Households\u2019 Consumption Pattern of Snail ( Archachatina species) in Oluyole Local Government Area of Oyo State, Nigeria

The present study investigates household consumption pattern of snail meat in Oluyole Local Government Area of Oyo State. A multistage random sampling technique was used to administer the questionnaires to a total of 120 respondents. Data collected were analyzed using both descriptive statistics and inferential statistics. The socioeconomic factors analyzed showed that age group between 31 and 40 (45.0%) consumed snail more while age group between 51 and 60 (11.70%) consumed less snails. The majority of respondents were Married (60.8%) and possess secondary education (54.2%). Most of the respondents (95.8%) consume snail meat but most of them consume snail meat on a seasonal basis unlike beef and fish. Furthermore, fried form of snail meat is mostly (65%) preferred when compared to cooked form (24.2%). The regression analysis shows that the consumption of snail meat depended on the price, household size, educational level, household income, nutritive value, occupation and its availability. Problems associated with snail meat consumption in the study area include Price, income level, unavailability and cultural belief. Based on the findings, this study recommends that extension workers should engage the public on the need to get involved in the rearing of snails to make it readily available all year round and thus make it more affordable for all sundry

Refuse Dumps And The Environment: A Case Study Of Some Selected Cities In Nigeria

This study assessed the level of environmental pollution in the nation by focusing on the degree of accumulation of house – hold wastes, industrial scraps or wastes, vehicular spare –parts, human –physiological wastes or depositions etc in the urban cities of the nation. A total of fourteen urban cities spread all over the five geographical zones of Nigeria were studied. It comprised of former Federal Capital (Lagos), the current Federal Capital Territory (FCT), and other twelve urban cities. These cities were chosen using stratified random sampling technique. The study revealed unabated accumulation of refuse dumps along the city streets, market areas, drains of all these urban cities except in Calabar, Cross River State and Ijebu Ode, in Ogun State. Efforts put in place to control these refuse by some municipal councils had either been non – existing or insufficient, thus not yielding any obvious effect in many of the cities. Its adverse effect on public and environmental health is discussed. Keywords:Refuse dumps, environment, urban cities, Nigeria. International Journal of Emotional Psychology and Sport Ethics Vol. 10 2008: pp. 217-23

Pancreatic Cancer in Nigeria: a Study of Incidence in O.A.U.T.H.C, Ile-Ife

Cancer of the pancreas is one of the most rapidly fatal of all cancers and most cases are first recognized at a far advanced clinical stage. The American Cancer Society estimates that there will be 33,730 new cases of pancreatic cancer in 2006 and 32,300 deaths. Only cancers of the lung, colon and breast cause more deaths than pancreatic cancer each year1. Over the last few decades, the study of pancreatic cancer has assumed a position of growing importance because of its increasing incidence and poor prognosis. Approximately 170,000 new cases of pancreatic cancer or around 2.1% of all cancers occur worldwide every year 2.The lifetime risk of pancreatic cancer in developed countries is approximately 1% IFEMED Journal Vol. 14 (1) 2008: pp. 49-5

Women goat farmers in the rural areas of Ogun State: Challenge for extension agents and researchers

Small scale goat farming is female dominated in the rural areas of Ogun state, Nigeria. These women goat farmers need to be motivated and empowered to adopt strategies that will shift them from the usual traditional ways and practices into modern livelihood strategies and practices. This study, therefore tries to assess the knowledge of the women goat farmers that live in Ilaro and Abeokuta zones of Ogun state about all the possible useful products that could be derived from goats and to what extent these potentials are utilized. The findings were that the goat farmers in the rural areas of Ilaro and Abeokuta were predominantly (66.7 %) aged women in the age range of 51 to 95 years. While the younger ones of ages 36 – 50 years are few (21.5 %). They are mostly married (49.2 %) with an average household size of 6 – 10 persons. 78.5 % of the women have long standing experience of between 31-50 years in goat rearing. Their level of awareness is very high when it comes to goats being used as source of protein (68.3 %), as a means of weed control (77.4%), but very poor or low awareness when it comes to the potential for medicinal and industrial uses of goat products. For example, they are poorly aware of goats’ products like milk being converted to modified form that can be used as anti-allergy to cow milk in children (46.2 %), the use of parts of its intestine for making catgut or paper by 18.5 % of them etc. It was also found that goat farmers in this study area have little knowledge and information on the potentials inherent in goat animals. For this reason the goat products are never utilized for modern uses such as butter, cheese, cream making, treatment of ulcer, tuberculosis etc as shown by 97.5 – 99 % of them. Significant relationship was found to exist between the goat farmers’ direct utilization of the goats products (r = 0.251, p=0.003), utilization of goat products for medicinal / medical purposes (r = 0.248, p=0.002) and usage in product forms (r= 0.303, p=0.000) and the farmers’ level of awareness. Recommendations were made that the intervention of researchers and particularly extension agents to goat farmers is very crucial.Key words: Women goat farmers, goat products, untapped goat resources, extension service

Assessment of the Training Needs of Poultry Farmers in Ovia & Oredo Local Government Areas of Edo State, Nigeria

This study assessed the training needs of poultry farmers in Ovia and Oredo Local Government Areas of Edo State, Nigeria. Snowball technique was used in locating the 70 small scale poultry farmers from Nifor, Oko-ADP, Oluku and Isihor communitites in the two Local Government Areas. Data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Findings indicated that poultry farmers in these communities felt they need more training mostly in the area of disease management practices like drug usage ( x̅ = 2.43 ± 0.714); vaccination ( x̅ = 2.37 ± 0.726); health management practices like debeaking ( x̅ = 2.01 ± 0.712) and other management variables like poultry house construction techniques and floor spacing. The findings of this study depict that there are insufficient training exposure of the farmers to the management activities considered in the study. Drug usage as a disease management practice recorded close zero level training exposure among the poultry farmers. For effective poultry production, farmers in these LGAs need to be exposed to good, modern training in appropriate usage of drugs before, during and after disease outbreak on their farms. There was a positive and significant association between the respondents’ farm size and their training needs (Chi 2 = 12.572, p < 0.01). The panacea suggested is efficient extension services rendered by competent extension agents who are also versatile subject matter specialists (SMS), NGO and university researchers all of who should be backed by good government policy and assistance to these stakeholders

Relationships between blood lead, blood pressure, serum cholesterol and body mass index of non-occupationally exposed males, residents of Abeokuta, Nigeria

Study examined the associations between blood – Pb, serum cholesterol, diastolic and, systolic blood pressures, hematocrit, body weight, age and body mass index in 528 study subjects comprising 50% cigarette smoking and 50% non-smoking male residents of Abeokuta, Nigeria, aged from 15 to 80 years. Blood Pb was measured using atomic absorption spectrophotometer and the other variables were determined using standard procedures. Generally, interwoven relationships between all the parameters were established. Cigarette smoking appeared to be an additional source of Pb intake as the mean value for smokers (42 ± 12 μg/dl) exceeded that for non-smokers (34 ± 11 μg/dl) by approximately 24%. Blood Pb related positively to systolic blood pressure of non-smokers (r = + 0.138) and diastolic blood pressure for smokers (r = + 0.129) at

Effects of Superliv® Supplementation in Feed on Haematological Parameters of Post Peak Shika Brown Layers

The effects of Superliv®, a proprietary herbal feed additive, on some haematological parameters of laying hens were evaluated to determine the possible influence of the herbal feed supplement on the physiological status of laying birds in declining production phase of their life cycle. Fifty post peak Shika Brown layers were randomly assigned to five experimental groups (A-E) of 10 birds each. Group A birds were fed plain feed while groups B, C, D and E birds received feed supplemented with Superliv at the rate of 250g, 500g, 750g or 1000g per ton respectively over an experimental period of 12 weeks. They were monitored group wise, weekly, for some haematological parameters such as packed cell volume (PCV), red blood cell count (RBC), blood haemoglobin concentration (Hb), white blood cell count (WBC), erythrocyte indices and differential WBC counts. Superliv supplementation caused significant increases in PCV (P<0.0001), RBC (P<0.0001), Hb (P<0.0001) but no significant (P>0.05) changes in WBC, erythrocyte indices and differential WBC counts. The effects were most marked in the group that received 250g/ton of Superliv in feed. It is suggested that Superliv may induce production enhancement effects in post peak layers by acting as a haematenic. 250g/ton is recommended as the optimal inclusion rate for Superliv in layers’ feed

Clinical Pattern Of Male Breast Cancer In Ile-Ife, Nigeria

Background: Carcinoma of the breast in males is of interest because it is relatively uncommon and because presentation of the disease in hospitals is usually late owing to poor awareness and neglect. This study aimed to describe the pattern of the disease in our hospital. Method: Consecutive cases of male breast cancer presenting at the Ife Hospital Unit of the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex, Ile-Ife, Nigeria between January 1993 and December, 2003 were studied noting the manifestation, duration of symptoms, diagnoses, treatment and outcome in the patients. Results: Of 249 histologically proven cases of breast cancer managed during the study period, 8(3.2%) were males, giving a male to female ratio of 1:31. They were aged 51-80 years with a mean of 64.7 +SD9.7 years. Mean duration of symptoms before presentation was 9 months. Painless breast mass and ulceration were the commonest symptoms. All patients presented in the late disease stage, 3(37.5%) in AJCC stage III and 5(62.5%) presented with stage IV disease. Histopathology in 6(75%) confirmed invasive ductal carcinoma, the two others had only fine needle aspiration cytology diagnosis. Three of the patients had simple mastectomy while others due to advanced disease could only be offered adjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy. After 2 years of follow-up, 3(37.5%) patients had died, one patient had re-presented with recurrence at the site of operation while the other 4 patients (50%) had been lost to follow up. Conclusion: The study underlined the uncommon occurrence of male breast cancer and late presentation, low survival rate and poor follow up of cases in our environment. Keywords: Male breast cancer, Presentation, OutcomeSahel Medical Journal Vol. 11 (1) 2008: pp. 24-2

Classification Types Of Postoperative Enterocutaneous Fistula As A Determinant Of Outcome Of Treatment In Ile-Ife, Nigeria

Objective: Post operative enterocutaneous fistula, in this environment, continues to excite interest because it runs a distressing course, and it is often associated with high mortality and morbidity. Determining the classification type best suited to suggest the outcome would be helpful in guiding the management of the condition. Setting: Ife Hospital Unit, Obafemi Awolowo Teaching Hospitals Complex, Ile – Ife. Outcome Measure: To determine the clinical pattern of post operative external enterocutaneous fistula and the classification method that best predict outcome of the condition. Methodology: Consecutive patients with clinical postoperative external enterocutaneous fistula seen between 1994 and 2006 were studied. The case files were retrieved and information on demographic data, type of initial surgery, source of referral, and characteristic of the fistula in terms of effluent per day and type of intestine involved were retrieved and analyzed. Patient with incomplete clinical information were excluded from the study. Result: There were 30 patients aged 17 to 65 years, mean of 33 years ±SD 12.23 years, with male to female ratio of 2:1. Length of hospital stay ranged from 1 to 43 weeks. Majority 28 (93.3%) were referred after primary operation at the lower cadre hospitals. Enterocutaneous fistula followed intestinal resection in 15 cases (50.0%) and was post appendicectomy in 9 cases (30.06%). Three (11.1%) cases each had burst abdomen and Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) in 3 cases (11.1%) additionally. Overall mortality was 12 (40 %) was high. Compared with the other classifications considered in the study classification into high and low output highly correlated with the outcome of treatment logistic regression p < 0.006 versus p = 0.123 and p = 0.244 respectively for Sitges – Serra and schein and groups. Conclusion: In this study majority of patients with enterocutaneous fistula were referred from Private and State hospitals set up. This might be a reflection of the generally lower level of technical surgical skills at this level of healthcare facilities. Classification of enterocutaneous fistula into high and low output was still useful in our environment for predicting prognosis and may, therefore, be used to guide management strategies. Keywords: Post operative enterocutaneous fistula, Treatment outcome determinant, Classification.Sahel Medical Journal Vol. 11 (4) 2008: pp. 105-10

Metastatic breast cancer in a Nigerian tertiary hospital

Background: Late presentation of breast carcinoma is common in resource-limited countries with attendant poor outcome.Objective: To describe the pattern of clinical presentation and challenges of treating patients presenting with metastatic breast carcinoma in a Nigerian hospital.Method: Clinical records of all patients who presented with metastatic breast carcinoma between January 1991 and December 2005 at the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex, Ile-Ife, Nigeria were reviewed.Results: More than half of all histologically confirmed breast cancer patients seen within the study period presented with metastatic disease. Their ages ranged between 20-81years with a mean age of 45.9 years. Only 3% (6 of 202) were males. Twothirds had more than one secondary site on initial evaluation and the commonest sites were liver (63%), lung parenchyma (51%), pleura (26%) and contralateral breast in 25%. On immunohistochemistry, basal like tumours were found in 46.1%. Mastectomy was done in 37 patients with fungating breast masses while only one third of those referred to a nearby center for radiotherapy had it done. One year survival rate was 27%.Conclusion: Metastatic disease is common in Nigeria and treatment is limited due to resource limitations. Improved awareness of the disease is advocated to reduce late presentation