Perceived Psychosocial Impacts of Stigmatization and Coping Styles amongst People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) in Selected Hospitals, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria

Objective:- HIV/ AIDS stigma and discrimination exist worldwide, therefore this research was to determine perceived psychosocial impacts of stigmatization and coping strategies among PLWHA.Methodology:- This is a cross-sectional descriptive study. 240 respondents were selected in two hospitals with multistage sampling technique. Data were collected using COPE and Nottingham health profile apart from demographic characteristics of respondents.Results: Respondents’ age showed that 30-39 (38.8%) constituted the highest percentage. In terms of gender, females constituted 86.3% while 77.5% were married, traders constituted 66.3%, 72.6% were educated up to tertiary level stigma was considered to be separating oneself from other (30.0%) being avoided/isolated by family, friends, community and health care workers (28.8%), rejection by spouse, family and friends (21.3%. HIV  is solely sexually transmitted (13.6%) stigmatization of PLWHA is significantly of PLWHA is significantly related to perceived psychosocial impacts experienced as x2 > critical valued ( p = 0.05). 36.2% agreed that their present health status affect their sex life, home life (22.5%),  and work (18.7%) among others. Majority of the respondents agreed to have accepted their status (Mean Score 190.5) were using active and positive coping (mean cores 166.5) and 175.5 respectively such as utilizing religions coping styles (mean score 212.25) among others.Conclusion:- It was concluded that government should ensure statutory protection of PLWHA. Keywords: Stigma, psychosocial, impacts, coping strategies, PLWHA

Determinants of Adoption of NRCRI Cocoyam Production Packages among Small-Holder Women Farmers in Enugu State

This study employed a log-linear model derived from the Semi-log functional form as the econometric model specified and the best fit for explaining adoption rate of NRCRI Cocoyam Production packages among women in the study area. A multi-stage random sampling technique was used to select 120 cocoyam farmers (Females) in the state in 2008. The study found farm size and membership of cooperative society to be positively and significantly related to rate of adoption at 5.0% level of probability. Farming experience coefficient also had a positive relationship with rate of adoption and was significant at 1.0%. Household Size was significant and negatively related to rate of adoption rate at 10.0%. No significant relationship was found between adoption rate and marital status, age, education and extension contact. The results call for policies aimed at redistribution of land by making more land available to the women farmers, encouraging the experienced farmers for increased adoption of cocoyam packages and programmes through the cooperative societies, which will motivate farmers to invest in and increased adoption of these packages

Determinants of Adoption of NRCRI Cocoyam Production Packages among Small-Holder Women Farmers in Enugu State

This study employed a log-linear model derived from the Semi-log functional form as the econometric model specified and the best fit for explaining adoption rate of NRCRI Cocoyam Production packages among women in the study area. A multi-stage random sampling technique was used to select 120 cocoyam farmers (Females) in the state in 2008. The study found farm size and membership of cooperative society to be positively and significantly related to rate of adoption at 5.0% level of probability. Farming experience coefficient also had a positive relationship with rate of adoption and was significant at 1.0%. Household Size was significant and negatively related to rate of adoption rate at 10.0%. No significant relationship was found between adoption rate and marital status, age, education and extension contact. The results call for policies aimed at redistribution of land by making more land available to the women farmers, encouraging the experienced farmers for increased adoption of cocoyam packages and programmes through the cooperative societies, which will motivate farmers to invest in and increased adoption of these packages

Description of physiotherapy services in a mental health institution in Nigeria

Physiotherapy  has  long  been  recognised  as  adjunct  to  drug therapy in the management of individuals with mental illness. however, little evidence existed on the utilization of physiotherapy in mental health especially in developing worlds.This study reviewed the utilization of physiotherapy in a Mental health  Institution in lagos, nigeria and determined its contribution to quality of  patient-care in the hospital.This study involved review of clients’ activity profile and patients’ record in a federal neuro-psychiatric hospital in lagos, nigeria between 2002 and 2006. The hospital records were used as source of information for socio- demographic details. Information on the physical diagnosis was extracted from the patients’ records in the departmental records. Data were summarized using descriptive statistics.Six thousand, four hundred and seventy-three (3.3%) out of the 195,686  patients of the hospital within the study period enjoyed physiotherapy ser vices. only 766 (14%) of the hospital in-patients enjoyed physiotherapy services. In addition, 808 clients enjoyed the health promotion services. low back pain (85; 21.7%), osteo-arthritis (82; 20.9%), stroke (64; 16.3%) and shoulder pain  (29; 7.4%) were the most common co-existing health problems referred for physiotherapy.The importance of physiotherapy in mental health is evidenced in the number of patients/clients who benefited from its services. Therefore, physiotherapy is an integral and indispensible member of the mental health team. however, physiotherapy  is  still  under-utilized  in  the  hospital.  This  points  to  the  need  for  proper  integration  of  physiotherapy  into mental health team in the hospital and other similar health institutions

An Analysis of the Supply for Seed Yams in Nigeria

This study was conducted to examine the supply of seed yam in major yam producing areas of Northern and Southern Nigeria using the supply function analysis. A cost-route approach was adopted in eliciting data from 120 seed yam farmers and marketers spread across the six states studied in 2006 using the multi-stage random sampling technique. Results show that price of seed yam and age had a significant relationship with value of seed yam supplied at the 1.0% level. Disposable income was significant at the 5.0% level, while labour cost and supplier experience were negatively related with value of seed yam supplied at the 10.0% and 1.0% levels respectively. Price of substitute and credit had a negative relationship with value of seed yam. The elasticity of supply of seed yam with respect to income is positive but inelastic while the elasticity of supply with respect to years of experience and labour were negative and elastic. Price of seed yam had positive price elasticity. Result of the field work show that there were no commercial structures for supply of seed yam in Nigeria. Farmer’s only sell seed yams after satisfying own requirements. The results therefore call for policies aimed at ensuring framers entitlement to productive resources and to target farmers in credit and large-scale farm enterprise.Seed Yams in Nigeria, Determinants of Supply and Supply Elasticities

Moringa oleifera ameliorates nephropathic changes in alloxaninduced diabetic adult wistar rats

Background: Diabetic nephropathy has been identified as a leading cause of chronic kidney disease which is a risk factor for kidney failure. Moringa oleifera (MO) is popularly known to possess various nutritional and health benefits. This study investigated the effects of crude aqueous extract of Moringa oleifera on the kidney of alloxan-induced diabetes in adult wistar rats.Methodology: Fifty six (56) adult wistar rats (150 – 200g) were randomly divided into 7 groups (n=8) with group A as control group, while animals in groups B, C, D, E and F were induced with multiple dosage of alloxan monohydrate (100mg/kgbw) intraperitoneally. Group B served as the diabetic group and animals in groups C, D and E were administered 100, 300 and 500 mg/kgbw of MO respectively. Further, animals in group F which received Diabinese (15mg/kgbw) served as the pharmacological control group. Group G animals were given 100mg/kgbw of aqueous extract of MO before induction of diabetes. The parameters assessed in this study include animals’ weight, blood glucose levels, serum creatinine levels, and kidney histology.Results: The results showed that serum creatinine levels were increased as a result of diabetic nephropathy but reduced with MO administration. Histologically, kidney sections from the diabetic group presented with glomerular sclerosis, wide capsular spaces, thickening of Bowman’s capsule, tubular necrosis, focal areas of massive inflammatory cells infiltration and acellular material. MO treated groups showed glomeruli and tubules in various stages of tissue repair varied on a dose dependent basis, higher concentrations being more effective. Sections from animals pretreated with MO showed that Moringa oleifera appeared to have slowed the action of Alloxan on the kidney.Conclusion: This study, therefore, concluded that treatment with Moringa oleifera ameliorated the acute effects of alloxan-induced diabetic complications on renal microarchitecture and probably contributed to the restoration of morphology and hence the functions of the kidney in adult Wistar rats.Keywords: Kidney, Alloxan, diabetes, nephropathy, Moringa oleifera, microarchitectur

Socio-Economic Determinants of Livingstone Potato (Plecthranthus Esculentus) Production at Farmers Fields in Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria

The study examined the problems of Livingstone Potato (Plecthranthus esculentus) production at farmers fields in Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria. Two Local Government Areas (BarkinLadi and Shendam) were purposively sampled. Three communities each were randomly selected from the two Local Government Areas. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics (frequency and percentages), and multiple regression analysis

REZIDUALNO DJELOVANJE MUCUNE NA RAST SEZAMA (SESAMUM RADIATUM) U RAZLIČITIM RAZMACIMA BILJKE

A field experiment was conducted at the National Horticultural Research Institute (NIHORT) Ibadan. The experiment was aimed at determining the growth and development of sesame grown at different spacing in a land previously cultivated with and without mucuna. It was a split plot experiment arranged in a randomized complete block design and was replicated three times. The main plot treatment was the residual effect of mucuna at two levels and the sub-plot treatment was spacing at three levels (50 × 30 cm, 50 × 40 cm and 50 × 50 cm). The result showed that sesame planted on mucuna fallowed land at wider spacing between plants significantly enhanced the growth of sesame. All the growth parameters examined had over 10 % increase with the leaf length and breadth having the highest value of 17.91 and 17.65 % respectively under the mucuna fallowed land compared with the non fallowed land. Increasing the spacing between sesame plants and consequently decreasing the plant population will be beneficial if the plant is grown for its vegetative part.Obavljen je terenski pokus pri Nacionalnom institutu za poljoprivredna istraživanja u Ibadanu. Cilj je pokusa bio odrediti rast i razvoj sezama uzgajanog u različitim razmacima na zemlji koja je ranije obrađivana sa i bez mucune. Bio je to pokus metodom podijeljenih parcela (split plot) u slučajnom potpunom bloku s tri ponavljanja. Tretman glavne parcele bilo je rezidualno djelovanje mucune na dvije razine, a tretman podparcele bio je razmak na tri razine (50 x 30 cm, 50 x 40 cm i 50 x 50 cm). Rezultat je pokazao da je sezam zasijan na ugaru s mucunom uz veći razmak između biljaka značajno povećao rast. Svi ispitani parametri imali su porast iznad 10% s duljinom i širinom lista najveće vrijednosti od 17,91 odnosno 17,65% na zemlji tretiranoj mucunom u usporedbi s netretiranom zemljom. Povećanje razmaka između biljaka sezama i prema tome smanjenje populacije biljaka bit će korisno ako se biljka uzgaja radi vegetativnog dijela

An Analysis of the Supply for Seed Yams in Nigeria

This study was conducted to examine the supply of seed yam in major yam producing areas of Northern and Southern Nigeria using the supply function analysis. A cost-route approach was adopted in eliciting data from 120 seed yam farmers and marketers spread across the six states studied in 2006 using the multi-stage random sampling technique. Results show that price of seed yam and age had a significant relationship with value of seed yam supplied at the 1.0% level. Disposable income was significant at the 5.0% level, while labour cost and supplier experience were negatively related with value of seed yam supplied at the 10.0% and 1.0% levels respectively. Price of substitute and credit had a negative relationship with value of seed yam. The elasticity of supply of seed yam with respect to income is positive but inelastic while the elasticity of supply with respect to years of experience and labour were negative and elastic. Price of seed yam had positive price elasticity. Result of the field work show that there were no commercial structures for supply of seed yam in Nigeria. Farmer’s only sell seed yams after satisfying own requirements. The results therefore call for policies aimed at ensuring framers entitlement to productive resources and to target farmers in credit and large-scale farm enterprise

Convalescent plasma in patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19 (RECOVERY): a randomised controlled, open-label, platform trial

Background: Many patients with COVID-19 have been treated with plasma containing anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. We aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of convalescent plasma therapy in patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19. Methods: This randomised, controlled, open-label, platform trial (Randomised Evaluation of COVID-19 Therapy [RECOVERY]) is assessing several possible treatments in patients hospitalised with COVID-19 in the UK. The trial is underway at 177 NHS hospitals from across the UK. Eligible and consenting patients were randomly assigned (1:1) to receive either usual care alone (usual care group) or usual care plus high-titre convalescent plasma (convalescent plasma group). The primary outcome was 28-day mortality, analysed on an intention-to-treat basis. The trial is registered with ISRCTN, 50189673, and ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04381936. Findings: Between May 28, 2020, and Jan 15, 2021, 11558 (71%) of 16287 patients enrolled in RECOVERY were eligible to receive convalescent plasma and were assigned to either the convalescent plasma group or the usual care group. There was no significant difference in 28-day mortality between the two groups: 1399 (24%) of 5795 patients in the convalescent plasma group and 1408 (24%) of 5763 patients in the usual care group died within 28 days (rate ratio 1·00, 95% CI 0·93–1·07; p=0·95). The 28-day mortality rate ratio was similar in all prespecified subgroups of patients, including in those patients without detectable SARS-CoV-2 antibodies at randomisation. Allocation to convalescent plasma had no significant effect on the proportion of patients discharged from hospital within 28 days (3832 [66%] patients in the convalescent plasma group vs 3822 [66%] patients in the usual care group; rate ratio 0·99, 95% CI 0·94–1·03; p=0·57). Among those not on invasive mechanical ventilation at randomisation, there was no significant difference in the proportion of patients meeting the composite endpoint of progression to invasive mechanical ventilation or death (1568 [29%] of 5493 patients in the convalescent plasma group vs 1568 [29%] of 5448 patients in the usual care group; rate ratio 0·99, 95% CI 0·93–1·05; p=0·79). Interpretation: In patients hospitalised with COVID-19, high-titre convalescent plasma did not improve survival or other prespecified clinical outcomes. Funding: UK Research and Innovation (Medical Research Council) and National Institute of Health Research