Purpose: This paper focused on livelihood vulnerability induced by climatic variability amongst farming households in Kaduna state, Nigeria. Methodology: The research used a sample population of 400 using Taro Yamane formula which represents about 0.05% of the population of the three selected local government areas and it purposively targeted farming households heads (FHHH) in one of each of the three eco-climatic zones in the state. Kagarko, BirninGwari and Makarfi local government areas were based on their eco-climatic location and rurality to represent humid, sub-humid and dry sub humid zones of the state respectively. A multi stage sampling technique was further adopted in which farming districts and villages were selected for the administration of 400 structured questionnaires proportionately distributed proportionately to the three local government areas. The Department for International Development (DFID) sustainable livelihoods framework was adopted in the design of the structured questionnaires. Coefficient of Variation (CV %) was deployed to determine the variability of rainfall and temperature of the three eco-climatic zones of the past thirty six years (1981-2016) which was employed into the Micah Hahn’s Livelihood Vulnerability Index model.The results show that Kagarko (humid) had a CV% of 105.43 of rainfall, 9.06 CV% of maximum temperature and CV% of 17.63 in minimum temperature. BirninGwari (sub-humid) had a CV% of 119.64 in rainfall, CV% of 14.17 in maximum temperature and CV% of 15.92 in minimum temperature while Makarfi (dry sub-humid) had a CV% of 124.71 in rainfall, CV%  of 9.72 in maximum temperature and 16.29 CV% in minimum temperature. The livelihood vulnerability index (LVI) of Kagarko was calculated to be 0.35, Makarfi and BirninGwari were calculated to be 0.36 respectively and vulnerability spider diagrams were used to capture and compare results. On a vulnerability scale of 0-1, the three eco-climatic zones were found to be very vulnerable to climatic variability. The paper has proved the applicability of Co-efficient of Variation (CV %) into the LVI model which is a departure from previous users who have consistently deployed Mean Standard Deviation into the model. Results: This study will serve as a spring board to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) targets on vulnerable communities in Kaduna state. It is discovered that farmers in Makarfi and BirninGwari, even though in different eco-climatic zones of sub-humid and dry sub humid zones respectively, share equal level of livelihood vulnerability index of 0.36 while Kagarko area which is in humid zone, is having 0.35. These indicated that all the areas are within the very vulnerable values on a vulnerability scale of 0-1. The vulnerability levels of the study area can be attributed to weak Natural, Financial and Physical capitals. Recommendations: The paper recommended Integrated Farmers’ Livelihoods Support Strategy (IFLISS) so as to build the resilience of farming households’ livelihood capitals and reduce vulnerability levels.

Background: Cerebral palsy (CP) is a commonly occurring disorder of movement and posture that starts in early childhood. It is accompanied by other disturbances including hearing loss which has been shown to worsen the quality of life of the patients due to problems associated with speech and language acquisition. Several factors are responsible for developing hearing loss in CP. Aims: To determine the factors that can help in early diagnosis and treatment of hearing loss in children with cerebral palsy. Methodology: This was a hospital based cross-sectional study conducted among 165 randomly selected children with CP. An interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to obtain relevant sociodemographic and clinical information. The data collected was analyzed using Statistical Product and Services Solution (SPSS) version 21. Results: The age range of the participants was 1–12 years, with a mean age and standard deviation (SD) of 4.49 ± 2.85. The male to female ratio was 2:1. The commonest type of CP encountered was of spastic variety seen in 47.3%, while the least encountered variety was of the ataxic type, seen in only 4.2%;46.7% of the children were reported to have hearing impairment by their guardian. Other comorbidities reported included epilepsy (33.9%), speech impairment (27.3%), mental retardation (17.0%) and visual impairment (8.5%). A statistically significant association was found between the presence of comorbidities (P = 0.05) and hearing loss among children with CP. Conclusion: Hearing impairment is common among children with CP. Several factors are associated with the development of hearing loss among children with CP. However, only presence of comorbidities was found to be a significant determinant of hearing loss among children with CP.

The study examined some issues on Gender and renal replacement therapy (RRT) in Kano state. Stratified sampling technique was used to select 46 males and 26 females from Aminu Kano teaching hospital (AKTH) and Abdullah Wase or Nassarawa specialist hospital. Before embarking on data collection, ethical approval was sought and given by the ministry of health Kano state for Abdullah Wase hospital and the management of AKTH hospital. Data was derived primarily from the questionnaire administered to the selected samples, in addition hospital based records of patients were obtained from the dialysis unit of the two hospitals. The results of the study showed that both male and female patients delayed in RRT. However majority of the males and females delayed due to inadequate information(19%) and(18%) and lack of money(y25%) and (18%)for the male and female patients resulting from the low socio economic status of most of them as indicated in the tables on education and income of the respondents, Other factors that caused infrequent RRT included the long term nature of treatment (12%) and (23%), tried out alternative treatment (19%) and (18%)males and females respectively. Some of the socio economic and psychological costs of RRT were found to include cut in social spending( 22%) males and(15%) females, increased expenditure on health (17%) and( 19%) ,frequent illness (22%) and (31%), loss of job (4%)males only ,decrease in number of hours put to work (30%) and( 31%) matrimonial problems ((4%) and another ( 4%)for the males and females respectively Based on the findings of this research it is recommended that government ad stakeholders need to redefine their priorities and place health matters as a top priority in all state matters as the saying goes a healthy nation is a wealthy nation.