A Qualitative Exploration of the Coping Strategies of Female Offenders in Nigerian Prisons

Deprivation and importation theories propose that the experience and adjustment of inmates to prison life is dependent on the restrictive prison milieu and their pre-prison experiences and orientation. This implies that prison’s sub-culture mediate the relationship between demographic characteristics and adjustment to prison life. Although this core assumption underlies both theories, few researchers have attempted to test its validity, while those that does have largely focused on male offenders. Guided by an integration of the two theories, this current study explored the specific gender-related challenges that female inmates of Nigerian prisons are confronted with and the adjustment measures adopted by female prisoners. Qualitative, in-depth oral interviews were employed to gather information from 32 purposively selected female inmates and six prison officials of Ijebu-Ode and Old Abeokuta prisons. There are evidential supports for the integrative/alliance theory as key findings of this study confirm determinants of adjustability of the inmates to prison life as including age, level of religious commitment, years of incarceration, prison history, and pre-prison experience like socioeconomic, marital (especially those with children) and educational status. Various strategies used to adjust to prison life by the inmates included self-withdrawal, indulgence and some level of social reclusion (asceticism); forging cordial relationships with fellow inmates and staff; and participating very actively in the religious programmes within the prisons. The study suggests that both government and nongovernmental organisations should intervene and develop social supports that recognise the biogenic peculiarities of female inmates in order for the prisons to meet the two objectives of rehabilitating and reforming the female offenders.

Unusually High Prevalence of Asymptomatic Bacteriuria among Male University Students on Redemption Camp, Ogun State, Nigeria

Differences are known to occur in prevalence rates in urinary tract infections (UTI) between men and women due to the difference between the urinary tracts of the sexes. Moreover, different organisms are known to infect and cause bacteriuria in men. When urine samples from 55 apparently healthy male students of Redeemer’s University were examined, nine bacteria species including Micrococcus luteus, Viellonella parvula, Micrococcus varians, Streptococcus downei, Streptococcus pneumonia, Bacillus subtilis, Streptococcus pyrogenes, Staphylococcus saprophyticus,and Enterococcus aquimarinus were isolated from the samples. The two most prevalent organisms reported in this study were Micrococcus luteus (40%) and Micrococcus varians (27.3%). The implication of the high prevalence rates (54.5%) of asymptomatic bacteriuria obtained in this population is discussed.Key words: Asymptomatic UTI, bacteriuria, Micrococcus luteu

Effect of natural spices on the progression of microbial food spoilage in the steamed beans pudding, moin-moin

Using a completely randomized block design, the progression of microbial food spoilage and the microbiological and sensory qualities of steamed cowpea paste (moin-moin) seasoned with onion, garlic, nutmeg and cinnamon was investigated. The total plate count was enumerated at approximately four hour intervals using Mueller-Hinton and Sabroaud dextrose agar for bacteria and fungal spoilage organisms respectively. Sensory evaluation was carried out using a 9-point hedonic scale. Results revealed no statistically significant difference in the progression of microbial spoilage. Eight bacterial species were isolated from the treatment samples as follows: Bacillus nealsoni, B. megaterium, B. pumilus, B marinus, Salimicrobium halophilum and Micrococcus varians. While 7 (seven) isolated fungi from the treatment samples are Gonatobotrys spp, Alternaria spp, Gymnoascus spp, Acremonium spp, Geotrichum spp, Oidiodendrum spp and Cladosporium spp. Untreated control and samples treated with nutmeg were preserved for the longest period of 23 hours. The present results show that moin-moin would spoil within 24 hours if kept at ambient temperature. The widely accepted reports of in-vitro anti-microbial effect of the spices was not observed in-vivo. Furtherwork is needed on increasing the shelf-life of moin-moin and other similar foods.Keywords: Antimicrobial activity, in-vivo, flow diagram

Effectiveness of storage as a point-of-use means of improving the bacteriological quality of drinking water

The evaluation of the effectiveness of storage as a point-of-use means for improving the bacteriological quality of drinking water was carried out using a completely randomized block design. Total plate and total coliform counts were enumerated for day 0 -10 samples using Nutrient Agar (NA) and multiple tube techniques respectively. Physicochemical analyses of water samples were carried out using standard procedures including titrimetric methods. Ten bacteria species including Escherichia coli, Bacillus cereus, Citrobacter freundil, Salmonella typhymurium, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Arizona spp., Proteus vulgaris, Enterobacter aerogenes were isolated from water samples obtained from borehole, well and sachet water samples in the study area. For day zero samples, it was found that the total bacteria counts ranged from 1.01x102 to 4.38 x102 CFU/mL for borehole, 0.57x102 to 2.13x102 CFU/mL for well and 0.54x102 to 0.92x102 CFU/mL for sachet water. A significant reduction in bacteria load was recorded for all samples from day 2 to day 7 when the water samples were monitored over a period of ten days. The results reveal that water storage for 2-7 days is a viable point-of-use method of household level drinking water disinfection. © 2013 International Formulae Group. All rights reserved.Keywords: Nigerian Institute of Standards, Coliforms, water storage, E.coli

Survey of the Problems of Girl Child in Ekiti State, Nigeria

Objectives: To determine the prevalence of teenage pregnancy and knowledge of reproductive health problems among adolescent girls in Ekiti State, Southwest Nigeria.Methods: A cross-sectional community based study was conducted. Using convenient random sampling technique, four local government areas were selected. Eligible participants were both in and out of school children between the ages of 13 -18 years. A hundred respondents were sampled from each selected local government, making a total sample size of 400. Consenting participants were administered questionnaire in their homes by trained LGA enumerators. It elicited information on socio-demographic and reproductive health issues. Data collected were subsequently collated and analyzed.Results: Majority of the girls (78%) were still in-school. All were already menstruating, mostly attaining menarche between the age 15-16years. Only 212 (53%) could remember their last menstrual period. Sexual derby mainly occurred around age 15-16years; 53.3% were already sexually exposed. A quarter of respondents had been pregnant before. Only 187 (46.8%) were aware of modern contraception. The girls had a fair knowledge of implication of early sexual derby and unprotected intercourse, though it did not translate to behavioural change.Conclusion: There is a high prevalence of teenage pregnancy and poor reproductive health knowledge among teenagers in Ekiti State. More collective efforts involving parents, community heads, opinion leaders, civil societies and the state are needed to help our girls attain and sustain healthy reproductive behaviours

Beneficial effects of omega-3 fatty acid on dyslipidemia in organs of alloxan-induced diabetic rats

Diabetes Mellitus is one of the heterogeneous metabolic disorders associated with dyslipidemia, a major risk factor contributing to cardiovascular disease. This metabolic abnormality affects virtually all organs. Over the years, antidiabetic drugs which majorly aim at the hyperglycemic aspect of the disease have been used. Therefore, to address this dyslipidemia, omega-3 fatty acid (O3FA) supplement was employed. Its effects on lipid metabolism in the organs (heart, liver, kidney, pancreas, spleen and brain) of alloxan-induced (150mg/kg body weight, intraperitoneally) diabetic male rats were investigated. O3FA (0.4g/kg b.wt/day) was administered as pre- and posttreatment for 2 weeks. The lipid levels were significantly increased (p<0.05) in diabetic rats. O3FA administration significantly reduced (p<0.05) the levels of cholesterol, phospholipids, triacylglycerol by varying extents, in the examined organs without affecting hyperglycemia in the diabetic rats. The ratio of HMG CoA/mevalonate decreased in the liver of the diabetic rats by 28% indicating increased activity of HMG-CoA reductase. This diabetes-induced dyslipidemia was accompanied by a 28% increase in the activity of hepatic HMG-CoA reductase. Administration of O3FA to the diabetic rats however resulted in 10% and 17% decrease in the activity of this enzyme in the pre- and post-treated groups respectively. Also, lipid peroxidation was significantly reduced (p<0.05) by O3FA suggesting that it has protective effect against oxidative damage. This study reveals that O3FAsupplement has beneficial effects in attenuating dyslipidemia observed in diabetes mellitus and could be beneficial as an adjunct in the management of diabetes mellitus

Hemangioma in a pulmonary hilar lymph node: Case report

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Different types of vascular proliferation may occur in lymph nodes, but hemangiomas in lymph nodes are extremely rare.</p> <p>Case Presentation</p> <p>A 73-year-old man was found to have a 15-mm nodular shadow in the left lung on computed tomography, and bronchoscopic brush cytology yielded a diagnosis of squamous cell carcinoma. Chest computed tomography showed no evidence of hilar or mediastinal lymphadenopathy. Left lower lobectomy with hilar and mediastinal lymph node dissection was performed. Postoperative histopathological examination revealed squamous cell carcinoma and no lymph node metastasis. On the other hand, a lobar bronchial lymph node presented a small lesion showing the dense proliferation of capillary blood vessels with elastic change. Immunohistochemically, the lesion was positive for factor VIII and CD34, leading to a diagnosis of primary hemangioma of the lymph node.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>To our knowledge, this is the first case reported in the literature of hemangioma in a pulmonary hilar lymph node. Intranodal hemangioma needs to be differentiated from malignant vascular tumors.</p

Green synthesis of copper oxide nanoparticles using extracts of Solanum macrocarpon fruit and their redox responses on SPAu electrode

Abstract: Please refer to full text to view abstrac