Search

This study examined Kwara central undergraduates' perceived peer pressure on youths' involvement in kidnapping. This study was a descriptive survey. The population comprised of all undergraduates in Kwara Central Senatorial District. The target population was undergraduates from University of Ilorin and Alhikmah University, 500 students were randomly selected. A researcher design questionnaire was used for data collection while data collected were analyzed using frequency and percentage, mean, standard deviation (SD), ranking T-test and one-way analysis of variance. Research hypotheses were tested using independent T-test and also one-way analysis of variance at 0.05 level of significance. Findings revealed that peer pressure influences youth involvement in kidnapping in Nigeria; there was no significant difference in the influence of peer pressure on youth's involvement in kidnapping as perceived by undergraduates based on academic level and school type. It was concluded that peer pressure influences youths' involvement in kidnapping in Nigeria. We recommend both school and home adequate monitoring of students peers and friends at home and schools to prevent them from bad groups, adequate legislation to curb youth participation in kidnapping, good leadership examples for young ones to emulate and value reorientation of youths should be given top priority in educational curriculum.

Investigating the effectiveness of inmates' educational programs was the major focused of this research in Ilorin remand homes, Nigeria. Specifically inmates' views on effectiveness of vocational and literacy educational program were investigated. This study was descriptive survey. 108 inmates were sampled using simple random sampling technique. Two research questions were formulated and a researcher' designed questionnaires containing 10 items in two sections with 4-point rating scale was used for data collection while data collected were analyzed using mean scores and standard deviation. The result showed that most inmates positively acknowledged literacy education in recreational, guidance and counseling, religious and social sciences as highly effective and effective respectively and the result also established that most inmates acknowledged vocational education in fashion designing, laundry/dry-cleaning, catering/home management, metal fabrication and electrical maintenance work as highly effective and effective respectively. It was concluded that literacy and vocational education policy for the inmates should be vigorously pursued and implemented in Ilorin, Nigeria. In addition, government and private organization should invest in inmates' literacy and vocational education to correct the erroneous impression that under play inmates' education which leads to their stigmatization at the point of re-entry into the society.

Objective Nigeria ranks highest globally in malaria burden, disproportionately affecting children. This study investigated trends in the incidence and outcomes of 948 children with cases of severe malaria in a tertiary hospital in northwestern Nigeria. Methods We conducted a retrospective cross-sectional study of children with severe malaria between January 1, 2019, and December 31, 2022. We extracted relevant data, including sociodemographics, clinical features, as well as hospitalization outcomes (death or discharge), and the trends analyzed over the period. Results Of the 8,295 pediatric admissions during the study period, 948 (11.4%) were cases of severe malaria. The trends of severe malaria (incidence) showed a surge of 17.3% in 2020 from 11.4% in 2019 and subsequently declined to 9.9% in 2022 (p < 0.001). There was a decline in the proportion of under-fives with severe malaria from 47.5% observed in 2019 to 43.7% in 2022 (p = 0.019). The overall mortality rate (malaria specific) was 7.2% (68/948) which rose from 2.3% in 2019 to 10.3% in 2020 and declined to 8.5% in 2022, p = 0.003. The proportion of malaria-specific deaths (from all-cause mortality) increased from 4.6% in 2019 to 17.3% in 2020 and declined to 9.3% in 2022 (p = 0.004). Among under-fives, there was no significant change in the malaria-specific mortality rate (from 3.2% in 2019 to 10.2% in 2020, 6.4% in 2021 and 10.3% in 2022, p = 0.104) and the proportion of malaria-specific deaths in under-fives among malaria deaths (from 66.7% in 2019 to 52.9% in 2022, p = 0.653). Among the clinical features, the presence of cerebral malaria and acute kidney injury had the highest case fatality rate (57.1%). Conclusion Despite the initial surge in severe malaria cases during the coronavirus disease 2019 era, there has been an overall progressive decline in childhood severe malaria. However, among those under-fives, the trends in malaria deaths remained unchanged. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is an increasing overdependence and use of atrazine herbicide for the control of pre-and post-emergence broad leaf weeds on maize farms in rural agricultural communities in Nigeria. We carried out a survey of atrazine residue in 69 hand-dug wells (HDW), 40 boreholes (BH) and 4 streams from all the 6 communities (Awa, Mamu, Ijebu-Igbo, Ago-Iwoye, Oru and Ilaporu) in Ijebu North Local Government Area, Southwest Nigeria. The effect of the highest concentration of atrazine detected in the water from each of the communities on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis of albino rats was investigated. Varying concentrations of atrazine were detected in the HDW, BH and stream waters sampled. The highest concentration of atrazine recorded in the water from the communities ranged from 0.01 to 0.08 mg/L. Although there were no significant differences (p > 0.05) in serum levels of corticosterone, aldosterone and ROS of rats exposed to 0.01, 0.03 and 0.04 mg/L concentrations of atrazine compared to control, a significant increase (p < 0.05) was observed at 0.08 mg/L. Catalase activity increased significantly (p < 0.05) only at 0.03 and 0.04 mg/L of atrazine exposure. Butyrylcholinesterase activity, lipid peroxidation and serum ACTH of rats exposed to all the atrazine concentrations were not significantly different (p > 0.05) compared to control. Atrazine at environmentally relevant concentrations of 0.01, 0.03 and 0.04 mg/L detected in the water may not affect the HPA axis, attention should be given to 0.08 mg/L, which increases the serum corticosterone and aldosterone of the exposed rats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study addresses the need to understand the complex interplay between emerging technologies and the well-being of procurement and supply chain employees, considering both the positive and negative impacts on their work environment. The study adopts the quantitative research approach and data was collected through a survey among a diverse group of procurement and supply chain professionals. The data was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistical techniques. The findings highlight a dual influence of emerging technologies on the well-being of procurement and supply chain employees. On one hand, these technologies contribute to job enrichment, providing employees with opportunities to engage in strategic decision-making, innovate, and focus on value-added tasks. On the other hand, emerging technologies introduce concerns related to job security, skill obsolescence, increased work pressure, and an erosion of interpersonal interactions. Premised on these findings, the study concluded that there is a need for a balanced approach in embracing emerging technologies within the procurement and supply chain sectors to maximize the positive effects on employee wellbeing while mitigating the negative repercussions. Thus, this study recommended amongst others that, organisations should develop comprehensive training programs to upskill employees and ensure they are proficient in utilizing emerging technologies. Also, organisations should prioritize employee mental health by providing resources, support, and a conducive work environment that balances the demands of technology integration with employee wellbeing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the effect of Ethnoscience instruction and moderating effects of school location and parental educational status on students' attitude to science. It employed pretest-posttest, non-equivalent control group quasiexperimental design. Participants were 352 Junior Secondary School 1 (aged 9-12 years) students from two schools, each in urban and rural areas of Ìbàdàn, southwestern Nigeria. Instruments used are: Teachers Instructional Guide on Ethnoscience instruction, Teachers Instructional Guide on Modified Lecture Method and Attitude Toward Science Scale (r = 0.86). Three null hypotheses were tested at 0.05 level of significance. Data were analyzed using Analysis of Covariance. Significant main effect of treatment on attitude to science (F(1, 347) = 296, p < 0.05) was recorded, with Ethnoscience instruction group performing better than the Modified Lecture Method group. Effect size of treatment was strong (?[superscript 2] [subscript p] = 0.46). Also recorded were significant main effects of school location (F(1, 347) = 10.2, p < 0.05) and parental educational status (F(1, 347 = 3.37), p < 0.05) on students' attitude to science with weak effect sizes (?[superscript 2] [subscript p] = 0.029 and ?[superscript 2] [subscript p] = 0.019 respectively). Learners in rural schools performed better than those in urban schools and those from lowly educated parents had better performance than highly educated parents. Ethnoscience instruction promoted learners' attitude to science. Therefore, its use in educational instruction, especially among traditional science learners, should be explored.

Objective: Studies on acute glomerulonephritis (AGN) in Nigeria described the epidemiological profile without an in-depth analysis of variables associated with outcomes. Herein, we describe the profile and factors associated with hospitalization outcomes (discharge or death) among childhood AGNs at a health facility in northwestern Nigeria. Material and Methods: This prospective cross-sectional study was conducted between 1st January 2018 and 31st December 2019 at a tertiary health facility in northwestern Nigeria. The diagnosis of AGN was based on a clinical diagnosis. We also obtained relevant history, clinical, and laboratory features. Results: Thirty-five children were admitted with AGN during the study period. The mean age was 7.7 ± 3.3 years. Most were aged 5 to 10 years (23; 65.7%), male (60.0%), and from a lower socio-economic class (77.2%). The annual incidence of AGN was 11 cases per 1000 children. The most common clinical presentations were generalized body swelling (100.0%), reduced urine output (85.7%), and hypertension (74.3%). The medians (interquartile range) of urea and creatinine were 10.0 (4.50 to 23.90) mmol/L and 85 (67.60 to 204.00) µmol/L, respectively. Among the clinical features, only fever was associated with outcomes, while serum urea and creatinine levels were significantly higher among non-survivors, p<0.05. We recorded four deaths (case fatality rate of 11.4%), two each from congestive cardiac failure and hypertensive encephalopathy. Conclusion: This study shows a high incidence of childhood AGN and mortality in Katsina, northwestern Nigeria. Fever was associated with outcomes, while serum creatinine and urea levels were elevated among non-survivors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The burden of cardiovascular disease (CVD) is huge due to its associated morbidity, mortality and adverse socio-economic impact. Environmental pollution as a risk factor contributes significantly to the burden of CVD, especially in the low and middle income countries. One of the effective strategies to reduce CVD burden is to prevent or detect cardiovascular risk factors early in at-risk population. This study determined some cardiovascular risk factors, kidney function, and their association with heavy metals among automobile mechanics. Method: This was a cross-sectional study involving 162 automobile mechanics and 81 age and sex matched controls. Serum levels of lead, cadmium and some cardiovascular risks were assessed and compared in the two groups. Associations between serum lead, cadmium and some cardiovascular risks were determined using correlation analysis. P value of <0.05 was taken as significant. Results: The mean ages of the automobile mechanics and controls were 47.27±9.99 years and 48.94±10.34 years, respectively. The prevalence of elevated serum cadmium was significantly higher in the automobile mechanics (25.9% vs 7.9%; p = <0.001). The significant cardiovascular risk factors in the automobile mechanics vs controls were elevated total cholesterol (32.1% vs 18.5%; p = 0.017), hyperuricemia (20.4% vs 1.2%; p = <0.001), elevated blood glucose (16.0% vs 4.9% p = 0.013); and alcohol use (55.1% vs 30.0%; p = 0.001). Among the automobile mechanics, there were significant positive correlations between serum cadmium, atherogenic index of plasma (AIP) (p = 0.024; r = 0.382) and triglyceride (p = 0.020; r = 0.391). Significant positive correlation was found between serum lead and neutrophil gelatinase associated lipocalin (NGAL) (p = <0.001; r = 0.329). There were significant positive correlation between serum cadmium level, AIP (p = 0.016; r = 0.373) and TG (p = 0.004; r = 0.439); between serum lead and NGAL in all the study participants (p = 0.005; r = 0.206). Conclusion: Automobile mechanics have notable exposure to heavy metals and a higher prevalence of some cardiovascular risk factors. Health education and sensitisation as well as policies that would regulate exposure of persons to heavy metals should be implemented in Nigeria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) are neoplastic lesions that primarily affect the digestive tract and develop from interstitial cells of Cajal. These lesions require histopathological and immunohistochemical characterization due to their malignant potential and personalized treatment. In this investigation, the sex, age, lesional sites of origin, histopathological types, the prevalence of human epidermal growth factor receptors (HER-2) expression, prognostic indices (based on tumor size and mitotic figures), expression of CD117 and DOG1, and characteristics of patients with GIST were all characterized. Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective cross-sectional analysis of GIST cases seen at four tertiary health-care centers in Nigeria over a 10-year period (2008–2017) and investigated utilizing histopathological and immunohistochemical (CD117, DOG1, and HER-2) methods. Results: In this investigation, there were twenty GIST cases. Notably, the majority (40%) of the cases had tumors with sizes between 7.0 and 8.0 cm; the stomach was the most frequent site (70%) and the spindle cell type of GIST was the most prevalent (80%) histopathological type. In addition, the stomach was significantly associated with GIST as an origin site (with a P = 0.001), and 100% and 50% of these tumors were immunoreactive with CD117 and DOG1, respectively. Conclusions: In our study, GISTs most frequently develop in the stomach, and CD117 and DOG1 are essential for correctly diagnosing these tumors. However, HER-2 immunoreactivity is a predictive marker of survival for personalized care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The population genetic structure of Bulinus globosus, an important intermediate host snail for Schistosma haematobium, in Nigeria was studied using Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA Technique. The five primers amplified genomic DNA of B. globosus from three populations with one region and 999 permutations. With 79 loci, the % polymorphic bands for each primer across all population samples were 55.70% (River Karaye), 58.23% (River Bagwai) and 60.76% (River Kano). The mean heterozygosity was 0.175, 0.190 and 0.197 for snails caught in Karaye, Bagwai, and Kano respectively. The highest genetic distance (0.141) and identity (0.919) were observed between the populations of Bagwai, Kano, and Karaye and Bagwai. The variations within and among the snail populations were 76% and 4% respectively, while the UPGMA dendogram revealed no outliers. The gene pool of B. globosus was microgeographically fragmented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Hepatitis B vaccination is the most important preventive measure against Hepatitis B viral (HBV) infection. Vaccination against HBV infection among healthcare workers is important because of their daily exposure to patients' body fluids and the possible risk of transmission to other patients. Hence, this study assessed the risk of hepatitis B infection, vaccination status and associated factors among healthcare workers in six geopolitical zones of Nigeria. Methods: A nationwide cross-sectional study was conducted between January and June 2021 using electronic data capture techniques to enroll 857 healthcare workers (HCWs) in regular contact with patients and their samples through a multi-stage sampling method. Results: The participants' mean (SD) age was 38.7 (8.0) years, and 453 (52.9%) were female. Each of the six geopolitical zones in Nigeria had a fair representation, with a range of 15.3 to 17.7% of the study population. The majority (83.8%) of healthcare workers in Nigeria knew that they were at an increased risk of being infected by their work. Also, 72.2% knew that if infected, there was a high risk of liver cancer in later life. Many participants (642 [74.9%]) responded that they consistently applied standard precautions, such as hand washing, gloves, and face masks while attending to patients. Three hundred and sixty (42.0%) participants were fully vaccinated. Of the 857 respondents, 248 (28.9%) did not receive any dose of the hepatitis B vaccine. Factors that were associated with not being vaccinated included age less than 25 [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 4.796, 95% CI 1.119 to 20.547, p = 0.035], being a nurse (AOR 2.346, 95% CI 1.446 to 3.808, p = 0.010), being a health attendant (AOR 9.225, 95% CI 4.532 to 18.778, p = 0.010), and being a healthcare worker from the Southeast (AOR 2.152, 95% CI 1.186 to 3.904, p = 0.012) in Nigeria. Conclusion: This study showed a high level of awareness of the risks associated with hepatitis B infection and suboptimal uptake of the hepatitis B vaccine among healthcare workers in Nigeria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Farmers are faced with the problem of food insecurity, which is driven by climate extreme events, soil degradation, economic instability, lack of sound agricultural policy, unstable political situation, herdersfarmers crisis, and other pressing challenges. Most notably, bio-security threats, and other unobserved events ravaging the agri-food system, and causing significant loss of farm output, disruption of food supply chain, as well as loss of returns and other economic damages. This research interrogated the effect of adoption of bio-security threats management practices on arable crop farmers' food security status in South-West, Nigeria, using cross-sectional research design, with the dataset elicited from 403 farmers drawn through a multi-stage random sampling technique. Data were analyzed using frequency distribution and percentages, cross-tabulation, and food insecurity experience-based scale for the continuum categorization of farmers' food security status. Ordinal logistic regression model was applied to estimate the effect of adoption of bio-security practices and other dynamics on the farmers' levels of food security status. Findings revealed that crop farmers were aware of bio-security threats, but with low adoption of bio-security threats management practices. Onethird of the farmers were also vulnerable to transitory and chronic food insecurity status. The odds ratio estimates of the ordinal logistic regression model also indicated that gender of the farmers (p<0.05), years of formal education (p<0.1), dependency ratio (p<0.01), farm size (p<0.05), adoption of bio-security (p<0.1), land ownership (p<0.1), and access to bio-security information (p<0.1) have significant influence on the levels of farmers' food security status in the study area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Studies in Nigeria and elsewhere in sub-Saharan Africa (sSA) have explored factors influencing usage of intermittent preventive treatment of malaria in pregnancy (IPTp). Most studies, however, are not model or theory-based, which provides less satisfactory guidance to malaria control programming. This study fills the knowledge gap by adapting Andersen's behavioral model of health care use to IPTp usage in Nigeria. Methods: This study adopted a cross-sectional design that utilized secondary data extracted from the 2018 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS). A weighted sample of 4,772 women who had given birth in the past year preceding the survey, was analyzed. Outcome variable was usage of IPTp, dichotomized into optimal or otherwise. Explanatory variables cut across individual and community levels and were divided into predisposing, enabling and need factors in line with the theoretical constructs of the Andersen model. Two multilevel mixed-effects logistic regression models were fitted to identify factors which influenced optimal usage of IPTp. Analyses were performed using STATA 14. Statistical significance was set at 5%. Results: Realised level of optimal IPTp usage was 21.8%. Factors that either predispose or enable pregnant women to take optimal doses of IPTp were maternal education, being employed, being autonomous in their own healthcare, health insurance enrolment, partner education, receiving antenatal care in public health facilities, rural residence, being resident in northern geo-political zones, community literacy level and community perception of the consequences of malaria. Two significant need factors affecting optimal usage of IPTp were timing of the first antenatal care visit and sleeping under mosquito bed nets. Conclusion: Optimal usage of IPTp is low among pregnant women in Nigeria. There is a need to devise additional public health educational programs promoting IPTp usage through the formation of Advocacy, Communication and Social Mobilisation (ACSM) in every ward in all local government areas, particularly in the rural and northern parts of the country. In addition, health planners should adopt the Andersen model for assessing key determinants of IPTp usage among childbearing women in Nigeria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Facility delivery remains an important public health issue in Nigeria. Studies have confirmed that antenatal care may improve the uptake of facility delivery. However, information is rarely available in Nigeria on the extent to which antenatal care in public health facilities is associated with delivery in public health facilities. The objective of the study was thus to examine the extent of the association between antenatal care in public health facilities and delivery in public health facilities in Nigeria. The study was guided by the Andersen behavioral model of health services use. Methods: The cross-sectional design was adopted. Data were extracted from the most recent Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS). A sample of 9,015 women was analyzed. The outcome variable was the facility for delivery. The main explanatory variable was the antenatal care facility. The predisposing factors were maternal age, age at first birth, parity, exposure to mass media, and, religion. The enabling factors were household wealth, work status, partners' education, women's autonomy, health insurance, and, perception of distance to the health facility. The need factors were pregnancy wantedness, the number of antenatal care visits, and the timing of the first antenatal care. Statistical analyses were performed with the aid of Stata version 14. Two binary logistic regression models were fitted. Results: Findings showed that 69.6% of the women received antenatal care in public health facilities, while 91.6% of them subsequently utilized public health facilities for deliveries. The significant predisposing factors were age at first birth, parity, maternal education, and religion, while household wealth, work status, women's autonomy, and partners' education were the significant enabling factors. The timing of the first antenatal contact, pregnancy wantedness, and the number of antenatal care visits were the important need factors. Conclusion: To a significant extent, antenatal care in public health facilities is associated with deliveries in public health facilities in Nigeria. It is imperative for governments in the country to take more steps to ensure the expanded availability of public health facilities in all parts of the country since their use for antenatal care is well-associated with their use for delivery care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp.) production in Nigeria is limited mainly due to weed and insect infestations. The effects of insecticide spray regime and weed control on the productivity of cowpea were evaluated in the early and late seasons of 2020. Two insecticide sprays produced increased growth and yield in the late cropping season. However, in the early cropping season, optimum growth and yield of cowpea were obtained with four insecticide sprays. Regardless of the cropping season, preemergence (PRE) application of metolachlor or propaben plus manual weeding (MW) provided 71–80% reduction in weed density and biomass and resulted in cowpea growth and yields similar to the weed-free control. In the late season, two MWs resulted in cowpea growth and yield similar to the weed-free control. However, in the early season treatment, two MWs resulted in 51% lower yield than the weed-free control. The results showed that four insecticide sprays in the early cropping season or two insecticidal sprays in the late cropping season integrated with metolachlor or propaben application plus MW improved the productivity of cowpea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Considering the changing dimensions of client influence in the emerging sub-market in Nigeria, different from previous general insinuations, this article examines the new strategies adopted by clients to influence estate surveyors and valuers (ESVs), factors that predispose ESVs to client influence and the effects of clients' influence on valuation outcomes and real estate markets in emerging sub-market, using Ibadan market as the study area. Design/methodology/approach: The paper is situated within a client influence assessment framework, modified to reflect contextual incidents. Contextualization was made possible with the involvement of both practitioners and academic researchers. Validated copies of the questionnaire were administered to the registered practicing ESVs in an intact group during their monthly state (provincial) meeting and through direct delivery at their firms. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Findings: Contrary to the previous studies, the authors found no significant relationship between ESV professional qualifications, the firm's staff strength and the frequency of clients' influence in valuation assignments. Hiding important information and clauses, begging, lobbying, and seeking undue favor and promises for future jobs or appointments are the influencing strategies clients employ to pressure valuer. The topmost factors are emerging sub-market and economic-induced factors, lack of due process, and adequate transparency on the parts of firms and Valuers. It was established that the new dimension of client influence leads to the mortgage valuation accuracy dilemma, discredit of professional confidence, default and financial distress, and generating mistrust in the property market. Practical implications: The implication is the new dimension of client influence, different from the previous studies, thus calling for professional and policy attention. As real estate investment and transactions transcend globally, understanding the local sub-market condition is imperative. Originality/value: The novelty of the paper is the exposition on the dimensions of client influence within the economy and the implication for the professional body regulatory policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The collateral damages from measures adopted to mitigate the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic have been projected to negatively impact malaria in sub-Saharan Africa. Herein, we compare the prevalence and outcomes of childhood severe malaria during the pre-COVID-19 and COVID-19 periods at a tertiary health facility in Nigeria. Methods: This was a retrospective review of cases of severe malaria admitted from 1st January to 31st December 2019 (pre-COVID-19 period) and 1st January to 31st December 2020 (COVID-19 period). We extracted relevant information, including demographics, the duration of symptoms before presentation, forms of severe malaria, and outcomes of hospitalization (discharged or death). Results: In the pre-COVID-19 period, there were a total of 2312 admissions to the EPU and 1685 in the COVID-19 period, representing a decline of 27%. In contrast, there were 263 and 292 severe malaria admissions in the pre-COVID-19 and COVID-19 periods, respectively, representing an 11% increase in the absolute number of cases. The prevalence rates were 11.4% in the pre-COVID-19 period and 17.3% in the COVID-19 period, representing an increase of 52% in the percentage differences. The mortality rate in the COVID-19 period was higher than the pre-COVID-19 period ([10.3%; 30/292 vs. 2.3%; 6/263], p 0.001). The death rate increased by 350% during the COVID-19 period. The odds ratio (OR) of a child dying from severe malaria in the COVID-19 era was 4.9 [95% confidence interval (CI): 2.008 to 11.982]. In the COVID-19 era, presentation at a health facility was also delayed (p = 0.029), as were the odds of multiple features of severe malaria manifestations (OR-1.9, 95% CI, 1.107 to 3.269; p = 0.020). Conclusion: This study shows that the prevalence of severe childhood malaria increased by as much as 11.0%, with a disproportionate increase in mortality compared to the pre-pandemic level. Most children with severe malaria presented late with multiple features of severe malaria, probably contributing to the poor hospitalization outcomes (death) observed in this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The stocking and sequestering of increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) and the reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions that result from improving the carbon sink are two important ways that forested land contributes to the fight against global warming. The purpose of the study is to estimate the rate of carbon sequestration (CS) in Edo State, Nigeria, as well as the volume of deforestation and its impact on CS. To gauge the changes in carbon stock, stock-difference and gain-loss methods were employed. The gain-loss method predicts gains and losses based on off-take and growth rates, while the stock-difference approach uses actual measurements of carbon stocks over a given period of time. These two methods presuppose that changes in carbon stock and CO2 flows to or from the atmosphere are equal. To quantify the decline of the forest, geographical studies and satellite imagery were used. Comparing the area covered by forest in the same region at two distinct eras allowed researchers to determine the annual rate of change. The outcome showed that tree cover loss (TCL, kg/ha) was decreased in 18 local government regions (LGAs). As a result, throughout the baseline consideration period of 2010 to 2022, Etasko East (EE) and Estako West (ES), Ovia South East (OSW), and Ovia North have had the least loss in tree cover. The increased demand on human survival brought on by the expanding population may provide an explanation for this observation and discovery. As a result of this development, forests underwent transformation and were used to produce food, build cities and homes, and generate energy. The region with the highest rates of tree cover loss and deforestation was associated with the highest CS, which was calculated at 2700 tC/ha at OSW, and the lowest CS value point at 22.2 tC/ha at Oredo Edo (OE). As a result, OSW showed that dense forests had higher biomass carbon storage than grazing land and open forests. In conclusion, the study showed that Edo State has a significant potential for raising the level of carbon sequestration in order for the state to generate a profit from the sale of carbon stock and enhance climate change mitigation efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Cannabis remains the most widely used illicit drug among Nigerians, often associated with psychiatric disorders. Since genetic predisposition has been implicated in substance use disorders, we, therefore, aimed at finding out the relationship between dopamine transporter gene (DAT1) polymorphism and cannabis use disorder. Methods: We recruited 104 patients from a tertiary psychiatric facility in Lagos, Nigeria, who were diagnosed with cannabis use disorder according to ICD-10 and 96 non-smokers as a comparative group. The smokers were screened with Cannabis Use Disorder Identification Test (CUDIT), and cannabis dependence was assessed with the Severity of Dependence Scale (SDS). Genotyping was carried out for the 40 bp 3′ UTR VNTR of the DAT1 (rs28363170). Results: The frequencies of 9R/9R, 9R/10R, 10R/10R among non-smokers and smokers were 14 (14.3%), 25 (26.2%), 57 (59.5%) and 17 (16.3%), 54 (51.9%), 33 (31.7%) respectively. The genotype distribution was in Hardy Weinberg equilibrium (HWE) only in the smokers' population (χ² = 1.896, P =.166). Individuals with the 10R allele were almost twice as likely as the 9R carriers to smoke cannabis (OR = 1.915, 95% CI: 1.225-2.995). However, this polymorphism was not associated with the quantity of cannabis smoked, age at onset of smoking, CUDIT, and SDS scores. Conclusion: The DAT VNTR polymorphism was associated with cannabis smoking but not cannabis use disorder. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A comprehensive study of bacterial and biotoxin contaminants of ready-to-eat (RTE) foods in Nigeria is yet to be reported. Hence, this study applied 16S rRNA gene sequencing and a dilute-and-shoot LC-MS/MS method to profile bacteria and biotoxins, respectively, in 199 RTE food samples comprising eko (n = 30), bread (n = 30), shawarma (n = 35), aadun (n = 35), biscuits (n = 34), and kokoro (n = 35). A total of 631 bacterial isolates, clustered into seven operational taxonomic units, namely Acinetobacter, Bacillus, Klebsiella, Proteus and Kosakonia, Kurthia, and Yokenella, that are reported for the first time were recovered from the foods. One hundred and eleven metabolites comprising mycotoxins and other fungal metabolites, phytoestrogenic phenols, phytotoxins, and bacterial metabolites were detected in the foods. Aflatoxins, fumonisins, and ochratoxins contaminated only the artisanal foods (aadun, eko, and kokoro), while deoxynivalenol and zearalenone were found in industrially-processed foods (biscuit, bread, and shawarma), and citrinin was present in all foods except eko. Mean aflatoxin (39.0 µg/kg) in artisanal foods exceeded the 10 µg/kg regulatory limit adopted in Nigeria by threefold. Routine surveillance, especially at the informal markets; food hygiene and safety education to food processors and handlers; and sourcing of high-quality raw materials are proposed to enhance RTE food quality and safeguard consumer health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Several studies have shown that the impact of maternal mental health disorders on newborns' well-being in low and middle-income countries (LMIC) are underreported, multi-dimensional and varies over time and differs from what is reported in high-income countries. We present the prevalence and risk factors associated with common mental disorders (CMDs) among breastfeeding mothers whose infants were admitted to Nigerian tertiary care facilities. Methods: This was a national cross-sectional study involving mothers of hospitalised babies from eleven Nigerian tertiary hospitals. We used the WHO self-reporting Questionnaire 20 and an adapted WHO/UNICEF ten-step breastfeeding support package to assess mothers' mental health and breastfeeding support. Results: Only 895 of the 1,120 mothers recruited from eleven tertiary healthcare nurseries in six geopolitical zones of Nigeria had complete datasets for analysis. The participants' mean age was 29.9 ± 6.2 years. One in four had CMDs; 24.0% (95% CI: 21.235, 26.937%). The ages of mothers, parity, gestational age at delivery, and length of hospital stay were comparable between mothers with and those without CMDs. Antenatal care at primary healthcare facilities (adjusted odds ratio [aOR:13], primary education [aOR:3.255] living in the south-southern region of the country [aOR 2.207], poor breastfeeding support [aOR:1.467], polygamous family settings [aOR:2.182], and a previous history of mental health disorders [aOR:4.684] were significantly associated with CMDs. In contrast, those from the middle and lower socioeconomic classes were less likely to develop CMDs, with [aOR:0.532] and [aOR:0.493], respectively. Conclusion: In Nigeria, the prevalence of CMDs is relatively high among breastfeeding mothers with infants admitted to a tertiary care facility. Prior history of mental illness, polygamous households, mothers living in the southern region and low or no educational attainment have a greater risk of developing CMDs. This study provides evidence for assessing and tailoring interventions to CMDs among breastfeeding mothers in neonatal nurseries in LMIC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Slow growth rate and acute heat stress are among the major constraints to indigenous chicken production in Nigeria. Characterization of heattolerance genes is a requisite for selective breeding of poultry for improved heattolerance and productivity. Therefore, this study investigated variation in HSP70 gene and its association with heat-tolerance traits of Nigerian locally adapted chickens. One-day old chicks comprising 118 Yoruba Ecotype Chicken-YEC and 138 FUNAAB Alpha Chicken-FAC were tagged and fed ad-libitum on starter (0 - 6 weeks) and grower (7-24 weeks) diets. At week 12, blood was sampled, DNA was extracted, amplified and electrophoresed following standard procedures. HSP70 gene was genotyped using MmeI restriction endonuclease. At week 23, 36 chickens (six chickens per identified HSP70 genotypes) selected from each of YEC and FAC were exposed to 40±1°C for one hour. Cloaca temperature, respiratory rate (RR) and pulse rate (PR) were recorded and heat stress index (HSI) calculated. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and ANOVA. Alleles A and B with genotypes: AA, AB, and BB were detected. After acute heat-stress, YEC with BB had higher RR value compared to those with AA and AB. The PR value of FAC with genotype BB was significantly higher (p<0.05) than those of AA, but similar to chickens with AB. Within FAC, HSI of BB-HSP70 was lower than AA-HSP70 but similar to AB-HSP70, while within YEC HSI of BB-HSP70 was similar to those of AA-HSP70 and AB-HSP70. The HSP70 gene was polymorphic in the studied chickens and genotype BB-HSP70 was associated with thermo-tolerance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: In recent years, there has been an increased uptake of Xpert Mycobacterium tuberculosis/rifampicin (MTB/RIF) for the diagnosis of tuberculosis (TB), with added benefits for detecting rifampicin-resistant TB (RR-TB). We set out to determine the trends in notification of MTB and RR-TB over 4 years in a tertiary hospital in Southwest Nigeria. Materials and Methods: This is a retrospective analysis of single early morning sputum/gastric washing sample for presumed TB in a tertiary health center between January 2016 and December 2019. Xpert MTB/RIF was used to detect (MTB) and RR-TB. Results: The mean age of the 4625 presumptive TB patients was 43.4 (18.8) years, with the majority aged 31-45 (30.6%). Males totaled 2247 (49.6%). Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) coinfection was found in 756 (16.7%) of them. Using the Xpert MTB/RIF assay, the overall MTB notification was 12.9% (584/4526) and was associated with HIV status, P < 0.001. MTB notification trends increased from 5.6% in 2016 to 23.8% in 2019, P < 0.001. The overall yield of RR-TB was 7.5%. The proportion of RR-TB from TB cases declined from 28% in 2016 to 4.6% in 2019. Forty-two of the 44 cases of the RR-TB (42/572; 7.3%, [95% CI: 5.31, 9.75]) were new cases, with TB treatment failure and relapse cases accounting for 10.1% (2/11; 10.1%, [95% CI: 0.35, 42.5]) of all RR-TB cases (P < 0.01). RR-TB was associated with being older than 45 years (adjusted odds ratio = 2.046, [95% CI: 1.046, 4.004]). HIV infection status and gender had no effect on RR-TB status. Conclusion: This study found an increase in MTB detection with Xpert MTB/RIF utilization. Ages >45 years have 2-4-fold increased risk of developing RR-TB and should be targeted for drug resistance prevention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study aimed to reveal the microbial (bacteria and yeast) composition of raw milk from dairy camel (n  = 10), cow (n  = 10) and goat (n  = 10) in North-western Nigeria. High-throughput DNA metabarcoding was used to compare microbial compositions in raw milk among the three species. Although the three species had similar dominant bacterial (Firmicutes and Proteobacteria) and yeast (Ascomycota and Basidiomycota) phyla, their microbial compositions at the genus level were noticeably different. The top differentially abundant bacterial and yeast genera (percentage abundance) were Lactobacillus (36%), Streptococcus (34%), Enterococcus (12%), Kluyveromyces (28%), Saccharomyces (24%), and Candida (18%), respectively. Principal coordinate analysis based on unweighted UniFrac values revealed significant differences in the structure of bacterial communities and no differences in yeast communities in milk samples from the three species. This study provides insight into the rich and diverse bacterial and yeast communities in raw animal milk consumed in Nigeria, which could play beneficial roles or pose health threats to consumers. However, further research on the economic significance of the microbial community in animal milk consumed in Nigeria is required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the utilization of soil fertility management practices (SFMPs) among arable crop farmers in Osun state, Nigeria. Multistage sampling was used to select 160 arable crop farmers. Data were collected using a well-structured interview schedule and analyzed using descriptive statistics and Person Product Moment Correlation (PPMC). The results revealed that the majority of the farmers are married males, mostly aged 51 years old, with an average farm size of 2.6ha, and mainly growing maize (96.9%), cassava (91.9%) and yam (68.1%). The respondents use cultural methods, synthetic fertilizers and organic manure in that order as SFMPs. SFMPs are used at the following levels: cultural methods: ridging across the slope with a weighted mean score (WMS) of 2.81, rotational cropping (WMS = 2.66) and mulching (WMS = 2.47); synthetic fertilizers: NPK (WMS = 1.75) and urea (WMS = 1.27); organic manure: poultry manure (WMS = 0.77) and animal dung (WMS = 0.76). The major source of information for SFMPs was radio (95.6%). PPMC analysis showed that age (r = 0.20*; p = 0.01) and farm size (r = 0.16*; p = 0.04) are significantly related to the utilisation of SFMPs. In conclusion, the respondents were small scale farmers who mostly utilize cultural methods of SFMPs and are mainly influenced by crop type as a function of age and farm size. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Substance use is one of the key factors that predispose young people to sexually frequent behaviors. This study therefore investigates the implications of substance abuse and sexual frequency for sexually transmitted infections among Nigerian youths. The study used quantitative data from the National HIV/AIDS and Reproductive Health Survey (NARHS Plus II, 2012). The data for the study were analyzed using three levels of statistical analysis while, two statistical techniques were used and five models were constructed to test the formulated hypotheses The study reveals that the estimate incidence of relative risk (IRR) of substance abuse on sexual frequency confirmed a positive significant effects for both adjusted and unadjusted data (Smoking cigarette, unadjusted OR=.19 P-value=.000, adjusted OR=.33 P-value=.000; consuming alcohol everyday unadjusted OR=1.07 P-value=.000, adjusted OR=1.40 P-value=.000). While a significant relationship between substance abuse, sexual frequency, and likelihood of contracting STIs was established in the study (Pvalue<. 005). The study concludes that there is need for education on substance abuse among young people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objective: Subcutaneous fat necrosis (SFN) of the newborn is a rare form of panniculitis. It usually occurs in perinatal stress and is usually complicated by metabolic disorders such as hypercalcemia. While the number of cases reported worldwide has increased, there are very few cases from Nigeria. Case Report: We report the case of a Nigerian newborn admitted at 25 hours of life with macrosomia (birth weight of 4.7 kg) and perinatal asphyxia. On the fourth day of life, she developed reddened to dark, tender areas on the back (20 x 15 cm) and back of the arms, suggestive of SFN with elevated serum calcium. The baby received oral frusemide with the resolution of hypercalcemia by the 4th month of life. Conclusion: Panniculitis, as a form of subcutaneous fat necrosis should be considered in a neonate with a history of perinatal asphyxia and macrosomia, which requires measurement of serum calcium levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study conducted an empirical analysis on the effects of monetary policy on financial inclusion in Nigeria from 1985 to 2019. The study employed time series research design and data were collected from the secondary source via CBN statistical bulletin. The study used autoregressive distance lag(ARDL) to achieve the objective of the study. The findings indicated that lending rate has a negative and insignificant effect on number of bank branches; money supply has a positive effect but insignificant effect on credit to SMEs; and liquidity ratio has a positive but insignificant effect on bank demand deposit. Therefore, the study concluded that monetary policy does not have significant effect on financial inclusion in Nigeria from 1985 to 2019. The study recommended that Central Bank of Nigeria as a monetary authority should redirect and redesign its monetary policy tools towards determining the financial inclusion system in the country in order to capture citizens that are financial excluded. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

No studies focused on the hepatitis B birth dose (HepB-BD) vaccine since Nigeria adopted the strategy to reduce hepatitis B viral infection. Hence, we determined the uptake of HepB-BD, factors associated with timeliness, and those that contributed to delay. This study was a cross-sectional descriptive study carried out at an immunization post in north-western Nigeria. We recruited 400 mother-infant pairs that presented for the first immunization and obtained relevant information, including sociodemographics and reasons for the delays. Of the 400 infants, 44 (11.0%) received HepB-BD within 24 hours (timeliness), 105 (26.3%) and 274 (68.5%) by day 7 and 14, respectively. Multivariate analysis showed that mothers' education (primary adjusted odds (AOR) 17, 95% CI 1.404, 204.611), secondary AOR 5.9, 95% CI 1.148, 29.895), and tertiary AOR 7.7, 95% CI 1.228, 48.545), and third born AOR 8.2, 1.625, 41.018) were associated with HepB-BD timeliness. Maternal-related factors were the commonest (129; 46.6%) for delayed HepB-BD, with maternal illness the most commonly cited reason (37; 28.7%). This study showed a deficient level of uptake of HepB-BD vaccines among infants. Factors that were associated with timeliness included maternal education and higher birth order. The commonest reason for delayed HepB-BD was maternal illness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Vaccination has been described as the most critical tool to end the COVID-19 pandemic and to save lives and livelihoods. This study aimed to evaluate the spectrum of adverse events following immunization with the COVID-19 AstraZeneca/Oxford vaccine in Ibadan, south western Nigeria. Methodology: A cross-sectional study. Adults aged > 18 years who had received the Astra-Zeneca/Oxford COVID-19 vaccine at selected COVID-19 vaccination centres across three Local Government Areas in Ibadan, SW Nigeria were interviewed by means of a structured questionnaire to determine the spectrum of adverse events following immunisation (AEFI). Results: We enrolled 369 adults; 179 males and 190 females, with a mean of age of 37.8 ± 12.0 years. Three hundred and thirty two (90.0%) of the subjects experienced one or more AEFI. Of the total AEFIs reported, the most frequent were headache 225 (21.1%), fatigue/tiredness 186 (17.4%), pain at the injection site 99 (9.3%) and myalgia 97(9.1%). Nine in ten (96.4%) of these AEFIs occurred within 48 hours postvaccination. Higher severity of adverse events score (p=0.049) and multiple AEFIs (p=0.01) were associated with the first dose of the vaccine. There were severe AEFI in 1.2 % (95% CI: 0.3-.9.0%) of the respondents. Presumed or confirmed COVID 19 infection before vaccination increased the odds of AEFI (OR 7.0,95% CI: 1.8-27.8). Conclusion: Our study showed a high frequency of AEFI among recipients of the Astra Zenecca/Oxford vaccine in Ibadan. Majority of the AEFIs are mild and self-limiting.Previous infection with COVID-19 appears to increase the risk of AEFI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The microbial assemblage and occurrence in the gut, flesh and shell of Cardisoma armatum, from the tropical mangrove swamp of Lagos Lagoon, Nigeria, was analysed using standard microbiological techniques. The crab gut had the highest total heterotrophic bacteria count and total coliform count with respective significant (p<0.05) values of 6.90 ± 0.16 x10 4CFU g -1 and 3.45 ± 0.12 x10 ²CFU g -1. Total feacal coliform of the crabs were 0.05 ± 0.00 x10 ²CFU g -1, 0.01 ± 0.00 x10 ²Cfu g -1 and 0.01 ± 0.00 x10 ²CFU g -1 in gut, flesh and shell, respectively. Highest total fungal count of 7.50 ± 0.04 x10 ³CFU g -1 was recorded in the crab shell. The bacteria and fungi species isolated and their frequencies of occurrences in percentage were: Bacillus sp. (21.4 %), Citrobacter sp. (3.6 %) Enterobacter sp. (7.1 %), Escherichia coli (10.7 %), Klesiellia pneumonia (17.9 %), Providencia sp. (3.6 %), Serratia sp. (10.7 %), Staphylococcus aureus (10.7 %), S. epidermis (7.1 %), Vibrio sp. (7.1 %), Aspergillus flavus (8.6 %), Aspergillus fumigatu (5.7 %), Aspergillus niger (40.0 %), Fusarium sp. (14.3 %), Penicillium sp. (5.7 %) and Saccharomyces sp. (25.7 %). The isolation rates in the different anatomical sites of the crab follow the order: guts > flesh > shell and shell > flesh > guts for bacterial and fungi infestation respectively. The results of this study showed that the gercacinid crab, C. armatum in the tropical mangrove of Lagos harbours microorganisms including those that are pathogenic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: There are limited data on the epidemiology of HPV in different anatomical sites of female sex workers (FSW). We investigated the prevalence and concordance of cervical, vulval, oral and anal HPV among FSW in Ibadan, Nigeria. Methods: FSWs aged 18–45 years were enrolled in a cross-sectional survey. After interview and clinical examination, samples were collected from mouth, cervix, vulva and anus. HPV genotyping was done with Anyplex II 28HPV assay. Multivariable analyses were performed to explore associated risk factors and concordance of HPV infections across sites. Results: In total, 315 FSWs participated in the study with a mean age of 30–6.5 years. The prevalence of any HPV infection was 88% in the vulva, 84% in the cervix, 75% in the anus and 24% in the oral cavity. HPV 35 was the most prevalent and concordant high-risk type in the four sites. The risk factors for HPV infection by anatomic site varied. Conclusion: This large study showed a high prevalence and concordance of HPV infections of cervical, vulval, oral and anal HPV among FSWs in Nigeria. The potential to acquire and transmit HPV is high in this population, and we highlighted the urgency to protect young women through HPV vaccination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Edible crustaceans, such as prawns, are one of the most nutritious shellfish available to humans. Meanwhile, the macro-micro nutrient content of seafood determines their nutritional value. The study assessed the energy values, macro and trace elemental residues in the caridean species, Macrobrachium macrobrachion from the Lagos Lagoon in Nigeria. The protein contents obtained from M. macrobrachion were 50.16±0.00 % and 56.20±0.01 % for exoskeleton and flesh samples respectively. Crude fiber and total ash contents were significantly (P < 0.05) higher in exoskeleton compared to the flesh part. Flesh sample had the highest proportion of energy contribution, which was from protein (PEP = 63.8 %) while the least energy contribution was from fat (PEF = 17.0 %) in exoskeleton sample. The value of total macro element was higher in exoskeleton sample (626.23 mg 100g-1) than in flesh sample (402.28 mg 100g-1). The highest percentage difference (% D) in mineral content between exoskeleton and flesh samples of M. macrobrachion was recorded in phosphorus with the value of 46.93 %. All the computed mineral ratios were comparably lower than the reference values. Furthermore, all the minerals had calculated Mineral Safety Index lower than the tabulated, showing positive percentage differences ranging from 74.67 to 90.61 % and 85.07 to 93.65 % for exoskeleton and flesh samples respectively. The trace metal result showed that iron, zinc and copper were the most abundant elements in exoskeleton and flesh of M. macrobrachion whereas chromium, lead and cadmium were the least abundant trace element detected. Furthermore, most of the trace metal levels recorded in this study were below the maximum permitted concentrations. The nutrient composition recorded for M. macrobrachion implies that it could be a healthy diet option for health-conscious consumers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pharmaceutical contamination of the environment is recognized as a global problem although most research has focused on Europe and North America to date, and there remains a dearth of information for developing countries, including those in Africa. To address this data gap, the occurrence of 37 pharmaceuticals belonging to 19 therapeutic classes was monitored in surface water and effluents in Lagos State, Southwest Nigeria. Samples were collected quarterly between April 2017 and March 2018 from 22 sites, and 26 compounds were detected at least once, many in the µg/L range. Maximum concentrations for those compounds detected ranged from 75 to 129 µg L−1, and even mean concentrations for 13 compounds were in the order of µg L−1. These values are among the highest ever measured globally. Sewage effluent was more important than drug manufacturing waste in polluting rivers, although there are likely to be numerous unregulated sources of effluent being discharged to rivers that require further study, including urban waste collection areas and vacuum trucks that collect effluent. Seasonal trends in the data were complex, with some compounds being found at higher concentrations in the dry season and, conversely, others being greater during the wet period; this variation potentially relates to the variety of pollution sources in the catchment. Pharmaceuticals are indispensable to human health, although their usage and discharge into the aquatic environment may lead to ecological problems and antibiotic resistance. The data we present indicate that pharmaceutical pollution of freshwaters is a serious issue in Nigeria, and management efforts are needed to improve this problem. Environ Toxicol Chem 2022;41:551–558. © 2020 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study assessed the seasonal distribution of trace metals in soft tissues of Tympanotonos fuscatus var radula, surrounding water, and sediment of Abule-Agege Creek in Southwest Nigeria. A non-significant variation (p > 0.05) in water physicochemical parameters occurred across wet and dry seasons. Metallic contamination (Copper, zinc, mercury, chromium, lead and cadmium) was found to be higher in T. fuscatus var radula than in water, and the sediment serves as a large depository of these trace metals. In this gastropod, the ability of metal accumulation from water (Bio-water accumulation) was higher than that from sediment (Bio-sediment accumulation). In addition, the linear regression models revealed positive relationship between tissue and sediment concentrations of lead and cadmium for both seasons. The estimated daily intake of investigated metals for both seasons was lower than the oral reference dose, while the target hazard quotient and total hazard index of individual metals were both less than 1, meaning that T. fuscatus var radula from the study region posed no health risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research determined the influence of Nigeria’s public debt on the country’s development. It especially looked at the link between the human development index, per capita income, growth rate, and public debt in Nigeria from 2003 to 2020, as well as the relationship between per capita income and public debt. The quantitative research design was used in this investigation. Important information about the under-studied variable was gathered from the Debt Management Office (2020) and the UNESCO Institute of Statistics (2020), and data was analyzed using the regression model developed by the University of Edinburgh. It was discovered by the research team, among other things, that there is co-integration (a longrun link) between the variables in the model. The t-statistics of -2.297997 with a p-value of 0.0388 indicate that there is a negative and significant relationship between foreign debt and the human development index, the t-statistics of 2.557340 with a p-value of 0.0239 indicate that there is a positive and significant relationship between foreign debt and per capital income, and the t-statistics of -0.658730 with a p-value of 0.5216 indicate that there A total of 4.109504 with a Prob.(F-statistic) of0.029617 for the f-statistics indicates that all of the explanatory factors have a statistically significant influence on foreign debt in both the short and long term. According to the findings of the research, there is a statistically significant association between public debt and development in Nigeria, depending on the variable of interest rate used. A similar recommendation was made in the study that the government should improve the efficiency and effectiveness of public debt management, citing the negative and significant influence of the human development index on both long-term and short-term development, as well as the negative and insignificant influence of foreign debt on development in Nigeria, which is a clear indication of ineffective public debt management practices in the country. Additionally, the component governments of Nigeria should minimize their public borrowing since it has a substantial negative impact on the long-term growth of the nation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study provided an empirical framework that isolates the supply and demand perspectives in urban residential property transactions towards removing the information shield and asymmetry nature of property transaction information in Nigeria. A three-stage classical panel longitudinal design was adopted through feedback from completed transaction data on residential properties from the licensed estate agents. The study provided balanced and complete transaction information desired by the parties to any type of residential property transaction and bridged the wide gap between transaction expectation and actualization to prevent improper signalling in property transaction prescriptions. The study outcome generated vital indices and metrics for creating a complete property transaction database for the attraction of international professionals to participate in Nigeria's urban property market transactions. This study is the first one in Nigeria to link the asking prices on sales and rental transactions in residential property transactions from the start to the conclusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Evidence exists as to the criticality of the first 24 h in the management of cerebral malaria. The morbidity and the mortality rate (35%) with the current intravenous monotherapy for the initial treatment of cerebral malaria are unacceptably high. Combination therapy and a shorter course of effective medication have been shown to improve outcomes in human participants in the treatment of other diseases. This study outlines a protocol to conduct a triple blinded parallel randomized controlled trial on cerebral malaria using dual intravenous medications compared to the current standard of monotherapy.Methods: This is a parallel multi-site randomized controlled superiority triple blinded trial consisting of intravenous artesunate plus quinine and a control arm of intravenous artesunate only. Eligible and assenting children aged 6 months to 17 years will be recruited from 4 tertiary hospitals by random selection from the list of tertiary hospitals in Nigeria. Participants will be randomized and assigned in parallel into two arms using random numbers generated from GraphPad Prism (version 9) by a clinical pharmacologist who has no link with the investigators, the patients, or the statistician. The primary measurable outcome is survival at 12, 24, and 48 h post-randomization. A composite secondary outcome consists of the number of children that regained consciousness, parasitaemia and defervescence at 12 and 24 h post-randomization and haematological and inflammatory markers at 24 and 48 h post-randomization. Adverse events both solicited and unsolicited are recorded all through the study post-randomization. The study is approved by the State Research Ethics Review Committee. Data analysis will be performed in GraphPad Prism version 9.Discussion: The outcome of this analysis will give insight into the efficacy and safety of dual intravenous antimalaria in the treatment of cerebral malaria among Nigerian children compared with the standard of care. The safety profile of this intervention will also be highlighted. This may help inform physicians on the optimal treatment for cerebral malaria to improve outcomes and reduce recrudescence and treatment failure.Trial Registration: Pan Africa Clinical Trial Registry PACTR202102893629864 . 23/02/2021. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effective communication among construction stakeholders has been a serious challenge in the global industry. Implementation of Building Information Modeling (BIM) has been established as a useful approach to overcome the challenge. However, lack of a single strategy for effective implementation of BIM tool during construction activities has made its application in a developing nation such as Nigeria to be very slow. Therefore, this paper aims to identify a single strategy that can be used to effectively implement BIM in Nigeria construction industry. This was achieved by conducting a mixed methods research in some selected construction firms located in Abuja the capital city of Nigeria in the year 2019. Interview and questionnaires were the main instruments used for data collection in the mixed methods research design. The findings of the study showed that BIM has not been maximally tapped by construction firms in Nigeria. The finding of the study also revealed that establishment of enforcement bodies that will ensure BIM application in every project is a significant strategy for BIM implementation in Nigeria construction industry. Such finding streamlined several strategies that can be used by project actors to understand the concept of BIM adoption in the study context. This could lead to affordable BIM projects delivery in Nigeria and consequently improve the performance of global construction industry. The study recommends that the underlying strategies that can be used to overcome the challenges of BIM enforcement in Nigeria construction industry should be investigated by prospective BIM researchers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) is key to the success of world economic system and a major impetust for development, flow of capital and human resources from one country to another. This study examines the nexus between Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and some macroeconomic variables in Nigeria during the period of 2010-2017. Ordinary Least Square (OLS) technique was used to assess the relationship. The study reveals that Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) has positive relationship with chosen economic variables namely Gross Domestic Product (GDP), Gross Fixed Capital Formation (GFCF) and Export (EXP). The study recommends that government should formulate policies to attract foreign investors, create enabling environments and strengthen the institutional factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Apis mellifera Linnaeus, 1758 is one of the most economically valuable insects which plays significant role in human medicine, nutrition and crop pollination. The morphometric variations of honeybee from different locations of the southern guinea and northern guinea savannah ecological zone of Nigeria were studied. Fifteen morphological traits were measured for variation on six hundred (600) worker honeybee samples purposively collected from ten different locations within the ecological zone. Data collected were subjected to one-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), SNK test (a=0.05) and Pearson correlation between morphometric characters were determined. At the same time a dendrogram of morphological proximity based on the fifteen morphological features was constructed. Results showed that morphometry variation (p<0.05) existed within the honeybee population in the guinea savannah agroecological zone of Nigeria, high morphological similarities were observed in the tibia length of the hind leg and the thorax length. The honeybee samples were classified into two distinct morphoclusters (A and B). Honeybee samples within morphocluster A were closely related in terms of the examined morphometric features and geographic distance (CV=1.65). In contrast, within cluster B, honeybee samples were closely related despite the vast geographical distance (CV=3.30, p<0.05). The body length was significantly positively correlated with the leg size, while hind wing length was positively associated with the proboscis, abdominal, thoracic, body length and hooks. Morphometric variations found in A. mellifera of guinea agroecological zone could significantly impact conservation and future bee breeding programmes of Nigeria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Human papillomavirus (HPV) associated cancers are increasingly reported globally, including in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). However, with the exception of cervical HPV infection, data from SSA on the epidemiology of oral and genital HPV infections are limited. This study assessed the prevalence and concordance of oro-genital and anal HPV genotype specific infections among women in the general population. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study in sexually active women aged 18–45 years in Ibadan, Nigeria. After a face-to-face interview and clinical examination, oral, cervical, vulvar, and anal samples were collected from participants and tested by the Anyplex II 28 HPV assay. Descriptive and multivariable analyses were used to report prevalence and risk factors associated with HPV infections. Results: The prevalence of any vulva, cervical, anal, and oral HPV infections was 68.0% (210/309), 59.7% (182/305), 56.8% (172/303), and 16.1% (14/286), respectively. There was an inverse relationship between age-group and HPV prevalence of HPV in all anatomic sites except for the oral HPV infections. HPV 35 was the most prevalent high-risk HPV genotype in the vulva, cervix and oral cavity. Associated risk factors for HPV infection in each of the anatomic sites were reported. Overall, 10.0% (31/310) women had concordance of any HPV type in the four anatomic sites. Conclusion: There was a high prevalence of oro-genital and anal HPV infections among sexually active Nigerian women, with concordance of HPV types in the cervix, vulva, anus and oral cavity. We advocate large longitudinal studies that will involve sampling of multiple anatomic sites and inclusion of other women in the community for better understanding of HPV epidemiology in this region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of the study is to investigate financial globalization and the performance of Nigerian deposit money banks. The study employed foreign direct investment, exchange rate and foreign trade as proxies for financial globalization while bank total asset was used as proxy for deposit money bank performance. The study used time series research design as well as secondary data. The data was obtained from the statistical bulletin of Central Bank of Nigeria from 1985 to 2019. Multiple regression was employed as the data analysis tool. The findings revealed that foreign direct investment and exchange rate have positive and significant effect on banks total asset. However, foreign trade has a positive but insignificant effect on bank total asset. Due to the value of Pro(F-Statistic) 0.000< 0.05 significant level, the study concluded that there is significant influence of financial globalization on the performance of deposit money banks (DMBs) in Nigeria. The study recommended that Nigerian government should continue to put in place factors that will attracts foreign investment to Nigerian economy so that bank assets will continue to increase; government through its monetary authority should employed that should stabilised the fluctuation in the exchange rate market; and there is need for government to focus more on Nigerian international trade by making the country exportation to be greater than the importation so that foreign trade can be a predictor for banks’ assets in Nigeria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background & objective: Despite available data from developed countries, suggesting a high incidence of acute kidney injury (AKI) in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), there is scarce data from African countries, including Nigeria. We conducted this study to determine and document the incidence, the associated factors and the outcome (in-hospital mortality) of AKI among COVID-19 patients managed in a center in Nigeria. Methodology: It was a retrospective review of confirmed COVID-19 cases managed at a center in Nigeria. AKI was defined using 2012 Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) creatinine criteria. We extracted relevant data from the electronic records of the COVID-19 patients admitted to our hospital and analyzed. Fischer's exact tests were used to test factors associated with AKI for discrete variables, Mann-Whitney U test was used for skewed continuous data, and T-test for continuous normal distribution variables. Results: This study involved 41 of the 56 confirmed COVID-19 cases. The mean age was 45 ± 17.94 y. A majority of the patients were males (33; 80.5%). AKI occurred in 6 (14.6%) of the patients. Of the 6 AKI; 4 (66.7%) and 2 (33.3%) were in stages 1 and 3 respectively. One patient (16.7%) had had hemodialysis. Of the 6 with AKI, 3 died with a mortality rate of 50.0%. Factors associated with AKI included age above 45 years, body weakness, severe and critical COVID, urea > 10 mmol/l, and serum creatinine > 1.5 mg/dl. Only severe and critical disease was predictive of AKI (adjusted odds ratio 1.777, 95% CI 1.028, 3.074). Conclusion: The results of our study show that AKI is common in severe and critical COVID-19 and is associated with a poor outcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Routine vaccination, a cost-effective means of preventing deadly childhood disease, has a low coverage in Nigeria. The study assessed the willingness of mothers to receive reminder messages for routine vaccination appointments in Northern Nigeria.Methods: A multi-centre cross-sectional study involving at least 363 mother-infant pairs per centre from five states in Northern Nigeria. Data collected include the socio-demographic details, responses on parental phone ownership, mothers' willingness to receive reminders for immunization appointments and the reminder type characteristics. Data analysis was done with SPSS.Results: Of the 1952 mother-infant pairs, ownership of at least one household phone was 97.7%. In total, 1613 (82.6%) mothers were willing to receive reminders. A majority (62.2%) of mothers preferred phone calls. A day before the vaccination appointment was the preferred timing (78.1%), and the predominant communication language was the local language for each region.The odds of being willing to receive reminders were 3.1 times, 2.6 times and 1.8 times higher in those with no formal education, primary education and secondary education, respectively, compared with mothers with tertiary education, each p < 0.05. Mothers who delivered at home were significantly less likely to want reminder messages (p = 0.03).Conclusion: Eight of 10 women in Northern Nigeria are willing to receive a reminder for their child. The predominant mode of reminder preferred is phone calls using the local language. Deployment of mobile phone reminders strategy in Northern Nigeria as a means to improve vaccination uptake is feasible. The institution of this strategy can be in collaboration with service providers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies have examined individual and community level factors associated with unintended pregnancies. However, existing studies tends to focus the general population of reproductive age women without isolating women of advanced reproductive age (women at the age range of 35–49 years) for specific research attention. There is need for specific attention on this group of women because pregnancies among them whether intended or unintended elevate obstetric risks for both mother and child. This study examines associated individual and community factors of unintended pregnancies among women of advanced reproductive age in Nigeria. Data were extracted from the 2018 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey. A weighted sample of 12,509 women was analyzed. Three multilevel logistic regression models were estimated. The study revealed a 10.3% prevalence of unintended pregnancies. Individual characteristics such as maternal age, number of living children, delayed marriage, and community characteristics such as high community poverty and high community unmet contraceptive need were significantly associated with unintended pregnancies. Variations in unintended pregnancies across the communities were more attributable to individual factors. Interventions should develop specific strategies tailored toward women of advanced reproductive age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fulani pastoralists are widely distributed across the six geographical zones of Nigeria and migrate from north to south in search of natural grazing lands at times of forage scarcity. This migration leads annually to resource use conflict and deadly attacks between migrating pastoralists and sedentary arable farmers. These conflicts have generated heated scholarly debates over the last few decades. Here, we provide an overview of the nexus between the farmer-herder crises, grassland management, and livestock production and argue for the establishment of irrigated pastures to increase forage production and quality and, thereby, reduce land-use conflicts. This recommendation is offered in place of the often-called-for transition to a ranching system for livestock production. We recommend an interdisciplinary approach to investigate the willingness of stakeholders in the livestock business to pay for fresh or conserved forage resources, as well as robust policies that could attract investment into the establishment, management, and sustainability of commercial forage production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Cervical cancer is the leading cause of death among women in developing countries. It is preventable through effective cervical cancer screening program. However, in Nigeria, screening programs are opportunistic and coverage is insufficient to make an impact. Aim: This study assessed the cervical cytopathological changes among pregnant women at booking using liquid-based cytology (LBC) in Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH). Methodology: This was a cross-sectional study that was carried out at the antenatal Clinic of AKTH, Kano, Nigeria. A total of 161 pregnant women who fulfilled the criteria and gave their consent were recruited into the study using systematic sampling technique at booking for antenatal care. LBC was employed using standard procedure and samples sent to histopathology department for analysis. Pro forma developed for the study was used to obtain the socio-demographic and reproductive characteristics of the women and the risk factors for abnormal cervical cytology. Results: Out of the 161 pregnant women that had cervical cytology screening using LBC on their first prenatal visit during the study, 22 had abnormal cervical cytology, giving a prevalence rate of 13.7%. Out of this, six (27.3%) were atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance, 3 (13.6%) were Atypical Squamous Cells, Cannot Rule Out HSIL (ASC-H), 11 (50.0%) were low-grade Squamous Intraepithelial Lesions while 2 (9.1%) were high grade squamous intraepithelial lesions. Negative smears were seen in 104 women (64.6%). Inflammatory and other conditions of the cervix which are technically negative smears made up the remaining 21.7%. There was a statistically significant association between cervical cytology results and advanced age (P < 0.01), increasing number of lifetime sexual partners since coitarche (P < 0.01), high parity (P < 0.01), absent previous Pap test (P < 0.027), previous history of sexually transmitted infections (P < 0.040), and positive HIV status (P < 0.001). Following binary logistic regression, advanced maternal age, increasing number of sexual partners, high parity, and positive HIV status stood out to be independent predictors of premalignant lesions of the cervix in pregnancy in this study. Conclusion: Advanced maternal age, increasing number of sexual partners, high parity, and positive HIV status stood out to be independent predictors of premalignant lesions of the cervix in the study. Routine cervical cytology screening using LBC should be offered to all antenatal clients in our setting to increase coverage and detection rate of preinvasive lesions of the cervix, and/or pregnant women with increased risk of abnormal cervical cytology from this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High‐quality data are needed to guide interventions aimed at improving breast cancer outcomes in sub‐Saharan Africa. We present data from an institutional breast cancer database to create a framework for cancer policy and development in Nigeria. An institutional database was queried for consecutive patients diagnosed with breast cancer between January 2010 and December 2018. Sociodemographic, diagnostic, histopathologic, treatment and outcome variables were analyzed. Of 607 patients, there were 597 females with a mean age of 49.8 ± 12.2 years. Most patients presented with a palpable mass (97%) and advanced disease (80.2% ≥ Stage III). Immunohistochemistry was performed on 21.6% (131/607) of specimens. Forty percent were estrogen receptor positive, 32.8% were positive for HER‐2 and 43.5% were triple negative. Surgery was performed on 49.9% (303/607) of patients, while 72% received chemotherapy and 7.9% had radiotherapy. At a median follow‐up period of 20.5 months, the overall survival was 43.6% (95% CI −37.7 to 49.5). Among patients with resectable disease, 18.8% (57/303) experienced a recurrence. Survival was significantly better for early‐stage disease (I and II) compared to late‐stage disease (III or IV) (78.6% vs 33.3%, P <.001). Receipt of adjuvant radiotherapy after systemic chemotherapy was associated with improved survival in patients with locally advanced disease (68.5%, CI −46.3 to 86 vs 51%, CI 38.6 to 61.9, P <.001). This large cohort highlights the dual burden of advanced disease and inadequate access to comprehensive breast cancer care in Nigeria. There is a significant potential for improving outcomes by promoting early diagnosis and facilitating access to multimodality treatment. What's new? Despite being a leading cause of cancer deaths in Nigeria, data on breast cancer, particularly long‐term outcomes of the disease, remain limited. In the present study, sociodemographic and disease‐related variables were analyzed among breast cancer patients, using data from a prospective institutional database on current breast cancer management in Nigeria. Analyses show that most patients had advanced disease at diagnosis and that stage at presentation significantly impacted survival. The findings highlight the importance of early diagnosis and access to care and provide a reference for current and future breast cancer interventions in Nigeria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]