The Performance of the Kernel Regression Model for Assessing the Impact of Money Supply on Industrial Growth in Nigeria

This study examined the performance of the kernel model over the linear regression model for a real-life application in Nigeria. The linear regression and kernel regression model was used to assess the impact of the volume of money supply in Nigeria on industrial growth in Nigeria. The source of data for this study was the secondary source of data collection. Findings showed that there exist a weak positive coefficient of determination measure between volume of money supply and industrial growth which implies that the volume of money weakly explains the total amount of variation in industrial growth using the linear regression model while the kernel model found a strong positive coefficient of determination value which implies that the kernel model was adequate and far better than the linear model for estimating industrial growth in Nigeria. Also, it was found that volume of the money supply does not impact significantly on industrial growth in Nigeria using the linear model while it was found that volume of money impacts significantly on industrial growth using the kernel model. Further findings showed that the residual standard error value for the smoothed model is relatively more efficient than that of the linear model which was attributed to the performance of the kernel regression model

A Quantitative Survey on the knowledge and use of Contraceptive among women in Delta State, Nigeria

This study examines the knowledge and use of contraceptive amongst women in Oghara, Delta, State, Nigeria. The objectives of the study include: to determine the demographic variables that impact on the knowledge and usage of Contraceptive among women, to identify the medium adopted to acquire knowledge of Contraceptive among women,and to ascertain the Contraceptive method used by women. The source of data for the study was the primary source of data collection with the aid of a questionnaire administered to the target population. The statistical tools used in this study were the Logistic regression analysis and Descriptive Statistics. The findings of the study for the descriptive analysis of the demographic responses showed that majority of the respondents were aged 30-34 while the majority of the respondents were married, the majority of the respondents had secondary education. It was found that the overall misclassification rate of knowledge of contraceptive among the respondents was 38.2% while the overall misclassification on use of contraceptive was 17.3% which implies that the response from the respondents on knowledge and use of contraceptive were reliable. Also, findings showed that demographic variables such as Age of respondents and response on the desired number of children contributed significantly to the status of knowledge of contraceptive amongst women. Further findings revealed that demographic variables such as Marital Status of respondents, Religion, and the highest level of education contributed significantly to the status of use of contraceptives amongst women

Complementary roles of hysterosalpingography and transabdominal ultrasonography in the assessment of the uterus among women with infertility in a developing nation

Background: The uterus plays a vital role in female infertility. In our environment, it is commonly separately examined with either transabdominal ultrasonography (TAUS) or hysterosalpingography (HSG) which are cheap and readily available. A concurrent use of the two procedures might have a complementary effect with a good outcome especially in a developing economy where three dimensional (3-D) ultrasound, sonohysterography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) which are more sensitive are neither readily available nor affordable.Objectives: To document the uterine, tubal and adnexal lesions diagnosed using each of the two procedures and to check if the procedures can complement each other in a poor resource economy.Methodology: This is a six month, paired group and analytical observational study of 200 women with infertility. HSG was booked in keeping with the ten-day rule and TAUS was performed on the same day before HSG. Statistical Package for Social Sciences, version 21 was used for the analysis. Ρ ≤ 0.05 was considered statistically significant.Results: With TAUS evaluation, 158(79%) of the subjects appeared normal. Fibroids were detected in 39(19.5%) subjects, and in 37(94.9%) of this subset, they were localized. Intrauterine adhesions were seen in 0(0%), endometrial polyp in 1(0.5%), and endometrial hyperplasia in 2(1%). With HSG, 149(74.5%) appeared normal. Fibroids were detected in 27(13.5%) and in 19(70.4%) of this subset, they were localized. Intrauterine adhesions were seen in 23(11.5%), endometrial polyp in 1(0.5%) and endometrial hyperplasia in 0(0%). With HSG, tubal occlusion was seen in 63(31.5%), peritubal adhesions in 34(17%), hydrosalpinges in 5(2.5%) and loculated spill in 7(3.5%). None of these were seen with TAUS. With TAUS adnexal masses were in 12(6%) and with HSG they were demonstrated in 2(1%). There was significant difference between TAUS and HSG findings with regard to detection of fibroids, localization of fibroids, detection of tubal lesions and detection of adnexal lesions.Conclusion: The two modalities played important complementary roles since TAUS was able to detect more lesions on the wall of the uterus and in the adnexae, while HSG was able to detect more intracavitory and tubal lesions. The combined study is recommended especially in a poor resource economy where other more sensitive modalities are neither available nor affordable

Indiscriminate slaughter of pregnant goats for meat in Enugu, Nigeria: Causes, prevalence, implications and ways-out.

BackgroundThe indiscriminate slaughter of pregnant goats (SPGs) undermines meat production and food security especially in developing countries. It also connotes animal cruelty, depletion of goat population and may enhance the spread of zoonotic pathogens inhabiting the female reproductive tract during carcass processing. Consequently, this study determined the causes and prevalence of slaughtering pregnant goats for meat in Enugu, Nigeria. The study also estimated the economic losses associated with SPGs, discussed the negative public health consequences and suggested the ways-out.MethodsStructured, validated and pilot-tested questionnaire was used to ascertain the reasons for SPGs for meat among 78 willing and randomly selected respondents. The questionnaire survey was conducted in the form of interview. Pregnancy statuses of the goats slaughtered were ascertained by visual inspection and palpation of the eviscerated and longitudinally incised uteri and the horns for macroscopic evidence of pregnancy. Ages of the dams were estimated by dentition method. Estimation of the gestational age was performed by crown-rump length method. The study lasted for six months, comprised of three months (December to March) during the dry/hot season and another three months (May to August) during the wet/rainy season. Economic loss estimation was based on the current monetary values of a matured (30 kilogram) goat and one kilogram of chevon in Enugu, Nigeria; which was determined through market survey. Pearson's Chi-square test was used to determine whether there were significant (PResultsMajor reasons adduced for SPGs were: economic hardship (41%), ignorance of the goat's pregnancy status (21%), increased demand for chevon (13%) and feed scarcity during drought (11%). Of the 1,658 does examined during the six months study, 589 (35.5%) were pregnant. The majority (876/1658, 52.8%) of the female goats slaughtered were in their active reproductive age of ≤ 4 years, while 782 (47.2%) were aged > 4 years. Similarly, majority (1007/1658, 60.7%) of the does/nannies were slaughtered during the dry/hot season. A total of 907 foetuses at first (n = 332, 36.6%), second (n = 486, 53.6%) and third (n = 89, 9.8%) trimesters of gestation were recovered from the 589 PGs. Singleton, twin and triplet pregnancies were observed in 312 (53%), 236 (40%) and 41 (7%) PGs, respectively. About ₦34.44 million ($83,390) would have been earned if the foetuses were born alive and raised to maturity. Additionally, 19,136 kg of chevon, valued at ₦47,841, 000 ($115,838), which would have accrued from the wasted foetuses was also lost.ConclusionConsidering the economic, zoonotic and livestock production implications of this work, frantic efforts to reduce SPGs in Enugu, Nigeria is imperative. This could be achieved through advocacy, goat farmers' enlightenment, ante-mortem pregnancy diagnosis, provision of subsidized feed materials during the dry season and strict enforcement of the Nigerian Meat Edict law, which proscribes unapproved slaughter of gravid animals. These measures may improve food safety and security, improve goat reproduction and production, reduce protein malnutrition, limit dissemination of zoonotic pathogens during carcass processing and hence protect public health in Nigeria

Reasons advanced for sale or slaughter of pregnant goats for meat in Enugu, Nigeria.

Reasons advanced for sale or slaughter of pregnant goats for meat in Enugu, Nigeria.</p

Gestational age distributions of pregnant goats slaughtered and the corresponding number of foetuses recovered at Akwata and Artisan slaughterhouses in Enugu, Nigeria.

Gestational age distributions of pregnant goats slaughtered and the corresponding number of foetuses recovered at Akwata and Artisan slaughterhouses in Enugu, Nigeria.</p

Major methods of disposal of caprine foetuses or gravid uterine content among slaughterhouse workers (n = 78) in Enugu, Nigeria.

Major methods of disposal of caprine foetuses or gravid uterine content among slaughterhouse workers (n = 78) in Enugu, Nigeria.</p