Knowledge, risk perception, and attitudes of Nigerian dentists toward covid-19: pilot study

COVID-19 is a highly communicable viral respiratory infectious disease with potential life-threatening capabilities. As caregivers, the healthcare practitioners are at risk of contracting disease.Aim: To explore the knowledge, risk perception, and attitudes of Nigerian dentists toward COVID-19.Material and Methods: This pilot study was a survey of 69 dentists in Nigeria using an e-questionnaire. Collected data was analysed using SPSS version 22 software. Results: The majority (62.3%) of the respondents were within the age range of 20 ­ 29 years, 50.7% were males. All of the respondents had heard of COVID-19 and the most common source of information on the disease was the social media. They all knew about the cause of COVID-19 and also that the virus can be transmitted through respiratory droplets. The majority (≥76%) of them knew about the incubation period, symptoms, and safety measures to be adopted in curbing COVID-19 transmission. They all perceived COVID-19 to be highly contagious and a potential cause of respiratory failure. Amidst other findings, they all felt that it is not safe to see a COVID-19 patient without personal protective gears. Only 4 (5.8%) agreed that HIV/AIDS is better than COVID-19 by far while only 65.2% ([29+16]/69) of them indicated that they would like to help people that are infected with COVID-19. Conclusion: This study suggests that Nigerian dentists have sufficient knowledge and high level of risk perception of COVID19. Despite this high knowledge level, some few of them are still afraid of associating with people having the disease.

Mothers' Access to Supportive Hospital Services after the Loss of a Baby through Stillbirth or Neonatal Death

Every year; 3-5 of pregnant mothers in South Africa lose their babies to a stillbirth or neonatal death. These mothers need adequate services to prevent complications in their grieving process. Most of these babies are lost in hospital settings; so the treatment medical staff provide is vital. This study examined mothers' experiences of accessing hospital; religious; formal and social services after a stillbirth or neonatal death. An exploratory research design was used to conduct applied research. A semi-structured interview schedule was used with a sample of 15 mothers who had lost a baby in the last 5 years. The findings were analysed quantitatively and qualitatively. The primary focus of this article is the quantitative findings relating to hospital services. The sample was small and these results cannot be generalised; but some conclusions are reached and recommendations are made to service providers in hospitals working with mothers who have lost babies. Mothers generally experienced the support services from hospitals as inadequate; compared to what hospitals could offer. Mothers that receive support after the loss of a baby generally cope better. This support thus assists them in the grieving process. Hospital staff can be trained to provide these services

The Development in the Understanding of the Concept of Death among Black South African Learners from the Eastern Cape; South Africa

Thirty-one learners aged 6-16 were selected using purposive sampling; with the aim of investigating their understanding of death. Data were collected using drawings andsemi-structured tape-recorded interviews from a modified version of the Smilansky Death Questionnaire. Drawings were analysedfollowing Marton'sphenomenographicmethod.Interview transcripts were analysed using pattern coding. Specific responses regarding the components of death were analysed using Smilansky's scoring method. Nine descriptive categories were gathered from the drawings : personification; colours; physical features; gender; age; method of death; position of the dead; funeralisation; life symbols. Drawings reflected more similarities than differences between age groups. The 6-8 year-olds hada better understanding of human death than of animal death; whereas the oldergroups were more advancedin conceptualising animal death. This finding demonstrates the influence of culturalpractices. The conceptualisation of old age developedbefore the other components of death; followed by inevitability; irreversibility; finality; and causality respectively. Gender differences were noted in the explanations of causes of death. Conclusions demonstrate that the understanding of death is affected by age; cognition; and familial and cultural factors depending on the context within which such development takes place. Future research should consider context when examining children's conceptions of death