Survey dataset on the epidemiological assessment of cassava mosaic disease in South West and North Central regions of Nigeria reveals predominance of single viral infection.

The dataset presented here was collected during field surveys conducted in 2015 and 2017, to determine the distribution of African cassava mosaic virus (ACMV) and East African cassava mosaic virus (EACMV) across 12 Nigerian states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja. In each state, cassava farms were systematically sampled at 10 km intervals except in locations with sparse distribution of cassava farms. In each farm, 30 cassava plants were visually assessed for presence or absence of cassava mosaic disease (CMD) foliar symptoms along two diagonals. Whitefly population was assessed by counting the number of whiteflies on the top five leaves of each sampled plant. Then an average of 4 cassava leaf samples were collected from each farm, and screened for ACMV and EACMV infections using polymerase chain reaction. The dataset includes CMD incidence, symptom severity and the relative abundance of whiteflies in each field as well as laboratory results that show the distribution of ACMV and EACMV across the regions surveyed.

South West and North Central Nigeria: Assessment of cassava mosaic disease and field status of African cassava mosaic virus and East African cassava mosaic virus.

Cassava mosaic disease (CMD), caused by cassava mosaic begomoviruses (CMBs), is a major threat to cassava production in Nigeria. The predominant CMBs in Nigeria are African cassava mosaic virus (ACMV), East African cassava mosaic virus (EACMV) and East African cassava mosaic Cameroon virus (EACMCV), which are transmitted through infected stem cuttings and whitefly vectors. This study was conducted in 2015 and 2017 to assess the epidemiology of CMD and the current distribution of CMBs in cassava farms in South West (SW) and North Central (NC) Nigeria. A survey of cassava farms was undertaken, and samples representative of disease symptoms were collected and assessed using molecular techniques. A total of 184 and 328 cassava farms were sampled in 2015 and 2017, respectively. CMD incidence for both regions surveyed was 43.80 and 12.25% in 2015 and 2017, respectively. Fields in SW recorded a higher incidence rate in 2015 (SW: 45.11%, NC: 42.47%), while the reverse occurred in 2017 (SW: 10.90%, NC: 14.01%). Overall, the CMD incidence in Benue State (NC) was significantly higher than other locations surveyed in both years. CMD symptom severity and mean whitefly population were higher in SW Nigeria in the two survey years. ACMV was widespread across both zones, occurring in 79.1% (453/613) and 54.8% (386/704) of cassava leaf samples analysed in 2015 and 2017, respectively. EACMV was detected in only 6.0% (37/613) and 4.7% (33/704) of all cassava leaf samples analysed in 2015 and 2017, respectively. Overall, a higher proportion of infected samples were found in NC in both 2015 (NC: 85.2%, SW: 75.4%) and 2017 (NC: 73.6%, SW: 45.2%). Detection using strain-specific primers revealed that 97% of EACMV positive samples were indeed infected by the EACMCV strain of the virus. As previously reported, samples with mixed infections showed a higher symptom severity than samples with single ACMV or EACMV infections. This study provides an update to the distribution of CMBs in SW and NC Nigeria and will be useful in development of monitoring and management strategies for the disease in both regions.

Science, technology, engineering and mathematics enrolment patterns and factors influencing the choice to study science among female secondary school students in Nigeria.

Access to education has been listed as one of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG4). Achieving this goal, however, is predicated upon the elimination of widely prevalent gender disparities in education. In this report, we first examine the differences in enrolment in STEM-related courses between the genders then we proceed to explore the factors that may affect the choice of STEM in pre-university female students in Ogun state, Nigeria. Two publicly available datasets, the Joint Admissions Matriculation Board (JAMB) enrolment data for 2012 - 2015 and data on the performance of students enrolled in Covenant University from 2010-2014 were used in this study. A survey of pre-university students in Ogun state, to examine factors that influence career choice was also conducted and used in this study. Our findings showed that men were more likely to be enrolled in a STEM discipline than women. This disparity was, however, not observed for non-STEM disciplines were both genders were equally likely to be enrolled. Responses from our survey of female secondary school students showed that a good number (47.6%) were not confident to take pre-university STEM subjects and were likely to enrol in non-STEM courses at the university. These findings emphasise the need to sensitise junior secondary school level girls to take on more technical courses in a bid to have adequate representation across the STEM disciplines.

Knowledge and Awareness of Hepatitis B Virus Infection in Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: The World Health Organisation recently launched a campaign to reduce Hepatitis B Viral Infections by 80% globally. Achieving this goal is partly predicated on proper awareness of persons in regions of high transmission. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess the Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) infection knowledge status of persons across three states in Nigeria. METHODS: A descriptive cross-sectional study among 758 persons selected by convenience sampling was conducted from March to July 2016. Structured questionnaires were administered to consenting participants and analysed using descriptive and inferential statistical methods in SPSS V20. FINDINGS: Respondents showed average knowledge with a mean knowledge score of 4.85 ± 2.69 out of a max score of 9.00. Respondents belonging to the working class had significantly better knowledge (5.59 ± 2.34 p < 0.001) than respondents in other categories. High-risk behaviour such as having multiple partners was predominant among respondents belonging to a public institution. A total of 242 (31.96%) of study respondents were aware of the existence of a vaccine for HBV, whereas only 161 (21.2%) had received at least one dose of vaccination against HBV. Previous knowledge of HBV infection, previous HBV testing, and knowing someone who had HBV infection were predictors of HBV infection knowledge as well as vaccination. CONCLUSION: This study has shown the urgent need for intervention targeted at raising awareness about HBV infection and the existence of a vaccine.

Dataset on the knowledge, attitudes and practices of university students towards antibiotics.

Antibiotic resistance is a major public health issue globally fuelled largely by its misuse. Controlling this problem would require an understanding of the levels of awareness of the population towards antibiotics. The data presented here was obtained from undergraduate students attending a Nigerian University in the first three months of the year 2016. The data is stratified by such demographic variables as age, sex and level of study. It contains information about the knowledge, and predispositions of participants to antibiotics and antibiotic resistance. Preliminary descriptive statistics are presented in the tables and figures herewith. Data was analysed using SPSS-20 and is available for reuse in the native SPSS format. In concluding, this data can be used to model the determinants of antibiotic knowledge among students.

Data set on Rapid Diagnostic Tests (RDTs) and microscopy for diagnosing plasmodium falciparum and plasmodium vivax.

The World Heal Organization (WHO) has identified malaria diagnosis as being pivotal to eradicating the disease by 2030 as stipulated in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). The data presented here was obtained from outpatients of a hospital in the South Western Region of Nigeria from November 2016 to May 2017. The data contains malaria incidence amongst asymptomatic and symptomatic outpatients in the period under review. Malaria incidence was obtained using two diagnostic test kits, Bioline SD (HRP-2) and ACON (HRP-2/Aldolase) alongside Microscopy as gold standard. Specificity, Sensitivity and Kappa statistic of each test device is presented in the tables herewith. Data presented here could be used alongside other data sources to assess the state of malaria diagnostics.

Poor Knowledge of Human Papilloma Virus and Vaccination Among Respondents from Three Nigerian States.

The aim of this study was to assess the levels of human papilloma virus (HPV) infection and vaccination awareness among members of the general population across three Nigerian States. A descriptive cross-sectional study among 758 persons selected by convenience sampling was conducted from March to July 2016. Structured questionnaires were administered to consenting participants and analysed using descriptive and inferential statistical methods in SPSS V20. Awareness to HPV infection and vaccination was very low at 1.40 ± 1.803 out of 6 points. Only 31.97% of respondents had heard about HPV while 17.5% were aware of the existence of a vaccine. The most prevalent sources of information amongst respondents who had heard about HPV were Doctors (13.08%) and the Media (9.91%). Bivariate analysis showed that respondents who consulted with gynaecologists, knew someone who had cervical cancer or had received HPV vaccination were more likely to be aware of HPV infection and vaccination. Gynaecologists (p < 0.0001) and previous vaccination (p < 0.0001) were the most important contributors to HPV awareness in a multivariate analysis. This study underpins the need for urgent intervention to raise awareness for HPV.