Background: HIV/AIDS related stigmatization has been reported to be traced to several factors. Little or no knowledge on the illness, misapprehensions, as well as chauvinism against sufferers, to mention just a few. Aim: In this study, the stigmatization of people living with HIV/AIDS in Ndokwa West Local Government Area (NWLGA) of Delta State, Nigeria, was investigated. Methods: A total of 300 individuals comprising of, or related to HIV/AIDS sufferers were ethically recruited from the ten (10) communities in NWLGA using a well-structured and validated questionnaire. The data obtained from their responses were carefully analyzed and expressed in simple percentage. Results: The results showed that about 61 (20.5%) subjects were individuals who resided in urban community and 237 (79.5%) of them in the rural settings. The results on the stigmatization against HIV/AIDS patients due to prejudice revealed that 100 (33.6%) of the respondents strongly disagreed that HIV/AIDS sufferers in the community should be disliked, while 128 (43%) of them disagree with about 50 (16.8%) agreeing and 20 (6.7%) of the respondents strongly agreeing. Furthermore, stigmatization attributable to stereotyping showed that 68 (22.8%) of the respondents strongly disagreed to that everyone infected with HIV/AIDS have high level of sexual promiscuity; were as, about 114 (38.3%) disagreed to that notion with 57 (19.1%) agreeing and 59 (19.8%) strongly agreeing to it. Moreover, HIV/AIDS stigmatization due to discrimination revealed that 66 (22.1%) of the respondents strongly disagreed on never hiring an HIV/AIDS sufferer as a worker. About 98 (32.9%) disagreed on this notion, while 106 (35.6%) of the respondents agreed and 74 (24.8%) strongly disagreeing. Respondents further added that PLWHA should not be employed in any institution or organization and that they should never rent accommodation to them. Conclusion: Based on the results, stigmatization level of PLWHA was society and awareness dependent. Recommendations: To cope with the associated menace of HIV/AIDS stigmatization, it is recommended that society be encouraged to evolve strategies, programs and governmental policies, geared towards enlightening and sensitizing the public on the non-transmittability of HIV/AIDS through contact with sufferers as erroneously believed.
Aim: The search for cheap and potent antidiabetic agent with less adverse effects and efficient glycemic control than orthodox and allopathic therapies prompted this current study. Method: Forty-two (42) adult Wistar rats of between 150-200g were procured and acclimatized for two weeks for the study. They were first grouped into six (6) of seven rats (n=7) per group. Whilst group 1 received normal water and chow ad libitum (control), groups 2-6 respectively were steptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic, untreated (diabetic control), 50mg/kg metformin treated diabetic, STZ-induced, 250mg/kg body weight of D. senegalensis ethyl acetate extract treated, STZ-induced, 250mg/kg of D. senegalensis n-hexene extract treated, and 250mg/kg bw of D. senegalensis chloroform extract treated. While using the GCMS to analyze the active ingredients of the various D. senegalensis fractionates administered, fasting blood glucose levels were checked and compared weekly for 10 weeks before and during treatments; obtaining differences in mean with the one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA). All test statistics were performed with the graph pad prism 8.1, setting p < 0.05 as statistically significant. Results: Study observed the highest anti-diabetic bioactivity in experimental than control animals; especially confirming the presence of major phytochemicals but Glycosides. In diabetic rats, a significant increase was observed in α-amylase and α-glucosidase activities, but with administration of chloroform, Hexane and Ethyl acetate fractions from the methanol stem bark extract at 250 mg/kg and metformin (50 mg/kg) significantly decreasing the activity of the enzyme’s ability on the pancreas, with the most potent being the ethyl acetate extract group Conclusion: D. senegalense extract proved to be a potent alpha-glucosidase inhibitor with less potency for alpha-amylase. This action could be productive in preventing DM via decrease in blood glucose uptake.
Visual impairment, also known as loss of vision is the decreased ability of a subject to see to a degree. It is a global concern that is likely to escalate with prolonged life expectancies with increasing attention in the realm of eye care. In this study, the prevalence of visual impairment among patients attending the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Rivers state, Nigeria was investigated. The study accessed a total of 7, 345 case notes of ethically sourced, visually impaired subjects who visited the hospital within five years (2015 - 2019) in the target study area. For each year accessed, records were grouped according to participants’ age and gender, then matched with the type and causes of visual impairment in the study area. At the end of data collection, Results were passed through the graph pad prism (version 8.1), and subjected to statistical measure of central tendencies to obtain the average records and prevalence levels for collected variables, while setting confidence interval at a 95%. Differences in means across groups were also confirmed with the One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), while setting a p value less than 0.05 as statistically significant. Following analysis, study found a statistically significant increase (p < 0.05) in cases of visual impairment for 2019 as compared other year records, even though there was an inconsistent attenuation for the various years compared, with moderate vision having an apparently higher record than other visual impairments. Severe cases came second with 2018 having the highest cases than others but, with moderate impediments. Also, a significant increase (p < 0.05) was seen in refractive error as compared to other causes of visual impediments. We recommend similar but more molecular approach to visual impairments within study area, and more.
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