Demand Response for Caborhydrate and Food Insecurity Dynamics in Imo State, Nigeria

Demand for cabohydrate food stuffs responds its accesibility and unsteady price regime, thus food insecurity dynamics in Imo State. The study investigated a cheap and steady market demand for carbohydate foodstuffs in the state using 50 weekly observations on mean own prices, quantities demanded of both gari and rice as substitute from the management of Owerri Market Traders Assocition (OMATA) between January to December 2012. Data were analysed using simple decriptive statistics, charts and econometric tools. In general terms gari had a normal demand behaviour between June and August but abnonormal during festival periods. All the Error correction vectors -0.0545, -0.444 and -0.425 for Ekeonunwa, Relief and Ihiagwa demand models respectively were statistically significant ( ). Therefore, the speed of adjustment of lagged prices to long-run actual demand were completed in the next period, hence food insecurity flunctuates. Lagged own price of gari is negative and inelastic in all the models except that of Ihiagwa market (1.277). Gari is thus a normal goods in all the markets but has a more than 0.28% proportionate increase in demand with a unit decrease in its own price in Ihiagwa market. Therefore, food security will be achieved if there is a more effort to reduce the price of gari in Ihiagwa market. Rice is better subtitute to gari in Relief than the rest of the markets, hence increase in supply of rice in Relief market is imperative for food security in the area. The study therefore, recommends a steady reduced price conditions in both Relief and Ihiagwa markets for rice and gari respectively to ensure increased returns and supply for sellers and steady food security in the state. Keywords: Demand, Response, Food Security, Carbohydrate, Markets and Error Correction Vector

High prevalence of hepatitis B virus among female sex workers in Nigeria

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is endemic in Nigeria and constitutes a public health menace. The prevalence of HBV infection in many professional groups has been described in Nigeria. However, literature on HBV infection among female sex workers (FSW) in Nigeria is scanty. FSW in Nigeria are not subjected to a preventive control of HBV infection. This study assesses the extent of spread of HBV among FSW in Nigeria. Seven hundred and twenty (n = 720) FSW (mean age = 26.7 years) were tested for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) by a double antibody sandwich ELISA method. The overall HBV prevalence among the FSW was 17.1%. FSWs between the ages of 31-35 year (20.5%) and those with 'age-at-first-sex' below 10 years of age (28%) were most affected. This high prevalence of a vaccine preventable disease is unacceptable, therefore, vaccination of this high risk HBV reservoir group should be considered worthwhile.A hepatite pelo vírus B (HBV) é infecção endêmica na Nigéria e constitui problema de saúde pública. A prevalência da infecção HBV em muitos grupos profissionais foi descrito na Nigéria. No entanto, a literatura da infecção HBV entre trabalhadoras do sexo feminino (FSW) na Nigéria é escasso. FSW na Nigéria não são submetidas a um controle preventivo de infecção de HBV. Este estudo avalia a extensão da disseminação de HBV entre FSW na Nigéria. Setecentos e vinte (n = 720) FSW (média de idade = 26,7 anos) foram testadas para antígeno de superfície da hepatite B (HBsAg) pelo método ELISA usando sandwich de duplos anticorpos. A prevalência total de HBV entre o FSW foi 17,1%. FSWs entre as idades de 31-35 anos (20,5%) e abaixo de 10 anos de idade (28%) foram mais afetadas. Esta alta prevalência de doença evitável pela vacinação é inaceitável, portanto, vacinação deste grupo de alto risco de HBV deve ser considerada fundamental

Varietal impact on women's labour, workload and related drudgery in processing root, tuber and banana crops. Focus on cassava in sub-Saharan Africa

Open Access ArticleRoots, tubers and cooking bananas are bulky and highly perishable. In Africa, except for yams, their consumption is mainly after transport, peeling and cooking in the form of boiled pieces or dough, a few days after harvest. To stabilize, better preserve the products and, in the case of cassava, release toxic cyanogenic glucosides, a range of intermediate products have been developed, mainly for cassava, related to fermentation and drying after numerous processing operations. This review highlights, for the first time, the impact of genotypes on labour requirements, productivity, and the associated drudgery in processing operations primarily carried out by women processors. Peeling, soaking/grinding/fermentation, dewatering, sieving, and toasting steps were evaluated on a wide range of new hybrids and traditional landraces. The review highlights case studies of gari production from cassava. Results show that, depending on the genotypes used, women's required labour can be more than doubled and even the sum of the weights transported along the process can be up to four times higher for the same quantity of end product. Productivity and loads carried between each processing operation are highly influenced by root shape, ease of peeling, dry matter content and/or fiber content. Productivity and the often related experienced drudgery are key factors to be considered for a better acceptance of new genotypes by actors in the value-addition chain, leading to enhanced adoption, and ultimately to improved livelihoods for women processors

Chemical Methods for Determination of Hydroxylated Metabolites of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons and Polychlorinated Biphenyls in Biological Material

U ovome preglednom radu prikazani su postupci analize hidroksiliranih metabolita policikličkih aromatskih ugljikovodika i poliklorbifenila u ljudima i životinjama. Ti metaboliti služe kao biomarkeri izloženosti ljudi i životinja navedenim zagađivalima, no neki od njih i sami posjeduju toksična svojstva. Analiziraju se najčešće u urinu koji je kao uzorak najdostupniji, ali se isto tako mogu analizirati i u ljudskoj, odnosno životinjskoj jetri, žuči i masnom tkivu. Analiza metabolita aromatskih zagađivala važna je zbog određivanja biodostupnosti aromatskih zagađivala, njihove potencijalne toksičnosti u ljudskom organizmu, ali i zbog toksičnosti samih metabolita. Napredak analitičkih metoda omogućio je simultanu analizu velikog broja metabolita u uzorcima. Nove tehnike ekstrakcije i selektivnije i preciznije kvalitativne i kvantitativne analize omogućuju detekciju vrlo niskih koncentracija metabolita. Pri tome dodatnu prednost imaju jednostavne tehnike koje zahtijevaju manje kemikalija i vremena za analizu.This review presents methods for the analysis of hydroxylated metabolites of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and polychlorinated biphenyls in humans and animals. These metabolites serve as biomarkers of human and animal exposure to the mentioned pollutants, but some metabolites also have toxic properties. Most are analysed in urine, which is the most accessible sample, but they can also be analysed in human and animal liver, bile, and adipose tissue. Their analysis is important for assessing bioavailability of aromatic pollutants and their toxicity in human organism, but also the toxicity of metabolites themselves. Advancements in analytical methods have made it possible to analyse multiple metabolites in a sample at the same time. New extraction techniques and more precise and selective qualitative and quantitative analyses can now detect very low metabolite oncentrations. An extra advantage is that these simple techniques require less chemicals and time

Economics of yam marketing in Umuahia, Abia state, Nigeria

The studies aimed at estimating gross margin and marketing efficiency as well as isolate the factors that determine marketing margin of yam in Abia State. Data for the study were obtained from the response of 64 yam traders using a structured questionnaire and multi stage sampling technique. Data were analyzed using simple descriptive statistics, gross margin and ordinary least square multiple regression estimate. There was a long marketing link of greater than 3 channels with mean marketing margin of 50% in the distribution of yam in the State. The Cobb Douglas model performed best, with cost of changing form, place and adding time utilities accounting for about 76.8% variations in marketing margin. While the cost of place utility increased with the marketing margin, others reduced it, thus, posing a contrast with a priori economic expectation. The profit dominated total cost and returns by 20.3 and 25.5% respectively. A marketing efficiency of 1.25 was estimated, indicating that an increase in the cost of performing marketing service (that is added time, form and place utility) by 100 percent will give a more than proportionate increase of 25 percent in the level of satisfaction derived from a kilogram of yam sold in the market. It is important to address the transportation problem in the state to facilitate the movement of the product and force down the marketing margin. Duplication of roles in the marketing link should be discouraged but more participants can avail themselves the better opportunities available in the system to increase consumer satisfaction and food accessibility. Keywords:Yam marketing, marketing margin, efficiency and gross margin IJOTAFS Vol. 1 (1) 2007: pp. 51-5

Sustainable pig production under alternative feed sources and management in Owerrie Zone, Nigeria

No Abstract. Animal Production Research Avancees Vol. 3 (3) 2007: pp. 245-24

Economies of scale of cassava-maize intercropping mixtures in Mbaitoli Local Government Area of Imo state

No Abstract. IJOTAFS Vol. 1 (2) 2007: pp. 174-17

High prevalence of hepatitis B virus among female sex workers in Nigeria Alta prevalência de hepatite pelo vírus B entre trabalhadoras do sexo feminino na Nigéria

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is endemic in Nigeria and constitutes a public health menace. The prevalence of HBV infection in many professional groups has been described in Nigeria. However, literature on HBV infection among female sex workers (FSW) in Nigeria is scanty. FSW in Nigeria are not subjected to a preventive control of HBV infection. This study assesses the extent of spread of HBV among FSW in Nigeria. Seven hundred and twenty (n = 720) FSW (mean age = 26.7 years) were tested for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) by a double antibody sandwich ELISA method. The overall HBV prevalence among the FSW was 17.1%. FSWs between the ages of 31-35 year (20.5%) and those with 'age-at-first-sex' below 10 years of age (28%) were most affected. This high prevalence of a vaccine preventable disease is unacceptable, therefore, vaccination of this high risk HBV reservoir group should be considered worthwhile.<br>A hepatite pelo vírus B (HBV) é infecção endêmica na Nigéria e constitui problema de saúde pública. A prevalência da infecção HBV em muitos grupos profissionais foi descrito na Nigéria. No entanto, a literatura da infecção HBV entre trabalhadoras do sexo feminino (FSW) na Nigéria é escasso. FSW na Nigéria não são submetidas a um controle preventivo de infecção de HBV. Este estudo avalia a extensão da disseminação de HBV entre FSW na Nigéria. Setecentos e vinte (n = 720) FSW (média de idade = 26,7 anos) foram testadas para antígeno de superfície da hepatite B (HBsAg) pelo método ELISA usando sandwich de duplos anticorpos. A prevalência total de HBV entre o FSW foi 17,1%. FSWs entre as idades de 31-35 anos (20,5%) e abaixo de 10 anos de idade (28%) foram mais afetadas. Esta alta prevalência de doença evitável pela vacinação é inaceitável, portanto, vacinação deste grupo de alto risco de HBV deve ser considerada fundamental