Effects of Water Deficit on Growth, Biomass Allocation and Photosynthesis of A. senegal Seedlings from Nguru and Gujba Provinces of Yobe State, North Eastern Nigeria

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Prevalence and factors associated with fire outbreak among traders in Kwari market, Kano

Fire outbreak in business places can result in losses in production, unemployment, morbidity and mortality and significant psycho-social problems Objective: This study aimed to determine the prevalence, socio-demographic and other factors associated with fire outbreaks amongst traders in Kwari market, Kano state. Methodology: A descriptive cross-sectional study design was used to study 442 traders in Kwari market, selected using a two-stage sampling technique. Data were collected using interviewer- statistically significant. Results: A total of 442 traders were studied. The age of the traders ranged between 18 and 70 years with a mean± SD of 38.3±9.8 years. Majority of the traders 416 (94.1%) and 425 (96.2%) were greater than or equal to 24 years of age and were males respectively. Only 21 (4.8%) of them acquired post-secondary educational qualification. The prevalence of fire outbreak among the traders was 73(16.5%). Significantly higher fire outbreak (17.5%, p=0.02) was found among traders aged 24 years and above. Similarly, male sex (15.5%, p=0.05), secondary level education (16.8%, p=0.001), cleaning job (24.4%, p=0.02) were significantly associated with higher fire outbreak. A significantly higher fire outbreak (17.6%, p=0.03) was found among traders with no prior knowledge of the need for safety guidelines and emergency contact numbers. Ever having power fluctuations in the shop was associated with 35folds increased in likelihood of fire outbreak {aOR= 35, 95%CI= (4.8-257)} while not having firefighting equipment currently was associated with two folds increased in likelihood of fire outbreak {aOR=2.0, 95%CI= (1.2-2.3)}. Conclusion: The prevalence of fire outbreaks is high and significantly associated with socio-demographic factors and poor fire safety practices, therefore all the relevant stakeholders should ensure the enforcement of fire control guidelines among traders

Health Risk Assessment of Heavy Metals in Soil Rhizosphere and Onion Bulbs Cultivated in Danbam Farmlands, North East, Nigeria

Authors: Elisha Karu*, Buhari Magaji, Aishatu Umar Maigari and Fauziyya Aliyu Jibo Received: 24 June 2021/Accepted 05 July 2021 This study was conducted to determine the levels of heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Mn, and Pb) in soil rhizosphere and onion bulbs from four locations in the Danbam area of Bauchi State Spectrophotometry method were employed for the determination of the concentrations of the metals. The concentrations of all the heavy metals were found to be in the range 4.06 × 10-8 to 1.91 × 10-1 mg/kg which are below the permissible level (0.02, 500, and 0.3 mg/kg for Cd, Mn, and Pb respectively) set by FAO/WHO. The study also revealed that daily metal intake (DIM), hazard quotient (HQ), and hazard index (HI) were below unity and points to the nonexistence of potential public health. Calculated bioconcentration factors (BCF) suggested a higher concentration of heavy metal ions in the soil than in the onion bulbs and did not portray any risk to public healt

Pattern, awareness and perceptions of health hazards associated with self medication among adult residents of kano metropolis, northwestern Nigeria

Background: Kano State is the most populous state, and one of those states pronounced with the highest prevalence of drug abuse in Nigeria. However, there is lack of documented data to back the assertion. Objective: We determined the pattern, awareness and perceptions of the adult residents of Kano metropolis about self medication. Materials and Methods: We used a descriptive cross-sectional design to study a random sample of 380 adult in Kano metropolis. Data was collected using semi-structured questionnaires that were pretested outside the study area. Data analysis was with Epi Info® 3.5.1. Results: The mean age of the subjects was 35.43 ± 15.10 years, majority were males (66.32%), singles (47.11%) and had at least secondary education (67.63%). About three-quarter (78.95%) admitted using drug (s) in the past without prescription. Drugs commonly consumed were antimalarials (42.10%), analgesics (40.56%), antibiotics (29.41%), and cough mixtures (13.31%). Common sources of drugs were patent medicine stores (62.54%) and the market (19.81%). Common reasons for self medication were long queues in the hospitals (38.39%), and in-accessibility to doctors (25.08%). About two-thirds (65.00%) correctly perceived that self medication could be hazardous; and half (51.58%) were aware of at least one hazard of self medication. Conclusion/Recommendations: Irrational drug use is a growing challenge to public health in Kano, Nigeria. Thus, drug regulatory agencies in Nigeria should work together to ensure that all drug retail outlets and drug sellers are registered, controlled drugs are dispensed only on prescription of the physicians; and the laws safeguarding drug use are duly enforced. Health authorities should also strengthen efforts towards health educating the public

Impact of Antiretroviral Drugs on Renal Doppler Indices of Adult Patients with Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome in Sub-Saharan African Population

Background: The use of highly active antiretroviral therapy in the management of patients with Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome has drastically reduced the morbidity and mortality as a result of HIV infections worldwide. However, there have been associated organ toxicities including nephro-toxicity. The main objective of the study was to determine the impact of   antiretroviral drugs on renal Doppler indices of adult patients with HIV/AIDS in a Sub-Saharan Africa population. Materials and Methods: This study design was a prospective cohort conducted from July 2019 to April 2020 in Kano, Nigeria. A purposive sampling method was employed to obtain a sample size of 396 participants. The sampling for the renal RI and PI was performed at the level of the interlober arteries in between the medullary pyramids. Results: Subjects on Zidovudine/Lamivudine/Navirapine regimen had the highest values of resistive index (RI) and pulsatility index (PI) (0.66±0.05 and 1.44±0.09). Those on Tenofovir Disoproxil Furamate /Lamivudine /Lopinavir/ritonavir had the lowest values of resistive index (RI) and pulsatility index (PI) (0.61±0.01 and 1.38±0.06). There was a statistically significance difference in the mean of the RI and PI between the different groups of the drugs regimens (p=0.000). Conclusion: In this study Zidovudine/Lamivudine/Navirapine regimen had the highest negative impact on RI and PI while Tenofovir Disoproxil Furamate /Lamivudine /Lopinavir/ritonavir had the lowest

Pattern of adverse events following immunization in nourished and malnourished infants in Kano, North-Western Nigeria

Background: Adverse events following immunization (AEFI) occur in both nourished and malnourished babies but are often mislabeled as manifestations or complications of background condition or disease especially among malnourished infants. Aim/Objective: To study the pattern of AEFIs in nourished and malnourished infants in Kano. Materials and Methods: Descriptive cross-sectional design was used to study 372 eligible infants aged 0–11 months old. All infants immunized in the first quarter of 2014 that had up to date immunization card qualified for the study. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 16.0. Results: The mean age of the infants was 3.5 ± 3.1 months, with male being 53.5%, and well nourished being 88.4%. Prevalence of AEFI was 33.1% (nourished), 48.8% (malnourished), and 34.9% overall. Fever occurred in 79.8% nourished and 95.2% malnourished infants. Localized pains and/or swelling occurred in 29.3% nourished and 47.6% malnourished, but abscess or ulceration around vaccination site occurred only in the nourished infants and was significantly associated with the 1st immunization visit. Most AEFI were experienced around the 1st three immunization visits. Majority of the AEFI, experienced, nourished (58.7%), and malnourished (52.4%), occurred within 1–11 h and was mild to moderate in severity in 99.1% and 100% of the respective groups. Conclusion and Recommendation: Focused research on vaccine formulation and safety, and recurrent training of immunization workers on vaccine administration, and early and prompt treatment of AEFI are paramount

Renal Doppler Indices of Normal Adult Individuals and their Correlation with Anthropometric Variables in Kano, Nigeria

Introduction: Doppler ultrasound has been extensively used in renal diseases. Data of the normal renal resistive index (RI) and pulsatility index (PI) of normal adult individuals in a population is critical in the diagnosis, prognostics and therapeutic assessments of patients with kidney disease. The study aimed at evaluating the renal Doppler indices of normal adult individuals and their correlation with demographic variables in Kano, Nigeria. Materials and Methods: This study design was a prospective cross-sectional conducted in normal adult individuals from July 2019 to April 2020 in the Radiology Department, Aminu of Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano, Nigeria. Stratified and simple random sampling methods were employed in the study and a sample size of 384 participants; 192 males and 192 females were recruited. The Doppler ultrasound was performed on all the participants. An RI value above 0.70 was considered abnormal while PI value above 1.56 was also considered abnormal. The data was analyzed using SPSS Version 22.0. Preset ρ-value (0.05). Results: The mean and the standard deviation of the right and left RI and PI for the males’ participants were 0.60±0.02, 0.59±0.02,  1.26±0.15 and 1.25±0.14. For females’ participants it was 0.59±0.25, 0.59±0.03, 1.17±0.16 and 1.16±0.16. There was statistically significant strong positive correlation between RI and PI with age (r˃6, p=0), there was also statistically significant moderate positive correlation with weight, BMI and BSA (r˃4, p=0). Conclusion: This study has established normative values of RI and PI for adult individuals in Kano, Nigeria. There was a strong positive  correlation between RI and PI with age and moderate positive correlation with weight, BMI and BSA. Keywords: RI, PI, Normal, Adult Individuals&nbsp

Effect of voice reminder on compliance with recommended hand hygiene practise among health-care workers in Kano metropolis.

BACKGROUND: Poor compliance with recommended hand hygiene practise by health-care workers is an emerging public health threat associated with significant morbidity, mortality and spread of multidrug-resistant microorganisms. OBJECTIVE: This study assessed the effect of voice reminder on compliance with recommended hand hygiene practise among the baseline, and post-intervention compliance with recommended hand hygiene among health-care workers using the WHO checklist for observation of 5-moments of hand hygiene of health-care workers in Kano. METHODS: Quasi-experimental study design was used. A total of 408 (204 in each arm) baseline and post-intervention observations were conducted in two hospitals in Kano, selected using a multistage sampling technique. Voice reminders were installed in the intervention hospital, and post-intervention observation was conducted 3 months after introducing a voice reminder. SPSS version 22.0 was used for data analysis. Relationship between variables was tested using χ2 and McNemar's test within the groups at 0.05 α-level of significance. RESULTS: Baseline compliance with hand hygiene in the intervention and control hospitals were 31.4% and 48.0%, respectively. Post-intervention compliance in the intervention and control hospitals were found to be 78.0% and 65.2%, respectively. Voice reminder improved compliance with hand hygiene practise when compared with baseline by +148% (P# = 0.3) in the intervention hospital compared with +36% (P# =0.1) in the control hospital. The differences were not statistically significant post-intervention when compared with the baseline. CONCLUSIONS: Voice reminder intervention improved hand hygiene compliance among health-care workers in the intervention hospital compared with the control hospital. Voice reminders should be provided in the hospitals by stakeholders. This can help in improving compliance with hand hygiene among health-care workers and reducing the burden of hospital-acquired infections due to the hands of health-care workers