Abstract:

The study examined the interaction of three variables, intimacy, self-esteem, and locus of control, and their effect on marital satisfaction in Lartebiokoshie a suburb under the Ablekuma South Constituency in the Greater Accra Region, Ghana. Across sectional survey method was adopted to study the variables of interest. Standardized questionnaires were used to assess all variables of interest. Enrich Marital Satisfaction Scale (EMS), Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSE) and Locus of Control of Behavior scale (LCB) were utilized. Data entry, validation and analysis was done using the Statistical package for Social Science software (SPSS version 25). A total of 720 purposively selected participants took part in the research. The sample was predominantly female, 430 (60%) and Christian, 675 (94%). The modal age group for respondents and spouses was 31-45 years 387(54%) and 400 (56%) respectively. Study participants who were married by ordinance comprised 400 (56%). One hundred and fifty study participants (21%) had the same ethnicity with their spouses and the mean years of marriage was 13.1510.70. The result of the study revealed a significant positive correlation between intimacy and marital satisfaction [r₍₇₁₈₎ = .460, p< .000], a no significant correlation between locus of control and marital satisfaction [r₍₇₁₈₎ = .041, p>.05], a negative correlation between self-esteem and marital satisfaction variables [r₍₇₁₈₎ = -.027, p> .05]. Partner intimacy for to-be-wed couples should be promoted within appropriate and approved settings due to the significant influence demonstrated in this research.

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Abstract:

High-quality Early Childhood and Education (ECE) is critical to positive child development and generates high economic returns. On the contrary, Access to quality ECE in Zambia remains low particularly for the vulnerable. The situations are compounded by inadequate funding to the ECE subsector. This study evaluated the effect of funding on the quality of ECE in Zambia for the period 2015 to 2018. It assessed the effect of funding on the provision of ECE services by analysing the funding patterns to the Ministry of General Education through to Directorate of Early Childhood Education (DECE), Provincial Education Office (PEO), District Education Board Office (DEBO) and finally the 10 identified schools /ECE centres. To assess effect on quality, the study analysed the effect of funding on the eight identified early learning quality elements as espoused by the Ministry of General Education. These are, Infrastructure, Water and sanitation, Playgrounds, Furniture, Equipment and materials, Staffing, Support Staff and Enrolment. The methodology employed in this study included desk review of the funding reports at the identified fund management levels as well as Key Informant Interviews (KII) at each identified level. The results from the desk review and KII indicated that, funding to ECE for the period 2015 to 2018 was inadequate. At school level, much of the funding went toward equipment and materials while Water and Sanitation Infrastructure, Playgrounds, Furniture Equipment and materials were inadequately funded. This negatively affected the quality of ECE services provided in Zambia between 2015 to 2018.

References:

Abstract:

The study is based on Open Defecation Free Zone and Their Practice in Jorayal Gaunpalika -4, Doti District. The main objective of the study is to analyze the practice of open defecation free zone. Out of 310 total households, only 150 households were selected for the study. The cluster sampling method was applied to collect necessary information. The study area was divided into 6 clusters and from each cluster 25 households were selected randomly.

According to the study, hand wash practice is very high that is 85.3 percent wash their hands with soap and water and 14.7 percent use soil and water. The high majority of the respondents (88.7 percent) said that they maintained the garden and the toilet, 7.3 percent said that they kept the courtyard of the house plain. Most of the respondents (82.7 percent) cleaned the toilet every day. Most of the respondents (70.7) expressed that they defecated in the field, and 28.7 percent respondents said that they defecated along the riverside and remaining others used the road.

In this study, the researcher gives suggestions to the concerned department and to possible future researchers. The government and non-government sectors should support such open defecation free zone area ensuring adequate environmental sanitation. The municipality should be made aware of the importance of a good environmental hygiene. Furthermore, such studies should be conducted at the national level.

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