Nutritional knowledge, dietary habits and nutritional status of adults living in urban Communities in Lagos State.

Background: Malnutrition is a major threat to the world's public health. While under-nutrition and micronutrient deficiencies persist, obesity is increasing worldwide. Although malnutrition has been extensively researched among children, it has become of increasing concern among adults because of the relative increase in the prevalence of diet-related non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Objectives: This study was conducted to determine the nutritional knowledge, dietary habits and nutritional status of adults in an urban community in Lagos State. Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study involving 320 adults selected using a multi-stage sampling technique. Data was obtained using interviewer-administered questionnaires and standard anthropometric measurements. Chi-square analysis was used to compare prevalence between categories. Results: Only 15.9% of respondents had good nutritional knowledge. The dietary habits and estimated nutrient intake showed a deficiency of fiber, energy and most micro-nutrients with the exception of zinc, iron and vitamin A. Dietary carbohydrate, protein as well as sodium levels were elevated. BMI findings estimated the prevalence of overweight at 24.8% and obesity at 17.3%. However, there was no statistically significant association observed between nutritional knowledge and status of respondents. Conclusion: Nutritional knowledge was poor and obesity was relatively high among participants. Improved nutrition education intervention is necessary to increase knowledge and reduce obesity among adults living in urban communities in Lagos, Nigeria.

Knowledge of cervical cancer and attitude to cervical cancer screening among women in Somolu Local Government Area, Lagos, Nigeria

Background: Cancer of the cervix is the second most common cancer in women globally, and a major cause of morbidity and mortality among women in developing countries. The study was carried out to determine the knowledge of cervical cancer and attitude to its screening among women in Somolu Local Government Area (LGA), Lagos State, Nigeria. Methods: The study employed a descriptive design. A pre-tested, self-administered, structured questionnaire was used to elicit information from 260 women who were recruited by multi-stage sampling method. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 20.0. Results: The mean age of the respondents was 28.3 ± 8.36 years with 161 (61.9%) being single. One hundred and fifteen (44.2%) were aware of cervical cancer and 47 (18.1%) had good knowledge. Among those aware of cervical cancer, 37 (32.2%) had negative attitude while 78 (67.8%) had positive attitude to cervical cancer screening. Conclusion: The respondents had a poor knowledge of cervical cancer but a positive attitude to its screening. Using the electronic media, the LGA authority should intensify public educational programmes about cervical cancer among women of all ages

Nutritional knowledge, dietary habits and nutritional status of diabetic patients attending teaching hospitals in Lagos, Nigeria

This study assessed the nutritional knowledge, dietary habits and nutritional status of adult diabetic patients attending teaching hospitals in Lagos State, Nigeria. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among adult diabetic patients attending the out-patient clinics of the two Teaching Hospitals in Lagos. Respondents were recruited from the clinics consecutively until the desired sample size (342) was obtained. A pre-tested interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to collect data. Dietary habits were assessed using food frequency questionnaire and BMI was assessed following standard procedure and compared with the World Health Organization (WHO) standards. Data was analyzed using IBM SPSS (Version 20). Chi-square and fisher's exact probability test were used to determine the association between variables. The level of significance was set at p-value less than 5%. Results: The mean age of the respondents was 59.6 + 13.0 years. Only 125 (37%) of the respondents had good nutritional knowledge. Majority ate three meals every day, 237 (69.3%) and have had dietary counseling, 255 (74.6%). More than half of the respondents, 202 (59.1%) skipped meals, 80 (23.4%) consumed alcohol while only 42 (12.3%) ate fruits and vegetables daily. The commonest food consumed was processed cereals. Majority of the respondents were overweight or obese (74%). Obesity was associated with being female and not having dietary counseling.Conclusion: Nutritional knowledge and dietary habits were poor while overweight and obesity were high. Dietary counseling will be necessary to improve the dietary pattern and nutritional status of the diabetic patients

Nutritional knowledge, dietary habits and nutritional status of diabetic patients attending teaching hospitals in Lagos, Nigeria

Background: This study assessed the nutritional knowledge, dietary habits and nutritional status of adult diabetic patients attending teaching hospitals in Lagos State, Nigeria. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among adult diabetic patients attending the out-patient clinics of the two Teaching Hospitals in Lagos. Respondents were recruited from the clinics consecutively until the desired sample size (342) was obtained. A pre-tested interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to collect data. Dietary habits were assessed using food frequency questionnaire and BMI was assessed following standard procedure and compared with the World Health Organization (WHO) standards. Data was analyzed using IBM SPSS (Version 20). Chi-square and fisher's exact probability test were used to determine the association between variables. The level of significance was set at p-value less than 5%. Results: The mean age of the respondents was 59.6 + 13.0 years. Only 125 (37%) of the respondents had good nutritional knowledge. Majority ate three meals every day, 237 (69.3%) and have had dietary counseling, 255 (74.6%). More than half of the respondents, 202 (59.1%) skipped meals, 80 (23.4%) consumed alcohol while only 42 (12.3%) ate fruits and vegetables daily. The commonest food consumed was processed cereals. Majority of the respondents were overweight or obese (74%). Obesity was associated with being female and not having dietary counseling. Conclusion: Nutritional knowledge and dietary habits were poor while overweight and obesity were high. Dietary counseling will be necessary to improve the dietary pattern and nutritional status of the diabetic patients

Dietary habits and metabolic risk factors for non-communicable diseases in a university undergraduate population.

BACKGROUND: Unhealthy dietary patterns are associated with metabolic changes and increased risk of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), but these associations have not been investigated in representative populations of university undergraduates in low-to-middle income countries (LMICs). METHODS: This study was conducted in the three universities in Lagos State, Nigeria to assess the dietary pattern and metabolic risk factors of NCDs among university undergraduate population. Multistage sampling technique was used to select 506 undergraduates from the universities. Pre-tested questionnaire was used to obtain data on socio-demographic characteristics and dietary patterns. Body mass index and metabolic risk factors (abdominal obesity, dyslipidemias, high blood pressure and hyperglycemia) were assessed following standard procedures. SPSS (version 20) was used for data entry and analysis. Association between variables was determined using chi-square and Fisher's exact tests. RESULTS: The mean age was 20.3 ± 3.5 years; 54.7% of them were female. More than one third (37.6%) had no consistent source of income or received less than N10, 000 ($31.7) per month. Less than one third (31.0%) ate three daily meals, 23.0% ate breakfast regularly, and only 2% consumed the recommended daily amount of fruits and vegetables. Almost half (44.0%) ate pastry snacks daily. Refined rice was the commonest cereal (28.2%) consumed while meat was more commonly consumed daily (32.0%) than milk (14.0%) and fish (10.0%). Twenty-nine (29.0%) and 6.2% of the population daily consumed carbonated soft drinks and alcohol, respectively. Prevalence of abdominal obesity (based on waist circumference) was 5% (1.3% in males and 8.4% in females), dyslipidemias (57.3%), pre-hypertension (8.2%), hypertension (2.8%), and pre-diabetes (1.0%). Obesity was positively associated with consumption of alcohol (χ2 = 13.299, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Unhealthy diets and metabolic risk factors of non-communicable diseases are prevalent in the undergraduate population studied. Well-recognized recommendations regarding adequate consumption of fruits, vegetables, fish, and whole grains should be emphasized in a targeted manner in this population. Carbonated soft drinks and alcohol consumption should be discouraged to stem a rising tide of metabolic risk factors for non-communicable diseases among undergraduate students.

Work related stress and coping mechanisms among bankers in Lagos, Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: This study assessed knowledge, prevalence, associated factors and mechanisms of coping with stress among bankers in Lagos State. METHODS: It was a descriptive cross sectional study. A two stage sampling technique was used to select two hundred and twenty seven (227) respondents. Data was collected using a structured self administered questionnaire. The analysis was done using Epi-info version 2002 software and Chi Square was used to determine association between variables at p value 0.05. Fischer's Exact test was used where Chi-square was not valid. RESULTS: The age range of respondents was between 20 and 49 years while the mean age was 31.3 +/- 5.0 years. Only 3.6% had good level of knowledge about stress, 42.2% had fair level while more than half of the respondents had poor level of knowledge about stress (54.3%). Majority (67.0%) of the respondents were moderately stressed while one quarter (24.7%) were highly stressed. Majority (92.4%) of the respondents used good coping mechanisms though 69.5% of the respondents also used bad coping mechanisms. A greater proportion of those who had poor knowledge about stress were stressed or highly stressed (p = 0.002). A statistically significant association was also found between the departments in the bank and level of stress of the respondents (p = 0.002). CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION: The prevalence of stress was high among the bank workers studied. It is recommended that effective stress management programmes are implemented to address the problem of stress among bank workers.

Anaemia Prevention In Pregnancy Among Antenatal Clinic Attendees In A General Hospital In Lagos.

BACKGROUND: Anemia is the world's second leading cause of disability and thus one of the most serious global public health problems. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that an average of 56% of pregnant women in developing countries, are anaemic. OBJECTIVES: This study was conducted to. determine the knowledge, attitude and practices of prevention of anaemia in pregnancy amongst pregnant women attending the Antenatal Clinic at Ifako-Ijaiye General Hospital. METHODS: The design was cross-sectional descriptive study. Simple random sampling method was used to select two hundred and twenty respondents (220). A pretested, structured, interviewer administered questionnaires were used for data collection. RESULTS: Majority (95%) of the respondents was aware of anemia in pregnancy but the mean knowledge score was 56.5%. Less than half (46.3%) of the respondents thought that contraceptives could help prevent anemia in pregnancy by reducing closely spaced pregnancies. Only 31.8% were compliant with the use of iron supplements. About one third (33.2%) didn't combine drinking tea with meals while 47.3% of the respondents didn't use iron supplements with milk products. CONCLUSION: The study showed that most of the respondents had a moderate level of knowledge, and positive attitude towards contraceptive use but a high proportion were not compliant with the daily use of iron supplements. It is recommended that health education of women as well as close family members should be reinforced to improve the compliance with supplements.

Knowledge and attitude of women to exclusive breastfeeding in Ikosi District of Ikosi - Isheri Local Government Area, Lagos State.

BACKGROUND: Infant malnutrition is a public health problem in developing countries. OBJECTIVE: To determine the knowledge and attitude of women to exclusive breastfeeding in Ikosi district of Ikosi/Isheri Local GovernmentArea. METHODS: This was a descriptive cross sectional study which employed a multistage sampling technique to select four hundred female participants. Data was collected using structured interviewer-administered questionnaires. A woman was included if she was within the reproductive age group and her last confinement was not more than five years. RESULTS: Awareness was high (98.3%) but only about one third (39%) had good knowledge of exclusive breastfeeding. Almost all respondents (98.8%) felt that breastfeeding was important. Majority (73.3%) believed that breast milk alone is sufficient for the baby in the first six months of life while more than half (61%) believed in the appropriateness of breastfeeding in public. CONCLUSION: Given that a relatively high proportion of women had positive attitudes despite the poor knowledge of exclusive breastfeeding, public enlightenment and continued health education especially in the antenatal clinics are pertinent to maternal and child care to attain the recommendation of 90% practice in developing countries.