Spousal Response to Voluntary Counselling and Testing: An Analysis of Female Patients at Faith Alive Foundation Hospital Jos

The research is on spousal response to voluntary counselling and testing of human immunodeficiency virus and their reaction to HIV test results at the Faith Alive Foundation Hospital Jos, Nigeria.  Survey questionnaire was combined with laboratory HIV tests to obtain information from respondents.  All 244 new patients who attended hospital within the period of the study covering two months were sampled for the study.  It was found that the majority (94.7%, n=231) of the women accepted voluntary counselling and testing and further took part in the HIV test while (5.3%, n=13) declined test.  The majority (76.93%, n=10) of the women who rejected test said they needed to seek permission from their husbands.  The laboratory HIV result showed that majority (62.77%, n=145) of the women tested HIV positive.  The result further showed that 60.8% (n=138) of the husbands refused to come for the HIV test but 39.2% (n=89) accepted and appeared for the test.  Husbands who refused to come for the test stated that they do not believe in HIV or that they were very busy and wouldn’t have time for HIV test.  Generally, spouses who did the test and received a positive result felt depressed; they cried and were angry over it.  Post test counselling was done which enabled respondents to accept ARVs and plan for their future.   Social mobilization and sensitization in addition to male-couple attendance at ante-natal care services are recommended to influence couples to accept voluntary counselling and testing. Keywords: Gender, power relations, voluntary counselling and testing

The Nature of Postharvest Losses of Rice among Rice Farmers in Makurdi Local Government Area of Benue State Nigeria

This study examined the nature of postharvest losses of rice in Makurdi Local Government Area of Benue State. The study specifically examined the stages of the postharvest losses of rice. A sample of 399 rice producers were drawn in Makurdi using the Taro Yamane formula. Quantitative data collection techniques were used to elicit information from respondents. The findings from the study revealed that, the nature postharvest losses of rice start from harvest to consumption stage, with threshing recording the highest loss of 27%. However, the total losses from all the stages are between 37%-40%. The study therefore recommended sensitization of farmers through the relevant agricultural agencies on postproduction of rice, establishment of reserves for the preservation of rice, linking farmers with agro-processing equipment available in state or those at national research institute at an affordable price, plus farmers to take advantage of cooperatives to benefit from agricultural projects establish by the government

Perception of people living with HIV/Aids in Nasarawa State-Nigeria on artemisia as an immune booster

This study is on perception of people living with HIV/AIDS in Nasarawa State-Nigeria on Artemisia as a remedy for boosting of immune system. The objective was to find out whether Artemisia tea/recipe is being used as one of the elements of ART combination therapy for immune boosting by the respondents. A sample of 80 PLWHA was drawn from a total population of 838 members from Nasarawa State Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS (NASNET) using a stratified random sampling technique. In-depth interviews, Focus Group Discussions (FGD) and structured questionnaire were used for data collection. The data collected were analysed using contents analysis as well as quantitative statistical methods such as standard deviation to triangulate the finding. The result revealed that, Artemisia recipe is being used as a salient immune booster apart from its common use as effective recipe for malaria treatment and other feverish conditions. The discussants also revealed that taking Artemisia tea along side ART has improved the CD4 count of PLWHA on re-examination in the hospital better than when taking ART alone. The paper recommends that the federal and state governments should encourage further researches on the use of Artemisia to validate this claim.Keywords: Perception PLWHA, Artemisia recipe, antiretroviral therapy, alternative measure, and boosting immune syste