Microfinance Banks and Entrepreneurship Development in Nigeria: A Case of Ogun State

The purpose of this study was to determine how microfinance impacts on entrepreneurship development in Nigeria with a special reference to Ogun State. The survey research design was adopted and data collected through questionnaires. The impact of microfinance on entrepreneurship development in Nigeria was analyzed using the Ordinary least squares (OLS) regression method. The study revealed the existence of positive relationship between microfinance and entrepreneurship development in Nigeria. It further revealed that microfinance contribute to entrepreneurial activities that can lead to sustainable development in Nigeria. The findings of this study show that microfinance institutions go a long way in the determination of the level of entrepreneurial productivity and development in the Nigerian economy. In order to enhance entrepreneurship which is a potent instrument of activating the economic growth in developing countries, job creation, wealth creation, poverty eradication, innovations, and its related welfare effects by microfinance, the study recommended that in order to enable the beneficiaries of micro finance schemes to fully appreciate the utility of the facility, the monetary authority (CBN) must continue to appraise the credit delivery channels and formulate policies that would facilitate the delivery of the facilities to the rural communities. Microfinance institutions need to put in more effort in financing entrepreneurial activities that can promote economic growth accessible to the poor, reform of the legal system to offer more protection to investors and creditors and also establishment of credit information exchange mechanism that would track all borrowings and repayments in the banking system no matter the size. Key words: Entrepreneur, entrepreneurship, microfinance bank, microfinance, loan

The use of complementary and alternative medicine by 7427 Australian women with cyclic perimenstrual pain and discomfort: A cross-sectional study

© 2016 Fisher et al. Background: To assess the prevalence of cyclic perimenstrual pain and discomfort and to detail the pattern of complementary and alternative (CAM) use adopted by women for the treatment of these symptoms. Methods: Data from the 2012 national Australian Longitudinal Study of Women's Health (ALSWH) cross-sectional survey of 7427 women aged 34-39 years were analysed to estimate the prevalence of endometriosis, premenstrual syndrome (PMS), irregular or heavy periods and severe dysmenorrhoea and to examine the association between their symptoms and their visits to CAM practitioners as well as their use of CAM therapies and products in the previous 12 months. Results: The prevalence of endometriosis was 3.7 % and of the perimenstrual symptoms assessed, PMS was most prevalent at 41.2 % whilst irregular bleeding (22.2 %), heavy periods (29.8 %) and severe period pain (24.1 %) were reported at lower levels. Women with endometriosis were more likely than non-sufferers to have consulted with a massage therapist or acupuncturist and to have used vitamins/minerals, yoga/meditation or Chinese medicines (p < 0.05). PMS sufferers were more likely to consult with an osteopath, massage therapist, naturopath/herbalist or alternative health practitioner and to have used all forms of CAM therapies except Chinese medicines than women who had infrequent PMS (all p < 0.05). Women with irregular periods did not have different patterns of CAM use from non-sufferers and those with heavy periods did not favour any form of CAM but were less likely to visit a massage therapist or use yoga/meditation than non-sufferers (p < 0.05). For women with severe dysmenorrhoea there was no difference in their visits to CAM practitioners compared to non-sufferers but they were more likely to use aromatherapy oils (p < 0.05) and for more frequent dysmenorrhoea also herbal medicines, Chinese medicines and other alternative therapies compared to non-sufferers (all p < 0.05). Conclusions: There is a high prevalence of cyclic perimenstrual pain and discomfort amongst women in this age group. Women were using CAM differentially when they had specific symptoms of cyclic perimenstrual pain and discomfort. The use of CAM needs to be properly assessed to ensure their safe, effective use and to ascertain their significance as a treatment option enabling women with menstrual problems and their care providers to improve their quality of life