Sustainable consumption patterns and perceived health benefits of African Walnuts in South-West Nigeria

The African walnut, Plukenetia conophora Mull-Arg (Syn. Tetracarpidium conophorum) is an important climber species that contributes immensely to food security and poverty alleviation in communities within the humid tropical forests of West and Central Africa. However, the challenges facing its year-round availability have not been fully documented and precise data on its contributions to livelihoods of forest dependent households is lacking. Therefore, this work was carried out to fill this knowledge gap as well as make suggestions on ways to promote the use and sustainable development of this valuable product. Snowball and simple random sampling techniques were used to collect data from harvesters (8) and marketers (51) within and around Omo and Shasha Forest Reserves, Southwest Nigeria. Data obtained were analysed by means of descriptive and inferential test statistics. An estimated 30.01kg of African walnut was extracted per month between May-September each year in Omo and Shasha Forest Reserves, contributing about ₦ 615,833.30 to the rural economies of both areas. About 17.0% of respondents generated income between ₦ 11,000.00 - ₦ 20,000.00 per month, representing up to 50.0% of their monthly income during production period. Factors and threats affecting product availability were: seasonality (64.3%), destruction of parent plants (28.6%), consumption of nuts by wild animals (28.6%), pest and diseases infestation (7.1%), and spoilage during storage (7.1%). Income generated by respondents were impacted by sex (χ 2 = 7.714, df = 2, p = 0.021), level of education (χ 2 = 8.476, df = 2, p = 0.014) and trading experience (r = 2.413; p = 0.019). An improvement in the production, processing and marketing of African walnut will better the living conditions and enhance the status of both harvesters and marketers. These will have multiplier effects on the conservation of the available germplasm in the wild. Keywords: African walnut; NTFPs; household income; tropical lowland rainforest

Residential open space and the perception of health benefits: How much is the public willing to pay?

A multidisciplinary computer-based field study among 393 Dutch households examined how people judge the social sustainability (quality-of-life effects) of sustainable household consumption patterns (less energy-use demanding) and associated policy options. The study revealed that about two-thirds of the households had to reduce their direct and indirect energy use within the next five years in order to move towards environmentally sustainable consumption patterns. The least sustainable consumption patterns were found among high-income groups and young couples. Overall, respondents did not believe that their quality of life will be affected as long as the necessary reduction of energy use stays below 30 gigajoules (24% of their total household energy use). Moreover, respondents were willing to accept almost all energy-saving policy measures. However, respondents did appear to be more willing to pay for sustaining their comfort, freedom and pleasure while reducing the environmental impact of their consumption than they were to give up some of their quality of life.

SummaryBringing about more sustainable consumption patterns is an important challenge for society and science. In this article the concept of household metabolism is applied to analyzing consumption patterns and to identifying possibilities for the development of sustainable household consumption patterns. Household metabolism is determined in terms of total energy requirements, including both direct and indirect energy requirements, using a hybrid method. This method enables us to evaluate various determinants of the environmental load of consumption consistently at several levels—the national level, the local level, and the household level.The average annual energy requirement of households varies considerably between the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Norway, and Sweden, as well as within these countries. The average expenditure level per household explains a large part of the observed variations. Differences between these countries are also related to the efficiency of the production sectors and to the energy supply system. The consumption categories of food, transport, and recreation show the largest contributions to the environmental load. A comparison of consumer groups with different household characteristics shows remarkable differences in the division of spending over the consumption categories.Thus, analyses of different types of households are important for providing a basis for options to induce decreases of the environmental load of household consumption. At the city level, options for change are provided by an analysis of the city infrastructure, which determines a large part of the direct energy use by households (for transport and heating). At the national level, energy efficiency in production and in electricity generation is an important trigger for decreasing household energy requirements.

Background: Urinary tract infections (UTIs) is a common medical problem that affects all age groups but with significant morbidity in females because of the nature of their anatomy and physiology. This study was aimed to identify the common causative organisms of UTI and their antimicrobial susceptibility pattern among female students in Babcock University. Methods: A cross-sectional study, in which 200 female participants with symptoms of UTI were recruited. Mid-stream urine was collected from them and processed using the standard microbiological procedures. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed on isolates from the samples with significant bacteriuria. Sociodemographic and risk factors were obtained using standard questionnaires, and statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 23.0. Results: UTIs were confirmed in 14.5% (29/200) participants. Of the pathogens isolated, Escherichia coli was predominant 30.6% (11/36). Most of the pathogens isolated were susceptible to ofloxacin and gentamicin, while ceftriaxone had the least susceptibility (18.2%). The majority of the participants, 165 (82.5%) though symptomatic, did not have bacteriuria. The participants aged 15–20 years were mostly infected [24 (13.4%)]. No significant association was found between the sociodemographic factors and UTI. Conclusion: The prevalence of UTI from this study was 14.5%. E. coli was the predominant bacteria pathogen isolated, and ofloxacin and gentamycin were the most active antibiotics on susceptibility pattern. The majority of the patients though symptomatic, had no pathogens isolated from their urine. Therefore, caution should be applied on the use of antibiotics when managing UTI based on symptoms alone, to prevent antibiotic resistance

Background: Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly shaping how individuals, especially young people, access health information. University students in South-West Nigeria represent a digitally connected demographic with high exposure to AI tools such as ChatGPT. While AI offers rapid, convenient health advice, concerns remain about reliability, misinformation, and trust. Objective: The study aimed to assess awareness of artificial intelligence (AI) among university students in South-West Nigeria, examine patterns of AI use for generating health information, identify the types of health information commonly sought, determine the AI platforms used and their frequency of use, and explore the association between socio-demographic factors and the type of health information generated. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among university students using an online self-administered questionnaire. The tool captured socio-demographic information, awareness, frequency and purpose of AI use, and perceptions of reliability. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and chi-square/Fisher’s exact tests to assess associations between socio-demographic variables and patterns of AI use. Results: Awareness of AI was near-universal (99.0%), with a high adoption rate (89.2%). ChatGPT was the most widely used tool (84.3%), primarily for drug safety (42.2%) and diet/nutrition (40.2%) information. Only 19.6% of students used AI daily, while 40.7% reported rare use, suggesting AI serves as a supplementary rather than primary source of health information. Gender showed a significant association with interest in “other” health topics (p = 0.019), while most other socio-demographic factors were not significantly associated with AI use. Consistent with previous findings, students perceived AI outputs as moderately reliable but continued to trust human health professionals more. Conclusion: AI tools, particularly ChatGPT, are widely adopted by university students in South-West Nigeria for health information, with strong interest in preventive health topics. However, reliance remains cautious due to concerns about misinformation and trust. Interventions to strengthen digital health literacy, regulatory oversight, and culturally sensitive AI design are needed to maximize benefits and mitigate risks.

ABSTRACTThis study investigated the impact of fortifying yoghurt with African walnut (Plukenetia conophora) on its fatty acid (FA) profile, physicochemical properties, microbial profile, oxidative stability, and sensory attributes. Yoghurts made from cow milk were fortified with 0%, 1%, or 2% African walnut (AW) paste and evaluated over 14 days of refrigerated storage. AW fortification increased crude fat, phytochemical constituents, and concentrations of C18:1n − 9 and C18:3n − 3 while reducing C14:0, C16:0, and C18:0 levels (p < 0.05). FA composition remained stable in AW‐fortified yoghurts, but the control showed an increase in saturated FAs and a reduction in C18:1n − 9 and C18:3n − 3 over time. Although color, Lactobacillus count, and lipid oxidation were unaffected, carbonyl content and syneresis decreased with AW fortification. Sensory results showed that younger assessors (19–39 years) preferred the control yoghurt, whereas older assessors (40–52 years) favored the 2% AW‐enriched yoghurt for its taste, texture, and overall quality. Principal component analysis revealed that AW fortification significantly influenced the quality attributes of yoghurt during chilled storage, with AW‐2 samples showing improved compositional integrity and reduced quality deterioration over time. AW fortification improved yoghurt's nutritional value and oxidative stability, making it a promising functional food, especially for older consumers.Practical Applications: Yoghurts are typically high in saturated fatty acids (SFAs) but low in n − 3 fatty acids. A high intake of SFAs can pose health risks, highlighting the need to increase the n − 3 fatty acid content in yoghurt. Fortification with African walnut boosts C18:3n − 3 levels and reduces SFAs, making the yoghurt a healthier choice. In addition, the reduced carbonyl content and syneresis indicate an extended shelf life and improved quality. The age‐related sensory preferences observed in this study suggest that African walnut–enriched yoghurt may be more appealing to older consumers, who value overall quality. This fortification could lead to the development of functional foods tailored to different age groups, encouraging healthier eating habits. Processors can use this approach to create yoghurt products with enhanced health benefits, addressing consumer demand for nutritious and functional dairy options.

Despite the WHO and ACOG's recommendations for at least 150 min of weekly moderate-intensity physical activity during pregnancy, adherence remains low, partly due to concerns about safety and efficacy of specific exercise modalities. To evaluate pregnant women's outcome expectancy for maternal and fetal health regarding specific physical activity modalities and the influence of healthcare provider discussions on these perceptions. A cross-sectional survey, distributed through Qualtrics (a platform to help design and distribute surveys) and word of mouth of 507 pregnant women assessed perceptions of moderate, vigorous, and resistance activities. Provider discussions and past adverse pregnancy experiences were likewise examined for their influence on outcome expectancy. Walking and yoga were perceived as the most beneficial modalities for both maternal and fetal health, with the outcome expectancies being 9.5 ± 2.1 and 8.8 ± 2.9 for maternal health and 9.0 ± 2.5 and 8.2 ± 3.0 for fetal health. Higher intensity and resistance activities were viewed less favorably, especially CrossFit® resistance training with outcome expectancies being 5.2 ± 3.4 for maternal health and 4.8 ± 3.3 for fetal health. All physical activities were viewed as more beneficial for maternal health than fetal health. Discussions with healthcare providers occurred in over 70 % of cases but did not generally relate to these perceptions. Past adverse pregnancy experiences were not related to statistically significant changes in outcome expectancy. Previously being prescribed bed rest had some weak associations with greater maternal and fetal outcome expectancy for a few physical activity modalities. Pregnant women's perceptions of health benefits clearly differ based on modality of activity and dependent on whether maternal or fetal health. Targeted communication strategies from healthcare providers and public health efforts are needed to improve perceptions of physical activity during pregnancy, especially for vigorous and resistance activities.

Urban green spaces are essential for promoting public health by encouraging physical activity, reducing stress, and enhancing overall well-being. However, the perception and utilization of these spaces vary based on socio-demographic factors and urban planning characteristics. This study investigates public perception of urban green spaces and their perceived health benefits, emphasizing their psychological, physical, and social impacts. The study involved 240 respondents who assessed the availability and quality of green spaces as well as the social and psychological aspects of their use. The survey was analyzed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). The results showed that environmental awareness (β = 0.404, p < 0.001) and social interaction (β = 0.391, p < 0.001) are significant predictors of the frequency of visiting green spaces, while their availability and quality do not have a significant impact. These findings highlight the critical role of environmental education and community awareness initiatives in maximizing the health benefits derived from urban green spaces. Frequency of use is positively associated with both mental (β = 0.272, p = 0.002) and physical health (β = 0.409, p < 0.001). Surprisingly, social interaction demonstrates a negative impact on mental health (β = −0.166, p = 0.002), which requires further study. The obtained results highlight the need for an integrated approach to studying the relationship between the urban environment and population health.

Across the literature, two broad behavior strategies toward sustainable food consumption are emphasized across the literature. The first strategy is related to sustainable product choices concerning how the outcome is produced, while the second one keeps a check on sustainable dietary patterns in terms of the composition within product categories. Considering these behavior strategies, while focusing especially on purchasing sustainable organic foods and preferring curtailment behaviors, conversion to this type of intake became a relevant objective among the specialists established for attaining sustainability. Consequently, the aim of this study was to observe the main changes in sustainable consumption patterns concerning these behavior strategies during the COVID-19 pandemic (August 2020), compared to the previous period (November–December 2019), in Iasi County, Romania. This study emphasizes an image of daily consumption that has been changed, at least regarding some specific aspects, due to the pandemic in the investigated Romanian context. First, the tendency to shop more during the working days could be generally observed and completed by the fact that the consumers felt safer in open spaces, like the food markets, compared to close spaces, be they supermarkets or grocery stores. Next, other main results showed that (1) the responsibility of consumers increased with regard to the purchase and waste of fresh vegetables and meat, preferring to buy more often and throw away less during the pandemic; (2) the behavior strategy in terms of organic food seemed to be discouraged in this period; and (3) local food appeared to have increased consumers' support. In addition, the pandemic crisis was shown as a driver in the digitalization of the shopping process. Accordingly, the COVID-19 pandemic seemed to have significant effects on sustainable consumption over the short and (at least) medium run, determining some changes in consumption patterns that could support, to a considerable extent, the effort of attaining a more sustainable path. However, our findings revealed some gaps in terms of societal knowledge about sustainable consumption and, consequently, call for the necessity of educating individuals on what this concept really means and why it is important to be achieved.

Water is the lifeblood of our Earth, and sustainable water consumption is the key to preserving this scarce resource for future generations and upholding environmental sustainability. In this study, we investigate the relationship between environmental knowledge (EK), environmental policies and regulations (EPR), attitudes toward water resource management programs (APWRMP), perceived water quality (PWQ), and sustainable consumption (SC), enriching the existing literature by integrating the theoretical framework of the theory of planned behavior (TPB) alongside water management program (WMP) concepts. This integration forms a comprehensive model clarifying the influences on SC. Furthermore, this study investigates these relationships within the specific context of select regions in China, addressing a geographical gap in the current literature. With a sample size of (N = 336) participants, we employ partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS‐SEM) to explore the complex relationships within the proposed model. The finding confirms the hypothesized associations, validating the substantial positive impact of EK and EPR on APWRMP and SC. Additionally, we observe that PWQ notably strengthens the link between the perception and attitude of villagers toward SC of water. Our study explains the multifaceted dynamics underlying individuals' behavior and attitude in making decisions concerning sustainable water consumption.

This study examines the factors affecting consumption of organic tea with evidence from organic tea consumers in Kathmandu Valley. In this study, purchase intention for consuming organic tea is the dependent variable, whereas health benefits, environmental concerns, together with taste and price are considered as independent variables. The study has utilized different types of non-probability sampling procedures to locate 50 regular organic tea consumers within Kathmandu valley. Since, the study on purchase intention regarding organic tea product is a relatively new phenomenon, hence this study is exploratory in its orientation. In this study descriptive analysis, together with Chi-Square results and correlation coefficients have been computed to examine nature, direction and significance of the relationship between selected factors and purchase intention for consuming organic tea. Results indicate that purchase intention of customers towards organic tea product is associated with perceived health benefits and environmental concerns. Besides, consumers are willing to pay higher price to consume organic tea when they perceive significant health benefits even with non-preferable taste of organic tea products. Furthermore, marketing implications of data analysis and findings have been comprehensively elaborated in this study. And, more importantly, in regards to sustainable consumption patterns, as SDG-12 indicates, this study indicates that consumers in Kathmandu Valley are prepared for responsible consumption as they perceive environmental and health benefits in a given product. Keywords: Organic tea, purchase intention, health benefits, environmental concern, SDG-12

This chapter focuses on sustainable development goals 12 (SDG 12) highlighting sustainable consumption in India. SDG 12 ensures sustainable consumption and production pattern. The chapter provides evidence of fuel and material consumption footprint in India and shows the trends of domestic material consumption and assesses SDG 12. This study suggests reducing fuel consumption-related subsidies in urban India and providing clean fuel access to rural India. It is also suggested to adopt the circular economy model for reuse and recycle materials to minimize resource consumption footprint in India.

Convulsion among children between six months and five years is a major contributor to childhood mortality in less-developed societies, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. Most studies on under-five deaths have ignored the influence of socio-demographic and environmental factors as they relate to causes of the thematic health condition and available therapies. This study investigated mothers' perception of convulsion causation, relevant signs and symptoms, and the influence of socio-economic status on mothers' choice of remedies. The research was conducted in Ibadan, southwest Nigeria, which is densely populated with mainly Yoruba-speaking people. The study population comprised mothers who, at the time of fieldwork for the present analysis, had at least one under-five child. Five hundred questionnaire respondents were selected through a multistage sampling technique, and 14 in-depth interviews (IDIs) were conducted among different categories of women identified through the snowball technique. Voluntary Social Action Theory and the Health Belief Model were used in explaining the relationship between the dependent and independent variables. The findings show that the remedies mothers chose were strongly influenced by socio-demographic factors such as marriage type, religion, level of education, occupation and place of residence. It is strongly suggested that interventions, health policies and programs should focus on how best to empower women to effectively utilize medical information that will enable them recognize symptoms of this common health condition and/or undertake preliminary therapies that contribute positively to convulsion prevention or treatment.

Ensuring sustainable consumption and production pattern in Africa: Evidence from green energy perspectives