriculum with business skills, technical skills, personal entrepreneurial skills, and also planned activities that will motivate students and provide positive social influence, to ensure that entrepreneurial skills acquisition generates enterprise creation and reduce the problem of unemployment in Nigeria.

Assessing the Effect of Federal Universities Academics and National Youth Service Corps Members on the Conduct of General Elections in Nigeria

This study examined issues that necessitated the use of federal universities academics and national youth service corps members in the conduct of general elections in Nigeria and discussed the credibility of election management with their involvement. It also interrogated the effectiveness and challenges of using them by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The study utilised primary data that was collected through semi-structured interviews with thirty respondents. Secondary data was sourced from periodicals, journals, election manuals, and electoral act of 2010 as amended. The data collected were analysed using content analysis. The study showed that the need to sanitize the electoral system informed the use of universities academics and national youth service corps members. The study also showed that the academics and national youth service corps members have facilitated the credibility of the electoral system and that the activities of desperate politicians who are driven by the lust for political power are some of the challenges faced in using university academics and national youth service corps members. It is suggested that the current use of universities academics and national youth service corps members in the conduct of future elections should be sustained.
 
 Received: 5 August 2021 / Accepted: 30 september 2021 / Published: 5 November 2021

The prevalence of anxiety symptoms and associated factors among Nigerians newly posted for National Youth Service Corps programme in North-Western Nigeria

Objectives: This study was done to determine the prevalence of anxiety symptoms and assess the associated factors among new members of national youth service corps (NYSC) programme in North-Western Nigeria.Method: A clinic-based descriptive cross-sectional study with convenient sampling method using selfadministered questionnaires was done among 157, 2018 Batch-C, corps members at Dakingari orientation camp in Kebbi State, over a period of three weeks. The prevalence of anxiety symptoms was determined using anxiety subset of Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale. Data were analyzed with SPSS-16 andChi-square was used to assess the degree of association between anxiety symptoms and certain factors. Pvalue of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant.Results: The prevalence of anxiety symptoms was 50.0% among the respondents. There was a significant association between the presence of anxiety symptoms and age of the respondents (P-value= 0.006).Conclusion: The high prevalence of anxiety symptoms among the new NYSC members suggests the need to take preventive measures such as incorporation of subjects on what should be expected during service year into the undergraduate learning curriculum. Doctors attending to youth corps members, especially when on camp, should routinely screen them for anxiety symptoms.

Knowledge, perception, and sources of information on COVID-19 among Nigerian Youths in the first month of the pandemic

Background: This study aimed to assess the knowledge, perception, and sources of COVID-19 information among Nigerian youths. Methods: We conducted a descriptive cross-sectional study among 817 National Youth Service Corps members. Participants' overall general knowledge about COVID-19 was assessed using nine questions that consisted of general knowledge on the cause, origin, mode of transmission, signs and symptoms, availability of a potent vaccine and specific therapy, prevention strategies of COVID-19 and knowledge of proper handwashing practices. P-values <0.05 were statistically significant. Results: The mean age of the respondents was 24.1±2 years, 317 (41.2%) were males, and 73 (8.9%) had studied a health-related course. Of the 754 respondents who responded to the COVID-19 knowledge questions, 187 (24.8%) had general knowledge about COVID-19, while 280 (37.1%) had knowledge in all domains;mode of spread, symptoms and signs, and prevention of COVID- 19. Among the respondents, 129 (40.7%) males had satisfactory knowledge of COVID-19 (P=0.070), while 38 participants (52.1%) who had studied a health-related course had satisfactory knowledge of COVID-19 (P=0.003). Regarding the knowledge of hand washing, 184 (58%) males displayed satisfactory knowledge (P=0.007). Social media (64.4%) and television (58%) were the main sources of COVID-19 information. Respondents who had studied a health-related course were twice likely to have satisfactory knowledge of COVID-19 (AOR=2, 95% CI=1.25-2.5 P=0.003, ) and six times likely to have satisfactory knowledge of hand washing (AOR=5.6, 95% CI=3.3-10.0, P≤0.0001). Conclusion: Utilization of both social media and the mainstream mass media in disseminating health education information and correcting fake news and misconceptions is needed. Health promotion strategies should be organized for all youths, especially among those who have no previous education in the health and allied courses. © 2021 Shriaz University of Medical Sciences. All right reserved.

Perception of National Youth Service Corps Members’ towards Community Development Service in Adamawa State, Nigeria

Perception of National Youth Service Corps Members’ towards Community Development Service in Adamawa State, Nigeria

Innovation and Employability of National Youth Service Corps Members for Sustainable Development in South-East, Nigeria

Innovation and Employability of National Youth Service Corps Members for Sustainable Development in South-East, Nigeria

Assessment of Cyberloafing, Job Satisfaction and Job Productivity of National Youth Service Corps Members in Bayelsa State, Nigeria

Assessment of Cyberloafing, Job Satisfaction and Job Productivity of National Youth Service Corps Members in Bayelsa State, Nigeria

Awareness, knowledge, and perception of the national health insurance scheme among national youth service corp members in Kano, Nigeria

Background:The lofty objectives of the National Youth Service Corp (NYSC) are not only predicated on healthy graduates of tertiary institutions but also graduates who are confident in making informed health-related decisions. Therefore, Corp members' awareness, knowledge, and perception of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) and its programs become imperative.Materials and Methods:This was a cross-sectional study involving 203 participants selected by convenience sampling technique from NYSC members during Orientation Camp in June 2019. A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data regarding their sociodemographics, awareness, knowledge, and perception about the NHIS.Results:The mean age of respondents was 25.8 ± 2.3 years; they were predominantly males (136 [67.0%]) with university degrees 131 (64.5%); 200 (98.5%) were aware of the NHIS and its programs. Although 161 (80.5%) respondents had at least average knowledge of the NHIS, only 97 (48.5%) had adequate knowledge. One hundred and fifty-eight (79.0%) respondents benefited from the Tertiary Institutions Social Health Insurance Programme (TISHIP) as students; 114 (57.0%) viewed TISHIP as a good program; however, 194 (97.0%) felt that the NHIS services should be extended to NYSC members, while 188 (94.0%) were willing to participate in the scheme if its services were extended them.Conclusion:Although awareness level was high, adequate knowledge of the NHIS was low and their perception about TISHIP is unimpressive; most were willing to participate in the NHIS. Current mass NHIS-programs education campaigns and services offered by NHIS-accredited health-care facilities need improvement; fast-tracking of processes necessary for the extension of NHIS services to NYSC members is required.

Determinants of entrepreneurial intentions among young graduates: perspectives of push-pull-mooring model

The role of entrepreneurship in economic development is increasingly recognized by policymakers and researchers. Entrepreneurship has been advanced as the panacea for youth unemployment and wealth creation. However, studies on the determinants of entrepreneurial intentions have been inconclusive. Building on the push-pull-mooring model from the migration literature as a theoretical framework, this study provides an integrative model for predicting entrepreneurial intentions amongst young graduates. The survey data was drawn from a sample of 288 National Youth Service Corp members (NYSC) in Anambra State, Southeast Nigeria, to test the applicability of the model. The model was tested using Hierarchical regression. The result confirms the predictive ability of the PPM model on entrepreneurial intentions. Specifically, the result reveals that the pull factors (i.e, independence, autonomy, opportunities exploitation e.t.c) and the mooring variables (i.e., government support, personal attitude, self-efficacy e.t.c) significantly influence entrepreneurial intentions with the mooring variables having the most influence. Therefore, the study recommends the need for policy initiatives towards exposing these young graduates to market opportunities through a mentor-protégé arrangement with successful entrepreneurs during the NYSC programme and providing the necessary supports in the form of funding.

The influence of self-efficacy and socio-demographic factors on the entrepreneurial intentions of selected Youth Corp members in Lagos, Nigeria

Abstract This study examines the influence of self-efficacy and socio-demographic factors on the entrepreneurial intentions of selected Youth Corp members. The study adopted a cross-sectional survey design and a sample size of 300 National Youth Service Corp members were randomly selected in the five divisions of Lagos State with ages ranging from 18 to 30. Three hypotheses were tested using multiple regression and t-tests. The results show that there is a significant joint influence of sex, age, ethnicity and self-efficacy on entrepreneurial intentions (r2 = 0.90; P &lt;.01]; male participants are more susceptible to entrepreneurial intentions than their female counterparts [t = 26.46, P &lt;.01] and that Youth Corp members with a high self-efficacy rate significantly higher on entrepreneurial intentions (t = 25.09, P &lt;.01]. Based on these findings, the study recommended that a self-efficacy programme should be included in the school curriculum so as to enhance entrepreneurial intentions among fresh graduates and, by so doing, reducing the high rate of unemployment in society. It was also recommended that future studies should use a larger sample and explore experimental methods so as to see if a causal relationship can be established among variables.

Knowledge of HIV and VCT and attitude to VCT among National Youth Service Corps members in Ilesa and Ife, South Western Nigeria.

The study assessed knowledge about Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Voluntary Counselling and Testing (VCT) and attitude to VCT among National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members in Ilesa and Ile-Ife, South-Western, Nigeria. The study employed a cross-sectional descriptive design. A pre-tested, self-administered, semi-structured questionnaire was used to elicit information from 330 NYSC members who were recruited by multi-stage sampling method from Ilesa and Ile-Ife Local Government Areas, Osun State, Nigeria. The data was analysed using SPSS version 15. The results showed that over 75% of the respondents knew the common modes of HIV transmission and prevention, the meaning of VCT and also had good attitude to some aspects of VCT. However, most of them equally had misconceptions about HIV and VCT. On the whole, only 19.5 and 20.5% of the respondents had good knowledge of HIV and VCT respectively while the rest had fair and poor knowledge. Fifty eight percent had positive attitude to VCT while 42.0% had negative attitude. The study concluded that the respondents had a fair knowledge of HIV and VCT and a positive attitude to VCT. Educational programs on HIV and VCT, targeted at correcting misconceptions should be intensified among corps members.

Magazine Celebrity Features , Youth Modelling and Career Aspirations

Youths learn a lot from the celebrities that dot the pages of magazines. The celebrities themselves, being human, present both positive and negative aspects of their lives to the vulnerable youths who unwittingly accommodate and imitate them. When youths access media content, they could interpret this to suit their gullible dispositions. Considering the growing interest of Nigerian youths in these magazine features, it becomes necessary therefore, to examine how these celebrities are influencing the choices of career of Nigerian youths. This study made use of the survey method. National Youth Service Corps members in Ogun State, Nigeria were chosen purposively as the population based on the assumption that they are at the stage of taking a final decision on what career they want to choose. Findings revealed that Nigerian youths admire and consider magazine celebrities as successful people. It was also observed that the youths desire to be like the personalities they admire. It was further discovered that these youths make deliberate efforts to be like their admired celebrities. This research also shows that the personalities that are most admired by Nigerian youths are Business Moguls. Based on the findings, the study recommends that print media houses should deliberately introduce a balance in the categories of celebrities they feature since most of these have effects on the people who read them especially young people. Furthermore, the media houses should be careful not to celebrate negative aspects of a personality’s life.