Knowledge, Practice and Willingness to Participate in Community Health Insurance Scheme among Households in Nigerian Capital City

Background: Health insurance is a social security system that guarantees the provision of needed health services to persons on the payment of token contributions at regular intervals. The objective of the survey was to determine knowledge, practice and willingness of households in Nigerian Capital City to pay and participate in Community Health Insurance Scheme.Materials and Methods: This descriptive and analytical cross-sectional study was carried out using the multistage cluster sampling technique to obtain data from 300 selected household heads or main financial decision makers. The data was analyzed using EPI-INFO software package. Statistical significance of p < 0.05 and confidence limit of 95% was used.Results: The major findings showed that the level of awareness (13%) concerning Community Health Insurance (CHI) was found to be very low among the respondents. The general principles of CHI were also poorly understood by the respondents. Attitude to the programme was positive as many showed interest in participating and enrolling themselves (97.0%), some family members (96.3%) and entire family members (90.3%).  Borrowing money to settle medical bills in this study has occurred in 30% of instances. Majority of respondents were willing to pay premiums ranging from N450 (96.6%) to N1200 (72.5%) for simple packages that do not include surgery and hospitalization.Conclusions: The community members were willing to participate and enrol if the programme is brought to them. There is a need to adequately subsidize the premiums that respondents were willing to pay in order to meet up with the cost of treatment.Key Words: Willingness, Participate, Community Health Insurance

Potential Natural Egg Colourant in Laying Chickens

A six-week study involving two hundred and fifty (250) Harco Black layer birds at point of lay was carried out to investigate the effects of potential natural colorant on performance and egg quality traits. The birds were assigned to five (5) dietary treatments, each containing supplements either of control, Baobab Leaf (BL), Waterleaf (WL), Red Pepper (RP), Canthaxanthin (CTX) at 40 g/kg feed and 50mg/kg feed of natural and commercial colorants, respectively. Performance records shows no significant (p>0.05) difference in feed intake across supplements of Red pepper, Water leaf, Canthaxanthin and control diet, however Baobab leaf treatment had a significantly lower (p < 0.05) intake value (94.07 g) when compared with other treatments. Body weight gain and Hen Day Production was not significant influenced (p>0.05) by the dietary treatments, though Baobab leaf supplement had lowest mean HDP of 48.80%, Red pepper and Water leaf supplement averaging 52.79%. There was no significant effect (p > 0.05) of colorants on egg external traits, compared with the control; Canthaxanthin treatment had higher mean egg weight (51.79g), egg length (4.55g), egg breadth (3.29 g); Red pepper treatment had highest mean shell thickness (0.29g), however these differences were not significant (p>0.05). Yolk height, Albumen height, Yolk index, and Haugh unit were not significantly affected (p > 0.05) across treatments. Yolk width was lowest (p < 0.05) in Baobab leaf treatment (2.54cm); Red pepper, Water leaf and Canthaxanthin (2.89, 2.62 and 2.89 cm respectively) were not significantly (p > 0.05) different from the control (2.73cm). Yolk colour score was significantly highest (p < 0.05) in Red pepper treatment (7.50); Water leaf, Baobab leaf and Canthaxanthin ranged between 2.25- 3.31 on the DSM yolk colour fan, Control treatment had the lowest yolk colour score (p < 0.05) of 1.31. The study showed Red pepper as a worthy alternative to commercial yolk colorant. Water leaf and baobab are not good substitutes for canthaxanthin as a yolk colourant.Key words: Egg colourant, Chickens, Livestock

GROWTH AND YIELD RESPONSES OF OPEN POLLINATED MAIZE (Zea mays) TO TYPES AND RATES OF ORGANIC FERTILISERS IN RAINFOREST TRANSITORY AGROECOLOGY OF NIGERIA

Sustainable maize (Zea mays) production in resource challenged regions of the world is achievable among others through optimal utilisation of organic fertilisers at varying rates. Field trials were conducted in Abeokuta (Latitude 7010' N and Longitude 3015' E) in the late cropping season of 2010 and 2011. Three commercially available organic fertilisers [(Gateway 1 (GF1), Gateway 2 (GF2) and Sunshine (SF)], at three rates (0, 10 and 20 t ha-1) and three replicates were used on improved open-pollinated maize variety (Swam 1 yellow). The experiment was laid out in a randomised completely blocked design. GF1 had significantly (P < 0.05) the highest effect on growth parameters (Plant height, stem girth, leaf area and leaf area Index), with SF the least. A significant depression was observed in most growth parameters at increasing application rates of organic fertiliser, a converse pattern was observed on 1000 grain weight (GW), harvest index and cob length. A significantly higher (P < 0.05) vegetative growth, cob weight and grain yield was observed in 2010 than 2011, while 2011 had longer cobs and more 1000 GW than 2010. GF1 was recommended in Rainforest transitory zone of Nigeria at higher application rates though mediated by environmental factors. Keywords: , , ,  &nbsp

Preparation of Yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) Biomass from Sugarcane Bagasse

In this study, the pretreatment by milling, dilute-acid hydrolysis of sugarcane bagasse, and subsequent fermentation of its glucose product was performed to investigate the effects of process conditions on the production of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The hydrolysis was carried out using HCl at three substrate concentrations of 20, 25, and 30% (w/v) of bagasse to distilled water. Hydrolysis parameters (time, acid concentration, and temperature) were varied for each case of substrate concentration in full factorial experiments, and an optimum glucose yield of 1.907 g/L was obtained with the 20% (w/v) substrate concentration, at conditions of 10 min time, 0.5 M acid concentration, and 80°C temperature. Thereafter, fermentation experiment was performed with S. cerevisiae in the product of hydrolysis. An optimum ca. 207 yeast number of colonies (yield: 20, 700, 000 cfu/ml) was achieved in 40 h, and the growth of S. cerevisiae was governed by the kinetic equation, ln Xt = 8.4338 + 0.2943t

Sonographic soft tissue arthritic changes associated with post-stroke hemiplegic knee pain : utility of musculoskeletal ultrasound in a resource-limited setting

Purpose: Post-stroke arthritic changes that may compromise rehabilitation have been described in the upper and lower limbs. We aimed at evaluating the soft tissue arthritic changes associated with pain in hemiplegic knees of stroke patients in our environment. Material and methods: Hemiplegic and non-hemiplegic knees of 48 stroke patients as well as both knees of 26 apparently healthy controls were evaluated with a 7.5-12 MHz linear ultrasound probe. History of knee pain, and sociodemographic, laboratory, and clinical data were recorded for all study participants. Muscle tone and power as well as functional ambulatory category (FAC) were graded for the stroke patients. Data was analysed using SPSS version 20. Results: Pain was reported more often in hemiplegic than non-hemiplegic knees (n = 16 vs. n = 6, p = 0.021). The frequencies of soft tissue arthritic changes found, which included reduced lateral and medial femoral cartilage thickness, suprapatellar effusion, and irregular cartilage-bone margin, were similar between hemiplegic and non-hemiplegic knees (p > 0.05). Suprapatellar effusion and reduced lateral femoral cartilage thickness were more prevalent in the hemiplegic knees compared to the healthy control knees (p < 0.05). Stroke patients with pes anserinus tendinosis had greater risk of hemiplegic knee pain (HKP) when compared to stroke patients without this lesion (OR = 10; 95% CI: 1.7-61). FAC, muscle tone, and power showed no association with HKP. Conclusions: Soft tissue arthritic changes associated with knee pain are comparable between hemiplegic and non-hemiplegic knees of stroke patients. The risk of knee pain in stroke is higher in the presence of pes anserinus tendinosis

RESPONSES OF UPLAND RICE TO TILLAGE, SEEDING METHOD AND SPACING IN THE INLAND VALLEY OF RAINFOREST/SAVANNA TRANSITORY

Two field trials were conducted at Abeokuta and Ibadan with the aim of investigating the performance of upland rice (NERICA® 2) in inland valley Rainforest / Savannah transitory zone of South West Nigeria as influenced by tillage practise, seeding method and spacing. The trials were arranged in split-split plot fitted to randomised completely blocked design, replicated thrice. The main plot was tillage (minimum tillage and conventional); sub-plot was seeding method (dry dibble and transplanting) andthe sub-sub plot was spacing (15 cm × 15 cm, 20 cm × 20 cm and 25 cm × 25 cm). Dry dibble had significantly more number of tillers, leaf area index and dry matter accumulation than transplanted rice at both locations. Most growth parameters, at both locations had a significant increase with increasingplant population density, except dry matter accumulation. At both locations, transplanted rice had a significant longer flowering and maturity duration than dibble method. In Abeokuta, conventional tillage had significantly longer panicle length than minimum tillage. Dry dibble method had significantly more number of panicle/m2 at Abeokuta, while significantly more number of grains/panicle was observed at Ibadan than transplanting. Increasing plant population density significantly depressed some yield components and yield at Ibadan

RESPONSES OF UPLAND RICE TO TILLAGE, SEEDING METHOD AND SPACING IN THE INLAND VALLEY OF RAINFOREST/SAVANNA TRANSITORY ZONE OF NIGERIA

Two field trials were conducted at Abeokuta and Ibadan with the aim of investigating the performance of upland rice (NERICAª¤¢î 2) in inland valley Rainforest / Savannah transitory zone of South West Nige-ria as influenced by tillage practise, seeding method and spacing. The trials were arranged in split-split plot fitted to randomised completely blocked design, replicated thrice. The main plot was tillage (minimum tillage and conventional); sub-plot was seeding method (dry dibble and transplanting) and the sub-sub plot was spacing (15 cm ªª? 15 cm, 20 cm ªª? 20 cm and 25 cm ªª? 25 cm). Dry dibble had significantly more number of tillers, leaf area index and dry matter accumulation than transplanted rice at both locations. Most growth parameters, at both locations had a significant increase with increasing plant population density, except dry matter accumulation. At both locations, transplanted rice had a significant longer flowering and maturity duration than dibble method. In Abeokuta, conventional tillage had significantly longer panicle length than minimum tillage. Dry dibble method had significantly more number of panicle/m2 at Abeokuta, while significantly more number of grains/panicle was observed at Ibadan than transplanting. Increasing plant population density significantly depressed some yield com-ponents and yield at Ibadan

PHYSIOLOGICAL AND YIELD RESPONSE OF SOME UPLAND RICE VARIETIES TO RE-WATERING AFTER IMPOSED SOIL MOISTURE STRESS

A pot experiment was conducted in the Screen house of Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, October, 2011 (late dry season) to study drought recovery ability of 13 upland rice varieties exposed to soil moisture stress (20 days) at three growth stages (vegetative, reproductive and grain filling stage). The experiment was in completely randomized design, with three replicates. Under moisture stress significantly higher growth recovery, more erect canopy and flatter leaf surface were obtained in all the rice varieties at vegetative growth stage than other growth stages with increasing duration of re-watering. Under stress condition NERICA 4 maintained a significantly higher leaf area (27.50 cm2 and 40.18 cm2), plant height (53.45 cm and 67.62 cm) and number of tillers (1.67 and 1.67), but with a depressed number of leaf, slanted leaf posture and curved leaf especially during the later stage of its growth (Reproductive and grain filling stage respectively). It could be concluded that NERICA 4 had higher recovery ability than other rice varieties in drought prone upland ecology

ROOT RESPONSE OF SOME SELECTED RICE VARIETIES TO SOIL MOISTURE STRESS AT DIFFERENT PHENOLOGICAL STAGES

Physiological adjustment in plant root system is a determinant for survival and crop productivity in situation of moisture stress. A screen house experiment was conducted to access response of rice roots to moisture stress. Thirteen  varieties of rice comprising six NERICAs, WAB 56-104, CG 14, ART26-3-1-B, AC 103549, MOROBEREKAN, ART19-25-1-B and a local check (OFADA) were subjected to twenty-day moisture stress once at  each phenological stage. Results indicated that root growth generally showed preference over shoot growth. Moisture stress did not affect root volume (RV), deep root numbers (DRN), root dry weight (RDW) and root depth (RD) of all the rice varieties at reproductive stage. CG14 however recorded 67.6% increase in RD at this stage while NERICA 3, CG14 and OFADA recorded an increase in root depth: shoot length. At vegetative and grain filling stages, RV, DRN, RDW, RD, and RMC were significantly (p&lt; 0.05) increased by moisture stress in most rice varieties. NERICA2, NERICA7, ART26-3-1-B, MOROBEREKAN and WAB56-104 however recorded 54%, 76.5%, 72.7%, 57.1%, and 56.3% significant reduction in DRN respectively at vegetative stage. Correlation analysis showed that plant height, leaf area, and number of tillers depend highly on, RD, RV, RDW and deep root weight. Therefore, attention should be focused on these parameters in selection for moisture stress tolerance in rice

Diversity of indigenous arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in rhizosphere of upland rice (Oryza sativa L.) varieties in Southwest Nigeria

Article Details: Received: 2020-02-05      |      Accepted: 2020-05-07      |      Available online: 2020-06-30https://doi.org/10.15414/afz.2020.23.02.42-48 Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) have the potential to increase crop productivity and play a key role in the functioning and sustainability of most agroecosystems. However, limited information is available on the divervisity of AMF associated with upland rice varieties in Southwest Nigeria. Field survey was conducted to investigate colonization and diversity of AMF in 13 upland rice varieties commonly grown in Southwest Nigeria. Root and soil samples were collected from rice fields in 2012. The results showed natural root colonization of all the rice varieties by AMF with highest root colonization in ITA 157and Ofada. The spore densities retrieved from the different rhizospheres were relatively high, varying from 13 spores in UORW 111 to 174 spores in Ofada with a mean of 67.6 spores per 20 g dry soil. 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