Rabbit production under tropical conditions is affected by environmental stress mainly from the effect of high ambient temperatures and high humidity, low wind speed and indirect solar radiation. This experiment was conducted to investigate the adaptive potentials of Californian, New Zealand white, Havana black and Palomino brown rabbits to heat stress when raised in humid tropics. A total number of ninety-six rabbits were used. Rectal temperature, respiratory rate, pulse rate and heat stress index were measured in these temperate breeds during rainy and dry season. The results showed that the breed of rabbit had a significant effect (P<0.05) on rectal temperature, respiratory rate, pulse rate and heat stress index. Havana black rabbit had the highest mean rectal temperature value (39.32 ± 0.03°C) followed by Palomino brown (38.97 ± 0.03°C), while the least value was recorded for New Zealand white (38.68 ± 0.02). Respiratory rate values followed the same pattern with that of rectal temperature with higher respiratory rate 69.09 ± 1.05 breaths/min recorded for Havana rabbits. The pulse rate values ranged from 163.23 ± 0.47 - 184.35 ± 0.78 beats/minutes. The highest pulse rate of 184.35 ± 3.78beats/minute was recorded for Havana black. The lowest heat stress index was obtained for New Zealand white followed by California and Palomino Brown while Havana black rabbit had the highest value (1.95± 0.01). The respiratory rate was significantly lower among males as compared to their female counterparts (63.09±0.58 versus 69.54 ± 1.65breaths per minute). The age of the rabbit also significantly affected (P<0.05) the rectal temperature, respiratory rate, pulse rate and heat stress index. 12 weeks old rabbit had the highest mean values while 4 weeks old rabbit had the least values. The heat stress index value obtained during dry season was higher (P< 0.05) than that obtained for rainy season (1.93± 0.02 versus 1.80 ± 0.01). Havana black rabbits and Palomino brown were more prone to heat stress than California and New Zealand white rabbits in tropical environment.

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Background Studies in Nigeria and elsewhere in sub-Saharan Africa (sSA) have explored factors influencing usage of intermittent preventive treatment of malaria in pregnancy (IPTp). Most studies, however, are not model or theory-based, which provides less satisfactory guidance to malaria control programming. This study fills the knowledge gap by adapting Andersen’s behavioral model of health care use to IPTp usage in Nigeria. Methods This study adopted a cross-sectional design that utilized secondary data extracted from the 2018 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS). A weighted sample of 4,772 women who had given birth in the past year preceding the survey, was analyzed. Outcome variable was usage of IPTp, dichotomized into optimal or otherwise. Explanatory variables cut across individual and community levels and were divided into predisposing, enabling and need factors in line with the theoretical constructs of the Andersen model. Two multilevel mixed-effects logistic regression models were fitted to identify factors which influenced optimal usage of IPTp. Analyses were performed using STATA 14. Statistical significance was set at 5%. Results Realised level of optimal IPTp usage was 21.8%. Factors that either predispose or enable pregnant women to take optimal doses of IPTp were maternal education, being employed, being autonomous in their own healthcare, health insurance enrolment, partner education, receiving antenatal care in public health facilities, rural residence, being resident in northern geo-political zones, community literacy level and community perception of the consequences of malaria. Two significant need factors affecting optimal usage of IPTp were timing of the first antenatal care visit and sleeping under mosquito bed nets. Conclusion Optimal usage of IPTp is low among pregnant women in Nigeria. There is a need to devise additional public health educational programs promoting IPTp usage through the formation of Advocacy, Communication and Social Mobilisation (ACSM) in every ward in all local government areas, particularly in the rural and northern parts of the country. In addition, health planners should adopt the Andersen model for assessing key determinants of IPTp usage among childbearing women in Nigeria.

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is associated with women’s poor reproductive health outcomes. This study examined the influence of IPV on couples’ fertility planning status (FPS). Couples’ data from Nigeria’s Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) conducted in 2018 were used. A weighted sample of 4,650 couples was analyzed from the domestic violence module of the NDHS. Complementary log-log (cloglog) models were fitted to estimate the effects on FPS. The results showed that in marital relationships where husbands were older than wives, there was a 28% higher likelihood of planned fertility than couples where husbands were younger or within the same age range (Exp.B.=1.28; CI=1.10, 1.50). Couples who practiced the same religion had a 25% higher likelihood of planning their fertility than those practicing different religions (Exp.B.=1.25; CI=1.07, 1.47). Couples with no IPV had a 13% higher likelihood of planning their fertility (Exp.B.=1.13; CI=1.04, 1.24). IPV, poverty, and child sex preference had significant negative influences on couples’ FPS. Couples should be advised against all forms of IPV, and they should be made to understand that IPV jeopardizes their reproductive intentions. Specific enlightenment programs dissuading child sex preference may also be targeted at them.

Background: Advanced Maternal Age (AMA) pregnancy refers to pregnancy in women aged 35 years or older at the time of delivery. Existing studies have been more concerned with the obstetrics implication of AMA pregnancy. The associated social factors such as the individual and community level factors have remained largely unexplored particularly in population-based studies. This study examines the individual and community level factors associated with AMA pregnancy in Nigeria.Methods: Data were extracted from the 2018 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey. A weighted sample of 13,105 women was analysed. The outcome variable was AMA pregnancy. The explanatory variables were individual characteristics (age, marital status, media exposure, current contraceptive use, period spent schooling, female autonomy, remarriage and income group) and community characteristics (proportion who delayed marriage in community, community level of female higher education, proportion of female in professional occupation in community, proportion of divorced or separated women in community, proportion of women in commuter marriage, type of community and geo-political zone of residence). Three mixed-effects multilevel logistic regression models were estimated. Results: Findings reveal 10.9% prevalence of AMA pregnancy in Nigeria. While the odds of AMA pregnancy were lower among women in very advanced (AOR=0.592, p<0.001; 95% CI: 0.509-0.688) and extremely advanced (AOR=0.290, p<0.001; 95% CI: 0.239-0.353) (AOR=1.794, p<0.001; 95% CI: 1.580-2.008) age groups, the odds were higher among women who had high exposure to mass media (AOR=1.794, p<0.001; 95% CI: 1.580-2.008), long schooling period (AOR=2.680, p<0.001; 95% CI: 2.058-3.488), remarried (AOR=2.269, p<0.001; 95% CI: 1.915-2.688) and from richest households (AOR=1.271, p<0.05; 95% CI: 1.098-1.472). The values of the Intra-Class Correlation (ICC) across the three fitted models reveal significant effects of the community characteristics on the odds of AMA pregnancy.Conclusion: Individual and community characteristics have important effects on AMA pregnancy. Health planners and authorities in the country should include AMA pregnancy as one of the priority areas of women’s health and safe motherhood strategies in addition to raising awareness of the obstetrics implication of AMA pregnancy through community-based public health education programme.