Southwestern States Research Articles

The structure of principal-teacher conversation: Why it matters for school leadership

PurposeThis study addressed a relatively understudied process of school leadership: the principal-teacher conversation about instructional change. Two distinct conversation structures were examined: controlling conversation and transformative leadership conversation (TLC). Self-determination theory (SDT) was used to make the case that TLC is a better fit for instructional change than controlling conversation. Hypotheses were developed on the relationship between principal-teacher conversation and teacher trust in the principal, teacher autonomy and teacher vitality. These mental states were identified for empirical testing because of their influence on change processes.Design/methodology/approachThe empirical study used a correlational research design with survey data. The data came from a random sample of 2,500 teachers from the population of certified teachers in a southwestern state in the USA. Useable survey responses were obtained from 1,615 teachers, for a response rate of 65 percent. Teachers in the sample averaged 15 years of teaching experience, with 7 years in their current school. Around 81% of teachers identified as female and 18 percent as male and 79% of teachers listed a racial identification as white. Hypotheses were tested in a path model using AMOS 28.0 with robust maximum likelihood (MLR).FindingsAs hypothesized, TLC had moderate to strong positive relationships with teacher trust in the principal, teacher autonomy and teacher vitality. Controlling conversation had small, negative relationships with teacher trust in the principal and teacher autonomy. Controlling conversation was not related to teacher vitality in the path analysis. Compared with controlling conversation, TLC had stronger relationships with teacher mental states.Originality/valueThe results of this study begin to reveal useful evidence on the inherent social-psychological mechanisms active in principal-teacher conversations. With results indicating that conversation structure has consequences for positive teacher mental states, the study directs attention to a ubiquitous yet understudied leadership process.

Assessment of the internal control system mechanisms among selected state governments in Nigeria

Purpose: The study assessed the existence and implementation of the internal control system mechanisms of three purposively selected state governments in southwestern Nigeria.
 Design/Methodology/Approach: The study adopted a descriptive survey research design. Primary data were obtained through a structured questionnaire administered to 450 staff members of both the Accountant General and Auditor General of the three southwestern states which include Lagos, Oyo and Ondo states. The Committee of Sponsoring Organizations Treadway Commission (COSO) framework is used to assess the existence and extent of implementation of internal control system mechanisms in the states. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data obtained.
 Findings: The results showed that control environment (36.6%), risk assessment (42.7%), control activities (37.9%) and information and communication (39%) were moderately in existence but not fully implemented because the percentage fell below average while monitoring (38.7%) was highly implemented among the selected state governments in southwestern Nigeria.
 Conclusion: The study found that state governments have internal control systems in place but they are not completely operational. Hence, mitigants against financial fraud, errors and misapplication of public funds are weak.
 Research Limitations and Implementation: The sample of the study could be expanded to include more states in other geopolitical zones of the country.
 Practical Implications: The study proposed strict adherence to all the elements and contents of the COSO framework in the design, set up and implementation of internal control mechanisms in public sector entities.

Relationship between Quality of Marriages, Marital Counseling and Management of Oral Lesions among Married Female Worshippers attending Religious Worship Centers in South Western Population in Nigeria.

BACKGROUND/ AIMS AND OBJECTIVES
 Quality of marriage is a strong indicator of human health. Happily married people tend to show signs of better health when compared to the unmarried. Women in unhappy homes are under chronic stress, they show impaired social behavior, mental stress disorders and cardiovascular diseases. Information on the effects of marriage on oral health is very scanty despite the huge influence of oral health care on the quality of life. 
 METHODOLODY
 This is a longitudinal designed study of female religious worshippers in a south western state of Nigeria. Religious Worship Centres (RWCs) were selected at random in the city. Married females in the selected RWCs were contacted through their leaders on the scheduled date. They were offered health education and were asked to complete a structured questionnaire on their oral health and quality of their marriages. Extra oral and intra oral examination were carried out and the findings recorded. Scaling and polishing, marital counseling with emphasis on the needs to maintain quality marriages, and appropriate routine dental treatments were delivered to all participants. Data analysis was done with STATA 16 software. Relationship between frequency of oral lesions before and after intervention was analyzed for using ttest, p >0.01.
 RESULTS
 A total of 113 married female religious worshippers participated in the study. Their mean age was 57.9 years SD 12.8. Majority (101, 92%) currently reside with their husbands, 2(2%) divorced and 7% widowed. 81 (71.7%) had good quality of marriages while 32 (28.3%) had poor quality of marriages. Oral lesions seen before intervention are periodontitis (30, 26.5%), xerostomia (25, 22.1%), mouth odour (22, 19.1%) and Orofacial/TMJ pain (27, 23.3%). Lesions are significantly more prevalent among those with poor quality of marriages. After intervention the prevalence of mouth odour, periodontitis, xerostomia and extra marital romantic relationship reduced significantly by 82% (p=0.04), 53% (p=0.001), 76% (p=0.001) and 89 %( p=0.024) respectively.
 CONSCLUSION
 One third of married, self employed women in their fifth decade of life had poor quality of marriages. Oral lesions are more prevalent among married women with poor quality of marriage and they also have 94.4% chance of getting involved in extra marital romantic relationship. Significant oral lessons were mouth odour, Orofacial pain, xerostomia and periodontitis. Treatment of oral lesions coupled with marital counseling significantly reduced the prevalence of oral lesions and enhanced their marital life.
 Key words: Quality

Urinary schistosomiasis and anemia among school-aged children from southwestern Nigeria

ABSTRACT Schistosomiasis and anemia, are one of the leading global public health problem among children between age 5 and 14 years in marginalized settings. In this study, we provide prevalence and intensity data for both conditions in three southwestern states of Nigeria, where such are lacking. Epidemiological assessment involving parasitological analysis of urine and blood samples was conducted among 1783 consenting school-aged children in Ondo, Osun, Ekiti States of Nigeria. Participants’ age and sex data were obtained using field forms, and statistical analysis was performed in R software with a significance level of 95%. An overall prevalence of 26.8% and 29.5% was recorded for urinary schistosomiasis and anemia, respectively. Prevalence varied by location with (40.3% and 29.8%) in Ondo (34.4% and 37.5%) in Osun and (13.4% and 20.9%) in Ekiti for urinary schistosomiasis and anemia, respectively (p=0.00). Schistosoma infections were found among males (28.7%, p=0.05) and children between the age 9–11 years (30.0%, p=0.01). About 36% of children with anemia was also infected with schistosomiasis. Children who were positive for schistosomiasis (OR:1.51; 95% CI: 1.19, 1.93; p=0.001) and between the age category 15–16 years, (OR:1.86; 95% CI: 1.12, 3.09; p<0.05) were twice likely to become anemic. Our findings have shown that children infected with schistosomiasis are twice likely to become anemic than those without infection. It is important to complement ongoing MDA programmes targeted at schistosomiasis with nutrition intervention programs for example micronutrient supplementation for better impact and cost-effectiveness.

Impact of IPSAS Adoption on Financial Reporting Quality in Nigeria: A Case of South-Western Nigeria

The study investigated the effect of IPSAS Adoption of financial reporting quality using the six south western states in Nigeria. The public service in the six states of the south western Nigeria is the focus of the study. A total of 400 respondents are covered in the survey and professional staff like auditors and accountants in the public service form the nucleus of the respondents. Well-structured questionnaire was constructed and administered. The data harvested was analyzed using Structural Equation Modelling. Findings from the analysis revealed that. Generally, the adoption of IPSASs contributed to an improvement in financial reporting quality in the sample States. It is however recommended that all states in the federation should migrate to full implementation of accrual based IPSASs accounting systems because of its positive effect on financial reporting quality.

Trusted Communicators: The Role of Navigation Support in Improving Health and Health Care Access for American Indian Elders

Abstract: Navigating health care and insurance systems presents significant challenges for American Indian (AI) Elders. Access to culturally congruent assistance with decision-making, scheduling, transportation, and communication can bridge the gap between AI Elders and health systems. This study uses qualitative interviews with professionals providing navigation services to American Indian Elders in a Southwestern state to understand the skills, experiences, and challenges involved in delivering this support. We conducted semi-structured interviews with 16 professionals providing navigation support to AI Elders between November 2018 and August 2020 and used a constant comparative approach to identify themes. Participants' descriptions of their work centered on the themes of (1) respect for Elders; (2) wide-ranging responsibilities; (3) acting as a trusted communicator; (4) developing trust; and (5) challenges to providing navigation support for AI Elders. Efforts to achieve health equity for AI Elders must include supporting individuals such as these within communities and advocating for a just health care system for American Indian people.

Making Primary Education Attractive: Quality of School Feeding Programme in Two South Western States of Nigeria

The enrolment and the attendance in public primary schools in Nigeria keep going down every year and the statistics of out-of-school children growing. This led to the introduction of School Feeding Programme (SFP) in all the states of the federation. It is believed that SFP can improve enrolment, attendance as well as completion rate of primary education, if well utilised. However, these can only be achieved through proper implementation of SFP. Hence, this study examines the quality of implementation of SFP in Osun and Oyo states of Nigeria. The study adopted triangulation design of mixed methods. A multi-stage sampling technique was used to select 90 primary school teachers, 75 parents and the State Coordinator of SFP from each state. Three self-designed research instruments were used for data collection namely; Perception of Parents about Quality SFP (0.75); Perception of teachers about SFP (0.71) and State Coordinator of SFP Interview guide. Five research questions were answered. Data collected were analysed using descriptive statistics and thematic analysis. Results show that in Osun State, there is equal access to school meal among all primary classes I to IV pupils while Oyo State feeds primary I to III and some schools are not receiving meal at all. Both states are still struggling with quality and quantity of food for pupils, though report from Osun State shows better quality. There are fair community inputs in SFP in Osun State while this was found low in Oyo State. Qualitative data showed that overall success of the programme is at an average level in Osun State while it is low in Oyo State. It was recommended that Oyo state government should endeavour to improve the quality of implementation of SFP by adopting some of the strategies used in Osun States so as to attract learners and produce the expected results.

Evaluation of the Correlation Between Climate Change and the Most Reported Cases of Diseases Due to Climate Change in the Study Area Over the Period of 11 Years (2010-2020) in Selected South-Western States (Ekiti, Osun and Ondo), Nigeria.

Climate change, acting via less direct mechanisms, would affect the transmission of many infectious diseases (especially water, food and vector-borne diseases). The aim of this study is to evaluate the correlation between climate change and emerging and re-emerging diseases in selected south-west states (Ekiti, Osun and Ondo) Nigeria. This study covered the entire population of three south western states (Ekiti, Osun and Ondo) and relied more on secondary data from the Health records department (Data Bank) from the Federal Ministries of Health with additional data from NIMET (weather data or reports). Selection of health care facilities in each of the three states, health data indicating disease distribution and records from 2010 -2020 alongside climate data from Ekiti, Osun and Ondo State. An integrated approach using correlation study was employed in assessing the effect of climate change in particular reference to emerging and re-emerging disease in the study areas. Findings revealed that the higher the temperature the higher the emergence of Measles and Chicken pox, but the lower the temperature the higher the emergence of influenza and Pneumonia. The emergence of Lassa Fever however does not depend on the climatic change either with high or low temperature in South-West, Nigeria. Hence it was concluded that there is correlation between climate change and emerging and re-emerging of diseases.

Distribution and toxicity of dihydroxybenzenes in drinking water sources in Nigeria.

This study provides, for the first time, data on the distribution and toxicity of catechol (CAT) and hydroquinone (HQ) in drinking water sources from Africa. Groundwater (boreholes and hand-dug wells) and surface water in three Southwestern States in Nigeria served as sampling sites. The concentrations of CAT and HQ in groundwater and surface water were determined throughout a period of 12 months, evaluating the effects of seasonal variation (rainy and dry seasons). Mean concentrations of CAT in water samples were higher than those of HQ. In this study, CAT was more frequently detected, with its mean concentration in groundwater samples higher in the rainy season (430 μg L-1) than in the dry season (175 μg L-1). Multivariate analysis using the Principal Component Analysis Software suggests that in most sample sites, CAT and HQ in water samples were from entirely different anthropogenic sources. The most impacted population groups were the toddlers and infants. Similarly, maximum and median concentrations of CAT in water samples pose serious risks to Daphnia at both acute and chronic levels. The results from this study suggest the need for further control of these dihydroxybenzenes through regular monitoring and removal from drinking water during treatment.

COVID-19 Vaccination Uptake and Associated Factors in Selected Communities in Two Southwestern States in Nigeria

COVID-19 Vaccination Uptake and Associated Factors in Selected Communities in Two Southwestern States in Nigeria

Acquisition of Economic and Soft Skills among OVC in Southwestern Nigeria

The achievement of the goal of primary education in Nigeria, which targets giving every child the opportunities to develop life manipulative skills, has been a challenge among primary school leavers, most especially the Orphan and Vulnerable Children (OVC). In most cases, the limited resource accessible to the homes has not allow giving the OVC educational opportunity to secondary level. Despite the introduction of some pre-vocational subjects such as Home Economics and Agriculture into the primary school, there is no empirical or physical evidence to show that the pupils are equipped with much life manipulatives skills such as economic and soft skills. This study adopted descriptive survey to investigate the acquisition of economic and soft skills among OVC in some selected southwestern states of Nigeria. The study reveals that the economic skills of the OVC pupils were fairly developed (mean = 1.52). The economic sub-skills of endurance (Mean = 1.57) and self-dependence (mean = 1.51) were the most and least developed respectively. The soft skills of the OVC pupils were fairly developed (mean = 1.76) among other findings. Appropriate recommendations were proffered to enhance the development of economic and soft skills among the OVC in southwestern Nigeria.

Effect of Moisture Content on the Yield of Mahogany Seed Oil

African Mahogany (Khaya senegalensis) is an important tree in Africa. A deciduous tree, reaching up to 35m in height on fertile soils. It has a diameter of up to 1.5 m with 8-16 m bole. The bark is dark grey or pink with red latex. The plant is commonly found in all the Northern States and around South Western States of Nigeria in the rain forest zone. The plant begins to produce fruit after 15 – 25 years throughout the dry season. The fruit is woody capsule, 4-10 cm long and dehisces at maturity. The seeds have a very low moisture content which is good for oil extraction hence its selection. For the purpose of this study, Mahogany seed, distillation apparatus, jaw crusher, water distiller, chiller, soxhlet extractor, oven, digital weighing balance, n-hexane, are the materials used for the extraction. According to Soxhlet procedure, oil and fat from solid material are extracted by repeated washing (percolation) with an organic solvent, usually hexane or petroleum ether. 325 g of mahogany seed was used in 25-x 80-mm thimble. The Sample has an oil yield of 63.58%, with a cake of 206.62g after extraction and a moisture content of 9% as a result of volatile substance due to high vapor pressures. Further studies on the extraction of oil from mahogany seed is recommended with method other than soxhlet extraction method using n-hexane as extracting solvent as the best method of extraction for end users.

An examination of re-referrals and substantiations among families referred to home-based, differential response services and a comparison group: Does successful completion matter?

Although some studies have examined child maltreatment recidivism following participation in a home-based, differential response program (HBDR) after a child protective services (CPS) investigation, they often do not include adequate comparison groups, are limited to one outcome, and do not examine outcomes by successful completion. Using administrative data from a Southwestern state including children whose families received HBDR services following an allegation of maltreatment, this study compared families who received HBDR services (n = 4,079) to families that were investigated but did not receive HBDR services (n = 4,221) using two indicators of CPS recidivism (i.e., re-reports and substantiation) over a period of 4 ½ to 7 years.Bivariate analyses indicated that families who received HBDR services had an average substantiation rate of 7.9% using a revised federal methodology, which was slightly higher than the comparison group; the substantiation rate for HBDR families during the entire study period was 14.5%. However, HBDR families had lower re-report rates at one year and during the overall study period relative to the comparison group. In contrast, the re-report and substantiation rate for HBDR families who successfully completed services was lower than the comparison group. Multivariable analyses indicated that successful completion of HBDR was associated with lower re-referral rates and substantiation rates after adjusting for demographic and case characteristics. These findings suggest that prevention programs offering HBDR could make a short-term and long-term impact on the re-referral and substantiation rates among high-risk families after a child abuse investigation and emphasize the importance of ensuring that participants successfully complete HBDR as this was associated with reductions in recidivism.

Determinants of Capital Structure Decision of Micro, Small and Medium Scale Entreprises (MSMES) in Selected South Western States, Nigeria

This research investigated the firm characteristics and owner-manager characteristics that affect capital structure decisions of Micro Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (MSMEs) in Nigeria using a sample size of 120, drawn from MSMEs in Ondo and Osun states, combining the simple random sampling technique with the cluster sampling technique. This study employed primary data by administering questionnaires to MSME owners and managers. The descriptive statistics and logistic regression analysis was used to analyse data. The results showed that size of firms using capital investments had a significant positive impact on capital structure decisions, while size of firms using number of employees had a positive but insignificant effect on capital structure decisions. In the same vein, firm age showed an insignificant positive effect on capital structure choices of MSMEs in Nigeria. Owner-Manager gender, age and education revealed an insignificant negative effect on capital structure decisions of MSMEs in Nigeria. Consider. This study therefore recommends that MSMEs should from time to time expand the scope of their activities as they grow in order to easily access external finance when the need arises. In the same vein, external finance such as debt can be explored by both the male and female gender when there is a need for it, after carefully considering the risks and benefits.

Nature-Saving Practices on the Territory of a Higher Educational Institution

Relevance. One of the global problems of our time is environmental pollution. The problem of filling huge territories with plastic waste is becoming more acute every year. The main reason for this is the inability to process the entire volume of plastic formed as a result of the vital activity of the population. The problem can be mitigated by reducing the amount of plastic consumption in a person's daily life and organizing the practice of separate collection of plastic, which will still be used by the population. The purpose is to research and develop one of the options for nature–saving practice on the territory of Southwestern State University. Objectives: to study the respondents' readiness to improve the plastic waste management system; to identify the main problems associated with the formation of an effective plastic management system; to develop one of the options for nature-saving practices. Methodology. Theoretical-methodological, structural-functional and sociological analysis of studying the issue of improving the plastic waste management system were used to solve the tasks. Results: the main problems of the formation of the plastic waste management system are identified; the readiness of employees and students of the university to improve the plastic waste management system is analyzed; the option of installing an apparatus for receiving plastic as a nature-saving practice on the territory of a higher educational institution is proposed. Conclusions. The implementation of nature-saving practices on the territory of a higher educational institution is a way to solve the growing conflicts in the socio-ecological sphere. The formation of a sustainable and efficient plastic waste management system will contribute to ensuring the environmental safety of the territory. According to the results of the conducted sociological research, the main problems of forming an effective plastic waste management system are insufficient or incorrect location of plastic collection/reception sites, weak popularization of separate waste collection, as well as insufficient motivation to carry out.

Detection of Immune Escape and Basal Core Promoter/Precore Gene Mutations in Hepatitis B Virus Isolated from Asymptomatic Hospital Attendees in Two Southwestern States in Nigeria.

Several mutations in the surface (S), basal core promoter (BCP), and precore (PC) genes of the hepatitis B virus have been linked to inaccurate diagnosis and the development of immune escape mutants (IEMs) of the infection, which can lead to chronic infection. Understanding the prevalence and spread of these mutations is critical in the global effort to eliminate HBV. Blood samples were collected from 410 people in Osun and Ekiti states, southwest Nigeria, between 2019 and 2021. Participants were drawn from a group of asymptomatic people who were either blood donors, outpatients, or antenatal patients with no record of HBV infection at the medical outpatients' unit of the hospital. DNA was extracted from plasma using a Qiagen DNEasy kit, followed by nested PCR targeting HBV S and BCP/PC genes. The Sanger sequencing method was used to sequence the positive PCR amplicons, which were further analyzed for IEMs, BCP, and PC mutations. HBV-DNA was detected in 12.4% (51/410) of individuals. After DNA amplification and purification, 47.1% (24) of the S gene and 76.5% (39) of the BCP/PC gene amplicons were successfully sequenced. Phylogenetic analysis showed that all the HBV sequences obtained in this study were classified as HBV genotype E. Mutational analysis of the major hydrophilic region (MHR) and a-determinant domain of S gene sequences revealed the presence of three immune escape mutations: two samples harbored a T116N substitution, six samples had heterogenous D144A/N/S/H substitution, and one sample had a G145E substitution, respectively. The BCP/PC region analysis revealed a preponderance of major BCP mutants, with the prevalence of BCP double substitutions ranging from 38.5% (A1762T) to 43.6% (G1764A). Previously reported classical PC mutant variants were observed in high proportion, including G1896A (33.3%) and G1899A (12.8%) mutations. This study confirms the strong presence of HBV genotype E in Nigeria, the ongoing circulation of HBV IEMs, and a high prevalence of BCP/PC mutants in the cohorts. This has implications for diagnosis and vaccine efficacy for efficient management and control of HBV in the country.

Assessment of The Prevalence and Associated Risk Factors of Gastrointestinal Parasite of Goats in Afgooye District, Lower Shabelle, Somalia

Background: Gastrointestinal parasitic diseases remain an obstacle to goat farmers in Somalia and worldwide. Purpose: This study aimed to determine the prevalence and associated risk factors of gastrointestinal parasites in goats in the Afgooye district, Lower Shabelle region, Somalia. Methods: To fulfill this study, an examination of 384 fecal samples of goats kept by smallholders was conducted. The results were achieved during the period from August 2020 to January 2022. Results: The examination of fecal samples revealed that the overall prevalence of gastrointestinal parasitic infections among goats was 71.61%. The data analysis conducted during the study indicated that there is no significant association (P &gt; 0.05) between goat districts and gastrointestinal (GI) parasite infection. The corresponding percentage of gastrointestinal parasites in males and females was 70% and 72%, respectively. However, these variables were not significantly associated (p-value = 0.399). After categorization, age was not significantly associated with the parasitic infection status of the animal. The common parasitic infections prevalent were Nematode, Trematode, Cestode, and Protozoa types were found in different numbers. According to the flotation and sedimentation techniques, Eimeria sp. (29%) was found with higher prevalence followed by Haemonchus sp. (23%), Trichostrongylus sp. (11%), Moniezia sp. (10%), Trichuris sp. (9%), Strongyloides sp. (7%), Dictyocaulus sp. (5.2%), Nematodirus (4%), and least was Fasciola sp. (1.0%). Conclusion: This study provides comprehensive documentation on multiple GI parasites among goats in the Afgooye district, Lower Shabelle region of South-western State, Somalia, and the findings are crucial for effective farm management, especially for formulating the effective GI parasitic control vis-a-vis novel elimination strategies.

Safety and Academic Outcomes of College Campus-Based Advocacy Services.

Intimate partner violence (IPV), sexual assault, and stalking are consequential public health and safety issues with wide reaching impacts on emerging adults, including those on college campuses in the United States. In response to high rates of violence among college student populations, universities are developing campus-based advocacy (CBA) programs, which aim to support survivors of interpersonal violence through supportive connections, resource acquisition, and safety planning. However, little data exists related to their impact on key student-survivor outcomes. Thus, this study aims to understand (a) the approach CBA programs use to address safety and academic concerns of student-survivors, and (b) the initial outcomes of CBA programs on safety and academics among students engaged in CBA services at five universities in one Southwestern state. The project used a longitudinal mixed-methods approach, with data collection activities including qualitative interviews with student survivors (n = 29) and a longitudinal, web-based, quantitative survey with matched analyses of safety and academic outcome measures from 115 student survivors who participated in an initial survey and follow-up survey after 6 months. Findings demonstrate key pathways through which CBA programs support survivors and facilitate positive safety and academic outcomes. These pathways include education, supportive connection, and resource access. Analysis of longitudinal survivor data demonstrate substantial reductions in sexual violence, IPV, stalking, and school sabotage at 6-month follow-up compared to initial survey, as well as significant reductions in academic disengagement for student survivors. The findings of the study powerfully demonstrate the positive impact of CBA programs on survivor and campus outcomes. Furthermore, programs not only enhance individual survivor safety and academic outcomes but also support the overall climate and safety of hosting universities.

Public Sector Budget Implementation and Performance: A Comparative Analysis of Southwestern States in Nigeria

The study investigated the effect of budget implementation on performance: a comparative analysis of six Southwest states in Nigeria over the period of 10 years spanning from 2012- 2021. This is done specifically to explore the effect of capital expenditure, recurrent expenditure, statutory allocation and intervention fund on per-capita income in Nigeria. Ex-post-facto research design was employed in the study because the data were obtained secondarily from National Bureau of Statistics. Data collected were analysed using descriptive statistics and regression analysis. Finding revealed that capital expenditure, recurrent expenditure, statutory allocation and intervention fund have positive and significant effect on performance in Oyo, Ogun and Lagos states respectively. It however revealed that capital expenditure and statutory allocation have positive and significant effect in Osun state, while capital expenditure and intervention fund was discovered to portrayed a positive and significant effect on performance in Ondo state, and the study further showed that statutory allocation and intervention fund have positive and significant effect on performance in Ekiti state. The implication of this result is that Lagos state as well as Ogun state and Oyo state have shown an exemplary example in its budget implementation which significantly affected performance, the role statutory allocation and intervention have been judiciously used and channeled to respective quarters in the case of Lagos, Ogun and Oyo states whereas, the reverse is the same in Ondo, Osun and Ekiti States, as such, statutory allocation and

Antimicrobial stewardship: knowledge, perceptions, and factors associated with antibiotics misuse among consumer’s visiting the community pharmacies in a Nigeria Southwestern State

BackgroundIn middle-income countries like Nigeria, the misuse of antibiotics by consumers is posing serious threats to public health. This is contributing to the alarming increase in antimicrobial resistance, which is reducing the effectiveness of antibiotics against common infections. This study therefore aimed to assess the knowledge, perceptions, and factors associated with antibiotics misuse among consumers visiting selected community pharmacies.MethodsThis cross-sectional study conducted in Ibadan, Nigeria, aimed at determining factors influencing antibiotics misuse among consumers. The questionnaires were completed by 509 consumers. The analysis was done using SPSS version 26 and the results were presented using descriptive statistics. The associations between categorical variables were analysed using Pearson’s Chi-square with statistical significance set at p < 0.05.ResultsResults showed that 95.9% of the consumers believed that antibiotics prevent bacterial growth, and 60.7% thought they treat all infections. However, 57.4% were unaware of antibiotic resistance, while only 14.7% had adequate knowledge about antibiotics. Most of the consumers, 72.5% had used antibiotics in the last 12 months and, amoxicillin 42.4% was the most commonly used with, malaria 38.9% as the primary condition for which antibiotics were used. Some of the significant factors influencing antibiotics misuse included delays in test reports (p-value = 0.007), the belief in antibiotics’ quick relief (p-value = 0.001), proximity of the pharmacy to their house or workplace (p-value = 0.028), amongst others.ConclusionMost of the consumers had inadequate knowledge about rational antibiotic use which contributed to their misuse of antibiotics. Thus, targeted educational interventions are needed to improve knowledge and promote appropriate antibiotic use among consumers. Policies regulating the dispensing and selling of antibiotics with adequate counselling should be further enforced.