Consumer Perception and Preference for Meat Types in Ogbomoso area of Oyo State, Nigeria.

Two hundred and six (206) respondents in Ogbomoso (a university community) in Oyo state Nigeria were randomly selected through structured questionnaires to examine their perception and preference of meat and meat products. Data collected were analyzed through the use of descriptive statistical tools. The results showed that marketing activities should be centered on female who are mostly married (83.0%) within the age group 31-40 since women are the one to purchase the meat at home, although men (56.8%) responded to the questionnaire than their female (43.2%) counterpart. It was clearly shown that respondents eat beef meat the most but enjoyed chicken the most, while availability and taste were major factors that influenced decision on the meat types of preference. Consumers preferred a designated meat shop as against the conventional abattoir and general market to purchase meat. Greater number of respondents however showed their preference in eating meat at home than outside. Beef, was the most affordable (54.9%), preferred at ceremony (69.4%) and the most convenient (55.3%). Chicken (32.3%) and Turkey (36.3%) are most preferred for picnic. Chevon (35.4%) was the most nutritious while chicken (27.7%) and beef (23.3%) were the most preferred as fast to cook meat. The study clearly revealed the importance of meat to the respondents in Ogbomoso.Keywords: meat, preference, consumer, protein, qualit

Acute Respiratory Infections in the Middle-Belt Region of Nigeria

Background: ARI continues to be a leeding cause of death among children globally beyond the year 2000. Close 12 million children under the age of 5years die each year in the developing countries, mainly from preventable causes and approximately 2.28 million (19%) were due to acute respiratory infections (ARI). It therefore became necessary to assess the present status of the disease in Nigeria to mastermind workable plans for reducing the mortality and morbidity burden.Methods: A designed pro-forma was used to collect and collate information from mothers or direct care givers of children at both hospital and community levels relating to family background, home setting, anthropometry, clinical presentation of ARI, previous medications, investigations, complications and outcomes of illness.Results: A total of 163 children were recruited for the study. One hundred and six had moderate and severe form of ARI while 57 had mild form. The in-patients accounted for 15.2% of all the admission within the study period.All children were under 12 years of age with male preponderance. Fast breathing, Tarchypnoea, Cough and Fever were the leading ways of presentations. The immunization coverage of study population by various antigens in the EPI were poor. Majority of the hospital children had pre-consultation antibiotics while none of the children from the rural community had pre-recruitment antibiotics. Streptococcus pneumoniae and Staphylococcus aureus were the leading organisms isolated with good sensitivity to Quinolones, Gentamycin and Cephalosporins. Heart failure was the leading complications. Mortality was 12.3% among the hospitalized patient and none among the community children.Conclusion: It was concluded that ARI is still a major cause of morbidity and mortality among children with opportunity for burden reduction.Keywords: Acute Respiratory Infection, present outlook, burde

Patient characteristics associated with COVID-19 positivity and fatality in Nigeria: retrospective cohort study

Objective: Despite the increasing disease burden, there is a dearth of context-specific evidence on the risk factors for COVID-19 positivity and subsequent death in Nigeria. Thus, the study objective was to identify context-specific factors associated with testing positive for COVID-19 and fatality in Nigeria. Design Retrospective cohort study. Setting: COVID-19 surveillance and laboratory centres in 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory reporting data to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control. Participants: Individuals who were investigated for SARSCoV-2 using real-time PCR testing during the study period 27 February–8 June 2020. Methods: COVID-19 positivity and subsequent mortality. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to identify factors independently associated with both outcome variables, and findings are presented as adjusted ORs (aORs) and 95% CIs. Results: A total of 36 496 patients were tested for COVID-19, with 10 517 confirmed cases. Of 3215 confirmed cases with available clinical outcomes, 295 died. Factors independently associated with COVID-19 positivity were older age (p value for trend<0.0001), male sex (aOR 1.11, 95%CI 1.04 to 1.18) and the following presenting symptoms: cough (aOR 1.23, 95% CI 1.13 to 1.32), fever (aOR 1.45, 95% CI 1.45 to 1.71), loss of smell (aOR 7.78, 95% CI 5.19 to 11.66) and loss of taste (aOR 2.50, 95% CI 1.60 to 3.90). An increased risk of mortality following COVID-19 was observed in those aged ≥51 years, patients in farming occupation (aOR 7.56, 95% CI 1.70 to 33.53) and those presenting with cough (aOR 2.06, 95% CI 1.41 to 3.01), breathing difficulties (aOR 5.68, 95% CI 3.77 to 8.58) and vomiting (aOR 2.54, 95% CI 1.33 to 4.84). Conclusion: The significant risk factors associated with COVID-19 positivity and subsequent mortality in the Nigerian population are similar to those reported in studies from other countries and should guide clinical decisions for COVID-19 testing and specialist care referrals

Performance and nutritional composition of Andropogon tectorum during a minor wet season as influenced by varying levels of inorganic fertilizer

The agronomic performance and nutritional composition of Andropogon tectorum fertilized with varying levels of nitrogen fertilizer application during the minor wet season in the derived savannah zone of Nigeria was studied in Ogbomoso, Nigeria from 2005-2008. It was observed that the adverse effect of moisture stress on the growth performance of grasses could be ameliorated through strategic fertilizer application as biomass production of Andropogon tectorum increased with increased nitrogen fertilizer application. It was in the order of O (control) &lt; 50kgN/ha&lt;100kgN/ha &lt; 200kgN/ha application rates. Except for Zinc, increasing application of fertilizer was also observed to increase mineral element uptake (Na, Ca, P K Mg Fe Mn and Cu. Strategic application of nitrogen fertilizer could be employed to increase biomass and the nutritional content of Andropogon tectorum thus meeting the requirement of our animals during the minor wet season

Fertilizer effect on yield and composition of shrubby stylo in the Nigerian derived savanna

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