Gender and other risk factors associated with risky behaviours among Nigerian adolescents.

Risky behaviours in adolescents, apart from substance use, and their associate factors, have not been thoroughly investigated in Nigeria. Hence, there is a need to study the prevalence of risky behaviours and their relationship with gender and other potential risk factors. Data comprising socio-demographic, risky behaviours, personality traits, religious orientation and substance use were obtained from 300 randomly selected secondary school students. Two risk groups (low and high) based on the number of risky behaviours were determined. Male was a risk factor for theft (OR = 2.1; 95%CI = 1.17-3.95), bullying (OR = 2.76; 95%CI = 1.37-5.56) and fighting (OR = 2.14; 95%CI = 1.35-3.40). Fifty-two (17.3%) of the students were of high-risk behaviour group. Furthermore, private school (ß = 1.05; P = 0.010), poor perceived relationship with teachers (ß = 1.21; P = 0.002), polygamy (ß = 1.20; P = 0.002) and lifetime cigarette use (ß = 1.07; P = 0.027) were predictors of high-risk behaviour group. Substantial proportion of adolescents in Nigeria exhibit risky behaviours of which gender and other factors play a significant role.

Assessment of a group of nigerian dental students' education on medical emergencies.

BACKGROUND: The training of dental students in the management of medical emergencies is of utmost importance as they may encounter some of these emergencies at some point in their career. AIM: The aim of this study was to evaluate the medical emergency education in a Nigerian Dental School. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: This descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out among 124 final year dental students of the University of Benin, Benin City. Data was collected using a self-administered questionnaire. The questionnaire elicited information on demography, knowledge of inclusion of a medical emergency in the dental curriculum, knowledge of guidelines on medical emergency formulated by any dental authority, opinion on the comprehensiveness of the present training on medical emergency, type of medical emergency training received, previous encounter with a medical emergency, previous participation in emergency drills and knowledge of the content of an emergency kit. Descriptive statistics was carried out on the collected data. RESULTS: Only 58.1% (72/124) respondents were aware of the inclusion of a medical emergency in the dental curriculum and fewer, 17.7% (22/124), were aware of guidelines on medical emergency formulated by any dental authority. Fifty-two out of all the respondents (41.9%) claimed not to have received any form of training on medical emergency. Only 22.6% (28/123) had previously participated in an emergency drills and just 34.7% (43/124) had ever seen an emergency kit. CONCLUSIONS: It can be concluded from this study that the level of training and level of knowledge on medical emergencies of the studied dental students is below desirable standard. It is therefore necessary to put proper strategies in place to strengthen their identified areas of weakness.

Oral assessment and nursing interventions among Nigerian nurses-knowledge, practices and educational needs.

BACKGROUND: Assessment of oral condition, oral care, and informing the attending doctor of unusual oral findings for possible consultation or referral to a dentist are the advocated roles of hospital nurses. The objective of the study was thus to assess the roles of Nigerian nurses in the assessment of oral conditions of hospitalized patients. METHODS: This questionnaire-based cross-sectional survey of all nurses caring for hospitalized patients in the University of Benin Teaching Hospital was conducted in the first half of 2010. RESULTS: Of the 384 studied participants, 94.3% considered oral care as an important aspect of nursing care and 73.4% had oral health component in their nursing school curriculum. A total of 80.7% reported suspicious and abnormal findings in hospitalized patients to the attending doctor. Amongst the respondents, 38.0% reported ability to conduct good oral tissue examination. Only 28.1% demonstrated good knowledge of common oral diseases. Three-quarters (73.4%) thought that it is compulsory for nurses to assess the oral condition of hospitalized patients. The 67.7% and 21.9% of the respondents did the assessment on admission and discharge respectively. The majority (90.1%) desired training on oral care of hospitalized patients. CONCLUSION: There is a need to improve the skill and competence of nurses in the assessment of oral condition to make them a substantive partner in the oral care of hospitalized patients.

Nigerian clinical level medical students' knowledge of dental specialty.

BACKGROUND: The roles of physicians in oral healthcare delivery are very important due to the unequal distribution of the low oral health manpower as well as the lack of awareness of patients concerning the treatment of oral health problems by dentists in Nigeria. AIM: To assess the Nigerian clinical level medical students' knowledge of dental problems and conditions in relation to the dental specialty that treat them. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: This questionnaire-based cross-sectional study of clinical level medical students of University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria, was conducted between May and June, 2010. The knowledge of the students was graded as good (16-20), fair (8-15), and poor (<8). RESULTS: Out of the 350 questionnaires distributed, 279 were filled and returned giving an overall response rate of 79.7% (279/350). Of these, 47.0% (131/279), 50.2% (140/279), and 2.8% (8/279) of respondents showed poor, fair and good knowledge respectively. The trend showed a statistically significant increase in the mean level of knowledge of dental specialty with an ascent in the clinical level (P = 0.01). CONCLUSION: The level of knowledge of dental specialty in this survey was suboptimal and varied with different specialties which may have adverse implication in future patient care. The variation in the level of knowledge with different clinical level suggested gain in knowledge about dental specialty mainly through nonformal means among medical students.

Nigerian Clinical Level Medical Students' Knowledge of Dental Specialty

Background: The roles of physicians in oral healthcare delivery are very important due to the unequal distribution of the low oral health manpower as well as the lack of awareness of patients concerning the treatment of oral health problems by dentists in Nigeria. Aim: To assess the Nigerian clinical level medical students' knowledge of dental problems and conditions in relation to the dental specialty that treat them. Subjects and Methods: This questionnaire-based cross-sectional study of clinical level medical students of University of Benin; Benin City; Nigeria; was conducted between May and June; 2010.The knowledge of the students was graded as good (16-20); fair (8-15); and poor (8). Results: Out of the 350 questionnaires distributed; 279 were filled and returned giving an overall response rate of 79.7 (279/350). Of these; 47.0 (131/279); 50.2 (140/279); and 2.8(8/279) of respondents showed poor; fair and good knowledge respectively. The trend showed a statistically significant increase in the mean level of knowledge of dental specialty with an ascent in the clinical level (P

Nigerian clinical level medical students' knowledge of dental specialty

The roles of physicians in oral healthcare delivery are very important due to the unequal distribution of the low oral health manpower as well as the lack of awareness of patients concerning the treatment of oral health problems by dentists in Nigeria. Aim: To assess the Nigerian clinical level medical students' knowledge of dental problems and conditions in relation to the dental specialty that treat them. Subjects and Methods: This questionnaire-based cross-sectional study of clinical level medical students of University of Benin; Benin City; Nigeria; was conducted between May and June; 2010.The knowledge of the students was graded as good (16-20); fair (8-15); and poor (8). Results: Out of the 350 questionnaires distributed; 279 were filled and returned giving an overall response rate of 79.7 (279/350). Of these; 47.0 (131/279); 50.2 (140/279); and 2.8 (8/279) of respondents showed poor; fair and good knowledge respectively. The trend showed a statistically significant increase in the mean level of knowledge of dental specialty with an ascent in the clinical level(P = 0.01). The level of knowledge of dental specialty in this survey was suboptimal and varied with different specialties which may have adverse implication in future patient care. The variation in the level of knowledge with different clinical level suggested gain in knowledge about dental specialty mainly through nonformal means among medical students

Effects of land clearing techniques and tillage systems on runoff and soil erosion in a tropical rain forest in Nigeria.

This work reports runoff and soil loss from each of 14 sub-watersheds in a secondary rain forest in south-western Nigeria. The impact of methods of land clearing and post-clearing management on runoff and soil erosion under the secondary forest is evaluated. These data were acquired eighteen years after the deforestation of primary vegetation during the ' West bank' project of the International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA). These data are presented separately for each season; however, statistical analyses for replicates were not conducted due to differences in their past management. Soil erosion was affected by land clearing and tillage methods. The maximum soil erosion was observed on sub-watersheds that were mechanically cleared with tree-pusher/root-rake attachments and tilled conventionally. A high rate of erosion was observed even when graded-channel terraces were constructed to minimize soil erosion. In general there was much less soil erosion on manually cleared than on mechanically cleared sub-watersheds (2.5 t ha(-1) yr(-1) versus 13.8 t ha(-1) yr(-1)) and from the application of no-tillage methods than from conventionally plowed areas (6.5 t ha(-1) yr(-1) versus 12.1 t ha(-1) yr(-1)). The data indicate that tillage methods and appropriate management of soils and crops play an important role in soil and water conservation and in decreasing the rate of decline of soil quality.

Nigerian dental students' compliance with the 4As approach to tobacco cessation.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the Nigerian dental students' present effort at tobacco cessation assistance using the simple stepwise 4As model. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey of all the final level dental students in the Nigerian premier dental schools was carried out using a pretested self administered questionnaire. RESULTS: The response rate was 98.9%. Majority (95.6%) of the respondents routinely take history of tobacco use. A total of 93.9% of the respondents routinely advice patient who smoke to quit but only 46.1% actually counsel patient on how to quit. Six-tenth of the respondents knew about nicotine replacement therapy but only 36.1% knew the role antidepressant therapy in tobacco cessation. Majority (87.2%) want cigarette sales to adolescents banned, 73.9% want adverts of cigarettes prohibited, 81.1% want cigarette smoking banned in public areas and only 2.8% will permit smoking in a dental office. CONCLUSIONS: The survey revealed deficiency in compliance to the 4As approach to tobacco cessation among Nigerian dental students. The incorporation of proper tobacco counseling cessation protocol, with emphasis on the pharmacological therapy, into the dental curriculum is therefore desirable. Dental professionals at all levels should be involved effectively with tobacco cessation to significantly reduce the morbidity and mortality of tobacco use.

Occupational risks and hepatitis B vaccination status of dental auxiliaries in Nigeria.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the occupational exposure to needlestick and sharps injuries and hepatitis B vaccination status among dental auxiliaries. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A descriptive cross-sectional survey of 83 dental auxiliaries was conducted that included 12 technologists, 11 therapists, 53 nurses/surgical assistants, and 7 record officers. The survey included demography, history of needlestick and sharps injury, hepatitis B vaccination, knowledge and attitude towards HIV-infected patients, and the dental auxiliaries' information needs on HIV-related issues. RESULTS: Of the 83 dental auxiliaries, 34 (41%) had experienced needlestick and sharps injury in the last 12 months. At the time of the study, only 43 (51.8%) had been immunized against hepatitis B. 62 (74.7%) of the respondents thought that it was easier to contract HIV than hepatitis B through needlestick in a dental clinic. 21 (25.3%) would not assist dentists treating HIV-positive patients. However, 76 (91.6%), a majority, agreed that they needed more information on HIV-related issues, with 59 (71.1%) specifying a single area of need and 17 (20.5%) more than one area of need. The single areas of need specified in descending order were infection control (n = 22, 26.5%), HIV counseling (n = 12, 14.5%), oral manifestations of HIV/AIDS (n = 11, 13.3%), postexposure prophylaxis (n = 9, 10.8%), and antiretroviral therapy (n = 5, 6.0%). CONCLUSION: The data from this survey underscore the urgent need for educational interventions to encourage safe work practices. Hepatitis B vaccination, HIV-related knowledge and proper postexposure prophylaxis are needed to prevent occupational transmission of blood-borne viruses.