Life Span Management

One of the challenges plaguing the health of people is the effect of chronic diseases. Life expectancy of people has continued to be at stake due to the emergence of chronic diseases. The centers for public health in various countries have raised concern that there is a need for urgent intervention to address this challenge. Self-management is the key to a healthy life and healthy aging. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), lifespan management could play an important role in preventative measures of hereditary diseases, reduce mortality rates, and act as motivating factors to human beings in general. Life span is the duration of existence of an individual or the amount of time that a person or animal lives according to Cambridge dictionary and this could be improved. There are various measures that have been scientifically proven to improve lifespan management such as calorie reduction, good nutrition, regular exercise, weight reduction, and healthy relationship. In conclusion, healthcare givers, doctors, and nurses should be able to learn that treatment is not the only medical process that can heal a patient. Lifespan management is an all-round process aimed at improving the health of a patient and if possible, a total restoration

Small area estimation of county-level forest attributes using forest inventory data and remotely sensed auxiliary information

The Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) program of the United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service collects forest inventory data that provide estimates with reasonable accuracy at the national scale. However, for smaller domains, these estimates are often not as accurate due to the small sample size. Small area estimation improves the accuracy of the estimates at smaller domains by relying on auxiliary information. This study compared direct (FIA estimates), indirect (multiple linear regression), and composite estimators (Fay-Herriot) using auxiliary information derived from Landsat and Global Ecosystem Dynamics Investigation (GEDI) to obtain county-level estimates of forest attributes namely total and merchantable volume (m3 ha-1), aboveground biomass (Mg ha-1), basal area (m2 ha-1), and Lorey’s mean height (m). Compared with FIA estimates, the composite estimator reduced error by 75-78% for all the variables of interest. This shows that a reasonable amount of precision can be achieved with auxiliary information from Landsat and GEDI, improving FIA estimates at the county level

Pregnancy outcome in unbooked mothers at a tertiary health institution, South-South, Nigeria

Background: Maternal complications and poor perinatal outcome are highly associated with non-utilisation of antenatal and delivery care services. The study aimed at determining the socio-demographical characteristics and feto-maternal outcome in unbooked mothers who delivered at a tertiary referral hospital.Materials and Methods: A retrospective study of all unbooked patients managed at the Obstetric unit of the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH), Nigeria from January 1, 2009 to December 31, 2013. Data obtained from the theatre records, delivery registers and case notes were analysed using the statistical package SPSS 20.Results: Unbooked mothers constituted 15.8% (2,490) of the deliveries. Majority (81.7%) of the women were aged 20-34 years with a mean age of 30.8 ± 4.5 years. More than half of the women were Para 1-4 (61.3%). Emergency caesarean section was the mode of delivery in 58.7% of the women. The commonest indication for caesarean section was cephalopelvic disproportion (40%) followed by Obstructed labour (26%). There were 149 maternal deaths, giving maternal mortality ratio of 4654.8/100,000. The perinatal mortality rate was 331.7/1000 births.Conclusion: The study showed a positive correlation between lack of proper antenatal care and adverse pregnancy outcome in unbooked patients. Improvement in the socioeconomic conditions of the populace especially women and the removal of fee for service in maternal care services will help to improve the availability and accessibility of good quality antenatal care.Keywords: Unbooked, Pegnancy, Maternal, Foetal, Outcom

Intrapartum symphysio-fundal height measurement as a predictor of low birth weight in a low resource setting

Background: Low birth weight (LBW) increases the risk of perinatal morbidity and mortality and of the long term neurologic and developmental disorders. Early identification of LBW is necessary to decrease complications and enhance the survival of the newborn. Aim: To determine the usefulness of symphysio-fundal height as a predictor of low birth weight in a low resource setting. Methods: This was a prospective cross-sectional study of consecutive 214 parturients who presented in early labour to the Central Hospital Warri (CHW) from November 1, 2013 to February 28, 2014. Their demographic characteristics were obtained using a structured proforma. Three measurements of the symphysio-fundal height (SFH) were taken using a non-elastic tape and the mean of the three readings were calculated to the nearest centimeter. The data obtained were analyzed using statistical package SPSS version-21. Results: Two hundred and fourteen parturients delivered during the period. The mean age and parity were 29.45±4.75years and 1.59±1.56 respectively. Twenty of the parturients (9.3%) delivered before 37weeks, 165 (77.1%) delivered at 37-40weeks while the remaining 29 parturients (13.5%) delivered at 41weeks gestation and beyond. The mean birth weight was 3184+502g. SFH measurement of 29-35 cm had a low sensitivity (3.7-37%) but a high specificity, positive and negative predictive values for low birth weight. There was a high sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values for both normal and macrosomic babies. Conclusion: Symphysio-fundal height measurement is a simple, cheap and effective screening test to predict newborn with low birth weight.Key words: Intrapartum, symphysio-fundal height (SFH), low birth weight, safe delivery, maternal and childhood morbidity and mortality, obstetric car

Undergraduates’ Preference between Web Search engines and Reference Sources for Research Activities in Two Universities in South West Nigeria

The development of web search engines has provided an alternative for undergraduates to access the needed information for their research activities without utilising library resources, especially reference sources. This avenue created by web search engines is viewed by some as detrimental, as undergraduates now display apathy towards the use of reference sources, even though web search engines have their own limitations. Based on this, the main objective of this study was therefore to examine undergraduates’ preference between web search engines and reference sources for research activities. Descriptive survey design was adopted for the study and the study population consisted of all 12,173 regular undergraduates in University of Ibadan (UI) and 2,388 in Redeemer’s University Ede Osun State, Nigeria (RUN). Multistage random sampling technique was used to select the sample size of 386 and the questionnaire was research instrument. Findings showed that most of the undergraduates in UI 195 (97.0%) and RUN 130 (92.9%) indicated that Google was their most used search engine. While, 179 (89.1%) and 124 (81.4%) of undergraduates in UI and RUN pointed out that dictionaries were the most used reference sources. Results also showed that majority of undergraduates in UI 161 (83.1%) and 111 (79.3%) in RUN indicated their preference for web search engines for research activities as against reference sources. Despite the undergraduates’ preference, the reference sources still have the potential of providing answers to any type of users’ queries. It was therefore recommended that the reference librarians should provide the needed user education on the various types of information contained in the reference sources during library orientation program. The management of the university libraries should also ensure the availability and accessibility of current and adequate reference sources

Evaluation of Records Management Practices at the Ministry of Health, Abia State, Nigeria

Records in any organization is very vital and an important asset. This article evaluates records management practices at the Abia State Ministry of Health. This study reports on part of a doctoral research project by Chilaka (2018) that sought to look at the influence of records management practices and organizational culture on good governance in Abia State Civil Service, Nigeria. The aim of the study was to evaluate records management practices at the Ministry of Health and suggest ways in which these practices can be improved upon. The objectives of this study were: to establish the existing records management practices at the Ministry of Health; to examine whether records management practices conform to national legislations, policies and guidelines; to examine whether records management practices at the Ministry of Health conform to international best practices; to establish challenges facing the Ministry of Health in the management of their records and suggest how records management practices can be improved upon by use of best practices.. This study used the survey method approach. Data was collected through questionnaire. The population for this study was 526 civil servants in the senior category (levels 7 – 16); however only 105 (20%) was used as the sample size for the study. 85 (81%) out of 105 were able to participate in the study. Data collected through a questionnaire was analysed to obtain some descriptive statistics. The study findings established that records management at the Ministry of Health were not well entrenched. This was evidenced by lack of framework for effective and efficient records management, lack of institutional policies, guidelines and regulations for records management, and lack of adequate basic records management skills among staff. In order to enhance records management, the study recommended that a regulatory framework for records management should be developed and implemented, the Ministry of Health should formulate institutional policies, guidelines and regulations for records management. It is also recommended that management together with the Records Manager should identify training needs for staff of the Ministry especially those in Administrative and finance departments and have their trainings tailored those areas

Effect of feeding Colocasia (Colocasia esculenta (L) Schottl corn flour as a part of energy supplement on growth and nutrient utilization in Clarias gariepinus (Burchell, 1822) fingerlings

The objective of this study was to compare the nutritive value of boiled Colocasia esculenta flour (CECF) with that of yellow maize in practical rations of fingerlings. Boiling resulted in a slight increase in crude protein content and significant (84.5%) decrease in oxalate content. Five is oproteic (30% crude protein) and isocaloric (15.46 Kjg-1) diets were formulated. The control diet contained maize as the principal dietary energy source, while flour produced from boiled Colocasia corn progressively replaced maize at 5 inclusion levels (0%, 20%, 40% 60% and 80%). The experimental diets were fed to triplicate group of Clarias gariepinus fingerlings (mean weight 2.05~c0.5g) at 3% body weight day-1. Growth performance expressed as weight gain, specific grown rate (SGR) and nutrient utilization expressed as feed conversation ration (FCR), protein efficiency ration (PER) were assessed. There was a trend of decrease in weight gain with increase in inclusion level of CECF. Weight gains of groups of C. gariepinus fed up to 60% inclusion level of CECF were nog significantly (p>0.05) different from the group fed the control diet, the same trend was observed for SGR. FCR and other parameters were poorer (p<0.05) in digestibility coefficients among the different groups, also that carcass composition did not vary significantly (p<0.5) among treatments. Results also indicate that CECF is an acceptable ingredient that can replace maize up to 20% inclusion in C. gariepinus rations

Socio-demographic and clinico-pathological analysis of cervical cancer patients at a tertiary care centre in South-south Nigeria

Background: Cervical cancer is a significant public health burden in low- and middle-income countries where access to screening and treatment is limited. It is the leading cause of cancer deaths in women in Africa, often due to late presentation and diagnosis. Aim of this study was to determine the socio-demographic and clinical profile of cervical cancer patients and their relationship with tumour related factors. Methods: This was a retrospective review of all cases of histologically confirmed cervical cancer patients managed at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Port Harcourt, over a 5-year period. A data collection form was used to obtain socio-demographic characteristics and clinical profile from the patients’ case records. Results: The mean age of the women was 53.3±8 years, with the highest prevalence in the 55-64 age group 26 (33.3%). Majority 59 (74.4%) of the women were multiparous, and 50 (64.1%) were married. Most 32 (41%) had primary education and about one-third 24 (30.8%) were farmers. The most common clinical features were vaginal bleeding, foul-smelling vaginal discharge, pelvic pain, and weight loss 46 (59%), while squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) was the predominant histological type 56 (71.8%). Only 9 (11.5%) had any form of screening for early detection of cervical cancer. Most 31 (39%) of the patients presented with stage III disease, with a median hemoglobin level of 6.8 (2.3) g/dl before treatment. About two-third 54 (69%) of them had severe anaemia. There was significant association between marital status and histological type (X2 = 42.096, p-value = 0.001).  Use of oral contraceptive pills (X2 = 7.602, p-value =0.04) and menopausal state (X2 = 6828, p-value =0.05), were significantly associated with cancer stage. Conclusions: There is an urgent need to scale up advocacy for regular screening for cervical cancer and vaccination, to ensure increased awareness, early detection, and prevent the progression of early disease.

Culturable fish seeds in Nigerian waters: A research survey (1978-1985)

The desired species identified in this survey include mullets, catfishes, fast growing fish predators, species for control of weeds and grass it, ponds, cichlids and shrimps. Five coastal states: Lagos, Ondo, Bendel, Rivers, and Cross River were covered in the studies. Investigations were also carried into the major rivers and their tributaries. A combination of the estimation methods of Le Cren, (1962) and Pitcher and Mac Donald (1973) was employed in the analysis of data. From the detailed data collected from (1978-1985), the survey indicated that about 100 million fish seeds can be collected annually from Nigerian waters using appropriate gear-seine nets, cast nets, and fish traps. Of this number, 60% is available along the coastal belt of the country while 40% is in the major rivers, their tributaries and swamps. At the present level of fish culture development in Nigeria, this is more than enough, even after allowing for 50% mortality due to handling and transportation stres