Stroke-related knowledge and attitudes among university students in Northeast Nigeria

te public knowledge of stroke, but the impact in Nigeria is notwell known. This study assessed stroke-related knowledge andattitudes among university students in Nigeria, where health stud-ies are parts of college curricula. This was a cross-sectional studyof students at three universities in Northeast Nigeria. Using ques-tionnaire survey, we assessed biographical data and participantknowledge of the primary site, warning signs and risk factors ofstroke. Responses were graded on a knowledge score, where ≥2.5points indicated adequate knowledge. Data were analyzed with theSPSS version 21 program. We studied 824 participants, 67.1%males. Males were older than females (mean age ± SD: 27.42±5.58years versus 26.27±5.31 years; P = 0.009; 95% CI: 0.29 ­ 1.99)and 14.5% participants had stroke lectures during general studies.Major sources of stroke knowledge were personal discussions(44.6%) and internet websites (24.5%). Only 15.7% participantscorrectly identified the brain as the primary site of stroke, whileknowledge of one or more stroke warning signs and risk factorswere noted in 42.2% and 49.6%, respectively. Mean knowledgescore was 1.08 ± 0.99. Adequate knowledge of stroke was noted in13.2% participants, and was higher in females (17.7% versus10.7%; P = 0.01). Logistic regression analysis showed significantassociations between adequate knowledge of stroke with femalesex (OR 1.8; 95% CI: 1.2 ­ 2.8; P = 0.008) and a history of strokein close relatives (OR 1.7; 95% CI: 1.1 ­ 2.6; P = 0.025) but notwith age, academic discipline or stroke lectures. University stu-dents in Northeast Nigeria have low knowledge of stroke, which isworse in males. Although health issues are taught at universities,little is taught on stroke, suggesting a need to prioritize strokeknowledge in the universities little is taught on stroke, suggeting a need to prioritize stroke knowlegde in the university curriculum .

Prevalence of hyperemesis gravidarum and associated risk factors among pregnant women in a tertiary health facility in Northeast, Nigeria

Background: One of the commonest symptoms observed in pregnant women before the 20th week of gestation is nausea and vomiting, an exaggeration of these symptoms hyperemesis gravidarum (HEG) could result in maternal and fetal catastrophes and even death. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence and associated risk factors for hyperemesis gravidarum among pregnant women at booking.Methods: A prospective institutional based study design was done among 452 pregnant women seen at booking in a tertiary hospital in Northeast Nigeria from the 1st February 2019 to 30th June 2019. Data was summarized using descriptive statistics. OR was used to measure significant risk.Results: The observed prevalence of hyperemesis gravidarum among pregnant women in the study is 44.9%. The Majority (81.4%) of these women were between the age range of 21 and 35 years. Mean age of 27 years. Multiparity (33.4%), previous (44.9%) and family history of HEG (31.6%) were identified as important risk factors for developing HEG. Grand multiparity (11.5%) and gestational age less than 13 weeks (6.64%) were however less likely observed to be risks for HEG.Conclusions: HEG is a common problem in pregnancy with almost half of the number of pregnant women at booking affected. Multiparity and past history of HEG are pointers to developing the condition and it should be looked out for among at risk group of pregnant women, so that early intervention can be instituted to avoid any possible adverse outcome.

Gastrointestinal symptoms in pregnancy among antenatal clinic attendees in Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital Bauchi, Northeast Nigeria

Background: Pregnant women are at increasing risk of GI symptoms such as nausea, vomiting and heartburns, most of these symptoms are as a result of the hormonal and physical changes associated with pregnancy. This study aimed to determine prevalence of gastrointestinal symptoms (GI) among pregnant women attending booking clinic at a Northeastern Nigerian Teaching Hospital.Methods: The study was a cross-sectional, questionnaire-based survey of four hundred and fifty-two pregnant women booking for antenatal care. Their sociodemographic variables as well as the presence or absence of gastrointestinal symptoms in index pregnancy were obtained at by the use of researcher-administered questionnaire. Data were analyzed and presented as frequencies and percentages. A 5% significance level (p <0.05) to test associations.Results: Two fifty-five women had heart burns (56.4%) while 235 (52.0%) had nausea in pregnancy, these were observed to be the most prevalent GI symptoms among the women. Diarrhea and hemorrhoids were the uncommon GI symptoms in the study population constituting 406 (89.5%), and 360 (79.6%) respectively. Easy fullness was noted in 39.8% of the women while vomiting was in 41.8% and constipation in 29% of the respondents. A significant association was observed (p value <0.05) between parity and development of anorexia and hemorrhoids in pregnancy (p values of 0.049 and 0.051 respectively) but not for the other symptoms.Conclusions: GI symptoms are common in pregnancy, the most prevalent symptoms are that of heart burns and nausea, while diarrhea is relatively uncommon.