N. E. OYANA

Emotional intelligence and critical thinking disposition are essential competencies required for effective nursing education and professional practice. This study examined the correlation between emotional intelligence and critical thinking disposition among nursing students at the University of Benin, Benin City, Edo State. A cross-sectional correlational design was adopted, and a total of 255 students from 200 to 500 levels were selected using a stratified random sampling technique. Data were collected using validated structured questionnaires measuring emotional intelligence and critical thinking disposition. Analysis was conducted using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 26.0. Descriptive statistics such as frequencies, percentages, and means were used, while Pearson Product Moment Correlation served as the inferential statistical tool. Findings showed that the majority of participants were female (77.6%), with a mean age of 21.6 ± 3.26 years, and most respondents (94.1%) had a GPA of 3.0 and above. Emotional intelligence levels were generally high, with 52.16% of respondents scoring in the high category, 36.08% in the moderate category, and 11.76% in the low category. The overall mean emotional intelligence score was 55.9 ± 12.7. Critical thinking disposition also ranked high among respondents, with 52.55% classified as high, 33.73% moderate, and 13.73% low. The overall mean score for critical thinking disposition was 117.3 ± 33.2. Correlation analysis revealed statistically significant positive relationships between all dimensions of emotional intelligence and critical thinking disposition, with correlation coefficients ranging from r = +0.185 to r = +0.212 (p < 0.01). Overall emotional intelligence also showed a weak but significant positive correlation with critical thinking disposition (r = +0.210; p = 0.003), leading to the rejection of the null hypothesis. The study concludes that higher emotional intelligence is associated with a stronger disposition toward critical thinking among nursing students, underscoring the need for educational strategies that promote both emotional and cognitive development within nursing training.

Sickle cell disease (SCD) poses a significant public health challenge in Nigeria due to its genetic nature, high prevalence, and associated morbidity. Despite increasing awareness campaigns, many individuals still fail to comply with preventive measures such as premarital screening. This study investigated the relationship between awareness and compliance towards premarital sickle cell screening among unmarried students in the Faculty of Arts, University of Benin, Edo State. A correlational design was adopted, and 350 participants were selected using multistage sampling. Data were collected using structured questionnaires
and analyzed using SPSS version 24.0, with descriptive statistics and Chi-square tests applied. The findings revealed a high level of awareness regarding SCD and premarital screening among respondents; however, compliance was moderate. Although many students knew their genotype and acknowledged the importance of screening, cultural, emotional, and social factors still hindered full compliance. Statistical analysis showed no significant relationship between awareness and compliance (p = 0.067). The study concludes that awareness alone does not guarantee compliance, emphasizing the need for targeted interventions that address behavioral, cultural, and emotional barriers to effective screening practices.