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Background Nigeria still ranks second globally in the number of maternal deaths. Most maternal death reviews in Nigeria are isolated research based reports from a single health facility. This study determined causes and contributory factors of maternal mortality in Ogun statefollowing a periodic State-widematernal and perinatal deaths surveillance and response (MPDSR) review. Methods We carried out a retrospective analysis of cases of maternal deaths notified ( n  = 77) and reviewed ( n  = 45) in health facilities in Ogun State from 2015 to 2016selected using total sampling method. Using the national MPDSR structured and validated data collection tools or questionnaire, collected data was extracted from existing MPDSR data base , andanalyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software 20.0. We obtained approval from the State Ministry of Health for this study. Results Average age at maternal death was 30.8 ± 5.7 years. Haemorrhageand pre-eclampsia or eclampsia account for 43.4 and 36.9% of causes respectively. Leading contributory factors ofmaternal deaths include inadequate human resource for health, delay in seeking care, inadequate equipment, lack of ambulance transportation, and delay in referrals services. 51.1%of the women had antenatal care while a significant proportion of the women were referred from Traditional Births Attendants (TBAs) and mission houses. Conclusion We concluded that many of the contributory factors of maternal mortality could be avoided if preventive measures were taken and adequate care available. MPDSR provides a platform for critical evidence of where the main problems lie, and can provide valuable information on strategies which maternal mortality prevention programs should focus on. The implementation and institutionalization of MPDSR programme is on course in Ogun State. MPDSR is feasible and should be institutionalized in all states of Nigeria. A commitment to act upon the findings of MPDSR is a key prerequisite for success.

Nigeria has large economic potential with high profitability but profitability is not increasing, and agricultural production is poor. This is hinged on the understanding of the impact of credit use on profitability, however, the influence of credit use on cassava production remains poorly understood, consequently affecting the profitability of cassava farmers. Thus, this study assessed the impact of credit use on the profitability of cassava farmers among smallholders in southwest Nigeria. Multi-stage sampling procedure was used to select 210 smallholder cassava farmers for the study. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data on the socio-economic characteristics and profitability of cassava farmers. Data were analysed with descriptive statistics, budgetary analysis, ordinary least squares (OLS), and -test statistics. Results show that 60.0% of the farmers were male, 81.0% were married, 33.3% had secondary education, 70.5% had no contact with extension agents, 71.9% were members of a cooperative society, 61.9% had savings and 49.5% had access to credit. Furthermore, the mean age, farming experience, farm size, and household size of the sampled cassava farmers were 43 years, 19 years, 3.1 hectares, and 6 persons, respectively. Budgetary analysis shows that mean revenue per hectare from cassava production was ₦131,917.8 ($369.4)/ha for credit users with gross margin of ₦85,138.7 ($238.4)/ha and return on investment of 1.54, whereas ₦117,602.5 ($329.3)/ha for non-users with gross margin of ₦71,923.4 ($201.4)/ha and return on investment of 1.31, implicating that cassava production is a profitable and viable enterprise and that credit users are more profitable than non-users. Farm size ( < 0.01), membership in cooperative society ( < 0.10), and credit ( < 0.01) significantly influenced the profitability of the cassava farmers. The test of the mean difference in revenue and net farm income was significant at 1%. The study concluded that credit had a positive significant influence on cassava farmers’ profitability. Hence, credits should be made available by relevant stakeholders like government and non-governmental organisations, to cassava farmers in the study area.

Background Integrating the care of adolescents and young people into existing public health facilities requires deliberate efforts to address challenges related to policy and service provision. This study assessed key informants’ perspectives on policy- and service-level challenges, and opportunities, for implementing a strategic framework for adolescent and youth-friendly health services (AYFHS) in public health facilities in a Nigerian setting. Methods Seventeen key informants were interviewed including members of the Adolescent sexual and reproductive health (ASRH) Technical Working Group (TWG), program managers of non-governmental organizations (NGO), State and local level health officials, and youth representatives, in Ogun State, Southwest Nigeria. Result Findings from this study indicate that some health workers continue to have a negative attitude toward young people’s sexual and reproductive health. There was some level of inclusion of adolescents and young people living with disabilities in ASRH programming which is welcome and extremely important. Some of the challenges in ASRH service provision included insufficient coordination of activities of donors/partners working in the adolescent health space. Also found was the missed opportunity to strengthen policy implementation with research, and the need for increased focus on mental health, substance use, and other aspects of adolescent and young people’s health. There was noted the opportunity to explore the Basic Health Care Provisions Funds (BHCPF) as a new source of funding for health services for AYP in Nigeria. Conclusion This study provided the context of the implementation of a strategic framework for adolescent reproductive health in a Nigerian setting from the perspectives of policy and service-level stakeholders. Opportunities for improving program delivery identified include ensuring research-based policy implementation and seeking program sustainability through tapping into new sources of funding.

Knowledge of dietary intakes of essential elements in groundwater is important for proper assessment of the actual contribution of drinking water to daily nutrient requirements. This study assessed the daily intake of nutritional elements in drinking groundwater of Lagos and Ogun States of Nigeria. One hundred and seventy (170) water samples were collected and analyzed for thirteen (13) nutritional elements (K, Mg, Ca, Co, Fe, Cu, Zn, Mo, Se, Na, Mn, Cr, and I) by Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (ICP/MS). Chronic daily intake CDI of the nutritional elements was higher for children and infants than adults in all cases. Percentages of tolerable daily intake reference value (TIRV) obtained for Lagos State groundwater were Mg 0.425%, Ca 0.309%, Fe 14.0%, Cu 1.84%, Zn 6.25%, Mo 0.057%, and Mn 1.08%; for Ogun State groundwater, % TIRV were Mg 1.99%, Ca 0.586%, Fe 81.1%, Cu 2.12%, Zn 9.21%, Mo 1.16%, and Mn 0.023%. The order of dermal absorption by an adult in Lagos when the water is used for bathing daily was Cr > Mn > Fe > Zn > Cu while the order in Ogun was Fe > Mn > Zn > Cu > Cr. The research concluded that groundwater alone cannot provide enough essential elements for human dietary needs in the study area.

This study adopts the Flood Vulnerability Index (FVI), using four multidimensional constructs of vulnerability, as a new comprehensive and spatially expressive approach to estimating flood vulnerability. This became imperative as previous studies with respect to flood vulnerability in Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria have essentially focused on the physical risk factors of vulnerability. Other relevant environmental, social, and economic risk dimensions were not explored. They also did not analyse the risks using an index-based approach, which is a new method to flood vulnerability assessment. Relying on expert opinions, the study developed, screened and scoped the constructs, sub-constructs, and relevant indicators adopted during the field observation and survey. A sample of 380 households, premised on confidence level of 95%, in 20 selected communities, was adopted. After removing highly correlated variables, indicators were normalized using the Min-Max linear scaling, weighted, and vulnerability ultimately mapped. The total Flood Vulnerability Indices (FVI) estimated for the flood- prone communities reveal that 20% of the communities fall into the very high vulnerability category, 45% fall into the high vulnerability category, while the rest fall into moderate vulnerability category. The highlighted contributions of each vulnerability marker to the estimated FVIs and the complementary findings obtained through remote sensing help to further contextualise the priority vulnerability challenges that stymie sustainable development. The multi-dimensional approach to FVI adopted by the study lends itself as a guidance tool for future flood risk assessments and for monitoring dynamics along the four main variables adopted by the study over time in flood-prone communities.

Background The level of food security in Ogun State particularly in the rural areas is below the threshold globally as explained by Adekoya. The female-headed households in Ogun State spend more money on the purchase of food items vis-à-vis the male-headed household caused by poor agricultural practices and government highhandedness. Sequel to this problem that the Ogun State government initiated OGADEP in 1986 to provide virile extension and technical services to the farmers with the introduction of many agricultural strategies which inter alia include training of staff, field visits, promotion of dry season food production to enhance food security in the State. To achieve this feat, several mechanisms are also put in place to make the strategies function effectively and efficiently but despite these, food security is still a challenge in Ogun State. Sequel to the backdrop the study seeks to determine the contribution of training of extension agents to food security, examine the contribution of field visit to food security and evaluate the promotion of dry season food production to food security. Results The study gathered data through primary and secondary sources, such as questionnaires, interviews, journals, government gazettes, etc. A Partial Least Square was employed in analyzing the data. The study revealed that training of extension agents, field visit and the promotion of dry season food production did not contribute significantly to food security in Ogun State due to ways the programme is handled. Conclusions Though Ogun State Agricultural Development Programme (OGADEP) initiated strategies and mechanisms that will help to achieve sufficiency in food production. Lack of wider coverage is a bane to achieving feats in agricultural development coupled with poor execution of policy. The implication of this is that many farmers end up practicing agriculture traditionally. The study made the recommendation that government should commit more efforts toward the programme to achieve its mission.

Background Barriers to utilization of sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services by adolescents and young people (AYP) have persisted despite evidence that youth-friendly services have a positive effect on contraceptive use, and patient knowledge and satisfaction. Objective The objective of this study was to elicit, and derive relative valuations for, attributes of SRH services that adolescents and young people value, and their willingness to pay for these services, in public health facilities. Methods A discrete-choice-experiment (DCE) that was developed using a mixed methods approach was administered to AYP from Ogun State, Southwest Nigeria. The DCE attributes were: the type of staff; physical environment; health worker attitude; cost; waiting time; contraceptive availability; and opening hours. The choice tasks had two unlabeled alternatives and an opt-out option. Panel mixed logit choice model was used to fit the choice data, along with estimation of willingness to pay (WTP). Also, a latent class logit model was used to detect underlying preference heterogeneity among the respondents. Finally, the uptake of the services in health facilities was investigated by estimating the probabilities for selecting hypothetical health facilities under different scenarios. Results A total of 859 AYP participated resulting in 6872 choice observations. The physical environment attribute had the highest utility rating relative to the other attributes, followed by preference for a doctor and for a service provider who was open and friendly. The cost and time coefficients were negative, revealing preference for lower cost and shorter waiting time. The latent class model had three classes that varied by their background characteristics. Probability of choosing any of the facility alternatives increased with introduction of more favorable facility characteristics. Conclusion The pattern of preferences identified are potential targets for service design and delivery optimization that may result in improvements in service acceptability and utilization. These results strengthen the call for involving AYP in decision-making in health interventions for them and developing context-specific SRH programs for AYP in public health facilities.

Nigerian Schools of Architecture face the various challenges of out-dated design, declining conditions, and capacity utilisation pressures. The effects of these conditions are threats to the academic performance of the students. The study aimed at investigating the impact the learning environment has on the academic performance of students of Architecture at Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria. This research made use of quantitative and qualitative research approach. Data was collected through a structured questionnaire, and the IBM SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Sciences) was used for analysis. Results show that the classroom environment has effects on students’ academic performance. This is due to their satisfaction and comfort in the learning environment. Findings also show that the comfort derived from facilities and physical components within the classroom affects their academic performance. Although the research findings have shown that the physical components of the classroom learning environment had no direct impact on the students’ academic performance, based on the research it is recommended that visual learning aid should be maximised. Also, the classroom facilities should be improved to encourage students to make use of their classrooms. Further, the physical components classroom environment affects but does not have a direct impact on students’ academic performance; however, the perception of students on these components should be explored to create a comfortable classroom environment.

Background: This serological study conducted between March and July 2015 investigated the status of onchocerciasis in Ogun State, Nigeria after a decade of mass drug administration (MDA) with ivermectin. Baseline information from the rapid epidemiological mapping of onchocerciasis (REMO) prior to MDA had indicated that Ogun State was meso-endemic to onchocerciasis. Following years of treatment with ivermectin, it has become important to investigate the current status of the disease using more sensitive diagnostic methods.Methods: The study was conducted in 32 communities in eight onchocerciasis-endemic local government areas (LGAs). Using the Ov16 rapid diagnostic test (Ov16 RDT), finger-prick whole blood was obtained from 3 895 consented participants from age five and above. Skin snips were obtained from a subset of 481 corresponding participants as the majority of community members did not consent to skin snipping.Results: Study revealed a cumulative seroprevalence of 9.3% (CI 9.29–9.31%) by RDT and 17.3% (CI 16.73–18.34%) microfilaridermia prevalence by the skin snip subset. Seroprevalence among children between the ages of five and nine was 2.9% (CI 1.74–3.53%) across all LGAs. A community microfilaria load (CMFL) between 0 and 1.21 MF/skin snip was recorded in the different communities studied. Among the studied LGAs, children in Odeda LGA recorded the highest seroprevalence by RDT (14.9%) followed by Abeokuta North (5.1%), Abeokuta South (4.8%) and Imeko-Afon (0.6%), while Ewekoro, Ifo, Obafemi-Owode and Yewa North LGAs recorded zero prevalence.Conclusion: It appears that the elimination of onchocerciasis in some LGAs is possible considering the lack of new infection among children and the hypo-endemicity among the adult population. However, the microfilaria prevalence observed among adults is of concern as it may imply that mass treatment has not been effective. Increased therapeutic coverage is advised to fully maximise the potential of ivermectin treatment to achieve the disease elimination.

Airborne gamma-ray spectrometric has gained more recognition over decades, since it serves majorly as a geological mapping tool in most areas. This method utilizes the variation in the three primordial radionuclide concentrations, U, K and Th, to study the lithology of different bedrocks. It measures the earth surface natural radionuclides, which enhances the distribution of soil- and rock-type formations. Ogun State, the study area, is bounded by geographical coordinates of easting 3.0°–5.0° and northing 6.2°–7.8° of tropical rainforest region, Southwestern Nigeria. The present study aims at mapping the distribution of radioelements and delineates the anomalies associated with various interpreted radiometric lithological (IRL) units using the three radioelements U (ppm), Th (ppm), K (%) and the total count (TC) in Ur and their ratios, U/K, U/Th and Th/K. The dose rates were also considered in the study. The lithology was described in terms of three formations; basement, basement–sediment and sediment. With the aid of Geosoft software (Oasis montaj) and Golden Surfer 10 software, the contour map was obtained which showed the trend of distribution of radioelements alongside their ratios. The uranium migration index was also carried out to check the regions associated with uranium leaching. The result revealed that uranium is more concentrated in NW and partly NE directions of the study area. This may be due to the presence of shale and possibly phosphate-bearing rock and metamorphozised granitic rocks while thorium has the largest deposit due to quarry activity which is associated with blasting of rocks and deposition from dumpsites. The study also revealed that only 2 out of all the 47 IRL units, A1 and C4, which belong to basement and basement–sediment formations have their mean dose value to be 1.51 mSv/yr and 1.43 mSv/yr which are above the 1 mS/yr recommended limit.