Hygiene Practices among Workers in Local Eateries of Orolu Community in South Western Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: Activities of local food premises and monitoring of food handlers are usually not regulated. AIM: The objective of this study was to determine food hygiene (FH) practices among food handlers in rural communities in South Western Nigeria. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out among 235 food handlers; data collection was by interviewer administered questionnaires. Using the SPSS software, multivariate analysis in two separate models was done to explore the predictors of correct knowledge and good hygiene practices. The model fit was assessed as good using the Hosmer and Lemeshow test. RESULTS: Mean age of respondents was 31.8 (10.8) years. Of the respondents (134) that had training, 17.2% (23/134) had formal training, and 82.8% (111/134) had apprenticeship; about 31.5% (74/235) of respondents maintained a good level of hygiene in their practices. Significant predictors of correct knowledge were found to be being trained (significant 0.01, odds ratio [OR] 2.4, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.2-4.8) and receiving the training as an apprentice (significant 0.01, OR - referent group); or in a formal setting (significant 0.01, OR 3.3, 95% CI 1.6-7.0) and having no formal education (significant 0.04, OR - reference group). CONCLUSION: Good knowledge and attitude but low level of good practices toward FH characterized food handlers under study.

Community participation in malaria control in olorunda local government area, osun state, southwestern Nigeria.

Malaria is a major health burden in developing countries and needs multiple strategies for its control. Community participation as one of the strategies for malaria control promotes self-awareness and confidence, causes the people to examine the problems and to think positively about the solutions. The study was aimed at assessing the level of community participation in malaria control in Olorunda local government area of Osogbo, Osun state, Nigeria. The study employed a cross-sectional descriptive design. Multi-staged sampling technique was used to choose 550 respondents. An interviewer-administered semi-structured questionnaire was used to elicit information from the respondents. Most of the respondents (65.0%) fell between the age ranges 20-39 years, with a mean age of 32.85 ± 12 years. Almost all (98.4%) respondents had knowledge of malaria with most of them (88.0%) correctly aware that mosquito bite could lead to malaria fever. Respondents stated that stagnant pool (92.6%) and refuse dump (89.0%) could predispose to malaria. About two-thirds (60.6%) of the respondents participated in the control of the breeding sites of mosquitoes on specific days for environmental sanitation. The association between community participation in health talk and community participation in malaria control was statistically significant (p<0.000). Although only 23.0% use ITN to protect themselves from mosquito bites, there was statistical significant association between awareness of respondents about ITN and its usage (p=0.003). Knowledge of respondents about malaria was high with majority participating in malaria control measures. However, the use of insecticide treated nets (ITN) was low. Therefore, it is recommended that continuous awareness creation on the use of ITN, and continued efforts aimed at elimination of breeding sites of mosquitoes should be adopted to achieve long term control of malaria.

Community participation in malaria control in olorunda local government area, osun state, southwestern Nigeria

Malaria is a major health burden in developing countries and needs multiple strategies for its control. Community participation as one of the strategies for malaria control promotes self-awareness and confidence; causes the people to examine the problems and to think positively about the solutions. The study was aimed at assessing the level of community participation in malaria control in Olorunda local government area of Osogbo; Osun state; Nigeria. The study employed a cross-sectional descriptive design. Multi-staged sampling technique was used to choose 550 respondents. An interviewer-administered semi-structured questionnaire was used to elicit information from the respondents. Most of the respondents (65.0) fell between the age ranges 20-39 years; with a mean age of 32.85 + 12 years. Almost all (98.4) respondents had knowledge of malaria with most of them (88.0) correctly aware that mosquito bite could lead to malaria fever. Respondents stated that stagnant pool (92.6) and refuse dump (89.0) could predispose to malaria. About two-thirds (60.6) of the respondents participated in the control of the breeding sites of mosquitoes on specific days for environmental sanitation. The association between community participation in health talk and community participation in malaria control was statistically significant (p

Awareness and breast cancer risk factors: perception and screening practices among females in a tertiary institution in Southwest Nigeria.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: this study is aimed at assessing the practices of breast cancer screening and risk perception of women of reproductive age group in a tertiary institution in Osun state. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: It was a descriptive cross sectional study carried out at the Federal polytechnic, Ede. A total of 393 eligible respondents recruited using a stratified random sampling technique, were interviewed using semi-structured questionnaire after obtaining a verbal consent from them. RESULTS: About two thirds (67.9%) of those who had heard of breast cancer knew that there were screening methods available. Of these 91.6% knew breast self examination, 93.2% knew clinical breast examination and only a third 32.8% knew mammography as a screening method. About half of respondents who were aware of breast cancer practice breast self examination. Only 28 (7.6%) of the respondents had ever visited any clinic for breast cancer screening, and 85.7% (24) of the visit was for clinical breast examination while mammography was rarely done (14.3%). Eighty one per cent of those who were aware of breast cancer believed that screening had a role to play. CONCLUSION: The study shows that though awareness of breast cancer among respondents was good, the practice of breast cancer screening was poor among the respondents and even worse with screening with mammography. A major recommendation is that initiatives to reduce morbidity and mortality due to breast cancer among young females in the southwest Nigeria should include education on risk factors, early signs and methods of screening for breast cancer.

Knowledge and practices of poultry workers on prevention of avian flu in osogbo, osun state, Nigeria.

INTRODUCTION: Nigeria recorded its first case of avian flu among birds early in the year 2006 and by the third quarter of the year, about sixteen states of the country had been affected. Finding out the knowledge and practices of persons in close contact with birds as regards the avian flu would help to identify areas in need of focused attention and alert the coordinating agencies of the magnitude and prevalence of practices which may encourage the spread of the disease. METHODOLOGY: This was a descriptive cross-sectional survey of poultry owners and workers in Osogbo, Osun State, southwestern Nigeria. Information was obtained from 65 of the 100 registered members of the poultry association who consented to answering questions on the pre-tested semi-structured questionnaires. RESULT: In this study, 49.1% (28) of the study sample knew of avian flu, and 46.4% (13) of these knew that the disease was present in Nigeria. Only 50% (14) of those who knew about the disease felt it could affect human beings. For those who have heard of the disease before, 85.7% (24) knew it could be transmitted from sick birds to humans. Practices which favour the spread of the virus that were engaged in by the respondents included using bird droppings as manure (71.9%), and feeding fish with intestines of killed chicken (66.7%). CONCLUSION: The study shows a low level of awareness of avian flu among the poultry workers and owners. It is recommended that massive education should be embarked upon for groups occupying strategic positions in disease epidemiology, as well as all stake holders in poultry farming.