Effect of a road safety education intervention on road safety knowledge of university drivers in Ibadan, Nigeria

Background: It is essential for drivers employed in the formal sector to have good knowledge of road safety in order to safeguard their lives and those of the staff they are employed to drive. The study was conducted to determine the effect of a road safety education intervention on road safety knowledge of drivers employed in the University of Ibadan, Nigeria.Methods: A quasi-experimental study of 98 intervention and 78 control drivers selected using a cluster sampling technique was conducted. The intervention comprised a two-day training on road safety and first aid. The drivers’ knowledge of road safety was measured at baseline, immediately and 4-months postintervention. Aggregate scores of road safety knowledge were computed giving minimum and maximum obtainable scores of 0 and 16 respectively. Change in mean scores over the three measurement periods was assessed using Repeated Measures Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). Independent t-test was used to compare the scores between intervention and control drivers at each of the assessment periods. Twenty-nine drivers did not complete the study (attrition rate = 16.5%).Results: At baseline, mean road safety knowledge scores for the intervention and control drivers were 12.7±2.2 and 12.9± 2.3 (p = 0.510) respectively. Immediately and four months post intervention, the scores of the intervention drivers were 13.8±1.9 and 12.8±1.6; while scores for the controls were 13.3±2.0 and 13.2±1.8. Repeated measures ANOVA revealed that the increase in knowledge over the three assessment periods was not statistically significant.Conclusions: The intervention resulted in an initial increase in road safety knowledge of the intervention drivers. However, this was not sustained to the forth month post-intervention. This finding suggests periodic refresher trainings to sustain the knowledge acquired.Keywords: Road safety knowledge; University drivers, Fleet safety, Road safety educatio

The role of employers in facilitating smoking cessation among staff: perspective of drivers in a Nigerian university

Background: Several interventions have been instituted to encourage smoking cessation among smokers. Many adults are currently working and spend several hours a day at work. Employers thus have a role to play in encouraging staff who smoke to quit. This study investigated the perception of drivers employed in the University of Ibadan, Nigeria on the role of their employers in facilitating smoking cessation among staff who smoke.Methods: All 176 drivers employed by the University and who were available on the days of the interviews were interviewed. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to obtain information on drivers’ opinion on the role of employers in facilitating smoking cessation among staff.Results: All the drivers were male and had a mean age of 51.2 ± 5.8 years. Five (2.8%) drivers were current smokers. One hundred and thirty-six (77.3%) drivers were of the opinion that their employers had a role to play in encouraging smoking cessation among staff who smoke. They felt this could be done by organizing workshops to sensitize staff on the dangers of smoking 73 (53.7%), educating staff about the health effects of smoking 26 (19.1%) and arresting staff caught smoking during official hours 20 (14.7%).Conclusions: Many of the drivers felt that their employers had a role to play in encouraging smoking cessation among staff. The University authorities should build on this and take specific steps to institute a comprehensive workplace antitobacco policy which includes smoking cessation interventions to assist staff whosmoke to quit.Keywords: Tobacco cessation, Workplace no-smoking policy, Workplace smoking cessation intervention

Assessment of the nutritive value of Phyllanthus niruri Linn. (stonebreaker) leaves

The leaves of Phyllanthus niruri was evaluated for the proximate, minerals, vitamins and phytochemical composition. Phyllanthus niruri leaves were harvested, air-dried at room temperature for 4 days and milled to form Phyllanthus niruri leaf meal. Atomic absorption spectrometry was used in determination of the leaves for macro (Sodium Na, Calcium Ca, Phosphorus P, Potassium K, Magnesium Mg) and micro (Iron Fe, Zinc Zn, Manganese Mn, Copper Cu) minerals; and phytochemicals (total phenolics, tannin, alkaloid, saponin, phytate, oxalate, flavonoid) were also determined using appropriate techniques. Proximate analysis indicated that the leaves had high concentration of dry matter (91.06%), crude fibre (16.90%), crude protein (14.74 %), ether extract (7.55%), ash (7.33%), neutral detergent fibre (43.81%), acid detergent fibre (25.49%), metabolizable energy (7.74MJ/Kg) and in vitro organic matter digestibility (57.40%). Mineral and vitamin analysis  showed that Phyllanthus niruri leaves contained macro minerals (ppm) such as Na (1947), Ca (2911), P (6978), K (18252), Mg (2914), micro minerals (ppm) such as Mn (94), Fe (665), Cu (12), Zn (37) and high content of vitamins A (812.78 µg/100g), D (34.79 µg/100g) and E (57.18 mg/100g) respectively. Phytochemical evaluation revealed that Phyllanthus niruri leaf have high contents of total phenolic (11.85mgGAE/100g), oxalate (22.69mg/g), phytate (5.40g/100g), moderate in alkaloid (3.67g/100g), but low in tannin (0.001g/100g), saponin (0.20g/100g), and flavonoid (1.40g/100g). The results showed that Phyllanthus niruri leaves are of high nutritional quality due to high crude protein, vitamin A, mineral contents especially potassium with the resultant phyto-chemicals attributes that could serve as feed additives in poultry production

Perception of farmers on agroforestry systems adoption in Akinyele Local Government Area, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria

The study assessed farmers’ characteristic variables and perception towards the adoption of agroforestry practices in Akinyele Local Government, Ibadan, Oyo State. Multistage Sampling Technique was used for the study. Five Wards which include Ijaye /Ojedeji, Ajibade/Alabata/Elekuru,  Akinyele/Isabiyi/Irepodun, Ojo Emo/Moniya and Ojoo/Ajibode/Laniba were randomly selected from the Local Government Area. Ajeja, Alabata, Akinyele, Moniya and Idowu oko areas were selected from each of the Wards, respectively while ten (10) farmers were selected from each of these areas. Descriptive statistics such as frequency and percentage distributions as well as correlational studies were used to analyse the collected data. 34 % of the respondents were involved in the practice of agroforestry according to the study. The correlation (r value) at (p< 0.01) also shows that there is a significant association between respondents’ characteristic variables such as age, educational and marital status and adoption of agroforestry practices, while age, sex, marital and educational status are significant on agroforestry perception. It is recommended that awareness  on benefits of agroforestry should be raised in order to create needed awareness and its importance, adequate technical supports should be  provided for farmers interested in practicing agroforestry and also the efficient use of available farmlands of all types of landholders should be  ensured. Keywords: Farmers’ characteristic variables; Perception; Adoption; Agroforestry practices

Obstetric hemorrhage and adverse maternal outcomes: experience of a private teaching hospital in Southwestern Nigeria

Background: Obstetric hemorrhage (OH) has remained the leading cause of maternal mortality, despite concerted National efforts. This audit was conducted to determine its contribution to Adverse Maternal Outcomes and determinants of survival at a private Teaching Hospital, which had provided comprehensive essential obstetric care for 3 years.Methods: A retrospective review of all Severe Maternal Outcomes (SMO) due to OH using the Near-Miss approach.Results: There were 682 deliveries, 101 (14.8%) were SMOs; composed of 97 Maternal Near Misses (MNM) and 4 Maternal Deaths (MD). OH accounted for 37/101(36.6%) of the total SMO and 33/97 (34.0%) of the total MNM observed. All MD were due to Obstetric hemorrhage, n=4(100%), with a Case Fatality Rate (CFR) of 3.3%. Coagulopathy (CFR=25%) and ruptured uterus (CFR=20%) were major causes of MD. Most of the MNM 19/33 (57.6%) and MD 3/4 (75%) were unbooked referrals; with MD more likely when a referred patient lived >5km from the hospital (OR=3.53). Significantly more MD (p=0.021, OR= 1.36, CI=1.005-1.850), were associated with deviations from standard management protocol.Conclusion: Obstetric Hemorrhage, caused most of the Adverse Maternal Outcomes. Survival however depended on the quality of antenatal care, pre-referral care and adherence to standard management protocol for definitive care.Keywords: Pregnancy, hemorrhage, maternal, near-miss, NigeriaAfr J Health Sci. 2016; 29(2):105-11

Housing systems and type of supplemental vitamin-mineral premix in hens’ diets influenced deposition of vitamin in eggs at the late laying phase

Effects of five different proprietary vitamin-mineral premix (VMP) and two housing systems (HS) on deposition of vitamin B1 (thiamine), B6 (pyridoxine), D3 (cholecalciferol), and folic acid in eggs of hens at the late laying stage were investigated. Black Bovan Nera hen strain (n=480) aged 59 weeks were randomly allotted to five dietary treatments; each treatment was replicated six times with eight hens per replicate. The hens were raised in a conventional cage and an open-sided deep litter (DPL) HS. Five isocaloric and isonitrogenous diets were formulated and each was supplemented with 0.25% proprietary VMP 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 for the hens in cage and DL in 2x5 factorial arrangement and completely randomized design. At age 71 weeks, six randomly selected eggs per treatment (n=60) were processed and assayed for vitamin B1, folate, B6 and D3. Significantly higher (p<0.05) thiamine deposition (0.063 mg/100g) was in the eggs of hens on VMP5 with similar (p>0.05) content of pyridoxine, folic acid and vitamin D. The HS had significant impact on vitamin D (93.969 IU) and foliate content (51.909 mg/100g) of the eggs in the DPL. Effect of interactions of HS x VMP on pyridoxine, folic acid and vitamin D3 deposition in egg were similar (p>0.05) but was significantly higher (p<0.05) for thiamine deposition. Hens from DPL had higher vitamins deposition in egg than cage, while vitamin depositions in eggs were influenced by different the proprietary VMP and HS. Keywords: Deep litter, Battery, Proprietary vitamin-mineral premixes, Vitamin compositio

Comparative study of proximate composition of some wild tilapiine fishes in Epe Lagoon, Lagos, Nigeria

The proximate composition of some wild tilapiine fishes in Epe lagoon, Lagos, Nigeria was analyzed. The species were Sarotherodon melanotheron, Tilapia guineensis, Tilapia mariaei, Sarotherodon galileaus and an ecotype cichlid popularly called ‘wesafu’. Major nutrient compositions of raw muscles like protein, fat, moisture and ash were determined. Proximate compositions were found to be varied among the species. Protein was determined in Sarotherodon melanotheron (19.13%), T. guineensis (18.71%), T. mariae (18.08%), S. galileaus (18.34%) and ‘wesafu’ (21.80%) respectively. Lipid content was recorded as 0.82%, 0.40%, 0.60%, 0.65%, and 0.90% for the tilapia species. The highest level of moisture content was found in T. guineensis (81.70%) and the lowest was in ‘wesafu’ (78.50%). The percentage of ash content was highest in S. galileaus and S.melanotheron (1.75%) and lowest in T. guineensis (1.00%). The present study revealed highest protein content in the ecotype cichlid, wesafu (19.22%) and lowest value in T.mariae (18.08%) while fat was highest in ‘wesafu’ (0.90%). The results of this study reveal the nutritional significance of the ecotype cichlid, ‘wesafu’ above other cichlids of the lagoon

Nutritive value and phytochemical screening of turmeric and clove as a potential phyto-additive in livestock production

The aim of this study is to investigate the nutritive values and medicinal potentials of Turmeric (Curcuma longa) and Clove (Syzygium aromaticum) found in the South Western Region of Nigeria as an alternative feed additive in livestock production. These analyses were examined in agreement with the standard procedures and compared. S. aromaticum showed higher presence of crude fat (2.90%), moisture (13.29%) and crude Fibre (11.07%) while C. longa had higher crude protein (7.09%), ash (6.29%) and carbonhydrate (69.66%). Mineral profile revealed that C. Longa had higher of potassium, iron, and phosporous content of 2.489, 40.96 and 0.03 mg/100g respectively compared to S. aromaticum that had the higher calcium of (0.78mg/100g). C. longa contains higher amounts of Vitamin B1 (0.165g/100g), B2 (0.228mg/100g) and B3 (0.5.129mg/100g) when compared to S. aromaticum. Phytochemical screening showed predominantly higher tannin (0.019%), total Phenolic (24.00%), alkaliod (9.50%) and saponin (4.70%) contents in S. aromaticum relative to C. longa which had higher phytate (6.50%) and flavonoid (8.00%). The results presented here showed that C. longa and S. aromaticum contained varying amounts of the proximate, minerals, vitamin and phytochemicals contents. Hence, they could be explored as potential alternative phyto-additive in livestock production

Potentials of ripe Carica papaya seed meal using different processing methods as alternative feed ingredients in monogastric animal nutrition

Phytomedicinal plants include various types of plants used in place of antibiotics or other synthetic drugs in order to reduce the residual effects of drugs on man hence the clamour for organic livestock. Carica papaya is one of such plants that are underutilized as the seeds of the fruits waste on a yearly basis especially in Africa as the focus of many consumers are on ripe fruits of Carica papaya. Ripe fruits of Carica papaya were obtained from Ilishan-Remo environs in Ogun State, Nigeria and the seeds were carefully removed and processed by sun-drying and oven drying. The data were subjected to t-test. The phytochemical analyses, proximate composition, vitamin and mineral concentrations were determined using standard procedures. The proximate composition of sun-dried and oven-dried seeds of ripe Carica papaya were significantly different (p<0.05) while the oven-dried samples had significantly higher (p<0.05) crude fat, ash and crude fibre. The phytochemicals were significantly  different (p<0.05) from each other such that the values are saponin (8.14mg/100g and 5.54mg/100g),  alkaloid (7.18mg/100g and 5.00mg/100g), hydrogen cyanide  (0.64mg/100g and 0.26mg/100g), tannin (52.92mg/100g and 66.50mg/100g) for the sun-dried and oven-dried seed samples of Carica papaya. The sun dried and oven-dried seeds of Carica papaya fruits contained essential minerals which are significantly different (p<0.05) from each other. The sun-dried samples however had significantly higher (p<0.05) vitamins A, B1 and B6. The nutrient composition of Carica papaya seed meal revealed that it contains some bioactive components which can serve as feed supplements in animal production and improve human health

Menopausal transition in women attending a family medicine clinic in Ibadan, Southwest Nigeria

Background: Perimenopausal symptoms may be mild or severe. Symptomatic menopausal women might visit a gynaecologist; but in the absence of amenorrhoea, they might more likely consult a primary care physician. Documentation of the typical local symptoms may be useful for family physicians to counsel clients. The study aimed to assess the prevalence and patterns of symptoms in women in menopausal transition who presented to a family practice clinic in Ibadan.Methods: It was a descriptive, cross-sectional study of middle-aged females at the general outpatients' clinic, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria. Socio-demographic data and presence of climacteric syndrome (classical, somatic and psychologic) were assessed. Data analysis was performed with Χ2 test and logistic regression. Significant p <0.05.Results: Somatic symptoms were the most common; 67.6% had muscle or joint pain, followed by headaches (54.4%). Hot flushes (37.5%), muscle/joint pain, dry vagina/dyspareunia (24.3%) and palpitations (42.3%) were significantly associated with older age, lower socio-economic status, polygamy and tribes other than the local tribe. Participants mostly used analgesia and prayers to cope with their symptoms. No one was on hormone replacement.Conclusion: One quarter to two-fifths of women had classical climacteric symptoms, but mostly relied on analgesia and prayers. Social support may improve the transition and hormone replacement may be explored judiciously.Keywords: Perimenopause, climacteric, vasomotor, menopaus