Oral health knowledge, perceptions and behaviour among nursing students in a Nigerian tertiary hospital

Aim: The purpose of the study was to investigate oral health knowledge, perceptions and behaviour amongst nursing students in a Nigerian tertiary hospital. Materials and methods: The study was conducted at University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital on 244 respondents aged 17 to 40 years, using self administered structured questionnaire. Result: Respondents showed high level of oral health knowledge. Most of them (68.3%), had never visited a dentist with females accounting for 144 (67.7%) (P > 0.05). About 58.0% of the respondents brushed once a day. Majority, 155 (70.5%), of females perceived their oral health as good as against 14 (58.3%) males. Conclusion: The respondents had good oral health knowledge, but poor oral health behaviour. Importance of regular dental visit, frequent tooth brushing, should be stressed. Keywords: Oral health, knowledge, behaviour, Nursing students, tertiary hospital. Tanzania Dental Journal Vol. 14 (1) 2007: pp. 26-2

Training Needs of Pineapple Farmers in Enugu State, Nigeria

The study identified training needs of pineapple farmers in Enugu State, Nigeria. Purposive sampling technique was used to select two zones (Awgu and Nsukka zones), four blocks, eight circles and eighty pineapple farmers that were used for the study. Some of the data were analysed with percentage and mean score while some were presented in charts.. Majority (77.5%) of the respondents did not have contact with extension agents in 2011 and they sourced information on pineapple from neighbours (86.3%).The mean annual expenditure and income from pineapple were N27, 568 and N235, 530 respectively. Majority (96.2%) of the respondents had no training on processing and preservation of pineapple and off season production of pineapple (85%). Majority of the respondents indicated that training on pineapple should be organized by researchers (65%) through interpersonal communication (83.8%) using local language (Igbo) (78.8%). Provision of effective micro-credit facilities (M=2.84) and stability of government policy (stability of price of pineapple) (M=2.68) were perceived by the respondents as major strategies that will improve pineapple production in the area. The study encouraged building capacities of pineapple farmers through informal training especially in the areas of processing, preservation and off-season production of pineapple so that they can face challenges of the enterprise, boost their farm size and income

Training Needs of Pineapple Farmers in Enugu State, Nigeria

The study identified training needs of pineapple farmers in Enugu State, Nigeria. Purposive sampling technique was used to select two zones (Awgu and Nsukka zones), four blocks, eight circles and eighty pineapple farmers that were used for the study. Some of the data were analysed with percentage and mean score while some were presented in charts.. Majority (77.5%) of the respondents did not have contact with extension agents in 2011 and they sourced information on pineapple from neighbours (86.3%).The mean annual expenditure and income from pineapple were N27, 568 and N235, 530 respectively. Majority (96.2%) of the respondents had no training on processing and preservation of pineapple and off season production of pineapple (85%). Majority of the respondents indicated that training on pineapple should be organized by researchers (65%) through interpersonal communication (83.8%) using local language (Igbo) (78.8%). Provision of effective micro-credit facilities (M=2.84) and stability of government policy (stability of price of pineapple) (M=2.68) were perceived by the respondents as major strategies that will improve pineapple production in the area. The study encouraged building capacities of pineapple farmers through informal training especially in the areas of processing, preservation and off-season production of pineapple so that they can face challenges of the enterprise, boost their farm size and income

Climate Change Information Needs of Pineapple Farmers in Enugu State, Nigeria

The study identified climate change (CC) information needs of pineapple farmers in Enugu State, Nigeria. Purposive sampling technique was used to select two zones (Awgu and Nsukka zones), four blocks, eight circles and eighty pineapple farmers that were used for the study. Data were analysed with percentage, mean score and standard deviation.. Majority (97.5%) of the pineapple farmers were aware of climate change while 95% indicated that pineapples are sensitive to climate change. They sourced information on climate change from newspaper (95%) and radio (63.8%). They pointed out excessive heat (86.2%) and irregular rain (82.5%) as evidences of climate change with respect to their area while reduction in yield (95%), size (86.2%) and income (86, 2%) were effects of climate change on pineapples. Avoidance of bush burning (M=2.56) and avoidance of deforestation (M=2.29) were respondents major mitigation measures while diversification into non-farm occupations was their only major adaptation measure to climate change. Prediction of commencement of rain and adaptation measures to climate change (97.5% each) were areas respondents needed information on climate change. The study pointed out the need to acquaint pineapple farmers with credible information that will emphasize on prediction of rain and specific mitigation and adaptive measures to climate change on pineapple farms and in general for a better agriculture and a healthier nation

Climate Change Information Needs of Pineapple Farmers in Enugu State, Nigeria

The study identified climate change (CC) information needs of pineapple farmers in Enugu State, Nigeria. Purposive sampling technique was used to select two zones (Awgu and Nsukka zones), four blocks, eight circles and eighty pineapple farmers that were used for the study. Data were analysed with percentage, mean score and standard deviation.. Majority (97.5%) of the pineapple farmers were aware of climate change while 95% indicated that pineapples are sensitive to climate change. They sourced information on climate change from newspaper (95%) and radio (63.8%). They pointed out excessive heat (86.2%) and irregular rain (82.5%) as evidences of climate change with respect to their area while reduction in yield (95%), size (86.2%) and income (86, 2%) were effects of climate change on pineapples. Avoidance of bush burning (M=2.56) and avoidance of deforestation (M=2.29) were respondents major mitigation measures while diversification into non-farm occupations was their only major adaptation measure to climate change. Prediction of commencement of rain and adaptation measures to climate change (97.5% each) were areas respondents needed information on climate change. The study pointed out the need to acquaint pineapple farmers with credible information that will emphasize on prediction of rain and specific mitigation and adaptive measures to climate change on pineapple farms and in general for a better agriculture and a healthier nation

Problems and Prospects of Pineapple Production in Enugu State, Nigeria

The study identified problems and prospects of pineapple production in Enugu State of Nigeria. Purposive sampling technique was used to select eighty (80) pineapple farmers from two agricultural zones. Data were analyzed using percentage and mean score. Results show that greater proportion (56.2%) of the farmers was male, majority (47.5%) had no formal education and 68.8% had their farm located far from their residence while a greater proportion (43.8%) of the farmers cultivated improved pineapple variety. Also, 55.0% sourced planting materials from their farm. All the respondents (100%) harvested their produce manually. Respondents indicated that the major potentials of the area for pineapple production included:  availability of fertile land for pineapple production (M=2.78); and ready market for the sale of the crop produce (M=2.72). Others included: a good source of income (M=2.62), and good health through consumption among farmers/inhabitants (M=2.78). Major constraints of pineapple production identified by the respondents were poor access road for transportation of produce (M=2.56), and lack of technical knowledge on the use of improved technology (M=2.56). It was concluded that there were good prospects for pineapple production in the area; however issues of infrastructure and technical knowledge should be tackled in order to harness those potentials

Problems and Prospects of Pineapple Production in Enugu State, Nigeria

The study identified problems and prospects of pineapple production in Enugu State of Nigeria. Purposive sampling technique was used to select eighty (80) pineapple farmers from two agricultural zones. Data were analyzed using percentage and mean score. Results show that greater proportion (56.2%) of the farmers was male, majority (47.5%) had no formal education and 68.8% had their farm located far from their residence while a greater proportion (43.8%) of the farmers cultivated improved pineapple variety. Also, 55.0% sourced planting materials from their farm. All the respondents (100%) harvested their produce manually. Respondents indicated that the major potentials of the area for pineapple production included:  availability of fertile land for pineapple production (M=2.78); and ready market for the sale of the crop produce (M=2.72). Others included: a good source of income (M=2.62), and good health through consumption among farmers/inhabitants (M=2.78). Major constraints of pineapple production identified by the respondents were poor access road for transportation of produce (M=2.56), and lack of technical knowledge on the use of improved technology (M=2.56). It was concluded that there were good prospects for pineapple production in the area; however issues of infrastructure and technical knowledge should be tackled in order to harness those potentials

TREND DYNAMICS OF FOREIGN DEBT ON ECONOMIC GROWTH IN NIGERIA

In developing nations, there is a huge question of why should they borrow further. This is a result of the increasing debt profile of countries like Nigeria. As much as there is a rationale for borrowing in these countries, there is need to establish the relationship between debt, debt service and economic growth in Nigeria. This is the main thrust of the study. The study with CBN financial report data from 1985-2020 used descriptive and inferential statistics of tables, figures, and cointegration test with correlation method to establish the pattern of relationships. The study found that debt and debt service profile has been on the increase in escalating scale. The study also found a cointegrating equation trend in the model. Hence, establishing a long-run relationship among them in the Nigerian economy. The study recommends further borrowing should be on projects that can pay back any borrowing within its lifespan

Value addition activities and challenges of African yam bean (Sphenostylis stenocarpa) farmers in Enugu State, Nigeria

The study examined the value addition practices and challenges of African yam bean (Sphenostylis stenocarpa) farmers in Enugu State of Nigeria. Multistage sampling technique was adopted in selecting a total of seventy two (72) respondents used for the study. Results revealed that all (100%) of the respondents processed African yam bean through sun drying, husking/hulling and preservation/storage while about 88.9% of the respondents processed the crop through frying/baking while 87.5% and 70.8% of the respondents indicated they were involved in winnowing and grinding. Lack of basic physical infrastructure (M=2.39), lack/poor technology on processing, preservation etc (2.35), difficulty in accessing loan (M=2.28) and lack of technology/innovation on production of the crop (M=2.28) were among the constraining factors to value addition in African yam bean. It is recommended that policy makers should work towards providing the necessary technology and basic infrastructure to farmers in order to increase their productivity, income and commercialization of this underutilized but important crop. Research efforts are also required to improve its agronomic characteristics and promote its cultivation