Architectural design response to population issue in sub-Saharan cities

Overpopulation is a serious global problem, and it is predicted to get worse in future if unchecked; accompanied with threat of dwindling resources. The increase in population and its effect on the housing sector is surfacing as clog in the wheel of efforts at reducing Africa’s housing deficits. How then can urban life continue to thrive in the existing housing issues in colonial, sub-Saharan city of Enugu, exploiting architectural design strategies is what the study investigates. It utilized a qualitative research approach of survey and participant observation in which data were collected and analysed based on thematic content analysis. Gross housing deficit, increased housing rent, emergence and expansion of squatter settlement, Land use conversion and slum conditions are some observable effects of population growth due to urbanization and rural-urban drift in the city; Statistics of public housing provision between 1999-2020, showed an over focus on high-income earners, neglecting the majority low-income population. Therefore, architect’s intervention in the housing sector should be strategic, holistic and proactive and encourage use of local materials, vertical development, dry construction and stakeholder’s participation in delivery process. The study concludes that futuristic architecture holds the key to humanity’s continued stewardship on earth and a sustainable housing delivery

Post occupancy evaluation of ventilation coefficient desired for thermal comfort in educational facilities

In tropical regions, one sustainable measure identified to attain thermal comfort and energy savings for interior spaces is natural ventilation. However, the ventilation coefficient as a factor for effective passive ventilation required for thermal comfort in educational facilities in warm, humid climates has not been adequately investigated. This study is a post-occupancy evaluation aimed at investigating the ventilation coefficient as a parameter for effective passive ventilation efficiency for good thermal comfort in the classrooms of public primary school buildings in Enugu Metropolis, Nigeria. Among the data collection instruments are two data logging devices (thermo-anemometers-AZ 9871) used to measure air velocity, humidity levels, and temperature outside and inside the classrooms of 60 government primary school buildings in the study area. This selection was based on stratified random sampling techniques. For data analysis, the global ventilation coefficient and linear regression analysis were used. The findings demonstrate that the average natural ventilation efficiency was 80%, which is higher than the global ventilation efficiency standard of 60%. The research results further highlight that colonial classroom prototype buildings have a lower temperature value and ventilation coefficient of 83%, which in turn influenced the thermal comfort conditions of the classrooms investigated. The significance of this study is that the findings contribute to the existing knowledge base that would advance strategic policy formation towards acceleration of the uptake of sustainable and energy-efficient building designs for educational facilities in warm, humid tropical environments

Performance evaluation in a construction project: an empirical study of Canaan city housing estate, Ota, Nigeria

Project performance has always been affected by many factors across its lifecycle due to the increasing intricacy and flexibility of construction project. This study evaluated the performance in a construction project with emphasis on Canaan city Housing Estate (CHE). The researchers employed the instrument of main data collection to show the practicability of the cardinal performance indicators (CPIs) with a five-point likert scale for entreating information from the project actors with regard to their perceptions on 50 performance features. The findings showed that the Cronbach's alpha (α) of the data was 0.8942 indicating that the index of instrument reliability was consistent and reliable. Moreover, the empirical finding revealed that performance evaluation in a construction project has gone beyond the traditional approach of quality, time and cost. This study would assist the construction participants in enhancing the project performance and efficient evaluation toward the satisfactory delivery of a construction project

The role of the employer in workplace violence: The health care workers' perspective

Background: Workplace violence affects millions of people on a yearly basis. It has important consequences both for the harassed and the employer. The aim of the study was to find out the role employers play in controlling workplace violence in a tertiary healthcare institution as perceived by the health care workers.Methods: The study was a descriptive cross-sectional study carried out among nurses and doctors at the University of Nigeria Teaching HospitalItukuOzalla (UNTH), using a pre-tested, self-administered and semi-structured questionnaire that was adapted from the workplace violence in the health sector country case studies research instruments by ILO/ICN/WHO/PSI. A sample size of 412 was obtained using the sample size determination formula for cross-sectional descriptive studies. Data was analysed using Epi Info version 3.5.4. Chi-square test was used to determine association with a significance level of p-value at 0.05.Results: Four hundred and twelve healthcare workers participated in the study, of which 111(26.9%) were doctors while 301 (73.1%) were nurses. One hundred and thirteen (27.4%) respondents felt there were policies on health and safety, 154 (37.4%) reported that there was no policy while 145 (35.2%) did not know if there was any existing policy. For measures in place to mitigate violence at the workplace, 240(58.3%) mentioned existing security measures, 174 (42.0%) improved surroundings, 96 (23.3%) reduced work alone hours, while only 89 (21.6%) mentioned restriction of public access.Conclusion: Very few healthcare workers had correct information about the existence of policies to protect them from violence at the workplace.Most employees only know about existing security measures with little or no knowledge of other measures that can be helpful in curbing violence in their workplace. Drafting, dissemination and implementation of policies to reduce workplace violence in our healthcare facilities is recommended. Keywords: workplace, violence, role of employers, health-worker

The trend of collapse of buildings in concrete materials in Lagos State, Nigeria (2013-2019)

t. In recent times, efforts are channeled towards limiting the impact of waste plastic pollution on the environment. This study examines the beneficial utilization of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) wastes, which is a non-biodegradable waste materials as a partial substitute for sand in the production of non-load bearing hollow sandcrete blocks. The physical and mechanical properties such as density and compressive strength of the hollow sandcrete blocks using PET waste as a replacement for fine aggregate at 5%, 10%, 30% and 50% were determined. Tests results show that the density of the produced sandcrete blocks decreases as the waste PET content increases. Results showed that the density varied from 1391.33 kg/m3 for 50%PET content to 1954.54 kg/m3 for 5%PET content, while the density of the reference sandcrete was 2002.15 kg/m3 for 7 days. The values of densities ranged between 1453.88 kg/m3 for PET 50% and 1851.09 kg/m3 for PET 5% and the density of reference sandcrete was 1991.77 kg/m3 at 28 days. The sandcrete blocks also demonstrate a similar reduction trend in compressive strength as the PET content increases. The compressive strength ranged between 1.140 N/mm2 for 50%PET and 2.564 N/mm2 for 5%PET content and 1.510 N/mm2 for 50%PET to 2.991 N/mm2 for 5%PET respectively, as the curing age increases from 7 to 28 days. The hollow sandcrete block containing an optimum 5% replacement percentage of sand with PET waste showed comparable strength to the conventional sandcrete blocks. This will help to mitigate the menace of marine plastic pollution and promote responsible consumption

A global point prevalence survey of antimicrobial use in neonatal intensive care units: The no-more-antibiotics and resistance (NO-MAS-R) study

Background: Global assessment of antimicrobial agents prescribed to infants in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) may inform antimicrobial stewardship efforts. Methods: We conducted a one-day global point prevalence study of all antimicrobials provided to NICU infants. Demographic, clinical, and microbiologic data were obtained including NICU level, census, birth weight, gestational/chronologic age, diagnoses, antimicrobial therapy (reason for use; length of therapy), antimicrobial stewardship program (ASP), and 30-day in-hospital mortality. Findings: On July 1, 2019, 26 of infants (580/2,265; range, 0�100; median gestational age, 33 weeks; median birth weight, 1800 g) in 84 NICUs (51, high-income; 33, low-to-middle income) from 29 countries (14, high-income; 15, low-to-middle income) in five continents received �1 antimicrobial agent (92, antibacterial; 19, antifungal; 4, antiviral). The most common reasons for antibiotic therapy were �rule-out� sepsis (32) and �culture-negative� sepsis (16) with ampicillin (40), gentamicin (35), amikacin (19), vancomycin (15), and meropenem (9) used most frequently. For definitive treatment of presumed/confirmed infection, vancomycin (26), amikacin (20), and meropenem (16) were the most prescribed agents. Length of therapy for culture-positive and �culture-negative� infections was 12 days (median; IQR, 8�14) and 7 days (median; IQR, 5�10), respectively. Mortality was 6 (42, infection-related). An NICU ASP was associated with lower rate of antibiotic utilization (p = 0·02). Interpretation: Global NICU antibiotic use was frequent and prolonged regardless of culture results. NICU-specific ASPs were associated with lower antibiotic utilization rates, suggesting the need for their implementation worldwide. Funding: Merck & Co.; The Ohio State University College of Medicine Barnes Medical Student Research Scholarship © 2021 The Author

Dimethyl fumarate in patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19 (RECOVERY): a randomised, controlled, open-label, platform trial

Dimethyl fumarate (DMF) inhibits inflammasome-mediated inflammation and has been proposed as a treatment for patients hospitalised with COVID-19. This randomised, controlled, open-label platform trial (Randomised Evaluation of COVID-19 Therapy [RECOVERY]), is assessing multiple treatments in patients hospitalised for COVID-19 (NCT04381936, ISRCTN50189673). In this assessment of DMF performed at 27 UK hospitals, adults were randomly allocated (1:1) to either usual standard of care alone or usual standard of care plus DMF. The primary outcome was clinical status on day 5 measured on a seven-point ordinal scale. Secondary outcomes were time to sustained improvement in clinical status, time to discharge, day 5 peripheral blood oxygenation, day 5 C-reactive protein, and improvement in day 10 clinical status. Between 2 March 2021 and 18 November 2021, 713 patients were enroled in the DMF evaluation, of whom 356 were randomly allocated to receive usual care plus DMF, and 357 to usual care alone. 95% of patients received corticosteroids as part of routine care. There was no evidence of a beneficial effect of DMF on clinical status at day 5 (common odds ratio of unfavourable outcome 1.12; 95% CI 0.86-1.47; p = 0.40). There was no significant effect of DMF on any secondary outcome

Modifiable risk factors for overweight and obesity among traders in Abeokuta South local government area, Ogun State

The market place as an occupational environment can predispose to obesity, mainly due to sedentary nature and enhanced access to food. This study was designed to determine the prevalence and risk factors of overweight and obesity among traders in Abeokuta South Local Government Area, Ogun State, Nigeria. A descriptive cross-sectional research design involving 210 (60.3%) males and 140 (39.7%) females randomly selected from three markets (Panseke, Kuto and Asero markets) was conducted using a systematic random sampling method. A validated semi-structured questionnaire was used to assess their personal and socio-economic characteristics, alcohol consumption, smoking habits and physical activity levels. Nutrient intake was assessed using a validated 24hr Dietary Recall questionnaire. Body Mass Index (BMI) was derived from height and weight measurements; Waist and hip circumference was taken to assess abdominal obesity. The nutrient intake was analyzed using the adapted Total Diet Allowance (TDA) for windows. Data was analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS), version 20. Based on BMI, the prevalence of overweight and obesity was 24% and 3.7% respectively. About 39.4% of the respondents had abdominal obesity. The prevalence of general obesity was significantly higher among females than males (p=0.000). Over one-third (41.4%) of the respondent have low physical activity level. About 14.9% of the respondents smoke cigarrete and more than one-third (35.1%) consume alcohol. More than half (58.6%) of the males and 89.7% of the females had excess calorie intake in the past 24 hours. A significant association was observed between BMI and smoking pattern but there was no significant association between BMI, physical activity and alcohol consumption pattern. Carbohydrate, protein and fat were consumed above the recommended dietary allowance, while respondents had inadequate intake of micro-nutrients, as well as fiber. Obesity is of public health concern, therefore, sensitization focused on lifestyle modification and proper dietary choices should be considered.Keywords: Traders, alcohol consumption, physical activity, obesity, dietary habitsAfr. J. Biomed. Res. Vol. 22 (May, 2019); 127- 13