EKOSODIN

This project examined Domestic violence in Benin: A study of Ekosodin community in Benin City, Edo State. The objectives of the study are to identify the concept of domestic violence in Ekosodin, with a focus on understanding the scope and nature of the problem, examine the social, cultural, and economic factors that contribute to domestic violence in the area, and how they impact victims, perpetrators, and the community, assess the effectiveness of existing interventions, policies, and programs aimed at preventing and responding to domestic violence in Ekosodin, develop evidence-based recommendations for improving prevention and response strategies, and enhancing support services for survivors of domestic violence in the area, as well as find out the role of social workers in domestic violence in Ekosodin. The survey research method was used which consist of frequency, percentage means and a cross-abulation method was also used to test the structured hypothesis in the study. A total number of 400 questionnaires was distributed to women ranging from those who are single to those in relationships, to the married, separated, divorced and widowers. The statistical analysis was used with the goal of performing the empirical analysis and obtaining estimated coefficients, SPSS was used as statistical package in this study. From the findings, it was revealed that domestic violence is a widespread issue in Ekosodin that significantly impacts families and communities, often leading to long-term physical and psychological consequences. The study also, revealed that the nature of domestic violence in Ekosodin primarily involves physical abuse, with emotional and psychological abuse being less common. It was also revealed that patriarchal social norms and gender inequality significantly contributes to the persistence of domestic violence. It can be concluded that domestic violence is a widespread issue in Ekosodin that significantly impact families and communities, often leading to long-term physical and psychological consequences. Also, victims of domestic violence in Ekosodin often faces challenges in reporting the abuse dues to cultural and stigma and fear of social judgement. Also, the economic dependence on an abusive partner is one of the main reasons victims of domestic violence in Ekosodin are unable to leave their abusers. Substance abuse (e.g., alcohol or drugs) is often a major factor contributing to violent behavior in domestic relationships. And also the current legal frameworks in Ekosodin, such as the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act (VAPP), are effectively enforced to address domestic violence. It can also be concluded that providing economic empowerment programs for women in Ekosodin, such as job training and microfinance initiatives, will help reduce their dependency on abusive partners. It was recommended that there is a need to enhance community education and awareness campaigns to address cultural stigma and encourage victims to report abuse. Public education should focus on challenging patriarchal norms and informing people about available support services. There is a need to promote economic empowerment for women through job training programs and microfinance initiatives. This will reduce women’s financial dependence on abusive partners and give them the means to leave violent situations. There is a need to strengthen law enforcement training to improve their response to domestic violence cases. Officers should be trained to handle such cases with sensitivity and ensure that victims feel safe when reporting abuse. And also there is a need to increase access to legal support services for victims of domestic violence. with sensitivity and ensure that victims feel safe when reporting abuse. And also there is a need to increase access to legal support services for victims of domestic violence.

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a significant opportunistic pathogen and a public health concern due to its multidrug-resistant nature and potential for zoonotic transmission. This study investigated the prevalence and antimicrobial susceptibility of MRSA in apparently healthy dogs in Ekosodin, Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria. A total of 160 dogs were sampled, and nasal swabs were processed using standard microbiological techniques. Staphylococcus aureus isolates were identified based on colonial morphology, Gram staining, and biochemical tests (catalase and coagulase). Methicillin resistance was determined phenotypically using cefoxitin (30 µg), while antibacterial susceptibility testing was performed using the modified Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method. Out of the 160 dogs sampled, 146 (91.3%) were positive for S. aureus, and 142 (97.3%) were confirmed as MRSA, corresponding to an overall MRSA prevalence of 88.8%. MRSA carriage was highest in dogs aged 0–1 year (100%), and gender had no significant effect on prevalence. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing revealed high resistance among MRSA isolates to amoxicillin, erythromycin, cefuroxime, ceftazidime, gentamicin, streptomycin, azithromycin, and fluoroquinolones, with partial sensitivity retained for rifampicin (58.1%), ciprofloxacin
(46.5%), and levofloxacin (51.2%). MSSA isolates were generally more susceptible, showing statistically significant higher sensitivity to ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, erythromycin, and cefuroxime (with p-value of 0.047, 0.004 and 0.005 respectively). These findings highlight the widespread carriage of multidrug-resistant MRSA among dogs in the study area, underscoring the need for prudent antibiotic use, improved hygiene, and public awareness to mitigate potential zoonotic transmission.

This research delves into the elements that lead to the creation of gullies, with a particular emphasis on the soil attributes at the gully location of the University of Benin. Soil samples were extracted from three distinct points at the site. A series of examinations were performed on these samples to ascertain their soil properties, encompassing sieve analysis, specific gravity, Atterberg limits, compaction, and triaxial tests. The results of the various tests reveals that soil samples had a medium liquid limit and relatively low plasticity for the Atterberg limits. There is a specific gravity range of 2.61 to 2.64 for the soil samples classifying them as organic soils according to classification system proposed by Bowles (2012). The compaction test revealed that soil retains a significant amount of moisture even when compacted to its densest state. The triaxial test revealed that the soil exhibits a relatively low friction angle coupled with substantial cohesion. And finally the sieve analysis shed light on the particle size distribution in the soil samples, which exhibit a reddish-brown coloration and are located below the A-line on the Unified Soil Classification System (USCS) chart, classifying them as silts. Known for their moderate infiltration rates, these silts contribute to increased surface runoff, which is a key factor in gully development.

The contamination of water sources by untreated wastewater poses a serious public health risk due to the spread of pathogenic bacteria, particularly Gram-positive species. This study examined the microbiological properties of wastewater collected from commercial laundry shops in Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria. The research focused on enumerating total heterotrophic bacteria, isolating Gram-positive bacteria, and identifying their species based on morphological and biochemical characteristics. A total of eight (8) wastewater samples were collected in duplicates from two commercial laundry shops, with the samples divided into two categories: wastewater from washing and wastewater from rinsing. Microbial enumeration was performed using the spread plate technique on nutrient agar, while Mannitol salt agar was used for selective screening of Gram-positive bacteria. The bacterial isolates were characterized based on their morphological and biochemical properties using standard microbiological methods. Results revealed that the total heterotrophic bacterial counts were highest in the laundry washing wastewater samples, with values ranging from 102±2.3 × 10⁶ to 81±0.9 × 10⁶ CFU/mL. In contrast, significantly lower bacterial counts were observed in the rinsing wastewater samples, with counts ranging from 48±1.8 × 10⁶ to 25±2.4 × 10⁶ CFU/mL. Additionally, the bacterial counts varied by location, with Laundry Shop 1 recording 68±1.4 × 10⁶ CFU/mL and Laundry Shop 2 showing slightly lower counts at 57±1.6 × 10⁶ CFU/mL. The microbiological assessment of laundry wastewater revealed the presence of diverse bacterial species, with a total of 17 isolates identified and characterized. Staphylococcus aureus was the most prevalent isolate, accounting for 52.9% (9/17) of the total, followed by Staphylococcus spp. (41.2%) and Micrococcus spp. (5.9%). These findings highlight the potential health and environmental risks associated with untreated laundry wastewater, particularly due to the dominance of pathogenic and opportunistic bacteria. The study emphasizes the need for effective wastewater management practices in commercial laundry facilities to mitigate the spread of microbial contaminants. Future research could focus on advanced treatment technologies and their ability to reduce bacterial load in laundry effluent.