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Determinants of financial inclusion in sub-Saharan African countries
(University of Fort Hare, 2025-08) Akinshoto, Adeniyi Samson; Ngonyama, Nomasomi; Ngonisa, Phillip
Financial inclusion is considered one of the major parts of economic development catalysts across the globe, including the sub-Saharan African countries. It has been a dynamic instrument in achieving inclusive and sustainable macroeconomic objectives (growth, employment generation, economic and income stability, income equality, and poverty reduction). Furthermore, in recent times, Financial Inclusion has been on the rise in the sub-Saharan Countries, but yet to be reflected on the reality on ground, as many people are still left unincluded in the area of use, thereby necesitating a look into the variables that determines and by implication drives financial inclusion. Therefore, this study examined the determinants of financial inclusion in Sub-Saharan African countries. It adopted a quantitative method, focusing on 15 selected sub-Saharan African countries. This study considered Financial Technology, Financial Education, Economic growth, Domestic Credit to Private Sector and Bank Concentration as determinants of financial inclusion. Panel data sourced from the World Bank Global Findex and other statistical bulletin for the period of 2011 to 2021. This study considered a correlation matrix adopting Pearson correlation coefficients that is employed in order to understand the relationships between various variables present and also to detect the existence of a multicollinearity problem. Likewise, Principal Components Analysis (PCA) was applied to selected data in a manner that maintains most of the information to generate a financial inclusion Index, used as dependent variable in the study. Multiple regression was done using the difference GMM technique. The findings revealed that financial education, economic growth, employment and domestic credit to the private sector, significantly contributed to financial inclusion. It is therefore recommended that there is a need to steer policies towards technological infrastructure to enhance financial inclusion and others to achieve more Financial Inclusion in the region.
Support services rendered to social workers employed by the Department of Social Development under Foster Care Division: A case of Raymond Mhlaba Municipality, Eastern Cape.
(University of Fort Hare, 2025-11-15) Jereko, Believe; Lupuwana, V.P.P.
Social workers in Foster Care Division face detrimental challenges when undertaking foster care services. These challenges are overwhelming, leading to their rendering unsatisfactory services to clients. This necessitated this research’s goal of investigating support services rendered by the Department of Social Development in Raymond Mhlaba Municipality to capacitate social workers in the Foster Care Division. To obtain the findings, twenty-one participants including seventeen social workers who undertake foster care services and four members of the focus group were interviewed utilising the in-depth interview approach. Purposive sampling technique was employed to select participants of the study. The collected data was analysed thematically. Findings revealed that, while some support services are present, there are recognised gaps which hamper the social workers’ ability to effectively render quality services to clients and manage their well-being. The researcher made several recommendations for enhancing support services, such as policy guidance, regular supervision, equal access to resources by social workers and improved access to mental health resources. These recommendations will capacitate social workers, resulting in better outcomes for foster care.
Psychosocial factors and mediating role of spiritual intelligence as cursors to marital satisfaction among married Christian couples in selected churces in Abeokuta Metropolis, Ogun State, Nigeria
(University of Fort Hare, 2023-12-06) Emehinola, Gbadebo Oluwafemi; Kheswa, J.G.
God Almighty ordained marriage, which signifies the ideal union between a man and a woman. This union gives rise to family, an extremely important social social group. Hence, it is referred to as the cornerstone of society, which provides stability and support and enhances the continuity of societal values. Therefore, going by the philosophy of an ideal family make-up, marriage and divorce become unique issues that must be seriously considered. The effect of divorce is a contending issue affecting the generality of Nigerians, be it in the Christian and Islamic faiths or other religions. Marital satisfaction, a concept used to assess happiness and stability in marriage, is most sought after by all couples. Therefore, selecting the ideal spouse is most desirable, though often confusing and difficult. However, where incompatibility occurs, marital satisfaction may be achieved when remedial counselling tools are applied. This present research investigated the psychosocial factors of economic status and couples’ family background and the mediating role of level of spirituality as cursors to marital satisfaction among married Christian couples in selected churches in Abeokuta metropolis, Ogun State, Nigeria. The effect of the psychosocial factors of economic status and couples’ family background with the mediating role of the level of spiritual knowledge on marital satisfaction among married Christian couples was examined in this present study. This would enable us to come up with recommendations that can proffer solutions to the problems of marital dissatisfaction, instability, separation and outright divorce and to propose a psycho-educational programme intended to restructure the mediating position of spiritual level and psychosocial factors on satisfaction maritally among Christian couples in Abeokuta. The study is a descriptive survey design that used the ex-post factory type self-developed instruments of the Family Economic Scale (FES), Couples Family Background Inventory (CFBI), Spiritual Intelligence Scale (SIS) and Marital Satisfaction Questionnaire (MSQ), which have a coefficient value of 0.87. A total of 1200 respondents participated. Regression, standard deviation, and mean analysis methods were employed to analyse the data collected. Results obtained from this present study show a significant predictive impact of psychosocial factors of socioeconomic status and couples’ family background on marital satisfaction. Spiritual intelligence contributed 68.6 per cent to the difference in the prediction of marital satisfaction among couples in the study area, indicating a significant predictive influence. Besides, spiritual intelligence facilitated the correlation between socioeconomic status, couples’ family background, and marital satisfaction. Also, spiritual intelligence was more potent in predicting marital satisfaction than psychosocial factors of socioeconomic status and couples’ family background among the respondents in the study area. The study recommends that social and religious values be strengthened to encourage marital stability and satisfaction through programmes on moral and religious persuasions.
Knowledge, attitude and behaviour of secondary school learners towards hypertension and its risks in Burgersfort, Limpopo, South Africa.
(University of Fort Hare, 2025) Aboje, Samson Benjamin; Mtise, T.
Hypertension is a growing global health concern affecting both adults and adolescents. Secondary school learners who are a major subgroup of adolescents are particularly vulnerable due to limited awareness and the formation of long-term health behaviours during this developmental stage. Without timely intervention, early risk may lead to the onset of hypertension and associated complications in adulthood.
This study employed a quantitative research approach and descriptive design to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and behaviours related to hypertension among secondary school learners in Burgersfort, Limpopo Province, South Africa. A total of 366 learners were randomly selected from three public secondary schools. Data was collected using a self-developed, structured online questionnaire. A pilot study confirmed the reliability of the instrument, yielding acceptable Cronbach’s alpha values for all sections.
Study results revealed significant gaps in secondary school learners' knowledge of hypertension and its risks. Only a small proportion demonstrated accurate understanding of the condition. Attitudes towards hypertension reflected moderate concern, while behavioural practices were generally insufficient to prevent the onset of hypertension. The data suggests disconnection between awareness and health promoting actions among the secondary school learners.
In conclusion, the study underscores the need for comprehensive, school-based health education interventions aimed at improving knowledge, fostering positive attitudes, and
encouraging preventive behaviours related to hypertension. Such efforts are essential to decrease the early onset of hypertension and reduce long-term health risks in the
secondary school learners’ population.
Evidence of zoonotic rickettsiae in ixodid ticks of domestic animals in some communal farms in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa
(Network for the Veterinarians of Bangladesh, 2024-06-04) Adelabu, Olusesan Adeyemi; Iweriebor, Benson Chuks; Obi, Chikwelu Larry
Objective: The abundance of tick populationsin South Africa represents a probable risk for both animal and human health. Rickettsia spp. and Borrelia spp. are well-known agents of emerging human tick-borne infectious diseases worldwide. Nevertheless, the epidemiology of their infections has been underreported in South Africa. Therefore, this study aimed to profile zoonotic Rickettsia and Borrelia species from ticks infesting domesticated animals in the Eastern Cape, South Africa.
Materials and Methods: Morphological and molecular identification techniques were conducted on 1,200 tick samples collected from domestic animals before screening for the target bacterial pathogens. The molecular identification of the tick samples was based on the amplification of the 12S rRNA mitochondrial Deoxyribonucleic acid. At the same time, those of Rickettsia and Borrelia species were carried out by amplifying fragments of gltA and ompB genes for Rickettsia and flaB gene for Borrelia spp. Thereafter, the positive amplicons for Rickettsia ompB were sequenced and further analyzed. Borrelia PCRs were negative; therefore, sequencing could not be performed.
Results: Eight species of ticks belonging to three genera; Rhipicephalus, Amblyomma, and Haemaphysalis, were identified. A total of 27% (320/1,200) samples were confirmed positive for Rickettsia, of which 23% (74/320) were positive for ompB genes. Phylogenetic analysis of ompB revealed a high homology to rickettsial reference strains from GenBank, with no positive result for Borrelia. The generated sequences showed homology with R. africae-KX227790 (100%), R. parkeri-KY113111 (99.8%), R. peacockii (99.3%), and R. slovaca-JX683122 (99.1%) representative sequences in GenBank.
Conclusion: The findings from this study revealed that ticks harbored Rickettsia species with possible zoonotic potential.