Cigarette Smoking and Alcohol Consumption among Commercial Drivers in Lagos, Nigeria

This cross-sectional survey research provided a quantitative description of cigarette smoking and alcohol consumption among commercial drivers in Lagos, Nigeria. A multi-stage purposive sampling of two hundred (200) commercial drivers from Mile 2 to Badagry was used for this study. Three hypotheses were formulated for this study. Cigarette Smoking and Alcohol Consumption Questionnaire (CSACOQ) adopted from Genacis lite- H2O Questionnaire was used to gather information from the respondents. Both descriptive and inferential statistics of Pearson Product Moment Correlation and Multiple Regression were used to analyse the data gathered for this study. The result showed that 63.7% were heavy users, 15.6% were moderate users, and 17.7% were occasional or mild users. The researchers discovered that 60% to 70% of the commercial drivers engaged in drinking and driving. In comparison, about 40% of the commercial drivers used other psychoactive drugs such as tobacco (30.4%), cannabis (4.3%), caffeine (31.9%), sedatives (10.1%), and solvents (8.7%). The researchers believe that there is an urgent need to formulate policies in line with the ten proposed targets of WHO, (2008) resolution on strategies to reduce the harmful use of alcohol and cigarette smoking in Nigeria.This cross-sectional survey research provided a quantitative description of cigarette smoking and alcohol consumption among commercial drivers in Lagos, Nigeria. A multi-stage purposive sampling of two hundred (200) commercial drivers from Mile 2 to Badagry was used for this study. Three hypotheses were formulated for this study. Cigarette Smoking and Alcohol Consumption Questionnaire (CSACOQ) adopted from Genacis lite- H2O Questionnaire was used to gather information from the respondents. Both descriptive and inferential statistics of Pearson Product Moment Correlation and Multiple Regression were used to analyse the data gathered for this study. The result showed that 63.7% were heavy users, 15.6% were moderate users, and 17.7% were occasional or mild users. The researchers discovered that 60% to 70% of the commercial drivers engaged in drinking and driving. In comparison, about 40% of the commercial drivers used other psychoactive drugs such as tobacco (30.4%), cannabis (4.3%), caffeine (31.9%), sedatives (10.1%), and solvents (8.7%). The researchers believe that there is an urgent need to formulate policies in line with the ten proposed targets of WHO, (2008) resolution on strategies to reduce the harmful use of alcohol and cigarette smoking in Nigeria

Perception of teenagers towards physical abuse in Lagos State, Nigeria

This is a cross sectional survey research, which provided a quantitative investigation on the perception of teenagers towards physical abuse in Lagos State, Nigeria. Three hundred teenagers from secondary schools in Badagry division of Lagos State were purposively selected for this study. These secondary teenagers are children from ages 13 to 19 years from different religions background. Perception of Teenagers towards Physical Abuse Questionnaire (PETTOPAQ) was used to collect information from the respondents. The three formulated hypotheses were tested using percentages t-test analysis and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). Parents, teachers, and guardians were advised to give punishment that is commensurate to the offence committed by a child. The researcher suggested that the government and the legislature should implement the rights of Nigerian child judiciously.Keywords: Perception, Teenagers, Physical Abus

Development and stakeholder's validation of prisoners programme in Nigeria.

Doctoral Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg.The purpose of this study was to identify some indices of stakeholders’ awareness and readiness for prisoner reintegration, develop and validate the curricular content of proposed prisoner reintegration programme, determine the needed implementation resources and find out some challenges to be faced in working towards effective implementation of the proposed PREP. The theoretical framework of the study was based on Desistance Paradigm theory (DPT) and African Culture Compatible Model (ACCM). Sequential explanatory mixed methods design of quantitative and qualitative approaches was adopted for the study. Convenient sampling population of 1500 participants for the quantitative study and 15 for the qualitative study responded to the instruments of Stakeholders’ Awareness and Readiness for Prisoner Reintegration Inventory (SARFPRI) and Structured Interview Format (SIF) developed by the researcher from the available literature reviewed. The participants were between the ages of 31 to 70 years from Nigerian States of Lagos, Nasarawa and Anambra. Due ethical clearance was followed and obtained locally from Nigerian Prisons Service (NPS), now Nigerian Correctional Services (NCS), Abuja, Nigeria; and from University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Descriptive and inferential statistical analysis of Multivariate Analysis of Covariance (MANCOVA), Multiple Independent Samples t-test and Pearson Chi-Square and thematic content discourse were employed to answer the five research questions raised and nine hypotheses formulated for this study. The result of the findings showed that the proposed prisoner reintegration programme was applauded and approved by 75% of the Nigerian stakeholders who participated in the study. The selected Nigerian stakeholders who participated in the study had sufficient indices for awareness and readiness to embrace the proposed prisoner reintegration programme (PREP) in Nigeria. The proposed objectives and contents of prisoner reintegration programme (PREP) were endorsed and positively validated by the study participants. The result of the findings also revealed some anticipated challenges for effective implementation of PREP in Nigeria. Finally, proposed prisoner reintegration programme was positively embraced and successfully validated by the Nigerian stakeholders studied. The researcher gave fourteen recommendations for policy and practice based on the findings of the study. Recommendations for further studies were also proffered

Phytochemistry, anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities of the aqueous leaf extract of Lagenaria breviflora (Cucurbitaceae) in laboratory animals

The plant, and especially the fruit of Lagenaria breviflora is widely used in folklore medicine in West Africa as a herbal remedy for the treatment of human measles, digestive disorders, and as wound antiseptics (e.g. umbilical incision wound), while livestock farmers use it for Newcastle disease and coccidiosis treatment in various animal species, especially poultry. The purpose of this study was to contribute with new information on this plant leaves extract effect, as few studies have considered their effects. We collected fresh leaves of Lagenaria breviflora from the school farm of the University of Ibadan, Nigeria in May 2011. Dried leaves were ground and a 200g sample was used to prepare the extract. The grounded leaves material was allowed to shake in 1 000mL distilled water for 48h, in an orbital shaker at room temperature of 24°C. The obtained extract was filtered and concentrated to dryness under reduced pressure at 40ºC, and the thick solution was lyophilized, for a final extract yield of 12.6%. Standard phytochemical methods were used to test the presence of saponins, alkaloids, tannins, anthraquinones, cardiac glycosides, cyanogenetic glycosides and flavonoids. The anti-inflammatory activity of the aqueous leaf extract of the plant was assessed using carrageenan-induced paw edema and histamine-induced paw edema in rats. The analgesic effect was determined using the acetic acid writhing method as well as formalin test in mice. Our results showed that the extract at 100 and 200mg/ kg body weight significantly reduced the formation of the oedema induced by carrageenan and histamine. In the acetic acid-induced writhing model, the extract showed a good analgesic effect characterized by reduction in the number of writhes when compared to the control. The extract caused dose-dependent decrease of licking time and licking frequency in rats injected with 2.5% formalin, signifying its analgesic effect. These results were however less than those of indomethacin, the reference drug used in this study. Since the plant extract reduced significantly the formation of oedema induced by carrageenan and histamine, as well as reduced the number of writhes in acetic acid-induced writhing models and dose-dependent decrease of licking frequency in rats injected with 2.5% formalin, the results have validated the basis for the traditional use of Lagenaria breviflora against inflamed purulent wounds, swellings, and bruises seen in some infectious diseases such as New Castle disease.La planta, y sobre todo el fruto de Lagenaria breviflora es ampliamente utilizada en medicina tradicional en África occidental como un remedio herbal para el tratamiento del sarampión humano, trastornos digestivos y como antiséptico de la herida umbilical (por ejemplo, herida de incisión), mientras que los ganaderos la utilizan para tratar la enfermedad de Newcastle y la coccidiosis en varias especies animales, especialmente aves de corral. El propósito de este estudio fue analizar el efecto del extracto de esta planta, ya que hay pocos estudios sobre la temática. Se recolectaron hojas frescas de Lagenaria breviflora en la finca demostrativa de enseñanza de la Universidad de Iba- dan, Nigeria, en mayo 2011. Las hojas secas se trituraron y una muestra de 200g fue utilizada para preparar el extracto. El material se mezcló en 1 000ml de agua destilada durante 48 horas, en un agitador orbital a temperatura ambiente de 24 C. El extracto obtenido se filtró y se concentró hasta sequedad a una presión baja y a 40 C, la solución espesa se liofilizó, para un rendimiento de extracto final de 12.6. Para probar la presencia de saponinas, alcaloides, taninos, antraquinonas, glucósidos cardíacos, glucósidos cianogénicos y flavonoides se utilizaron los métodos fitoquímicos estándares. La actividad anti-inflamatoria del extracto acuoso de hojas de la planta se evaluó mediante la inducción de un edema por carragenina e histamina en la pata de las ratas. El efecto analgésico se determinó utilizando el método de contorsiones inducidas por ácido acético y la prueba de formalina en ratones. Nuestros resultados mostraron que el extracto de 100 y 200mg/kg de peso corporal redujo significativamente la formación de edema inducido por la carragenina e histamina. En el modelo de contorsiones inducidas por ácido acético, el extracto mostró un buen efecto analgésico caracterizado por una reducción en el número de retortijones en comparación con el control. El extracto causó una disminución dependiente de la dosis en el tiempo y frecuencia de lameo en ratas inyectadas con 2.5% de formalina, demostrando su efecto analgésico. Estos resultados sin embargo fueron menores que los de la indometacina, fármaco de referencia utilizado en este estudio. El extracto de la planta redujo significativamente la formación de edema inducido por carragenina e histamina, así como la baja en el número de retortijones por ácido acético y una disminución de la dosis-dependiente de la frecuencia de lameo en ratas inyectadas con formalina al 2.5%, los resultados validan el uso tradicional de Lagenaria breviflora contra la inflamación de las heridas purulentas, inflamaciones y contusiones que se dan en algunas enfermedades infecciosas como la enfermedad de New Castle

Phytochemistry, anti-inflammatory and analgesic activities of the aqueous leaf extract of Lagenaria breviflora (Cucurbitaceae) in laboratory animals

The plant, and especially the fruit of Lagenaria breviflora is widely used in folklore medicine in West Africa as a herbal remedy for the treatment of human measles, digestive disorders, and as wound antiseptics (e.g. umbilical incision wound), while livestock farmers use it for Newcastle disease and coccidiosis treatment in various animal species, especially poultry. The purpose of this study was to contribute with new information on this plant leaves extract effect, as few studies have considered their effects. We collected fresh leaves of Lagenaria breviflora from the school farm of the University of Ibadan, Nigeria in May 2011. Dried leaves were ground and a 200g sample was used to prepare the extract. The grounded leaves material was allowed to shake in 1 000mL distilled water for 48h, in an orbital shaker at room temperature of 24°C. The obtained extract was filtered and concentrated to dryness under reduced pressure at 40ºC, and the thick solution was lyophilized, for a final extract yield of 12.6%. Standard phytochemical methods were used to test the presence of saponins, alkaloids, tannins, anthraquinones, cardiac glycosides, cyanogenetic glycosides and flavonoids. The anti-inflammatory activity of the aqueous leaf extract of the plant was assessed using carrageenan-induced paw edema and histamine-induced paw edema in rats. The analgesic effect was determined using the acetic acid writhing method as well as formalin test in mice. Our results showed that the extract at 100 and 200mg/ kg body weight significantly reduced the formation of the oedema induced by carrageenan and histamine. In the acetic acid-induced writhing model, the extract showed a good analgesic effect characterized by reduction in the number of writhes when compared to the control. The extract caused dose-dependent decrease of licking time and licking frequency in rats injected with 2.5% formalin, signifying its analgesic effect. These results were however less than those of indomethacin, the reference drug used in this study. Since the plant extract reduced significantly the formation of oedema induced by carrageenan and histamine, as well as reduced the number of writhes in acetic acid-induced writhing models and dose-dependent decrease of licking frequency in rats injected with 2.5% formalin, the results have validated the basis for the traditional use of Lagenaria breviflora against inflamed purulent wounds, swellings, and bruises seen in some infectious diseases such as New Castle disease.La planta, y sobre todo el fruto de Lagenaria breviflora es ampliamente utilizada en medicina tradicional en África occidental como un remedio herbal para el tratamiento del sarampión humano, trastornos digestivos y como antiséptico de la herida umbilical (por ejemplo, herida de incisión), mientras que los ganaderos la utilizan para tratar la enfermedad de Newcastle y la coccidiosis en varias especies animales, especialmente aves de corral. El propósito de este estudio fue analizar el efecto del extracto de esta planta, ya que hay pocos estudios sobre la temática. Se recolectaron hojas frescas de Lagenaria breviflora en la finca demostrativa de enseñanza de la Universidad de Ibadan, Nigeria, en mayo 2011. Las hojas secas se trituraron y una muestra de 200g fue utilizada para preparar el extracto. El material se mezcló en 1 000ml de agua destilada durante 48 horas, en un agitador orbital a temperatura ambiente de 24°C. El extracto obtenido se filtró y se concentró hasta sequedad a una presión baja y a 40°C, la solución espesa se liofilizó, para un rendimiento de extracto final de 12.6. Para probar la presencia de saponinas, alcaloides, taninos, antraquinonas, glucósidos cardíacos, glucósidos cianogénicos y flavonoides se utilizaron los métodos fitoquímicos estándares. La actividad anti-inflamatoria del extracto acuoso de hojas de la planta se evaluó mediante la inducción de un edema por carragenina e histamina en la pata de las ratas. El efecto analgésico se determinó utilizando el método de contorsiones inducidas por ácido acético y la prueba de formalina en ratones. Nuestros resultados mostraron que el extracto de 100 y 200mg/kg de peso corporal redujo significativamente la formación de edema inducido por la carragenina e histamina. En el modelo de contorsiones inducidas por ácido acético, el extracto mostró un buen efecto analgésico caracterizado por una reducción en el número de retortijones en comparación con el control. El extracto causó una disminución dependiente de la dosis en el tiempo y frecuencia de lameo en ratas inyectadas con 2.5% de formalina, demostrando su efecto analgésico. Estos resultados sin embargo fueron menores que los de la indometacina, fármaco de referencia utilizado en este estudio. El extracto de la planta redujo significativamente la formación de edema inducido por carragenina e histamina, así como la baja en el número de retortijones por ácido acético y una disminución de la dosis-dependiente de la frecuencia de lameo en ratas inyectadas con formalina al 2.5%, los resultados validan el uso tradicional de Lagenaria breviflora contra la inflamación de las heridas purulentas, inflamaciones y contusiones que se dan en algunas enfermedades infecciosas como la enfermedad de New Castle

Young Adults Perception of Appropriateness of some Domestic/Home-Related Activities: Implications for Gender Role Acquisition

The process of acquisition of appropriate gender role is both developmental and cultural. The study examined perception of appropriate gender role in the family and the actual participation in family work. The participants were 545 freshmen of a Federal university and a State University within Lagos, Nigeria. The participants ages ranges between 15 years to 32 years and mean age of 19.8years. 371 of the participants were of Yoruba origin, 112 are of Igbo origin and the remaining participants were from other ethnic groups. The home activity scale designed for the study was administered to assess their perception of appropriateness of 30 family works and the frequency of performing the task. The result shows that twelve of the family tasks are perceived as appropriate for women while only four are considered as male appropriate only. Thirteen tasks were perceived as appropriate for the two sexes. However, most of the tasks including those considered as appropriate for both sexes are performed frequently by women. The result shows that traditional gender role sill exists in the Nigerian society. It is important to note that most of the family works are performed by the women.Gender & Behaviour, 10(2), December 201