Examining the Marketing Strategies adopted by the Jisonayili Shea Butter Processing Company in Tamale, Ghana

Shea butter is a God given natural resource found in northing part of Ghana. Its collection, processing, production and marketing leave much to be desired.  Entirely, the research has a singular mission of unveiling the strategic direction of the Shea industry in other to fully utilize the benefits enshrined in the Shea products; as income, employment, foreign exchange and family budget supplement. This study sought to examine the marketing strategies adopted by the Shea butter industries in the north, particularly, the Jisonayili Shea Butter Processing Company in Tamale metropolis. The research was conducted to examine the marketing strategies by the Shea butter industry. Geographically the study covered only Tamale metropolis and respondents were specifically from Jisonayili Processor Group. Contextually, it focused on the marketing aspects of the Shea business.  The findings and conclusions were therefore based on and grounded in the data collected from these respondents.  A case study approach was used for the study since it was an in-depth study of one organization.  Primary data collections approach was based on questionnaires and in-depth interviews for twenty (20) respondents. Secondary data sources included the internet, published academic articles, academic journals, existing text books and so on. There was no sampling because the number of the firm was less than fifty (50). The SPSS was used to analyze the data. The results of the study showed that prices of Shea butter fluctuates based on the demand supply forces in the market. The findings revealed that the industry predominantly dominated by women. Again the findings revealed that the producers have been depending on some outmoded marketing strategies and if given support, the Shea butter business has the possibility to significantly improve the livelihood of the people in the North Region. Keywords: Marketing Strategies, Shea butter Processing

Anthelmintička učinkovitost nepročišćenog metanolskog iscrpka biljke Xylopia aethiopica protiv oblića Nippostrongylus brasiliensis u štakora

Xylopia aethiopica A. Rich (X. aethiopica; Annonaceae) is used commonly in Nigeria by traditional herbalists and pastoralists to control gastrointestinal helminth parasites. The anthelmintic effect of the crude methanol extract was evaluated in rats experimentally infected with the rat hookworm Nippostrongylus brasiliensis. Thirtyfive rats were each infected subcutaneously with 200 third stage infective larvae of the parasite and randomly grouped into seven groups. Five days after infection, rats in siof the groups were treated with the extract, the dose varying per group. Rats in the seventh (control) group were each given propylene glycol. Anthelmintic activity was assessed by comparing the number of worms recovered from treated rats to those from non-treated infected control rats. The extract at the dose of 0.8 g/kg, 1.0 g/kg, 1.2 g/kg, 1.4 g/kg, 1.7 g/kg and 2.0 g/kg produced deparasitization rates of 21%, 47%, 51%, 50%, 63% and 76% and were signifi cant (P>0.05) when compared to untreated control rats.Travari i stočari u Nigeriji tradicionalno koriste biljku Xylopia aethiopica protiv želučano crijevnih helminata. Anthelmintički učinak nepročišćenog metanolskog iscrpka istražen je na pokusno invadiranim štakorima oblićem Nippostrongylus brasiliensis. Ukupno 35 štakora podijeljeno je u sedam skupina. Svi štakori supkutano su invadirani s 200 invazijskih ličinki trećeg stupnja. Pet dana nakon invazije, štakorima iz svih šest skupina apliciran je iscrpak u različitim dozama. Štakorima sedme skupine primijenjen je propilen glikol. Učinkovitost je određena uspoređivanjem broja parazita u liječenih i neliječenih štakora. Značajna (P<0,05) anthelmintička učinkovitost dokazana je za sve primijenjene doze. Tako je rezultat primjene iscrpka u dozi od 0,8 g/kg bio smanjeni broj parazita za 21%. Veće doze (1,0 g/kg i 1,2 g/kg) smanjile su broj parazita za 47% i 51%. Za najviše doze (1,7 g/kg i 2,0 g/kg) potvrđena je i najviša učinkovitost od 63% i 76%

A Smart Real-Time Standalone Route Recognition System for Visually Impaired Persons

Visual Impairment is a common disability that results in poor or no eyesight, whose victims suffer inconveniences in performing their daily tasks. Visually impaired persons require some aids to interact with their environment safely. Existing navigation systems like electronic travel aids (ETAs) are mostly cloud-based and rely heavily on the internet and google map. This implies that systems deployment in locations with poor internet facilities and poorly structured environments is not feasible. This paper proposed a smart real-time standalone route recognition system for visually impaired persons. The proposed system makes use of a pedestrian route network, an interconnection of paths and their associated route tables, for providing directions of known locations in real-time for the user. Federal University of Technology (FUT), Minna, Gidan Kwanu campus was used as the case study. The result obtained from testing of the device search strategy on the field showed that the complexity of the algorithm used in searching for paths in the pedestrian network is , at worst-case scenario, where N is the number of paths available in the network. The accuracy of path recognition is 100%. This implies that the developed system is reliable and can be used in recognizing and navigating routes by the visual impaired in real-time

Is Investment in Infrastructure Worth It?

The argument for investment in infrastructure and its implication for economic development have attracted a robust discourse. This paper adds a voice to the significance importance of the subject matter by examining the theoretical arguments for infrastructure investment. We further developed a framework, which explains the need for investment in infrastructure and its flow both as input for recycling and input for further production as a final output for consumption. The study shows that no one individual can provide infrastructure but rather all the activities of the various industries sit on a platform from which payment for its use is shared amongst all users. It concludes that Investments in infrastructure are not just one off event but planned to achieve a robust economic development. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp

Analysis of Zr, Pb and Zn in Soil and Cereal Grown Around Birnin Gwari Artisanal Goldmine, Kaduna State-Nigeria

ABSTRACT: Energy Dispersive X-ra

Sexual autonomy and self-reported sexually transmitted infections among women in sexual unions

Background: Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are major public health challenges worldwide. Despite the importance of sexual autonomy in the prevention and control of sexual and reproductive health disorders such as STIs, there are limited studies on the possible relationship between women’s sexual autonomy and self-reported STIs, especially in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). This study, therefore, examined the association between sexual autonomy and self-reported STIs among women in sexual unions in SSA. Methods: Data from the Demographic and Health Survey (DHS) of 31 countries in SSA conducted between 2010 and 2019 were analysed. A total of 234,310 women in sexual unions were included in the study. Data were analysed using binary logistic regression models and the results were presented as crude odds ratios (cORs) and adjusted odds ratios (aORs) at 95% confidence interval (CI). Results: The prevalence of self-reported STIs among women in sexual unions in SSA was 5.8%. Approximately 83.0% of the women surveyed had sexual autonomy. Women who had no sexual autonomy were less likely to have self-reported STIs (cOR=0.52, CI: 0.46-0.54), compared to those who had sexual autonomy. Additionally, higher odds of self-reported STIs were found among women aged 25-29, compared to those aged 15-19 (aOR= 1.21, CI: 1.09-1.35); those who reside in urban areas, compared to those who reside in rural areas (aOR= 1.51, CI: 1.37-1.66) and those who were cohabiting, compared to those who were married (aOR= 1.65, CI: 1.52-1.79). On the other hand, lower odds of self-reported STIs were found among women who were exposed to newspapers (aOR= 0.89, CI: 0.82-0.95), those whose partners had primary education (aOR= 0.84, CI: 0.78-0.91), those who were not exposed to radio (aOR= 0.84, CI: 0.79-0.89), and working women (aOR= 0.86, CI: 0.80-0.93). Conclusions: Findings from this study suggest that sexual autonomy is a significant predictor of self-reported STIs among women in sexual unions in SSA. Thus, instituting policies and programs that empower women and improve their levels of sexual autonomy may result in increased self-reporting of symptoms associated with STIs which subsequently help in minimising STI-related complications. Also, policies aimed at enhancing women’s sexual autonomy may reduce the burden of STIs in SSA, especially among women in sexual unions

Estimating the effects of physical violence and serious injury on health-related quality of life: Evidence from 19 waves of the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia Survey

Objective: This study aims to investigate the effect of physical violence and serious injury on health-related quality of life in the Australian adult population. Methods: This study utilised panel data from the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) Survey. HRQoL was measured through the physical component summary (PCS), mental component summary (MCS), and short-form six-dimension utility index (SF-6D) of the 36-item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36). Longitudinal fixed-effect regression models were fitted using 19 waves of the HILDA Survey spanning from 2002 to 2020. Results: This study found a negative effect of physical violence and serious injury on health-related quality of life. More specifically, Australian adults exposed to physical violence and serious injury exhibited lower levels of health-related quality of life. Who experienced physical violence only had lower MCS (β = −2.786, 95% CI: −3.091, −2.481) and SF-6D (β = −0.0214, 95% CI: −0.0248, −0.0181) scores if switches from not experiencing physical violence and serious injury. Exposed to serious injury had lower PCS (β = −5.103, 95% CI: −5.203, −5.004), MCS (β = −2.363, 95% CI: −2.480, −2.247), and SF-6D (β = −0.0585, 95% CI: −0.0598, −0.0572) score if the adults not experiencing physical violence and serious injury. Further, individuals exposed to both violence and injury had substantially lower PCS (β = -3.60, 95% CI: -4.086, -3.114), MCS (β = −6.027, 95% CI: −6.596, −5.459), and SF-6D (β = −0.0716, 95% CI: −0.0779, −0.0652) scores relative to when the individuals exposed to none. Conclusion: Our findings indicate that interventions to improve Australian adults’ quality of life should pay particular attention to those who have experienced physical violence and serious injury. Our findings suggest unmet mental health needs for victims of physical violence and serious injuries, which calls for proactive policy interventions that provide psychological and emotional therapy

Comprehensive HIV/AIDS knowledge and HIV testing among men in sub-Saharan Africa: a multilevel modelling

This study investigated the association between comprehensive HIV/AIDS knowledge and HIV testing among men in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Data were taken from the most recent (2010–2019) Demographic and Health Survey men’s recode files of 29 countries in SSA. A total of 104,398 men who had complete information on all the variables of interest were included in the study. The outcome variable was HIV testing. A multilevel logistic regression analysis was conducted to determine the association between comprehensive HIV/AIDS knowledge and HIV testing. The results of the fixed effects model were presented as adjusted odds ratios (AORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). The average prevalences of HIV testing and comprehensive HIV/AIDS knowledge among men in SSA were 53.5% and 50.8% respectively. Rwanda and Niger recorded the highest (93.6%) and lowest prevalences (9.8%) respectively. The prevalence of comprehensive HIV/AIDS knowledge among men in the 29 countries was 50.8%, with the highest in Rwanda (76.4%) and the lowest in Benin (31.1%). Men who had no comprehensive HIV/AIDS knowledge were less likely to test for HIV compared with those who had comprehensive HIV/AIDS knowledge (AOR=0.59, CI: 0.57–0.60). Men who were older than 20 years, married or cohabiting, with at least secondary education, in the richest wealth quintile, exposed to mass media, used condoms and with multiple sexual partners were more likely to test for HIV. To improve HIV testing among men in SSA, this study recommends that policymakers and stakeholders step up comprehensive HIV/AIDS knowledge sensitization and education using effective tools such as mass media

Safer sex negotiation and parity among women in sub-Saharan Africa

Women’s ability to negotiate for safer sex has effects on their sexual and reproductive health. This study investigated the association between safer sex negotiation and parity among women in sub-Saharan Africa. The data were sourced from the Demographic and Health Surveys of 28 sub-Saharan African countries conducted from 2010 to 2019. A total of 215,397 women aged 15–49 were included in the study. Multilevel logistic analysis was conducted to examine the association between safer sex negotiation and parity among women in sub-Saharan Africa. The results were presented as adjusted odds ratios (aOR) and the significance level set at p<0.05. The overall prevalences of safer sex negotiation and high parity among women in sub-Saharan Africa were 82.7% and 52.1%, respectively. The prevalence of high parity ranged from 32.3% in Chad to 72.1% in Lesotho. The lowest prevalence of safer sex negotiation was in Chad (16.8%) while the highest prevalence was recorded in Rwanda (99.7%). Women who had the capacity to negotiate for safer sex were less likely to have high parity compared with those who had no capacity to negotiate for safer sex (aOR = 0.78, CI: 0.75–0.81). Other factors that were associated with high parity were age, educational level, marital status, exposure to media, contraceptive use, religion, wealth quintile, sex of household head, and place of residence. The study identified significant association between safer sex negotiation and high parity among women of reproductive age in sub-Saharan Africa. It is worth noting that women’s ability to negotiate for safer sex could reduce high parity among women in sub-Saharan Africa. Therefore, policies and programmes aimed at birth control or reducing high parity among women could be targeted at improving their capacity to negotiate for safer sex through education

Association between place of delivery, assistance during delivery and fistula occurrence in Afghanistan

Background: Obstetric fistula is one of themost serious and devastating childbirth-related injuries women suffer worldwide. This study investigated the association between delivery characteristics and the occurrence of obstetric fistula in Afghanistan. Methods: The study analysed data from the 2015 Afghanistan Demographic and Health Survey. The association between place of delivery and assistance during delivery with experience of fistula symptoms was investigated by fitting two binary logistic regression models. Results: Findings from this study revealed that 23.4% of the women surveyed ever heard about obstetric fistula and 3% reported symptoms of fistula. Women whose deliveries were assisted by traditional birth attendants were significantly more likely to experience fistula compared with those whose deliveries were assisted by doctors. Similarly, women whose deliveries were assisted by others were significantly more likely to experience fistula compared with women whose deliveries were assisted by doctors. Regarding place of delivery, women whose deliveries took place at a government hospital were less likely to experience fistula compared with those whose deliveries took place at home. Conclusions: This study highlights the importance of skilled delivery in reducing the risk for obstetric fistula among women in Afghanistan. Therefore, it is important for the various stakeholders in Afghanistan's healthcare delivery system, including healthcare providers, local authorities and international non-governmental organisations, to collaborate and institute measures that will promote health facility deliveries and improve access to skilled delivery