Human Trafficking: The Modern-Day Slavery of the 21st Century

The transatlantic slave trade (ancient slavery) in which Africans were captured, chained and transported to Latin America, the Caribbean and the United States to work as slaves was officially abolished around 1807. Unfortunately, human trafficking appears to have replaced this abhorrent activity as the modern day slavery of the 21st century. This research discusses the similarities and differences between these two faces of slavery, differentiates human trafficking from human smuggling, outlines many dimensions of human trafficking, discusses the scope of the problem in several countries using the United States and Nigeria as prime examples, and identifies some of the factors that may foster human trafficking worldwide. This paper concludes that human trafficking constitutes a gross violation of human rights and a global threat to democracy and peac

Prostate disorders in an apparently normal Nigerian population 1: Prevalence

Benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) constitutes a lot of health burden for adult males. Prevalence statistics are well documented in the developed world, but not so well documented in Africa, especially in Nigeria. This study was therefore carried out to provide information on the prevalence of BPH in this locality. Adult males (aged forty years or older) who reside in Nsukka, Enugu State Nigeria, who had no apparentsymptoms of ill health, were used for the study. The International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) index was used to establish the presence of BPH, respondents’ choice of most troublesome symptom and respondents’ perception of their quality of life. The results show that 25.35% of the studied population had symptoms suggestive of BPH. The severity of symptoms was seen to increase with age. Therespondents regarded Nocturia as the most troublesome symptom of BPH, while storage symptoms were seen to be more troublesome than voiding symptoms. Also 18.91% of the studied population had poorquality of life, while 81.08% were satisfied with their quality of life. The prevalence of BPH in the studied population shows that one in four apparently normal men have BPH. This is comparable to figures from the developed world. Sadly the awareness of the problem in Nigeria is not comparable to that in the developed world. This calls for a concerted effort to reverse this trend. This would check the devastating effect of BPH on the quality of life of men and thereby enhance productivity

Understanding the Relationship between Unemployment and Inflation in Nigeria

This study investigated the relationship between unemployment and inflation in Nigeria from 1980-2015. The model specified unemployment as a function of inflation, money supply % GDP, total government expenditure % of GDP. The statistical tests used were causality test, VECM test, co integration test. Based on the above tests carried out, the study found out that: (i) Inflation significantly impacted unemployment in Nigeria both in the long run and short run within the period under review.(ii) There exist a significant causal relationship among the variables in the model. Based on the results, the study recommended that government should use discretionary policy that would reduce unemployment by boosting government expenditure and maintain stability in money supply. Keywords: Unemployment, Inflation, Philip’s curve, Nigeria, Co integration, Granger causality

Ochratoxin Assay, Proximate and Mineral Composition of Commercially Packaged Fruit Juices Sold in Owerri, IMO State, Nigeria.

The ochratoxin presence, proximate and mineral composition of 21 packaged single and multiple fruit juices sold in Owerri metropolis, Nigeria were assessed. The ochratoxin assay was carried out using an ochracard test kit. Results from the analysis showed that the moisture content of the juices ranged from 85.04 to 90.16%, ash content from 0.01 to 0.24%, the carbohydrate content from 9.80 to 14.4%, the pH values ranged from 2.95 to 3.77, the protein content from 0.32 to 1.48%, vitamin C from 4.90 to 36.00mg/100ml, the vitamin A from traces to 0.12 mg/100ml. Fibre and fat contents were in trace amounts. The mineral contents ranged from 65 to 234 mg/l for iron, 20 to 180 mg/l for calcium, 30 to 171 mg/l for sodium, 18 to 255 mg/l for potassium and 12 to 201 mg/l for magnesium. Nine (9) out of the 21 samples were positive for ochratoxin and the contamination rate was 42.9% for the fruit juices. The proximate and mineral content analyses were done using using standard chemical methods. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) test was employed to test the equality of the different fruit juices in terms of different mineral and proximate contents assayed in the samples

Perceived Benefits of Prenatal Exercise Among Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Clinic at Federal Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki, Nigeria

This paper investigated the perceived benefits of prenatal exercise among pregnant women attending antenatal clinic at Federal Teaching Hospital Abakaliki, Ebonyi State. One research question and two hypotheses guided the study. Descriptive survey design was used, the population of the study was 7200 pregnant women while the sample for the study was 720 pregnant women attending antenatal clinic at Federal Hospital Abakaliki, Ebonyi State. A self-developed structured questionnaire was used as instrument for data collection. Mean and standard deviation was used to answer research question while ANOVA statistics were used to test the hypotheses at 0.05 level of significant. The study found that pregnant women attending antenatal clinic at Federal Teaching Hospital Abakaliki, Ebonyi State had positive perception on the benefit of prenatal exercise and that there are significant differences on the perception of benefit of prenatal exercise among pregnant women attending antenatal clinic at Federal Teaching Hospital Abakaliki, Ebonyi State based on age and level of education. It was recommended that Government, health educators and hospital management should organize continuing education programmes, seminars and workshop to promote prenatal exercise among pregnant women to actualize the perceived benefits of prenatal exercise in pregnancy. Keywords: Exercise, prenatal exercise, pregnant woman, perceived benefit

Improving Agricultural Education Curriculum Through Sea Food Resources at the Tertiary Institutions

This work centered on improving Agricultural Education curriculum through sea food resources at the tertiary institutions. The research was conducted in Ebonyi state of Nigeria. The design used for this research was a survey research design. The research had five specific purposes and five research questions. The collection of data used for the study was done using questionnaire as the instrument. The   questionnaire contained 50 items.  The questionnaire was validated by experts in agricultural Education, measurement and evaluation and curriculum. The reliability of the instrument was determined by carrying out a pilot test. The data collected from the pilot test was analyzed using cronbach alpha which gave a reliability coefficient of 0.812. The data collected were subjected to analysis using statistical mean and standard deviation. The outcome of the analysis of the data revealed that the concepts of the sea food resources should be included in the agricultural education curriculum at the tertiary institutions, the management skills in sea food resources, the harvesting techniques of sea food resources, the processing, preservation and storage techniques of sea food resources and the distribution and marketing of sea food resources should be included in the agricultural education curriculum at the tertiary institutions. On the basis of the findings, the researchers recommended that the ministry of education, the institutions offering agricultural education and the national university commission (NUC) should include the findings of this research in the curriculum of agricultural education. Keywords: Agriculture; Education; Curriculum; food;resources;tertiary;institutions. DOI: 10.7176/JEP/11-35-04 Publication date: December 31st 202

Health Problems Among Adolescent Boys and Girls in Secondary Schools in Obollo-Afor Education Zone of Enugu State, Nigeria

The cross-sectional survey was utilized to determine the health problems among adolescent boys and girls in secondary schools in Obollo-Afor education zone of Enugu state. Employing the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS), 1463 self-completed copies of questionnaire (98.3% of those distributed) were used for data analysis, using percentages and chi-square (p < .05). Results showed that boys reported higher rates of skin rashes, accidents and sexually transmitted diseases than did girls. Significant differences were found in skin rashes, malaria, eye defects, respiratory track diseases, accidents, mouth odour, abdominal pain and sexually transmitted diseases. With regard to mental health problems, girls reported higher rates of most of symptoms than did boys. Significant differences (p < .05) were found in fear, forgetfulness, fatigue and stress. In social health problems, boys reported higher rates in most of the symptoms than girls. Significant differences were found in lack of finance, frequent punishment, hatred by others, smoking, rape, violence and secret cult activities. It is recommended that interventions that could help students avoid health-risk behaviour should be initiated. Keywords: health problems, adolescent, boys and girls, secondary schools

Exploring the link between student placement learning in business organizations and self-employment preparatory behaviours

This study draws on social cognitive career theory to test a moderated mediation model of self-employment preparatory behaviours in university students undertaking placement learning in a business organization (PLBO). Using data from 337 university students undertaking work placement in 123 business organizations, the study hypotheses were tested using PROCESS Macro 3.5. The results revealed that PLBO significantly influenced student self-employment self-efficacy, self-employment outcome expectations and self-employment preparatory behaviours. Also, self-employment self-efficacy and self-employment outcome expectations mediated the relationship between work placement learning and self-employment preparatory behaviours. However, placement supervisor support interacted with PLBO such that greater support from placement supervisors contributed to stronger self-employment preparatory behaviours. The placement learning supervisor support moderated the indirect effect of PLBO on self-employment preparatory behaviours via self-employment self-efficacy and self-employment outcome expectations at all levels (–1SD, Mean and +1SD)

Prostate Disorders In An Apparently Normal Nigerian Population 2: Relationship With Some Biochemical Parameters

Globally, prostate disorders constitute a lot of health concern for men. Early identification of risk factors and groups at risk minimizes the adverse effects of these disorders. The possible relationship between prostate disorders and parameters like age, blood group, Rhesus factor, haemoglobin genotype, serum total cholesterol level and fasting blood glucose concentration, in Nsukka was studied. A total of 101 apparently normal subjects who were not on prescription drugs and who did not have sex or prostatic massage at least two days before sampling were recruited for assays. Standard procedures were used for all the assays. There was no significant mean difference in the Prostatic acid phosphatase (PAP) means of the different groups, per parameter, (p>0.05), except for age where a significant mean difference (p<0.05) was noticed between those aged 40-49 and 70+. PAP levels correlated positively with PSA (r = 0.670, p<0.01), age (r = 0.271, p<0.01). It also correlated positively with serum total cholesterol (r = 0.528, p<0.05) in subjects older than 69 years only. No correlation was noticed between PAP and the other parameters measured (p>0.05 in each case). Age and serum total cholesterol (in those older than 69 years only) but not the other parameters, may predispose to prostate disorders

VARIABILITY OF URINE PARAMETERS IN CHILDREN INFECTED WITH SCHISTOSOMA HAEMATOBIUM IN UKAWU COMMUNITY, ONICHA LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, EBONYI STATE, NIGERIA

Background: Schistosomiasis, a chronic, debilitating and neglected tropical and sub-tropical water-borne ailment, is highly endemic in Nigeria, especially among primary school children in rural communities. The study on the variability of urine parameters in children infected with Schistosoma haematobium in Ukawu community, Onicha Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, was undertaken. Materials and Methods: Urine samples were aseptically collected from 400 primary school children in the community and analysed using chemical reagent strips and sedimentation techniques. Results: The study revealed an overall prevalence of 27% as 108 pupils out of 400 were infected with S. haematobium in the area. Proteinuria, haematuria and leucocyturia were observed to occur in 67.0%, 79.0% and 74.9% respectively. Males had higher infections and higher occurrences of proteinuria, haematuria and leucocyturia (72.5%, 88.2% and 82.4% respectively). There was no significant difference with respect to sex (P0.05). Children within ages 12-15 had the highest occurrence of proteinuria, haematuria and leucocyturia while children within ages 4-7 had the least occurrence of the three urine parameters. All the pupils excreting above 40 egg/10ml of urine had proteinuria, haematuria and leucocyturia. Conclusion: The study revealed that the community studied is endemic with Schistosoma haematobium infections and the level of the urine parameters increased with the intensity of infection. Prompt case detection and treatment, good personal hygiene, eradication of snail hosts, public enlightenment and proper waste disposal are hereby recommended