Investment in the training of technologists for commercial aquaculture

The protein shortage in Nigeria is noted and the role of aquaculture (=fish farming) as a complement in increasing the dwindling food supply is registered. In addition, the manpower shortage especially in the technology cadre is noted and attributed to the lack of co-ordination and standard curricula especially in aquaculture. An inventory of tasks performed in the aquaculture industry was taken and these were classified and validated, then their final priority level was used to assess which ones were critical, important or desirable and which ones would result in disaster or not with inadequate mastery. Based on the above, recommendations are made that all critical and important tasks be included in the teaching curriculum for aquaculture in both theory and practicals: while it is advocated that all tasks listed be undertaken in fish farm operations. This will raise the competence of technologists to run the commercial aquaculture project

Effect of Organic Fertilizers on Zooplankton Production

Comparative study of zooplankton production, using poultry droppings, pig dung and cow dung was carried out for five weeks using seven glass aquaria (60×30×36) cm³. The aquaria were thoroughly washed, filled with 20litres of bore-hole water, fertilized with the respective organic manures after 4 days fermentation and inoculated with zooplankton samples collected from an earthen fish pond. The highest mean zooplankton population was recorded in the aquarium tanks fertilized with poultry droppings (3989cells/L), followed by pig dung (2783cells/L) cow dung (2030cells/L) and lastly the control aquarium (1140cells/L). Poultry droppings culture had the highest population peak in the second week (8175), pig and cow dung in the third week (5650,4225) and the control in the fourth week (2350). Poultry droppings is therefore recommended for quick and high production of zooplankton which invariably reduces the high cost of imported expensive pelleted feed for fish fry.KEY WORDS: Organic fertilizers, Zooplankton, Production

Effects of Three Smoking Kilns on the Sensory Quality of Smoked Dried Tilapia Fish (Oreochromis Niloticus)

The sensory characteristics (colour, texture and taste) of Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) smoked with three types of smoking kilns, used by artisanal fishermen in Nigeria were evaluated. Results showed that the best colour, texture and taste were produced from the modified drum kiln, followed by the traditional mud kiln, while the tripod stand production colour, texture and taste that were not acceptable by a panelist. The mean scores were as follows: 7.68, 6.72, and 1.64 for colour; 7.96, 6.48 and 2.88, for texture; 7.28, 6..24 and 1.48 for taste. It is therefore recommended that the modified drum and traditional mud kilns could be used for fish smoking to meet consumers acceptability.KEY WORDS: Sensory Quality, Smoked Tilapia, Kil

Quality of care, loss to follow-up and mortality among paediatric and adolescent HIV patients on antiretroviral therapy in Abuja, Nigeria: a 15-year retrospective review

Background: Loss to follow up, and mortality still remains very high among HIV positive children and adolescents in many under privileged settings, in spite of massive scale up of anti-retroviral treatment. We assessed the quality of care using 7-point indicators, loss to follow up, and mortality among HIV positive children and adolescents in our health institution.Method: A 15-year (2006 to 2020) retrospective review was conducted among HIV positive children who assessed care in paediatric out-patient special treatment clinic of our tertiary health institution in Nigeria for above objective.Results: Of the 563 subjects initiated on antiretroviral therapy, 349 (62.0%) still remained on treatment. There were 285 (50.6%) males, highest enrollment 280 (49.7%) was at 2006-2010, most 192 (34.1%) were 0-24 months of age, 244 (43.3%) were under-weight, and 176 (31.3%) had severe immune suppression at enrollment. Sixty-eight (12.1%) were lost to follow-up, mortality was 14 (2.5%), 103 (18.3.1%), and 25 (4.4%) were transferred to adult clinic, and to other centers. While over 85% had a high-quality indicator score of 458 (81.4%), with significant difference between the male and female (x2=8.56, p=0.003,), only 231 (66.2%) had adequate viral suppression of 0.001 with multivariate analysis.Conclusions: Though the study recorded high quality score services to HIV positive children and adolescents in our center, loss to follow-up, and mortality was however high. More is needed to be done to improve the viral load suppression among our clients

Poster:Discovering requirements of behaviour change software systems from negative user experience

Behavior Change Software systems (BCSSs) have shown promising outcomes in terms of promoting healthy behaviors. However, a negative User Experience (UX) can be induced by BCSS if designers do not have clear understanding of the requirements that factually help in changing the user behavior that achieves a sustainability goal. In order to get insights into how to discover such sustainability requirements, we propose a discovery approach, whose emphasis is placed on negative UX assessed through attitudes and behaviors expressed by users due to the lack of fulfillment of actual user needs. The approach is tested on existing software systems designed for preventing or reducing Repetitive Strain Injury as a particular category of BCSS. Twelve requirements that contribute to social sustainability were discovered

Motivational strategies and approaches for single and multi-player exergames: A social perspective

Background: Exergames have attracted the interest of academics, practitioners, and designers, in domains as diverse as health, human-computer interaction, psychology, and information technology. This is primarily because exergames can make the exercise experience more enjoyable and entertaining, and in turn, can increase exercise levels. Despite the many benefits of exergames, they suffer from retention problems. Thus, the objective of this article was to review theories and game elements that have been empirically examined or employed in an attempt to make exergames more motivating so people engage in sustained physical activity (duration of physical activity) in a repeating pattern over time (frequency of physical activity). Methodology: A literature search and narrative review were conducted. Results: Five major theories and elements were prevalent in the exergaming literature: (1) self-determination theory, (2) gamification, (3) competition and cooperation, (4) situational interest, and (5) social interaction. These theories and elements are important for encouraging long-term play and show promise for designing exergames to promote sustained engagement and motivate physical activity. We discuss their strengths and weaknesses throughout the paper. Conclusions: The long-term effectiveness of exergame interventions is unclear mainly because of the limited amount of long-term studies. Better metrics are also needed to evaluate this effectiveness. We also identified particular attention to social factors and group dynamics, such as multi-player exergames and more effective player matchmaking strategies for increasing social connectedness, as a key area of future research

Actual persuasiveness : Impact of personality, age and gender on message type susceptibility

The authors would like to acknowledge and thank all the volunteers who participated in the experiment and provided helpful comments. The first author is funded by an EPSRC doctoral training grant.Postprin

Community-based participatory research and system dynamics modeling for improving retention in hypertension care

IMPORTANCE: The high prevalence of hypertension calls for broad, multisector responses that foster prevention and care services, with the goal of leveraging high-quality treatment as a means of reducing hypertension incidence. Health care system improvements require stakeholder input from across the care continuum to identify gaps and inform interventions that improve hypertension care service, delivery, and retention; system dynamics modeling offers a participatory research approach through which stakeholders learn about system complexity and ways to model sustainable system-level improvements. OBJECTIVE: To assess the association of simulated interventions with hypertension care retention rates in the Nigerian primary health care system using system dynamics modeling. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This decision analytical model used a participatory research approach involving stakeholder workshops conducted in July and October 2022 to gather insights and inform the development of a system dynamics model designed to simulate the association of various interventions with retention in hypertension care. The study focused on the primary health care system in Nigeria, engaging stakeholders from various sectors involved in hypertension care, including patients, community health extension workers, nurses, pharmacists, researchers, administrators, policymakers, and physicians. EXPOSURE: Simulated intervention packages. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Retention rate in hypertension care at 12, 24, and 36 months, modeled to estimate the effectiveness of the interventions. RESULTS: A total of 16 stakeholders participated in the workshops (mean [SD] age, 46.5 [8.6] years; 9 [56.3%] male). Training of health care workers was estimated to be the most effective single implementation strategy for improving retention in hypertension care in Nigeria, with estimated retention rates of 29.7% (95% CI, 27.8%-31.2%) at 12 months and 27.1% (95% CI, 26.0%-28.3%) at 24 months. Integrated intervention packages were associated with the greatest improvements in hypertension care retention overall, with modeled retention rates of 72.4% (95% CI, 68.4%-76.4%), 68.1% (95% CI, 64.5%-71.7%), and 67.1% (95% CI, 64.5%-71.1%) at 12, 24, and 36 months, respectively. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: This decision analytical model study showed that community-based participatory research could be used to estimate the potential effectiveness of interventions for improving retention in hypertension care. Integrated intervention packages may be the most promising strategies

Reshaping maternal services in Nigeria: any need for spiritual care?

BACKGROUND:High maternal and perinatal mortalities occur from deliveries conducted in prayer houses in Nigeria. Although some regulatory efforts have been deployed to tackle this problem, less attention has been placed on the possible motivation for seeking prayer house intervention which could be hinged on the spiritual belief of patients about pregnancy and childbirth. This study therefore seeks to determine the perception of booked antenatal patients on spiritual care during pregnancy and their desire for such within hospital setting.METHOD:A total of 397 antenatal attendees from two tertiary health institutions in southwest Nigeria were sampled. A pretested questionnaire was used to obtain information on socio-demographic features of respondents, perception of spiritual care during pregnancy and childbirth; and how they desire that their spiritual needs are addressed. Responses were subsequently collated and analyzed.RESULTS:Most of the women, 301 (75.8%), believe there is a need for spiritual help during pregnancy and childbirth. About half (48.5%) were currently seeking for help in prayer/mission houses while another 8.6% still intended to. Overwhelmingly, 281 (70.8%) felt it was needful for health professionals to consider their spiritual needs. Most respondents, 257 (64.7%), desired that their clergy is allowed to pray with them while in labour and sees such collaboration as incentive that will improve hospital patronage. There was association between high family income and desire for collaboration of healthcare providers with one's clergy (OR 1.82; CI 1.03-3.21; p?=?0.04).CONCLUSION:Our women desire spiritual care during pregnancy and childbirth. Its incorporation into maternal health services will improve hospital delivery rates