Assessment of Nutritional Status of Primary School Pupils Using Anthropometrics in Nsukka Local Government Area of Enugu State

The study assessed nutritional status of primary school pupils using anthropometrics in Nsukka Local Government Area of Enugu State. The study adopted descriptive cross-sectional survey design. The sample size for the study was 860 pupils from the selected public and private primary schools. Three research questions guided the study. A self-designed proforma, and standardized anthropometric devices of calibrated standardized digital weighing scale (OMRON BF400) and wooden statiometer were used as instruments for data collection. The data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics of frequency and percentage. The findings of the study included that the participants (pupils) had moderate nutritional status, however, with substantial cases of underweight, stunting and overweight. The study also revealed that the female pupils had better nutritional status than their male counterparts, and the pupils in private primary schools had better nutritional status than pupils in public primary schools. The study recommended among others that parents and guardians and teachers should be properly educated in nutrition education either in formal and non-formal settings

Disinfection of Ultrasound Transducers Using Non-Sterile Tissue Paper in Some Low-Cost Private Ultrasound Centres in Nigeria – Implications for Nosocomial Infection Management

Background/Aims: The incidence of disease outbreaks in clinical settings arising from ultrasound examinations is well documented, and is a source of worry. The ultrasound transducers and the coupling gel are potential sources of these infections since they come in direct contact with the patient’s skin. In this study, we examine the efficacy of the widespread practice of the use of plain non-sterile tissue paper in some low cost private ultrasound centres in our locality as a method of disinfecting ultrasound transducers after each use. Its potential impact on nosocomial infection management in clinical practice is also examined. Methods: Swab samples from convex ultrasound transducers before and after transabdominal scanning of three consecutive patients were obtained from 10 different ultrasound centres in urban and rural areas of Enugu state. Ultrasound coupling gel samples were equally obtained, and all samples cultured for bacteria growth which was quantified in colony forming units per ml (cfu/ml) and reported in 1000/ml. Paired sampled t-test was used to check for significance in reduction in bacterial load before and after the transducer was cleaned.Results: Nine different bacterial strains were isolated. Staphylococcus aureus and Klebsiella spp had the highest percentage of occurrence in all centres. Significant bacteria growth was recorded in the morning before the examination, and plain tissue paper significantly reduced the bacteria load in the ultrasound transducer.Conclusion: Even though disinfecting ultrasound transducers with non-sterile plain tissue paper alone is statistically effective and has the potential to minimize nosocomial infection, it is however not clinically effective and hence not advised

The Parity Rate of Indoor-Resting Adult Female Anopheles and Culex Mosquitoes and Their Implication in Disease Transmission in Nnamdi Azikiwe University Female Hostels Awka, South Eastern Nigeria

A study on the parity rate of indoor-resting Anopheles and Culex mosquitoes and their implication in disease transmission was carried out in Nnamdi Azikiwe University female hostel between June and July 2016. The mosquitoes were sampled weekly from 24 randomly selected rooms using pyrethrum knock-down collection (P.K.C). A total of 516 mosquitoes comprising of 4 species: Anopheles Gambiae, Anopheles funestus, Culex quinquefasciatus and Culex annulioris, were collected during the study period. The mosquitoes were examined for their abdominal gradings/gonotrophic stages and dissected for parity determination. Culex quinquefasciatus (61.43%) constituted the most abundant species followed by Anopheles Gambiae (30.04%) and Anopheles funestus (7.56%) and the least being Culex annulioris (0.97%). Results showed that majority of the vector species were fed and parous and variations among the parity rates of the 4 species was significant (

Compliance of agrochemical marketers with banned cocoa pesticides in southwest Nigeria

This study investigated the compliance of marketers of agrochemicals with the approved and banned cocoa pesticides in selected cocoa producing states of southwest Nigeria. Primary data was collected through the use of structured questionnaire administered to randomly selected agrochemical marketers. All the marketers (100%) were aware of the recently banned cocoa pesticides, however, majority still have the pesticides in stock. About 70.6% of the marketers in Osun state and 58.8% in Ogun state stated that they did not receive information on the banned pesticides from government agencies but through other channels. More than half of the marketers (52.9% in Ogun, 55% in Kwara and 47.1% in Osun) strongly disagreed that government should place a ban on pesticides. Availability of banned pesticides in their stock, insufficient information from the concerned government agricultural agencies, and fear of short supply of approved pesticides are among the reasons proffered by the marketers for not supporting the ban of pesticides. Relevant government regulatory agencies should conduct a comprehensive inventory of pesticides offered for sale by the marketers of agrochemicals. There should be massive public awareness programme, and wellcoordinated association for all the marketers of agrochemicals. Agrochemical manufacturers should translate instructions and warnings on pesticide labels to local languages understood by the farmers.U ovom radu je istraživana usaglašenost prodavaca agrohemikalija sa odobrenim i zabranjenim pesticidima koji se koriste u državama jugozapadne Nigerije koje prizvode kakao. Primarni podaci su prikupljeni pomoću struktuiranog upitnika koji je podeljen slučajno odabranim prodavcima agrohemikalija. Svi prodavci (100%) su bili upoznati sa nedavno zabranjenim pesticidima za kakao, ali ipak većina njih i dalje ima te pesticide u ponudi. Oko 70,6% prodavaca u državi Osun i 58,8% u državi Ogun je navelo da nisu dobili nikakvu informaciju u vezi sa zabranjenim pesticidima od vladinih agencija, već putem drugih kanala. Više od polovine prodavaca (52,9% u državi Ogun, 55% u državi Kwara i 47,1% u državi Osun) se oštro usprotivila tome da vlada treba da stavi zabranu na pesticide. Dostupnost zabranjenih pesticida u skladištima, nedovoljno informacija od odgovarajućih vladinih agencija za poljoprivredu, kao i strah od nestašice odobrenih pesticida su među razlozima za nepodržavanje zabrane korišćenja pesticida koje su naveli prodavci. Relevantne vladine regulacione agencije treba da sastave svebuhvatan spisak pesticida koje prodaju prodavci agrohemikalijama. Takođe bi trebalo obezbediti i program o javnoj svesti, kao i dobro koordinisano udruženje za sve prodavce agrohemikalija. Proizvođači agrohemikalija bi trebalo da prevedu uputstva i upozorenja na etiketama koje se nalaze na ambalažama pesticida na lokalne jezike koje poljoprivrednici razumeju.http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayJournal?jid=AGShb201

Globalization of Cultural Heritage: Issues, Impacts, and Inevitable Challenges for Nigeria

Culture is the totality of learned, socially transmitted customs, knowledge, material objects and behaviour. It includes the ideas, value, customs and artefacts of a group of people (Schaefer, 2002). Culture is a pattern of human activities and the symbols that give these activities significance. It is what people eat, how they dress, beliefs they hold and activities they engage in. It is the totality of the way of life evolved by a people in their attempts to meet the challenges of living in their environment, which gives order and meaning to their social, political, economic, aesthetic and religious norms and modes of organisation thus distinguishing people from their neighbours. In Federal Republic of Nigeria (1988), culture comprises material, institutional, philosophical and creative aspects. The process of expanding culture has been under way for many centuries, but technologies have increased the speed and have also broadened the distribution of cultural elements beyond communities and nations’ territorial frontiers. However, culture can be transmitted or acquired through information or symbol. Cultural identity is those attributes, behavioural patterns, lifestyles, social structures and norms that distinguish a people from other peoples (Omekwu, 2003). These are passed on laterally or inherited from one generation to another (cultural heritage), or horizontally passed on from one society to another through such agent as globalization. Henslin (2007) sees globalization as “the increased interconnectedness and under dependence of different societies around the world”. He also sees it as the breaking down of national boundaries because of advances in communications, trade and travel. Today the paradigm is shifting with the new opportunities and challenges created by new technologies. The message of this paper is therefore to examine; The emerging issues in the globalization of Nigerian cultural heritage. The impacts of technologies on the globalization of Nigeria cultural heritage. The role of libraries in the documentation, presentation and globalization of cultural heritage And the challenges and suggestions on how these effects may be overcome. Now, what are the: Issues, Impacts, and Emerging challenges

Information needs of lecturers in the Faculty of Business Administration, University of Nigeria, Nigeria

The degree of knowledge acquired by lecturers is important in every progressive teaching and learning in a higher institution. The information needs of 30 lecturers in the faculty of Business Administration, University of Nigeria Enugu Campus were investigated in this study. A structured questionnaire was used in collecting the data. Majority of the lecturers were found to be within lecturer 1 and Senior Lecturer. Areas of their information needs were found in the following order: research support for journal articles; research support for conference/workshop papers; information on current development in their field; help for teaching the students. Others were research support for book production; general knowledge; current affairs and health matters. The lecturers made use of the Internet; their colleagues; mass media and the library in meeting their information needs. They encountered insufficient updated textbooks in library, slow Internet service and insufficient current journal in the library as major problems in getting their information needs met. They suggested upgrading Internet services; provision of current and relevant journals, updated textbooks; provision of a separate section for them in the library, their needs studied and their active participation in selecting materials for the library.Keywords: Information needs; Lecturers; Business Administration; University, Nigeria, libraries, internet, textbook

Use of ServQUAL in the Evaluation of Service Quality of Academic Libraries in Developing Countries

Purpose – This paper assesses the quality of services to users in academic libraries in developing countries using ServQUAL model. The purpose was to expose the service areas where the desires of library users’ are not met, ascertain the causes, and suggest corrective measures. Approach – Both primary and secondary sources were explored for data collection. Questionnaire and the websites were used, and the 3,832 library users sampled from four developing countries was the research population of this article. Data was analyzed and discussed using descriptive statistics, and other illustrations. Findings – The paper revealed that in developing countries: all the service indicators evaluated were negatively marked; There is significant different between the perceptions and expectations of library users; Academic libraries are not satisfying users’ expectations; While tangibility and empathy were the highest and lowest dimensions in developing countries, reliability and tangibility were the order in developed countries; factors such as lack of modern facilities, poor funding, and weak e-leadership quality were negatively affecting the quality of library services. Greater efforts should be channeled toward closing the gaps between the perceptions and the expectations of library users. Practical Implications –This result could be used in comparing the service quality of academic libraries in developed and developing countries. Originality –This paper is the first attempt to use ServQUAL model in the comparison of service quality of academic libraries in developed and developing countries. Keywords – Academic libraries, Service Quality, ServQUAL in developing countries, ServQUAL in academic libraries. Article Type – Empirical Stud

Knowledge of the importance of exclusive breastfeeding among lactating young mothers in Enugu Urban, Nigeria

This study focused on knowledge of the benefits of exclusive breastfeeding among young lactating mothers in Enugu urban, Nigeria. Four hospitals the young mothers used for their antenatal/ postnatal care were used for the study. They were Poly General Hosiptal, Asata, Enugu, New Haven Health Centre, Enugu, Balm of Gilead Hosiptal Achara Lay-out, Enugu and the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Enugu. The population of the study was made up of all the lactating young mothers who visited the hospitals with their infants for service. However, for data collection purpose, 80 copies of the questionnaire (20 copies to each hospital) were randomly shared among the young mothers in not less than two visits to each of the hospitals by the researchers. Sixty copies (70%) of the questionnaire were properly completed and returned. Data collected were analyzed using percentage, frequencies and mean scores. Mean scores of 2.5 and above represented positive responses to the question items.The study has shown that 53(88.3%) of the respondents had knowledge of exclusive breastfeeding, while 7(11.6%) of them did not have it. Majority of the young mothers were within the ages of 26-35 years old and most of them 42(70%) had tertiary education. Many of them 23(38.3%) were civil servants, followed by traders 19(13.6%). 55(91.3%) of the young mothers got information on the importance of exclusive breastfeeding from their hospitals and during antenatal/post-natal care. 28(46.6%) others got the information from their friends. The importance of exclusive breastfeeding had the following mean scores: Best food for infants 3.7; Baby looks healthy 3.3; Baby receives immunity against disease 3.0; strong bond between mother and child 3.0; it saves money 2.9; delays re-occurrence of menstruation 2.5, and fights against breast cancer 2.5. Uploading exclusive breastfeeding had the following mean scores: mother should feed on balanced diet (3.6); drink water adequately (3.4); and should be available 24 hours (2.7). Problems included maternal poor feeding (3.4); nature of mother’s work (3.4); state of health (3.2) and maternal education (2.6).Keywords: knowledge, Importance, Exclusive breastfeeding, Lactation, Young mother