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The study investigates the effects of Learning-By-Doing Instructional Strategy (LBDIS) and parents' education in determining secondary school students' attitude towards agricultural science. The research design adopted was a pre-test, post-test, non-randomized control group quasi-experimental design involving 2×2 factorial matrix. The sample comprised fifty-three students from two schools (intact classes) with twenty-three and thirty in experimental and control groups, respectively. The Agricultural Science Attitude Scale (ASAS) and Skills Performance Rating Scale were the instruments developed by the researchers. ASAS was administered as pre and post-tests but SPRS was used after each lesson. Three hypotheses were formulated and tested, and then the data collected were analyzed with the use of frequency counts, percentages, means, standard deviation, ANCOVA, F-ratio and Multiple Classification Analysis (MCA). Results reveal that there is a significant difference between experimental and control group students' post-test mean scores of attitude towards learning agricultural science. Additionally, no significant main effect of parents' education level on the students' attitude learning in agricultural science is found. As part of the recommendations, the provision of instructional strategies like LBDIS that can assist to build and boost learners' attitude towards the learning of agricultural science should be emphasized and put in use in classroom practices.

This study investigated the impact of English Language proficiency testing on the pronunciation performance of undergraduates in South-west. Nigeria. The study was a descriptive survey research design. The target population size was 1243 (200-level) undergraduates drawn from eight tertiary institutions. The instruments used for data collection were the English Language Proficiency Test and Pronunciation Test. The English Language proficiency test was used to measure the performance of students in English Language and was adopted from the Post-UTME past questions from Babcock University Admissions Office on Post Unified Tertiary Admissions and Matriculation Examinations screening exercise (Post-UTME) for undergraduates in English and Linguistics. The test contains 20 objective English questions with optional answers. The instruments were validated through experts' advice as the items in the instrument are considered appropriate in terms of subject content and instructional objectives while Cronbach alpha technique was used to estimate the reliability coefficient of the English Proficiency test, a value of 0.883 was obtained. The research questions were answered with mean and standard deviation while hypothesis was tested with Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient at 0.05 alpha level. The findings of the study revealed that the mean value of the students' English Proficiency and pronunciation scores were 66.36 and 74.21% respectively, which showed that the students' English proficiency and pronunciation performance were above average and high result respectively; there was a significant positive relationship between proficiency in English Language and pronunciation performance of the students who participated in the study (r = 0.589; p < 0.05).

This study examined social media usage among undergraduates vis-à-vis its influence on their studies. The study adopted a descriptive survey research design. The population for the study comprised all undergraduate students of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife Nigeria. Five faculties were randomly selected, from which 850 students were selected using random and convenience sampling techniques. A self-designed instrument titled "Social Media Usage and Influence Questionnaire (SMUI-Q)" was used for data collection. The results show social media platforms used by undergraduates, include WhatsApp (97%), Facebook (85%), Instagram (65%), YouTube (62%), Twitter (25%), LinkedIn (21%), Google Plus (15%), Snapchat (10%), and Skype (7%). Further, undergraduates spend an average of 2-3 hours daily on social media, and their perceived purposes of social media usage include: socialisation (83%), information (74%), academic (73%), business (68%), and entertainment (61%). The results highlight Internet addiction (45%), distraction (32%), anti-social behaviour (6%), cyber bullying (4%), and writing and spelling skills deficiency (24%) as the influences of social media on undergraduate studies. The study concludes that the social media platforms mostly used are WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube; which are used mainly for socialisation, information, and academic purposes and may also perhaps suggest the reason for addiction to social media.

This study investigated undergraduates' level of creativity and entrepreneurial Intention as a panacea for youth unemployment. The study used descriptive survey research design. Five hundred students were sampled using stratified and simple random sampling techniques. Data was collected using Students' level of entrepreneurial intention questionnaire and student's level of creativity questionnaire. Analysis was done using descriptive statistics, t-test of significance and Pearson Product Moment Correlation. The results revealed that undergraduates have low entrepreneurial intention and low level of creativity. Creativity was found to have a positive relationship with Entrepreneurial intention. No significant difference was found between undergraduate students' entrepreneurial intention or level of creativity according to gender. The study recommends that undergraduates should be re-orientated on the need to be self-employed instead of seeking white collar jobs. Also, teachers of entrepreneurship should make their courses more practically-oriented.

This study surveys rural Nigerian residents concerning local water resource uses and tourists' recreational activities with respect to scales of awareness, understanding, and incentive. Results indicate a public willingness to encourage and finance the rural development of water bodies for agricultural purposes exclusive of investment for tourism purposes. (JJK)

There's alarming rise in postpartum depression (PPD) among nursing mothers in every part of Southwest Nigeria within the first three months postpartum. Therefore, this study assessed the nursing mother's perception of PPD and information-seeking behavour in Osogbo Local Government, Osun State. A cross-sectional study design that adopted multistage sampling technique to enroll two hundred and fifty nursing mothers from thirteen health facilities in the study location. Data collected through a validated interviewer-administered questionnaire were analyzed and presented using simple Frequency, correlation, and binary logistic regression. The mean-age of the mothers was 29.3±5.4 years and the mean knowledge-score was 10.3±3.9, while the mean perception score was 7.9±4.1. Many (59.6%) had an unfavorable perception of PPD and a high Help-seeking intention toward PPD. There's perceived severity of PPD with a mean score of 3.0±2.3 on a 6-point rating scale. Their level of education had a significant relationship with Help-seeking intention toward PPD (X2=19.1; p=0.004). There was a significant association between Respondents perception and Help-seeking intention towards PPD (R= 0.32; R2=0.092; p-value =0.000) and Help-seeking intention toward PPD. In conclusion, there exists statistically significant association between respondents' perception of PPD and Help-seeking intentions with unfavorable perceptions odd ratio of 1.7 times more likely to intend to seek for healthcare (Odds ratio=1.67; CI: 0.96-2.90; p=0.03) implying that nursing mothers intend to seek help for PPD, it is recommended that midwives should include health talks on PPD during antenatal and postnatal visits, to enlighten women and help them recognize PPD for early intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Current management practices for Analeptes trifasciata Fabricius (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) on cashew are cultural, however, these are largely inadequate. Thus compelling the indiscriminate application of unapproved chemicals for its control in Nigeria. As part of a coordinated research effort to develop and integrate a diverse array of control options, we screened the effects of imidacloprid, dimethoate, chlorpyrifos, thiamethoxam and cypermethrin on A. trifasciata management on cashew by laboratory and field trials carried out in 2018 and 2019. The marginal rate of return for each insecticide was calculated to determine the cost-benefit ratio. In the laboratory toxicity trial, all the insecticides showed a dose dependent effect and caused significantly higher insect mortality compared to the control. Thiamethoxam 25WG significantly reduced A. trifasciata populations, improved yield and recorded stable marginal returns of 6.24% and 8.52% in the first and second year respectively. The findings and implications of this study will prove useful as a part of an integrated management system for A. trifasciata. • Five insecticides tested on Analeptes trifasciata showed a dose dependent effect. • Average cashew yield/treated tree was between 7.29 and 24.04 kg. • Application of thiamethoxam reduced pest incidence and sustained yield. • Thiamethoxam treated plots recorded stable returns for the 2-year period. • Analeptes trifasciata is a major driver of yield loss in cashew. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Aim of this study was to explore association between intimate partner violence (IPV) and illness in childhood. The study was a secondary data analysis of the 2008 Nigeria Demographic Health Survey (NDHS), involving use of a stratified, 2-stage cluster sampling technique to select 21,160 women with at least one child ≤ 5 years old. Main exposure was experience of past-year IPV prior to survey. Outcome measured were risk of fever, acute respiratory infection (ARI) and diarrhoea within the past 2 weeks. The mean age of women and children was 29±6.8 years and 27±17.1 months respectively. Prevalence of past-year IPV was 72.6%. Main predictors of under-five morbidity were sexual and physical IPV experience of mothers (AOR: 1.632; CI: 1.419-1.879) and (AOR: 1.17; CI: 1.02-1.36) respectively. Interventions aimed at improving child morbidity status should target protection of mothers from physical and sexual violence perpetration by their partners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed at analyzing the intertextuality of selected telecommunication adverts of etisalat, glo and airtel as viewed on Nigerian television stations through a practical approach. Mobile telecommunication advertisements on television are aired creatively through novel ideas that have gone beyond the normal common advert of just written words and sounds. In an effort to captivate viewers' attention to their products, adverts providers now employ intertextual devices to weave in a network of bits and pieces of our culture (music, religion, politics, etc) and movie or television celebrities as a technique of relating products with stardom and life style consequently, persuading viewers to buy their products. Hence, this paper analyzed three randomly selected telecom adverts: etisalat, glo, and airtel among others and discovered the use of intertextual devices such as humour, popular celebrities, symbolic codes and popular music by the advert providers. It was revealed that viewers or intended target audience naturally evoked certain associations in their minds (self-referentiality) as they interpret and understand these devices and then connect with the products. Conclusively, the correct interpretations of intertextual devices in viewers' minds as intended by advertisements providers account to a large extent for the general success of these adverts. This is evident in the boom in telecommunication business in Nigeria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Neonatal mortality remains a major contributor to death among children younger than 5 years in developing countries. This study was undertaken to determine the neonatal mortality rate (NMR), causes of death, and associated risk factors among hospital live births in a suburban population in Nigeria. Patients and Methods: A total of 1058 consecutive live newborns at Adeoyo Maternity Hospital, Ibadan, were enrolled at birth and followed up in their homes for 28 days. The causes of death were extracted from hospital records, and verbal autopsy was used to determine the causes of death outside the hospital. Results: The NMR was 32.1 per 1000 live births. The leading causes of death were severe perinatal asphyxia (79.4%), low birth weight (LBW: 55.9%), and infections (41.2%). The associated risk factors were lack of antenatal care [relative risk (RR)=45.18; 95% confidence interval (CI)=7.80, 261.60]; prolonged rupture of membranes (RR=4.47; 95% CI=1.95, 10.25); maternal peripartal fever (RR=5.42; 95% CI=2.35, 12.52); prematurity (RR=7.53; 95% CI=4.91, 11.55); and LBW (RR=5.50; 95% CI=3.88, 7.80). Conclusion: NMR is high among hospital live births in Ibadan. There is a need for programs encouraging the use of antenatal care, improving skills on neonatal resuscitation and care of LBW infants; as well as implementation of community-based newborn survival strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Pesquisa Brasileira em Odontopediatria e Clinica Integrada is the property of Pesquisa Brasileira em Odontopediatria e Clinica Integrada Journal (Brazil) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Objective: To determine the pattern of biosocial characteristics of the new IUD acceptors and describe their concerns. Methods: This was a retrospective review of records of new IUD acceptors at the University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria from January to December 2007. Results: The age range of subjects was 19 to 49 years with a mean of 33.5 ± 2.4 years. The commonest source (46.0%) of clientele referral was through the health care providers — doctors and nurse/midwife. Other referral patterns were from friends/ relative (23.5%), media — TV and radio (17.0%), outreach programmes (7.3%), self referral (5.2%) and others — the source was not indicated (1.2%). Of the total participants, only 239 (56.1%) reported for follow-up visits. Majority had at least one visit; about a third had two, while others had three or four and above visits. About 43.2% of those at follow-up visits had complaints. The commonest (37.5%) complaint was menstrual irregularity. Other complaints were cramping abdominal pain (22.2%), vaginal discharge (19.6%), amenorrhoea (10.3%), penile discomfort during sexual intercourse (4.3%), expulsion of IUD (3.8%) and 2.2% of missing IUD. Conclusion: This audit shows that new IUD acceptors are largely referred by health care providers and are mainly offered the TCu380A version. Community outreach programmes as alternative strategy is likely to boost the uptake of this particular method in Nigeria. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Gender-induced discriminatory practices against women are very common in Nigeria, as in most African countries. Gendered practices are socially and culturally constructed, and are as such informed by the values and norms of societies. These practices have hampered the development of women's capabilities, and have precluded equal economic and social participation in the development of the nation leading to low levels of education and high incidence of poverty among women. This article discusses the role of women in housing development, linking this to a statistical model developed from research conducted by the authors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of African Journal of Reproductive Health is the property of Women's Health & Action Research Centre and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Characterisation of fear response in turkey breeds could bring important beneficial information for future breeding, animal welfare and preservation of breeds. The two major turkey breeds raised presently in Nigeria are Hybrid Converter turkey (HCT) and Nigerian indigenous turkey (NIT). The HCT has been selected for fast growth and can adapt to different environmental and management conditions. In contrast, NIT is an unselected slow-growing bird that is hardy and well-adapted to the tropical climate of Nigeria. This study examined fear behaviour in turkey poults of fast and slow growing breeds to know how genetic selection for fast growth has shaped fear response in young turkeys. Twenty-five each of white NIT and HCT poults were used for this study. Fear tests such as tonic immobility, emergence, open field, inversion and attention bias tests were used to assess fear responses in the turkey poults during the first 16 days of life. A Wilcoxon Two-Sample test was used to determine the effect of the turkey breed on the poults' fear responses. There was a significant breed effect on the duration of tonic immobility (W s =482.00, z = −3.0138, p = 0.003) and latency to emerge from a dark box (W s =382.00, z = −4.9521, p = 0.000). The HCT stayed in tonic immobility longer than NIT, while NIT emerged faster than HCT from the dark box. There was also a significant breed effect on vocalization duration (W s =664.50, z = 3.65, p = 0.000) in the open field arena, with longer duration of vocalization in NIT compared with HCT. More escape attempts (W s =598.00, z = 3.05, p = 0.004) and more explored floor squares (W s =606.50, z = 2.43, p = 0.015) were observed in NIT compared with HCT during the open field test. The results obtained from this study showed significant breed differences in the fear responses of the turkey poults, with HCT poults being more fearful than NIT. The increased fear response observed in HCT poults appears to be an unintended consequence of selection for fast growth. Genetic selection programmes aimed at improving growth in turkeys should also consider their fear behaviour. • Characterisation of fear response in turkey breeds is useful for understanding animal welfare. • This study examined fear behaviour in fast and slow growing turkeys. • There is a significant breed difference in the fear responses of the turkeys. • Hybrid Converter turkeys are more fearful than Nigerian indigenous turkeys. • Genetic selection programmes in turkeys should also consider their fear behaviour. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Genomics, an emerging field to improve public health practice, has potential benefits to understanding ocular diseases. This study explored the social construction of genomics in ocular diseases in the blind community in Ibadan, Nigeria, through two focus group discussions and twelve in-depth interview sessions conducted among people living with ocular disorders. The data were thematic and content-analysed. Although the participants had limited knowledge about ocular diseases, genomics, and their nexus, they maintained a positive attitude toward its potential benefits. This informed their willingness to participate in genomics testing for ocular diseases. The participants preferred saliva-based sample collection over blood-based, and expressed concern for the procedure and accrued benefits of genomics studies. Thus, public sensitisation about ocular diseases and client-centred genomics testing procedures should be engendered., Competing Interests: The authors have no conflicts of interest., (Copyright: This is an open access article, free of all copyright, and may be freely reproduced, distributed, transmitted, modified, built upon, or otherwise used by anyone for any lawful purpose. The work is made available under the Creative Commons CC0 public domain dedication.)

The challenge of commencing cardiac surgery in developing countries of Africa is onerous. We present a model from the experience of carrying out open cardiac surgical procedures at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) with three separate missions between 2004 and 2006. This paper details the challenges of starting open heart surgery in a resource limited environment. We propose that owing to the huge financial investment needed, government sponsorship as well as collaboration with overseas based and local non-governmental agencies may be required to jump start the process of open cardiac surgery. Local staff training opportunities are also provided by such missions and this can further be complemented by overseas exposure in areas of need for capacity building. In our centre, the initial investment has led to the recruitment of additional trained staff including 2 cardiothoracic surgeons. Further benefits of training of 2 perfusionists and a nurse has improved capacity in cardiac surgery service at our center.

Background: Sickle cell disease is a genetic abnormality involving the haemoglobin. Although, it is primarily a red cell disorders, the white blood cells and platelets are also affected by the mutation. The consequent haemoglobin S causes polymerization of haemoglobin resulting in haemolysis and anaemia. This study aims to provide baseline haematological values in sickle cell disease patients in steady state and compare the deviation from haemoglobin phenotype AA control values., Methods: A case-control study was conducted amongst homozygous sickle cell patients attending the sickle cell clinics of Lagos State University Teaching Hospital Ikeja and haemoglobin phenotype AA controls. About 4.5mls of blood sample was collected from each participant for full blood count analysis. All blood samples were screened for HIV and haemoglobin phenotypes confirmed using cellulose acetate haemoglobin electrophoresis at pH 8.6., Results: A total of 103 cases and 98 controls were enrolled. The overall mean haemoglobin concentration for cases was 7.93 ± 1.47 g/dl, packed cell volume 24.44 ± 4.68%, mean cell volume 81.52 ± 7.89 fl, and mean cell haemoglobin 26.50 ± 3.20 pg. While for controls, mean haemoglobin concentration was 13.83 ± 1.32 g/dl, packed cell volume 43.07 ± 3.95%, mean cell volume 86.90 ± 4.69 fl, and mean cell haemoglobin 28.50 ± 1.34 pg. The overall mean white blood cell counts for the cases was 10.27 ± 3.94 *103/μl and platelet counts of 412.71 ± 145.09*103/μl. While white blood cell count for the controls was 5.67 ± 1.59*103/μl and platelet counts of 222.82 ± 57.62*103/μl., Conclusion: Homozygous sickle cell disease patients have lower values of red cell parameters, but higher values of white cell and platelets counts compared to haemoglobin phenotype AA controls.