Awareness and knowledge of risk factors associated with oral cancer among military personnel in Nigeria.

Background: The military lifestyle has been reported to increase the risk of this population group to the development of oral cancer. Aim: This study aimed to determine the awareness and knowledge of oral cancer in a population of soldiers to acquire data for establishing an educational program for units of the Nigerian Army in oral cancer prevention and monitoring. The study was conducted in the dental center of 82 Division Military Hospital, Nigerian Army, Enugu, Nigeria. A cross-sectional survey was performed using a pre-tested self-administered questionnaire. Materials and Methods: Questions relating to oral cancer awareness, knowledge of causes, and relationship to certain habits, treatment options, and desirability of screening opportunities for oral cancer were asked. Soldiers attending the military hospital, dental center, were chosen randomly for the study. Results: Three hundred soldiers were surveyed. The mean age of those surveyed was 37.5 and had spent an average of 11-15 years in the Army. The majority of the soldiers (80.7%) have heard of cancer; the types most known were breast (75%), skin (30%), and lung cancer (28.3%). Of the 300 soldiers surveyed, 15.3% knew about oral cancer, with 41.3% of these able to identify cigarette smoking and (26%) alcohol consumption as possible risk factors associated with oral cancer. The majority believed that cancer was caused by some form of supernatural phenomenon. Conclusion: Oral cancer awareness is low among soldiers in the Nigerian Armed Forces, and strategies to increase awareness should be developed.

Knowledge and sociodemographic predictors of shisha smoking among students in a Nigerian university.

Background: There is a global rise in shisha smoking amongst the youths. Information on the prevalence and knowledge of the constituents and the harmful effects of shisha smoking is important for the development of prevention strategies and policies. Aim: This cross-sectional study aimed to assess the knowledge and sociodemographic predictors of shisha smoking among the university students. Subjects and Methods: A structured 12-item questionnaire was administered to the university students at the University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State. The prevalence, knowledge, and predictors of shisha smoking and the association between sociodemographic factors were studied. A P value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Among the 546 university students studied, 24.7% (135) had smoked shisha. The percentage of those knowledgeable about the constituents and its ill effects of shisha smoking was 14.8% (81), those with poor knowledge was 94.1% among shisha smokers. Females and social sciences students demonstrated statistically significant better knowledge of shisha (P = 0.007, and 0.027, respectively). The main predictors of shisha smoking were: poor knowledge (odd ratio, OR = 4.48, 95% confidence interval, CI [2.02, 9.93], P = 0.001), being in 400 level of study (OR = 2.63, 95% CI [1.12, 6.13], P = 0.724) and being in the faculty of social science (OR = 1.25, 95% CI [0.50, 3.09], P = 0.638). Conclusions: The prevalence of shisha smoking in this study was 24.7%, and the most influential factors were the level of study, type of faculty, and knowledge of the constituents and harmful effects of shisha. Lecturers and administrators of different faculties of the university should be engaged to include shisha smoking prevention programs in their curriculum.

Standard Precautions and Hepatitis B Virus Vaccination among Doctors and Clinical Students in a Nigerian Tertiary Hospital: Data from a Pre-COVID Era.

BACKGROUND: Adherence to standard precautions in hospitals is vital to control the spread of hospital-acquired infections (HAIs). OBJECTIVE: To determine the level of compliance to standard precautionary measures by clinical students and doctors in a Nigerian tertiary hospital to curb spread of infectious diseases, with focus on uptake of Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) vaccine. METHODS: This study which involved 228 participants used self-administered questionnaire to obtain data on respondents' biodata, history of exposure to patient's body fluids (PBF) in the last six months, HBV vaccination status, use and recapping of needles, handwashing, and use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). Data analysis was done using SPSS version18; associations were tested with Chi-square statistics, and p<0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: Of the 228 respondents, 113(49.6%) were clinical students and 115 (50.4%) doctors with mean age of 27.61±7.48 years. A total of 140 (61.4%) respondents had been exposed to PBF: [89 (63.6%) doctors, 51(36.4%) students]. Age, student/doctor category, and number of years of practice all affected exposure to PBF (p<0.05). Recapping of needles was practiced by 167 (73.2%); hand-washing by 225 (98.7%), and lack of running water was the commonest reason for non-compliance. Also, 218 (95.6%) and 123 (53.9%) wore handgloves and face-masks respectively when attending to patients while 111 (48.7%) received at least a dose of HBV vaccine: [72 (64.9%) doctors, 39 (35.1%) students; p<0.05] but only 60.3% completed their doses. CONCLUSION: Majority had good hand-washing practice, but only about half wore face-masks while working, and recapping of needles was prominent. Doctors had more occupational exposure to PBF but received more HBV vaccine although many were yet to complete their doses. With COVID-19 added to existing list of HAIs, there is need to scale-up compliance to infection control practices through sustained training programs and better health policies which would also drive vaccine coverage in this population.

CONTEXTE: Le respect des précautions standard dans les hôpitaux est essentiel pour contrôler la propagation des infections nosocomiales (IHA). OBJECTIF: Déterminer le niveau de conformité aux mesures de précaution standard par les étudiants cliniques et les médecins d'un hôpital tertiaire nigérian pour limiter la propagation des maladies infectieuses, en mettant l'accent sur l'absorption du vaccin contre le virus de l'hépatite B (VHB). MÉTHODES: Cette étude qui a impliqué 228 participants a utilisé un questionnaire auto-administré pour obtenir des données sur les biodonnées des répondants, les antécédents d'exposition aux fluides corporels (PBF) du patient au cours des six derniers mois, le statut de vaccination contre le VHB, l'utilisation et le récapitulation des aiguilles, le lavage des mains et l'utilisation de l'équipement de protection individuelle (EPI). L'analyse des données a été effectuée à l'aide de SPSS version18; les associations ont été testées avec des statistiques sur le chi carré et inférieur ou égal à 0,05 a été considéré comme significatif. RÉSULTATS: Sur les 228 répondants, 113 (49,6%) étaient des étudiants cliniques et 115 (50,4%) des médecins avec un âge moyen de 27,61 ± 7,48 ans. Au total, 140 (61,4%) répondants avaient été exposés à la FPB: [89 (63,6%) médecins, 51 (36,4%) étudiants]. Âge, catégorie étudiant / médecin et nombre d'années de pratique, toutes les expositions au FPB (p <0,05) ont été affectées. Le récapitulation des aiguilles a été pratiqué par 167 (73,2%); lavage des mains par 225 (98,7%), et le manque d'eau courante était la raison la plus courante de non-conformité. De plus, 218 (95,6%) et 123 (53,9%) portaient des gants et des masques pour le visage respectivement lorsqu'ils s'occupaient de patients tandis que 111 (48,7%) recevaient au moins une dose de vaccin contre le VHB: [72 (64,9%) médecins, 39 (35,1%) étudiants. CONCLUSION: la majorité avait une bonne pratique de lavage des mains, mais seulement environ la moitié portait des masques faciaux pendant le travail, et le récapitulation des aiguilles était important. Les médecins étaient plus exposés au PBF mais ont reçu plus de vaccin contre le VHB, bien que beaucoup n'aient pas encore terminé leurs doses. Avec COVID-19 ajouté à la liste existante des HAI, il est nécessaire d'augmenter la conformité aux pratiques de contrôle des infections grâce à des programmes de formation soutenus et à de meilleures politiques de santé qui favoriseraient également la couverture vaccinale dans cette population. Mots clés: précautions standard, exposition professionnelle; Infections nosocomiales; Vaccin contre le VHB.

Activated Charcoal-based Dental Products: Awareness, Knowledge and Opinion of Dental Practitioners in a Tertiary Hospital in Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: Recently, there is a resurgence in the practice of oral hygiene with charcoal-based oral hygiene products such as charcoal based dentifrices, toothbrushes and mouthwashes. Dental professionals need to be aware of these products to rightly educate patients on acclaimed merits and demerits. OBJECTIVE: To elicit the awareness, knowledge and opinion of dental professionals on the use of activated charcoal oral health products. METHODS: A cross-sectional study carried out among dental professionals. Data was collected using a pretested, self-administered questionnaire that sought information on respondents' demography, their awareness, knowledge and opinion on charcoal-based oral health care products. Descriptive and comparative analyses were done using SPSS version 21.0. and statistical significance were set at p <0.05. RESULTS: One hundred and three dental professionals participated with a slight female predominance and a F:M of 1,1:1. Forty-six (44.7%) and 10 (9.7%) respondents respectively were aware of charcoal-based toothpaste and toothbrush (p= 0.02, p=0.04). Sixteen (15.5%) of those who were aware got information from friends/colleagues. Only 19 (54.3%) of dentists knew that charcoal-based toothpaste can be used in tooth whitening and in the prevention of dental caries and periodontal diseases (p=0.01). There was generally a low knowledge about the uses, side effects and sequalae of the use of charcoal toothpastes and toothbrushes among all dental professionals. Attitude to use and willingness to recommend these products was also poor among them. CONCLUSION: There was a low awareness and knowledge of the uses and sequalae of charcoal-based oral health products among dental professionals.