The Journal of Middle East and North Africa Sciences

1-16

Authors: Hussin J. Hejase; Bassam Hamdar; Fadi Hashem; Remi Bou Sleiman

Nowadays, balancing work and family is getting more demanding, finding time for oneself is difficult, and the demands of work are overwhelming; life is becoming more stressful. Stress has become one of the factors that decision-makers must contend with in most life-or-death situations. In business, stress can be detrimental to the success of managers when making key decisions. This paper presents an exploratory study on the effect of stress on decision makers. It focuses on the impact of stress throughout the decision-making process and not only at the time of decision. It also highlights the importance of mitigating stress in order to reach an effective decision. The impact of stress is studied from two perspectives, one of the decision makers themselves and another of their subordinates. The findings of the research give a holistic view on stress and its impact on decision makers, and an insight into business stress mitigation strategies. The research adopts a quantitative approach where data is gathered from different conveniently selected employees, through survey questionnaires that are used to gather insight into the employees’ perception of managers’ performance under stress. Detailed results of the survey questionnaires are stated and are analyzed using the software SPSS for quantitative data. This research suggests that a better understanding of the interplay between stress and an individual's judgment and decision-making activities may yield a better understanding of how people reach the choices they make under stress.

01-03

Authors: J. Yaljá Montiel-Pérez; J. López-Bonilla; S. Vidal-Beltrán

Authors use the Stirling numbers of the second kind to show an identity of Wilf, which in turn implies a formula of Melzak.

12-24

Authors: Briliya Devadas

Background: Nursing started in the United Arab Emirates with the arrival of expatriate nurses in the latter part of the nineteen century, but fifty years on though, nursing education in the country is still in its infancy, and currently only 3% of the local population are taking up the profession as a career choice in the country. Objective: The purpose of this paper is to explore the experience of nursing education leaders in dealing with this issue. Design: Unstructured interviews were conducted with select nursing leaders in the country to explore their experiences. Findings: Nursing leaders from different spheres of the profession had different experiences and responsibilities, and tackled the problem from different perspectives. Conclusion: The paper has several implications for nursing education and policy in the United Arab Emirates and the region.

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.

1-7

Authors: Bassey T. Udoh; Ebele D. Chukwu

A field soil survey and laboratory studies were carried out to examine the influence of crude oil and industrial wastes pollution on soil profile development and characteristics in Ikot Abasi, Niger Delta area of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. Nine soil profiles, three each, in oil affected site (OAS), industrial waste affected site (IWAS) and non-contaminated (control) site (NCS), respectively, were studied. Soil samples were collected and analyzed in the laboratory for some physical and chemical properties. The result of soil classification following the USDA Soil Taxonomy and correlated with the World Reference Base for Soil Resources (WRB) showed that all the three pedons from the control (NCS) were highly weathered and matured soils (Ultisols). Of the three pedons from the OAS, two (66.7%) were matured while one (33.3%) was young soil (Inceptisol/Cambisol). Similarly, of the three pedons from the IWAS, one (33.3%) was matured (Ultisols/Acrisols) while two pedons (66.7%) were young soils (Inceptisols/Cambisols). This indicates that environmental pollution can retard soil formation and profile development resulting in relatively young soils. Furthermore, analysis of variance (ANOVA), showed that soils of OAS were significantly (P< 0.05) different from those of IWAS and NCS in 12(52.2%) and seven (30.4%), respectively, of the 23 soil properties considered. Also, soils of IWAS were significantly different from those of the NCS in six (26.1%) of the soil properties. The result further showed that oil pollution significantly increased soil total hydrocarbon (THC) and lead (Pb) contents as well as organic matter content (OM), available phosphorous (P) exchangeable potassium (K), micronutrients (Fe, Zn, Cu, Mn) and lowered exchangeable acidity (EA). Industrial wastes also increased soil exchangeable calcium (Ca) and K and effective cation exchange capacity (ECEC) and lowered EA. Therefore, appropriate remediation and land management practices can ameliorate the harmful effects of these pollution activities while the essential nutrients and positive influences imparted to the soil during the pollution are harnessed to improve the land/soil qualities and characteristics.

15-19

Authors: Joydev Ghosh; Uttam Kr. Nandi

The development of wireless broadband access network (WBAN) leads to enhance the insufficiency of unoccupied radio resources. This is quite expected in coming times, wireless cellular technologies and wireless local area networks (WLANs) will work together in coexistence scenario within the alike unlicensed spectrums (USs). Although, two most emerging wireless networks, i.e., Long Term Evaluation (LTE) and Wi-Fi, are available to operate in separate bands, but not to operate in the coexisting scenario, particularly in unlicensed spectrum. Here, we review the challenges that occur as a result of the simultaneous functioning of LTE and Wi-Fi within the alike USs from the angle of radio resource management (RRM). We demonstrate that Wi-Fi can strongly affect by LTE transmissions; thus, the integrated LTE and Wi-Fi requires to be cautiously examined. We introduce few feasible coexistence operations and scopes in coming time which may result in the fruitful allied deployment of LTE and Wi-Fi within the alike USs.

1-9

Authors: Evelyn Sunnu; Peter Adatara

Background: Acceptance of contraceptive use by men and women in developing countries is believed to be influenced by people’s awareness, attitudes, and beliefs about contraceptive. Objective: The study investigated the knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs about contraceptive use among women and men among residents of the Ho Municipality in the Volta Region, Ghana. Materials and Methods: This study was a cross-sectional survey. A total of 340 respondents, men and women were randomly selected from the sub-municipalities in Ho for the study. The tool for data collection included structured questionnaires and an interview guide. Quantitative data was analyzed at the univariate and bivariate level using SPSS version 15.0 software, while qualitative data was analyzed thematically. Findings: The average age of the men was 28.06 years (SD=7.28) while that of the women was 30.41 years (SD=8.12). Knowledge of contraceptive methods was high: (151/161) 96.3% of men and (153/169) 90.5% of women were aware of contraceptive; however, this did not translate into high usage. Only 67 (41.6%) of men and 59 (34.9%) of women were current users of modern contraceptive. The major perceptions and beliefs regarding family planning contraceptive use from the perspectives of men and women in this study included contraceptives were harmful to the womb, contraceptives use will make you increase in weight, contraceptives use can make you infertile, contraceptives are meant for only married people, and contraceptives should only be used by women because they become pregnant Conclusion: In conclusion, the findings of this study showed that the awareness of contraceptives use among community members were high, however, the high level of awareness of contraceptives use did not translate into high usage among men and women in the study area as there was still low contraceptive use.