Attitude of Final Year Medical Students Towards Community Medicine in Ahmadu Bello University; Zaria; Nigeria

Background: Several studies were conducted in the past in Nigerian Universities to determine undergraduate medical students' attitudes; aspirations and career preference but none was conducted in Ahmadu Bello University (ABU); Zaria. This study was undertaken to determine final year medical students' attitudes toward Community Medicine. Methodology: The study was cross-sectional and descriptive in design. A total of 94 graduating medical students during the 2006/2007 academic session were invited to participate in the study. All the 94 students were given self-administered structured and closed-ended questionnaire. We collected information on socio-demographic characteristics of the respondents; general and specific attitudes towards Community Medicine (CM); class attendance in Community Medicine; and choice of CM as a field for future specialization. Result: Seventy-two students (76.7) have made up their minds to specialize in a chosen field of Medicine while fourteen (14.4) were undecided. Thirty-five (48.69) students said they could specialize in CM while 19(26.4) cannot. Of the clinical discipline for possible specialization in the future by the whole class; 32(34.0) respondents declared to specialize in Obstetrics et Gynecology; 18(19.1) in Community Medicine 11 (11.7) in surgery. Conclusion: Our finding demonstrated that final year medical student favorably perceived community medicine as a future career

Quality of Care in Primary Health Centres of Tafa Local Government Area of Niger State; North Central Nigeria; The Clients' Perspective

Background: Quality of care is one of the major public health concerns in this 21 century.We tried to assess the clients' perspectives of quality of care provided by the primary health centres of Tafa Local Government Area in Niger state North central Nigeria. Methodology: A cross sectional descriptive study was conducted among the 273 clients utilizing services in the 3 primary health centres of Tafa Local Government Area of Niger state in the North central geo-political zone of Nigeria. Results:Result from the research shows that more than one-third (39) of the clients attending the primary health centres were children within the age group of 0-9 months. Outpatient services for common health care problems such malaria and diarrhoea account for more than onethird (35.7) of the total clients load. On their experiences during receiving care all the clients (100) were seen by the health worker; more than half of the clients (57) obtained all drugs prescribed; three-quarter (76) were satisfied with questions asked during consultation and less than half (44) were examined. Furthermore; more than four-fifth (83) were informed on how to take drugs and 62were informed of when to come back. More than one-third of the respondents (36.7) waited for about 1- 3hrs.. When their overall satisfaction was placed on the Likert's 5-point scale; 3highly satisfied; 8were satisfied; 39fairly satisfied; 29dissatisfied and 9were highly dissatisfied. Conclusion:In conclusion; despite the level of advancement attained in health care in the 21 century which is regarded as the era of Total Quality Management; Quality of care in primary health care centres leavesmuch to be desired. This therefore calls for an urgent; deliberate; sustained and purposeful effort to institutionalize Quality Assurance mechanism as an integral part of our health system

Quality of Care in Primary Health Centres of Tafa Local Government Area of Niger State; North Central Nigeria; the Clients' Perspective

Quality of care is one of the major public health concerns in this 21 century.We tried to assess the clients' perspectives of quality of care provided by the primary health centres of Tafa Local Government Area in Niger state North central Nigeria. A cross sectional descriptive study was conducted among the 273 clients utilizing services in the 3 primary health centres of Tafa Local Government Area of Niger state in the North central geo-political zone of Nigeria. Result from the research shows that more than one-third (39) of the clients attending the primary health centres were children within the age group of 0-9 months. Outpatient services for common health care problems such malaria and diarrhoea account for more than onethird (35.7) of the total clients load. On their experiences during receiving care all the clients (100) were seen by the health worker; more than half of the clients (57) obtained all drugs prescribed; three-quarter (76) were satisfied with questions asked during consultation and less than half (44) were examined. Furthermore; more than four-fifth (83) were informed on how to take drugs and 62were informed of when to come back. More than one-third of the respondents (36.7) waited for about 1- 3hrs.. When their overall satisfaction was placed on the Likert's 5-point scale; 3highly satisfied; 8were satisfied; 39fairly satisfied; 29dissatisfied and 9were highly dissatisfied : In conclusion; despite the level of advancement attained in health care in the 21 century which is regarded as the era of Total Quality Management; Quality of care in primary health care centres leaves much to be desired. This therefore calls for an urgent; deliberate; sustained and purposeful effort to institutionalize Quality Assurance mechanism as an integral part of our health system

Knowledge and Practice of Breast-Self Examination among Female Undergraduate Students of Ahmadu Bello University Zaria; Northwestern Nigeria

Background: Carcinoma of the breast is an important public health problem in Nigeria and studies have reported low levels of awareness and practice of breast self examination as an important method of prevention. Breast self examination is a cost-effective method of early detection of cancer of the breast especially in resource poor countries. We assessed knowledge and practice of breast-self examination (BSE) among female undergraduate students of Ahmadu Bello University Zaria; Nigeria. Method: In this study; knowledge and practice of BSE were examined among 221 female students aged 16 - 28 years old studying at Ahmadu Bello University Zaria using self administered questionnaires. Results: It was found that despite nearly three quarter of the respondents (87.7) had heard of BSE; only 19.0of them were performing this examination monthly. Regarding the sources of information about BSE among respondents; media was found to be most common followed by health workers accounting for 45.5and 32.2respectively. Regular performance of BSE was significantly correlated with duration of stay in the University (X2 = 81.9; df = 3; P .05) and family history of breast cancer (X2

Marijuana Smoking among Secondary School Students in Zaria; Nigeria: Factors Responsible and Effects on Academic Performance

Background: The use of Marijuana is on the increase worldwide especially among adolescents and youths. Marijuana smoking has gained a foothold in our environment because of peer group influence; accessibility and availability. Its medico-social effects could ruin the life and future of our youths. This study was undertaken to determine the prevalence and the factors that influence secondary school students in Zaria LGA to smoke and the effects on academic performance. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was employed to generate data among secondary school students. A multi-stage sampling technique was used. Data was collected with the use of a structured; pre tested self-administered questionnaire. c2 test was used to test for significance of association between categorical variables. Results: Of the 350 respondents; 262 (74.9) were males; while 88 (25.1) were females. The study shows that 33 of the students smoke marijuana giving a prevalence of 9.4. There were more smokers in the age group 15-19 years (54.6). Other factors that influence marijuana smoking include family background; peer pressure and attendance of social functions. There was better academic performance (51.1) among non smokers as compared to smokers (27.2); and this was found to be statistically significant (x2 = 11.73;df = 5;P .05) There was also statistically significant association between age and marijuana smoking (x2 ) were males; while 88 (25.1) were females. The study shows that 33 of the students smoke marijuana giving a prevalence of 9.4. There were more smokers in the age group 15-19 years (54.6). Other factors that influence marijuana smoking include family background; peer pressure and attendance of social functions. There was better academic performance (51.1) among non smokers as compared to smokers (27.2); and this was found to be statistically significant (x2 = 11.73;df = 5;P .05) There was also statistically significant association between age and marijuana smoking (x2