MICROFINANCE BANKS: ANTIDOTE TO POVERTY ALLEVIATION IN NIGERIA: CASE STUDY OF EKITI STATE, NIGERIA

This study aimed at investigating the roles microfinance bank plays in alleviating poverty in Nigeria beaming the search light on Ekiti State. Microcredit firms provides small loans to poor people and small enterprises, this study therefore provides an overview of the role and performance of micro finance institution in alleviating poverty at different levels in Nigeria. The study made use of structured questionnaires administered to a sample of 150 randomly selected staffs of ten microfinance institutions in Ekiti state and some people that have benefited from the program in the service and cottage industries. The Multiple Linear Regression models adopted for the study reveals that the effectiveness of microfinance bank and other explanatory variables are positively and significantly influencing poverty alleviation. Microfinance institution are now being considered as one of the most important and effective mechanisms for poverty alleviation through which precious information on ways to improve the health, education, legal rights, sanitation and other living standards which are of relevant concerns to the poor can be disseminated. It is hereby, recommended that the government should intensify her efforts in promoting, monitoring and adequately supervising the micro finance bank activities so as to reduce poverty in Nigeria. JEL: E50, E51, G21  Article visualizations

The Influence of Sex, Marital Status, and Tenure of Service on Job Stress, and Job Satisfaction of Health Workers in a Nigerian Federal Health Institution

The study examined some demographic factors that interact to influencing the satisfaction that nurses and doctors derive from their jobs. One hundred and ninety one (191) professionals, comprising of one hundred and two (102) nurses and 89 doctors were drawn from Federal Medical Centre, Ido Ekiti in Ekiti State, Nigeria. Perceived Stress Scale developed by Cohen (1983) and Minnesota satisfaction Questionnaire (MSQ) developed by Weise, Davis, Lofquist and England (1967) were employed to assess job stress and satisfaction respectively. Analysis of data was done using Independent t-test and one way ANOVA. Three hypotheses were tested to show the effects of the demographic factors on job satisfaction. The result shows that job satisfaction is influenced by marital status [t (189) = 10.17, p<.05]; sex [t(189)= 5.61, p<.05] and tenure of service (F (2,188) = 115.6, p<.05). Also, job stress has a significant effect on the job satisfaction among nurses and doctors. Findings were discussed in relation to the existing literature on the influence of demographic variables on job satisfaction.Key words – Job Stress, Job Satisfaction, Psychology, Healt

The X-Ray Crystal Structure Analysis and Chemical Syntheses of Some Amino-Phosphine Complexes

The work described in this thesis is divided into five main parts and one appendix. Parts I-III deal with the accounts of the X-Ray studies of three derivatives of bis-(diphenyl-phoaphino)-ethylemine, (C6H5)2P.N.(C2H5)P(C6H5)2. Part IV describes the crystal structure analysis of lead thiocyanate and Part V summarises the chemical syntheses of some aminophosphine complexes. The appendix contains some of the methods and theories used in X-Ray Crystallography. In all the X-Ray work, the heavy atom technique was used to overcome the phase problem. Intensities ware estimated visually and the refinement of each structure was by the three-dimensional least-squares analysis

Perinatal Mortality in a Northwestern Nigerian City: A Wake up Call

Background: In Nigeria, of the over 900,000 children under the age of 5 years that die every year, perinatal mortality is responsible for a little over 20%. Previous reports are largely from the southern part of the country. This is the first report of perinatal data from the northwest of Nigeria. Methods: A case control study of perinatal deaths in the three major public hospitals in Katsina metropolis was carried out to determine the pattern of perinatal deaths in the metropolis. Data were collected over a 6 week period on maternal socio-demographic, antenatal, and delivery variables. Data were similarly obtained on neonatal profile and morbidities. Results: There were 143 perinatal deaths (94 stillbirths and 49 early neonatal deaths) out of 1104 live and stillbirths during the study period. The perinatal mortality rate was thus 130 per 1000 births with a stillbirth rate of 85 per 1000 births and an early neonatal mortality rate of 49 per 1000 live births. Stillbirths during the intrapartum period were twice as frequent as macerated stillbirths (2:1). Maternal factors significantly associated with perinatal deaths included chorioamnionitis, ruptured uterus, multiple gestation, medically induced delivery, prolonged labor, unbooked pregnancies, antepartum hemorrhage, and prolonged rupture of membranes. Antepartum hemorrhage was the strongest determinant of perinatal death. Significant neonatal determinants were multiple gestation, severe birth asphyxia, apnea, and necrotizing enterocolitis. Apnea was the strongest neonatal determinant. The majority (83.2%) of perinatal deaths were due to severe perinatal asphyxia (SPA) (54.5%), normally formed macerated stillbirths (20.3%), and immaturity (8.4%). Conclusion: In conclusion, Perinatal Mortality in Katsina metropolis in northwest Nigeria is unacceptably high as we approach the timeline for the millennium development goals. Antepartum hemorrhage and SPA are major determinants

Transient neonatal diabetes or neonatal hyperglycaemia: A case report

Transient neonatal diabetes and neonatal hyperglycaemia both present in the neonatal period with features of hyperglycaemia, dehydration and weight loss. Differentiating these conditions clinically is difficult. We describe the case of a 13 day old female whom we managed recently who could have had either condition. Hyperglycaemia is not as commonly documented as would be expected for the frequency of neonatal disease and when it does occur, it will worsen neonatal morbidity and mortality. Blood glucose levels in babies ondextrose infusion should be monitored regularly in order to help individualiseglucose requirements

Assessing the suitability of green concrete using waste glass as partial replacement for cement

Green construction reduces the impact of the built environment on the natural environment and human health. The study of partial replacement of cement with waste glass powder and fire resistivity of concrete was investigated in two stages using quantitative approach, the first stage involved collection of waste glass samples, crushing and milling of the glass samples into powder less than 75μm, casting of concrete cubes at ratio 1:2:4 for concrete grade M15 (according to IS 456:2000) using 0%, 10%, 20%, 30%, 50% and 60% replacement of cement with waste glass powder. Compressive strength tests were carried out on the concrete cubes after curing ages (days) of 7, 14, 28, and 35.A total of 72 cubes were tested. The second stage involved testing for the strength of the concrete with 0% and 10% waste glass powder content obtained from the first stage as the optimum percentage replacement after heating to a temperature of 600℃ for 5 hours in a furnace. Result showed with 0% cement replacement with waste glass powder being the control, had the highest strength of all the samples, 10% had the second highest strength which exhibited a normal increased strength behaviour with increase in curing ages unlike all other percentage replacements making 10% replacement of cement with waste glass powder milled to a particle size of 75μmto be satisfactory. Fire resistivity at 5 hours gave 50% reduction in strength and the concrete was non-flammable. Use of waste glass could reduce cement content in concrete, suitable for green construction.Keywords: Concrete, Compressive strength, fire resistivity, environmen

DEVELOPMENT OF IMPROVED SOLID HOSPITAL WASTE MANAGEMENT PRACTICES IN A NIGERIAN TERTIARY HOSPITAL

A pre-intervention situation analysis was conducted to assess Hospital Waste Management (HWM) practices, solutions were proffered for the observed inadequacies and advocacy was made to Hospital administration for which a number of interventional measures were instituted. A post interventional survey was conducted to identify the improvements in HWM and identify areas needing further attention using a structured questionnaire to collect 300 viable samples. Overall outcome includes introduction of HWM plan, establishment of Environmental unit, procurement of waste segregation practices, double chambered incinerator while evaluation of medical and health workers’ knowledge and practices showed that 144(48%) express satisfaction with HWM.  The profession of respondents has significant effect on the knowledge about HWM while the educational qualification was not independently associated with level of satisfaction and use of personal protective equipments while handling medical waste at p=0.05. It was therefore concluded that continuous training/ capacity development and provision of waste management materials remain essential for consolidating the gains made on HWM. http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/njt.v35i3.2

Development of Improved Drainage System for Storm Water flow at Isale koko Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria

Among areas prone to flood disaster yearly in Ilorin is Isale koko.  The study involved the reconnaissance survey to ascertain the current capacity of the existing drainage in the flood disaster prone area of Isale Koko, Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria. The dimension of the drainage network of the area was taken at eight (8) various points and the average area of the drainage was obtained to be 0.44m². The already existing drainage in the area was divided into 3 sections for easy computations of flow value, length, depth and width. The rainfall intensity for the study area was found to be 98.49mm/hr. The rational method and Manning’s equation were used for the surface runoff and the proposed drainage respectively. The peak flow of the area and maximum flow velocity in the drains were determined to be 48.46mᶟ/s and 2.21mᶟ/s respectively. The best hydraulic section method was employed to obtain new drainage dimensions for both rectangular and trapezoidal channels. The new designed rectangular channel had dimensions of 1.16m × 0.812m while the trapezoidal channel had dimensions of 1.43m×0.72m×0.87m. The area of both channels was obtained to be 0.67m². A comparative analysis was carried against the average area of the pre-existing drainage that showed a 53.3% increase in drainage area; proving that the current drainage infrastructure of the area is grossly inadequate. Sequel to the analysis, the trapezoidal shaped drainage was recommended for the study area. Keywords—Drainage, Flood, Infrastructure, Runoff, Storm wate

Glucose 6 phosphate dehydrogenase levels in babies delivered at the University of Ilorin teaching hospital.

Background: Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency, an X-linked recessive disorder, is the most common enzymopathy producing disease in humans.It is known to cause severe neonatal hyperbilirubinaemia. Aims and Objectives: To determine G6PD levels in babies delivered at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital with a view to determining the prevalence of G6PDdeficiency. Methods: Samples of cord blood were collected at delivery, from 933 babies who met set criteria. Blood was assayed for G6PD levels using a quantitative in vitro test (RANDOX©). Results: A total of 348 (37.3%) of the 933 tested subjects had G6PD deficiency with enzyme activity of ≤ 2.8U/gHb. Glucose 6 Phosphate Dehydrogenase levels in female babies with normal enzyme levels were significantly higher than in male babies with normal enzyme levels (5.72 ± 2.45 U/gHb versus 4.99 ± 2.3 U/gHb, p = 0.002). Enzyme levels in babies with G6PD deficiency was comparable in both males and females (2.05 ± 0.60 u/gHb in females and 2.1 ± 0.66 U/gHb in males, p = 0.66). The prevalence of G6PD deficiency was comparable among males and females (p = 0.81 Χ²= 0.06, RR = 1.02 , CI = 0.9 0 < R R < 1.15 , OR=1.04). Conclusion: There is a high prevalence of G6PD deficiency in babies delivered at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, and the enzyme deficiency appears to occur equally among the sexes.Key words: Glucose-6-phosphate, neonates, cord bloo