Assessing efficacies of insect pest management methods to preserve nutritional composition of bagged maize in storehouses located in markets in Nigeria

Maize needs to be stored using effective and safe postharvest management measures to prevent physical insect damage as well as ensure stability of nutritional quality during storage. In this study, conducted in February–December 2016, insect pest management methods for bagged maize preservation in storehouses located in markets in Nigeria were evaluated for their ability to preserve nutritional quality. Study locations were inthree grain markets, namely Eleekara market in Oyo town and Arisekola market in Ibadan, Oyo State, South West Nigeria, and Ago market in Ilorin, Kwara State, North Central Nigeria. Treatments comprised Piper guineense (Botanical), Bularafa diatomaceous earth (DE), permethrin powder (Rambo™) (Permethrin), PICS bags (hermetic) and ZeroFly® bags (non-hermetic). The study also had negative control (Control) comprising untreated maize in polypropylene bags. In general, as a result of insect infestation, protein content increased in all treatments except PICS which had the least infestation. After 11 months of storage, Permethrin and PICS treatments had the lowest insect infestation levels and the highest energy levels. Energy level in the Botanical treatment was also high and similar to levels in Permethrin and PICS treatments most likely due to fats and essential oils in P. guineense being adsorbed and/or absorbed by kernels. Fat content was lower in the Control and DE treatments likely due to the Control having the highest insect infestation and the DE adsorbing and/or absorbing fat from kernels. During storage carbohydrate content decreased in all treatments except the Control. However, even in the Control, there was a clear trend of decrease in carbohydrate content. Because the Control had the highest insect (Sitophilus zeamais) infestation and insect damaged kernels (IDK), this trend in decrease in carbohydrate content may be insect related. Ash content increased in the ZeroFly treatment, was unchanged in Botanical, Control, and PICS treatments, and decreased in DE and Permethrin treatments. Nutritional quality variables in this study were within or close to the known value ranges for maize. Therefore, use of maize that had been fumigated well and had a relatively low initial grain MC (9.1%), in addition to the effects of the treatments most likely slowed down population growth of the several insect species that were found and contributed to preserving nutritional quality. The relatively low insect populations in all treatments, including the Control, during the February–September period probably reduced the clarity of effects of infestation onnutritional composition reported in this study

海運に於ける競爭と獨占(二)

BackgroundAnaemia in pregnancy is associated with adverse maternal and fetal outcome. Unfortunately, in developing countries its prevalence has continued to rise. To improve the situation, iron supplement is routinely prescribed during pregnancy. We therefore examine the impact of the intervention as being currently practised in our clinical setting.MethodsIn total, 255 prenatal clinic attendees who had more than 8 weeks of prescribed iron supplements were sampled. Data was obtained on their socio-demographic features, haemoglobin concentration at booking, compliance with iron supplements and third trimester haemoglobin value.ResultsObserved iron supplementation compliance rate was 184(72.2%). There was a significant drop in mean haemoglobin (Hb) concentration between the two time points (booking Hb: 32.56±2.99; third trimester Hb: 31.67±3.01; mean diff: 0.89±3.04; t = 4.673; 95% CI= 0.52–1.27; p= <0.001). Anaemia increased from 132(51.8%) to 150(58.8%) by the third trimester. Increase in anaemia occurred in both iron-compliant and non-compliant groups. Non-compliance however had higher odds of predicting anaemia by the third trimester (OR: 1.83; 95% CI: 1.03–3.26; p: 0.04).ConclusionAlthough iron supplementation is still a good intervention in developing countries, it is not sufficient to reduce overall prevalence of anaemia by the third trimester. There is a need to look beyond the approach and reinforce the importance of better feeding practices, food fortification and reduced frequency of pregnancies

Gestational age at initiation of antenatal care in a tertiary hospital, Southwestern Nigeria

Context: Antenatal care utilization has been shown to be associated with reduction in maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality while early initiation provides an opportunity for optimum utilization of this care with improved maternal and fetal outcomes.Aim: This study seeks to determine the time of initiation of antenatal care among pregnant women and possible factors influencing such timing.Setting: A cross‑sectional study involving 530 pregnant women was carried out at the booking clinic of the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital, Ado‑Ekiti, between September 03, 2013, and March 04, 2014.Subjects and Methods: A pretested questionnaire was administered to them to obtain information on their sociodemographic characteristics and factors influencing their timing of antenatal care initiation.Results: The prevalence of early booking in this study was 22.7%, and the mean gestational age at booking was 21.09 ± 6.98 weeks. The age, parity, and occupation of the women and counseling on early booking were significantly associated with early booking among the respondents with P value of 0.010, 0.006, 0.011, and 0.009, respectively while on logistic regression, the occupation of women was the only significant association with early antenatal care initiation (adjusted odd ratio 0.388; confidence interval 0.212–0.710; P = 0.002). Complications experienced in previous pregnancies did not predict early initiation of care. More than half of the respondents (50.9%) gave early monitoring of their pregnancy as the reason for initiating the care.Conclusion: Late initiation of antenatal care is still prevalent in our environment. Therefore, pregnant women should be adequately informed about the concept of early antenatal registration.Keywords: Antenatal care, gestational age, initiation, Nigeria, Southwester