Mapping saline water intrusion into the coastal aquifer with geophysical and geochemical techniques: the University of Lagos campus case (Nigeria)

Saltwater Intrusion 1nto the coastal aqu1fer. a phenomenon brou9ht by the now of seawater into fre;hwJter aquifers onginally caused by groundwater extract1on near the coast, has long been recogn1~ed as a maJOr concern around the world In this study, we employed geophysical and geochemical techniques to map and provide ev1dences that the coastal aquifers 1n the study area have been Intruded bv saltwater from the adJilCPnt LaCJOS lagoon. The 1eSIStiv1ty dara were acqu1rcd With an electrode spacll)g (a) that va1y between 1.6 ro H m. ;md expans1on factor n of 30. The depth 1nverted ,models obt<Hned from mvers1on of the f1fteen res1St1v1ty dcltd obtJ1110d in the area revealed significant impact of the ragoon water on the aqu1fers 1nd1cated as low res1stiv1ty usually below 7 Om. A combination of four different electrode arrays - Schlumberger. Wenner. D1pole-d1pole and pole-dipole. with at least three deployeci at each site (except for three traverses- traverses 13, 14 and 15), y1e,d beuer horizontal and vertici:ll resolution. hav1ng depth range of 36-226 m with 1.6-8 m electrode spacing used. rhe delineated geoelectric layers were juxtaposed with logs from both boreholes located within the campus. Evidence from geochemical study of borehole and the lagoon water samples corroborateci the ERT resu lt rroqrrssive decrease in total d1ssolved solute (TOS) ancl electncal concJuclivily (LC) from the lagoon to the co.'lst.~l aqt11frr buttresses gradual encroachment o f the mland aquifers by the intrud1ng ldgoon water. In <JcldlliOn, Sll11rl,lr tre11d was observed in heavy metal distribution Pollution Index (PI)·plot suggesting possible underground flow of water from the lagoon to thE' aquifers. From th1s study, we deduced that' excesSIVe groundwater extraction and possrbly the reduction of groundwater graciients which allows saline-water to displace fresh watPr rn the ,1qrnfer of the Investigated area are responsible for the saline water rnnusion observe

Attitude and practice of birth attendants regarding the presence of male partner at delivery in Nigeria

Background: Despite increasing request for the male partners’ presence at delivery in developing countries, the view and practice of birth attendants remained poorly understood.This study aimed to evaluate the perception, attitude and practice of birth attendants concerning the requests in Nigeria.Methods: A prospective, cross-sectional survey involving consenting birth attendants was conducted in six public and six private health facilities in North Central Nigeria. Statistical analysis was done with SPSS-version 20.0; p-value &lt;0.05 was considered statistically significant.Results: Among 564 participants (24.8% male, 75.2% female), 465(82.4%) support the presence of male partners at delivery, 409(72.5%) desire to be with their partner at delivery, 434(77.0%) had previous request for male partner’s presence at delivery while 225(51.8%) declined it due to perception that men will disturb. Among the male partners allowed at delivery, 92(44.0%) did not disturb the birth attendant while 5(2.4%) ended in litigation. Among birth attendants who allowed men at delivery in the past, 160(76.6%) will allow men in the future. There was no statistical significance regarding the age, gender, cadre or year of service of birth attendants and attitude to a protocol change to allow men at delivery. Birth attendants who support the presence of men at delivery showed positive attitude (OR33.178, 95%CI6.996-157.358; p&lt;0.001) while those who opined that men would disturb at delivery had a negative attitude (OR0.306, 95%CI0.124-0.755); p0.010) to possible protocol change.Conclusion: Despite perceived negative effects of allowing male partners at delivery, many birth attendants are willing to allow them if necessary structural modifications are instituted.Keywords: Male partner, Men at delivery, Birth Attendant, Labour companionshi

Effect of male partner’s support on spousal modern contraception in a low resource setting

Background: As efforts continue to increase contraceptive uptake, male partner support remains important in spousal modern contraceptive use.Methods: A prospective cross-sectional survey involving women on modern contraception was conducted at the family planning clinic of the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Nigeria, between December 2013 and April 2014. All consenting participants completed a self-administered questionnaire designed for the study, and statistical analysis was done with SPSS version 20.0 using with chi square test and logistic regression; p value &lt;0.05 was significant.Results: There were 305 participants: 208(68.2%) were multipara, the commonest current and previous contraceptives used were IUD and injectables while male partner was responsible for discontinuation in 30(23.3%) of previous users. Covert contraceptive use was 22(7.2%), male partner support was 209(68.5%) as payment for the contraceptives (203; 66.6%) or transportation to the clinic (198; 64.9%). Also, 55(18.0%) women failed to comply with contraception recently due to male partner hindrance (25;45.5%) or inability to pay for contraceptive (11;20%) or transportation to the clinic (8;14.5%). Male partners hindered contraception by reporting the woman to relatives/friends (8;32%) or denying her money for feeding allowance (6;24%); 277(90.8%) women want contraception to be couple decision while 261(85.6%) want contraception administered only if both partners consented. The significant predictors of male partner support were awareness about the contraceptive use (p&lt;0.001,OR0.114; CI0.041-0.319), level of education (p0.007,OR1.488;CI1.114-1.9870) and social class (p0.029,OR0.690;CI0.495-0.963).Conclusion: Male partner hindrances and costs of contraceptive or transportation to clinic are important in noncompliance. Male partner education, subsidized/free contraceptives and mobile/community services will improve compliance.Keywords: Female contraception; Male partner support; Spousal contraceptio

Determinants of the decision-to-delivery interval and the effect on perinatal outcome after emergency caesarean delivery: a cross-sectional study

BackgroundPreventing prolongation of the decision-to-delivery interval (DDI) for emergency caesarean delivery (CD) remains central to improving perinatal health. This study evaluated the effects of the DDI on perinatal outcome following emergency CD. MethodsA prospective cross-sectional study involving 205 consenting women who had emergency CD at a tertiary hospital in Nigeria was conducted. The time–motion documentation of events from decision to delivery was documented; the outcome measures were perinatal morbidity (neonatal resuscitation, 5-minute Apgar score, neonatal intensive admission) and mortality. Data analysis was performed with IBM SPSS Statistics version 20.0, and P&lt;0.05 was considered significant.ResultsThe overall mean DDI was 233.99±132.61 minutes (range 44–725 minutes); the mean DDI was shortest for cord prolapse (86.25±86.25 minutes) and was shorter for booked participants compared with unbooked participants (207.19±13.88 minutes vs 249.25±12.05 minutes; P=0.030) and for general anaesthesia compared with spinal anaesthesia (219.48±128.60 minutes vs 236.19±133.42 minutes; P=0.543). All neonatal parameters were significantly worse for unbooked women compared with booked women, including perinatal mortality (10.8% vs 1.3%; P=0.012). Neonatal morbidity increased with DDI for clinical indications, UK National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and Robson classification for CDs; perinatal mortality was 73.2 per 1000 live births, all were category 1 CDs and all except one occurred with DDI greater than 90 minutes. Severe preeclampsia/eclampsia, obstructed labour and placenta praevia tolerated DDI greater than 90 minutes compared with abruptio placentae and umbilical cord prolapse. However, logistic regression showed no statistical correlation between the DDI and neonatal outcomes. ConclusionPerinatal morbidity and mortality increased with DDI relative to the clinical urgency but perinatal deaths were increased with DDI greater than 90 minutes. For no category of emergency CD should the DDI exceed 90 minutes, while patient and institutional factors should be addressed to reduce the DDI

Induction of Oxidative Stress: A Possible Mechanism for the Arsenic Induced Catastrophes in Male Wistar Rats

Arsenic is an environmental pollutant and its contamination in the drinking water is considered as a serious worldwide environmental health threat. The present study investigated the effects of arsenic exposure on antioxidant parameters and p53 expression in male albino rats. The animals (n=45) were exposed to arsenic (100 ppm, 150 ppm and 200 ppm) for 4, 8 and 12 weeks as sodium arsenate in drinking water. Control animals (n=15) received distilled water for the same period. Hepatic superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, glutathione peroxidase (GPx), reduced glutathione (GSH), lipid peroxidation and total protein were evaluated spectrophotometrically. Expression of p53 was also detected by histochemical staining. Before the commencement of arsenic exposure, five animals were sacrificed to obtain baseline data. ANOVA followed by Tukey’s test was used to analyse the results with p&lt;0.05 considered significant. Significant decrement in hepatic activities of SOD, catalase and GPx as well as hepatic concentration of GSH and total protein concentration characterized exposure to all the dose regimens of inorganic arsenic at all the time interval. Corroboratively, significant elevation was observed in malondialdehyde (MDA). The expression of p53 decreased in the groups that were exposed to arsenic as compared to the control animals. The findings from the present study suggests excessive generation of free radicals and reduction in p53 expression in arsenic – induced hepatotoxicity. Keywords: Arsenic, Toxicity, Antioxidants, Lipid peroxidation DOI: 10.7176/ALST/75-04 Publication date:June 30th 201

AI-Powered Platforms for Interactive Nutrition Education Based on WHO (World Health Organization) Guidelines – An Overview

Malnutrition is still a major worldwide health issue; hence creative methods of nutrition teaching are required. The transformational potential of artificial intelligence (AI)-powered platforms to provide individualized and interactive nutrition education in line with World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines is examined in this paper. It explores how AI improves engagement through gamification and virtual coaching, makes tailored dietary suggestions based on individual needs and tastes, and offers data-driven feedback for tracking success. The study looks at how well these platforms match WHO nutritional guidelines and considers the advantages—like higher engagement and better memory retention—as well as the drawbacks—like data privacy, algorithmic bias, and unequal access. Additionally, it investigates how AI improves user engagement through interactive features like gamification, chatbots that employ natural language processing to provide individualized virtual coaching, and dynamic feedback systems for behavior reinforcement and progress monitoring. To show how these AI-driven platforms can encourage adherence to evidence-based guidelines for balanced diets, appropriate nutrient intake, and the prevention of diet-related non-communicable diseases, the report explores the critical alignment of these platforms with specific WHO dietary recommendations. This study critically examines the associated challenges, including worries about data privacy and security, the possibility of algorithmic bias, the need for fairness and equity in AI-driven recommendations, and the crucial issue of ensuring equitable access to these technologies across diverse populations, addressing the digital divide, in addition to the advantages of increased user engagement and improved knowledge retentio

IoT-Driven Innovations in Psychosocial Care for Breast Cancer Survivors - A Review

Internet of Things (IoT) technologies are developing at a rapid pace, which could greatly improve the psychosocial support provided to breast cancer survivors. The intersection of Internet of Things (IoT) technologies and psychosocial care represents a transformative avenue for improving the quality of life of breast cancer survivors. This review explores recent advancements in IoT applications in psychosocial care, focusing on their role in addressing emotional, psychological, and social challenges faced by survivors. The discussion encompasses IoT-enabled wearable devices, mobile health applications, and smart environments that facilitate remote monitoring, real-time interventions, and personalized support. Challenges and future research directions are also examined to guide stakeholders in leveraging IoT innovations for holistic care. This also explores the integration of IoT innovations in addressing the unique psychosocial challenges faced by these individuals. By examining existing literature and case studies, we identify key areas where IoT can facilitate improved mental health support, enhance communication between patients and healthcare providers, and promote a sense of community among survivors. The findings suggest that IoT-driven solutions can lead to better health outcomes and quality of life for breast cancer survivors

Sanitation and Hygiene Monitoring System for Preventing Viral Infections in Orphanage Homes

Maintaining proper sanitation and hygiene is crucial in preventing the spread of viral infections, especially in high-risk environments such as orphanage homes, where many children live in close proximity and have limited access to healthcare   Maintenance of adequate sanitation and hygiene is significant in the prevention of the spreading of viral infection, particularly in high-risk environments like orphanage homes, where several children live closely and having limited access to healthcare. Thus, the review presents the forensic overview of how to the design process and standards of Smart Sanitation as well as Hygiene can help to reduce the risk of viral infections in orphanage facilities. From the results of the reviewed literatures, it was observed that adequate smart homes for the orphanage will require smart monitoring using internet of things and data analytics with certain parameters like level of compliance to hand washing, air quality, cleanliness of the rest room and usual disinfection of surfaces. Thus, real-time data help givers and administrators to take proactive action each time the hygiene level fall below standard. Furthermore, the system will have to include reports and educational guidelines for the purpose of reinforcing the practice of hygiene. Therefore, the study provides a great insight by establishing that leveraging on technology will help to develop a healthier environment, reduce the outbreak of infections while supporting the wellbeing of vulnerable children in the orphanages

Bacterial vaginosis: Prevalence and associated risk factors among non-pregnant women of reproductive age attending a Nigerian tertiary hospital

Aim: To determine the prevalence and risk factors associated with bacterial vaginosis (BV) among non-pregnant women of reproductive age group.Methods: A cross-sectional study among non-pregnant asymptomatic women aged 19 to 45 years, attending the gynaecological clinic at University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Ilorin, Nigeria. Participants were counselled and an informed consent was obtained. This was followed by vaginal swabs for microscopy, culture and sensitivity. Diagnosis of BV was by Nugent’s criteria. Data analysis was by Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20.0. Chi-square and Yates corrected chi-square were calculated, and p value &lt;0.05 was significant.Results: Among the 212 participants, prevalence of BV was 40.1%; it was common among women aged 25-34 years (50; 58.8%), the married (77; 90.6%) and those with tertiary education (39; 45.9%). The risk factors for BV were common among women with laboratory evidence of the infection, however statistically significant risk factors were the use of intrauterine device (OR 1.61, 95%CI 0.543-4.759; p0.020) and previous voluntary termination of pregnancy (OR 1.04, 95%CI 0.600-1.808; p0.047).Conclusion: There was high prevalence of bacterial vaginosis in the study population. Universal screening and treatment of cases may assist in lowering the associated morbidity

INFLUENCE OF GOOD STUDY HABITS ON THE ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE OF STUDENTS IN MATHEMATICS IN SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN OGUN STATE, NIGERIA

Study habits play a very important role in academic life of students. Academic success or failures of students depend on their study habits. This study examines the influence of good study habits on the academic performance of students in mathematics in senior secondary schools in Ogun state, Nigeria