Articles

Child and Youth Care Undergraduate Students’ Perceptions of Their Learning Environment: A Qualitative Course-Based Study

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This course-based inquiry, situated within the interpretivist paradigm, explored how child and youth care (CYC) students at MacEwan University perceive their learning environment. A purposive non-probability sampling strategy was used to recruit participants from all four years of the CYC program. A triangulated data-collection approach was used to ensure the credibility and trustworthiness of the findings by drawing on multiple data-sources. Participants were given the option to participate in an online survey or an online interview. Both options included an art-based activity component. Four overarching themes were identified during the thematic analysis: (a) a peaceful shore, a place to anchor; b) together we stand, united we thrive; c) we share this theatre together; and d) taught me to be open and cry without flinching.

An Audit to Compare the Availability and Distribution of Human Resources for Eye Care in Orlu and Owerri Metropolis in South-Eastern Nigeria Using Vision 2020 Standards as Benchmarks and Literature Review

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AIM: The purpose of this study was to compare the availability and distribution of the various cadres of eye care workforce in Orlu, a sub-urban setting and Owerri metropolis, an urban setting in Imo State, in South Eastern Nigeria, using Vision 2020 standards as benchmarks with Literature review.

Methodology: Two areas in Imo State, namely Orlu and Owerri metropolis were used in this study. This was both a quantitative and qualitative cross-sectional survey. The quantitative data was assessed by distributing interviewer-administered questionnaires to the different categories of eye care workers (ECWs) in the various public health care facilities used in the study. The questionnaires contained sub-sections on the subjects’ sex, age, religion, marital status, level of education, years in service, location of residence, and training in eye care. The qualitative research covered training in eye careappropriateness to job postings as well as sponsorship to updates and workshops/refresher courses  by the various cadres  of eye care workers in the health care facilities under study, using focus group discussions (FGDs) and in-depth interviews (IDIs) .The qualitative interviews of the participants covered the state of study, the study area, type of health facility, sex, type of interview and the category of eye care worker (ECW) and the serial number of the interviewed participant.

Results: The results of the study showed that the eye care workers (n=271) working in 28 public health care Institutions included 45(16.6%) males and 226(83.4%) females with age range of 20-65years, and modal age range of 30-39years, with a mean age of 42.23±11.0 S.D. years. A large proportion 216(79.7%) of ECWs were married and most 206(76.0%) of the workers had tertiary education. A large proportion 170(62.7%) of the ECWs live in Owerri and the same number(62.7%) also work in Owerri, and 102(37.6%)were integrated eye care workers(IECWs). The qualitative survey also showed that some of the workers were not appropriately posted to their areas of specialization, not trained in eye care and were not sponsored to updates, workshops/ refresher courses and seminars.

Conclusion: The results of the study showed a skewed distribution of ophthalmic nurses, optometrists and ophthalmologists in favour of the urban, Owerri . However, the eye care personnel to population ratio could not be fully ascertained in this study due to non-contribution from privately-owned clinics which were not  included in this study. The obvious health care manpower mal-distribution gap could be urgently addressed through adequate provision of social amenities like safe water/electricity, recreational facilities, establishment of industrial estates in Orlu and other rural areas Imo State to generate employment opportunities to minimize the prevailing rural-urban drift of health care manpower. Training of eye health personnel (human resource development), one of the key goals of Vision 2020 was not met, but can be improved through re-training and in-service training with motivations and inducements in form of sponsorships to updates, workshops and refresher courses.  Additionally, the integration of primary eye care into the health care system of the state will go a long way in closing the existing health care gaps and by extension, the socio-economic gaps that exist between the more economically endowed Owerri and the rural population in Orlu, as it is popularly said that “health is wealth”.

A Course-Based Qualitative Exploration of the Adaptive Capacities of Child and Youth Care Students Transitioning from First- to Second-Year Field Practicum

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Child and youth care students (CYC) perceive the transition from first- to second-year practicum as stressful and challenging and occasionally view themselves as not ready. Located within the constructivist–interpretive research paradigm, the aim of this qualitative course-based study was to gain greater insight into the transition process of CYC students from first- to second-year practicums with a focus on their adaptive capacities. A triangulation data collection method was used, comprised of conversational style, semi-structured interviews, a focus group, and art-based activity. Three main themes were extracted from the data analysis: (a) leaning into uncertainty, (b) being real, and (c) tapping into support systems.

A Course-Based Qualitative Exploration into the Views of CYC Students on the Use of Harm Reduction Strategies for High-Risk Youth

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The purpose of this course-based research study was to examine child and youth care (CYC) students’ attitudes toward of the use of harm-reduction programs and services for high-risk youth. In this qualitative interpretive inquiry, an open-ended, scenario-based questionnaire was used to collect data via email. A non-probability purposive sampling strategy was applied to recruit 16 CYC student participants. The thematic analysis method defined by Braun and Clarke (2006) was used to identify three main themes: a) a safe place free of physical and emotional harm, b) relationships really matter, and c) support versus control is the CYC way.

School Literacy Movement: A Literature Review

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This study aims to determine: (1) the context of the implementation of the school literacy movement program, (2) input on the implementation of the school literacy movement program, (3) the process of implementing the school literacy movement program, and (4) the product of the implementation of the school literacy movement program at SMA IT Baitul Jannah Bandar Lampung. The design of this study is an evaluation study using the Evaluation Model (CIPP) Context Input Process and Product. Data collection was carried out by interview, documentation, and observation techniques. The results showed that: (1) the context of the School Literacy Movement program at SMA IT Baitul Jannah Bandar Lampung was carried out in accordance with the regulation of the Minister of Education number 23 of 2015 concerning ethics which is classified as increasing student knowledge, student character, and student interest in reading, (2) input of the School Literacy Movement program in program scheduling, program funding and supporting facilities and infrastructure are classified as being in accordance with needs, (3) the School Literacy Movement program process has been carried out according to the plan but there are obstacles faced, namely in the form of not optimal socialization to students, lack of student motivation, and low student interest in reading, teachers have not received training related to literacy programs, teachers’ views that School Literacy Movement interferes with class hours, and implementation time is still lacking. (4) the School Literacy Movement program product is in accordance with the objectives but there are still things that need to be improved, so the School Literacy Movement program at Baitul Jannah IT High School needs to be continued at the stage and in the following year with some improvements and some things that need to be improved.