Utilization of western and traditional healthcare services by farm families in Ukwa-East local government area of Abia state, Nigeria

The relationship between farmers’ health and agricultural productivity has been established in literature. The study assessed utilization of Western and Traditional healthcare services by farm- families in Ukwa-East Local Government of Abia State. The population of study comprised all farm-families in the 19 Community that make up the study area. Multistage sampling technique was employed to select 133 male and female farm-family heads who served as the sample for the study. Structured interview schedule was used for data collection. Research data were analyzed with the aid of descriptive statistics (such as mean, ranking and percentages). Among others, it was found that the illnesses/diseases that were prevalent in the study area were related to occupational hazard-induced conditions such as acute headache, waist pains, injuries and inadequate hygiene-related illnesses (such as typhoid fever and malaria) . While very few respondents use Western health care services, majority (80.4%) usually combine Traditional and Western health care services. Most respondent accessed information on Western health care services from families/friends and neighbours whereas information about Traditional health care services reached farm-families through combined efforts of family/friends and neighbours, radio and television programmes and itinerant Traditional medicine hawkers. Respondents were not in doubts about the beneficial effects of utilizing Western over Traditional health care service, their major problems with it were the high costs, time wastage, grossly inadequate primary health care facilities. It was recommended that Government improve Primary Health Care facilities, subsidize cost of drugs and services to farm families while implementing drudgery-reduction intervention programmes that would reduce occupational hazard-induced ill-health or diseases among the farm families. The Agricultural Extension service should be re-positioned with a view to making it more responsive to the pertinent needs of health education, while mounting vigorous awareness campaign against the use of unregulated traditional health care services.Keywords: Traditional healthcare, Western healthcare, farmers, diseas

Socio-Economic Factors Affecting the Marketing of Garri in Port Harcourt City of Rivers State

This study assessed the socio-economic factors affecting the marketing of garri in Port Harcourt city of Rivers State. Specifically it examined the organization of garri marketing in Port Harcourt; the marketing cost and margin and recommended ways of improving the marketing system of garri in the study area. Four major markets (Mile one market, Mile three market, Oil mill market and Creek market) in Port Harcourt city were purposivefully selected for this study out of which 20 respondents were randomly selected from each of the market giving a total of 80 respondents. Interview schedule was used to elicit information from the respondents. Data collected include socio economic characteristic of the traders, purchases and sales transaction, marketing cost and returns and finally problems encountered by the traders. Analysis of the data obtained showed that majority (83%) of the respondents were female, 78% had basic education which help them in keeping proper record and in performing marketing function effectively. Also 87.5% had been in the business for between one to ten years while 75% were retail traders. Furthermore 50% of the garri traders buy their product from outside Port Harcourt while the major means of transportation used by the traders was taxi (40%). Some of market information was mainly from colleagues (61%). The total average marketing cost per ton is N2372.9. The respondents earn fairly high net returns in relation to the marketing function they perform but cannot be said to be excessive. The major problems encountered in the marketing of garri in the study area include transportation problem and lack of capital. It was therefore recommended that micro credit facilities through formal financial institution should be made accessible to the traders so as to help them acquire sufficient capital for the transaction. Also marketers can pool their resources together to find a lasting solution to the problem of transportation by either buying a bus or hiring one to convey them to and fro at cheaper rates and more convenient situation

Relative Difficulties Experienced By Farmers in Obtaining Agricultural Production Inputs in Abia and Akwa Ibom States of Nigeria

The investing was undertaken to determine the relative difficulties encountered by farmers in securing selected production inputs in Abia and Akwa-Ibom States, Nigeria. Two-hundred and eighty farmers selected through multi-stage sampling procedure comprised the sample. Interviewed schedule that employed a 4-point rating scale was administered to elicit information about relative difficulties experienced by farmers in obtaining required quantities, timely supply and cost of production inputs. The results indicate that farmers had the greatest difficulties in obtaining required quantities of fungicides/herbicides, fertilizer, livestock and fishery inputs. The greatest difficulties were experienced with regards to timely supply of fertilizer, fishery, fungicides/herbicides and livestock inputs in that order of decreasing intensity. Farmers cited fishery inputs as the costliest, followed by fertilizer, fungicides/herbicides and livestock inputs. On the other hand, farmers experienced minimum difficulties with adequate supply, timely supply and cost of agro processing, agro foresting and improved seeds. The paper suggests strategies for alleviating the constraints faced by farmers.Keywords: difficulties, farmers, agricultural production inputsJournal of Agriculture and Social Research (JASR) Vol. 11, No. 1, 201

Abo blood group system: in the context of human diseases

The expression of ABO blood group antigens on red cell surface and a variety of human cells, tissues and fluids is well documented. Studies in the recent times have reported association between these blood group antigens and some disorders in man. Cancer, Cardiovascular disease and infection are some of the disorders reported. The interplay has given rise to the assertion that ABO blood group system has extended its clinical significance beyond the natural frontier of transfusion Science. This narrative review aims at summarizing information concerning the role of these blood antigens in the pathogenesis of human disorders such as cardiovascular, cancer and infectious diseases. Methodology: Literature on the role of ABO blood group antigens in human disease was searched from BMCMed, PubMed and text books. The search words were ABO blood group antigens, cardiovascular disease, Von Willebrand factor, cancer, infectious disease, and neuroscience. We reviewed, evaluated and summarized the relationship between these disorders and ABO blood group; and possible pathogenic mechanism involved. Conclusion: It is now known that non – O blood group antigens are linked with the risk for cardiovascular disease, oncological states and infectious disorders. However further studies are needed to elucidated molecular mechanism/s in the interplay between these antigens and human health. This may as well elevate ABO blood typing as a veritable tool for cardiovascular and oncologic disorders risk assessment

Alterations in some coagulation biomarkers of pulmonary tuberculosis subjects in the settings of human immunodeficiency virus infection: as seen in Maiduguri North-eastern Nigeria

Synergistic association between Human Immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) infection has resulted in variable haematological manifestations including coagulopathies; these accelerated the morbidity and mortality burden of HIV/PTB co-infection. Objectives: Based on this preposition, we prospectively evaluated some coagulation biomarkers in a case-controlled study of 102 HIV sero-positive subjects consistent with WHO clinical stages I and II, 56 HIV/PTB co-infected subjects; both groups were therapy naive. Also 104 HIV sero-negative healthy blood donors were recruited as control subjects. Method: All participants were tested for platelet count (PLT), Plasma fibrinogen concentration (PFC), Protein C (PC), prothrombin time (PT) and Activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT). Results: In HIV/PTB co- morbidity PT, APTT were prolonged (P<0.001); PLT and PFC were also elevated (P< 0.001), while PC % activity was down-regulated (P<0.01) all in comparison to the HIV groupand the controls. Conclusion: We asserted that alterations occur in some coagulation indices of PTB/HIV coinfected individuals found in our environment. Clinical findings are however, needed to shed more light on thesefindings to aid patient's management

In Vivo Comparative Evaluation of Effects of Artemeter-Lumefantrine, Sulphadoxine-Pyrimetamine and Halofantrine on G6PD Activities, Haemoglobin Concentration and Malaria Parasite Clearance Rate in Malaria Infected Adults

Background: The use of antimalaria combination therapy especially regimens containing an artemisin-based compound has been recommended as a good first-line treatment for malaria by WHO. However, limited reports exist on the effects of the ACT and other antimalarial drugs on some vital biological parameters such as G6PD activity and haemoglobin concentration. In this study, we investigated the effects of Artemeter-Lumefantrine, sulphadoxine-pyrimetamine combination therapies and Halofantrine monotherapy on G6PD activity, Haemoglobin level and parasite clearance rate in malaria-infected adults treated with the drugs in Enugu, Nigeria. Methodology: Forty malaria-infected adults aged between 20 and 30 years were used. The subjects were divided into four groups (A, B, C and D). The groups A, B and C were given Artemeter-Lumefantrine, sulphadoxine-pyrimetamine and halofantrine respectively, while group D was a control group (malaria-positive control). Blood samples of the subjects were collected through venepuncture at baseline (Day 0) and after treatment on Day 4, for comparative analysis of G6PD activity, haemoglobin concentration and parasite clearance for each group. Results: The result of this study showed that sulphadoxine-pyrimetamine significantly (p<0.05) lowered haemoglobin concentration as compared with Halofantrine, Artemeter-lumefantrine and control. The haemoglobin concentration of the last three groups did not show any significant difference (p>0.05) between each other. The G6PD activity of the group treated with sulphadoxine-pyrimetamine was significantly (p<0.05) higher as compared with that treated with Artemeter-lumefantrine but non-significant (p>0.05) as compared with halofantrine and control. Parasite clearance rate was significantly (p<0.05) highest with the Halofantrine group (76%, p< 0.05) while Sulphadoxine-pyrimetamine had the lowest (52%) parasite clearance. Conclusion: This study therefore indicated that antimalaria drugs as well as malaria parasite could cause a reduction in haemoglobin concentration with sulphadoxine-pyrimetamine causing significant (p<0.05) increase in G-6-PD activity. Keywords: Antimalarials, Artemether-Lumefantrine, G6PD, sulphadoxine-pyrimetamine, Parasite clearance, Halofantrine, Haemoglobin concentratio

The incidence, aetiology and outcome of acute seizures in children admitted to a rural Kenyan district hospital

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Acute seizures are a common cause of paediatric admissions to hospitals in resource poor countries and a risk factor for neurological and cognitive impairment and epilepsy. We determined the incidence, aetiological factors and the immediate outcome of seizures in a rural malaria endemic area in coastal Kenya.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We recruited all children with and without seizures, aged 0–13 years and admitted to Kilifi District hospital over 2 years from 1^stDecember 2004 to 30^thNovember 2006. Only incident admissions from a defined area were included. Patients with epilepsy were excluded. The population denominator, the number of children in the community on 30^thNovember 2005 (study midpoint), was modelled from a census data.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Seizures were reported in 900/4,921(18.3%) incident admissions and at least 98 had status epilepticus. The incidence of acute seizures in children 0–13 years was 425 (95%CI 386, 466) per 100,000/year and was 879 (95%CI 795, 968) per 100,000/year in children <5 years. This incidence data may however be an underestimate of the true incidence in the community. Over 80% of the seizures were associated with infections. Neonatal infections (28/43 [65.1%]) and falciparum malaria (476/821 [58.0%]) were the main diseases associated with seizures in neonates and in children six months or older respectively. Falciparum malaria was also the main illness (56/98 [57.1%]) associated with status epilepticus. Other illnesses associated with seizures included pyogenic meningitis, respiratory tract infections and gastroenteritis. Twenty-eight children (3.1%) with seizures died and 11 surviving children (1.3%) had gross neurological deficits on discharge. Status epilepticus, focal seizures, coma, metabolic acidosis, bacteraemia, and pyogenic meningitis were independently associated with mortality; while status epilepticus, hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy and pyogenic meningitis were independently associated with neurological deficits on discharge.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>There is a high incidence of acute seizures in children living in this malaria endemic area of Kenya. The most important causes are diseases that are preventable with available public health programs.</p

Efficacy of Quasi Agro Binding Fibre on the Hybrid Composite Used in Advance Application

The choice for natural fibre obtained from agricultural products is on the rise due to its solution to eco-friendly, environmental and improved mechanical properties concerns. Its abundant availability, low cost, emission reduction and adaptability to base material for composite make it a prime material for selection. This review explores diverse perspectives to the future trend of agro fibre in terms of the thermo-mechanical properties as it applies to advanced application in building structures. It is important to investigate the ecofriendliness of the products of composites from fibres in agricultural wastes so as to achieve a green and sustainable environment. This will come to fore by the combined efforts of both researchers and feedback from building stakeholders

Effect of oral cadmium on haematological indices and liver function of adult male rats: implications for Warri river cadmium level

No abstract availabl