Medical school students' perspectives on virtual anatomy education in a developing country.

Understanding the fundamental role anatomy education plays in medical training and taking into consideration the nascence of online education in Nigeria, this study evaluated the perceptions of medical and allied-health students toward online anatomy education both during the COVID-19 lockdown in Nigeria and for the future. For this study, Google Form questionnaires were distributed via different social and academic platforms to medical and allied-health students in Nigeria between September 28 and December 17, 2020. A total of 954 students participated in the study and 947 valid responses were recorded. The results showed that 77.6% of the students had reported computer/IT skills and 12.1% admitted that they had never attended an online class. Interestingly, 60% of the respondents disapproved of online learning approaches as effective tools for instructions in the anatomical sciences. Majority of the students (84%) agreed that their performance in anatomy would have been better if the classes were face-to-face, while 55% found the online anatomy classes uninteresting. Furthermore, 91.5% agreed that anatomy educators needed advanced skills for online education, while 94.2% agreed that anatomy online teaching needs more advanced technology to be implemented in Nigeria. This study revealed an overall negative perception about the suitability and effectiveness of online anatomy education in Nigerian medical/health training. This study recommends further investigations into the challenges that were presented during online anatomy education at the peak of the pandemic. This will help direct the development and implementation of a workable and sustainable online education model for anatomical sciences in Nigeria.

Determination of the width of the presacral space on magnetic resonance imaging among adults in south-western Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: The presacral space is a clinically relevant potential space and contents may give rise to a variety of benign and malignant conditions, hence the need for detailed knowledge of its dimensions. PURPOSE: To determine the width of the presacral space and existing variations among adults in south-western Nigeria using a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technique. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 369 consenting adults were included in the study. Measurements of the presacral space were then made electronically by consensus of two radiologists. Values derived were recorded and subjected to analyses of variance. RESULTS: The mean normal widths of the presacral space in men and women were 11.7 mm and 11.1 mm at the S1 level, 11.7 mm and 10.35 mm at the S2 level, and 12.3 mm and 9.7 mm at the S3 level, respectively. Measurements of the presacral space width were significantly larger in the male population. Variations in the dimensions due to age greater than 40 years, male sex, and increasing body mass index (BMI) were also noted. CONCLUSION: This study provides baseline dimensions under more physiological conditions and gives more accurate information about the true width of the space in Nigerian adults. Variations due to age, sex, and BMI may also be considered while interpreting abnormal values.

Childhood diarrhoea in southwestern Nigeria: Predictors of low osmolarity ORS and zinc use among mothers.

Objectives: Diarrhoea is a leading cause of mortality among children in resource-limited countries. However, very scarce literature exists regarding the factors influencing the awareness and use of low osmolarity oral rehydration salts (Lo-ORS) and zinc supplementation in the management of childhood diarrhoea among mothers of children under 5 years of age in southwestern Nigeria. This study, performed in Lagos, Nigeria, aimed to address this lack of knowledge. Methods: Through a cross-sectional survey design, 336 mothers of children under 5 years of age were selected through a multi-stage sampling procedure. Data were collected with a pretested, semi-structured interviewer administered questionnaire and analysed in SPSS version 23. Descriptive and inferential statistical techniques were used for data analysis. Results: A total of 10.4% of the mothers were aware of Lo-ORS, whereas 6.5% had ever used it; 53.3% were aware of zinc supplementation, whereas 42% had ever used it. Awareness was influenced by educational level (AOR: 2.017; 95% CI: 1.123-3.626) and the age of the child (AOR: 2.257; 95% CI: 1.237-4.117) for Lo-ORS, and by average monthly income (AOR: 1.582; 95% CI: 1.144-2.187) for zinc supplementation. The utilisation level was associated with educational level (p = 0.039) and awareness (p < 0.001) for Lo-ORS, and with marital status (p = 0.018) and awareness (p < 0.001) for zinc supplementation. Conclusion: Awareness and use of Lo-ORS was poorer than that of zinc supplementation among the mothers. Efforts to promote awareness regarding these treatments among mothers and health workers should be intensified to promote their use and help bridge the gap between policy change and effectiveness.