gender disparities

This study investigated gender disparities in sports participation and its influence on academic performance among secondary school students in Edo State, Nigeria. The research make use of a descriptive survey design to examine the extent of gender differences in sports involvement, the relationship between sports participation and academic outcomes, the perceived benefits of sports, and also the barriers uniquely affecting female students. The population comprised 470 students from two secondary schools—Ekosodin Secondary School and OSA Osula Secondary School—from which a sample of 100 students was selected using stratified random sampling. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire titled “Gender Disparities in Sports Participation and Academic Performance Questionnaire (GDSP-Q).” Descriptive statistics (mean and standard deviation) were used to answer the four research questions, while inferential statistics (independent samples t-test and Pearson product moment correlation) were employed to test four null hypotheses at the 0.05 significance level. The findings revealed a significant gender disparity in sports participation, with male students having higher involvement than their female counterparts. A strong positive correlation was found between sports participation and academic performance, indicating that students engaged in sports tend to perform better academically. Respondents also strongly agreed that sports participation offers substantial physical, psychological, and social benefits. Also, female students perceived significantly greater barriers to sports participation, including cultural norms, lack of parental support, and fear of social stigma, compared to male students. All four null hypotheses were rejected. It was then concluded that gender-based inequities in sports participation exist in Nigerian secondary schools and that these disparities have academic and developmental implications on the students. The study recommends the implementation of gender inclusive sports policies, increased parental and community sensitization, provision of adequate sports facilities and female coaches, and the integration of sports into the academic curriculum as a strategy for enhancing the students holistic development.

This study investigates gender disparities in mathematics achievement among secondary school students in Egor Local Government Area, Edo State, Nigeria. Using a descriptive survey design, data was collected from 154 students (103 males, 51
females) selected through multi-stage sampling from public secondary schools. The research examined four key factors: differences in mathematics achievement between genders, the influence of cultural beliefs and societal expectations, the impact of
teacher attitudes and classroom practices, and the effect of parental support. Findings revealed that while respondents perceived differences in mathematics achievement between male and female students, these disparities were primarily attributed to sociocultural factors rather than cognitive abilities. Male students received higher expectations from teachers, greater encouragement from parents, and benefited from cultural norms favoring their participation in mathematics. Independent samples t-tests showed no statistically significant differences between male and female students' perceptions regarding mathematics performance (p=0.439) and motivation (p=0.373). The study concludes that gender disparities in mathematics achievement stem largely from societal expectations, teacher attitudes, and parental support rather than inherent ability differences. Recommendations include implementing gender-inclusive teaching strategies, teacher training on bias elimination, parental education on equal encouragement, and targeted support programs for female students in STEM fields.

This study investigated cardiovascular disease (CVD) presentations, risk factors, and treatment outcomes among 102 older adults receiving care at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Edo State. A descriptive cross-sectional design with structured questionnaires was used. The mean age of respondents was 66.5 years; 52.9% were female and 47.1% male. Hypertension (26.5%) and cardiac structure/function disorders (26.5%) were the most prevalent diagnoses. The most reported CVD presentations were chest pain (73.5%), rapid fatigue (83.3%), irregular heartbeat (100%), weakness/lightheadedness (83.4%), and shortness of breath during activities (79.4%). Awareness of risk factors was high, with over 90% acknowledging hypertension, obesity, diabetes, poor diet, physical inactivity, and stress as contributors to CVD. However, only 73.3% recognized gender differences in disease patterns. Perceptions of gender disparities in treatment were generally low, though 56.6% agreed that differences in care may affect survival, and 90.1% emphasized the need for gender equity in treatment. Chi-square analysis revealed no significant association between gender and CVD presentations (p=0.077) or treatment outcomes (p=0.194), but a significant relationship existed between gender and risk factor awareness (p=0.024). The findings highlight the importance of sustained health education and gender-sensitive strategies to improve CVD management in older adults.