Factors influencing health-seeking behaviour among civil servants in Ibadan, Nigeria

Background: Health-seeking behaviours (HSB) are closely linked with the health status of a nation and thus its economic development. Several studies have described HSB within the context of various diseases. However, knowledge of HSB among population sub-groups is still scanty. This study aims to determine factors most important to civil servants when seeking health care.Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 337 civil servants working in the Federal Secretariat, Ibadan, Nigeria. An interviewer administered semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect information. Chi-square tests were used to test for associations while binary logistic regression test was used for determining predictors. All data analysis were done at 5% level of significance.Results: Members of the poorest quartile were 6 times more likely to have inappropriate HSB than the richest quartile (Q4:Q1= 5.83;O.R: 16.12, 95% C.I: 2.61-11.03). Visits to the hospital or clinic (62.2%) was the most common source of healthcare sought. This was followed by visits to the chemist (33.0%), traditional healers (4.3%). A little more than one-third (34.5%) of respondents considered good service delivery as the most important factor affecting HSB. This was followed by proximity (23.9%), affordability (20.4%), prompt attention (8.8%) and readily-available drugs (7.1%). Completing only basic education [O.R: 0.24 (0.06, 0.96)] and out of pocket payment [O.R: 0.04 (9.16, 82.45)] were associated with a reduction in the likelihood of seeking healthcare from formal sources.Conclusion: Appropriate health-seeking behaviour was found to be high among civil servants. However, lower cadre workers and those with lower levels of education need to be targeted during policy formulation to improve healthseeking behaviour. In addition, health insurance schemes should be extended to cover more of the population in order to improve health-seeking behaviour.Keywords: Health seeking behaviour, Civil servants, Healthcare provider, Service-based characteristic

Prediction and probabilistic analysis of accidents in elevator installation -Nigerian Experience

Elevator sector is one of the safety methods of travel, and sadly hundreds of people suffer extreme injury or death due to elevator accident. Most elevator accidents occur during installation of the elevator itself. This paper takes a closer look at elevators industry in Nigeria focusing on the occurence of installation of elevators accident in 2009 and come up with the statistical distribution of each of the risk involved in the stages of installation of elevator. The methodology involves statistical modelling of the occurrence of installation accident. A Poisson sequence or Poisson process is used to develop a model that will predict the probability of accident in installation of elevator.This research concludes that the point statistic estimator for the probability distribution for installation elevators accident for the year 2009 is 0.88. Keywords: elevators, installation, risk, shaft, probability.

Predictors of willingness to task shift among family planning providers in a south-western Nigerian State

Background: Task shifting, the balanced reallocation of tasks usually from a higher cadre to a lower cadre among the health  workforce team, has been proposed as a possible solution to the serious shortage of human resource in the health sector is being experienced in many developing countries. This study aimed to assess the views and experiences of nurses on task shifting in family planning services in Ibadan, Southwest Nigeria. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study of 400 nurses with at least a year experience in providing family planning services at purposively selected tetiary, secondary and primary facilities in Ibadan was carried out using an intervieweradministered  questionnaire. Chi-square test was used to determine association between categorical variables at 5% level of significance. Results: Mean age of the respondents was 41.1±8.7 years and 62% of the respondents were registered nurses/registered midwives.  Although majority (91.5%) of the respondents were aware of the concept of task shifting, only 52.2% were willing to task shift family planning services to lower cadre staff and only 38.5% have actually task shifted family planning services to lower cadre staff. Age, educational status and awareness about task shifting were predictors of willingness to task shift family planning services. Conclusion: Older registered nurses or registered midwives who were aware of the concept of task shifting were more willing to task  shift family planning services. Also, a combination of both awareness and willingness to task shift among married women enhances  the practice of task shifting of family planning services. Keywords: Task shifting, Task sharing, Policy implementation, Family plannin

Assessment of Risk in Maintenance and Repairs of Elevators in Nigeria

Elevators are potential sources of serious injuries and deaths to the general public and to workers installing, repairing, and maintaining them. State and local authorities recognize such hazards and require periodic inspections of elevators and escalators. Organizations such as the Nigeria Society of Mechanical Engineers (NSME) have set standards for the construction and maintenance of elevators and escalators and for their safe operation. This paper examines the the elevators installation industry and come up with statistical frequency of accident which tends to reduce the energy efficiency among workers.The methodology involves data analysis of elevator’s accident in Nigeria focusing on the activity of the elevators repairer’s and installer’s and use these data to develop a template that will potray the risk prevalence on every activity of elevators installation process. The  result shows that various death were recorded  at every stages of elevators installation. The results were demostrated at every periodic occurence as illustrated in the yearly interval of prediction. Keywords: accident, death, elevators, harzards,injury, risk, workers.

Genetic diversity studies of bacteria isolated from Clarias gariepinus along Yewa river in Nigeria using Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) techniques and their antibiotic resistance profile

Pathogenic bacteria are responsible for heavy mortality in both wild and cultured fish. Molecular characterization was carried out using Random Amplified Polymorphic DNAPolymerase Chain Reaction technique (RAPD-PCR), sensitivity to antibiotics of bacteria in Clarias gariepinus post juveniles sampled. Bacteria were isolated from the gut, gills and skin of the fish. Identification was done using the conventional culture-based method. Thirty bacteria isolates were selected and the DNAs were extracted using CTAB method, PCR amplification of the isolates was carried out using RAPD primer and five primers were used. Data collected were subjected to descriptive (mean and standard deviation) statistics. There were 63 polymorphic and 14 monomorphic markers generated from the five RAPD markers. The primers generated 77 alleles altogether. Out of the 10 antibiotics used, Cephalexin recorded the highest inhibition zone (33 mm) on one sample, Gentamicin on second sample had (30 mm). The least inhibition zone was recorded in Cotrimoxazole on the second sample with (8 mm), 70.5 % bacteria strains were susceptible to Gentamicin while two samples displayed 100 % resistance to all the antibiotics. This study concluded that there are pathogenic and opportunistic bacteria species in C. gariepinus which could be zoonotic.Keywords: bacteria isolates, genetic diversity, RAPD-PCR, DNA extraction, sensitivity, Clarias gariepinus Polymorphism, Antiboiti

CALCIUM NUTRITURE OF NIGERIAN ELDERLY IN IBADAN SOUTH EAST LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Calcium is an important mineral in human health, adequate intake is associated with higher bone mineral density, reduced risks of osteoporosis, fractures and falls among the elderly. This study assessed the adequacy of calcium intake and relationship with incidences of bone aches and fractures. 150 elderly people from 100 households selected by cluster sampling technique in Ibadan South East Local Government constituted the study population. Dietary assessment was conducted using 24-hour dietary recall and analysed for calcium intake. Consumption pattern was assessed using food frequency questionnaire, blood pressure was taken using aneroid sphygmomanometer, lifestyles and sociodemographic characteristics were obtained using a semi-structured questionnaire. The mean calcium intake was 1569.8±1209.8mg disaggregated as 1782.4±1353.4mg in males and 1432.0±1092.6mg in females. 39.3% disaggregated as 44.1% in males and 36.3% in females, met the recommended intakes of 1500mg/day. Roots and tubers were the most consumed food, followed by vegetables and then cereals and grains. Milk and dairy as well as fish and meat products were the least consumed foods. 47.3% rarely consumed milk and dairy products and 42.7% rarely consumed fish and meat products throughout the week. 56.7% had normal diastolic blood pressure and 64.7% had normal systolic pressure. 65.3% reported having pains and bone aches, sites of pain were back (44.7%), knee and ankle (9.3%), hip joint (6.7%), and wrist (4.7%). There were no significant differences (p>0.05) in the calcium intake by age, systolic blood pressure and incidence of bone pains and aches. However, income and the diastolic blood pressure showed significant relationship (p>0.05) with calcium intake. The results show that many elderly Nigerians have inadequate calcium intake, however, calcium intake does not affect incidence of pains and aches. There is a need to promote increased consumption of calcium rich foods

Effects of spices on the chemical properties of hot-smoked catfish (Clarias gariepinus)

Effect of spices on the chemical properties of hot-smoked catfish (C.gariepinus) was examined. The experimental design was complete randomized design (CRD) with the treatments been the variously spiced hot-smoked catfish (garlic, ginger, garlic-ginger homogenate spiced and the control without spices). Proximate and mineral content analyses were carried out using standard experimental procedures. There exist significant differences (p<0.05) in the percentage moisture and crude protein content with smoked catfish without spices having the highest moisture content with mean value 6.18 ~c 0.13 and 79.44 ~c 0.13 respectively which could be as a result of the increase in the fibre content of the spiced fish products which is a function of fibre content of the spices applied to the fish products. Similar trend was also observed for the lipid and ash contents the fish products. There exist significant differences (p<0.05) in the mineral content preseent in the various fish products with the exception of magnesium. The products are rich in calcium and other minerals with garlic-ginger homogenate spiced product having the highest level of calcium (0.980 ~c 0.02)

Application of Shallow Seismic Refraction Method and Geotechnical Parameters in Site Characterization of a Reclaimed Land

The recent incessant cases of building collapse have made it necessary for building site to be characterized before they are developed especially when the land is reclaimed from water bodies. On the basis of the above, both geophysical and geotechnical methods are engaged to determine the subsurface structure of a land for construction purposes. In this research effort, near surface seismic refraction method together with relevant geotechnical methods were used to characterize the subsurface condition of the study site. Nine seismic refraction profiles were surveyed with some of the profiles laid parallel and some others overlain one another. The result of this study revealed three geologic layers in the site with varying geotechnical parameters. The Young’s modulus, bulk modulus and shear modulus all have values that ranges from 0.071-25.685, 0.083-30.042 and 0.0286-10.395 GPa respectively in the site. From these results, it can be concluded the third layer having the highest value of geotechnical parameters is the most competent and this layer is between 7.5 m and 18 m into the subsurface. The information obtained from other geotechnical methods in the site confirmed the results of this study. Thus, near surface seismic refraction method is recommended for a non-invasive, non-cumbersome and reliable site characterizatio

Application of Geophysical and Geotechnical Methods to Determine the Geotechnical Characteristics of a Reclaimed Land

Near-surface seismic refraction method and electrical resistivity methods were used to characterise the subsurface of a site reclaimed from water bodies, in order to determine the depth to the most competent layer for construction purposes. Nine seismic refraction profiles were surveyed and the data was interpreted using SeisImager software package. Also, twelve vertical electrical soundings were carried out and the acquired data was interpreted using WinResist computer package. The seismic refraction method delineated three layers while the electrical resistivity method revealed between four and five geoelectric layers. The result of the seismic refraction method showed that the third layer is the most competent layer having the highest elastic moduli. Furthermore, the resistivity method revealed that the third geoelectric layer is the most competent having resistivity ranging between 23.3 and 1107.2m . It was also discovered that the depth to the most competent layer is between 7 m and 18 m in the subsurface. It was concluded that piling will be the most appropriate foundation for any building in the study area

GEOPHYSICAL AND GEOTECHNICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF A RECLAIMED LAND FOR CONSTRUCTION PURPOSES IN LAGOS NIGERIA(A CASE STUDY)

Near-surface seismic refraction and electrical resistivity methods were used to characterise the subsurface condition of a site reclaimed from water bodies in order to determine its competence for construction purposes. Nine seismic refraction profiles were acquired and the results were interpreted using SeisIma ger software. Also, twelve vertical electrical soundings were conducted and the acquired data were interpreted using WinResist computer package. Four-five geoelectric layers were delineated and the resistivity values obtained ranges between 23.3 and 1705.1 m . The result of the resistivity method showed that the third layer is the most competent layer in the study area. The depth of this layer is between 7.5 m and 51 m in the subsurface. In a related development, three layers were delineated by the seismic refraction method and the third layer which is between 7 m and 18 m, may be the most competent because it had the highest engineering parameters. The Young modulus of the competent layer at this site ranges between 1.558 and 25.106 GPa and bulk modulus ranges from 0.999 to 16.093 GPa , it was also noted that the shear modulus ranges between 0.638 and 10.123 GPa . There is an agreement in the results of the two methods of investigation. Therefore, it was recommended that some form of arrangement must be made to transfer the load from the civil engineering construction to the most competent layer underneath so as to avoid building failure