The impact of religion on the contraceptive choice among women in the south west Nigeria

Objective: To determine the frequency of use and the impact of religion on the choice of the available modern methods of contraception among women in a semi-urban area in the Southwest Nigeria.Methods: A total of 848 case reports of the new acceptors of the modern methods of contraception at the family planning unit of the University Teaching Hospital between January 2009 and December 2010 were retrieved. Relevant data regarding biodata and religion characteristics of the clients were collated and analyzed.Results: Overall, 407 of the 848 (48%) clients studied accepted injectable hormonal contraceptives. Very closely, 382 (45%) accepted IUCD. The third and fourth most frequently accepted modern methods of contraception were Oral contraceptive pills 5.5% and implant, 1.2% respectively. Least accepted was the male condom by only 0.2% of the clients. More than half, 509 of the 848 clients (60%) were between 30 – 39 year age brackets, while only 1 client out of the 848 clients was an adolescent below 20 years. Pentecostals (605 out of 848) accounted for the majority (71.3%) ofthe new acceptors of Modern methods of contraception in this study. Only 61(7.2%) were Roman Catholics. Other non-catholic orthodox represented 14 %, while 7.4% were Muslims. There was no significance relationship between the religious denominations and the choice of contraceptive methods among the clients in this study {X2 (35) = 32.04; p>.05}.Conclusion: This study shows clearly that religion to a large extent affects the acceptance of the modern method of contraception. However, there is no significant relationship between religious denomination and the choice of modern methods of contraception in our environment.Keywords: Modern Contraceptive Methods, Acceptance, Choice, Religion, Nigeri

Perception of Women Knowledge on the Nutritive Value of Fish in Kaduna North Local Government Area of Kaduna State, Nigeria

This study investigated women knowledge on the nutritive value of fish in Kaduna North local government area of Kaduna State. One hundred and twenty (120) household wives were randomly selected for the study. Structured questionnaire was used for data collection. Date was analyzed using frequency distribution, percentages, means and logistic regression to determine the factors affecting fish consumption at the household level. The result shows that majority (91.8%) of the respondents were within the age range of between 20-40 years and majority (98.8%) posses formal education. Also a greater proportion (94.29%) of the respondents had moderate household size. Furthermore, majority (65%) belongs to one form of cooperative or the other and vast majority (79.2%) had been in marriage institution for more than 10 years. The respondents perceived the following sources of information about nutritive value of fish as important: home economics staff/extension agents; friends and relatives; books/leaflets; television; and radio. Also the following constraints were perceived as important: availability of fish; household size; method of processing; method of harvesting; and seasonality of fish supply. The following factors in the logistic regression were significant: major occupation of the respondents; years spent in marriage institution and number of years spent in formal education. It is recommended that home economics staff/extension agents and other concerned institutions should be encourage to intensify efforts in creating more awareness on the nutritive value of fish to encourage its consumption, so as to reduce the rate of mal-nutrition in the rural areas

Morphological classification of genetic diversity in cultivated okra, Abelmoschus esculentus (L) Moench using principal component analysis (PCA) and single linkage cluster analysis (SLCA)

29 okra accessions sourced from different agro-ecological regions in Nigeria and grown during the rainy season of 2007 at Abeokuta (derived savannah) were evaluated for genetic diversity using principal component analysis (PCA) and single linkage cluster analysis (SLCA). The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with five replications. The accessions were classified into six and five cluster groups by PCA and SLCA respectively. The mean contributions of plant height, days to flowering, branches per plant, fresh pod width, mature pod width, fresh pod length, pod weight per plant, pod per plant, seeds per pod, and seed weight per plant were relatively high in the principal axes confirming the major contributions of these traits to seed yield in okra. The first four principal axes accounted for over 60% of the total variation among the 18 characters describing the accessions. Accessions 29, 9 and 14, which appears to be the most diverse may be useful as source for variable characters in okra improvement among the accessions studied been the most distant.Key words: Derived savannah, principal axes, accessions, variation, cluster analysis, okra

Diagnostic value of procalcitonin in neonatal sepsis

Introduction: Neonatal sepsis is a major cause of mortality in developing countries. Accurate and quick diagnosis are difficult because clinical presentation are non-specific, bacterial cultures are time-consuming and other laboratory tests lack sensitivity and specificity. Serum procalcitonin (PCT) has been proposed as an early marker of infections in neonates.Objectives: This study investigated the value of PCT in the diagnosis of Neonatal Sepsis.Methods: Neonates undergoing sepsis evaluation at the Special Baby Care Unit, Federal Medical Centre, Abeokuta, Nigeria between January and April 2013 were included. Blood samples were obtained for white cell count, blood cultures, serum CRP and PCT analysis. Neonates were categorised into Proven Sepsis, Suspected Sepsis and Clinical Sepsis groups on the basis of laboratory findings and risk factors. A control group with no clinical and biological data of infection was also included. Predictive values and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of PCT were evaluated.Result: Of the 85 neonates, 19 (22.4%) had positive blood culture. PCT level was significantly higher in neonates in all sepsis groups in comparison with those in the control group (P< 0.05). At a cut-off of 0.5 ng/ml, the negative predictive value (NPV) of PCT was 80% and the positive predictive value (PPV) 39%. There were no significant statistical difference between the AUC values of PCT in Early onset and Late onset sepsis, as well between AUC in Preterm and term cases. A higher percentage of neonates who died (96%) had elevated PCT levels compared to those who survived (46%).Conclusion: These findings support the usefulness of the PCT in diagnosis of Neonatal sepsis.Keywords: Neonatal Sepsis, Diagnosis, Procalcitonin, Receiver Operating Characteristic Curv

Quinolone Resistance in Bacterial Isolates from Chicken Carcasses in Abeokuta, Nigeria: A Retrospective Study from 2005-2011

Quinolone resistance in bacteria from food animals is now globally recognized as a serious veterinary and public health problem. To determine the rate of quinolone resistance in pathogenic bacteria isolated from samples from dead chickens submitted for microbiological examination, a six-year retrospective study (April, 2005 – March, 2011) was carried out. Data from records of bacteriological investigations at a Veterinary Teaching Hospital in Nigeria were evaluated. Two hundred bacterial isolates including Escherichia coli (95; 47.5%), Salmonella serotypes (78; 38.0%), Klebsiella (17; 8.5%) and Staphylococcus aureus (12; 6.0%) were isolated from chicken carcasses within the six-year period. On the overall, the isolates were resistant to ciprofloxacin (40.5%), enrofloxacin (21.0%), nalidixic acid (9.5%) and norfloxacin (44.0%). Overall, resistance to quinolones (except nalidixic acid) was highest in S. aureus (ciprofloxacin, 58.3%; enrofloxacin, 33.3%; and norfloxacin, 83.3%) followed by Klebsiella spp (ciprofloxacin, 41.2%; enrofloxacin, 29.4%; and norfloxacin, 64.7%), E. coli (ciprofloxacin, 40.0%; enrofloxacin, 23.2%; and norfloxacin, 41.1%) and least in Salmonella (ciprofloxacin, 38.6%; enrofloxacin,14.5%; and norfloxacin, 36.8%). However, resistance to nalidixic acid was highest in Klebsiella spp (23.5%) followed by S. aureus (16.7%), E. coli (9.5%) and least in Salmonella (5.3%). There was a general decline in quinolone resistance in the last three years (2009-2011) of this investigation. Quinolone resistance in avian pathogenic bacteria could lead to increase in economic loss from bacterial infection and refractory to treatment. Their possible transmission to humans is of public health significance.Keywords: Bacterial isolates, Commercial poultry chickens,QuinoloneresistanceNigerian Veterinary Journal, VOL:33 (2) 483-49

Efficacy of endoscopic third ventriculostomy in the management of hydrocephalus in children under 2 years of age: Experience from a tertiary institution in Nigeria

Background: The management of hydrocephalus in developing countries is challenging. Hydrocephalus is a common childhood disorder in developing countries in particular and its management is quite challenging. Ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt is associated with high failure rates and complications. Endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) with potentially lower complication rate could improve care and reduce cost of management of hydrocephalus.Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy (success rate) of ETV in children ≤2 years and to find out factors that may be responsible for good outcome of ETV.Methods: This prospective observational study was conducted at Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Lagos. Nigeria. All consecutive children ≤2 years of age with hydrocephalus were recruited into the study. Relevant demographic and clinical data documented. All cases had ETV and were followed up to document 6 months outcome.Results: A total of 34 patients (M: F ratio 1.1:1) were recruited over a 2‑year period. Age, sex, presumed aetiology and image findings were not statistically significant in influencing outcome of ETV. Good outcome (defined as uneventful postoperative period, not requiring repeat ETV or VP shunt) was documented in 26 (73.5%). A total of 8 (26.5%) experienced poor outcome. Complication occurred in 2 (5.9%) as follows: Wound infection 1 (2.9%) and ventriculitis 1 (2.9%). Aetiology was divided into non post‑infective hydrocephalus‑20 (58.8%), post‑infective hydrocephalus‑5 (14.7%) and post‑myelomeningocoele repair‑9 (26.5%).Conclusions: This study shows that ETV success rate is high in the management of hydrocephalus in children ≤2 years in our clinical practice. Regardless of the clinical diagnosis, where the facilities are available, children with hydrocephalus will benefit from ETV irrespective of the age and aetiology in sub Saharan Africa.Key words: Children, endoscopic third ventriculostomy, hydrocephalus, ventriculoperitoneal shun

Preparation and characterization of MOCVD thin films of cadmium sulphide

A film of stoichiometric cadmium sulphide on quartz substrate was deposited by pyrolysis from bis-(morpholinodithioato-S,S') cadmium (C10H16N2O2S4Cd) (a single source precursor). The band gap of 2.4 eV was confirmed by optical absorption measurements. The stoichiometry and thickness were determined by Rutherford backscattering, and the absence of organic remmants in the film demonstrated by IR spectroscopy. © 1994

Preparation and characterization of MOCVD thin films of cadmium sulphide

A film of stoichiometric cadmium sulphide on quartz substrate was deposited by pyrolysis from bis-(morpholinodithioato-S,S') cadmium (C10H16N2O2S4Cd) (a single source precursor). The band gap of 2.4 eV was confirmed by optical absorption measurements. The stoichiometry and thickness were determined by Rutherford backscattering, and the absence of organic remmants in the film demonstrated by IR spectroscopy. © 1994

Small-Scale Farmers’ Perception of Farmer-To-Farmer Extension Network in Paikoro Local Government Area of Niger. State, Nigeria

The study was conducted in Paikoro local government area of Niger State. The study examined the small scale farmer’s perception of farmer-to-farmer extension network with the aim of examining its validity and the constraints associated with it. Majority of the respondents (96.3%) are in their very active age of between 30-49 years, and majority (82.5%) of them are male. The study also reveals that majority (73.3%) of the respondents had one form of education or the other, majority (92.5%) were also married with 95% being small scale farmers. About 50% of the respondents had moderate household size. Farmer-to-farmer source of information ranked 1st as source of information preferred by the respondents, followed by contact farmers/cooperative leaders and farmers organization and their staff as 2nd and 3rd respectively. The farmers also perceived all the positive attribute of farmer-to-farmer extension network as relevant to them and agreed strongly with all the attributes listed. The following socio-economic characteristics of the respondents: household size, education level and farming experience had significant relationships with the farmers’ perception about farmer-to-farmer extension network and marital status. Age and farm size had no significant relation with farmers’ perception. On the bases of the above it is recommended that training of farmers organization leaders and staff should be encouraged, training of trainers programmes should be enhanced and farmers level of education should be improved up on to facilitate farmer-to-farmer extension network as a major source of information to small scale farmers