Southwest Nigeria Research Articles

Concentrations of Pesticides Residues in Grain Sold at Selected Markets of Southwest Nigeria

The objective of this work is to determine the concentration of the identified pesticide in grains commonly used by farmers, and which are available directly from the open markets in the Nigerian market. The research was carried out at Kwara State University (Kwara State) and Afe Babalola University (Ekiti State) research laboratory. A total of twenty-four (24) samples were collected in the frame of this preliminary study within the month of August and September 2021. Pesticide residues were quantified through a multiresidue method using a varian 3800/4000 Gas Chromatograph Mass Spectrometer (GC/MS). The simultaneous measurement of four classes of pesticides by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS) approach using sample preparation on QuEChERS-citrate, was developed and validated. The results frequently showed high specific contamination, which makes sense given the target market and dietary diversity in the area. This study found that grains purchased from particular markets in southwest Nigeria contained numerous pesticide residues. The MRLs set by the EU or FAO/WHO or both were surpassed by 17 out of the total 27 pesticides reported in this work in at least one grain, despite the fact that there was no published codex MRLs for some pesticide residues in some grains. These residues were classified among the four pesticides classes: carbamates, organophosphates, organochlorines, and pyrethroids. In actuality, 90% of the mainly banned organochlorine pesticides exceeded MRLs. Thus, this study revealed higher concentration levels of organo-chloride pesticides and organo-phosphate pesticides in grain samples drawn from selected markets in southwest Nigeria. Consumers seeking high-quality food in Nigeria should take note of these facts. Notwithstanding, the small number of samples with detectable residues suggests that there is a necessity to increase monitoring of pesticides in grains, educating farmers, and raising their awareness of the dangers associated with the unauthorized use of pesticides that are only allowed in agriculture and can damage the reputation of the sector as a whole. In order to check and restrict its unauthorized importation, sale, and use, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and restrict (NAFDAC), nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), and other pertinent entities must boost surveillance.

Geostatistical assessment of soils in Ibadan, Southwest Nigeria: Focus on agricultural lands

Geostatistical assessment of soils in Ibadan, Southwest Nigeria: Focus on agricultural lands

44-Year Temporal Trends and Causes of Maternal Mortality at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, LUTH, Lagos, Nigeria (1976-2019)

ABSTRACT Background: Nigeria has committed to global initiatives aimed at improving maternal and child health. Institutional audit of maternal mortality over a long period can provide useful information on the trends in maternal death and the impact of interventions. Aim: To evaluate the trends in annual deliveries, maternal mortality ratio and causes of maternal death at a tertiary institution in Nigeria over a period of 44 years (1976–2019). Materials and Methods: We conducted a temporal trend analysis of annual births, maternal deaths, maternal mortality ratio (MMR), and ranking of causes of maternal deaths at a Teaching Hospital, in Southwest Nigeria using available data from 1976 to 2019. Overall and segmental annual percent change (APC) of the observed trends were conducted using Joinpoint version 4.5.0.1 software. Results: Over the 44-year study period, 1323 maternal deaths occurred at approximately 30 maternal deaths per annum. There was a four-fold increase in MMR from 881/100,000 total births in 1976 to 3389.8/100,000 total births in 2019, at an average increase of 3.1% per annum. (APC: 3.1%; P value < 0.001). The leading causes of maternal mortality were hypertension, sepsis, haemorrhage, and abortion, which together contributed to more than 70% of maternal deaths. All the leading causes of maternal deaths except abortion had constant ranking during the study period. Conclusion: The four-fold increase in MMR at our hospital from 1976–2019 is worrying and may suggest that previous efforts at reducing maternal mortality in our institution did not lead to significant improvement toward the attainment of Sustainable Development Goal 3 (SDG3). The hospital increasingly managed complex cases especially the unbooked patients who were referred to the hospital as a last resort.

Length-Weight Relationship and Condition Factor of Oreochromis niloticus (Linnaeus, 1758) in Selected Tropical Reservoirs of Ekiti State, Southwest Nigeria

In Ekiti State, southwest Nigeria, Oreochromis niloticus is significant to live. This investigation was conducted to improve its sustainable management and access the length-weight relationship and condition factor of O. niloticus across important reservoirs in Ekiti State from November 2017 to October 2019. Collected specimens were weighed to the nearest gram, while the entire lengths were measured to the closest centimetre. Log-transformed regression was used to determine the fish's growth pattern in the reservoirs. The gradient comparison was done using the T-test. The length and weight of the species in the reservoirs showed a significant association. All length-weight relationships had r2 values greater than 0.8150 and were significant at P < 0.05. In the length-weight relationship of O. niloticus, the values of the exponent b in Egbe, Ero, and Ureje reservoirs varied from 2.45 to 2.87, 3.02 to 3.20, and 2.45 to 2.82, respectively. The results of regression coefficient b obtained showed that in the combined season, male, female and combined sexes from the Ero reservoir had isometric growth patterns with growth exponent b values of 3.18, 3.20 and 3.19 respectively that were not statistically different from 3. These results contradicted the negative allometric growth pattern in the Egbe and Ureje reservoirs. The condition factor during the dry season ranged from 1.93-2.05, 2.05-2.11, and 1.93-2.03 for fish in Egbe, Ero, and Ureje reservoirs, respectively while in the rainy season, it ranged from 2.00-2.02; 2.08-2.09 and 1.96-2.01 respectively. The fish species studied in the reservoirs lived above- average life and thus indicate that the prevailing ecological conditions in the reservoirs were not beyond the forbearance range for the fish species since their condition factors were within the range considered adequate for freshwater fishes in tropical waters.

Concentrations of Pesticides Residues in Grain Sold at Selected Markets of Southwest Nigeria

The objective of this work is to determine the concentration of the identified pesticide in grains commonly used by farmers, and which are available directly from the open markets in the Nigerian market. Pesticide residues were quantified through a multiresidue method using a varian 3800/4000 Gas Chromatograph Mass Spectrometer (GC/MS). The simultaneous measurement of four classes of pesticides by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS) approach using sample preparation on QuEChERS-citrate, was developed and validated. The results frequently showed high specific contamination, which makes sense given the target market and dietary diversity in the area. This study found that grains purchased from particular markets in southwest Nigeria contained numerous pesticide residues. The MRLs set by the EU or FAO/WHO or both were surpassed by 17 out of the total 27 pesticides reported in this work in at least one grain, despite the fact that there were no published codex MRLs for some pesticide residues in some grains. These residues were classified among the four pesticides classes: carbamates, organophosphates, organochlorines, and pyrethroids. In actuality, 90% of the mainly banned organochlorine pesticides exceeded MRLs. Thus, this study revealed higher concentration levels of organo-chloride pesticides and organo-phosphate pesticides in grain samples drawn from selected markets in southwest Nigeria. Consumers seeking high-quality food in Nigeria should take note of these facts.

Awareness, prevalence and risk burden of cataract among adults in IDO/OSI local government area, a rural community of Ekiti state, southwest Nigeria

Background: Cataract is characterized by lens opacity, making images look blurred and hazy. It causes increased light sensitivity, decreased vision at night, and seeing double images, leading to total blindness. The WHO also estimates that cataract blindness will reach 40 million by 2025 due to ageing population and longer life expectancy. Developing countries, including Sub-Saharan Africa have the highest number of people who are blind due to cataract. This study aims to determine the awareness, prevalence and risk burden of cataract among adults in Ido/Osi LGA, a rural community of Ekiti State. Methods: This is a descriptive cross-sectional study. The estimated sample size is 361 and a multi stage sampling technique was used. Data collection was through ophthalmic examinations and questionnaires which were analyzed using SPSS version 25.0. Results: The mean age of respondents was 54.94±11.17. Most respondents, 287 (79.5%), had a good awareness of cataracts. The prevalence of cataract in this study is 3.9%. Cataract significant Visual Acuity was found in 49 (13.5%) of the respondents. Age (<0.001), visual impairment (<0.001), hypertension (<0.001) and diabetes mellitus (0.003) were the factors associated with having cataracts. Conclusions: Intersectorial collaboration, health education through the mass media, evidenced based policies and research will help reduce the prevalence of cataract.

Knowledge, perception and safety practices of monkeypox infection among healthcare workers in a tertiary health facility in southwest Nigeria

Background: Monkeypox is a self-limiting disease first reported in 1970 in Zaire. It is characterised with small pox like eruptions and presently there is no approved anti–viral drug yet, clinical management of human monkey pox cases is mainly by supportive treatment and symptomatic treatment. This study assessed the knowledge, perception and safety practices of monkey pox disease among healthcare workers in a tertiary facility in Southwest state, Nigeria. Methods: The study was a descriptive cross-sectional study, web-based conducted among 402 healthcare workers in a tertiary health centre in Southwestern Nigeria. The 38-item survey instrument for the quantitative study was adapted from a similar study on COVID-19 among healthcare workers. Data was analysed using SPSS software version 20.0. Level of significance was pre-determined at p value <0.05 at a confidence level of 95%. Results: Female respondents constituted 241 (60%) while 161 (40%) were males. Mean age was 35.4±6.5 years with age group 26-35 years (49.0%) being the majority. Majority, 311 (77.4%) had poor knowledge of monkeypox while 69.9% had good perception. There was statistically significant association between age (α- 0.001), work experience (α- 0.001), tribe (α- 0.001), and average monthly income (α- 0.001) with perception about monkey pox infection among the respondents. Conclusions: Monkeypox is endemic in Nigeria and the knowledge and perceptions of healthcare workers towards the disease is a critical epidemiological determinant of its transmission rate, it is therefore imperative that intensive training be targeted among all cadres of healthcare professional including non-medical workers in healthcare setting.

Graduates' E-Competencies Required For Maximum Productivity in the 21st Century Office

The study examined graduates' e-competencies required for maximum productivity in the 21st century office. One purpose of the study, a corresponding research question, and one null hypothesis guided the study. A descriptive research survey design was used for the study. The sample of the study consisted of three hundred and twenty-five (325) office administrators in universities in south-west Nigeria. The instrument for data collection was a structured questionnaire titled Graduates' E-Competencies Required for Maximum Productivity scale (GECRMP). The instrument for the study was validated by three experts, two from the department of business education and one from measurement and evaluation, all from the faculty of vocational and science education at the University of Calabar, Calabar. The reliability of the instrument was ascertained through a pilot study involving office administrators in South-South, Nigeria. The data collected from the respondents in the pilot study was used to compute the reliability of the instrument. The Cronbach alpha SPSS statistical procedure was used to determine the internal consistency of the instrument, which yielded an overall consistency of 0.81. The instrument for the study has two parts. Part one sought information on the demographics of the respondents. Mean and standard deviation were used to answer the question, and the t-test statistic was used to test the hypothesis. The hypotheses were tested at the 0.05 level of significance. The results showed that reprographics competencies were needed by office administrators for effective discharge of their office responsibilities. Based on the findings, the study recommended, among others, that office administrators should be trained and re-trained in reprographics productivity in modern office activities and that office administrators needed to be equipped with reprographics competencies for proficiency in proofreading documents.

Investigating the Influence of Entrepreneurial Behaviour and Innovation among Undergraduate Students of Selected Universities in Southwest Nigeria

Entrepreneurs are those who take initiative and work tirelessly to turn their business ideas into viable, successful companies through innovation. Understanding entrepreneurial behaviour is essential to comprehend how entrepreneurs establish, promote, and expand new businesses. This study investigates the influence of entrepreneurial behaviour and innovation among undergraduate students of selected universities in southwest Nigeria. The target audience was made up of undergraduate students from selected private universities in southwest Nigeria. To be more precise, the purposive sampling method was used to choose the study’s participants. To gather information from a varied cross-section of students, 370 copies of the questionnaire were distributed. Only 296 copies of the surveys that were sent out were returned, which indicates an 80.2% response rate. Structural equation modelling was used to examine the data gathered. The results showed that opportunity identification significantly influences innovation more than self-efficacy and risk tolerance. Opportunity identification is the most important factor of entrepreneurial behaviour that helps students to be innovative and become entrepreneurs. The study recommended that to foster entrepreneurship behaviour and innovation among undergraduates, universities in Nigeria should integrate experiential learning opportunities across disciplines to nurture self-efficacy, opportunities identification, and risk tolerance through entrepreneurship education.

Geotechnical and GIS-based environmental factors and vulnerability studies of the Okemesi landslide, Nigeria

Landslide is a geological hazard typically associated with extreme events such as earthquakes, heavy rainfall, volcanic eruptions, changes in groundwater level, etc. This study was carried out in Okemesi-Ekiti (also known as Okemesi), Southwest Nigeria, with the purpose of using remote sensing and GIS technologies to analyze the environmental factors (grain size, direct shear strength resistance, rainfall data, wet density, surface, and slope) resulting in the occurrence of the Okemesi landslide. The study also aimed to conduct a vulnerability analysis in the study area to identify regions with a probability of landslide occurrence. The grain size analysis of the soil in the Okemesi landslide area showed that slope materials comprised 17.14% gravel, 59.31% sand, and 19.48% fines, thus the soil type could be classified as poorly graded gravely sand with a high possibility of landslide occurrence. The geomorphic characteristics of the study area was characterized by slopes ranging from 0.00° to 49.00°, while most slopes in the area were less than 8.00°. The slope aspect direction was mainly in south (157.51°–202.50°), southwest (202.51°–247.50°), west (247.51°–292.50°), and north (0.00°–22.50° and 337.51°–360.00°). The highlands were primarily bounded by the slope directions of north (0.00°–22.50° and 337.51°–360.00°), northeast (22.51°–67.50°), east (67.51°–112.51°), and southeast (112.51°–157.50°), which indicated the potential direction of mass movement. The study area can be divided into three vulnerability zones: high, medium, and low, with the area percentages of 9.00%, 61.80%, and 29.20%, respectively. The analysis suggested that the Okemesi landslide was likely triggered by rainfall, which might have weakened the physical structure of slope materials. Understanding the causes and impacts of landslides is crucial for policy-makers to implement measures to mitigate landslide hazards, protect infrastructure, and prevent the loss of life in the landslide-prone regions.

Assessment of Nigerian journalists’ preparedness for reporting election results and disputes

Electoral process in Africa especially in Nigeria is a long route which often times leads to results being disputed in the courts and sometimes end in crisis. The media play a significant role in this process given their enormous influence on the public. This study examined Nigerian journalists’ preparedness for covering election results and disputes with a focus on the 2023 general elections. Anchored on symbolic interactionism theory, the study adopted survey to gauge the opinions of journalists from the six states of southwest Nigeria which form study population. A structured questionnaire was administered on 300 respondents of 50 per state selected through non-proportional quota sampling. Findings revealed that majority of the journalists are well conscious of their role in reporting election results and disputes and that their respective media organisations prepare them for such duties through training and supply of tools with less provision of funds to facilitate their task on the field. Most of the respondents also agreed that other bodies like the Nigerian Press Council, Nigeria Union of Journalists, Civil societies and international organisations, prepare them better for election coverage than their media organisations through training, funding, and tools. The study concludes that Nigerian journalists, being aware of their role in reporting elections, are more prepared for the task by external bodies other than employers and recommends that media organisations should deploy more resources to preparing their reporters for the job.
 
 Keywords: Agenda-setting, Election Results, Election Disputes, Nigerian Journalists, Symbolic interactionism

Entrepreneurship Development Education as Succour for Self-Employment: Evidence from Public Universities in The Southwest Nigeria

The number of unemployed graduates has been on the increase. In response to this, Entrepreneurship is made a compulsory course in all tertiary institutions at the undergraduate level. The entrepreneurship courses offered is aimed at creating self-employment so as to reduce the dependence on government employment. The study examined Entrepreneurship Development (Education) as succour for Self-employment among the students of public universities in the South west Nigeria that took entrepreneurship as a basic course. The aim of the course is to fill the gap between entrepreneurship education and capability to be self-employed by creating entrepreneurial ventures. Many business and innovative ideas were introduced to the students in the course of study but an evaluation of students’ actions after class and graduation will determine the relevance and impact of the course. The descriptive research design of the survey type is adopted in the study. The population of the study comprises all the students of the universities in the southwest Nigeria. The study is delimited to all the public universities in the southwest Nigeria. This study involves a multi-stage sampling technique to select 360 students in the institutions. Simple random sampling technique is used to select four out of the six states in the southwest, Nigeria. The results showed that entrepreneurship development (education) greatly influenced self-employment among the university students. Therefore, teaching of entrepreneurship with the exploration of both theory and practice; creating commercial awareness and building venture creation skills should be strengthened and sustained in the universities.

Impact of problem-solving skills and attributional retraining intervention on conduct disorder among junior male students at public secondary school in Nigeria: a non-randomized control study

PurposeThis paper aims to report a non-randomized control study undertaken to investigate prevalence and correlates of conduct disorder among male secondary education students in South-West Nigeria and to assess the impact of a problem-solving skills and attributional retraining (PSSAR) intervention with this population.Design/methodology/approachIn total, 787 male students from two schools were screened for conduct disorder. All participants who met criteria for the disorder were allocated to either treatment (n = 55) or control (n = 47) groups. Outcome measures comprised the strengths and difficulties questionnaire (SDQ; teacher and student versions) and the teacher rating of students’ aggressive behaviors.FindingsOf the sample, 13% were found to present with difficulties that met criteria for conduct disorder. The presence of these difficulties correlated with several demographic variables, including parental conflict and alcohol use. A statistically significant reduction in mean scores was observed for the treatment group in the student rating of the SDQ emotional subscale and total difficulties scores. Teacher ratings were less consistent in that conduct problems, prosocial behavior and total difficulties increased following the intervention, whereas peer problems and aggressive behavior were reported by teachers to reduce. No statistically significant change was found in the outcome measures for the control group.Practical implicationsIn resource-constrained settings, school-based interventions are an important means through which treatment gaps in child and adolescent mental health can be addressed.Originality/valueIn resource-constrained settings, school-based interventions are an important means through which treatment gaps in child and adolescent mental health can be addressed. This study’s findings offer some preliminary support for the PSSAR intervention for conduct disorder in this context and indicate areas for further research.

Integrated Performance Model for Building Construction Projects in Higher Institutions, Southwest Nigeria

Performance of construction projects is a crucial driver of economic growth and infrastructural development in Nigeria, but there is still a need for a tool that can accurately analyze construction project performance from the design stage through construction and completion. This study developed a performance model for building construction projects in higher institutions, Southwest Nigeria. Literature was reviewed to identify the previous performance measurement parameters and were classified into sixteen by pilot survey. Qualitative research approach was adopted and a structured questionnaire was administered to 394 project stakeholders and 297 (75.38%) were retrieved from respondents. Mean Score, Kuskal wallis test, analysis of variance and least significant difference post hoc test was used to determine the convergence and divergent views of the stakeholders. Factor analysis as data reduction method via principal component extraction was used to classify project performance into five categories. The study’s findings indicate that client satisfaction with the project (MS = 3.833), Construction time predictability (MS = 3.845) and construction cost predictability (MS = 3.832) were ranked as the top three performance index. From the result of the reliability analysis, project performance was loaded into five (5) integrated factors; construction management, stakeholder management, quality, cost and time performance indicators. It is hereby recommended that client satisfaction, accurate time estimate and good cost forecast should be considered when executing building construction projects to enhance performance. It is also recommended that attention should be given to the five integrated performance indices during construction of building projects to improve performance..

Unilateral visual impairment: impact on binocular function of school children in rural communities of Saki-East, Southwest Nigeria

PurposeThis study was designed to determine the impact of unilateral visual impairment or blindness on binocular visual function in children. MethodsA multistage, cross-sectional study was conducted among primary and secondary school students in the Saki-East Local Government Area of Oyo State between May and July 2021. Unilateral visual impairment was defined as presenting visual acuity <+0.3 LogMAR. Stereopsis, contrast sensitivity and peripheral visual fields were assessed with the Titmus fly test chart, Mars Contrast sensitivity chart and Lister perimeter respectively. Chi-squared test and Logistic regression were performed to assess the association between the degree of unilateral visual impairment and the other independent variables. ResultsFifty-one of 3671 (1.4%) children had unilateral visual impairment or blindness. The mean age was 10.7 ± 3.6 years. Stereopsis was weak or absent in 38 (74.5%) participants, contrast sensitivity values were impaired in 50 (98%) participants, and 29 (61.7%) participants had constricted peripheral visual fields. The level of stereopsis of participants worsened with increasing severity of the unilateral visual impairment, and this was statistically significant (p < 0.001). ConclusionChildren with unilateral visual impairment had poor binocular function. This correlated with stereopsis, worse in participants with severe visual impairment.

A Comparative Study of Health-Related Quality of Life among Adults with Pulmonary Tuberculosis in Southwest Nigeria

Background: Current models of care for tuberculosis (TB) focus on bacteriological cures with less emphasis on the effect of TB on physical, mental, and social well-being. There is also a paucity of data on normative values for Nigeria against which health-related quality of life (HRQOL) measures of TB patients could be assessed. The objective of this study was to compare HRQOL of adults diagnosed with TB against a comparator group from similar socio-demographic backgrounds.&#x0D; Methods: A comparative cross-sectional study was undertaken with 210 patients with pulmonary TB and a comparator group of 285 individuals from catchment communities. The World Health Organization Quality of Life Questionnaire-Short Version (WHOQOL-BREF) was used to assess HRQOL. Patients were selected using a multi-stage sampling technique. Data were analysed using IBM-SPSS version 23. A multiple linear regression model was used to identify potential predictors of HRQOL. Ethical approval was obtained from the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital health research ethics committee.&#x0D; Results: More than half of the TB patients and those in the comparator group were men (63.3% and 59.0%, respectively), and their mean ages were 36.40±11.76 years and 36.69±12.30 years, respectively. Respondents with TB had significantly lower HRQOL domain scores across all domains (p&lt;0.001). Domain scores for HRQOL ranged between 45.3 ±14.5 (environmental domain) and 50.9±17.3 (social relationships). Independent predictors of quality of life among TB patients included education, employment, and socio-economic status. &#x0D; Conclusion: Tuberculosis was significantly associated with an impairment in health-related quality of life. The environment domain was most affected among respondents with PTB. Employment status, socio-economic class and educational level were predictive of HRQOL.

Perception and Use of E-Collaboration by Postgraduate Students in Nigeria Universities

&lt;div class="page" title="Page 1"&gt;&lt;div class="layoutArea"&gt;&lt;div class="column"&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;span&gt;Collaboration in the Nigerian context has focused majorly on traditional collaboration and not even among postgraduate (PG) students. Advancement in technology has ushered many changes, particularly the introduction of numerous e-tools for collaboration. It is based on this that the study examined the perception and use of e-collaboration by postgraduate students in Nigeria Universities. The study adopted a survey design using a questionnaire to collect data from 631 postgraduate students selected across ten universities in South-West Nigeria. Six objectives were developed to guide the study. The results revealed that e-collaboration is perceived by postgraduate students as a collaboration among individuals engaged in a common task using electronic technologies. E-collaboration is used mostly for projects and research and it is impactful in providing opportunities to interact better than face- to-face collaborative activities. The study revealed electronic mail, social media including (Facebook, Twitter, and WhatsApp), discussion forums and Google documents as the tools most significantly used for e-collaboration. The reasons why respondents use e-collaboration include flexibility, availability, and compatibility with cell phones. The level of awareness about the ethics of e- collaboration is reported to be too low. However, a small percentage were aware that participation in decision-making and the sharing of blame and credit for outcomes is the responsibility of all members. Challenges faced by PG students in their e- collaboration efforts are power failure, lack of trust, and poor internet connection and speed. It is recommended that more awareness of e-collaboration should be promoted and coupled with improved internet connectivity. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;

Prevalence of, disposition towards and factors associated with cohabitation among undergraduates in Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Nigeria

Background: Cohabitation is increasingly common in tertiary institutions and is associated with reproductive health and other related challenges. This study is designed to determine the prevalence, pattern, disposition and reasons for premarital cohabitation among students of a tertiary institution in South West Nigeria&#x0D; Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study of 350 undergraduates selected from a university in Oyo State using a multistage sampling technique. Data was collected via a semi-structured self-administered questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS version 22.0&#x0D; Results: Majority (90.0%) of the respondents were below 25 years and 70.0% were females. Twenty seven (7.7%) were currently cohabiting while 70 (20.0%) had ever cohabitated. A third (32.0%) were favorably disposed towards cohabitation. More males, older respondents and those whose parents were not their source of income reported ever having cohabited.&#x0D; Conclusion: Cohabiting is practiced among university students and is socially acceptable to many. Concerted efforts geared towards sensitization and awareness programs to educate students on the adverse consequences of cohabitation should be embarked upon by concerned stakeholders.

COVID-19 vaccination acceptability among type 2 diabetes mellitus patients in a tertiary hospital in Southwest Nigeria: a cross-sectional study

Background: The mortality from COVID-19 is higher in diabetes mellitus (DM) patients compared to the general population, hence it is highly desirable that DM patients are vaccinated against COVID-19 infection. The aim was to determine the willingness of type 2 DM patients to accept COVID-19 vaccine and associated factors.&#x0D; Methods: This was a cross-sectional descriptive study that involved DM patients. Multivariable logistic regression was used to assess factors ssociated with willingness to be vaccinated.&#x0D; Results: A total of 302 DM patients participated in the study. About 90% of the respondents perceived COVID-19 to be a serious disease; however, 33.5% of the patients considered themselves to be at risk of contracting COVID-19 despite having DM. About 70.0% of the DM patients were willing to receive the vaccine. Factors associated with willingness to be vaccinated were perception of COVID-19 as a severe disease (Adjusted odds ratio (AOR), 6.09; 95% CI, 4.96- 12.27), previous vaccination (AOR, 1.58; 95% CI, 1.04- 2.98), and higher education (AOR, 2.36; 95% CI, 1.04- 6.86).&#x0D; Conclusion: About a third of the study participants were not willing to receive COVID-19 vaccination. There is need to educate the at-risk population about the importance of COVID-19 vaccination.

INFLUENCE OF LIBRARIANS ICT SKILLS, INSTITUTIONAL FACTORS ON THE USE OF OPEN EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES IN NIGERIAN UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

This study investigated the influence of librarians’ ICT skills, institutional factors on use of OER in the Nigerian university libraries. The descriptive survey design of a correctional type was adopted; total enumeration technique to capture all 247 librarians in the selected university libraries in South-West Nigeria. 247 copies of questionnaire were distributed and 201(81.4%) were retrieved and used for the study; data were analysed using frequency count, percentages, mean, standard deviation and multiple regressions. The result revealed that both Librarians ICT skills ( =2.20) and availability of ICT training ( =2.20) were low, while level of availability of infrastructure ( =3.01) is moderate. Poor or unreliable power supply ( =1.80), were the major challenges faced by librarians. Librarians ICT skills (r = 0.376, p &lt; .05) and institutional factors (r = 0.535, p &lt; .05) had a positive linear relationship with the use of OER, these two variables jointly influenced librarians’ use of OER which accounted for 40% variance in the dependent variable (R2 = .40, F (1;66) = 66, p &lt; .05). It was found that librarians’ ICT skills and institutional factors jointly determine the use of OER. Librarians ICT skills and institutional factors are essential factors to be put in place for effective and efficient use of OER in university libraries. Therefore it is recommended that university libraries under study should be well-equipped with the necessary infrastructure and adequate ICT trainings for the use of OER.