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Prevalence of Malnutrition Among Children Under Five in Iware, Taraba State Umaru, Isaac John; Asare, Solomon O.; Danjuma, Tyem Lawal; Ayi, Atsu; Akem, Ingwu Joseph; Akpan, Usenobong Morgan; Salman, Julius Ishaya; Hassan, George Okra; Ahmed, Maryam Usman; Umaru, Hauwa A.
African Journal of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Research Vol 3 No 2 (2026): African Journal of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Research
Publisher : Darul Yasin Al Sys

Show Abstract | Download Original | Original Source | Check in Google Scholar | DOI: 10.58578/ajbmbr.v3i2.9473

Malnutrition remains a major public health challenge in Nigeria, particularly among children under five years of age, with serious consequences for morbidity, mortality, cognitive development, and long-term human capital. In rural communities such as Iware, Taraba State, this burden is intensified by poverty, poor feeding practices, limited access to healthcare, and low caregiver education. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of stunting, wasting, and underweight among children aged 0–59 months in Iware and to examine the associations between nutritional status and socio-economic factors, including household income, caregiver education, feeding practices, and recent illness episodes, while also assessing the coverage of exclusive breastfeeding and vitamin A supplementation. A cross-sectional design was employed, with a sample size estimated using Cochran’s formula at 200–400 children. A multistage sampling technique was used in which households were randomly selected and eligible children were stratified by age group. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire on socio-demographic characteristics, feeding practices, and household conditions, alongside anthropometric measurements of weight, height/length, and mid-upper arm circumference, with nutritional status classified according to WHO Growth Standards. Data collection was conducted over 2–4 weeks by trained enumerators following a pilot study, and the data were analyzed using SPSS and STATA through descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and logistic regression. The findings revealed a high prevalence of malnutrition, with stunting at 35%, underweight at 30%, and wasting at 25%. Although 60% of children were exclusively breastfed and 65% had received vitamin A supplementation, 42.5% had experienced recent illness. Socio-economic findings further showed that 72.5% of households earned below ₦30,000 per month and that 20% of caregivers had no formal education. Statistical analysis indicated significant associations between malnutrition and low household income, poor caregiver education, and inadequate complementary feeding practices (p < 0.05). The study concludes that malnutrition among children under five in Iware is driven by the combined effects of chronic poverty, limited maternal education, suboptimal feeding practices, and frequent illness. These findings underscore the need for multi-sectoral interventions focused on nutrition education, economic empowerment, improved healthcare access, and community-based strategies tailored to rural populations.

Evaluation of the Antidiarrheal Activity of Aqueous Leaf Extract of Senna surattensis on Castor Oil-Induced Diarrhea in Rats Ahmed, Maryam Usman; Samson, Mary; Adamu, Yusuf Muhammad
African Journal of Sciences and Traditional Medicine Vol 2 No 1 (2025): African Journal of Sciences and Traditional Medicine
Publisher : Darul Yasin Al Sys

Show Abstract | Download Original | Original Source | Check in Google Scholar | DOI: 10.58578/ajstm.v2i1.4535

Diarrheal disease is a major health problem in developing countries. It is the second leading cause of death among children under five globally; accounting for about 9 percent of all deaths. This study was aimed at evaluating the antidiarrheal activity of the aqueous leaf extract of Senna surattensis. The antidiarrheal effect of the extract was evaluated using castor oil-induced diarrhea model. Loperamide was used as the standard drug. Thirty (30) Wistar rats were divided into six (6) groups of five (5) rats each. Groups I and II served as the normal and negative controls respectively, group III as standard treatment and groups IV, V and VI as test groups. The extract was administered orally at three different doses of 100 mg/kg, 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg to groups IV, V and VI respectively. The extract exhibited a graded dose-dependent inhibition of castor oil-induced diarrhea. The stool inhibition was highly significant at 100 mg/kg (88.1% inhibition) and maximal at 400 mg/kg (100% inhibition). The maximal effect produced by the extract at 400 mg/kg (100% inhibition) is similar to that of the standard drug (5 mg/kg loperamide) which produced 97.6% inhibition. The extract also exhibited a modest dose-dependent reduction on the distance travelled by the charcoal meal. This extract high doses, significantly decrease the volume of the intestinal content when compared to that of the negative control. The results obtained from this study suggests that the aqueous leaf extract of Senna surattensis have significant antidiarrheal effect on animal models and this finding supports the traditional use of this plant extract for treatment and or management of diarrhea.

Evaluation of the Antidiarrheal Activity of Aqueous Leaf Extract of Senna surattensis on Castor Oil-Induced Diarrhea in Rats Ahmed, Maryam Usman; Samson, Mary; Adamu, Yusuf Muhammad
African Journal of Sciences and Traditional Medicine Vol 2 No 1 (2025): African Journal of Sciences and Traditional Medicine
Publisher : Darul Yasin Al Sys

Show Abstract | Download Original | Original Source | Check in Google Scholar | DOI: 10.58578/ajstm.v2i1.4535

Diarrheal disease is a major health problem in developing countries. It is the second leading cause of death among children under five globally; accounting for about 9 percent of all deaths. This study was aimed at evaluating the antidiarrheal activity of the aqueous leaf extract of Senna surattensis. The antidiarrheal effect of the extract was evaluated using castor oil-induced diarrhea model. Loperamide was used as the standard drug. Thirty (30) Wistar rats were divided into six (6) groups of five (5) rats each. Groups I and II served as the normal and negative controls respectively, group III as standard treatment and groups IV, V and VI as test groups. The extract was administered orally at three different doses of 100 mg/kg, 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg to groups IV, V and VI respectively. The extract exhibited a graded dose-dependent inhibition of castor oil-induced diarrhea. The stool inhibition was highly significant at 100 mg/kg (88.1% inhibition) and maximal at 400 mg/kg (100% inhibition). The maximal effect produced by the extract at 400 mg/kg (100% inhibition) is similar to that of the standard drug (5 mg/kg loperamide) which produced 97.6% inhibition. The extract also exhibited a modest dose-dependent reduction on the distance travelled by the charcoal meal. This extract high doses, significantly decrease the volume of the intestinal content when compared to that of the negative control. The results obtained from this study suggests that the aqueous leaf extract of Senna surattensis have significant antidiarrheal effect on animal models and this finding supports the traditional use of this plant extract for treatment and or management of diarrhea.

Toxicological Evaluation of Aqueous Leaf Extract of Phyllanthus niruri in Wistar Rats Ahmed, Maryam Usman; Ijimari, Thomas Martin; Anthony, William; Etuk, Idongesit; Abdulfatai, Ayinla Abayomi
Kwaghe International Journal of Sciences and Technology Vol 2 No 2 (2025): Kwaghe International Journal of Sciences and Technology
Publisher : Darul Yasin Al Sys

Show Abstract | Download Original | Original Source | Check in Google Scholar | DOI: 10.58578/kijst.v2i2.6145

Natural products have long been used as therapeutic agents; however, many lack comprehensive scientific evaluation of their toxicity. This study investigates the potential toxicity of Phyllanthus niruri (P. niruri) aqueous leaf extract in Wistar rats. Twenty-five male albino rats were randomly divided into five groups of five animals each. Groups 2 through 5 received daily oral doses of 100, 200, 400, and 800 mg/kg body weight of the extract, respectively, while Group 1 served as the control and received only grower mash and distilled water for 28 days. Toxicological assessment was conducted through hematological profiling and evaluation of liver and kidney function using standard biochemical methods. The results indicated a significant, dose-dependent increase (p<0.05) in the levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP), suggesting hepatic stress. In contrast, albumin, creatinine, and urea levels did not differ significantly (p<0.05) from the control group, indicating no observable impairment in renal function. Hematological analysis revealed a significant decrease (p<0.05) in packed cell volume (PCV) and red blood cell (RBC) count, while white blood cell (WBC) count, hemoglobin (Hb) concentration, and mean corpuscular volume (MCV) significantly increased with higher extract doses. These findings suggest that while P. niruri is traditionally regarded as a natural remedy, its aqueous leaf extract may induce hematological and hepatic alterations at elevated doses. Caution is therefore advised in its use, particularly in unregulated or prolonged applications.

Chronic Disease Management: Integrating Occupational Risk Evaluation with Predictive Prevention and Diagnostics Umaru, Isaac John; Asare, Solomon O.; Danjuma, Tyem Lawal; Eno, Gomba Victoria; Akem, Ingwu Joseph; Chukwudi, Eluu Emmanuel; Salman, Julius Ishaya; Umaru, Hauwa A.; Ahmed, Maryam Usman
Kwaghe International Journal of Sciences and Technology Vol 3 No 1 (2026): Kwaghe International Journal of Sciences and Technology
Publisher : Darul Yasin Al Sys

Show Abstract | Download Original | Original Source | Check in Google Scholar | DOI: 10.58578/kijst.v3i1.9304

Occupational health has become an increasingly important dimension of public health, particularly in efforts to prevent chronic disease; however, the application of artificial intelligence (AI) in this area is constrained by the lack of standardized occupational exposure metrics, limited representation of diverse work environments, and fragmented data systems. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of occupational exposure variables on chronic disease risk prediction, assess the performance of Random Forest, XGBoost, and Deep Neural Network (DNN) models across workplace contexts, and propose a framework for interoperable platforms that integrate health and occupational data to strengthen predictive analytics and early diagnostics. Using a cross-sectional dataset of 5,000 workers from the manufacturing, agriculture, healthcare, and service sectors, the study analyzed demographic characteristics, clinical biomarkers, occupational exposure logs, and psychosocial assessments. Model performance was evaluated using ROC-AUC, precision, recall, and F1-score, while feature importance analysis quantified the contribution of occupational variables; in addition, a prototype interoperable platform was developed to demonstrate real-time integration between electronic health records and workplace monitoring systems. The findings showed that the DNN model outperformed the other algorithms, achieving a ROC-AUC of 0.89, precision of 0.85, recall of 0.88, and F1-score of 0.86. Occupational exposure variables contributed 27% to predictive power, with chemical exposure and psychosocial stressors showing the strongest associations with chronic disease markers. Among high-risk individuals, 54% were identified with subclinical conditions, including elevated C-reactive protein and HbA1c levels, while personalized interventions based on model outputs reduced risk scores by 22% and improved biometric indicators. The interoperable platform also successfully synchronized health and exposure data, enabling real-time analytics and targeted alerts. These findings demonstrate that integrating standardized occupational exposure metrics with interoperable data platforms substantially enhances the accuracy and practical utility of AI-driven chronic disease prediction, while supporting more equitable and proactive occupational health surveillance across diverse industries.

The Legalization of Abortion and Its Influence on Youth Sexual Behavior and the Catholic Church: A Case Study of Adamawa State Umaru, Isaac John; Akem, Ingwu Joseph; Asare, Solomon O.; Danjuma, Tyem Lawal; Yeboah, Genevieve A.; Salman, Julius Ishaya; Umaru, Hauwa A.; Ahmed, Maryam Usman
Kwaghe International Journal of Sciences and Technology Vol 3 No 1 (2026): Kwaghe International Journal of Sciences and Technology
Publisher : Darul Yasin Al Sys

Show Abstract | Download Original | Original Source | Check in Google Scholar | DOI: 10.58578/kijst.v3i1.9401

Although debates on abortion reform have intensified in Nigeria, limited attention has been paid to how partial legalization shapes youth perspectives and sexual and reproductive behaviors within specific sociocultural and religious contexts. This study examines how the limited legalization of abortion influences youth attitudes and behaviors in Adamawa State, with particular attention to demographic, cultural, and institutional factors, as well as the Catholic Church’s response to these changes. A qualitative approach was employed through interviews with health workers, clergy, and youths aged 18–25 from urban and rural areas of Adamawa State. Supplementary data were obtained from community forums, church outreach programs, and health service records, and the data were analyzed thematically to identify patterns in attitudes, behaviors, and institutional responses. The findings indicate a marked urban–rural divide, with urban youths reporting higher sexual activity, greater contraceptive use, and stronger support for reproductive autonomy. The study also found that the Catholic Church’s moral campaigns have had limited influence, particularly among urban youths who perceive religious teachings as less relevant to contemporary realities. In contrast, health workers were viewed as more trusted sources of guidance, while peers and media played a substantial role in shaping youth behavior. The study concludes that the evolving legal and cultural landscape in Adamawa State reflects a broader generational shift toward autonomy and informed decision-making among youths. These findings contribute to understanding the changing relationship between legal reform, religious influence, and youth reproductive behavior, and suggest that more balanced strategies integrating moral guidance, comprehensive education, and supportive policies are needed to promote healthy youth development in a changing society.

Impact of Distinct Carbon Substrates on the Proliferation of Antimicrobial-Producing Microbes Umaru, Isaac John; Danjuma, Tyem Lawal; Akem, Ingwu Joseph; Salman, Julius Ishaya; Ahmed, Maryam Usman; Umaru, Hauwa A.
Kwaghe International Journal of Sciences and Technology Vol 3 No 2 (2026): Kwaghe International Journal of Sciences and Technology
Publisher : Darul Yasin Al Sys

Show Abstract | Download Original | Original Source | Check in Google Scholar | DOI: 10.58578/kijst.v3i2.9474

Microbial production of antimicrobial compounds remains a fundamental area of biotechnology and pharmaceutical development, and its efficiency is strongly influenced by the carbon source available in the growth medium, which functions not only as an energy substrate but also as a regulator of microbial metabolism and secondary metabolite synthesis. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of five carbon sources—glucose, lactose, sucrose, starch, and glycerol—on microbial biomass yield, strain-specific growth preferences, metabolic compatibility, antimicrobial potency, inhibition zones, and bioactive metabolite production. Seven microbial strains, including Streptomyces, Bacillus, Pseudomonas, Actinomyces, and Clostridium, were cultured in media supplemented with each carbon source. Biomass yield was measured gravimetrically, growth rate indices were calculated on a scale of 0–10, antimicrobial potency was assessed using zone of inhibition assays against S. aureus, E. coli, P. aeruginosa, and K. pneumoniae, and metabolite yield was quantified in mg/L using spectrophotometric analysis. All experiments were conducted in triplicate. The findings showed that glucose produced the highest biomass yield and growth rates across all strains, with Bacillus and Pseudomonas each scoring 10. Lactose demonstrated selective effectiveness, particularly for Streptomyces, whereas sucrose supported moderate growth and selective antimicrobial activity. In contrast, starch and glycerol consistently resulted in low biomass production and minimal antimicrobial potency. The zone of inhibition results further confirmed that glucose and lactose were the most effective substrates, with inhibition zones exceeding 20 mm. Similarly, metabolite yield was highest with glucose (120 ± 5.4 mg/L) and lactose (115 ± 4.9 mg/L), while glycerol produced the lowest yield (30 ± 1.5 mg/L). The study concludes that carbon source selection plays a critical role in microbial proliferation and antimicrobial compound production, with glucose and lactose emerging as the most suitable substrates for broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity and high metabolite yield. These findings contribute practical evidence for optimizing fermentation strategies according to microbial metabolic profiles to enhance antimicrobial synthesis.

Toxicological Evaluation of Aqueous Leaf Extract of Phyllanthus niruri in Wistar Rats Ahmed, Maryam Usman; Ijimari, Thomas Martin; Anthony, William; Etuk, Idongesit; Abdulfatai, Ayinla Abayomi
Kwaghe International Journal of Sciences and Technology Vol 2 No 2 (2025): Kwaghe International Journal of Sciences and Technology
Publisher : Darul Yasin Al Sys

Show Abstract | Download Original | Original Source | Check in Google Scholar | DOI: 10.58578/kijst.v2i2.6145

Natural products have long been used as therapeutic agents; however, many lack comprehensive scientific evaluation of their toxicity. This study investigates the potential toxicity of Phyllanthus niruri (P. niruri) aqueous leaf extract in Wistar rats. Twenty-five male albino rats were randomly divided into five groups of five animals each. Groups 2 through 5 received daily oral doses of 100, 200, 400, and 800 mg/kg body weight of the extract, respectively, while Group 1 served as the control and received only grower mash and distilled water for 28 days. Toxicological assessment was conducted through hematological profiling and evaluation of liver and kidney function using standard biochemical methods. The results indicated a significant, dose-dependent increase (p<0.05) in the levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP), suggesting hepatic stress. In contrast, albumin, creatinine, and urea levels did not differ significantly (p<0.05) from the control group, indicating no observable impairment in renal function. Hematological analysis revealed a significant decrease (p<0.05) in packed cell volume (PCV) and red blood cell (RBC) count, while white blood cell (WBC) count, hemoglobin (Hb) concentration, and mean corpuscular volume (MCV) significantly increased with higher extract doses. These findings suggest that while P. niruri is traditionally regarded as a natural remedy, its aqueous leaf extract may induce hematological and hepatic alterations at elevated doses. Caution is therefore advised in its use, particularly in unregulated or prolonged applications.

Chronic Disease Management: Integrating Occupational Risk Evaluation with Predictive Prevention and Diagnostics Umaru, Isaac John; Asare, Solomon O.; Danjuma, Tyem Lawal; Eno, Gomba Victoria; Akem, Ingwu Joseph; Chukwudi, Eluu Emmanuel; Salman, Julius Ishaya; Umaru, Hauwa A.; Ahmed, Maryam Usman
Kwaghe International Journal of Sciences and Technology Vol 3 No 1 (2026): Kwaghe International Journal of Sciences and Technology
Publisher : Darul Yasin Al Sys

Show Abstract | Download Original | Original Source | Check in Google Scholar | DOI: 10.58578/kijst.v3i1.9304

Occupational health has become an increasingly important dimension of public health, particularly in efforts to prevent chronic disease; however, the application of artificial intelligence (AI) in this area is constrained by the lack of standardized occupational exposure metrics, limited representation of diverse work environments, and fragmented data systems. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of occupational exposure variables on chronic disease risk prediction, assess the performance of Random Forest, XGBoost, and Deep Neural Network (DNN) models across workplace contexts, and propose a framework for interoperable platforms that integrate health and occupational data to strengthen predictive analytics and early diagnostics. Using a cross-sectional dataset of 5,000 workers from the manufacturing, agriculture, healthcare, and service sectors, the study analyzed demographic characteristics, clinical biomarkers, occupational exposure logs, and psychosocial assessments. Model performance was evaluated using ROC-AUC, precision, recall, and F1-score, while feature importance analysis quantified the contribution of occupational variables; in addition, a prototype interoperable platform was developed to demonstrate real-time integration between electronic health records and workplace monitoring systems. The findings showed that the DNN model outperformed the other algorithms, achieving a ROC-AUC of 0.89, precision of 0.85, recall of 0.88, and F1-score of 0.86. Occupational exposure variables contributed 27% to predictive power, with chemical exposure and psychosocial stressors showing the strongest associations with chronic disease markers. Among high-risk individuals, 54% were identified with subclinical conditions, including elevated C-reactive protein and HbA1c levels, while personalized interventions based on model outputs reduced risk scores by 22% and improved biometric indicators. The interoperable platform also successfully synchronized health and exposure data, enabling real-time analytics and targeted alerts. These findings demonstrate that integrating standardized occupational exposure metrics with interoperable data platforms substantially enhances the accuracy and practical utility of AI-driven chronic disease prediction, while supporting more equitable and proactive occupational health surveillance across diverse industries.

The Legalization of Abortion and Its Influence on Youth Sexual Behavior and the Catholic Church: A Case Study of Adamawa State Umaru, Isaac John; Akem, Ingwu Joseph; Asare, Solomon O.; Danjuma, Tyem Lawal; Yeboah, Genevieve A.; Salman, Julius Ishaya; Umaru, Hauwa A.; Ahmed, Maryam Usman
Kwaghe International Journal of Sciences and Technology Vol 3 No 1 (2026): Kwaghe International Journal of Sciences and Technology
Publisher : Darul Yasin Al Sys

Show Abstract | Download Original | Original Source | Check in Google Scholar | DOI: 10.58578/kijst.v3i1.9401

Although debates on abortion reform have intensified in Nigeria, limited attention has been paid to how partial legalization shapes youth perspectives and sexual and reproductive behaviors within specific sociocultural and religious contexts. This study examines how the limited legalization of abortion influences youth attitudes and behaviors in Adamawa State, with particular attention to demographic, cultural, and institutional factors, as well as the Catholic Church’s response to these changes. A qualitative approach was employed through interviews with health workers, clergy, and youths aged 18–25 from urban and rural areas of Adamawa State. Supplementary data were obtained from community forums, church outreach programs, and health service records, and the data were analyzed thematically to identify patterns in attitudes, behaviors, and institutional responses. The findings indicate a marked urban–rural divide, with urban youths reporting higher sexual activity, greater contraceptive use, and stronger support for reproductive autonomy. The study also found that the Catholic Church’s moral campaigns have had limited influence, particularly among urban youths who perceive religious teachings as less relevant to contemporary realities. In contrast, health workers were viewed as more trusted sources of guidance, while peers and media played a substantial role in shaping youth behavior. The study concludes that the evolving legal and cultural landscape in Adamawa State reflects a broader generational shift toward autonomy and informed decision-making among youths. These findings contribute to understanding the changing relationship between legal reform, religious influence, and youth reproductive behavior, and suggest that more balanced strategies integrating moral guidance, comprehensive education, and supportive policies are needed to promote healthy youth development in a changing society.

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