ASSESSMENT OF HIV/AIDS PERCEPTION AND PREVENTIVE PRACTICES AMONG RURAL YOUTHS IN NASARAWA STATE, NIGERIA

The research was conducted in Nasarawa State of Nigeria. All rural youths in the state were the target population. A multi stage sampling procedure was adopted in selecting the sampled respondents. A total of 295 respondents were used for the study. Data were collected through the use of interview schedule and questionnaire and analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS). Both descriptive and inferential statistics were used based on the stated objectives. The findings of the study showed that most (38.31%) of the respondents were within the age group of 21 -25 years. Majority (70.17%) of the respondents were males and single (60%) with secondary school education as the highest qualification. With regards to occupation, most (40.68%) of the respondents were farmers and students respectively. Results on the knowledge of HIV/AIDS by the respondents indicate that majority (50.85%) believed that the disease was a deadly, showing that they were knowledgeable about the deadly nature of the disease. Majority (90.45%) of the respondents ranked abstinence (not having sex before marriage) as the first among the preventive practices they have adopted. The effect of female-male differential in adoption of preventive practices among the sexes was examined by comparing the mean adoption index of the respondents. While the males had a mean adoption index of 0.5844, the females had 0.6203 showing that there was no significant difference in the adoption indices between males and females implying that no particular sex adopted more than the other in the study area. The results of the regression analysis show that sex, marital status, occupation and religion did not have significant effect on the adoption of preventive practices among the respondents. However, education and age were found to be significant. The study therefore, recommends that there is the need for more enlightenment campaigns at different levels including government and nongovernmental bodies’ especially religious groups to further sensitize the youth on HIV/AIDS preventive practices. Key words: HIV/AIDS, Perception, Preventive practices, Rural youths, Nasarawa state

El Niño/Southern Oscillation during the Holocene and Eemian Warm Periods

Geowissenschafte

Agricultural Information Needs of Small Holder Farmers in Central Agricultural Zone of Nasarawa State

This study was conducted in the Central agricultural zone of Nasarawa State to investigate the level of farmers’ access and use of agricultural information. Data for the study were collected from 120 respondents with the aid of a structured questionnaire. Data analysis was done using descriptive statistics (frequency, percentage and mean scores) for objectives 1, 2, 3 and 4. Objective 5 was achieved using a multiple regression model. Most (41%) of the respondents were aged between 41 – 50 years and their mean age was 40 years. A greater proportion (39%) of the respondents had primary education and 15% were illiterates. Most (77%) of the respondents were married. Majority (86%) of them were full time farmers with average farm size of 4.5ha and mean household size of 8 persons. Majority (94%) of respondents belonged to one or two social organizations. The mean years of farming experience was 25 years. Only 37% obtained farm credit of various amounts. The respondents’ information needs were numerous and diverse which included information on pests and disease control (61.7%), sources of improved seeds/seedlings (43.3%), crop and animal husbandry (42.5%), sources of farm credit  (39.2%) and marketing information among others. Respondents’ most preferred sources of information included produce buyers, input dealers and extension agents. The major constraints to use of various information sources were poor marketing facilities, lack of credit, poor infrastructures as well as poor extension services. It was recommended that governments at all levels should introduce measures that would ensure easy access to credit, agricultural information and market as well as rural infrastructures in line with the transformation agenda

Agricultural Information Needs of Small Holder Farmers in Central Agricultural Zone of Nasarawa State

This study was conducted in the Central agricultural zone of Nasarawa State to investigate the level of farmers’ access and use of agricultural information. Data for the study were collected from 120 respondents with the aid of a structured questionnaire. Data analysis was done using descriptive statistics (frequency, percentage and mean scores) for objectives 1, 2, 3 and 4. Objective 5 was achieved using a multiple regression model. Most (41%) of the respondents were aged between 41 – 50 years and their mean age was 40 years. A greater proportion (39%) of the respondents had primary education and 15% were illiterates. Most (77%) of the respondents were married. Majority (86%) of them were full time farmers with average farm size of 4.5ha and mean household size of 8 persons. Majority (94%) of respondents belonged to one or two social organizations. The mean years of farming experience was 25 years. Only 37% obtained farm credit of various amounts. The respondents’ information needs were numerous and diverse which included information on pests and disease control (61.7%), sources of improved seeds/seedlings (43.3%), crop and animal husbandry (42.5%), sources of farm credit  (39.2%) and marketing information among others. Respondents’ most preferred sources of information included produce buyers, input dealers and extension agents. The major constraints to use of various information sources were poor marketing facilities, lack of credit, poor infrastructures as well as poor extension services. It was recommended that governments at all levels should introduce measures that would ensure easy access to credit, agricultural information and market as well as rural infrastructures in line with the transformation agenda

Access and Use of Resources by Women Agro-Processors in Central Agricultural Zone of Nasarawa State, Nigeria

This study was carried out in the central agricultural zone of Nasarawa state to examine the level of access and use of productive resources by women agro-processors in the zone. A sample of 100 women agro-processors from 3 LGAs that make up the zone was selected using proportionate random sampling technique. Data collection was done with the aid of an interview schedule during the 2012 cropping season. Data analysis involved the use of frequency, percentage, mean scores and ranking. The results show that the mean age of the respondents was 38 years. Majority (76%) were married and most (42%) of them were without any formal education. The mean year of experience in agro-processing was 7 years. Most (74%) of the respondents never obtained any loan in the past 3 years. The mean monthly income of the respondents was N18, 540. Most (40%) of the processors got their raw materials directly from farmers’ fields while majority (76%) of them sold their outputs to consumers in the open markets. Most (56%) of them used manual method of processing, most (54%) of them never attended any training workshop on agro-processing. Most (42%) of them received an average of 7 extension visits per year. Respondents had high level (M>3) of access to raw materials, extension service, water supply, storage facilities and market for products. However, they faced the problems of inadequate capital, access to land, credit facility and price fluctuation. It was therefore recommended that reforms in the Land Use Act and agricultural credit scheme under the transformation agenda should be hastened up to enhance easy access to these resources by women. Cooperative societies should also be strengthened to fill the gap

Access and Use of Resources by Women Agro-Processors in Central Agricultural Zone of Nasarawa State, Nigeria

This study was carried out in the central agricultural zone of Nasarawa state to examine the level of access and use of productive resources by women agro-processors in the zone. A sample of 100 women agro-processors from 3 LGAs that make up the zone was selected using proportionate random sampling technique. Data collection was done with the aid of an interview schedule during the 2012 cropping season. Data analysis involved the use of frequency, percentage, mean scores and ranking. The results show that the mean age of the respondents was 38 years. Majority (76%) were married and most (42%) of them were without any formal education. The mean year of experience in agro-processing was 7 years. Most (74%) of the respondents never obtained any loan in the past 3 years. The mean monthly income of the respondents was N18, 540. Most (40%) of the processors got their raw materials directly from farmers’ fields while majority (76%) of them sold their outputs to consumers in the open markets. Most (56%) of them used manual method of processing, most (54%) of them never attended any training workshop on agro-processing. Most (42%) of them received an average of 7 extension visits per year. Respondents had high level (M>3) of access to raw materials, extension service, water supply, storage facilities and market for products. However, they faced the problems of inadequate capital, access to land, credit facility and price fluctuation. It was therefore recommended that reforms in the Land Use Act and agricultural credit scheme under the transformation agenda should be hastened up to enhance easy access to these resources by women. Cooperative societies should also be strengthened to fill the gap

Preparation of TiO2-activated kaolinite composite for photocatalytic degradation of rhodamine B dye

ABSTRACT. Rhodamine B (RhB) is one of the prominent dyes discovered to be carcinogenic and mutagenic substance present in the ecosystem. Alteration of the characteristics of TiO2 through modification with clay influences the behavior of some organic molecules at its surface, and thus its photocatalytic properties. This study investigates the photocatalytic degradation of RhB using TiO2-activated kaolinite composite (TiO2-AKC). TiO2-AKC was prepared in absolute ethanol and characterized using SEM, EDX, TEM, BET and FTIR. The photodegradation of RhB using TiO2-AKC at room temperature under visible-light was studied at various time intervals and the concentration of RhB was monitored using Ultraviolet-Visible spectrophotometer. Characterisation of TiO2-AKC revealed an adequate distribution of TiO2 over the AKC surface, with an enhanced surface area (TiO2-AKC 808 m2g-1, TiO2 50.0 m2g-1, AKC 20.6 m2g-1) necessary for effective degradation. The degradation was efficient in TiO2-AKC than in sole TiO2 resulting in 99.51% and 88.35%, respectively. The experimental data was analysed using zeroth and first order kinetics, parabolic diffusion, and modified Freundlich model. The degradation kinetics conforms to first order kinetics in TiO2-AKC and sole TiO2. The mechanism of the degradation using TiO2-AKC fit into modified Freundlich model and parabolic diffusion model while sole TiO2 was best described by parabolic diffusion model.                 KEY WORDS: Kaolin, Kinetics, Organic dyes, Photodegradation, Pollutants, Titanium(IV) oxide Bull. Chem. Soc. Ethiop. 2022, 36(1), 13-24.                                                                    DOI:   https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/bcse.v36i1.2                                     &nbsp

Iron Deficiency Status and Anaemia among Athletes in Osogbo, Nigeria

Background: Athletes are highly at risk of minimal iron consumption due to the nature of their diet which is mainly based on calorie consideration without regard for an iron-embedded diet. This study determined the iron deficiency status and anaemia in athletes across all sports in Osogbo, Nigeria. Materials and Methods: Seventy (70) subjects comprising 55 and 33 age-sex matched athletes and healthy non–athlete controls respectively, were recruited into this study from Osogbo City Stadium Nigeria. Parameters assessed include packed cell volume (PCV), haemoglobin concentration (Hb) and the red cell indices; serum iron; total iron-binding capacity; and ferritin. Results: There was a general and gender-specific significant reduction in the mean ±SD level of all haematological parameters (p<0.05) of the athletes compared with the controls with the TIBC, serum iron and ferritin reduced though statistically insignificant. Moderate anaemia was generally observed (64%) in the entire populace while those with severe anaemia, mainly the females (5%). Iron deficiency was present majorly in the female group with one male displaying iron depletion features. Conclusion: Iron deficiency, depleted iron store and anaemia are well observed in the athletes with the females presenting more anaemic conditions than the male counterparts all of which result from their dietary constituents, non-supplementation of haemoglobin, mechanical induced intravascular haemolysis, uncompensated blood loss due to menstrual flow in females and exercise-induced inflammatory cytokine

Developing a Model for Employees’ Intrapreneurial Engagement and Organizational Survival

The survival of any organisation in the midst of economic hardship and competitiveness is becoming a serious concern. One of the strategies organisations can adopt is to tap into the intrapreneurial potentials of their employees. The main objective of this study examines the strategic roles of employees’ intrapreneurial engagement and its implication for organisational survival. A descriptive research method (Structural Equation Model {AMOS 22}) was applied to analyse the two hundred and fifty-nine (259) copies of valid questionnaire completed by the respondents using stratified and simple random sampling techniques. However, the study indicated that fostering employees’ intrapreneurial engagement have positive significant implications on organisational survival. This suggests that employees’ empowerment, involvement, autonomy, relationships and reward system have significant effects on organisational survival. It is therefore recommended that organisations should challenge their employees by providing them with autonomy and the freedom to innovate and carve out spaces for them to take risks and experiment

Evolution of 5G Network: A Precursor towards the Realtime Implementation of VANET for Safety Applications in Nigeria

  A crucial requirement for the successful real-time design and deployment of Vehicular Adhoc Networks (VANET) is to ensure high speed data rates, low latency, information security, and a wide coverage area without sacrificing the required Quality of Service (QoS) in VANET. These requirements must be met for flawless communication on the VANET. This study examines the generational patterns in mobile wireless communication and looks into the possibilities of adopting fifth generation (5G) network technology for real-time communication of road abnormalities in VANET. The current paper addresses the second phase of a project that is now underway to develop real-time road anomaly detection, characterization, and communication systems for VANET. The major goal is to reduce the amount of traffic accidents on Nigerian roadways. It will also serve as a platform for the real-time deployment and testing of various road anomaly detection algorithms, as well as schemes for communicating such detected anomalies in the VANET.   &nbsp