Factors influencing condom use among Nigerian undergraduates: A mixed method study

Objective: This study’s objective was to explore and assess the factors influencing condom use among Nigerian undergraduates within the age group 16-34 years.Setting: The University of Lagos, a federal University in the commercial capital of Nigeria.Study design: Both qualitative (focus group discussions) and quantitative (cross-sectional survey) methods were utilised for this study.Subjects: A total of 101 subjects were recruited with age range 18 to 34 years as against 100 years, with a mean age of 21 years. Data collection was conducted in July and August 2011 at the University of Lagos.Subjects: A total of 820 students from University of Lagos in four faculties participated in the cross-sectional survey, and we organised four focus group discussions with six students each.Results: Students were of the perception that various socio-economic and environmental factors influenced condom use during sexual intercourse. Factors identified as having great influence on condom use include: “adequate sex education” and “unplanned/ unanticipated sexual intercourse”. Conversely, the influence of alcohol/social drugs on condom use was ranked low.Conclusion: The study showed that students had the perception that various factors influenced condom use but these perceptions varied between young men and women. It may therefore be rewarding to have customised messages based on specific needs when reaching out to different groups stratified based on gender.Keywords: Condom, unsafe sex, HIV, gender, undergraduates

AN ANALYSIS OF YIELDS OF KOLA-NUT PRODUCTION, PROCESSING AND MARKETING IN SAGAMU LGA, OGUN STATE, NIGERIA

This study on Kola nut production in Ogun State was aimed at describing the socio-economic characteristics of the farmers, net farm income, marketing channels and factors influencing output of kola nut for its impact on food security. Multistage sampling technique was used in the study; the first stage involves the purposive selection of Sagamu Local Government as largest Kola nut farming with 4 communities; namely; Agbowa; Sagamu; Igodo, and Odelemo. The second stage involves simple random selection of 100 kola nut farmers, 25 per community. A structured questionnaire was administered subject to descriptive analysis, multiple regressions, and budgetary analysis. The results revealed that male 82% and female 18% were involved in kola nut production, processing and marketing. Average household size of 6 members with a minimum of 25 years farming experiences. The study revealed that 51% of the farmers sold directly to wholesalers, 37% sold to processors, and 12% sold to retailers. Also, 83%, of the producers and marketers were married 16% were widowed and only 1% divorced. Average age was 58years and average farm size of 2.71 hectares. Average farm net income was ₦208,680.40 per annum with the total revenue of ₦291,149 and a gross margin of ₦237,789.50 per annum. The average total cost incurred was calculated as ₦82,468.40 being cost of labour, transportation and items such as cutlass, hoes and files. Regression analysis used to determine the factors affecting the output of kola nut showed that farm size, age of kola nut plantation and the age of farmers were significant at 10%, 5% and 1% respectively using double log equation and the model was significant at 1%. The age of farmers (x1) was negatively significant which implies that as farmers reach old age, this may serve as hindrance due to physical inability to undertake vigorous farm activities hence reduction in output occurs by 13.3%. Farming experience (x2) was negatively correlated with output of kolanut indicating that a unit increase in experience of kolanut farmers will decrease output by 12.3%. Farm size was found to positively significant which implies that a unit increase in farm size will increase output by 83.1%.The result revealed that kola nut business is a profitable venture and male dominated. The women could be encouraged to invest in the business to increase their income and livelihood.

LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT OF WHEAT PRODUCTION AND PROCESSING SYSTEM

Wheat being the leading source of vegetable protein in the human diets has higher protein content than other major staple grains or cereals like rice or maize; therefore it was necessary to study the environmental impacts associated with its field production and industrial processing using the life cycle assessment tool. The functional unit selected for the study was 1kg of wheat, and emission from various inputs into the system was aggregated into a large inventory table. Four environmental impacts were considered namely; global warming, acidification, eutrophication and ozone layer depletion. It was discovered that global warming has the highest impact score which is closely followed by eutrophication; 4.7153E – 02 kg CO2 equivalent and 3.5907E– 04kg NO3- equivalent respectively, while ozone layer depletion has the lowest environmental impact score of 1.1889E – 07 kg R11 equivalent. High emission of CO2 gas from fossil fuel during field operations and processing of wheat was observed as the reason for the high impact score of global warming

COMPARATIVE ASSESSMENT OF STORAGE STABILITY OF GINGER-GARLIC AND CHEMICAL PRESERVATION ON FRUIT JUICE BLENDS

The study aimed at reduction of wastage of fruit, encourage production, consumption and preservation of fruit juice blends using garlic ginger filtrate with health benefits as biopreservative thus providing alternatives with biological advantage over chemical preservatives (ascorbic and benzoate acids) without altering the organoleptic and physicochemical properties of fruit juice blends. The study evaluated the potential of natural preservatives (ginger, garlic and ginger-garlic filtrates) in comparison with two conventional chemical preservatives (ascorbic and benzoate acids) for fruit juice blends preservation. The juice blend used was cashew, pineapple and watermelon. In terms of flavor and mouth feel, the order of preference of the juice were the preserved with 1% garlic-ginger > 1% ginger > 1% garlic > 1% ascorbic acid > and preserved with 1% sodium benzoate at ambient temperature. Maximum decrease in pH was observed in the juice sample that had no added preservative. Generally, all the fruit blends (preserved and unpreserved), with the exception of the one preserve with 1% ginger-garlic showed growth of bacteria after one week of storage. Juice blends preserved with the 1% ginger-garlic were most acceptable compared to other preservatives. The synergistic biopreservative ability observed with the ginger-garlic may be a preferable alternative to conventional preservatives

DEVELOPMENT OF AN IMPROVED GARI FRYER

Traditional frying of cassava mash into gari continues to be an onerous and complex unit operation for food processors. It is highly labor intensive, tedious, unhygienic and low productivity compared with the time and labor invested. The aim of this study was to design, develop a gari fryer, and evaluate its performance efficiency as affected by the mash moisture content. Cassava mash of different moisture contents (44.12, 45, 46.99, 48.99, 50.31, and 54.94 %) were fried, and the performance characteristics including, roasting time, percentage material loss, throughput capacity, and functional efficiency were evaluated. Results obtained indicated that frying cassava mash at 44.12 % wb moisture content produced the best frying condition, as it had the least material loss and frying time of 25 % and 1.17 hr, best throughput capacity and functional efficiency of 6.6 kg/hr and 75 %. The fabricated gari frying does not require technical expertise and can effectively address the challenges associated with traditional gari frying

Chemical, antioxidant and sensory properties of pasta from fractionated whole wheat and Bambara groundnut flour

Pasta from whole-grain wheat is highly nutritious but has poor sensory properties. Hence, this study prepared pasta from fractionated whole-grain wheat flour enriched with 20% Bambara groundnut. The chemical, antioxidant and sensory properties of the pasta were assessed using standard methods. The fat, protein, ash contents, lightness and antioxidant properties value of the flour and pasta increased, while carbohydrate and fibre contents decreased with a reduction in particle size from 500 μm to 112 μm. Potassium (246.50–249.00 mg/kg), calcium (223.50–254.00 mg/kg) and magnesium (184.50–192.00 mg/kg) were the major mineral element in the pasta samples, while zinc (1.00–2.00 mg/kg) and iron (3.50–13.00 mg/kg) are present in small quantities. The optimum cooking time of pasta (average 6.55 min) from the fractionated flours was shorter compared to the control pasta (pasta made from unfractionated wheat flour), but the cooking loss was not significantly affected. Pasta from flour with particle sizes of 300 and 112 μm were very similar in their sensory attributes and showed the highest ratings in overall acceptability. Fractionation of whole-grain wheat flour seems very promising in producing pasta with fairly good antioxidant potentials and high level of protein and fibre to improve the health of pasta-loving individuals.The Faculty of Science-University Research Committee Fellowship of the University of Johannesburg, South Africa.http://www.elsevier.com/locate/lwthj2022Consumer ScienceFood Scienc

Stakeholder Theory and Marketing: Moving from a Firm-Centric to a Societal Perspective

This essay is inspired by the ideas and research examined in the special section on “Stakeholder Marketing” of the Journal of Public Policy & Marketing in 2010. The authors argue that stakeholder marketing is slowly coalescing with the broader thinking that has occurred in the stakeholder management and ethics literature streams during the past quarter century. However, the predominant view of stakeholders that many marketers advocate is still primarily pragmatic and company centric. The position advanced herein is that stronger forms of stakeholder marketing that reflect more normative, macro/societal, and network-focused orientations are necessary. The authors briefly explain and justify these characteristics in the context of the growing “prosociety” and “proenvironment” perspectives—orientations that are also in keeping with the public policy focus of this journal. Under the “hard form” of stakeholder theory, which the authors endorse, marketing managers must realize that serving stakeholders sometimes requires sacrificing maximum profits to mitigate outcomes that would inflict major damage on other stakeholders, especially society

Associated risk factors of STIs and multiple sexual relationships among youths in Malawi

Having unprotected sex with multiple sexual partners (MSP) is the greatest risk factor for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among youths. Young people with MSPs are less likely to use a condom and the greater the risk for STIs. This study examines the associated risk factors of STIs and multiple sexual partnerships among youths aged 15–24 years. The Malawi Demographic Health Survey 2010 data was used. Out of a sample of 2,987 males and 9,559 females aged 15–24 years, 2,026 males and 6,470 females were considered in the study. Chi square test and logistic regression techniques were performed. Analysis was performed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 22.Article writing fellowships were received from the Research Development Office, University of the Western Cape, 7535 Bellville, Cape Town, South Africa.Web of Scienc