2024

Background: Halitosis, or bad breath, affects social interactions and quality of life. While prevalent globally, its determinants and impacts are under-researched in specific communities, such as traders in Nigeria.
Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence, risk factors, and impacts of halitosis among traders at Oluku Market, Benin City, and assess their awareness and oral hygiene practices.
Methodology: A cross-sectional study involving 100 traders was conducted using structured questionnaires to collect data on sociodemographics, oral hygiene habits, awareness, and halitosis-related impacts. Statistical analyses included logistic regression to identify potential determinants.
Results: The prevalence of self-reported halitosis was 22%. Good oral hygiene practices were reported by 91% of respondents, but only 35% had ever visited a dentist. Awareness of halitosis was high (87%), primarily sourced from informal networks. No significant associations were found between halitosis and underlying medical or dental conditions.
Conclusion: While halitosis prevalence was relatively low, the study highlighted gaps in professional dental care access and reliance on informal awareness channels. Strengthening healthcare outreach and education programs can further mitigate halitosis impacts.
Keywords: Halitosis, oral health, prevalence, risk factors, market traders, Nigeria.

Background: Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic joint disorder characterized by joint
pain, stiffness, and limited mobility (Zhang et al., 2020). Knee osteoarthritis (OA)
is a degenerative joint disease of the knee characterized by progressive loss of
articular cartilage, leading to pain, stiffness, and functional limitations (Felson et
al., 2000). It is one of the most common chronic conditions, affecting an
estimated 13.5% of adults aged 60 and over (Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention [CDC], 2021). Knee OA is the most common type of OA, accounting for
significant disability and healthcare costs (Cross et al., 2014). Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and associated risk
factors of knee OA in postmenopausal women. Methods:This study employed a retrospective study design, examining existing
data from case notes and medical records.This study was conducted using all case
notes and medical records of postmenopausal women, with knee osteoarthritis
who received physiotherapy treatment at UBTH between 2019 and 2024.Data
extraction forms were used to collect information on demographics, menopausal
status, knee osteoarthritis diagnosis, risk factors, pain intensity and comorbidities. Data was extracted by the researcher and verified for accuracy and completeness. Descriptive statistics of Chi square was used to summarise the data, Alpha level
was 0.05
Results:Over 1000 case notes dating back to 5 years prior were reviewed by the
researcher. A total of 503 case notes of postmenopausal women were identified, among which 183 cases of knee OA were identified. 36.4% of the postmenopausal
women recorded in study had knee OA. 131 (26.0) had bilateral knee OA, 122
(24.3%) had crepitus. 80 (15.9%) had onset of knee OA for duration of 1 – 5 years
before being assessed. Among those with knee OA, the mean pain rating ranged
between 4.37 (± 2.86). Conclusion: The prevalence of knee OA in postmenopausal women in Nigeria is a
significant public health concern. Several risk factors, including age, BMI, parity, family history, and previous trauma, contribute to the high prevalence of knee OA
in this population. Keywords: Osteoarthritis, postmenopausal, retrospective, prevalence.

In the current fast-changing agricultural environment, farmers need to have access to timely and relevant information to make well-informed choices. This initiative seeks to create and implement a comprehensive Information System specifically designed for farmers, especially in rural and semi-urban areas. The system will utilize modern technology to deliver vital information regarding weather forecasts, crop management, pest control, market prices, and optimal agricultural practices. By integrating mobile and web platforms, the system guarantees easy access and real-time updates. The main goals include enhancing the knowledge base of farmers, boosting crop yields, minimizing losses, and promoting sustainable agricultural methods. The project will entail a thorough needs assessment, system design, development, and intensive field testing in partnership with local farming communities. Additionally, the system will incorporate user-friendly interfaces, multilingual support, and offline functionalities to accommodate diverse user requirements. In the end, this Information System aims to equip farmers with the knowledge and resources needed to enhance productivity and profitability, thus aiding in food security and economic development in the region.

Background: There are over a million users globally, contact lenses are particularly popular
among women and younger individuals. While advances in lens technology have improved
safety, complications such as microbial keratitis can occur, especially when proper hygiene
practices are neglected. Despite educational efforts, adherence to care guidelines remains low. Objectives: To assess the knowledge, attitudes and practice of contact lens wearers towards
contact lens hygiene and complications among students of University of Benin, Benin-City. Materials and Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study design was utilized for this study. Four hundred participants were selected using multi-stage sampling techniques. Data were
collected using a structured interviewer-administered questionnaire comprising both opened
ended and closed questions. Data was analyzed using IBM SPSS version 25.0 and a p < 0.05 was
considered significant. Results: The mean age of respondents was 20.7 years (±2.539 years) with a predominance of
females (82.7%) and Christians (98.8%). Most respondents were single (99.0%) and the largest
ethnic group represented was Benin (49.8%). The majority of participants (22.8%) had myopia, while 42.0% wore contact lenses primarily for vision correction. Knowledge of proper contact
lens use varied, with better understanding among those aged 23-25 and from the Medicine
department. Despite high awareness of cleaning practices, adherence remained low, with 51.7%
cleaning their lenses daily. Most respondents identified infected lenses as a major cause of
complications, and signs included itching and blurred vision. The study highlights the need for
improved education and adherence to hygiene practices to mitigate risks associated with contact
lens use among students.

The study focused on the extraction, phytochemical screening, isolation, and characterization of Hibiscus Sabdariffa. The cold extraction was conducted to extract the plant sample using methanol as solvent. The crude extract was concentrated in a rotary evaporator. A portion of the extract was screened for phytochemicals while the other portion was subjected to vacuum liquid chromatography (VLC) , using solvent systems of varying polarity ;from Hexane, Ethyl acetate , Methanol ,and Butanol of increasing polarity respectively .A Brown precipitate was obtained after the concentration of Butanol extract and characterization was done by High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). Saponins, alkaloids, and terpenes were detected. However, from the HPLC myrtilin, Linalool, lycopene, where present amongst others. The study shows that H. Sabdariffa contains useful phytochemicals which are implicated as medicinal uses.

The study examined the effect of financial inclusion on economic growth in Nigeria spanning periods from 1994 to 2023 based on the accessibility of data. Four hypotheses were raised and evaluated using the fully modified ordinary least squares estimator. Based on the analysis conducted, the following findings were made that: the number of bank branches per 100,000 adults has a statistically significant but negative impact on economic growth in Nigeria; the number of deposit accounts with commercial banks per 1,000 adults does not significantly impact economic growth in Nigeria; the proportion of outstanding loans from commercial banks as a percentage of GDP does not have a significant effect on economic growth in Nigeria; and the total volume of mobile money transactions as a percentage of GDP has a statistically significant and positive impact on economic growth in Nigeria. Thus, it was recommended that: policymakers and financial institutions should prioritize investments in mobile and digital banking infrastructure over expanding physical bank branches; financial institutions should implement strategies to encourage the active use of deposit accounts; financial institutions should focus on enhancing access to productive credit for individuals and small businesses; and policymakers and financial institutions should further develop mobile money ecosystems.

ackground: There are over a million users globally, contact lenses are particularly popular among women and younger individuals. While advances in lens technology have improved safety, complications such as microbial keratitis can occur, especially when proper hygiene practices are neglected. Despite educational efforts, adherence to care guidelines remains low. Objectives: To assess the knowledge, attitudes and practice of contact lens wearers towards contact lens hygiene and complications among students of University of Benin, Benin-City. Materials and Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study design was utilized for this study. Four hundred participants were selected using multi-stage sampling techniques. Data were collected using a structured interviewer-administered questionnaire comprising both opened ended and closed questions. Data was analyzed using IBM SPSS version 25.0 and a p < 0.05 was considered significant. Results: The mean age of respondents was 20.7 years (±2.539 years) with a predominance of females (82.7%) and Christians (98.8%). Most respondents were single (99.0%) and the largest ethnic group represented was Benin (49.8%). The majority of participants (22.8%) had myopia, while 42.0% wore contact lenses primarily for vision correction. Knowledge of proper contact lens use varied, with better understanding among those aged 23-25 and from the Medicine department. Despite high awareness of cleaning practices, adherence remained low, with 51.7% cleaning their lenses daily. Most respondents identified infected lenses as a major cause of complications, and signs included itching and blurred vision. The study highlights the need for improved education and adherence to hygiene practices to mitigate risks associated with contact lens use among students.

This study examines the impact of capital structure on the financial performance of Nigerian oil and gas companies. Using an ex-post facto research methodology, the shortterm debt to total asset, long-term debt to total asset, total debt to total equity, and return on asset variables were investigated as proxies for capital structure and financial performance, respectively. Based on the data's availability at the time of the inquiry, the study used an easy sampling strategy to gather secondary data. These data covers the years 2014 to 2023 and were compiled from the annual financial reports of five Nigerian oil and gas companies. Descriptive statistics and panel regression analysis were used to analyze the data. The analysis' findings shows that while long-term debt to total assets has a negative significant influence on return on assets, short-term debt to total assets and total debt to total equity had positive insignificant impacts. According to the findings, managers of oil and gas companies should reduce the amount of long-term debt they have because doing so has a negative effect on their performance. They should also exercise caution when making capital structure decisions.

The study investigated awareness creation of mental health in the society by social workers in Okabere Community in Ikpoba Okha LGA of Benin City Edo state, Nigeria. The objective of this study was to investigate and highlight the level of awareness creation of mental health by Social Workers. Five research questions were asked to achieve the objective of the study. The sample size was 301 participants chosen from the study population using the Proportionate Stratified Random Sampling, the research instrument utilized was the questionnaire. Conclusion drawn from the analysis of the data retrieved from the questionnaire indicates that Due to the negative impact of social media on student’s life, such as ineffective studies, poor academic performance and the general mental health status, putting effective measures in place is pertinent to their academic success and general life. This was done by identifying the major ways social workers couldcreate awareness of mental health and finding the appropriate remedy, based on the analysis made, this thesis , It was discovered that, there is a big relationship between mental health awareness and mental health balance in Okabere community as 59.1% of the respondents strongly agreed to the question ,. It is therefore recommended that recommended that social auxiliary workers assist the social workers in the provision of mental health services. This is because the high caseloads that each social worker is typically burdened with is a precursor to mental fatigue and consequent decline in effectiveness

The study investigated awareness creation of mental health in the society by social workers in Okabere Community in Ikpoba Okha LGA of Benin City Edo state, Nigeria. The objective of this study was to investigate and highlight the level of awareness creation of mental health by Social Workers. Five research questions were asked to achieve the objective of the study. The sample size was 301 participants chosen from the study population using the Proportionate Stratified Random Sampling, the research instrument utilized was the questionnaire. Conclusion drawn from the analysis of the data retrieved from the questionnaire indicates that Due to the negative impact of social media on student’s life, such as ineffective studies, poor academic performance and the general mental health status, putting effective measures in place is pertinent to their academic success and general life. This was done by identifying the major ways social workers couldcreate awareness of mental health and finding the appropriate remedy, based on the analysis made, this thesis , It was discovered that, there is a big relationship between mental health awareness and mental health balance in Okabere community as 59.1% of the respondents strongly agreed to the question ,. It is therefore recommended that recommended that social auxiliary workers assist the social workers in the provision of mental health services. This is because the high caseloads that each social worker is typically burdened with is a precursor to mental fatigue and consequent decline in effectiveness