Utjecaj moći odlučivanja žena na status uhranjenosti ruralne djece u državi Ogun u Nigeriji

Women\u27s authority over specific family decisions tends to increase their financial security and power, which has an impact on their children\u27s general health and well-being. A multistage sampling process was employed to choose 120 households. Primary data on the children\u27s nutritional status, the household\u27s socioeconomic characteristics, and women decision making were gathered using a well-structured questionnaire. The children\u27s mean body mass index was 9.62 kg/m2, indicating underweight. It was also demonstrated that women had little influence over the quantity of farm produce consumed or sold, nor the number and spacing of their children. On the other hand, rural women make decisions about the daily diet of the home, the education of the children, the kind of medical assistance the child receives while ill, and the amount of parental guidance the youngster receives. However, the women decision making index (WDMI) which measures the negotiating power of women was 0.537. With the age of the mother, gender of child, women decision making index, farm size, farmers association, and farming experience influencing the children nutritional status. Therefore, as it tends to improve the nutritional outcomes for children, it is advised that women be given more control.Autoritet žene nad određenim obiteljskim odlukama povećava njihovu financijsku sigurnost i moć, što utječe na opće zdravlje i dobrobit njihove djece. U odabiru 120 kućanstava korišten je višefazni proces uzorkovanja. Primarni podaci o statusu uhranjenosti djece, socioekonomskim karakteristikama kućanstva i odlučivanju žena prikupljeni su pomoću dobro strukturiranog upitnika. Prosječni indeks tjelesne mase djece bio je 9,62 kg/m2, što ukazuje na pothranjenost. Također, pokazano je da su žene imale nizak utjecaj na količinu konzumiranih ili prodanih poljoprivrednih proizvoda, niti na broj djece. S druge strane, ruralne žene donose odluke o dnevnoj prehrani u kući, obrazovanju djece, vrsti medicinske pomoći koju će dijete dobiti dok je bolesno i o količini roditeljskog nadzora koje dijete dobiva. Međutim, indeks odlučivanja žena (WDMI) koji mjeri pregovaračku moć žena bio je 0,537. Uz dob majke, spol djeteta, indeks odlučivanja žena, veličinu farme, udrugu poljoprivrednika i iskustvo u poljoprivredi, utječu na prehrambeni status djece. Stoga, budući da se nastoji poboljšati prehrambeni status djece, savjetuje se da žene imaju veće kontrole

Determinants of food demand among urban households in Minna Metropolis, Niger State, Nigeria

Agricultural products including rice, yam and cowpea play significant roles in the food consumption of urban dwellers. However, increase in crop production cost has continued to threaten urban food price in Nigeria. This study analyzed the determinants of demand for food commodities among urban households in Minna metropolis. Data were collected from 110 household heads of urban residences, which were selected through a three-stage random sampling technique. Data collected for the study were analyzed using multiple regression technique. The results showed that rice, yam and cowpea were price in-elastic. The cross-price elasticities for rice, yam and cowpea were -0.132, 0.028 and 0.005 respectively. The computed own price, cross price and income elasticity of demand for rice were –0.308, -0.132 and 0.018 respectively. For yam, the computed values were -1.262, 0.028 and 0.289 respectively. While for cowpea, these values were -0.530, 0.005 and 0.002 respectively. For the income elasticity, rice and cowpea were proven to be normal goods and yam as a luxury good. The social protection strategies in form of food aids policy should be put into action to minimize the inflationary pressure on food items in the urban areas

The use of plants in the traditional management of diabetes in Nigeria: Pharmacological and toxicological considerations

Ethnopharmacological relevance: The prevalence of diabetes is on a steady increase worldwide and it is now identified as one of the main threats to human health in the 21st century. In Nigeria, the use of herbal medicine alone or alongside prescription drugs for its management is quite common. We hereby carry out a review of medicinal plants traditionally used for diabetes management in Nigeria. Based on the available evidence on the species׳ pharmacology and safety, we highlight ways in which their therapeutic potential can be properly harnessed for possible integration into the country׳s healthcare system. Materials and methods: Ethnobotanical information was obtained from a literature search of electronic databases such as Google Scholar, Pubmed and Scopus up to 2013 for publications on medicinal plants used in diabetes management, in which the place of use and/or sample collection was identified as Nigeria. ‘Diabetes’ and ‘Nigeria’ were used as keywords for the primary searches; and then ‘Plant name – accepted or synonyms’, ‘Constituents’, ‘Drug interaction’ and/or ‘Toxicity’ for the secondary searches. Results: The hypoglycemic effect of over a hundred out of the 115 plants reviewed in this paper is backed by preclinical experimental evidence, either in vivo or in vitro. One-third of the plants have been studied for their mechanism of action, while isolation of the bioactive constituent(s) has been accomplished for twenty three plants. Some plants showed specific organ toxicity, mostly nephrotoxic or hepatotoxic, with direct effects on the levels of some liver function enzymes. Twenty eight plants have been identified as in vitro modulators of P-glycoprotein and/or one or more of the cytochrome P450 enzymes, while eleven plants altered the levels of phase 2 metabolic enzymes, chiefly glutathione, with the potential to alter the pharmacokinetics of co-administered drugs. Conclusion: This review, therefore, provides a useful resource to enable a thorough assessment of the profile of plants used in diabetes management so as to ensure a more rational use. By anticipating potential toxicities or possible herb–drug interactions, significant risks which would otherwise represent a burden on the country׳s healthcare system can be avoided

Economic Efficiency of Rice Farming A stochastic frontier analysis approach

The future of agriculture is dependent on increase in the use of resources at disposal, it is therefore imperative that strategies to increase agricultural growth should be directed towards increasing efficiency of smallholder farming operations and resource utilization. This study examined the economic efficiency of rice production. Multistage sampling procedure was used to select 240 rice farmers with the aid of a structured questionnaire. Data collected were analyzed with descriptive techniques, Stochastic Frontier Analysis (SFA) and Tobit regression model. The SFA result revealed that input variables such as seed, herbicide and pesticide were positive and had significant effect on rice output. The rice farmers were able to maximize their output by 74% at lowest minimum cost possible. Furthermore, economic efficiency was positively influenced by age, level of education, membership of farmers association, access to public market and access to health facilities while household size, farming experience, bad road condition and distance to nearest market had negative effects. The study concluded that rice farmers were inefficient. Therefore, in order to raise rice production efficiency and improve the livelihood of smallholder farmers, farmers should attend formal and informal education as it is a key policy issue in the study area, farmers should strengthen the existing association structures and organize new farmer’s associations. Also, the local and regional governments were encouraged to provide good road networks, and public market that will enable farmers dispose their produce at attractive places and prices of their choice

EFFECTS OF ILL-HEALTH COST ON MULTIDIMENSIONAL POVERTY: EVIDENCE FROM RURAL HOUSEHOLDS IN NIGERIA

Good health affects productivity and income of the workers and this will further deepen the incidence of poverty and ill-health. This study examined the linkage between ill-health cost and multidimensional poverty of rural households in Ogun state, Nigeria. Multistage sampling was used to select 240 households for the study. Data collected were analysed with descriptive statistics, economic cost of illness, multidimensional poverty index and logistic regression model. The result revealed that majority (95%) of the households experienced malaria infestation, time cost of illness contributed most (92.6%) to the total economic cost. Result revealed that 69% of households are multidimensionally poor. Furthermore, marital status (p<0.01), off-farm income (p<0.01), financial cost (p<0.01), days forgone production (p<0.1), time cost (p<0.01) and area cultivated (p<0.1) positively, and significantly influence multidimensional poverty status while household size (p<0.01), cooperative membership (p<0.05), public health care services (p<0.1) and health extension contact (p<0.01) have negative, and significant effect. The study concluded that increase in out of pocket expenditure as a result of ill-health cost increases poverty status, availability and access to public health facilities reduces poverty status, it was therefore recommended that public health facilities should be located nearer to the people with minimum social stratification that might discourage poor masses from its usage, essential drugs should be provided at subsidized rates as this will go a long way in reducing financial cost thereby reducing poverty status

Determinants of food security among rural households in Nigeria: USDA food insecurity experience based measurement (forms) approach

This study was carried out to estimate the extent of food security and its determinants among rural households in Nigeria. Data for this study was obtained from 180 rural households consisting of 1260 members through the use of a structured questionnaire. Data was analyzed with a descriptive technique and a less restrictive multinomial logistic regression model. The result found most rural households to be food insecure as they measure high on the food insecurity scale. Age, gender, marital status, access to credit, dependency ratio, household size, ownership of farmland and farming experience significantly influence food security categories. The study concluded that: female-headed married households were more food secure than male-headed households; an increase in age of household heads makes it more likely to be food secure, and so does access to credit facilities; conversely, an increase in family size and in the dependency ratio makes it less likely to be food secure. The study recommends that there should be provision and proper monitoring of credit facilities to small farmers in other to increase their scale of operation and improve their food security status. Also, adequate attention should be given to policy measures that address family planning in order to reduce the household size to a level the household heads can adequately cater for

PROFIT EFFICIENCY AMONG CATFISH MARKETERS IN LAGOS STATE, NIGERIA: A STOCHASTIC PROFIT FRONTIER ANALYSIS (SPFA) APPROACH

The study analyzed the determinants of profit efficiency among catfish marketers in Lagos state, Nigeria. Multistage sampling procedure was used to select 120 catfish marketers, data were collected with the aid of a structured questionnaire. The data collected were analyzed with the use of descriptive statistics, enterprise budgetary technique, Shephered-Futrell method and stochastic profit frontier analysis (SPFA) model. The result of the gross ratio and net return on investment reveals that catfish marketing was a profitable and bankable enterprise. About 76.72% of sales revenue was taken up by the costs. The SPFA reveals that cost of catfish purchased and depreciation cost had positive (p<0.01) effects on profit while transportation cost (p<0.01) and labour cost (p<0.05) had negative effects. Furthermore, marital status and credit use (p<0.01) had negative effects on profit inefficiency, the mean profit efficiency of the catfish marketers was 74%. The study concluded that catfish marketers were inefficient, however, to improve the efficiency of the marketers and create more job opportunities; the study recommends that credit facilities that will enable the marketers increase their scale of operation, acquire better marketing resources and employ capable hands in catfish marketing should be made available and accessible. Policies that will help to provide good road networks and reduce the pump price of premium motor spirit (PMS) should be given adequate consideration

Multidimensional poverty among rural households in ogun state, Nigeria

This study was carried out to estimate factors influencing the multidimensional poverty status of rural households in Ogun State, Nigeria. A multistage sampling technique was used to select 240 rural households. Data was obtained through the use of a structured interview schedule, and was analyzed with descriptive techniques, multidimensional poverty index and logistic regression models. The result revealed that 69% of the rural households are multidimensionally poor. It was found that (on average) the rural poor households were deprived in 41% of the weighted indicators. Another finding is that rural households were deprived in 28% of total deprivations they could experience. It was also revealed that deprivation in infrastructure contributed most to the total deprivation experienced, followed by deprivation in living standard, social capital, health and education. The study further found that household size (p < 0.05), gender (p < 0.01), off-farm income (p < 0.1), availability of community health extension workers (p < 0.05) and availability of public market (p < 0.1) significantly influence the poverty status of rural households. The study concluded that an increase in household size increases the likelihood of being multidimensionally poor while an increase in off-farm income, access to public market and health extension services reduce the likelihood of being poor. The study recommended that rural farmers diversify their livelihood sources into off-farm activities during their lean periods as this will be instrumental in reducing their poverty status. Also, infrastructural facilities such as good healthcare services and public markets should be put in place as this will go a long way in reducing the poverty status of the rural farmers