A preliminary study on the keeping quality of locally produced marine and freshwater salted dried fish

Experiments were conducted on the storage life of salted dried fish from both freshwater and marine species. It was found that the storage life of salted dried products from the 2 freshwater species tested (Ompok bimaculatus and Labeo dussumieri) is much longer than that of the 2 marine species (Gonialosa manminna and Chorinemus lysan), i.e., 51 days

Increase of storage shelf life of locally produced salted/dried fish by redrying and/or packeting

Experiments were undertaken to prolong the storage life of salted/dried fish by re-drying and/or packing. The storage life under normal conditions is 51 days; re-drying the fish at 50°C for 12 hours extends the storage life only by 7 days. However, re-drying and packing gizzard shad (Gonialosa manminna ) in polyethylene maintains the fish in excellent conditions for well over 87 days. The use of air tight bags for storing good quality salted dried fish is recommended

Keeping quality of imported dried fish

All imported salted, dried fish samples tested had a salt content below 30% and above 12% and hence met requirements of the proposed standard. Also samples without quality cut tested had a greater salt content than that with quality cut. This indicates that salt contributes to protecting dried fish and hence may be endorsed by sensory evaluation to a certain extent. Samples with quality cut had more moisture than that without quality cut. But all samples with and without quality cut had a moisture content greater than 35% which is the maximum moisture content for such species specified in the standard. Microbiological testing for total counts and Coliform contents too showed that good quality dried fish had counts greater than that specified in the standard. The different species of fish tested had varying lengths of shelf life. But on an average the shelf life of dried fish could be prolonged for about 12 days by re-drying at 45°C for 6 hours, i.e., re-drying at these temperatures without subsequent packing in polythene bags may not be practical for prolonging the storage life of salted/dried fish

Side effect profile of Jadelle implant in Nigerian women during the first 12 months of usage

Background: Most of the reasons for discontinuation of Jadelle implants by clients are related to the progestogenic side effects, which are dependent on the plasma levels of the hormone. The plasma level of levonorgestrel from Jadelle implant is about 100µg in the first month of insertion, but declines sharply in the first 12months of usage to stabilize at 30µg per day from 24 months of usage. This study was designed to assess the side effect profile of Jadelle implant in users during the first 12months of usage in a view to assessing its acceptability to the clients.Methods: Data sheet was designed to obtain demographic and clinical parameters of clients and prevailing side effects were surveyed longitudinally over the first 12months of usage.Results: There was no request for discontinuation of the method and no accidental pregnancy occurred during the period of the study. There was significant disruption of the menstrual pattern of clients over time with 31.1% developing irregular uterine bleeding from 6months of usage, whereas 16.6% of clients became amenorrheic from the 12month of usage. (p= 0.000) Changes in blood pressure and body weight of clients were not significant during the 12month period of the survey. Non menstrual side effects of Jadelle implants, which included headache, breast tenderness, dizziness among clients were noted at 6months of usage but became less prevalent by the 12month of usage.Conclusions: Jadelle implant proved to be highly effective, safe and acceptable to Nigerian clients during the study period, even though the implant had significant impact on their menstrual pattern

Attainment of menstrual hygiene by girls in boarding secondary schools in a state in Sub-Saharan Africa

Background: Menarche is the most dramatic manifestation of puberty in girls; unlike the biometric developmental changes that occur at puberty, menarche requires the personal adjustment and response of an affected girl in order to attain good menstrual hygiene. This study was designed to evaluate how boarding secondary school girls manage their menstruation in school, away from the guidance of their parents.Methods: A cross sectional survey was performed in four public boarding secondary schools in the study area with the aid of structured questionnaires to evaluate how such girls manage their menstruation while in school.Results: The study population was 975 girls whose survey revealed the mean age at menarche of 12.5±1.4 years.  Seven hundred and two (72.0%) respondents had received sexuality education before onset of menarche. Respondents who attained good menstrual hygiene were 775(79.5%). Such respondents were those who had received sexuality education (p<0.001) and those who had access to synthetic sanitary pad (p=0.005). Duration of the menstrual period and the volume of menstrual blood loss did not affect (p=0.219) the ability of respondents to attain good menstrual hygiene. Respondents who received sexuality education had about 605 chances of attaining good menstrual hygiene than those who did not receive such education.Conclusions: A vast majority of the respondents had received sexuality education before onset of menarche and a larger proportion attained good menstrual hygiene. Major factors that positively influenced the girls’ capacity to attained good menstrual hygiene were prior sexuality education and access to synthetic sanitary pad