Detection of Hepatitis B Virus from Inmates in Correctional Facilities in Niger State

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of Hepatitis B virus infection among inmates of selected correctional facilities in Niger state, Nigeria. Blood samples were collected from inmates in three correctional facilities (Bida, Kontagora and Minna). Questionnaires were administered to get their bio-data and 5ml of blood sample was collected from a total of 344 inmates. The plasma was separated and tested for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) using rapid chromatographic immunoassay test (ICT) and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay test kits (ELISA) . All the HBsAg positive samples were subjected to further test using 5-panel HBV test card. Out of the 344 samples collected, 75 (22%) were positive by ICT for HBsAg. ELISA gave an overall prevalence rate of 25% (87/344) as additional 12 samples were positive. The result of the 5-panel showed that HBsAg, HBsAb, HBeAg, HBeAb and HBcAb were present in 87, 19, 20, 47 and 68 plasma respectively. This implies that 87 persons were infected, 19 had immunity against the virus, 20 had active viral replication, 47 with no viral replication and 68 with onset of acute infection. The HBV infection was highest in the age bracket 21-30 years (29.7%) and lowest in 61-70% (0%). Out of the associated risk factors, sharing of objects showed statistically significant association with the high prevalence of the HBV. This study showed the prevalence of HBV among inmates. As such, there is need for constant screening of the inmates for effective prevention measure and proper clinical management strategy

The effect of corporate social responsibility and stakeholder management on corporate social performance of multinational oil companies in Nigeria

The discovery of oil has been identified as both a blessing and a curse for Nigeria. While oil revenue has been a blessing to the country, the failure of oil companies to be socially responsible to their host communities has been a source of numerous crises in the Niger-Delta region of Nigeria. Earlier studies have enriched our knowledge on how corporate social responsibility (CSR) can be used to benefit host communities, but how corporate social responsibility and the stakeholder approach can be used to prevent these crises have received little attention in the literature. Thus, this study contributes to knowledge by investigating the effect of corporate social responsibility and stakeholder management on corporate social performance. This research adopted a quantitative approach method, and survey was developed based on the existing scales of corporate social responsibility measurement. Two different sets of questionnaires were administered to 160 employees of the big four multinational oil companies in Nigeria and 225 members of the host communities in the Niger-Delta area. A hundred and forty-six questionnaires were returned from each of the two sets of respondents. These questionnaires were analysed using Partial Least Square and descriptive statistics. The results of the analyses revealed that a strong relationship exists between compliance to industry standards and environmental performance evidence from employees of multinational oil companies. While the results showed that a weak relationship exists between compliance to industry standards and environmental performance based on the response from the host communities. The results also showed that a strong relationship exists between corporate legitimacy and community relations from both the employees of multinational oil companies and host communities. Furthermore, the results revealed that a strong relationship exists between corporate legitimacy and community perception from both stakeholders. In addition, there is also a strong relationship between regulatory infractions and environmental performance from the results of the two main stakeholders. The results also indicated that a strong relationship exists between CSR initiatives and community relations for the two main stakeholders. However, the results revealed that a weak relationship exists between CSR initiatives and community perception from both groups of stakeholders. Another contribution of this stufy to knowledge is the corporate social responsibility and corporate social performance measures used in this research. While existing measurements of corporate social responsibility in the literature have combined all the variables, this study separated them into various dimensions, to ensure easier adaptability for other studies. This study is a set of possible ideals, practicable and feasible concerns corporate social responsibility (CSR) measures. In addition, this study is a response to a prolonged and contested problem of appropriate measurement of corporate social responsibility (CSR). However, this gap in the literature led to development of a more robust conceptual model of a reflective construct of corporate social responsibility and corporate social performance that in some respects differ from existing conceptual model of corporate social responsibility. Therefore, this research recognised the attempt by previous studies on development of corporate social responsibility measurement model. Still, this study proposed agenda and scope of corporate social responsibility, as well as the measures used to implement corporate social responsibility via the reflective construct for the oil companies' operationalisation in Nigeria

Infants with Congenital Diseases Identified through Newborn Screening—United States, 2018–2020

Newborn screening (NBS) is a state or territory-based public health system that screens newborns for congenital diseases that typically do not present with clinical symptoms at birth but can cause significant mortality and morbidity if not detected or treated quickly. NBS continues to be one of the most successful public health interventions in the US, providing early detection and intervention to all infants. The increase in overall birth prevalence of core Recommended Uniform Screening Panel (RUSP) diseases detected via dried blood spot (DBS) specimens from 2015–2017 (17.50–18.31 per 10,000) to 2018–2020 (20.07 per 10,000), as reported into the APHL NewSTEPs database, affirms the importance and impact of NBS programs. This report presents aggregate numbers and birth prevalence of diseases detected by DBS on the RUSP from 2018–2020, including data from fifty US states and two territories

Does the implant make the difference ? – Prospective comparison of two different proximal femur nails

The aim of this study was to compare two proximal femur nails with regard to the complication rate and midterm clinical outcome: the InterTAN nail (ITN) versus the third generation gamma nail (GN).78 patients older than 60 years with an unstable intertrochanteric femoral fracture (AO/OTA 31 A2/A3) were randomised over a 20 month period into either ITN (n=39) or GN (n=39). The outcomes of interest were the perioperative implant-related complications and the functional status (Harris Hip Score) at 6 months postoperatively.In 14 of the ITN and in two of the GN procedures the surgeons rated the implant as cumbersome (p=0.002). Functional outcome and complication rate did not differ between both groups. The mechanical failure correlated with the positioning of the lag screw independent on the used implant.The surgeon´s technique (closed reduction, positioning of lag screw) and not implant configuration, is of crucial importance in achieving successful outcome

Analyzing Patterns in NewSTEPs Site Review Recommendations: Practical Applications for Newborn Screening Programs

The Newborn Screening Technical assistance and Evaluation Program (NewSTEPs) conducts non-regulatory site reviews of state newborn screening programs in the US with the goal of providing comprehensive reports and recommendations to support quality improvements within the system. A detailed coding and qualitative analysis of data extracted from reports of seven programs visited between 2012 and 2017, of thirteen pre-site visit surveys completed by state newborn screening programs, and of information from interviews conducted with three site review experts revealed four common themes that exist across states within the national newborn screening system. These themes include opportunities to implement improvements in: (1) communications inside and outside of the state newborn screening program, (2) education, (3) information technology, and (4) operations. The cross-cutting recommendations provided by NewSTEPs within the comprehensive site review reports may prove valuable for all state programs to consider and to incorporate as quality improvement measures in the absence of a full site review. The analysis of the site review process and recommendations identified important opportunities for improvement, many of which were previously unknown to be common across programs, and also provided affirmation of known challenges