Knowledge, risk level and prevalence of Hepatitis B and C among Commercial Mini-bus Drivers in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria

Antecedentes: Las hepatitis B y C son infecciones hepáticas potencialmente mortales y un importante desafío para la salud pública que afecta a 350 millones de personas con aproximadamente 1,4 millones de muertes anuales. Objetivo: Determinar el conocimiento e investigar la prevalencia de HBV y HCV entre conductores de minibuses comerciales en Ado-Ekiti, estado de Ekiti, Nigeria. Metodología: Diseño descriptivo transversal con estrategia cuantitativa. Se utilizó la técnica de muestreo de etapas múltiples para reclutar a 110 encuestados. Se utilizó un cuestionario adaptado de dos estudios previos para las características sociodemográficas de los participantes, el nivel de conocimiento de la hepatitis B y C, los factores de riesgo y la indecisión ante la vacunación, mientras que las investigaciones de laboratorio se utilizaron para la prevalencia del VHB y el VHC. Para el análisis de los datos se utilizó estadística descriptiva e inferencial. Resultados: Los hallazgos revelaron que un tercio (32,7%) de los encuestados tenían entre 39 y 48 años. La mayoría (73,6%) estaba casada y el 39,1% tenía al menos dos parejas sexuales. La mayoría (80%) ha oído hablar del VHB, mientras que el 75% nunca ha oído hablar del VHC, el 43,6 % y el 59,1% tienen un bajo nivel de conocimiento de la hepatitis B y C. La prevalencia del VHB y anti-VHC entre los encuestados fue del 7,3% y el 1%, respectivamente. Los principales factores de riesgo identificados fueron los tatuajes, las múltiples parejas sexuales y las relaciones sexuales sin protección. Hubo una relación significativa entre el conocimiento de los encuestados sobre la hepatitis B y la edad (X2 = 21,39, p = 0,006) y el número de parejas sexuales (X2 = 21,25, p = 0,002), mientras que solo el nivel educativo (X2 = 13,58, p = 0,035) se asoció significativamente con el nivel de conocimiento de la hepatitis C. Conclusión: Por lo tanto, las enfermeras, otros profesionales de la salud y todas las demás partes interesadas deben realizar esfuerzos decididos sobre los programas de prevención y sensibilización para el VHB y el VHCBackground: Hepatitis B and C are potentially life-threatening liver infections and major public health challenge affecting 350 million people with approximately annual deaths of 1.4 million. Objective: Determine the knowledge and investigate the prevalence of HBV and HCV among commercial mini-bus drivers in Ado- Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria. Methodology: Descriptive, cross-sectional design using quantitative strategy. Multistage sampling technique was used to recruit 110 respondents. An adapted questionnaire from two previous studies was used for participants’ sociodemographic characteristics, knowledge level of Hepatitis B and C, risk factors and vaccination hesitancy while laboratory investigations were used for HBV and HCV prevalence. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used for data analysis. Results: Findings revealed that one-third (32.7%) of the respondents were between 39-48 years. Majority (73.6%) were married with 39.1% having at least two sexual partners. Majority (80%) have heard of HBV while 75% have never heard of HCV, 43.6% and 59.1% have poor knowledge level of hepatitis B and C. The prevalence of HBV and anti-HCV among the respondents were 7.3% and 1% respectively. Major risk factors identified were tattooing, multiple sexual partners, and unprotected sex. There was a significant relationship between respondents’ knowledge of hepatitis B and age (X2 =21.39, p=0.006) and number of sexual partners (X2=21.25, p= 0.002) while only educational background (X2=13.58, p= 0.035) was significantly associated with the knowledge level of hepatitis C. Conclusion: Hence, purposeful efforts on awareness and prevention programs for HBV and HCV should be made by nurses, other healthcare professionals and all other stakeholders

Management Theory and Its Inter-Activeness with Management Model and Management Practice: An Overview

The Paper is essentially a discourse on Management Theory and Management Practice, and the interconnection between them. The paper argues that management practice is the continuous process of taking actions that enable organizations to achieve its set goals. It views management practice as the practical application of management theory and therefore the effectiveness of management practice largely depends on the validity of the theory applied. The paper presents three models to illustrate the process of the development  of a valid theory; the tripartite interactive relationship between management theory, management practice and the managerial environment; and the interactive relationship between management theory, management practice, management model and the managerial environment. Keywords: Management, Theory, Practice, Explanatory commentary, African context

THE IMPACT OF SOCIO-CULTURAL ENVIRONMENT ON ENTREPRENEURIAL EMERGENCE: A THEORETICAL ANALYSIS OF NIGERIAN SOCIETY

The paper presents an analytical and evaluative study of the impact of socio-cultural environment on entrepreneurial emergence. The paper is based on theoretical survey of the socio-cultural characteristics of Nigerian society and its major sub-societies; and their roles in the emergence of entrepreneurs. The analysis of the relationship of socio-cultural environment and its influence on entrepreneurial emergence is built on a blend of scattered observations and some qualified reasoning about the distribution of business ownership amongst Nigerian ethnic groups, and gender. Primarily, the study reveals that socio-cultural environment significantly impact, both negatively and positively, on entrepreneurial emergence in society. It is revealed that beyond the negative or adverse economic circumstance of individuals, the value system of a people is a great determinant of the desire and capacity of people becoming entrepreneurs. Specifically, in Nigeria the study reveals that the prevalent socio-cultural characteristics, particularly the value system has enormous negative influence on the emergence of entrepreneurs. However, the findings also indicate that it is not all a negative influence but in some ways the Nigerian socio-cultural environment has positively influenced the emergence of Nigerian entrepreneurs. This disproves the general notion that the Nigerian society absolutely does not provide opportunities for entrepreneurial emergence. It is noted that although the Nigerian environment consists more of negative features, these features can be turned around and tapped as motivation for business ownership by potential entrepreneurs. Many Nigerians are entrepreneurs today through this approach. The paper however, recommends that certain traditions and values in Nigerian global and sub-cultural systems which have remained barriers to people particularly women becoming entrepreneurs must be dropped or modified to pave way for the emergence of entrepreneurs among Nigerian men and women. It is also recommended that there is need for a socio-cultural environmental management based on value reengineering and reorientation approach by government through its relevant agencies to help change and redirect the attitude and behaviour of Nigerians positively towards entrepreneurial involvement.  Finally, Nigeria and similar societies should learn from the earlier and newly industrialized societies what socio-cultural characteristics and features make them thick as entrepreneurial societies, and modify their socio-cultural situations along such path. Keywords: Impact, Entrepreneurship, Entrepreneurial emergence, Theoretical analysis, Socio-cultural environment, Value re-engineering and re-orientatio

Studies on the effect of petroleum hydrocarbon on the microbial and physico-chemicals characteristics of soil

The microorganisms capable of degrading crude oil are present in any conceivable environment. This study was aimed at ascertaining the bacteria and fungi that are able to survive in soils contaminatedwith 3 different petroleum hydrocarbon fractions (premium motor spirit ‘PMS’, domestic purpose kerosene ‘DPK’ and automotive gas oil ‘AGO’). Soil surface samples (0.5 cm) were collected randomly from different locations in Ile-Ife in Osun State of Nigeria. Soil samples were contaminated with the hydrocarbon fractions in a ratio of 1:1 and estimated for total bacterial counts (TBC), total fungal counts(TFC), and total hydrocarbon utilizing bacterial counts (HYCUB). The following anions and cations were also determined in the soil samples; Ca2+, Mg2+, K+, Na+, NO3 +, and NO2 +. The results showed that TBC ranged from 2.1 x 103 to 3.6 x 106 cfu/g, while TFC was in the range of 0 to 2.0 x 103 cfu/g and HYCUB was in the range of 4.8 x 101 to 4.5 x 103 cfu/g. Apart from average HYCUB counts that was highest in DKP samples, other counts were highest in the PMS samples. Similar bacteria of diverse species were isolated from the contaminated soil samples, although their months of occurrences and numbersdiffered, Mg2+, K+ and Na+ all increased in all the contaminated soils, at the end of the study. In this study, the HYCUB counts were negatively correlated with Ca2+ (r = -0.667,

Investigation of the Effect of Initial Biomass on Nitrate and Phosphate Removal from Synthetic Wastewater by Selected Bacteria Isolates

Although nitrogen and phosphorus are important nutrients to the existence of living organisms, their presence in excessive amounts in wastewater could have detrimental effects to humans and other living organisms.  The present investigation was aimed at ascertaining the effect of initial biomass concentration on the nutrient removal efficiency of four bacterial species in synthetic wastewater under shaking flasks conditions. Four different initial biomasses [2.91 x 108 cfu/mL, 5.82 x 108 cfu/mL, 8.73 x 108 cfu/mL and 1.16 x 109 cfu/mL (Klebsiella sp.); 6.31 x 108 cfu/mL, 1.26 x 109 cfu/mL, 1.89 x 109 cfu/mL and 2.52 x 109 cfu/mL (Pseudomonas sp.); 1.75 x 108 cfu/mL, 3.49 x 108 cfu/mL, 5.24 x 108 cfu/mL and 6.98 x 108 cfu/mL (Lysinibacillus sp.), and 7.1 x 108 cfu/mL, 1.42 x 109 cfu/mL, 2.13 x 109 cfu/mL and 2.84 x 109 cfu/mL (Staphylococcus sp.)] were used for the study. For nutrient removal studies, the respective initial biomasses of the test isolates were inoculated into flasks containing the wastewater media. Aliquot samples were taken at the beginning of the study and every 24 h for 96 h for the estimation of growth rate, pH, phosphate and nitrate concentrations in the wastewater, using standard methods. The results revealed only slight phosphate decreases in the wastewater after the expiration of incubation. All the test isolates showed significant nitrate removal ability except the Lysinibacillus sp. After 96 h incubation 68.36 to 90.67 %, 91.80 to 95.29 %, 3.20 to 11.48 % and 86.77 to 94.33 % of nitrate was removed in the presence of the Klebsiella sp., Pseudomonas sp., Lysinibacillus sp. and Staphylococcus sp., respectively. The study was able to reveal the phosphate and nitrate removal ability of the isolates at the different initial biomasses used for the investigation. Keywords: Bacteria, wastewater, nutrient removal, phosphate, nitrat

Teenage pregnancy in Nigeria: professional nurses and educators’ perspectives

Background: Teenage pregnancy has been regarded as a negative occurrence in recent times due to its various negative consequences on the overall wellbeing of the teenage mother and her child, the whole family system and the entire community at large. Teenage pregnancy rate is a powerful indicator of the total well-being of a population. Purpose: The aim of the study was to explore professional nurses and secondary school teachers’ own perspectives on teenage pregnancy and to ascertain the current teenage pregnancy prevention programmes within the two selected communities in Kwara and Edo states in Nigeria. Methods: The study was qualitative and contextual with an exploratory strategy. A total of 80 participants, who were professional nurses and secondary school teachers, responded to the semi-structured interview and completed a questionnaire on demographic data. Template analysis style was combined with content analysis for data analysis. Results: Our findings revealed limited teenage pregnancy prevention initiatives in the communities. The majority of the participants expressed that teenage pregnancy is a common occurrence in their communities, but it is not acceptable. More than half of the participants did not accept the usage of contraceptives by teenagers. Conclusions: The study identified a number of factors that may influence the rate of teenage pregnancy in the communities. Therefore, strategies to reduce teenage pregnancy should focus on building social capital for teenagers in communities, making information on contraception more accessible and offering programmes that empower girls in the area of sexuality

Dementia and the Gap in Nutrition: A Review

Dementia is a disease that is common among elderly all over the world and has shown increase trend based on the WHO estimate. Nutritional status of patients with dementia is greatly affected because dementia patients in the late stage have problem with feeding, swallowing, and there is always increase risk of malnutrition. Malnutrition in dementia patient result in compromised immune system, impaired wound-healing, increased risk of hospitalisation and increase rate of death. Feeding difficulties and malnutrition is one of the complications associated with advanced dementia in elderly and it needs urgent attention so as to prevent other problems such as dehydration and infection. Nurses are responsible for bridging the gap in nutrition both in hospital settings and in home care so, adequate understanding and intervention of the problem is required. Nurses should design a way of helping these patients to feed well and also train other health assistants to do so. The objective of the paper is to review different ways of helping dementia patients to bridge the gap in nutrition and how malnutrition can be detected early in dementia patients

Knowledge And Perception of Women Regarding Bilateral Tubal Ligation In Southwest Nigeria

Bilateral tubal ligation (BTL) is a procedure considered as permanent, although sometimes reversible, it is seen as a highly effective method of contraception. In Nigeria only 0.1% of women aged 14 - 44 years use female sterilization as a contraceptive method, the acceptance rate is low. The purpose of the study was to investigate the knowledge and perception of women regarding bilateral tubal ligation (BTL) based on Kolcaba's Theory of Comfort. A qualitative contextual exploratory approach was used. Data collection was by means of audio-taped semi-structured interview and Tesch’s content analysis style was utilised. The sample size for the study was determined by saturation of data and consisted of 18 women admitted in the maternity section of the hospital. The findings showed that all participants in the study were aware of family planning; only one participant used BTL as a method of choice. Awareness of BTL among participants showed that two third were aware of BTL as a method of family planning, one third of the participants stated that BTL is a risky method of family planning, likewise the majority believed it is bad and should not be practiced and almost two thirds of the participants indicated that they will not recommend BTL for women. Family planning is a vital aspect of safe motherhood for women, so nurses in every facet of the health care system should step up to the responsibility of being a health educator and educate women on the benefits of BTL as well as advocate for its availability at a reasonable cost. Family planning is a major issue that must be discussed with women once they are found to be pregnant

Developing African Management Theories: Problems and Solutions

The paper examined the problem of developing indigenous management theories in Africa and the solutions. It employed the narrative analysis approach using the inductive analytic process. The data for the analysis were qualitative data generated from a review of the relevant literature and a survey of opinion of scholars in management studies.  The paper identified two categories of the problem, viz, inherent socio-cultural problems and externally induced problems. It noted that although there is now some awareness about the need for African Indigenous management theories, and some effort has been made over the years by some African scholars to introduce African philosophies into management of organizations in Africa, these efforts have not yielded any visibly concrete result; there is yet to be any formalized African oriented management theory. The paper concluded that for African societies to make progress in industry, they must tailor their management approach according to their own needs and behavioural peculiarities. It recommended that concerted efforts must be made to overcome the challenges bedeviling the development of African indigenous management theories by committing to positive ways of thinking about African philosophies and evaluating them through  research for management theories development; and re-engineering the existing paradigms of African educational systems to include local contents that would lay the foundation for research leading to development of indigenous theories. It emphasizes that theory builders must visit the African traditional cultures and harvest the positive values for the development of African theories of management