Analysis of the impact of reproductive health outcome on women labour force participation and earnings in Nigeria

This study undertakes an empirical economic analysis of women reproductive health and labour force participation in Nigeria.  Specifically, the study analyzed the impact of reproductive health outcome on women labour force participation and earnings in  Nigeria. The study used mixed research methodology to study the research problem across the entire country. First, it uses a national representative quantitative data from the National Demographic Health Survey reports for 2003, 2008 and 2013 respectively. Secondly, cross-sectional micro- data were also collected from two study areas comprising one urban and one rural to test the validity of the hypothesis raised in this study. A questionnaire design, focus group discussions and key-informants interview were used to elicit information from respondents. The study used multi-stage sampling technique to select 400 women of reproductive age in the study areas. Various analytical tools such as chi-square, crosstabulations, and logistic regression were used to analyze the data collected. The study found that women’s reproductive health outcomes such as total fertility rate, child spacing and contraceptive prevalence rate have negatively impacted women’s labour force participation and earnings in the study areas. Hence, the negative reproductive health outcome has not given women the ample opportunity to develop the necessary capacities to engage in labour force  participation. From the cross sectional survey, it was found that only 6.54% of the respondents practice family planning which is below the national benchmark of 64.34%. About 92.92% of the respondents had birth interval of less than two years which is against the government’s policy of two years child spacing. About 95.58% of the respondents married at less than 18 years which is against the  government policy of 18 years age of marriage for women. Meanwhile, about 85% of the respondents have between 7 to 10 children and above per woman which is against the government’s policy of 4 children per woman. In addition, only 25.47% of the respondents have formal education while 30.86% are in active formal employment which is 100% against government’s policy of women literacy and formal employment rates in Nigeria. Therefore, the study concludes that reproductive health outcome does not have significant impact on women labour force participation and earnings in Nigeria. To this end, this study recommends that, there is need for government, key stakeholders in the private sector and non-governmental organizations to organize sensitization workshops for all religious leaders and household heads on the economic and health benefits of family planning and child spacing, in order to regulate the reproductive health behaviour’s of women so as to ensure their labour force participation in order to increase their lifetime earnings. Keywords: reproductive health outcome, women labour force participation and earnings, logistic regression mode

Myelofibrosis in a 24-Year Old Nigerian

Myelofibrosis (MF) is a chronic myeloproliferative disorder that is uncommon and for which transfusion of red cells is an integral part of management. Treatment with cytoreductive agents, corticosteroids and androgens has so far been unrewarding. Stem cell transplantation may improve treatment outcome. We hereby report MF in a young Nigerian illustrating the diagnostic and therapeutic difficulties encountered in the management of myelofibrosis in resource poor settings.La my\ue9lofibrose est un d\ue9sordre my\ue9loprolif\ue9ratif chronique rare dont la transfusion des globules rouges fait partie int\ue9grante de sa prise en charge. L'utilisation des agents cytor\ue9ductifs, des corticost\ue9ro\uefdes et d'androg\ue8nes a jusqu'\ue0 l\ue0 donn\ue9 que des r\ue9sultats d\ue9cevants. La transplantation des cellules \ue0 l'origine d'un clone (pr\ue9curseur) pourrait am\ue9liorer le r\ue9sultat du traitement. Nous rapportons ici le cas d'une my\ue9lofibrose chez un jeune nig\ue9rian illustrant les difficult\ue9s diagnostiques et th\ue9rapeutiques rencontr\ue9es dans la prise en charge de cette maladie dans un contexte de ressources \ue9conomiques limit\ue9e

Pattern of Cutaneous Malignant Melanoma in Zaria, Nigeria

Background: Twenty percent of the world's melanoma is seen in Black Africans and Asians. Melanoma in Nigerians would appear to be arising from existing epidermal melanocytes and not from preexisting naevus cells. Methods: All diagnosed cases of cutaneous malignant melanoma in the Department of Pathology Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria, Nigeria over a ten-year study period (1991-2000) were reviewed. The age, sex and anatomical site of the lesion were obtained from the request forms. The histopathological patterns of distribution, presence of dark brown melanin pigments, nucleolar appearance and Clark's histological grading were studied. The data was analysed and tabulated into frequency tables. Results: Fifty four cases of cutaneous malignant melanoma were reviewed. The over all male: female sex ratio was 1.3:1.0 with a wide age distribution from the second to seventh decades and two peaks in fifth and sixth decades. The foot and lower limbs were the most common sites. Seventy two percent of the cases were of high histological grade (Clark's level III and IV); thirty-six cases were distributed predominantly in sheets while 50 cases had dark brown melanin pigments. All showed characteristic prominent eosinophilic nucleolus. Conclusion: Malignant melanoma is a common skin tumour in Zaria. It is commonest in the fifth and sixth decades. The feet and lower limbs are predominantly affected.Fond: Vingt pour cent du m\ue9lanome du monde se trouvent parmi les Africains noirs et les Asiatiques. Le m\ue9lanome parmi les Nig\ue9rians semblerait une cons\ue9quence des m\ue9lanocytes \ue9pidermiques existants et pas de la pr\ue9existence des cellules de naevus. M\ue9thodes : Tous les cas diagnostiqu\ue9s de m\ue9lanome malin cutan\ue9 dans le d\ue9partement de Pathologie \ue0 l'H\uf4pital d'Enseignement de l'Universit\ue9 d'Ahmadu Bello, Zaria, Nigerie pendant une p\ue9riode d'\ue9tude de dix ans ( 1991-2000 ) ont \ue9t\ue9 pass\ue9s en revue. L'\ue2ge, le sexe et l'emplacement anatomique de la l\ue9sion ont \ue9t\ue9 obtenus \ue0 partir des questionnaires remplis. Les mod\ue8les histopathologiques de la distribution, de la pr\ue9sence des colorants bruns fonc\ue9s de m\ue9lanine, de l'aspect nucl\ue9olaire et de l'\ue9valuation histologique de Clark ont \ue9t\ue9 \ue9tudi\ue9s. Les donn\ue9es ont \ue9t\ue9 analys\ue9es et tabul\ue9es dans des tables de fr\ue9quence. R\ue9sultats: Cinquante quatre cas de m\ue9lanome malin cutan\ue9 ont \ue9t\ue9 pass\ue9s en revue. Le sex ratio g\ue9n\ue9ral de m\ue2le : femelle \ue9tait 1,3 : 1,0 avec une distribution large d'\ue2ge du deuxi\ue8me au septi\ue8me d\ue9cennies et de deux ondes en cinqui\ue8me et en sixi\ue8me d\ue9cennies. Le pied et les membres inf\ue9rieurs \ue9taient les emplacements les plus communs. Soixante-douze pour cent des cas \ue9taient de la cat\ue9gorie histologique \ue9lev\ue9e (\ue9valuation histologique de Clark III et IV), trente-six cas ont \ue9t\ue9 distribu\ue9s principalement en feuilles tandis que 50 cas avaient les colorants bruns fonc\ue9s de m\ue9lanine. Tout a montr\ue9 la caract\ue9ristique pro\ue9minente de nucl\ue9ole \ue9osinophile. Conclusion: Le m\ue9lanome malin est une tumeur de peau commune \ue9 Zaria. Il est le plus commun dans le cinqui\ue8me et le sixi\ue8me d\ue9cennies. Les pieds et les membres inf\ue9rieurs sont principalement affect\ue9s

Utilization of Palm Oil Mill Residue as Sustainable Pavement Materials: A Review

The advances in industrial technology have led to a major rise in the amount and forms of residue, especially during the processing of agricultural products. With the paradigm shift towards renewable energy and sustainability, there is much emphasis on biomass energy around the world which generates an immense volume of residues yearly. These residues are burgeoning issues because they are not effectively managed and utilized. Hence, one solution is utilizing them in the pavement industry. This article focuses on palm oil mill residues that are abundantly available and discarded in Malaysia. This study evaluates published works of literature relating to the utilization of these residues like the Palm Oil Fiber (POF), Palm Oil Fuel Ash (POFA), and Palm Oil Clinker (POC) and Palm Kernel Shell (PKS) in the pavement industry. The outcome of the review acknowledges the greater sustainability potential of these residues with affirmative and satisfactory performance via the result of numerous research work. Also, with a reduction in CO2-emission, low radioactivity, and heavy metal leaching level. Therefore, the review suggests more exploration and utilization of the residue in the pavement industry since it promotes safety and harness sustainability

Data mining of the essential causes of different types of fatal construction accidents

Accident analysis is used to discover the causes of workplace injuries and devise methods for preventing them in the future. There has been little discussion in the previous studies of the specific elements contributing to deadly construction accidents. In contrast to previous studies, this study focuses on the causes of fatal construction accidents based on management factors, unsafe site conditions, and workers' unsafe actions. The association rule mining technique identifies the hidden patterns or knowledge between the root causes of fatal construction accidents, and one hundred meaningful association rules were extracted from the two hundred and fifty-three rules generated. It was discovered that many fatal construction accidents were caused by management factors, unsafe site circumstances, and risky worker behaviors. These analyses can be used to demonstrate plausible cause-and-effect correlations, assisting in building a safer working environment in the construction sector. The study findings can be used more efficiently to design effective inspection procedures and occupational safety initiatives. Finally, the proposed method should be tested in a broader range of construction situations and scenarios to ensure that it is as accurate as possible

Utilization of palm oil mill residue as sustainable pavement materials: A review

The advances in industrial technology have led to a major rise in the amount and forms of residue, especially during the processing of agricultural products. With the paradigm shift towards renewable energy and sustainability, there is much emphasis on biomass energy around the world which generates an immense volume of residues yearly. These residues are burgeoning issues because they are not effectively managed and utilized. Hence, one solution is utilizing them in the pavement industry. This article focuses on palm oil mill residues that are abundantly available and discarded in Malaysia. This study evaluates published works of literature relating to the utilization of these residues like the Palm Oil Fiber (POF), Palm Oil Fuel Ash (POFA), and Palm Oil Clinker (POC) and Palm Kernel Shell (PKS) in the pavement industry. The outcome of the review acknowledges the greater sustainability potential of these residues with affirmative and satisfactory performance via the result of numerous research work. Also, with a reduction in CO2-emission, low radioactivity, and heavy metal leaching level. Therefore, the review suggests more exploration and utilization of the residue in the pavement industry since it promotes safety and harness sustainability

Strengthening retinopathy of prematurity screening and treatment services in Nigeria: a case study of activities, challenges and outcomes 2017-2020.

OBJECTIVES: Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) will become a major cause of blindness in Nigerian children unless screening and treatment services expand. This article aims to describe the collaborative activities undertaken to improve services for ROP between 2017 and 2020 as well as the outcome of these activities in Nigeria. DESIGN: Descriptive case study. SETTING: Neonatal intensive care units in Nigeria. PARTICIPANTS: Staff providing services for ROP, and 723 preterm infants screened for ROP who fulfilled screening criteria (gestational age <34 weeks or birth weight ≤2000 g, or sickness criteria). METHODS AND ANALYSIS: A WhatsApp group was initiated for Nigerian ophthalmologists and neonatologists in 2018. Members participated in a range of capacity-building, national and international collaborative activities between 2017 and 2018. A national protocol for ROP was developed for Nigeria and adopted in 2018; 1 year screening outcome data were collected and analysed. In 2019, an esurvey was used to collect service data from WhatsApp group members for 2017-2018 and to assess challenges in service provision. RESULTS: In 2017 only six of the 84 public neonatal units in Nigeria provided ROP services; this number had increased to 20 by 2018. Of the 723 babies screened in 10 units over a year, 127 (17.6%) developed any ROP; and 29 (22.8%) developed type 1 ROP. Only 13 (44.8%) babies were treated, most by intravitreal bevacizumab. The screening criteria were revised in 2020. Challenges included lack of equipment to regulate oxygen and to document and treat ROP, and lack of data systems. CONCLUSION: ROP screening coverage and quality improved after national and international collaborative efforts. To scale up and improve services, equipment for neonatal care and ROP treatment is urgently needed, as well as systems to monitor data. Ongoing advocacy is also essential

A Review of Types of Injuries Sustained Following Road Traffic Accidents and their Prevention

Road traffic (RTA) accidents are a common cause of morbidity and mortality in all parts of the world. As an epidemiological problem, the control of the host (accident victim), the agent (the vehicle) and environmental factors involved in their causation should be considered. The health personnel who look after accident victims need to know the injury types and their mechanisms encountered in RTA. The accident victim can be the occupant of a motorcar, a motorcyclist, pillion passenger, a cyclist or a pedestrian. Motorcar occupant can be the driver who may sustain injury to the wrists, forearm and pelvis or fracture of the ribs from the steering wheel. The driver and other front seat passenger can have lacerations on the face from hitting the windscreen, characteristic bruises and lacerations to the knees and skin from the dashboard or cervical spine injury through whiplash injury if there are no headrests on the seats. Backseat passenger may hit the back of the front seat or the sides of the car. Any of the occupants can be thrown out of the vehicle if the door springs open. Motor cyclists, pillion passengers, cyclists and pedestrians hit by a moving vehicle sustain primary and secondary impact injuries from the impact with the body of the vehicle, and or secondary injuries when they hit the ground or other object. Alcohol is an important factor in the cause of RTA, but additionally, some medical conditions such as advanced diabetes, hypertension, some prescribed drugs like tranquillisers and sedatives, stress and diseases that blunt locomotion and sensations in the elderly can influence the causation of accidents. Prevention will involve control of the host factors - illnesses, alcohol, accident repeaters and enforcement of driving regulations; agent factors - through better vehicle design using human engineering; and environmental factors through better road design and maintenance (Nig J Surg Res 2000; 2:100-104) KEY WORDS: Road Traffic Accidents (RTA), epidemiology, preventio

Myelofibrosis in a 24-Year Old Nigerian

Myelofibrosis (MF) is a chronic myeloproliferative disorder that is uncommon and for which transfusion of red cells is an integral part of management. Treatment with cytoreductive agents, corticosteroids and androgens has so far been unrewarding. Stem cell transplantation may improve treatment outcome. We hereby report MF in a young Nigerian illustrating the diagnostic and therapeutic difficulties encountered in the management of myelofibrosis in resource poor settings.La myélofibrose est un désordre myéloprolifératif chronique rare dont la transfusion des globules rouges fait partie intégrante de sa prise en charge. L&apos;utilisation des agents cytoréductifs, des corticostéroïdes et d&apos;androgènes a jusqu&apos;à là donné que des résultats décevants. La transplantation des cellules à l&apos;origine d&apos;un clone (précurseur) pourrait améliorer le résultat du traitement. Nous rapportons ici le cas d&apos;une myélofibrose chez un jeune nigérian illustrant les difficultés diagnostiques et thérapeutiques rencontrées dans la prise en charge de cette maladie dans un contexte de ressources économiques limitée

Two hundred and forty six tumours and tumour-like conditions of the jaw seen in Zaria, Nigeria

Background: Tumours of the jaw may arise from the odontogenic tissues or from the non-odontogenic tissues. Many of the odontogenic tumours are considered as developmental rather than neoplastic. Method: The present study is a retrospective analysis of 246 tumours of the jaw seen in the Pathology Department of the Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital (ABUTH), Zaria from 1987 - 1996. The tumours were classified according to World Health Organization international histological classification for odontogenic tumours. The cases were analyzed according to histological type, age and sex. Result: sarcoma peaked in the fourth decade while the only case of malignant ameloblastoma was in the fifth decade. Eighty one percent of the jaw lymphomas were of Burkitt's type, 53.1% of which were within the age group 5 - 9 years. The other non-Burkitt's lymphomas were distributed between 5 to 60 years. Conclusions: Ameloblastoma is the commonest benign tumour of the jaw in Zaria, while Burkitt's lymphoma is the commonest malignant jaw tumour. The later occurs mainly in the first decade of life