Promoting breast health among female adolescents: a comparative analysis of the effects of two didactic tools on knowledge and practice regarding breast self-examination in Southwest Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: Teaching effective methods for breast self-examination (BSE) to adolescent females is essential for promoting early detection and improving outcomes in breast cancer management. This study therefore aimed to compare two pedagogical tools for teaching BSE among adolescent females. METHODS: A quasi-experimental design with a group for pre- and post-intervention tests was adopted. The sample included 970 female senior secondary school class I-III students. The Yamane formula was used to determine a sample size of 276. Pre- and post-intervention data were collected using an observation checklist for practice and a validated questionnaire with a Cronbach's alpha coefficient of 0.76 for knowledge of BSE. A proportionate stratified random sampling technique was used to determine the number of participants for each group. Among the 276 participants, 161 were taught the traditional method (TM), i.e., a lecture, and 115 were taught using the modern method (MM) by watching a podcast that contained BSE lessons. Post-intervention data were collected after six weeks. The data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics at a 5% level of significance to compare the effectiveness of the methods. RESULTS: The findings of this study showed that the participants' mean ages across the two methods were 15.49 ± 1.65 and 15.43 ± 1.40 years for the traditional method (TM) and modern method (MM), respectively. Pre-intervention mean BSE knowledge scores in both the TM and MM groups were 8.19 ± 3.17 and 8.31 ± 2.39, respectively, and BSE practice scores were 7.17 ± 2.48 and 6.44 ± 2.75, respectively. Post-intervention knowledge mean scores in both the TM and MM groups increased to 13.75 ± 4.09 and 16.92 ± 2.91, respectively, and post-intervention practice scores increased to 13.06 ± 2.74 and 15.68 ± 3.12, respectively. CONCLUSION: This study revealed that both teaching methods were effective at teaching breast self-examination among female adolescents; nevertheless, modern methods are more effective at teaching breast self-examination among female adolescents.

Body image perception and social support as predictors of psychological distress among third trimester pregnant women in Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: Body image perception and social support during pregnancy can impact the psychological distress levels experienced by pregnant women. As a result, the purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between various components of social support and body image perception on psychological distress levels among pregnant women in their third trimester in Nigeria. METHOD: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 246 pregnant women who were in the third trimester and attending selected health care facilities in Ogbomoso, a semiurban city in Oyo State, Nigeria. Body image perception, social support, and psychological distress scales were used to collect the data. Data were analyzed and summarized using descriptive and inferential statistics (ANOVA and multiple regression), with significance set at p < 0.05. RESULTS: Regression analysis showed that 44% of the variation in psychological distress among pregnant women was explained by the background variables, marital status, body image perception, appraisal support, tangible support, belonging support, interaction between body image perception and appraisal support, belong support and tangible support. CONCLUSION: Intervention programs focusing on bolstering tangible support, belonging support and appraisal support are recommended at reducing the psychological distress due to body image perception among pregnant women at third trimester.

Academic Ethical Awareness among Undergraduate Nursing Students of a Private University in Nigeria: A Cross-Sectional Descriptive Study.

Introduction: Academic ethical awareness is a crucial prerequisite for practice, serving as the cornerstone for a professional demeanor in clinical settings and ensuring future adherence to nursing ethics. Objectives: This study assessed academic ethical awareness as well as its related characteristics among undergraduate Nursing students of a private university in Nigeria. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional research design was utilized. The study was conducted among undergraduate nursing students of a private university in Nigeria. A convenience sample of 158 nursing students from 300 level to 500 level voluntarily participated in this study. Data were collected using the Academic Ethical Awareness Questionnaire and descriptive statistics, mean and standard deviation were employed to analysis the data collected. Results: The mean age of nursing students was 21.1. Majority of the respondents were females, Christians and claimed average financial status with 87%, 94%, and 68%, respectively. Nursing students demonstrated moderate academic ethical awareness (69.5%), a mean score of 3.68 ± 0.81. They knew that revealing patient information in public places of the hospital, disregarding, slandering, or making fun of patients in face-to-face interaction, and having someone else attend class as a substitute were unethical behaviors with mean scores of 3.96, 3.90, 3.88, and 3.88, respectively. Academic ethical awareness was low for submitting cut and paste report, not paying attention in class and being late to class, with mean scores 1.81, 2.05, and 2.80, respectively. Gender, level of study, and satisfaction with Nursing as a course of choice are significant determinant of ethical academic awareness with P value of .018, .005, and .011, respectively. Conclusion: Nursing students assessed demonstrated moderate academic ethical awareness. Improved instruction is required regarding the value of appropriate classroom behavior and emphasis on the implications of plagiarism in practice.

Influence of Family and Friends Level of Social Support on Psychological Symptoms Among the Older Adults in Nigeria.

Introduction: Numerous studies have established the importance of social support on psychological symptoms among older adults, however, the distinct contribution of different levels of family and friends' social support has not been thoroughly assessed. Objectives: This study determined the contribution of different levels of friend and family social support (high, moderate, low) on psychological symptoms among the older adults. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 538 older adults attending outpatient clinics at two selected teaching Hospitals in Nigeria from February to July, 2021.The data was collected using the 7-item Generalized Anxiety Disorders Scale, Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), and the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support. The data was analyzed with SPSS version 23 and logistic regression was used for the inferential analysis. Results: Older adults with moderate social support from family were 3.6 more likely to have depression symptoms than those with high family social support (AOR = 3.623, 95%CI 1.275-2.875, P = .020). Also, those with moderate family social support (AOR = 2.875, 95%CI 2.425-11.875,P = .002), low family social support (AOR = 2.966, 95%CI 1.312-3.875, P = .007), and low friends social support (AOR = 2.966, 95%CI 1.312-3.875, P = .009) were more likely to have anxiety symptoms than those with high social support. Conclusion: High social support confers a protective measure against depression and is effective in reducing psychological symptoms among older adults.

Knowledge, attitude and practice of antenatal mothers toward urinary tract infection in selected health facilities in Ekiti state, Nigeria.

Background: Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) during gravidity are among the most preponderant contagion globally and can culminate in fetal and maternal mortality. Lack of awareness and poor preventive practices can exacerbate this outcome. This study assessed the knowledge and preventive practices of antenatal mothers' towards UTIs in pregnancy. Design: This was a cross-sectional descriptive survey involving antenatal mothers in selected health care facilities in Ekiti State. Methods: A pre-tested adapted questionnaire was used for data collection. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and Chi-square at p < 0.05. Results: The mean respondents' age was 24.6 ± 2.1 years and barely less than half (43.8%) were multigravida. The findings of the study revealed that 64.0% of the respondents had good knowledge of UTIs. Overall, majority (78.9%) of the respondents exhibit good preventive practices toward UTIs in pregnancy, although the prevalence of UTIs among the studied subjects was found to be high (54.1%), with nearly half (48.7%) of the respondents reported been tested once for UTIs in the current pregnancy. Furthermore, there was a statistically significant relationship between educational level and respondents' knowledge on the prevention of UTIs in pregnancy (p = 0.00; p < 0.05). Conclusions: Respondents had good knowledge and good preventive practices toward UTIs. However, the high prevalence of UTIs reported among respondents justifies the need for implementation of knowledge enhancement program, routine testing and prompt treatment of UTIs among antenatal mothers.