District Of Nigeria Research Articles

How small business owners navigate stress for improved performance: Building psychological capital through peer interactions

ABSTRACT This study explores whether small business owners’ personal networks can enhance business performance by offering psychological benefits to owners, particularly, in navigating stress-inducing challenges inherent in small business ownership. Our argument centers on how peer interactions within these networks promote small business owners’ development of psychological capital, ultimately, leading to improved business performance. Drawing on social support, community psychology, and social comparison theories, we propose a model with two pathways. Structural equation modeling of survey data from the Aba industrial district in Nigeria strongly supports our model. The study advances small business literature by demonstrating the significance of personal networks in facilitating the development of internal resources, offering a new perspective on the value of these networks beyond their often-discussed role in facilitating access to external resources.

A Study of Language Use Impact in Radio Broadcasting: A Linguistic and Big Data Integration Approach

Broadcasting more culturally educating and language-reviving contents are ways radio stations can help revitalize indigenous languages in Delta North in Nigeria. The challenges faced in communicating through indigenous dialects on radio stations are majorly caused by the lack of indigenous language professionals and linguists in the broadcast stations. The absence of these professionals is a major constraint to the development of the community. The broadcast media can help manage multilingualism through the introduction of new words which would give little or no room for lexicon dearth but would expand the language lexicon. Using these dialects during broadcast gives relevance to all dialects, reduces language dearth, and keeps people connected to their culture. Programmes anchored in indigenous dialects enhance the vocabulary, comprehension, and language vitality of the language. The study examined the impact of local language used in radio broadcasting using a descriptive big data survey research design. The study’s population comprises of all the inhabitants of Delta North from which a sample of 10 broadcast staff and 120 radio listeners in Delta North Senatorial District in Nigeria was drawn using a stratified random sampling technique. The instrument of data collection was a structured questionnaire with closed questions and a self-structured interview. The sample employed frequency distribution tables, percentages, and charts in the presentation and analysis of data. The results revealed that majority of the respondents in Delta North listened to radio broadcast indicating that the use of indigenous dialects/language can have massive impact on the people. The study also found that majority of the respondents use indigenous languages in their day-to-day activities, with English being used majorly only in schools. The study recommends, among others, that the National Broadcasting Commission review their policy on the allocated time of broadcast in indigenous languages and that more indigenous language experts and linguists should be incorporated into the broadcast system.

Genetic diversity and allelic frequency of antigenic markers in Plasmodium falciparum isolates from Nnewi district in Nigeria.

The genetic diversity of Plasmodium falciparum poses a threat to the development and implementation of malaria control strategies. Thus, there is a need for continuous surveillance of its genetic diversity, especially amongst the parasite's reservoir's asymptomatic population. Three cohorts comprising children under ten years old, pregnant women and other adults were recruited into this study. Blood sample was collected from all consenting individuals and screened by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method. The genetic diversity of P. falciparum was determined by genotyping the merozoite surface protein-1 (msp-1), merozoite surface protein-2 (msp-2) and glutamate-rich protein (glurp). The size of alleles was visualized on the agarose gel. The multiplicity of infection (MOI) and expected heterozygosity (He) were determined. The majority of the patients showed polyclonal infections, while the multiplicity of infection with msp-2 and glurp of isolates from pregnant women were 2.5 and 1.8, respectively. Children and adults were 2.3 and 1.1; 2.4 and 1.3, respectively. The estimated number of genotypes was 10 msp-1 (4 KI; 4 MAD; 2 RO33), 27 msp-2 (14 FC27; 13 IC/3D7) and 8 glurp. K1 (36/100) was more frequent than the MAD20 (22.33/100) allele, which was, in turn, more frequent than the RO33 (13.59/100). The samples with the 3D7 allele (53.40/100) of msp-2 occurred more frequently than the FC27 type (45.63/100). Polymorphism in the glurp gene occurred most frequently (72.82/100). The study samples exhibited a high degree of genetic polymorphism in msp-2 allele typing with multiple clones, reflecting the complexity of parasite populations.

Impact of Learning Resources Improvisation on Biology Instruction in Senior Secondary Schools in Ondo South Senatorial District in Nigeria

This study examined the impact of improvisation of learning resources on biology instruction in senior secondary schools from Ondo South Senatorial District. The study sample was 350 and consisted of students randomly selected from 10 senior secondary schools in Ondo South Senatorial District of Ondo State in Nigeria. A self-developed inventory was designed and validated through pilot testing and administered to the sample for the data collection. The researcher personally visited the schools in Ondo South Senatorial District, thus 100% data were collected. The collected data were tabulated and analysed by using percentages, mean, standard deviation and t-test analysis. The major conclusions of this study were that the types of learning facilities that are available for teaching science are weighing balance, audio tape, textbooks, graphs, charts and maps; there is positive impact of improvisation of learnin resources on the biology instruction in the senior secondary schools and there is no significant difference between male and female students in the impact of improvisation of learning resources on biology instruction. Based on the finding of this study, major recommendations were made.

Managing Secondary Education for Functional Leadership, Values Re-Orientation and Sustainable National Development in Nigeria

The study examined the management of secondary education for functional leadership, values re-orientation and sustainable national development in Nigeria. The descriptive survey design was adopted. The population comprised 142 principals of public junior and senior secondary schools in Edo Central Senatorial District of Nigeria. The entire population was used. The questionnaire was used for data collection and was validated by experts. The test-re-test reliability method was used and a reliability coefficient of 0.76 was obtained. The mean and percentage were used for data analysis. The study found that corruption, poor funding, get-rich quick syndrome among the youths, cultism, poor management of resources by school administrators, poor quality of teaching staff, low quality leadership by school heads, teachers being poor role model, lack of parental support in the area of students’ discipline and political instability were problems affecting management of the education system. It was recommended that the curriculum of the school should be re-adjusted and premium placed on values and dignity in hard work and that the quality of the teachers and instructors must be enhanced through in-service training.

Evaluation of the Primary School Component of Universal Basic Education in Lagos East Senatorial District of Nigeria

The study evaluated Universal Basic Education (UBE) programme at the primary school level in Lagos East Senatorial District of Nigeria. It used the descriptive design of survey type and CIPP evaluation model. The sample comprised 450 teachers and 45 head teachers using multistage sampling technique. Educational Resources Inventory Scale (ERIS) (r = 0.78) and Learning Resources Utilization Scale (LERUS) (0.69) were used in data collection. Frequency counts, simple percentages, median, mean and standard deviation were used to answer the research questions. Results of analysis showed that writing materials, multimedia learning aids, good and conducive classroom, measuring instruments like ruler, compass and instructional materials were the adequate (Median = 3.00) educational resources in primary schools located in the District. The result further showed a progressive increase (Mean > 58.04) in enrolment of pupils. Teachers were found to be adequate (Mean = 10.62) in number when compared to the national standard of 1:40 teacher-pupil ratio. However, funds for the smooth running of the schools were grossly inadequate (Mean = 1.00). Lastly, the finding revealed that teachers adequately utilized (Median = 3.00) the available educational resources in the schools. The conclusion was that resource and fund gap still widely exist among primary schools in the District. It was therefore recommended that government should be more alive to its responsibility of providing requisite educational resources in all public primary schools supported with an initiative to make funds available.

Geochemical distribution, statistical and health risk assessment of toxic elements in groundwater from a typical mining district in Nigeria

Globally, the influence of mining activities on the quality of drinking waters have been reported by several researchers. Long-term exposure to potentially toxic elements (PTEs) (e.g. As, Cd, Co, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Se and Zn) can cause serious health hazards to consumers of polluted water. In the current study, twenty groundwater samples from Ameka mine area were analyzed for PTEs pollution and the associated human health risks. The concentrations of As, Cd, Ni, Pb Co, and Se were found to be above their standard limits in majority of the samples. Index methods such as heavy metal evaluation index, heavy metal pollution index and contamination degree confirmed that majority of the samples are loaded with PTEs. Similarly, synthetic pollution index further revealed that all the samples are extremely polluted and thus very unsuitable for human consumption. The health risk assessment model proposed by US-EPA was applied in assessing the associated health risks of PTEs in the groundwater resources. Non-carcinogenic health risk assessment predicted that 100% of the samples have hazard index values > 4, indicating an extremely high chronic health risk for adults and children. Similarly, carcinogenic risk assessment showed that all the samples pose high cancer risk to both populations due to As, Ni and Cd pollution. However, all the samples pose low cancer risk due to Pb enrichment. Multivariate statistical analyses (such as Pearson’s correlation matrix and principal component extractions) indicated that mining activities and rock-water interactions (weathering) are the responsible sources for the elemental pollution of the groundwater system. Before consumption, adequate treatment is recommended for the polluted waters.

Use of Surveillance Outbreak Response Management and Analysis System for Human Monkeypox Outbreak, Nigeria, 2017-2019.

In November 2017, the mobile digital Surveillance Outbreak Response Management and Analysis System was deployed in 30 districts in Nigeria in response to an outbreak of monkeypox. Adaptation and activation of the system took 14 days, and its use improved timeliness, completeness, and overall capacity of the response.

COVID-19 Era and Water Supply: Challenges for Rural Communities in Eastern, Nigeria

Coronavirus is currently a huge threat to human health all over the globe. Even though it has no cure yet, it can be contained by proper personal and collective hygiene. This makes access to sufficient clean water supply fundamental and indispensable. Since rural communities tend to be vulnerable to disease outbreaks due to poor standards of hygiene, this study examined the challenges of the rural communities in Enugu West Senatorial District in Nigeria over access to clean water supply and their preparedness to tackle COVID-19 pandemic, following the guidelines from world health experts. The survey showed general awareness of the pandemic in the selected communities. However, 71% neither have access to clean water supply, nor alternative to hand sanitizing agent. A large number of the respondents also acknowledged that availability and accessibility to clean water supply would improve the hygiene culture of the people and as a result curtail the spread of the disease. This study, therefore, recommends that government should intervene by extending water borehole projects and water treatment plants to various rural communities as well as providing maintenance services for non-functional ones.

“There Is No Moral They Can Teach Us”: Adolescents' Perspectives on School-Based Sexuality Education in a Semiurban, Southwestern District in Nigeria

ABSTRACTThere is limited data on the implementation of Comprehensive Sexuality Education in Nigerian schools. This study explored In-School adolescents' perspectives on the implementation and utility of the Family Life and HIV/AIDS Education Curriculum, using questionnaires and focus group discussions. Findings reveal that sexuality education in schools is mostly moralistic and cognitive in emphasis, with limited adaptation of interactive methodologies. Inadequate teacher training, teachers' sexual double standards, and limiting curriculum to junior classes were identified as major setbacks. Curriculum expansion, Comprehensive School health programming, continuous teacher training and ensuring that teachers are held accountable for their behaviors are recommended.

Implications of Street Trading Activities on the Residents within Central Business Districts in Nigeria.

Implications of Street Trading Activities on the Residents within Central Business Districts in Nigeria.

Investigation of groundwater in parts of Ndokwa District in Nigeria using geophysical logging and electrical resistivity methods: Implications for groundwater exploration

Groundwater study involving the application of geophysical logging and vertical electrical sounding (VES) methods was carried out in parts of Ndokwa area of Delta State, Nigeria. The objective was to delineate the geological situation and the groundwater condition of the area. The geophysical logging of a drilled well and thirty VESs of the Schlumberger configuration were executed in this study using the Abem SAS 1000/4000 Terrameter. The result of the lithological study from the drilled well showed that the subsurface formation consist of lateritic topsoil, very fine sand, clayey fine sand, fine and medium grain sand, coarse sand, medium coarse sand and very coarse sand. The interpretation of the vertical electrical sounding data using a combination of curve matching and Win Resist computer iteration showed a close correlation with the well record. The result revealed the presence of four geoelectric layers with the aquifer identified to be in the fourth layer and having resistivity which ranged from 480 to 11,904 Ωm, while the depth ranged between 17.8 and 38.8 m. The analysis of the geophysical logging revealed that the average value of the electrical conductivity and the total dissolved solid of the groundwater in the aquifer were obtained as 229 μS/cm and 149 mg/cm3 respectively. These results indicate that the groundwater is within the permissible limit set by the Standard Organization of Nigeria for potable water which is 1000 μS/cm for electrical conductivity and 500 mg/cm3 for total dissolved solid. The fourth layer was therefore identified as the potential non conductive zone suitable for groundwater development in the study area.

Population Immunity against Serotype-2 Poliomyelitis Leading up to the Global Withdrawal of the Oral Poliovirus Vaccine: Spatio-temporal Modelling of Surveillance Data.

BackgroundGlobal withdrawal of serotype-2 oral poliovirus vaccine (OPV2) took place in April 2016. This marked a milestone in global polio eradication and was a public health intervention of unprecedented scale, affecting 155 countries. Achieving high levels of serotype-2 population immunity before OPV2 withdrawal was critical to avoid subsequent outbreaks of serotype-2 vaccine-derived polioviruses (VDPV2s).Methods and FindingsIn August 2015, we estimated vaccine-induced population immunity against serotype-2 poliomyelitis for 1 January 2004–30 June 2015 and produced forecasts for April 2016 by district in Nigeria and Pakistan. Population immunity was estimated from the vaccination histories of children <36 mo old identified with non-polio acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) reported through polio surveillance, information on immunisation activities with different oral poliovirus vaccine (OPV) formulations, and serotype-specific estimates of the efficacy of these OPVs against poliomyelitis. District immunity estimates were spatio-temporally smoothed using a Bayesian hierarchical framework. Coverage estimates for immunisation activities were also obtained, allowing for heterogeneity within and among districts. Forward projections of immunity, based on these estimates and planned immunisation activities, were produced through to April 2016 using a cohort model.Estimated population immunity was negatively correlated with the probability of VDPV2 poliomyelitis being reported in a district. In Nigeria and Pakistan, declines in immunity during 2008–2009 and 2012–2013, respectively, were associated with outbreaks of VDPV2. Immunity has since improved in both countries as a result of increased use of trivalent OPV, and projections generally indicated sustained or improved immunity in April 2016, such that the majority of districts (99% [95% uncertainty interval 97%–100%] in Nigeria and 84% [95% uncertainty interval 77%–91%] in Pakistan) had >70% population immunity among children <36 mo old. Districts with lower immunity were clustered in northeastern Nigeria and northwestern Pakistan. The accuracy of immunity estimates was limited by the small numbers of non-polio AFP cases in some districts, which was reflected by large uncertainty intervals. Forecasted improvements in immunity for April 2016 were robust to the uncertainty in estimates of baseline immunity (January–June 2015), vaccine coverage, and vaccine efficacy.ConclusionsImmunity against serotype-2 poliomyelitis was forecasted to improve in April 2016 compared to the first half of 2015 in Nigeria and Pakistan. These analyses informed the endorsement of OPV2 withdrawal in April 2016 by the WHO Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization.

Detection of clusters and geographical hotspots for Lassa fever in Edo Central Senatorial District of Nigeria: a step into a Nation-wide mapping of Lassa fever

Detection of clusters and geographical hotspots for Lassa fever in Edo Central Senatorial District of Nigeria: a step into a Nation-wide mapping of Lassa fever

Measles outbreak and response immunisation in a south-western district of Nigeria: January to June 2013

An outbreak of measles occurred in Olorunda district, Nigeria, between January and June 2013. Outbreak response immunisation (ORI) was conducted as a control measure. We will describe the epidemiology of the outbreak and assess the impact of ORI. We visited all of the health facilities (73) in July 2013 to ascertain the cases through a review of the patient registers and case notes, using the World Health Organization case definition of measles. Data on children vaccinated during ORI were retrieved. To assess the impact of ORI, cumulative measles incidence for the targeted age group (6-59 months) and non-target age group (< 6 months and ≥ 5 years) was calculated before and after ORI. A total of 94 cases were identified, of which 89% were confirmed by laboratory and epidemiological linkage. More than three quarters (80%) of the confirmed cases were children < 5 years, with a 2% case fatality rate. The outbreak spanned 26 weeks, reaching its peak in week 12. Cases were clustered in the Sabo and Ota Efun wards, with over 88% of the confirmed cases having a zero-dose measles vaccination history. A total of 2 861 children were vaccinated during ORI, with administrative coverage of 10%. The cumulative incidence in the target age prior to ORI was 153.8 per 100 000, which decreased to 27.9 per 100 000 after ORI. The incidence in the non-target age group also decreased from 11.1 per 100 000 before ORI to 2.2 per 100 000 after ORI. Our investigation shows that ORI was effective in the control of the measles outbreak in Olorunda district. Hence, there is need to strengthen the conduct of ORI exercises during a measles outbreak to achieve higher coverage.

Association of Volunteer Communication Mobilizers’ Polio-Related Knowledge and Job-Related Characteristics With Health Message Delivery Performance in Kano District of Nigeria

Volunteer communication mobilizers (VCMs) were deployed in Nigeria to increase community awareness for polio vaccination. To understand whether VCMs’ knowledge and job-related characteristics were associated with performance, we conducted a cross-sectional survey in the Nassarawa and Ungogo Local Governance Areas (LGAs). We asked VCMs about the consequences of polio, preventive strategies, and health communication messages to assess knowledge. We considered VCMs’ performance satisfactory if they delivered more messages during their last visit, and knew the number of <5 children and neonates in their settlement. We used t-tests to compare continuous and chi-square tests for categorical variables, and ran linear and ordinal logistic regression to understand if knowledge and job-related characteristics were associated with performance. Of the VCMs, 69% (118/170) were enrolled from Ungogo. We found that 63% of VCMs in Nassarawa had appropriate levels of knowledge about health education messages, compared to 2...

Predictive spatial risk model of poliovirus to aid prioritization and hasten eradication in Nigeria.

BackgroundOne of the challenges facing the Global Polio Eradication Initiative is efficiently directing limited resources, such as specially trained personnel, community outreach activities, and satellite vaccinator tracking, to the most at-risk areas to maximize the impact of interventions. A validated predictive model of wild poliovirus circulation would greatly inform prioritization efforts by accurately forecasting areas at greatest risk, thus enabling the greatest effect of program interventions.MethodsUsing Nigerian acute flaccid paralysis surveillance data from 2004-2013, we developed a spatial hierarchical Poisson hurdle model fitted within a Bayesian framework to study historical polio caseload patterns and forecast future circulation of type 1 and 3 wild poliovirus within districts in Nigeria. A Bayesian temporal smoothing model was applied to address data sparsity underlying estimates of covariates at the district level.ResultsWe find that calculated vaccine-derived population immunity is significantly negatively associated with the probability and number of wild poliovirus case(s) within a district. Recent case information is significantly positively associated with probability of a case, but not the number of cases. We used lagged indicators and coefficients from the fitted models to forecast reported cases in the subsequent six-month periods. Over the past three years, the average predictive ability is 86 ± 2% and 85 ± 4% for wild poliovirus type 1 and 3, respectively. Interestingly, the predictive accuracy of historical transmission patterns alone is equivalent (86 ± 2% and 84 ± 4% for type 1 and 3, respectively). We calculate uncertainty in risk ranking to inform assessments of changes in rank between time periods.ConclusionsThe model developed in this study successfully predicts districts at risk for future wild poliovirus cases in Nigeria. The highest predicted district risk was 12.8 WPV1 cases in 2006, while the lowest district risk was 0.001 WPV1 cases in 2013. Model results have been used to direct the allocation of many different interventions, including political and religious advocacy visits. This modeling approach could be applied to other vaccine preventable diseases for use in other control and elimination programs.

Predictive spatial risk model of polio virus to aid prioritization and hasten eradication in endemic countries

Background: Polio eradication was declared a “programmatic emergency for global public health” by the world health assembly in 2012. Efficient prioritization of high risk areas would greatly improve the impact of the substantial resources of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative. Currently, one method for polio risk assessment has been described in the litterature, however this method has not been historically validated and fails to address uncertainty. Methods & Materials: Data, including vaccination history, collected from individuals through Acute Flaccid Paralysis (AFP) surveillence in Nigeria and Pakistan, used to calculate district level immunity and relevant covariates. We constructed heirachical temporal bayesian models to reduce measurement error in data and spatially smoothed Poisson hurdle models to assess predictors of wild polio virus (WPV) tranmission. Best fitting models used to forecast future district infection, predictive accuracy assessed with reciever operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. Results: Measurement error models greatly reduce changes in indicators from one time period to another. Calculated population immunity is a strongly associated with the presence of WPV and number of WPV cases within a district in Nigeria. In Pakistan, routine immunization dose history (not available through Nigerian AFP data) and zero-dose fraction are strongly associated with both aspects of WPV tranmission. A district risk list ordered according to model outputs demonstrates high forecast accuracy historically, with mean area under the ROC curve greater than 0.80 over the past three years. Model uncertainty propogated through to rank uncertainty, and the probability of a district belonging in the highest risk N district list can be calcuated. Conclusion: The measurement error smoothing model is a useful tool for estimation of important variables at small adminsitrative areas. With the Poisson hurdle model, we can study differential relatitionships between predictors and two aspects of WPV tranmsission. Historically forecast accuracy confirms the usefulness of this modeling approach in a disease control and elimination application. The quantification of uncertainty is essential to inform objectives descisions regarding changes in prioritization status of a district from one time period to another. These models can be naturally extended to other vaccine-preventable diseases, such as measles. In Nigeria, these models have been incorporated into national program planning.

Strategy for Promoting Effective Management of Environmental Effects from Brewery Industries at The Nineth (9TH) Mile Corner Industrial District of Enugu State

Related studies on the environmental effects of poor brewery effluent management at the 9th Mile Corner industrial area have indicated that the Nigeria Bottling Company (NBC Plc) is not effectively monitoring liquid wastes from its production operations. There is need to investigate and explore these issues and take effective remedial action before the negative impact of its activities become widespread and elicit adverse reactions from the community. It is the intention of this paper to explore related issues and articulate a framework for effective monitoring of industrial effluents and management of Brewery wastes at the 9th Mile Corner using the Nigeria Bottling Company plant as case study. The research design combined desktop and social survey. Past studies on the environmental effects of the Nigerian Breweries activities were reviewed and analyzed. The company premises and surroundings were surveyed for evidence of industrial effluents flowing from the plant into residential areas. It was found that industrial effluents treatment facilities of the company are old and dilapidating causing effluents to escape outside the plant waste management system. Against this background the paper outlines the type of monitoring and auditing, as well as, relevant organization/agencies that should participate in the implementation of the proposed revised environmental management plan(s) for the factory. Adoption of this strategy for the management of environmental effects of the company effluent would undoubtedly enthrone sound best practices in the management of brewery plants operations in 9th Mile Corner and other industrial districts in Nigeria.

Financing incidence analysis of household out‐of‐pocket spending for healthcare: getting more health for money in Nigeria?

The study examined the burden of out-of-pocket spending (OOPS) to households, because available data showed that OOPS dominates household expenditure on health in Nigeria. The study took place in rural and urban districts in Nigeria. A household questionnaire was used to collect data from 4873 households on their healthcare expenditures and payment mechanisms by using a 1-month expenditure recall period. Financing incidence analysis was assessed at the household level on the basis of socio-economic status (SES) groups and rural-urban location of the households. Concentration curves of OOPS were plotted with the Lorenz curve of total household expenditures to show the distribution of the burden of OOPS by SES compared with total household expenditure. The Kakwani index was computed to examine the overall progressivity or regressivity of OOPS. There was lack of financial risk protection for healthcare in the study area. The results showed that 3150 (98.8%) of payments were made using OOPS, nine (0.3%) using reimbursement by employers, one (0.03%) through private voluntary health insurance (PVHI), nine (0.3%) using instalment and 14 (0.44%) through 'others'. The average monthly household OOPS was 2219.1 Naira. The Kakwani index for financing incidence of OOPS was -0.18, showing that OOPS was regressive. The most-poor SES groups and rural dwellers experienced the highest burden of health expenditure. Urgent steps should be taken by the government to increase or enhance universal coverage in the country with financial protection mechanisms such as the National Health Insurance Scheme in addition to possibly abolishing some of the user fees that cause high incidence and burden of OOPS.