The Journal of Middle East and North Africa Sciences

01-07

Authors: O. O. Okwari, A. E. Solomon, K. Dasofunjo, A. A. Asuk, K. O. Okwari, M. A. Aja, E. A. Atunka, I. O. Bassey

Background and Objectives: There are a number of dietary compounds with purported health benefits such as reducing the risk of heart disease like flavonoids that show bioactivity through their respective antioxidant activity (Walker et al., 2013). Intake of antioxidants and caffeine found in teas, fruits, vegetables, wines and carbonated beverages may be beneficial to body systems at short term and adverse at higher intakes or long term. Caffeine content varies in most of these beverages (Knight et al., 2004). This article investigates the serum concentrations of glucose, total protein, urea, uric acid and creatinine in a cowbell and Nescafe 3in1 sachet coffee fed-rabbits. Materials and Methods: Twenty-five (25) male rabbits housed in rabbit cages allowed free access to food and water after 7days of acclimatization were assigned into five groups, of 5 rabbits. Group 1 served as control, fed only on a basal diet while groups 2 and 3 received 310mg/kg and 470mg/kg Cowbell coffee low and high dose respectively per body weight. Group 4 and 5 received 460mg/kg and 690mg/kg Nescafe low dose and high dose respectively per body weight. All administrations were done orally, daily and standard rabbit chow and water was given ad libitum. The treatment lasted for 30days after which the animals were sacrificed and serum obtained for automated analysis. Results: Blood glucose concentration of cowbell high dose group was significantly (p<0.05) higher compared with other experimental groups. Total protein, albumin, globulin content were significantly (p<0.05) higher in Nescafe 3in1fed animals compared with control. Blood urea nitrogen levels were significantly (p<0.05) higher in the high dose groups of the different brands compared with other experimental groups. Uric acid levels of cowbell high dose and Nescafe treated groups were significantly (p<0.05) lower. Conclusion: Nescafe 3in1sachet coffee increased total protein, but reduced serum uric acid levels in the rabbit, while cowbell sachet coffee at high dose caused increased glucose concentration and serum urea in the rabbit. Nescafe 3in1 sachet coffee may reduce joint inflammation caused by monosodium urate. These effects are due in part to the caffeine and/or antioxidant levels of the different coffees.

32-40

Authors: Goodluck Ikechukwu Nshi

Background: HIV/AIDS remains one of the major public health challenges in sub-Sahara Africa, where over 70% of global burden of the disease occurs. Nigeria – particularly the South-East with prevalence rate of 5.48%, which is above the WHO’s 4% red line has an alarming burden of the disease and is said to be at an explosive stage of the disease. Factors that moderate PLWHA healthcare-seeking which in turn fuel and sustain such a high and ugly burden of HIV/AIDS in South-East, Nigeria, has not been investigated by previous studies. Objective: This study was conducted to assess the determinants of Healthcare-Seeking Behaviour (HCSB) among PLWHA in South-East, Nigeria. Five specific research questions and two hypotheses guided the study. Methodology: Using a descriptive survey design, the study accessed a sample of 400 PLWHA who registered in HIV clinics from 5 government-owned, three missionary and two privately owned hospitals across the South-East zone between the month of June and August 2015. Multiple cluster sampling technique was used to draw this sample from an estimated 931600 People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) in South-East, Nigeria. A self-structured, validated and pretested questionnaire titled PLWHA Healthcare-Seeking Behaviour Questionnaire (PHCSBQ) was the instrument used for data collection. The instrument was subjected to a reliability test using Pearson product moment correlation (r=0.94). Descriptive statistics of frequency counts, percentages, mean and standard deviation were used to analyze data. Inferential statistics of chi-square was used to test hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. Results: Results showed that HCSB of PLWHA in South-East, Nigeria, reflected in their preference for treatment facilities and varied based on location and educational levels. Results also showed that place of residence (location) (1.83 + 0.17), educational level (1.86 + 0.23) and religio-cultural belief (1.76 + 0.084) were minor determinants whereas regularity of income (2.57 + 0.059) and stigmatization (2.63 + 0.046) were major determinants of PLWHA healthcare-seeking in South-East, Nigeria. The study also revealed that HCSB significantly differed between PLWHA in urban and rural areas. Furthermore, the study revealed that HCSB differed among PLWHA of different educational levels. Conclusion: Stigma and irregular income were major determinants of PLWHA’s HCSB in South-East, Nigeria. There is need for vigorous health education campaign to enlighten the people more on the disease and tackle the devastating effect of stigma. It is imperative that Governments at different levels, donor agencies, and spirited affluent individuals collaborate in synergic fashion to institute financial social welfare packages that would be accessible on regular basis to PLWHA at various treatment facilities to mitigate the adverse effect of lack of regular income on healthcare-seeking behaviour of PLWHA.

44-50

Authors: Mohammed Alshakka, Thamir Alshammari, Mukhtar Ansari, Adel Aldhubhani, Heyam Ali, Mohamed Izham Mohamed Ibrahim

Pharmacoeconomics constitutes an area of health care research that assesses and compares the costs and outcomes related to drug therapy. The article’s main aim is to stress the importance of the use of pharmacoeconomic research and pharmacoeconomics education in Yemen and in the curriculum carried out in Yemeni pharmacy schools. The article talks about the concept, the importance of pharmacoeconomics in low-income countries, the contributions made by pharmacoeconomics to pharmacy practice, pharmacy education in Yemen and the need to have proper pharmacoeconomics in Yemen. Conclusively, the Pharmacoeconomic research if implemented in Yemen, it will play an increasingly important role in making critical decisions concerning options that can be made regarding drug therapies and pharmaceutical services. Also, Pharmacists and future pharmacists should have a fundamental understanding of pharmacoeconomic concepts and the research methods employed to use the information gained from this rapidly growing field most effectively.