Efficacy of Self-Instructional Talk and Multicomponent Techniques in Reducing Occupational Stress among Teachers in Command Schools in Nigeria

There exists a substantial body of literature relating the ravaging tendency of occupational stress, therefore, the need to train teachers on effective stress management strategies. This study examined the efficacy of self-instructional talk (SIT) and multicomponent techniques (MCT) on occupational stress reduction of Command Secondary School teachers in the Nigerian Army. The study adopted a quasi-experimental approach using a 3x2 factorial design. The multi-stage random sampling technique was used to select 120 teachers (60 males and 60 females) who participated in the study. The treatment groups were exposed to eight weeks of training sessions while the participants in the control were not exposed to any treatment, Teacher Stress Scale was used to collect data. Three hypotheses were tested at 0.05 level of significance. Participants were post tested after eight weeks of treatment. Data were analysed using Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) and Duncan Multiple Range Test. Findings revealed significant difference in the occupational stress reduction of participants in the treatment groups and those in the control group (F(2,119)=1.61; p<.05). Multicomponent technique was found to be more effective for occupational stress reduction (F(1,79)=91.37; p<.05). There was no interaction effect of gender on treatment as the males were constant in their stress reduction after treatment in the three groups. The study concludes that self-instructional talk and multicomponent techniques were effective in reducing stress of teachers in Command Secondary Schools. It is therefore recommended that counsellors should use the two therapies in helping teachers to manage stress at work

Growth response and cost benefits of growing pigs to different herbal-mix feed additives and weight asymmetry

This study was carried out to investigate growth performance and cost benefits of growing pigs on different herbal-mix feed additives and weight asymmetry. Fifty-four, 8 weeks old Large White breed of pigs with an average body weight of 15.33±0.2 kg were randomly assigned to nine treatments with each treatment consisting of three replicates of two pigs each. Three diets containing different herbal-mix (Control diet without herbal-mix, moringa-basil meal diet, neem-basil meal diet) were formulated and fed to the pigs for sixteen weeks duration of the study. The moringa-basil and neem-basil leaf meals mixtures were in the ratio of 10 to 2; that is ten percent (10%) moringa or neem to two percent (2%) basil. Parameters determined include growth indices and cost benefits. Data collected were subjected to two-way analysis of variance using SAS (2000). Pigs on control diet had the highest final weight (49. 44, 43.22, 40.67 kg) and daily weight gain (515.87, 401.59, 388.89 g/pig) and the best feed conversion ratio (3.56, 4.59, 4.23) when compared to the values documented for pigs on ration containing different herbal-mix feed additives. The least total feed cost and revenue per pig were noted for pigs on neem-basil dietary treatment while the highest values were documented for pigs on control ration. Homogenous light weight pigs had higher feed intake and total feed cost per pigs when compared to other values noted for pigs on other treatment groups. Heterogeneous weight pigs recorded better feed conversion ratio, lower feed cost per kilogram weight gain and higher gross margin values when compared to the values noted for their homogenous counterparts. It can be concluded from this study that performance indices of growing pigs were affected by the dietary inclusion of herbal-mix feed additives and weight asymmetry. Hence, herbal-mix leaf meals can be integrated into growers ration in order to lower production cost, likewise, unevenly weight growing pigs can be managed together in order to obtain higher production efficiency in terms of feed intake and cost of production.&nbsp