Showing papers by "University of Nigeria, Nsukka published in 1970"

Influence of Post-Stroke Depression on Functional Independence in Activities of Daily Living

Abstract: Background Little attention has been paid to screening of depression among stroke survivors in outpatient physiotherapy clinics. Post-stroke depression is reported to have a negative impact on functional recovery. However, the exact influence on the outcome of rehabilitation such as level of functional independence remains controversial. This study aims at ascertaining the influence of post-stroke depression on functional independence in activities of daily living. Methods The study is a cross sectional survey of stroke survivors attending outpatient physiotherapy clinics of the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH) Enugu, and the Enugu State University Teaching Hospital (ESUTH). Participants were evaluated for socio-demographic characteristics. Post-stroke depression and level of functional recovery in Activities of Daily Living were assessed using the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale and the Barthel Index respectively. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 23, with α set at 0.01. Results A total of 66 participants, 42 females and 24 males, were purposively recruited into the study. Over 80% (56) of the participant had depression, with over 50% (32) being severely depressed. Post-stroke depression was associated with less functional independence in activities of daily living (p=0.000). A significant difference was found in the level of functional independence between participants with and without depression (p=0.00). Conclusion Participants with post-stroke depression have less independence in activities of daily living. A longitudinal study with a larger sample size is, however, recommended so as to improve the external validity. In the mean time, outpatient rehabilitation of depressed stroke survivors should include pharmacological and psychological components.

Trends, Determinants and Health Risks of Adolescent Fatherhood in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Abstract: BACKGROUND: This study examined the trends, determinantsand health risks of adolescent fatherhood in three selected Africancountries where adolescent-girl pregnancy/motherhood are decriedbut with permissive male sexual latitudeMETHODS: Adolescent male data were extracted from the male-recode datasets of Demographic Health Survey (2000-2014) forNigeria, Ethiopia and Zambia The surveys were grouped into 3-Waves: (2000-2004); (2005-2008) and (2011-2014) The studyemployed descriptive and binary logistics that tested the log-odds ofadolescent fatherhood with respect to selected sexual behaviourindices, and individual and shared demographic variablesRESULTS: The results revealed that the number of lifetime-sexual-partners among the boys is ≥2 The likelihood of adolescentfatherhood is positively associated with increasing age at firstcohabitation and multiple sexual partnerships (≥2) havingOR=1673 and OR=1769 in 2005/2008 and 2011/2014 respectivelyAdolescents who had attained tertiary education, and engaged inprofessional and skilled jobs were 0313, 0213 and 0403 times(respectively) less likely to have ever-fathered a child The positiveassociation between rural place of residence and adolescentfatherhood in the past shifted to urban residents in 2011/2014CONCLUSION: The study concludes that early sexual activitiesand cohabitation are common among male adolescents among thecountries of study The authors recommend discouragement ofboy-girl cohabitation, increasing access to higher education andjob opportunities in order to stem boy-fatherhood incidence in thestudy locations and, by extension, other countries in sub-SaharanAfrica

Health Professionals’ Stigma towards the Psychiatric Ill in Nigeria

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Stigma affects the quality of life of the mentallyill, and health professionals are considered to be involved inpossessing negative attitudes towards them. We evaluated theprevalence of stigmatization among different health professionalsin Nigerian hospitals.METHODS: This study was a descriptive, cross-sectional andcomparative survey assessing attitudinal views of healthprofessionals (doctors, pharmacists, and nurses) regarding mentalillness in two hospitals in Eastern Nigeria. The survey utilized the40-item Community Attitude to Mental Illness, CAMI-2questionnaire. The prevalence and the factors that contribute tonegative attitudes among this cohort were assessed. Statisticalanalysis using T-tests, ANOVA and Pearson Correlation wereconducted.RESULTS: Attitudes to all the four constructs of the CAMI-2 werenon-stigmatizing. Stigmatizing attitudes were significantly higheramong pharmacists, doctors and then nurses (p<0.006). Healthprofessionals who did not have contact with the mentally ill(p<0.0001), who were males (p=0.008) and had lower years ofworking experience (p=0.031) expressed significantly higherstigmatizing attitudes towards the mentally ill. Conclusions:Nigerian health professionals were largely non-stigmatizingtowards the mentally ill. However, being a pharmacist, of malegender, and working in a non-psychiatric hospital were associatedwith stigmatizing attitudes when they exist.KEYWORDS: Mental illness; Stigma; Health Professionals;Survey

A prospective study of childhood malignancy in Enugu, Eastern Nigeria (2011-2013)

Abstract: Background : The review of childhood cancers has most times been done in retrospect by most authors and this has its inherent limitations. Most reviews in Africa show that lymphomas are the commonest malignancies of childhood while acute leukemia ranks much lower. Objective : To do a prospective audit of the pattern of childhood malignancies in Enugu, southeast, Nigeria. Methods : Demographic and medical information on patients aged 1 -17 years admitted over a 36 month period for malignancies was obtained and recorded in pretested interviewed administered questionnaire. Data was analyzed using spss, 15 (Chicago II, USA) software. Results : A total of 103 patients were admitted with diagnosis of cancer with a male: female ratio of 1.3: 1 and median age of 7 years. Majority (63.1%) of patients were from the rural area with low socioeconomic background. There was a decline in the incidence of childhood lymphoma from 40% about 25 years ago to 34% in the present study. Although lymphoma remains the leading childhood malignancy, sarcomas and acute leukemia rather than renal and eye tumors ranked second and third respectively among childhood cancers in the center. Conclusion : There is a reversing trend in the pattern of malignancies of childhood in Enugu as acute leukemia becomes one of the leading malignancies of children. Key words : childhood, malignancy, lymphomas, leukaemia

Involvement of Farm Households in Banana and Plantain Production in Aguata Agricultural Zone of Anambra State, Nigeria.

Abstract: The study examined backyard banana and plantain production among households in Aguata Agricultural Zone. Sixty randomly selected heads of households were used for the study. Data were generated using structured interview schedule and analysed by means of descriptive statistics Majority (63.3%) of the respondents had 1-50 stands of banana and plantain on their farm under mixed cropping pattern (68.3%). About 53.4% of the households were engaged in banana and plantain production mainly for consumption and they sourced planting materials from personal farms, All members of the household were involved in the production process, though the adult female dominated the execution of most farming tasks. The major agronomic practices employed by the households in banana and plantain production were de-suckering/pruning (96.7%), de-budding (91.7%), application of organic/inorganic manure (90.0%), de-leafing/de-trashing (76.7%), mulching (65.0%) and weeding (61.7%). Major factors militating against backyard banana and plantain production were susceptibility to wind, storm and drought (M= 2.25), poor yield (M=2.08), cluster nature of growth (M=1.91), high incidence of pest and diseases (M=1.88), long maturation period, high temperature/low rainfall (M=1.66) and unstable market price (M=1.65).Therefore extension agents from public and non- governmental organisations should The study thus, recommended that extension agents from public and non- governmental organisations should build knowledge and skills of farm households on critical agronomic practices, pest and disease management necessary to boost production and increase return to households. This can be achieved through workshop; radio programmes, and community awareness campaign. Research institutions should intensify efforts towards generation of drought and disease resistance and high yielding varieties for enhanced production. Key Words : Plantain, banana, household, agronomic.

Role of Households in Rabbit Production in Enugu-North Agricultural Zone of Enugu State

Abstract: This study assessed households’ involvement in rabbit production in Enugu-North Agricultural Zone of Enugu State. It determined rabbit management and breeding practices of respondents, roles of households in rabbit production and constraints associated with rabbit production in the area. Multistage sampling technique was used to select eighty respondents. Data were collected through the use of structured interview schedule and analyzed using percentages, mean scores and standard deviations. Majority (62.55%) provide feed for their rabbits twice a day. Majority (86.2%) use paddocks and wooden hutches to construct rabbit house/cages. Adult female and youth/children play less roles in rabbit production. Most perceived constraints were: inadequate/lack of fund (M=3.97), lack of access to foundation stock (M= 3.97) and poor knowledge of rabbit production (M= 3.92). It was recommended that households involved in rabbit production in the area should be encouraged to increase production through training and increased awareness on prevalence of disease and vaccination of rabbits. Similarly, they should be provided with access to foundation stock and other inputs by government and agricultural organizations like Ministry of Agriculture and Agricultural Development Programme in the area.

The British Colonial Office Approach to the Ashanti War of 1900

Abstract: The Anglo-Ashanti war of 1900, the seventh in a series which began in 1806, is a classic example of a war which was not wanted by the combatants but which was bound to occur if the question of the power struggle between Great Britain and Ashanti, in the Gold Coast, was to be settled once and for all. At the outbreak of the conflict the Ashanti confederacy was a mere shadow of its former self. The Asantehene who should have given the lead to his people was in exile. Thanks to the policy of British colonial officials, the confederacy had been broken up and many of its component parts persuaded to sign separate treaties by which they placed themselves under the protection of the British government. Militarily this was significant for it made any concerted action against the colonial government very difficult, if not impossible, and ensured that any dissident state could more easily be isolated and dealt with by the little military force at the disposal of the governor. Further evidence of the unpreparedness of the Ashantis for this major conflict was given by F.M. Hodgson, the governor of the Gold Coast, who stated that up to the time of his departure from Accra (on his illfated journey to Kumasi) there was nothing to suggest that the Ashantis were planning a revolt. This attitude was also shared by the local government officials in Kumasi, who maintained a vast intelligence network in the area.

Assessment of Food Security Situation of Tiv Farming households in Nigeria

Abstract: The fact that several households are engaged in farming does not translate directly to them being food secured, this is because of the food security entails all people at all times having both physical and economic access to sufficient food to meet their dietary needs for a productive and healthy life. The study therefore, assessed the food security situation and living conditions of Tiv farming households. Respondents were drawn from farming households in Benue, Taraba and Nasarawa States. Data was collected from 315 heads of households using interview schedule, and the data were analysed using means and food security index. The study found that enhanced ICT use (M=2.47) and increased competition (M=2.40) were perceived conditions that were found to be attributed to their agricultural operations. The analysis of food security situation shows that majority (64.1%) of these households were food secured. This could be because of those strategies for ensuring food security is working for majority of the families. Also on the strategies put in place to ensure households’ food security were the use of high yielding crop varieties (M= 1.60), mixed cropping (M=1.53) and use of early maturing crop varieties. Therefore the study recommends that governments in these states should support various extension agencies involved in the dissemination of these technologies that enhance the food security of the farmers.