Synergy of Hybrid Fillers for Emerging Composite and Nanocomposite Materials-A Review.

Nanocomposites with polymer matrix provide tremendous opportunities to investigate new functions beyond those of traditional materials. The global community is gradually tending toward the use of composite and nanocomposite materials. This review is aimed at reporting the recent developments and understanding revolving around hybridizing fillers for composite materials. The influence of various analyses, characterizations, and mechanical properties of the hybrid filler are considered. The introduction of hybrid fillers to polymer matrices enhances the macro and micro properties of the composites and nanocomposites resulting from the synergistic interactions between the hybrid fillers and the polymers. In this review, the synergistic impact of using hybrid fillers in the production of developing composite and nanocomposite materials is highlighted. The use of hybrid fillers offers a viable way to improve the mechanical, thermal, and electrical properties of these sophisticated materials. This study explains the many tactics and methodologies used to install hybrid fillers into composite and nanocomposite matrices by conducting a thorough analysis of recent research. Furthermore, the synergistic interactions of several types of fillers, including organic-inorganic, nano-micro, and bio-based fillers, are fully investigated. The performance benefits obtained from the synergistic combination of various fillers are examined, as well as their prospective applications in a variety of disciplines. Furthermore, the difficulties and opportunities related to the use of hybrid fillers are critically reviewed, presenting perspectives on future research paths in this rapidly expanding area of materials science.

Antiretroviral therapy non-adherence and its association with psychosocial factors in Nigeria: comparative study of sexual minority and heterosexual men living with HIV.

Sexual minority men (gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men; SMM) in Nigeria are disproportionately affected by HIV compared to heterosexual men. There is a dearth of research on the correlates of antiretroviral therapy (ART) non-adherence and correlates in both groups. The current study examined the associations of ART non-adherence with sociodemographic and psychosocial characteristics among a sample of Nigerian heterosexual and SMM. Between March and September 2014, we surveyed 120 SMM and 108 heterosexual men receiving ART in Lagos and Abuja, Nigeria. We specified univariate and multivariable linear regression models to examine correlates of ART non-adherence. We found that 50.8% and 29.6% of sexual minority and heterosexual men respectively self-reported ART non-adherence which was significantly associated with psychosocial factors such as stigma, depressive symptoms, and suicidality. Mental health care and psychosocial support should be incorporated into routine HIV care for Nigerian SMM living with HIV.

Processing of Low-Density HGM-Filled Epoxy-Syntactic Foam Composites with High Specific Properties for Marine Applications.

A solution casting approach is used to create hollow glass microsphere (HGM)-filled epoxy-syntactic foam composites (e-SFCs) by varying the concentrations of HGM in epoxy according to different particle sizes. Density analysis is used to investigate the impact of concentration and particle size regularity on the microstructure of e-SFCs. It was observed that e-SFCs filled with an HGM of uniform particle sizes exhibit a reduction in density with increasing HGM concentration, whereas e-SFCs filled with heterogeneous sizes of HGM exhibit closeness in density values regardless of HGM concentration. The variation in e-SFC density can be related to HGM packing efficiency within e-SFCs in terms of concentration and particle size regularity. The particle size with lowest true density of 0.5529 g/cm3, experimental density of 0.949 g/cm3 and tensile strength of 55.74 MPa resulted in e-SFCs with highest specific properties of 100.81 (MPa·g/cm3), with a 35.1% increase from the lowest value of 74.64 (MPa·g/cm3) at a true density of 0.7286 g/cm3, experimental density of 0.928 g/cm3 and tensile strength of 54.38 MPa. The e-SFCs' theoretical density values were obtained. The variance in theoretical and experimental density values provides a thorough grasp of packing efficiency and inter-particle features.

Combination prevention package of interventions for reducing vulnerability to HIV among adolescent girls and young women in Nigeria: An action research.

BACKGROUND: Adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) in Nigeria are especially at risk of HIV in Nigeria. Their vulnerability to HIV is linked to multiple concurrent sexual relationships, transgenerational sex, and transactional sex, amongst other factors. These factors have sociocultural contexts that vary across a multi-cultural country like Nigeria. The aim of this study was to use an innovative collaborative approach to develop a minimum HIV prevention package for AGYW which is responsive to sociocultural settings and based on combination HIV prevention. METHODS: We conducted action research to develop and implement actionable HIV prevention intervention models that address AGYW's vulnerabilities to HIV in three Nigerian States and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja. The action research adopted the breakthrough series (BTS) collaborative, which accelerates improvement through mutual learning. The BTS implementation involved rapid Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycles: an iterative process to plan and implement a basket of interventions. Problems or problematic situations, termed change topics, for which interventions could be carried out were identified in each study location. Using participatory approaches during a series of meetings called learning sessions, specific and innovative interventions, termed change ideas, were developed. These learning sessions were conducted with young women groups and other stakeholders. The change ideas were tested, studied, adapted, adopted, or discarded at each participating site. Exposure to and uptake of the implemented interventions was assessed in the study areas using a household survey with 4308 respondents, 53 focus group discussions, and 40 one-on-one interviews in intervention and control study sites. RESULTS: Five categories of interventions were collaboratively developed, namely: Parental communication; Peer to peer interventions; Facilitator-led interventions; Non-traditional outlets for condoms, and Social media-based interventions. A good reach of the interventions was demonstrated as 77.5% of respondents reported exposure to at least one type of intervention. Nearly half of the respondents reported being exposed to the parental communication interventions, while 45.1% reported being exposed to the youth facilitator-driven interventions. Social media interventions had the lowest penetration. Also, there was between 15 to 20 positive percentage point difference between intervention and control for the uptake of HIV testing, and between 5 to 9 positive percentage point difference for uptake of male condoms. These differences were statistically significant at p<0.001. CONCLUSIONS: Interventions developed through participatory approaches with young people and well-tailored to local realities can improve the acceptability and accessibility of programs that are able to reduce the risk of HIV infection among AGYW.

Girls at risk: FGM intentions among in-school adolescents of a rural community in Osun State, Nigeria.

PURPOSE: Knowledge of adolescents' intention to sustain female genital mutilation (FGM) practice is required to guide efforts to eradicate FGM in Africa and Asia where about 200 million women are affected. Nigeria has one of the highest FGM cases in the world. The study sought to determine the knowledge, attitude, and intentions of adolescents to sustain FGM practice when they become parents. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study is a cross-sectional descriptive survey of 195 in-school adolescents aged 14-19 years, in Imesi-Ile, a rural town in South-west Nigeria selected through a multistage sampling method. RESULTS: Overall, 44.6% of adolescents had good knowledge of FGM, while 44.6% had a positive attitude and 55.4% had a negative attitude towards FGM. More females (57.4%) have a negative attitude towards FGM. About 42.1% of adolescents intend to continue the practice of FGM, while 47% have no intentions and 10.8% remain undecided. Gender, age group and family affluence were not statistically associated with intention to continue FGM. CONCLUSION: Intention to continue FGM practice is high among adolescents in the rural community. FGM eradication campaign among adolescents should seek to improve knowledge, attitude and intentions towards FGM practice.

A 5-year review of research ethics applications in a tertiary health and educational institution in Nigeria.

Background: African contribution to global research output is said to be low. Poor funding and poor skills in grant writing have been suggested as important factors for this situation. Objectives: Applications for research ethics clearance in a hospital were reviewed to have an overview of the planned studies and the proportion of them that attracted national and international funding. Methods: A review of all applications for ethical clearance received by the institutional review board of a university teaching hospital at Ile-Ife, Nigeria, from 2016 to 2020. They were analysed according to study nature, scope, purpose, and sponsorship using descriptive statistics presented as frequency tables and charts. Results: A total of 878 applications were reviewed. There were 803 (91.5%) applications for local, 45 (5.1%) for national multicentre, and 30 (3.4%) for international multicentre studies. Applications for medical fellowship were 352 (40.0%) while 208 (23.8%) were from academic staff for non-degree research. There were 610 (69.5%) applications for self-sponsored studies. Only 18 (2.0%) and 26 (3.0%) received sponsorship from national and international donor agencies, respectively. Conclusions: Local studies formed the bulk of the submissions for ethics clearance. National and international donor funding of research is abysmally low in this Nigerian tertiary institution studied.

The dynamics of household water security and treatment practices: a population-based, cross-sectional study in Osun State, Southwest Nigeria.

A minimum of basic water supply service is pertinent to improving living standards and water-dependent quality of life indices. In Nigeria, 14% have access to safely managed drinking water services, though approximately 30% of water pumps and schemes are likely to fail within 12 months of construction. This study aims to determine household water security and its predictors in Osun State, Nigeria. The cross-sectional study recruited 548 households through a five-stage sampling technique and used a semi-structured questionnaire for data collection. Results were presented by descriptive and inferential statistics, while binary logistic regression identified water-security predictors at Pά 0.05. Hand-dug wells (27.7%) and motorized boreholes (21.2%) were the predominant household drinking water sources. A total of 43.7% of households were water-secured while 35.2% of water sources were within residential settlements. A total of 25.1% of households experienced water scarcity, and 27.2% of households treat drinking water mainly by chlorination (56.7%) and boiling (14.7%). A total of 21.2%, 64.2%, and 9% of households, respectively, have safely managed basic and limited water supply services. Drinking water sources were associated with house ownership (p = 0.001) and residence period (p = 0.025) while water treatment was associated with gender (p = 0.010) and wealth (p = 0.0001). Age (p = 0.002) and wealth (p = 0.0001) are predictors of household water security. Two-fifths of households were water-secured, highlighting the dearth of potable water supply services and the need to incorporate strategic predictors of household water security in the existing national and state-level water resources regulations.

Analysis of Particle Variation Effect on Flexural Properties of Hollow Glass Microsphere Filled Epoxy Matrix Syntactic Foam Composites.

Syntactic foam made from hollow glass microspheres (HGM) in an epoxy matrix has proven to be a good material with a strong structural strength. Understanding filler particle size variation is important in composite material formation, especially in syntactic foam, because of its numerous applications such as aerospace, marine, and structural purposes. In this present work, the effects of particle variation in different sizes (20-24 µm, 25-44 µm, 45-49 µm, and 50-60 µm) on the mechanical properties of the syntactic foam composites with a focus on flexural strength, modulus, and fracture surfaces are investigated. The particle sizes are varied into five volume fractions (5, 10, 15, 20, and 25 vol%). The results show that the highest flexural strength is 89 MPa at a 5 vol% fraction of 50-60 µm particle size variation with a 69% increase over the neat epoxy. This implies that the incorporation of HGM filler volume fraction and size variation has a strong effect on the flexural strength and bending modulus of syntactic foam. The highest particle size distribution is 31.02 at 25-44 µm. The storage modulus E' increased at 30 °C, 50 °C, and 60 °C by 3.2%, 47%, and 96%, respectively. The effects of wall thickness and aspect ratio on the size of the microstructure, the fracture surfaces, and the viscoelastic properties are determined and reported accordingly.

The effects of seasonal variations on household water security and burden of diarrheal diseases among under 5 children in an urban community, Southwest Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: Household water security encompasses water-related factors that pose threats to public health at the household level. It presents a reliable access to water in sufficient quantity and quality towards meeting basic human needs. This study assessed the dynamics of seasonal variations in household water security and the association between household water security and diarrheal disease across dry and wet seasons in an urban settlement in Southwest Nigeria. METHODS: A panel study design was employed to study 180 households selected using a multistage sampling technique. The selected households were studied during dry and rainy seasons. Household water security was assessed through the application of the all or none principle to 9 indicators associated with household water security. The intensity of water insecurity was also assessed using the nine indicators. The higher the number of indicators a household failed, the higher the intensity of household water insecurity. The association between the intensity of household water insecurity and the burden of diarrheal disease across the seasons was assessed using the Mantel-Haenszel test. RESULTS: No household was water-secure in both dry and rainy seasons; however, the intensity of insecurity was more pronounced during the dry season compared with the rainy season. Ninety households (52.0%), had water insecurity intensity scores above fifty percentiles during the dry season while 21 (12.1%) households had a water insecurity score above the 50th percentile during raining season, p < 0.001. The burden of diarrheal disease was significantly higher among households with a water insecurity intensity score above the 50th percentile, 9 (8.1%) compared to households with a water insecurity intensity score below the 50th percentile 7 (3.0%), p = 0.034. There was no statistically significant association between the intensity of water insecurity and diarrheal disease burden across the dry and rainy seasons, p = 0.218. CONCLUSION: The high burden of household water insecurity deserves concerted efforts from all concerned stakeholders, a panacea to an important health threat in the developing world.

How secured and safe is the sanitation and hygiene services in a maximum-security correctional facility in Southwest Nigeria: a descriptive cross-sectional study.

Poorly maintained living conditions and infrastructure are the banes of Nigerian prisons. The study investigated its environmental conditions and the prevalent diseases among inmates.The descriptive, cross-sectional study enrolled 420-inmates through a multistage sampling technique. Pre-tested instruments were administered and results presented with descriptive and logistic regression to identify predictors of toilet-cleaning and handwashing practices at P∝0.05.The mean(±SD) age and modal inmates/cell were 30±7.2 years and 36. Most inmates were males (97%), await-trial (79%) and lives in overcrowded cells (58%). Sixty-nine percent of free-cells has pour-flush toilets and 36% waits for 2-5 minutes before accessing toilets.Fifty-three percent of inmates clean latrines with water and soap, 71% burn solid waste while handwashing period-prevalence was 36%. Religion, toilet-cleaning, and education were predictors of handwashing while types of toilets and access predict toilet-cleaning behaviour. Malaria (81.1%) and scabies (7.3%) were endemic. The prison rehabilitation shall satisfy basic life needs and promote prisoners' health.

Work Practices and Health Problems of Spray Painters Exposed to Organic Solvents in Ile-Ife, Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: Automobile spray painters in Nigeria are exposed to organic solvents due to the hazardous nature of their work. Inadequate use of personal protective equipment (PPE) may intensify exposure to high levels of chemical hazards with resultant health problems. OBJECTIVES: The present study assessed PPE use and work practices and compared work-related health problems of spray painters and controls in Ile-Ife, Nigeria. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 120 spray painters and 120 controls (electronic technicians). Data on socio-demographics, work practices, knowledge about organic solvent-related hazards and self-reported health symptoms were obtained using a semi-structured questionnaire. Clinical examinations were performed for all respondents and the composition of organic solvents in paints and paint products were derived from material safety data sheets. RESULTS: All respondents were male, and the mean age was 32.7±13.8 years for painters and 33.9±15.5 years for controls. Few (7.5%) painters perceived their use of PPE to be adequate. All spray painters worked in enclosed workshops and N-butyl acetate was the most commonly used organic solvent. Spray painters reported excessive tear production, recurrent cough, and short-term memory loss more frequently than controls (P<0.05). In addition, 89% of painters noticed paint-stained sputum immediately after spray painting. The prevalence ratio of respiratory symptoms was higher in spray painters than controls (prevalence ratio=21.0, CI=2.9-153.6). On clinical examination, more spray painters had corneal opacity and dry skin when compared with controls (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Spray painters in the study area worked amidst chemical hazards and had poor use of PPE. Exposure to organic solvents may be responsible for the higher prevalence of self-reported health problems among spray painters. Interventions to enforce the use of PPE and improve the knowledge of organic solvent-related hazards among spray painters are essential. PARTICIPANT CONSENT: Obtained. ETHICS APPROVAL: Ethical approval to conduct the study was obtained from the Health Research and Ethics Committee of the Institute of Public Health, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife Nigeria (HREC No: IPHOAU/12/463). COMPETING INTERESTS: The authors declare no competing financial interests.

Determination of Residential Soil Gas Radon Risk Indices Over the Lithological Units of a Southwestern Nigeria University.

Radiation dose from natural sources is mainly from exposure to radon in the environment. Radon has its origin from uranium-bearing bedrocks and overburden. In the present study, assessment of the level of radon over the three lithological units upon which the residential areas of ObafemiAwolowo University Campus, Ile-Ife (OAU) was situated was carried out. Soil gas radon concentration measurement was carried out at a constant depth of 0.80 m across the three lithologies (granite gneiss, grey gneiss and mica schist) using a RAD7 electronic radon detector. A total of 138 in-situ soil gas radon measurements were carried out. Obtained experimental data were analysed and summarised using descriptive and inferential statistics with statistical significance set at p < 0.05. A radon potential map was also developed using existing permeability data of the soils in the area. Soil radon concentration varied across the different lithologies ranging from 0.04 kBq/m3 - 190 kBq/m3 with a mean value of 14 kBq/m3. The mean value of Rn-222 concentration obtained in the three lithologies are 3.5 ± 5.9, 11.5 ± 25.8 and 28.4 ± 37.4 kBq/m3 for granite gneiss, grey gneiss and mica schist respectively. There is a statistically significant difference (p < 0.001) in the mean concentration of radon-222 measured on the three lithologies. The granite gneiss and grey gneiss lithologies have been designated into low radon index, while mica schist lithology has been designated as medium radon index. 34% of the sampled areas exhibit high radon risk based on Swedish risk criteria, thereby warranting protective actions.

Radon risk perception and barriers for residential radon testing in Southwestern Nigeria.

Objectives: The seriousness and long-term health effects of radon exposure are often underestimated due to inaccurate perceptions of radon risk. The aim of this study was to assess radon risk perception and barriers for residential radon levels testing among Obafemi Awolowo University faculty. Study design: A quantitative cross-sectional design was used for this study. Methods: Lecturers' residents of the Obafemi Awolowo University participated in the study. A semi-structured questionnaire was administered to 296 residents to assess their knowledge about radon and determine their perceived susceptibility to radon health risks. Data were analysed and summarised using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results: The respondents' mean age was 43 â€‹± â€‹8.5 years and 71% were male. The study revealed that awareness of radon was low (46%), while 61% of respondents had poor knowledge. Only a fifth (19.5%) of the respondents had a high perceived risk of radon, and 70% were not aware of measures to detect radon in their respective homes. A majority (74%) of the respondents reported not knowing where to get a radon testing kit as a barrier to radon testing. Professional background (p â€‹< â€‹0.001), academic qualification (p â€‹< â€‹0.05) and designation/cadre (p â€‹< â€‹0.001) were the major determinants of radon knowledge among residents. Moreover, religion and profession were statistically significantly related to the perception of residents about radon risk (p â€‹< â€‹0.05). Conclusion: Despite having a high level of education, knowledge/awareness about radon health risks is low in the Obafemi Awolowo University faculty members; furthermore, lack of knowledge about house testing supplies are a significant barrier to residential testing.

Internalized Homophobia, Coping, and Quality of Life Among Nigerian Gay and Bisexual Men.

Despite high levels of homophobia in Nigeria, no studies have investigated the quality of life (QOL) of Nigerian gay and bisexual (GB) men. The associations between QOL and minority stress may differ from those reported in developed countries and may indicate alternative interventions. This study investigated internalized homophobia (IH) and coping strategies among gay and bisexual men in Nigeria and the relationships with overall QOL. Eighty-nine GB men were recruited with a snowball sampling technique. QOL (outcome), IH (predictor) and coping strategies (covariates) were assessed using standardized questionnaires. Relationships were investigated using linear regression analyses. Participants used adaptive more frequently than maladaptive coping strategies. The relationship between IH and QOL was nonlinear (ß = -0.27, 95% CI = -0.48, -0.06), and the positive component was attenuated by adaptive coping strategies. Adaptive strategies can be reinforced as a therapeutic intervention to improve wellbeing among gay and bisexual men in Nigeria.

Oxidative stress and inflammation following sub-lethal oral exposure of cypermethrin in rats: mitigating potential of epicatechin.

Cypermethrin (CYP), a synthetic pyrethroid is a common environmental toxicant owing to its wide usage as a broad-spectrum insecticide. Its exposure to non-target organisms, including man, elicits numerous adverse effects making it a major public health issue. Epicatechin (EC) has proven anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory properties. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the protective efficacy of epicatechin with regards to altered oxidative and inflammatory parameters subsequent to CYP treatment in rats. Animals were divided into four groups. The first group served as the control, while groups 2, 3, and 4 were orally treated with EC (30 mg kg-1 body weight), CYP (25 mg kg-1 body weight), and CYP plus EC, respectively. Oral administration of CYP for 14 days increased the levels of oxidative stress markers such as malondialdehyde, lipid hydroperoxides, and advanced oxidized protein products in the liver and kidney. These were accompanied by a decrease in glutathione and total antioxidant capacity levels. The activity of the enzyme superoxide dismutase was increased while catalase and glutathione peroxidase activities were decreased in these organs. Moreover, CYP increased plasma levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokines, interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor alpha. The plasma content of the nitrative nucleic acid marker, 8-nitroguanine was also markedly elevated by CYP. Administration of EC to CYP-exposed rats mitigated the induced oxidative and inflammatory effects. These data suggest that EC can attenuate the toxic effects induced by CYP exposure.

Biomass smoke exposure as an occupational risk: cross-sectional study of respiratory health of women working as street cooks in Nigeria.

OBJECTIVE: Little is known about respiratory health of women who are occupationally exposed to biomass smoke outside their homes. This study reports the exposure and respiratory health of street cooks in Ile-Ife, Nigeria. METHODS: We assessed exposure to biomass smoke by questionnaire in 188 street cooks and 197 control women and by personal diffusive samplers to quantify volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in a subsample of the women. Respiratory symptoms were assessed by a standardised questionnaire, and pulmonary function was assessed by spirometry before and after bronchodilation. Regression analysis was conducted to compare the outcome between the two groups. RESULTS: The study included 188 women (median age 40, IQR 30-50 years) who had worked as street cooks for a median of 7 years (IQR 3-15 years) and 197 control women with similar demographics. Benzene concentration in passive samplers worn by the street cooks was significantly higher compared with controls (median (IQR) 119.3 (82.7-343.7) µg/m3 vs 0.0 (0.0-51.2) µg/m3, p<0.001). The odds of reported respiratory symptoms were significantly higher among the street cooks than controls: cough (adjusted OR 4.4, 95% CI 2.2 to 8.5) and phlegm (adjusted OR 3.9, 95% CI 1.5 to 7.3). The street cooks also had higher odd of airway obstruction as measured by forced expiratory volume in 1 s/forced vital capacity <0.7: 11% 3% (adjusted OR of 3.3 (95% CI 1.3 to 8.7)). CONCLUSIONS: This study provides evidence of adverse respiratory effects among street cooks using biomass fuels.

Using Small Tests of Change to Improve PMTCT Services in Northern Nigeria: Experiences From Implementation of a Continuous Quality Improvement and Breakthrough Series Program.

BACKGROUND: Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) is a process where health teams systematically collect and regularly reflect on local data to inform decisions and modify local practices and so improve delivery of services. We implemented a cluster randomized trial to examine the effects of CQI interventions on Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission (PMTCT) services. Here, we report our experiences and challenges establishing CQI in 2 high HIV prevalence states in northern Nigeria. METHODS: Facility-based teams were trained to implement CQI activities, including structured assessments, developing change packages, and participation in periodic collaborative learning sessions. Locally evolved solutions (change ideas) were tested and measured using process data and intermediate process indicators were agreed including overall time spent accessing services, client satisfaction, and quality of data. RESULTS: Health workers actively participated in clinic activities and in the collaborative learning sessions. During the study, the mean difference in time spent accessing services during clinic visits increased by 40 minutes (SD = 93.4) in the control arm and decreased by 44 minutes (SD = 73.7) in the intervention arm. No significant difference was recorded in the mean client satisfaction assessment score by study arm. The quality of data was assessed using a standardized tool scored out of 100; compared with baseline data, quality at the end of study had improved at intervention sites by 6 points (95% CI: 2.0 to 10.1). CONCLUSIONS: Health workers were receptive to CQI process. A compendium of "change ideas" compiled into a single change package can be used to improve health care delivery.

The management of the faeces passed by under five children: an exploratory, cross-sectional research in an urban community in Southwest Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: Safe management of faeces (SMoF) and environmental contamination by faecal pathogens have been extensively researched although the SMoF in under-five children has been perennially neglected perhaps due to the misconception that it is harmless. This research, therefore, studied the situation, to determine the magnitude and dimensions of the problem aimed at making policy level stakeholders aware of child faeces management systems and so, inform evidence-based implementation of child and health-related programmes in Nigeria. METHODS: The study utilized an exploratory cross-sectional design and a multi-stage sampling technique to identify 300 respondents from 12 randomly selected streets from 4 wards in Ife central local government area. The study collected data with a pretested questionnaire which included direct observations of child defecation practices and existing toilet facilities. Cleaned data were analyzed by IBM-SPSS version 20 with child faeces management outcomes as the dependent variable. RESULTS: The mean age of respondents' and monthly income (mode) were 30.8 ± 7.5 years and ₦10,000.00 ($28.60). Most respondents were mothers to the under five children (84.7%), had a secondary education (72.0%) and were semi-skilled (57.0%). The caregivers had access to improved water sources (93.7%), improved toilets (64.3%), with 64% and 53.7% having above average scores in knowledge and attitudes, respectively. In the study, 19.7% and 69.0% of caregivers practiced safe disposal of faeces passed by the under five child during the day and at night respectively, though most caregivers (94.3%) omitted steps in the safe management of child faeces chain. The under five diarrhoea prevalence rate was 13.7% and unsanitary passage of child faeces is associated with four folds likelihood of having diarrhoea (p = 0.001). The caregivers whose under five children practiced safe sanitation were rich (p = 0.009) and knowledge was significantly associated with ownership of household toilet (P = 0.037), night faeces management chain practice (P < 0.001) and disposal of anal cleaning materials (P = 0.002). Handwashing was significantly associated with household toilet (P < 0.001), wealth (P < 0.001), under five child defecation preferences during the day (P < 0.001) and at night (P = 0.008). CONCLUSION: The high knowledge and positive attitudes exhibited by the caregivers were at variance with practice. Where under five children defecate during the day were influenced by the disposal of their anal cleaning materials, distance to the toilet and caregivers' education. The findings highlight the dangers of unsanitary disposal of child faeces and the need to strengthen the related policies that can increase caregivers awareness and practice at all levels and in all livelihood domains.

Paraoxonase 1 activity in subchronic low-level inorganic arsenic exposure through drinking water.

Epidemiological evidences indicate close association between inorganic arsenic exposure via drinking water and cardiovascular diseases. While the exact mechanism of this arsenic-mediated increase in cardiovascular risk factors remains enigmatic, epidemiological studies indicate a role for paraoxonase 1 (PON1) in cardiovascular diseases. To investigate the association between inorganic arsenic exposure and cardiovascular diseases, rats were exposed to sodium arsenite (trivalent; 50, 100, and 150 ppm As) and sodium arsenate (pentavalent; 100, 150, and 200 ppm As) in their drinking water for 12 weeks. PON1 activity towards paraoxon (PONase) and phenylacetate (AREase) in plasma, lipoproteins, hepatic, and brain microsomal fractions were determined. Inhibition of PONase and AREase in plasma and HDL characterized the effects of the two arsenicals. While the trivalent arsenite inhibited PONase by 33% (plasma) and 46% (HDL), respectively, the pentavalent arsenate inhibited the enzyme by 41 and 34%, respectively. AREase activity was inhibited by 52 and 48% by arsenite, whereas the inhibition amounted to 72 and 67%, respectively by arsenate. The pattern of inhibition in plasma and HDL indicates that arsenite induced a dose-dependent inhibition of PONase whereas arsenate induced a dose-dependent inhibition of AREase. In the VLDL + LDL, arsenate inhibited PONase and AREase while arsenite inhibited PONase. In the hepatic and brain microsomal fractions, only the PONase enzyme was inhibited by the two arsenicals. The inhibition was more pronounced in the hepatic microsomes where a 70% inhibition was observed at the highest dose of pentavalent arsenic. Microsomal cholesterol was increased by the two arsenicals resulting in increased cholesterol/phospholipid ratios. Our findings indicate that decreased PON1 activity observed in arsenic exposure may be an incipient biochemical event in the cardiovascular effects of arsenic. Modulation of PON1 activity by arsenic may also be mediated through changes in membrane fluidity brought about by changes in the concentration of cholesterol in the microsomes.