Access and Utilization of Reproductive Health Services Among Market Women in Ijebu Ode Lga of Ogun State, Nigeria

Knowledge and utilization of sexual reproductive health services (SRHS) is an essential component and a link between prevention, care and support. It can empower an individual to make informed decisions about their sexual lifestyle that would otherwise predispose individuals to risky sexual life. SRHS research has been done mostly among the youths but the persistence of reproductive health problems among the married women in Nigerian makes this study pertinent.A convenient sampling technique was adopted for this study. A self-designed questionnaire was used for data collection, which was pilot-tested through test-re-test and yielded a reliability coefficient (index) of .781. Three research questions were formulated and tested. Analysis of data was done using descriptive statistics and regression analysis fixed at the .05 significant levels.A total of 130 participants were included in the study. The findings from this study showed that majority (59.2%) of the respondents had moderate knowledge of available reproductive health, and factors mostly influencing access to SRHS was peer influence (51.5%). Also, 66.2% never used any SRHS except being pregnant, 60.8% never utilized counseling services, and 78.5% never utilized it for prevention of STIs and unwanted pregnancy, while the study still found out that 67.7% were screened for STIs and HIV. Age (X2 = 13.280; P =.009), educational status (X2 = 22.007; P =.000), and years of marriage (X2 = 17.2765; P =.011) were associated with the utilization of SRHS among the market women.The study concluded that knowledge and utilization of sexual reproductive health services (SRHS) is poor among the market women. Based on the outcome of this study, it was recommended that any programme designed to access and utilise SRHS must include all women of reproductive age regardless their age, educational and socio-economic status. Keywords: Knowledge, Reproductive health services, market women, Utilizatio

Confirmation of Climate Change in Southwestern Nigeria through Analysis of Rainfall and Temperature Variations over the Region

Understanding the variability of precipitation and temperature of a region over a long period gives one an idea about the climate and climate change of such region. The study investigated rainfall and temperature variability in four meteorological stations, namely, Abeokuta (lat.7.01o N, long.3.2o  E, alt. 67m) , Ibadan (lat.7.43o N, long.3.9o E, alt. 227m), Ikeja (lat.6.58o N, long.3.33o E, alt. 39m )  and Ondo (lat.7.1o N, long.4.83o E , alt. 287m) in the south-western region of Nigeria.Monthly rainfall, minimum temperature and maximum temperature data were obtained from Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NIMET) for the period of thirty one years (1980 to 2010) for the study.Descriptive Statistics were deployed to determine the mean, confidence levels, coefficient of kurtosis, skewness and coefficient of variations. A fairly “M-shaped” pattern was observed in the monthly mean rainfall distribution with bi-modal peaks in June and September, with slight dryness experienced in August, referred to as “August break”. Analyses of annual trends over a long period revealed a sequence of alternately decreasing and increasing trends in mean annual rainfall and air temperature in region. Generally however, gradients of the trend lines are positive. There is a negative relationship between annual total rainfall and annual average temperature

Carbon stock in topsoil, standing floor litter and above ground biomass in Tectona grandis plantation 10-years after establishment in Ile-Ife, Southwestern Nigeria

This paper provides information on carbon stock at the habitat level in the above ground biomass (ABG), standing floor litter and soils in a 10 year-old Tectona grandis plantation following restoration of a degraded secondary forest at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife Nigeria. Four sample plots 25 m x 25 m, two in Tectona grandis plantation and two in a nearby degraded secondary forest were studied. Soil samples were randomly collected at 0-20 cm and bulk density determined. Standing floor litter was randomly collected at five points every three months for one year, sorted into different litter components. Soil and standing floor litters carbon concentration and C stock were determined. Above ground biomass (ABG) and carbon stock were significantly (p=0.003 and p=0.0001) higher in the plantation, the order is ABG > soil > standing floor leaf litter > standing floor wood litter. Soil C stock varies from 10.47 t ha-1 in the plantation to 10.58 t ha-1 C in the forest. Above ground biomass, standing leaf and wood litter were estimated as 18.26-5.81, 0.49-0.36, 0.06-0.08 t ha-1 C, respectively (plantation to secondary forest). Reforestation after 10 years has increased C stocks by 45% in ABG in the plantations.Keywords: Carbon stock, degraded forest, plantation, reforestation, standing litter

Geotechnical Evaluation of Some Soils from Part of Southwestern Nigeria, Usable as Liners in Waste Disposal Landfills

Urbanization and population rise are major factors that contribute to increase quantity of waste generation and its disposal constraint especially in developing countries. This study investigates the geotechnical properties of five soils from southwestern Nigeria for their use as liners in sanitary landfill for disposal of solid waste. The required parameters for soils to be considered as liners were determined in accordance with the British Standard Institute. Results obtained showed that the percentage of fines range from 42% to 82% and index of plasticity values range from 25.0% to 32.6%. Clay activity varies between 0.47 and 0.88. Thus, the soils are classified as non-expansive clay of low to medium plasticity. The maximum dry density values at standard Proctor energy of compaction range from 1.46g/cm3 to 1.96g/cm3 while those obtained at modified Proctor energy range from 1.57g/cm3 to 2.09g/cm3 .The highest coefficient of permeability value obtained for all soils investigated is 2.99 x 10-9m/s. All values compare favourably with those suggested by regulatory agencies. Consequently, they are suitable for use as liners in sanitary landfills. Keywords: Liners, Nigeria, Landfill, Geotechnical, Sanitary, Waste Disposal, Soil, Clay Activit

Natural Radioactivity and Hazards in Soil Samples in Alade Community, Southwestern Nigeria

The concentrations of natural radionuclides in Alade community, Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Area were determined using gamma ray spectrometer comprising a 7.6 cm x 7.6 cm Nal(TI) detector coupled to a multichannel analyser for spectral analysis. A total of 20 soil samples were collected from different locations in Alade community, Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government, Ogun state, Nigeria. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics. The activity concentration obtained were in ranges of 45.62 ± 2.53 Bq/kg to 665.25 ± 35.11 Bq/kg with mean value of 352.34 ± 18.67 Bq/kg for 40K, 2.32 ± 0.47 to 54.56 ± 6.20 Bq/kg with mean value of 19.86 ± 2.56 Bq/kg for 238U and 4.34 ± 0.28 Bq/kg to 23.10 ± 1.40 Bq/kg with mean value of 14.22 ± 0.87 Bq/kg for 232Th. The study evaluated radiation hazard indices, the mean values obtained were, 64.55 ± 5.05 Bq/kg for Radium equivalent activity (Raeq), 32.86 ± 2.53 nGyh-1 for Absorbed Dose Rate (D), 40.30 ± 3.10 µSvy-1 for Annual Effective Dose Equivalent (AEDE), 0.18 ± 0.01 for External Hazard Index (Hex) and 0.22 ± 0.02 for Internal Hazard Index (Hin). These calculated hazard indices were well below their permissible limit. The results obtained for the mean activity concentrations values from 20 soil samples from Alade community, revealed that 40K, 238U and 232Th values were below the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation recommended international limits of 370Bq/kg and within the tolerance level indicating minimal radiological health burden on the Alade community and its environment

Essential oils from the leaves of six medicinal plants of Nigeria.

The chemistry of Cassia siamea L., C. occidentalis L. (Fabaceae), Cnestis ferruginea Vahl ex DC (Connaraceae), Anthocleista djalonensis A. Chev (Loganiaceae), Solanum torvum Swartz and S. erianthum G. Don (Solanaceae) volatiles grown in Nigeria have been studied. The essential oils were obtained by hydrodistillation and analyzed by GC and GC-MS. The main compounds of C. siamea were (E)-geranyl acetone (5.8%), 1-octen-3-ol (5.8%), linalool (7.8%), iso-italicene (15.4%) and (E)-β-damascenone (11.0%). On the other hand, C. occidentalis consisted mainly of (E)-geranyl acetone (8.0%), hexahydrofarnesylacetone (24.0%) and (E)-phytol acetate (40.7%). The oil of C. ferruginea was comprised mainly of (E)-geranyl acetone (13.7%), (E)-α-ionone (9.5%), phytol (5.8%), pentadecanal (6.1%) and 1-octen-3-ol (5.5%). The main compounds of A. djalonensis were α-humulene (31.9%), β-caryophyllene (17.8%), humulene epoxide II (12.7%) and caryophyllene oxide (5.9%). The main volatiles of S. torvum were (E)-phytol acetate (38.7%), pentadecanal (25.3%) and (E)-geranyl acetone (5.0%). Apart from methyl salicylate (4.5%), tetradecanal (2.2%), 2-pentyl furan (1.8%), hexahydrofarnesylacetone (1.6%) and hexadecanal (1.1%), all other compounds were either present in trace quantity or in amounts less than 1%. On the other hand, α-humulene (46.6%) and β-caryophyllene (20.6%) were the compounds occurring in higher quantities in S. erianthum. The volatile oil contents of Cassia siamea, Cnestis ferruginea, Anthocleista djalonensis and Solanum torvum are being reported for the first time