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Cholera is an acute diarrheal infection due to ingestion of food or water contaminated by bacterium ‘’Vibrio cholera’’. It is endemic in many parts of Nigeria and is often fatal if not treated urgently. This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted to assess the prevalence and associated risk factors of cholera infection among the inhabitants of Gwagwalada Area Council, FCT, Abuja, Nigeria. A total of 423 stool samples were collected from individual whose ages ranges from 2 to 70 years with mean age of 30 years using multi-stage random sampling technique to determine the prevalence using culture techniques. Social-demographic data were collected using structured self-administered questionnaire. The data collected were analyzed using simple percentages, Odd Ratios and Chi-square analytical methods. Out of 423 samples tested for Cholera, 150(35.5%) were positive, while, the age-related prevalence, was highest in 18-29 year old age group (OR=3.21; P=0.001) with 70.8%, followed by those within the age bracket of 5-10 years (OR=2.12) with 51.4%. The gender-related prevalence was higher in females (OR=2.23; P=0.037) with 42.6%, while, their male counter-parts (OR=1.01) had 27.5% of the infection. Sources of drinking water, educational status, age and gender had significant effects on the prevalence of cholera among the population. There is significant association between gender (X2 = 4.33; P = 0.037); age (X2 = 53.80; P = 0.001) and Cholera infection in the area. Government should encourage public health campaign, in form of health education, provision of portable water as well as hygiene and sanitation practices to drastically reduce the rate of infection. Keywords: Cholera, Association, Vibrio, Gwagwalada, Abuja, Prevalence. Title: CHOLERA AND ASSOCIATED RISK FACTORS IN GWAGWALADA AREA COUNCIL, FCT, ABUJA, NIGERIA Author: Okoroiwu.G.I.A, Onah.M.C. International Journal of Novel Research in Healthcare and Nursing ISSN 2394-7330 Vol. 10, Issue 2, May 2023 - August 2023 Page No: 49-57 Novelty Journals Website: www.noveltyjournals.com Published Date: 08-June-2023 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.8017352 Paper Download Link (Source) https://www.noveltyjournals.com/upload/paper/CHOLERA%20AND%20ASSOCIATED-08062023-5.pdf, International Journal of Novel Research in Healthcare and Nursing, ISSN 2394-7330, Novelty Journals, Website: www.noveltyjournals.com

The study investigated user satisfaction and performance of facilities management service delivery in private high-rise buildings using the industrial training fund (ITF) house Maitama, Abuja, as a study area. Survey research was carried out through the use of a questionnaire instrument. Three hundred fifty questionnaires were administered to users, of which 304 were retrieved. The simple random sampling technique was adopted for the study, while data obtained from the field were analysed using statistical packages for social. The study found that only pest control services, security facilities (e.g. CCTV), parking facilities, and fire extinguishers were rated well by the respondents in the study area. Results also indicate that users were delighted with leisure facilities (e.g. seating bench), refuse disposal facilities, intercom system and TV reception, and recreational facilities and were satisfied too with fire alarms. Users are happy with the pest control systems in the ITF building, security facilities, parking, fire extinguishers, electricity supply systems, water supply systems and air conditioning.Further findings show that facilities performance explains 78.9% of the variance in user satisfaction which is highly significant (Sig. = .000) as indicated by the F-value of 394.4. Furthermore, standardised Beta coefficients indicate that quality has the most significant beta coefficient of 0.826, thus making the most substantial contribution in explaining user satisfaction which means facilities' performance and quality have a positive and significant effect on user satisfaction. The study concluded that ITF building Maitama, Abuja facilities are performing satisfactorily. This suggests that the building owners and operators must put substantial provisions in place to perform satisfactorily. Finally, the study recommended that owners and management of high-rise buildings must recognise the need to improve the effectiveness of Facilities service to make the buildings more functional and comfortable for users.

Informal settlements in major urban areas are often derided through discourses as pockets of poverty, disorder, and marginalisation. Consequently, city planning officials often seek to eliminate or reduce such settlements for more ordered planned settlements. Yet, informal urban settlements continue to remain a part of urban life and have, in many places, increased in size and density. This paper provides an ethnographic account of the place-making activities deployed by informal settlement dwellers in Abuja, Nigeria, who face constant threats of displacement and eviction. We use place-making as an analytic lens with which to explore the discursive, political, and material strategies used by individuals and communities to resist the threats of displacement. Through ethnographic fieldwork in Mabushi and Mpape, we identify, on the one hand, the key material strategies of place-making to include incremental improvement to dwellings, planting of economic trees, and physical confrontations. On the other hand, the formation of settlement associations and active involvement in local politics with its attendant alliance-making have contributed to place-making strategies through the development of meanings, senses of togetherness, and belonging to the settlements. Our findings show the agency of informal settlement dwellers and how they use both material processes and discursive narratives to generate new meanings of place, tenure security, and the right to the city. This enables them to resist displacement from the urban environment. We conclude that a place-making approach to exploring informal settlements is fruitful for understanding the complexity of urban change processes in the Nigerian context.

It is well known that housing demands ranked second in the hierarchy of human necessities after food. This study examined inhabitants' choices and satisfaction with housing provided by private developers and public-private partnerships in Abuja. Participants were given questionnaires at the public-private partnership and private developer estates; at the public estate, 300 questionnaires were distributed, of which 227 were retrieved. Of the 24 questionnaires served for the Private Developer development Ologunloye Estate, 11 were retrieved. According to the analysis. T-test analysis was also used to determine the difference between inhabitants' choices and contentment with dwellings provided by the government and PPP in the research area. At 0.06 and 0.011, which is smaller than the 0.05 significance level, the ANOVA findings likewise showed a significant difference in residence satisfaction between public housing estates and PPP. Building a bridge between residents' preferences and their own should be a goal of developers in both the public and private housing sectors. To boost resident appreciation and satisfaction, it would be best if the drainage systems, waste management, and sewage disposal were improved. The survey's findings indicate that respondents' contentment and preference for inhabitants are incredibly high, high, and moderate.

Background The current neonatal mortality rate in Nigeria (37/1000) is among the highest in the world and the major causes have consistently been reported as sepsis, perinatal asphyxia and prematurity. However, case-specific fatality which defines the risk of dying from these and other neonatal morbidities is rarely emphasized. Determination of case-specific fatality rates (CSFR) may inform a change in our current approach to neonatal care interventions which may eventually bring about the much-needed reduction in our neonatal mortality rate. Our aim was to determine the case-specific fatality rates for the common causes of mortality among hospitalized neonates at the National Hospital Abuja (NHA). Methods Relevant demographic and clinical data on all neonates admitted into the NICU at the NHA over a period of 13 months (January 2017 to February 2018) were extracted from the Neonatal Registry database and analyzed using appropriate statistical methods with the SPSS version 20 software. The case-specific fatality rates were computed for the predominant morbidities in addition to determination of the neonatal mortality rates and associated risk factors. Results and conclusion A total of 730 neonates were admitted, out of which 391 (53.6%) were females, 396 (54.5%) were inborn and 396 (54.2%) were term. The three most prevalent morbidities were prematurity 272(37.2%), neonatal Jaundice 208(28.4%) and perinatal asphyxia 91(12.5%) while the most common causes of mortality were prematurity 47/113(41.6%), congenital malformations 27/113(23.9%) and perinatal asphyxia 26/113(23%). Congenital malformations had the highest case-specific fatality 27/83(32.5%) followed by Perinatal Asphyxia 26/91(28.6%) and prematurity 47/272(20.7%). The mortality pattern differed between inborn and out born babies. Implications of these case-specific fatality rates for targeted interventions are discussed.

Background: Early detection of breast cancer is important in reducing mortality, morbidity, and high socioeconomic burden associated with it. Mammography is currently the primary imaging modality used as a screening tool to detect early breast cancer in women experiencing no symptoms as they are most curable in the early stage with availability of breast conservative therapies. Objective: This study aimed at determining the mammographic breast density patterns and outcome in asymptomatic women who presented for mammographic examination in Abuja. Materials and Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study comprises of 113 asymptomatic women who presented for mammographic examination at the Radiology Department of University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Gwagwalada from March 2015 to December 2018. Two basic views (craniocaudal and mediolateral views) of the breast were obtained using EXR-650 mammographic machine. Results: The mean age of study population was 40.72 ± 10.45 years with age range of 35 and 65 years. Base on mammographic breast density, breast imaging, reporting, and data system 1 and 2 were the most prevalent. There was a positive correlation between mammographic breast density and age of respondents. This relationship was statistically significant (Pearson correlation = 0.56, P = 0.000). The mammographic outcome among asymptomatic women who had mammographic examination was negative in 69 (61.1%) women and positive in 44 (38.9%). The positive outcome noted in mammograms of women examined was: benign mass in 18 (15.9%) women; 9 (8.0%) had benign calcification; 7 (6.2%) showed architectural distortion; 5 (4.4%) was inconclusive; focal asymmetry in 3 (2.6%); and suspicious mass in 2 (1.8%). Conclusion: In this study, screening of women reveals various benign and malignant breast pathologies which necessitate early interventions.

This study evaluated food security index and adoption of agricultural technologies among sesame farmers in Abuja, Nigeria. The objectives specifically designed for this study were: determine the socio-economic profiles or characteristics of sesame farmers, evaluate the food security index of sesame farmers, determine the marginal productivity of sesame farmers, determine the adoption index of sesame farmers and evaluate factors influencing adoption of agricultural technologies among sesame farmers. Data used were of primary sources. Data were collected using well-designed and also well-structured questionnaire. The questionnaire was subjected to validity and reliability tests. Multi-stage sampling method was used to select 100 sesame farmers. Data were analyzed using the following statistical and econometric tools: descriptive statistics, food security index, marginal productivity, adoption index and Logit regression model. The results show that 70% of sesame farmers were less than 50 years which implies that they are young, active, energetic and resourceful. Also, 64% of sesame farmers were married and 90% of them had formal education. The household sizes were large with an average of 7 people per household. Sesame farmers had considerable experiences in farm activities with an average of 8 years experiences in sesame farming. Based on headcount ratio, 54% of sesame farming households was food secure while 46% were food insecure. Two-third mean of per capital expenditure on food by sesame farming households was 1, 551.10 Naira Resource productivity shows that land, seed, and fertilizers were under-utilized while labour was over-utilized. An average adoption index of 72% was estimated and 47.37% of sesame farmers were medium adopters while 52.63% of sesame farmers were high adopters of agricultural technologies. Age(P

This study came when the need for shelter by man has always been an issue for both the person in need of a house and the people in charge of supplying or designing the house. It is widely known the demand for housing came in second in the hierarchical system of man's needs after meals. This study examined residents' satisfaction and preferences in Abuja's housing provision by the government and public-private partnerships. Participants were given questionnaires at the Public Estate, of which 36 were recovered; 300 questionnaires were served at the Public Estate, with 227 recovered. Participants in this study are tenants in both the Public Partnership Estate and the Private Partnership Estate. According to the findings, 30 housing estates in the Ministerial Housing Estate (Public) in Abuja (PPP). Residents' preferences in the study areas are preferred, according to the respondents. The difference between residents' satisfaction and preferences in the houses provided by the government and PPP in the study area was also ascertained using a T-test analysis. The ANOVA results also revealed a significant difference in residence satisfaction between public housing estates and PPP at 0.06 and 0.011, less than the 0.05 significance level. Developers in the public and private housing sectors should work to bridge the gap between residents' preferences and their own. They should improve the drainage systems, waste management, and sewage disposal to increase resident satisfaction. According to the survey results, respondents' satisfaction and preference for residents are very high, high, and moderate, respectively.

Tap water from twenty-five houses using private water sources, in an area of ironic and fluoride mineralization (Abuja, Nigeria), was evaluated so to ascertain the extent of conformity with chemical clean water quality criterions, and how this is inspired through householder water treatment resolutions. The percentage of analyses surpassing water quality criteria were high, with 67% of tap water samples above one or more chemical criterions. The greatest exceedances for health-established criterions were iron (44%) and fluoride (40%). The concentration of iron in borehole water varied at different sites, between 0.01 mg/L and 2.95 mg/L with an average value of 1.02 mg/L while that of fluoride ranged from 0.47 mg/L to 1.84 mg/L with an average value of 1.28 mg/L. The Hierarchical cluster analysis revealed three common clusters in which the samples may be grouped. The carcinogenic threat was calculated with defined procedures by USEPA considering ingesting and dermal pathways. The CDI values for iron and fluoride varied from 6.80E-04 to 0.20 and 8.33E-02 to 0.12 for children, while adults’ index was 9.17E-04 to 1.56E-02 and 5.56E-02 to 1.44E-02, respectively. For Total Threat Index (TTI), adults and children are below 1.0 for both iron and fluoride in all the examined locations.

This thesis argues that religion impacts peace between members of different religious groups, but it is at times not in the manner that some religious leaders and some of those who favourably comment on religious peacebuilding hold. It makes this argument based on primary data collected in Abuja, north-central Nigeria and evidence collected from the academic literature on religion, peace and conflict in northern Nigeria and other areas. Rather than take the common path of evaluating the role of religious peacebuilding in conflict or post-conflict settings, the research explores lessons that could be derived from “zones of peace.” This term is used in the study to refer to religiously mixed communities where violent interreligious conflicts have not occurred. While conflict-affected parts of northern Nigeria have been studied by several researchers, relatively peaceful areas in the region have received less empirical attention. One such area is Abuja, which has a unique identity as the capital of a heterogeneous Nigeria. Hence, this research aimed to explore the impact of three interrelated religious factors on the relative peace existing in the territory and draw on academic literature to interpret the findings and contribute to the fields of religious peacebuilding, interreligious relations, and Christian-Muslim relations in northern Nigeria. The factors are religious leaders, religious peace norms, and religious peace activism. Guided by an interpretive paradigm and adopting a case study design, the author conducted fieldwork in Abuja from January to August 2019. The study discovered that religion matters to lay Christians and Muslims in Abuja in a variety of ways, for example, as a source of strength amidst life’s challenges and as a marker of identity that helps to define oneself and the other. Within this context of religiosity, various forms of religious peacebuilding, which are supposedly motivated primarily by religious peace norms, take place. This suggests that religious leaders, religious peace norms and religious peace activism have helped to sustain the relative peace in Abuja. However, while various kinds of religious peacebuilding take place in the area, and while there is a common perception among religious leaders that religion is a crucial source of the relative peace in the territory, interviews with lay Christians and Muslims there show that these religious factors (leaders, norms and activism) are rarely at the centre of their choice or decision to have peaceful attitudes towards religious others, despite the interreligious divides existing in the territory. Instead, it was self-protection, concern for family, a desire for survival and progress, and the prevention of the harmful consequences of physical violence. These practical issues often matter strongly to believers, sometimes more than religious differences or the religious peacebuilding that responds to them. The study also discovered that interreligious dialogue between top-level Christian and Muslim religious leaders in Abuja, which is one of the methods of religious peacebuilding being carried out in the territory, seems to have a limited impact on the peace that exists on the ground. Furthermore, the research showed how the interreligious peace in the area partially depends on factors that are primarily nonreligious, even though they are often interwoven with religion. These include Abuja’s demographics, governance, and policing. These findings serve as the major basis of the above-stated argument of the thesis. While showing the relevance of religion in the dynamics of interreligious peace, the study highlights the importance of believers’ practical interests in these dynamics.

This study examines the activities of the informal recycling sector in Abuja, Nigeria. This is no formal recycling programme in Abuja. Scavengers carry out waste segregation and identification for recyclable materials. The questionnaires were administered to one thousand, five hundred (1500) scavengers and scrap dealers (stakeholders) to obtain socioeconomic and demographic characteristics. The questionnaires contain age distribution, gender, marital status, education level, working hours, number of stakeholders, citizenship, experience on the job, materials recovered, quantities of recyclables, and income. The majority of the scavengers are between the ages of 21 and 40 years, and they work between 10–12 h. The scavengers are predominantly male. The scavengers sort out recyclables 19.76 kg/c/d. The estimated quantity of recyclables generated in Abuja is 133,688 kg per day (133.688 tons per day). A waste picker earns between N1000 ($2.8) and N1500 ($4.2) per day; itinerant dealers earn between N1500 ($2.8) and N2000 ($5.6) per day, and scrap dealers earn between N10, 000 ($27.77) and N15, 000 ($41.67) per day in Abuja. The activities of stakeholders contribute to the recovery and sorting of secondary waste recyclables. The study highlighted the challenges of scavengers.

Background Nigeria is ranked second highest in the rate of road accidents and other emergencies (Deaths, disabilities) among 193 countries of the world. There is therefore the need for analyzing Emergency Medical Rescue Services (EMRS) in the country to identify options for improvement. Method The study was conducted from February, 2016 to March, 2017 in three EMRS organizations (FRSC, NEMA and MAITAMA Hospital) located in Abuja. The structure, resources, process of EMRS activities and outcome (delay times, case fatality as well as victims and service-providers satisfaction with services) were assessed through observation, time measurements and interviews. Results FRSC and NEMA offers (Road Traffic Injury) RTI and Disaster services, the ambulances consist of Intensive Care Unit(ICU) buses, Helicopters, Speed boats, motorbikes and other specialized vehicles. Mortality and morbidity recorded for 2016 was 1.1 and 2% respectively. MAITAMA is a specialist centre that offers general medical services. A total number 1227(88.8%) lives were saved during the observational period by three organizations, 60(4.9%) deaths, 132 (9.6%) disabilities, 793 (57.2%) NCDs and 593(42.8%) RTI. Conclusion Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) cause many deaths and morbidities in the developing world compared to infectious diseases. There is need for total revamping and education of EMRS institutions in Nigeria and Low- Middle Income Countries (LMICs). Abuja and its surroundings suffers from delays in rapid emergency services, lack of adequate awareness, functional ambulances, minimal specialists and inadequate consumables lead to the loss of many lives.

The mass migration that occurred during 2009–2013 and after the insurgency in northeastern Nigeria could have increased malaria incidence and Plasmodium falciparum genetic diversity in North Central Nigeria. To determine P. falciparum sequence diversity in this region, we screened 282 samples collected in regional clinics during 2015–2018 for Plasmodium spp. and, with positive samples, determined P. falciparum infection complexity and allele diversity using PCR. Of 34 P. falciparum–positive samples, 39 msp1, 31 msp2, and 13 glurp alleles were detected, and 88% of infections were polyclonal. We identified trimorphic and dimorphic allele combinations in a high percentage of samples, indicative of a high infection complexity in the study population. High genetic diversity is a catalyst for the evolution of drug-resistant alleles. Improved measures (e.g., better drug quality, diagnostics) are needed to control P. falciparum transmission and reduce the potential for the emergence of drug resistance in Nigeria.

Background: Population growth led to an increase in the number of people raising pigs, resulting in increased demand for piglets/pigs for breeding and pork for consumption. Aim: This study was carried out to determine the reproductive performance of pigs raised by the intensive management system in Abuja, Nigeria, with a view to assist farmers in ensuring improved productivity and profitability. Materials and Methods: Using an interview-based questionnaire, data from 121 sows and 649 preweaning piglets were collected in 12 herds, from September 2017 to March 2018. Measures of reproductive and production performance assessed in this study were interfarrowing interval (IFI), number of liveborn piglets (NLB), preweaning piglet mortality (PPM), age at weaning (AAW), weaning to service interval (WSI), age at first farrowing (AFF), number of piglets weaned per litter (NPWL), and number of piglets weaned per sow per year (NPWPY). Results: The results obtained in this study were IFI 6.2±0.84 months, NLB 7.2±1.11, PPM 31%, AAW 40.2±3.12 days, NPWL 5.3±0.73, WSI 39.4±4.59 days, AFF 9.1±0.60 months, and NPWPY 8.1±1.21. The identified causes of PPM were maternal overlay 31.34%, splay leg/hypoglycemia 22.39%, cannibalism 20.40%, starvation 14.93%, and unknown cause 10.94%. Conclusion: The result showed that the reproductive performance of the sow (especially, NPWPY and PPM) needs to be improved on. There is a need to promote extension and herd health services by veterinarians and livestock personnel to potential and existing farmers in the area. This is more so because organized pig production in the studied area is relatively new and more people are establishing pig farms in the studied area.

The degradation of rivers in urban landscapes is alarming and impaired their ecological functions and the services they provide to society. In African cities, urban rivers are among the most degraded ecosystems, yet ecologically sustainable utilisation of river resources can contribute to and support sustainable urban development. In this paper, we identify and analyse key governance and institutional drivers of ecological change in urban river systems in the Swartkops catchment in South Africa and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Nigeria. Our results indicate that poor ecological conditions of rivers in the two urban landscapes can be attributed to: (1) a lack of system view of the water value chain and associated infrastructure, (2) ambiguity in roles, responsibilities, and poor accountability, (3) prioritizing short-term social–economic–political agenda over long-term environmental sustainability goals, (4) institutional silos and failure of cooperative governance, and (5) over-centralised, top-down, state-centric governance processes. Strengthening the interactions between actors in the science, policy and practice domains, mainstreaming planning with rivers in integrated urban development plans, and strengthening cooperative and polycentric governance across administrative scales are key governance and institutional processes needed to address the trajectory of urban ecological degradation. Our paper sheds light on the fundamental role of strengthening governance and institutional processes for steering urban rivers toward sustainable paths for city resilience.

This paper contextualizes Abuja’s planning history (Nigeria, 1979-1981) and Palmas (Brazil, 1989), considering networks of knowledge, travelling ideas, and the planners’ tool-kit. It analyses these new capital cities’ layouts through a more global reading of planning history. It argues that their plans, created out of political and economic imperatives and entrusted with transformative expectations, did not abandon the hegemonic modernist models in post-modernist, post-colonial times, regardless of the planners’ backgrounds. Global ideas concealed cultural sensibilities in both cases as local and foreign professionals developed comparable planning proposals in equivalent responses to the international frameworks.

This paper contextualizes Abuja’s planning history (Nigeria, 1979-1981) and Palmas (Brazil, 1989), considering networks of knowledge, travelling ideas, and the planners’ tool-kit. It analyses these new capital cities’ layouts through a more global reading of planning history. It argues that their plans, created out of political and economic imperatives and entrusted with transformative expectations, did not abandon the hegemonic modernist models in post-modernist, post-colonial times, regardless of the planners’ backgrounds. Global ideas concealed cultural sensibilities in both cases as local and foreign professionals developed comparable planning proposals in equivalent responses to the international frameworks., Este artigo contextualiza a história do planeamento de Abuja (Nigéria, 1979-1981) e Palmas (Brasil, 1989), considerando redes de conhecimento, ideias em curso e as ferramentas dos urbanistas. Procura analisar as configurações destas novas capitais através de uma leitura mais global da história do planeamento. Argumenta-se que os planos, criados a partir de imperativos políticos e económicos e confiados a expectativas transformadoras, não abandonaram os modelos modernistas hegemónicos nos tempos pós-modernistas e pós-coloniais, independentemente das origens dos planeadores. As ideias globais ocultaram sensibilidades culturais em ambos os casos, à medida que profissionais locais e estrangeiros desenvolveram propostas de planeamento comparáveis em respostas equivalentes às estruturas internacionais.

This paper contextualizes Abuja’s planning history (Nigeria, 1979-1981) and Palmas (Brazil, 1989), considering networks of knowledge, travelling ideas, and the planners’ tool-kit. It analyses these new capital cities’ layouts through a more global reading of planning history. It argues that their plans, created out of political and economic imperatives and entrusted with transformative expectations, did not abandon the hegemonic modernist models in post-modernist, post-colonial times, regardless of the planners’ backgrounds. Global ideas concealed cultural sensibilities in both cases as local and foreign professionals developed comparable planning proposals in equivalent responses to the international frameworks.

The continuous increases in the numbers of road traffic crashes (RTC) over the years, especially in developing countries, have been a source of worry. The majority of the RTC are attributed to road user behaviours exhibited by the drivers. This study sets out to investigate the road user attitudes and behaviours in Abuja, Nigeria. A total of 1526 questionnaires were distributed, of which 321 questionnaires were completed and returned. The questionnaires tried to understand four major road user behaviours, namely use of seatbelts, drink driving, use of mobile phone while driving, and use of child restraints. The results after analysing the questionnaires showed that the majority of the road users in Abuja showed high non-compliance with the use of seatbelts, either when driving or when being driven. About 64% of the respondents admitted to not using seatbelts. Results from the cross-tabulation process showed that the high non-compliance to seatbelt usage was statistically associated with young, single road users. Around one-third of Abuja road users admitted to drink driving. Road users who were married engaged in more frequent drink driving than road users who were single, and the association was statistically significant. A high percentage of Abuja road users admitted to using mobile phones while driving and 55.8% of the total respondents admitted to not using child restraints while driving. A lack of child restraints was statistically associated more with male road users than female road users. It is recommended that stricter enforcement of road safety laws should be undertaken and that the government should provide road safety agents with the right equipment (e.g., speed guns, breathalyzers) that would aid road safety agents to perform their duties effectively in order to curb the excessive bad road user behaviours in Abuja.

Introduction:dyslipidemia and hypertension are independent cardiovascular risk factors that are linked by insulin resistance and commonly coexist as components of the metabolic syndrome. The consequences of dyslipidaemic patterns includes high cardiovascular risk profile and sequalae. Data on lipid patterns amongst hypertensive patients in Abuja, a city with affluent pattern of life style and rising cardiovascular risk profile is very scanty or limited to just levels of total plasma cholesterol. This study was aimed at determining the pattern and frequencies of dyslipidaemic forms among hypertensive patients in Abuja. Methods:this was a retrospective cohort study with the following data collected; socio-demographics, anthropometric measures and certain metabolic parameters from the new and old groups and analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics, version 23. All decisions were made using the assymp. Two-sided Pearson χ2 probability. Quantitative variables were expressed as means and standard deviations. Qualitative variables were expressed as percentages. A p-value of ≤0.05 was set as significant. Results:eight fifty eight (858) cases were enrolled for this study, 704 (82.1%) olds and 154 (17.9%) news. There were 251 (29.3%) males and 607 (70.7%) females. The means of the two groups were largely comparable. The commonest dyslipidaemic type was reduced High density lipoprotein, HDL (96.1%), followed by elevated low-density lipoprotein, LDL (78.6%), then, elevated total cholesterol, (62.3%) TCHOL and elevated triglycerides, TG 43.5%. Conclusion:dyslipidemic forms are very common among hypertensive patients in Abuja, Nigeria, particularly reduced HDL. Some observed associations include; middle age, female gender, middle/upper socio-economic classes, low levels of physical activity, overweight/obesity, dysglycaemia and long-standing hypertension.

Background: Intimate partner violence is an important public health and human rights issue. Previous studies have considered intimate partner violence in pregnancy mainly among pregnant women attending antenatal clinics thereby missing out a few who may encounter this problem in late pregnancy or just before delivery. This study had the objective of ascertaining the prevalence, pattern of intimate partner violence, and associated materno-fetal outcomes. Method: This was a cross-sectional study conducted between January 2017 and June 2017 among postpartum mothers at a Nigerian Teaching Hospital just before being discharged home. The abuse assessment score was adapted and used to interview women regarding possible intimate partner violence experiences within the past 1 year and during the pregnancy after obtaining written consent. Results: Out of 349 postpartum women interviewed, 102/349 (29.2%) experienced intimate partner violence in the past 1 year, while 18/349 (5.2%) of intimate partner violence occurred in the index pregnancy. Sexual partners were the main perpetuators of intimate partner violence, 67/102 (65.7%), while 35/102 (34.3%) were by someone else other than their sexual partners. Among those abused in the current pregnancy, 10/18 (55.6%) were abused once and the remaining 8/18 (44.4%) were abused more than once. Intimate partner violence was associated with higher chances of cesarean section ( p = 0.001), increased risk of lesser birth weight babies ( p = 0.014), and maternal complications in pregnancy ( p = 0.030). Conclusion: The prevalence of intimate partner violence in pregnancy in Abuja is high with associated poor materno-fetal outcomes. Enforcing existing legislations and screening for intimate partner violence during routine antenatal care may help reduce its prevalence and ensure a positive pregnancy experience for Nigerian women.

Background and Aim: Different species of trypanosomes have been reported to cause varying degrees of reproductive disorders in pregnant and non-pregnant animals under experimental infections. Information on reproductive disorders and losses in animals naturally infected with trypanosome species are few. This study was carried out to assess the abnormalities in the genital organs (ovaries, oviduct, uterus, cervix, and vagina) of female cattle naturally infected with trypanosomes in and around Abuja, Nigeria. Materials and Methods: Cows showing signs such as emaciation, weakness, or anemia were selected and examined at Gwagwalada and Karu abattoirs, respectively. Venous blood samples were taken from 108 of such animals and screened using standard trypanosome detection methods. The genital organs were also collected and inspected for gross and histopathological lesions in the laboratory. Results: Six (5.55%) out of the 108 animals were positive for trypanosomes; 4 (66.7%) were infected with Trypanosoma vivax and 2 (33.3%) were infected with Trypanosoma congolense. The mean packed cell volume of the infected animals was 22.83%. Grossly, congestion and ecchymotic hemorrhages were observed in the endometrium, myometrium, and cervical submucosa. Mucometra, hydrometra, and pyometra were also seen in the uterus. Histologically, necrosis of the epithelium and endometrial glands accompanied by mononuclear cellular infiltration was observed in the uterus. There was also sloughing of the endometrial epithelium, vascular congestion, and hypertrophy of serosa of the uterus. There was atropy of the granulosa cells, increased numbers of degenerating tertiary follicles, and absence of corpora lutea in the ovary. No gross or histopathological lesions were observed in the fallopian tube and vagina. Conclusion: The lesions observed were restricted to the uterus and ovary of the animals and were less severe when compared to lesions observed under experimental conditions as reported by previous authors.

The aim of this study is to analyze rainfall data so as to develop rainfall intensity – duration – frequency (IDF) models and curves for Abuja metropolis, Nigeria. A thirty-one years data set was obtained, checked for consistency and then used for the modeling. The method of Annual Series was used to select the data sets for the rainfall analysis. The data were fitted to Gumbel Extreme Value Type – 1 (GEVT – 1), Log Pearson Type III (LPT – 3), Pearson Type III (PLT – 3), Normal and Log Normal (LN) Distributions. Probability distribution function (PDF) and Non-Probability distribution function (nPDF) were calibrated to obtain the IDF models. Chi-squared goodness-of- fit test was used to confirm the appropriateness of the fitted distributions for the location. The Gumbel Extreme Value distribution has the best fit and was adopted in developing models using the PDF (power model). The location parameters resulting from GEVT – 1 were determined thus: c = 23.16, m = 0.21 and e = 0.55. Five IDF models were developed using the nPDF (quotient model) for return periods of 2, 5, 10, 16 and 32 years. The coefficient of correlation (R2) for different return periods for all models developed showed very high values ranging from 0.7538 to 0.9927, an indication of good curve fitting. The IDF models developed for Abuja showed no significant difference when compared with results from locations within the same zone using t-test of significance though durations of 12 and 24 hours had exceptions. The application of IDF models (power law and quotient) with return period of 10 years and rainfall duration of 2 hours for design of a typical rectangular drainage channel was found to be okay. The IDF models and curves are recommended for the prediction of rainfall events for Abuja.

Background Understanding the features of preventive care uptake is critical for assessing the performance and viability of primary care in any healthcare system. There are gaps in previous studies that focused on primary healthcare features, challenges and way forward in Nigeria but were mainly public sector focused and do not characterize the features of preventive care. Since private healthcare sector remains the most accessed and utilized in Nigeria, this study sought to characterize the features of uptake of preventive care to better understand the current preventive healthcare landscape. Method A descriptive cross-sectional study, using survey questionnaire were randomly administered to adult patients attending the Family Medicine Out-Patient Department (OPD) at Nisa Premier Hospital, Jabi Abuja. The study was conducted over a three-month period. (January to June 2017). Data collected were analyzed using SPSS version 23 (IBM SPSS, Chicago, IL, USA). Descriptive statistics in the form of frequency and percentage were used to report the results. Results A total of 381 participants completed the survey. The results revealed that while an over overwhelming majority (> 90%) of participants indicated knowledge of benefits of preventive care, and preferred interventions aimed at preventing a disease before they occur, 48% preferred interventions aimed at reducing disease or injury impact or interventions aimed at ameliorating the impact of ongoing disease or injury with long lasting effect (43%). Unfortunately, less than 40% of respondents would visit the hospital when their health condition is not serious. Important barriers to uptake of preventive care were revealed as cost (45%), distance to the healthcare provider (36%) and lack of health insurance (33%), whereas poor education (19%), social norms (13%) as well as cultural and religious beliefs (10%) towards accessing certain health services appeared to be lesser barriers. Conclusion Although people are aware of the benefits of preventive care, its uptake will greatly be enhanced through improved health insurance coverage, refocusing primary healthcare functions on preventive rather than curative care and instituting policies that mandatorily prescribe uptake for the insured, both at the individual and the insurer’s level.

Against the background of the need to provide affordable housing to its people in the Federal Capital City Abuja and in Minna, the Federal Capital Development Authority and Niger state Government entered into a number of partnerships with the private sector. Most of the partnerships have reached maturity stage, but the resultant outcomes are yet to be determined. Hence, the study evaluated Public-Private Partnership (PPP) in housing provision in Minna and FCT Abuja through the self-administration of 640 structured questionnaires to the occupants of 5 housing estates in the two areas. In addition to this, five interviews were conducted for the agencies responsible for the estates. Findings from the study indicated that only 5.8% of the occupants (respondents) were the low income earners that benefited from the 5 housing estates selected and 38.4% of the respondents were satisfied with quality of work done by the developers. It was discovered that 40.9% of the respondents contributed between 31-40% of their monthly income on repayment. Bureaucratic bottleneck was one of the challenges faced in the implementation of PPP in housing provision among others. Housing provided using PPP is still skewed towards the medium and high income groups living vast majority of the low income group in limbo. Efforts should be intensified by the government in creating conducive environment for mortgage financing to thrive in order to create avenue for the low income group access to mortgage so that the huge housing deficit could be bridged.

Worldwide, eclampsia remains one of the major causes of maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality. Pre-eclampsia/eclampsia is a multisystem disease and despite extensive research, no definitive etiology has been identified. This disease therefore continues to pose a challenge in obstetric practice, especially in developing countries like ours. This study therefore set out to determine the prevalence, associated factors, and outcome of eclampsia at the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Abuja, Nigeria. It was a descriptive retrospective review of cases of eclampsia managed at the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Abuja over a 10-year period. The case notes of these women were retrieved and relevant data obtained included age, parity, booking status, type of eclampsia, gestational age at presentation, mode of delivery, maternal and perinatal outcome variables. Data was analysed using the statistical package for social sciences (SPSS Inc, Chicago) version 20 and outcome variables represented in simple percentages. Of the 22,945 deliveries conducted during that period, 257 cases of eclampsia were managed, putting the prevalence of eclampsia at 1.12%. Of these, 90.5% were unbooked, 67.6% were primigravidae and 88.2% were below 30years of age. Antepartum eclampsia was the commonest form, occurring in 67.6% of the patients. Caesarean section was the mode of delivery in 82.2% of cases. Maternal and perinatal mortality were 4.6% and 11.1% respectively. In conclusion, eclampsia is a major cause of maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality. Interventions suggested include widespread health education on the need for patients to have antenatal care.

Making cities inclusive is one of the goals of Agenda 2030, and access to publicspaces is identified as an important sub-goal. However, in urban Africa, access by street vendors and other marginalised groups to public spaces seems to be on the decline. This policy note discusses why this is so, what processes lie behind the decline and what the effects are for groups that depend on public space for survival. This policy note is based on the research project "The demise of the informal city? Economic growth and street work in urban Africa", funded by the Swedish Research Council (grant no 2015-03474). For more information and publications, go to: humangeo.su.se/urbanafrica

The article examines how street vendors in Abuja, Nigeria are experiencing and responding to the attempts to restrict their access to public space. Modernist planning and the increasing trend in the privatization of public space is limiting the amount and types of public spaces available to street vendors. Drawing largely on primary research, the article reports that street vendors are responding by adopting a range of spatial, relational and temporal tactics. Specifically, it cites the Ready-to-Run tactic, relocating to relatively more secure sites, informal relations and networks and operating at certain times of the day. Access to the street and mobility are key factors that shape the types of tactics adopted. Vendors prioritize proximity to the street in order to maximize access to potential customers. The highly mobile vendors are more likely to adopt spatial and temporal tactics, while the less mobile tend to rely on informal relations and networks. Furthermore, in the absence of formal organizing, individual agency is more prevalent. Where collective agency exists, it is often a response to an immediate challenge. Gender and age influence the experiences of vendors and the tactics adopted. The Abuja case is a notable example of the link between modernist planning, particularly the master plan approach and socio-spatial exclusion. As a city built from scratch, the plan laid the foundation for socio-spatial exclusion by planning the poor out of the city. The plan remains at the centre of contemporary urban politics, notably the relations between the state and informal workers.

In recent years Nigeria has recorded an overt increase in the establishment of purpose-built attractions as a result of the influence of technological advancement and globalisation. One such attractions which has had an unprecedented growth is the amusement park in Abuja. These parks are recreational centres designed to offer entertaining activities to visitors. The explosion of these parks in the country has created a new marketing niche in tourism – amusement park leisure. Adopting the functionalist theory this work set out to examine the role of amusement parks in tourism promotion in the country using Magicland Abuja. To achieve this goal, the work employed a quantitative method of research using the instrumentality of questionnaires which were administered on the study population comprising a sample of park visitors. However, out of the 200 questionnaires administered 182 copies were suitably completed. The data elicited were analyzed through the use of simple percentages. From the findings, the study revealed the indispensible place of Magicland in promoting touristic activities and this has subsequently led to the proliferation of amusement parks in the Abuja metropolis.

Groundwater pollution ensuing from ion exchange, weathering, agricultural and anthropogenic activities is on the rise in Nigeria. Since groundwater is used for domestic purposes, there is need for routine investigation. Findings on hydrochemistry of the groundwater components is essential for efficient and viable management. As a result, 25 Abuja water samples were collected for microbial and chemical analyses using standard methods. The cations, anions, soluble ions, trace elements, and heavy metal were obtained and compared with WHO standards. The Discriminant analysis results shown that the parameters such as hydrogen ion concentration (pH), temperature (T), alkalinity (Alk), dissolve silica (SiO2), and cations such as calcium (Ca2+), potassium (K+), as well as anions such as carbonates ( $$ {{\text{CO}}_{3}}^{2 - } $$ ), fluoride (F−), nitrates (NO3−), and heavy metal (Mn) were within the WHO guideline values for drinking water in all the samples for both seasons. Na+, $$ {{\text{SO}}_{4}}^{2 - } $$ , EC, Mg2+, TDS, Fe2+, HCO3−, F−, TH and Cl− contents exhibited the most violation of drinking water standards with percent violations of 100, 76, 64, 56, 56, 44, 40, 40, 36 and 24%, respectively. The highest level of significant correlation was found to exist between K+ and EC (r = 0.77, α = 0.05). Four hydro chemical clusters were identified from Hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) with clearly partitioned water quality. Series and time series plot reveals TDS concentration value between 1200 and 2100 mg/l, has the highest with the mean and SD are 1433.76 and 459.38, respectively. Further analysis revealed that 16, 36 and 48% of the samples were the Ca–Cl, Na–Cl, and Mixed types, respectively. Groundwater in the Abuja district is mainly hard to very hard, slightly acidic in nature, polluted by ion exchange, agricultural activities, anthropogenic activities, and weathering. Therefore, there is also need for routine monitoring of groundwater in Abuja.

Background. Urbanization, industrialization and changes in consumption patterns have compounded the problem of solid waste management in Nigeria. Poor waste management threatens the well-being and health of the local population, particularly those living adjacent to dumpsites. Objectives. An assessment of the impact of dumpsites in a satellite town of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Nigeria was carried out to determine the level of biophysical/chemical parameters (pH, temperature, conductivity, nutrients (calcium and magnesium), heavy metals (lead, chromium, zinc), and microbial burden) on the quality of soil and groundwater and their impact on health and the environment. Methods. Soil and ground water samples were collected in four different dumpsites (Bwari, Gwagwalada, Kuje and Azhatta) with reference samples taken from the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, and taken to the laboratory for biophysical/chemical analysis using standard methods. Results. The results were compared with the national and World Health Organization (WHO) standard limits for soil and water respectively. Except for zinc, the average concentrations for heavy metals in the soil samples were higher in all four dumpsites than the permissible levels. Soil and water parameters that exceed the standard limits pose significant health and environment risks to nearby residents. Conclusions. There is a need for raising the awareness of residents living close to dumpsites and those who use the well or nearby streams for domestic activities on the need to carry out adequate water treatment prior to its use. Competing Interests. The authors declare no competing financial interests.

The construction industry is a male-dominated industry globally, with poor women representation in every facet of the construction profession and the involved jobs. In this context, this study investigated the current level of women participation, challenges faced by professional women, factors that influence them in the course of developing careers in construction and the criteria that can be used to encourage women participation in the Nigerian construction industry. This was done through self-administration of 145 structured questionnaires to 93 women professionals in the built environment and 52 employers of built environment labour in Abuja, Nigeria. The analyses showed that the construction industry is largely dominated by men, with women having a lot of challenges ranging from lack of self-confidence to compete with their male counterparts to insecurity in the midst of men to execute their work as professionals. Therefore, the study recommends that making young women aware of construction industry opportunities is needed to encourage them to build their careers in construction from the school stage in order to increase the number of professional women participating in the future. In addition to this, professional women should be given equal job opportunities as their male counterparts to ensure better representation of women so that the impact of women professionals in the construction industry can be extended.

Groundwater contamination ensuing from poor effluent management and anthropogenic effects is rising in Nigeria. Thus, groundwater utilized for drinking and domestic purposes is hesitant and so demands scientific analysis. Scrutiny of hydrochemical interfaces and attribute of groundwater resource is needed so as to ascertain and monitor sources of water contaminants. Due to this, groundwater samplings were obtained from 25 sites in Abuja North, Nigeria then examined for physicochemical parameters by means of standard techniques. Results acquired were compared with WHO standards as well as subjected to geospatial and hydrochemical analyses. Five principal components which described 82.4% of the disparity in water attribute, were extricated with the PC1 (30.5%) and PC2 (19.67%) representing the anthropogenic effects, influence of mineral suspension, and contamination chemical fertilizers correspondingly, on the hydrochemistry of the region. The extreme level of significant correlation was found to subsist between EC and K+ (r = 0.770, α = 0.05). Groundwater in Abuja displayed a high level of spatial discrepancy and majority of the ions, such as Na+, TDS, SO42−, and Alk, recorded the highest values close to the municipal center. To strengthen the clarification of these geospatial plots, Hierarchical cluster scrutiny was utilized and produced four (4) hydrochemical clusters of the study region Clusters 3 and 4 showed the worst violations of water attribute criteria with percentage violation of 50 and 40% correspondingly. The increasing order of water attribute was Cluster 1 > Cluster 2 > Cluster 4 > Cluster 3. The Schoeller diagram shows the comparative propensity of ions in mg/L which indications Mg > Na > Ca and SO4 > Cl > HCO3. Further analysis revealed that water in the box 1 as carbonated group which symbolizes a water rich in Ca-HCO3, thus revitalizing. At large, the groundwater of the Abuja locality was contaminated by agricultural deeds, ion exchange, and human-induced actions.

Surface water contagion resulting from anthropogenic deeds and bad effluent management due to swift urbanization has cause a dramatic deterioration in river water quality and has threatened the aquatic ecosystem health of Nigeria. Thus, treated and untreated river water usage for domestic purposes is uncertain and, accordingly, requires scientific investigation. Research on the quality of surface water resources and hydrochemical interfaces is vital for monitoring and for determining water contaminant sources. Therefore, river samplings were obtained from 5 sampling points, for a total of 25 water samplings from the Usuma River in Abuja, Nigeria, and these samples were examined for physicochemical parameters by means of standard techniques. Additionally, the results acquired were subjected to hydrochemical scrutinizes and the examined water quality variables demonstrated wide discrepancies from one sampling station to another. The result also showed that Conductivity had the highest mean (50.68mg/l), followed by TDS (37.32mg/l) whereas Nitrite had the lowest mean (0.09mg/l). Similarly, Chloride had the highest Standard deviation (12.77mg/l).This was followed by Conductivity (11.82mg/l) while Nitrite had the lowest value of 0.01mg/l. Furthermore, most parameter (Temp, Turbidity, DO, COD, BOD and Total coliform) for every water samples examined surpassed the maximum permissible criterions of the WHO specifications for drinking water quality. The highest point of substantial correlation was found between chloride and DO (r = 0.92, α = 0.05). Four principal components were obtained that accounted for 23.87% drop in dimensionality that defined 76.13% of the total variance signifying the impact of mineral suspension and human-related actions on the hydrochemistry of the region. Two hydrochemical clusters were recognized with noticeably apportioned water quality. Advance analysis divulged that 43.7, 20.2 and 37.1% of the samples were of the (S04-Cl-Ca, S04 - Cl- CO3HC03-Ca-Mg and Mg - Ca) types, respectively. Multiple pollution effects, anthropogenic activities, the changing ecosystem, and innate features of aquatic ecosystems produce multifaceted data that pose a threat to river water quality in the study locality and this requires serious attention. There is also a need for the schedule monitoring of the Usuma River in Abuja and buffer regions at the riparian zone to enervate the deleterious effects of catchment urbanization.

Background There is a compelling need for management training amongst hospital managers in Nigeria mostly because management was never a part of the curricula in medical schools and this has resulted in their deficiencies in effective policymaking, planning and bottom line management. There has been no study to the best of our knowledge on the need and likely factors that may influence the acquisition of such training by hospital managers and this in effect was the reason for this study. Methods Data for this study came from a cross-sectional survey distributed amongst management staff in twenty five (25) hospitals that were purposively selected. One hundred and twenty five (125) questionnaires were distributed, out of which one hundred and four (104) were answered and returned giving a response rate of 83.2%. Descriptive and Inferential statistics were used to summarize the results. Decisions were made at 5% level of significance. A binary logistic regression was performed on the data to predict the logit of being formally and informally trained in health management. These statistical techniques were done using the IBM SPSS version 20. Results The result revealed a high level of formal and informal trainings amongst the respondent managers. In formal management training, only few had no training (27.9%) while in informal management training, all had obtained a form of training of which in-service training predominates (84.6%). Most of the administrators/managers also had the intention of attending healthcare management programme within the next five years (62.5%). Socio-demographically, age (p = .032) and academic qualification (p

Night time has been constantly neglected in the field of urban studies. Most of the literature in the fields of Urban Geography and Sociology has examined the daytime temporal space, neglecting the nocturnal dynamics. In fact, for only about a decade, geographical works in the sphere of night studies have taken place. This contribution, starting from the reflections of Lefebvre (1991) who claimed that specific activities took place and still take place only at night, examines particular meeting places such as bush bars, which are typical nightclubs developed in Nigeria in recent times. Present in the capital Abuja and not only, closed during the day, they come to life at dusk and are placed in the green areas of urban and peri-urban spaces; finally they enliven the African night and, under the glow of the moon and the stars, they are also the meeting place where meetings take place and important decisions are taken, they are not only a place for fun and entertainment. The aim of the qualitative research, targeted at a sample of convenience, is to inform, to make known how in an urban space referred to a capital of an African country such as Nigeria there can be particular places of aggregation not present in the western cities that they try to imitate, both from design and skyline and in the construction of relational and social dynamics, related to night entertainment., Bollettino della Società Geografica Italiana, Series 14 Vol 1 No 2 (2018)

This thesis studies Christ Embassy and NASFAT within a single comparative framework in the city of Abuja. Christ Embassy is one of the major Pentecostal churches that are rapidly growing in Nigerian urban centres. NASFAT was established in Lagos in the mid 1990s as a Muslims response to the domination of the public sphere by Pentecostalism and the consequent attraction of Muslim youths to these churches. The thesis shows how Christ Embassy and NASFAT stand in critique to mainline Christianity and Islam and how they resemble each other in form, (though not so much in content) as well as transformative of ways of being Christian/Muslim in the two groups. Furthermore, the thesis investigates the practices of prayer, preaching and engaging with the new media technology as points for comparison. Three genres of prayers have been compared: prayers of adoration, prayers of aesthetic speech, and prayers of instrumentality. The thesis argues that prayers of adoration and prayers of aesthetic speech in Christ Embassy and NASFAT facilitate the process of mediation by orchestrating bodily experiences of affect, which members recognised as a ‘divine touch’ or ‘the presence of God.’ It also argues that the instrumental prayers in the two groups attempt to establish communication with the divine and achieve the desired goals through the performative power and semiotic systems ascribed to the language of the prayers. The thesis also argues that in both Christ Embassy and NASFAT, preaching is a potent mechanism for producing and moulding religious subjects. Finally, the thesis compared technology mediated religious practices in Christ Embassy and NASFAT, focusing on the mobile phone technology as a new religious medium. The chapter argues that mobile phone technology in Christ Embassy and NASFAT is used as a religious medium that facilitates religious mediation through hosting varieties of religious resources, such as sermons, Qur’anic recitation, religious music, text, online religious performances and images, among members the members of the two groups. The comparison reveals similarities and differences in these practices and mutual borrowing, in a context in which Pentecostals set the tone for a new emergent religiosity that is more individualistic and emotional in nature. The thesis explores dynamics of inter-religious borrowing in a context of co-existence; albeit under unequal conditions since NASFAT borrow more from Pentecostals than vice versa.

This thesis studies Christ Embassy and NASFAT within a single comparative framework in the city of Abuja. Christ Embassy is one of the major Pentecostal churches that are rapidly growing in Nigerian urban centres. NASFAT was established in Lagos in the mid 1990s as a Muslims response to the domination of the public sphere by Pentecostalism and the consequent attraction of Muslim youths to these churches. The thesis shows how Christ Embassy and NASFAT stand in critique to mainline Christianity and Islam and how they resemble each other in form, (though not so much in content) as well as transformative of ways of being Christian/Muslim in the two groups. Furthermore, the thesis investigates the practices of prayer, preaching and engaging with the new media technology as points for comparison. Three genres of prayers have been compared: prayers of adoration, prayers of aesthetic speech, and prayers of instrumentality. The thesis argues that prayers of adoration and prayers of aesthetic speech in Christ Embassy and NASFAT facilitate the process of mediation by orchestrating bodily experiences of affect, which members recognised as a ‘divine touch’ or ‘the presence of God.’ It also argues that the instrumental prayers in the two groups attempt to establish communication with the divine and achieve the desired goals through the performative power and semiotic systems ascribed to the language of the prayers. The thesis also argues that in both Christ Embassy and NASFAT, preaching is a potent mechanism for producing and moulding religious subjects. Finally, the thesis compared technology mediated religious practices in Christ Embassy and NASFAT, focusing on the mobile phone technology as a new religious medium. The chapter argues that mobile phone technology in Christ Embassy and NASFAT is used as a religious medium that facilitates religious mediation through hosting varieties of religious resources, such as sermons, Qur’anic recitation, religious music, text, online religious performances and images, among members the members of the two groups. The comparison reveals similarities and differences in these practices and mutual borrowing, in a context in which Pentecostals set the tone for a new emergent religiosity that is more individualistic and emotional in nature. The thesis explores dynamics of inter-religious borrowing in a context of co-existence; albeit under unequal conditions since NASFAT borrow more from Pentecostals than vice versa.

This thesis studies Christ Embassy and NASFAT within a single comparative framework in the city of Abuja. Christ Embassy is one of the major Pentecostal churches that are rapidly growing in Nigerian urban centres. NASFAT was established in Lagos in the mid 1990s as a Muslims response to the domination of the public sphere by Pentecostalism and the consequent attraction of Muslim youths to these churches. The thesis shows how Christ Embassy and NASFAT stand in critique to mainline Christianity and Islam and how they resemble each other in form, (though not so much in content) as well as transformative of ways of being Christian/Muslim in the two groups. Furthermore, the thesis investigates the practices of prayer, preaching and engaging with the new media technology as points for comparison. Three genres of prayers have been compared: prayers of adoration, prayers of aesthetic speech, and prayers of instrumentality. The thesis argues that prayers of adoration and prayers of aesthetic speech in Christ Embassy and NASFAT facilitate the process of mediation by orchestrating bodily experiences of affect, which members recognised as a ‘divine touch’ or ‘the presence of God.’ It also argues that the instrumental prayers in the two groups attempt to establish communication with the divine and achieve the desired goals through the performative power and semiotic systems ascribed to the language of the prayers. The thesis also argues that in both Christ Embassy and NASFAT, preaching is a potent mechanism for producing and moulding religious subjects. Finally, the thesis compared technology mediated religious practices in Christ Embassy and NASFAT, focusing on the mobile phone technology as a new religious medium. The chapter argues that mobile phone technology in Christ Embassy and NASFAT is used as a religious medium that facilitates religious mediation through hosting varieties of religious resources, such as sermons, Qur’anic recitation, religious music, text, online religious performances and images, among members the members of the two groups. The comparison reveals similarities and differences in these practices and mutual borrowing, in a context in which Pentecostals set the tone for a new emergent religiosity that is more individualistic and emotional in nature. The thesis explores dynamics of inter-religious borrowing in a context of co-existence; albeit under unequal conditions since NASFAT borrow more from Pentecostals than vice versa.

Renal transplantation is the sine qua non consummate form of renal replacement therapy (RRT) for end stage renal disease (ESRD). Despite the increasing ESRD burden worldwide, developing countries continue to experience a gross lack of RRT options for its teeming citizens with ESRD. This report is a demonstration of a nephrologist’s experience and dilemma trying to make sense of the yawning disparity between RRT options, especially renal transplantation, as it applies to the citizens of the USA versus the citizens of Nigeria. The limited three-year experience of renal transplantation at Garki Hospital, located in Abuja, the capital of Nigeria, which is one of the very few centers carrying out renal transplantation in Nigeria, was starkly contrasted with this author’s first-hand experience at the University of Maryland Medical School, in Baltimore, Maryland, USA, as a Nephrology Fellow between 2000 and 2002. The potential role of public-private partnership (PPP) ventures in developing countries is considered as a way to help bridge this gap. Prologue: Just the other day, in late April 2017, during weekly scheduled hemodialysis rounds at one of the Mayo Clinic Dialysis Services outpatient hemodialysis units in Northwestern Wisconsin, this author was rounding on a pleasant 76-year old Caucasian widow who had been on dialysis since June 2016 for end stage renal disease (ESRD). Her other past medical history was notable for statin-induced myopathy, dyslipidemia, hyperuricemia, and gout, as well as peripheral vascular disease with previous bilateral femoral artery bypass procedures, a left knee meniscus repair, and unilateral renal artery stenosis, which was stented in November of 2013 and re-stented again in December of 2014. During the hemodialysis rounds, she had been asked how she was doing. “Today is my last day,” she had chuckled with a broad smile. She was getting a living kidney transplant in two days’ time at Mayo Clinic, Rochester. “The donor is my 49-year old daughter!” she added with an even broader smile. “I hope all goes well,” this author had intoned. “It will. It will,” she added, with glee. This tells the whole story; for the ESRD patient on thrice weekly hemodialysis, or any other renal replacement therapy (RRT) option for that matter, the act of getting a kidney transplant is a transformative phenomenon. “It is as if being born again,” one of my patients had noted previously.

Cervical cancer remains one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Here we report the extensive molecular characterization of 228 primary cervical cancers, one of the largest comprehensive genomic studies of cervical cancer to date. We observed notable APOBEC mutagenesis patterns and identified SHKBP1, ERBB3, CASP8, HLA-A and TGFBR2 as novel significantly mutated genes in cervical cancer. We also discovered amplifications in immune targets CD274 (also known as PD-L1) and PDCD1LG2 (also known as PD-L2), and the BCAR4 long non-coding RNA, which has been associated with response to lapatinib. Integration of human papilloma virus (HPV) was observed in all HPV18-related samples and 76% of HPV16-related samples, and was associated with structural aberrations and increased target-gene expression. We identified a unique set of endometrial-like cervical cancers, comprised predominantly of HPV-negative tumours with relatively high frequencies of KRAS, ARID1A and PTEN mutations. Integrative clustering of 178 samples identified keratin-low squamous, keratin-high squamous and adenocarcinoma-rich subgroups. These molecular analyses reveal new potential therapeutic targets for cervical cancers.

Background: Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) are an important cause of maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality throughout the world, particularly in developing countries like Nigeria. The study determined the risk factors for the development of HDP among women who booked early for antenatal care. Materials and Methods: This was a prospective case-control study conducted from March 2015 to March 2016 involving pregnant women with gestational age less than 20 weeks at booking and were followed up until delivery and 6 weeks postpartum. Information on gestational age at recruitment, at diagnosis of HDP, mode of delivery, and fetal outcome were recorded. Risk factors for HDP were compared between women who developed HDP (cases) and those who did not develop HDP (controls) by Fisher's exact test, Chi-square, and student's t-tests. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to test the relationship between certain risk factors and the development of HDP. A P value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The prevalence of HDP in the study was 19.4%. Family history of preeclampsia (OR: 5.339, 95% CI: 1.149–24.818, P = 0.033); previous history of preeclampsia (OR: 10.819, 95% CI: 3.570–32.792, P < 0.001); multifetal gestation (OR: 13.275, 95% CI: 2.899–38.127, P = 0.010); chronic hypertension (OR: 3.431, 95% CI: 1.778–8.710, P < 0.001) and diabetes; (OR: 2.846 95% CI: 0.460–17.584, P < 0.251) were the risk factors associated with the development of HDP among the study population while nulliparity (OR: 0.726, 95% CI 0.366–1.440, P = 0.395); body mass index (BMI) (mean ± SD), (OR: 0.405, 95% CI: 0.173–0.945, P < 0.037);and low educational level (OR: 0.582, 95% CI: 0.070–4.857, P = 0.613) were not. Conclusion: The prevalence of HDP in the study group was high. Risk factors for HDP included family history of hypertension, previous history of preeclampsia, multifetal gestation, and chronic hypertension.

Background: Decentralization, as seen in community antiretroviral group (CAG), has resulted in a significant decline in deaths from AIDS‑related causes with projected further benefits in middle‑ and low‑income countries, such as Nigeria. After 2 years of CAG implementation in our facility, this study is designed to assess its impacts on the pilot‑cohort of patients, (individual and group), and the hospital facility. Materials and Methods: Pooled data from the CAG register of the pilot cohort of 84 clients, was used for the study. Review of data at entry and 2 years after was done. A questionnaire was used to obtain additional qualitative data. This was administered to all the eighty‑four pilot patients and 31 caregivers. Results: There were eight locations, with 84, clients, 62 females and 22 males. The mean/standard deviation of age was 39.38 ± 9.68 years. There were significant increases in weight (kg), (from 65.94 ± 11.012 to 70.69 ± 11.465, P < 0.001), body mass index (kg/m2), (from 24.77 ± 3.879 to 26.79 ± 4.282 P < 0.001), packed cell volume (%) from (31.19 ± 5.014 to 35.64 ± 5.131, P < 0.001), CD4 (cells/mm3), (from 394.36 ± 193.094 to 563.87 ± 220.137 P < 0.001). The viral load suppression was sustained, reducing even further, from 85.06 ± 182.329 to 31.10 ± 46.648 copies/ml, P < 0.001. Retention in care and outcomes were better. Conclusions: From this pilot, the CAG model has shown promise in reducing attrition, improving quality of care, and other direct and indirect benefits, including; cardiovascular, nutritional, and socioeconomic. This has justified the scale‑up of this laudable model that will further improve the quality of care given to the patients and the overall quality profile of the facility and system. Keywords: Abuja, antiretroviral‑care, decentralization, pilot

Background: Gynecological cancers have been shown to contribute overwhelmingly to gynecological mortality worldwide, particularly in developing countries. An in-depth study of the patterns of the distribution will help to elucidate the estimates of the disease burden in University of Abuja Teaching Hospital (UATH). Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the pattern and relative frequencies of gynecological cancers at UATH. Materials and Methods: Case notes of patients managed for gynecological cancers at UATH over a 5-year period from January 1, 2014 to December 31, 2018 were retrieved. Relevant data on age, parity, and type of cancer, clinical, surgical, and histopathological diagnosis were collated using a proforma and analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). Result: A total of 167 gynecological cancer cases of 3030 gynecological admissions were seen during the period putting its to prevalence at 5.5%. The most common gynecologic cancer was cervical cancer that constituted (88) 52.7% of the cases; ovarian 47 (28.1%), endometrial 17 (10.2%), choriocarcinoma 11 (6.6%), and vulva cancers 4 (2.40%) are not so common. The mean age and parity at presentation are cervical cancer (55.50 ± 12.71 and 4.41 ± 2.05), ovary (42.34 ± 14.91 and 2.94 ± 2.11), uterus (50.54 ± 15.18 and 3.39 ± 2.25), and vulva (63.50 ± 15.09 and 5.50 ± 2.38), respectively. The overall mean age for all cancers is 51.16 ± 14.95 and overall parity is 3.85 ± 2.21. Majority presented in advanced stage of the disease; the most common cause of death is renal failure. Conclusion: The burden of gynecological cancers is high, although cervical cancer is on downward trend in our environment and most cancer cases came as late presentations.

This study examined Probit model analysis of smallholder’s farmers decision to use agrochemical inputs in Gwagwalada and Kuje Area Councils of Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Nigeria. Primary data were used for this study. Data were obtained using structured questionnaire. The questionnaires were administered to sixty smallholder’s farmers sampled using a two-stage sampling technique. Data obtained were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Probit model. Eight estimators, age; farm-size; education–level; extension services; access to credit; off-farm income; experiences in farming; in the Probit model were found statistically significant. Results show that the probability of using agrochemical inputs increases with age; farm-size; family-size; education-level; extension services; experiences in farming but decreases where they have off-farm income and access to credits. Mc Fadden Pseudo-R2 gives 0.6866 and Probit model correctly classified 93%. This study concluded that capacity of agricultural extension agents needs to be improved in the study area to educate farmers to invest in agrochemicals and improved agricultural technologies. Also, Government needs to improve on good road networks and appropriate policies to regulate standard, use, safety needs and environment of use of agrochemicals in the study area.

Scholars from diverse disciplines have established how objective and subjective housing attributes influence occupants’ housing satisfaction. The aim of this study is to determine the effect of age grouping on overall housing satisfaction with respect to private housing development in Abuja, Nigeria. Samples of 112 structured questionnaires were systematically administered to the occupants of Prince and Princes Housing Estate. Sixty-six were subsequently retrieved for analysis representing 74% response rate. Descriptive statistics and one-way analysis of variance was conducted, and the result indicates that there was a statistically significant difference for total housing satisfaction between age groups. A Tukey’s post hoc test revealed that housing satisfaction was statistically significantly higher in the 61 and above age group in the sample. The result implies that there is a need to incorporate specific demographic changes such as in age groups in residential housing development and policy plan especially in developing countries. The study also contributes to further our understanding on the relationship between resident’s socio-demographic characteristics and housing satisfaction. This paper represents first housing satisfaction studies that examines age factor to determine level of variation in housing satisfaction between various age groups in private housing development in the Nigerian context.

Background: Although, Nigeria had conducted various national surveys followed by central and state level trainings for survey administrators, prior pre-survey trainings have not been systematically evaluated to assess their impact on knowledge gain and final outcome of the survey. A central training of trainers’ session was organized for master trainers on the conduct of the 2012 National AIDS and Reproductive Health Survey. Objectives: To evaluate the impact of training on the quality of conduct of a national research survey in the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory in Nigeria. Method: A total of 185 participants consisting of State AIDS Program Coordinators, Reproductive Health Coordinators, State Laboratory Scientists, Lead Supervisors and Counselor Testers were invited from the 36 states in Nigeria and the FCT for the central training of trainers in Abuja. The training lasted 5 days and the trainees were grouped into two on the basis of behavioral epidemiology and laboratory components. Training tools such as the developed protocol, training power point slides, practical sessions such as role plays, and usage of HIV rapid test kits were utilized during the training. The facilitators were drawn from Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH), universities and research Institutions as well as Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs). The facilitators prepared and administered 25 structured questions for the behavioral group and 28 questions for the laboratory group at the beginning of the training to assess the participants’ knowledge of HIV and the survey. The same questions answered by Trainees responded to the same questions prior to the commencement and at the end of the trainings. Scores were aggregated to 100 for each test. We conducted paired t-test to determine statistically significant differences between pre-test and post-test results at 0.05 significance level and ANOVA to determine if there were differences in knowledge level among different groups. Result: The overall mean pre-test and post-test scores were 64.0% and 77.4% respectively indicating a 13.4% knowledge gain above what it was at the beginning of the training. The mean pre-test score and post-test score for the Southern states (SN) were 64.7% and 80.3% while that of the Northern states (NN) were 63.5% and 75.3% representing a knowledge gain of 15.6% and 11.8% respectively. There was statistical significant difference in the post-test scores between the two regions (p=0.001) and in knowledge gained after the training (p=0.017). Conclusions and Public Health Implications: Comparison between the pre test and post test scores at the 5-day training showed a significant gain in knowledge of participants. The survey training contributed positively to the preparation and building of knowledge needed for the conduct of 2012 NARHS-plus. Keywords: Training • Survey • NARHS-Plus • State AIDS Program Coordinators • Reproductive Health Coordinators • State Laboratory Scientists • Lead Supervisors and Counselor Testers • Abuja • Nigeria Copyright © 2013 Oyedeji et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Cigarette smoking cost the global economy billions of dollars and results in the death of millions of people yearly. Despite efforts at national, regional and global levels to control cigarette smoking, there is still much yet to be achieved. Brief intervention by health care workers to their smoking patients is one strategy that could be conducted anywhere, if the health care workers are trained and positively disposed towards smoking cessation. Thus, this study was designed to assess the knowledge, attitude and delivery of smoking cessation services among health care workers in Abuja.A cross sectional descriptive study design was used. Questionnaire was used to collect required information. Stata statistical software version 11 was used to describe the data and determine associations between knowledge, perception, delivery of smoking cessation services and sociodemographic characteristics using chi-square test.Only 5% of respondents ever received training on tobacco control. Awareness of interventions that enhance smoking cessation was: telephone quit lines (11%), pharmacotherapy (30.5%), behaviour therapy (34.2%) and brief intervention (51%). Only 4.3% of the respondents were not willing to support clients with tobacco cessation services. Being a physician and male were associated with higher knowledge of smoking cessation among the respondents (p < 0.05).In conclusion, there was poor perception and low capacity toprovide smoking cessation services among the respondents. There is need to improve the perception and capacity of health care workers to provide smoking cessation services.Keywords: Cigarette Smoking; Health care workers; knowledge; perception; attitude; smoking cessation; Abuja; Nigeria

The planned Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria - Abuja is the context of this research. Abuja was conceived and conceptualised under a Master Plan designed by Kenzo Tange and Utec to replace Lagos as the new Capital City for the Federal Republic of Nigeria in 1977. This came about because of the unstructured and unplanned facilities characteristically evident in buildings, communities and some critical infrastructure in Lagos. These have combined, with the rapid rates of urbanisation, and relative to lack of supporting infrastructure and services, to render Lagos as one of the most overcrowded and dysfunctional cities in the world. Housing shortages, urban sprawl, traffic congestion, overburdened and dilapidating physical infrastructures and services, and poor quality environment have become the defining characteristics of Lagos. These were the issues that forced the idea of relocating the Capital City elsewhere in the country that resulted in Abuja’s selection as the New Capital City for Nigeria in 1977. Kenzo Tange Associates, an authority in urban design was appointed that resulted in a Master Plan to guide the development of the new city. The resultant Master Plan was designed with the specific peculiarities of Lagos in mind to avoid reoccurrence, although, the concept of environmental sustainability and development was not the preoccupation of urban design and planning in the 1970s, Abuja Master Plan incorporated the concepts, principles, and practice of sustainable development today. Nevertheless, the implementation of the Abuja Master Plan has drawn consternation from built environment professionals. Anecdotal evidences exist to suggest that Abuja is rapidly incubating all the urban problems experienced in Lagos in the 1970s. Sequel to the above therefore, this thesis aims to develop a conceptual framework that will enable Abuja develop into a 21st century functional and resilient City of sustainable communities. The view pushed in this thesis is that not only does sustainable approach to design, implementation and management of urban communities holds huge capacity for bridging urban inequalities and prudent resource management; it holds the key to the survival of cities. The main aim of the research; to produce a conceptual framework to guide the development of Abuja Capital Territory into a 21st Century City of Sustainable Communities. To accomplish this aim, a mixed method of research methodology has been used for data gathering, an approach informed by the epistemological and ontological positioning of the researcher. Data obtained were analysed using the Statistical Packages for Social Sciences (SPSSx) and the results resulted in a conceptual model illustrating ‘the road map’ to sustainable community development approach to Abuja in becoming a 21st century sustainable city. The study has successfully highlighted and resolved key issues centred around the sustainability of Abuja. It has also answered fundamental questions of whether Abuja can, and how it can develop into a 21st Century City of Sustainable Communities. Therefore, it is expected that the conceptual framework which is the outcome of this research becomes a reference manual to both urban decision makers, built environment professionals, and other stakeholders in planning the development of Abuja Capital Territory into a 21st Century City of Sustainable Communities.

Drugs administered to food-producing animals close to the time of slaughter often result in prohibited antimicrobial residues in the animal tissues at slaughter. Evidence based on the Premi® test confirmed the occurrence of antimicrobial drug residues in 89.3% of kidney and urine samples from cattle slaughtered within Abuja town where the residents rely heavily on beef as a source of protein. The administration of antibiotics close to the time of slaughter by marketers/herd owners and transporters was found to be significantly (p