Every year in northwest Nigeria, communities gather to participate in the Argungu International Fishing and Cultural Festival near the Matan Fada River. The four day festival, which runs between late February and Marc...Every year in northwest Nigeria, communities gather to participate in the Argungu International Fishing and Cultural Festival near the Matan Fada River. The four day festival, which runs between late February and March, features kabanci, a series of water competitions including hand fishing, canoe racing, wild duck catchi ng as well as other traditional practices, such as the local style of wrestling and boxing. Men and boys participate in the con tests, while women provide the encouragement by performing songs and dances.展开更多
This study examines discourse structures and strategies employed by selected Nigerian socio-political actors to reconstruct a single dramatic event that involved Nigeria's former President Muhammadu Buhari at the ...This study examines discourse structures and strategies employed by selected Nigerian socio-political actors to reconstruct a single dramatic event that involved Nigeria's former President Muhammadu Buhari at the Argungu Fishing Festival in Kebbi State on 12th March,2020.The data comprise excerpts from various statements of Messrs Nnamdi Kanu,Femi Adesina,Femi Fani-Kayode,Lai Moham-med and Jamilu Gunddare,which were drawn from newspaper reports of Daily Post,Premium Times and The Cable between 12th and 13th March,2020.Using the socio-cognitive model of critical discourse analysis as a guide,the qualitative analysis revealed that different discourse structures and strategies in the texts formed three broad themes:verbal attacks,crisis management and expose.While Kanu deployed metaphor,dysphemism and number game to portray the event as an attempted arrest of Buhari's impostor,Fani-Kayode employed exaggeration,dysphemism and positive other-representation to reconstruct it as an attempted attack.However,through euphemism,dysphemism,vagueness and disclaimers,Adesina and Mohammed describe the event as an embrace,while Gunddare used positive self-representation,legitimisation,euphemism and disclaimer to explain his sup-posed positive intent.The study,therefore,concludes that Nigerian socio-political actors,like their global counterparts,do not present realities in public discourse but reproduce their personal/group ideologies.展开更多
Background:Malaria during pregnancy remains a serious public health problem,with substantial risks for the mother,her foetus and the newborn.The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of malaria and possibl...Background:Malaria during pregnancy remains a serious public health problem,with substantial risks for the mother,her foetus and the newborn.The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of malaria and possible risk factors for malaria infection among pregnant women in a semi-urban area in north-western Nigeria.Pregnant women are among the most susceptible to malaria infection.Knowledge of their malaria infection status is an important yardstick to measure the effectiveness of any malaria control programme.Methods:We conducted a cross sectional study in the semi-urban area of Argungu,Kebbi State Nigeria.Two hundred and fifty five pregnant women were included in the study after informed verbal consent was obtained.For each participant,the socio-demographic profile,stage of pregnancy and attitude to the use of insecticide-treated nets(ITNs)were investigated using a questionnaire.Peripheral blood samples were collected and thick blood smears were prepared and stained with Giemsa stains to check for malaria parasitaemia.The associations between age,education level and use of ITNs with occurrence of malaria infection during pregnancy were analysed using the chi-square test.Results:One hundred and six(41.6%)out of 255 pregnant women were infected with malaria parasites,with a mean parasite density of 800 parasitesμl−1.It was found that prevalence and parasite density decreased as age increased.The chi-square test indicated that a lack of education and non-usage of ITNs were significantly associated with malaria infection.Conclusion:Malaria is still a major public health issue among pregnant women mainly due to illiteracy and non-compliance to using ITNs.Increasing awareness about malaria preventive measures and early attendance of antenatal care services will help to reduce malaria and,consequently,its associated morbidities and mortalities.展开更多
文摘Every year in northwest Nigeria, communities gather to participate in the Argungu International Fishing and Cultural Festival near the Matan Fada River. The four day festival, which runs between late February and March, features kabanci, a series of water competitions including hand fishing, canoe racing, wild duck catchi ng as well as other traditional practices, such as the local style of wrestling and boxing. Men and boys participate in the con tests, while women provide the encouragement by performing songs and dances.
文摘This study examines discourse structures and strategies employed by selected Nigerian socio-political actors to reconstruct a single dramatic event that involved Nigeria's former President Muhammadu Buhari at the Argungu Fishing Festival in Kebbi State on 12th March,2020.The data comprise excerpts from various statements of Messrs Nnamdi Kanu,Femi Adesina,Femi Fani-Kayode,Lai Moham-med and Jamilu Gunddare,which were drawn from newspaper reports of Daily Post,Premium Times and The Cable between 12th and 13th March,2020.Using the socio-cognitive model of critical discourse analysis as a guide,the qualitative analysis revealed that different discourse structures and strategies in the texts formed three broad themes:verbal attacks,crisis management and expose.While Kanu deployed metaphor,dysphemism and number game to portray the event as an attempted arrest of Buhari's impostor,Fani-Kayode employed exaggeration,dysphemism and positive other-representation to reconstruct it as an attempted attack.However,through euphemism,dysphemism,vagueness and disclaimers,Adesina and Mohammed describe the event as an embrace,while Gunddare used positive self-representation,legitimisation,euphemism and disclaimer to explain his sup-posed positive intent.The study,therefore,concludes that Nigerian socio-political actors,like their global counterparts,do not present realities in public discourse but reproduce their personal/group ideologies.
文摘Background:Malaria during pregnancy remains a serious public health problem,with substantial risks for the mother,her foetus and the newborn.The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of malaria and possible risk factors for malaria infection among pregnant women in a semi-urban area in north-western Nigeria.Pregnant women are among the most susceptible to malaria infection.Knowledge of their malaria infection status is an important yardstick to measure the effectiveness of any malaria control programme.Methods:We conducted a cross sectional study in the semi-urban area of Argungu,Kebbi State Nigeria.Two hundred and fifty five pregnant women were included in the study after informed verbal consent was obtained.For each participant,the socio-demographic profile,stage of pregnancy and attitude to the use of insecticide-treated nets(ITNs)were investigated using a questionnaire.Peripheral blood samples were collected and thick blood smears were prepared and stained with Giemsa stains to check for malaria parasitaemia.The associations between age,education level and use of ITNs with occurrence of malaria infection during pregnancy were analysed using the chi-square test.Results:One hundred and six(41.6%)out of 255 pregnant women were infected with malaria parasites,with a mean parasite density of 800 parasitesμl−1.It was found that prevalence and parasite density decreased as age increased.The chi-square test indicated that a lack of education and non-usage of ITNs were significantly associated with malaria infection.Conclusion:Malaria is still a major public health issue among pregnant women mainly due to illiteracy and non-compliance to using ITNs.Increasing awareness about malaria preventive measures and early attendance of antenatal care services will help to reduce malaria and,consequently,its associated morbidities and mortalities.
