ABSTRACT
Background: Sickle cell disease is a condition in which an individual has inherited two abnormal hemoglobin genes at least one of which is hemoglobin S (HbS) and the resulting symptomatology or pathology is attributed to the sickling phenomenon. About 5% of the world’s population carries genes responsible for hemoglobinopathies and each year about 300 000 infants are born with major hemoglobin disorders including more than 200 000 cases of sickle-cell anemia in Africa. Sickle cell anemia is a very common disorder in Nigeria with birth rate of about 1 in 50 and about 150,000 children are born annually with sickle cell anemia in Nigeria alone. The study aimed to explore the knowledge and attitude of nursing students about premarital screening for sickle cell disease. Methods: A descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted using self-administered semi-structured questionnaire among 176 students. Results: Majority of respondents knew sickle cell disease and also knew their genotype 97.6% and 71% respectively, although up to 9.1% selected blood group as their genotype. More than half of respondent (51.7%) said sickle cell disease can be transmitted through blood, 55.1% of respondent said they think government should prohibit marriage between incompatible couples with regard to sickle cell disease, Only about one third (34.1%) of respondent have good knowledge of SCD, and 34.3% of respondent have good knowledge of premarital screening for SCD, More than half (55.4%) of respondent have good attitude regarding premarital screening for SCD. Conclusion: The study shows that the respondent have poor knowledge of sickle cell disease and premarital screening though more than half of the respondent have good attitude towards premarital screening. The results of this study reflect the importance of health education as a keystone in improving knowledge and attitude towards premarital screening for sickle cell disease.
ABSTRACT
Background: Self-medication is a common and regular practice of using medicines, common over-the-counter (OTC) drugs without any medical supervision, by the people themselves for self-treatment considering it a part of self-care in both developed and developing countries. It also encompasses utilization of surplus and left over medicine at home, seeking advices of surrounding people as friends and relatives for the medication. Prevalence rates of self-medication are reported to be higher in developing countries mostly due to fact that people generally considers it as a first aid in treating minor ailments or acute symptoms such as vomiting, headache, nausea, fever, cold etc. However, few other reasons reported in the literature that could lead to self-medication includes previous experience of treating similar diseases, knowledge of drugs and their use, incessant advertising and lack of availability of qualified health professionals. This study aimed to assess knowledge and practice of self-medication among undergraduate students in UDUS Methods: : A cross sectional descriptive study was conducted among 299 undergraduate students selected by multistage sampling technique. Data was collected with a set of self-administered, semi-structured questionnaire. Results: Majority 283 (95%) of the respondents are aware of self-medication while 16 (5%) are not aware of selfmedication. A majority, 235 (78.6%) of the 299 respondents had ever engaged in the practice of self-medication. Most of the study subjects 221 (74%) had self-medicated in the last 6 months while 26.7% have not. Conclusion: This study demonstrated good knowledge of self-medication among undergraduate students with the majority having good knowledge of the dangers associated with self-medication as well as had ever engaged in self-medication. Organization of health weeks, school-based educational interventions and enlightenment program should be created to emphasize on the dangers of self-medication and the common side-effects of the frequently used drugs.
ABSTRACT
Background: Every year about 1.2 million people are killed on the world's roads and up to 50 million are injured or disabled as a result of road traffic accidents. The effectiveness of seat belt usage in reducing the severity of the sequelae of road traffic accidents is widely known. The aim of this study was to determine the knowledge, attitude and use of seat belt among commercial drivers in Sokoto Metropolis.Methods: The study design was cross-sectional and descriptive. Pre-tested, structured, interviewer administered questionnaires were used for data collection. Each correct response to the knowledge questions was scored one mark and wrong response or non-response was scored zero.Results: A total of 430 questionnaires were analyzed. The mean knowledge score (%) of the study subjects was high (64.8±17.7). Majority (57.9%) of the respondents had positive attitude towards compulsory use of seat belt. 363 (84.4%) of the respondents reported that they use seat belt when they drive. There were statistically significant associations between age (p<0.0001), ethnicity (p=0.02), education (p=0.001) as well as attendance of driving school (p=0.000002) and the reported use of seat belt.Conclusion: This study has identified high level of knowledge, positive attitude and reported use of seat belt. It is recommended that public awareness of the safety benefits of seat belts and strong enforcement are necessary to achieve optimal use of seat belt
Subject(s)
Attitude , Automobile Driving , Seat BeltsABSTRACT
Background: The adoption of primary health care in Nigeria has led to the expansion of health care delivery frontiers especially at the rural level. At this level is the most critical health services delivery point, with an attendant increase in contact between primary health care providers and patients. There is however also a simultaneous increased exposure to occupational and related health risks and hazards. Methods: The objectives of this study were to assess the universal precaution profile of primary health care facilities and determine those factors that inform their prevailing safety status. Using a structured checklist, 23 representative primary health care facilities from the 23 local government areas in Sokoto State were randomly selected for the study, one from each of the local government areas. Results: The facilities were found to have poor universal precaution profile that could guarantee effective control of infection transmission and safety of their personnel. The facilities' mean score on measures and frameworks for ensuring the implementation of Universal Precautions was 53.12% ± 21.68% with only 56.52% scoring above 50%. Conclusion: Safety protocol and facilities for ensuring safe environment were inadequate and poorly developed. None of the facilities had full complement of facilities or resources for ensuring safety of working environment and for personnel's implementation of Universal Precautions. Policy for safety practice was poor, and post exposure intervention programmes for staff in event of accidental exposure grossly underdeveloped. Interventions to improve safety environment and creation of safe climate are essential to protect primary health care workers against occupational hazards
Subject(s)
Health Care Facilities, Manpower, and Services , Nigeria , Occupational Health , Primary Health CareABSTRACT
"Background: Human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immune deficiency syndrome and tuberculosis are commonly called the ""deadly duo""; because human immunodeficiency virus increases susceptibility to tuberculosis which in turn accelerates its progression to acquired immune deficiency syndrome. This study describes human immunodeficiency virus/ tuberculosis co-infection in Sokoto State; Nigeria. Methods: Data were extracted from medical records of human immunodeficiency virus infected patients on antiretroviral therapy in health facilities that offer comprehensive care for human immunodeficiency virus infected patients in Sokoto State; and analysed. Results: Majority of the 353 study subjects were females (60.6) aged 30-39 years (37.4) and living in Sokoto state (78.5). Care entry points were Medical Outpatient Department (36.8); General Outpatient Department (35.4) and voluntary counseling centre (23.5). Enrolment for human immunodeficiency virus care was highest in May (13.4) and lowest in March (5.1). The functional status of majority (75.8) of the study subjects was asymptomatic normal activity. Thirty-three (9.3) of the study subjects were human immunodeficiency virus/Tuberculosis co-infected. Human immune deficiency virus only cases and human immunodeficiency virus/Tuberculosis co-infected cases were similar with respect to age and sex but differed significantly with respect to WHO clinical stage; CD4 count and functional status. Conclusion: Human immunodeficiency virus only and human immunodeficiency virus/tuberculosis coinfection cases have similar demographic characteristics but differ with respect to the stage of acquired immune deficiency syndrome."