African Journal of Medical and Health Development

ACCESS TO REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE FOR DISPLACED WOMEN AND GIRLS LIVING IN URBAN TOWNS

Nfondoh Blanch WANCHAMBI, Fosso Simun Reine — Mon, 30 Oct 2023 00:00:00 +0000

This paper seeks to show the stakes faced by displaced women and girls from conflict-affected areas as they try to seek reproductive health care services in their new setting. Normally, reproductive health possess defies to both health providers and consumers in pre conflict settings due to some social and cultural norms. The displacement of women from the Northwest and Southwest regions of Cameroon as a result of the on-going conflict has worsened the reproductive health situation of these women. Reproductive health problems have always been at the centre of healthcare provision in Cameroon with much money invested in it. Since the outbreak of social unrest in the two English speaking regions of Cameroon, many women and young girls have been displaced to other towns to seek refuge. Faced with the risk of displacement, most women and girls find it hard to access health services on issues relating to reproductive care.

In carrying out this study, A qualitative research method was used. Information was gotten from 30 people who were made up of 20 women and 10 men, with the help of in-depth interview and focus group discussion. These informants were contacted at the hospital where they come for consultation and at their homes. The theory used for this study is the health system theory. Coming from different cultural background as a result of displacement, these women have different reproductive health needs and challenges. With this, they are force to deploy various culturally perceived ways to solve these problems which with time, it becomes dangerous to their health.

CHANGES IN DIETARY HABITS DUE TO STRESS

Farheen Shahid — Mon, 30 Oct 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Stress has a significant role in both the first stages of addiction and its relapse, and it may also raise the risk of obesity and other metabolic illnesses. Uncontrollable stress alters eating habits and increases the salience and intake of foods that are very appealing; over time, this may affect allostatic load and result in neurobiological modifications that encourage behaviour that is more and more compulsive. Changes in the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, glucose metabolism, insulin sensitivity, and other hormones and neuropeptides associated with hunger may all play a role in this connection. Chronic stress may have an impact on the mesolimbic dopaminergic system and other brain areas associated with stress and motivation circuits on a neurocircuitry level. Together, these may synergistically increase food choice, desire for, and seeking after highly appetising meals, as well as physiological changes that support weight gain and body fat accumulation. Individual variations in stressor types and obesity susceptibility may further modify this process. When creating effective preventive and treatment plans for obesity and associated metabolic illnesses, it is crucial to comprehend the relationships and interconnections between stress, neurobiological adaptations, and obesity.

Background radiation in plastic industry

Ode Omenka, Idengeli Titus Jerry, Orkaa Mnongo Stephen — Mon, 30 Oct 2023 00:00:00 +0000

The background radiation level of Oracle Plastics and Sacs were investigated and measured using the Radiation Alert Inspector. A total of seven (7) units/departments within the company were considered: marketing, clinic waiting room, entrance, sack section, leather/shopping bag, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and injection mould units, and data were obtained from those units. The investigation revealed that the mean exposure dose rate of the background radiation within the company was 0.0190.0062, and the mean annual exposure dose equivalence was 0.170.0028. The global average natural dose of background ionizing radiation for exposure dose rate as recommended by UNSCEAR (2008) was 0.274. The ICRP and UNSCEAR values of the annual effective dose equivalence was 1.00 and 20.00 for individual in general public and occupational workers respectively as recommended by the organization. The average activity concentration measured from different section ranged from 9.017 Bq/Kg (Marketing and Injection Mould) to 21.322 Bq/Kg (Polyvinyl Chloride) with mean value of while the estimated result of excess lifetime cancer risk ranged from 0.069 (Polyvinyl Chloride) to 0.161 (Marketing, sack section and the injection mould) with a mean value of . The ELCR mean value was also found to be lower than the world average safe limit of 0.29. The ELCR mean value was also found to be lower than the world average safe limit of 0.29. The Company has low level activity of background radiation compared to other such company around the world.

HOW THE WILL MEDIATES BRAIN FUNCTIONS

dozie Iwuh — Mon, 30 Oct 2023 00:00:00 +0000

To a malfunctioning of parts of the brain, medical science is inclined to seeking out physical (neural) causes. Hypotheses as regards probable causes are made known and all these are within the ambience of the physical (empirical) attestation, after all every effect has to be proportionate to its cause. This means that if there is a physical effect, then it has to arise from a physical cause. We can tweak that line to say that no immaterial cause can produce a material effect. This is because it goes against the cause and effect principle. It is in this line of thought that many brain scientists are quick to dismiss any cause that is not as neurally material as its effect. But from experience we are certain of the fact that sometimes the effect is not sufficiently explained by the cause that is being proffered. This is what is seen as regards the brain and its functioning on a consciously evident scale. The cause sometimes is not robust enough to account for the effect. When this happens, what becomes of the integrity of medical science? Departing from the aforesaid question, we pose another question: is the Will explainable by trends found in medical science? The answer to that is already evident, as medical science is empirical (materially verifiable), and the will is not materially evident. In this research, we want to assert that the will is powerful enough to cause certain effects and changes in the functioning of the brain, as will be seen in the actions expressed in and by the human person. To make concrete the hypothesis proposed by this research, consideration is given to the cases of Dyslexia (and dyscalculia).

Physicochemical parameters and plankton diversity from Lower Benue River in Makurdi Benue State

Ode Omenka, Shima N Judith, Odo Joel Inya, Lois Igba Ali — Mon, 30 Oct 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Plankton biodiversity serves as ecological indicator of aquatic environment due to their response to environmental changes. This study was conducted with the aim of investigating the abundance and diversity of plankton as well as physicochemical properties of the Lower Benue River. The survey was carried out at different sites along the River both at Wadata and BSU Water Board. Samples collected using plankton net into bottles preserve in 5% formalin then transported to the laboratory for identification, counting and for further analysis. A total of 39 plankton were observed out of which 28 (71.79%) were obtained at Wadata and 11 (28.21%) at BSU Water Board. The most abundant of all the species was Arthrospira plantensis which was observed 16 times. The least occurring Plankton was the Paramecium species which was observed only once. The specie’s richness at the Wadata location was 7 with the Shannon-Weinner Diversity Index of 1.383 and Evenness of 0.711. The species richness at the BSU Water Board on the other hand was 3 species with the Shannon-Weinner Diversity Index (H) of 0.935 and an Evenness of 0.851. A significant relationship between plankton abundance and sampling location was overserved (χ2 = 19.360; df = 1; P = 0.000). The Physicochemical properties of the Lower Benue River at the respective sampling locations revealed that Air, Water temperature and Dissolved oxygen, had no significant difference observed between them (P > 0.05). While PH of the water, Electrical conductivity, Turbidity and Total dissolved solid had significant difference observed between them (P > 0.05). A fairly strong non-significant positive relationship was observed between plankton abundance and the PH (r = 0.502; P = 0.389). Electrical conductivity (r = 0.629; P = 0.069) and Total dissolved solid (r = 0.461; P = 0.298). On the other hand, a very strong non-significant negative relationship between plankton abundance and Air temperature was observed (r = 0.819; P = 0.090). The relationship with turbidity was also negative and strong but they were significantly associated (r = 0.720; P = 0.029). The Pearson’s correlation coefficient (r) further revealed a very weak non-significant relationship between plankton abundance and dissolved oxygen (r = 0.137; P = 0.747), while it showed no significant relationship with temperature (r = 0.047; P = 0.904).