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Adolescent pregnancy is mostly unintended and an indicator of unmet sexual and reproductive health (SRH) needs. In most African cultures, sociocultural and religious expectations of chastity make unintended adolescent pregnancy a traumatic experience. This study examined the roles of disclosure and social support networks in determining adolescent pregnancy outcomes in Jos, Nigeria. Using a qualitative design, we conducted in-depth interviews with 17 young persons aged 16-24 years, recruited through purposive and snowballing sampling methods. Data were analysed using an inductive approach. Informal social support networks, mainly mothers and close friends, played prominent roles in pregnancy disclosure. The fear of unsafe abortion complications and lack of other options forced most participants into early motherhood. Parenting issues also contributed to unintended adolescent pregnancies. Participants noted that adolescent males had better access to contraceptive devices like condoms. Additionally, the absence of formal opportunities for institutional support through education and youth-friendly SRH services constituted barriers to preventing unintended adolescent pregnancies. Considering the important role family plays, preventing unintended adolescent pregnancies requires empowering parents on SRH communication. A gender-based approach to adolescent-friendly SRH services is recommended. The Nigerian government needs to reconsider how to provide contextually-acceptable comprehensive sexuality education to young people.

Studies on identification of species, fecundity and development stages of blue crab, (Callinectes amnicola) were investigated at the Cross River Estuary between the months of December, 2018 and May, 2019. The parameters used for the study were gonadosomatic and hepatosomatic indices, egg diameter and counts. All measurements followed standard procedures. Gonadosomatic index was at its peak in December (88.9) and April (83.3). This coincided with the peak in egg size suggesting that spawning occurred twice within the period.The low values of hepatosomatic index around December (1.20) and April (0.45) added to confirm the spawning in these months. The species spawns at a mean egg size of 17.55mm. The dimension of crabs examined were in the following range: carapace length 40.0 to 70.0mm, carapace width, 5.0 to 60mm and body weight 40.0 to 140.0g. The relationship between fecundity and weight of crab was significant (r = 0.295: p

The issue of liquidity management is very vital to the existence and survival of any organization especially the deposit money banks. The policy of maintaining adequate liquidity always to meet customer’s obligation in the banking sector cannot be over- emphasized. Therefore, this study examines the effect of liquidity management on profitability of listed deposit money banks (DMBs) in Nigeria This study employed correlational research design. The design was employed because it enables an assessment into the nature and extent of relationship between two or more variables. The population comprises all the 14 listed DMBs in Nigeria but was reduced to 12 listed DMBs in Nigeria with the application of filtering technique. Panel data were gathered from secondary sources, specifically from the audited and published annual reports of the DMBs from 2007 to 2020. Panel regression research was employed in analyzing the data where profitability was measured by return on assets (ROA). The results indicate that liquidity management has positive but insignificant effect on Return of Assets of selected banks.

Religion creates a platform for correcting erroneous beliefs among people involved in the care of people living with HIV and AIDS in a bid to establish an appropriate care perspective. The purpose of this research was to analyse how religious beliefs and practices affect acceptance and cooperation with the care of children living with HIV. A qualitative research method with a grounded theory approach was adopted and children living with HIV, their caregivers, nurse practitioners and stakeholders participated in the study. The study was conducted at two hospitals and two agencies for the control of AIDS, with focus group discussions and individual interviews. Data analysis employed Strauss and Corbin's grounded theory approach of open, axial and selective coding. The major themes identified include: 1) Acceptance of care by religious beliefs and practices; 2) Facilitation of care by religious belief systems; 3) commitment to care by religious leaders; 4) Activities of Muslim fasting, and 5) Influence of polygamy and Christian teaching on prayer for healing of HIV and AIDS. The study highlighted a good collaborative network among Christian and Muslim religious faiths in enhancing acceptance, thereby facilitating cooperation with the care. It is therefore recommended that various religious organizations should partner with programs that can assist the children living with HIV. &nbsp

The subject of pesticides usage has become a serious threat to sound ecological sustainability. In this regard, the effects of biodegradable multiple pesticides on aquatic biospecies have been discussed in detail. They are always different forms of pesticides in the aquatic environment. These pesticides are bioavailable in both water body and sediments, and the aquatic species do feed on water and sediment materials. The pesticides are also capable to bioaccumulate and biomagnify along the food chain. These attributes pose serious risks to human health and the sound ecological system that is needed for life sustainability. Cancer, infertility, lesions, headache, dizziness, eye irritation, vomiting, dermal diseases, and gastrointestinal problems have been observed as the direct pesticides effects on biological populations in several countries. The needs for different safety guidelines required for pesticides manufacturing and usage have been recommended.

Background Adolescent pregnancy has serious public health implications, with far-reaching outcomes extending past the mother and child and affecting society. The purpose of this study was to explore the lived experience of adolescent pregnancy in Jos, Nigeria. Methods We conducted in-depth interviews with 17 adolescents and young women ages 16–24 y in Jos, Nigeria who had experienced at least one teenage pregnancy. Participants were purposively recruited; each provided written informed consent before interviewing. We identified codes and themes using an inductive analytic approach. Results Among the 17 participants, 14 had never been married and 10 had completed senior secondary school. Participants commonly associated adolescent pregnancy with inappropriate behaviour, immaturity and premarital childbearing. The main risk factors for adolescent pregnancy were lack of sexual and reproductive health education and parental communication. Pregnancy evoked feelings of fear, shame, anxiety and depression. Most pregnancies resulted in live births, while some participants had stillbirths or induced abortion. Some participants successfully completed their education post-pregnancy. Conclusions Adolescents in this study lacked adequate sexual and reproductive health education that could empower them to make informed decisions and take action regarding their sexual and reproductive health. Multifaceted actions to address reproductive health education gaps can contribute to reducing adolescent pregnancy in Nigeria.

Introduction: Globally, tuberculosis still remains a disease of public health concern and accounts for high morbidity and mortality particularly in developing countries, where it is fuelled by a number of factors. Methodology: Through a cross-sectional descriptive study, this study aims to determine the predictors of knowledge about TB among 261 mothers of children under 5 years of age attending Child Welfare Clinic, Bingham University Teaching Hospital, Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria. Results: The mean age of the mothers was 31.54 ± 5.28 years, and 249 (98.4%) aware of TB. About two-third having sufficient knowledge and positive attitude regarding TB. Significant statistical association was found between knowledge and attainment of post-secondary education (OR 4.0; 95% CI 12.09, 7.63; p ˂ 0.001), monthly income ≤ 25,000 naira (OR 2.18; 95% CI 1.02, 4.65; p = 0.042), monthly income > 51,000 naira (OR 3.24; 95% CI 1.43, 7.31; p = 0.005), women engaged in business (OR 0.43; 95% CI 0.22, 0.83; p = 0.012) and possessing positive attitude (OR 3.87; 95% CI 2.16, 6.93; p ˂ 0.001) in the univariate analysis. However, in the multivariate logistic regression, it was only attitude that was found to be a predictor of TB knowledge of mothers. Conclusions: TB knowledge among the mothers was high, only attitude regarding thoughts and beliefs about TB was found as an independent predictor of TB knowledge. With the positive influence of attitude on knowledge among the mothers, it is recommended that this be strengthened for sustenance to prevent further infection.

The subject of pesticides usage has become a serious threat to sound ecological sustainability. In this regard, the effects of biodegradable multiple pesticides on aquatic biospecies have been discussed in detail. They are always different forms of pesticides in the aquatic environment. These pesticides are bioavailable in both water body and sediments, and the aquatic species do feed on water and sediment materials. The pesticides are also capable to bioaccumulate and biomagnify along the food chain. These attributes pose serious risks to human health and the sound ecological system that is needed for life sustainability. Cancer, infertility, lesions, headache, dizziness, eye irritation, vomiting, dermal diseases, and gastrointestinal problems have been observed as the direct pesticides effects on biological populations in several countries. The needs for different safety guidelines required for pesticides manufacturing and usage have been recommended.

The use of ecological models to assess the effects of pesticides on the structure and function of aquatic ecosystems is of growing interest. Of utmost concern is assessment of pesticides that have the potential to biodegrade into metabolites that are as toxic as the parent pesticide. In this work, a mathematical model to predict and evaluate the effect of two pesticides on the population of aquatic biospecies where both pesticides are bio-available in water and sediments with one of the pesticides capable of biodegrading into the other but not vice versa is formulated and analyzed. Conditions for nonlinear stability, instability and Hopf-bifurcation are obtained. The model undergoes a Hopf-bifurcation when the rate of discharge of pesticides crosses a critical value, so that the population of the aquatic species follows an oscillatory pattern. Four hypotheses involving the concentration of the pesticides and the population of the aquatic species where qualitatively investigated: the aquatic species will completely die out with time, the population of the aquatic biospecies will remain under certain conditions, the pesticide will continually remain in water and there will be a periodic variation in the population of the aquatic species over time. Results also indicate that the biodegradation potential of one of the pesticides had significant effect on the population dynamics of the aquatic species.

Aim To explored the role of family-centered care in supporting children living with HIV and AIDS in Nigeria. Methods A qualitative research design was adopted for this study with a grounded theory approach. Children aged between 11 and 14 years living with HIV and AIDS, their caregivers, and nurse practitioners working in the HIV clinic were engaged in separate focus group discussions in two hospitals in Nigeria. Results The findings showed that the value African families place on children plays a significant role in identifying their care needs and providing their basic necessities; hence, people around the sick child tend to make him feel better, as attested by nurse practitioners and caregiver participants. Nurse practitioner participants cited unified families as providing care support and love to the children and the support needed to alleviate their sicknesses. Children participants confirmed that family members/relatives were always at their disposal to provide supportive care in terms of administrating antiretroviral medication as well as other psychological care; although a few participants indicated that disruption in family structures in resource-poor settings, isolation and withdrawal, and deprivation of care due to poverty threatened the care rendered to the children. Conclusion The study highlighted the value attached to children in the African context as helping family members to identify the care needs of children living with HIV and AIDS; thereby providing succor to alleviate their sicknesses and enhance their quality of life.

Background : Most women experience some pain during menstruation. This pain most times affects their normal daily activity and quality of life depending on its duration and severity. There are various strategies used in menstrual pain management which differ with individuals. Aim : This study investigates various management options of dysmenorrhoea among female undergraduates in Nigeria. Methods : A total of 285 questionnaires were distributed in four faculties using purposive and convenience sampling. The response rate was 86%. The returned 245 questionnaires were analysed using frequency tables and chisquare analysis. Results : Findings indicated that the average age of the respondents was 22 years and most (70.6%) of the respondents experienced moderate or severe pain during menstruation. A null hypothesis tested at significant level of 0.05 suggested that relationship between age and pain intensity is not significant. Most (51%) of the respondents reported that dysmenorrhoea limits their activities. Conclusion : The various strategies adopted by the females are drugs, relaxation/rest, warm bath, exercise, diet modification and herbal remedies but the most effective are drugs, warm bath, rest and exercise. The most widely used strategies of pain relief were drugs, exercise, warm bath and rest. It was recommended that, both health workers and women should adopt a multidisciplinary approach in managing dysmenorrhoea. This is because respondents combine various methods to achieve results. Key words : Dysmenorrhoea, relief, female, age, Nigeria, undergraduates

This master thesis is about investigating and comparing findings for different voltage control strategies for the 60Hz grid connection using microcontroller (Arduino). The P-Control, PI-Control, PID control and Open loop control were designed, implemented and their behavior based on setpoint jumps, active power jumps and reactive power jumps, etc were investigated and compared. Different hardware for measurements and varying the excitation current for the 60Hz machine were designed, built, tested and implemented for this project. A comprehensive interface for monitoring and control (Man Machine Interface) for the user was also developed and implemented using web server. This interface is a powerful tool providing advance access to different control strategies, online hardware calibration, data logging and debugging tool. Different software was also used during the project for simulation and data analysis.

Women are increasingly recognized as the main users of alternative medicine, although data is limited on the extent of women's use of herbal medicine during pregnancy to help with the discomforts of pregnancy and labour. However, questions remain about the safety of many herbal drugs, especially within the first and second trimester. For this reason, this study aimed to ascertain patterns of use of herbal medicinal products by pregnant women in selected health care centers in Enugu South Local Government Area of Enugu State, Nigeria. The study utilized a descriptive survey/research design using a structured questionnaire for data collection. Data were collected from 60 respondents. The findings from the study showed that a greater percentage of the women (58.3%) (n = 35) used herbal drugs in pregnancy-free periods while 41.7% (n = 25) used them in the current pregnancy. The pattern of herbal drug use in pregnancy was irregular, although the first trimester showed the highest percentage (23.3%) (n = 14). When asked for their reasons for using the products, a good number of the pregnant women (n = 27; 45%) asserted it is safer and the majority (n = 33; 55%) said it works better than orthodox medicine. However, half of the women (n = 30; 50%) considered herbal products to be harmful to the baby during pregnancy, and yet 25 of the women (41.7%) were still taking it in their current pregnancy. From the findings of this study, it is recommended that a comprehensive coordinated health approach is needed to provide information about medication in pregnancy and this should be made available and translated into safe and effective use. Proper history taking on drug use (including herbal drugs) should be included in antenatal care sessions in order to exclude the possibility of drug interactions and consequent effects on pregnancy.

Vulnerable children living with HIV often face challenges that require supportive care. Our study explored an analysis of empathic-supportive care given to such children. A qualitative research method was adopted with focus group discussions and individual interviews with children, caregivers, nurses, and stakeholders. The findings highlighted that giving a listening ear to the children encouraged them to share their feelings, thereby cushioning the effect of reduced self-worth, withdrawal, and discrimination, and enhancing their general well-being. However, a few of the participants discussed nonacceptance, inadequate food support, and rejection as hampering care. We concluded that giving empathic-compassionate care to children infected with HIV would help them cooperate with the care and cope with the challenges of HIV. It is therefore recommended that caregivers, nurses, and significant others provide holistic care with empathy in care settings.

This study examined the efficacy of pain relief strategies among infants receiving intramuscular immunization for diphtheria, pertussis and tetanus (DPT) in Kogi east, nigeria. Sixty infants were purposively selected for the study and randomly assigned to one of three intervention groups: breastfeeding, EMLA™ cream and control. The infants in the breastfeeding group were breastfed by their mothers 60 minutes before the immunization, those in the EMLA group had EMLA cream topically applied 60 minutes before the immunization and those in the control group recieved no intervention. An observational checklist and an interview guide were used to collect data, which was then analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The findings showed that most breastfed infants (60%) and most of those who had EMLA cream applied (55%) responded moderately to pain. There was a significant difference in the response to pain among the infants in the breastfeeding, EMLA, and control groups (F = 8.326; P < 0.05). Breastfeeding exerted a significant influence on the infants' pain reaction (F = 1.900; P

To explored the role of family-centered care in supporting children living with HIV and AIDS in Nigeria.A qualitative research design was adopted for this study with a grounded theory approach. Children aged between 11 and 14 years living with HIV and AIDS, their caregivers, and nurse practitioners working in the HIV clinic were engaged in separate focus group discussions in two hospitals in Nigeria.The findings showed that the value African families place on children plays a significant role in identifying their care needs and providing their basic necessities; hence, people around the sick child tend to make him feel better, as attested by nurse practitioners and caregiver participants. Nurse practitioner participants cited unified families as providing care support and love to the children and the support needed to alleviate their sicknesses. Children participants confirmed that family members/relatives were always at their disposal to provide supportive care in terms of administrating antiretroviral medication as well as other psychological care; although a few participants indicated that disruption in family structures in resource-poor settings, isolation and withdrawal, and deprivation of care due to poverty threatened the care rendered to the children.The study highlighted the value attached to children in the African context as helping family members to identify the care needs of children living with HIV and AIDS; thereby providing succor to alleviate their sicknesses and enhance their quality of life.

Background: Child abuse is a major problem that has been living with man and seen by many as one of his day to day activities. Aim: The study aimed to ascertain the practice and effects of child abuse on the child and family in selected villages in Enugwu-Ukwu, Njikoka Local Government Area of Anambra state, and also to identify the factors associated with child abuse among the children. Methods: The study is a descriptive survey design using self-administered interviewer questionnaire. Four villages were purposively sampled for the study; Oruokwe, Awobu, Urukpeleke, and Uruogbo). Systematic sampling technique was adopted in sampling subjects. Results: Findings showed that the most common associated factor with child abuse with parent/guardian is poverty (50.7%) and low social economic status (34.5%). The practices of child abuse are majorly concerned with starving the children (44.2%) and kicking/shaking the children (41.2%). The effects on the child abuse on the child and family could lead the abused children into early marriage (26.5%) and unwanted pregnancy (22.5%). Conclusion: The study indicated that child abuse in Njikoka LGA is due to poverty/low socio-economic status. The practices of child abuse borders on starving the children, kicking/shaking them and that, the effects of child abuse could lead the children into early marriage and/or having unwanted pregnancy. Therefore, social awareness campaign on child abuse and effects should be adopted and effective child abuse laws should be enacted by the government and stiff penalties and sanctions should be melted out to the offenders. Key words: Practices, effects, factors, child abuse, family, villages

Arsenite is a major environmental chemical and a known reproductive toxicant via the depression of spermatogenesis and androgenesis in males. The possibility of sodium arsenite reproductive toxicity been caused by autooxidation was investigated in this study taking advantage of the anti-oxidant properties of ginger and its androgenic activities. The effect of exposure to sodium arsenite (10 mg/kg BW/day) by gavage via oral cannula without or with aqueous ginger extract (500mg/kg BW/day) co-treatments for 30 days was evaluated in adult male rats. The weight of the reproductive organs, sperm count, motility, and morphology were evaluated. Plasma FSH, LH and testosterone levels were assayed. Lipid peroxidation (indexed by MDA) and antioxidants enzymes likes GSH, SOD, CAT were assessed. Sodium arsenite treatment decreased the reproductive organs weight: testis, epididymis, prostate and seminal vesicle; sperm functions: count, motility and normal morphology; plasma hormones level: FSH, LH and testosterone. There was a decrease in the activities of GSH, SOD and CAT as well as an increase in MDA concentration. Co-administration of aqueous ginger extract with arsenite was found to protect against adverse change in the reproductive organ weight, attenuate the decrease in sperm functions, enhance plasma reproductive hormones level along with increased antioxidants activities and reduced peroxidation. This study showed that sodium arsenite apart from being a hormonal disrupter also causes oxidative stress which contributed to the reproductive damage in the male rats. The protective effects of ginger on reproductive toxicity and oxidative stress as evidenced by the clear restoration of sperm functions, testicular steroidogenesis and reproductive organo-somatic indices could be attributed to its antioxidants and androgenic properties.Key Words: Arsenite, Ginger, Antioxidants and Sperm.

Background: Most women experience some pain during menstruation. This pain most times affects their normal daily activity and quality of life depending on its duration and severity. There are various strategies used in menstrual pain management which differ with individuals. Aim: This study investigates various management options of dysmenorrhoea among female undergraduates in Nigeria. Methods: A total of 285 questionnaires were distributed in four faculties using purposive and convenience sampling. The response rate was 86%. The returned 245 questionnaires were analysed using frequency tables and chisquare analysis. Results: Findings indicated that the average age of the respondents was 22 years and most (70.6%) of the respondents experienced moderate or severe pain during menstruation. A null hypothesis tested at significant level of 0.05 suggested that relationship between age and pain intensity is not significant. Most (51%) of the respondents reported that dysmenorrhoea limits their activities. Conclusion: The various strategies adopted by the females are drugs, relaxation/rest, warm bath, exercise, diet modification and herbal remedies but the most effective are drugs, warm bath, rest and exercise. The most widely used strategies of pain relief were drugs, exercise, warm bath and rest. It was recommended that, both health workers and women should adopt a multidisciplinary approach in managing dysmenorrhoea. This is because respondents combine various methods to achieve results. Key words: Dysmenorrhoea, relief, female, age, Nigeria, undergraduates