Abstract Open defecation remains a global public health challenge, particularly in developing nations such as Nigeria, where inadequate sanitation contributes to preventable diseases and environmental degradation. The “Clean Nigeria: Use the Toilet” initiative, launched in 2019 under Executive Order 009, aimed to eradicate open defecation by 2025. This study examines whether the campaign represents a genuine public health intervention or a form of political symbolism. Using a qualitative research design anchored in policy implementation theory, the study draws on interviews across six Nigerian states, complemented by secondary sources. Data were systematically analysed and interpreted using a thematic approach. The findings reveal progress in sanitation awareness, toilet ownership and job creation through public–private partnerships but also highlight inconsistencies in implementation, weak coordination and the politicisation of outcomes. The study concludes that the initiative risks functioning as a political ruse unless it is strengthened through sustained investment, intergovernmental collaboration and community-driven maintenance mechanisms.
Abstract Domestic violence during pregnancy is a critical yet often neglected issue in Ethiopia, threatening the health and rights of pregnant women. This phenomenological study explores the types of domestic violence experienced by pregnant women in Bahir Dar City through in-depth interviews with 20 pregnant women and consultations with seven health professionals and religious leaders. Four main forms of abuse emerged: sexual violence, including forced sex and pressure to terminate pregnancies; psychological violence, such as verbal threats, blame and isolation; physical violence, involving beatings and forced heavy labour; and economic violence, where women’s access to financial resources is controlled or denied. These abuses are deeply embedded in patriarchal norms and normalised within family structures. Many women remain silent due to social pressure and a desire to maintain family unity. Addressing this issue requires urgent public awareness campaigns, legal reforms, and targeted support services to safeguard the health, dignity and rights of pregnant women in Ethiopia.
Abstract Political party defection has become a major issue in Nigeria’s democratic dispensation, bringing about major concerns for the country’s supposed representative governance scheme. Nowhere has this instability been more evident in recent times than in Rivers State, with multiple state legislators switching to the national ruling party and plunging the state into chaos. This paper examines the constitutional basis for and the implications of political party defection in Nigeria. It analyses the import of defection for the democratic wellbeing and political stability of Nigeria, while drawing lessons from Ghana and the US. The paper finds that Nigeria struggles with weak constitutional provisions on defection. It concludes with recommendations for electoral and constitutional reforms aimed at curbing opportunistic defections while strengthening party ideology, political stability and voter trust in democratic processes.
Abstract This article presents a comparative lexical analysis of the Decha and Gesha dialects of Kafi Noonoo, a language spoken in South-Western Ethiopia. Drawing on 895 lexemes from Summer Institute of Linguistics word lists, the study investigates systematic variation and convergence across semantic domains such as flora and fauna, health, farming, numerals, human character, adornments and clothing, disability, and interpersonal relationships. A descriptive research design was employed, integrating both qualitative and quantitative approaches. Data were collected through elicitation, participant observation and introspection, using purposive sampling to select 16 informants balanced by gender and age, based on linguistic competence and cultural knowledge. The findings reveal 83.7% lexical similarity (749 items) and 16.3% divergence (146 items), indicating high mutual intelligibility despite sociocultural and geographic variation. Unlike prior studies focused on phonology, this research foregrounds lexical investigation as central to understanding intra-language variation. The results can inform language planning, curriculum design, and cultural preservation, supporting inclusive language policy.
Media and scholarly attention seldom address issues of transport justice facing black working-class women in South Africa. Through in-depth interviews with working-class women from Orange Farm, this research article exposes the challenges faced by women who rely on unsafe minibus taxis (referred to as "taxis") for their daily commute to Johannesburg. The findings highlight that women, as an oppressed group, encounter injustices not only within their homes and workplaces but also during their use of public transport. This paper asserts that transport serves as another realm where the interviewed women experience oppression, intersecting with issues of class, race and gender. The results underscore that, despite 30 years of democracy, South Africa has yet to achieve transport justice for black working-class women.
