Social Problems Faced by Non-resident Undergraduate Students of Kampala International University Western Campus

ABSTRACT This study was designed to investigate the social problems that non-resident students of Kampala International University-Western Campus face in their places of residence during their course of study. The study targeted 169 out of 300 students, 10 out of 15 landlords and 5 out of 9 University administrators. The study set out to establish the suitability of accommodation facilities for non-resident students, the state of the prevailing feeding, health and sanitation conditions in and around residences and the social/behavioural problems which non-resident students ofKIU-WC face. The study used a survey research design. Both qualitative and quantitative techniques were used in collecting and analyzing the data. Three research instruments were used in the study;- a questionnaire was used to collect information fi·om students, the observation was used to assess the conditions in and around residences and interview was used to collect information from administrators and landlords. The instruments were administered to the respondents accordingly. Two research questions and one hypothesis were developed to guide the study and these were; are the accommodation facilities of the non-resident students suitable? What are the prevailing feeding, health and sanitation conditions in and around non-resident students' residences? Thereare no significant social/behavioural problems facing non-resident students ofKIU-WC. The data collected was interpreted, discussed and analysed using tables and percentages. Statistical analysis was also employed using the Chi- square(X2 ) test. The findings of the study revealed that non-resident students reside in hostels and other rented rooms around Bushenyi Ishaka towns, majority of whom share XI rooms. Findings revealed that accommodation facilities are inadequate and lacking to cater for the needs of the students. It was found out that students were paying high rental charges. It was also found out thatit was insecure for non- residents students to move to the University library back to their residences at night. The state of feeding, health and sanitation were found to be poor and lacking. It was revealed that some students took up to preparing their own meals but this was inconvenient as it interfered with their study programs. The poor and unhygiene sanitation facilities found in the places of residences posed a health hazard. The study revealed that cohabiting, drankardness, drug abuse, fighting and quarrels were common in non - resident students residences, especially those in a high sensitive health reproductive age. It also revealed difficulty for the University administration to enforce rules/regulations on the residence facilities since it doesnot have authority. The researcher recommended that; • The University administration should liase with the landlords to make sure that accommodation facilities are improved upon and minimal rental charges are paid. • The management should establish an intensive data base which will enable regular monitoring of feeding, health and sanitation situation regarding non-resident undergraduate students. • Effmis should be made to ensure that singles sex hostels are put in place by landlords to address the issue of social/behavioural problems such as cohabiting, unwanted pregnancies, alcoholism and other sexual and social related risks among students.

TABLE OF CONTENTS 

Page 

Declaration .. ...................... .. ... ..... ... ............ .. ..... ... . I 

Dedication .... .... ........ .. .... ........... .......... .... .... .. ..... . . .. 

11 

Acknowledgement ........... ..... ... .......... .......... ...... ..... . 111 

Table of Contents ................ ...... ................ .. ... ... .. .. .. .. IV 

List of Tables ... .. ............. ... ... .... ..... .... ........ ..... ... ... . Vll 

List of figures .. .... ........................ ........ .. .............. .. IX 

List of Appendices ..... .. ... .............. ........... ......... ... ... . X 

List of abbreviations .............. ....... ....... ... ... ........... ... . XI 

Abstract ...... ..... ....... ............... .. ........ .... ........... .... . Xll 

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION 

Page 

Background . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 1 

Statement of the problem . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 

Purpose of the study .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 4 

Objectives of the study .......... .. ...................... .... .... ..... 4 

Scope of the study . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 

Significant of the study . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 4 

Conceptual frame work .......... ...... ...... .... .. ...... ........ ... . 

CHAPTER TWO: REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE 

Page 

Non-residence and accommodation problems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ... 6 

Non-residence and feeding, health and sanitation problems........ 9 

Non-residence and behavioural/social relationships of students . . . . 11 

Research questions and hypothesis . . .. .. . . . . . .. . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . .. . 13 

CHAPTER THREE: METHODOLOGY 

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 

Research Design . . .. . .. . . . . . . . .. .. .. . .. .. .. . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .. .. .. 14 

Area of study . .. .. . . . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . .. .. .. .. . .. . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . .. .. 14 

Population of study ........................................................ 14 

Sampling strategy ......................................................... 14 

Sample size .................................................................. 15 

Instruments of data collection ............................................ 15 

Validity of instruments ................................................... 16 

Reliability of instruments ................................................. 17 

Study procedure . . . . . .. . . . . .. .. . . . .. .. . .. . .. .. . . . . .. .. .. .. . . . . . . . . . .. .. .. . 17 

Data analysis ................................................................ 17 

v 

CHAPTER FOUR: PRESENTATION, INTERPRETATION AND 

ANALYSIS OF DATA 

Pages 

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 

Background information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 

Research question one . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 21 

Research question two . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 

Testing hypothesis one . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 

Students responses to open ended questions . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ... 32 

Results from the interview guide for landlord . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ... . . . . .. 33 

Summary of observation for physical facilities in places of residences .... 34 

Administrators responses ........................................................ 35 

CHAPTER FIVE: DISCUSSION, CONCLUSIONS AND 

RECOMMENDATIONS 

Introduction ..................................................................... 37 

Discussion of the research questions and hypothesis ...................... 37 

Conclusion ...................................................................... 46 

Recommendations ............................................................. 47 

Further research ................................................................ 48 

References ...................................................................... 49 

Appendices ..................................................................... 53