Gretsa University

ABSTRACTThis article explores learning through modes of signification in literacy activity books for early childhood learners in Kenya. These modes of signification are important for the cognitive and social development of children. Early childhood education in Kenya aims to prepare children for primary school by building foundational skills in a culturally responsive manner through a competency‐based curriculum. In the Kenyan competency‐based curriculum (CBC), various types of literacy books cater to different literacy development aspects. These literacy books include story books, phonemic awareness books, workbooks, vocabulary books, and writing practice books in English and Kiswahili. This article examines how child‐centered teaching methods using modes of signification in the competency‐based curriculum (CBC) can impact learning experiences and outcomes in literacy books. Dual‐coding theory is used to analyze the relationship between the modes of signification used by learners and teachers in a CBC literacy lesson in Grade 3. The findings reveal that teachers do not focus much on modes of signification, while learners do. The study concludes that incorporating multiple modes of signification into the education system can enhance literacy skills acquisition. Therefore, educators should embrace modes of signification in literacy curricula to improve learners' literacy skills.

Study purpose: To establish the contribution of high-risk fertility behavior on infant mortality in Kenya. Methodology: The study used cross-sectional survey data obtained from the 2022 Kenya demographic and health survey. Descriptive analysis involved frequencies and cross-tabulation. Inferential analysis involved multinomial logistic regression. Results: Young age at first birth of under-20 years was significantly related to neonatal (OR = 1.001; ρ<0.01; CI = 0.347-0.850), post-neonatal (OR = 1.542; ρ<0.01; CI = 0.364-0.809), and infant (OR = 1.043; ρ<0.01; CI = 0.372-0.791) mortalities. Mothers who gave birth under-20 years of age had higher odds of experiencing neonatal mortality (OR = 1.183; ρ<0.05; CI = 0.374-1.733). Births of orders 2 to 3 had lower odds of neonatal (OR = 0.710; ρ<0.05; CI = 0.436-1.157) and infant (OR = 0.802; ρ<0.05; CI = 0.494-1.304) mortalities. Nulliparous women were 0.31 times less likely and 0.45 times more likely, to report neonatal and post-neonatal mortalities, respectively. Conclusion: Analytical findings revealed under-20 years’ age at first birth, under-20 years’ age at motherhood, first order births, and births to nulliparous women to be high-risk fertility behaviors related to infant mortality. Old age at first birth and preceding birth interval were unrelated to infant mortality. Advocacy on the need to delay entry into marriage and sexual debut should be done so as to address the issues of child brides and young age at first birth.

PurposeThis study aims to identify factors influencing corporate social responsibility reporting (CSRR) practices of international oil companies (IOCs) in Nigeria. It aims at distinguishing CSRR levels by examining both the quantity and quality of reporting.Design/methodology/approachThe paper analyses annual reports through content analysis. CSRR extent and type are measured by the number of sentences. CSRR are further classified into three subcategories according to whether they are negative, neutral or positive reports and then their proportions compared through descriptive analysis.FindingsFor the extent and quality of CSRR, community was the most reported category. The majority of the total CSRR in the IOCs is positive with little evidence of negative news. None of the IOCs in the sample reported on the environment in their annual reports.Research limitations/implicationsThe measurement of CSRR focuses only on annual reports, without consideration of other reporting media such as standalone reports and corporate websites. CSRR are assumed to be voluntary for the companies and they may choose not to report any information in annual reports, as there are no regulations or reporting guidelines in Nigeria to be followed.Practical implicationsThe results reveal the absence of environmental reporting in the CSRR of IOCs in Nigeria suggests that they are less concerned with meeting local demands for accountability. The study recommends the need for regulatory intervention on the part of the Nigerian Government.Social implicationsThe findings of study indicate that predominant existence of positive CSRR news among all the IOCs suggests there’s an attempt to encourage stakeholders and the public to believe that they are conscious of society and the environment.Originality/valueThe main contribution of this study lies in identifying the factors that have led to diversity and uniqueness in CSRR in IOCs. As such, this study seeks to contribute to the development of understanding multiple factors that could give rise to changing patterns of CSRR.