Urban Land Use Land Cover Changes and Their Effect on Urban Thermal Pattern: Case Study of Nigeria’s Federal Capital City

Since the official movement of the seat of government from Lagos to Abuja in 1991, the Federal Capital City being the most habitable area in the entire Federal Capital Territory has continued to experience rising urban population growth; this has resulted in a significant modification of its natural landscape. Such modifications often affect the microclimate of cities. This study investigates the effect of changing urban land use/cover on urban thermal pattern through the application of remote sensing, geographic information systems (GIS) and statistical methods. Land use land cover (LULC) and land surface temperature (LST) were extracted from Landsat 4 TM (1987) and Landsat 8 OLI/TIRS (2014). The result of LULC show that while built-up area and wasteland classes increased by 19.93% (from 23.57% in 1987 to 43.50% in 2014) and 15.87% (from 14.88% in 1987 to 30.75% in 2014) respectively, vegetation cover decreased by 35.63% (from 60.63% in 1987 to 25% in 2014). This significant vegetation cover loss to both built-up area and wasteland is an indication of man’s dominance of the landscape of the city.  The study revealed that the lowest values for minimum, maximum and mean temperature occurred in 1987 (17.03, 31.16 and 24.3°C respectively) while the highest values for minimum, maximum and mean temperature occurred in 2014 (25.01, 37.38 and 32.54°C respectively). In 1987, relatively lower LST values (23-26°C) were dominant occupying about 84.38% of the total land area while, in 2014; higher LST values (31-34°C) were dominant occupying approximately 84.14% of the total land area. These results show that a significant portion of the natural landscape elements of the FCC has been removed due to rapid urbanization and this has resulted in the formation of hotspots across the city. The results of this research bring to fore the need for urban planners in the FCC to put in place temperature-mitigation strategies so as to ensure the sustainability of the city. Keywords: LULC; LST; classification; FCC; SUHI

Providing Physical Fitness and Wellness for the School Children through School Health Programme

Today, inactivity and unhealthy lifestyle habits have eaten deep into the fabric of modern man’s life posing serious threat to good health.  To address this trend requires urgency in looking for means by which the awareness of man could be re-awaken towards ways by which an individual can be equipped with knowledge to improve his health by taking actions that guarantee better and healthier life. This paper therefore discussed physical fitness, wellness and their components in relation to how they could be provided for, through a well planned and implemented school health education programme for the school children to combat inactivity and negative lifestyle habits. It was concluded that a well planned, organized and funded school health programme can provide for physical fitness and wellness programme in the school system. Keywords: Physical Fitness, Wellness, School Health Programme, Lifestyle.

Spatial Distribution of Abattoir, Operators’ Health Status, Waste Management and Perceived Health Implication on the Consumed Meat

This study investigated spatial distribution of abattoirs, operators’ health status, waste management and perceived health implication on the consumed meat in two towns in Osun State Nigeria. It precisely examined the abattoirs’ spatial distribution, environmental health officers’ inspection, the medical checkup of the Abattoirs’ operators, type and adequacy of facilities and equipment for use and the health implication on the consumed meat. Survey research design was embraced for the study. Eighty respondents consisting of 60 abattoir operators and 20 consumers from each town making a total of 160 respondents were drawn for the study. Random sampling technique was used for selection.  Interview guide and self-constructed questionnaire validated by experts was used to collect the data, test retest method was also used for the reliability and was found reliable at 0.88 significant levels. The collected data were analyzed with percentages and inferential statistics of chi-square. A verbal interview with 20 consumers from each town was also used to investigate the health implication on the consumed meat. The findings showed that the abattoirs in the study areas were not evenly distributed, the environmental health officers’ inspection to the abattoir were very rare, the abattoirs’ operators rarely went for medical checkup, and the types of facilities and equipment used in the Abattoir were not adequate. The results also showed that diseases such as cholera, typhoid, diarrhoea and stomach pain were perceived health implications on the consumed meat. The findings further showed that poor sanitation and the abattoirs’ health status will significantly influence the health of the consumers negatively in ile-ife and Modakeke town. The study recommends that enlightenment programmes by the 3 tiers of government should be mounted for the abattoir operators and environmental health officers’ should inspect the Abattoir regularly. Key Words: Spatial Distribution, Abattoir, Operators’ Health Status, Waste Management, Health   Implication, Consumed Mea

Effects of a 12-Week Structured Fitness Exercise on the Red Blood Cells of College Students in Ikere-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria.

This study investigated and determined the effects of a 12-week structured fitness training programme on the Red Blood cells of College Students. The structured exercise/ training programme consisted of graded physical activities lasting for about fifty (50) minutes and administered three times a week,  The pre-test, post-test control group - design was used for the study. Sixty (60) College Students were used comprising thirty (30) subjects each for both the experimental and the control groups. Statistical procedure employed included the descriptive statistics of mean, range and standard deviation, inferential statistics of Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) was used to determine significance of adaptation. A post-hoc analysis of Multiple Classification Analysis (MCA) was also applied to find out the magnitude of the adaptation.  Graphical illustration was also used to pictorially display the pattern of changes in the variable.  The result of the findings showed a rejection of the hypothesis which stated that there will be no significant effect of a 12-week fitness training programme on the Red blood cells of College Students in Ekiti State. Based on the findings of this study, it was therefore concluded that a structured exercise training programme of 12 weeks duration is capable of reducing the red blood cells of college students in Ikere Ekiti. It was recommended that such fitness training programme be encouraged among the youths. Keywords: Resistance exercise, hematological variables, college students

Effects of a 12-Week Structured Fitness Exercise on the Red Blood Cells of College Students in Ikere-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria.

This study investigated and determined the effects of a 12-week structured fitness training programme on the Red Blood cells of College Students. The structured exercise/ training programme consisted of graded physical activities lasting for about fifty (50) minutes and administered three times a week,  The pre-test, post-test control group - design was used for the study. Sixty (60) College Students were used comprising thirty (30) subjects each for both the experimental and the control groups. Statistical procedure employed included the descriptive statistics of mean, range and standard deviation, inferential statistics of Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) was used to determine significance of adaptation. A post-hoc analysis of Multiple Classification Analysis (MCA) was also applied to find out the magnitude of the adaptation.  Graphical illustration was also used to pictorially display the pattern of changes in the variable.  The result of the findings showed a rejection of the hypothesis which stated that there will be no significant effect of a 12-week fitness training programme on the Red blood cells of College Students in Ekiti State. Based on the findings of this study, it was therefore concluded that a structured exercise training programme of 12 weeks duration is capable of reducing the red blood cells of college students in Ikere Ekiti. It was recommended that such fitness training programme be encouraged among the youths. Keywords: Resistance exercise, hematological variables, college students

Prevalence and correlates of induced abortion: results of a facility-based cross-sectional survey of parturient women living with HIV in South Africa

Background: There is a paucity of studies examining the prevalence and correlates of induced abortion among women living with HIV. Our study fills this gap by examining the prevalence and correlates of induced abortion among parturient women living with HIV in Eastern Cape, South Africa. Methods: We analysed cross-sectional survey data of the East London Prospective Cohort Study, which took place between September 2015 and May 2016 in three large maternity facilities in the Buffalo/Amathole districts of the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. A total of 1709 parturient women living with HIV who gave birth over the study period were recruited. We carried out descriptive and inferential statistics. Results: The prevalence of induced abortion was 19% (95% CI: 17.2–20.9%), but varied by women’s socio-demographic characteristics. Induced abortion prevalence was higher among women aged 25 years and over (21.4%), than among women aged less than 25 years (11.0%). Those ever married or cohabiting (26.8%) reported a higher level of induced abortion than those never-married women (15.6%). Those already diagnosed HIV positive before their index pregnancy (20.2%) had a higher prevalence of induced abortion than those diagnosed during their index pregnancy (14.1%). In the adjusted logistic regression, women were more likely to have ever induced abortion if they were ever married or cohabiting (aOR; 1.86 95% CI; 1.43–2.41), ever smoked (aOR: 1.51; 95% CI: 1.01–2.28) and diagnosed with HIV before their index pregnancy (aOR:1.44; 95% CI: 1.02–2.05) but less likely if younger than 25 years (aOR; 0.51 95% CI:0.35–0.73). Conclusion: About one in five women living with HIV had ever induced abortion in the study settings, indicating that abortion service is one of the main reproductive health services needed by women living with HIV in South Africa. This is an indication that the need for abortion is somewhat high in this group of women. The finding, therefore, highlights the need for concerted efforts from all stakeholders to address the unmet need for contraception among women living with HIV to prevent unintended pregnancy

Maternal health care visits as predictors of contraceptive use among childbearing women in a medically underserved state in Nigeria

Background: Health care visits during pregnancy, childbirth and after childbirth may be crucial in expanding the uptake of contraceptive care in resource-poor settings. However, little is known about how health care visits influence the uptake of modern contraception in Nigeria. The focus of this paper was to examine how health care visits influence the use of contraceptives among parous women in a medically underserved setting. Methods: The study adopted a descriptive survey design. Data was collected from 411 women who gave birth between 2010 and 2015 selected through a two-stage cluster random sampling technique. Health care visits for antenatal care services, childbirth, postnatal care and modern contraceptive were dichotomised (yes, no). Descriptive analyses were performed, and percentages, frequencies and means were reported. Multiple logistic regressions were computed, and odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were calculated. Results: Knowledge of all contraceptive methods was lowest among women who reside in rural areas. Health care visits for antenatal care (UOR 4.5; 95% CI 2.0\u201310.5), childbirth (UOR2.1; 95% CI 1.4\u20133.2) and postnatal care services (UOR 2.3; 95% CI 1.5\u20133.5) independently predict ever use of any contraceptive methods. Likewise, health care visits for antenatal care (UOR 5.6; 95% CI 2.1\u201314.8), childbirth (UOR 2.3; 95% CI 1.5\u20133.6) and postnatal care services (UOR 2.8; 95% CI 1.8\u20134.5) were independent predictors of current use of modern contraceptive methods. In the adjusted model, health care visits for antenatal care services (AOR 3.2; 95% CI 1.1\u20138.8) were significantly associated with the use of modern contraceptive methods. Conclusion: Health care visits significantly predict the use of modern contraceptive methods. Expanding access to health care services would potentially increase contraceptive use among childbearing women in the medically underserved settings

Hyperchaos and bifurcations in a driven Van der Pol–Duffing oscillator circuit

We investigate the dynamics of a driven Van der Pol–Duffing oscillator circuit and show the existence of higher-dimensional chaotic orbits (or hyperchaos), transient chaos, strange-nonchaotic attractors, as well as quasiperiodic orbits born from Hopf bifurcating orbits. By computing all the Lyapunov exponent spectra, scanning a wide range of the driving frequency and driving amplitude parameter space, we explore in two-parameter space the regimes of different dynamical behaviours