Clash of Interests? Conflicting Perspectives of the State and Border Communities on Smuggling in Nigeria

Smuggling has been a signature of African borders. The study takes a critical look at the issue of smuggling in the Imeko border community of Nigeria that is situated at the Benin border. It examines the perspectives of the state and the border communities and uses the Onion method of Conflict Analysis to determine the actual needs of both parties and how they could be met. While the government sees it as a crime that robs the state of its much-needed resources, the border communities consider smuggling to be legitimate trade relations with their kinsmen across the border as a result of its artificial nature. The study recommends that the government and the border communities should come together to clarify the ambiguity around smuggling so as to have a defined approach that is favourable to all parties in the conflict. In addition, the government has to invest massively in development of border communities to prevent smuggling from being lucrative to border community indigenes

Knowledge of breast cancer screening methods and the practice of breast self-examination among female nursing students in a Nigerian teaching hospital

Background: Breast cancer is the most common cause of cancer-related death among women worldwide. The incidence of the disease is now increasing in a population that previously had low incidence, moreover, the incidence of early onset of the disease is now on the increase. Mammography still remains the best method for breast cancer screening.Objective: To assess the knowledge of female nursing students in a tertiary health institution on the screening methods for breast cancer as well as their practice of breast self-examination.Design: A descriptive cross-sectional studySetting: School of Nursing, University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City.Subjects: All female Nursing Students in School of Nursing University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City Edo State Nigeria.Results: The 211 respondents were from first year to third year with third-year students making up about 50.7%. Majority of the respondents (58%) were within the 21-35 years age group. Most of the students (73%) practice breast self-examination. There was a significant association between age, level of study, knowledge of screening methods with the practice of breast self-examination (P<0.0001).Conclusion: Good knowledge of breast cancer screening methods and the practice of breast self-examination was found among the female nursing students

Unsuspected pregnancyat hysterosalpingography : a case reportand outcome

No AbstractKeyWords: Unsuscpected pregnancy, hysterosalpingography

TRAIT ANXIETY, SEX, AGE AND DENTAL TREATMENT EXPERIENCE AS DETERMINANTS OF DENTAL ANXIETY AMONG CHRONIC DENTAL PATIENTS IN NIGERIA

Objectives - To investigate the influence of trait anxiety, sex, age andprevious dental treatment experience on dental anxiety.Design - The study utilised a cross-sectional survey design. Independentvariables are trait anxiety, sex, age and dental treatment experience.Dependent variable is dental anxiety.Setting - The dental centre of a teaching hospital in Nigeria.Participants - Data were collected from 255 (115 male and 140 female)respondents selected through purposive sampling technique. The mean agewas 28.59 years (SD=10.74 years).Results: This study revealed that respondents with high trait anxiety levelsreported significantly higher dental anxiety (t (253) =- 5.78, p <.01) thanthose with low trait anxiety. Male respondents reported significantly lowerdental anxiety (t (253) = -3.04, p < .05) than the females.Conclusion: Trait anxiety dispositions and sex are important predictors ofdental anxiety and should be taken seriously in the management of dentalanxiety at the various secondary care dental centres

TRAIT ANXIETY, SEX, AGE AND DENTAL TREATMENT EXPERIENCE AS DETERMINANTS OF DENTAL ANXIETY AMONG CHRONIC DENTAL PATIENTS IN NIGERIA

Objectives - To investigate the influence of trait anxiety, sex, age andprevious dental treatment experience on dental anxiety.Design - The study utilised a cross-sectional survey design. Independentvariables are trait anxiety, sex, age and dental treatment experience.Dependent variable is dental anxiety.Setting - The dental centre of a teaching hospital in Nigeria.Participants - Data were collected from 255 (115 male and 140 female)respondents selected through purposive sampling technique. The mean agewas 28.59 years (SD=10.74 years).Results: This study revealed that respondents with high trait anxiety levelsreported significantly higher dental anxiety (t (253) =- 5.78, p <.01) thanthose with low trait anxiety. Male respondents reported significantly lowerdental anxiety (t (253) = -3.04, p < .05) than the females.Conclusion: Trait anxiety dispositions and sex are important predictors ofdental anxiety and should be taken seriously in the management of dentalanxiety at the various secondary care dental centres

The Challenge of Leadership and Governance in Nigeria

The paper examined the dichotomy of leadership and some selected regimes in Nigerian political system. It identifies the origin, challenges of leadership and the prospects of the search for a nationalist governing class towards building a viable country. The paper relied on secondary data and method of content analysis. Generally, it argued that poor leadership has stymied the nation’s enormous, economics and political potentials. In other words, it contended that as a result of leadership failure in Nigerian political system which has caused acute poverty, political instability, insurgence, collapse of governmental institutions. The identified issues have erupt a call for resources control by those in the South-South, secession and state of Biafra by those in South-East, Oduduwa state by those in the South-West and; fiscal federalism premised on population and institutionalisation of Sharia law in Nigeria by those in the North in Nigeria. All these demands have been weaved and collapsed into one demand popularly known as ‘restructuring’. Recently, the call for restructuring has intensified from Nigerians perhaps due to the economic hardship and the failure of the current ruling political parties especially the All Progress Congress (APC) in fulfilling their electoral promises and manifestos. However, it recommended and advance that genuine leadership will need an honest, courageous and credible followership, which is less vulnerable to the manipulation politics of the ruling elite. It should possess knowledge, sound judgment and committed to specific cause and ideas. The pursuit of people based economic programmes has the potential to foster democratic governance within the context of quality followership. This class should secure democratized access to economic resources and political objects to foster trust, confidence and commitment. The leadership discourse should include the private domain as a viable means of leadership recruitment and consolidation within the system. Keywords: Leadership, Leadership failure, Challenges of Leadership, Governanc

Frequency Of Delusional Halitosis In A University Community

Objective: This study reviewed the prevalence of delusional halitosis and analyzed the frequency of this condition within the University Community, over a period of three years. Method: Sixty-eight (68) patients with delusional halitosis were diagnosed over a period of three years (2001 to 2003), at the Dental Hospital, University of Benin, Nigeria. Results: Within the University Community; there were 14 cases (20.1%) and the largest group was within 20 to 29 years, 12 cases (17.7%). Conclusion: The study suggests an increased level of awareness or an increased prevalence of this condition within the same population. A fifth of the patients were within the University Community; mostly male students who suffered social embarrassment and poor academic performance. Key Words: Frequency, Delusional Halitosis, University-Communit

Prevalence and Correlates of Missed First Appointments among Outpatients at a Psychiatric Hospital in Nigeria

Background: Missed appointments are common in psychiatric practice. It compromises quality of care, results in poor treatment outcomes and drains financial resources. In Nigeria, where mental health services are poorly organized, missed appointments and its resultant consequences may be burdensome.Aim: This study sought to determine the prevalence and factors (sociodemographic and clinical) associated with missed clinic appointments at a regional psychiatric hospital. Subjects and Methods: A study on a cohort of patients attending the Outpatient Clinics for the first time between June and September 2011 was conducted. We interviewed each participant at their first presentation then tracked through case records to determine adherence to scheduled first clinic appointments after 4 weeks. A questionnaire was used in eliciting sociodemographic characteristics, clinical variables, and patient/caregiversatisfaction with treatment. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the data and inferential statistics to test associations using the SPSS 16. Results: Three hundred and ten patients were recruited over the study period. The prevalence of missed first appointment was 32.6% (101/310). Participants who were single (P = 0.04), living alone (P < 0.01) or aggressive (P < 0.01) were more likely to miss their first appointment. However, having received previous treatment for a psychiatric illness (P = 0.02) and having comorbidity (P = 0.05) was associated with less likelihood to miss a first appointment. A binary logistic regression analysis showed that having received previous treatment independently predicted a less likelihood to miss first appointment (P = 0.03). Conclusion: Quite a proportion (32.6%) of patients attending outpatient clinics miss scheduled clinic appointments. Receiving previous psychiatriccare predicted adherence to scheduled appointment.Keywords: Missed appointments, Nigeria, Patients, Psychiatr

An architectural-based approach to detecting spim in electronic means of communication

Spams are what users and developers should be aware of in all Internet-based communication tools (such as e-mail, websites, Social Networking Sites (SNS), instant messengers and so on). This is because spammers have not ceased from using these platforms to deceive and lure users into releasing vibrant and sensitive information (especially, financial details). This paper developed an architectural based technique for SPIM (Instant Message Spam or IM SPAM) detection using the classification method. The classification was done using the C4.5 classifier with a dataset of messages gotten from an instant messaging environment. The dataset served as the input to the classification algorithm method which was able to distinguish spam from non-spam messages. This classification method was depicted in a tree form to show its usefulness. The results show that its precision, recall and accuracy rate satisfied standard recommendation with a commendable error rate. The proposed technique will find implication in the reduction of the number of Internet users.Keywords: Social Networking sites, spammers, Instant message spam, C4.5 Classifiers, e-mails

Factors Affecting the Competencies and Project Delivery of Small-Sized Indigenous Construction Firms in Lagos State

Every industry is prone to problems Performance is a general challenge affecting construction and most especially small-sized indigenous construction companies. The study focused on determining the likely factors affecting the competencies and project delivery of small-sized construction firms in Lagos. 60 questionnaires were designed and administered to professionals (15-Architects, 15-Builders, 15-Engineers, and 15-Quantity Surveyors) working in the construction companies in Lagos State and 48 questionnaires were retrieved. These questionnaires were analysed with SPSS and several findings were derived from this analysis. The various factors affecting the performance and project delivery at varying degrees are: high cost of plants, equipment, materials and labour, lack of skilled craftsmen, unavailability of funds, poor managerial skills, lack of government patronage, and poor communication among stakeholders. The study found out that the most prominent factors are poor managerial skills, lack of project planning and unavailability of funds. The main factors affecting the performance of small sized indigenous construction firms are based on three key elements namely time, quality and cost. These three elements when properly harnessed will increase the performance of small sized indigenous firms. The study recommended that the use of ICT would help improve performance by making work flow more easily. Access to bank loans and more machinery on site and sufficient government patronage would improve performance. It concluded that better management and project planning would go a long way in improving competencies and project delivery of small sized construction firms