Contraceptive knowledge and attitudes in urban Ilorin, Nigeria

In Nigeria as in other African countries, population growth negatively affects economic development, and high parity affects maternal health. Breastfeeding, a common practice traditionally, is declining in some situations. This study was carried out in Ilorin, Nigeria. A sample population of 932 households stratified to represent different socioeconomic groups was used. 913 currently married women aged 15-35, who were in their prime childbearing ages, were interviewed on their contraceptive knowledge and on their attitudes towards modern contraception. In a bivariate statistical analysis, of 8 variables examined (i.e. ownership of a television, radio, religion, and other) only the woman's education, age, and area of residence within the city have significant independent effects on contraceptive knowledge. A linear logistic regression technic was also applied. 90% of the women interviewed thought that women should be free to practise family planning. Also, 95% of all the women believed that too frequent births could endanger the health of the mother and her children. Only the women with previous contraceptive knowledge overwhelmingly (80%) thought that the best way to prevent too frequent births is by family planning. 66.5% of those without previous contraceptive knowledge before this study suggested that traditional abstinence should be used and only 28.9% suggested family planning. Adequate awareness of the availability and usefulness of family planning methods can influence attitudes of women towards contraception and may also enhance contraceptive use. Better use can be made of broadcasting media, and efforts should be made to target younger, more fecund women, since there was evidence that more knowledge of family planning existed among women 30+ years old.     

Pectoral spine size in Synodontis schall (Teleostei: Mochokidae) from Asa Lake, Ilorin, Nigeria

The pectoral spines of Synodontis schall (n = 813) were examined for 24 months. Mean length for the right (3.2 cm) and left (3.1 cm) pectoral spines were not significantly different [P > 0.05]. However, the male and female pectoral spine lengths were significantly different (P < 0.05). A fractured pectoral spine in one of the specimens was shorter than the other. The fracture which could be deleterious to balancing, feeding and reproductive activities was attributed to an injury rather than to genetic or epigenetic defects.     

The diet of Brycinus nurse (Pisces: Characidae) from Asa reservoir,Ilorin, Nigeria

From November 1991 to October 1993, 980 specimens of the characid Brycinus nurse were collected from Asa reservoir to examine its diet. The diet was analyzed using the frequency of occurrence, numerical and gravimetric methods. Two hundred and sixty nine (27.45%) of the stomachs examined were empty. The fish was an omnivore feeding extensively on a wide array of plant and animal food items. These consisted of 9 families, 10 genera and 10 species. The most extensively consumed plant food item was aquatic plant parts which occurred in 63.88% of the stomachs, and accounted for 6.06% by number and 12.10% by weight while the ephemeropteran, Povilla adusta was the most dominant animal food item, occurring in 50.92% of the stomachs, and accounting for 11.98% by number and 11.86% by weight. Conversely, the least consumed plant food item was Volvox occurring in 4.49% of the stomachs and accounting for 0.18% by number and 0.35% by weight, while the fish Barbus sp. was the least consumed animal food item occurring in 0.51% of the stomachs, accounting for 0.03% by number and 1.62% by weight. New food items not previously recorded such as a watermite. Aspatharia sinuata and Barbus callipterus were found in the stomach contents. The nonspecific feeding regime of the fish and its ability to utilize different food items effectively was what accounted for the prominence and wide distribution of the fish in the lake.     

Size,sex and seasonal dynamics in the dietary composition of Brycinus nurse (Pisces: Characidae), from Asa reservoir,Ilorin, Nigeria

Specimens of the characid Brycinus nurse (N = 980) were collected in Asa reservoir, Nigeria, from November 1991 to October 1993. The diet was analyzed from stomach contents using the frequency of occurrence, numerical and gravimetric methods. Fish sex affected occurrence, number and weight of food items. The relative importance index (RI) indicates that diet varied seasonally. There was also a noticeable switch from insectivorous habits in small fish (less than 18 cm) to herbivorous feeding habits in larger fish. The ability of the fish to evolve trophic strategies that ensure optimum foraging despite seasonal changes can account for its success in the lake.     

Effect of sociobiological factors on the formation of adaptive responses in school students during puberty

Analysis of psychological, social, and psychophysiological mechanisms underlying the formation of adaptive responses during puberty demonstrated a significant dependence of adolescent behavioral, autonomic, and endocrine parameters on sociobiological factors that determine the identification and individualization of genetically determined behavioral programs. Comparison of the adaptive capabilities of students from an innovative educational institution and from a vocational school showed that the levels of completeness of their adaptation were different and depended on social support, typological features, and autonomic regulation.     

Zooplankton associations and environmental factors in Ogunpa and Ona rivers, Nigeria

Zooplankton abundance, composition and environmental parameters were monitored in two tropical rivers over a twenty month period. The data was subjected to cluster, factor and correlation analysis to determine the grouping pattern of zooplankton and their relationship to environmental parameters. Environmental factors in Ogunpa and Ona rivers--included buffering capacity, trace metal ions, pH-temperature/transparency--were primarily influenced by rainfall. The dominance of the Rotifera in both rivers was attributed to their short developmental rate and fish predation on larger zooplankton. Two groups of associations were identified in each river--a commonly occurring species group exhibiting strong homogenous correlation with environmental factors and a predominant group exhibiting weak correlation with environmental factors and whose abundance/composition may be defined by biotic factors.     

Prevalence of and risk factors for trachoma in Kano state, Nigeria

Background

In northern Nigeria, trachoma is an important public health problem, but there are currently few population-based data on prevalence of disease and no formal trachoma control programs.

Methodology / Principal Findings

In Kano state, Nigeria, we conducted a population-based cross-sectional survey using multistage cluster random sampling, combining examination for clinical signs of trachoma and application of questionnaires assessing potential household-level risk factors. A total of 4491 people were examined in 40 clusters, of whom 1572 were aged 1–9 years, and 2407 (53.6%) were female. In 1–9 year-olds, the prevalence of trachomatous inflammation–follicular (TF) was 17.5% (95% CI: 15.7–19.5%). In a multivariate model, independent risk factors for active trachoma were the presence of flies on the face (OR 1.98, 95% CI 1.30–3.02); a dirty face (OR 2.45, 95% CI 1.85–3.25) and presence of animal dung within the compound of residence (OR 3.46, 95% CI 1.62–7.41). The prevalence of trachomatous trichiasis in persons aged ≥15years was 10.9% (95% CI: 9.7–12.2%). Trichiasis was significantly more common in adult females than in adult males.

Conclusion/Significance

There is an urgent need for a trachoma control program in Kano state, with emphasis given to provision of good quality trichiasis surgery. Particular effort will need to be made to identify women with trichiasis and engage them with appropriate services while also taking steps to secure azithromycin for mass treatment and ensuring personal and environmental hygiene.     

The sociobiological perspectives in the study of human evolution

The idea of a new multilevel approach to an understanding of regularities of evolution and its consequences for the study of human evolution is analysed. Three levels of evolutionary process are defined: (1) genetic level-the basic one. Memory of this level is coded, fixed, collected and translated by means of chemical structures (mainly of nucleic acids). The super-organismic system is the population. Classic natural selection functioned on this level. (2) The epigenetic level had originated with the origin of multicellular organisms and is relatively self-dependent. Regularities of this level allow the organisms to vary their phenotypes within the limits of reaction norms corresponding to the actual environment. The superorganismic system is the “family group”. Sexual selection functioned on this level and influenced the genetic one indirectly. (3) The behavioural level had originated on the high stage of evolution with the origin of species that are able to adapt themselves by behaviour. Their own means of coding, fixation, collection and translation of information have originated from symbolic signals (sounds, smells, postures, gestures, etc.) used for communication (signal or social heredity). The super-organismic system is society. Group selection functioned on this level. Sociobiology as a science is defined as “the systematic study of the biological basis of all forms of social behaviour, including sexual and parental behaviour; in all kinds of organisms including man” (Wilson, 1978, p. 10), and has become the necessary tool for the study of human evolution beginning from its origin. To kill an error is as good a service as, and sometimes even better than, the establishment of a new truth or fact.Charles Darwin     

The stabilising factors of parasitic infections in Nigeria

The pattern of parasitic infections in Nigeria is discussed taking into consideration the status quo, and factors of change which tend to maintain the present situation rather than improving upon it. These factors include rapid urbanisation and uncontrolled population movement, agricultural developments, socio-economic factors, disease and vector control operations and health care delivery system. This rather deplorable situation calls for increased awareness on the part of everybody such that cognisance is taken of the hazards and remedies of these factors of change in order not to jeopardise our laudable development programmes.     

Positive selection on sociobiological traits in invasive fire ants

The fire ant Solenopsis invicta and its close relatives are highly invasive. Enhanced social cooperation may facilitate invasiveness in these and other invasive ant species. We investigated whether invasiveness in Solenopsis fire ants was accompanied by positive selection on sociobiological traits by applying a phylogenomics approach to infer ancient selection, and a population genomics approach to infer recent and ongoing selection in both native and introduced S. invicta populations. A combination of whole‐genome sequencing of 40 haploid males and reduced‐representation genomic sequencing of 112 diploid workers identified 1,758,116 and 169,682 polymorphic markers, respectively. The resulting high‐resolution maps of genomic polymorphism provide high inference power to test for positive selection. Our analyses provide evidence of positive selection on putative ion channel genes, which are implicated in neurological functions, and on vitellogenin, which is a key regulator of development and caste determination. Furthermore, molecular functions implicated in pheromonal signalling have experienced recent positive selection. Genes with signatures of positive selection were significantly more often those overexpressed in workers compared with queens and males, suggesting that worker traits are under stronger selection than queen and male traits. These results provide insights into selection pressures and ongoing adaptation in an invasive social insect and support the hypothesis that sociobiological traits are under more positive selection than nonsocial traits in such invasive species.     

Birthweight discordance in multiple pregnancy.

This paper reviews several aspects of discordant growth in multiple pregnancies. Discordant growth is not a chance event and therefore several patterns can be discerned. About 75% of twins exhibit < 15% discordance (concordant), 20% are 15-25% (mildly) discordant, and about 5% are more than 25% (severely) discordant. Higher frequencies and increased severity are seen among triplets. Five observations regarding discordance became generally accepted: (a) not all discordant pairs are similar; (b) the larger the discordance level the greater is the risk for an adverse outcome; (c) discordant growth does not necessarily represent growth restriction; (d) a discordance level may have a different clinical implication in different gestational ages; and (e) the smaller fetuses in severely discordant pairs are at disproportionate risk for neonatal mortality. Mild discordance may represent a normal variation between sibs whereas severely discordant pairs often exhibit patterns of growth restriction. Not infrequently, discordance may represent an adaptation to the limited intrauterine space in order to increase gestational age.