STAFF PERCEPTIONS OF THE SOURCES OF OCCUPATION STRESS ON JOB PERFORMANCE AND IMPLICATIONS ON CHRISTIAN HIGHER EDUCATION LEADERSHIP

Occupational stress has become a vital issue to address in faith-based organizations because of its detrimental impact on job performance. In Christian higher institutions, where faith is integrated into teaching and learning processes the wellbeing of employees is required to accomplish the mission of the university. The purpose of this study is to examine the perception of staff on the sources of occupational stress so that appropriate measures are put in place to improve workers' wellbeing and productivity. This study is based on quantitative research conducted in two conveniently selected Christian universities in Kenya. Data was collected through a questionnaire based on open and close-ended questions. The descriptive survey design was used for the study while regression analysis was used to test the relationship between independent and dependent variables. Census survey sampling was used to determine the participants in the study. The total sample for the study was 158; comprising of full-time administrative and academic staff. The major sources of occupational stress include excessive workload (P =.016

A reference interval study of serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D among an African elderly population

Background: Elderly people have increased risk factors for low serum vitamin D levels, which is worsened among the black race. Therefore, elderly Africans constitute a reference population for vitamin D study. Aim: The aim of this study was to establish the reference interval of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) among an African elderly population. Methodology: This was a cross-sectional study of rural community dwellers in Enugu, south-eastern Nigeria aged 50 years and above, that satisfied the criteria of the reference population. Ethical approval and informed consent were obtained. Venous blood was collected from reference individuals and serum 25(OH)D was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.Data were analysed using a non-parametric, bootstrap method to obtain the central 95% reference limits and 90% confidence intervals of the lower and upper limits of the reference interval respectively. Results: One hundred and twenty-four (62 males and 62 females) participants were recruited. The median (25th -75th percentile) of serum 25(OH)D was 56 (35 – 71) ng/ml. The 2.5th percentile defined the lower reference limit and it was 21 ng/ml with 90% confidence interval (20 – 23) ng/ml; while the 97.5th percentile defined the upper reference limit and it was 93 ng/ml with 90% confidence interval (90 – 98) ng/ml. Conclusion: The reference interval for serum 25(OH)D for the selected African elderly population in Enugu, Nigeria was determined to be 21 to 93 ng/ml. Keywords: Bootstrap method; elderly; reference interval; vitamin D

An Investigation on the Relationship between Facial Emotional Recognition and Tendency to Commit Crime; Moderating the Effects of Socio-Economic Well- Being

The growth of crime rates are on the increase all over the world and Niger ia is not an exception Crime the intentional illegal action committed by any person for which such a person can punish by law does not have a definite cause but rather combination of causes which may include economic situatio n social environment personality traits and family structures This study investigates if socioeconomic wellbeing has a mediating effect on relationship between facial emotional recognition and the tendency to commit crime among hospital workers in Imo state A total of 150 75 males and 75 females workers were randomly selected to participate in this study Three instruments were used in this study which includes Criminal Behaviour Rating Scale CBRS developed by Animasahun 2011 Socio-economic wellbeing scale developed by Obi-Nwosu 2018 and Facial emotion scale developed by Paul Ekman The willing participants after signing the consent form were provided with copies of the questionnaires which were distributed and directives of how to fill them was given by the researcher The researcher explained the content of the questionnaire and this helped the participants to easily fill the questionnaires independently As participants turned in their questionnaires the researcher administered the facial emotion recognition test to them individually repelling and discouraging interference from participants who were waiting to be assessed After collecting the data the questionnaires were collated and the data collected analyzed The Pearson s correlation was used to analyze the dat

Digital Divide in Sub-Saharan African Universities: Recommendations and Monitoring

The Digital Divide prevents Africa from taking advantages of new information technologies. One of the most urgent priorities is to bring the Internet in African Universities, Research, and Learning Centers to the level of other regions of the world. eGY-Africa, and the Sharing Knowledge Foundation are two bottom-up initiatives by scientists to secure better cyber-infrastructure and Internet facilities in Africa. Recommendations by the present scientific communities are being formulated at national, regional and international levels. The Internet capabilities are well documented at country level overall, but this is not the case at the University level. The snapshot of the Internet status in universities in 17 African countries, obtained by a questionnaire survey, is consistent with measures of Internet penetration in the corresponding country. The monitoring of Internet performance has been proposed to those African universities to provide an information base for arguing the need to improve the coverage for Africa. A pilot program is recommended that will start scientific collaboration with Europe in western Africa using ICT. The program will lay the foundations for the arrival of new technologies like Grids

Knowledge and practices of foodstuff traders on Lassa fever and rodent control in Izzi Local Government Area, Ebonyi State, Nigeria

Introduction: Lassa fever (LF) could be transmitted through food contamination with excreta or body fluids of infected Mastomys natalensis. Foodstuff markets in rural areas are usually rodent infested with possibility of foodstuff contamination with Lassa virus. We assessed the knowledge and practices of foodstuff traders on LF and rodent control in rural markets. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out in three rural markets in Ebonyi State in 2017. We administered questionnaire on 111 respondents selected via multi-stage sampling. Knowledge of LF and rodent control practices were assessed using cut-off of 75% and their relationship with socio-demographic characteristics were explored using crude odds ratio and logistic regression. Results: Mean age of respondents was 33.6±9.2 years, majority were females 67/111 (60.4%), married 81/111 (73.0%) and had secondary education 45/111 (40.5%). Although all respondents had heard of LF, 34/111 (30.6%) knew any symptom of LF, 51/111 (46.0%) knew any route of transmission, 24/111 (21.6%) knew any practices exposing one to LF infection, and 40/111 (36.0%) knew any preventive measures against LF infection. Fifty-two percent of respondents covered their wares, 57/111 (51.4%) blocked rodent access into their shops, while 16/111 (14.4%) used chemical agents to control rats. None used traps/cats for rodent control. Overall, 32/111 (28.8%) respondents had good knowledge of LF and 15/111 (13.5%) had good practice of rodent control. Conclusion: Many foodstuff traders had poor knowledge of LF and poor practices of rodent control. These traders should be targeted for sensitization on LF and rodent control to minimize contamination of foodstuff

Chronic Hepatitis C Therapy in Liver Cirrhosis Complicated by Telaprevir-Induced DRESS

Drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) is a rare yet severe adverse drug-induced reaction with up to 10% mortality rate. Recent clinical trials reported an association between DRESS and telaprevir (TVR), an NS3/4A protease inhibitor of chronic hepatitis C (CHC) virus genotype 1. Its diagnosis is challenging given the variable pattern of cutaneous eruption and the myriad internal organ involvement. We present two patients who are middle-aged, obese, and white with CHC cirrhosis. They both developed a progressive diffuse, painful pruritic maculopapular rash at weeks 8 and 10 of CHC therapy with TVR, Peg-Interferon alfa-2a, and Ribavirin. They had no exposures to other medications that can cause this syndrome. Physical exam and labs and skin biopsy supported a “Definite” clinical diagnosis of DRESS, per RegiSCAR criteria. Thus Telaprevir-based triple therapy was discontinued and both patients experienced rapid resolution of the systemic symptoms with gradual improvement of eosinophilia and the skin eruption. These two cases illustrate the paramount importance of having a high index of suspicion for TVR-induced DRESS, critical for early diagnosis. Immediate discontinuation of TVR is essential in prevention of a potentially life-threatening complication. Risk factors for development of DRESS in patients receiving TVR remain to be elucidated

Awareness, knowledge, risk perception and uptake of maternal vaccination in rural communities of Ebonyi State, Nigeria

Introduction: Knowledge and uptake of maternal vaccination has been reported to be low in low- and middle-income countries. Objectives: To determine the knowledge, uptake and determinants of uptake of maternal vaccination among women of childbearing age. Methods: A cross sectional study was done among 607 women of childbearing age selected from rural communities in Ebonyi State using multi-staged sampling technique. A pretested, interviewer administered questionnaire was used. The proportion of maternal vaccination uptake and predictors of uptake was determined at 5% level of significant using multiple logistic regression model. Results: Most of the respondents (39.9%) were in the 15-24 years age group. Only 1.3% and 41.5% were knowledgeable and had received any form of maternal vaccines respectively. The main reasons adduced for non-receipt of the vaccine was lack of information (65.8%) and not being pregnant (23.5%). Pregnancy was the predictor for uptake of maternal vaccine among the study population. Conclusions: There was low level of knowledge and uptake of maternal vaccine among rural women and a myth that the vaccine is only given when pregnant. This calls for increase targeted enlightenment of rural women on maternal vaccine in order to improve uptake. Keywords: Maternal vaccination; rural communities; Nigeria

Isolation, Identification and Antibiotic Resistance Profile of Public Health Threat Enteric Bacteria from Milk and Dairy Products Retail in Abakaliki, South-East, Nigeria

Milk and foods made from milk is manufactured into more stable dairy products of worldwide value, such as butter, cheese, ice cream, and yoghurt. Consumption of contaminated milk or dairy products by pathogens causes human gastrointestinal infection, which leads to diarrheal disease in human and hospitalization or death in severe cases especially among elderly and children. An assessment of milk and dairy products was designed to determine the microbiological quality of milk and dairy products consumed in Abakaliki, Nigeria. Culture techniques were used for isolation of enteric bacteria from retail dairy products and disk diffusion method were used to determine the Antibiotic Resistance profile of isolates. Bacteria pathogens isolated were characterized and identified using morphological and biochemical techniques. SPSS and Chi-square test were used for the analysis of the study, P-value of 0.02 indicates a significant difference between the bacteria pathogens counts. A total of 161 pathogenic bacteria were isolated from 100 dairy products. Salmonella spp heard (26.1%), Escherichia coli (44.1%) and Shigella spp. (29.8%). All identified isolates were found to be 100% susceptible to ciprofloxacin and gentamycin, with 66.7% for ofloxacin. Augmentin, ampicillin, chloramphenicol and spectinomycin was 100% resistant. Data obtained confirm that milk and dairy products retailed in Abakaliki pose a serious public health threat to consumers due to the presence of pathogenic bacteria. Standard and good storage conditions, as well as environmental and personnel hygiene should be practiced to prevent contamination of milk and dairy products for the safety of consumers