Climate variation, its impact on non timber forest products and livelihood of Ohafia People, Abia State Nigeria

Increased vulnerability of Non timber forest products to climate variation has overtime, resulted to serious negative consequences on rural dwellers that depend on rain, sunshine and wind for their fruiting, maturity and harvesting, to enhance livelihood. The scope of this study analyzed the effect of climate variability and NTFPs through peoples’ perception using a field survey. The objective of the research therefore focused on the socio-economic characteristics of the respondents in the study area, activities of the people that increase the risk of climate variability, the effect of climate variability on the quantity and composition NTFPs in the study area, the perception of people on the effect of climate variability on the NTFPs and the contribution of NTFPs to their livelihood. A total of 216 respondents were sampled, the study adopted a simple random technique which was used to select 9 villages out of the 26 villages in Ohafia Local Government Area through a structured questionnaire. Findings show that large proportion (72.2%) of the respondents censured increased temperature and heavy rainfall (64.4%) as the most reason for decreased yield in NTFPs in the last four years. Majority (88.9% and 58.3%) of the respondents opined that climate variability had reduced fruit yield and price instability respectively. Over 35% said climate variability had brought about species scarcity. 54.2% had no access to safe drinking water, 25.5% of the respondents made very low sales from NTFPs, while 3.2% and 29.6% faced starvation and diseases. Climate variability influence on the availability of Non timber forest products will affect the income status and food security of rural dwellers that depend on it. Vulnerabilities could be reduced through campaign on embracing climate variability plans, funding the campaign through the collaboration of government and foreign countries, re-training extension workers, cash donations and training the rural dwellers.Keywords: Climate variability, Food security, NTFPs, Ohafia and Rural dweller

Body mass index of children aged 2 to 15 years in Enugu Nigeria

Background: Body Mass Index (BMI) is a measure of adiposity and has been used in many countries for assessment of overweight and obesity. The prevalence of obesity in children is increasing and is recognized as risk indicator of cardiovascular disease in adulthood. The study aimed was to document the Body Mass Index of school children aged 2-15 years. The study also determined the prevalence of overweight and obesity.Methods: This is a descriptive study of obesity prevalence in Nigerian Children. The weight and heights of the sampled children were measured and their BMI was calculated as weight/height (m2). Overweight and obese children were identified using charts from pooled internationally accepteddata age and sex specific cut -off points for BMI .Results: The BMI ranged from 10.8kg / m2.to24.7Kg/m2 with a mean BMI of 16.28 + 2.32 kg/m2. The mean BMI for males was 16.09 + 2.07 and the females 16.47 + 2.52. (P > 0.05). The prevalence of overweight and obesity were 6.4% and 1.7% respectively. More females were significantlyoverweight than males (p<0.05). Prevalence of overweight and obesity were highest in the highest socioeconomic class.Conclusion: Most children had BMI within the normal range. The prevalence of overweight and obesity though predominantly low should be taken  seriously especially as it appears to be associated with improving   socioeconomic status. School health education (physical activity andnutritional education) is recommended as preventive measures.Key words: Body mass index, overweight, obesity, Nigerian children

Advanced Practice Nursing in Nigerian Healthcare: Prospects and Challenges

This study explored the prospects and challenges of introducing advanced practice nursing (APN) in the Nigerian health system. It sought to address the following: career pathways for registered nurses and midwives, advanced duties performed by them and the circumstances, their views and willingness for autonomous practice, and doctors’ degree of acceptance. Research population composed of registered nurses, midwives and medical doctors in primary healthcare. The conceptual framework for this study was based on the scope of practice, standards and competencies of the APN established by the International Council of Nurses (2008). A 12-item checklist of typical duties of APN from the framework provided a guide for the design of eight main questions and 19 subquestions. Data was collected from 17 participants through in-depth interviews and group discussions and analyzed using Charmaz’s three simplified methods for qualitative data. Findings were that (a) registered nurses and midwives are constrained to perform advanced duties, (b) doctors delegate advanced roles to nurses and midwives, (c) nurses and midwives lacked pathways for advancement, (d) APN would substitute for doctor shortage, and (e) advocacy and lobbying has to done by the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria to change the current policy. The social change implication is that it offers insight into the potentials for APN in healthcare delivery. Keywords: advanced practic

Evaluation of antioxidant potential and anti-diabetic effect of ethanol seed extract of Garcinia kola (Bitter Kola) in albino rat

The medicinal properties of plants have been investigated in the recent scientific world because of their potent antioxidant activities, mild side effects and economic viability. This study  evaluated the antioxidant property and  antidiabetic effect of ethanol seed extract of G. kola (bitter kola) on alloxan induced diabetic albino rats. The in-vitro antioxidant assay was done using standard methods. Thirty (36) albino rats were used for the in-vivo study and fasted for 16-18hours and thereafter induced diabetes with 150mg/ kg b.w. of alloxan monohydrate via intraperitoneal injection. The animals were divided into six groups of six (6) rats each. Group A was the normal control, group B was the positive control (treated with 5mg/kg b.w of glabeclamide), Group C was the negative control (untreated) and groups D through F were administered 500mg/kg, 250mg/kg and 125mg/kg of the extract respectively. The results showed 49.70% reduction in blood glucose level of the 500mg/kg extract treated group compared to the positive control (45.03 %) on the day 7. The antioxidant results showed a significant (p<0.05) dose dependent increase in its ability to scavenge free radicals. The results of this study suggested the use of G. kola seed for the treatment of free radical mediated diseases and management of diabetes

Phytochemical Composition and Antioxidant Activity Screening of Chloroform Leaves Extract of Man-To-Man (Peperomia pellucida) Harvested from Umunomo Ihitteafoukwu in Imo State, South Eastern Nigeria

Peperomia pellucida commonly called man-to-man or pepper elder is a plant of immense medicinal value and used in the treatment of different ailments such as abdominal pain, abscess, acne, boils colic rhematic joint pain and also consumed as vegetable. This study was conducted to investigate the preliminary and quantitative phytochemical properties of Peperomia pellucida. The results obtained revealed the presence of alkaloids (2.49±0.02), phenols (0.05±0.01), flavonoids (0.59±0.01), saponins (0.64 ± 0.02), tannins (0.08± 0.01) with alkaloid registering the highest presence. Peperomia pellucida leaves extract exhibited significant antioxidant activity at minimum and maximum concentrations of 2.0 and 12.0mg/ml respectively (compared to the ascorbic acid used as the free scavenger). The antibacterial result also showed that P. pellucida extract inhibited the growth of the test organisms, with the highest growth inhibition against Escherichia Coli and the lowest growth inhibition against Bacillus Cereus. The antimicrobial properties indicate the potential usefulness of this plant in the treatment of various pathogenic diseases which in future can be developed as a potential antimicrobial agent used in the treatment of infectious diseases

Analysis of Entrepreneurship Development in Agriculture among Arable Crop Farmers in Imo State, Nigeria

The study was on entrepreneurship development in agriculture among arable crop farmers in Imo State, Nigeria. Sixty households entrepreneurs were selected using multi-stage random sampling techniques. Well structured questionnaire was the main tool for data collection. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistical tools and 3-point likert scale rating of highly, moderately and low. Mean age was 42.11years. Majority (76.33%) were males. Greater proportions (71.67%) were married with an average household size of 5.0 persons. Farmers cultivated on an average farm size of 1.61Ha. Average annual farm income was N118,392.00 ($789.28). Reasonable proportion of the farmers identified personal intension, wanting autonomy and displacement/disruption in life as the key drive to entrepreneurship development in the area. Entrepreneurship enterprises have been invaluable to farmers in the area. However, farmers complained of poor access to entrepreneurship information, inadequate start-up capital and long distance between farms and market in the area. Despite this shortcomings farmers perceived their extent of entrepreneurship drive and participation as been high (X=4.50). It was therefore recommended that effective and adequate entrepreneurship policies and programmes should be developed for farmers while urgently addressing the negative factors that hinder its growth and development in the area. Fostering entrepreneurship education at all levels to ensure capacity building for diverse enterprises in agriculture was also advocated. Ultimately, government at all levels and private’s sector support fund is necessary to enhance entrepreneurship spirit and development among farmers in the area and beyond. Keywords: Entrepreneurship, Development, Entrepreneurship drive, Participation, Farming activities, Barrier

Response of Growing Rabbits to Concentrate Diet Supplemented with Leucaena (Leucaena leucocephala) or Siratro (Macroptilium atropurpureum)Leaves

Thirty (30) 8-week old rabbits of average initial weight of 900 g were used to determine the Growth Performance and Carcass yield of growing rabbits fed Concentrate diet supplemented with Leucaena (Leucaena leucocephala)or Siratro (Macroptilium atropurpureum) leaves. The experiment was in a completely randomized design (CRD) with 5 treatment diets replicated thrice. The control group (T1) was fed a formulated rabbit diet, in T2, 10 % of the formulated rabbit feed was replaced with Leucaena fresh leaves, in T3, 20 % of the formulated rabbit feed was replaced with Leucaena fresh leaves, in T4, 10% of the formulated rabbit feed was replaced with Siratro fresh leaves and in T5, 20% of the formulated rabbit feed was replaced with Siratro fresh leaves. The study lasted 56 days. Feed and water were supplied ad libitum. Performance data indicated that body weight gain and feed conversion ratio were significantly (P<0.05) better in rabbits fed on 10% leucaena and 10% siratro inclusion than those fed on the 20% leucaena and 20% siratro inclusion levels. There were significant (P<0.05) differences in the organ weights of the rabbits except for lung and spleen (P>0.05). The weights of liver, heart and kidney were significantly (P<0.05) higher for rabbits fed 20%leucaena and 20%siratro diets than those fed other diets. From the results, it was concluded that inclusion of 10% leucaena or 10%siratro leaves in rabbits’ diet has no adverse effects on the performance and carcass yield of growing rabbits. Keywords: Leucaena, Performance, Siratro, Rabbits, Carcass yield

Antibiotic sensitvity and plasmid profiles of bacteria isolated from water sources in Oproama community in the Niger Delta

The antibiotic sensitivity pattern and plasmid profile of Escherichia coli, Vibrio and Salmonella species isolated from well and river water sources in Oproama Community were investigated. Antibiotic sensitivity profiles of the bacteria (Escherichia coli, Vibrio sp. and Salmonella sp.) isolated from the water showed high sensitivity to oflaxicin, nalidixic acid and nitrofurantoin and high resistance to amoxicillin, augumentin, cotrimazole and tetracycline. Multi antibiotic resistant index (MARI) as high as 0.375 (Escherichia coli: E9; Vibrio spp.: V3, V4, V10; Salmonella spp.: S1, S9), 0.5 (Vibrio spp.: V2; Salmonella spp.: S2, S4) and 0.75 (Salmonella spp.: S7) were recorded after curing the plasmids with sodium deodecyl sulphate (SDS). The plasmid profiles revealed that 60% of the isolates harboured detectable plasmids with sizes up to 23.130 kb.Keywords: Antibiotics, Escherichia coli, Plasmid, Salmonella, Vibri