Declining uptake of HIV testing among tuberculosis patients in Enugu state of Nigeria: The need for a reappraisal of strategy

Background: The prevalence of HIV in Enugu State is the highest in Southeastern Nigeria. Since HIV is associated with TB, it is important to assess the performance of the Enugu State TB program as regards HIV screening of TB cases. This study assesses the proportions of TB cases that are screened for HIV as well as the prevalence of HIV among individuals with TB at the Enugu State TB program of Nigeria.Materials and Methods: The study was a retrospective review of data from the Enugu State TB program, Nigeria, from 2008 to 2009. Analysis was both descriptive and inferential at 95% confidence levels.Results: A total of 3,286 TB cases were registered within the 2‑year period. Out of these, 1,867 (56.8%) were new sputum smear positive (ss+). In all, 67.9% and 78.9% of all‑TB cases were screened for HIV in 2009 and 2008 respectively [OR=0.57 (0.48–0.67)]. Also, 83.0% and 87.9% of new ss+ cases were screened for HIV in 2009 and 2008 respectively [OR=0.68 (0.52–0.88)]. The mean HIV prevalence for all TB cases was 34.5%.Conclusion: The performance of the State’s TB program with respect to HIV screening of TB patients reduced significantly in 2009 when compared to 2008. Improved program monitoring and the opt‑out approach of the provider initiated HIV testing and counseling are recommended

Hematocrit, anemia, and arm preference for blood sample collection: a cross sectional study of pregnant women in Enugu, south eastern, Nigeria

Background: Anemia in pregnancy is a common cause of maternal morbidity and mortality in developing countries. Regular review of hematocrit (HCT) and anemia patterns in pregnancy is necessary in our environment. Aim: The aim was to determine the average HCT, prevalence, and pattern of anemia, as well the arm preferences for blood sample collection among pregnant women in Enugu, South East Nigeria. Subjects and Methods: HCT was determined using venous blood of 200 antenatal women at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH) Enugu, Nigeria. Questionnaires were used to assess participants’ arm preference for blood sample collection for clinical investigations. Data analysis was descriptive and inferential at 95% confidence level. Results: Participants’ mean HCT was 33.3 (3.7%). The average HCT in second trimester 33.3% (3.76%) was significantly lower than that of third trimester (34.6 [3.4%], P = 0.01,). Prevalence of anemia was 28.0% (56/200), and a majority (94.6%, 53/56) of anemic women belong to the mild category. Only parity groups had a significant association with anemia in pregnancy (P = 0.04). None of the participants reported being asked about her arm preference during blood collection for routine antenatal investigations. One hundred and five (52.5%) women expressed preference for either left (34.5%, 69/200) or right arm (18.0%, 36/200) for blood sample collection. Conclusion: The average HCT among pregnant women at the UNTH, Enugu Nigeria was within normal range and the prevalence of anemia was relatively low. The majority of women expressed a preference for either right or left arm for blood sample collection for clinical investigations and would wish their choices sought for and respected.Keywords: Anemia in pregnancy, Arm preference, Enugu, Hematocrit, Nigeri

Dynamics of capital inflows, competitiveness and capital market performance

近年来，资本跨境流动的重要性日益凸显。由于能够带来效益，发展中国家都试图吸引更多资本流入。但是，资本流入也存在潜在的成本，而这些成本常常被忽视了。本文研究表明资本流入有可能弱化对外竞争力。同时，被弱化的竞争力与资本流入相互作用会对资本市场产生不利影响。本文使用22个发展中国家1980年到2014年的样本，利用长期实际均衡汇率模型（longrunrealequilibriumexchangeratemodel），通过计算混合组均值（PMG）来估计不同类型的资本流入——外商直接投资、证券投资、国外收益和国外援助如何影响竞争力。由此，我们计算出竞争力的度量指标，并用其评估竞争力如何与资本流入相互作用...Cross border capital flows have become increasing important over the years. Developing nations try to attract more inflows mainly due to its benefits. However, capital inflows also have potential costs which are often overlooked. This study contends that capital inflows have the tendency of weakening external competitiveness. Also, weaker competitiveness could affect the capital market adversely, ...学位：理学硕士院系专业：王亚南经济研究院_金融工程学号：2772014115461

Towards improving cervical cancer screening in Nigeria: A review of the basics of cervical neoplasm and cytology

Cervical cancer screening is the key to reducing the incidence and mortality of cervical cancer in developing countries. In the absence of a national screening program, healthcare givers in Nigeria are encouraged to routinely inform and screen eligible women. This review aims at equipping health workers for this task by re-educating them on the basics of the disease and its screening by cytology. Relevant texts and online databases including Pubmed, African Journal Online, and Google Scholar, were searched for relevant literature on the subject area. Persistent infection by a high-risk human papilloma virus, especially types 16 and 18, is necessary for the development of cervical cancer. The exfoliation of cells from the metaplastic squamous cells of transformation zone of the cervix is the basis of cervical cytology. Organized Pap screening reduces the incidence and mortality of cervical cancer, but screening protocols vary. Nevertheless, annual screening is not recommended except for high-risk women such as HIV-positive women. Abnormal Pap smear results are currently reported using either the Bethesda System or the British Society for Clinical Cytology classification, and colposcopy with or without biopsy are necessary when indicated. In conclusion, the use of cervical cytology to detect precancerous lesions followed by an appropriate treatment when necessary is the key to reducing invasive cervical cancer. The task of provider-initiated counseling and testing for cervical cancer by health practitioners requires update on the current etio-pathology of cervical cancer, and its screening as reviewed

Recent trends of Physical and Psychological Intimate Partner Violence Against Men in Canada: A Mixed Methods study

Since 1975, when Murray Straus and Richard Gelles released results from their National Family Violence Survey revealing similar rates of intimate partner violence (IPV) among male and female victims, debates on IPV have been driven by the concepts of gender symmetry (i.e. rates of IPV is similar for male and female victims) versus gender asymmetry (i.e. female victims are predominant). Debates also revolve around the use of various methods of data collection such as self-reported survey and police-reported data. Although meta-analytical studies regarding IPV (see Archer (2000), Capaldi, et. al. (2012), Desmarais, et. al. (2012), Hamel (2012) have revealed gender symmetry in IPV (excluding sexual assault cases), there has been limited or no studies that focus on IPV against men and how they cope with their abusive experiences. This study investigates recent trends in physical and psychological IPV against men by their female partners and explores strategies that male victims of IPV adopt to cope with their abusive experiences. The study adopts Marxist feminist, family conflict, and social learning perspectives to investigate and analyze the subject of IPV against men. Mixed research methods involving quantitative and qualitative approaches are adopted in the collection of the study’s data, which were analyzed using NVivo and SPSS. The General Social Survey (Victimization) data for 2014 was also analyzed for the quantitative dimension of the subject matter while 16 male victims of IPV and 6 key-informants were interviewed for the study’s qualitative dimension. Results of the data analysis revealed the prevalence and severity of various forms of IPV against men, the risk factors of IPV against men, determinants of IPV against male victims by their female partners, and the strategies through which male victims of IPV cope with their abusive experiences

Product design-Process selection-Process planning Integration based on Modelling and Simulation

As a solution for traditional design process having many drawbacks in the manufacturing process, the integration of Product design-Process selection-Process planning is carried out in the early design phase. The technological, economic, and logistic parameters are taken into account simultaneously as well as manufacturing constraints being integrated into the product design. As a consequence, the most feasible alternative with regard to the product’s detailed design is extracted satisfying the product’s functional requirements. Subsequently, a couple of conceptual process plans are proposed relied on manufacturing processes being preliminarily selected in the conceptual design phase. Virtual manufacturing is employed under CAM software to simulate fabrication process of the potential process plans. Ultimately, the most suitable process plan for fabricating the part is recommended based upon a multi-criteria analysis as a resolution for decision making