Food insufficiency and its associated factors: Experiences of in-school adolescents in Sagamu Township, southwest Nigeria.

Background: The burden of hunger, food insecurity and malnutrition in sub-Saharan Africa is enormous. A higher proportion of the population suffer the consequences of food insecurity, hunger and undernourishment than previously assumed. Food insecurity among adolescents has been documented to be associated with malnutrition, poor health outcomes, low educational attainment and other negative consequences. Aim: This study therefore assessed food insecurity and its associated factors among adolescents in Sagamu, Ogun State, Nigeria. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 1300 in-school adolescents in Sagamu Township, Ogun State in southwestern Nigeria, selected via multi-stage sampling. A semi-structured, self-administered questionnaire was used for data collection. Data were analyzed with the aid of SPSS 20.0. Relevant descriptive and inferential statistics were calculated, with p < 0.05. Result: The prevalence of food insecurity was 45%, of which 34.6% had mild food insecurity, 34.7% had moderate food insecurity, while others experienced the severe form of food insecurity. Gender, age; maternal occupation, maternal education, living arrangement, low sense of self-worth, alcohol intake and cigarette smoking were associated (p < 0.05) with food insecurity. Predictors of food insecurity were: age; maternal education, living arrangement and some behavioral factors. Conclusion: The prevalence of food insecurity among adolescents in Sagamu was high. Multi-sectorial action is essential in tackling the challenges of food insecurity and its numerous consequences among adolescents, at all levels of governance.

A survey on the effectiveness of WhatsApp for teaching doctors preparing for a licensing exam.

INTRODUCTION: The use of WhatsApp for health professional education is not novel and is described increasingly in literature as an affordable, familiar, and convenient tool for collaboration. Social media technologies for health practitioner education allow the use of text and audio-visual aids, peer-to-peer based learning, and problem-based learning. This study presents a survey on the effectiveness of WhatsApp in doctors' preparation for a medical licensing exam. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted among one hundred and ninety-four participants of a WhatsApp group preparing for the PLAB exam over a three-month period. A twenty-item questionnaire designed on Google Form was completed by consenting participants on the publication of exam results. RESULTS: Of the one hundred and ninety-four participants, one hundred and fourteen met the eligibility criteria, 57.9 percent were male and 42.1 percent were female, aged between twenty-four and forty-three years of age ([Formula: see text] years). A total of 88.6 percent of participants passed the exam in contrast to the global average pass rate of 69 percent, while the average score among participants was 131.5 compared to a global average score of 128. Passing the exam was significantly associated with combining the WhatsApp group with the online question bank Plabable (p = 0.001). While the mean age of those who passed the PLAB exam was lower than those who did not pass the exam, the number of years post-graduation had no significant association with passing the exam. A total of 93.8 percent stated that moderators were knowledgeable, 83.3 percent reported that the platform increased their motivation to learn, 72.8 percent felt that the session were organised and easy-to-follow, and 97.4 percent of participants reported they would recommend the PLAB network. CONCLUSION: WhatsApp can be an effective tool for health professional education, using a pre-defined curriculum coupled with organizational structure. This study reported both subjective and objective measures of effectiveness and demonstrated that the use of multiple e-learning resources can lead to improved learning outcomes.

Increasing Research Productivity across Africa.

Empowering scientific innovation, building knowledge management and strengthening research capacity across Africa are fundamental for improving high-level policy decision-making. Such contributions can distinguish the continent as a reputable source of scientific expertise, prepared to manage local and global challenges towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Tobacco use in Nigerian youth: A systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Tobacco use is the most important preventable cause of premature death and major risk factor for non-communicable diseases. Due to strict tobacco legislation in the western hemisphere, many African nations like Nigeria have shifted from being a tobacco-producing nation to a tobacco-consuming one. The purpose of this study was to systematically review existing literature on tobacco use among Nigerian adolescents and young people and identify the prevalence, distribution and factors influencing of tobacco smoking. These data are necessary to formulate and adapt control measures aimed at tobacco cessation among young people, and preventing long-term smoking behaviors. METHODS: Three databases (African Journals Online, PsychInfo, PubMed) were searched for peer-reviewed publications, published between January 2000 and March 2017. Additional searches were completed on Google Scholar, and other documents and reports of the Nigerian government and the Global Youth Tobacco Survey were consulted. Using the PRISMA guidelines to evaluate studies, we included studies that reported prevalence of tobacco use in adolescents or youths, aged 10 to 24, and excluded evaluations of tobacco-related medical conditions. RESULTS: A total of 30 studies with a total population of 26,709 were reviewed. Prevalence rates of tobacco smoking ranged from 0.2% to 32.5%. Among the gender-specific studies, the prevalence of smoking among females ranged between 2.2% to 10% while that of males ranged from 1% to 32.5%. Gender distribution among these studies was mixed (80.0%), males only (13.3%) and females only (6.7%). Smoking prevalence was higher among males than females. The most common risk factors for tobacco use included peer influence, family conditions, psychosocial factors and male gender. Additional risk factors included concomitant substance abuse, media advertisements and increasing age. CONCLUSIONS: Tobacco smoking poses a huge burden to Nigerian youths and various determinants were highlighted in this review. It is imperative that all stakeholders engage in concerted efforts to target both in-school and out-of-school youths in tobacco control strategies.

Psychosocial health challenges of the elderly in Nigeria: a narrative review.

BACKGROUND: Globally, national health systems are challenged to build successful aging models to prepare for biomedical, psychological and social changes. The integral component of psychosocial health in overall quality of life and well-being, however, is underscored and requires greater focus. Changing demographics in Nigeria, in addition to cultural considerations and absence of a social security system, present unique challenges to elderly. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to review the literature that describes the current situation and challenges in psychosocial health status in the elderly in Nigeria and provide recommendations that promote health and well-being during the aging process. RESULTS: Four primary factors affect psychosocial health status of elderly Nigerians, namely: changes in family dynamics, increased demand for healthcare services, increased economic stress, and decreased functional independence. CONCLUSION: Like other developing countries, the Nigerian national system faces similar challenges in preparing a national framework that can maximize coverage to citizens in the midst of demographic changes in aging. By focusing on five target areas such as the educational system, health services, community-based initiatives, local or regional policies and national strategies, current framework in Nigeria can be modified to prepare for changing demographics in aging.

Household food insecurity among people living with HIV in Sagamu, Nigeria: A preliminary study.

BACKGROUND: Household food insecurity has been associated with increased risk of transmission of HIV infection and poor treatment outcomes. This study therefore determined the prevalence of household food insecurity and its associated factors among people living with HIV in Sagamu, Ogun State, Nigeria. METHODS: A cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out among 244 adult clients accessing care and support at the teaching hospital in Sagamu, Nigeria, selected via systematic sampling. Data was collected with the aid of a semi-structured, interviewer-administered questionnaire. Data was analysed using SPSS 21.0. Relevant descriptive and inferential statistics were calculated. Informed consent was obtained and strict confidentiality was ensured. RESULTS: The mean age of respondents was 38.8 ± 9.2 years; 84% of respondents were female; 69.3% were married, 12.9% had lost their partners. About 12% spent more than three-quarters of the household income on food. The prevalence of household food insecurity was 71.7%. Food insecurity was associated ( p < 0.05) with educational status; occupation; type of housing; availability of toilet facilities; benefiting from food assistance; delaying drugs to prevent hunger; skipping drugs; vegetable consumption pattern; and exchanging sex for food. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of household food insecurity in this study was high. Living conditions were significantly associated with food insecurity. Socio-economic conditions need to be improved, to optimize the health and food security status of people living with HIV in Sagamu.

Prevalence of communication between mothers and daughters on sexuality and associated factors in Sagamu, southwest Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: As adolescents transition from childhood to adulthood, effective mother-daughter communication on sexuality plays a role in reducing high-risk behaviours linked to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and early pregnancy and childbirth. The objective of the study was to examine the prevalence of mother-daughter communication on sexuality and associated factors in Sagamu, southwest Nigeria. METHODS: Using multistage sampling, surveys were conducted using 234 female youth enrolled at a secondary school. The chi-square or Fisher's exact test was used to examine associations between categorical variables. The independent sample t-test was used to compare mean values of variables with reported evidence of mother-daughter communication on sexuality. RESULTS: The mean age of respondents was 16+1.56 years. The majority (89.7%) had engaged in mother-daughter communication on sexuality, but three-quarters (80.8%) of the respondents could not freely discuss sexuality with their mothers. About one-third (31.6%) of the respondents reported at least one sexual encounter with the mean age of sexual debut of 14.23±2.12 years. Mother-daughter communication on sexuality was significantly associated with religion (p=0.047), mother's age (p=0.019), who the respondents live with (p=0.029), mother's highest educational status (p<0.001), age of sexual debut (p=0.030), and condom use (p<0.001), but not with freedom to discuss sexuality with their mother (p=0.552) or freedom to introduce male friends to their mother (p=0.077). CONCLUSION: Despite the high prevalence of mother-daughter communication on sexuality, mothers' approach appeared unfriendly, as most girls could not freely discuss topics concerning sexuality with their mothers. Poor communication on sexuality was associated with sexual risk behaviours. Mothers should engage in adolescent-friendly transferring of knowledge on sexuality in order to reduce pregnancy rates and HIV transmission in female adolescents.

Addressing the role of medical students using community mobilization and social media in the Ebola response.

Health professions education in the 21st century should incorporate both community mobilization and social media strategies. First, community mobilization facilitates change by educating community members with evidence-based, high-quality and up-to-date health information and empowering their active participation in target health initiatives. Second, advancements in technology and globalization foster the development of innovative communication technologies used as a key tool in the 'roll out' of community health initiatives during epidemics such as Ebola virus disease. In August 2014, medical students of Sierra Leone and Guinea used these dual health promotional strategies in the Kick Ebola Out campaign to educate community members about transmission of the Ebola virus and preventive measures, as well as to reduce perceptions related to stigma or fear of disease transmission. In this report, we describe how medical students, who are trained in basic and clinical sciences, evidence-based practices, and social determinants of health, can serve as human resources for health and facilitate dynamic communication strategies to educate and empower both medical students and community members for local or national health initiatives.