Gender Issues in Gaps of Household Labour Supplied to Farms and Labour Market in Rural Abia State, Nigeria

Differentials between sexes in supply of labour to farms and to other employments in rural areas were examined along some key issues in own farm(s) of farm households using data collected over time from a panel of ninety-six (96) farm households in Abia State, Nigeria. Household labour was supplied to farms and to non-farm sectors within the rural labour market cutting across enterprises and sectors of employments with observable gaps in gender activities. Male members of the farm households supplied labour to their farms at a rate higher than they did to their off-farm activities. Across the domains of labour use, the females supplied labour at a relatively higher rate (0.87) to their farms than males (0.86) to their off-farms. The inequalities in labour supplies by the gender to the farms and off-farms were informed by some socioeconomic variables such as love of leisure, age of the farm operators, their experiences on the jobs, number of dependants and size of their own farms. Peculiar determinants of off-farm supplies of labour were off-farm monthly income from jobs, and level of educational attainment of persons in the workforce group. These are critical variables that need to be considered when fashioning policies intended to inspire farm operators and members of their households to devoting their time and energy to farming activities in Abia state Nigeria

Participatory Savings And Borrowing For Start-Up And Recapitalization Needs: Farmers Experience In Nigerian Agricultural Cooperatives And Rural Development Bank (Nacrdb) Abia State, Nigeria

This study of Farmer cash savers and borrowers was conducted in 5 branches of a formal small farmer-centered credit institution- the Nigerian Agricultural Cooperatives and Rural Development Bank(NACRDB) in Abia State, Nigeria. Thirty-two (32) farmers who had mandatory savings with the bank were involved. The savings rate across the branches averaged 8.33% but the borrowing rate was as high as 75.18% across the bank branches. A relatively higher proportion of the loans served re-capitalization purposes than start-up needs of the participants/beneficiaries .Experienced farmers with on-going projects were more prepared to manage credit facilities and should be considered for more loans whenever they meet up with the conditions for such new contracts. Keywords: Participation, Start-up needs, Re-capitalization needs.Journal of Agriculture and Social Research Vol. 8 (1) 2008: pp. 89-9

Gasoline fumes exposure and risk of respiratory disease among fuel pump attendants in Owerri Municipal Council, Nigeria

Gasoline fumes exposure and risk of respiratory disease was investigated in this cross-sectional study. The risk and factors influencing it were also assessed.  A total of 216 non-smoking subjects (108 fuel and 108 shop attendants) aged between 18-60 years and above who had worked for more than 1 year in fuel stations and shops located in Owerri Municipal, Imo state participated in the study. Their socio-demographic and occupational histories were recorded with questionnaire based on informed consent. Peak Expiratory Flow Rates (PEFRs) were recorded and analyzed separately for test and control group. Data collected were analyzed with Computer software SPSS Version 16, values of P less than 0.05 were considered significant. Results obtained showed that majority of the attendants were single-female adults, aged between 20-29 years, who had worked between 0-4 and 5-9 years in fuel stations and shops respectively. Odd Ratio (risk) of 3.2 was found in fuel pump attendants. Variations in PEFR of fuel attendants were found to be significantly associated with their years of gasoline exposure (0.000), age (p=0.000), sex (p=0.000), height (p=0.000) and work schedule (p=0.010). There was a statistical significant decrease in PEFR of fuel pump attendants (308.89±51.34), when compared with that of the shop attendants (350.46±46.41). The results revealed reduced respiratory/pulmonary function and risk of respiratory disease which worsen with years of exposure to gasoline fumes in fuel pump workers. Medical observations involving pre-employment and periodic post-medical check-ups like lung function tests and use of nose mask (respirator) were recommended for the protection of fuel pump workers

Prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control of hypertension in Nigeria in 1995 and 2020: A systematic analysis of current evidence

Improved understanding of the current burden of hypertension, including awareness, treatment, and control, is needed to guide relevant preventative measures in Nigeria. A systematic search of studies on the epidemiology of hypertension in Nigeria, published on or after January 1990, was conducted. The authors employed randomeffects meta-analysis on extracted crude hypertension prevalence, and awareness, treatment, and control rates. Using a meta-regression model, overall hypertension cases in Nigeria in 1995 and 2020 were estimated. Fifty-three studies (n = 78 949) met our selection criteria. Estimated crude prevalence of pre-hypertension (120-139/80-89 mmHg) in Nigeria was 30.9% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 22.0%-39.7%), and the crude prevalence of hypertension (≥140/90 mmHg) was 30.6% (95% CI: 27.3%-34.0%). When adjusted for age, study period, and sample, absolute cases of hypertension increased by 540% among individuals aged ≥20 years from approximately 4.3 million individuals in 1995 (age-adjusted prevalence 8.6%, 95% CI: 6.5-10.7) to 27.5 million individuals with hypertension in 2020 (age-adjusted prevalence 32.5%, 95% CI: 29.8-35.3). The age-adjusted prevalence was only significantly higher among men in 1995, with the gap between both sexes considerably narrowed in 2020. Only 29.0% of cases (95% CI: 19.7-38.3) were aware of their hypertension, 12.0% (95% CI: 2.7-21.2) were on treatment, and 2.8% (95% CI: 0.1-5.7) had at-goal blood pressure in 2020. Our study suggests that hypertension prevalence has substantially increased in Nigeria over the last two decades. Although more persons are aware of their hypertension status, clinical treatment and control rates, however, remain low. These estimates are relevant for clinical care, population, and policy response in Nigeria and across Africa

Blindness and Low Vision in Nigeria: A Review of Etiological Factors And Impact

Blindness and low vision have profound effects on the quality of life of persons affected as it reduces productivity and economic well-being of blind persons and their families. A review of literature of Blindness and low vision in Nigeria is done with emphasis on etiology and impact. Mismanagement of ocular manifestation of childhood measles and congenital anomalies accounted for 50.00% and 25.00% respectively of visual impairment among the inmates of the rehabilitation school for the blind in Afara- Umuahia, Abia State. In the Nigerian National blindness and visual impairment survey, cataract and trachoma (41.20% and 35.30% respectively) were leading causes of blindness and low vision. Cataract is a major cause of blindness in Africa. In the rest of the world, the numbers of visually impaired have increased due to uncorrected refractive error estimated to be responsible for about 42.00% of visual impairment and 3.00% of blindness. The fastest growing cause of blindness worldwide is glaucoma and retinal diseases. The causes were largely preventable. There is on-going research on advanced aids to assist the visually challenged. The burden and impact of blindness and low vision on quality of life of persons affected, the Nation and economy is enormous and undetermined. Mismanagement of ocular manifestation of childhood measles, congenital anomalies (in the young) and cataract were the most common causes of blindness and low vision in Nigeria followed by ocular trauma and corneal scarring. In order to promote visual health in the country, there is the need for Health education as to the importance of childhood immunization against measles and the routine immunization of adolescent girls against rubella. Cataract surgery and provision of low vision aids and devices for blind and low vision persons as rehabilitation are also recommended.Keywords: blindness, low vision, visual impairment, rehabilitation, visionJOURNAL OF HEALTH AND VISUAL SCIENCES (2013) VOL. 15 (1): 10 - 1

Caustic Ingestion Injuries: The necessity of prevention

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Effect of the national special program for food security in alleviating poverty among smallholder farmers in Abia State, Nigeria

The interrelated problems of poverty and food insecurity have been jointly tackled by UN Food and Agriculture Organization through National Special Program for Security (NSPFS). To what extent this program has impacted on food product marketing and poverty level of smallholder farmers’ in Abia state, Nigeria was the primary objective of this study. The incidence and depth of poverty amongst the farmers as well as effect of the program, especially its micro-credit component on their farm revenue, profit and consumption expenditures were specifically investigated. Simple Random (SRS) technique was used to select 180 smallholder farmersconsisting of 90% participants and 90 non-participants in the special food programs. Cross sectional primary data were collected using structured questionnaire. Head count ratio and paired treatment (t- ratio) were used in analyzing the data. Descriptively, 4.4% of the farmer participantslived below poverty line as against 55.6% non-participating farmers living below poverty line in the state. Inferentially, the t-test revealed statistically significant positive effects of the program on revenue, profit and consumption expenditures of the participating farmers. The studyrecommended expansion of the program to include at least three quarters of smallholder farmers in the state, especially women, who apparently were not equally represented in the program. Involvement of more smallholder farmers in the program would reduce number of food unsecured and poor farmers in the country.Keywords: Micro credit, farm revenue, food security, product marketing, small holder farmer

Gender Factors in Capital Sourcing and Accessibility by Arable Crop Farmers in Owerri North Local Government Area of Imo State, Nigeria

This study analyzed gender related factors and their influences on capital sourcing and accessibility by arable crop farm households in Owerri North local Government Area of Imo State, Nigeria. The farming communities and respondents were chosen following a multi-stage random sampling technique. Eighty (80) heads of arable crops farm household were randomly chosen in equal proportion of forty (40) males and forty (40) females in a cross sectional survey. Data on gender-based socio-economic factors were collected and analyzed descriptively and inferentially. Male farmers’ access to loans was positively influenced by loan repayment period and negatively influenced by mean monthly savings and interest charges on loan. Female farmers’ access to loan was positively influenced by their level of education and length of loan repayment period. The access to loan by the female farmers was significantly and negatively influenced by value of required collaterals, size of their households, and interest charges on the loans. Gender related factors such as poor access to land, high value of collaterals required by banks and other lending units, and high interest charges was variously perceived by male and female farmers as factors limiting their affordability for loans from formal and informal sources. Credit institutions were advised to give preferential consideration to women in extending credit for farm operations. Such loan beneficiaries should be closely supervised in their use of the credit to ensure proper usage, and should discriminatorily be charged lower interests to encourage women entrepreneurships in farm business

Farmers Utilization Of Loan Schemes Of The Nigerian Agricultural And Cooperatives Bank (Nacrdb) In Abia State, Nigeria

This study on utilization of loans was conducted in the five branches of theNigerian Agricultural and Cooperatives Bank (NACRDB), in Abia State Nigeria. Two farmer customers were sampled randomly in proportion to the category of the bank branch . Thirty-two (32) farmers who had mandatory savings with the bank were involved. The savings rate across the branches averaged 8.33% but the borrowing rate was as high as 75.18% across the bank branches. A relatively higher proportion of the loans served re-capitalization purposes than start-up needs of the participants/beneficiaries .Experienced farmers with ongoing projects were more prepared to manage credit facilities and should be considered for more loans whenever they meet up with the conditions for such new contracts Keywords: Participation, Start-up needs, Re-capitalization needs.Global Approaches to Extension Practice Vol. 3 (2) 2007: pp. 44-4

Performance Of Livestock Farmers Under Special Programme For Food Security In Ohafia Agricultural Zone, Abia State, Nigeria

Far greater investment in livestock production is essential if food shortages and poverty are to be reduced and progress made towards realizing goals of National Special Programme for food Security in Nigeria. In one location (Ohafia Agricultural Zone) of the programme in Abia State, Nigeria, proportionate random sampling method was used in selecting sixty (60) participating livestock farmers and assessment made on contributions of the innovative package on number of stock, profitability, and factors influencing change in revenue from livestock with the programme. Keeping poultry, and small ruminants offered participants relatively higher profits than keeping pigs. Feeding cost differential, selected breeds of stock, differences in veterinary costs, and number of livestock kept all positively influenced the revenue which farmers made from their product sales in the programme. Participating farmers should reinvest their profits in procuring more improved livestock breeds. Government could further assist the funding agency by subsidizing feed production to bring down the purchase prices as additional encouragement to participating farmers.Keywords: insufficient food, Profit, Differentials, Revenu