EFFECT OF DEPOSIT MONEY BANKS ON REAL ESTATE GROWTH IN NIGERIA

This study examined the effect of deposit money banks on real estate growth in Nigeria using bank credit to the real estate, interest rate, inflation rate and the contribution of the real estate to GDP as the study’s variables. The study adopted the ex-pose facto research design. Annual time series data were collected from the CBN statistical Bulletin using the desk survey method for the period 1985 to 2017. The data were analysed using the ordinary least square multiple regression statistical technique. Result from the analyses revealed that bank credit to the real estate subsector has a positive and significant effect on the real sector growth in Nigeria. Also, it was shown that interest rate had a positive but insignificant effect on real estate growth in Nigeria. Lastly, it was revealed that inflation has a positive but insignificant effect on real estate growth in Nigeria. Based on these findings, it was recommended that CBN and other regulatory authorities should formulate policies to encourage increased funding by banks to the real estate sector by prioritizing lending by deposit money banks to this subsector. Also, interest rate on real estate loans should be set lower than the conventional interest rates to boost the efficiency of the sector and facilitate it contribution to GDP and growth and Lastly monetary authority should target inflation rate at single digit and ensure that inflation does not increase beyond that level to boost real sector growth. JEL: G20; G21; L85  Article visualizations

The Critical and Logical Analysis of the Impact of Monetary Policy on Macroeconomic Aggregates

The study critically and logically analyzed the impact of monetary policy on macroeconomic aggregates (inflation and interest rate). The objectives were; to examine the effect of money supply, interest rate, cash reserve requirement on inflation. To ascertain the effect of monetary policy instruments on macroeconomic aggregate (inflation), secondary source of data was employed and extracted from Central Bank statistical Bulletin. Ordinary least square of multiple regression technique was used to statistically analyze the relationship between dependent and independent variables. The findings revealed that monetary policy had a positive impact on macroeconomic aggregate (inflation), also shown that monetary policy affected interest rate positively. The study recommended that effective monetary policy should focus on manipulating instruments and emphasis should be placed on the use of interest rates and inflation to manage the economy. Keywords: Inflation, Interest rat

The Sustainability and Prospects of the Nigerian Capital Market on Economic Growth

The study assessed the sustainability and prospects of the Nigerian capital market on economic growth. The objectives were to determine the impact of market capitalisation, government security and equity on economic growth. Data were collected from secondary source using CBN Statistical Bulletin. Multiple regression model was employed using ordinary least square. The findings revealed that market capitalization, government security, equity, had a positive impact on economic growth using GDP as a proxy. The study recommended that the Nigerian capital market should be internationalized and properly deregulated and sufficient information should be given to both investors and brokerage firms for effective security pricing. Keywords: Capital market, Market capitalisatio

Uropathogens and antimicrobial susceptibility profiles of asymptomatic bacteriuria among pregnant women receiving antenatal care in traditional birth attendants homes in Ikono, Akwa- Ibom State, Nigeria

Background: Asymptomatic bacteriuria (ASB) in pregnancy is associated with adverse maternal and obstetric outcomes if untreated. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and susceptibility profile of ASB among pregnant women attending antenatal clinics in traditional birth attendant homes in Ikono, Akwa-Ibom State.Methods: The study was a cross sectional survey using 350 pregnant women with ASB. Mid-stream clean catch urine samples were collected from the women using sterile containers. The urine samples were cultured, bacterial colonies were identified and antibiotic sensitivity was done. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 20.0 and significant was set at ≤0.05.Results: The overall prevalence was 33.4% using 350 asymptomatic pregnant women. The mean age was 26.21±3.6 years and aged 27-32 have the highest prevalence (13.4) of ASB. 55.1% attained primary school, while 33.4% had informal education, monoparous (54%), 3rd trimester was 44.6% with 15.8% positive cases. Multigravidae was 71.1% with 19.4% positive cases. There was significant association of age, education, parity, occupation, monthly income, etc with ASB. The most common isolates were Escherichia coli (29.9%), then Klebsiella pneumonia (19.7%). Pseudomonas aeruginosa was susceptible to gentamicin (92%), Ciprofloxacin (83%) imipenam (83%) and azetronam (75%), while Staphylococcus saprophyticus was susceptible to imipenam (90%), then gentamicin at 80%. Multi-drug resistant were widespread in most of the isolates.Conclusions: Multi-drug resistant were observed in most of the isolates. Continuous and collaborative surveillance of ASB and antimicrobial resistance pattern are essential to reduce the consequence of asymptomatic bacteriuria in pregnant women

Impact of opioid-free analgesia on pain severity and patient satisfaction after discharge from surgery: multispecialty, prospective cohort study in 25 countries

Background: Balancing opioid stewardship and the need for adequate analgesia following discharge after surgery is challenging. This study aimed to compare the outcomes for patients discharged with opioid versus opioid-free analgesia after common surgical procedures.Methods: This international, multicentre, prospective cohort study collected data from patients undergoing common acute and elective general surgical, urological, gynaecological, and orthopaedic procedures. The primary outcomes were patient-reported time in severe pain measured on a numerical analogue scale from 0 to 100% and patient-reported satisfaction with pain relief during the first week following discharge. Data were collected by in-hospital chart review and patient telephone interview 1 week after discharge.Results: The study recruited 4273 patients from 144 centres in 25 countries; 1311 patients (30.7%) were prescribed opioid analgesia at discharge. Patients reported being in severe pain for 10 (i.q.r. 1-30)% of the first week after discharge and rated satisfaction with analgesia as 90 (i.q.r. 80-100) of 100. After adjustment for confounders, opioid analgesia on discharge was independently associated with increased pain severity (risk ratio 1.52, 95% c.i. 1.31 to 1.76; P < 0.001) and re-presentation to healthcare providers owing to side-effects of medication (OR 2.38, 95% c.i. 1.36 to 4.17; P = 0.004), but not with satisfaction with analgesia (beta coefficient 0.92, 95% c.i. -1.52 to 3.36; P = 0.468) compared with opioid-free analgesia. Although opioid prescribing varied greatly between high-income and low- and middle-income countries, patient-reported outcomes did not.Conclusion: Opioid analgesia prescription on surgical discharge is associated with a higher risk of re-presentation owing to side-effects of medication and increased patient-reported pain, but not with changes in patient-reported satisfaction. Opioid-free discharge analgesia should be adopted routinely

Prevalence of Anaemia among Pregnant Women at Booking in the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, Uyo, Nigeria

Background. Anaemia with an estimated prevalence of 35–75% among pregnant women is a major cause of maternal deaths in Nigeria. Objective. To determine the prevalence of anaemia, associated sociodemographic factors and red cell morphological pattern among pregnant women during booking at the University Teaching Hospital, Uyo. Material and Methods. A cross-sectional analytical study of 400 women at the booking clinic over a 16-week period. The packed cell volume and red cell morphology of each pregnant woman were determined. Their biodata, obstetric and medical histories, and results of other routine investigations were obtained with questionnaires and analyzed with SPSS Package version 17.0. Results. The mean packed cell volume was 31.8% ±3.2 and 54.5% of the women were anaemic. The commonest blood picture was microcytic hypochromia and normocytic hypochromia suggesting iron deficiency anaemia. Anaemia was significantly and independently related to a history of fever in the index pregnancy (OR=0.4; P=0.00; 95% CI=0.3–0.7), HIV positive status (OR=0.2; P=0.01; 95% CI=0.1–0.6), and low social class (OR=0.3; P=0.00; 95% CI=0.2–0.7). Conclusion. Women need to be economically empowered and every pregnant woman should be encouraged to obtain antenatal care, where haematinics supplementation can be given and appropriate investigations and treatment of causes of fever and management of HIV can be instituted

Evaluation of Pollution Load: Heavy Metal Contents and Physiochemical Properties of the Great Kwa River, Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria

Background and Objectives: Human activities can increase the amount of pollutants in the environment leading to water pollution. The contamination of surface water and sediments by heavy metals can result in adverse health conditions of humans, due to the bioaccumulation of metals. This study seeks to assess the pollution load of some heavy metals and physiochemical properties in Great Kwa River. Methods: Water samples were collected once a month from three stations within four selected months in wet and dry seasons. Samples were preserved by adding 10 ml of 6 N Nitric acid and stored at 5oC. Laboratory investigations were conducted and data analyzed statistically. Findings: The mean pH, dissolved O2, biological O2 demand, conductivity, NO3, NH4 and temperature were 7.44±1.24, 5.58±0.92, 0.957±0.002, 32.84±2.941, 0.1030±0.1701, 0.113±0.018 and 28.2±1.48, respectively during wet season. Mean concentration of Cu, Fe, Cr, Mn, Zn, Ni are 0.225±0.003, 0.489±0.009, 0.068±0.016, 0.102±0.006, 0.794±0.003, 0.031±0.001, respectively during the wet season. Mean concentration of metals in the river during the wet season were ranked in descending order as Zn > Fe > Cu > Mn > Cr > Ni. Iron (0.489±0.009 mg/l and 0.438±0.003 mg/l), chromium (0.068±0.016 mg/l and 0.055±0.008 mg/l), nickel (0.031±0.001 mg/l and 0.025±0.002 mg/l) were higher than Nigerian standard for drinking water in both seasons. The contamination factor of heavy metals in station 3 were 2.14, 1.56, 1.09, 0.89 for Fe, Cr, Ni, Zn, respectively, indicating moderate contamination. The pollution load index in stations 1, 2, 3 were 0.262, 0.537, 0.981, respectively. Conclusion: The present study provided base-line information on the pollution levels and physiochemical properties of the river. The river was not highly polluted by heavy metals except iron, chromium and nickel that were found above the recommended standards. However, drinking of water from the river over one’s lifetime is not advisable due to detrimental health hazards

Adaptation of the Wound Healing Questionnaire universal-reporter outcome measure for use in global surgery trials (TALON-1 study): mixed-methods study and Rasch analysis

BackgroundThe Bluebelle Wound Healing Questionnaire (WHQ) is a universal-reporter outcome measure developed in the UK for remote detection of surgical-site infection after abdominal surgery. This study aimed to explore cross-cultural equivalence, acceptability, and content validity of the WHQ for use across low- and middle-income countries, and to make recommendations for its adaptation.MethodsThis was a mixed-methods study within a trial (SWAT) embedded in an international randomized trial, conducted according to best practice guidelines, and co-produced with community and patient partners (TALON-1). Structured interviews and focus groups were used to gather data regarding cross-cultural, cross-contextual equivalence of the individual items and scale, and conduct a translatability assessment. Translation was completed into five languages in accordance with Mapi recommendations. Next, data from a prospective cohort (SWAT) were interpreted using Rasch analysis to explore scaling and measurement properties of the WHQ. Finally, qualitative and quantitative data were triangulated using a modified, exploratory, instrumental design model.ResultsIn the qualitative phase, 10 structured interviews and six focus groups took place with a total of 47 investigators across six countries. Themes related to comprehension, response mapping, retrieval, and judgement were identified with rich cross-cultural insights. In the quantitative phase, an exploratory Rasch model was fitted to data from 537 patients (369 excluding extremes). Owing to the number of extreme (floor) values, the overall level of power was low. The single WHQ scale satisfied tests of unidimensionality, indicating validity of the ordinal total WHQ score. There was significant overall model misfit of five items (5, 9, 14, 15, 16) and local dependency in 11 item pairs. The person separation index was estimated as 0.48 suggesting weak discrimination between classes, whereas Cronbach's α was high at 0.86. Triangulation of qualitative data with the Rasch analysis supported recommendations for cross-cultural adaptation of the WHQ items 1 (redness), 3 (clear fluid), 7 (deep wound opening), 10 (pain), 11 (fever), 15 (antibiotics), 16 (debridement), 18 (drainage), and 19 (reoperation). Changes to three item response categories (1, not at all; 2, a little; 3, a lot) were adopted for symptom items 1 to 10, and two categories (0, no; 1, yes) for item 11 (fever).ConclusionThis study made recommendations for cross-cultural adaptation of the WHQ for use in global surgical research and practice, using co-produced mixed-methods data from three continents. Translations are now available for implementation into remote wound assessment pathways