207 research outputs found

    Assessing eLearning systems success in Nigeria: an application of the DeLone and McLean Information Systems Success Model

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    Aim/Purpose: This study is based on the DeLone and McLean's Information Systems Success (D & M ISS) model, which was modified to determine the success factors re-sponsible for the acceptance of an e-learning system called Canvas by students of a Nigerian University. Background: The adoption of eLearning has been under studied within the context of devel-oping countries. There have been calls in the literature for further research from a developing country perspective. This study attempts to fill this knowledge gap by investigating the factors responsible for students' adoption of eLearning in a Nigerian University. Methodology: The study was built on the premise that system quality (SQ), service quality (ServQ) and information quality (IQ) are determinants of behavioral intention to use Canvas and user satisfaction of Canvas, both of which in turn influence the actual usage of Canvas. Responses from 366 students were analyzed with AMOS 22 using structural equation model (SEM) to test the relationships be-tween the constructs of the proposed model. Contribution: The study contributes to the research gap about the paucity of studies in the adoption of eLearning in developing countries that have placed emphasis on the use of eLearning systems or on the software quality attributes of the sys-tems under investigation. Findings: The results partially supported the effect of the quality antecedents on behav-ioral intention and user satisfaction of students. There was full support for the relationship between behavioral intention and user satisfaction of students on their actual usage of Canvas. Recommendations for Practitioners: The level of significance of the constructs identified in the study will guide the formulation of strategies and methods that could further enhance the adoption of eLearning systems in developing countries, specifically Nigeria. Recommendation for Researchers: Theoretically, the study contributes to the body of knowledge on eLearning adoption by empirically validating the DeLone and McLean model in a different context, specifically sub-Saharan Africa. Future Research: Future research could investigate the factors that influence instructors' behav-ioral intentions to use eLearning applications and also the effect that the in-structors have on students' adoption of eLearning

    Factors influencing Consumer Preference for Fresh Beef in Sokoto Metropolis, Nigeria

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    A total of 90 Household heads (15 from each of the six electoral wards of Sokoto metropolis) were randomly selected and interviewed to identify factors that affect preference for fresh beef and to determine the nature of the relationship. Factors identified were; household size, educational level, occupation, expenditure on beef, and expenditure on beef substitutes. A quadratic regression model was found to best explain the relationship between preference and the factors identified. Household size, level of education and expenditure on beef substitutes were significantly related to preference for fresh beef (P<0.01), However, occupation and expenditure on beef did not influence preference (P>0.05). As expected expenditure on beef substitutes tends to decrease preference for beef. Beef has been found to be preferred over other sources of meats.Keywords: Consumer, Preference, fresh beef, Sokoto Metropolis, Nigeri

    Psychoactive substance use in a sample of community outreach participants; prevalence, correlates and ease of incorporating care

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    Background: The misuse of licit and illicit substances has continued to constitute a profound effect and harm across various societies. This study examined the nature of substance use, abuse and dependence in a community setting in Jos, Plateau State and the ease of carrying out screening, brief intervention and referral for substance use problems.Methods: Data for this study was gathered through a community-based medical outreach with a total of 1170 residence (M=36.97, SD=15.33), within the research area in participation. A cross-sectional research design was used to examine the prevalence and correlates of psychoactive substance consumption (excluding alcohol).Results: Analysis revealed that tobacco 51%, marijuana 22%, opioids 15%, sedatives 6%, and amphetamine 2%, were the current most significant substances used within the population. The ASSIST and MINI diagnostic criteria noted a significant rate of substance abuse and dependence (p<0.05) for tobacco, marijuana, amphetamine, inhalants, sedatives, hallucinogens, and opioid. Brief intervention based on the FRAMES techniques as employed in this study, was used in a total of 211 participants among whom 36 further received counseling for substance abuse and 60 were referred for specialized drug treatment therapy due to substance dependence. Gender, living environment, employment status and occupation were significant predictors of substance use across the participants. Specifically, male, participants who have stable accommodation, those with regular employment and students were found to be the group with the most significant rates of substance and substance use disorders.Conclusions: This study concludes among others, that the ASSIST, MINI and Brief Intervention were indeed effective for substance-related diagnosis in community-based medical programs and can be effectively incorporated into routine services with adequate planning, training and execution

    Reaction of some selected soy bean varieties (Glycine max (L)Merril)to root -knot nematode infection

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    Two-year screen-house studies to evaluate the reaction of five soybean varieties (TGX – 1987 – 34F, TGX -1987 – 38F, TGX – 1987 – 95F, TGX – 1986 -3F, TGX – 1985 – 8F) to root – knot nematode, Meloidogyne incognita, were conducted in the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Ilorin. Forty experimental pots containing pasteurized soil were used. Twenty pots were inoculated each with approximately 3,000 eggs of M. incognita while the other twenty which did not receive any treatment served as control. The experimental set up was a completely randomized design having each treatment replicated four times. Results showed that all the varieties were susceptible to M. incognita at varying degrees. While plant height of nematode inoculated varieties were significantly (P=0.05) lower than the un-inoculated plants, among the same varieties, there were significant differences in the number of branches of inoculated and non inoculated plants between different and among the same varieties. There were varietal differences in terms of seed weight which represented actual yield. Generally, the un-innoculated plants gave significantly higher yield than inoculated ones. Root gall infestation rated the same level for all the five varieties. However, variety TGX-1985 – 8F exhibited superior characteristics over the other four varieties because it showed higher level of tolerance to nematode infestation judging from its performance and yield. From the study, it can be deduced that the use of nematode resistant/tolerant Soybean varieties be adopted in the management of root- knot nematode infestation. It is one of the cheapest and safest control methods that pose no form of hazard to man and the environment. In nematode endemic ecological zones, TGX-1985 – 8F is therefore recommended as it proved to contain some specialized genes that conferred a higher level of tolerance against root- knot nematode, Meloidogyne incognita. Key Words: Glycine max, root – knot nematode, Dominant loci, Mi – 1.2, leucine zipper and R genes

    Means of transportation affects the physical qualities of watermelon (Citrullus lanatus [Thunb]) fruit within the Tamale Metropolis in the Northern Region of Ghana

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    The high perishable nature of fruits and vegetables in the agricultural sector is a major concern to scientists and the various stakeholders along the value chain. Postharvest handling practices and transportation systems are some of the factors responsible for some postharvest losses. This study therefore sought to identify the various means of transport used by traders and also to assess the kinds of mechanical damage that confront watermelon fruits during transportation within the Metropolis. Field survey collected information on handling practices and the means of transportation. It revealed that the means of transport used by watermelon traders included Kia mini truck (0.80 t), Motor King (Tricycle) (0.45 t) Kia mini truck (1.5 t) and Mini Pickup truck (1.00 t). It was also observed that majority (35%) of watermelon traders used Kia mini truck while Mini Pickup truck was the least used (15%). It further revealed that Motor King (0.45 t) recorded the highest percentage of cracks (0.08%) while Kia mini truck (1.5 t) had the least (0.03%).  Additionally, Kia mini truck (0.80 t) had the highest percentage of bruises (0.14%) while Kia mini truck (1.5 t) had the least (0.53%). Keywords: mechanical injury, hinterlands, transport, cracks and bruise

    Cardiovascular Risk Factors in a Suburban Community in Nigeria

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    The burden of hypertension, a silent killer, continues to increase in low- and middle-income countries. This study evaluated blood pressure (BP) in healthy adults to determine their risk of developing hypertension and to reduce associatedmorbidity of the disease. Overall, 182 subjects aged >16 years participated in the study. Systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) was measured after a resting period usingmercury sphygmomanometer. Randomblood glucose (RBG) concentration was also determined. Regression models were used to determine risk of high BP wit

    Original Contribution RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SOME BODY MEASUREMENTS AND LIVE WEIGHT IN ADULT MUSCOVY DUCKS USING PATH ANALYSIS

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    ABSTRACT Weight and body dimensions (body length (BL), chest circumference (CC), thigh length (TL), shank length (SL) and neck length (NL) were studied using 215 fifteen weeks male and female Nigerian indigenous Muscovy ducks by path analysis. The result showed that the correlation coefficient between live weight and body dimensions on the other hand were 0.89, .94, .87, .88 and .75 (male) and .29, .59, .41, .37, -.10 (female) for BL, CC, TL, SL and NL respectively. The direct effect of chest circumference was higher in both male and female (0.616, .571) with the neck length having the least and negative direct effects on weight for both sexes. Indirect effect of body length through chest circumference was also the highest .chest circumference is the most influential variable and can be included in the model in estimating live weight of both male and female Muscovy duck at 15 weeks of age

    Intestinal parasitic infections in schoolchildren in different settings of Côte d'Ivoire : effect of diagnostic approach and implications for control

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    BACKGROUND: Social-ecological systems govern parasitic infections in humans. Within the frame of assessing the accuracy of a rapid diagnostic test for Schistosoma mansoni in Cote d'Ivoire, three different endemicity settings had to be identified and schoolchildren's intestinal parasitic infection profiles were characterized. METHODS: In September 2010, a rapid screening was conducted in 11 schools in the Azaguie district, south Cote d'Ivoire. In each school, 25 children were examined for S. mansoni and S. haematobium. Based on predefined schistosome endemicity levels, three settings were selected, where schoolchildren aged 8-12 years were asked to provide three stool and three urine samples for an in-depth appraisal of parasitic infections. Triplicate Kato-Katz thick smears were prepared from each stool sample for S. mansoni and soil-transmitted helminth diagnosis, whereas urine samples were subjected to a filtration method for S. haematobium diagnosis. Additionally, a formol-ether concentration method was employed on one stool sample for the diagnosis of helminths and intestinal protozoa. Multivariable logistic regression models were employed to analyse associations between schoolchildren's parasitic infections, age, sex and study setting. RESULTS: The prevalences of S. mansoni and S. haematobium infections in the initial screening ranged from nil to 88% and from nil to 56%, respectively. The rapid screening in the three selected areas revealed prevalences of S. mansoni of 16%, 33% and 78%. Based on a more rigorous diagnostic approach, the respective prevalences increased to 92%, 53% and 33%. S. haematobium prevalences were 0.8%, 4% and 65%. Prevalence and intensity of Schistosoma spp., soil-transmitted helminths and intestinal protozoan infections showed setting-specific patterns. Infections with two or more species concurrently were most common in the rural setting (84%), followed by the peri-urban (28.3%) and urban setting (18.2%). CONCLUSIONS: More sensitive diagnostic tools or rigorous sampling approaches are needed to select endemicity settings with high fidelity. The observed small-scale heterogeneity of helminths and intestinal protozoan infections has important implications for contro

    Global economic burden of unmet surgical need for appendicitis

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    Background: There is a substantial gap in provision of adequate surgical care in many low-and middle-income countries. This study aimed to identify the economic burden of unmet surgical need for the common condition of appendicitis. Methods: Data on the incidence of appendicitis from 170 countries and two different approaches were used to estimate numbers of patients who do not receive surgery: as a fixed proportion of the total unmet surgical need per country (approach 1); and based on country income status (approach 2). Indirect costs with current levels of access and local quality, and those if quality were at the standards of high-income countries, were estimated. A human capital approach was applied, focusing on the economic burden resulting from premature death and absenteeism. Results: Excess mortality was 4185 per 100 000 cases of appendicitis using approach 1 and 3448 per 100 000 using approach 2. The economic burden of continuing current levels of access and local quality was US 92492millionusingapproach1and92 492 million using approach 1 and 73 141 million using approach 2. The economic burden of not providing surgical care to the standards of high-income countries was 95004millionusingapproach1and95 004 million using approach 1 and 75 666 million using approach 2. The largest share of these costs resulted from premature death (97.7 per cent) and lack of access (97.0 per cent) in contrast to lack of quality. Conclusion: For a comparatively non-complex emergency condition such as appendicitis, increasing access to care should be prioritized. Although improving quality of care should not be neglected, increasing provision of care at current standards could reduce societal costs substantially
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