Independent mobility of children in the military barracks of Nigeria

Abstract

Independent mobility in military barracks is crucial for a child’s proper physical, social, and cognitive functioning. However, despite the contribution of mobility to health and overall quality of life, barracks create a high level of parental restrictions. The restrictions and the children’s immobility are linked to an unfriendly environment, non-active travel behaviour, and the exclusion of children’s experience. Hence, this study aims to build a conceptual framework of independent mobility that fits into the military barracks in Nigeria. Consequently, children’s independent mobility indicators were identified in Sam Ethnan Air Force Barracks in Lagos and Nigerian Air Force Barracks in Kaduna. The barrack-environment characteristics were examined, and travel mode behaviour factors were assessed. The set of rules for a parental licence was also explored. Data collection and analysis followed an explanatory sequential mixed method strategy, which is grounded on post-positivism and social constructivism. Barracks’ spatial data was acquired using Geographical Positioning System devices and Landsat imagery. Subsequently, the research used a semi-structured interview and paper-based participatory mapping. The participants of the study comprised 60 children aged 5 to 12 years of age, living in the barracks. The research answered seven research questions. The spatial analysis was carried out using ArcGIS 10.3 ESRI, descriptive analysis in SPSS 22 version, and thematic analysis in NVIVO 12 Plus software. Focus group discussions, face-to-face interviews with policymakers, and photographs were used in triangulation. The findings revealed that home, school, and play areas were meaningful destinations, within 100 m to 1900 m walkable buffer distances within 5-20 minutes for children in the two barracks investigated. The study is aligned with child-friendly environments and socio-ecological theoretical frameworks. Thus, seven characteristics emerged for the barrack environment theme, six factors for travel behaviour, and three sets of rules for parental licences upheld by parents and children. Thus, permission to engage in walking or cycling to school and to the play areas was the most frequently granted. More licences denote higher independent mobility for children. Therefore, the independent movement of barracks children is the degree of freedom from parental restriction to engage in short-distance active travel to school and leisure activities within a specific home range and travel time. The conceptual framework for the independent mobility of children is useful for the Nigerian Air Force policymakers and design professionals such as architects, landscape architects, and planners, to create a child-friendly barracks. It is relevant to address children’s immobility and improve their health in barrack environments, including the para-military barracks, housing estates, and compact cities across Africa.