The Transgender Population: Expanding Access to Services

According to the CDC, 2% (1.3 million) individuals, 0-17 identify as transgender. Individuals that identify as transgender have a higher incidence of mental and physical challenges, face health inequities, share a common need for specific types of support, and lack representation. Yet, there still remains a significant gap in strategies for the provision of services for this cohort. It is based on this note that this presentation is pursued

The Impact of Culture on Business Organizations

Culture is the way of life, belief, attitude, values or norms of group of people or organization. It is the way things are done, carried out by a group of people, society, business organizations alike. Organizations are subset of the society and the culture of the people is a reflection of what is happening in the society. This paper attempts an over view of the meaning of culture from different perspective – international and organizational culture, the relevance of culture to the society and business organization, cultural dynamics, implication of culture on business organizations and finally, conclusion. Keywords – Culture, Society, Business, Organization and Internationa

Perception of HIV/AIDS among preclinical dental students

Objective. To determine the knowledge, attitude and willingness of preclinical dental students to treat HIV/AIDS patients in the future. Method. The sample comprised 150 students of both genders drawn from the third and fourth year dental students of the University of Benin, Benin City. One hundred and fifty questionnaires were self-administered, with 139 (92.6%) retrieval. The parameters measured were knowledge, status, immunization against hepatitis B virus, willingness to treat, knowledge of post exposure prophylaxis (PEP) and its protocol in the of University of Benin Teaching hospital (UBTH). Results. Data analysis showed that 100 (71.9%) students rated their knowledge of HIV/AIDS as high and very high. Sixty-three (45.3%) students thought that HIV was a contagious disease while 46 (33.1%) felt HIV was more infectious than tuberculosis or any of the strains of hepatitis virus. Only 59 (42.4%) students knew their HIV status. One hundred and twenty seven (91.4%) students felt that professional oral health care will be beneficial to HIV/AIDS patients; while fifty-one students (36.7%) are not prepared to administer dental care to HIV/AIDS patients in future. Majority of respondents adjudged health workers to be more at risk than sex workers. Forty students comprising 28.8% of the study population had been immunized against Hepatitis B. Ninety- four (67.7%) students had no knowledge of PEP while 122 (87.8%) students did not know the PEP protocol in UBTH. Conclusion. Although a large number of these students claim to be knowledgeable about HIV/AIDS. It is obvious that a true understanding is lacking. Concerted effort should be made to change their perception by implementing a curriculum designed to enhance the knowledge of dental students; if we hope to save HIV/AIDS patients from the discrimination of future healthcare givers

Market Segmentation: Its Role in Sales Performance in Nigeria Business Environment

Market segmentation is considered as inseparable as well as the key tool in the Practice of Marketing. It is the breakdown of the entire market for effective coverage for a product/service into several specific segments, where each segment comprises of customers with specific features in common. The reason behind Market segmentation is that no one approach to the market can satisfy the numerous buyers, each part of the market represent a unique opportunity. This is as a result of the dissatisfaction with the strategy of product differentiation, marketing researchers and practitioners have come to rely more on the strategy of market segmentation because of its role in sales performance in Nigeria Business environment. For the purpose of this write up, the paper will take the following shape – Introduction, firms, customers and environment, when to segment market, level of market segmentation, strategies, effective conditions, benefits, conclusion and recommendations. Keywords: Market, Segmentation, Sales, Performance, Business, Environment and Nigeri

Maintenance Culture Management for Global Impact

Noble and concerted efforts have been made in many respects in the development of Africa. Although a lot seems to have been achieved, a lot more is still left to be desired in order to attain the optimum level of development and  boost the  contributions of African States, particularly those in the Sub-Saharan region, in key areas of positive global best practices . The need for the consciousness of maintenance culture cannot be over stressed if the continent is to attain her full potentials. Maintenance culture Management could act as a key driver in sustaining competitive advantage in as well as ensuring sustainability of processes in social and organizational settings. Thus, this is one critical area of immense potential developmental benefit to the continent and a veritable avenue to impact the global space. Through participative observation and desk research, this exploratory paper took an introspective look at the macro, micro and mini level perspectives of Maintenance culture Management. This was done to trigger behavioral alterations in the different dimensional perspectives and within the African continental environment with a view to changing the current unfavorable narrative and increasing her potentials for better global impact. Keywords: Africa, culture, development, global, maintenance, management. DOI: 10.7176/JRDM/64-04 Publication date: April 30th 202

Sero-epidemiology of Toxoplasmosis among pregnant women in the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Nigeria

Background: The objective of this study was to determine the sero-prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection and associated risk factors among pregnant women in the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Nigeria.Methods: A cross-sectional study involving two hundred and eighty-eight (288) pregnant women who gave informed consent was done. Questionnaires were administered to determine their sociodemographic and risk factors. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was performed on all patients’ sera to detect anti-Toxoplasma Immunoglobulin G (IgG) and M (IgM). Data was analyzed using the statistical package Epi info version 6.04d.Results: A total of one hundred and eighty-nine women (65.6 %) were sero-positive for IgM and/or IgG. Thirty-three (11.5%) were positive for IgM only, one hundredand twenty-three (42.4%) for IgG only and thirty-three (11.5%) for both. Consumption of beef was a statistically significant risk factor associated.Conclusion: A significant proportion of pregnant women have been exposed to Toxoplasma gondii, with the risk factor significantly associated with infection being consumption of beef, which is a very common practice in Port Harcourt. It is therefore necessary to heighten enlightenment of the populace particularly women of child-bearing age and pregnant women on toxoplasmosis–specific preventive practices to reduce their exposure to the pathogen and its potential complications. Routine screening for Toxoplasmosis in pregnancy would be largely beneficial in its prevention and control.Keywords: Toxoplasma gondii; Pregnancy; ELISA, Risk factor

SUSTAINABLE BANKING PRINCIPLES AND PERFORMANCE OF DEPOSIT MONEY BANKS IN NIGERIA: AN ECONOMETRIC ANALYSIS

The study looked at sustainable principles and the performance of DMBs Nigeria for 2000-2020. The actual objectives include assessing the indicators of sustainable principles of banking, such as the ATM, CPS, LR and CR, as well as how DMBs’ performance measured by the ROA is affected by those factors. Data were retrieved from CBN documents such as bank supervisory annual report, statistical bulletin, and the NDIC annual reports for the period 2000-2019 were used as a secondary source of data (time series data) in this study. The findings revealed that ATM and CPS have a negative yet not significant effect on the ROA of DMBs, whereas LR and CR which also revealed a negative effect on ROA were significant after all. Following the outcome of this result, it was agreed that a mixed association exists between sustainable principles of banking and performance. Hence, the recommendation that modalities be put in place to effectively and efficiently adopt sustainable principles of banking in Nigeria, so as to ensure that banks deliver better services to their clients as well boosting profits. Keywords: Sustainable Banking Principles, Bank Performance, Econometric Analysis

Initial experience with 3d-ultrasound as an adjunct to 2dultrasound in fetal anomaly diagnosis in a Nigerian diagnostic facility

Introduction: Two-Dimensional ultrasound (2DUS) has been the preferred screening method for fetal abnormalities for several decades.  Three-dimensional ultrasound (3DUS) is a technique that converts standard 2D grayscale ultrasound images into a volumetric dataset which allows visualization of the fetus in all three dimensions at the same time. It provides an improved overview and a more clearly defined demonstration of adjusted anatomical planes. The use of 3D imaging is however limited to being an adjunct to 2DUS in the  visualization of fetal anomalies. The objective of this study is to highlight the importance of adding three dimensional ultrasound (3DUS) to two-dimensional ultrasound (2DUS) during fetal anomaly screening.Methodology: This is a descriptive study conducted at a private fetal diagnostic center, in Nigeria between January 2014 and December  2016. The diagnosis of fetal anomalies was first made with 2DUS after which they were evaluated with 3D ultrasound images displayed on the monitor.Results: Nine fetuses with various fetal anomalies diagnosed on 2DUS were selected for further evaluation with 3DUS. These anomalies include a neck mass, lumbar spinal abnormality, bilateral cleft lip, thanatophoric dysplasia, anencephaly, omphalocele, posterior urethral valve with anhydramnios and ambiguous genitalia diagnosed. These anomalies were better demonstrated on 3DUS.Conclusion: 2DUS remains the mainstay imaging modality in screening for fetal anomalies. However, 3DUS may complement 2DUS by allowing better delineation of anomalies and gives the parents a better visualization and understanding of identified anomalies, thereby assisting in informed decision making

Outcome of Infertility Consultations in a tropical tertiary health institution in Nigeria

Aim: To examine the outcome of gynaecological consultations for infertility in a tropical Teaching Health facility.Material & Methods: This is a cross-sectional study of infertility cases seen at the Bowen University Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso over a year (16 October, 2010 to 15 October, 2011). The patients were followed up for twelve months thereafter. Data collection was done using a designed profoma. All patients coming for gynaecological consultations because of infertility within the study period were included in the study after giving their informed consents. Patient information recorded in the profoma included age, parity, educational status, occupation, duration of infertility, investigations, modality of treatment and treatment outcome. Outcome was measured by the number of live births amongst treated patients.Results: A total of 195 patients presented for gynaecological consultations during the one year period; infertility was one of the commonest reasons for gynaecological consultation, accounting for 38.5% (75) of the cases. Tubal factor, 25(33.5%) was the commonest etiological cause. The treatment modality involved myomectomy (20, 26.6%), ovulation induction (20, 26.6%), laparoscopic adhesiolysis (8, 10.7%) and tubal surgery (5, 6.7%). Treatment of infertility resulted in 10 (13.3%) live births, with ovulation induction giving the highest percentage of live births (5, 50%).Conclusion: The outcome of treatment of infertility is poor. Therefore, establishing a standard assisted reproductive technology (ART) unit will be of immense value in improving the outcome.Keywords: Infertility, consultation, outcom

URETERIC INJURIES FOLLOWING PELVIC OPERATIONS

Background: Iatrogenic injuries to the ureter are hazardous complications of pelvicoperations, causing severe morbidity and even mortality.Objective: To present our 10 years experience in the management of such uretericinjuries.Design: A retrospective study carried out between January 1990 and December 1999.Setting: Two busy health institutions, namely Ife State hospital and Wesley GuildHospital, both of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) Teaching Hospitals Complex,Ile-Ife, Nigeria.Results: The incidence of iatrogenic injury was 0.4%. Ureteral transection was thecommonest lesion (58%). Ureteroneocystostomy was performed in 70% of the operatedcases. Those diagnosed at the time of injury and treated with end-to-end anastomosishad the best results.Conclusion: The proper identification and, when necessary, isolation of the ureter duringoperations in which there is a risk is crucial in reducing the incidence of ureteral injurie