Exploring the role and lived experiences of people with disabilities working in the agricultural sector in northern Nigeria

It is estimated that over 75.0% of households in sub-Saharan Africa are involved in agriculture, and the majority of the poor in rural areas rely on agriculture for their livelihoods. One billion people living with disabilities in low- and middle-income countries are argued to make up the poorest of the poor, yet to our knowledge, no literature has captured the livelihood of people living with disabilities in the context of farming in Nigeria, specifically northern Nigeria where most of the households are involved in agriculture and related activities. Objectives: This article reports on findings from a study that sought to understand disability in the context of northern Nigerian farming, with a particular focus on the role and lived experiences of people living with disabilities working in the agricultural sector. Method: A survey questionnaire was developed and captured the experiences of 1067 people living with disabilities working in the agricultural sector across five states (Adamawa, Bauchi, Jigawa, Kaduna and Yobe) in northern Nigeria. Results: Findings indicate that people with disabilities are actively participating in agricultural activities for several reasons, which specifically included 'forced to and for survival'. When participants reported needing care, this was predominantly provided by family members. Findings also showed that participants with disabilities experienced several economic and sociocultural challenges because of their impairments. Conclusion: This study adds to the very limited literature on farmers living with disabilities in sub-Saharan Africa and so highlights the need for more research to be conducted with farmers living with disabilities in Nigeria, particularly female farmers living with disabilities. These will provide more evidence pertaining to the experiences of farmers living with disabilities in order to provide effective disability- and gender-inclusive agricultural and entrepreneurship programmes in Nigeria. Contribution: The results of this research reveal important insights relating to the experiences of farmers living with disabilities in northern Nigeria, which can contribute to informing future developmental projects to achieve effective inclusion and actively benefit people living with disabilities

An outbreak of salmonellosis linked to a marine turtle.

In September 1998, an outbreak of gastroenteritis occurred in a coastal Aboriginal community in the Northern Territory over a seven day period. An investigation was conducted by the Center for Disease Control, Territory Health Services. Thirty-six cases were detected and 17% (n=6) were hospitalized. Salmonella chester was isolated from eight of nine stool specimens. Sixty-two percent of cases interviewed (n=28) reported consumption of a green turtle (Chelonia mydas) within a median of 24 hours prior to onset of illness. Of the remainder, all but two were contacts of other cases. Salmonella chester was isolated from a section of partially cooked turtle meat. There are no previous published reports of salmonellosis associated with consumption of sea turtles despite them being a popular food source in coastal communities in the Pacific.

A Clinical Analysis of Hospitalized Patients During the Period of Flood in Ujungbu

BACKGROUND: Flood is the most common natural disaster in our country. Lots of victims occurred during the period of flood in the northern territory of Kyoungkido on August 5, 1998. We tried to describe the characteristics of the flood-related injury and illness, management and medical requirements. METHODS: We interviewed the patients admitted to 8 hospitals in Ujungbu and reviewed medical records from aug 5 to Aug 14, 1998. RESULTS: There were total 102 patients, male were 52%and women were 48% Most of patients were between 30's and 60's. Most of them were minor, and less than 3%of them needed critical care. The diagnosis were laceration(39.2%, contusion(22.5%, fracture(13.7%, infectious disease(7.8%, ligament rupture(7.8%, aggravation of chronic illness(5.9%, dermatitis(2.0% and traumatic hyphema(1.0%. The laceration occurred in the foot(37.9%, lower leg(27.0%, thigh(16.2%, hand(10.8% and head(8.1%. The location of ligament injury were achilless tendon(62.5%, hand(25% and knee(12.5%. The 67.5%of flood-related laceration patients progressed cellulitis, especially in sutured wound and a typical tetanic patient was developed. Of hospitalized patients, 2 patients showed evidence of post-traumatic stress disorder(PTSD). CONCLUSION: During flood, civils have better to be educated about prevention of injury, such as wearing of shoes and clothes. Although laceration was minor, lacerated wounds should be thoroughly irrigated, debrided the margin and considered delayed closure, tetanus immunization. Reportedly, there is an increased prevalance of PTSD and depression after disasters. Therefore mental health care will be required in the future.

The 1990-1991 outbreak of melioidosis in the Northern Territory of Australia: clinical aspects.

From November 1990 to June 1991, 33 cases of acute melioidosis were diagnosed in tropical Northern Territory, Australia during an exceptionally wet monsoon. Eighteen (55%) were alcoholic, 16 (48%) diabetic and only 4 (12%, all survivors) had no risk factors. Twenty-seven (82%) were considered recent infection, with an incubation period of 3-21 days (mean 14) documented in eight cases with presumed cutaneous inoculation. Fourteen patients presented with pneumonia (4 septicemic) and of 11 others with septicemia 4 had genitourinary foci. Three of 4 with splenic abscesses required splenectomy. Three had only skin/soft tissue infection. One patient with brainstem encephalitis needed prolonged ventilation. Overall mortality was 36% (12 cases, including three relapses), despite therapy with ceftazidime and intensive care facilities. Pseudomonas pseudomallei is the commonest diagnosed cause of fatal bacteremic pneumonia at Royal Darwin Hospital and emphasis is placed on early appropriate antibiotic therapy and compliance with maintenance therapy for at least three months.

The 1990-1991 outbreak of melioidosis in the Northern Territory of Australia: epidemiology and environmental studies.

From November 1990 to June 1991 33 acute cases of melioidosis occurred in the Northern Territory, Australia; 25 cases were reported in the capital city, Darwin. We carried out an epidemiological investigation to exclude a common source outbreak, describe the risk factors for disease, and develop and institute appropriate control measures. We compared population based attack rates among various risk groups using logistic regression, and the demographic, medical and behavioral risk factors for melioidosis by a matched case-control study. Environmental Health Officers collected soil, surface water and cooling tower water specimens for Pseudomonas pseudomallei culture. The crude attack rate of melioidosis during the outbreak was 52 per 100,000. Age, gender, race, diabetes and alcohol abuse were independent risk factors for disease. The relative risk of disease in diabetic patients was 12.9 (95% CI 5.1-32.7; p < 0.001) and 6.7 in alcoholic patients (95% CI 2.9-15.2; p < 0.001). We found no significant difference between cases and controls in matched pair analysis for any of several exposure factors studied. We isolated Pseudomonas pseudomallei from 4% of soil samples and 9% of surface water samples. Our study confirms the importance of host factors in the development of melioidosis, and attempts to quantify the risk of disease during the Darwin epidemic. Pseudomonas pseudomallei is widespread in the soil of urban Darwin.