Self-perceived and unmet general health need among PLWHA in Nigeria

Objective: This study set out to determine the self-reported unmet health needs of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) in a Nigerian population. Methods: A prospective study conducted among consecutive 209 consenting PLWHA in the South-western Nigeria; who sought for care in the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals complex; Ile-Ife and General Hospital; Ilesa were recruited. Participants completed a comprehensive survey seeking information to determine their unmet needs in the following areas: Medica- tion; Dental; Mental; Home care; Hospital admission; access to antiretroviral therapy and emergency services. Results: One or more unmet needs were reported by 79.4of the sample. Needs for medication; home-based care and mental care were more likely to be unmet. There was a statistically significant relationship between unmet needs and living arrangements (p0.05). Conclusions: Perceived oral health status was the factor that best predicted the unmet need. Perceived oral health status of these patients should be improved to reduce the level of the unmet needs

Oral health status of 12-year-old Nigerian children

Background study: The World Health Organization has set some goals for the oral health of the 12-year olds1. This study; which is being carried out in a developing nation; will add to the accumulating data worldwide on this index age group. Study design: One thousand six hundred 12-year-old public and private secondary school pupils were examined in six local government areas of Lagos State. The objective of the study was to assess their oral health status and treatment needs. Results: In this study caries prevalence was found to be 24.6with a mean DMFT of 0.46. The ""D"" component formed the greater proportion indicating low dental care in the population. The oral hygiene status (OHIS) of the students was generally fair. The girls had better oral hygiene and lower prevalence of gingivitis and calculus than the boys. The difference was however not significant (p0.05). The treatment needs of the students revealed that 72.7required periodontal treatment; 34.6required restorative treatment and 10.3required orthodontic treatment. Conclusion: This study concludes that even though caries level in this age group was low; oral hygiene was fair and the utilization of oral health services was poor