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The few obtainable literatures focusing on the mapping of malaria endemicity are highly descriptive in approach. No studies have attempted to objectively identify the local strata of the endemicity or long-term hotspot and coldspot of malaria in high burden areas. Hence, this study analyses the spatial and temporal pattern of falciparum malaria endemicity using 20 years of incidence data on a second-level administrative boundary of Nigeria. Getis-Ord Gi* hotspot detection statistic designed to identify significant hotspot and coldspot was used to identify the spatial dynamics of hotspot and coldspot. To detect malaria-endemic areas and derived the significant endemic temporal cluster maps, emerging hotspot analysis and local outlier analysis were carried out using an initially generated space-time cube. The result shows that there is local heterogeneity in the clustering patterns of the malaria incidence rate. Also, a local endemicity map was produced and this shows that high endemic malaria strata seem to cluster around the Nigeria-Benin Republic border and Nigeria-Cameroon border. This suggests that cross border transmission may be taking place over these years. The adopted approach in this study is a robust and appropriate way of modelling space-time data. In epidemiology, the major challenge in intervention deployment, smart resource allocation, surveillance, monitoring and evaluation is the ability to locate spatial clusters of disease infection. The implication of these results is that they provide the springboard for the design of various malaria control and elimination strategies and this will serve as a vital tool for informed decision-making during interventions and surveillance.

This study investigates the effects of simulation and Guided-inquiry strategies in elimination of students’ misconception in Biology Teaching in Senior Secondary Schools in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area in Rivers State. Four research questions and four hypotheses were formulated to guide the research. The design adopted for this study is quasi experimental pre-test, post-test control group design. The population of the study was made up of all SSIII biology students, using cluster sampling to select 150 students’ to form the sample size. The research instrument used was Ecology performance Test (EPT). Mean and standard deviation were used to answer the research questions. T-test was used to test the hypotheses. The findings among others indicated that students taught with simulation and guided inquiry teaching strategy performed better than the traditional method thereby eliminating student’s misconception on ecological concept in biology. It was recommended among others that biology teachers should be encouraged to explore the application of simulation and guided inquiring strategies in their classroom instruction.

The study was conducted to investigate the perceived influence of socio-economic infrastructure on vocational skills acquisition and practice among rural youths in Bonny Local Government Area, Rivers State. Three objectives, three research questions and three hypotheses guided the study. The total population of the study was 78,373 rural youths while the sample size was 398 youths sampled from the population using Taro Yeman sample determination model. A structured questionnaire was used to gather data for the study. Data were analyzed using mean and standard deviation , while z-test was used to test the hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. The findings revealed that youths in Bonny Local Government Area agreed that they were exposed to varied vocational skills training . Also, the respondents agreed that transportation influences their acquisition and practice of vocational skills, and finally, the youths agreed that electricity influences their vocational skills acquisition and practice amongst other. It was then recommended that government should provide more training centres for youths, employment should not be on paper and pen qualifications alone but also on skills acquisition related to the job areas.

This study was aimed at analysing the effect of temperature on the incidence of cerebro-spinal meningitis and its management in Funtua General Hospital of Katsina State, Nigeria from 1986-2015. For each year, monthly and annual incidence of CSM occurrence in the study area for the 30 years period was subjected to time series analysis. Linear trend line equation was fitted in order to determine the direction of change in the incidence of CSM. The relationship between temperature and the incidence of meningitis was analysed using simple correlation. To determine the management method of CSM in the area, a questionnaire was used to generate information from sampled respondents and analysed using descriptive statistics. The monthly distribution of CSM cases (1986-2015) indicated April and March had the highest incidence cases (1606 and 1128 respectively) while the lowest cases were recorded in September and October with (1 case) each. The seasonal variation also showed that the highest incidence cases fell within the hot-dry season which mark the period with the highest average temperatures while the lowest incidence cases fell within the hot-wet season when humidity is high in the area. Annual trend of CSM indicated an increasing trend (approximately 60 persons) over the 30year period in the study area. There is a significant and positive relationship between mean monthly temperature and incidence of meningitis with an observed value of (p < 0.05 and r = 0.592). The observed correlation (r = -0.141, p>0.05) indicated that there was negative and insignificant relationship between annual temperature and the incidence of meningitis in the study area. In conclusion, meningitis in the study area over the 30years under review has been a recurrent epidemic however; the rate of occurrence differs from year to year. Majority (78%) used the orthodox method to manage CSM while 22% used the traditional method who claimed it was effective as they recovered from the disease.

This study examines the effect of internal audit on expenditure control in Mubi North Local Government Area. This study employed the survey research design. From the population of the study 50 staffs were selected as a sample for this study. The instrument used for collecting data from the respondents is the questionnaire. The data gathered from the respondents was analyzed using simple percentage statistics and hypothesis was tested using chi-square. The finding shows internal audit in Mubi North LGA is very ineffective. This is because internal audit is not carry out effectively, internal audit has significant effect on expenditure control and among the factors militating affecting the effectiveness of internal audit in Mubi North LGA, low quality of staff is the most importance factor. The study therefore, recommends that there is need for top management of LGA to give high priority to internal audit, by putting in place strategies that will lead to effective practice of internal audit among the staff of the LGA which in turn will lead to effective expenditure control. Keywords: Audit, control, effect, expenditure & internal.

Lack of financial autonomy and undue interference by state governments have been identified as some of the impediments to effective administration of local governments in Nigeria. To this end, this study was carried out to examine the effect of financial autonomy on rural development using Isoko North Local Government Area as a case study. The study adopted a survey research design; hence, data were collected through the use of questionnaires administered to the management and staff of selected departments in Isoko North Local Government Council. The findings of the study indicate that financial autonomy will contribute positively to rural development and service delivery in the area of study, and recommends that local governments should be made financially autonomous to promote rural development and enhance better service delivery.

The role of the environment in the survivability of an animal is paramount and blood profiles are part of the indices for measuring the health status. Therefore, a study was carried out to determine the blood profile of prominent indigenous breed of sheep (Ram) viz: West African Dwarf, Yankasa, Balami and Ouda breeds reared in Ikorodu Local Government. A total of 20 rams were used comprising of five rams per breed, with average age of 2½ years weighing 31.13±4.8 kg. Blood samples were carefully collected from the rams into labeled sterile bottles containing EDTA for haematological examination and another set of bottles containing Lithium Heparin was used to collect blood for the serum biochemical analysis. Haematological parameter assessed were Packed Cell Volume (PCV), White Blood Cell (WBC), Red Blood Cell (RBC), while the biochemical parameters investigated were Total protein (Tp), Albumin, Glucose, Creatine Cholesterol, and Alkaline phosphatase (ALP). PCV was significantly (p

This study aimed to use systems thinking tools to understand network relationships to inform discussions, policy, and practice to improve nutrition, physical activity, and overweight/obesity prevention activities in a Western Australian local government area. An audit of nutrition, physical activity, and obesity prevention activities was conducted, and identified organizations were invited to participate in an organizational network survey. Social network analysis (SNA) determined the extent to which organizations shared information, knowledge, and resources; engaged in joint program planning; applied for and shared funding; and identified operational barriers and contributors. SNA data were mapped and analyzed using UCINET 6 and Netdraw software. Five organizations within the network were identified as core; the remainder were periphery. The strongest networks were sharing information, and the weakest was funding. The connections were centralized to one organization, enabling them to readily influence other organizations and network operations. Remaining organizations indicated limited partnership across the networks. Strengthened collaborations and partnerships are essential to health promotion, as they extend reach and organizational capabilities. This study provides a process for undertaking network analysis, identifying leverage points to facilitate communication and information sharing, and reorienting of collaborations and partnerships to consolidate scarce resources and act strategically within a bounded area. There is a need for stronger relationships between organizations and a reorientation of partnerships to facilitate resource sharing within the local government area, to improve nutrition, physical activity, and obesity prevention practices. SNA can assist in understanding organizational prevention networks within a bounded area to support future planning of practices and policy.

This study examines the status of pollutants in Nsudu River for drinking water purpose. Water samples were collected from Nsudu River and analyzed at Enugu State Water Corporation (quality control unit) laboratory. Physical, chemical and bacteriological tests were conducted on the collected samples following standards and acceptable methods of water analysis. The results obtained showed that turbidity, total solid, total suspended solid, total dissolved solid, alkalinity, electrical conductivity, pH, total hardness, calcium, magnesium, iron, chloride, etc. conformed with the acceptable limits stipulated by both World Health Organization (WHO) and Nigerian standard for Drinking Water Quality (NSDWQ) with the exception of the biological parameters which were found to be above the standards stipulated by the two bodies. More so, ANOVA results showed (P < 0.01) and (F-test of 12094 > F-crit. of 6.9) indicating significant difference between the biological contaminants