Consumption of liquefied petroleum gas and its determinants: A prospect for indiscriminate tree harvesting in Imo State, Nigeria

The study analysed the consumption of liquefied petroleum gas and its determinants as a prospect for indiscriminate tree harvesting in Imo State, Nigeria. A total number of 96 questionnaires were distributed but only 90 of them were returned. Data collected were analysed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. Result shows that the weekly fuel wood and liquefied petroleum gas consumed by the households in the study area were 514.326MJ (37.27KG) and 65.92MJ (1.43KG) respectively. The result also identified indoor pollution, eye defect and loss of biodiversity with weighted means of 2.64, 3.00 and 2.67 respectively as very serious problems of fuel wood use. Result showed that clean fuels (as well as afforestation), ethanol cook stove, crop residue/animal dung and solar/water energy sources which ranked 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th respectively were the major prospects for indiscriminate tree harvesting in the study area. Results also indicated that at 1% levels of significance, price of liquefied petroleum gas, price of kerosene, household expenditure, household size and number of times electricity was available per month were the majordeterminants of liquefied petroleum gas consumption in the study areas. Given the urgency of the clean energy access, the paper recommends that relevant stakeholders should prioritize efforts and financial supports geared toward the alleviation of the problems of indiscriminate tree harvesting. It also advocates for LPG subsidization to encourage more users of the fuel. Keywords: Indiscriminate wood harvesting, loss of bio-diversity, clean energ

The practice of hepatocellular cancer surveillance in Nigeria

Background: Hepatocellular cancer is a disease of global and public health importance due to the widespread distribution of risk factors and associated high case fatality. Hepatocellular Cancer (HCC) in Sub-Saharan Africa is commonly seen among the younger age groups (<45 years) who present mostly in the terminal stage, when the disease is not amenable to any curative therapy. Hepatocellular Carcinoma surveillance employs the use of simple, cheap and readily available investigations, to detect early curable cancer in individuals with risk factors for HCC.Objectives:The aim of this study is to assess the practice of hepatocellular cancer screening among physicians.Methodolgy:This is a nationwide online survey carried out among physicians who care for patients with HCC. A questionnaire was sent out via a web link to all consenting doctors in Nigeria. The responses were collated in a cloud-based application and data was analysed using Epi-info version 20.Results:Atotal of 218 respondents, 142 were males (65.1 %) with a mean age of 37.6 ± 5.7 years. The modal age group was 31-40 years 153 (69.5%). The main factors considered as a hindrance to surveillance were; the cost of the tests (57.7%), failure of return of patients (50.5%) and not being aware of a surveillance program (45.2 %). The majority of the respondents were Gastroenterologists and Family Physicians. 54% of the gastroenterologists and 64% of the family physicians have never offered HCC surveillance to their patients.Conclusion:This survey highlights a knowledge gap in HCC surveillance among physicians. There is a need to make HCCsurveillance a daily routine among patients at risk by all physicians. Keywords: Surveillance, Hepatocellular Carcinoma, HBV, HCV, Cancer screening