The Cost of Oil Spillage and Gas Flaring on The Socio-Economic Development of The Niger Delta Region of Nigeria

The research examined the total loss revenue associated with the frequent oil spillage and gas flaring in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria and its effects on the socio-economic development of the region between 1979 and 2008. In carrying out the study, the survey research method was used while observation, interview, literature review and internet were employed as techniques of data collection. The findings of the study revealed that the total loss revenue of oil spillage and gas flaring was significantly influenced by the rate of oil spilled and gas flared, the quantity of oil spilled and gas flared. The study also revealed that the total loss revenue of oil spillage and gas flaring have no significant effect on the socio-economic development of the Niger Delta as measured by the rate of poverty in the region.  The following recommendations were made.  Government should, as a matter of urgency enact a law to control oil spillage and gas flaring which total lost revenue stood at US$175,795,811.00 equivalent to N20,671,321,766.00 and the establishment of oil spilled compensation fund to take care of the effects of oil spillage and gas flaring in the region. Keywords: Total loss revenue, total oil spilled lost, total gas flared lost, average rate of poverty, the Niger Delta Region

Family planning practices of rural community dwellers in cross River State, Nigeria.

Background: Nigeria is the most populous nation in Africa and the seventh most populous in the world. Despite a high fertility rate of 5.5 per woman and a high population growth rate of 3.2%, Nigeria’s contraceptive prevalence is 15%, which is one of the lowest in the world. The objective of this study was to determine the knowledge of family planning and family planning preferences and practices of rural community women in Cross River State of Nigeria. Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study involving 291 rural women. Convenience sampling method was used. The women were assembled in a hall and a semi-structured questionnaire was administered to every consenting woman until the sample size was attained. Data obtained from the study were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 20 and presented in tables as frequencies and percentages as well as figures. Association between categorical variables was explored using chi-square test. Binary logistic regression was also performed to determine predictors of use of at least one family planning method at some point in time. Results: Fifty (17.2%) respondents were using at least one family planning method. One hundred and ninety-eight (68.3%) respondents had used at least one family planning method at some point in time. Reasons given for not using any family planning method included “Family planning is against my religious beliefs” (56%); “it is against our culture” (43.8%); “I need more children” (64.9%); “my partner would not agree” (35.3%); “family planning does not work” (42.9%); “it reduces sexual enjoyment” (76%); and “it promotes unfaithfulness/infidelity” (59%). Binary logistic regression conducted to predict the use of at least one family planning method at some point in time using some independent variables showed that who makes the decision regarding family planning use was the strongest predictor of family planning use (OR = 0.567; 95% CI = 0.391–0.821). This suggests that family planning uptake is more likely when couples make a joint decision. Conclusion: The proportion of respondents who were currently using at least one family planning method was low. The findings of this study suggest that family planning uptake would increase if couples make joint decisions in this regard

Developing tools to promote culturally competent compassion, courage, and intercultural communication in healthcare

Background: Compassion is an important concept in healthcare, and in addition, care should be delivered in a culturally competent manner, taking into account the values, culture, and health beliefs of the individual. However, the training of nurses and other healthcare professionals may not adequately equip them to practice in a manner which is both compassionate and culturally competent. In this paper, we report on the development of three learning tools, designed to promote the skills and strengthen the capacity of nurses and healthcare professionals to provide culturally competent and compassionate care. Methods: The project involved the participation of six European countries in the development of three learning tools, covering culturally competent compassion, culturally competent courage, and intercultural communication. The principles which informed the methodology derive from the previous work on the Papadopoulos, Tilki and Taylor (PTT) model of transcultural nursing and cultural competence, and were also informed by the Intercultural Education of Nurses in Europe (IENE1 & IENE2) projects. Each partner country was required to produce one tool for each topic area, based on guidance provided by the project co-ordinator, leading to the development of eighteen tools in total. The tools were administered mainly to student nurses to test their feasibility. Results: The emerging tools contained important theoretical and practical components, whereby innovative learning methods and case studies were included. Student nurses enjoyed using the tools, and enjoyed their flexibility. The learning tools enabled students to become stimulated and to engage together leading to a positive learning experience. Discussion: The tools allow for a positive learning experience and reflection of good practice to take place. The flexibility and content of the tools allows for them to be of equal value to other healthcare professionals as well as nursing staff. Conclusion: The tools were initially utilised mainly with student nurses and were received with a positive response. Work is now in place to further implement the tools and evaluate the longer term effects among a range of healthcare professionals and service user health outcomes

HIV-Related Stigma Among Black Mothers in Two North American and One African Cities

HIV-related stigma is a negative attitude or behaviour towards persons living with HIV, and is detrimental to effective care, management, and treatment of HIV. Using a revised 10-item stigma scale, we compared levels of HIV-related stigma and its correlates among Black women living with HIV in Ottawa, Canada, and Miami, FL, USA, with those in Port Harcourt, Nigeria. HIV-related stigma scores were calculated, with a maximum score of 10 and averaged 4.71 in Ottawa, 5.06 in Miami, and 3.78 in Port Harcourt. No significant difference in HIV-related stigma scores between Ottawa and Miami. HIV-related stigma was significantly (p < 0.05) higher among women in the North American cities compared with women in the African city. Hierarchical linear modelling shows that psychosocial variables contributed to variations in HIV-related stigma in Ottawa (22.3%), Miami (36.3%), and Port Harcourt (14.1%). At p < 0.05, discrimination was a significant predictor of increased HIV-related stigma in Ottawa (β = 0.077), Miami (β = 0.092), and Port Harcourt (β = 0.068). Functional social support had a significant diminishing effect on HIV-related stigma in Miami (β = − 0.108) and Port Harcourt (β = − 0.035). Tackling HIV-related sigma requires sociocultural considerations within specific regional and national contexts

EFFECTS OF MIGRANT REMITTANCES ON FARM HOUSEHOLD WELFARE IN NIGERIA

International remittances are now a mechanism in development financing and a welfare strategy. Growing trends of these money transfers by migrants to their families back home in developing nations have been proven by evidences in literature and many empirical findings. This research analysed the effects of migrant remittances on the welfare of farm households in Nigeria. Welfare was measurable in terms of the households’ real per capita consumption. Cross sectional data were pooled from two sources. The data sources were Nigerian General Household Survey conducted in 2010/2011 and the Nigerian Living Standard Survey carried out in 2003/2004. The analytical technique adopted was the poverty profile function within the framework of multiple regression analysis. Results showed that four exogenous variables, including household real per capita remittances were significant determinants of household real per capita consumption (welfare)

EFFECTS OF MIGRANT REMITTANCES ON FARM HOUSEHOLD WELFARE IN NIGERIA

International remittances are now a mechanism in development financing and a welfare strategy. Growing trends of these money transfers by migrants to their families back home in developing nations have been proven by evidences in literature and many empirical findings. This research analysed the effects of migrant remittances on the welfare of farm households in Nigeria. Welfare was measurable in terms of the households’ real per capita consumption. Cross sectional data were pooled from two sources. The data sources were Nigerian General Household Survey conducted in 2010/2011 and the Nigerian Living Standard Survey carried out in 2003/2004. The analytical technique adopted was the poverty profile function within the framework of multiple regression analysis. Results showed that four exogenous variables, including household real per capita remittances were significant determinants of household real per capita consumption (welfare)

Understanding Pregnancy Intentions among Black Women Living with HIV in Two North American Cities and One African City

Despite increased access to and improvements in contraceptives, unintended pregnancy continues to be a problem globally and is associated with adverse outcomes for mothers and infants. This paper seeks to unravel the mediators of intended versus unintended pregnancies among Black women living with HIV. The paper draws on survey data from a broader multi-country mixed methods study that used a community-based participatory research approach to investigate the psychosocial experiences of Black mothers living with HIV. The study participants were Black mothers living with HIV drawn through venue-based sampling from Ottawa, Canada (n = 89), Port Harcourt, Nigeria (n = 400), and Miami, Florida, United States (n = 201). We used Hierarchical Binary Logistic Regression Modelling (HBLM) to estimate the independent associations of pregnancy intention (intended versus unintended) with blocks of predictor variables (sociodemographic, sociocultural, and psychosocial predictors) at alpha level of 0.5. Specifically, 44.2%, 67.3%, and 17.7% of the women had unintended pregnancies in Ottawa, Miami, and Port Harcourt, respectively. There were important results from the HBLM. The odds of intended relative to unintended pregnancies were (i) reduced in larger households (OR = 0.56, 95% CI = 0.36/0.87), but increased with employment (OR = 7.84, 95% CI = 1.52/40.54) and HIV knowledge (OR = 3.13, 95% CI = 1.42/6.90) in Ottawa; (ii) reduced with age (OR = 0.93, 95% CI = 0.88/0.98), but increased with marriage (OR = 2.90, 95% CI = 1.43/5.88) and social support (pregnancy (OR = 3.77, 95% CI = 1.98/7.19) in Port Harcourt; (iii) reduced with social support (OR = 0.95, 95% CI = 0.91/1.00) but increased with HIV status disclosure (OR = 1.73, 95% CI = 1.01/2.97) and the influence of specific referent (OR = 1.68, 95% CI = 1.13/2.52) in Miami-FL. The incidence of unintended pregnancy is more prevalent among Black women living with HIV in the North American cities relative to the African city. Also, unique combinations of sociodemographic, sociocultural, and psychosocial factors influence pregnancy intention in each city. This implies that policy and practices to address reproductive health needs of WLHIV must consider these contextual issues

Determinants of Adherence to National Infant Feeding Guidelines by Black Mothers Living with HIV

Worldwide, 160,000 children were newly infected with HIV in 2018; half of these were infected through breastfeeding. Infant feeding guidelines are distinct depending on each country's resources and national or sub-national guidelines. Because of divergent guidelines, the best infant feeding approach to prevent mother-to-child transmission can become unclear. The purpose of this study was to examine the sociocultural and psychosocial factors related to adherence to infant feeding guidelines through a city-level, North-South comparison of Black mothers living with HIV in Nigeria, Canada, and the United States. Using a cross-sectional multi-country survey, a convenience sample of 690 mothers were recruited from June 2016 - December 2019. Socio-cultural and psychosocial factors influencing infant feeding practices were measured. Using binary logistic regression, infant feeding attitudes (OR = 1.10), motherhood experiences (OR = 1.08), low hyper-vigilance score (OR = .93), paternal support (OR = 1.10) and perception that the health care provider supported adherence to infant feeding guidelines (OR = 2.43) were associated with guideline adherence. Mothers who had cultural beliefs that were inconsistent with infant feeding guidelines and mothers with low incomes (OR = 2.62) were less likely adherent with their country's guidelines. City-level factors were not found to influence adherence to infant feeding guidelines; however, socio-cultural and psychosocial factors at community, family and individual levels were significant. Policy formulation and targeted interventions must be cognizant of cultural expectations of motherhood and mindful of psychosocial determinants of adherence to infant feeding guidelines

Informal transit, socio-spatial exclusion, and changing geographies of HIV/AIDS in urban Malawi

The role played by the transport sector in the regional spread of HIV in sub-Saharan Africa is well known, yet attention has remained confined to entertainment hotspots and stopping places along long-distance highways and cross-border transport corridors. This paper draws attention to informal modes of transit prevalent in sub-Saharan African cities, by linking the rise of two-wheeled, manually operated bicycles, known as “Sacramento”, to the potential spread of HIV and AIDS in Malawi. The findings of a qualitative study from Mzuzu city show that Sacramento operators are prone to demanding or accepting sexual favours from female commuters as payment for a ride. We draw on complementary theories of the political ecology of health (PEH) and feminist political ecology to show how a popular belief that Sacramento is an inferior mode of urban transit underpins risky sexual behaviour among men hired to operate this informal mode transport. The findings further show that operators’ responses to this perceived inferiority are themselves also driven by gender discourses that seek to validate their identities as powerful go-getters. These scripts also create an environment that fosters multiple sexual partners and venerates unprotected sex. Because Sacramento is both a source of livelihood and an HIV risk milieu, it epitomises the contraction inherent in HIV and AIDS vulnerability in sub-Saharan Africa