Prevalence, pattern and factors associated with workplace violence against healthcare workers in Nigeria: A systematic review

Objective:This study aimed to describe the prevalence, pattern, and predictors of WPVagainst HCWs in Nigeria. Methods:Asystematic review was conducted using pre-defined keywords. The review was performed in line with the PRISMAguidelines on PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus, and Web of Science. The population, intervention, comparator, and outcome (PICO) elements for this study were as follows: Population:Nigerian Healthcare workers; Intervention: Exposure to WPV; Comparator: Non-exposure to WPV; Outcome: Mental and Physical health outcomes of exposure to WPV. Of the 18,140 articles retrieved, 15 cross-sectional studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in the review. In all, 3,245 HCWs were included, and consisted majorly of nurses and doctors. Results:The overall prevalence of WPV(Physical > Verbal/Psychological > Sexual) against HCWs ranged between 39.1%-100%. The predictors of WPVare younger ages (AOR = 2.513, p = 0.012), working in psychiatric unit (AOR = 11.182, p = 0.006), and increased frequency of interaction with patients, and mostly perpetrated by patients and their relatives. Many health facilities lacked a formal reporting system and policies to protect HCWs from WPV. Conclusion:WPVagainst HCWs is a public health problem in Nigeria with dire implications on HCWs; the victims, and the aggressor. Administrators of health facilities should design protocols for WPVreporting, recognition, and management. Patient and 'relatives' education on the 'facilities' policy against WPVshould be undertaken, while orientation sessions on the risk factors for HCWs are scheduled.

Epidemiological Transition in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS): Evidence from the Global Burden of Disease 1990-2017.

INTRODUCTION: This study sought to explore the pattern of epidemiological transition in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). METHODS: We extracted data from the global burden of disease study. Countries were grouped using the Sociodemographic Index (SDI). The DisMod-MR 2.1, a Bayesian meta-regression tool, was used as the main method of estimating variations in epidemiologic data sources and other parameters. Examples of these included model predictions, as well as 95% corresponding uncertainty intervals for all death, Years of Life Lost, Years Lived with Disability, and DisabilityAdjusted Life Years (DALYs). RESULTS: The DALYs from Group 1 diseases were higher in all the countries in the region compared to those from non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and injuries, as well as total NCDs in 1990 and this was the same in the subregion in 2017, except in Cape Verde (with the highest SDI), where there were higher DALYs from NCDs/ injuries and the total NCDs than the Group 1 diseases. In 1990, deaths from Group 1 diseases were higher in all the countries in the region than those from the total NCDs except in Cape Verde, while in 2017, deaths from Group 1 diseases were higher than those from Total NCDs except in Cape Verde, the Gambia, Ghana, and Senegal. CONCLUSION: The overall pattern is that of concurrent communicable disease and increasing NCD burden with increasing SDI. Detailed understanding of these patterns and contextual factors are needed to help inform national and regional policies to address the epidemiological transition in the ECOWAS.

INTRODUCTION: Cette étude a cherché à explorer le modèle de transition épidémiologique dans la Communauté économique des États de l'Afrique de l'Ouest (CEDEAO). MÉTHODES: Nous avons extrait les données de l'étude sur la charge mondiale de morbidité. Les pays ont été regroupés à l'aide de l'indice sociodémographique (IDS). Le DisMod-MR 2.1, un outil de métarégression bayésienne, a été utilisé comme principale méthode d'estimation des variations des sources de données épidémiologiques et d'autres paramètres. Des exemples de ceux-ci comprenaient les prédictions du modèle, ainsi que les intervalles d'incertitude correspondants à 95 % pour tous les décès, les années de vie perdues, les années vécues avec une incapacité et les années de vie corrigées de l'incapacité (DALY). RÉSULTATS: Les DALY des maladies du groupe 1 étaient plus élevées dans tous les pays de la région par rapport à celles des maladies non transmissibles (MNT) et des traumatismes, ainsi que le total des MNT en 1990 et il en était de même dans la sous-région en 2017, sauf au Cap. Verde (avec le SDI le plus élevé), où il y avait des DALY des MNT/blessures plus élevées et le total des MNT que les maladies du groupe 1. En 1990, les décès dus aux maladies du groupe 1 étaient plus élevés dans tous les pays de la région que ceux du total des MNT sauf au Cap-Vert, tandis qu'en 2017, les décès dus aux maladies du groupe 1 étaient plus élevés que ceux du total des MNT sauf au CapVert, le Gambie, Ghana et Sénégal. CONCLUSION: Le schéma général est celui d'une maladie transmissible concomitante et d'un fardeau croissant des MNT avec l'augmentation du SDI. Une compréhension détaillée de ces modèles et facteurs contextuels est nécessaire pour aider à éclairer les politiques nationales et régionales pour faire face à la transition épidémiologique dans la CEDEAO. Mots clés: Transition épidémiologique, Afrique de l'Ouest, Maladie non transmissible, Maladie transmissible, Index sociodémographique.

Infection prevention and control during COVID-19 pandemic: realities from health care workers in a north central state in Nigeria.

Health care workers (HCWs) are vulnerable to the risk of infections and could become vectors of onward transmission of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Little is known about the factors which could contribute to increased COVID-19 infection among HCWs in Nigeria. We aimed at assessing the causes of COVID-19 infection among HCWs. We used a qualitative study design to conduct in-depth interview among 16 frontline HCWs participating in the COVID-19 response in Kwara State, Nigeria. Colaizzi's phenomenological method was used in the qualitative analysis of data. We found that HCWs were aware of their vulnerability to the COVID-19 infection, and the reasons attributed included poor knowledge of IPC measures for COVID-19, inadequate supply of personal protective equipment (PPE), poor political will and inadequate health facilities (HFs) management support. Improved political will and better involvement of HFs management teams in infection prevention and control (IPC) systems are needed to reduce the risk for COVID-19 infection among HCWs. We recommend scale-up training on IPC measures particularly hand washing and use of PPE as well as the development of effective points of care risk assessment with a high index of suspicion in HFs.

PREVALENCE AND PREDICTORS OF EXCLUSIVE BREASTFEEDING AMONG MOTHERS IN A SEMI-URBAN NIGERIAN COMMUNITY: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY.

Background: The uptake of exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) is low globally including Nigeria despite its benefits and interventions. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and predictors of EBF among mothers in a semiurban Nigerian community. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study among nursing mothers attending the immunization clinic at the Federal Medical Centre, Owo, Ondo State. A semi-structured questionnaire containing the World Health Organization's indicators for assessing breastfeeding practices was used for data collection. Results: A total of 386 mothers were recruited with a mean age of 30.8 ± 5.0 years. Among them, 149 (36.8%) were below 30 years, 345 (89.4%) have had ANC visit at least four times, and 259 (67.1%) had initiated breastfeeding immediately after delivery. The prevalence of EBF was 52.6%. Natural feeds were the common feeds introduced after 6 months among 159 (78.3%) mothers. One hundred and forty-four (62.1%) nursing mothers aged 30 years or older practiced EBF compared to 72 (48.3%) persons below 30 years (X2 = 6.290, p = 0.012). Also, 38 (70.3%) mothers who have delivered four or more children practiced EBF compared to 180 (54.2%) with fewer children (X2 = 5.437, p = 0.020). Nursing mothers aged 30 years or older had 36% higher odds of practicing EBF compared to younger persons (Adjusted Odds Ratio = 1.358, 95%CI = 0.886 - 2.081, p = 0.160). Conclusion: To achieve the WHO recommended target of ensuring that 90% of nursing mothers practice EBF, advocacy and health education must be intensified.

RISK PERCEPTION, KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE AND PRACTICES TOWARDS COVID-19 AND LASSA FEVER PREVENTION AMONG DOCTORS AND NURSES IN A TREATMENT CENTRE IN NIGERIA.

BACKGROUND: Infection Prevention and Control practices are required to manage COVID-19 and Lassa fever (LF). We aimed to assess COVID-19 and LF risk perception and knowledge, attitude, and practices (KAP) towards prevention among doctors and nurses in a treatment centre in Ondo State, Nigeria. METHODS: We conducted a comparative cross-sectional study using semi-structured interviewer-administered questionnaires. We computed KAP scores with "+1" for correct response and "0" for incorrect response. Cumulative scores >80% implied good KAP of LF and COVID-19. Chi-square test was used to assess associations between sociodemographic characteristics and COVID-19 and LF KAP. P-values<0.05 were statistically significant. RESULT: The mean age of respondents was 37.81±8.46 years. Risk perception scores were 2.82±0.53 for LF and 2.76±0.58 for COVID-19 (p=0.002). Mean overall knowledge scores towards prevention were 18.48±2.08 for LF and 15.59±3.22 for COVID-19 (p<0.001). Practices towards prevention scores were 18.18±2.27 for LF and 15.89±1.47 for COVID-19 (p<0.001). Concerning LF, 72.8% of doctors had good knowledge of prevention compared to 42.9% nurses (p<0.001), 18.3% of doctors had good attitude to LF prevention compared to 27.2% nurses (p=0.039). Also, 84.8% nurses had good LF preventive practices compared to doctors (64.5%) (p<0.001). A strong positive correlation (r=0.72) existed between COVID-19 and LF risk perception (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Continuous on-the- job trainings are needed among doctors and nurses in LF and COVID-19 treatment centres.

REOPENING OF EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS AMID THE COVID-19 OUTBREAK: NIGERIA'S PREPARATION FOR THE MITIGATION OF SCHOOL-ASSOCIATED COVID-19 RISKS.

The global spread of the novel Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has necessitated the implementation of non-pharmaceutical public health measures globally, including school closure. After five months of school closures, the Nigerian government is planning towards the suspension of school lockdown. However, in a bid to ensure that schoolchildren are academically equipped, and measures such as adequate ventilation, handwashing, social distancing, and increased infrastructure need to be implemented to ensure that school reopening does not result to a spike in COVID-19 cases and fatalities in Nigeria.

The Prevalence and Factors Associated with Depression among Patients with Pulmonary Tuberculosis at the Federal Medical Center, Owo, Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: Co-morbid depression poses a challenge to the successful management of pulmonary tuberculosis (TB). This study assessed the prevalence of depression and its associated factors among patients receiving treatment for TB in a tertiary health care facility in southwestern Nigeria. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among all the pulmonary TB patients presenting in the initiating or continuous phase of treatment and they were consecutively recruited between January and December, 2017. The Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI) tool was used for the diagnosis of depression. The severity of depression was assessed using Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAMD). RESULTS: Of the 152 patients, 85 (55.9%) were males with a mean age of 41.7 ±15.5 years and 71 (46.7%) had depression of which 64(90.1%) had mild depression and 2 (2.8%) had severe depression. Among female 38(56.7%) were depressed compared to 33 (38.8%) male (p=0.028). Fifty-nine (55.1%) of those on continuous phase of treatment were depressed compared to 12 (27.3%) initiating treatment (p=0.002). In those with HIV co-morbidity 36 (66.7%) were depressed while 35 (35.7%) were depressed among those without HIV co-morbidity (p <0.001). Among those who had poor perception of treatment outcome, 7 (87.5%) were depressed compared to 64 (44.4%) with good perception, p=0.018. Overall, predictors of depression were having poor perception about outcome of treatment (AOR: 12.9; CI 95%: 1.4-118.4), having HIV co-morbidity (AOR: 2.9; CI 95%: 1.4-6.3) and being on continuous phase of TB treatment (AOR: 2.5; CI 95%: 1.1- 5.9). CONCLUSION: The care of patients with TB should be more comprehensive. Health care workers should actively seek for evidence of depression among patients diagnosed with Tuberculosis and appropriate help offered to them.

REALITIES OF COVID-19 PANDEMIC IN NIGERIA: COPING WITH THE CHALLENGES AND CHARTING A WAY FORWARD.

The impacts of COVID-19 have cut across both developed and developing countries alike. This has prompted different coping mechanisms for survival through these trying times. The reality of stigmatization in this period has negatively affected health-seeking behavior and public response to the outbreak. Challenges exist at both the community and the healthcare providing facilities. We present a review of best practices in coping with COVID-19. Our focus is on how to cope with the challenges and strategies to improve the response to the pandemic in Nigeria. It is required that safety measures be fully adopted and practiced by individuals and groups. Collaborative efforts are required by all stakeholders, government, healthcare workers, and private organizations to mitigate the negative effects of the pandemic, avoid stigmatization, and ease the return journey to normalcy.

Burnout among Nigerian doctors: a systematic review

Burnout among physicians is a global phenomenon which has been under-reported in middle and low-income economies. The importance of burn-out on the physicians' well-being, patient care and overall health care system cannot be overemphasized. In Nigeria, few studies are specific to burnout, with most of the available studies exploring psychosocial issues at physicians' workplace stress and job dissatisfaction. This present review of literature is assessing burnout among Nigerian Physicians. This review is designed using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis (PRISMA) guidelines. The review identified observational, review, longitudinal and experimental studies on Nigerian physicians between 1970- 2017, which have the full text in the English language. The articles were searched from online databases such as PUBMED, Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ), African Journals Online (AJOL) and Google Scholar by researchers. The keywords used include "Physician", "Nigeria", "burn-out" syndrome. The prevalence of 23.6% to 51.7% burnout was reported among physicians in the selected studies, with young age being a strong predictor for burnout. High burden of emotional exhaustion, depersonalization and personal accomplishment were reported in the study carried out among resident doctors who are early career doctors. The prevalence of burnout reported from these studies in Nigeria is very high, although they are within the globally reported range of physician burnout. Nevertheless, there is a dearth of information on the subject matter among Nigerian Physicians. There is a need to carry out more studies on burnout among Nigerian Physicians

Cognitive functions in newly diagnosed patients with HIV infection in a tertiary health facility: Assessment using community screening interview for dementia.

INTRODUCTION: Neurocognitive dysfunction is a detrimental complication of HIV infection. In this study we attempt to characterize the pattern of cognitive dysfunction in a sample of Nigerian patients with newly diagnosed HIV infection. METHODS: We conducted a prospective study in which 50 patients with newly diagnosed HIV infection were studied along with 50 normal control subjects. The participants were evaluated with the medical history, general, physical and neurological examination. Laboratory evaluation and chest X-Ray were done for all patients. The Community Screening Interview for Dementia (CSID) questionnaire was administered to all the study participants. RESULTS: About 70% of the patients were in advanced disease stage. The mean age (SD) of the patients and controls in years were 36.44 ± 8.22 and 35.40 ± 11.53 respectively. More than half (56%) of the patients had secondary level of education (12 years of education). About 20% of the patients had severe neurocognitive impairment while 48% had minor neurocognitive disorder. The patients with HIV infection performed poorly in the domains of language, memory, orientation, attention/calculation and praxis relative to controls (p < 0.05).There were no significant effect of gender, age, sex and level of education on cognitive functions in the patients (p > 0.05) but the presence of opportunistic infections had negative impact on the performances on orientation and total CSID scores in the patients with HIV infection (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Patients with newly diagnosed HIV infection have poor cognitive functions when compared to normal controls and some presence of opportunistic infections in the patient is a significant risk factor for cognitive impairment.

MEDICAL AUDIT OF PATIENT CARE: A STUDY OF DOCTORS IN A TERTIARY HEALTH FACILITY IN SOUTH WEST NIGERIA.

INTRODUCTION: The role of Medical Audit in patient care needs to beexplored. This study aimed to determine doctors' knowledge and practice of Medical Audit in a tertiary health facility in South West Nigeria. METHODS: Across-sectional study of 115 consenting doctors at Federal Medical Centre Owo was conducted. A semi-structured, self-administered questionnaire was used. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 21. Descriptive statistics were presented using frequency tables and bar chart, age and year of practice were summarized as mean and standard deviation. Chi square-test was used to compare sociodemographic variables with doctor's knowledge of MedicalAudit. Level of statistical significant was 5%. RESULT: The mean age of the respondents was 32.5 ± 5.8 years. Males were 78%, and 61.7% were married. The mean duration of practice was 3.3 ± 2.2 years. Adequate knowledge of Medical Audit was found in 79% of the respondents while only 53% had practiced it. Formal training on Medical Audit has not been received by 91.3% of the respondents, 80.9% requested for training on Medical Audit. In all, 88.0% who had ≥ 3-years of practice had adequate knowledge compared with only 72.3% of those who had less than three years of practice (p = 0.040). CONCLUSION: Practice of MedicalAudit is low though adequate knowledge exist.Training of doctors on Medical Audit is required.

Tuberculosis treatment outcomes and interruption among patients assessing DOTS regimen in a tertiary hospital in semi-urban area of south-western Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: Tuberculosis remains one of the most infectious diseases worldwide especially with the HIV pandemic. It is a cause of high morbidity and mortality in developing countries including Nigeria. Reasons contributing to high morbidity and mortality include high defaulting rate and treatment interruption. Several studies had evaluated the treatment outcome of tuberculosis but there is paucity of published literature on the outcome of treatment interruption especially in this environment. This study thus assessed the outcome of treatments and interruption among patients assessing DOTS regimen in a tertiary hospital located in asemi urban area in south-western Nigeria. METHODOLOGY: The study was a review of TB register of the federal medical centre, Owo from its inception in 2008 to 2011. All the patients that have completed at least one course of chemotherapy (defined as 8 months of anti-tuberculosis treatment- 2 months intensive phase and 6 months continuation phase) were included. Treatment outcome and interruption were defined in accordance with World Health Organisation (WHO) recommendations. Data were analysed with SPSS version 17. RESULTS: A total of 400 patients were included. The mean age of patients was 36.8 +/- 16.8 years and 56.3% were male. Majority, (79.7%) were adults aged 19-64 years, 12.5% were in the paediatric age group and 7.8% were elderly. Less than half, 45.3% had TB/HIV co-infection. Regarding treatment outcome of tuberculosis, 75.5% were cured, 14.8% died, 4% relapsed and 3% defaulted. A little above one-fifth, 21 (5.3%) had treatment interruption among whom 9 (42.9%) were successfully traced and completed treatment. Significantly, higher proportion of those that had treatment interruption died, 54.1% compared with their counterpart, 14.9%, (p < 0.001) and had relapse. (14.3% versus 3.4%, p = 0.01). CONCLUSION: A high rate of tracking failure among patients with treatment interruption was found in the study. In addition, mortality and morbidity were higher among patients with treatment interruption. A more concerted effort is needed in tracking/tracing patients with treatment interruption in orderto reduce morbidity and mortality among TB patients assessing treatment.

An investigation of the prevalence of iron overload in Nigerian women.

BACKGROUND: Iron overload has been recognized to be a risk factor for numerous acute and chronic illnesses. It is generally assumed to be rare and acknowledgment of iron toxicity is difficult for some nutritional scientists, clinicians and laypersons. There is also a heightened interest to raise body iron through universal iron "fortified" foods. OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the need to examine the policy of unselective iron supplementation in a sub-Saharan African community. METHODS: This is a descriptive study carried out on 98 apparently healthy women attending a Papanicolaou (PAP) smear clinic for routine cervical cancer screening. Information on demographic data and diet were obtained with structured questionnaires and serum samples were analyzed for serum iron (SI) and total iron binding capacity (TIBC) which were used to derive the values for tranferrin saturation (TS%). Iron overload was defined by tranferrin saturation greater than 50%. RESULTS: The prevalence of iron overload was 8.2% in women aged 26-71 years. Skilled workers constituted 44.9% of the population while semi-skilled and housewives were 50% and 5.1% respectively. Eighty four percent of the women had been on iron vitamin supplement at one time or the other. Mild anaemia was present in 25% of the women with iron overload. The prevalence of iron overload between women who were actively reproducing and those who were not was not statistically different. CONCLUSIONS: Iron overload is common, therefore, iron studies may be included in routine investigation and selective iron supplementation should be encouraged. Moreso, iron loading anaemia should be ruled out in patients with anaemia before prescribing iron therapy.

Factors influencing the choice of health care providing facility among workers in a local government secretariat in South Western Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: There is increasing interest in the choice of health care providing facility in Nigeria. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to assess the factors influencing choice and satisfaction with health service providers among local government staff. METHODS: A cross sectional survey of all 312 workers in a Local Government Secretariat in South West Nigeria was done. Chi Square and logistic regression analysis was done. RESULTS: The mean age was 38.6 ± 7.5 years, 55% were females and 71.7% had tertiary education. The median monthly family income of the respondents was N 28, 000 (N3,000 - N500,000), with 24.4% earning a monthly income of N21, 000 to N30, 000. Many (72.3%) utilized public health facilities attributing the choice to the low cost of services. Respondents who are satisfied with their usual care providing facilities are 12.2 times more likely to have used public facilities than private facilities (95%, CI 3.431 - 43.114). Respondents who described the quality with ease of getting care/short waiting times as being good are 3.9 times more likely to have private facilities as their chosen health care providing facility (95%, CI 1.755 - 8.742). Cost/payment for service is 2.9 times more likely to predict the use of public health facility as the usual health care provider. CONCLUSION: Private facilities though costlier do not appear to be providing better services than public facilities. To increase access to health care the cost of services and the waiting time are important factors to address.

Quality of life and associated factors among adults in a community in South west Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: Quality of life (QoL) is an important measure in the assessment of population well being and health status. However despite locally validated measuring tools, little is known about the quality of life and associated factors in Nigerian adults. OBJECTIVE: This study therefore aimed to assess QoL and contributory factors among adults residing in a sub urban Nigerian community. METHODS: A descriptive cross-sectional study of 527 adults, in Oru community was conducted. An interviewer-administered questionnaire adapted from the WHO quality of life (WHOQOL-BREF) questionnaire was used to obtain information from respondents. Associations were explored with the chi square test; multivariate analysis was done with logistic regression at 5% level of significance. RESULTS: Respondents mean age was 33.3 ±8.1 years. In all, 46.5 % were currently married or cohabiting. Christianity was the dominant religion, 72.7%. In all, 81.6% had good QoL. Predictors of good QoL were respondents less than 25 years [OR: 3.5 (1.264-9.508)], having educational level that is secondary and above [OR: 4.2 (1.810-9.762)]. Being Unemployed [OR: 1.9 (1.099- 3.351)], living in flats and other bigger apartments [OR: 1.8 (1.121- 3.04)], currently ill [OR: 3.7 (2.096- 6.509)], and lack of involvement in religious activities [OR: 3.1 (1.166- 8.045)] were also shown to be predictors of good QoL. CONCLUSION: The majority of those evaluated had good QoL. Further surveys involving larger samples sizes are required to explore the QoL in distinct sub-populations and in currently ill patients to strengthen the results of this study.

Making a case for community screening services: findings from a medical outreach in ibadan, Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: Currently, population based medical check up is yet to be explored as a veritable tool for assessing the burden of non-communicable diseases in Nigeria. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to assess the prevalence of selected lifestyle related diseases during a free medical rally in an urban community. METHODS: General medical examinations of all participants at a free medical rally in a middle class community in Ibadan, Oyo State was conducted. Body Mass Index (BMI), blood pressure and random blood sugar measurements were done using standardised instruments. BMI classification for children was done using the CDC guidelines for males and females aged 2-20 years. RESULTS: Of the 302 participants examined, 33.1% were males and 32.1% were less than 18 years. Of those aged 2 to 20 years, 22.9% were underweight, while 5.2% were overweight/ obese. In adults 3.6% were underweight and 43.2% were overweight/ obese. Adults were significantly more likely to be overweight/obese (P<0.001). Prevalence of high blood pressure was 29.3% and 9.4% of adults had elevated random blood glucose levels. A higher proportion of obese people (P=0.259), males (P= 0.327) and those older than 40 years (P<0.001) had elevated blood pressure. A weak correlation (spearman rho= 0.3) was found between blood pressure and BMI (P<0.001) and also between BMI and blood sugar level (spearman rho= 0.2) P=0.05. CONCLUSION: There is a need for greater emphasis on community based screening programmes to aid early diagnosis and treatment of non communicable diseases in the country.

Knowledge of aflatoxin contamination in groundnut and the risk of its ingestion among health workers in Ibadan, Nigeria.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the awareness and knowledge of aflatoxin contamination in groundnut and the risk of its ingestion among health workers in Ibadan. METHODS: The study was a descriptive cross-sectional study. Study instrument was a semi-structured self administered questionnaire. The respondents were health workers from a public health facility. RESULTS: A total of 417 health workers participated out of which males were 60.2%. The mean age of respondents was (28.0±4.9)years old. Doctors made up 83.0% while others were nurses. 95% of the respondents had previous awareness of aflatoxin and class room lectures was the most common source of information (56%). Occupation and religion both showed a significant association with previous awareness of aflatoxin (P<0.05). Knowledge regarding aflatoxin contamination in groundnut and the risk of its ingestion was obtained showing knowledge score range of 0 to 14. In all, 80.6% had good scores of 11 to 14. None of the respondents had ever told their patients about the risk of aflatoxin ingestion. CONCLUSIONS: There is a need to explore the possibility of incorporating aflatoxin awareness into routine health talk to increase the level of awareness of patients and their relatives.