Attitude Towards Ageing Anxiety Among Different Age Cohorts in Anambra State, Nigeria

The study was aimed at investigating the attitude towards ageing anxiety among different age cohorts in Anambra State. Three research questions and two hypotheses guided the study. A cross sectional survey design was adopted for the study. The variables that influence the attitude were ascertained in line with the objectives of the study. The accessible population for the study consisted of all the different age cohorts from ten randomly drawn Local Government Areas in the state. The sample for the study consisted of 736 different age cohorts selected from the five education zones in the state. Multi-stage sampling procedure comprising cluster, simple random sampling, proportionate sampling and stratified random sampling were used in selecting the LGAs, towns and respondents. A validated Ageing and Attitude Scale Questionnaire (AASQ) designed by the researchers was used for data collection. The data were analyzed using frequencies and percentages as well as the chi-square. The hypotheses were tested at 0.05 level of significance using computer-based epidemiological Information (Ep/Info) version 6.1 software. The findings revealed negative attitude towards ageing anxiety among the different age cohorts. Gender of the subjects significantly influenced their ageing anxiety whereas ages of the subjects had no significant influence on their ageing anxiety. It was concluded that ageing education intervention is needed to bring about a positive change in attitude towards ageing anxiety

Effect of Temperature and Residence Time on Torrefaction Characteristics of African Birch (Anogeissus leiocarpa)

In this study, the effect of temperature and residence time on African birch (Anogeissus leiocarpa) torrefaction characteristics was investigated. African birch trunk was procured from Aanu-Oluwapo Sawmill in Ogbomoso, SouthWestern Nigeria. The trunk was sawn into pieces. The pieces were machined into cylindrical samples of 40 mm diameter and 65 mm length using a wood lathe machine (Powermatic 3520B). Prepared samples were torrefied, one at a time, in an electrically heated fixed bed reactor at different torrefaction temperatures (200, 230, 260, and 290 oC) and residence times (10, 20, 30, and 40 min). The proximate analysis of both the raw sample and solid torrefaction products was done according to the ASTM D3174-76 standard. The mass and energy yields, Higher Heating Value (HHV), and water absorption characteristic of the solid torrefaction products were then determined. Findings revealed mass and energy yields of the torrefied solid products decreased with an increase in both temperature and residence time. HHV increased with temperature but did not show any consistent pattern with residence time. The water affinity of the torrefied biomass decreased with both temperature and residence time. Torrefaction inhibits biomass moisture uptake during storage while increasing its heating valu

Use of standard verbal autopsies to improve the mortality data capacity of civil registration and vital statistics systems in low- and middle-income countries: Analysis of key issues

Background: Multidimensional issues confront the use of standard verbal autopsies (SVAs), such as the WHO's verbal autopsy standards and the Population Health Metrics Research Consortium's gold standard verbal autopsy, to improve the mortality data performance of civil registration and vital statistics (CRVS) systems in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Objective: This paper attempts an inclusive analysis of these issues and their implications for policies intending to integrate routine SVAs into CRVS systems to enhance mortality data coverage in LMICs. Methods: Issues were identified from the verbal autopsy and CRVS literature, official documents, and the authors' field experiences with the Nigerian CRVS system. These were analysed using a problem (key issues) analysis methodology. Results: Two classes of issues were shown to impinge on the use of SVAs within CRVS systems. One class is generic to SVAs (technical complexity, cost, and standardization issues) and to CRVS systems (contextual, resource, and infrastructural limitations) in LMICs. The other is related to the incompatibility of SVA and CRVS system functions, operations, instruments, and data. Conclusions: The results indicate a need for alternative solutions to the mortality data challenges of CRVS systems in LMICs that are more pragmatic than SVAs, especially in the short and medium term. Such alternatives must involve less complex data procedures and costs and must be adapted to CRVS system functions, operations, and socioeconomic contexts in LMICs. Contribution: The paper contributes to the discourse on the use of SVAs to improve the mortality data capacity of CRVS systems in LMICs

Characterisation of colistin resistance in Gram-negative microbiota of pregnant women and neonates in Nigeria

A mobile colistin resistance gene mcr was first reported in 2016 in China and has since been found with increasing prevalence across South-East Asia. Here we survey the presence of mcr genes in 4907 rectal swabs from mothers and neonates from three hospital sites across Nigeria; a country with limited availability or history of colistin use clinically. Forty mother and seven neonatal swabs carried mcr genes in a range of bacterial species: 46 Enterobacter spp. and single isolates of; Shigella, E. coli and Klebsiella quasipneumoniae. Ninety percent of the genes were mcr-10 (n = 45) we also found mcr-1 (n = 3) and mcr-9 (n = 1). While the prevalence during this collection (2015-2016) was low, the widespread diversity of mcr-gene type and range of bacterial species in this sentinel population sampling is concerning. It suggests that agricultural colistin use was likely encouraging sustainment of mcr-positive isolates in the community and implementation of medical colistin use will rapidly select and expand resistant isolates

ISSN 2347-954X (Print) Screening Rate, Prevalence and Complications of Hepatitis B Virus Infection among Women at Delivery in UCTH Calabar, Nigeria

Abstract: Hepatitis B virus infection remains a public health problem in Nigeria. It is a major cause of morbidity and consequent mortality, especially in developing countries. Routine universal vaccination of all persons has been established in several countries of high and intermediate endemicity. There is neither a screening policy in our environment nor routine vaccination or measures to protect the at risk population. The objectives of this study were to determine the sero-prevalence of hepatitis B infection, rate of screening for HBsAg in pregnancy and the complications of hepatitis B infection in pregnancy at UCTH, Calabar. This prospective cross-sectional study of 300 women admitted for delivery was conducted at UCTH, Calabar. A pretested questionnaire was used to the data on socio-demographic profile, previous vaccination, screening for HBsAg during the antenatal clinic and complications of hepatitis B in pregnancy. Blood sample was collected from each consented woman and the serum tested for the presence of HBsAg using rapid ELISA test Kits in the laboratory of the hospital. After delivery, other information on birth weight, Apgar scores and postpartum haemorrhage were obtained. All the data were analyzed using microsoft SPSS version 17 statistical program.Out of the 300 women studied, HBsAg was detected in 14 women, giving a sero-prevalence rate of 4.7%. Among the participants, only 60.56% were screened for HBsAg during the antenatal period, while 39.44% were not screened for HBsAg. A total of 17(5.7%) of the women had low birth weight; of these 1 was sero-positive to HbsAg and was not statistically significant (p=0.7576). All the complications of hepatitis B infection in pregnancy studied were not significantly higher among HBV positive women. An intermediate prevalence of hepatitis B virus infection was identified and routine screening for HBsAg in pregnancy is not well established in this centre. There is need for routine screening for HBsAg in pregnancy in order to identify the infection and reduce the risk of vertical transmission of the virus

Effect of Dietary supplementation of Garlic (Allium sativum) oil on the Growth Performance, Carcass Quality and Cost Implication of Broiler Chickens

This experiment was carried to evaluate the “Effect of dietary supplementation of Garlic (Allium sativum) oil on carcass quality, growth performance and cost implication of broiler chickens”. A total of 180 day–old- (Arboacre) broiler chicks of mixed sex was used in this study which lasted for eight (8) weeks. The birds were divided into four experimental groups; each group was further subdivided into three replicates of fifteen birds per each in a Complete Randomized Design (CRD). The birds were fed on two basal diets (Starter and finisher) throughout the experimental period. The garlic oil (Allum sativum) was added to the basal diet at (0.00, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3%) level respectively. The treatments were T1, T2, T3, and T4 with T1 serving as control. Growth performance, carcass characteristics, and cost implication were recorded. At the end of the experiment, the birds were slaughtered, dressed to estimate the different parameters. The result showed that the diet with 0.3% garlic oil inclusion had significantly (P<0.5) higher body weight and best dressing percentage compared with the control treatment (0. 0%).Garlic oil inclusion reduced the mortality rate of the birds as well as productivity. The results on cost implication of the experiment diets indicated that, the diet with 0.3% level of garlic oil has the highest profitability ratio as compared to other treatment groups. This is be due to the higher weight gains recorded by the group of chicken

Effect of Temperature and Residence Time on Torrefaction Characteristics of African Birch (Anogeissus leiocarpa)

In this study, the effect of temperature and residence time on African birch (Anogeissus leiocarpa) torrefaction characteristics was investigated. African birch trunk was procured from Aanu-Oluwapo Sawmill in Ogbomoso, SouthWestern Nigeria. The trunk was sawn into pieces. The pieces were machined into cylindrical samples of 40 mm diameter and 65 mm length using a wood lathe machine (Powermatic 3520B). Prepared samples were torrefied, one at a time, in an electrically heated fixed bed reactor at different torrefaction temperatures (200, 230, 260, and 290 oC) and residence times (10, 20, 30, and 40 min). The proximate analysis of both the raw sample and solid torrefaction products was done according to the ASTM D3174-76 standard. The mass and energy yields, Higher Heating Value (HHV), and water absorption characteristic of the solid torrefaction products were then determined. Findings revealed mass and energy yields of the torrefied solid products decreased with an increase in both temperature and residence time. HHV increased with temperature but did not show any consistent pattern with residence time. The water affinity of the torrefied biomass decreased with both temperature and residence time. Torrefaction inhibits biomass moisture uptake during storage while increasing its heating valu

Community Acquired Pyogenic Liver Abscess Caused by A Nosocomial Organism: A Case Report

Pyogenic liver abscess (PLA) is a potentially life-threatening disease affecting patients in many parts of the world, especially Asia and the other third world countries, Nigeria inclusive. Knowing the aetiology of PLA, where possible, plays a significant role in the successful treatment of the patients. Recently, the prevalence of Klebsiella pneumonia induced PLA (KP-PLA) has become an emerging public health challenge all over the world, however, other rare organisms are also implicated as shown in our case report. Acinetobacter baumannii is a multi-drug resistant nosocomial organism that may also be responsible for some cases of community acquired infections as seen in this index case