Availability and functionality of sphygmomanometers at health care institutions in Enugu, Nigeria.

OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to investigate the availability of functional blood pressure monitors at health care institutions in Enugu, Nigeria. METHODS: During repeated surveys of 15 (primary, secondary and tertiary) health care institutions in Enugu between 2007 and 2012, records were made of the availability and functional status of sphygmomanometers in the clinics and wards. We also assessed the degree of agreement between measurements by institutional staff and measurements by trained observers using the same or the standard sphygmomanometer. RESULTS: Apart from three institutions, there was inadequate availability of fully functional sphygmomanometers: 61 staff attending to outpatients were sharing 35 sphygmomanometers, 6 of which were faulty i.e. needing repairs. Wards invariably had only one or two functional sphygmomanometers, regardless of bed occupancy. Institutional staff ignored recommended guidelines for blood pressure measurement. The overall mean difference in blood pressure measurements between institutional staff and a trained observer (1.6 mmHg; 95% confidence interval, CI: -0.3 to 3.4; P=0.1) was greater and more significant than the mean difference between the two observers (0.1 mmHg; CI: -1.5 to 1.7; P=0.9) and the mean difference between institutional and standard sphygmomanometers (-0.2 mmHg; CI: -1.7 to 1.3; P=0.8). CONCLUSION: There has been a notable lack of reporting on the availability of blood pressure measuring devices in third world health care institutions. Our surveys have shown inadequate availability of functional sphygmomanometers in the institutions, but satisfactory agreement between measurements by institutional staff and trained observers. In view of recent guidelines and recommendations, there is need to supplement office readings with mercury devices with oscillometric home or automated office blood pressure recording.

Prevalence of Sexual Dysfunction among Females in a University Community in Enugu; Nigeria

Background: Female sexual dysfunction is a common; condition that significantly reduces the quality-of-life of the affected persons. Unfortunately; because of the veil of secrecy that shrouds discussions on human sexuality; there has been limited research on this topic in some sociocultural settings. Aim: The aim was to determine the prevalence and some sociodemographic factors associated with sexual dysfunction in females in a university community at the University of Nigeria; Enugu Campus; Enugu State; Nigeria. Subjects and Methods: This is a cross-sectional study involving 500 females recruited randomly in a tertiary institution in Nigeria. A self-administered structured pretested questionnaire on sexual activity was administered (the Female Sexual Function Index [FSFI]). Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS software package (Version 17.0; Chicago; IL; USA). Multiple logistic regression was used to determine the relationship between the sociodemographic factors; and the total FSFI scores dichotomized as normal and reduced sexual function. In addition; multiple linear regression was used to determine the relationship between the six different domains scores and the continuous values of the total score. For all; calculations; P 0.05 was considered as statistically significant at 95 confidence interval (CI). Results: The prevalence of female sexual dysfunction (FSFI score ? 26.50) was 53.3. The highest prevalence occurred in the 41-50 years age group (73.3; 66/90); married and living together 56.4 (123/218) and had postsecondary education (56.1 CI; 0.691-0.943). Marital status; religion; ethnic group; and educational qualification had no significant effect (P 0.05). The total FSFI significantly increase as desire increases (P

Prevalence of sexual dysfunction among females in a university community in Enugu, Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: Female sexual dysfunction is a common, condition that significantly reduces the quality-of-life of the affected persons. Unfortunately, because of the veil of secrecy that shrouds discussions on human sexuality, there has been limited research on this topic in some sociocultural settings. AIM: The aim was to determine the prevalence and some sociodemographic factors associated with sexual dysfunction in females in a university community at the University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, Enugu State, Nigeria. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: This is a cross-sectional study involving 500 females recruited randomly in a tertiary institution in Nigeria. A self-administered structured pretested questionnaire on sexual activity was administered (the Female Sexual Function Index [FSFI]). Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS software package (Version 17.0, Chicago, IL, USA). Multiple logistic regression was used to determine the relationship between the sociodemographic factors, and the total FSFI scores dichotomized as normal and reduced sexual function. In addition, multiple linear regression was used to determine the relationship between the six different domains scores and the continuous values of the total score. For all, calculations, P < 0.05 was considered as statistically significant at 95% confidence interval (CI). RESULTS: The prevalence of female sexual dysfunction (FSFI score ≤ 26.50) was 53.3%. The highest prevalence occurred in the 41-50 years age group (73.3%; 66/90), married and living together 56.4% (123/218) and had postsecondary education (56.1%; 137/244). Only age significantly predicted female sexual function (P = 0.007; 95% CI; 0.691-0.943). Marital status, religion, ethnic group, and educational qualification had no significant effect (P < 0.05). The total FSFI significantly increase as desire increases (P = 0.002; 95% CI = 0.817-3.573). CONCLUSION: Female sexual dysfunction is common in the university environment, with the highest prevalence occurring in 41-50 years age group.

Influence of health education on community participation in rapid assessment of onchocerciasis prior to distribution of ivermectin.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the impact of health education on community participation in the rapid assessment of onchocerciasis prior to distribution of ivermectin in Nigeria. DESIGN: There was health education with use of pictorial monographs to an adult population and school children in Umulumgbe and Okpatu communities, respectively. The school children in turn transferred the knowledge acquired to their parents through a health club, and a third community (Awhum) had no health education. Randomly selected subjects in each community were then assessed for their ability to recognise clinical manifestations of disease. SETTING: The study took place in three onchocerciasis-endemic, autonomous communities in Udi local government area of Enugu state in eastern Nigeria. SUBJECTS: Fifty, thirty seven, and thirty three male subjects, aged 20 years and above in Umulumgbe, Okpatu and Awhum respectively were involved in the study. RESULTS: 89.3%, 100% and 25.6% of the total number of onchocercal nodules were rightly indicated by the subjects in Umulumgbe, Okpatu and Awhum respectively. 100% of skin depigmentation was also reported in Umulumgbe and Okpatu each, and 50% in Awhum. Although some of the clinical manifestations (onchocercal nodules and skin depigmentation) were wrongly indicated, others (hanging groin and enlarged scrotum) were not reported by the subjects at all. CONCLUSION: This study clearly shows that health education is necessary for control programmes that are meant to be sustainable, especially the WHO-supported community-directed treatment with ivermectin (CDTI).

PIP: This article examines the impact of health education on community participation in the rapid assessment of onchocerciasis before distributing ivermectin in Nigeria. The study was conducted in three onchocerciasis-endemic areas of Nigeria--Awhum, Umulumgbe, and Okpatu--involving 33, 50, and 37 male subjects, respectively, in each community. A health education activity on onchocerciasis was conducted among the adult population and school children of Umulumgbe and Okpatu communities, after which, a rapid assessment of onchocerciasis was carried out. On the other hand, a rapid assessment was also conducted in Awhum in March 1995 before ivermectin distribution without prior health education. The study found that onchocercal nodules were more frequent in the lower part of the subject's body, especially around the pelvic region. Onchocercal nodules were indicated by 89.3% of the subjects in Umulumgbe, by 100% of the subjects in Okpatu, and by 25.6% of the subjects in Awhum. Skin pigmentation was also reported by 100% of the subjects in Umulumgbe and Okpatu and by 50% of the subjects in Awhum. The investigation discovered that some onchocercal nodules were incorrectly identified by the three communities, resulting in failure of reporting other clinical manifestations of the disease. Despite these limitations, researchers still feel that health education greatly influenced their knowledge on the parasitic disease.