Health service provision by Children and Youth Emancipation Network on attainment of widows’ Children in Akwa Ibom State: Counselling Implication

Abstract

The study sought to determine the Health Service Provision by Children and Youth
Emancipation Network on attainment of widows’ Children in Akwa Ibom State. The design
adopted for this study was the descriptive survey research design. The population of the study
was 220 widows’ children who are supported by Children and Youths Emancipation Network
in Uyo Local Government Area in 2023/2024. A sample size of 180 widow’s children,
schooling within Uyo Metropolis was purposely selected. Thus, it was possible to meet them
in their respective schools. The researchers developed instrument titled Health service
provision by Children and Youth Emancipation Network in Akwa Ibom State (HSPCYEN). The
instrument comprised of three sections, A, B and C. Section A captured the bio data of the
respondents indicating their age and status. While section B comprised of 30 items under
delivering of free medical care, distribution of nutrient supplements and sponsoring health
insurance. While Section C comprised of 10 items on health attainment of widows’ children.
The instrument was structured on a four-point rating scale with response format Very Strong
Influence (VSI), Moderate Influence (MI), Weak Influence (WI), Very Weak Influence (VWI).
The instrument was validated by three lecturers in the University of Uyo and the reliability
through Cronbach Alpha tool yielded reliability co-efficient of 0.91. The instrument was
administered within three weeks and out of 180 copies of the questionnaire administered 168
copies were correctly filled retrieved. Thus, giving (93%) return rate. Mean and Standard
Deviation was used in answering the research questions while related t-test was used to test
the null hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. The findings shown that delivering of free medical care, distribution of nutrient supplements and sponsoring of health insurance to
widows children by Children and Youth Emancipation Network influence their health care
attainment in Akwa Ibom State. It was recommended among others that the Children and Youth
Emancipation Network should not relent their efforts in providing entrepreneurial training to
the widow’s children as this would enable them to be independent later in life and take care of
themselves rather than depending on anyone for support.