Ibadan North Local Government Area Research Articles

Interactive-Invention Instructional Strategy and Secondary School Students’ Achievement in Selected Electromagnetic Concepts in Ibadan North Local Government Area (LGA), Nigeria

Physics translates scientific discoveries to technology but students’ achievement in the subject has been observed to be below expectation at all levels of education in Nigeria. Electromagnetism aspect of physics is one of the areas in physics that has been reported to be very wide in coverage and abstract in nature, but students have difficulty understanding it. This paper focuses on determining the effect of interactive-invention instructional strategy on secondary school students’ achievement in electromagnetic concepts in Ibadan North LGA of Nigeria. Mixed methods research design was adopted for the study. Three senior secondary schools were randomly selected from Ibadan North LGA and also randomly assigned to the two treatment groups and control group. Intact classes from the selected schools were used and a total of 125 students participated in the study. The two treatment groups were taught using the interactive-invention instructional strategy with the electric motor/generator learning kits. Treatment group I participants worked individually while Treatment group II worked in groups of five. The control group were taught using the conventional lecture method. Physics Achievement Worksheets (PAW), Physics Students’ Attitude Questionnaire (PSAQ), and in-class discussion guide were the instruments used. The result of the study indicates a significant main effect of treatment on students’ academic achievement in the Experimental groups (F (2, 124) = 88.00; p<0.05, partial η2 = 0.61) and a significant main effect of students’ attitude on their academic achievement in the treatment groups (F(1, 124) = 5.80; p<0.05, partial η2 = 0.49). It was recommended that physics teachers should adopt interactive-invention instructional strategy in teaching electromagnetism concepts.

Awareness and willingness to consume whole plant-based food in Ibadan North Local Government Area of Oyo State, Nigeria

Food is an essential entity that supports life and is required in the right quantity and quality in all living things which includes man and animals. Food contains nutrients which would be used in the body of an organism to sustain growth, aid vital processes and to furnish energy. Even though some foods are important for growth and development, the factors influencing households to purchase is yet unknown in the literature. More so, low consumption of plant based food can lead to poor nutrition which impairs daily health and wellbeing. Thus, this study examines factors that influencing the willingness to consume plant-based whole foods. Data were obtained from primary source from households in Ibadan, Oyo State through the use of structured questionnaire with the adoption of multistage sampling procedure. Data were analysed using the Descriptive Statistics, Ordinary Least Squares Regression Model, Logistic Regression, Probit Regression Model. The findings from the study show that marital status, educational level and household size are the important determinants of the level of awareness of whole plant-based diet by households. Likewise, results show that marital status, education and income are the variables that influence the willingness of households to consume whole plant food. The study concludes that the consumption of whole plant-based foods is of great benefit to households as the prevalence of non-communicable diseases would be drastically reduced. The study recommends that households should be educated on the benefits of whole plant food through focused group discussion and media channels to increase the willingness to consume it. Government should place taxes on highly processed food to discourage their purchase and consumption.

PROFITABILITY AND EFFICIENCY OF TOMATO PRODUCTION AMONG FEMALE FARMERS IN IBADAN NORTH LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, IBADAN, OYO STATE, NIGERIA

Women farmers in Nigeria particularly in rural areas have always worked and their labour contributes a key role in the survival of millions of Nigeria families. Most rural women in Nigeria are the invisible farmers and they form the backbone of rural development, however more than half of Nigeria’s food is produced by female farmers. These studies analyze the profitability and efficiency of tomato production among female farmers in Ibadan North Local Government Area of Oyo State. The study specifically described the socioeconomic characteristics of the respondents, determines the technical efficiency and factors affecting technical efficiency and lastly estimated the profitability of tomato production in the study area. The study revealed that the female tomato farmers were adult and active, most of the farmers were literate, majority had 5 household sizes and less and most of the female tomato farmers had little experience in tomato production. The study also revealed that farm size, capital and labour were the factors that significantly affected tomato production of the respondents while the variables representing household size and number years spent in school affected the Inefficiency of farmers in the study area. The mean technical efficiency was found to be 0.97 (or 97%) which implied that, on the average, the farmers were 97% technically efficient; hence their observed output was about 3% less than the maximum frontier output.

Factors Associated with Alcohol Consumption among Adolescents in Selected Secondary Schools in a Local Government Area of Oyo State, Southwest, Nigeria

Alcohol use during adolescence and young adulthood remain a prominent public health problem. This study identifies factors associated with alcohol consumption among adolescents in selected secondary schools in Ibadan North Local Government Area, Southwest, Nigeria. A cross-sectional descriptive study was used. One hundred and seventy-six (176) respondents were consecutively selected using the random technique. Data were analyzed using chi-square and hypotheses tested at a 5% level of significance. Findings revealed that the majority of the respondents had poor knowledge of alcohol consumption, while (36.4%) of the respondents had consumed alcoholic beverages. Over half (54.5%) engaged in drinking alcohol as a result of peer influence. The majority (70%) of them had good knowledge of factors influencing alcohol consumption and factors influencing consumption among the respondents. Thus, the rate of alcohol consumption among adolescents was low (36.4%) as a larger percentage (64.6%) of them did not consume alcohol owing to their knowledge of the effect and the presence of some protective factors within the environment. In conclusion, alcohol consumption among adolescents was low, knowledge of its consumption was high, and it was associated with its actual consumption. Alcohol use is also associated with peer influence and environmental variables, while age and gender did not have any relationship with alcohol consumption. Therefore, educational intervention to improve knowledge of the consequences of alcohol consumption among adolescents and public policies with preventive educational campaigns was recommended.

Ethnobotanical survey and proposed recipes of potential wound-healing plants in parts of south west Nigeria

Ethnobotanical survey of medicinal plants remains a veritable source of information leading to discovery of new lead compounds of pharmaceutical importance thus, the need for continual search for medicinal plants via ethnobotanical surveys in Nigeria. Structured questionnaires were administered amongst traditional healers. A few other anecdotal claims about efficacy of herbs from people who at one time or the other have used the plants for wound healing were also sampled. The result of an ethnobotanical survey of plants used in the treatment of wound in Ijebu North Local Government area of Ogun State and Ibadan North Local Government area of Oyo state of Nigeria are reported. A total of 71 species of plants covering 43 families were identified; representing 51 recipes. Carica papaya Linn, Elaeis guineensis Jacq, Chromolaena odorata Meull. Arg, Gladiolus psittacinus Hook.f., Vetivera kotschyana (Benth.) Stapf, Securidaca longipedunculata Fresen and Euphorbia laterifolia Linn were prominent among the recipes. Among all the families identified in the recipes, Euphorbiaceae was most mentioned (7.0%) followed by Compositeae, Fabacceae, Malvaceae and Meliaceae families (4.0%), Amaryllidaceae, Annonaceae, Arecaceae, Asphodeloideae, Asteraceae, Cucurbitaceae, Leguminosae, Musaceae, Poaceae, Rubiaceae, Rutaceae, Solanaceae, Sterculiaceae, Zingiberaceae followed closely (3.0%) while Acanthaceae, Amaranthaceae, Anacardiaceae and others had 1.0%. Out of the recipes, 51.9% are either leaves only or in combination with other parts, while 21.5% are stem bark, 7.6% are seeds and 3.8% are roots, bulbs and fruits respectively. These plants could be investigated for potential leads for wound healing in animal subjects.

Perception of white meat consumption among urban households in Ibadan North Local Government of Oyo State

This study examines the consumer’s perception of white meat among household in Ibadan north local government area of Oyo state, Nigeria. Multi-stage sampling was used through questionnaire to gather information from 110 respondents used as a sample size for the study. Data were analyzed through the use of descriptive statistics tools such as frequency and percentage, while inferential statistics such as chi-square and PPMC were used for the hypotheses. The result of the study revealed that majority (63.6%) of the respondents were married, also in their active age (93.2%) and engaged in trading and civil service work as their primary occupation. Also, majority (55.5%) had up to secondary education and tertiary school level with household size 1-5.The result further revealed that 52.4% of the respondents had unfavourable perception of white meat consumption while 47.6% had favourable perception. Also, better cholesterol content (53.6%) and reduced health risk (51.8%) were some of the perceived benefits of white meat considered by respondents. Constraints such as high cost of white meat (99%) and low income (88%) were considered as major constraints to white meat consumption. Chi-square analysis revealed that marital status(X2=18.693, P=0.028), education(X2=17.753, P=0.038) and primary occupation(X2=18.266, P=0.032) of respondents were found to have significant relationship with their perception of white meat consumption at 0.05 level. Also, PPMC analysis showed that there was relationship between perceived benefits and perception for white meat at 0.05 level of significant. The study, therefore, recommends that the enlightenment programmes on nutritional benefit of white meat consumption should be promoted for consumers to have right perception.

Effect of Scratch Programming Language (SPL) on Achievement in Geometry among Senior Secondary Students in Ibadan, Nigeria

The knowledge of Mathematics is germane to the scientific and technological development of nations all over the world. In addition to this, the integration of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) cum advances in pedagogy have made educators all over the world adopt innovative approaches that are ICT-inclined to enhance students’ acquisition of mathematical skills and also to enhance their academic achievement. In view of this, this study determined the effect of scratch programming language (SPL) on achievement in Geometry among senior secondary one (SS 1) students in Ibadan North Local Government Area of Oyo State, Nigeria. The study adopted the pretest-posttest control group quasi-experimental research design. The participants were 116 (75 males and 41 females) Senior Secondary School students in two intact classes from two public schools in Ibadan North Local Government Area. The instruments used for data collection were the Students Achievement Test in Geometry (SATG) (with a reliability coefficient of 0.75) and the Instructional Guide or Manual for the use of Scratch Programming Language (TGUSPL). Data were analyzed using Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA). Results revealed that there was a significant main effect of treatment on students’ achievement in Geometry (F(1, 111) = 124.80; p<0.05, partial η2 = 0.53). Gender also had a significant main effect on students’ achievement in Geometry (F(1, 111) = 20.25; p<0.05, partial η2 = 0.15). It is, therefore, recommended that teachers and curriculum developers should adopt the use of Scratch programming language (SPL) for teaching Geometry for improved achievement in this aspect of Mathematics.

Detection of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus and Extended-Spectrum Beta-Lactamase Producers from Ready-to-Eat Roasted Beef in Ibadan North, Nigeria

Ready-to-eat roasted beef popularly called ‘Suya’ in Nigeria is a highly nutritive food and hence, prone to microbial contamination when handled in an unhygienic manner by the vendors. Extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) producers and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus have been reported in both community and hospital settings in Nigeria. This study investigated their occurrence as microbial contaminants in ready-to-eat roasted beef in Ibadan North local government area (LGA) of Oyo state, Nigeria. Fifty (50) samples were purposively collected randomly in four different locations in Ibadan North LGA from 1st to 31st of November, 2019. Aerobic and coliform bacterial counts, isolation, identification and antibiotic susceptibility testing were done using standard microbiological techniques. Phenotypically, methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus was detected by cefoxitin-disc-diffusion and ESBL-producers by double-disc synergy. MecA/C and selected ESBL (TEM, SHV and CTX-M) genes were detected by PCR technique. The mean total aerobic and coliform bacterial counts ranged from 1.5 × 106 to 7.8 × 106 cfu/g and 0.8 × 102 to 1.3 × 103 cfu/g respectively. Thirty-eight (38) bacteria were isolated: Staphylococcus aureus (15.8%), Pseudomonas spp. (42.1%), Klebsiella spp. (36.8%) and Bacillus spp. (5.3%). Four (66.7%) of the Staphylococcus aureus were MecA mediated methicillin-resistant strains and 20 (66.7%) of the Gram-negatives were ESBL-producers with 9 (30%) harbouring TEM and SHV and 15 (50%) CTX-M genes. Occurrence of MRSA and ESBL-producers in ready-to-eat roasted beef in Ibadan north is of serious public health concern.

The Influence of Idea Generation on Business Growth: Evidence from Ibadan, Nigeria

Idea generation (ideation) is at the root of creative and innovative endeavours as creative ideas lead to innovative outcomes. Identifying creative ideas is a function of knowledge and practice, whether individually, in a group or outside of those sources. Entrepreneurial practice reveals that ideas can be sourced from entrepreneurs, their employees and customers thus impacting business growth, especially in an emerging entrepreneurial society like Nigeria. This study aimed to reveal how three different sources of idea generation influence business growth in Ibadan North Local Government Area of Oyo State, Nigeria. The survey purposively sampled 195 entrepreneurs, 71 males (36%) and 124 females (64%), judged to engage in creative businesses. The age range is as follows: 20-25 years (14), 26-30 years (69), 31-35 years (52), 41-45 years (18), 46-50 years (4) and 51 years and above (3). Data analysis involved descriptive statistics and regression analysis. Results revealed a significant number of the sample agreeing that there is a significant influence between individual, corporate and customer-centred ideation on business growth of the sampled entrepreneurs and consequently seek ideas from these sources. This study suggests the creation of awareness of the import of ideational skills among current and budding entrepreneurs and their employees through training to engender continuous creative and innovative growth in Nigerian businesses. Government and policy makers are to provide incentives and policies for business growth around the power of ideation. Limitations are also discussed.

Influence of minimum wage and prompt salary payment on teachers’ effectiveness in public secondary schools

Obviously that less motivated teachers are less productive and less disposed to perform their best, despite their acquired teaching experiences in secondary schools. Drawing on equity theory, valence expectancy theory, and the two-factor theory, this paper examines the influence of minimum wage and prompt salary payment on teacher effectiveness in public secondary schools. The study’s sample was drawn from 20 selected public secondary schools in Ibadan North local government area of Oyo State, Nigeria. This study adopts a quantitative research approach. The questionnaires were randomly distributed. Out of 200 questionnaires, 149 questionnaires were effective for analysis after analyzing the data with SPSS version 25. This study revealed that minimum wage, prompt salary payment, and demographic variables have significant independent and joint influence on teachers’ effectiveness in public secondary schools. It was proved that several teachers are dissatisfied with minimum wage payments and that prompt salary payment influences teachers’ effectiveness. Therefore, the study recommended that the state government should review the current minimum wage, making it more attractive to motivate teachers, thereby directly enhancing teachers’ effectiveness. The focus should also be on achieving prompt salary payment through consistent and effective salary scheme management, promoting teachers’ effectiveness. AcknowledgmentThe current author acknowledges the Department of Industrial Psychology and People Management, College of Business and Economics, University of Johannesburg, under Professor Wilfred Ukpere, in funding the current study and its publication.

Exploring the perception of and attitude towards preconception care service provision and utilisation in a South Western Nigerian community – A qualitative study

Background: Hospital-based, quantitative studies in Nigeria show low levels of knowledge and use of preconception care (PCC) services. This study explored the perception of and attitude towards PCC in a southwestern Nigerian community qualitatively.Data Source and Methods: Focus group discussions (FGDs) were held with 57 purposively selected adult women and men and key informant interviews (KIIs) with one female and one male community leader in Ibadan North Local Government Area, Oyo State, Nigeria in 2018. The FGDs and KIIs held within the community were digitally recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed thematically.Results: Participants placed PCC in the context of marriage, describing its importance for addressing effects of adverse exposures on pregnancy and ensuring positive pregnancy outcomes.Conclusion: Barriers to PCC uptake mentioned included lack of awareness and prohibitive service costs. Expressing their willingness to use and promote PCC use, they stated the need to ensure PCC uptake through improved awareness at the community level.

Assessment of geographical determinats of water quality in some selected urban residential estates in Ibadan

The study assessed water quality in the residential estates of Ibadan North Local Government Area, Oyo state, Nigeria. A purposive sampling technique was used to select 7 estates (Aerodrome, Aare (one of the estates in Bodija), Basorun, Ashi, OLuwokekere, Oluwonla and Ikolaba, because of the high concentration of boreholes there. Consequently, a copy of household pretested questionnaire was systematically administered to 326 respondents in every 5th building, drawn from the selected estates. Issues that raised include the socioeconomic characteristics of respondents, dominant sources of water, water analysis was carried out on the physiochemical (iron, lead and zinc) characteristics, temperature and pH of the water on site and the perceived effect of metals on health of the respondents. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were carried out at p<0.05. The study revealed the water quality in estates are acidic as the pH scale of estates water was between 4.0, and 5.5. the study also revealed Physiochemical parameters to be iron (0.634), lead (0,058) and zinc (0.073). It was revealed that more than 90% of respondents that went for medical checkup were diagnosed with diabetics. Conclusively, the quality of water in the area fell below the acceptable standard. therefore, prospective borehole sinker should carry out water treatment and also follow appropriate planning guideline in the sinking of boreholes.

Maternal Self-rated Capability Status and Its Association with Under-Five Children Morbidity.

Background:Under-five morbidity is a significant public health concern in developing countries, and maternal intervention remains vital to achieving under-five optimal health.Objective:The study examined the influence of maternal self-rated capability status (SCS) on under-five morbidity in Ibadan North Local Government Area (LGA), Oyo State, Nigeria.Methods:The study interviewed 683 nursing mothers surveyed from 20 primary healthcare centers (PHCs) from 13th to 27th September 2018 in the LGA of study. We employed logistic regression models to examine the association of 4 domains of maternal SCS on under-five morbidity incidence controlling for the potential confounding effects of maternal, child, and household sociodemographic attributes.Results:Under-five children of mothers with poor status in the knowledge of child morbidity, experience-informed action, child morbidity exposure, and childcare vulnerability domains are, respectively, 497%, 323%, 400%, and 318% more likely to be at risk of morbidity than their peers born to mothers with good status. In addition, the odds of morbidity were lower for children born to women with more than 1 under-five children (AOR: 0.49, 95% CI: 0.27, 0.88), while the odds were higher for those from households that are food-insecure (AOR: 3.16, 95% CI: 1.31, 7.65) and dispose of wastes within the compound (AOR: 2.67, 95% CI: 1.31, 5.45) relative to children in the comparative categories.Conclusion:Our findings revealed the significance of maternal SCS as a crucial pathway for understanding and reducing under-five morbidity. Community interventions should prioritize empowering nursing mothers with prevention and care information necessary to reduce the under-five morbidity burden at the community level.

Psychosocial Factors as Determinants of Sexual Well-being of Female Teenagers in Ibadan North Local Government Area of Oyo State, Nigeria

As sexual well-being of female teenager becomes a major concern for the public, it is necessary to look at some factors that may affect the development of positive or negative sexual behavior for the right girl-child education. This study thus, examined the psychosocial factors as determinants of sexual well-being of female teenagers in Ibadan North Local Government Area of Oyo State, Nigeria. A descriptive survey design was used for the study and a sample of 200 respondents was purposively selected. Sexual well-being, Self-efficacy, Emotional intelligence, Family environment, Peer influence and Social Media Questionnaire (SSEFPSQ) are adopted as the research instruments. Data collected were analyzed using Multiple Regression Analysis. The study established that there is a significant joint contribution of the Independent variables (F (6, 193) = 176.763, P0.01) to the prediction of sexual well-being. It also established that there is a significant relative contribution of the independent variable to the prediction of sexual well-being of female teenagers in Ibadan North Local Government Area with self-efficacy (Beta = .725, t= 4.809, P0.01), as the most potent factor followed by Family environment (Beta = .337, t= 2.798, P0.01), emotional intelligence (Beta = .280, t= 4.253, P0.01), and social media (Beta = -.396, t= -3.539, P0.05). The study shows that it is important for the public, parents and care providers to understand factors that affect teenagers’ sexual well-being: parental background, parenting, social pressure, etc. To this end, the public must be enlightened about the sensitivity of female sex welfare, parents must not only be educated about the impact of family factors on sexual welfare of female adolescents, but also require proper sex education for teachers, parents, and mental and social intervention to elaborate on it.

COVID-19 and Compliance with Awareness Programmes/Preventive Measures: A Case Study of Ibadan North Local Government, Oyo State, Nigeria

The study was carried out to examine the compliance of people to awareness programmes/preventive measures on COVID-19. The study was carried out in Ibadan North Local Government Area of Oyo State with the population being the residents of Ibadan North Local Government area. The study employed a descriptive design of the survey type. A self-designed questionnaire was used to elicit responses from respondents through purposive sampling method via Google form; sent to 400 respondents out of which 200 copies of questionnaire which were filled in a valid form were used for the study. Descriptive statistics of mean and standard deviation with appropriate remarks were used to analyse the research questions while T-test was used to analyze hypotheses 1-3 and ordinary least squares regression was used to analyse hypothesis 4. The study showed that there existed a strong relationship between awareness programmes/preventive measures on COVID-19 and compliance of Ibadan North Local Government area citizens; that there existed a low significant relationship between medium of information and compliance of people to awareness/preventive measures on COVID-19 as indicated in (r = 0.811, P = .000 <0.05) and among others the study revealed that awareness programmes, medium of information and preventive measures had (P = 0.05, R = 0.993, R2 = 0.976, Adjusted R2 = 0.986, F = 4707.2; Sig = 0.000); which showed that these dependent variables had significant relationship with people’s compliance to awareness programmes on COVID-19.
 
 Among the recommendations made were that government of Oyo State in particular and Nigeria in general should heighten the process of awareness programmes, provide materials that would help in taking preventive measures to indigent people and educate people on the lookout for verified and certified information from real authoritative sources as opposed to subscribing to fake news.

The Effectiveness of Multimedia Instructional Learning Packages in Enhancing Secondary School Students’ Attitudes toward Biology

The study investigated the effectiveness of multimedia learning packages in improving the attitudes of students toward learning Biology in secondary schools. The study employed a quantitative and qualitative research approach. The population for the study consisted of all students offering Biology as a subject in the senior secondary schools in Ibadan North Local Government Area of Nigeria, from where a sample of 80 students was randomly selected from three secondary schools and assigned to three groups (one control and two experimental groups). Two multimedia instructional learning packages (MILP) were designed for the study. The topic treated was Cell Division, and the study lasted for six weeks. The packages and all instruments used were validated for content and construct validity, and reliability test was also done. The results showed that multimedia instructional packages used in teaching and learning Biology in secondary schools enhanced better students’ engagements and positive attitudes toward learning. It was concluded that students developed positive attitudes toward learning Biology after using the packages and that multimedia instructional packages are an interesting and creative method of teaching, learning, and enhancing positive attitudes towards learning among secondary school students.

Mothers’ knowledge and utilization of non-routine childhood immunisation in Ibadan North Local Government Area, Oyo state, Nigeria

Background: Vaccinepreventable- diseases are major contributors to child mortality in Africa. In Nigeria, apart from the routine childhood vaccines that are provided free by the government, there are additional lifesaving non-routine vaccines like Rotavirus, Pneumococcal Conjugate (PCV), Varicella, Cerebrospinal meningitis, and Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR) vaccines. Until 2015 when PCV was included in the routine childhood immunisation, these five vaccines were optional and parents paid to immunize their children with them.Objective: To assess the level of knowledge and utilization of nonroutine immunisations among mothers.Methodology: A descriptive, cross -sectional study conducted in three infant welfare clinics purposively selected in Ibadan North Local Government Area, Oyo State, Nigeria. Participants were 110 mothers of children aged 6-24 months. A structured questionnaire was used for data collection and analysis done using SPSS version 20.0. Descriptive statistics were computed and Chi-square test was used for investigating association between categorical variables at 0.05 level of significance.Results: The findings revealed that 62 (56.4%) of the 110 mothers were aware of non-routine immunisation of which 23 (20.9%) had good knowledge about it. Only 23 (20.9%) of their children were immunized with all the nonroutine vaccines. High income, higher level of education and good knowledge level about non-routine immunisation of mothers were associated with the utilization of all non-routine immunisation among their children (p<0.01).Conclusion: Knowledge of mothers about non-routine immunisation was poor and uptake of the vaccines among their children low. Health education to improve mothers’ knowledge and utilization of non-routine immunisation by their children is recommended.
 Keywords: Vaccine-preventablediseases, Children, Optional, Immunisation, Awareness, Uptake, Ibadan, Nigeria

Habitual physical activity and prevalence of lower limb musculoskeletal disorders in middle aged and older women

Background to the Study: Lower Limb Musculoskeletal Disorders (LLMSDs) have been found to be a common cause of disability. Evidence shows that Physical Activity (PA) reduces symptoms of LLMSDs and has been suggested to be useful in the management of LLMSDs. This study was conducted to investigate habitual PA level and prevalence of LLMSDs in middle aged and older women in Ibadan North Local Government Area of Oyo State, Nigeria. Methodology: This is a cross-sectional survey study in which a non-random sampling technique was used to recruit participants who were mostly workers in Oyo state Secretariat, University College Hospital and University of Ibadan. The International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) and the Standardized Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (SNMQ) were used to evaluate habitual PA level and prevalence of LLMSDs respectively. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to summarize and analyse the data. Results: Participants were 303 women, age range 45-77 years, mean 53.4±7.6 years. Most 261 (86.1%) were married, had tertiary education 274 (90.4%) and 85 (28.1%) were in the middle income category. Majority 282 (93.1%) reported LLMSDs with the knee (38.6%) being the most frequently reported site. Moderate level of habitual PA were reported by 116 (38.3%) of participants while those with low PA level reported the highest proportion of LLMSDs 118 (41.8%). Conclusion: Middle aged and older women in this study engaged mostly in moderate level of habitual PA, those with low PA had most reports of LLMSDs and the knee was the most frequently reported site of LLMSDs.

Language exposure and subject familiarity as correlates of senior secondary school students’ achievement in narrative writing

Narrative writing is often an option in English composition examination, especially in WAEC/NECO conducted English language Paper 1. Performance in essay writing has been found to determine the overall success in English language. Efforts to improve students’ performance in the subject have largely focused on instructional strategies without much attention to process-based variables such as language exposure and subject familiarity that can influence learning outcomes in ESL classrooms. Despite the contributions of these studies to pedagogical practices in ESL classroom, students’ achievement in English composition has not improved significantly. However, process-related variables such as quality and volume of exposure to the target language and subject familiarity have been found to predict learning outcomes in a second/foreign language classroom. Therefore, this study examined the relationship between language exposure and subject familiarity on achievement in narrative essay. The study tested three null hypotheses and a total of 350 participants were randomly selected from four senior secondary schools in Ibadan North Local Government Area, Nigeria. Data was collected using two research instruments and the results showed a positive non-significant relationship between the independent variables and students’ achievement in narrative essay. Also, there were no composite and relative contributions of language exposure and subject familiarity to students’ achievement in expository essay.

Compliance of commercial motorcyclists with road safety measures in a Nigerian metropolitan city

Objectives: Motorcycle crashes are the second most common cause of road traffic injuries in Nigeria, which can be prevented through compliance with road safety measures. Compliance is defined as a state of being in accordance with established guidelines or legislations. There is a dearth of information on compliance with these measures by motorcyclists in Ibadan. Commercial motorcyclists often ignore safety measures, making them prone to accidents with other road users. This study therefore assessed the knowledge and reported compliance of commercial motorcyclists in Ibadan North Local Government Area with road safety measures as well as the factors influencing compliance.Data and methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out among motorcyclists in all 5 motorcycle parks in the city of Ibadan. Participants were selected through a simple random sampling technique after a proportional allocation to the size of the motorcyclists in the parks was concluded. A total of 439 motorcyclists were interviewed. A pretested, semistructured, interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to collect information on sociodemographic characteristics, knowledge, reported compliance, and attitudes toward road safety measures (Nigeria Highway Code). A total of 34 items on traffic rules and regulations were used to assess compliance. Chi-square test and logistic regression were used for analysis at a 5% level of significance.Result: Respondents were aged 34.4 ± 7.8 years. All respondents were male and 15.2% had a tertiary education in a university or institution of higher learning. About 20.0% had no proper formal or informal training as motorcyclists. Ninety-four respondents (21.6%) self-reported ever being involved in a motorcycle crash, of which 32 (34.0%) occurred 6 months preceding the study. About half of respondents (51.9%) had good knowledge of road safety measures. About 50.6% of the respondents were compliant with road safety measures. Only 54.4% of respondents who had ever been involved in a motorcycle crash were wearing a crash helmet at the time of the crash. However, 71.8% of respondents had a crash helmet with them during the study. About 73.6% owned the motorcycles they rode. About two thirds (60.4%) of motorcycle owners were significantly more compliant compared to 23.3% of those who were not owners. Respondents who were motorcycle owners were almost 4 times more likely to be compliant with road safety measures than those who were not owners (odds ratio [OR] = 4.0; confidence interval [CI], 2.0–7).Conclusion: Commercial motorcycle ownership and training contributed to knowledge and compliance with road safety measures and consequently low reporting of motorcycle crash. There is therefore the need to encourage ownership, conduct training, and create stringent laws to guide road safety.