Statistics Education in Nigeria: A Recent Survey

Statistics Education is a new discipline whose popularity has not been widely appreciated in Nigeria and some developing countries of Africa. There is still a large gap with the advanced levels of statistics education in more developed countries. In this paper, we enumerate the importance of statistics, identify some existing problems in statistics education in Nigeria and make some proposals as to how they may be overcome. Result of our empirical survey on the current awareness of the discipline in Nigeria using one of Nigeria’s foremost Universities as a case study shows that majority of the respondents agreed that Statistics Education should exist as a separate discipline in Nigerian Universities. We elicit that this research will enhance the development of statistics education in Nigeria, and encourage statistics educators and researchers to help address some important issues raised in this study. KeyWords: Statistics Education, Awareness, Survey, Nigeria, Empirical Research

Large Type Fit Indices of Mathematics Adult Learners: A Covariance Structure Model

Fit is the ability of a model to reproduce the data in the variance-covariance matrix form. A good fitting model is one that is reasonably consistent with the data and doesn’t require respecification and also its measurement model is required before estimating paths in a covariance structure model. A baseline model of four constructs together with a combination of none, one, two, three or four additional constructs was constructed with latent variables: educational performance, socio-economic label, self concept and parental authority using dichotomous digits 0 or 1 for each additional construct. We considered 16 progressively nested models starting with baseline model using the mathematics adult learners data from the modeling sample and employing some large fit indexes which are commonly used (NFI, NNFI, CFI, GFI, PGFI, among others) Usluel, et al. (2008) to test the fitness of the model. The measures of model fit based on results from analysis of the covariance structure model are presented Keywords: Fit Indices; Structural Equation Modeling; Bernoulli Digits; Latent Constructs; Educational Performanc

Trend of Childhood TB Notifications in Nigeria

Background: Childhood tuberculosis (CTB) accounted for 10% of the total global tuberculosis (TB) burden in 2017.  During the same year, CTB accounted for only 6% of the total TB cases notified by the National TB control programme (NTP) in Nigeria giving credence to the widely held belief that, over the past few years, clinicians and public health officials in the country may have given more attention to the diagnosis and treatment of TB in adults compared to children, resulting in under reporting of the true burden of the disease.  Thus this study assessed the trend of childhood TB notifications in Nigeria, from 2012 to 2016.Methods: Retrospective record review of childhood TB cases notified by the NTP between January 1, 2012 and December 31, 2016.  Results: A total of 27,793 CTB cases, representing 5.8% of all forms of TB cases, were notified and treated during the study period. This proportion is more or less similar for every year within the period under review.Conclusion: The case notification rate of TB among children has plateaued within the period under review.  Efforts should be made to improve CTB detection, reporting and notification into the NTP Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) system. Keywords: Tuberculosis, World Health Organization, Bauchi, Childhood TB, National TB Control Programme, Caregivers, Quality of Life, Monitoring and Evaluation, Northeastern Nigeria

Factors Associated with Treatment Success among Pulmonary Tuberculosis and HIV Co-infected Patients in Oyo State, South West-Nigeria

Background The co-existence of Tuberculosis (TB) and Human immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is  known to increase morbidity and mortality in patients. The determinants of treatment success in TBHIV co-infection are not yet well studied. Such information can help optimise treatment and reduce morbidity and mortality.Objective To determine factors associated with antitubercular treatment success among TB I HIV coinfected patients.Methods A cross sectional study was carried out in fifty  three DOT clinics and treatment centres  using tuberculosis patient's records from January 2009 to December 2010 in Oyo state, Nigeria. The study population consisted of 7905 tuberculosis patients. Information on variables of interest were obtained with the use of data extraction forms. Chi-square and logistic regression were used to test the relationship between TB I HIV coinfection and socio-demographic variables, clinical characteristics and treatment success.Results Prevalence ofTB I HIV co-infection was found to be 14.2%. Patients with TB-HIV co-infection  were younger and more likely to be females. There were statistically significant association between treatment success and gender, marital status and patient point of care. After adjusting for other variables, it was found that patients receiving treatment in private facilities were independently less likely to be successfully treated compared with those receiving care in Public facilities. Female patients were also independently more likely to have better treatment outcome than male.Conclusion In addition to patients' point of care, gender of the patients can adversely impact on their treatment success. Efforts from the government to strengthening the private public mix, health education and media awareness on adherence to treatment to improve treatment success should be intensified in the country.Keywords: Tube rc ulosis; Human immunodeficiency virus, Directly observe therapy short-course;  Treatment success, Coinfection

Context Aware Electronic Updates for Virtual Learning Environments

This paper proposes a mobile application for retrieving electronic updates from virtual learning environments using dimensions of context. Using automatically generated RSS feeds from a Moodle based virtual learning environment, information can easily be delivered in a concise format through wireless networks directly to the student’s device. The paper reports on a pilot study carried out to provide quantitative feedback of students’ experiences with electronic updates based on time and location. The design and implementation of the application proposes activity as a third dimension of context as a parameter defined by the user to control the dissemination of information. The development is part of an overall investigation into the role of different dimensions of context when disseminating information from a virtual learning environment to mobile devices

Predictors and influencing factors of emotional intelligence among nurses in the North East England, United Kingdom

BACKGROUND: Recognising that high levels of emotional intelligence (EI) are required for involvement in the nursing practice, this study was conducted to assess the traits of emotional intelligence, perception of emotional intelligence and factors associated with emotional intelligence among nursing teams in Northeast England. MATERIALS AND METHODS: For this descriptive cross-sectional study, a concurrent mixed method was employed (qualitative and quantitative method) using a convenience sampling technique. Data were obtained from one hundred and ten (110) staff nurses practicing with the National Health Service via a validated semi-structured questionnaire and in-depth interview. Data collected through questionnaires (online- Google form link) were retrieved via Ms excel spreadsheet and then imported to Statistics Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 25 for analyses. Interviews recorded were transcribed word for word as Nvivo software (version 12) was utilised for thematic analysis and rapid analysis was also adopted to validate the responses. RESULTS: Majority (77%) of the respondents were females, and about half (46%) have work experience between one to five years. The mean emotional intelligence trait score for each domain was self-awareness (20.20), self-regulation (38.15), self-motivation (20.54), empathy (18.78), and social skills (29.60), as 82% of the nurses had high emotional intelligence trait. There was a statistically significant relationship between empathy, and race of the respondents (P = 0.040). Also, from the qualitative data; cultural differences, personality traits, self-care, family support, and organisational structure are key predictors of emotional intelligence traits among nurses. CONCLUSION: Enhancing emotional intelligence traits among nursing teams is significant, as it may serve as an intervention strategy to manage changes and still increase level of morale and productivity among nurses. Hence, creating a more supportive environment, encouragement from team leads or supervisors, and training on stress management strategies can help to reduce burnout, anxiety and stress in nurses

A multicenter prospective study of early gestational diabetes mellitus : rates, severity and risk factors based on IADPSG defined fasting glycemia

Objective To describe the epidemiology of early gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) based on the International Association of Diabetes and Pregnancy Study Groups (IADPSG) defined fasting glycemia. Methods A prospective multicenter study testing fasting venous plasma glucose (FPG) in women aged 18–45 years between 6 and 23+6 weeks of pregnancy in secondary health facilities in Ondo State, Nigeria. Early GDM was defined using the IADPSG threshold for fasting hyperglycemia, and its severity was examined. Potential risk factors for early GDM were assessed using logistic regression analysis. Results Of the 8915 women who underwent FPG testing, the prevalence of early GDM was 12.5% (11.9%–13.3%). Multivariable analysis identified a dose–response association between body mass index (BMI) (calculated as weight in kilograms divided by the square of height in meters) and early GDM, with a BMI of 35 or more (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.92, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.03–3.55) associated with early GDM. Primiparity (aOR 1.49, 95% CI 1.25–1.76), multiparity (aOR 1.73, 95% CI 1.47–2.04), and a first-degree family history of diabetes (aOR 1.60, 95% CI 1.27–2.02) were associated with significantly higher odds of early GDM. Conclusion This study established the prevalence, severity and risk factors for early GDM in a specific country that potentially represents a global region with no previous relevant data