Innovative and Interventions Towards a Better Ageing Management

This paper discusses interventional innovation toward a better ageing management. It is a position paper in which phases of ageing was looked into; its characteristics and innovative measures for the management of ageing from various researchers point of view were properly reviewed. All such, observation was drawn from various research paper that with an increasing aged population, cognitive disorders became a major health and social issue. It was concluded that, although cognitive decline is a normal part of ageing, there are interventional innovative measures that could be employed towards a better ageing management. It was recommended that, ageing people should participate in physical exercise, regular medical checkups; government should formulate policies favourable for the ageing people and health education for the ageing people is important. Keywords: interventional innovations, ageing management, cognitive disorder

Corrosion of Aluminum Alloy Metal Matrix Composites in Neutral Chloride Solutions

The electrochemical behavior of UNS A0332.00S, UNS A0332.20S, UNS A0359.00S, and UNS A0359.20S aluminum alloys were studied in NaCl media through weight loss, potentiodynamic, and cyclic polarization techniques. UNS A0332.20S and UNS A0359.20S were reinforced with SiC, 20% by volume while the other two samples were not reinforced. Scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive spectroscopy were used to analyze the role of intermetallic phases in both the corroded and non-corroded aluminum alloy samples. Results showed that unreinforced alloys have lower corrosion rates compared to the reinforced alloys. Pits on the reinforced alloys were significantly more numerous, shallower, and widespread than on the monolithic alloys. Al/ SiC interface particles and intermetallic phases were observed to form at the mouth of the pits especially in alloys reinforced with SiC particles which might have contributed significantly to the weakening of regions where localized corrosion occurs. The result shows that intermetallic phases may directly influence the corrosion behavior of the aluminum alloy

FACTORS RESPONSIBLE FOR WOMEN’S PREFERENCE FOR TRADITIONAL MATERNAL HEALTH CARE SERVICES IN AKOK NORTH AREA OF ONDO STATE, NIGERIA

This study compared the population of women that prefer traditional maternal health care services in Akoko North area of Ondo State and identified factors responsible preference for traditional maternal health care services. This was with a view to providing information on reasons responsible for women’ preference for traditional maternal health care services. The study used descriptive survey research design. The population for the study comprised women of child bearing age who had a life birth in the last five years in Akoko North–East (ANE) and North-West (ANW) LGAs of Ondo State. The sample comprised a total of 200 women. Each of the two LGAs was first stratified according to wards. In Akoko North-East and North-West, there are 13 and 11 wards respectively. From each of the LGAs, five wards were selected totaling 10 wards using simple random sampling technique. From each ward, 20 respondents were selected using snowballing sampling technique. A self-developed questionnaire was used to collect information on the population of women preferring TMHCS and reasons underlying their preferences. Data collected were analysed using percentage and chi-square analysis. The results indicated that 59% of the 200 women used in Akoko North–East preferred traditional maternal health care services while 69.0% of the women in Akoko North–West preferred it. Results also showed that spiritual reasons (59%), cultural belief (57.8%), cheaper services (57%) and provision of more compassionate care (53.9%) were reasons for women preference for traditional maternal health services in the study areas. The study concluded that spiritual reasons, cultural belief, compassionate care, low economic status, low education status are factors responsible for women’ preference for traditional maternal health services in Akoko North–East and North–West Areas of Ondo State.  Article visualizations

Rate of isolation of streptococcus species from children with bacterial infections: an indication for introduction of streptococcal vaccines

Background: Streptococcus species are among the commonest bacterial causes of childhood morbidity in developing countries. Streptococcal diseases in children have not been as well characterized in Nigeria as it has been in industrialized countries. The rudimentary nature of public health surveillance makes the true epidemiology of the disease difficult to ascertain. The predominance of Streptococcus pneumoniae in the causation of invasive diseases has led to the advocacy of inclusion of pneumococcal vaccine in the National Programme on Immunization. However, local data critical to inform on vaccine deployment are scarce, thus the need for the present study. Objective: To study the rate of isolation of Streptococcus species from children aged zero to 15 years, with suspected bacterial infections. Materials and Methods: Laboratory records of results of bacteriological studies of samples from children with suspected bacterial infections in University of Abuja Teaching Hospital from January 2008 through December, 2010 were retrieved and analyzed for bacterial growth. Data analysis Version 3.5.1. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. Results: A total of 2,247 samples were received during the study period. Of the 1,242 bacteria isolated, 502 (40.4%) were Staphylococcus aureus, 232 (18.7%) were Escherichia coli and 146 (11.8%) were Streptococcus species: 78 were isolated from blood, 9 from sputum, 11 from throat swabs and 28 from other sites while urine and eye swabs had 10 each. One hundred and six (72.6%) of the streptococci were from children aged 5 years and below. Most of the Streptococci (88.1%) were untyped. Among the 17 Streptococcal isolates typed, 10 were Streptococcus pneumoniae and three were group B Streptococcus. Conclusion: Streptococcal infections remain an important cause of severe disease in children in Nigeria. The use of effective, safe and affordable vaccine could significantly reduce morbidity from these infections, thus suggesting the need for more studies to conclude on streptococcal vaccine deployment.Key words: Streptococcal infections, Nigeria, Streptococcal vaccine

Health-Related Factors Influencing School Drop-Out Rate in Akoko North-East Local Government Arear of Ondo State.

This study investigated the health-related factors influencing school drop-out rate in Akoko North-East LGA of Ondo State. Two null hypothesis on the rate at which adolescents drop out of school for health-related reasons is not significantly higher than the rate at which they drop out for non-health related reasons. (e.g Poverty, school performance) and health-related factors responsible(Substance use/abuse, teenage pregnancy/motherhood ,Exposure to sexual harassment and communicable and non communicable disease) are not a significant factor in adolescents dropping out of school were formulated to guide the study. This study adopted the descriptive survey research design. The population of the study consist of all out-of school adolescents in Akoko North-East Local Government Area, Ondo State.The sample for this study comprised of 200 out-of-school adolescents selected from Akoko North-East LGA of Ondo State. The LGA has 13 wards, from which ten were selected using simple random sampling technique. From each ward, the snowballing technique was used to select respondents. At the initial stage of snowballing sampling, the researcher established contacts with five drop-outs from each of the ten wards through friends and relatives residing in them. Each of the respondents was implored to provide information needed to locate other adolescent(s) who were also drop-outs. The follow-up yielded other sets of drop-outs who also recommended others in their category, until 200 respondents were got.  The instrument used to collect data for this study was a self-designed questionnaire. The questionnaire developed was validated by experts in the Department of Physical and Health Education who made reconstructions where necessary in order for it to measure what it was supposed to. The corrected questionnaire was used for the study. The questionnaire was administered twice to the same set of 20 school dropout adolescents who were not part of the sample for the study. There was a two week interval between the two tests. The data obtained from both tests were correlated using the Pearson Product Moment Correlation Co-efficient (PPMCC) to establish the strength of the relationship between the two sets of scores. The result showed that r = 0.82 which was considered reliable enough to make the questionnaire reliable. Two hundred copies of the questionnaire for this study were administered by the researcher and two of his friends who acted as research assistants and who were well taught on what to do. Respondents were contacted individually at their homes, shops motor parks and hawking locations. Administration of the questionnaire was done on the spot to ensure high rate of retrieval and completed questionnaire were collected on the spot. The data collected for this study were analysed using  percentage  and  chi-square. The result revealed that Out of 200 respondents, 156 (78%) respondents dropped out of school for health-related issues, while only 44 (22%) dropped for other reasons like financial problem, while Substance use and abuse (x2=36); Teenage pregnancy/motherhood/fatherhood (x2=36.28), Sexual harassment (13.82) and communicable diseases (x2= 32.73) are significant health-related factors influencing school dropout rate among adolescents. Consequent upon the findings, it was recommended among others, that School authorities should enact strict laws regarding sexual coercion and such laws should be strictly enforced and Schools should regularly mount counseling programmes on human sexuality to help adolescent avoid untimely sex and unwanted pregnancies and unexpected motherhood/fatherhood that can lead to dropping out of school. Key words: Education, Adolescent, School dropout and Health related issues. DOI: 10.7176/JHMN/63-11 Publication date:June 30th 201

Accounts, excuses and apologies of juvenile sexual offenders in selected prisons in Lagos, Nigeria

Indeed, appreciable number of researches has been conducted to facilitate relevant insights about the aetiology of child sexual offending in Nigeria; however, the understanding of the origins and causes of sexually abusive behaviour perpetrated against minors in the country remains rudimentary. This present study examined the psychosocial and psychosexual histories of offenders and presented the accounts, excuses and apologies of child sexual offenders. Drawing on the Integrated Theory of Sexual Offending (ITSO), explanations of adults’ sexual attraction towards the underage, mode of operation and events leading to sexual abuse of the children were investigated. Qualitative analysis of official demographic and offence history data, and in-depth interviews of 29 purposively selected offenders in Ikoyi, Kirikiri Medium and Kirikiri Maximum Prisons, Lagos revealed that a combination of developmental experiences, biological processes, cultural norms, emotional arrest, psychological vulnerability, and sociological inadequacies are responsible for onset of abusive behaviour towards children. The excuses of the offenders for their abusive behaviour hinged on unfulfilled sexual needs, drug influence, ignorance of the law, impulse disorder, alcohol, senility, the urge to feel in control and powerful or the identification with young children as a result of arrested emotional development. The study concludes that the factors that accounts for child sexual abuse in Nigeria are multidimensional, hence, singular factorial theories may fail to effectively expose the aetiology of sexual abuse of the underage in the country. There is need for concerted efforts to be directed towards addressing the problem of objectification and sexual violence against children in the country.Keywords: Accounts, Apologies, Excuses, Child Sexual Abuse, Juvenile Sex Offender

Semi-Parametric Non-Proportional Hazard Model With Time Varying Covariate

The application of survival analysis has extended the importance of statistical methods for time to event data that incorporate time dependent covariates. The Cox proportional hazards model is one such method that is widely used. An extension of the Cox model with time-dependent covariates was adopted when proportionality assumption are violated. The purpose of this study is to validate the model assumption when hazard rate varies with time. This approach is applied to model data on duration of infertility subject to time varying covariate. Validity is assessed by a set of simulation experiments and results indicate that a non proportional hazard model performs well in the phase of violated assumptions of the Cox proportional hazards

AN AUTOREGRESSIVE ANALYSIS OF THE DETERMINANTS OF PRIVATE SAVINGS IN NIGERIA

Purpose. Despite the increasing trend of private savings in Nigeria, the country is still characterised by low investment and output growth, thus, suggesting that the average saving rate is still far from being impressive. This study investigates the determinants of private savings in Nigeria. Methodology. Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) Model using annual time series data from 1981 to 2016 within the theoretical framework derived from the life-cycle hypothesis is employed in this study. The key variables under investigation are private savings, income, dependency ratio, real interest rate, social security payment, financial development and macroeconomic stability. The data used for analysis are sourced from Central Bank of Nigeria Statistical Bulletin (2016) and World Development Indicator (2016). Findings. The results show that lifetime income and social security payment have significant positive relationship with private saving in the long-run, while adult dependency has significant negative relationship. In the short-run, adult dependency and social security payment have significant positive relationship with private savings. In addition, the result shows that 62% of deviation from the long-run equilibrium level of private savings is annually corrected for by the model estimated. Originality. This research investigates both the long-run and short-run effects of the various determinants of private savings in Nigeria. Thus, the study can serve as eye opener to the important variables that can improve the level of private savings in Nigeria

A RISK ADJUSTED CAPITATION REGIME FOR COMMUNITY BASED SOCIAL HEALTH INSURANCE PROGRAMME

The general poor state of Nigeria’s healthcare services informed the need for the establishment of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS). Health care providers reimbursing systems under the scheme include among others reimbursement method, capitation and fee-for-service with capitation specifically being used under Community Based Social Health Insurance Programme (CBSHIP). This study applies a risk adjustment model on managed care organizations with the goal of attaining a fair and adequate reimbursement. The risk-based reimbursements reflect cost differences attributable to the enrolees. Using enrolees data of 23,375 individuals, results show that a sum of N528, 546.52 ($1,679.26) will be saved by the scheme and cream-skimming of members by health status and plans due to morbidity risk will be neutralized