Socio-cultural factors influencing the prevalence, care and support inHIV/AIDS among the Yoruba of Southwestern Nigeria

This paper is a part of a bigger ethnographic study conducted in two states from the Yoruba society of the Southwestern Nigeria to examine the social and cultural factors influencing the prevalence of HIV/AIDS and care and support systems in those states. This is in recognition of the need to arrest the increasing rate of the spread of the epidemic and the desire to create better care for People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLWAs) in those states. The study employed both qualitative and quantitative methods using key-informant interviews, in-depth interviews, focus group discussions and case-study analyses. The study engaged in intensive fieldwork, which lasted for 24 months. The study examined in historical perspective, the condition of health facilities in the study area before the outbreak of HIV/AIDS and how such facilities have coped with HIV/AIDS. The study revealed that the socio-cultural condition of the society is not conducive to fighting HIV/AIDS. Poverty, low literacy capacity, the urbanization process, inadequate health care facilities, the location of tertiary institutions, and certain contesting issues in HIV/AIDS were found to account for the continued prevalence of HIV/AIDS in the study-area. In addition to the above, is the neglect of rural communities in HIV/AIDS programmes, despite the fact that PLWAs often return to their rural communities after contracting HIV/AIDS in their urban residence. HIV/AIDS is seen as a disease associated with human development, hence, action against the disease should involve the overhauling of the entire development process in the community studied. African Journal of Health Sciences Vol. 14 (1-2) 2007: pp. 61-6

Verification of Some Vegetable Oils as Cutting Fluid for Aluminium

Vegetable oils (palm oil, groundnut oil, shear butter oil and cotton seed oil) have been used as lubricants in the turning operation of aluminum under varying spindle speeds, feed rates and depths of cut and the results compared with kerosene (due to the gummy nature of aluminium metal). The parameters investigated are the chip thickness ratio, surface finish and surface temperature. Their performances when compared with the conventional soluble oil have shown that they can perform the same functions as imported ones in the machining of aluminum. They reduced chip thickness ratio, improved surface finish and exhibited good cooling behaviour at the work piece-tool interface. This performance is due to their high viscosities and the presence of surface active agents such as stearic acid and halogens, such as chlorine which help to reduce surface energy of a liquid and increase its wetting ability or oiliness.KEYWORDS: vegetable oil, chip compression, surface roughness, temperature, surface active agent

Isolated gallbladder rupture following blunt abdominal trauma

The gallbladder is a relatively well‑protected organ; consequently its rupture following blunt abdominal injury is rare and usually associated with other visceral injuries. Isolated gallbladder rupture is extremely rare. We report a healthy Nigerian adult male who sustained isolated gallbladder rupture following blunt abdominal injury from riding a motor cycle (Okada). A high index of suspicion with positive bile aspirate might lead to early diagnosis. Open cholecystectomy is a safe option of treatment in a resource poor centre especially in delayed presentation and has a good outcome.Key words: Blunt abdominal trauma, gallbladder rupture, isolate

The prevalence of hyperthyroidism at university of maiduguri teaching hospital (UMTH), Maiduguri.

Hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism are the two common thyroid disorders but there is paucity of information on the prevalence of hyperthyroidism in Nigeria in general and in Northeast of Nigeria in particular. Objective: To determine the prevalence of hyperthyroidism at University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital. Method: A retrospective study done over a period of one year that reviews the results of serum TSH, T4 and T4 from 203 patients. Results: Eighty-nine (43.8%) and 79 (38.9%) patients had elevated serum levels of T3 and T4 respectively (i.e. were hyperthyroid), 114 (56.2%) and 112 (55.2%) patients had normal serum levels of T3 and T4 respectively (i.e. were euthyroid) while 12 (5.9%) patients had low serum levels of T4 only (i.e. were hypothyroid). The female to male ratio of hyperthyroidism was 4 and 1[T3 — female 68 (35.4%), male — 17(89%); T 4— female 59 (30.7%), male 15(7.8%)]. Age —group from 25—34 years was the most frequent. (51 patients) and with the highest prevalence of hyperthyroidism [T4- 19(14.2%); T4 18(13.4%)].The study further revealed a decline in the prevalence of hyperthyroidism as age increased. The finding of high prevalence of low TSH (20.8%) against high prevalence of elevated T3 and T4 [89(44.1% and 79(38.9%) respectively] in this study could suggest that the hyperthyroidism in the studied patients could have been largely caused by Graves' disease. Conclusion: This study revealed that thyroid disorders are not uncommon in our environment and the finding of high prevalence of low TSH above high TSH, suggested that the hyperthyroidism discovered in our study may have been largely caused by Grave's disease. We recommend that more laboratory diagnostic centre should be established in our environment where thyroid disorders can be diagnosed

Recent rubella infection among childbearing women in a tertiary hospital in Nigeria: A seroepidemiological indication for vaccination need

Background: Congenital Rubella Infection can be prevented and future generation saved from  disability by protecting women of reproductive age through vaccination. The study is aimed at  determining serological evidence of recent rubella infection among women of childbearing age.Method: A cross sectional study was carried out among 285 women aged between 15 and 49 years. Enzyme immunoassay method was used to detect and quantify human IgM and IgG antibodies with avidity for Rubella virus in sera of participants. Socio-demographic characteristics of the subjects, along with recent history of fever, rash and adverse pregnancy outcome among others were obtained using a questionnaire. Statistical analysis was carried out using the program statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) version 16. Majority (78.3%) of the women recruited for the study were within 15-34 years age range. Of the 285 sera assayed for Rubella IgM antibodies, 23 (8.1%; 95% CI: 4.9%-11.3 %.) was IgM seropositive, while the remaining 262 (91.9%) were seronegative. A total of 7 (2.5%) of reproductive age women in Ilorin had a recent primary infection while 16 (5.6%) had a persistent Rubella infection or recent re-infection.In conclusion, there is need for vaccination of susceptible women of reproductive age in Ilorin as a large number of women have Rubella in their reproductive age.Keywords: Rubella, Immunoglobulin M, avidity, reproductive age, Ilorin, Nigeri

Igneous activity in the Bornu Basin, onshore NE Nigeria; implications for opening of the South Atlantic

The structure of igneous plumbing systems in circum-South Atlantic, intra-continental rift basins (e.g. the West and Central African Rift Systems) remains enigmatic owing to poor subsurface data coverage and quality. How magmatism in these basins related to the opening of the South Atlantic is thus poorly understood. We integrate 2D and 3D seismic reflection data (c. 27 600 km2), data from 23 boreholes, and field observations from the Bornu Basin and Upper Benue Trough, onshore NE Nigeria, to examine the timing and development of igneous bodies possibly related to opening of the South Atlantic. We identify numerous sills, which typically have saucer-shaped and en echelon morphologies, and extrusive volcanic cones. The igneous rocks are alkali basalts and dolerites. Seismic-stratigraphic relationships indicate that emplacement occurred in the Early Cretaceous (Albian to Cenomanian; c. 120 Ma), Late Cretaceous (Santonian to early Campanian; c. 83 Ma) and Cenozoic (Miocene; c. 22 Ma). Magmatism was broadly coeval with major plate boundary interactions, characterized by major azimuthal changes in fracture zones in the developing South Atlantic Ocean. The broad temporal correlation between intra-continental rift basin magmatism and plate boundary interactions suggests that periods of magma emplacement may have, in some way, been instigated by stress dissipation into intra-continental rift basins

Barriers and facilitators to human immunodeficiency virus sero-status disclosure in a tertiary health facility in Kano, Nigeria

Disclosure of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) sero-status to sexual partners, family and friends is essential in preventing HIV transmission. An array of benefits has been associated with disclosure; such as early referral to care and treatment, reduced stigma and increased social support. Objectives: We determined the prevalence, barriers and facilitators to HIV sero-status disclosure among clients attending the Antiretroviral (ARV) clinic in AminuKano-Teaching Hospital, Kano. Method: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 231 HIV positive patients attending ARV clinic at AKTH using a systematic sampling technique. Interviewer-administered semi-structured questionnaire was used to obtain respondent's socio-demographic characteristics, disclosure status, barriers and facilitators of HIV sero-status disclosure. We conducted univariate, bivariate and multivariate analysis using SPSS version 22, and a p- value ≤0.05 was considered as the level of significance. Results: The mean age of the respondents was 35 ± 8.64 years with a male to female sex distribution of 53% to 47 % respectively. Majority were not married (74.0%) and two thirds (67%) were Muslims. This study found that 60% of the respondents had disclosed their HIV sero-status and 97% of them had done so voluntarily. The fear of divorce/neglect (p<0.01, aOR=0.017, 95% CI=0.02-0.15) and fear of stigma (p<0.01, aOR=0.03, 95% CI= 0.00-0.03) were found as barriers to HIV sero-status disclosure. Financial difficulties (p<0.01, aOR=3.03, 95% CI=1.16-5.61) and the need for improved access to necessary medical care (p=0.04, aOR=6.52, 95% CI=1.85-23.15) were found to facilitate HIV sero status disclosure. Conclusion: The study found a low HIV sero-status disclosure in Kano. Disclosure being major recommendation by World Health Organisation and the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention requires strengthening during patients counselling and education sessions

Corrosion Resistance of AA6063-Type Al-Mg-Si Alloy by Silicon Carbide in Sodium Chloride Solution for Marine Application

The present work focused on corrosion inhibition of AA6063 type Al-Mg-Si alloy in sodium chloride (NaCl) solution with a silicon carbide inhibitor, using the potentiodynamic electrochemical method. The aluminium alloy surface morphology was examined, in the as-received and as-corroded in the un-inhibited state, with scanning electron microscopy equipped with energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS). The results obtained via linear polarization indicated a high corrosion potential for the unprotected as-received alloy. Equally, inhibition efficiency as high as 98.82% at 10.0 g/v silicon carbide addition was obtained with increased polarization resistance (Rp), while the current density reduced significantly for inhibited samples compared to the un-inhibited aluminium alloy. The adsorption mechanism of the inhibitor aluminium alloy follows the Langmuir adsorption isotherm. This shows that the corrosion rate of aluminium alloy with silicon carbide in NaCl environment decreased significantly with addition of the inhibito

Patient characteristics associated with COVID-19 positivity and fatality in Nigeria: retrospective cohort study

Objective: Despite the increasing disease burden, there is a dearth of context-specific evidence on the risk factors for COVID-19 positivity and subsequent death in Nigeria. Thus, the study objective was to identify context-specific factors associated with testing positive for COVID-19 and fatality in Nigeria. Design Retrospective cohort study. Setting: COVID-19 surveillance and laboratory centres in 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory reporting data to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control. Participants: Individuals who were investigated for SARSCoV-2 using real-time PCR testing during the study period 27 February–8 June 2020. Methods: COVID-19 positivity and subsequent mortality. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to identify factors independently associated with both outcome variables, and findings are presented as adjusted ORs (aORs) and 95% CIs. Results: A total of 36 496 patients were tested for COVID-19, with 10 517 confirmed cases. Of 3215 confirmed cases with available clinical outcomes, 295 died. Factors independently associated with COVID-19 positivity were older age (p value for trend<0.0001), male sex (aOR 1.11, 95%CI 1.04 to 1.18) and the following presenting symptoms: cough (aOR 1.23, 95% CI 1.13 to 1.32), fever (aOR 1.45, 95% CI 1.45 to 1.71), loss of smell (aOR 7.78, 95% CI 5.19 to 11.66) and loss of taste (aOR 2.50, 95% CI 1.60 to 3.90). An increased risk of mortality following COVID-19 was observed in those aged ≥51 years, patients in farming occupation (aOR 7.56, 95% CI 1.70 to 33.53) and those presenting with cough (aOR 2.06, 95% CI 1.41 to 3.01), breathing difficulties (aOR 5.68, 95% CI 3.77 to 8.58) and vomiting (aOR 2.54, 95% CI 1.33 to 4.84). Conclusion: The significant risk factors associated with COVID-19 positivity and subsequent mortality in the Nigerian population are similar to those reported in studies from other countries and should guide clinical decisions for COVID-19 testing and specialist care referrals