Core Housing Strategy for Improved Urban Low-Cost Public Housing Delivery in Anambra State, Nigeria

Anambra state of Nigeria experiences acute housing shortage for urban low-income population owing to inefficient public housing delivery system principled on conventional full-provision house types. Insufficiency of funds for housing development is a major cause. Increased rate and scale of housing production and volume of housing stock have been stalled. Low-income households are adversely affected, being priced out of the limited stock. Core housing, a partial-provision strategy believed to require less financial resources has been neglected. This research focused on the potentials of core housing strategy in financial cost-saving and other aspects of public housing products’ performance. Components of public housing products’ performance and the measuring variables were first outlined; followed by a review of the relationship between core housing and the variables, which was apt and revealing. This study has widened knowledge and prepared grounds for empirical studies of core housing performance in Anambra State public housing sector.

Prevalence of Overweight and Obesity among Secondary Schools Adolescents in Onitsha, Anambra State Nigeria

Background: The prevalence of obesity is increasing worldwide, both in developed and developing countries. In Nigeria, obesity is emerging as an important public health problem. Childhood and adolescent obesity results in adult obesity with the resultant morbidities. Objectives: This study determines the prevalence of overweight and obesity in apparently healthy secondary school adolescents. Methods: This study was a cross-sectional study of secondary school adolescents aged 10-19 years randomly selected from two public schools and three private schools. The weights and heights of the study subjects were measured using standard equipment. BMI was computed using the standard formula weight (kg) / height2 (m). Using the WHO; 2007 age and sex-specific BMI percentile cut-offs, the subjects were classified as underweight (3rd to <15th percentile), normal (15th to <85th percentile), overweight (85th to <97th percentile) or obese ≥97th percentile. Results: Data were initially collected from 1250 participants, but 52 were excluded from improperly completed questionnaires. Thus, 1198 students were ultimately included in the study, giving a response rate of 95.8%. These included 621 females (51.8%) and 577 males (48.2%) aged 10-19 years, giving an F: M ratio of approximately 1: 0.9. The mean age of the students was 15.07 ±1.96 years overall, 15.13 ± 2.08 years for males and 15.03 ± 1.83 years for females. There was no statistically significant difference between males and females in the distribution of age groups (p=0.12). The mean BMI was 21.51±3.57kg/m2 for females and 20.22±3.16kg/m2 for males. The BMI was significantly higher in females in all age groups (p<0.001) except for those aged 10-<12 years (p=0.13). The prevalence rates of overweight and obesity were 14.4% and 5.1%, respectively. The prevalence rates of overweight and obesity were significantly higher in females than males (17.7% vs 10.7%, 5.6% vs 4.5% respectively (p<0.001) and most prevalent among the early adolescence (10<12yrs; p= 0.04). Conclusion: Prevalence of overweight and obesity is high among secondary school adolescents in Onitsha, Anambra state. There is a need for regular monitoring of weight and height as an early measure to prevent and control overweight and obesity.

PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT IMPLICATION ON EMPLOYEES’ PERFORMANCE IN SELECTED MANUFACTURING FIRMS IN ANAMBRA STATE, NIGERIA

The study investigated the effect of employee job involvement and autonomy on performance in the organization by using selected manufacturing firms in Anambra State, Nigeria as the study area. The design of the study is descriptive survey. Quantitative approach was used and major statistical tools of analysis were summary statistics, correlation and multiple regression. All tests were conducted at 0.05 level of significance. Preliminary results showed that with F-Statistic of 15.005, the model was adjudged statistically significant, fit and valid for predictions. The regression coefficient ‘R’ with a value of 0.713 means that 71.3 percent relationship exists between dependent and independent variables. The coefficient of determination ‘R2’ with a value of 0.702 means that 70.2 percent variations in the dependent variable can be explained by the independent variables. The Durbin Watson Stat of 1.603 is an indication that the model does not contain serial autocorrelation. Major findings were that employee job involvement and autonomy have significant positive effect on employees’ performance in the organization. The study concluded that both job involvement and job autonomy have significant positive influence on employees performance in the organization and managers should always endeavour to encourage them. It was equally recommended among others that management should always think of how they can re-design jobs by incorporating the characteristics that promote job involvement in employees to facilitate the achievement of enhanced employee performance in the organization. Keywords: Performance Management, Job Autonomy and Involvement, Employees’ Performance, Manufacturing Firms.

Assessing the Availability and Application of E-Learning Resources in Schools of Midwifery in Anambra State

This study assessed the availability and application of e-learning resources in schools of midwifery in Anambra State. This descriptive survey design study was guided by two research questions. 88 midwife tutors in the five schools of Midwifery in Anambra State made-up the population. The sample is the same as the population as the population is of manageable size. Checklist was used to obtain data and the data were analyzed using frequencies and percentages. The validation of the instrument was done by three specialists. Cronbach alpha method was used to test the reliability and the alpha coefficients of 0.73 and 0.75 respectively were gotten for sections A and B. The findings revealed that few e-learning resources were available and utilized in schools of midwifery in Anambra State. The implications of the study were highlighted and it was recommended that government should organize seminars and workshops to train nurse tutors on the usage of e- resources to improve learning in nursing schools. Also suggestions for further studies were made.

Geospatial Analysis of Soil Erosion Susceptibility and Causative Factors in Anambra State, South East, Nigeria

Land degradation is a function of soil erosion leading to soil loss and reduction in crop productivity as well as other socio-economic activities. The menace of soil erosion is challenging due to diverse factors including advertent and inadvertent anthropogenic activities. This study looks at soil erosion susceptibility and causative factors in Anambra State, both static and dynamic with the intent of identifying them, investigating spatial variability of soil loss, relate erodibility to soil properties and causative factors to soil erosion. Eight (8) prominent causative factors (CFs), were identified. These causative factors (CFs) were analyzed using ArcGIS 10.2. Sixty (60) soil samples were extracted randomly, analyzed, and tested. The study identified CFs such as Drainage Density, Erosion Density, Lineament Density, Slope Length, Land Surface Temperature, and Rainfall Erosivity, which contribute to Soil Erodibility (K - Factor). Land Surface Temperature, Soil Moisture Index, Rainfall Erosivity, and Normalized Difference Vegetation Index contributed to the loss of 8.97 ton/ha/yr, 9.1288 ton/ha/yr, 1,1134.7 ton/ha/yr, and 0.245 ton/ha/yr respectively to erosion in Anambra State. Conclusively, the dynamic causative factors influence soil susceptibility and trigger erosion in the State.

HIV and Malaria co-infection and the impact of viral load and HAART usage on the development of Plasmodium falciparum Artemisinin and Lumefantrine resistant genes in Nnewi, Anambra State, Nigeria

Background: Human Immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and malaria co-infection poses a serious health threat in sub-Saharan Africa and other endemic countries. Highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART) is currently used to suppress viral loads. Methods: Blood samples collected from 400 participants comprising 200 HIV sero-positive and 200 sero-negative individuals was added to EDTA sample containers. Malaria parasitemia was evaluated using standard parasitological techniques followed by PCR techniques using the Quick Load One Taq One Step Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) for characterization of species of Plasmodium and resistant studies using specific primers. HIV viral load estimation was done using COBAS® TaqMan® Analyzer. Results: Malaria has prevalent rate of 22.75% in the study population, while the prevalence of malaria infection among the HIV sero-positive and sero-negative is 77.0% and 23% respectively. Socio-demographic factors had no significant association with the development of resistant genes. HAART exposed individuals had prevalence of PfK13 (6.9%) and Pfmdr-1 (20.8%). Viral load was significantly related with the development of resistant genes (100%) and (86.1%) for PfK13 and Pfmdr-1 respectively. Conclusion: Unsuppressed viral load in HIV sero-positive individuals heightens the prevalence of malaria parasitaemia and increases the chances of possible emergence and spread of PfK13 and Pfmdr-1 genes.

Social Media Influencers and Purchase Intention amongst Social Media Users in developing African economy

Background: Internet disruption has unprecedentedly made social media a global village and global digital market where business and customers interacts boundlessly. People’s interaction has far gone beyond boundary and businesses are seeing and harnessing these opportunities. Objective: This study investigated the effect of social media influencers on purchase intention among social media users. Method: The population of this study consist of active social media users in Anambra state. Sample size of 220 was arrived at using convenience sampling for infinite population. Reliability and validity test were done through construct Reliability and Discriminant validity respectively through smart- pls. Data was computed with SPSS version 24 and analysed with SEM via Smart-Pls. Result: The finding of this investigation showed that trustworthiness, attractiveness and influencer product match up has positive and significant effect on purchase intention respectively. Conclusion: More so, expertise does not influence purchase intentions. Finally, if there is need social media influencer, organizations should painstakingly seek influencers with high trust level among audience, highly attractive and it’s congruity with the intended promoted product.

Groundwater exploitation in Awka (Anambra – Nigeria) and environs: Prospects, and challenges while drilling and its mitigation measures

Groundwater exploitation (borehole drilling) was carried out around Awka and environs in Anambra State, Southeastern Nigeria, to understand the underlying rock units encountered while drilling, differentiate boreholes with confined aquifers from those with unconfined aquifers, delineate the probable aquiferous zones from the borehole data, evaluate the challenges encountered while drilling (both geologic and technical), and identify mitigation measures employed to address these challenges. Detailed geologic log information of the boreholes was produced to illustrate the rock units encountered while drilling. Four rock units were identified, namely: shale, sandstone, clay, and gravel. These rock units were exposed within the Imo Formation and the Nanka Formation that underlie the study area. Results from the geologic log information of the boreholes indicate that the water table within the study area ranges from 11.2 m to 56.5 m from the soil surface, and the probable aquiferous zones vary from 6.8 m to 23.3 m in thickness. A detailed look at the lithologic logs of the boreholes show that 50% of the drilled boreholes possess confined aquifers while the remaining 50% have unconfined aquifers. A careful appraisal of the challenges encountered, which are mainly geologic, is strictly attributed to the geologic formation of the study area. Other technical challenges have been derived from mechanical faults developed during drilling.

Pattern of ocular Diseases among Children under Five Years of Age in Southeast, Nigeria

Background: Children under 5 years are prone to ocular disorders which could be congenital or acquired. Early recognition of these conditions and timely intervention enhances optimum results. There is paucity of data on the pattern of ocular disorders among these children in Nigeria and this makes it difficult for policy makers to plan health systems that will target this very important group of the population. Aim: To determine the pattern of ocular diseases among children less than 5 years of age in Onitsha, Anambra state Nigeria. Methods: This was a retrospective study of children under 5 years of age that presented to City of Refuge Specialist Eye Clinic Onitsha, Nigeria between January 1st, 2016 to December 31st, 2020. Their case files were retrieved and relevant information extracted. Sociodemographics, month of presentation to the eye clinic and diagnoses were analyzed. Results: A total of 133 children were studied. The patients comprised 85 (63.9%) males and 48 (36.1%) females, with an approximate male to female ratio of 1.8:1. Eye diseases seen were both congenital 32(24.1%) and acquired 101 (75.9%). Of the congenital type, 20 (62.5%) were males, while 12 (37.5%) were females. Most common ocular morbidities recorded were allergic conjunctivitis 41(30.8%) and infective conjunctivitis 34(25.6%). Conclusion: Most of the causes of ocular morbidity in this study were preventable or treatable. Therefore, early detection and management of eye diseases in children will reduce complications in later life.