Background:  Preeclampsia and eclampsia, are the frequent and global obstetrics and gynaecology emergencies in the care of gravid women particularly in African women. Research efforts to identify predictors for recognizing pregnancy that will come down with preeclampsia is still a continuum, yet no single or combination of indices have absolute predictive potential for diagnosing preeclampsia. 

OBJECTIVE:  To evaluate the predictive potentials of sequential alterations of plasma lipids and to determine the gestation age at which dyslipidemia became pathologic to suspect the onset of preeclampsia in gravid African women.

Study design: This is a longitudinal study conducted in two phases at the antenatal clinics of a Tertiary hospital. The first Phase was semi-longitudinal and cross-sectional which involved 79 pre-eclamptic and 80 normotensive pregnancy respectively recruited   at 3^rd trimester but followed up to 3days post-partum. The second phase was a full longitudinal study comprising 10 preeclamptic and 20 normotensive healthy pregnant women recruited from the first trimester of pregnancy but were observed up to six weeks post-delivery.

Methods: Plasma samples from K₂⁺ EDTA anti-coagulated blood obtained from the preeclamptic and normotensive gravid women at each trimester and postpartum were assayed for lipid profile. which included Triglyceride, Total–Cholesterol, HDL- Cholesterol by an enzymatic method. VLDL-Cholesterol and LDL-Cholesterol values were calculated. 

Result: We recorded a sequential and steady increase in all the lipid fractions in both study and controls subjects with the progression in gestation age. Dyslipidaemia was significant (p<0.001) in the preeclamptics at 10.9^th week of gestation relative to the controls. Triglyceride alterations became significant (p<0.001) and pathologic to speculate the development of preeclampsia at 10.9^th week of gestation (ODS=29.952, CI=1.046-857.998@P<0.04. The lipids regressed significantly to almost pre-pregnancy values at 6 weeks postpartum.

Conclusion: Physiologic alterations of plasma lipids in early pregnancy can become pathologic to precipitate preeclampsia. Dyslipidaemia and alteration of cardiac risk ratio does not put gravid women at the risk of atherosclerosis.

Background -Approximately two billion people, the majority being women and young children, are affected, by micronutrient deficiencies, with even higher rates during pregnancy causing adverse outcome in mother and child. This adverse effect can be mitigated by nutritional interventions like micronutrient supplementation.

Aim of the study

This study aim at assessing knowledge and use of micronutrient supplements among pregnant women attending Federal Medical Centre, Bida. This is a descriptive cross-sectional study, comprising of a sample size of 381 respondents. A structured questionnaire was utilized in data collection which lasted for six weeks period and data analysis was done using SPSS version 22

Result

The findings revealed that most (67.9) of the respondents were between the ages of 21-30, 46.7% were 4-6 gestational age, 49.6% were secondary certificate holders, 41.5% were traders while majority (53.5%) practice Islam.  majority(91.3%)  of the respondents are aware of routine micronutrient supplementation in pregnancy with Iron (fersolate) (94.4%),  Folic acid (91.8%), Vitamin D (52.5%), Vitamin A (80.1%) and Vitamin C (86.6%) as routine drugs (micronutrients) in pregnancy.  Most (74.0%) of the respondents use routine micronutrients and (65.6%) use them on daily basis. Fear of side effects of drugs (52.5%), cultural belief (78.7%), forgetfulness (50.2%), tired of taking the routine drugs (76.1%) and attitudes of health care providers (86.8%) were the factors as reported by the respondents that affects their use of routine drugs supplementation in pregnancy.

Conclusion

The study concludes that significant knowledge of routine micronutrient supplementation in pregnancy andadherence to the use of the routine micronutrient is key to prevention of deficiencies(anemia, spina bifida low birth weight among others) associated with non-adherence.it was recommended that Health personnel should place more emphasize on explaining the danger associated with non-compliance to the use of routine micronutrients supplements on the developing fetus and baby during health education at antenatal visit, Health personnel should be friendly to women on antenatal visit as this will enhance their use of routine micronutrients supplements, and the Government should always ensure that routine micronutrient supplements are readily available, accessible and affordable to all women of child bearing age.

Land suitability is a function of soil characteristics and crop requirement. It involves the evaluation and grouping of specific areas of land in terms of their suitability for defined agricultural use. Factors such as soil characteristics, climatic condition, topography (terrain), rainfall, erosion etc. Henceforth, matching the land characteristics with the crop requirements provides suitability index in the form of ranks which are fundamental for sustainable agricultural practices. The main objective of the research was focused on GIS techniques for land suitability assessment and subsequently determine physical-chemical-climatic risk (to improve millet yield) in millet production for sustainable farming. This paper presents the land suitability for millet production in Katsina State (Nigeria). A total of fifty-five (55) soil samples were collected at the depth of 0-30cm, air-dried, gently crushed, and sieved through 2mm for soil physical-chemical analyses. Soil samples coordinates were marked with GPS Garmin 60csx and subjected to geospatial distribution analysis. Data collected for climatic (rainfall and temperature) condition and analyzed for soil physio-chemical characteristics were subjected to descriptive statistics (SAS v9.4). Soil properties distribution map were generated with ArcGIS v10.3 using Inverse Distance Weighted (IDW) techniques. The suitability for millet cultivation in Katsina from the climate and physical-chemical parameters indicates that annual rainfall (604-702mm), elevation (434.75-558.5◦), temperature (26.50-26.99◦C), drainage, erosion, soil depth (0-30cm), soil pH (6.4-6.7), organic carbon (OC, 1.67-2.22%) and organic matter (OM, 0.2-3.0%), and phosphorus (P, 4.40-10.23%) are noted within the acceptable suitability index values (for Class S1 to Class S3), that represent sustainable crop production. While, cation exchange capacity (CEC, 5-15 cmol(+)/kg), total nitrogen (TN, 0.5-5.0%), exchangeable acidity (EC,0.03-0.65ds/m) and effective sodium percentage (ESP, 1.06-1.53%) were noted below average value for crop production. Land suitability Class S1 (highly suitable) covers 1328.40ha which is about 21.19% of the study area. While land suitability Class S2 (moderately suitable) covers 1098ha (17.53% area). The land suitability Class S3 cover 1767ha (28.19% area). Besides that, Class N1 (potentially not suitable) covers about 851.33ha (13.58% area) and, finally Class N2 (potentially and actually not suitable) covers about 1223.08ha (19.51% area) with scores below average of millet requirement. Further, the Class N2 areas marked with rock outcrop and inherent low fertility. Studied area (Katsina) suitability class for crop production as follow: S3>S1>N2>S2>N1. This indicates that, land area under Class S3 (28.19%) requires moderate level of soil amendment to improve millet production. Whereas, Class S2 (17.53%), requires minimal level of soil amendment, whereas Class N1 and N2 with total land area of percentage of 30.09%, requires high input of soil amendment. Therefore, it can be stated that different land unit requires different level of input and land management to facilitate (improve) millet production in Katsina state for sustainable crop production.

Nigeria has the second largest HIV epidemic in the world. The development and widespread use of antiretroviral drugs in the developed countries leads to transformed perception of HIV/AIDS from fatal incurable disease to a manageable chronic illness. The treatment causes improvement in immunological status and a reduction in viral loads, thus reducing the incidence of hospitalization and mortality. The treatment effectiveness requires a high level of compliance and this can lead to devastating public health problems. The objective of this study was to assess the perception and factors influencing compliance to drug regimen among HIV/AIDS positive patients attending anti-retroviral therapy clinic in University of Medical Science Teaching hospital Akure. A descriptive type of non-experimental design was adopted to investigate the research variables among 80 respondents selected using convenient sampling technique. A self-developed questionnaire was used for data collection and same analyzed using descriptive and Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 24. Results showed that 81.3% respondents had good perception about antiretroviral therapy, 96.3% respondents had good compliance with use of their antiretroviral drugs and some of the factors influencing compliance include side effects of the drugs, forgetfulness, drugs being too many and attitude of care providers. There is a significant relationship between level of education and perception about antiretroviral therapy(df=4, p<0.001), likewise significant relationship exists between perception and compliance with antiretroviral therapy(df=1, p<0.001). Therefore, nurses and other health care providers at the clinics should maintain a positive accommodating attitude towards patients as this was a major deterrent to the compliance practices among respondents in the study.

Preconception care involves the provision of health interventions to women and couples before conception and aims at improving their health status, reducing behaviors, individual and environmental factors that contribute to poor maternal and child health outcomes. It has potential to further reduce global maternal and child mortality and morbidity, especially in low-income countries where the highest burden of pregnancy-related deaths and disability occurs. Most often, preconception care is rarely delivered to women, and it is often ignored or minimized by both the patient and the provider. The factors contributing to the low uptake have not been extensively revealed, especially in the study region. The main objective of this study was to assess the uptake of preconception care services and associated factors among women of reproductive age at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital. A total of 241 women sampled by systematic random methods answered structured questionnaires, while 20 health care providers served as key informants. Quantitative data was summarized using descriptive statistics, and associations detected by chi-square test. Data findings were then presented using tables, graphs and pie charts. Qualitative data was subjected to content analysis, and themes derived, which were used to triangulate the quantitative results. All statistical analysis was done using SPSS v. 22. The uptake of preconception care services was low (65.8%), and majority were unaware of these services being at the facility. There was low level of knowledge on preconception care services (71.8%), although majority (45.4%) preferred the hospital as the source of information. The factors influencing the utilization of preconception. care services included patient-related factors like chronic diseases, and cultural beliefs and practices, as well as health care provider-related factors like staff shortage, inadequate supplies and resources. There was a significant association between the level of knowledge on preconception care and the age of the woman (p=0.0001), marital status (p=0.01), educational level (p=0.002), and occupation (p=0.001). The uptake of preconception care services was low, with a concomitant low level of knowledge on preconception care services among women. Individual patient and healthcare related factors influence the utilization of preconception care services. The study recommends that the Ministry of Health should ensure the availability of adequate elements of preconception care, while prioritizing public health education on preconception care, empowering the healthcare providers, and involving stakeholders, so as to achieve a robust uptake.

In Kenya, Cloud Computing (CC) is a current advancement, which offers a substantial opportunity for government, Organizations and Individuals to contract out their Information Technology (IT) requirements from other establishments. New technology amongst SMEs has been noted to be low because of numerous obstacles like information generation, processing and dissemination among SMEs and investors. Capital for setting up and sustaining Information Technology is also a big issue. However, Cloud computing if successfully adopted, it is likely going to solve this problem by offering ready and low cost of entry of IT solutions.

This study attempts to investigate the level of cloud computing adoption by SMEs within Kenya by employing and utilizing a questionnaire with a convenience sample of 20 SMEs in Nairobi County that collected quantitative data to assist in determining the most applicable framework. The adapted framework is then validated through statistical analysis that confirmed a largely reasonable level of fit for the manifestations and construct legitimacy performing through convergent and discriminant validity methods. The questionnaire instrument was discovered to be trustworthy and data were analyzed where the outcome showed embracing new technology for doing business in Kenya is generally low hence the need for the Kenyan Government to develop a framework that can support the adoption of cloud computing by SMEs. If most of the Kenyan SMEs could have access to scalable technologies, they could potentially deliver products and services that in the past only large enterprises could deliver, flattening the competitive arena. The developed paradigms ideas ware founded on the Technological- Organizational-Innovations paradigms (DOI) these are paradigms that ware mostly utilized to elucidate cloud computing technology embracement. The systematic method of using literature review was employed to get new ideas on how to develop a framework and adopt cloud-computing technology.

One of the expected manifestations of a satisfactory marital union is the sense of healthy and constructive interactions, expressions of love to each other as well as intimacy. This study investigated Emotional Intelligence as correlate of marital satisfaction of married teachers in public secondary schools in Anambra State. Three research questions were formulated to guide the study while one null hypothesis was tested at 0.05 level of significance.  The study used a correlational test design. A total of 1,344 married teachers were selected from a population of 6,987 married teachers. The sample was chosen using a multi-stage sampling approach. For data collection, two instruments were used: the Emotional Intelligence Scale (EIS) and the Index of Marital Satisfaction (IMS). The devices are standardised measurements with reliability coefficients of 0.96 for IMS and 0.89 for EIS. The data was gathered using a direct distribution method. The information gathered was analysed using SPSS version 23. To address study questions and test theories, Pearson correlation coefficients and regression analysis were used. The study's findings showed among others that there is a significant low relationship existing between married teachers’ emotional intelligence and their marital satisfaction. Based on the findings of the study, it was recommended, the Guidance Counsellors working in schools should organize seminars and workshops for teachers and others staff of the schools to discussed issues and ways of enhancing marital satisfaction.

This study examines the approaches to enhance instructional media utilization by senior secondary schools agricultural science teachers. Descriptive survey research design was adopted for this study.Three objectives, three research questions and three hypotheses were formulated for this study. The population was made of eighty nine (89) agricultural science teachers in all the fourty three (43) public and private secondary schools in Makurdi Local Government Area. The population was small hence there was no sampling. A questionnaire titled Instructional Media Utilization Questionnaire (IMUQ) was administered to (89) agricultural science teachers.The respondents were expected to respond to a four pointrating scale of Strongly Agree, Agree, Disagree and Strongly Disagree respectively. The questionnaire was administered personally by the researcher with the help of two research assistants. The instruments were returned 100%. The data collected were analyzed using (mean() and standard deviation to answer question 1, 2 and 3 while chi-square was used to analyzed the hypotheses .From the findings of the study, the researcher was able to conclude that instructional media facilities used in teaching and learning of agricultural science are available as reveal in table one. Not all the instructional media materials are accessible. Also a good number of the instructional media materials are not useful except for computer aided instruction.It was therefore recommended that instructional materials available should be put to use to enhanced teaching and learning of agricultural science.The school authority should ensure that all instructional media facilities used in teaching and learning of agricultural science are accessible by the teachers for effective lesson delivery.

The high failure rate of small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) in Nigeria, has prompted banks, in response to both regulation and changing market dynamics, to resort to innovating around their structures, systems and processes to design products and processes that could help in reducingSMEs’ failure rate. Thus, this study investigated the effect of bank innovation capability on the market share of small and medium enterprises in Nigeria. Cross-sectional survey research design was adopted, 5,292 and 27,000 staff of banks with dedicated SMEs’ desks and SMEs’ owner managers respectively were sampled and data collated. Multiple regression analysis was adopted and the result shows that bank innovation capability had positive significant effect on market share (Adj.R2 = 0.175, F(5,493) = 22.054,p<0.05). It was concluded that bank innovation capability affect the market share of small and medium enterprisesand it was recommended that deposit money banks’ managers should extend bank innovation capability dimensions ideas to SMEs’ owners in Nigeria as increased market share can expand their capacities to reach new customers and markets.

Covid-19 pandemic poses serious concerns to University education in the World. Efforts to contain the spread of Corona virus prompted unscheduled closure of Universities Worldwide. In deed the unplanned Universities closures in Kenya has caused severe problems to students, lecturers, parents and society at large. The study investigated the effects of Corona Virus pandemic on University students. Data was collected through structured questionnaires administered to 200 respondents, where all were university students from Uasin-Gishu County. Findings showed that 57.0% of the students had already paid all the fees and 50.0% suggested that half of their tuition fees should be refunded. 70.0% proposed that Universities should refund half of  the accommodation fee, since the semester was half-way spent, so that this amount can cater for needs during the difficult time of COVID-19 pandemic. 33.0% stated that they are using video conferencing platform in learning, 22.0% using zoom,10.0% using Google mails, and 15.0% using WhatssApp. The least used was Telegram and Twitter, where those who never used any digital tools were 10.5% due to internet challenges. 82.0% said that both lecturers and students should wear masks when Universities reopens for face to face learning.51.5% confirmed that their exams were postponed, 11.0% cancelled, 5.0% replaced by continuous assessment and only 32.5% did their exams online and on average 85.7% had no enough infrastructures. Therefore, a lot of infrastructure development are needed in various universities in Kenya.

The unanticipated emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic and the resultant efforts of governments around the world to control its spread has no doubt affected business operations in several ways, thus necessitating research into its effect on specific aspects of business. The current research examined the contributions of SMEs’ marketing mix strategies towards firm performance during the COVID-19 induced pandemic, with specific focus on SMEs’ in Adamawa State. Drawing from previous literature, a structured questionnaire was developed to measure the four components of the marketing mix (product, price, promotion and place) and firm performance. A set of 50 valid responses were obtained from SME managers, and analysis was conducted using multiple regression analysis via SPSS v.20. Results revealed that product (B = 0.405, t = 2.430, P<0.05) and price (B = 0.247, t = 2.173, P< 0.05) mix strategies had significant positive influences on performance, while promotion (B = 0.134, t = 0.731, P>0.05) and place (B = 0.187, t = 1.054, P>0.05) strategies were shown not to have significant effects on performance. The paper thus recommends that SMEs in Adamawa State should endeavor to revise their promotion and place strategies to conform to the realities of the pandemic and prepare them for similar challenges that may occur in future. 

The focus of this study is to offer evidence on the impact of contributory pension fund investment by private and public sectors on economic growth in Nigeria spanning from 2004Q1 to 2019Q2using Ordinary Least Square. It is undauntedly obvious from the estimation results that increase in pension fund contribution either from the private or public sector in Nigeria positively and significantly influenced economic growth as the scheme encouraged the release of un-invested funds by channelling excess liquidity into the capital and money markets. Also, the study unravelled that sectoral pension fund contribution has formed huge investment of funds in the capital and money markets than its aggregate thereby creating employment opportunities as well as improving investment climate. The estimation results further revealed that both the private and the public sector whether aggregated or disaggregated, market capitalization and investment in money and capital markets can have an appreciable effect on sustained economic growth in Nigeria. Consequently, this study recommended that Gross Domestic Product statistics reported from Nigeria can be improved upon if the estimates of the unreported (hidden) activities are captured. Furthermore, there is need for existing national statistical agencies to increase their capacities for data collection and documentation processes in order to deepen further analysis and understanding of the informal sector.