Computer knowledge amongst clinical year medical students in a resource poor setting.

OBJECTIVE: To study the computer knowledge and desires of clinical year medical students at one of the oldest and largest medical schools in Nigeria. DESIGN: A survey using validated structured questionnaires. SETTING: Medical school of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria. SUBJECTS: Two hundred and thirty seven clinical year (4th, 5th and 6th years) medical students. OUTCOME MEASURES: Computer knowledge, mode of acquiring computer knowledge, regular access to computer, desire for inclusion of computer training in curriculum. RESULTS: One hundred twenty (50.6%) students had knowledge of computer technology and it use. Of these, 108 (90%) had no regular access to a computer and none owned a computer; only 32 (26.7%) were sufficiently familiar with computer tools to perform advanced tasks, but 72 (60%) were comfortable with word processing. Seventy two of the 120 students acquired their computer knowledge through self-learning efforts while 45 (37.5%) attended short periods of formal training. Overall, 45.7% of males and 64.5% of females had computer knowledge. The main reason for lack of computer knowledge was lack of time and lack of access to a computer. Eighty percent of all students would like computer education to be included in medical school curriculum. CONCLUSION: Knowledge and use of computers amongst clinical year medical students in this setting is low. It is important that computer education be taught to the students to enhance their ability to use electronic information and communicate more effectively using computer resources.

Burden of domestic violence amongst infertile women attending infertility clinics in Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: Infertility affects about 20% or more of the population. Infertility can lead to domestic violence and any woman who experiences domestic violence because of infertility, has a double jeopardy. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study involving 233 infertile women attending infertility clinics in 3 hospitals in Nigeria overa period of 12 months. RESULTS: Ninety seven (41.6%) of the women had experienced domestic violence because of their infertility state. The forms of domestic violence experienced were psychological torture 50 (51.5%), verbal abuse 38 (39.2%), ridicule 27 (27.8%), physical abuse 17 (17.5%) and deprivation 6 (6.2%). The main culprits were the husband 47 (48.5%) and female in-laws 31 (32%). Yoruba women were more likely to experience domestic violence than other tribes, although this difference did not reach statistical significance ( p > 0.05.) Educational level, parity, type of marriage and duration of infertility were not statistically significant (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION: In this setting, infertile women are prone to domestic violence. Prompt evaluation, counselling of the couple, as well as early treatment and prevention of infertility is necessary to avoid the problem and domestic violence. This should form part of efforts to meet the millennium development goals.