Patterns of Birth and Family Planning Acceptor Rates in Ghana: An Ecological Study

Despite a reported decline in Ghana‘s birth rate (BR), the pattern of ecological percent decrease in BR as corresponding to the percent increase in family planning acceptor rate (FPAR) in Ghana is not clear. This study explicitly explored and compared the pattern of birth and FPAR in Ghana from 2004-2015. National FPAR and BR data were retrieved from Ghana Health Service and World Bank. A timetrend descriptive analysis was performed via tableau software. Additionally, a segmented regression was applied to inferentially identify where statistically significant log-linear distinct segments exist in the trends. All segmented-related analysis was performed using joinpoint trend analysis software. Whereas, the highest decline in BR was observed from 2013-2015 (-1.4%), the highest increase in FPAR was rather observed from 2004-2008 (7.4%). Unexpectedly, from 2008-2013, a much higher decrease in FPAR (-5.8%) also yielded a moderate decline in BR (-0.7%). FPAR over the eleven years (2004-2015) increased by 1.1% whereas BR declined by -0.7%. BR in Ghana continues to be on a moderate declining trend. However, the decline was uninterrupted by an increase or decrease in FPAR. For a further decrease in Ghana‘s birth rate, a multifaceted approach is needed, not only focusing on increasing FPAR but also targeting adherence to FP control methods. Keywords: Birth rate, family planning, fertility rate, segmented regressionMalgré une baisse signalée du taux de natalité (BR) du Ghana, le schéma de la baisse écologique en pourcentage du BR correspondant à l'augmentation en pourcentage du taux d'accepteurs de la planification familiale (FPAR) au Ghana n'est pas clair. Cette étude a  explicitement exploré et comparé le modèle de naissance et le FPAR au Ghana de 2004 à 2015. Les données nationales FPAR et BR ont été récupérées auprès du Ghana Health Service et de la Banque mondiale. Une analyse descriptive des tendances temporelles a été réalisée via le logiciel de tableau. De plus, une régression segmentée a été appliquée pour identifier par inférence où des segments distincts log-linéaires statistiquement significatifs existent dans les tendances. Toutes les analyses liées aux segments ont été effectuées à l'aide du logiciel d'analyse des tendances Joinpoint. Alors que la plus forte baisse du BR a été observée de 2013 à 2015 (-1,4%), la plus forte augmentation du FPAR a plutôt été observée de 2004 à 2008 (7,4%). De façon inattendue, de 2008 à 2013, une baisse beaucoup plus élevée du FPAR (-5,8%) a également entraîné une baisse modérée du BR (-0,7%). Le FPAR sur les onze années (2004-2015) a augmenté de 1,1% tandis que le BR a diminué de -0,7%. BR au Ghana continue d'être sur une tendance à la baisse modérée. Cependant, la baisse n'a pas été interrompue par une augmentation ou une diminution du FPAR. Pour une nouvelle baisse du taux de natalité au Ghana, une approche à multiples facettes est nécessaire, non seulement en se concentrant sur l'augmentation du FPAR, mais aussi enciblant l'adhésion aux méthodes de contrôle de la FP. Mots-clés: Taux de natalité, planification familiale, taux de fécondité, régression segmenté

Environmental Awareness and Community Attitude Towards Management of Forest Resources in Boki Local Government Area of Cross River State, Nigeria

The experience of the researchers as environmentalists in the study area over the years, where they observed that the forest resources are gradually disappearing as a result of poor attitude of community members toward forest resources management. It is this poor attitude that necessitated this present study which sought to examined the influence of environmental awareness and community attitude toward management of forest resources in Boki Local Government Area of Cross River State, Nigeria. In order to achieve the aim of this study, one null hypothesis was used for the research work and a sample of six hundred and twenty respondents (620) were randomly selected for this research work. The selection was done through simple random sampling technique. The main instrument for data collection was the environmental awareness and community attitude questionnaire (EACAMFRQ)  developed by the researchers. The instruments were subjected to face validation by experts in measurement and evaluation. The reliability estimate of the instruments were established through split half reliability method. The reliability coefficient was corrected with Spearman Brown prophecy formular. The hypothesis was tested at .05 level of significance with 608 degree of freedom. The result of the  analysis revealed that there is a positive influence between environmental awareness and community attitude toward management of forest resources. Thus, the result of this research work recommended that environmental awareness is key to conservation of forest resources and should be repeatedly carried out in the study area to change the attitudes of community members toward environmental management. Keywords: Environmental awareness, community attitude, forest resources

Determining the Efficiency of the Government of Ghana’s Network of Grain Storage Facilities

Governments in developing countries design networks of grain storage facilities to help farmers store excess agricultural produce to prepare for climate induced crop failures. The efficiency of such networks has serious economic and food security implications on respective countries. Periodic review of the efficiency of such networks is necessary to identify lapses and opportunities for optimization. Past studies on efficiency of networksof facilities, which usually assume scenarios peculiar to the developed world used data that are usually unavailable or unreliable in developing countries. This work therefore developed an integrated approach that relies solely on readily available and reliable governmental and open source data to compute the short and long-term efficiencies of networks of grain storage facilities. This approach was used to analyze the efficiency of the government of Ghana’s network of forty-eight grain storage facilities. A transportation model was used to compute the total transportation cost within the existing network. A P-median model was then used to develop and compute the transportation cost of a theoretically optimal network. Outputs from a forecasting model were used with the transportation andP-median models to study the short and long-term efficiencies of the existing and optimal networks. The average short and long term efficiencies of the existing network were 66% and 26% respectively. The study also investigated the efficiencies of a rank network which is created by siting GSF’s in only high grain production districts. The short and long-term efficiencies of this network were 87% and 72% respectively. The study showed that Ghana’s GSFs were sub-optimally sited hence farmers would have to travel excessively longer distances than necessary to use it. This offers some explanation for its low patronage. Furthermore, the study shows that a rank network was not as efficient as the optimal network. This study therefore demonstrates the use of this integrated approach coupledwith readily available data to analyze networks of grain storage facilities in developing countries

Assessment of Nutritional Status and Knowledge of Students from Selected Secondary Schools in Sokoto Metropolis, Sokoto State, Nigeria

The significance of improving nutrition knowledge in order to have a positive influence on food choices and health should not be underestimated. This study assessed the nutritional status and knowledge of school children attending selected secondary schools in Sokoto metropolis. The study population was purposively drawn from secondary school students in Nigeria attending Federal Government College and State Government-owned schools. Four secondary schools were used for the study: Federal Government College (FGC), Sani Dingyadi Secondary School (SDUSS), Nagarta Secondary School (NSS) and Army Day Secondary School (ADSS). A sample of 240 school students, aged 10 to 25 years participated in the study. The measuring instruments included a questionnaire to determine the nutrition knowledge of the students. Anthropometric measurements included weight, height and mid-upper arm circumference, measured using standard methodologies. The mean age recorded for male and female students were 18.0±1.90 and 15.7±1.20 years, respectively. The result showed that 27.9% were underweight, 7.5% overweight and 64.6% had normal BMI status. Nutritional status was significantly related with sex (χ2 = 16.169, p<0.05) but not with age (χ2 = 1.368, p>0.05). The prevalence of underweight was higher among the males (33.9%) compared to the females (13.9%), while more females were overweight (15.3%) compared to the males (4.2%). Seventy one percent performed poorly in the nutrition knowledge assessment rating. The overall performance of the female students was significantly higher (χ2 = 46.386; P<0.05) than their male counterparts. Furthermore, 5, 12 and 12% had excellent, very good and good nutrition knowledge, respectively, while 33% and 38% had fair and poor nutrition knowledge, respectively. The results further revealed that the students were deficient in knowledge and understanding of the facts about energy and nutritive values of foods. Therefore, adequate nutrition education is needed at the secondary school level; this will enable the students to make good food choices and positively influence their eating habits thereby ensuring better nutritional status.Keywords: malnutrition, knowledge, school, anthropometry, Sokot

Classroom Climate and Students’ Academic Achievement in Social Studies in Cross River, Nigeria

This research project examined “Classroom climate and its relationship with students’ academic achievement in Social Studies”. Ex post facto design was adopted. The population of the study comprised 14,297 JSS III students and the sample was 1,200 JSS III students selected through stratified random technique from the three Educational Zones in State Secondary Education Board, Cross River State. The instrument used was a structured six-point Likert scale questionnaire, the reliability estimate of which ranged from 0.7 to 0.8 and achievement test adapted from Junior Secondary School Certificate Examination, Ministry of Education, Cross River State (2004) were used to collect information used in the study. The data collected were analysed using Pearson Product Moment Correlation and Multiple Regression. The hypothesis was tested at .05 level of significance and 1198 and F (9,1190) degree of freedom. Based on the findings, it was concludedthat all the independent variables mentioned in this study jointly contribute to the variance in students’ academic achievement in Social Studies. It was recommended that Social Studies teachers should be trained to improve their skills on an encouraging classroom climate for students’ confidence and initiative through seminars, conferences and in-service programmes

Tramadol abuse and value for life among young persons: moderating effects of moral identity

Burgeoning research has begun to question what the actual value for life is among drug using individuals. Why do they engage in acts they know undermine the quality and length of their lives? Can the use of drugs be directly linked to lack of value for their lives? Or does the repeated use of drugs make them value less their lives? What if, regardless of their drug abuse, they had high levels of moral self and integrity? Would the pattern of results still be the same? Interested in finding this out, we employed the snowball technique to recruit young persons (n= 158, 75.95% males, Mage= 23 years) with differing levels of tramadol abuse, and obtained data regarding their self-reported value for life and moral identity. Results revealed significant associations between tramadol use, dimensions of moral identity and value for life such that as the level of tramadol abuse increased, value for life decreased; while as moral integrity and moral self increased, value for life also increased. Moderation analysis further showed a buffering effect of moral self and integrity on the relationship of tramadol use and value for life. These findings question our already existing drug use policies, anti-drug use campaigns and intervention strategies. Will our efforts at combatting drug use become more effective if we dwell more on building moral identities in individuals rather than incarcerating them? We suggest in-depth investigation to further explore the roles of morality in the non-medical use of prescription drugs. Keywords: Criminalization, Morality, Non-medical, Policy, Tramadol, Value for lif

An empirical analysis of the macroeconomic impact of public debt in Nigeria

This paper examines the impact of public sector borrowings on prices, interest rates, and output in Nigeria. It utilized a Vector Autoregressive framework, the Granger causality test, impulse response, and variance decomposition of the various innovations to study the impact. It found that shock to external debt stock increases prime lending rate, but with a lag. However, the level of external and domestic debt over the period of this study had no significant impact on the general price level and output

Durational exposure-dependent effect of carbamate treated net on hepatic and renal functions in Wistar rats

Assessment of the duration exposure-dependent effect of carbamate treated net on hepatic and renal functions of albino Wistar rats after 30 and 60 days was carried out. Serum ALT, AST and ALP levels were determined to assess liver function while serum creatinine and urea levels were measured for kidney function. Eighteen (18) male albino Wstar rats weighing 138-146g were divided into 3 groups of 6 rats each. Group 1 served as control, group 2 animals were exposed to carbamate treated net for 30 days and group 3 animals exposed for 60 days. The results showed that the levels of serum AST and ALT increased in all the experimental groups exposed when compared to the control group. ALT increased significantly (p<0.05) in the rats exposed for 60 days (203.83±0.307) while AST increased highest in experimental groups exposed for 30 days (203± 1.613)and 60 days (362± 0.365) respectively when compared to the control (150.5±0.34). ALP increased significantly (p<0.05) only in the group exposed for 30 days (17.67±0.21),but decreased in the group exposed for 60 days when compared to the control group. Serum creatinine increased insignificantly (p>0.05) in the group exposed for 30 days but decreased in the group exposed for 60 days while serum urea level in the group exposed for 30 days remain unchanged but decreased after 60 days when compared to the control group. Statistically, there was a significant increase (p<0.05) in body weight and organ weight of the animals exposed for 30 and 60 days. Therefore, this present study demonstrates that exposure to carbamate treated net may alter the integrity and function of liver thereby causing hepatotoxicity while the exposure of rats to carbamate treated net may not pose any significant nephrotoxicity in rats

Structural characterisation and in vitro behaviour of apatite coatings and powders

Hydroxyapatite (HAP) coatings are used in orthopaedic surgery for bone regeneration. Current methods of phase quantification of HAP coatings suffer from drawbacks. A novel methodology of quantitative phase analysis of HAP coatings has been devised and validated. This method, based on whole pattern fitting with a fundamental parameters approach, incorporates amorphous calcium phosphate (ACP) and apatite phases into structural refinements. A comparison of the structural and chemical properties of plasma sprayed (PS) and novel electrodeposited (ED) HAP coatings has been conducted. ED coatings contained less ACP and more preferred orientation than the PS coatings, although the stoichiometry was similar. In vitro investigations of PS and ED coatings in simulated body fluid and foetal calf serum revealed that both are bioactive. A carbonated apatite layer produced on the ED coatings was -0.7μm thick with a stoichiometry and chemical constituents similar to that of natural bone apatite. PS coatings produced a nanocrystalline carbonated apatite layer (-4μm). For the first time it has been possible to model crystalline HAP and nanocrystalline apatite as independent phases and obtain accurate lattice parameters for each. A positive linear correlation has been made between microstrain and the solubility of HAP and carbonated apatites. Dissolution studies have shown that the behaviour of HAP and carbonated apatite is dominated by crystallite size at low undersaturation and by crystallite size and microstrain at high undersaturation for crystallites between -30OA- 1000A. Metastable equilibrium occurred for crystallites <_400A at low undersaturation. Carbonate content did not affect the solubility or dissolution behaviour. A novel technology for coating polymeric tape with HAP for potential use in anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction has been devised. Mechanical tests have demonstrated that no adverse properties are induced by the coating technology. Cell culture studies have shown that the HAP layer is capable of enhanced attachment, proliferation and differentiation of osteoblast cells compared to uncoated tape.EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo

Can birth outcome inequality be reduced using targeted caseload midwifery in a deprived diverse inner city population? A retrospective cohort study, London, UK.

Objectives(1) To report maternal and newborn outcomes of pregnant women in areas of social deprivation in inner city London. (2) To compare the effect of caseload midwifery with standard care on maternal and newborn outcomes in this cohort of women.DesignRetrospective observational cohort study.SettingFour council wards (electoral districts) in inner city London, where over 90% of residents are in the two most deprived quintiles of the English Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) (2019) and the population is ethnically diverse.ParticipantsAll women booked for antenatal care under Guys and St Thomas' National Health Service Foundation Trust after 11 July 2018 (when the Lambeth Early Action Partnership (LEAP*) caseload midwifery team was implemented) until data collection 18 June 2020. This included 523 pregnancies in the LEAP area, of which 230 were allocated to caseload midwifery, and 8430 pregnancies from other areas.Main outcome measuresTo explore if targeted caseload midwifery (known to reduce preterm birth) will improve important measurable outcomes (preterm birth, mode of birth and newborn outcomes).ResultsThere was a significant reduction in preterm birth rate in women allocated to caseload midwifery, when compared with those who received traditional midwifery care (5.1% vs 11.2%; risk ratio: 0.41; p=0.02; 95% CI 0.18 to 0.86; number needed to treat: 11.9). Caesarean section births were significantly reduced in women allocated to caseload midwifery care, when compared with traditional midwifery care (24.3% vs 38.0%; risk ratio: 0.64: p=0.01; 95% CI 0.47 to 0.90; number needed to treat: 7.4) including emergency caesarean deliveries (15.2% vs 22.5%; risk ratio: 0.59; p=0.03; 95% CI 0.38 to 0.94; number needed to treat: 10) without increase in neonatal unit admission or stillbirth.ConclusionThis study shows that a model of caseload midwifery care implemented in an inner city deprived community improves outcome by significantly reducing preterm birth and birth by caesarean section when compared with traditional care. This data trend suggests that when applied to targeted groups (women in higher IMD quintile and women of diverse ethnicity) that the impact of intervention is greater