Infertility and Treatment Seeking Behaviour among Women in Mushin Local Government Area, Lagos State, Nigeria

A paradox in the demographic and epidemiological transitions in sub-Saharan Africa is that as population growth has increased, the rates of infertility have also increased, due to higher rates of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and earlier age at initiation of sexual intercourse. The majority of married couples desire to have their own biological children, and if they are unable to have children, it is, in most cases, the result of their inability to reproduce. The objective of this study was to examine the social context of infertility treatment seeking behaviour among women in Mushin Local Government Area of Lagos State, Nigeria. Three theories were used to provide explanation for treatment seeking behaviour among women with unmet fertility needs. They include the Health Behaviour model (HBM), theory of stigma and Caldwell’s wealth flow theory of fertility. Mixed methods, including a cross-sectional survey and in-depth interview was adopted. The study revealed that nature of infertility and perceived cause of infertility have a significant influence on treatment seeking behaviour among women with unmet fertility needs. A significant number of the respondents visit traditional healers thus these traditional healers should be trained to aid them address the issue of infertility without complications

POLITICAL ECONOMY OF CATTLE COLONY: BETWEEN HERDERS-FARMERS CONFLICTS AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN NIGERIA

In sub-Sahara African countries, agriculture has remained the mainstay of the economies. It has contributed to about 86.03% of the nations’ Gross Domestic Products (GDP). Nigeria being like every other nation state in Africa has been encouraged in the area of agriculture which stands tall to provide sustainability to the teeming population. In the recent time, the perceived serial conflicts between the Fulani herders and the indigenous farmers across the country has brought in fear of depletion of agricultural production, systemic disequilibrium and loss of lives and property. However, it is against this backdrop that the paper sets to appreciate the effects of herders-farmers conflicts on food production, sustainable national development and the political economy behind establishing cattle colonies across the country. Methodologically, the study appropriated qualitative method while generating its data and analyzed in content. The theoretical frame work of analysis is adequately anchored on the theory of eco-violence as propounded by Thomas Homer-Dixon (1988; 1999); and Gledistch, (2002). The findings of the study has adequately revealed that the serial conflicts between herders and the farmers had gravely undermined the contribution of agricultural sector, depleted internally generated revenue and loss of man power that would have sustained national development in Nigeria. The study strongly recommends among other; the voluntary giving out portion(s) of land by private individuals or purchase of land by the herders for their private businesses

Designing A Solar and Motor-Based Hybrid Powered Mobile Sprinkler System for Small-Scale Irrigation: A Case Study for Auchi Polytechnic Demonstration Farm

This research aimed at developing a model of a hybrid-powered sprinkler irrigation system for use in the town of Auchi, Nigeria, a town with costly and intermittent electricity access. As a highly agrarian society, it is vital that market gardens developed by the family have access to water to provide their families with food and income from the selling of the crops. In Nigeria, changes in rainfall patterns are posing a threat to crop output. Irrigation can be utilized to maintain consistent production; however, motorized irrigation systems are both expensive to operate and environmentally unsustainable. Alternative watering methods are consequently required. Irrigation systems can be powered by readily available renewable energy sources. In order to irrigate 1 acre of vegetable planting in Auchi Polytechnic Demonstration Farm, Auchi, Nigeria, this research sought to design an effective Generator-solar hybrid system. The Using metrological data, mean wind speed and monthly solar irradiance of global radiation horizontal for the district were analysed. The mobile hybrid sprinkler system was optimally designed for a vegetables plant on 1-acre land with water requirement of 33.73 m3 d−1. The results upon fabrication showed that the system could effectively operate at speeds of 20 m s −1 without deformation. The research will, therefore, be a useful guideline in making investment decisions in hybrids irrigation systems. Keywords: Automated, Irrigation, Auchi Polytechnic Demonstration Farm, hybrid-powered sprinkler DOI: 10.7176/ISDE/12-4-01 Publication date:October 31st 2021

Community acceptance and willingness to pay for hypothetical COVID-19 vaccines in a developing country: a web-based nationwide study in Nigeria

Introduction: some promising COVID-19 vaccines are soon to be available but getting the African community to accept them may be challenging. This study assessed the acceptability and willingness to pay (WTP) for hypothetical COVID-19 vaccines among Nigerians. Methods: a cross-sectional, web-based study was conducted among the Nigerian populace. A 20-item questionnaire was used to collect responses through Google form which was shared to consenting participants through two social media platforms. Multivariate logistic regression was used to determine the sociodemographic factors that were predictive of respondents´ willingness to accept the COVID-19 vaccines. Statistical significance was set at p<0.05. Results: six hundred and eighty-nine respondents completed the survey, with 50.5% being females. Exactly 43.3% of respondents reported that they would accept a hypothetical vaccine if it is currently available, 62.1% said they would accept it in the future while 71.1% agreed to accept it if recommended by healthcare providers. A third (31.9%) of respondents accepted the vaccine for their self-protection and half of those not accepting it (51.3%) said they did not want to “be used as an experiment”. Respondents who were of oldest ages (aOR=0.330, 95% CI:0.141-0.767, p=0.010), of Christian religion (aOR=3.251, 95% CI:1.301-8.093, p=0.011), and aware of a possible vaccine being made available (aOR=0.636, 95% CI:0.440-0.920) were significantly more unwilling to accept the vaccine. The median range of WTP was US$1.2-2.5. Conclusion: there is a low acceptance in Nigeria for a COVID-19 vaccine if it was available now, but much higher if it is recommended by a healthcare provider. A high proportion of willing respondents indicated a positive WTP for the vaccine

Drivers of credit union penetration: An international analysis

We investigate the drivers of credit union penetration with data from 90 countries for the period 2005–2017. Generally, the results show that the number of credit unions, the level of financial development of a country, the level of industrialization of a country, and the institutional environment are significantly supportive of credit union penetration. We conclude that the elimination of restrictions on the formation of credit unions (if any), the adoption of industrialization as development path, the implementation of sound monetary and fiscal policies that promote financial development, and the pursuit of good public governance are crucial for credit union penetratio

Corporate social responsibility and financial performance: Evidence from U.S tech firms

This study provides quantitative evidence on the positive effect of spending on socially responsible causes on the long-term growth of U.S technology companies. Maximizing shareholder wealth remains the overarching principle driving organizational strategies, but this has always conflicted with other stakeholders’ interests. Because of these conflicting priorities, entrenching the principles of social responsibility has become imperative. We leverage content analysis, fixed-effects and pooled regression models to examine the effect of engaging in CSR on tech companies’ corporate financial performance in the U.S. The empirical study consists of panel data of the top 100 tech companies listed on the S&P 500 for the period 2017 and 2019. We examine the link between corporate financial performance and CSR proxies. The main results indicate that tech companies that spend more on CSR experience a corresponding increase in revenue and profitability. Contrary to previous studies, we observe insignificant evidence to support a relationship between CSR and Tobin’s Q

Chasing the elusive "in-between" state of the copper-amyloid β complex by X-ray absorption through partial thermal relaxation after photoreduction

The redox activity of Cu ions bound to the amyloid-β (Aβ) peptide is implicated as a source of oxidative stress in the context of Alzheimer's disease. In order to explain the efficient redox cycling between CuII -Aβ (distorted square-pyramidal) and CuI -Aβ (digonal) resting states, the existence of a low-populated "in-between" state, prone to bind Cu in both oxidation states, has been postulated. Here, we exploited the partial X-ray induced photoreduction at 10 K, followed by a thermal relaxation at 200 K, to trap and characterize by X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy (XAS) a partially reduced Cu-Aβ1-16 species different from the resting states. Remarkably, the XAS spectrum is well-fitted by a previously proposed model of the "in-between" state, hence providing the first direct spectroscopic characterization of an intermediate state. The present approach could be used to explore and identify the catalytic intermediates of other relevant metal complexes

Integrated very low frequency electromagnetic (VLF-EM) geophysical and hydrogeochemical study of Abeku dumpsite in Ibadan, southwestern Nigeria

Very Low Frequency Electromagnetic (VLF-EM) and hydrogeochemical studies have been integrated to measure ground conductivity and also determine the concentration of leachate derived contaminants in the groundwater around Abeku dumpsite in Ibadan, southwest Nigeria. Ten (10) VLF-EM profiles were occupied within and around the dumpsite fence. Water sample from wells were also analyzed to determine the concentration of pollutants in the study area. Qualitative interpretations of VLF-EM results indicate relatively high ground conductivity within the dumpsite, which decreases away from the actual waste dump phase of the dumpsite. Ground conductivity is relatively higher in the south and east of the dumpsite which are located downhill of the groundwater hydrostatic head when compared with the north and west of the study area situated uphill of hydraulic gradient. Hydrogeochemical analyses present NO3-, SO42- and PO42- ions concentration in the range of 9.24 – 13.64 mg/L, 3 – 12 mg/L and 0.33 – 1.07 mg/L respectively. The SO42- and PO42- ions concentrations are within permissible limits, while the NO3- ion concentration is slightly above the Federal Ministry of Environment’s standard for potable water in Nigeria

Prevalence and distribution of bovine tuberculosis among slaughtered cattle in Cross River State, Nigeria

Tuberculosis (TB) in slaughtered cattle (SC) is of immense zoonotic and economic importance worldwide. This study determined the  prevalence and distribution of TB among SC in three agricultural zones of Cross River State, Nigeria, using post mortem lesions, the Ziehl-Neelsen staining technique (ZNST) and retrospective abattoir records. Out of the 1,852 SC surveyed from April, 2013 – March 2014, 4.10 % had TB-like lesions, out of which 86.8 % were positive when subjected to ZNST. Similarly, a 9 year retrospective survey (2001 – 2010) using abattoir records revealed 1.00 % prevalence of bovine tuberculosis (BTB) in the State. The periodic prevalence of the  infection were: (2001– 2002) 1.0 %, (2003) 0.9 %, (2004 – 2005) 0.8 %, (2006 – 2007) 1.2 % and (2008 – 2010) 1.1 %. The survey revealed higher BTB prevalence in dry (6.09 %) than wet (2.15 %) season, in cows (6.20 %) than bulls (2.60 %), in older cattle >3 years (7.86 %) than younger ones ≤3 years (1.16 %), in White Fulani (4.52 %) than Red Bororo (3.95 %) and mixed breed (3.07 %). Similarly, higher rates of 1.26 % in dry than 0.77 % in wet season, 1.61 % in cows than 0.63 % in bulls, 1.27 % in cattle < 3 years than 0.65 % in those > 3 years were recorded in the retrospective study. BTB was prevalent in SC in the State and this portends significant health risk and economic  losses to the populace and necessitates a multi-sectorial One Health approach to its control. Keywords: Bovine tuberculosis, Cross River State, Prevalence, Slaughtered cattle, Zoonose

The vulnerability of tropical peatlands to oil and gas exploration and extraction

Funding: Leverhulme Trust (Grant Number(s): RPG-2018-306); UK Natural Environment Research Council (Grant Number(s): NE/R000751/1, NE/R016860/1, NE/V018760/1); Scottish Research Council/University of St Andrews.Tropical peatlands store globally significant quantities of carbon and are ecologically and culturally important, but little is known about their vulnerability to oil and gas exploration and extraction. Here, we analyse the exposure of tropical peatlands to the activities of the petroleum industry and review what is known about the sensitivity of peatlands to these activities. We find that 8.3% (107,000 km2) of the total area of tropical peatlands overlaps with a 30-km buffer area around oil and gas infrastructure. Major areas of overlap include the Sumatra Basin (Indonesia), the Niger Delta (Nigeria) and the Putumayo-Oriente-Marañón Basin (Peru/Ecuador/Colombia). Documented environmental impacts include deforestation and habitat loss associated with the exploration and development of oil fields, and contamination from spills of oil and produced water (well brine). Peatlands, and the ecosystem services they provide, are sensitive to these impacts due to unique aspects of their ecology and hydrology, the easy spread of contamination by flowing water, the long-term storage of contaminants in peat, and the slow degradation of oil under anoxic, waterlogged conditions. Given the potential negative consequences for human health, resource security, biodiversity, and carbon storage, we propose a research agenda to provide an improved evidence base to support effective governance.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe