Factors hindering acceptance of HIV/AIDS voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) among youth in Kwara State, Nigeria.

HIV/AIDS has become a source of concern all over the world. The concern cannot be isolated from the devastating effects of HIV/AIDS on economic, social, political and technological development of any nation with a high prevalence rate Nigeria is one of the countries with HIV/AIDS prevalence rate of over 4%. Despite this challenge, the patronage of Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT) is still very low. This study therefore examined the factors hindering the acceptance of VCT as expressed by youths in Kwara State. A total of 600 youths from the three Senatorial districts in the State were involved in the study. A survey instrument designed by the researchers was used to collect relevant information from the respondents. Among others, the study identified ignorance, poverty, inadequate number of VCT centres, stigma and discrimination as major factors responsible for the low patronage of VCT centres in Kwara State. Gender and religion had no significant influence on the respondents' views while place of residence had significant influence. The implications of the findings to medical practice and counseling were identified and discussed.

Factors hindering acceptance of HIV/AIDS voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) among youth in Kwara State, Nigeria

HIV/AIDS has become a source of concern all over the world. The concern cannot be isolated from the devastating effects of HIV/AIDS on economic, social, political and technological development of any nation with a high prevalence rate Nigeria is one of the countries with HIV/AIDS prevalence rate of over 4%. Despite this challenge, the patronage of Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT) is still very low. This study therefore examined the factors hindering the acceptance of VCT as expressed by youths in Kwara State. A total of 600 youths from the three Senatorial districts in the State were involved in the study. A survey instrument designed by the researchers was used to collect relevant information from the respondents. Among others, the study identified ignorance, poverty, inadequate number of VCT centres, stigma and discrimination as major factors responsible for the low patronage of VCT centres in Kwara State. Gender and religion had no significant influence on the respondents' views while place of residence had significant influence. The implications of the findings to medical practice and counseling were identified and discussed. (Afr. J. Reprod. Health 2010; 14[3]: 159-164)

Upper gastrointestinal tract bleeding in Ilorin, Nigeria--a report of 30 cases.

BACKGROUND: Upper gastrointestinal tract bleeding refers to blood loss within the intraluminal gastrointestinal tract from any location between the upper oesophagus to the duodenum at the ligament of Treitz. The onset and severity of blood loss varies widely. Acute gastrointestinal bleeding is a potentially life-threatening abdominal emergency that remains a common cause of hospitalization. There is no local data on the clinical presentation, endoscopic findings and the risk factors for upper gastrointestinal tract bleeding in Ilorin. This study was therefore to review the cases of upper gastrointestinal tract bleed in Ilorin. AIM: To review the cases of upper gastrointestinal tract bleeding seen in Ilorin. METHODOLOGY: A retrospective review of the cases of upper gastrointestinal tract bleeding who had upper gastrointestinal tract endoscopy as part of their workup was undertaken to cover a eighteen month period from June 2006 to November 2007. Their clinical presentation, endoscopic findings, and the risk factors which predisposed them to bleeding were evaluated. The endoscopy register and the request forms were reviewed. RESULTS: A total of thirty patients had upper gastrointestinal tract bleeding for which upper gastrointestinal tract endoscopy was performed during the period under review. Twenty-three of the patients were males (76.7%) while seven were females (23.3%). Sixteen patients (53.3%) presented with malaena only; eleven patients (36.7%) with malaena and haematemesis only; while three patients (10.0%) presented with malaena, haematemesis and haematochexia. However all the patients presented with malaena, haematemesis or haematochexia. The commonest clinical presentation of patients with upper gastrointestinal tract bleeding passage of malaena (53.3%). The commonest endoscopic finding was multiple sources of bleeding (66.7%) while the commonest risk factor for upper gastrointestinal tract bleeding was NSAID use (36.7%). CONCLUSION: The passage of malaena, multiple source of bleeding, and NSAID use are the commonest clinical presentation, endoscopic findings and risk factors respectively in patients with upper gastrointestinal tract bleeding in Ilorin. The spectrum of clinical presentation, endoscopic findings and risk factors for upper gastrointestinal tract bleed found in this study is similar to that found by other workers.

Upper gastrointestinal tract endoscopy indications in northern Nigeria.

Upper gastrointestinal tract endoscopy is one of the commonly performed endoscopic procedures, and has only recently become available in Nigeria. The indications for upper gastrointestinal tract endoscopy in three health facilities in Northern Nigeria were reviewed. Two hundred and sixty-nine patients were found to have undergone upper gastrointestinal tract endoscopy. Their ages ranged from 12-90 years with a mean of 48.1+16.2 years. There were 46.8% males and 53.2% females. The commonest indication for the procedure was dyspepsia (61.0%), followed by upper gastrointestinal bleeding, gastro-oesophageal reflux disease, gastric cancer, gastric outlet obstruction, acute exacerbation of peptic ulcer disease, dysphagia, epigastric mass, excessive salivation, abdominal pain, anaemia, chronic diarrhoea, haematochexia and persistent vomiting.

Prevalence and determinants of erectile dysfunction among people with type 2 diabetes in Ilorin, Nigeria.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence and determinants of Erectile Dysfunction (ED) among men with Type 2 diabetes mellitus. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seventy-seven adult men with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus were assessed for Erectile Dysfunction using the 'IIEF-5' questionnaire. They were also assessed for the presence of certain clinical factors in other to determine their degree of correlation with ED. RESULTS: The mean age of the study subjects was 56.8(+/-2.4) years. Almost all (96.1%) were married. Forty-four (56.4%) men volunteered a history of Erectile Dysfunction. When assessed with the 'IIEF - 5' questionnaire, the prevalence of any degree of ED was 74% while moderate to severe ED was found in 39(51%) of the patients. The only clinical variables that had statistically significant correlation with ED were the age of the patients (p=0.04) as well as the duration of diabetes (p=0.04). CONCLUSION: - Erectile Dysfunction is a very common condition among men with Type 2 Diabetes mellitus in Ilorin, Nigeria and should therefore be routinely sought for by the clinicians. The two clinical factors that confer significant risk to development of ED, from this study are non-modifiable. More emphasis should therefore be placed on treatment rather than the prevention of this condition.

Complications of intrauterine contraceptive device (IUD) use at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Ilorin.

BACKGROUND: The use of Intrauterine Contraceptive Device (IUD) has increased steadily worldwide over the years. METHODS: This is a retrospective study of 602 women who had IUD insertions at the Family Planning Unit of the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital between January- December 1995 and the study was undertaken to study the complications associated with the IUD use at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital. RESULTS: There was 85.55% continuation rate after a year, 81.06% of patients were without complications, 0.33% had Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID) and no perforation was reported. Expulsion was also low. Mean duration of use was 14.06 +/- 4.46 months. There was no statistical difference in timing of insertion in those with or without complications (p = 0.781); however, a significant difference becomes noticeable in the duration of use of the IUD in the two groups (p = 0.001). IUD was acceptable to most patients (85.5%). There was no significant difference with respect to level of education (p = 0.064) and type of previous contraception practised (p = 0.022) in those with or without complications. IUD complications were commonest within the first 3 months of insertion; involving a third of those lost to follow-up compared with about 15% of those not lost to follow-up (p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: At the University of florin Teaching Hospital, Ilorin, IUD use is safe and effective with minimal complications.

Prevalence of HIV antibodies amongst apparently healthy pregnant women in Mongomo, Guinea Equatoria.

BACKGROUND: HIV infection among pregnant women is common and continues to grow. This study was undertaken to evaluate the seroprevalence of HIV antibody in apparently healthy pregnant women. METHOD: Sera of three hundred and twenty-four consecutive pregnant women who had booked for antenatal care between February and July 1997 at the 'Provincial Hospital de Mongomo', Mongomo, Guinea Equatoria were screened for the presence of HIV antibody. Only four (1.23%) pregnant women tested positive using the Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) technique (Wellcome HIV recombinant EIA Kit, Wellcome Diagnostics, UK). This was later confirmed using the Western Blot Technique (Dupont, USA). RESULTS: The study shows that the HIV seroprevalence rate amongst pregnant women in Mongomo, Guinea Equatoria is low compared with the neighbouring countries in the Central African Region. This result, however, is higher than the National rate; this is not surprising since Mongomo has been shown to have a seroprevalence rate higher than the national average in the general population. CONCLUSIONS: Routine HIV screening for all antenatal care patients, provision of anti-retroviral drugs to the sero-positive pregnant women at the subsidised rates, improved socio-economic status especially of women and certain cultural behavioural changes which empower the women are suggested as some of the ways to curb the menace of HIV infection amongst pregnant women and by extension reduce the vertical transmission of HIV to the baby.

Missing IUD strings: diagnosis and management at Ilorin.

BACKGROUND: Intrauterine contraceptive device (IUD) is a widely accepted method of contraception. One of the complications reported with IUD use is missing IUD. METHODS: This retrospective study was carried out on a total of forty-two women who had missing IUDs over a three-year period (January 1992-December 1994). Socio-demographic data, type of previous contraception, timing of insertion, service provider of IUD, diagnostic and management methods of these cases were reviewed. Epiinfo statistical software package was used for analysis and the level of significance was at p<0.001. RESULTS: The total missing IUDs for the years under review accounted for 0.25% of total IUD continuous users or 0.89% of total new IUD acceptors. There was a slight decline over the study period in the percentage of missing IUDs. Majority (85.71%) presented more than 6 months postpartum for insertion while insertions during menses was common (71.43%). Expulsions of IUDs was recorded in 21 (50%) clients. Pelvic examination with uterine sound and abdominopelvic ultrasound were the diagnostic methods commonly used. Trainees at the family planning unit inserted most of the missing IUDs while most clients (71.43%) missed their IUDs especially within the first three months of use. Retrieval loop alone (64.29%) and with dilatation (11.91%) and uterine sounding alone (16.67%) were commonly employed in the management of missing IUDs. About a third had no associated complications. CONCLUSIONS: Prevalence of missing IUDs is low in this centre occurring mostly within 3 months of insertion. Good selection of women using IUDs will result in less reported cases of missing IUDs. Counselling will motivate the IUD user to present early when any complication arise. The trainees need closer supervision and should be taught appropriate insertion techniques.