University of The Bahamas Publishes New Volume of Research Studies

27^th October 2022

Nassau, THE BAHAMAS — A groundbreaking study on violence and unwanted sexual intercourse in long-term relationships in The Bahamas and a collaborative investigation involving 23 authors across five countries are among newly released research content in the University of The Bahamas’ (UB) scholarly, peer-reviewed research journal.

UB went public with the International Journal of Bahamian Studies (IJBS) volume 28 on Tuesday 25^th October during Open Access Week, observed around the world.

The latest volume adds to the empirical research UB has been consistently releasing over the years with much of the content stirring timely discourse. One of the studies in the latest edition is entitled, “A Preliminary Study on Unwanted Sexual Intercourse Within Long-term Relationships in The Bahamas” by UB researchers William F. Fielding and Virginia C. Balance. The study features data on the controversial issue of marital rape in The Bahamas and includes baseline figures of the prevalence of rape in long-term relationships, a first for The Bahamas.

The study has been referenced widely in national media and has added another dimension to widespread discussions about rape within marriage and the need to change the law. The government has been consulting with stakeholders and recently held a forum to discuss a Bill to amend the Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Act of 1991, which would outlaw marital rape.

“I am pleased that University of The Bahamas’s faculty have willingly taken the lead in public dialogue to inform citizens and residents in The Bahamas about the issue,” said UB President Dr. Erik Rolland during the release of the new volume of research. “The fact that it is informing national discussions demonstrates that the International Journal of Bahamian Studies is committed to University of The Bahamas’s mission – that is, ‘To advance and expand access to higher education, promote academic freedom, drive national development and build character through teaching, learning, research, scholarship, and service’.

“As the University continues to expand its course offerings in graduate studies, the institution’s research capacity will increase, creating more opportunities for research and publishing for local and international scholars. I envision important future developments from the International Journal of Bahamian Studies.”

Volume 28 of the research journal has five original articles, ranging from corporal punishment in the home and a theory paper on nurse turnover intentions during the COVID-19 pandemic, to the involvement of Bahamian fathers in their children’s schooling. On the latter study, Dr. Anica Bowe partnered with Chenson L Johnson and said the research is crucial to countering negative stereotypes about Bahamians.

“One thing I think is really important as a researcher, is that whenever I have findings that actually counter negative stereotypes and negative narratives that we have of our own people, I like to talk about them,” said Dr. Bowe. “And so really, some of these findings here counter some of the stereotypes we have of fathers who do not live with their children, and even younger parents and what’s actually going on with involvement.”

Mrs. Shamel Rolle-Sands, a doctoral candidate in the Faculty of Nursing at the University of Alberta, expressed enthusiasm about adding to the body of knowledge that has specific implications for the healthcare sector and that she was able to do so through the IJBS.

“I would like to thank the International Journal for Bahamian Studies for giving me a place and a space to actually publish this work,” she said. “Nowadays, theory papers aren’t necessarily published quite frequently, but I think this is important because it will also add to the body of literature in The Bahamas, as well as internationally.”

In her research, Ms. Sands posited that while various individual and contextual factors have predictors of the turnover rate for nurses, evidence now suggests that another potential predictor─fear related to the novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2 also known as COVID-19.

Also contained in this year’s IJBS is a massive international study of potable water wells in Grand Bahama, post-Hurricane Dorian. UB faculty members Dr. Kristen Welsh-Unwala, Dr. Clare Bowen-O’Conner, and Dr. Mark Stephens collaborated on the work which features 23 authors at a dozen academic institutions, non-government organizations (NGOs), and private consultancies in The Bahamas, United States, Germany, Brazil, and Israel.

“We decided to do this publication to expand on our work over the last year and collaborate with all the researchers and practitioners who were working on the ground to address the problems that resulting from Hurricane Dorian, specifically that impacted potable water in Grand Bahama,” said Dr. Welsh-Unwala. “It’s an honor to be associated with these fellow researchers for this issue of the International Journal of Bahamian Studies, and I’d like to thank Dr. Oenbring and Ms. Balance and the team at the Journal for their invitation to present and their support of the publication of this article.”

IJBS Managing Editor Dr. Raymond Oenbring said he is extremely proud of this year’s new volume of research and the journal’s “most prolific author”, Mr. Fielding, as well as Ms. Ballance’s continued editorial support. He said it is his wish that the IJBS continues to be recognized and utilized as The Bahamas’ foremost research almanac.

“IJBS continues its mission of informing public discussion in The Bahamas with empirical research,” said Dr. Oenbring. “This year’s issue of IJBS also continues our history of publishing high quality work by both Bahamas-based scholars and scholars who study The Bahamas and its people working internationally.”

The IJBS Vol. 28 is accessible at https://journals.sfu.ca/cob/index.php/files/index.

Office of University Relations 

University of The Bahamas

2^nd Floor, Michael H. Eldon Complex

University Drive, Oakes Field Campus

P.O. Box N-4912

Nassau, The Bahamas

Tel: (242) 302-4355/4354/4365

Chartered on 10th November 2016, University of The Bahamas (UB) is a beacon for national transformation. Approximately 5,000 students are enrolled in the University of The Bahamas system which includes campuses and centres on New Providence, Grand Bahama, and San Salvador, as well as UB online education. UB’s diverse academic programmes, research engagements, athletics and leadership development experiences equip our students to become global citizens in a dynamic world. For more information, visit www.ub.edu.bs.