Profit Efficiency in Poultry Production in Peri-Urban Lagos, Nigeria

The study was conducted to determine the profit efficiency of poultry production in four peri-urban Local Government Areas in Lagos state. A total of ninety-six poultry farms involved in the survey were selected using a two-stage sampling technique. An average farmer in the sample was 40 years old; 85% were males and 84% had tertiary education. Most poultry farm in the sample had flock size that range between 500 and 2500. Prices of all the variable inputs significantly influence the profit of poultry farms while that of fixed inputs have no significant effect. The result indicates that the poultry farmers are not fully profit efficient. The mean efficiency estimated was 72 percent indicating that there was a 23 percent allowance to improve efficiency. Furthermore, the result shows that gender, family farm, finance, number of broilers and fulltime employment are the determinants of profit (technical and allocative) efficiency.Key Words: Poultry, Production, Profit, Efficiency, Nigeri

Leprosy Elimination: Progress and Challenges in Nigeria; Kaduna State TB and Leprosy Control Programme as a Case Study

The study aims at describing the achievements and challenges of Leprosy control in Kaduna State using appropriate indicators. The study was a five year (2004-2008) retrospective review of the Leprosy records and annual reports of all the twenty three LGAs in Kaduna State. Various Leprosy indicators were calculated and presented in different graphic presentations. Focus group discussions were organised with the aim of identifying current challenges of Leprosy control in the State. There was a decline in the new Leprosy cases detected annually from 226 cases in 2004 to 140 cases in 2008. The prevalence rate ranged between 0.3-0.4 per 10,000 population within the five year period. The proportion of children among new cases dropped from 12% in 2004 to 5% in 2007 and increased to 9% in 2008. Grade 2 disability among new cases was very high (between 21%-27%) within the same period. Leprosy elimination target has been achieved in Kaduna State, but new cases with high proportion of children and WHO grade 2 disability were still been reported. Keywords: Leprosy; Elimination; Leprosy indicator

Socio-Cultural Factors Influencing Consent For Research In Nigeria: Lessons From Pfizer's Trovan Clinical Trial

This paper discusses the controversial Trovan study conducted by Pfizer in 1996 in Kano, Nigeria, the peculiar socio-cultural factors that researchers should consider as well as the relevance of the 2007 National Code for Health Research Ethics in enforcing researchers' compliance with ethical standards in informed consent process. Researchers are expected to be sensitive to the many sources of exploitable vulnerability in those whose participation they invite. The failure to give attention to peculiar socio-cultural factors influencing the process of informed consent in Nigeria might have contributed to the failure of many investigators to apply and conform to related local and international research regulations. Genuine respect for human dignity requires deeper understanding of patients' values, culture, family and community. Nigeria is socio-culturally diverse in terms of language, religion, economy, and traditions. Investigators require adequate familiarity with the local socio-cultural characteristics in order to meaningfully communicate the research purpose and method upon which free and informed consent is based. The centrality of informed consent in socio-behavioural and health related researches can not be over emphasized. Negotiating informed consent with the designated authorities in human research with non-Western populations requires investigators to move beyond narrow definitions of personhood, autonomy, and “self” determination. Without these, researchers' efforts would be mere exploitation and abuse of fellow human beings. Keywords: keyword; keyword; keyword African Journal for the Psychological Study of Social Issues Vol. 11 (1&2) 2008: pp. 228-23

Perceived HIV stigmatization, HIV/AIDS cognition and personality as correlates of HIV self-disclosure among people living with HIV in Ibadan, Nigeria

The relationship between perceived HIV stigmatization, HIV/AIDS cognition, personality and HIV self-disclosure (HSD) was investigated. The influence of age and gender on these was also examined. PLWHA (N421) in Ibadan, Nigeria participated in the cross-sectional study. A positive relationship of extraversion (r=-.738, df=421, P<.05), HIV cognition (r=-.621, df=421, P<.05), neuroticism (r=-.212, df=421, P<.05) and agreeableness personality traits (r=-.155, df=421, P<.05) with HSD was observed. A 2x2x2x2 factorial analysis showed that old females, with low perceived stigmatisation, but with good HIV cognition (n=23, x =18.2, SD=3.8) were most likely to disclose their status. Perceived stigmatisation, HIV cognition, and personality jointly predicted HSD (R²=.52; F (3,418) =.7.66 P <.05). Negative HIV cognition, perceived stigmatization, openness and conscientious personality traits are major barriers to HSD. Non disclosure remains an enormous barrier to the fight against HIV and AIDS. Policies and actions should therefore focus on these issues in HIV prevention, care and support.Key words: HIV self- disclosure, Stigmatisation, personality, psychosocial factors, HIV selfdisclosure, Nigeria

Effects of partial replacement of soyabean meal or groundnut cake with sunflower seed meal in broiler chicken diets on performance and plasma metabolites

160 unsexed Nera day old chicks were weighed and randomly divided into 8 experimental groups such that there were 2 replicates of 10 birds each per diet. Eight diets were formulated for the starter and finisher phases. The first four diets had groundnut cake as the protein source and were gradually replaced by sunflower meal (SFM) at the level of 0%, 25%, 50% and 75%. Diets 5-8 contained soyabean meal replaced progressively by SFM at 0%, 25%, 50% and 75%. The feed and water were given ad libitum and the experiment lasted eight weeks. Feed intake increased significantly (

Assessment and classification of hazardous street trees in University of Ibadan Nigeria.

The study was carried out to assessed and classified hazardous trees within the University of Ibadan (UI) campus, Oyo State, Nigeria. The study population was 25 municipal tree species comprising of 420 individual trees located along the major roads of the study area, which were considered hazardous to the community. With the aids of data form, health assessments which include a review of defects, surrounding site conditions, and potential targets were carried out. Data collected were subjected to statistical analysis. The result revealed that 31.42% of the total tree species sampled within the study area are samena senna. Hazardous trees were generally lower along Agriculture, Masaba and Veterinary roads and they are 0.47%, 0.95% and 1.66% respectively. Oduduwa road had highest number of poor-quality trees with multiple defects (22.38%). A total of 132 species of samena senna had extremely high probability of failure while the probability of 69 species of Delonix regia to strike a target is extremely high, this species have very shallow roots and the species is easily affected by root/stem rots resulting in heavy damages even with little storm. Ten species of Samena senna affect the road, 33 species of Gliricidia sepium affect the walkway, 60 species of Delonix regia affect the building, 71 species of Samena senna cause street light obstruction and 6 species of Samena senna are affecting the underground cable..In conclusion the study revealed that all the sampled municipal trees of university of Ibadan were defective having some negative impacts for infrastructure damages (e.g. damage to building and sidewalks). Since there will always be a common interaction among people, property and trees in the University community, detection and removal of trees that are likely to be hazardous is essential.Key words: Street trees, hazardous trees, Health assessment, infrastructural damage, Potential targe

Development Of A Manual Fruit Juice Extractor

A manual fruit juice extractor was developed. The machine had an average performance efficiency of 78.09% and 75.72% for orange and pineapple respectively. The expression rates for orange and pineapple juice were 4.40kghr-1 and 4.06kg-1hr respectively. The juice extractor is simple in design and can be operated easily by low-skilled operators without any limitations on age or gender. Key words: Fruit juice, extraction, performance efficiency. Nigerian Food Journal Vol.22 2004: 178-18

Cytokines, Type 2 DM and the Metabolic Syndrome

Background: Inflammatory markers have been widely implicated in Diabetes Mellitus (DM) and the metabolic syndrome (Mets). Data on the association of cytokines (pro inflammatory mediators) and components of the Mets are sparse in sub Saharan Africa.Objective: We sought to document the pattern of distribution of cytokines in Nigerian subjects with type 2 DM and compare cytokine levels between DM subjects with and without the Mets.Methods: 200 subjects with type 2 DM and 100 healthy sex and aged matched Controls were studied. Anthropometric indices, lipid parameters and cytokine levels, which included interleukin 10 (IL-10), tumour necrosis factor – alpha (TNF – α ), interferon gamma (IFN – α) and C reactive protein (CRP) were determined. Continuous variables were compared between subjects with type 2 DM and the controls and also between DM subjects with and without the Mets.Results: The mean levels of all studied cytokines were significantly higher in the subjects with type 2 DM than the Control subjects, save for IFN – α which was significantly lower in type 2 DM. The mean cytokine levels werecomparable in the DM subjects with and without the Mets and also  comparable in obese DM and non obese DM subjects. Of the Mets defining criteria, waist circumference (WC) and Triglyceride (TG) were found to be significantly associated with only two of the studied cytokines. The correlation coefficient and p values of these findings are as follows: WC vs TNF –α ( r = 0.16, p = 0.001) and TG vs CRP ( r = 0.15, p = 0.03). Multiple regression analyses showed that the cytokines were linearly associated with each other but not with other clinical and biochemical variables. Thecytokines were found to be interrelated. IL – 10 with a beta value of 0.14 predicted the presence of INF – α with a 95% confidence interval of 0.000 – 0.109 and a p value of 0.05. TNF- α with a beta value of 0.17 predicted the presence of IL – 10 with a 95% confidence interval of 0.004 – 0.034 anda p value of 0.01. IL – 10 with a beta value of 0.17 predicted the presence of TNF – α with a 95% confidence interval of 0.3 – 0.590 and a p value of 0.01.Conclusion: Cytokine levels are higher in DM than non DM subjects; however, the cytokine levels are not strongly associated with the Mets. Limited correlations were found between each of the cytokines and the parameters of the Mets. Further studies on this entity amongst Africansshould be carried out to ascertain if these results are peculiar to DM subjects in sub- Saharan Africa.Key words: Cytokines, Type 2 DM and the Metabolic Syndrome

Prevalence of malnutrition and high blood pressure amongst adolescents in semi-urban area of Ogun State south- western Nigeria

Globally, underweight in children is projected to decline except in Sub-Sahara Africa. This study assessed the prevalence of malnutrition and its correlation with high blood pressure among adolescents in a semi-urban Nigerian setting. A descriptive cross sectional study was conducted among adolescent school children in Sagamu, Nigeria. Weight, height and blood pressure  measurements were recorded. Using the cut-off points of -2SD, height for age and weight for height were used to diagnose  stunting and wasting. The nutritional status of the subjects was related to their blood pressure pattern. A total of 572 adolescents were surveyed. Wasting and stunting were diagnosed among 26.7% and 24.8% of the subjects respectively. Pre –hypertension was present in 4.2% and 3.9% of the stunted and wasted  respectively (p<0.05.) while Stage -1 hypertension was observed among adolescents with normal weight. Weight was strongly correlated with blood pressure.(÷2 =0.0249, p=<0.001and ÷2= 0.117 , p= 0.001) in conclusion, wasting and stunting were common in the population studied and were associated with blood pressure abnormalities.Key Words: Adolescents, Blood pressure, Hypertension, Stunting , Wasting

Effect Of Exogenous Progesterone On Blood Chemistry Of Large White Pigs

Exogenous hormones are major economic factors in swine production. This study evaluate the effects of exogenous administration of progesterone on the blood chemistry of pigs.Experiment involved weekly injections of progesterone to 24 pigs (12 males and 12 females)from day old to 24 weeks and only corn oil to another 24pigs (12 males and 12 females) also for the same duration. Hormone administration was by intramuscular injections. Serum samples were collected at specific intervals and analysed for total protein (TP) which was determined using the Biuret method. Cholesterol level (CL) was determined by enzymatic end point and aspartate amino transferase (AST) determined by Kinetic method were read in a spectrophotometer. Blood samples were also collected at the same interval for haematological analyses (Packed Cell Volume-PCV; Haemoglobin-Hb; Red Blood Cell count-RBC; White Blood Cell count-WBC; while Mean Corpuscular Volume-MCV, Mean Corpuscular Haemoglobin-MCH, and Mean Corpuscular Haemoglobin Concentration-MCHC were derived). All analyses were done according to standard methods and procedures. Data obtained were subjected to analysis of variance. Results show that sex effect was significant at 5 weeks for PCV, Hb, RBC, WBC, MCV, MCH and MCHC. Males hadlower values for values for all haematological parameters except for WBC. There was no sex effect observed for serum chemistry at the periods of sampling. TP and AST values of 7.7 g/dl and 22.7i. u/l were higher compared to 6.8 g/dl and 21.0i. u/l for the control respectively. Meanwhile CL was higher in control animals than in progesterone injected groups. The result of this present study, suggests that progesterone can be useful in pig production without compromising the health status of the pigs and end users of their meat