Good Number Of Respondents Research Articles

Which Food Parts Are Considered Edible And Should Be Included In Food Waste Reduction Targets

SDG target 12.3 aims to reduce household avoidable food waste by half by 2030. This study introduces the "Tokyo Method," designed to quantify and categorize household food waste for reduction. The method divides avoidable food waste into three groups: A: unused ingredients, B: unused ready-to-be-eaten foods, and C: leftovers, with a goal of reducing their volume. Edible parts intentionally removed from the main food are placed in a separate category ”De”, while inedible parts like seeds and bones have their own classification ”Di”. An internet survey involving 1,254 participants in Japan assessed perceptions of 65 food items and their parts. Most respondents considered peels, cores, seeds, and stems of fruits as inedible, but there were exceptions like apple peels. Regarding vegetable parts like potato peels and cabbage leaves, a good number of respondents are aware that they could be eaten, but it is only a minority that believe they should be eaten, or they actually eat those parts. In conclusion, the study suggests excluding the "De" category from the primary food waste reduction target, as forcing the consumption of intentionally removed food parts is not a priority. This research sheds light on the complexities of food waste reduction, considering cultural and individual preferences regarding edible food parts.

Present Status, Constraints and Potentials of Mud-crab Culture in West Bengal

Background: Mud crab (Scylla serrata) farming offers better prospects for all sections of rural people, particularly those who have a poor land base and an abundant labour force. It offers reliable incomes to both small and large farming operations, but there are several barriers to crab farming that limit its potential. Methods: The present study was conducted in three randomly selected villages of Gosaba block in the South 24-Parganas district of West Bengal, which has the highest concentration of crab farmers. Three villages from the Lahiripur Gram Panchayat area of Gosaba block were selected by simple random sampling without replacement technique. A total of 60 crab farmers were randomly selected for the present study. Data were collected with the help of a specially constructed structured interview schedule and non-participant observational technique. Result: The findings of the study showed that the majority (61.67%) of the respondents practiced traditional crab culture techniques and 83.33 per cent preferred the November-February months of the year as an ideal time for crab farming. A good number of respondents (68.33%) reported that they collected seeds from wild sources, i.e., swamps and deserted water bodies. It was conspicuous from the present study that the majority of the respondents used Puntias sp. as supplementary feed. The major diseases of crabs in the study area were ulcers on carapace, necrosis of appendages and fungal diseases and they applied lime and potassium permanganate (KMnO4) to get rid of these diseases. Lack of crab seeds emerged as a prime constraint, followed by marketing problems, transport problems, credit problems and problems related to diseases.

Caesarean section a better pathway to safe motherhood: perception of adults in Ekiti state, South Western Nigeria

Background: Caesarean section also known as C-section (CS), is a surgical procedure in which incisions are made through a mother’s abdomen (laparotomy) and uterus (hysterotomy) to deliver one or more babies. In developing countries such as Nigeria, the incidence of CS is below the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended rate of 10-15%. This has been attributed to several factors impeding the acceptance and attitude of adults to CS, subsequently leading to increasing rates of maternal mortality in Nigeria. The aim of this study is to assess the acceptance and attitude of CS among adults in Ekiti state, South western, Nigeria.Methods: This is a cross-sectional study design. Data were collected using a pre-tested, semi structured, interviewer administered questionnaire and analyzed using the statistical package for social sciences (SPSS), version 25.Results: About half of the respondents, (50.3%) had a positive attitude towards CS while 49.7% had a negative attitude towards CS, 69% were willing to accept CS if necessary while about 31% wouldn’t accept CS no matter the indication.Conclusions: This study showed that though a good number of respondents had positive attitude towards CS, however, a few numbers of respondents were unyielding to accept CS no matter the circumstances.

Handling and Illegal Disposal of Excess Household Solid Wastes in Katutura Township of Namibia

This study examined the modes of handling of generated excess household solid wastes and attitude towards illegal disposal in Katutura township in Windhoek, Namibia. This was particu- larly significant because the capital city, Windhoek was once the cleanest city in Africa. Hence, the study aimed at generating data that would be of benefit to the local municipality towards review of waste management operational strategies and applicable local byelaw especially in this densely populated low-income township. A mixed method of qualitative (observational) and quantitative survey through the use of questionnaire was adopted. Presented data was based on a total of two hundred and thirty-four (234) respondents. Results showed that 46.6% of respondents were between the ages of 21-30 (43.7%) and employed with a 92.3% literacy level. About 66.7% were well aware of the concept of waste management and possessed the knowledge (94%) of its implementation. Majority of respondents (70.9%) generate wastes with- in the 240L waste bin volume per week while those that generate excess handle the wastes in several ways. About 44.3% place excess wastes beside the bin before municipal collection while a combination of 46.4% engage in different forms of illegal disposal. Ironically, about 77.8% of respondents were aware of what constitutes illegal waste disposal. A good number of respondents (62.1%) were satisfied with the municipal waste management. Suggestions on further improvements were however provided. Of great concern in this study was the apathetic attitude (50.4%) of respondents towards the illegal waste disposal practices. This might be contributing factor towards the loss of cleanliness ranking by the city.

ASSESSING THE IMPACT OF ARTISTIC ARCHITECTURE ON PERCEIVED USABILITY AND WILLINGNESS TO USE MOBILE COMMERCE APPLICATIONS

Creating a useful portable browser or program is a demanding challenge for organisations due to the size constraints of the display area, which additionally is contingent on usability, internet connectivity, efficient backup power and mobility. Users also expect performance equivalent to that of microcomputers. Portable display programmers need to surmount these challenges without compromising users’ concerns for safety and confidentiality. Various works in the past couple of years revealed the ability of a strongly perceived artistic architecture of a mobile website as a push to overcome clients’ reduced skill. The investigation conducted in this report sought to determine the distinct impact of eight artistic display on the of a mobile website or program and the corresponding clients’ . Organisations may thus take advantage of this knowledge to improve usage, trust, frequency of adoption and consequently financial rewards on m-commerce applications. This study uses a with a screening objective. Data for the experiment was sourced through a web-based questionnaire program, . At the same time, social network sites were used to disseminate the questionnaires to enable gathering a good number of respondents. The data collection instrument had statements with threshold for Ninety-six participants took part in the inquiry. In contrast, seventy-six participants completed the exercise, signifying an estimated. was used in the study of the association concerning the . package was utilised in the evaluation of the . Findings revealed that artistic architecture bears a substantial impact on of portable websites and programs as well as influences artefacts on such platforms. , as well as the of an application, turned out as two features with the highest impact on the two factors. That the orientation of their effects is a reverse of the conjectured outcome suggests that future work should explore this issue.

Effectiveness and Safety of Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Low-Dose Oral Immunotherapy with Low Allergen Egg-Containing Cookies for Severe Hen’s Egg Allergy: A Single-Center Analysis

Introduction: The usefulness of low-dose oral immunotherapy (OIT) for the treatment of egg allergy has been unclear. Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of OIT with low allergen cookies (LACs) containing a low dose of hen’s egg. Method: Thirty-three patients with severe hen’s egg allergy were randomly administered either OIT with LACs (n = 21) or placebo (n = 12). Two patients in the LACs group withdrew before completing OIT. The primary endpoint was the number of good responders (G-R), patients with negative results in the oral food challenge (OFC) with a final dose of 2 g hard-boiled egg whites after 4 months of OIT, in each group. Total OFC Aichi score for anaphylaxis/cumulative protein dose (TS/Pro) as the marker of severity of food allergy was also compared. Adverse events during OIT were evaluated using patients’ diaries. Results: The proportion of G-R in the LACs group was higher than in the placebo group (7/19 [37%] vs. 1/12 [8%], χ² test; p = 0.077). The TS/Pro after OIT in the LACs group was lower than in the placebo group (median score, 44.2 vs. 104.1, p = 0.059; Mann-Whitney U test). The threshold and TS/Pro before and after OIT significantly improved in the LACs group (p = 0.015, p = 0.027, respectively; Wilcoxon signed-rank test). There were 99 recorded incidences of symptoms of 1,938 intake events in the LACs group during OIT. Of these, 90 were mild; no severe symptoms occurred. Conclusions: OIT with LACs potentially increases the OFC threshold and decreases allergy severity and is a relatively safe treatment modality.

Challenges in the implementation of the Freedom of Information Act in Nigeria

This study examined the Challenges in the Implementation of Freedom of Information Act in Nigeria. The research therefore focused on two States in the South-South Region of Nigeria to examine the issues and evaluate the implementation of Freedom of Information Act of 2011. The research objectives include: to ascertain the awareness level of public agencies and institutions on the implementation of FoIA; to determine the constraints in accessing information in agencies and institutions of government resulting in poor implementation; to find out the extent agencies and institutions of government sustain the old order of secrecy in the management of information; and to find out alternative ways the provisions of the Act could be better implemented for easy access to information. The research work adopted the survey method to deeply explicate the issues and questionnaire was used as the research instrument with sample size of 362 out of 6,094 of the population generated from the Australian Calculator. The study found out that a good number of respondents were aware of FoIA but have not or their institutions have not complied with the required implementation of the Act; and that secrecy, bureaucracy, poor record keeping, inadequate knowledge of the provisions of the Act, corruption, and lack of enforcement are some of the inhibiting factors to the implementation of FoIA. It was also found that there is poor public attitude towards openness, transparency and accountability due to narrow mindsets in doing government business under confidentiality. Based on the findings, the study recommended mass enlightenment for public knowledge and understanding of FoIA beyond mere awareness, good record keeping and adoption of modern information management system. Keywords: Freedom of Information, FOIA, Nigeria, Secrecy, Mass enlightenment

Efficacy and tolerance of anakinra in acute calcium pyrophosphate crystal arthritis: a retrospective study of 33 cases

Calcium pyrophosphate (CPP) deposition is a frequent joint disease with increased prevalence in older people in whom treatment of acute CPP arthritis with conventional therapies such as colchicine or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs could be contraindicated or not used at an optimal dose. As recommended in gout, anakinra might represent an alternative treatment for arthritis. We aimed to analyze the efficacy and safety of anakinra in acute CPP arthritis in a large reported series. We retrospectively included all patients receiving anakinra for acute CPP arthritis between January 2011 and 2017. The following data were collected before and 4days after the first anakinra injection: swollen joint count (SJC), tender joint count (TJC), pain score on a visual analog scale (VAS, 0-100mm), and C-reactive protein (CRP) level. A good response was defined according the evaluation of the physician. We included 33 patients (24 women; mean age 79.2 ± 12.8years). The number of good responders was 27 (81.8%). At day 4, patients showed decreased mean VAS pain score (from 64.8 ± 26.5 to 21.2 ± 19.7mm, p < 0.0001), TJC (5.8 ± 5.0 to 1.0 ± 1.0, p < 0.0001), SJC (3.9 ± 2.7 to 0.9 ± 1.0, p < 0.0001), and CRP level (116.1 ± 71.6 to 26.0 ± 23.1mg/l, p < 0.0001). Anakinra was well tolerated, without skin complications. Only one patient had pneumonitis that was resolved with oral antibacterial agents. Anakinra could be a relevant alternative for managing acute CPP arthritis when conventional therapies are ineffective or contraindicated.

Patients' Knowledge and Perceived Barriers toward Replacement of Missing Teeth among Respondents of Hail City, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Teeth maintain the functionality and esthetic of oral cavity, they are also important for psychological and social well-being. This study aims to assess awareness of patients toward replacement of missing teeth. People with unrestored or missing teeth tend to have poor self-esteem and oral health-related quality of life; hence, their knowledge toward restoring and replacing teeth is an important aspect to be measured. It was an observational study having a cross-sectional design. Face- and content-validated questionnaire was used as study tool. Nonprobability, convenient sampling technique was employed that yielded information from 183 respondents residing in various areas of Hail city. Data were collected after written informed consent. The study was approved by the University of Hail ethical committee. Two hundred questionnaires were distributed, out of which 183 were returned. Regarding knowledge of restoring missing teeth, 145 (79.2%) respondents know that function and esthetic can be maintained by replacing missing teeth. Information about the availability of various types of prosthesis was mostly obtained by them through their dentist (70; 48.3%), while books/magazines/Internet was the second source (38; 26.2%) and 37 (25.5%) heard it from someone who has already undergone the replacement of teeth. The present study indicated that a good number of respondents have the knowledge of teeth replacement, and dentists were the most common source of information to the patients in terms of education about different treatment options. Evaluate and plan treatment options based on patients' expectations and perceptions.

Awareness and use of insecticide treated bednets (itns) by mother of under-fives in akuku–uno community

Malaria is endemic in Nigeria and it has a close relationship with poverty. Poverty influences the risk of having malaria. Malaria in children of under-five cannot be controlled when there is lack or poor compliance with various preventive strategies including awareness and use of insecticide treated nets (ITN). The target set when “Roll Back Malaria” (RBM) was launched in 2000, was that about 60% of children younger than 5 years and mothers in Nigeria should have been sleeping under the insecticide treated nets by 2015.&#x0D; Objectives: This study examined the awareness and use of ITN by mothers of under-five and also identified factors that are associated with use/non-use by mothers of under-five in Akuku-Uno Community of Delta State with a view of assessing levels of attainment of the Abuja Targets for malaria prevention.&#x0D; Methodology: This study were carried out in four (4) quarters namely: Ugulu, Umuaja, Umutu and Obeiti of Akuku-Uno Community. It employed descriptive survey design using simple random sampling technique and was conducted among 350 mothers of under- five who gave their consent within the period of 4 weeks study. Data was collected using self structured questionnaire using Pearson product moment correlation coefficient with a value of 0.74 at 0.05 level of significance. Analyses were done using SPSS Version 16.&#x0D; Results: Majority of respondents (96.3%) were aware of ITN. A good number of respondents (87.1%) possess ITN and (96.7%) claim they have the ITN from health centres . The night before the survey,59.7% of respondents slept under ITN while the reasons for non-compliance include don’t have good one 32%, not long 26% and adverse reaction is 42%. Respondents that claimed to have seen ITN was 96% . Those that have good knowledge with regards to malaria were 46% compared to respondents (54%) that have poor knowledge of malaria. Respondents that uses only one method to prevent malaria were 52% . A good number of respondents (91.5%) used ITN. Respondents (40%) mentioned high temperature as symptom of malaria. For challenges faced by respondent in using ITN, 71.4% of mothers faced no challenges and 87.8% of respondents claim to use ITN for protection.&#x0D; Conclusion: This study showed that many of the mothers and under -five in this malaria endemic area (96.3%) are aware of ITN and 59.7% of them actually slept under the ITN the night before survey. The net must be readily made available to encourage mothers of under- five to use them. Negative perceptions such as rumor of death which was about 9% leading to non compliance should be corrected and mothers be encouraged to use the ITN.

Awareness and Various Misconceptions Regarding Clinical Features, Routes of Transmission and Prevention of Sexually Transmitted Diseases among Sub Study Population in North India

The objectives of present study is to determine the awareness regarding clinical features, routes of transmission prevention and various misconceptions of sexually transmitted diseases among study subpopulation. The present study was conducted within the municipal limits of Srinagar city. The subpopulations studied were: Long distance Truck Drivers and their helpers. The study was conducted by in-depth face to face interviews with the target populations using the questionnaire based on Family Health International"s instrument for Behavioral surveillance surveys with suitable modifications. The parameters studied included: 1) STD"s : awareness, symptoms & treatment seeking behavior 2) Knowledge, opinions & attitudes towards HIV/AIDS 3) Exposure to interventions. The sampling strategy used for Long distance truck drivers was time / location cluster sampling.. The interviews were conducted twice in a week at each of the sites and at each visit a total of 10% truck drivers available at that time were interviewed using systematic random sampling. The data was collected over a period of six weeks from a total of 245 truck drivers. A total of 245 in depth face-to-face interviews were conducted in the study. Though condom awareness was high in the study groups but condom usage was low . Consistent condom usage in spousal (16%) & casual sex workers (31%) was overall much lower than consistent condom usage in commercial sex workers the same group (60%).The overall awareness about STDs was high in study group (TH) 74.29%. However the correct knowledge about at least two symptoms of STDs was low in study group (TH) 17.14%. The overall awareness about HIV /AIDS & its main modes of transmission was high in the group (above 80%). A good number of respondents had misconceptions about spread of HIV /AIDS especially about transmission by mosquito bites (60%).Awareness about modes of prevention of HIV/ AIDS was high (above 90%) .Awareness about the possibility of a confidential HIV test was high in study group however only 23% had ever had an HIV test done. A good proportion of respondents were willing to take care of an HIV +ve relative or friend (80%) but lesser no of respondents were willing to share a meal with an HIV +ve person or buy food from an HIV +ve shopkeeper (49%). Perception of risk among respondents who had indulged in unprotected non-regular sex in past one year was high (73%).Exposure to targeted interventions was significant . An overwhelming majority of respondents supported inter-personal communication or IPC (one to one, camps, group discussions) as the best mode of awareness generation about HIV/ AIDS (71%). Electronic media (Radio & TV) received second rating (46%) while very few of the respondents favored print media as the source of awareness generation about HIV/ AIDS (3%). These findings indicate that there is a need to initiate targeted interventions, and the TI Projects already being implemented with study group (TH) need to shift their focus from "awareness generation" to "behavior change communication" because of the finding that high level of awareness has not resulted in safer behavior practices in this group. Adequate publicity needs to be given to VCTCs & the reason for under-utilization of their services needs to be assessed.

Awareness About HIV/AIDS Among The Adolescent Factory Workers

This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 384 adolescent garment workers with a view to assess their behavior, knowledge &amp; responses about the deadly disease AIDS. Among the respondents more than half (66%) were from age group 15 to 19 years, among 384 workers females represented 68%, male were 32°% Most of the respondents (95%) were Muslim. The educational levels of the respondents were quite good, about 42% were educated up to secondary level. Monthly family income of 38% respondents' was 5001-10000 Tk. It was found that out of 348 employees 80% mentioned that they have good relation with their family members. This is a positive sign which might prevent them to do risky behaviors. This was supported by their perception about per-marital sex as 72% of the respondents said that they did not accept this (pre-marital sex).11 was found that during leisure period they stay in their house &amp; remain involved in the activities like chat with friends &amp; neighbors (77%), do personal or household works (54%), watch TV (38%) or go to sleep (13%). Even during their unhappy mode, they were likely to spend the maximum time in their houses. According to the research findings, 81% respondents were familiar with the term AIDS, 72% identifies it as a disease. This is important to notice that 61% identified AIDS as a normal disease which has to be considered in the planning of future programs. A good number of respondents (242) were able to mention the reason behind the spreading of this deadly disease, it should also be taken into consideration that there are even many (142) who still do not know the cause of the disease.

A community-based study to assess the awareness of health insurance among rural Northern Indian population

Background : Even after more than 60 years of independence, inequalities in access to health care are widely prevalent in Indian communities. As per National Family Health Survey-3 only 5% household are covered under any health scheme or insurance. Objectives : The present study was planned to conduct with an objective to assess the awareness of health insurance among rural northern Indian population. Materials and Methods : The present cross-sectional survey was undertaken among 422 eligible subjects in the rural field practice area of Department of Community Medicine of a Tertiary Care Centre located in rural Uttar Pradesh, during June 2013 to August 2013. Results : Overall 44.5% of the study subjects were aware of health insurance, while remaining 55.5% had not heard about it. Gender wise males were more aware than females (51.3% vs. 32.4%). Participants belonging to higher socioeconomic class were more aware (67%) compared to those of the lower class. A good number of respondents believed that health insurance is for tax gain (35.30%) and coverage of medical expenses (41.23%). 77.4% of respondents believed in governmental health insurance agencies rather than private insurance companies. Conclusion : The findings of the study highlight that it is need of the hour to launch information, education and communication activities in order to make rural communities aware of the need of health insurance to meet the ever rising medical expenses in view of unpredictable illness and injuries.

Knowledge Level about HIV/AIDS among the Villagers of Comilla District, Bangladesh

The HIV/AIDS epidemic has grown on an unprecedented scale since it was first recognized, and presently it is considered as a well known global public health crisis. In making the health policy where millions of populations are at risk, it is necessary to understand the knowledge level about HIV/AIDS. So, this study aimed at to investigate the knowledge level about HIV/AIDS among the villagers. Data and necessary information were collected from one hundred villagers of Salmanpur from Comilla district, Bangladesh through a structured questionnaire. The collected data were used for univariate analysis, to carry out the description of the variables; and to justify the total score of knowledge about HIV/AIDS among the respondents, Cronbach’s alpha (α) was calculated. The results revealed that almost all the respondents (92.00%) were ever heard about HIV/AIDS and half of them (51.00%) were known it as a communicable disease. Majority of the respondents (62.00%) believed that it is caused by heterosexual relation as well as sex with HIV positive persons. However, a good number of respondents were found unaware about the major causes and preventive ways of AIDS. Less than half of the respondents (45.00%) had medium knowledge (α = 0.34 - 0.66) and only 36.00% had the enough knowledge about HIV/AIDS. The knowledge level is increasing with the increase of education level, and the respondents who involved in agricultural works are found the lowest knowledge level (47.00%) about HIV/AIDS. The villagers were known about HIV/AIDS but they do not have accurate information about the ways in which AIDS virus can or cannot be transmitted. Therefore, effective programs should be taken to increase the knowledge level about HIV/AIDS among the villagers in Bangladesh.

Importance of HIV/AIDS workplace policies and peer education in small- and medium-scale enterprises

The study deals with the importance of HIV/AIDS workplace policies and peer education in small- and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs) in Nigeria. The study utilized secondary data from an evaluation of small/medium companies with HIV/AIDS interventions under the Global Fund Round 5 programs in Nigeria. A total of 132 SMEs were assessed, out of which 59% were small- (less than 50 employees) and 34% were medium-sized (50–200 employees) enterprises in the manufacturing and services sector. A total of 392 employees were interviewed using a structured questionnaire developed for the study. A good number of respondents (70%) reported that they had ever attended workplace peer education meetings on HIV/AIDS. Some of the married respondents (25%) never used condoms with their spouses and 24% never used condoms with their casual sexual partners. HIV testing and condom use was quite low among the employees. The study therefore recommends that HIV peer educators in the workplace should emphasize the utilization of knowledge on HIV prevention and continuous advocacy to private sector organization to implement HIV/AIDS workplace policies.

Exploring Degree of Awareness about Health Care and Hygienic Practices in Secondary School Students Residing in Semi-urban Areas of Bangladesh

Corrigendum: On 25/10/2013 the author “Dr. Mahmudul Hasan Siddiqui” was replaced by “Dr. Mahmudul Hasan Siddiqi”.This cross-sectional descriptive study evaluated the general health knowledge and practices of hygiene among semi-urban school children in Bangladesh and assessed the extent to which proper knowledge of hygiene was associated with personal hygiene characteristics. The study population was limited within mature students of class VIII and class X, which were randomly selected. The objectives of the study was first to assess the health knowledge acquired and health care practice undertaken by the students and finally to assess needs for improvement so that they could enjoy a better living and quality life. A well written pre-tested questionnaire was supplied to each student under study. Data were collected and analyzed using Computer Excel Program. The result of the study revealed that approximately 59% of students were classified as having little or no idea or knowledge of health. The majority of the respondents (44.95%) considered early going to bed. Only 11.01% respondents mentioned that they liked to go to bed at late hours after 11 pm. Regarding awakening time, 94.92% respondents in favor of get up early in the morning before sunrise, but actually 36(15%) habituated to get up early in the morning before the sun rise and a great number 200(84.74%) were habituated to late rise. A great number of students (78.81%) were in favor of taking home-made foods and majority respondents considered these foods as safe and wholesome. More than 98% respondents admitted that street vender foods were unhygienic and might cause intestinal disturbances, nausea, vomiting and worm infestation. 100% respondents had access to drink tube well water and it was safe and portable according to 84.75% respondents. To mention about access to proper and adequate defecation facilities it was reported that 90.68% students had the habit to use sanitary latrines. A very low percent of respondents (4.24%) used soap for washing of hands after defecation. About 95.76% of students reported that they washed their hands with water only and soaps were seldom used. The findings with respect to oral hygiene practice, 55.08% respondents preferred to brush teeth. A good number of respondents 50.85%, 20.34%, 15.25%, 8.47% and 5.08% used ash, followed by neem stick, tooth paste, Kalo Majon and magic tooth powder respectively. Although 87.29% of respondents never smoked, but it is very undesirable that more than 10% of students developed smoking habit. The present study revealed that 83.00% of respondents were in favor of keeping nails short. Regarding personal cleanliness 14.83% of the students reported not taking bathing regularly. About 83% realized the importance of wearing underwear. Lastly, the students under interview although clearly stressed upon the need of regular exercise which is good for health, but quite a big number of respondents (91.53%) were not inclined to take exercise regularly. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/cbmj.v2i1.14186 Community Based Medical Journal Vol.2(1) 2013 55-62

Emphasizing Reproductive Health and HIV/AIDS Prevention to Youths from the Religious Perspective

Background: Religion shapes everyday beliefs and activities of youths, but few studies have associated HIV prevention with religion. This study explored how religious beliefs were used to enhance prevention of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections among youths. Study examines role of religion in discouraging HIV-related issues like stigma, discrimination and others. It enlightens youth on how to integrate religious beliefs with HIV prevention to boost compliance to HIV/AIDS medical interventions. Methods: An interactive seminar was held with convenience sample of 530 youth and 8 youth leaders of Seventhday Adventist church. Therefore, a sample of 538 individuals between 18-51 years was studied. During the seminar, researchers used pictures of various STIs to explain mode of transmission and showed how youth could be at risk of infections. Twenty three self administered questions were used for the study. Simple percentages on frequency tables were used for analysis. Results: A good number of the respondents 404 (75%) had poor knowledge of sexually transmitted infections including HIV/AIDS. HIV and other STIs were seen as punishment from God for committing adultery and fornication. A total of 377 (70%) respondents were of the opinion that People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) committed ominous sin and should be isolated. Most participants 280 (52%) said if infected, they would not disclose their HIV. Although a good number of respondents 119 (22%) believed that prayer could cure HIV, as high as 102 (19%) of respondents are of the view that HIV has no cure and that youth should avoid being infected. Conclusion: The fact that youth in the church regard members who are HIV positive as adulterers and/or fornicators shows poor knowledge of mode of HIV infection. There is therefore, the need to organize regular HIV education outreach for religious groups to reduce beliefs that discourage HIV prevention.

The use of cybercafe at Delta State University, Abraka, Nigeria

This study explores the use of the cybercafe at Delta State University, Abraka, Nigeria. By means of questionnaires, data were collected from 83 users. Findings revealed that a majority of the respondents have not been using the cafe for a long period of time; most of them visit the internet cafe for sending or receiving e‐mail, followed by browsing for academic information; most acquired internet knowledge and skills through practical self‐teaching but a good number of respondents do not spend a long time accessing the net per visit. Yahoo! is the search engine used by most respondents followed by Google. The high cost of internet access is a constraint to a majority of users.