Genetic conservation through effective utilization of the improved indigenous chicken breeds by rural households in Nigeria

SUMMARY. Our collection and genetic characterization of various indigenous chicken genotypes in Nigeria started in 1984 at the National Animal Production Research Institute, Shika, Zaria, (Shika Brown) in 1994 at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria (FUNAAB) and in 2014 in Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife (FULANI). Collections were screened and characterized for genetic improvement and effective utilization by rural households in Nigeria With the financial and technical support of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the International Livestock Research Institute, Ethiopia, respectively, improved chicken genotypes were developed and evaluated alongside some other tropically adapted chicken breeds. A total of six improved tropically adapted chicken breeds (three Nigerian – Shika Brown, FUNAAB alpha and Fulani; three imported – Kuroiler, Sasso and Noiler) were tested for 52 weeks on-farm, across five agro-ecological zones of Nigeria and on-station in a public University farm and a private farm in Ogun and Oyo States, respectively. Results showed the Nigeria’s improved Indigenous chicken breed, the FUNAAB-Alpha, to be of comparable performance with the three imported breeds. It has met with high acceptance and demand after exhibition of the six breeds during the 2017 Science and Technology Expo in Abuja, Nigeria

Effect of early tranexamic acid administration on mortality, hysterectomy, and other morbidities in women with post-partum haemorrhage (WOMAN): an international, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

Background Post-partum haemorrhage is the leading cause of maternal death worldwide. Early administration of tranexamic acid reduces deaths due to bleeding in trauma patients. We aimed to assess the effects of early administration of tranexamic acid on death, hysterectomy, and other relevant outcomes in women with post-partum haemorrhage. Methods In this randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, we recruited women aged 16 years and older with a clinical diagnosis of post-partum haemorrhage after a vaginal birth or caesarean section from 193 hospitals in 21 countries. We randomly assigned women to receive either 1 g intravenous tranexamic acid or matching placebo in addition to usual care. If bleeding continued after 30 min, or stopped and restarted within 24 h of the first dose, a second dose of 1 g of tranexamic acid or placebo could be given. Patients were assigned by selection of a numbered treatment pack from a box containing eight numbered packs that were identical apart from the pack number. Participants, care givers, and those assessing outcomes were masked to allocation. We originally planned to enrol 15 000 women with a composite primary endpoint of death from all-causes or hysterectomy within 42 days of giving birth. However, during the trial it became apparent that the decision to conduct a hysterectomy was often made at the same time as randomisation. Although tranexamic acid could influence the risk of death in these cases, it could not affect the risk of hysterectomy. We therefore increased the sample size from 15 000 to 20 000 women in order to estimate the effect of tranexamic acid on the risk of death from post-partum haemorrhage. All analyses were done on an intention-to-treat basis. This trial is registered with ISRCTN76912190 (Dec 8, 2008); ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT00872469; and PACTR201007000192283. Findings Between March, 2010, and April, 2016, 20 060 women were enrolled and randomly assigned to receive tranexamic acid (n=10 051) or placebo (n=10 009), of whom 10 036 and 9985, respectively, were included in the analysis. Death due to bleeding was significantly reduced in women given tranexamic acid (155 [1·5%] of 10 036 patients vs 191 [1·9%] of 9985 in the placebo group, risk ratio [RR] 0·81, 95% CI 0·65–1·00; p=0·045), especially in women given treatment within 3 h of giving birth (89 [1·2%] in the tranexamic acid group vs 127 [1·7%] in the placebo group, RR 0·69, 95% CI 0·52–0·91; p=0·008). All other causes of death did not differ significantly by group. Hysterectomy was not reduced with tranexamic acid (358 [3·6%] patients in the tranexamic acid group vs 351 [3·5%] in the placebo group, RR 1·02, 95% CI 0·88–1·07; p=0·84). The composite primary endpoint of death from all causes or hysterectomy was not reduced with tranexamic acid (534 [5·3%] deaths or hysterectomies in the tranexamic acid group vs 546 [5·5%] in the placebo group, RR 0·97, 95% CI 0·87-1·09; p=0·65). Adverse events (including thromboembolic events) did not differ significantly in the tranexamic acid versus placebo group. Interpretation Tranexamic acid reduces death due to bleeding in women with post-partum haemorrhage with no adverse effects. When used as a treatment for postpartum haemorrhage, tranexamic acid should be given as soon as possible after bleeding onset. Funding London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Pfizer, UK Department of Health, Wellcome Trust, and Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

HIV Preventive Measures among Adolescents Attending Secondary Schools in an Urban Community in Southwestern Nigeria

Many studies carried out among adolescents in Nigeria generally report the practice of preventive measures against HIV to be poor. This study was carried out to assess the HIV/AIDS preventive measures among adolescents attending secondary schools in an urban community in Southwestern Nigeria. This was a descriptive cross sectional study, carried out among in-school adolescents in Osogbo metropolis, Southwestern Nigeria. The multi-stage sampling technique was used to select the respondents and data was collected with pre-tested, semi-structured questionnaires which were self administered and supervised by trained research assistants. A total of 370 questionnaires were administered and analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 16. Majority knew that HIV/AIDS could be prevented by not sharing sharp objects (305, 82.4%) and the use of condom (277, 74.9%). Three hundred and twenty nine (88.9%) of the respondents were aware of condom while 205 (55.4%) were aware of HIV Counselling and Testing (HCT). Seventy four (20.0%) respondents were sexually exposed, and only 21 (5.7%) of the respondents had ever used condoms before. Only 15 (4.1%) of the respondents had had HCT before and 189 (51.1%) had had sex education before. Most of the respondents were aware of the disease called AIDS, but their comprehensive knowledge about the disease and its prevention was not correspondingly high. Twenty percent of the respondents were sexually exposed but their HIV preventive practice was generally poor; there was poor and inconsistent condom usage, poor uptake of HCT and sex education and a poor perceived self efficacy among nearly half of the respondents. The stakeholders in adolescent reproductive health should work towards the provision of straightforward and elemental information about sex, and related practical issues that normally affect adolescents, like contraception, abortion and sexually transmitted infections to adolescents. [Med-Science 2014; 3(4.000): 1614-26

Assessment of government’s intervention policies and its impact on the herder–farmer coexistence in North Central Nigeria

This research work examines the government intervention policies and how helpful they have been in achieving herder–farmer peaceful coexistence in the North Central part of Nigeria, with a focus on Kogi and Benue States. A cross-sectional study was conducted using a descriptive design with a sample size of 759 respondents, and both univariate analyses, i.e. descriptive statistics, such as frequency distribution in percentage and bivariate Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient and regression analysis, were adopted. The results show that the various intervention programmes or policies have not been helpful in improving the coexistence of the herders and farmers in the North Central region and Nigeria at a large scale as perceived by the respondents. The findings of the study show that people perceived the government intervention programme in their locality as not helpful in achieving the goal of herder–farmer peaceful coexistence. The findings also show that the policies of the government have not addressed the root cause of the conflict, making it difficult to have an expected effect on the two conflicting parties. Therefore, the study recommends implementing proper and prompt monitoring and evaluation of policies to determine their impact on the targeted population while conducting more orientation programmes about the intention of the government intervention programmes and policies, with particular emphasis on reaching out to the rural communities and not just focusing on the activities in the media only.</p

Adaptation of the Wound Healing Questionnaire universal-reporter outcome measure for use in global surgery trials (TALON-1 study): mixed-methods study and Rasch analysis

BackgroundThe Bluebelle Wound Healing Questionnaire (WHQ) is a universal-reporter outcome measure developed in the UK for remote detection of surgical-site infection after abdominal surgery. This study aimed to explore cross-cultural equivalence, acceptability, and content validity of the WHQ for use across low- and middle-income countries, and to make recommendations for its adaptation.MethodsThis was a mixed-methods study within a trial (SWAT) embedded in an international randomized trial, conducted according to best practice guidelines, and co-produced with community and patient partners (TALON-1). Structured interviews and focus groups were used to gather data regarding cross-cultural, cross-contextual equivalence of the individual items and scale, and conduct a translatability assessment. Translation was completed into five languages in accordance with Mapi recommendations. Next, data from a prospective cohort (SWAT) were interpreted using Rasch analysis to explore scaling and measurement properties of the WHQ. Finally, qualitative and quantitative data were triangulated using a modified, exploratory, instrumental design model.ResultsIn the qualitative phase, 10 structured interviews and six focus groups took place with a total of 47 investigators across six countries. Themes related to comprehension, response mapping, retrieval, and judgement were identified with rich cross-cultural insights. In the quantitative phase, an exploratory Rasch model was fitted to data from 537 patients (369 excluding extremes). Owing to the number of extreme (floor) values, the overall level of power was low. The single WHQ scale satisfied tests of unidimensionality, indicating validity of the ordinal total WHQ score. There was significant overall model misfit of five items (5, 9, 14, 15, 16) and local dependency in 11 item pairs. The person separation index was estimated as 0.48 suggesting weak discrimination between classes, whereas Cronbach's α was high at 0.86. Triangulation of qualitative data with the Rasch analysis supported recommendations for cross-cultural adaptation of the WHQ items 1 (redness), 3 (clear fluid), 7 (deep wound opening), 10 (pain), 11 (fever), 15 (antibiotics), 16 (debridement), 18 (drainage), and 19 (reoperation). Changes to three item response categories (1, not at all; 2, a little; 3, a lot) were adopted for symptom items 1 to 10, and two categories (0, no; 1, yes) for item 11 (fever).ConclusionThis study made recommendations for cross-cultural adaptation of the WHQ for use in global surgical research and practice, using co-produced mixed-methods data from three continents. Translations are now available for implementation into remote wound assessment pathways