Prevalence of erectile dysfunction and possible risk factors among men of South-Western Nigeria: a population based study.

INTRODUCTION: Erectile dysfunction (ED) is currently one of the most common sexual dysfunctions worldwide but it is usually underestimated because it is not a life threatening condition. The associated stigma makes men who have it to suffer in silence. This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of erectile dysfunction and the possible associated risk factors among Nigerian men. METHODS: The study was a descriptive cross-sectional population based survey among men aged 30-80 years in Ogbomoso, South-west, Nigeria. A multistage random sampling method was used. The instrument used was the International Index of Erectile Function Questionnaire-5 (IIEF-5). Unadjusted odds ratios of possible risk factors were calculated by univariate analyses. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to eliminate the effect of possible confounders on the risk factors to get the adjusted odds ratios. RESULTS: The general prevalence of ED in this study was 58.9%. Sixty-seven (47.2%), 16 (11.3%) and 59(41.5%) respondents had mild, moderate and severe ED respectively. Age, hypertension, use of anti-hypertensive drugs, diabetes mellitus and heart disease all had significant unadjusted associations with ED, but their adjusted associations were not statistically significant. Diabetes mellitus maintained a positive statistically significant relationship with ED after adjustment for potential confounders [OR= 8.31(95% CI 1.02 - 67.65), P= 0.048]. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of ED is high among south-western Nigeria male adults. Physicians, especially primary care ones, need to pay more attention to the sexual history of their patients in order to diagnose and manage ED more frequently.

Prevalence of hepatitis C virus antibody among undergraduates in ogbomoso, southwestern Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of hepatitis C virus antibody (anti-HCV), among a healthy university undergraduate population in south-western Nigeria. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Relevant medical information of students who underwent the post-admission screening exercise for the year 2012, at the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH), Health Center, Ogbomoso were extracted from the laboratory log book. All tests were done using rapid anti-HCV test kit by Health - Chem diagnostics, USA. A total of 1,572 students were included in the study. The mean age was 19.61 (± 2.75) years while the age range was 15-50 years. A total of 821 (52.20%), of the subjects were males while 751 (47.80%) were females. More than ninety nine percent (99.90%) of the subjects were aged 15-30 years, whereas those aged ≥31 years were comparatively few (0.60%). RESULTS: Of the 1572 students, 6 tested positive, giving an overall prevalence of 0.40%. Three (0.37%) of the 821 male subjects tested positive while 3(0.40%) also of the 751 female subjects tested positive. Age-group 21-30 years had the highest prevalence of anti -HCV (0.50%), followed by age-groups ≤ 20 years with 0.30% prevalence. None of the subjects in age-groups 31-40 and ≥ 41 years tested positive. CONCLUSION: These observed differences were not statistically significant. The prevalence of Hepatitis C Virus is low among the young healthy undergraduate population in the south - western region of Nigeria.

Prevalence of Helicobacter pylori among Nigerian patients with dyspepsia in Ibadan.

INTRODUCTION: Determination of the true prevalence of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is difficult in a hyper-endemic area like Nigeria with use of serological tests because of their low discriminatory power between previous and current infections. The use of biopsy based methods will go a long way to mitigate this problem. We investigated the prevalence of H. pylori in dyspeptic patients and its relationship with gastroduodenal pathologies using gastric biopsy histology and rapid urease test. METHODS: Eighty-six consecutive adult patients with dyspepsia underwent upper gastrointestinal endoscopy using forward-viewing endoscopes. Antral biopsy specimens were collected for histology and rapid urease test. Diagnosis of H. pylori infection was made if both or either of the tests was positive. RESULTS: Of the 86 subjects, there were 39 (45.3%) males and 47 (54.7%) females. The age range was 23 to 85 years with a mean of 49.19±13.75 years. Diagnosis of H. pylori was made in 55 (64%) patients. Gastritis was the commonest endoscopic finding (60.5%), serious gastroduodenal pathology (gastric ulcer, duodenal ulcer and gastric cancer) were documented in only 12 (14%) patients. Thirty three (63.5%) of the 55 patients with gastritis had H. pylori infection while 7 (58.3%) of the 12 patients with serious gastroduodenal lesions had the infection. Thirteen (72.2%) of the 18 patients that had normal endoscopic findings were H. pylori positive. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of H. pylori among dyspeptics using biopsy based methods is high in the South-Western part of Nigeria. It is therefore important to test and treat H. pylori among Nigerians with dyspepsia.