DOES HEALTH AID REDUCE HIV/AIDS PREVALENCE IN NIGERIA?

There has been influx of official development assistance (foreign aid) into the health sector in Nigeria but little or nothing is known about the impact of such funds on specific health outcomes in Nigeria. Given the economic implication of HIV/AIDS, this study therefore assessed the effect of health aid on the prevalence of the HIV/AIDS in Nigeria. Relevant data spanning 1990 to 2017were sourced from World Development Indicator (WDI) and Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) database and analyzed within the Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) framework. Model estimation results revealed that health aid had no significant effect on HIV prevalence in the country. Effective utilization of health aid was advocated in order to reduce the HIV prevalence rate thereby reducing the accompanying burden on the people and the economy.   &nbsp

SOCIO-ECONOMIC IMPACT OF INDUSTRIAL EFFLUENT DISCHARGE ON IBESE RIVER AND INHABITANTS OF VILLAGES ALONG ITS COURSE IN NIGERIA

Quest for industrial hazard impact both on the inhabitants and environment, necessitated the study of Socio-economic Impact (SEI) of Industrial Effluent Discharged (IED) on Ibese river and inhabitants of villages along its course in Nigeria. The SIE of IED was conducted after water quality result of the Ibese River has been ascertained. Based on the water quality result, the river course was demarcated into direct industrial effluent discharged Ibese river site, upper Ibese River site and control (free of effluent discharge) river site outside the Ibese River location. The river that is Free of Industrial Efflu- ent Discharge (FIED) site served as control. Simple random sampling technique was used to sample 10% of farmers from farmers’ organization list in IED and FIED to give a total of 180 farmers selected for the research. Data were collected through the use of interview schedule and were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Result revealed that high number (92.3mg/L) of phosphate an acid element and low (3.30) dissolve oxygen were discovered in IED site. Concerning heavy metals, higher mean level Fe 12.63, Pb 2.01 Cu 4.86 and Zn 7.88mg/L were found in IED water quality analysis. Majority (80.0%) of the farmers in FIED areas cultivated between 5.1 and 20 hectares of farms while 50.0% belong to this categories in IED. In FIED, higher proportion (86.0%, 64.0%, and 62.0%) generate income from crop planting, sheep and goat keeping and cassava processing re- spectively whereas fewer (24.4%, 16.7% and 6.6%) generate income from these sources in IED site. Impairment of used water was rated by 93.3% of the farmers as the most prominent harmful effect of IED. Income discrepancy between industrial effluent discharge site and non industrial effluent dis- charge site was statistically different at P<0.005. The finding revealed that SIE of IED is severe in IED site

Shifts in age pattern, timing of childbearing and trend in fertility level across six regions of Nigeria: Nigeria Demographic and Health Surveys from 2003-2018.

Nigeria's population is projected to increase from 200 million in 2019 to 450 million in 2050 if the fertility level remains at the current level. Thus, we examined the shifts in the age pattern of fertility, timing of childbearing and trend in fertility levels from 2003 and 2018 across six regions of Nigeria. This study utilised the 2003, 2008, 2013, and 2018 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey datasets. Each survey was a cross-sectional population-based design, and a two-stage cluster sampling technique was used to select women aged 15-49 years. The changes in the timing of childbearing were examined by calculating the corresponding mean ages at the birth of different birth orders for each birth order separately to adjust the Quantum effect for births. The Gompertz Relational Model was used to examine the age pattern of fertility and refined fertility level. In Nigeria, it was observed that there was a minimal decline in mean children ever born (CEB) between 2003 and 2018 across all maternal age groups except aged 20-24 years. The pattern of mean CEB by the age of mothers was the same across the Nigeria regions except in North West. Nigeria's mean number of CEB to women aged 40-49 in 2003, 2008, 2013 and 2018 surveys was 6.7, 6.6, 6.3 and 6.1, respectively. The mean age (years) at first birth marginally increased from 21.3 in 2003 to 22.5 in 2018. In 2003, the mean age at first birth was highest in South East (24.3) and lowest in North East (19.4); while South West had the highest (24.4) and both North East and North West had the lowest (20.2) in 2018. Similar age patterns of fertility existed between 2003 and 2018 across the regions. Nigeria's estimated total fertility level for 2003, 2008, 2013 and 2018 was 6.1, 6.1, 5.9 and 5.7, respectively. The findings showed a reducing but slow fertility declines in Nigeria. The decline varied substantially across the regions. For a downward change in the level of fertility, policies that will constrict the spread of fertility distribution across the region in Nigeria must urgently be put in place. [Abstract copyright: Copyright: © 2023 Olowolafe et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

Influence of Human Activities on the Water Quality of Ogun River in Nigeria

The quality of Ogun River in south-west, Nigeria was investigated by a field survey; covering the dry season and rainy season. Water samples were collected from seven sites (including an Abattoir, a market, residential community and a brewery); analysis of the physico-chemical parameters using standard methods and their environmental effects on the river were investigated. Generally, the value/degree of dissolved oxygen, phosphate, BOD, COD, pH, temperature, hardness from the sites during the rainy and dry seasons were compared with the World Health Organization (WHO) standards for domestic and commercial water. The traces of some hazardous physical and chemical impurities in the river were above the acceptable limits; and thereby pose a health risk to several rural communities who rely heavily on the river primarily as their source of domestic water. The study revealed a need for continuous pollution monitoring and management program of surface water in Nigeria. Keywords: surface water, water quality, water pollution, field survey, physico-chemical analysi

Durability prediction of an ultra-large mining truck tire using an enhanced finite element method

Ultra-class mining trucks used for material haulage in rugged surface mining terrains experience premature tire fatigue failure in operation. Typical failures include belt edge separation, ply turn-up separation, and tread base and sidewall cracking. The use of reinforcing fillers and processing aids in tire compounds result in the formation of microstructural in-homogeneities in the compounds. This article presents an application of the critical plane analysis technique for predicting the fatigue life of the belt package of an ultra-large mining truck (CAT 795F) tire of size 56/80R63 in a surface coal mine. Experimental data obtained from extracted specimens (sidewall, tread, and belt edge region) of the tire are used to characterize the stress—strain and fatigue behavior of the modeled tire. The tire\u27s duty cycle stresses and strains were obtained from finite element analysis of the rolling tire in Abaqus. Fatigue life calculations were performed in the rubber fatigue solver Endurica CL. Effects of inflation pressure, tire speed, and axle load on the fatigue life of the belt package under strain-crystallizing and non-crystallizing conditions of the belt compound are discussed. Specifically, the results show the belt edges to be critical regarding crack nucleation

Clinical and Biochemical Manifestations of Severe Sickle Cell Anemia in Adult Patients in Steady State in Ile-Ife, Nigeria

Background: There are documented established markers (indices) of disease severity in patients with sickle cell anemia (SCA) and they determine the course of the disease. This study investigated the pattern and prevalence of some of these markers of disease severity in adult patients with SCA in steady state attending the hematology clinic of a federal tertiary teaching hospital in Ile-Ife, Nigeria. Materials and Methods: This was a descriptive study. Basic demographic data and relevant clinical information was obtained using a well-structured questionnaire and the case files (hospital records) of 50 consecutive SCA (HbSS) patients. Results: The study group comprised of 21(42%) males and 29(58%) females. The age range was 18–45years with a mean(±SD) of 27.6±7.607. Hepatomegaly(64%), frequent episodes of vaso-occlusive crisis, that is, ≥ 3 episodes per year(30%) and Dactylitis in infanthood(26%) were the most common clinical parameters identified in these patients while a high serum total bilirubin of > 51µmol/L(26%) was the most common laboratory parameter seen in these patients. Conclusion: Markers of disease severity were identified in the patients with SCA in this study. The presence of these markers in an SCA patient connotes severe disease and they determine the course of the disease. Therefore, there is a need to pay more attention to these patients by following them up more closely

Clinical and biochemical manifestations of severe sickle cell anemia in adult patients in steady state in Ile-Ife, Nigeria

Background: There are documented established markers (indices) of disease severity in patients with sickle cell anemia (SCA) and they determine the course of the disease. This study investigated the pattern and prevalence of some of these markers of disease severity in adult patients with SCA in steady state attending the hematology clinic of a federal tertiary teaching hospital in Ile-Ife, Nigeria.Materials and Methods: This was a descriptive study. Basic demographic data and relevant clinical information was obtained using a well-structured questionnaire and the case files (hospital records) of 50 consecutive SCA (HbSS) patients.Results: The study group comprised of 21(42%) males and 29(58%) females. The age range was 18–45years with a mean(±SD) of 27.6±7.607. Hepatomegaly (64%), frequent episodes of vaso-occlusive crisis, that is, ≥ 3 episodes per year(30%) and Dactylitis in infanthood(26%) were the most common clinical parameters identified in these patients while a high serum total bilirubin of > 51μmol/L(26%) was the most common laboratory parameter seen in these patients.Conclusion: Markers of disease severity were identified in the patients with SCA inthis study. The presence of these markers in an SCA patient connotes severe disease and they determine the course of the disease. Therefore, there is a need to pay more attention to these patients by following them up more closely.Keywords: disease severity, markers, sickle cell anemia, steady state, adults, patient

Paleo-environmental Conditions, Paleoclimatic Significance and Effects of Weathering on Clay Deposits in the Lower Benue Trough, Nigeria. Mineralogical Approach

Combined methods for mineralogical identifications were used to characterise the clay deposits within the Lower Benue Trough of Nigeria to interpret paleo-environmental conditions, the paleoclimatic significance of the trough, and effects of weathering on the minerals as factors that favour its deposition/accumulation within the trough which host other important industrial minerals like coal, barite, limestone etc. Bulk-sample random-powder XRD data and data for clay fractions deposited onto zero-background quartz plates were measured. The samples contained kaolinite, vermiculite, and traces of smectite, and the non-clay phases included quartz, microcline, and muscovite. All samples were unaffected after glycolation, confirming the absence of significant smectite. Muscovite was characterized by the nature of its 10 Å basal peak with a width of <0.10° 2θ, which was very sharp. DTA/TGA results support the presence of kaolinite, and the characteristic kaolinite O-H, Al-OH, Si-OH and SiO-Al FTIR bands also confirmed its presence. Vermicular and book-like morphologies were observed under the SEM, typical of kaolinitic clay from in situ alteration. High kaolinite abundance in these sediments is consistent with intense weathering of parent rocks rich in Al under wet/ tropical paleo-climatic conditions with fresh and/or brackish water conditions in a continental setting. The variety of observed morphologies suggests that the deposits suffered more of chemical weathering. The clay deposits in Lower Benue Trough are quartz-rich, kaolinitic and derived from the chemical weathering of Al-rich source rocks

Effect Of Aqueous Extract of Cola Nitida (Kola Nut) On Haematological and Plasma Biochemical Parameters in Male Albino Rats

Abstract: Cola nitida (Kola nut) is a caffeine-containing nut native to tropical Nort

Econometric analysis of profit efficiency of broiler farms in Ondo state, Nigeria

Researchers have recently focused their attention on the chicken producers' inability to produce in sufficient quantities and quality, which contributes to the high price of locally produced chickens. The study investigated the profit efficiency of broiler farms in Ondo state, Nigeria. In order to collect cross-sectional data from sixty owners of broiler poultry farms in the study area between October 2021 and January 2022 for the 2021 production year, a multistage survey technique was used. The data were an-alyzed using descriptive statistics, gross margin and Cobb-Douglas stochastic profit frontier model. Average stock size and mortality rate of farmers were 1826 birds and 3.3% respectively while Ross strain of birds was most preferred birds. The result indicated that broiler farming is a lucrative busi-ness with a profitability index of 45.5 %. The results reveal that the cost of feed, cost of labour used and day-old chicks were the variables that significantly explained the profit efficiency of broiler poul-try farms while household size, years of experience and other income source were the profit inefficien-cy variables. The study recommends government supports to broiler farms in form of input subsidies to enhance efficienc