School-wide publications
Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://dspace.njala.edu.sl/handle/20.500.144402/165
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Item Willingness to Pay for Solid Waste Collection in Bo District, Southern Sierra Leone: An Analysis of Influencing Factors(2024-09-30) George, Daniel RinceThis study assesses the willingness to pay for solid waste management services in Bo District, Southern Sierra Leone. The research aims to identify the key factors influencing this willingness. Five semi-urban communities were selected based on their population size, and 60 household heads from randomly selected households were interviewed using a semi-structured questionnaire. Using logistic regression analysis, we found that factors such as income, education, occupation, and satisfaction with the current waste management system had varying degrees of significance in influencing willingness to pay. However, variables such as mode of waste collection and age were found to have a significant effect. This study suggests that policymakers in Bo District should consider these factors when implementing fee-based waste collection services.Item Causes and effects of drug and substance abuse among secondary school students in Bo district(GSC Online Press, 2024-09-30) George, Angella MagdaleneThis study investigates the causes and effects of drug and substance abuse among secondary school students in Bo District, Sierra Leone. Using a mixed-methods approach, the research identifies key factors driving substance abuse, including peer pressure, inadequate parental supervision, socio-economic challenges, and substance availability. Data collected through surveys, interviews, and focus group discussions highlight that students often resort to drugs and alcohol due to curiosity, stress, and socio-economic pressures. The consequences of substance abuse are profound, impacting students' academic performance, mental health, and behavioral patterns. Findings reveal that academic decline, increased incidence of anxiety and depression, and risky behaviors such as unsafe sexual practices are significant outcomes of substance abuse. The study concludes that addressing substance abuse among students requires a comprehensive approach involving enhanced parental education, school-based interventions, socio-economic improvements, community engagement, and strengthened law enforcement. Recommendations are provided to inform policy and practice aimed at mitigating substance abuse and supporting affected students in Bo District.Item Assessment of Anthropometric Indicators of Maternal Malnutrition among Pregnant Women in Nongowa Chiefdom, Kenema District, Sierra Leone(IORO Publications, 2026-08-14) Joseph KortuMaternal malnutrition remains a major public-health concern in Sierra Leone, yet community-level evidence based on objective anthropometric measurement is scarce. This study assessed anthropometric indicators of maternal malnutrition among pregnant women attending antenatal care (ANC) clinics in Nongowa Chiefdom, Kenema District. A cross-sectional, descriptive design was used, and data were collected from 63 pregnant women using a structured, interviewer-administered questionnaire and standardized measurements of body mass index (BMI) and mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC). Data were analyzed in SPSS using frequencies, percentages, and charts. The findings revealed a clear double burden of malnutrition: by BMI, 14.3% of respondents were underweight, 49.2% were of normal weight, 25.4% were overweight, and 11.1% were obese; by MUAC, 19.0% were malnourished (below 23 cm). Overall, just over half (50.8%) fell outside the normal BMI range, and MUAC detected more acute undernutrition than BMI. The population was highly economically vulnerable, with 65.1% reporting no income and 50.8% unemployed, and more than half experienced household food insecurity. Respondents identified poverty and food shortages, rather than cultural beliefs, as the main factors affecting their nutrition. Although ANC coverage, supplementation, and nutrition education were high (all above 87%), most women (79.4%) attended only one or two ANC visits, far below the WHO-recommended minimum. Maternal malnutrition in the study area is therefore driven principally by poverty and food insecurity, and the routine integration of MUAC screening into ANC, alongside economic and food-security interventions, is recommended. **Keywords:** antenatal care; maternal malnutrition; anthropometric indicators; mid-upper arm circumference; body mass index; food insecurityItem Exploring the Integration of Traditional Healers into Hospital-based Health Care in Sierra Leone(Science Publishing Group, 2026-03-05) George, AngellaThis study aimed to examine stakeholder perceptions, feasibility, and challenges associated with integrating traditional healers into hospital-based healthcare systems in Sierra Leone, with the objective of identifying opportunities for collaboration and informing policy and practice. A cross-sectional mixed-methods design was employed involving 400 participants drawn from Bo District, Western Area Urban District, and Kenema District. Quantitative data were collected using a structured questionnaire consisting of 35 closed-ended items assessing perceptions of integration feasibility, trust, safety, and institutional readiness, and were analyzed using IBM SPSS version 27. Qualitative data were obtained through 40 key informant interviews and eight focus group discussions and analyzed thematically using NVivo version 12. The results indicated that 86% of respondents supported the integration of traditional healers into hospital-based healthcare, citing cultural relevance, accessibility, and patient trust as key advantages. However, major barriers included the absence of regulatory frameworks, concerns about herbal safety and dosage, limited research capacity, and lack of mutual professional trust. The study concludes that integration is both feasible and necessary for strengthening culturally competent healthcare delivery and advancing Universal Health Coverage in Sierra Leone. It recommends the development of a national integration policy, hospital-based pilot programs, strengthened research and quality assurance mechanisms, and targeted capacity-building initiatives.