Age Related Pattern And Outcome Of Head Injury In Indigenous Africa

Background: Most studies of patients with head injury managed outside of indigenous Africa have shown poorer outcome with increasing age, but data on this subject is scanty in this part of the world. Aim: To determine age related pattern and outcome of head injury in an indigenous African setting. Methods: A retrospective analysis of clinical characteristics, mechanism of head injury, associated injury, trauma scores and outcome in patients admitted for head injury at the University Teaching Hospital, Ilorin, Nigeria, between 1989 and 1999. Results: The 648 patients comprised of 39 older subjects (= 60 yrs), 357 adults (17-59 yrs) and 252 children (= 16 yrs). They were aged 1 to 105 years (mean = 37years). Road traffic injury was the commonest cause of trauma to the head. Children were most often injured as pedestrians while adults and older patients were more often victims of passenger vehicular accidents. Older patients had the poorest outcome with a mortality rate of 48.7%. They were more prone to severe head injury (41.0%) and multisystem trauma (51.3%), with higher mean injury severity scores and lower probability of survival than younger patients. Outcome was predictable by age and GCS (p=0.0206 & 0.0000) in all age groups put together and in children while GCS was a predictor in adults (p =0.0000), and none of the variables could predict outcome in the older patients. Conclusion: The study reaffirms that outcome of head injury worsens with advancing age and indicates that severity of head injury and higher frequency of multi-system trauma may contribute to worse outcome in older patients. Keywords: Head Injury, Pattern, Outcome, Age Nigerian Journal of Clinical Practice Vol. 11 (3) 2008: pp. 265-26

Appropriate Technology for Cassava Processing in Nigeria: User’s Point of View

This study examined appropriate agricultural extension technological needs of users in cassava processing activities in Nigeria. Purposive sampling technique was used in selecting 160 participating and non-participating users making a total of 320 users in Oyo state. Data was collected with Interview Schedule and analysed using chi-square and t-test. (58%) of women (users) use traditional processing equipments in cassava processing. Improved processing technologies used include vibrating sieve, abrasive peeler, motorised grater, drum drier, and screw-jack. Processed cassava products include “gari,” “lafun,” starch, and “fufu.” Significant relationships exist between the use of improved technologies for processing and age (X2 = 6.15, p= 0.05), educational Status (X2= 5.80, p= 0.05), religion (X2= 12.20, p= 0.05) and type of technology utilized. Significant difference exists between mean adoption scores of participating and nonparticipating users (t= 6.53, p= 0.05). Problems encountered by the users include high cost of processing equipment, transportation difficulties, poor infrastructural facilities, shortage of labour, poor access to market, lack of fund and poor shortage facilities. Time-saving and simpler prototype processing equipment should be introduced to the users of cassava processing technologies during extension training

Outcome of Early Post-traumatic Seizure: An Experience in Nigeria

Purpose: To determine the frequency, causes, risk factors and outcome following early posttraumatic seizure. Methods: A retrospective analysis of age, sex, mechanism of injury, type and onset of unprovoked seizure occurring within one week of injury, admission coma score, and Glasgow outcome score in patients with non-penetrating head injury. Results: Eighty six (10.2%) of 845 head injured patients developed early posttraumatic seizure. They were 55 (64%) children and 31 (36%) older subjects. The seizure was partial in 35% but generalized in 65% of cases. The frequency of seizure increased significantly with decreasing age (p=0.00002) and coma score (p=0.00009) in the seizure group and also in relation to the entire sample (n=845) of head injured patients (p=0.00000). Traffic accident was the leading cause of head injuries (58%), while fall from height (32.5%), domestic injuries (4.2%) and non-penetrating assault (3.5%) were miscellaneous causes. Pedestrian vehicular injury and falls were the commonest mechanisms of injury in children, while older patients were most frequently involved as passengers in auto-crash. Early posttraumatic seizure worsened outcome of head injury, the case mortality rate being 27.9% and 19.2% in patients with and without posttraumatic seizure respectively. Conclusions: The frequency of early posttraumatic seizure in our setting is 10.2%. This varies significantly with patients\' age and initial coma score. Keywords: head injury, early posttraumatic seizure, outcome Nigerian Journal of Clinical Practice Vol. 11 (3) 2008: pp. 193-19

Fungal spore distribution in two hospitals in Kabale district, Uganda

Fungi infections are a danger to the value of human life as they cause health issues such as depression, lack of self-confidence and seclusion in infected individuals. To date, the prevalence and distribution of airborne fungi spores are still not well documented in Uganda. Airborne fungi spores in Kabale Referral and Rugarama hospitals were monitored for two months. This study also examined the proportion of fungal infection cases reported in the two hospitals regularly. The fungal colonies were collected for two months using the open plate sedimentation method with Petri dishes of Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA) media, cultured and identified morphologically. The obtained results were analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA) and means were separated using Duncan Multiple Range Test (DMTR) with a level of significance at P<0.05. A total of 398 fungal colonies were obtained from the two locations for the period of study. Aspergillus flavus (15.3%) followed by Aspergillus fumigatus (10.6%) recorded the highest number of fungal colonies while Nigrospora (1%), Fusarium spp,(2.3%) and Trichoderma spp, (1.3%) had the least number of species in all the locations sampled. A number of the fungi isolated are opportunistic and are allergens that cause various diseases, irritations and allergic reactions in humans. Therefore, this study recommends routine aerobiological monitoring in both outdoor and indoor hospital environments for better management of fungal infections

COMMUTERS AND TRAFFIC OFFICIALS PERCEPTION ON TAXI DRIVERS DRESS CODE POLICY IN ABEOKUTA METROPOLIS,OGUN STATE, NIGERIA

The primary purpose of clothing is functional; clothing performs social, protective and cultural func- tions. It gives a non-verbal communication on the social and marital status, occupation, ethnic, political or religious affiliation of an individual or group of people. Formal dress code is a term for clothing suit- able for formal events. Studies revealed that formal dress codes creates a business focused environ- ment and increases professional behaviour at office among co-workers and clients. This study was designed to investigate the societal perception on introducing formal dressing for taxi drivers in Abeo- kuta metropolis. The population of the study consists of adults who reside in Abeokuta. Purposive sampling technique was used to select a sample of 150 participants (passengers and Vehicle Inspec- tor/Road Safety/Police/Traffic/ Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corp, TRACE officials). The par- ticipants were selected from bus parks, and offices. The data was collected through the use of ques- tionnaire. The result revealed that, majority of the participants were favorably disposed to the use of formal dressing by taxi drivers, as this would boost their productivity, increase customers’ patronage, improves their morals and add decorum to the profession

Feminist Development Economics : An Institutional Approach to Household Analysis

__Abstract__ In this chapter, we argue that an institutional approach to feminist development economics provides deeper understandings to how gender inequalities function in economic processes in developing countries. We do this in three ways. First, we distinguish between symmetric and asymmetric gender institutions. Second, we distinguish gendered institutions between formal (laws and regulations) and informal ones (social norms and cultural practices). Third, we develop an empowerment model in which both resources and gendered institutions affect women’s wellbeing achievements, allowing for situations in which the positive effect of women’s access to resources is overruled by the negative effect of gendered laws or social norms. We illustrate our argument with a case study on the livelihoods of Yoruba women in Nigeria. The case study shows how gender norms result in an asymmetric institutional setting for women and men, even when norms about women’s labor force participation, individual control over income, and partners’ contribution to the household budget are symmetric. The combination of our theoretical contribution and our case study findings and test of the empowerment model in previous research have an important implication for a particular approach in feminist development economics, namely the household bargaining approach. This approach is widely used as an explanatory framework for women’s disadvantaged economic position in developing countries. We elaborate this approach with an institutional perspective and show how this helps to explain the economic position of women who find themselves in the paradoxical situation of strong economic independence in a highly unequal legal, social, and cultural context

Factors affecting changing livelihood strategies of artisanal fisherfolks in inland fishing communities in Delta State

This study examined the factors affecting changing livelihood strategies of artisanal fisherfolks in inland fishing communities in Delta State, Nigeria. The sample size of 169 respondents was selected through a simple random sampling from a total of 935 fisherfolks in two selected Local Government Areas. Instrument for data collection was structured questionnaire. Data were analysed using descriptive and non parametric statistic. The result showed that majority (44%) of the respondents is between the ages of 41 and 60 years. There were no significant relationships between marital status, educational level, family size, income of fisherfolks and changing livelihood strategies (r= - 0.118, P = 0.05; r = -0.102, P = 0.05; r= -0.107, p 0.05; r = -0.107, P = 0.05) respectively. Correlation co-efficient analysis revealed that there was insignificant relationship between reasons for diversification of livelihood and changing livelihood strategies of the artisanal fisherfolks (r = 0.103, P = 0.184). In conclusion, the factors affecting livelihood strategies of artisanal fisherfolks include coping with insufficiency, income, obnoxious fishing method, government policy, resource depletion through sand bank, respondents ethnicity, age and sex. It is therefore recommended that greater emphasis should be directed towards provision of credit facilities. Fishing nets should also be subsidised by the government

An Assessment of the Impact of the Teachers’ Professional Development Programme under Lagos “Eko” Secondary Education Project in Lagos State

This study was designed to assess the impact of the Teachers’ Professional Development Programme (TPDP) under Lagos “Eko” Secondary Education Project in Lagos State. Survey research design was adopted for this study. Simple random sampling was used in selecting 240 teachers from six secondary schools in Education District IV. The instrument used for data collection was the “Eko” Project Teachers’ Professional Development Programme Questionnaire (EPTPDP). The reliability co-efficient of the instrument was 0.82. Five research questions and four research hypotheses were raised and tested at 0.05 level of significance. The data collected was analysed using simple percentage, independent t- test and ANOVA. The result showed that teachers’ in Lagos state public secondary schools benefitted from the various Professional programmes they were exposed to Under the Lagos “Eko” secondary education project (LESEP). Further more the result showed that age, gender, educational qualification and years of teaching experience had no significant influence on the benefits derived by teachers’ from the Professional Development Programmes. The researcher recommends that there should be continuous exposure of teachers’ in Lagos State public schools to Professional Development Programme, as this will equip them with Knowledge, skills, strategies and methodology necessary in the teaching- learning process. This may lead to continuous improvement in the academic performance of students in Public Secondary School in Lagos State. Key words: Professional status, Professional Development, Training programmes, “Eko” project, Secondary School, Education