Baseline Assessment of Vulnerable Children and HIV Burden Alleviation in Ekiti State, Nigeria

Nigeria is having about 17.5 million orphans and Ekiti State the study area contributes about 70,000. This may increase with the prevalence of HIV from one percent to 1.4 percent in the state. This study uses the Orphans Vulnerable Index and Child Status Index to identify and enrol Vulnerable Children (VC) in the two LGAs of focus in order to identify the needs of VC and care givers. A total number of 402 VC were enrolled out of 433 identified from six political wards in the LGAs. There were 51% male and 49% female, 44% and 56% from Ido Osi and Moba LGAs respectively while the age distribution shows that more than 40% of the VC is within 10-14 years of age. Using the CSI scores, more than 65% of the VC has poor access to adequate nutrition, shelter and health care services while about 63% of the VC has poor access to education, social protection and psychosocial wellness. The findings represent the poor socioeconomic status of Nigerians, though the Ekiti State faired a bit better than states outside of the southern Nigeria Zones.Keywords: Vulnerability score; HIV; community; enrollment

Perception of Adolescents in Secondary School in a Rural Community in Southwest Nigeria towards Teenage Pregnancy

Unintended pregnancy among female adolescents is a global phenomenon and remains a significant problem. It occurs in both developed and developing nations but with variations in degree and consequences on the social factors involved. Globally, sub-Saharan Africa ranks highest in teenage pregnancy and lowest in contraceptive use. Recent estimates by World Health Organization show that 16 million girls aged between 15 and 19 give birth every year. In Nigeria nearly one-quarter (23%) of adolescent girls are already mothers or pregnant with their first child. The aim of this study was to determine the perception of adolescents in secondary school towards the prevention of teenage pregnancy. Some factors perceived by the students to influence teenage pregnancy include family type (73.9%), religion (73.9%), peer pressure (88.7%), and poverty (83.7%). The students also believed teenage pregnancy brings disgrace (78.8%), prevents one from finishing school education (83.7%) and could lead to abortion (73.9%). Students perceived that parents have a role to play in preventing teenage pregnancy by monitoring their children’s movement (69%), give sex education (70.4%) and know their children’s friends (69%). They also agree that teenagers too can prevent early pregnancy by not having premarital sex (76.3%), travel in groups to avoid sexual harassment (78.8%) and make their movements known (59.1%). Sex education that is responsible and medically accurate both in school and at home is important in the prevention of teenage pregnancy. Increased uptake and use of contraception will also help to reduce teenage pregnancy

Assessment of Food Safety Practices in a Rural Community in Southwest Nigeria

Food safety has been a major health challenge in both developed and developing countries. Ensuring food safety is key to preventing food borne illnesses which are contracted through consumption of unsafe foods. The aim of this study was to identify the food safety practices of residents of a rural community in Southwest, Nigeria. The study design was cross-sectional. Five clusters were selected by simple random sampling from the sampling frame. All households in the clusters were sampled to achieve a sample size of 216 households. Data were collected using a semi-structured questionnaire. The results show that majority of the respondents were female (62.2%), Christians (78.1%), married (53.1%), and belong to the Yoruba ethnic group (88.3%). Residents of the community showed good food safety practices with 80.6% reported to always washing their hands before cooking, 90.3% always clean their cooking utensils before and after use, 83.7% always clean their cooking environment, and nearly all (96.9%) reported washing their hands after using the toilet. A statistical association was found between educational level and washing of hands after the use of toilet (p = 0.037). Though the results show a satisfactory level of food safety practice, however, more improvements can still be made. The method of waste disposal and source of drinking water pose a future threat to the health of the community residents. Hence, a call for government’s intervention in providing potable water and modernised waste disposal facilities

STRENGTH CHARACTERISTICS OF NIGERIAN QUARTZITIC AND KAOLINITIC CLAYS IN WALL TILE COMPOSITION

Clays from four different deposits in Abeokuta, Nigeria (Abiola Way 1 (AW1), Abiola Way 2 (AW2), Asero (AS), Mysis (MY)) have been investigated. Their chemical compositions were determined by Atomic absorption spectroscopy and the most crystalline phases were identified by X-ray diffraction. Wall tile specimens were formulated with clay, wood ash (flux) and quartz (filler). The compositions of the wood ash and quartz were kept constant in the wall tile composition. The results revealed that the  wall tile composition containing higher amount of quartzitic clays, exhibited lower shrinkage, higher water absorption rate while lower strength and the wall tile containing higher amount of kaolinitic clay showed higher shrinkage, higher strength due to better densification and lowest water absorption rate in the temperature range of 1050-11500C.Â

Čimbenici koji predviđaju prihvaćanje cjepiva protiv bolesti COVID-19 u zapadnoj Africi

Background: The aim of this study was to examine the factors predicting the acceptance of COVID 19 vaccines in West Africa, with a focus on Nigeria. Four (4) hypotheses were posed for this study. Methods: This study employed a descriptive method design. The sample size was comprised of 32,224 respondents, all Nigeria citizens. A multistage sampling technique was employed for the survey involving quantitative data. A questionnaire was used as the instrument for data collection. The data collected for this study were analysed using both descriptive and inferential statistics (t-test and ANOVA). Results: The findings of this study revealed that there is a significant difference in COVID-19 vaccine acceptance based on age F (9, 32214) = 812.114, P<0.05, ƞ2=0.1849; based on gender differences t = (32222) = -21.808, P<0.05; based on religion t = (32222) = --75.228, P<0.05; and based on income F (4, 32219) = 740.394, P<0.05, ƞ2=0.084. Conclusion: The findings of this study show that there is a significant relationship between age, gender, religion, income and the acceptance of COVID-19 vaccines in Nigeria. The findings further show that men are more vaccine-hesitant than women; older people find it easier to accept vaccination; Christians are more likely to accept COVID-19 vaccines than people from other religions. It is therefore recommended that religious leaders should be well educated on the health benefit of the COVID-19 vaccination and that the government should put more effort into improving the economy of the country so that the individual income can improve.Pozadina: Cilj ove studije bio je ispitati čimbenike koji predviđaju prihvaćanje cjepiva protiv bolesti COVID-19 u zapadnoj Africi, s naglaskom na Nigeriju. Postavljene su četiri hipoteze. Metode: U ovoj studiji primijenjen je dizajn deskriptivne metode. Uzorak se sastojao od 32 224 ispitanika, od kojih su svi građani Nigerije. Za istraživanje je primijenjena tehnika višefaznog uzorkovanja koja uključuje kvantitativne podatke. Kao instrument za prikupljanje podataka primijenjen je upitnik. Podaci prikupljeni za ovu studiju analizirani su primjenom deskriptivne i inferencijalne statistike (t-test i ANOVA). Rezultati: Nalazi ove studije otkrili su da postoji značajna razlika u prihvaćanju cjepiva protiv bolesti COVID-19 na temelju dobi: F (9, 32 214) = 812 114, P < 0,05, ƞ2 = 0,1849; na temelju spolnih razlika: t = (32 222) = –21 808, P < 0,05; na temelju religije: t = (32 222) = –75 228, P<0,05; te na temelju prihoda: F (4, 32 219) = 740 394, P < 0,05, ƞ2 = 0,084. Zaključak: Nalazi ove studije pokazuju da postoji značajan odnos između dobi, spola, vjere, prihoda i prihvaćanja cjepiva protiv bolesti COVID-19 u Nigeriji. Nalazi dalje pokazuju da muškarci više oklijevaju u pogledu cjepiva od žena; starije osobe lakše prihvaćaju cijepljenje; vjerojatnije je da će kršćani prihvatiti cjepiva protiv bolesti COVID-19 nego ljudi drugih vjeroispovijesti. Stoga se preporučuje da vjerski vođe budu dobro obrazovani o zdravstvenim prednostima cijepljenja protiv bolesti COVID-19 te da vlada uloži više napora u poboljšanje gospodarstva zemlje kako bi se mogli poboljšati individualni prihodi

Anthropometrically determined nutritional status of urban primary schoolchildren in Makurdi, Nigeria

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>No information exists on the nutritional status of primary school children residing in Makurdi, Nigeria. It is envisaged that the data could serve as baseline data for future studies, as well as inform public health policy. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of malnutrition among urban school children in Makurdi, Nigeria.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Height and weight of 2015 (979 boys and 1036 girls), aged 9-12 years, attending public primary school in Makurdi were measured and the body mass index (BMI) calculated. Anthropometric indices of weight-for-age (WA) and height-for-age (HA) were used to estimate the children's nutritional status. The BMI thinness classification was also calculated.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Underweight (WAZ < -2) and stunting (HAZ < -2) occurred in 43.4% and 52.7%, respectively. WAZ and HAZ mean scores of the children were -0.91(SD = 0.43) and -0.83 (SD = 0.54), respectively. Boys were more underweight (48.8%) than girls (38.5%), and the difference was statistically significant (p = 0.024; p < 0.05). Conversely, girls tend to be more stunted (56.8%) compared to boys (48.4%) (p = 0.004; p < 0.05). Normal WAZ and HAZ occurred in 54.6% and 44.2% of the children, respectively. Using the 2007 World Health Organisation BMI thinness classification, majority of the children exhibited Grade 1 thinness (77.3%), which was predominant at all ages (9-12 years) in both boys and girls. Gender wise, 79.8% boys and 75.0% girls fall within the Grade I thinness category. Based on the WHO classification, severe malnutrition occurred in 31.3% of the children.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>There is severe malnutrition among the school children living in Makurdi. Most of the children are underweight, stunted and thinned. As such, providing community education on environmental sanitation and personal hygienic practices, proper child rearing, breast-feeding and weaning practices would possibly reverse the trends.</p

Assessment of PAH contaminated land:implementing a risk-based approach

Abstract Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are amongst the most common ubiquitous anthropogenic pollutants of terrestrial ecosystems. There are currently multiple sources of PAHs in Nigeria and land use activities have been shown to alter the composition of PAHs and in some cases increase the fractions of carcinogenic and recalcitrant components. This report considers the implementation of a more specific risk based corrective action to abate threats caused by carcinogenic PAHs in eroded and degraded soils for prospective risk assessment and realistic decision-making. Bioremediation is promoted for degradation of PAHs in soils, but faces several limitations that question the effectiveness of the approach. This review provides insights into bioaccessibility and chemical activity assessment of PAHs as a procedure of risk assessment and the potential use of specially produced biochar designed for specific risk mitigation remedial action was also considered

All hands on deck: levels of dependence between the EU and other international organizations in peacebuilding

The EU seeks extensive partnership with other international organizations when it comes to security challenges. This is puzzling as the EU relies for its resources mostly on its member states. The relations between the EU and other international organizations have thoroughly been studied, yet scholars rarely question the actual rationale for partnership. We start from resource dependency theory which explains that almost all organizations are dependent on the resources of their partners. Yet we extend this theory by distinguishing between macro, meso and micro-level dependencies. To illustrate resource dependencies between the EU and other international organizations, we analyse EU’s peacebuilding policies in Kosovo, Mali and Armenia. By accounting for macro- and micro-level dependencies we provide a more holistic perspective than conventional meso-level explanations. Our contribution is therefore to expand the scope of the resource dependency theory and provide a framework to analyse dependencies between the EU and other international organizations