Organic Geochemistry and 1-D Basin Modeling of the Late Triassic Baluti Formation: Implication of Shale Oil Potential in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq.

This investigation looks at the Late Triassic Baluti Formation's organic geochemical, mineralogical, and petrographical characteristics from a single exploration well (TT-22) near the Taq Taq oilfield in northern Iraq. The Baluti Formation shale samples that were studied in the studied well have high total organic carbon (TOC %) values up to 4.92 wt % and mostly hydrogen-rich types I and II kerogen with a minor gradient to types II/III and III kerogen, indicating a good oil-source rock. The hydrogen-rich kerogen was also confirmed by various organic matter (OM) origins and depositional environment-related biomarkers. The biomarker indicators demonstrate that the Baluti shale was deposited under anoxic conditions and contains a variety of OM generated mostly from algae marine and other aqueous organic materials, along with some terrigenous land plants. The geochemical and optical maturity indicators show that most of the examined Baluti shale samples, with a deep burial depth of more than 4000 m, are thermally mature, thus defining peak-mature to late-mature stages of the oil generation window. According to the basin models, from the late Miocene to the present, between 10 and 59% of the kerogen in the Baluti shale source rock has been transformed into oil, which is consistent with the VR values between 0.77 and 1.08%. The presence of the oil crossover in these shale rocks with an oil saturation index of more than 100 mg HC/g rock supports the maximal oil generation from the Baluti source rock system. Additionally, there was little oil expulsion from the Baluti source rock system at the end of the late Miocene, with transformation ratio values below 60% (59%). Considering the more significant oil generation and little expulsion, a high pressure was generated and forced the brittle minerals of the Baluti shales (mainly quartz), creating a natural fracture system as recognized and observed in the thin section. This natural fracture system enhances the porosity system of tight shale rocks of the Baluti Formation, giving rise to a high probability of oil production using hydraulic fracturing stimulation.

Reproductive Behaviors among Men of a Rural Community in North-Western Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: Fertility is an important component of population change and has attracted the interest of scholars and policy makers. Nigeria's population growth rate has been driven by high fertility, which has fallen in the last few decades but not as rapidly as the fall of the crude death rate. Men and their kinsmen are the decision-makers on issues relating to reproductive health such as timing of the next birth, number of children and when to stop childbearing while their women cooperate. We determined the reproductive behaviors of men in Doka community in Kaduna State Nigeria. METHODOLOGY: A cross-sectional descriptive community based study of 320 men was conducted. RESULTS: The mean age±SD of the male respondents was 40 (±14.2) years. The average age at first marriage among men was 23.32 (±4.62 years), the contraceptive use among men was 10(3.2%). Above a third 118 (37.9%) of men were in polygamous union. There was a statistically significant increase in the mean number of living children as the age of men increased (p=0.001). The mean number of children ever fathered was significantly associated with the educational status of men (p=0.03). CONCLUSION: we found a very low contraceptive use, high number of desired children as well as living children among the men. Government should enlighten married men on the importance of contraceptive use for birth control as well as the social and economic implications of having too many children.

CONTEXTE: La fertilité est une composante importante de l'évolution démographique et a suscité l'intérêt des chercheurs et des décideurs. Le taux de croissance de la population du Nigeria a été alimenté par une fertilité élevée, qui a baissé au cours des dernières décennies, mais pas aussi rapidement que la baisse du taux brut de mortalité. Les hommes et leurs proches sont les décideurs sur les questions relatives à la santé reproductive telles que le moment de la prochaine naissance, le nombre d'enfants et le moment d'arrêter la procréation, tandis que leurs femmes coopèrent. Nous avons déterminé les comportements reproductifs des hommes de la communauté de Doka dans l'Etat de Kaduna au Nigeria. MÉTHODOLOGIE: Une étude transversale descriptive basée sur la communauté a été menée auprès de 320 hommes. RÉSULTATS: L'âge moyen±SD des hommes interrogés était de 40 (±14,2) ans. L'âge moyen au premier mariage chez les hommes était de 23,32 (±4,62 ans), l'utilisation de contraceptifs chez les hommes était de 10 (3,2%). Plus d'un tiers 118 (37,9%) des hommes étaient en union polygame. Il y avait une augmentation statistiquement significative du nombre moyen d'enfants vivants à mesure que l'âge des hommes augmentait (p=0,001). Le nombre moyen d'enfants déjà engendrés était significativement associé au niveau d'éducation des hommes (p=0,03). CONCLUSION: nous avons trouvé une très faible utilisation de la contraception, un nombre élevé d'enfants désirés ainsi que d'enfants vivants parmi les hommes. Le gouvernement devrait éclairer les hommes mariés sur l'importance de l'utilisation de la contraception pour le contrôle des naissances ainsi que sur les implications sociales et économiques d'avoir trop d'enfants. MOTS CLÉS: Contraception; Fertilité; Enfants désirés; Nombre moyen d'enfants.

Factors influencing health seeking behaviour among residents of Basawa community, Sabon Gari l.G.A. Kaduna State, Nigeria

Background: The health of the citizenry is crucial to the growth and development of any nation. Nigeria is riddled with poor health indices ranging from maternal mortality to infant mortality rates. It has been established that health-seeking behaviour has a strong influence on health status, morbidity and mortality indices of a society. It also drives utilisation of health services and is affected by predisposing, enabling and need factors. This study assessed the factors influencing health-seeking behaviour among residents of Basawa community, Sabon Gari LGA, Kaduna State, Nigeria. Method: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study carried out in September 2017 among 125 residents of Basawa community selected by systematic sampling technique. Data was collected using asemi-structured interviewer-administered questionnaire and analysed with SPSS version 21. The results were presented as tables and charts among others. Level of statistical significance was set at p <0.05. Results: The mean age of the respondents was 42±10 years. Majority of the respondents were male (60.8%) and married (90.4%). About two-thirds of the respondents delayed for more than 24 hours before seeking healthcare. Long waiting time (55.2%), the attitude of health workers (22.4%) and the high cost of drugs (22.4%) were given as barriers to health care utilisation. High cost of services, type and severity of illness and attitude of health care workers are the main determinants of health-seeking behaviour. There was a statistically significant relationship between education, monthly income and delay in seeking health care. Conclusion: The study showed several factors that influence health care seeking behaviour. In view of the multifactorial determinants of health-care seeking behaviour, there is need for health workers to be trained and retrained to improve on their attitude, and the provision of community-based social health insurance scheme by the government among others