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This study investigated methods employed by academic librarians for teaching information literacy instruction in Federal Colleges of Education in the North-West Geo-Political Zone of Nigeria. Quantitative research methodology and cross-sectional survey research method were adopted using the total enumeration sampling technique, as the entire population served as the sample and was given closed-ended questionnaires. A self-developed closed ended questionnaire of Association of College and Research Libraries (2015) Framework for Information Literacy for Higher Education Standards and Julien et al. (2018, College & Research Libraries, 79(2), 179-200) Survey of Information Literacy Instruction Practices in U.S. Academic Libraries was used to collect data from the respondents who engage in teaching responsibilities. Data collected were analysed using descriptive statistics of frequency distribution tables, percentage, mean, and standard deviation. The findings revealed that traditional Lecture Instruction in Subject Classes and Curriculum Course Modules were the main methods employed for teaching information Literacy Instruction in the Federal Colleges of Education in the North-West Geo-Political Zone of Nigeria. Based on the findings from the study, it recommends the need for academic librarians to employ individualized instruction (one-on-one) and hands-on instruction, teaching practicum as a methodology for teaching information literacy for the development of critical thinking skills among information users.

Background Vaccines used in the national immunization program are relatively safe and effective. However, no vaccine is perfectly safe. Therefore, adverse reactions may occur. This study aimed to investigate the understanding and experience of Adverse Event Following Immunization (AEFI) among healthcare workers and Routine Immunization (RI) officers. Methods Phenomenological qualitative study was conducted between June and September 2019, using a semi-structured question guide in Kebbi State, Northwest Nigeria. Face-to-face interviews were conducted with 12 RI providers, eight Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) officers, and eight Disease Surveillance and Notification Officers. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the data. The interviews were transcribed and translated, then manually analyzed thematically. Results The knowledge level of healthcare providers on AEFI definition and classification varied and was suboptimal. Error during vaccination was the study participants' most frequently mentioned possible cause of AEFI. Persistent crying, fever, fainting, and swelling and tenderness at injection sites were the AEFI experienced by the healthcare providers in their careers. Block rejection, lower immunization uptake, loss of confidence in RI, attack on RI providers, discrimination of RI providers and divorce threats among spouses were the consequences of AEFI. Supportive supervision of the RI sessions, refresher training on safe injection for RI providers, and symptomatic treatment of clients with AEFI would prevent AEFI consequences. Also, educating caregivers, community sensitization, and dialogue would minimize the consequences of AEFI. Conclusions Evidence of a sub-optimal understanding of AEFI was established in this study. Hence, policymakers should consider regular refresher training on AEFI to ensure all RI providers have an optimal understanding of AEFI. Health education of caregivers and parents during RI sessions and community engagement should be considered to minimise AEFI consequences on the immunization program and the society.

BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the use of mobile phones to provide primary health care services and maintain continuity of care. This study aims to understand rural women’s preferences for telephone call engagement with primary health care providers in Nigeria.MethodsA discrete choice experiment was conducted alongside an action research project that empowered primary health care workers to develop and implement a telephone call intervention to assess and enhance experiences with facility childbirth care. Between January and March 2022, 30 providers from 10 primary health care facilities implemented the choice experiment among rural women who had institutional childbirth to elicit service user preferences for telephone call engagement. The women were asked to express their preferred scenario for telephone call engagement with their primary health care providers. Generalised linear mixed models were used to estimate women’s preferences.ResultsData for 460 women were available for the discrete choice experiment. The study showed that rural women have preferences for telephone call engagement with primary health care providers. Specifically, women preferred engaging with female to male callers (β=1.665 (95% CI 1.41, 1.93), SE=0.13, p<0.001), preferred call duration under 15 min (β=1.287 (95% CI 0.61, 1.96), SE=0.34, p<0.001) and preferred being notified before the telephone engagement (warm calling) (β=1.828 (95% CI 1.10, 2.56), SE=0.37, p<0.001). Phone credit incentive was also a statistically significant predictor of women’s preferences for engagement. However, neither the availability of scheduling options, the period of the day or the day of the week predicts women’s preferences.ConclusionsThe study highlights the importance of understanding rural women’s preferences for telephone call engagement with healthcare providers in low-income and middle-income countries. These findings can inform the development of mobile phone-based interventions and improve acceptability and broader adoption.

It is now glaring that sickle cell anaemia is still one of the highest leading inbred hemoglobinopathy amongst Africans. This study examined the antisickling effects of quercetin via modulation of deoxy-haemoglobin, redox homeostasis and alteration of functional chemistry in human sickle erythrocyte using in silico and in vitro models while espousing preventive and curative approaches. Quercetin was docked against deoxy-haemoglobin and 2, 3-bisphosphoglycerate mutase, with binding energies (−30.427 and −21.106 kcal/mol) and Ki of 0.988μM and 0.992μM at their catalytic sites via strong hydrophobic and hydrogen bond interactions. Induction of sickling was done using 2% metabisulphite at 3h. Treatment with quercetin prevented sickling outstandingly at 5.0μg/mL and reversed same at 7.5μg/mL, 83.6% and 75.9%, respectively. Quercetin also significantly (P<0.05) maintained the integrity of erythrocyte membrane apparently from the observed % haemolysis relative to untreated. Quercetin significantly (P<0.05) prevented and counteracted lipid peroxidation while stimulating GSH and CAT levels which were detected to considerably (P<0.05) increase with simultaneous significant (P<0.05) reduction in SOD level based on curative approach. Umpiring from our FTIR results, a favorable alteration in the part of functional chemistry in terms of shifts (bend and stretches) and functional groups were observed relative to the induced erythrocyte/untreated. Thus, antisickling effects of quercetin may be associated with modulation of deoxy-haemoglobin, redox homeostasis and alteration of functional chemistry in human sickle erythrocytes.

This study was conducted to determine the proximate composition of some selected fish species. Four fish species; Tilapia (Tilapia zilli), Catfish (Hemisynodontis membranacea), Atlantic herring (Clupea harengus) and Mackerel (Scomber scombrus) were collected from markets around the Nigerian northern city of Zaria and analyzed for their nutrient composition. Nutrient composition of the four fish species revealed higher content of lipid(12.33 % and 11.14 %) and lower moisture (65.0 % and 68.6 %) in Mackerel and Herring respectively while the carbohydrate with maximum percentage of 0.63 %, Ash (1.79 %) were statistically insignificant in the four species. Protein content of Atlantic herring was significantly lower (18.45 %) compared to the other species. This study clearly indicate that the proximate values obtained would be useful to help the consumers in choosing fish based on their nutritional values besides providing an update to food composition database.