The Impact of the Patient-Centered Medical Home on Health Disparities in Adults: A Systematic Review of the Evidence

Introduction: The objective of this study was to review the empirical evidence on Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) impact on health disparities in adults. Methods: We searched PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar to identify studies on PCMH/health homes and health disparities published in English between January 1, 2009 and December 31, 2014. Articles met inclusion criteria if they investigated at least one component of PCMH or health homes in vulnerable populations, defined by PROGRESS-PLUS criteria, and reported differences in one of five clinical quality measures. Results: 964 articles were identified through database searching and subsequent snowballing. 60 articles underwent full text screening. Further review eliminated 56 studies. In the final 4 studies, PCMH interventions showed small improvements in health disparities. Discussion: The PCMH has been suggested as a model for improving health disparities. Given rapid implementation in underserved settings, stakeholders should better understand the impact of the PCMH on health disparities

Assessment of Flexible Pavement on Some Selected Roads in Ola Oluwa Local Government, South Western Nigeria

The most used mode of transportation in Nigeria is road while flexible pavement is the most constructed on the roads. This project work is all about carefully assessing the condition of the flexible pavement on some selected roads, determine some causes of the failure on the selected roads in Ola Oluwa Local Government area of Osun State, South-western Nigeria. The visual assessments of the pavement were carried out through Pavement Condition Survey and the drainage condition of the selected roads. Disturbed soil samples were taken from the failed and unfailed portion of the roads and their geotechnical properties determined. After the thorough assessment of the pavements on selected roads it can be concluded that the failures on the roads are due to non-functioning drainage facilities, poor design, non-standard construction materials and poor maintenance culture. Keywords: Flexible pavement, Pavement Condition Survey, disturbed soil samples, geotechnical properties

MODELLING NIGERIA POPULATION GROWTH RATE

Thomas Robert Malthus Theory of population highlighted the potential dangers of over population. He stated that while the populations of the world wouldincrease in geometric proportions, the food resources available for them would increase in arithmetic proportions. This study was carried out to find the trend, fit a model and forecast for the population growth rate of Nigeria.The data were based on the population growth rate of Nigeria from 1982 to 2012 obtained from World Bank Data (data.worldbank.org). Both time and autocorrelation plots were used to assess the Stationarity of the data. Dickey-Fuller test was used to test for the unit root. Ljung box test was used to check for the fit of the fitted model. Time plot showed that the random fluctuations of the data are not constant over time. There was an initial decrease in the trend of the growth rate from 1983 to 1985 and an increase in 1986 which was constant till 1989 and then slight fluctuations from 1990 to 2004 and a general increase in trend from 2005 to 2012. There was a slow decay in the correlogram of the ACF and this implied that the process is non stationary. The series was stationary after second differencing, Dickey-Fuller = -4.7162, Lag order = 0, p-value = 0.01 at a= 0.05. The p-value (0.01) and concluded that there is no unit root i.e the series is stationary having d=2. Correlogram and partial correlogram for the second-order differenced data showed that the ACF at lag 1 and lag 5 exceed the significant bounds and the partial correlogram tailed off at lag 2.The identified order for the ARIMA(p,d,q) model was ARIMA(2,2,1). The estimate of AR1 co-efficient =1.5803 is observed to be statistically significant but the estimated value does not conforms strictly to the bounds of the stationary parameter hence was excluded from the model. =-0.9273 is observed to be statistically significant and conformed strictly to the bounds of the stationary parameter , hence was maintained in the model. The estimate of MA1 co-efficient = - 0.1337 was observed to be statistically significant conformed strictly to the bounds of the parameter invertibility. For ARIMA (2, 2, 0) the estimate of AR1 co-efficient =1.5430 was observed to be statistically significant and not conformed strictly to the bounds of the parameter stationary, hence excluded from the model. The estimate of AR 2 co-efficient=-0.9000 is observed to be statistically significant and conformed strictly to the bounds of the parameter stationary, hence retained in the model. The ARIMA (2, 2, 0) is considered the best model. It has the smallest AIC. The Ljung test showed that residuals are random and  implies that the model is fit enough for the data. The forecast Arima function gives us a forecast of the Population Growth Rate in the next thirty eight (38) years, as well as 80% and 95% prediction intervals for those predictions i.e up to 2050

ANALYSIS OF NIGERIA GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT USING PRINCIPAL COMPONENT ANALYSIS

Nigeria is classified as a mixed economy emerging market, and has already reached middle income status according to the World Bank, with its abundant supply of natural resource, well developed financial, legal, communications, transport sectors and stock exchange which is the second largest in Africa. The main purpose of this research is to build a model that can capture the best variables that predict the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of Nigeria. Correlation matrix was used to know the degree of relationship that exists between the pairs of predictors of GDP. The principal component analysis was employed to reduce the multidimensional data. Scree plot was used to determine the spread of the trend of the components and bi plot was used to determine the degree of closeness of Agriculture, oil Export, External Reserves, Exchange Rate, Transportation, Education, and Communication. There is a strong relationship between pairs of Agriculture, oil Export, External Reserves, Exchange Rate, Transportation, Education, and Communication. The proportion of variance accounted for by the first component is 92%. This implied that only component 1 is sufficient to explain GDP. The Scree plot showed that the best component is component 1. The bi plot showed that Agriculture, oil Export, External.Reserves, Exchange.Rate, Transportation, Education, and Communication are closely related and stand as good predictors of GDP

PREVALENCE OF MALNUTRITION AND SELECTED RISK FACTORS OF CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES AMONG PRIMARY HEALTHCARE WORKERS IN TWO LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREAS OF OGUN STATE, NIGERIA

Overnutrition resulting in overweight and obesity increases the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases. This study was carried out to assess the prevalence of malnutrition and some selected risk factors of cardiovascular diseases among primary healthcare workers in two Local Government Areas of Ogun State, Nigeria. An exhaustive sampling method was used, resulting in 220 eligible respondents. Anthropometric measurements were taken while body mass index (BMI) and abdominal obesity were calculated. Blood pressure and glucose level of the subjects were measured. Data were presented using frequency, percentage and Chi-Square tests to establish relationships among variables. Higher percentage (35.5%) of the respondents were of normal BMI category while prevalence of underweight, overweight and obesity were found to be 7.7%, 25.9% and 30.9%, respectively. Abdominal obesity was found among 58.2% of the respondents while high blood pressure was observed in 38.7%. Blood glucose was elevated in 20% of the subjects. Abdominal obesity, systolic and diastolic blood pressure of the respondents were found to be strongly associated with BMI (p<0.05). This study observed high prevalence of overnutrition (overweight and general obesity), elevated blood glucose, high blood pressure, and high abdominal obesity trend as factors which may expose the respondents to poor health in future.   &nbsp

The Horizontal Loop Electromagnetic (HLEM) Response of Ifewara Transcurrent Fault,Southwestern Nigeria: A Computational Results

The need to accurately interpret geological models that approximate mineralized zones in a Basement Complex terrain necessitate the development of horizon loop electromagnetic method (HLEM) forward modeling solutions for such scenarios. The focus of the present work is on finding rapid forward modeling solutions for synthetic HLEM data as an aid in exploration for moderate to deep conductive mineral exploration targets.The main thrust is obtaining idealized HLEM models that are required for geological interpretation of the subsurface in such environment. The original HLEM equations developed by Wesley were extended to represent a horizontally stratified earth with a conductive approximated by shear zone. From these equations a computer program was written to calculate the HLEM responses for optimal conductor model with known values of coil separations (L), depth of burial (z) and angle of dip of the target.The thin conductive model was used because it is simple and suitable for different geological scenarios. The accuracy of the approximate forward solution has been confirmed for HLEM systems with various geometric ranges, frequencies and conductivities. Three models having varying overburden thickness, dip angle of target and source-receiver separation were used in the forward modeling. The effect of varying the dip angle,overburden thickness and coil separation was studied in all the three models used. The result obtained from the forward modeling showed that variation of the dip angle gave rise to changes in the amplitudes of the anomalies generated, while that of overburden and coil separation gave rise to changes in anomaly shape. Also, the geometry and position of the causative body were precisely delineated

Adoption of Recommended Agrochemical Practices among Crop Farmers in Kaduna and Ondo States, Nigeria

This study assessed the level of adoption of recommended practices of agrochemicals among crop farers in Kaduna and Ondo States of Nigeria. It measured the perception of farmers on pesticides and their knowledge on the harmful effects of pesticides. A total of 260 crop farmers who have sustained the use of agrochemicals for at least five years were selected for the study using multi-stage sampling technique. Descriptive statistics (mean and percentages) was used for data analysis. Data was collected using pretested, structured interview schedule. The results obtained revealed that the perception of 33.1% of the farmers was considering pesticides as always good whereas 30% of the farmers perceived pesticides as sometimes harmful. All (100%) respondents indicated that pesticides cause damage to human health. Furthermore, the level of adoption of recommended agrochemical practices (RAPs) was generally low (weighted mean =1.49) despite high level of awareness (weighted mean =2.24). This study therefore, recommends that campaign for attitudinal changes on the use of agrochemical should be mounted by extension agencies in collaboration with relevant stakeholders.   Â

Adoption of Recommended Agrochemical Practices among Crop Farmers in Kaduna and Ondo States, Nigeria

This study assessed the level of adoption of recommended practices of agrochemicals among crop farers in Kaduna and Ondo States of Nigeria. It measured the perception of farmers on pesticides and their knowledge on the harmful effects of pesticides. A total of 260 crop farmers who have sustained the use of agrochemicals for at least five years were selected for the study using multi-stage sampling technique. Descriptive statistics (mean and percentages) was used for data analysis. Data was collected using pretested, structured interview schedule. The results obtained revealed that the perception of 33.1% of the farmers was considering pesticides as always good whereas 30% of the farmers perceived pesticides as sometimes harmful. All (100%) respondents indicated that pesticides cause damage to human health. Furthermore, the level of adoption of recommended agrochemical practices (RAPs) was generally low (weighted mean =1.49) despite high level of awareness (weighted mean =2.24). This study therefore, recommends that campaign for attitudinal changes on the use of agrochemical should be mounted by extension agencies in collaboration with relevant stakeholders.   Â