Introduction Cowpeas (Vigna unguculata L. Walp) belong to the Family Fabaceae (Ibrahim, Satish, Ajay, & Karunakara, 2017; OECD, 2016). Production of cowpeas is both for its grains and vegetables. It is among the recognized African indigenous nutrient‐rich vegetables with the potential to promote food and nutrition security in sub‐Saharan Africa (SSA). The crop is originated from West and … Read more
Introduction Infant growth is a process that involves changes in both size and behavior; physical growth contributes to the developmental process of the mental and cognitive abilities of infants and children that is demonstrated in motor and intellectual performance (Johnson & Blasco, 1997; Vaughan, 1992). Anthropometric measurements are commonly used as indices to assess physical … Read more
Anaemia, defined as an insufficient number of red blood cells in the body, is a major global public health concern which has been linked to morbidity and mortality, low productivity and poor birth outcomes in women (Figueiredo et al., 2018; Mann et al., 2002; Scott et al., 2014). Well recognized contributors to the high anaemia … Read more
Birth weight is the first weight of your baby, taken just after he or she is born. A low birth weight is less than 2.5kg (5.5 pounds) while a high birth weight is more than 4kg (8.8 pounds). The birth weight of a baby is notable because very low birth weight babies are 100 times more … Read more
Prieto, Neuburger, Spingler & Zelder (2016) described vitamin B12, (also known as cobalamin) as a water-soluble vitamin involved in the metabolism of every cell of the human body. It is one of eight B vitamins. Yamada (2013) recognizes vitamin B12 as a cofactor in DNA synthesis, and in both fatty acid and amino acid metabolism. This particularly important in the normal functioning of the nervous system via its role in the synthesis of … Read more
According to Choi, Yates, Veysey, Heo, and Lucock (2014), folate, also known as vitamin B9 and folacin, is one of the B vitamins. Manufactured folic acid, which is converted into folate by the body, is used as a dietary supplement and in food fortification as it is more stable during processing and storage. Folate is required for the body to make DNA and RNA and metabolise amino acids necessary for cell division. … Read more
Watson and Basina (2020) define diabetes mellitus (commonly known as diabetes), as a metabolic disease that causes high blood sugar. The hormone insulin moves sugar from the blood into your cells to be stored or used for energy. With diabetes, your body either doesn’t make enough insulin or can’t effectively use the insulin it does … Read more
Antioxidants are compounds that inhibit oxidation, a chemical reaction that can produce free radicals and chain reactions that may damage the cells of organisms. Antioxidants remove free radicals from the body which can run rampant and actually damage cells, causing serious illness. Many health professionals use them for treatments of stroke and neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. They have also been helpful in treating brain … Read more
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (2016) defies fatty liver disease (FLD), also known as hepatic steatosis, as a condition where excess fat builds up in the liver. The amount of fatty acid in the liver depends on the balance between the processes of delivery and removal. In some patients, fatty liver may be accompanied by hepatic … Read more
Infant and young child feeding (IYCF) practices during the first two years of life are important for the growth and development of a child. According to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) (2019), adopting optimal feeding practices is fundamental to a child’s survival, growth and development, but too few children have this benefit. Proper feeding of … Read more
Nutritional knowledge has been proven to play a very vital role in adopting optimal nutrition practices in the health of every expectant mother. As a matter of fact, health and nutritional status of the population of a nation is an important indicator of development of the county (James, 2015). He added that Nutritional knowledge and … Read more
World Health Organisation (WHO) (2020) defines malnutrition as deficiencies, excesses or imbalances in a person’s intake of energy and/or nutrients. The term malnutrition covers 2 broad groups of conditions. One is ‘undernutrition’—which includes stunting (low height for age), wasting (low weight for height), underweight (low weight for age) and micronutrient deficiencies or insufficiencies (a lack … Read more
According to Naish and Court (2014), hypertension also known as high blood pressure (HBP), is a long-term medical condition in which the blood pressure in the arteries is persistently elevated. Blood pressure is the force exerted by circulating blood against the walls of the body’s arteries, the major blood vessels in the body. Hypertension is when blood pressure is too high. Blood pressure is … Read more
Introduction According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) (2020), overweight and obesity are defined as abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that may impair health. For adults, WHO defines overweight is a BMI greater than or equal to 25 and obesity is a BMI greater than or equal to 30. For children less than 5 years … Read more
Breast enlargement is a process of increasing the size of the breasts. It can happen naturally, as in mammoplasia, or it can happen by active intervention. Many women consider their breasts, which are female secondary sex traits, to be vital to their physical beauty and a symbol of femininity that affects their sense of self. … Read more
Abortion is the removal of an embryo from the uterus before it reaches viability (in human beings, usually about the 20th week of gestation). An abortion can happen naturally, in which case it’s also known as a miscarriage, or it can be forced, in which case it’s known as an induced abortion. Miscarriages or spontaneous … Read more
Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus), also known as ladies’ fingers or ochro in many English-speaking countries, is a flowering plant in the mallow family. It is valued for its edible green seed pods. It is common to the Eastern Hemisphere’s tropics and is commonly cultivated or naturalized in the Western Hemisphere’s tropics and subtropics. Just the tender, … Read more
The breast is the skin that covers the pectoral (chest) muscles. Breast tissue that contains milk (glandular tissue) and fatty tissue make up a woman’s breasts. The amount of fat in the breast determines its size. The lobes of the breast, which provide milk, are divided into 15 to 20 parts. Milk is contained in … Read more
What is Abortion? Abortion is the removal or expulsion of an embryo or fetus from a pregnant woman. A miscarriage, also known as a “spontaneous abortion,” is a spontaneous abortion that happens in around 30 percent to 40 percent of pregnancies. An induced abortion, or less often “induced miscarriage,” is when deliberate measures are taken … Read more
The failure to get and maintain a solid enough erection for sex is referred to as erectile dysfunction (impotence). Having erection issues now and then isn’t really a cause for alarm. However, if erectile dysfunction is a long-term concern, it can cause depression, lower self-esteem, and lead to relationship issues. Problems obtaining or maintaining an … Read more
The peanut (Arachis hypogaea), also known as the groundnut, goober (US), pindar (US), or monkey nut (UK), is a legume crop grown primarily for its edible seeds. It is commonly grown in the tropics and subtropics, with both small and large commercial farmers relying on it. Peanut pods grow underground (geocarpy) rather than above ground, … Read more
Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease usually caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB). Tuberculosis generally affects the lungs, but can also affect other parts of the body. Most infections do not have symptoms, in which case it is known as latent tuberculosis. About 10% of latent infections progress to active disease which, if left untreated, kills … Read more
The avocado (Persea americana), a tree likely originating from South Central Mexico, is classified as a member of the flowering plant family Lauraceae. The fruit of the plant, also called an avocado (or avocado pear or alligator pear), is botanically a large berry containing a single large seed. Commercially valuable with production increasing worldwide over … Read more
Introduction Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a group of blood disorders typically inherited from a person’s parents; the most common type is known as sickle cell anaemia (SCA). It results in an abnormality in the oxygen-carrying protein haemoglobin found in red blood cells. This leads to a rigid, sickle-like shape under certain circumstances. Problems in … Read more