Assessment of ICT Teachers’ Competence to Implement the New ICT Curriculum in North Eastern Nigeria.

This study assessed the competence of ICT  of rural and urban secondary school ICT teachers for the implementation of ICT curriculum in North Eastern Nigeria. The study looked at the competence of applying ICT technical literacy on the six components of teachers work in the secondary schools. All the one thousand, seven hundred and forty four (1,744) secondary school ICT  teachers from the six states of the North Eastern Nigeria participated in the study by responding to close ended questionnaire. The instrument sought information on ICT teachers’ policy, curriculum, pedagogy, technology, administration, professional development competences and obstacles to ICT teachers’ competences. Data was analyzed through grand mean, standard deviation and percentage. Results reveal that the competence of ICT teachers on policy, curriculum, pedagogy, technology, administration and professional development is low. Obstacles to ICT teachers competences were identified as lack of hardware, software, and financial resources, lack of electricity in most rural schools and insufficient information and experience from teachers in ICT applications. It was recommended among others that  ICT should be incorporated in the professional  development of teachers and ICT curriculum should be robust enough to enhance teachers job performance in schools. Keywords: ICT Curriculum, Teachers Competences, Curriculum Implementation, Secondary Schools

Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Companies in Kenya and Their Credit Risk Management Practices

The pharmaceutical industry in Kenya consists of manufacturers, distributors and retailers, who all actively support the Ministry of Health and other key players in developing the health sector. Kenya spends about 8% of its GDP on health. Trade credit is created whenever a supplier offers terms that allow the buyer to delay payment. This study aimed at to identifying the credit risk management practices adopted by pharmaceutical manufacturing firms in Kenya. The study found out that the two most important factors considered in establishing a credit policy are the financial stability of the customer and the existing credit policy. Majority of the firms do not have a credit policy manual. The most widely used credit risk management practices are use of debt collectors letters of credit, credit insurance and factoring of debt  in that order. In dealing with difficult to pay customers nearly all firms put the account on hold and stopped future sales till the account was settled, (80%) engaged services of debt collectors, (43%) resorted to selling on cash basis. The 6C’s model of credit appraisal was widely used. Key words: credit risk, credit risk management, pharmaceutical firm

Contraceptive Adoption, Discontinuation, and Switching among Postpartum Women in Nairobi's Urban Slums.

Unmet need for contraception is highest within 12 months post-delivery, according to research. Using longitudinal data from the Nairobi Urban Health and Demographic Surveillance System, we assess the dynamics of contraceptive use during the postpartum period among women in Nairobi's slums. Results show that by 6 months postpartum, 83 percent of women had resumed sexual activity and 51 percent had resumed menses, yet only 49 percent had adopted a modern contraceptive method. Furthermore, almost half of women discontinued a modern method within 12 months of initiating use, with many likely to switch to another short-term method with high method-related dissatisfaction. Women who adopted a method after resumption of menses had higher discontinuation rates, though the effect was much reduced after adjusting for other variables. To reduce unmet need, effective intervention programs are essential to lower high levels of discontinuation and encourage switching to more effective methods

Effect of Chemically Modified Banana Fibers on the Mechanical Properties of Poly-Dimethyl-Siloxane-Based Composites

The study presents the mechanical properties of polymer-based composites reinforced with chemically modified banana fibers, by alkalization in different concentrations of sodium hydroxide (NaOH). The fiber weight fraction has a great effect on the mechanical properties of the composites. Stiff composites were obtained at 6 wt% fiber fractions with Young’s modulus of 254.00 ±12.70 MPa. Moreover, the yield strength was 35.70 ±1.79 MPa at 6 wt% fiber fractions. However, the ultimate tensile strength (UTS) and toughness of the composites were obtained at 5 wt% fiber fractions. Statistical analyses were used to ascertain the significant different on the mechanical properties of the fibers and composites. The implication of the results is then discussed for potential applications of PDMS-based composites reinforced with chemically modified banana fibers

Method-Specific Attributes that Influence Choice of Future Contraception Among Married Women in Nairobi's Informal Settlements.

Despite an extensive evidence base on contraceptive method choice, it remains uncertain which factors are most influential in predisposing women toward certain methods and against others. This paper addresses this gap in knowledge by making use of rarely-measured perceptions about specific methods, perceived social network experience of methods, and women's own past experiences using specific methods. We draw on baseline data from the project, "Improving Measurement of Unintended Pregnancy and Unmet Need for Family Planning." Using conditional logit analysis, we ascertain which perceived method-specific attributes, including past experience of methods by women themselves and by their friends, predict preferred future contraceptive method among 317 women living in Nairobi slums who are using no method but intend to start in the next 12 months. Results show that satisfaction with past use, positive experience of use by a woman's social network, husband/partner's approval, lack of interference with menses, and perception of safety for long term use were all associated with choice of a future method

Influence of age and previous diet of Anopheles gambiae on the infectivity of natural Plasmodium falciparum gametocytes from human volunteers

The effect of age and dietary factors of Anopheles gambiae (Diptera: Culicidae) on the infectivity of natural Plasmodium falciparum parasites was studied. Mosquitoes of various ages (1–3, 4–7 and 8–11 day old) and those fed blood (either single or double meals) and sugar meals were experimentally co-infected with P. falciparum gametocytes obtained from different naturally infected human volunteers. On day 7, midguts were examined for oocyst infection to determine whether mosquito age or diets have significant effects on parasite infectivity. The age of the mosquitoes did not significantly influence the oocyst infection rates (χ(2) = 48.32, df = 40, P = 0.172) or oocyst load (# of oocysts/midgut) (P = 0.14) observed. Oocyst load between groups was not significantly different. Similarly, the type of diet (either blood or sugar) did not influence oocyst infection rates (χ(2) = 16.52, df = 19, P = 0.622). However, an increase in oocyst infection rates resulted after previous feeding on double blood meals (35%) compared to single blood meals (25%), with comparable oocyst load. These observations are in agreement with those reported in previous studies suggesting that increased mosquito nutritional reserves resulting from increased dietary resources is favorable for malaria infectivity. This field-based study indicates that vector competence of An. gambiae to natural P. falciparum parasites does not vary with age and that nutritional resources acquired prior to an infectious blood meal plays a crucial role in mosquito-parasite relationships. Abbreviation: / oocyst load: number of oocysts per midgut oocyst infection rates: percent of midguts with oocyst

COMBATING EXAMINATION FRAUD: TOWARDS A CULTURE OF INTEGRITY IN PUBLIC EXAMINATIONS IN NIGERIA

Abstract Examination fraud appears to be on the increase across Nigeria. Advances in electronic communications have added to the problems. This paper defined the concept of examination fraud and its varieties. The causes, rationales and consequences of examination fraud were enumerated. Problems and issues in controlling examination fraud and attempts made to deal with the misconduct in Nigeria were discussed. Conclusion on the cost of examination fraud and recommendations on how to reduce the fraud in Nigeria were offered

Concomitant infections of Plasmodium falciparum and Wuchereria bancrofti on the Kenyan coast

BACKGROUND: Anopheles gambiae s.l. and An. funestus are important vectors of malaria and bancroftian filariasis, which occur as co-endemic infections along the Kenyan Coast. However, little is known about the occurrence and prevalence of concomitant infections of the two diseases in mosquito and human populations in these areas. This study reports the prevalence of concomitant infections of Plasmodium falciparum and Wuchereria bancrofti in mosquito and human populations in Jilore and Shakahola villages in Malindi, Kenya. METHODS: Mosquitoes were sampled inside houses by pyrethrum spray sheet collection (PSC) while blood samples were collected by finger prick technique at the end of entomological survey. RESULTS: A total of 1,979 female Anopheles mosquitoes comprising of 1,919 Anopheles gambiae s.l and 60 An. funestus were collected. Concomitant infections of P. falciparum sporozoites and filarial worms occurred in 1.1% and 1.6% of An. gambiae s.l collected in Jilore and Shakahola villages respectively. Wuchereria-infected mosquitoes had higher sporozoite rates compared to non-infected mosquitoes, but multiple infections appeared to reduce mosquito survivorship making transmission of such infections rare. None of the persons examined in Shakahola (n = 107) had coinfections of the two parasites, whereas in Jilore (n = 94), out of the 4.3% of individuals harbouring both parasites, 1.2% had P. falciparum gametocytes and microfilariae and could potentially infect the mosquito with both parasites simultaneously. CONCLUSION: Concerted efforts should be made to integrate the control of malaria and bancroftian filariasis in areas where they co-exist