Economic Growth in a Cross-Cultural Environment: Lessons for Selected African Countries

In this paper, we examined the effect of globalization on economic growth of 25 selected African countries for the period 1991 to 2017. The index of globalization utilized was the Konjunkturforschungsstelle (KOF) Index of Globalization that takes into consideration the economic, social, and political dimensions of globalization. The study also examined the effect of globalization on unemployment in Africa. The study employed the panel unit root test, cointegration test, ARDL vector error correction mechanism (VECM), and Granger Causality test techniques. The panel unit root test reported a mixed order of integration necessitating the use of the cointegration test. The Pedroni cointegration test and the Fisher-ADF test revealed the presence of a long run relationship between globalization and economic growth in Africa. Based on the VECM, it was observed that globalization exerts a positive and significant effect on economic growth in the long run but a negative and insignificant effect in the short run. Also, globalization exerted a positive and significant effect on unemployment in the long run while in the short run, the effect was negative and significant. The Dumitrescu Hurlin Panel Causality Tests revealed the existence of a bi-directional relationship between globalization and economic growth in Africa. The policy implication of the paper is that African countries should realize the long run importance of globalization as a powerful force that drives a modern economy hence, coherent policies should be developed and geared towards managing the excesses of globalization so as to be moving along with the ever evolving world. Keywords: Economic Globalization, Political Globalization, Foreign Direct Investment, Financial Liberalization, Panel Regression, Social Globalization DOI: 10.7176/JEP/11-24-05 Publication date: December 31st 2020

Testing the Validity of the Inflation-Unemployment Nexus within the West African Monetary Zone

This study aimed to ascertain the validity of the Phillips Curve in six countries of Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, and Sierra Leone within the West African Monetary Zone (WAMZ). The study utilised panel data from these countries varying from 2000 to 2021, which were obtained from the World Bank database. The data were analysed using the Panel unit root test, Johansen Fisher Panel (JFP) co-integration test, Pairwise Dumitrescu Hurlin Panel (PDHP) Causality Tests, and the Panel Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) approach. The PDHP Causality Test revealed a one-way causality from unemployment to inflation; hence, unemployment causes inflation. The JFP co-integration test conducted since the variables were not all stationary at levels revealed that the two variables are cointegrated, which portrayed some degree of long-run relationship. The significant findings of this study, as presented by the panel ARDL result, indicated that the inverse relationship between inflation and unemployment is only valid in the short run within the WAMZ. This finding supports the argument that there is no trade-off between inflation and unemployment in the long run and the Phillips Curve is a vertical line at the natural unemployment rate

Herbosomes in the Delivery of Phytotherapeutics and Nutraceuticals: Concepts, Applications and Future Perspective

Recent advances in natural products chemistry and phytomedicine research has been aimed at novel lipid based drug delivery systems. Herbosome technology is one of such systems that incorporate phospholipids into standardized active ingredients of herbal extracts, thus effectively enhancing the bioavailability of water-soluble bioactive constituents of phytomedicines such as flavonoids, phenolics and hydrophilic compounds. These phytoconstituents have been established to exhibit a variety of biological activities that have pharmacological benefits. However, poor absorption of these phytoconstituents limits their bioavailability. The poor absorption is principally due to the failure of these constituents to reach their site of action before being degraded as well as their inability to pass through the small intestine due to their multi ring structures and the lipid nature of the intestinal wall. This review chronicles the recent advances made in herbosome technology, highlighting the concepts, applications and future perspective of herbosome use.Key words: Herbosomes, Phytomedicine, Lipid based delivery systems, Phytosomes, Phyto-phospholipid complex

Prediction of Carcass Weight from Live Body Weight and Morpho-Biometric Traits of Male Nigerian Indigenous Chickens Using Path Coefficient Analysis

Carcass weight has great economic importance in poultry industry and is associated with other traits. This study investigates correlations among morpho-biometric traits (body length (BL), thigh length (TL), breast girth (BL), shank length (SL) and wing length (WL), livebody weight (LBW) and carcass weight (CW) in male chickens and quantifies the direct and indirect influence of LBW and morpho-biometric traits on CW. The aforementioned traits were measured in 187 male Nigerian indigenous chickens at 20 weeks of age. Correlation and regression coefficients among the traits were obtained to determine the intensity and nature of their association while the path analysis was used to investigate effects of LBW and morpho-biometric traits on CW trait. All analyses were done by SAS 9.1.3 software. The correlation coefficients among morpho-biometric traits, LBW and CW ranged from 0.1953 to 0.9930. The highest correlation was between LBW and CW (0.9930). The results showed a positive and highly significant correlation (P 0.05). The LBW had the highest direct influence on CW followed by BG. Individual pre-selection for these traits could favour an increased CW in the future generations of this chicken type since the LBW and the BG are directly related to CW

Prediction of Carcass Weight from Live Body Weight and Morpho-Biometric Traits of Male Nigerian Indigenous Chickens Using Path Coefficient Analysis

Carcass weight has great economic importance in poultry industry and is associated with other traits. This study investigates correlations among morpho-biometric traits (body length (BL), thigh length (TL), breast girth (BL), shank length (SL) and wing length (WL), livebody weight (LBW) and carcass weight (CW) in male chickens and quantifies the direct and indirect influence of LBW and morpho-biometric traits on CW. The aforementioned traits were measured in 187 male Nigerian indigenous chickens at 20 weeks of age. Correlation and regression coefficients among the traits were obtained to determine the intensity and nature of their association while the path analysis was used to investigate effects of LBW and morpho-biometric traits on CW trait. All analyses were done by SAS 9.1.3 software. The correlation coefficients among morpho-biometric traits, LBW and CW ranged from 0.1953 to 0.9930. The highest correlation was between LBW and CW (0.9930). The results showed a positive and highly significant correlation (P 0.05). The LBW had the highest direct influence on CW followed by BG. Individual pre-selection for these traits could favour an increased CW in the future generations of this chicken type since the LBW and the BG are directly related to CW

Hydrothermally-calcined waste paper ash nanomaterial as an alternative to cement for clay soil modification for building purposes

It has been observed that clay soil cannot be used for building design, unless it is modified by firing or with cement. Either method of stabilization can adversely affect the environment and public health just like indiscriminate dumping or open burning adopted in developing countries as the prevalent disposal technique for waste papers. This paper sought to examine the feasibility of using assorted waste papers to derive an alternative stabilizer to Portland Limestone Cement for modification of clay soil into composite materials suitable for building design. Specifically, clay-based composites were fabricated at 0 %, 5 %, 10 %, 15 %, and 20% replacement levels by weight with cement, and then hydrothermally-calcined waste paper ash nanomaterial (HCWPAN). Water absorption, sorptivity, bulk density, thermal conductivity, specific heat capacity, thermal diffusivity, flaking concentration, flexural strength, and compressive strength were investigated for each of the fabricated samples. Irrespective of the stabilizing agent utilized, 10% loading level was found to be the optimum for possession of maximum mechanical strength by the samples. Only samples with the HCWPAN content were found to be capable of reducing building dead loads and improving thermal insulation efficiency over un-stabilized clay material, if applied as walling elements in buildings. Generally, it was revealed that the cement and HCWPAN have comparable influences on the properties of clay soil, thus indicating that HCWPAN could be utilized as an alternative stabilizer to cement. In addition, the preparation of HCWPAN was found to be more energy-saving than that of the cement

Factors Influencing Antenatal Haematinics Prescription Behaviour of Physicians in Calabar, Nigeria

BACKGROUND: Routine iron and folic acid supplementation in pregnancy have been proved to be effective in reducing the prevalence and morbidities of anaemia. However, there is limited data regarding the prescription habits of physician obstetric care givers.AIM: This study set to investigate the attitudes and factors which influence the practice among physicians in University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH).MATERIAL AND METHODS: A questionnaire based cross-sectional survey was conducted among randomly recruited physician offering antenatal services between August and September 2015. Systemic sampling was used to select 70 doctors in the departmental duty roster. Data were presented in percentages and proportion. Chi-square test was used to test the association between variables. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05.RESULTS: The response rate was 100%. The mean age of the respondents was 30.26 ± 6.67 years. All the respondents routinely prescribed haematinics to pregnant women but 34.3% of them did not prescribe to apparently healthy clients in their first trimester. Only 30% and 11.4% of them prescribed it in the postnatal and preconception periods respectively. Brands that contained iron, folate and vitamins as a single capsule were mostly favoured, and information about brands of drugs was mostly provided by the pharmaceutical sales representatives. Younger doctors were more likely to offer haematinics with nutritional counselling compared to older respondents. However, there was no significant relationship between haematinics prescription and sex (p = 0.3560), Age (p = 0.839), current professional status (p = 0.783), and client complaint of side effect of medication (p = 0.23). Oral medication was mostly utilised.CONCLUSION: Effort to effectively control anaemia in pregnancy should involve re-orientation of physician obstetric care providers especially about prenatal and postnatal medication and counselling

Antenatal Deworming and Materno-Perinatal Outcomes in Calabar, Nigeria

BACKGROUND: Studies have shown that administration of anthelmintic drugs in pregnancy can reduce the incidence of maternal anaemia; however, data on other maternal and perinatal outcomes are limited.AIM: This study was therefore conducted to evaluate the direct impact of mass deworming on delivery and perinatal outcome.MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 560 healthy pregnant women in their second trimester were randomised to receive a single dose of oral mebendazole (500 mg) and placebo. Each participant received the standard dose of iron supplement and malaria prophylaxis. They were followed up to delivery and immediate postpartum period to document the possible impact on maternal and perinatal outcomes.RESULTS: The prevalence of anaemia at term, 37 weeks gestation and above, among the treatment arm was 12.6% compared with 29.9% in the placebo arm (p < 0.001). Caesarean section rates was higher in the treated group and the placebo (p = 0.047).There were no statistically significant differences in incidences of postpartum haemorrhage (p = 0.119), Puerperal, pyrexia (p = 0.943), low birth weight (p = 0.556) asphyxia (p = 0.706) and perinatal death (p = 0.621).CONCLUSION: Presumptive deworming during the antenatal period can significantly reduce the incidence of peripartum anaemia. However, more studies may be needed to prove any positive perinatal outcome

Trend and Causes of Maternal Mortality in a Nigerian Tertiary Hospital: A 5-year Retrospective Study (2010-2014) at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Calabar, Nigeria

BACKGROUND: Maternal mortality ratios (MMR) are still unacceptably high in many low-income countries especially in sub-Saharan Africa. MMR had been reported to have improved from an initial 3,026 per 100,000 live births in 1999 to 941 in 2009, at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (UCTH), Calabar, a tertiary health facility in Nigeria. Post-partum haemorrhage and hypertensive diseases of pregnancy have been the common causes of maternal deaths in the facility.AIM: This study was aimed at determining the trend in maternal mortality in the same facility, following institution of some facility-based intervention measures.METHODOLOGY: A retrospective study design was utilised with extraction and review of medical records of pregnancy-related deaths in UCTH, Calabar, from January 2010 to December 2014. The beginning of the review period coincided with the period the “Woman Intervention Trial†was set up to reduce maternal mortality in the facility. This trial consists of the use of Tranexamic acid for prevention of post-partum haemorrhage, as well as more proactive attendance to parturition.RESULTS: There were 13,605 live births and sixty-one (61) pregnancy-related deaths in UCTH during the study period. This yielded a facility Maternal Mortality Ratio of 448 per 100,000 live births. In the previous 11-year period of review, there was sustained the decline in MMR by 72.9% in the initial four years (from 793 in 2010 to 215 in 2013), with the onset of resurgence to 366 in the last year (2014). Mean age at maternal death was 27 ± 6.5 years, with most subjects (45, 73.8%) being within 20-34 years age group. Forty-eight (78.7%) were married, 26 (42.6%) were unemployed, and 33 (55.7%) had at least secondary level of education. Septic abortion (13, 21.3%) and hypertensive diseases of pregnancy (10, 16.4%) were the leading causes of death. Over three quarters (47, 77.0%) had not received care from any health facility. Most deaths (46, 75.5%) occurred between 24 and 97 hours of admission.CONCLUSION: Compared with previous trends, there has been a significant improvement in maternal mortality ratio in the study setting. There is also a significant change in the leading cause of maternal deaths, with septic abortion and hypertensive disease of pregnancy now replacing post-partum haemorrhage and puerperal sepsis that was previously reported. This success may be attributable to the institution of the Woman trial intervention which is still ongoing in other parts of the world. There is, however, need to sustain effort at a further reduction in MMR towards the attainment of set sustainable development goals (SDGs), through improvement in the provision of maternal health services in low-income countries

Real-time monitoring of a circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus outbreak immunization campaign using digital health technologies in South Sudan

Introduction: the use of digital health technologies and geographical information systems (GIS) in the conduct of immunization campaigns had proven to be a success story, and is gaining acceptance towards improving supervision, accountability, and real-time access to quality information. The demand for real-time information by policymakers and stakeholders in the polio eradication programme is increasing towards ensuring a world free from all polioviruses. This study aims to develop a tool that monitor and evaluate the circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus (cVDPV) campaign processes in real-time using open data kits (ODK) to collect data, analyze and visualize using an interactive dashboard in Power BI, towards improving timeliness and completeness of data reporting and providing real-time quality information to stakeholders. Methods: electronic checklists were developed using open data kits (ODK) and uploaded onto android-based smartphones for data collection during a round of cVDPV outbreak response immunization. Supervisors were deployed to the field and the checklists were utilized at both stages of the campaign activities. A Power BI data visualization tool was used for reporting, analysis, and monitoring the activities of the campaign. Results: an interactive dashboard was developed, providing real-time information that supports stakeholders during the campaign processes with improved timeliness and completeness of data reporting. The usage of the tool during the campaign enhanced close supervision, and increased transparency in data availability and accessibility by all partners. Conclusion: the study had shown that real-time information has significantly improved the smooth conduct of the immunization campaign processes through identifying gaps, and challenges in the field and can be utilized in similar resource settings including complex and humanitarian. It has demonstrated the capability of mobile phones using ODK for data collection and linked to a Power BI dashboard for enhanced supervision and transparency, and we encourage further studies to assess the effects of the tools on the campaign results