Town In Nigeria Research Articles

Risk of Transfusion-Transmitted Human Parvovirus B19 Infection in Anyigba and Lokoja, Kogi State – Nigeria

Risk of Transfusion-Transmitted Human Parvovirus B19 Infection in Anyigba and Lokoja, Kogi State – Nigeria

HIGH PREVALENCE OF ANTI-HEPATITIS A VIRUS IMMUNOGLOBULIN G ANTIBODY AMONG HEALTHCARE FACILITY ATTENDEES IN OSOGBO, NIGERIA

The objectives of this study were to determine the prevalence of anti-hepatitis A virus (HAV) immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody and associated factors among residents of Osogbo, a town in Nigeria with inadequate environmental sanitation and a shortage of potable water. This is a health facility–based study. Ninety one consenting, asymptomatic attendees of public healthcare facilities in Osogbo, Osun State, Nigeria, were consecutively selected for this study. Plasma samples of the study participants were tested for the presence of anti-HAV IgG using a HAV Ab Competitive Enzyme Immunoassay test kit. Ninety (98.9%) of the participants were seropositive for anti-HAV IgG antibody; group-specific prevalence was also high, but association of participants' variables with the prevalence could not be obtained due to limited sample size and high group-specific prevalence. Since the hepatitis A vaccine is not currently used in Nigeria, the chance is high that the HAV IgG antibody–positive individuals were naturally infected; consequently Osogbo can be described as highly endemic for HAV infection

Retrospective Studies of Marek's Disease Diagnosed in Some Towns in Nigeria, 2000 - 2009.

A retrospective study of Marek\'s disease (MD) outbreaks diagnosed from 2000 to 2009 by veterinary clinics and hospitals at Zaria, Ibadan, Nsukka and Bukuru, Nigeria was conducted. Of the 1,970 viral cases recorded, the prevalent rate of Marek’s disease was 60.6% (1,193/1,970 at 95% CI: 58.4 – 62.7). The year 2002 experienced the highest prevalent rate of Marek’s disease with p value = 0.0129. The prevalence of MD was significantly higher (p < 0.05) among flocks aged 18 weeks and above (85.5%) compared to those aged 9 – 18 weeks (71.4%) and those aged 5 - 8 weeks (25.3%) but, least among chicks aged 1-4 weeks (14.7%). On age of birds that experienced MD, 319 outbreaks in broilers with mean age of 7.8 weeks (95% CI: 6.7 – 8.9), 77 cockerels at 15.0 weeks (95% CI: 11.2 – 18.8), 952 pullets at 12.9 (95% CI: 12.7 – 13.3) and 602 layers at 29.9 weeks of age (95% CI: 29.1 – 30.9). Layers had prevalence of 86.7%, followed by pullets with 62.1%. An MD prevalence of 63.6% was recorded during the rainy season while 55.4% was recorded during the dry. It was observed that the risk factors for MD using odds ratio analysis to test for association on year, age, type, region of the country where farm is located and season, showed statistically significant associations. The outbreaks of MD decreased in 2006 (OR 0.7; 95% CI: 0.5–0.9) and 2007 (OR 0.7; 95% CI: 0.5–1.0) compared to 2000 but increased in 2008 (OR 1.5; 95% CI: 1.1–2.2) and 2009 (OR 2.0; 95% CI: 1.2–3.4). Flocks aged 18 weeks and above were 34.3 (95% CI: 22.5–52.1) times more at risk of infection compared to 1–5 weeks. High risk of MD were also observed in flock aged 9–18 weeks (OR 14.5; 95% CI: 9.8–21.5) and 5–8 weeks (OR 2.0; 95% CI: 1.3–3.0) compared to 1–5 weeks. On the type and species of birds when compared to broilers, layers had highest chances of coming down with the disease (OR 31.3; 95% CI: 21.6–45.5) followed by pullets (OR 7.9; 95% CI: 5.7–10.8) and turkeys (OR 3.2; 95% CI: 0.9–11.7). On season, the risk of having MD was higher during the rainy season (OR 1.4; 95% CI: 1.2–1.7) compared to dry. On locations, the chances of having the disease were significantly higher in the south (OR 7.8; 95% CI: 4.5–13.7) compared to the northern part of the country. The prevalence of MD was higher which has increased over the years and it is endemic in Nigeria. Due to frequent outbreaks of MD, the importance of diagnostic surveillance of the disease and good management practices by farmers should be encouraged.

Intestinal Parasitic Infections in Two Groups of Students in a Semi-urban Town in Nigeria

Intestinal parasitic infections are still an important public health problem in developing countries of the world even though they tend to receive lesser attention than bacterial and viral diseases. No published information on the comparative studies contrasting prevalence rates between primary school students and undergraduate students in this area is available. This study was therefore aimed at determining the rates of infection in the two groups of students in Ekpoma, Nigeria. Two hundred and forty (240) stool specimens were collected from students (120 primary school pupils and 120 university students) residing in Ekpoma, and examined for presence of intestinal parasites. Each stool sample was examined macroscopically, and microscopically using the saline wet mount and the formol ether concentration techniques. 80 (33.3%) subjects were found to be infected with four different parasites. Prevalence rates of infection were 33.4% for Ascaris lumbricoides (primary school pupils (25%), university students (8.3%); 26.7% for Hookworm (primary school pupils (16.7%), university students (10%); 5.0% for Trichuris trichiura (primary school pupils (0%)),university students (5.0%); and 1.7% for Entamoeba histolytica (primary school pupils (0%)), university students (1.7%).The primary school pupils were mostly infected with Ascaris lumbricoides and Hookworm, while the university students had more infections with Trichuris trichiura and Entamoeba histolytica. Parasitic infection was much higher in primary school pupils (41.7%) than in university students (25%), and the difference was statistically significant ( 􀀁 2 =3.75; p <0.05). We recommend that enlightenment programmes should be mounted in schools and the community so as to inform people about the hazards of intestinal parasites, and employ appropriate preventive and control measures against these harmful parasites.

Qualitative Studies of Recent Floods and Sustainable Growth and Development of Cities and Towns in Nigeria

Extreme weather events have caused havoc to lives and properties in recent years. Research and development have also been focused on these global phenomena. The situation is getting alarmed in Nigeria. The aim of the paper is to study incidences of floods in Nigerian cities and towns. Topographical Maps of 25 cities and towns were studied. Floods, drainage channels, runoffs and effects of human activities on floods were observed and studied. Interviews were conducted with 20 professionals, urban dwellers and twenty Local Government Chairmen of the cities and towns. There was a questionnaire that was administered among 2,000 urbanites. It collected data about the frequency, sizes and havocs caused by floods. Some of the cities particularly Lagos, Warri and Port-Harcourt are under the sea level with average gradient of less than 1:100,000. Run-offs are increasing in volume and areas of coverage but relatively drainage channels are inadequate; and they have been blocked through the adverse living habits of the urban dwellers. Waste waters are contributing as base water to rain water in the drainage channels. These result in grievous consequences of flood. All forms of transportation are affected each time it comes; lives, farm lands and properties are lost; and economic activities are grounded. Human factors are predominantly the cause. More attention has to be paid to urban physical planning.

Implications of Community Infrastructure Provision in the Development of Medium-Sized Towns in Kwara State Nigeria

Infrastructure has been recognized as the crux of human settlement development. This paper therefore examines the implications of community provision of infrastructure in the development of medium &#8211; sized towns in Nigeria. Medium-sized towns are settlements with population size of between 5,000 and 20,000. Data were collected from both primary and secondary sources. The findings generally revealed a high level of community participation in the provision of such infrastructure as schools, electricity, roads, water, market stalls, health facilities, and town halls. However, variations exist among the medium &#8211; sized towns in the type and number of infrastructure provided by community action. Kendall&#8217;s Coefficient Concordance (W) used to test the degree of variations in ranks revealed a significant agreement in the ranking. Hierarchical Cluster Analysis used to classify the medium &#8211; sized towns based on infrastructure provision produced three classes. The general implication of this study is that, infrastructure provision by community action can lead to a balanced regional development as other smaller towns around the study emulate the action. Recognizing the role of small &#8211; sized towns in a balanced regional development process, government should encourage the people through the provision of financial support, machineries and technical know-how in the provision of infrastructure. This paper recommends the integration of community development plans with those of the local government towards achieving even development.Keywords: Infrastructure, Medium-Sized, Towns, Community, Participation

Challenging the Myths of Urban Dynamics in Sub-Saharan Africa: The Evidence from Nigeria

Summary The evidence from censuses and satellite imagery is increasing that the rate at which many countries are becoming more urban in sub-Saharan Africa has slowed or is even stagnating. This has major policy implications. Many standard reviews of the region still, however, tend to maintain that urbanization is occurring rapidly but, as this paper demonstrates, the data used are frequently erroneous. Such errors are exacerbated by a lack of reasonable estimates of the size and growth of towns in Nigeria, sub-Saharan Africa’s most populous country with the region’s most complex urban system. This paper also attempts to address this knowledge gap and shows how Nigeria’s level of urbanization has also been significantly over-estimated.

Nonlinear Trigonometric Transformation Time Series Modeling

The nonlinear trigonometric transformation and augmented nonlinear trigonometric transformation with a polynomial of order two was examined. The two models were tested and compared using daily mean temperatures for 6 major towns in Nigeria with different rates of missing values. The results were used to determine the consistency and efficiency of the models formulated.

Physical Growth and Nutritional Status of a Cohort of Semi-Urban Nigerian Adolescents

The nutritional transition in developing countries may lead to imbalances in the growth and nutritional status of adolescents in such countries events that could result in improper maturation and morbidity in adult life. This study seeks to determine the patterns of physical growth and nutritional status of adolescents living in a low income semi-urban town in Nigeria. Anthropometric data from six hundred and twenty five (625) secondary school students aged 10-19 years (adolescents) were collected and their Body Mass Index (BMI) calculated. Their heights and weights were compared to those of a reference population. Outcome measures for nutritional status were proportion of the population that is stunted (height-for-age 85 percentiles of the rd th th reference data respectively). The girls matched the heights of half of the reference population at all ages, but the boys did not. From age fourteen years, the boys weighed less than half of the reference population while the girls matched or weighed more than the reference population. Under-nutrition was found to affect 19.36% of the population (with stunting accounting for 84.47% of this group), while 13.12% of the population were overweight/obese. The prevalence of thinness and stunting were higher in boys than in girls. Boys were also slightly more obese than the girls. Underand over-nutrition co-exist in the population and affect more boys than girls. There is an urgent need to address these problems in preventive and curative health care programmes.

Consumption pattern and contribution of zinc and antioxidant vitamins A and C ric foods to the mean daily nutrient intake of 2-5 year old children in two rural towns in Nigeria

This study was carried out to assess the consumption pattern and contribution of zinc and antioxidant vitamins A and C-rich foods to the mean daily nutrient intake of 2 – 5 year old children, in two rural towns in Anambra state, Nigeria. Questionnaire and 3 – day weighed food intake methods were used. Questionnaires were administered to 192 mothers/caregivers of the 192 randomly selected children. A sub-sample of 20 children were randomly selected for the 3 – day weighed food intake study. All the respondents were Christians by religion and major occupations of the heads of households were trading and/or farming. Majority of the households (53.3%) were of low income group. Their fruit consumption pattern ranged from 30% (velvet tamarind) to 74% (mangoes) on any given day especially when in season. Also 65.1%, 70.8%, 13% of the children took dark green vegetables, dried fish, and breast milk, on any given day, respectively. Rice contributed highest to their daily energy, carbohydrate and niacin intake while beans contributed highest to their protein, calcium, iron and thiamin daily intake. Fruits and vegetables contributed 0.95% to 23% and 14% to 22% of the total mean daily ascorbic acid intake of the 2 – 3 year old and 4 – 5 year old children, respectively. Generally, the children had poor consumption of animal foods whose nutrients like zinc are more bioavailable. Improved agricultural production for more income to the farmers, dietary diversification and fortification together with intensified nutrition education will help to improve nutrient intake of the 2 – 5 year old children in the study area. Agro-Science Vol. 6 (2) 2007: pp. 39-47

The 12-month prevalence of DSM-IV anxiety disorders among Nigerian secondary school adolescents aged 13–18 years

Aims To estimate the 12-month prevalence of DSM-IV-specific anxiety disorders among Nigerian secondary school adolescents aged 13–18 years. Method A representative sample of adolescents ( n=1090) from senior secondary schools in a semi-urban town in Nigeria was assessed for the 12-month prevalence of DSM-IV-specific anxiety. Results The 12-month prevalence for all anxiety disorders was 15.0% (females=19.6%; males=11.4%). There were significant gender differences in the prevalence for all anxiety disorders ( P<0.001; OR 1.96, 95% CI 1.35–2.65) and social anxiety disorder ( P=0.035; OR 1.82, 95% CI 1.03–3.19) and significant age difference in the prevalence of separation anxiety disorder ( P=0.045; OR 2.43, 95% CI 0.99–5.96). Conclusion The prevalence of anxiety disorders in Nigerian secondary school adolescents was comparable to the rates found in the western world. Health policies must integrate adolescents’ anxiety as a disorder of public health significance. Further studies are needed to evaluate the factors associated with anxiety disorders amongst adolescents in this region.

On staging performance: the masquerade festival of Ìklé Èkìtì*

This paper examines the ways in which the official performance of a masquerade festival in an Èkìtì Yorúbà town in Nigeria depends upon the action of participants taking place away from the performances that the public witnesses. In the Èkìtì Yorúbà town of Ìklé the biannual masquerade festival is one of the most dramatic ritual events within the town. It examines the way that the formal presentations of masquerade within the official ritual period are underpinned by the contestations that take place behind the scenes of the festival, that in turn rely upon the differing identities that are established in the performance of differing masquerade types. Thus the paper generates a ‘backstage’ / ‘frontstage’ approach to the festival and in so doing it places the performance of the participant observer within the analysis arguing that this, within the conditions of the festival is as much a performance as any other part of the performances called upon during the festival. *This paper is the product of fieldwork in the Èkìtì Yorúbà town of ìklé-Èkìtì. Fieldwork was carried out at various times in 1990, 1991, 1996 and 2006. My thanks to the people of Ìklé, to Professor J Ade Ajayi and Mrs C Ade Ajayi and to many in Nigeria too numerous to mention. Thanks also to the British Academy who sponsored this fieldwork and to the Henry Moore Foundation who provided a generous fellowship at the University of Leeds

Adults perspective of adolescent reproductive health behaviour in a sub-urban town in Nigeria

Parent/Adult Child communication has been shown to influence adolescent reproductive health behaviour Adults need to pass correct information across to youths to help them make proper decisions that will promote their health. The objective of this study was to assess the attitude of parents to adolescent reproductive health behaviour in a suburban Nigerian town. This cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out in Ikenne, Ogun State. A Semi-structured questionnaire was used to gather information from 370 adults who were chosen by multi-staged sampling method. About two-thirds of the adults surveyed (62.2%) were against premarital sex among adolescents. Although 46.8% said it was permissible for adolescents to use contraceptives, 87.1% will react negatively if they found contraceptives with their children. The condom was the most commonly approved contraceptive method for adolescents by 60.7% of those who approved of adolescents use of contraception, consisting of 14.6% of all the parents in the study. The major reasons against contraceptive use by adolescent were the promotion of promiscuity (41.5%) and infertility in the future (24.9%). Although gender difference was not statistically significant, the females expressed a more conservative attitude to adolescent sexuality and contraception than males; they were less likely to approve of sexual activity among young people (17.8% versus 23.6%) or contraceptive use by them (44.6% versus 49.2%). Eighty seven percent (87%) of those that had children/ward above 12 years had discussed sexuality issues with them. The major form of advice was sexual abstinence and the possibility of unplanned pregnancy. Only 8.5% had advised them about contraception. While 74.1% had approved of sex education in schools, only 31.9% approved of teaching about condom in schools. Adults are interested in the reproductive health of their children. Programmes that seek to involve parents in promoting the sexual health of youths will make significant progress if they specifically target parents (especially women) with information about the context of adolescent sexuality and address their misgivings.

A study of wind energy potential: remedy for fluctuation of electric power in Mubi, Adamawa State, Nigeria

The wind energy potential for Mubi in Adamawa State of Nigeria (latitude 10 ° 15 ' and longitude 13 ° 15 ') has been studied and evaluated so as to remedy the fluctuating electric power, particularly, in Mubi which receive an average of only about 2.15 MW instead of 4.35 MW from the Power Holdings Company of Nigeria. This electric power fluctuations and outages usually disrupt economic and social activities.The computed monthly average wind speed in Mubi, Adamawa State is 3.44ms -1 0.01% and the estimated power is 16.34Wm -2 0.1%. The result is good enough, since the minimum wind speed required to turn the turbine of a wind machine is 3.0ms -1 . Comparative analysis using the Wind Speed Scale at 10m heights shows that this value of wind speed can be categorized as moderate especially when compared with other towns in Nigeria. This implies that if wind energy is properly harnessed, it can be captured and converted into electricity by a wind machine, which will alleviate the problems of incessant power failure in the study area. Aside, wind energy is a renewable source of energy and it is environmentally friendly which conforms to the national energy and environmental policy of Nigeria with respect to the new world order of economic development and environmental sustainability. Keywords : wind energy potential, electric power fluctuation, wind speed Nigerian Journal of Physics Vol. 17, 2005: 40-45

The Significance of the Niger Coast Constabulary Band of Calabar in Nigerian Highlife Music: An Historical Perspective

Scholars agreed that Highlife is a syncretic neo-traditional music arising from the interaction of African and Western music. However, views defer in the manner in which it came into existence in Nigeria. Some hold that it originated from Ghana; others believe that it is local in origin and yet there are those who believe that it originated independently in several places across the west African coast. While each of these perspectives have their merits, they belie the existence of a much older brass band tradition in Calabar from which evolved the first prototypes of Highlife in Nigeria. This paper discusses the history of the Niger Coast Constabulary band as arising out of the conflict in trade relations in the \'oil rivers\' to becoming a military band following the colonization of the area by Britain in 1900. Its transfer to Kaduna in 1914 to becoming the band of the 1st battalion of the West African Frontier Force and how prior to this, it provided Calabar with well trained brass band musicians and bands, and how the downturn of the economy of Calabar in the 1930s led to migration of these musicians to other economically prosperous towns in Nigeria and in the process spread the brass band music throughout Nigeria, are all highlighted. Of significance is the relocation of a product of the Calabar brass band school, the Calabar Brass Band, to Lagos where it imparted on the music scene and played a significant role in the emergence of dance band highlife in Nigeria. Nigerian Music Review Vol.5 2004: 37-50

Road Safety Practices among Commercial Motorcyclists in a Rural Town in Nigeria: Implications for Health Education

This cross-sectional, community-based study was carried out among commercial motorcyclists in Igboora. All the commercial motor parks in Igboora were visited and all the commercial motorcyclists who consented to participate in the study were interviewed. Information on the respondents' socio-demographic characteristics, and the practice of road safety measures was collected using an interviewer administered questionnaire. A total of 299 motorcyclists were interviewed. All (100%) of them were males. The mean age of the respondents was 27.4 +/- 7.4 years. One hundred eighty-two (60.7%) of the motorcyclists had the correct knowledge of the purpose of Highway Code. Only 70 (23.3%) could recognize more than half of the currently used road safety codes and 47 (15.7%) obey these road safety codes more than half of the time they see it. Only 183 (61.2%) of them had a driving license and 72 (24.1%) were able to produce these licenses on demand. All (100%) of the respondents did not use any protective helmet. Those who have longer years of working experience, higher level of education and higher knowledge of the safety codes practice it more regularly (r = 0.198, p = 0.001, chi2= 9.31, p = 0.025, and r = 0.28, p = 0.001 respectively). One hundred thirty-six (45.5%) have been involved in at least one accident in the preceding year. The overall incidence of road traffic accident was 2.16 per 1,000. There was however on statistically significant association between the practice of road safety codes and the occurrence of road traffic accidents (chi2= 0.176, p = 0.916). The study shows that the practice of road safety measures was low in this rural Nigerian community and was not associated with the incidence of road traffic accidents. Introducing road safety education particularly targeted at educating the motorcyclists on the importance and practice of road safety measures would lead to an increase in the practice of the safety measures and hopefully a reduction in the incidence of road traffic accidents.

The search for an effective medical care service for Nigeria

Although not always well appreciated by the general public, medical service in Nigeria consists of two main braches or divisions - a Public Health Division which deals with social and preventive medicine and a medical Division which deals with curative medicine. The level and efficiency of the Public Health Service reflects the level of development of a country. By that parameter, Nigeria is very much under-developed. No town in Nigeria is wholly serviced by a Central Sewage System. Most of our towns have open gutters and drainages. The Refuse disposal system is poor. In spite of the need for a shift in emphasis, this paper will center on effective organization of curative medical services in Nigeria. Some of the key issues discussed are: the problems of our hospitals, over centralization of hospital management, relationship of management Boards to Ministry of Health, sharing of responsibility for the Medical Care Services, Finance and manpower development. The paper emphasizes that these days, there is a need to pay more attention to the integrated nature of our health care and the complimentarity of both divisions – medical/Public Health to ensure a national health. It ends with a conclusion and recommendations. Key Words: Medicine, Public, Health, Hospital and Preventive (Global J Med Sci: 2003 2(1): 75-79)

'Fatalism', accident causation and prevention: issues for health promotion from an exploratory study in a Yoruba town, Nigeria.

As countries experience the 'epidemiological transition' with a relative decline in infectious diseases, accident rates tend to increase, particularly road traffic accidents. The health promotion interventions intended to prevent or minimize the consequences of accidents have been developed in predominantly Western, industrialized countries. Although some of these solutions have been applied with success to less developed countries, there are also good reasons why such solutions are ineffective when tried in a different context. Health promotion as developed in the West has a particular ideological bias, being framed within a secular, individualist and rationalist culture. Different cosmologies exist outside this culture, often described as 'fatalist' by Western commentators and as obstructing change. Changing these cosmologies or worldviews may not fit with the ethic of paying due respect to the cultural traditions of the 'target group'. Health promotion is therefore faced with a dilemma. In addition to different worldviews, the different levels of development also mean that solutions formulated in richer countries do not suit poorer countries. This paper uses a small exploratory study in a Yoruba town in Nigeria to examine these points. Interviews with key informants were held in March 1994 in Igbo-Ora and data were extracted from hospital records. Levels of accidents from available records are noted and people's ideas about accident prevention are discussed. Recommendations as to the way forward are then proposed.

Breeding site of larval mosquitoes in Abeokuta, Nigeria

This study was carried out to determine the mosquito fauna and their breeding sites in Abeokuta, an urban town in Nigeria. Seven species were encountered namely: Aedes aegypti, Anopheles gambiae, Culex andersoni, Cifatigans C decens, Ctigripes and Eretmapodies chrysogaster, in nine habitats. The sites in which they were encountered are tyres, domestic (household) containers, ground pools, open drains, septic tanks, tree-holes, leafaxils, rock pools and dead leaf surfaces. Domestic containers and tyres were the most common and contributed to most of the breeding especially those of Aedes aegypti and Culex decens both of which were very plastic in their breeding habits. An aggressive environmental sanitation program aimed at effective disposal of these container habitats and other man-made receptacles would reduce the amount of breeding particularly with respect to Aedes aegypti and Anopheles gambiae whose vectorial importance in the transmission of yellow fever and malaria respectively, have long been established.

Bilingualism and Ethnic Identity in a Nupe-Yoruba Border Town in Nigeria

Empirical studies of bilingualism in the advanced countries have been carried out to shed light on issues of both theoretical and pragmatic importance. Such issues include bilingualism and ethnic identity, educational and socio-psychological problems faced by linguistic minorities in linguistically heterogeneous countries, etc. In a multilingual country like Nigeria where there is a crosscurrent of contacts between different types of languages, giving rise to individual and community bilingualism, works of this nature are very crucial for language policies and implementation. In this paper, I deal with one of the many questions that scholars have attempted to answer, namely, does bilingualism in itself have an impact upon ethnic identity and ethnic attitudes? With data from the Saare/Tsaragi composite community, I try to show the sense in which bilingualism may not necessarily neutralise ethnic loyalty. One is led to conclude that it is the socio-cultural, economic, political and demographic context of a ...