Haematology, Carcass and Relative Organ Weights of Growing Rabbits on Skip-A-Day Concentrate Feeding Regime

The potentials of two common weeds, Aspilia africana (Aa) and Tridax procumbens (Tp), as forages for rabbits were investigated in a study that lasted for 70 days. Thirty five (35) rabbit bucks of mixed breed of between 5 to 7 weeks of age, weighing 519 ±5g, were used for the study. The haematological, carcass and organ characteristics were examined. The rabbits were divided into 5 treatment groups of seven (7) rabbits each, with each rabbit serving as a replicate in a complete randomized design. Group 1 was placed on sole concentrate feeding while concentrate was skipped for 1, 2 and 3 days in groups 2, 3, and 4 respectively with ad-libitum forage (Aspilia africana {Aa} and Tridax procumbens {Tp}) feeding. Group 5 was fed on a sole forage diet of 250 g Aa: 250 g Tp for 56days, after which they were fed concentrate in addition to the forage for two weeks. The red blood cell count values for rabbits on sole concentrate feeding was significantly (P<0.05) higher than the values observed in rabbits on treatments 2, 3 4 and 5, that were similar (P>0.05). The final weights of the rabbits decreased linearly (P<0.05) as the number of days of concentrate feeding decreased. The dressing percentages in treatments 1, 2, 3 and 4 (64.21, 62.97, 64.73 and 62.51 % respectively) were similar (P>0.05) but significantly higher (P<0.05) than the value for rabbits in treatment 5 (56.88 %). Organ characteristics of the rabbits showed that, apart from the relative kidney weights, other organ weights were not significantly (P>0.05) affected by the dietary treatments. It can be concluded that although feeding rabbit with sole concentrate gave the highest weight gain, the use of these forages could reduce cost of production, especially feed cost, drastically, and where it is difficult to get concentrates, these forages can be fed to rabbits for maintenance. Their use would be expected to minimize cost of maintaining a clean environment and the use of non-competitive forages as rabbit feeds could encourage rural rabbit production.Keywords: Carcass, growing rabbit, forages, relative organs weights, skip-a day

CONTRIBUTORY PHARMACOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF AZADIRACHTA INDICA LEAF IN THE TREATMENT OF MALARIA

Three crude extracts from Azadirachta indica leaves were assessed on various signs and symptoms of infection in vivo and in vitro. The methanolic and diethylether extracts have significant antipyretic, analgesic, anti-inflammatory and anti-aggregatory activities, while the chloroform extract did not show appreciable effect. The crude extracts compared favourably with chloroquine in pyrexia, indomethacin in platelet aggregation and acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) in analgesia and inflammatory experimental models. The pharmacological effects of these extracts might explain the effectiveness of A. indica leaf in malaria therapy traditionally. Key Words: Azadirachta indica, Meliaceae, malaria, antipyretic, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, aggregatory activities. Nig. J. Nat Prod. And Med. Vol.3 1999: 42-4

Knowledge, Attitudes, Beliefs and Behavioural Practices for Creating Awareness about HIV/AIDS in Lagos State, Nigeria

Background: The number of people in the world living with HIV is estimated to be 40 million, with 23.3 million in sub-Saharan Africa. New infections with HIV are occurring at the rate of almost 16,000 every day and 6 million every year. The majority of those infections occur in people under age 25. In Nigeria, national prevalence of HIV in 1999 was 5.4% and an estimated 2.6 million Nigerians age 15-49 were infected. In 2001, the prevalence was 5.8%. In Lagos state it was 7.4% in 2001. Objectives: This study was to determine the knowledge, attitude, belief and practices of the people of Lagos State concerning HIV/AIDS Methodology: 6, 144 persons aged 18 years and above were sampled from 116 wards randomly selected from the 20 Local Government Areas in the state. Pre-tested and semi-structured questionnaires were administered on these persons. Results: 96% of the respondents affirmed that they had heard of HIV/AIDS prior to the study. 73.7% got information on HIV from radio/TV while 28.3% got from friends. In spite of the significant representation of students in the sample population (20%), only 4.5% got informed in schools. Also, only 4.6% got information from health facilities. Sexual relationship was rightly identified as a major route of HIV infection by 79.5% of the respondents. Only 30.4% of the sampled respondents will relate to PLWA as normal human beings. 93.2% of the sampled population believed that AIDS is real and exists in Nigeria. Only 38.4% of the respondents use condoms regularly. It is concluded that radio and television are a potent tool of dissemination of information on HIV/AIDS. There is little awareness creation among in-school secondary school students. Conclusion and recommendations: Behavior change interventions should focus on condom use and other risk reduction practices. Stigma reduction activities towards PLWA should be intensified. Key Words: Knowledge, Beliefs, HIV, Practices, Lagos, Nigeria. Nigerian Medical Practitioner Vol.44(1) 2003: 7-1

A Survey Of The Injured Patients In The Emergency Room Of A Semi-Urban Hospital In South Western Nigeria

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine the injury pattern among trauma patients presenting at emergency room of the hospital, and highlight the outcome of such injuries. METHOD: It was a one-year prospective study between June 2001 to May, 2002. 2122 patients were seen at the emergency room, 652 (30.7%) were treated for traumatic injuries. The mean age was 34.6+ 13.6 (SD). The male to female ratio was 2.9:1. RESULTS: Road traffic accident was the commonest cause of injury occurring in 541 patients (83%). The predominant injury was laceration in 261 patients (39.6%), then fractures in 237 patients (36.3%). Among those with fractures, 203 (85.3%) were close and 34 (14.5%) were open with lower limb fractures predominating. Lacerations were sutured in 198 patients and the remanding 63 closed secondarily. Most fractures were managed with closed manipulative reduction and application of Plaster of Paris cast. 43 had internal fixation. 259 patients (39.7%) were discharged within 24 hours, 216 patients (33.2%) admitted to the wards for further investigations and treatment, 129 (19.8%) took their discharge against medical advice, 14 (2.1%) were referred to other centres and 34 died. The mortality rate was 5.2%. CONCLUSION: It was concluded that trauma related injuries affected the productive age group of our society. The establishment of organized trauma centre was recommended. Nig Jnl Orthopaedics & Trauma Vol.2(1) 2003: 11-1

Fattening "Nkuho" as Instrument of Women Empowerment and Fertility Control Among Calabar Women in Nigeria

This paper presents some qualitative results of an extensive study on reproductive health. The geographical area of study was Calabar in South East Nigeria where the total fertility rate was found to be 2.4, which was less than the national average of 6.5. Certain practices were identified which might have contributed to this low fertility rate. These practices included the fattening culture, a monogamous marital life style, women empowerment through early education and the socio-political integration of women, prolonged breastfeeding, strong abhorrence of premarital sex and other practices that encouraged marital harmony as well as proper child care. Other undesirable practices like killing of twins were also prevalent. Today, abortions, vesico-vaginal fistulae, unwanted pregnancies and abandoned babies, which were hitherto rare, now constitute areas of concern among the people. This study was conducted to explore and describe the experiences of women on the fattening room practices as an instrument of empowering women's reproductive rights. Qualitative study of 28 women was done. Narratives and indepth interviews was used among four (4) geriatric women aged 65-80 years who underwent fattening room experience /exposure with a Quettelet index of over 35 Focus group discussions with 24 middle aged family planning nurses who had never experienced the process but had been briefed by their mothers, took part in the study The fattening room practices have been abandoned since the beginning of the Nigerian civil war from 1966-70 but some beneficial effect on health had been identified which should be encouraged as a starting point for culturally sensitive reproductive right education Key Words: Fattening room, Qualitative studies, reproductive rights Nig. Medical Practitioner Vol. 44(2) 2003: 43-4