Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Breast Self Examination among Female Students of a Tertiary Institution in Sokoto, North-West Nigeria.

Background: Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women worldwide. Early detection and prompt treatment offers the greatest chance of survival. We described the knowledge, attitude and practice of breast self examination among female students of a tertiary institution in Sokoto, northwest Nigeria. Methods: A set of semi structured self administered questionnaire was used to seek information on respondents’ knowledge, attitude and practice of breast self examination. A total of 80 female students were selected using stratified sampling technique, with a response rate of 100%. The data were analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20 and Microsoft Excel 2007. Results: The mean age of respondents was 21 years ±SD1.83, with 48.8% of them being Hausa. They are predominantly Muslims and 85% are single. About 19% of the respondents have family history of breast cancer. Up to 96% of them have heard about breast cancer and 86.3% were aware of BSE, however, only 46% of them had adequate knowledge of BSE. Majority (96%) of the respondents had positive attitude towards BSE as 92.5% of them think BSE is necessary and a further 97.5% would like to know more about it. This study showed poor level of BSE practice with only 17.5% showing good practice out of the 45% of respondents that have ever practiced BSE. Conclusion: Most of the respondents have heard about BSE but only 46.3% had adequate knowledge. Majority of respondents demonstrated a positive attitude towards BSE; however, the practice was low.

Patient Satisfaction with Services at a General Outpatient Clinic of a Tertiary Hospital in Nigeria.

Aims: To determine the factors influencing patient satisfaction with services at the general outpatient clinic of a tertiary hospital in Nigeria. Study Design: A descriptive cross sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: We carried out the study between February and July 2011, in the General Outpatient Department of Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital Sokoto, Ni. Methodology: One hundred respondents were sampled using systematic sampling technique. We developed a structured questionnaire, which sought information on sociodemographic characteristics of patients, registration/wait times and patients’ satisfaction. We analyzed the data using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 17.0. Results: Out of the 100 patients sampled, 4 opted out, thus giving a response rate of 96%. Their ages ranged between 15-70 years with mean of 32±13 years. Students constituted 28.4% of the participants, followed by full term housewives (27%). Those participants having up to tertiary education accounted for 36.1%. Up to 62.5% of participants were females and majority of them were from urban areas (88.5%). Registration time ranged between 1-132 minutes (mean = 76±22.7 minutes) whereas clinic wait time ranged between 10-167minutes (mean = 83.7±38.6 minutes). Sixty five percent of them expressed satisfaction with neatness of the clinic environment, 48.5% expressed satisfaction with communication with the doctors while 65% expressed satisfaction with the explanations offered concerning their ailments. The overall satisfaction with services at the clinic was 52%. Determinants of satisfaction were total clinic wait time (P=.001, r=-0.4), clinic wait time (P=.007, r=-0.25) and age (P=.001, r=0.31). Conclusion: The overall satisfaction with services at the clinic was above average, patients expressed dissatisfaction with registration time, wait time and condition of consulting room. Health care managers should commence appointment system to reduce the number of patients who turn out at the same time. They should also address provider-related factors that cause dissatisfaction.

Prevalence of Obesity, Diabetes Type 2 and Hypertension among a Sampled Population from Sokoto Metropolis-Nigeria.

Aims: To determine the prevalence of obesity and its relationship with hypertension and diabetes among dwellers of Sokoto metropolis. Study Design: A descriptive cross sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: We conducted the study in March 2012, within Sokoto metropolis to mark the world kidney day. Methodology: We enrolled 300 participants using a convenience sampling technique. An interviewer administered questionnaire was used to obtain the biodata and past medical history. Blood pressure and anthropometric parameters were measured while blood and urine samples were taken for RBS estimation and urine analysis respectively. We analyzed the data obtained using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 17. Results: Out of the 300 participants that came for screening, two opted out, thus leaving 298 participants. There were 50.3% males and 49.7% females. Their mean age was 42±31 years. The BMI ranged between 14-48 kg/m2 with mean of 24.24 kg/2 ±5. Mean SBP and RBS were 130mmhg (±25) and 7.34±4 mmol-1 respectively. About 13.9% of the participants were found to be obese. Obesity was significantly associated with SBP (p<0.001) and RBS level (p=0.002). Conclusion: Obesity is quite common in our environment and it contributes to the occurrence of hypertension and elevated blood sugar. Screening for obesity markers should be encouraged at every contact with healthcare provider. Physical activity for at least 30 minutes/day should be encouraged in order to reduce the risk of obesity, hypertension and diabetes mellitus.

Calabash pregnancy: a malingering response to infertility complicated by domestic violence / Embarazo de calabaza: una respuesta de fingimiento a la infertilidad complicada con violencia doméstica

This is a case report of a 20-year old para 0+0 who presented with an 11-month pregnancy. On evaluation, the pregnancy was found to be a fake made-up 'calabash pregnancy There were no pregnancy symptoms and she had just menstruated three weeks prior to presentation. This was a deliberate event in response to delayed pregnancy attainment complicated by domestic violence. Domestic violence was in the form of verbal and physical abuse and later was on a monthly basis precipitated by onset of her menstrual flow. The patient's age, monogamous union and the fact that she is an orphan made her vulnerable to domestic violence.

Éste es un reporte de caso de una para 0 + 0 de 20 anos de edad, que se presentó con un embarazo de 11 meses. En la evaluación, se encontró que se trataba de un embarazo de calabaza, es decir, inventado, fingido. En realidad, no había ningún síntoma de embarazo, y había tenido la menstruación tres semanas antes de presentarse. Se trataba de un acontecimiento deliberadamente construido, en respuesta a una largamente demorada expectativa de lograr un embarazo, complicada con violencia doméstica. La violencia doméstica seproducía enforma de abuso verbalyfísico, precipitándose luego mensualmente con la aparición de cadaflujo menstrual. La edad de los pacientes, la unión monógama, y el hecho de que era huérfana, la hacía vulnerable a la violencia doméstica.