ABSTRACT
Background: Drug counterfeiting poses a great danger to every society. The actual prevalence of counterfeit drugs is difficult to ascertain presently but just like other crimes, drug counterfeiting is an underground business that often comes to light mostly when death occurs. About 10% of drugs circulating worldwide are fake drugs with enormous associated health risk. Preventing the problem is a primary duty of every responsible nation in order to save lives. Objective: This paper aims at studying the factors associated with drug counterfeiting, its consequences and possible solutions. Methods: This article reviews relevant literatures published from 2004 to 2015 from medical journals, health survey reports, books, Google search and health-related websites such as World Health Organization. Results: Several researchers have identified corruption and conflict of interest, poor health seeking behavior of Nigerians, high prices of locally manufactured drugs due to high taxes and tariffs, inadequate legislation, unordered drug distribution system, inadequate cooperation from government agencies and discriminatory regulation by exporting countries as the major factors associated with drug counterfeiting in Nigeria. Conclusion/ Recommendations: Drug counterfeiting is one of the greatest atrocities of our time and it affects both developing and developed countries. There is an urgent need for the government as well as professional bodies to ensure massive public enlightenment and the effective enforcement of the existing drug laws in Nigeria.
ABSTRACT
Background: Head injury is trauma to the brain and/or its coverings as a result of an externally applied mechanical force. Study of epidemiological pattern of head injuries is essential in developing necessary preventive strategies and control. To compare the prevalence and pattern of head injuries during the non-festive (February – September) and the festive (October – January) periods in our environment. Methods: Patients’ case files at the Accidents and Emergency unit of Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital (NAUTH), Nnewi, were reviewed. Results: Two hundred and sixty-six out of 4,846 met the inclusion criteria for traumatic head injury and were recruited for the study, giving a prevalence of 5.5%. About 77.4% of these presentations were males while 22.6% were females. Both males and females were affected more in the festive period (52.4% and 48.3%) than in the non-festive period (51.7% and 47.6%). The >20 – 30 year group recorded the highest presentation at 30.5%. Traders and Commercial Motorcyclists were the most affected occupations with 25.9% and 24.1% respectively, with the most common causes of head injury during both the festive and non – periods being motorcycle and motor vehicle accidents (68% and 18% respectively). About 63% presented with mild head injury, 14% with moderate and 23% with severe head injuries. About 11.4% were discharged, 83.9% were transferred to the ward for further evaluation and monitoring while 4.7% died at the Accident and Emergency department. Conclusions: Traumatic head injury is one of the major causes of mortality and morbidity in our environment especially in the festive periods. Aggressive and sustained traffic safety education is recommended for all stakeholders in the broad field of accidentology.