Search

Gangrene of the lower extremities in neonates is a rare event except in traumatic cases. When risk factors for trauma to the limb of the newborn exist, it is important to prevent such injuries and when they are inevitable, appropriate management of injuries should further prevent complications such as limb gangrene. This report describes a newborn whose birth was poorly managed and thereafter sustained traumatic unilateral lower limb gangrene from the management of femoral fracture at a traditional bone setting. This report aims to highlight the deficiencies in the Nigerian health system which permitted this unfortunate scenario.

Background: Vitamin D deficiency (VDD) has been linked to some acute and chronic bone disorders that commonly complicate sickle cell anaemia (SCA) in children. Some of these bone diseases include chronic pain, reduced bone density and fractures. Despite Nigeria having the highest number of children with SCA in the world, there is a paucity of data on vitamin D status and the associated risk factors in affected children. Objective: To determine the prevalence and risk factors for hypovitaminosis D in children with sickle cell anaemia in steady-state. Methods: A total of 174 children with sickle cell anaemia aged one to eighteen years were recruited at the Sickle Cell Foundation Centre, Lagos. Baseline sociodemographic, clinical, anthropometric and laboratory parameters (serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D, corrected serum calcium and alkaline phosphatase) were recorded. Results: The prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency and deficiency were 12.6 % and 72.5% respectively. Children below six years of age were less likely to have hypovitaminosis D compared to the older age groups (p = 0.017). The mean serum corrected calcium was lowest in subjects with vitamin D deficiency (p >0.001). Age and hypocalcaemia are independent predictors of hypovitaminosis D. Conclusion: There is a high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency among children with sickle cell anaemia. Children aged below six years and with those with hypocalcaemia had higher odds of hypovitaminosis D.

IntroductionDiet, chronic kidney disease (CKD), and Apolipoprotein L1 (APOL1) (DCA) Study is examining the role of dietary factors in CKD progression and APOL1 nephropathy. We describe enrollment and retention efforts and highlight facilitators and barriers to enrollment and operational challenges, as well as accommodations made in the study protocol.MethodsThe DCA study is enrolling participants in 7 centers in West Africa. Participants who consented were invited to complete dietary recalls and 24-hour urine collections in year 1. We conducted focus groups and semistructured interviews among study personnel to identify facilitators and barriers to enrollment as well as retention and operational challenges in the execution of the study protocol. We analyzed emerging themes using content analyses.ResultsA total of 712 participants were enrolled in 18 months with 1256 24-hour urine and 1260 dietary recalls. Barriers to enrollment were the following: (i) a lack of understanding of research, (ii) the burden of research visits, and (iii) incorporating cultural and traditional nuances when designing research protocols. Factors facilitating enrollment were the following: (i) designing convenient research visits, (ii) building rapport and increased communication between the research team and participants, and (iii) cultural sensitivity - adapting research protocols for the populations involved. Offering home visits, providing free dietary counseling, reducing the volume of study blood collection, and reducing the frequency of visits were some changes made in the study protocol that increased participant satisfaction.ConclusionAdopting a participant-centered approach with accommodations in the protocol for cultural adaptability and incorporating participant feedback is vital for carrying out research in low-income and middle-income regions.

Purpose: The aim of this research is to investigate the mediating effect of employee engagement (EE) on the relationship between employee relation practice and employee performance in Malaysian private universities (MPUs). Design/methodology/approach: This paper used a survey research design, and the study unit of the analysis consists of the academic staff of MPU. A sample of 314 teaching staff was used out of the target population (10,473) of the research, while simple random and stratified sampling techniques were used in order to determine the research sample. Data for the research were collected from the target participants via questionnaires, and partial least square-structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) was utilized to evaluate the research hypotheses. Findings: The outcome of the research revealed that employee relation practice (ERP) has a substantial effect on employee performance (EP), and EE partially mediates the relationship between ERP and EP. Practical implications: The outcome of this study has urged the universities' management to focus on building effective and sustainable ERP that will ensure academic engagement that can result to sound academic performance and university growth. Originality/value: This research has contributed significantly to the body of knowledge by operationalizing EP, ERP and EE literature. In extension, this research contributes to develop the literature of leaders, acknowledging the ERP as an important tool for leadership growth.

Abstract Background The control of urinary schistosomiasis in Ogun State, Nigeria remains inert due to lack of reliable data on the geographical distribution of the disease and the population at risk. To help in developing a control programme, delineating areas of risk, geographical information system and remotely sensed environmental images were used to developed predictive risk maps of the probability of occurrence of the disease and quantify the risk for infection in Ogun State, Nigeria. Methods Infection data used were derived from carefully validated morbidity questionnaires among primary school children in 2001–2002, in which school children were asked among other questions if they have experienced "blood in urine" or urinary schistosomiasis. The infection data from 1,092 schools together with remotely sensed environmental data such as rainfall, vegetation, temperature, soil-types, altitude and land cover were analysis using binary logistic regression models to identify environmental features that influence the spatial distribution of the disease. The final regression equations were then used in Arc View 3.2a GIS software to generate predictive risk maps of the distribution of the disease and population at risk in the state. Results Logistic regression analysis shows that the only significant environmental variable in predicting the presence and absence of urinary schistosomiasis in any area of the State was Land Surface Temperature (LST) (B = 0.308, p = 0.013). While LST (B = -0.478, p = 0.035), rainfall (B = -0.006, p = 0.0005), ferric luvisols (B = 0.539, p = 0.274), dystric nitosols (B = 0.133, p = 0.769) and pellic vertisols (B = 1.386, p = 0.008) soils types were the final variables in the model for predicting the probability of an area having an infection prevalence equivalent to or more than 50%. The two predictive risk maps suggest that urinary schistosomiasis is widely distributed and occurring in all the Local Government Areas (LGAs) in State. The high-risk areas (≥ 50% prevalence) however, are confined to scatter foci in the north western part of the State. The model also estimated that 98.99% of schools aged children (5–14 years) are living in areas suitable for urinary schistosomiasis transmission and are at risk of infection. Conclusion The risk maps developed will hopefully be useful to the state health officials, by providing them with detailed distribution of urinary schistosomiasis, help to delineate areas for intervention, assesses population at risk thereby helping in optimizing scarce resources.

The Culturo-Techno-Contextual Approach (CTCA) is a teaching method based on culture, technology, and context to ease difficulties in students' understanding of concepts. Python Programming as a concept in computer studies is difficult for students to understand at the secondary school level. This study investigates the efficacy of the CTCA in understanding Python Programming in the Nigerian computer science education curriculum. This study adopts a quantitative approach. Analysis of covariance procedure is applied to the data with pretest scores inserted as the Covariate. The results show that the experimental group significantly outperformed the control group. Thus, our findings reveal a statistically significant difference in academic achievement in Python Programming of students taught using CTCA and those taught using the lecture method, regardless of gender. The novelty of this study is hinged on the testing of a cultural teaching method in easing the difficulties relative to the study of Python Programming. This study, therefore, provides empirical evidence for the adoption of the CTCA in computer education.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of succession planning practice (SPP) on employee engagement (EE) and employee performance (EP) in Malaysian private universities (MPU). Design/methodology/approach: This paper used a survey research design, and the study unit of the analysis consists of the academic staff of MPU. In the selection of the sample from the focused respondents (10,473) of the study, a stratified and simple random sampling method was used, and the study sample consists of 314 MPU academic staff. A questionnaire was used to collect data from the focused respondents while partial least square-structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) was used to test the study hypotheses. Findings: The findings revealed that SPP has a significant effect on EP, and the relationship between SPP and EP is partially mediated by EE. Practical implications: Sound succession systems for achieving academic staff performance should be put in place by the university management. Furthermore, the outcome of this research urges the policymaker to come up with a sound policy that can allow internal talents of the university to hold key leadership positions of any nature when the need arises before considering external talents, with that the talents will be satisfied and put decisive effort to achieve a positive result. Originality/value: This paper has made a significant contribution to the knowledge and operationalization of the EE, EP and SPP literature. The research also assists the university management to mobilize qualified and talented staff for an unexpected and sudden resignation of staff which saves the university the cost of hiring and development, and at the same time, it encourages internal hiring.

Purpose: The aim of this paper is to examine the effect of talent management (TM) practices on employee performance (EP) among academic staff of Malaysian private universities (MPU) through employee engagement (EE). Design/methodology/approach: This paper used both descriptive and quantitative approaches, while the research unit of analysis consists of MPU academic staff. A simple random and stratified sampling approach was utilized in this study while, the research sample consists of 314 MPU academic staff. A questionnaire was used to collect data from the target population, while partial least squares--structural equation modeling was used to evaluate the study hypotheses through a bootstrapping approach. Findings: This paper results demonstrated that TM practices (succession planning practice, promotion practice and performance appraisal practice) have a significant effect on EP, while EE mediates the relationship between TM practices and EP in MPU. Practical implications: This paper encourages university management to adopt and invest in TM practices for effective EE to achieve and sustain EP. Originality/value: This paper has made a significant contribution to knowledge and to the operationalization of EE, EP and TM practices literature, which could help to develop theory, model, practice and research in areas of work performance.