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This paper originates from a novel investigation into the lived encounters of migrant women street beggars in Enugu and Nsukka within Igbo land, Nigeria. Street begging in this region brings forth a plethora of distressing and stringent realities, especially exacerbating for women beggars. Despite the harshness of their lived experiences, these women persist in their actions. This article scrutinizes their experiences, contending that their relentless engagement in begging, despite adversities, can be linked to a sense of helplessness, yet it also underscores their exceptional resilience, courage, and endurance--qualities reminiscent of the determined diligence exhibited by 18th-century Igbo women. Rooted in the theory of reasoned action and the learned helplessness hypothesis, this study employs in-depth interviews, focus group discussions, and public engagement for data collection and analysis. To safeguard participant anonymity, pseudonyms were allocated to the 12 individuals involved, comprising two men and ten women. Participation was voluntary, and existing secondary sources were consulted to provide comparative insights. In amplifying the poignant narratives of migrant women street beggars, this research deepens our comprehension of their steadfast determination in the face of formidable adversities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nigeria is among the major countries contending with the social problem of street begging. The pervasiveness of the problem has continually placed it at the front burner of scholarly engagements and intellectual discourse. However, despite the existence of abundant literature on the phenomenon of street begging, the epistemological and methodological issues typically embedded in the process of data elicitation from street beggars in Nigeria are yet to command adequate scholarly attention. Therefore, this article attempted to fill this observed lacuna by focusing on the necessity for data collection on street begging and the major challenges that are associated with data elicitation from street beggars in Nigeria. The paper ascribed the necessity for data collection on street begging to multiple reasons. Language barrier, the fluid nature of street begging, the mobile nature of street beggars, and trust issue are among the major challenges that are associated with data collection on street begging research in Nigeria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The aim of the following study was to determine the types of intervention sought by the blind street beggars and assess the barriers to accessing available eye care services. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among consenting blind street beggars in Sokoto, Nigeria between May and June, 2009. A semi-structured interview was conducted to probe issues on historical antecedents of the blindness and the eye heath seeking behavior including the use of traditional eye medications. Assessment of barriers to accessing curative services among the blind persons was explored. Questions were asked and the individual responses were recorded in the questionnaire under the appropriate sections. Results: Two hundred and two of 216 (94.7%) of the examined subjects were found to be blind and included in the analysis. The principal cause of blindness was corneal opacity. Overall 82% of the blindness was due to avoidable causes with majority irreversibly blind. Only 38 subjects (18.8%) sought for intervention in hospitals, others resorted to self-medication (42.1%), medicine store (31.2%) and traditional facility (7.9%). Those that accessed treatment at a hospital did so mainly at a primary health center (50.0%) and General Hospitals (34.2%). The barriers to accessing treatment at the hospital were mainly due to "not taken to any hospital" by the parents/relatives (50.3%) and "services not available" (25.2%). Conclusion: Most respondents resorted to ocular self-medication particularly traditional eye medicines. We advocate for a provision of affordable, accessible and qualitative eye care services with a strong health education component on avoidable causes of blindness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study compared the prevalence and nature of violence against women (VAW) experienced by 104 female beggars with those of 219 homemakers in Sabo, an urban migrant slum settlement in Ibadan, Nigeria. The lifetime experience of VAW was 66.3% (95%CI: 62.5-70.1) among the beggars and 54.8% (95%CI: 52.2-57.6) among the homemakers (p=.05), while six months preceding the survey was: 56.7% (95%CI: 55.2-58.2) and 21.9% (95%CI: 20.8.2-23.0) respectively p=.0001). Psychological violence was experienced by 34.7% and 20.8% (p=.05); physical violence by 31.9% and 16.7% (p=.02) and sexual by 20.3% and 0.8% (p=.0001) of the beggars and homemakers respectively. Beggars with higher knowledge levels (aOR 0.23; 95%CI 0.07-0.80) and with more egalitarian attitudes (aOR 0.38; 95%CI 0.12-0.91) were less likely to experience violence. Suggestions to end VAW included female education (27.8%) and economic empowerment (59.2%). There is need to protect beggars by increasing access to health information, schooling, vocational training and income generating activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This exploratory research explores a unique type of child street beggar, the Almajirai who are male pupils of Qur'anic scholars called a Mallam. Due to poverty, Almajirai must begin order to support themselves and maintain the Mallam's compound. During their tenure with the Mallam, they are placed at risk of injury and illness brought on by a lack of care and the dangers associated with street begging. This research utilizes two data collection methods: survey research with the Almajirai, observation-as-participants fieldwork. Results indicate that the children are not stigmatized for street begging because it supports their religious activities. Because of the sensitive nature of religion in northern Nigeria, Social workers are reluctant to call for reform of the Islamic educational system or identify Almajirai as neglected children. Findings provide evidence and rationale for a more extensive assessment of the Almajirai as well as the social structure that allows them to exist. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on child abuse for street begging in northern Nigeria. However the problem of street begging is nationwide in Nigeria, it has particular importance for Kaduna State. In Kaduna, a significant number of school age children are forming a pool of potential destitute adults and beggars. Approximately a third of the destitute beggars in Kaduna State are under the age of 15. According to a 1971 survey by the Kaduna State Ministry of Social Development, 30.9% of the beggarly population constituted children.

Background: Begging and destitution constitute serious health and social problems in low and middle-income countries (LMICs)., Objectives: The objective of this study was to assess the trainability of beggars and the destitute in Abakaliki Nigeria in order to provide scientific evidence required for the development of a policy on their health, vocational rehabilitation and social reintegration., Methods: The study was a cross-sectional descriptive survey of 50 purposively selected beggars and destitute persons identified from motor parks, church cathedrals, market places etc. Data was collected using a structured interviewer-administered questionnaire. Analysis was based on mean rating (MNR), median rating (MDR), and range. Interview of each respondent lasted approximately 20 minutes., Results: Of the 50 respondents who participated in this study, 17 (34%) were females. Most subjects were of age category 31-35 years (30%) and 36-40 years (34%). Fifteen (30%) admitted having sight impairment while 17 (34%) admitted that they were physically challenged. The outcome of the trainability assessment showed relatively high mean ratings (MNRs) ranging from 3.42-4.06 on a scale of 5 points., Conclusion: The findings of this study clearly suggest that there is a very high potential for the vocational rehabilitation and social reintegration of beggars and the destitute in the study area., (© 2019 Nweze et al.)