Despite the wealth of evidence for unfavourable effects of salt consumption on blood pressure dietary adherence remains unachievable. Behaviour modification by considering the perceived barriers has emerged as a promising control measure. This is a cross sectional study carried out in primary health centre of Chidambaram to assess the level of perceived barriers to salt restriction among known hypertensive patients in an urban population and to find out the various factors influencing the level of barriers. The study assessed known hypertensive patients for their prior behaviours and perceived barriers in following salt restriction along with dietary sodium estimation and clinical details. The barriers perceived by the participants were assessed and categorized as less, moderate and severe using Fredmann test. It was analyzed for association with factors of prior behaviour, duration of disease and treatment regularity using ANOVA. The study revealed no association between socio-demographic factors and perceived barriers yet duration of disease and treatment regularity had positive association with perceived barriers which was statistically significant (p<0.05). Also prior behaviours were statistically associated with perceived barriers (p<0.05). This study highlights the importance of knowledge of perceived barriers to encourage behavioural change for adapting salt restriction as a healthy practice

This paper attempts to establish information seeking behaviour of the employees of the East African Integration. The Department of East African Community coordinates the activities of East African Community in Kenya. Wilson (1999) defines information seeking as, "those activities a person may engage in when identifying their own needs for information, searching for such information in any way, and using or transferring that information". This study was a qualitative research in nature. The participants were drawn from 200 employees of the State department of EAC integration. The researcher employed interview method for data collection. The researcher used purposive sampling and interview schedules were prepared to gather information from participants. Data was analysed thematically. The results were that employees of the State department of East Africa integration sought information to assist them carry out their mandate concerning integration matters and they sought information by accessing the internet among others. It was concluded that information sought by employees of State department of East African Integration was information related to EAC integration process since a small proportion mainly from administrative directorate indicated that they seek information to better them in other disciplines of interest. It was recommended that due to lack of enough literacy skills on the part of the staff, librarians at State department of East African Integration should mount an effective IL programme in order to enable employees to easily access information whenever they sought for it. It was also recommended that ICT officers, librarians and record officers should put in place effective information retrieval tools that could assist the employees as they sought for information that could enable them carry out their mandates.

Musculoskeletal pain is very common complaint in the workplace and about billions of dollars yearly are spending on work related musculoskeletal pain. Elbow pain is one of the common complaints in allied health providers today. Rare researches have been studied on musculoskeletal pain among allied health providers in Pakistan, but not specifically on elbow pain. The objective of study is to determine lifetime prevalence of work related elbow pain among allied health providers of Lahore. Cross-sectional study was conducted among allied health providers by using convenient sampling technique. Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ) of pain was used to assess the prevalence rate of work related elbow pain among allied health providers. The data was collected through a survey study of 105 participants from different healthcare setups in Lahore and was analyzed through statistical package for the social sciences (SPSS) version 21.There were total 105 participants who include 37 (35.2%) physiotherapist, 38 (36.2%) nurses and, 30 (28.6%) technologists. The prevalence of work related elbow pain among allied health providers was reported in 9 (8.6%) participants. Elbow pain was reported in physiotherapists 13.5%, nurses 2.6% and technologists 10%.Physiotherapists and technologists have much prevalence of elbow pain than nurses because of nature of their job in poor and uncomfortable posture

The study was conducted to evaluate loan recovery performance among group-based micro credit institutions in Delta State, Nigeria using a well-structured questionnaire and oral interview. Respondent groups were selected using stratified random sampling technique. Primary data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics such as frequency distribution, table, percentage, mean and trend analysis using bar graph and histogram. Inferential statistics such as multiple regression analysis technique was also used. The result revealed that a total of 163,100 group members have been reached with total savings mobilized at N2,560,126,690 and total loan disbursed at N33,851,127,825. The mean loan repayment rate was 91.29%. The trend analysis indicated a steady rise in the amount of savings mobilized and credit extended to groups. The result of the regression analysis indicated that five of the estimated determinants fund size, membership size, duration of group existence, supervision and proportion of credit repaid were positive and statistically significant while interest charge was negative and significant. The major constraints in loan administration by financial institutions include government laws and regulations, lack of infrastructural facilities, diversion of loans, delay in loan repayment, and lack of funds among others. It is therefore recommended that group-based finance institutions should strategies on rural savings mobilization and utilization on the rural economy for sustainable financial inclusion.

Food borne diseases are the major health problems in developing countries like India. The problem is more noticeable due to prevailing poor food handling and sanitation practices. Street food vending has been increasing for several years but this growth presents public health challenge with evidence of diarrheal diseases. Emerging needs for understanding the food hygiene knowledge of street food vendors to ensure hygienic preparation of street foods is essential. The purpose of this study is to assess the level of knowledge on food hygiene among street food vendors in urban Chidambaram. The study conducted using a descriptive cross-sectional survey. A total of 50 street food vendors were selected using purposive sampling technique. Data were collected by conducting face to face interview using a semistructured questionnaire. The questionnaire was peer-reviewed and pilot tested before the final version. The questionnaire were structured into three distinctive parts to collect information on demographic characteristics, personal hygiene and knowledge on food safety .Among the study participants majority were of the age group 20 to 29 yrs ie 25[50%] majority of the participants were males 35[70%] and 33[66%] were married. With regards to cooking process 44[88%] of participants had moderate knowledge with mean score of 59.66±12.63. Knowledge about diseases was also adequate among 46[92%] participants with mean score of 97.33±9.13. .The study shows the overall knowledge level on food hygiene among street food vendors were adequate with 82.63±6.40. The factors like age, gender, education, type of shop or years of experience had no significant association with the knowledge levels of the participants. To conclude, Food vendors should be adequately educated on the role of food in disease transmission as well as on rules of personal hygiene and approved practices in handling street food

This research investigated the surface and ground water quality in the Sokoto-Rima floodplain and determined the human health implications of consuming it. Five sample points were selected systematically, and at each sample point, three samples were taken each from ground (tube well), and surface (river) water. The surface water was taken from the river Rima at hundred meters interval, and the sampling was repeated after 20days. Thus a total of 30 samples (1st batch-15 and 2nd batch-15) were collected. Data obtained from laboratory were tested for correlation (Pearson correlation) and the difference (paired t-test) between surface and ground water. Results showed that positive correlation exist in pH, Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD), Total Dissolve Solid (TDS), Total Suspended Solid (TSS), Nitrate (NO3-), Sulphate (SO42-), while negative correlation in Dissolved Oxygen (DO), Chloride (Cl-), Phosphate (PO43-) and Potassium (K+). Result also showed that the mean difference of pH, BOD, PO43- and K+ are significant at p<0.01 (2-tailed) and Cl- is significant at p< 0.05 (2-tailed). TDS, Cl, PO4, NO3, SO4 and K are within the WHO and NESREA standards, while, DO, BOD and TSS (in NESREA) are above the standards. The Most Probable Number (MPN) method was used to find the number of coliforms, and Isolate method was used to identify the name of the coliforms found in each sample area. Result showed that in surface water Citrobacter freundii was found in all the study area except in Boye and Escherichia coli were only found in Boye. While, in groundwater Escherichia coli was found in two sample areas. The study therefore, concludes that the quality of the surface and ground water in the area is a determinant of the soil characteristics and has a positive relationship with the health characteristics of the surrounding communities. The research also concludes that surface and groundwater in the study area are not safe for human consumption unless proper water treatment and sanitation is done.

Inflammatory response is a form of immune response which could be caused by infectious agents and toxic chemicals. Cnidoscolus aconitifolius leaf extract contains phytonutrients such as protein, vitamins, calcium, and iron; and is also a rich source of antioxidants which could be attributed to the traditional and scientific claims in the treatment of anaemia. This work was designed to determine possible pro and anti-inflammatory responses in the traditional application of raw liquid extract of Cnidoscolus aconitifolius leaf (iyana ipaja-chaya) in the treatment of anaemia. Twenty three (23) out of Thirty one (31)anaemic patients aged 12-32 years (including 2 females aged 12/15 years and 21 males aged 17 – 32 years) with PCV ≤ 20% receiving treatment at 5 traditional homes in Saki-west Local Government of Oyo State-Nigeria. Age matched 50 apparently healthy volunteers (Female-25; Male-25) with a PCV of 42±3.0% were recruited as control subjects. Thirty one anaemic patients initially volunteered themselves for the work but only 23 were successfully monitored. The patients were recruited before the commencement of the treatment. Each of the test and control subjects was subjected to stool microscopy for intestinal parasite, Giemsa thick staining procedure for plasmodium and Serological test for anti HIV, anti-HCV and HBsAg. All subjects who were negative to the aforementioned laboratory procedures were selected as subjects. Freshly prepared sixty milliliters (60ml) of the liquid was administered to each of the 23 anaemic patients and the 50 normal control volunteers 3 times on daily basis for 14 days when the PCV was found to have increased appreciably. Plasma ALT, IL-4, IL-6 , TNF-α (before and after the administration of the extract), HIV-1 p24 Antigen ELISA, anti-HCV, HBsAg were determined in all subjects by ELISA technique while whole blood was used to determine PCV by microhaematocrit and the identification of Plasmodium infection using Geimsa thick staining techniques.

This paper seeks the complex issues between the oral/ethnographic narration and historical narration of the past. The oral history often collected by ethnographers directly from the people may have huge differences with the supposed authentic written account of history. For instance, the people in Tibet still believe, and they have tales and songs which say that Mao Zedong came to Tibet for the Communist Long March through China in the 1930s but the written records of the long march and Zedong‟s personal history reject this claim. However, the written history can‟t reject the paradoxical existence of oral tradition and vice versa. Both oral and written history has cultural significance and hence exists beyond the truth. In this context, it is difficult to pass judgment whether ethnography or history is the truth; rather it demands anthropological concerns to understand the reason behind the disjuncture. The social and cultural feature which creates disjuncture or paradox between the oral and written forms of historic accounts is more important to understand the truth. Anthropologist Carole Mcgranahan argued, “This situation demands to consider the social truth, cultural logic and political claim embedded in history as examples of the productive excesses inherent in and generated by this conceptual disjuncture.” This paper also emphasizes the concepts like social truth, cultural logic, and political claims to solve the complex issues between the ethnography and written history.

Gluconeogenesis involves formation of glucose from the breakdown of protein to form glycogenic amino acid and lipid such as triglyceride to generate glycerol which is further utilized for the formation of glucose. Cashew (Anacardium occidentale) leaf has some non-scientific but traditional health benefit claims such as in the treatment of diabetes and hypertension. This work was designed to determine the evidence of Gluconeogenesis in rabbits given ypung cashew leaf extract using Plasma Value of Cortisol, Glycerol, Cortisol Binding Globulin Glucose, Total Triglyceride and Total Bile Acid. Materials and Methods: 10 rabbits of the same sex weighing 1.0-1.2Kg grouped into A1 (5 rabbits fed with normal meal and water only for 7 days), A2 (A1 rabbits given 500mg/KgBW of ethanolic extract for another seven days) and B1 (5 rabbits fed with normal meal and water only for 7 days), B2 (A1 rabbits given 500mg/KgBW of aqueous extract for another seven days). Plasma cortisol, glycerol, cortisol binding globulin, glucose, total triglyceride and total bile acid were measured biochemically using auto-analysis, ELISA and colorimetric techniques. The result obtained showed a significantly higher plasma value of cortisol, Glycerol and a significantly lower mean plasma value of Glucose and Total Triglyceride in rabbits (A2 and B2) given 500mg/KgBW of ethanolic or aqueous extract for seven days compared with the values of these parameters obtained in the same rabbits when they were fed with normal meal and water only for 7 days (A1 and B1) with p<0.05. This work reviled possible evidence of gluconeogenesis as indicated by the significant biochemical alterations the plasma values of cortisol, glycerol, glucose and total triglyceride with respect to changes in their plasma level before and after the supplementation of the extract of young cashew (Anacardium occidentale) leaf

Metaphors are an ambiguous and complex genre in Kiswahili Literature which slips into the forms of other literary genres and figurative language. This is potrayed in their definitions and manner of classification. Although metaphors are classified as a genre of sayings in Kiswahili oral literature their use goes above and below the saying. Kyallo Waddi Wamitila is one of the scholars of literature who besides having classified metaphors has also written literary works including plays. In his plays, words have been used to convey information metaphorically in context. This article shows the application of the conceptual metaphor theory in the analysis of word metaphors in Wamitilas plays. Though there are also other types of metaphors based on genre and use of figurative language such as play metaphors, narrative metaphors, poetic metaphors, songs, conversational metaphors, proverbial metaphors, simile metaphors, metonymy and quibbles.

Vitamin D deficiency is common in Indian population which has a high prevalence of cardiovascular disease. We aimed to find the association of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D(25-OH-D) level with Carotid artery Intima Media Thickness(CIMT)-a marker of subclinical atherosclerosis, in type-2 diabetics, a high risk group for cardiovascular disease. Type-2 Diabetes Mellitus patients attending to OPD of PGIMER & Dr. RML Hospital, New Delhi, were enrolled in the study. Winter serum 25-OH-D levels were measured by enzyme immunoassay using IDS 25-OH-D EIA kit. Vitamin D deficiency was defined as serum 25-OH-D level less than 50 nmol/L.CIMT was measured by B-mode ultrasonography, on Philips HD 11 machine with transducer L12-3 MHz. CIMT >0.8 mm was considered abnormal. Multivariate linear regression analysis was used to identify independent predictors of increased CIMT.100 patients were studied (55 men and 45 women)with mean age 52.9 ± 11.1 years and mean duration of diabetes 9.2 ± 6.2 years. The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency was 71% in study group. Increased CIMT was seen in 25% patients. Serum 25-OH-D level was associated inversely with CIMT on univariate regression analysis (r2=0.61, p-value<0.001). On multivariate regression analysis, low serum 25-OH-D level was found to be independent predictor of increased CIMT (p-value<0.001) even after adjustment for risk factors showing association with CIMT on univariate analysis (p value<0.005,relaxed upto p value<0.2) which included serum 25-OH-D level, sex, smoking, HbA1c and HDL cholesterol. This regression model accounted for 65%(r2=0.65) of total variance in CIMT. Serum 25-OH-D level has an independent inverse association with Carotid Intima Media Thickness-a marker of subclinical atherosclerosis

In Less Economically advanced nations, more than half of their populations live in rural areas and majority depend on agriculture for survival. Post- harvest food loss in Africa represents a multi-faceted challenge that reduces the income of approximately 470 million farmers. Agriculture plays a key role in the overall economic performance of Jakiri Sub Division, in terms of its contribution to food, source of livelihood and in providing employment. Using secondary and primary data, participatory approaches through field observation, questionnaires and interviews, this study investigates post-harvest options of farmers in Jakiri Sub-Division. Results revealed that agricultural production techniques have evolved and improved over the years, however very little has been done to improve post-harvest management. Findings equally showed that Postharvest options of farmers are inadequate due to a complexity of reasons such as the absence of sufficient technologies/infrastructures, inadequate capital and technical knowhow and above all refusal to adopt appropriate techniques. Consequently this results in large quantities of harvested food produce being lost thereby representing a waste of time, effort and resources. Overcoming these socioeconomic constraints through the development of infrastructures, increased training and sensitization of the local population is an important step in achieving food security and also it would go a long way to increase the efficiency of resources used in food production.

Thyroid dysfunction is one of the most common endocrine disorder and its outcomes are social, psychological and medical burden to the world. This study is designed to determine the prevalence and pattern of thyroid dysfunctions and its association with different factors. In this hospital based cross-sectional study 809 women were enrolled (resident of Rupandehi District) during a period of August 2015 to September 2016. BMI was determined by measuring the height and weight to know the status of obesity and blood pressure was measured using sphygmomanometer. Other relevant information like age, sex and smoking habits were recorded by trained laboratory personnel through a comprehensive baseline questionnaire. Blood samples were collected and subjected for thyroid function test (TSH, fT3 and fT4). The studied population was categorized as euthyroid, subclinical hypothyroidism, hypothyroidism, subclinical hyperthyroidism and hyperthyroidism on the basis of the level of thyroid hormones. SPSS version 16.0 was used for statistical analysis. The prevalence of thyroid disorders is nearly one third of the total studied population. The number of participants was higher in the subclinical hypothyroidism (17.18%) followed by the hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism and the least in subclinical hyperthyroidism (7.96%). Study revealed higher prevalence of thyroid dysfunction. The screening of thyroid function test is recommended for high risk population in Nepal which will be helpful for the prompt diagnosis of the disease and the policy makers to formulate the national policies in order to minimize the disease burden and its consequences

Over the years, Poverty alleviation programs and policies have evolved, including a succession of policies and plans by Government, Non-Governmental Organizations and International Donor Agencies. The Nigerian Government at different times introduced policies and plans with a view to addressing the problem of poverty but the problem still persists. In spite of these various efforts as intensified by both internal and external systems, of poverty has become not only more complicated but almost impossible due largely to a number of challenges notable among which are both individual and institutional. This amplifies that the efforts have proven too inadequate to reduce poverty, hence persistence of the scourge in the country. Using poverty indicators such as literacy level, access to safe water, nutrition, infant and maternal mortality, and the number of people living on less than $1 a day, Nigeria is found to rank among the 25 poorest nations in the world below Kenya, Ghana and Zambia. It is obvious that from 1960 till date, all Nigerian governments, be it military or civilian, have come up with one form of poverty reduction or alleviation programme or another, meant to reduce the level of poverty, give hope and succor to the poor and, or move towards some sort of wealth creation. Strategies, policies and plans have been formulated and executed over these years. These programmes have been judged by scholars not to be satisfactory. Inspite of all such previous government efforts at alleviating poverty in Nigeria, the incidence and severity of poverty has continued to pose formidable threats to the welfare of Nigerians and sustainable development of the country. To this end, a myriad of problems have been identified as constraints on poverty alleviation programmes in Nigeria. Despite the relevance of religion in solving developmental problems of Nigeria little is done to explore in the development literature Islamic strategies of alleviating poverty. Against this backdrop, the paper seeks to explore the Islamic strategies of alleviating poverty.

The voluntary religious undertaking of fasting has attracted scientific, religious and popular interest due to its supposed health benefits. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of intermittent fasting on such parameters as body weight, blood glucose, uric acid and blood lipid profile among healthy volunteers.Seventy-five consenting Muslim medical students resident in the medical students’ hostel of the College of Medical Sciences, University of Maiduguri, Nigeria were recruited during the month of Ramadan 1428AH corresponding to September 2007. Anthropometric measurements and biochemical indices including plasma glucose, triglyceride (TG), cholesterol, high density lipoprotein (HDL), low density lipoprotein (LDL) and uric acid were evaluated a week before, three weeks into and a month after Ramadan.BMI showed significant difference in all subjects during and after Ramadan fasting, however the body weight and BMI parameters were insignificant in gender analysis. We also recorded no overall changes in total cholesterol, TG and LDL during Ramadan. However, significant increase in HDL and a slight increase in plasma glucose levels were noted during Ramadan. Further, there weresignificant increases in TG level during Ramadan and in both TG and total cholesterol after Ramadan in females. However, the atherogenic index decreased in males. BMI, total cholesterol, LDL, uric acid and atherogenic index were all decreased in overweight subjects.Females demonstrated increases in TG before Ramadan and in both TG and total cholesterol after Ramadan. Differences in the levels of physical activity, eating pattern and the fact that not all females completed the Ramadan fasting may be responsible for this observation