The Oral Hygiene Status of Institution Dwelling Orphans in Benin City; Nigeria

Introduction: Orphans like other vulnerable children face a number of challenges including limited or no access to basic health care including oral health care; which is one of their unmet health care needs. Neglected oral health care is associated with the development and progression of periodontal diseases among others. Objective: To determine the oral hygiene status of institution dwelling orphans. Materials and Methods: Thirty eight orphans from four orphanages in Benin City; Edo State of Nigeria were clinically examined and their oral hygiene status determined using the simplified oral hygiene index of Greene and Vermillion (OHI-S). Results: Seventy-three percent of the orphans were found to have fair oral hygiene comprising mostly of those aged 6-13 years. More females were in this category while more males presented with poor oral hygiene status. Conclusion: More orphans presented with fair oral hygiene that indicated inadequate oral care. There was poor oral health education and limited access to services. There is need for these to be improved as a solution to poor oral health status of these vulnerable children

A Study of Caesarean Section in a Secondary Health Care Facility in Uyo; South-South Nigeria

Background: The rising caesarean section (CS) rate in Nigeria has been reported by several studies. But while these studies were mainly conducted in tertiary health institutions; the experiences in the secondary health care facilities who are also actively involved in providing maternity care and caesarean delivery are rarely reported.Aim: To study the rates and indications for caesarean section in a secondary health facility in Uyo; Nigeria to provide alternate source of information on caesarean section. Methods: This was a five-year retrospective study of all cases of caesarean section in St Luke's hospital; Anua; Uyo; Nigeria covering the period of January 2000 to December 2004. Information on the socio-demographic characteristics of patients; number and types of CS and their indications were obtained from the delivery register; theatre register and other ward records. These were analyzed using simple percentages. Results: There were 10;190 deliveries in the period under review. Of these; 1384 were by caesarean sections giving a caesarean section rate of 13.6. The nullipara accounted for 36.6of cases of caesarean sections. There were similar rates of caesarean section among booked and unbooked patients. However; there were more emergency procedures among the unbooked patients.The major indication for caesarean section was fetal distress followed by repeat caesarean sections.Documentation and record keeping was a major challenge observed.Conclusion: Caesarean section rate observed in the study is lower than what obtains from most tertiary centres and falls within the recommended rates of 5-15

Haemoglobin Genotypes: A Prevalence Study and Implications for Reproductive Health in Uyo; Nigeria

Background: Haemoglobinopathies are among the most common genetic disorders worldwide; inherited as autosomal recessive disorders from healthy-carrier parents. The most common are the sickle cell disorders and the thalassaemias; occurring in people of African; Asian; South European and Middle Eastern descent. The University of Uyo Teaching hospital (UUTH); Uyo; Akwa Ibom state; Nigeria is a tertiary health institution providing the health needs of the host and neighbouring states in South-south and South East Nigeria. There is currently paucity of data on the haemoglobin genotype distribution in Akwa Ibom state; hence the need for this study; considering its importance in medical diagnosis; patient management; genetic information and counselling. Methods: This is a retrospective study. Registers and results of all haemoglobin genotype investigations carried out in the department of Haematology; University of Uyo Teaching Hospital; Uyo between January; 2003 and December; 2007 were extracted; reviewed and analyzed using simple percentages. Results: Eight thousand and ninety seven Haemoglobin genotype tests carried out over a five year period were analysed: 6376 (78.7) of these were HbAA; 1580 (19.6) HbAS; 121 (1.5) HbSS; while HbAC and SC accounted for 16 (0.2) and (0.04) respectively. The ratios of Hb AA to Hb AS; HbAAto HbSS andHbAAtoHbAC were 4:1; 52:1 and 400:1 respectively. Of the 8097 subjects; 6723(83.0) were females; 1152(14.2) were males. Among the females; 4.8of HbSS and HbSc were in children under 15 years while only 0.3were in those 15 - 44 years. Conclusion: While HbAA is the predominant genotype in our environment; there is also a significant number of the abnormal haemoglobin genes. Withmany children with sickle cell disease now surviving to adulthood due to advances in medicine; a larger number of women with sickle cell disease in pregnancy with all the attendant challenges it poses should be expected in our environment. It is necessary therefore; to keep abreast with developments in the area of its management in order to cope with the challenges

Perceived oral Health Status and Treatment Needs of Dental Auxiliaries

Objective: To determine the perceived oral health status and treatment needs of Nigerian dental therapists in training and dental technology students. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study of students from Federal School of Dental Therapy and Technology Enugu; Nigeria was conducted using self-administered questionnaire to obtain information on demography; self-reported oral health status; knowledge of impact of oral health on daily life activity; dental attendance and perceived dental need. Results: The perception of oral health status and treatment need of the two groups of dental auxiliaries was the same. Fewer respondents (27.3) rated their oral health as excellent; while 50.4rated their oral health as good. Majority (95.5) agreed that oral health is a part of general health and 94.6agreed that oral health has a role in daily life. Out of 81.4that had previous dental treatment; scaling and polishing accounted for 66.1. Presently; 48.8think they need dental treatment ranging from scaling and polishing (33.9); tooth restoration (10.3); to extraction (1.2). Conclusion: This survey revealed that most of the students are aware that oral health is a component of general health and that it has an impact on an individual's daily life. More than half of the students perceived their oral health as good; but only a few knew that there is a need for a preventive approach to oral health as evident by the percentage that perceived scaling and polishing as a treatment need

Induced abortion in Nigeria: findings from focus group discussion

Abortion is carried out daily in Nigeria despite the restrictive abortion law. This study was carried out to obtain information on societal attitude to the issues of family planning; unwanted pregnancy; abortion; adoption of children and laws relating to them. Focus group discussions were held in south-western Nigeria among 11 sub-groups. Participants felt that there was high prevalence of unwanted pregnancy and abortion particularly among youths. They had high level awareness of contraceptives and ascribed its low use to negative side effects; high cost and provider bias. Christians favoured planning of pregnancies while the Muslims did not. Majority of the respondents had negative perception of induced abortion. Some of them supported abortion if the education of the young girl would be disrupted; if paternity of pregnancy is in dispute; or if it would save the family from shame. Participants supported the enactment of laws that would make adoption of unwanted children easier.Abortion is carried out daily in Nigeria despite the restrictive abortion law. This study was carried out to obtain information on societal attitude to the issues of family planning; unwanted pregnancy; abortion; adoption of children and laws relating to them. Focus group discussions were held in south-western Nigeria among 11 sub-groups. Participants felt that there was high prevalence of unwanted pregnancy and abortion particularly among youths. They had high level awareness of contraceptives and ascribed its low use to negative side effects; high cost and provider bias. Christians favoured planning of pregnancies while the Muslims did not. Majority of the respondents had negative perception of induced abortion. Some of them supported abortion if the education of the young girl would be disrupted; if paternity of pregnancy is in dispute; or if it would save the family from shame. Participants supported the enactment of laws that would make adoption of unwanted children easier

Characteristics of Abortion Care Seekers in South-Western Nigeria

This prospective hospital-based study was carried out to understand the characteristics of abortion care seekers in south-western Nigeria. Information was obtained from a total of 1876 women seeking abortion at hospitals using a questionnaire. The results show that majority (60 ) were between the ages of 15 and 24 years; of which adolescents between the ages of 15 and 19 years constituted 23.7 . Most (63.2 ) of the respondents were unmarried; but married women also constituted a significant proportion (30.2 ) of the abortion care seekers. Students were the single highest group; while the predominant economic activity was trading (26.7 ). Respondents terminated their pregnancies mainly because they were students or because they did not desire to have children. Most (35.5 ) of the women were introduced to providers by friends. Average contraceptive prevalence among the abortion care seekers was 27.4 . It is obvious from the results that young persons; especially in-school adolescents; should be targeted for comprehensive sexuality education especially in view of the current HIV/AIDS pandemic