COVID 19: Knowledge, opinions and prevention among the populace

Objective: There was a lot of panic when the COVID-19 pandemic started because a lot was not known about it. However, as the disease unfolded, proven scientific universal precautions are recommended to curb its spread. Methods: This was a cross-sectional online survey of people living in Nigeria. Questionnaires were distributed to consenting participants using the SurveyMonkey and data was collected on sociodemographic knowledge of the aetiology and prevention of COVID-19. Analysis was done with the SPSS version 25. Results: Eighty-five participants with age ranging from 18 to 60 years took part in the study. The mean age was 37.35 ± 11.7years. Forty-seven (47%) had knowledge that COVID-19 infection is from a virus. 29.4% thought it is caused by biological weapons, 1.2% from 5G internet, 7.1% as government's ploy to embezzle money and 9.4% conspiracy theory from the world leaders to reduce world's population. All participants knew that hand washing is a preventive measure against the spread of COVID-19 and majority agreed to the use of sanitizers, social distancing and disinfection of surfaces. Only 30.6% agreed that wearing of facemasks will serve as a preventive measure. Over 90% of the participants agreed that dissemination of appropriate information, use of universal precautions, isolation and intensive treatment of those infected can help prevent the spread of COVID-19. 11.8% of participants knew that additional precautions are needed for aerosol generating procedures. Conclusion: The knowledge of COVID-19 aetiology is poor among the populace and the need to wear face masks as a preventive measure in curtailing the spread of COVID-19 needs to be emphasized.

Profile and opinion of people with disability with respect to adapted physical activity participation in Ethiopia

Background: Physical activity provides long-term health benefits for everyone and it is considered to play an important role in the deterioration of health predictors, such as overweight and the associated increase in cardiovascular and all-cause mortality. Objective: To explore the profile and opinion of people with disability in Ethiopia, with respect to physical activity participation. Method: The study comprised a questionnaire survey among male and female participants (N = 334) with visual and limb impairment, aged 15­50 years, living in urban and sub-urban areas of Ethiopia. The analyses entailed descriptive frequencies and percentages, with the chi-square statistic to test for significance between subsets of data at p ≤ 0.05. Results: The profile showed participants were mostly male (n = 221, 66.2%; p ≤ 0.05), had completed secondary school (n = 204, 61.1%; p ≤ 0.05), were not formally employed with some being day-labourers (n = 92, 27.5%) and petty traders (n = 71, 21.3%). The majority (p ≤ 0.05) had limb disabilities (n = 190, 57%) as opposed to vision impairment. Only 10% (n = 34; p ≤ 0.0001) confirmed participation in physical activity. More than half (n = 175, 52.7%; p ≤ 0.0001) were unsure whether exercise improves health but the majority (n = 175, 52.4%; p ≤ 0.0001) did agree that participation in adapted physical activity requires better facilities. Conclusion: Ethiopian persons with disabilities are physically inactive. There is need to raise awareness on the benefits of physical activity amongst people with disabilities and for disability friendly facilities to encourage physical activity

Youngest first? Why it's Wrong to Discriminate against the Elderly in Healthcare

In South Africa and abroad the elderly are systematically discriminated against at all levels of healthcare allocation decision-making. Such discrimination is perhaps surprising in light of the National Health Act and the Older Persons Act; which explicitly recognise the elderly as a vulnerable group whose equal rights require special protection. However; ethical theory and public opinion offer some reasons to think that discrimination against the elderly may be justified. This paper examines possible ethical grounds for age discrimination. I claim that there are very few cases in which the aged may be discriminated against; and that age alone is never sufficient grounds for discrimination

Survey of Women's Opinions on Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in Southeast Nigeria: Study of Patients Attending Antenatal Clinic

Background: Female genital mutilation is known to exist especially in many third world countries including Nigeria with many women being victims of this harmful practice and its complications. The practice is rife in Southeast Nigeria and efforts have been made to discourage it. Objective: To determine women's views on aspects of female genital mutilation and the prevalence among the study population. Method: Women attending the antenatal clinics of two university teaching hospitals in Southeast Nigeria were interviewed by means of structured pre-tested interviewer- administered questionnaires. The data obtained were analysed using SPSS version 10.0 and the results expressed in descriptive statistics as percentages. Results: The prevalence of FGM was 42.1. However; only 14.3of the respondents circumcised their own daughters or showed willingness to circumcise their daughters indicating considerable reduction in uptake of the practice. A larger proportion (63.7) would support legislation against FGM. Conclusion: There is a high opinion against the practice of FGM in Southeast Nigeria; with the majority of the women showing support for legislation

Opinions and attitudes of some parents in Ilorin, north-central Nigeria, towards child abuse and neglect

Background. The few studies on child abuse in Nigeria have focused on the child victims. However, little is known about characteristics of the parents who are the perpetrators of this abuse. Aim. To assess the opinions and attitudes of parents concerning child abuse and neglect, and the factors associated with the practice of child abuse. Method. We interviewed 260 randomly selected parents in the city of Ilorin, Nigeria, using a questionnaire to ascertain socio-demographic data and details about the understanding and practice of various forms of child abuse such as hawking, child labour, physical beating, sending children to work as house-helps, and sexual abuse. Results. Sixty per cent of the subjects were women, and 72.7 were less than 40 years old; 30.4 sent their children to hawk goods; 34.2 believed that a child must work before receiving food; 10.4 had sent or would send their children to work as house-helps; and 52.3 discipline their children by physical beating. Older age (40 years and over), being unmarried, being unemployed, having 3 or more children, and a low level of education were significantly associated with the tendency to abuse children. Conclusion. Child abuse is still practiced in Ilorin, Nigeria. Socio-economic factors associated with child abuse were identified. We recommend that government should assist citizens financially and support programmes that educate parents about the dangers of child abuse

Stigmatising attitudes towards the mentally ill: a survey in a Nigerian university teaching hospital

Background. The burden of mental illness is particularly severe for people living in low-income countries. Negative attitudes towards the mentally ill; stigma experiences and discrimination constitute part of this disease burden.Objective. The aim of this study was to investigate knowledge of possible causes of mental illness and attitudes towards the mentally ill in a Nigerian university teaching hospital population.Method. A cross-sectional descriptive study of a convenience sample of 208 participants from the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital; Uyo; Nigeria; using the Community Attitudes towards the Mentally Ill (CAMI) scale. Information was also obtained on beliefs about possible causes of mental illness.Results. The respondents held strongly negative views about the mentally ill; mostly being authoritarian and restrictive in their attitudes and placing emphasis on custodial care. Even though the respondents appeared to be knowledgeable about the possible role of psychosocial and genetic factors in the causation of mental illness; 52.0 of them believed that witches could be responsible; 44.2 thought mental illness could be due to possession by demons; and close to one-third (30) felt that it could be a consequence of divine punishment.Conclusions. Stigma and discrimination against the mentally ill are widespread even in a population that is expected to be enlightened. The widespread belief in supernatural causation is likely to add to the difficulties of designing an effective antistigma psycho-educational programme. There is a need in Nigeria to develop strategies to change stigma attached to mental illness at both institutional and community levels

Reasons for Unwillingness of Libyans to Donate Organs after Death

Introduction: Organ transplantation in Libya depends exclusively on donations from live relatives. This limitation increases mortality and prolongs the patients' suffering and waiting time. Objectives: The aims of this study were to explore willingness to donate organs after death and to identify the reasons for refusal. Methods: A population-based cross-sectional study was conducted from April to July 2008 on a cluster sample of 1652 persons (58males and 42females). The questionnaire included demographic information and mainly enquired about willingness to donate organs after death and the reasons for refusal when applicable. Results: About one-third (29.7) of participants were in favor of donating their organs after death; 60.1refused and 10.2were undecided. Willingness was significantly associated with being male; younger age; having a college or graduate degree; and being single (P 0.05 for all). Lack of adequate knowledge about the importance of deceased organ donation and uncertainty about its religious implications were the most predominant reasons for refusal (43.8and 39.5; respectively). Other reasons included ethical concerns about retrieving organs from dead bodies (37.9); preference for being buried intact (28); and uneasiness about the idea of cadaver manipulation (33). Conclusion: There were a considerable resistance to deceased organ donation; especially among females; those of older age; married people; and those with a low education level. The barriers to cadaveric donations were lack of adequate knowledge; unease about body manipulation; and concerns about religious implications. Public educational campaigns should be coordinated with religious leadership

Public Perception of Community Pharmacists in South Africa : Primary Study

This survey forms part of a study undertaken to identify and quantify the community pharmacist's involvement in the use of non-prescription/over-the-counter (OTC) medicine /self-medication in community pharmacies throughout South Africa. The objectives of this study were to establish the public's perception of the role of and the value added by community pharmacists in the treatment of minor ailments. A survey was conducted amongst 300 consumers prior to the recent changes and introduction of new legislation affecting pharmaceutical care and the dispensing of medicine. The major finding of this study was that the majority of consumers who consulted community pharmacists were satisfied with the comprehensiveness of the counselling and the effectiveness of the treatment provided. A large majority of the participants agreed that community pharmacists play a positive role and add value. It was found that the main reason for visiting a specific pharmacy was the proximity of that pharmacy

People's perception and use of drugs in Zimbabwe : a socio-cultural research project

The objectives of the study were to gain knowledge about people's patterns of behavior in relation to drugs and modern health care facilities with particular reference to the way in which the perception and use of drugs may be influenced by cultural and socio-economic determinants. The quantitative data from the survey has been combined with qualitative data from the group interviews to provide a comprehensive picture of people's perceptions and behavior with regard to illness and treatment