Ameliorative effects of African walnut on nicotine-induced reproductive toxicity in rat model.

OBJECTIVE: Walnuts are widely consumed nut by men in Nigeria and it has been connected to improving male reproductive health. This study evaluated the effect of African walnut on sperm parameters and testicular architecture of nicotine (NIC)-induced reproductive toxicity in male Wistar rats. METHODS: Wistar rats were randomly assigned into four groups, that is, GN0 (1 ml/day normal saline and normal rat chow), GN1 (1 ml/day NIC and normal rat chow), and GN1W6 and GN1W12 (1 ml/day of NIC daily fed with 6% and 12% walnut-rich feed), respectively. This continued for 28 days. The animals were euthanized and their sperm was collected and its parameters were analyzed. The testis was harvested and prepared for histological examination. RESULTS: NIC significantly reduced sperm motility (P = 0.0006) and sperm count (P = 0.0001), induced mild apoptosis of Leydig cells and caused moderate spermatogenic arrest in GN1. However, walnut-supplemented diet significantly increased the NIC-induced reduction in sperm motility (P = 0.04) and sperm count (P = 0.0001) and its consumption was effective in attenuating testicular damage caused by NIC administration in GN1W6 and GN1W12. CONCLUSION: African walnut could exert therapeutic effect in the reduction of the adverse effect of NIC on the sperm motility, sperm count, and testicular architecture. It is worthwhile to consider it as a useful and affordable supplement to be added to the diet of males with infertility problems.

Trends in rape cases in a Nigerian state.

BACKGROUND: Rape remains a controversial issue with a few victims reporting experience because of the myriad of societal perception, prolonged steps in pursuing a case to logical conclusion of securing conviction, as well as psychological and physical residuals of the experience. Data in Nigeria is therefore hard to come by as it is diminished and often not available. OBJECTIVES: To assess the pattern and trend of rape cases in a State in Nigeria. METHODS: A descriptive and retrospective study where data records on socio-demographics and case specifics was collected on victims of sexual assault that reported to DFID/ PATHS 2 supported Tamar Sexual Assault Centre between 2014 and 2016 after which it was analysed and presented in bar charts. RESULT: The yearly prevalence varied for the different age groups studied with the highest prevalence noted for 13 years and above (175,200,255) over the 3 years of 2014, 2015 and 2016 studied. The reported cases also improved over the studied years with rates of 0.47, 0.96 and 0.5 respectively. CONCLUSION: The yearly comparison and baseline data show that the centre's establishment caused an improvement in rape case reporting and follow-up.

Assessment of knowledge and factors that may predict willingness to volunteerism: a pilot study of community-directed distributors in Anambra state.

BACKGROUND: Malaria as a leading cause of death in many developing countries requires urgent interventions. In order to improve access to healthcare, trained volunteers are used to distribute health commodities. The present study aims at determining knowledge and factors that may predict willingness to volunteerism in a developing country. METHODOLOGY: This was a cross-sectional descriptive study carried out in 2014 among 284 community-directed distributors in three rural communities in Anambra, Southeast Nigeria using pretested semi-structured questionnaires. RESULTS: The age range of volunteers was 21-79 years. Most (71.8%) are females and are married (83.1). Only 5.6% of the volunteers did not have any formal education. The predominant occupation is trading (52.5). Most volunteers (78.5%) could define the term volunteerism. Less than half (40.1%) knew the resources that could be volunteered. Most (67.3%) felt that volunteerism is most needed in church activities. Many respondents (58.8%) had volunteered for one or more programs previously. The most common challenge faced was interference with other income generating activities (66.5%). Retired males were more likely to volunteer than retired females (P ≤ 0.01). However, females are more likely to volunteer if the main reason of volunteering is to help people (P ≤ 0.01). The more educated ones believe that volunteerism will help them to be selected for other community programs. CONCLUSION: Most respondents had volunteered for other programs and the motivating factors included the satisfaction derived from helping others and the hope of being used for other community programs.

Health education alone and health education plus advance provision of emergency contraceptive pills on knowledge and attitudes among university female students in Enugu, Nigeria.

UNLABELLED: This was an intervention study to compare the effects of health education alone and health education plus advance provision of emergency contraception (EC) pills on the knowledge and attitudes to EC by female students of University of Nigeria in South-East Nigeria. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A structured questionnaire was used to collect data in February, 2009 from 290 female students of a tertiary educational institution (140 in the study group and 150 from the control group) who were selected by multistage sampling. Subsequently, health education was conducted among all the students. In addition, a pack containing 2 tablets of EC pills (Postinor) was given only to the students in the study group. Three months after this intervention, its effects were assessed through a survey using the same structured questionnaire employed in the baseline survey. RESULTS: knowledge of EC was significantly higher among the study group than the controls at post-intervention, P < 0.05. Attitudes to EC were also more favorable at post-intervention survey among the study group, P < 0.05 in most of the variables. CONCLUSION/RECOMMENDATION: Health education plus advance provision of EC pills effectively improved knowledge and attitudes to EC among female students of tertiary institutions more than health education alone and this should be promoted.

The effects of health education on knowledge and attitudes to emergency contraception by female students of a tertiary educational institution in Enugu, South East Nigeria.

This was an intervention study to assess the effects of health education on the knowledge and attitudes to emergency contraception (EC) by female students of University of Nigeria in southeast Nigeria. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data from 337 female students of a tertiary educational institution (150 in the study group and 187 from the control group) who were selected by multistage sampling. Subsequently, health education was conducted only among students in the study institution. Three months after this intervention, its effects were assessed through a survey using the same structured questionnaire employed in the baseline survey. Unlike the pre-intervention results, knowledge of EC was significantly higher among the study group than the controls. Attitudes to EC were also more favourable at the post- intervention survey among the study group. Health education can effectively improve knowledge and attitudes to EC among female students of tertiary institutions and this should be encouraged.

Students performance and perception of neurophysiology: feedback for innovative curricular reform in a Nigerian medical school.

This study aimed at ascertaining the status of students' performances and their perception of the learning of neurophysiology in a Nigerian medical school. The goal of the study was to determine ways of addressing identified negative perceptions for the purpose of improving upon the overall learning and use neurophysiology knowledge by structured curricular reform. We analyzed and compared the performances of students in three areas of physiology at the second professional examinations over a three-year period [n=300]. We also surveyed learning experience of a batch of graduating doctors in neurosciences [n=50] and surveyed the staff and students' perception of the teaching of neurophysiology. The students performances in neurophysiology was comparatively poorer than in cardiovascular and endocrinology aspects of the subject over a three year period at the second professional examinations. The reported students perception of their neurophysiology learning included uninteresting, abstract concepts, lack of real examples and conflicting facts with their prior basic knowledge. Over 50% of the graduates rated their learning experiences as poor or very poor or below average for the neuroscience courses. The analyses of the curricular contents of neurophysiology in the preclinical departments indicted asynchrony and redundancy in topics that may reduce the learning and reduce teaching time efficiency of the neuroscience courses. It is suggested that learning experiences of medical students should be routinely monitored and structured to ensure that the graduate doctor is able to understand and transfer learned experiences into clinical studies and practice. A horizontally integrated curriculum may be one way of raising students knowledge, attitude and skills in neuroscience courses as taught in the preclinical departments and is suggested.

Comparative evaluation of active learning and the traditional lectures in physiology: a case study of 200 level medical laboratory students of Imo State Unversity, Owerri.

Currently, understanding of physiology and disease patterns is undergoing a fundamental paradigm shift with attendant shift in education of health professionals worldwide towards active learning to encourage exploration of connections and their relationships. We introduced problem-based learning to physiology teaching of medial laboratory students to confirm worldwide reports that active learning environments offer better learning opportunities over the traditional methods which is the predominant teaching method in Nigerian universities. Our findings indicate that problem-based learning increases students' attendance/participation in classes and performance in examination. We recommend the integration of active learning into physiology curriculum of Nigerian Universities.