DEMOGRAPHICS OF COLLABORATORS INVESTIGATING THE NIGERIAN MEDICAL AND DENTAL INTERNS: A MEDICAL INTERNSHIP TRAINING IN NIGERIA (MINTING) STUDY COLLABORATION.

Introduction: The internship period is a peculiar time in a doctor's career, and some have described it as a "nuisance year" during which the junior doctor assumes many roles at the same time. Junior doctors especially house officers are faced with many unique challenges; this is even more pronounced in poor resource settings like Nigeria. This study aimed to unravel and improve understanding of the challenges faced by medical and dental interns in Nigeria. Methodology: A nine-member House officers Research and Statistics Committee (HRSC) was immediately set up to include three senior colleagues - Senior Registrars and Registrar. To carry out her responsibility efficiently the committee created the House Officers Research Collaboration Network (HRCN), a 103- member team comprising medical and dental interns from across Nigeria under a collaborative - Medical INternship Training in Nigeria (MINTING) study. Results: Out of a total of the 103 House Officers Research Collaboration Network, 80 of them participated in this survey giving a 78% response rate. Ten of the intern Collaborators had additional qualification and seven of them had BSc as an initial degree. About 66 % of the Collaborators have never authored any publication. Of the 27 that have published an article; three collaborators are said to have published 15, 13, 16 articles respectively. Male collaborators where more likely to have published at least one article in the past. Thirty one of the 80 Collaborators have never been in a research collaborative group prior to this MINTING collaborative. Conclusion: This commentary is set out to describe in detail Nigerian House Officers initiative in terms of the structure, functions, operational modalities, and to investigate the demographics of the HRCN collaborators which showed that over two third of collaborators have never authored any publication and about a third of them have never been involved in collaborative research. We also believe the findings will serve as policy guide and benchmark in training the critical medical health force.

Molecular Characterization of Human Rotavirus from Children with Diarrhoeal Disease in Sokoto State, Nigeria.

This study was conducted to detect and characterize prevalent human group A rotavirus strains from 200 diarrheic children in Sokoto, Nigeria, by ELISA, monoclonal antibody (Mab) serotyping and Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) techniques. Rotavirus was detected in 25.5% of the children. The G-serotypes observed in circulation were G4: 16 (59.3%), G1: 4 (14.8%), G2: 3 (11.1%), G3: 3 (11.1%), and G12: 1 (3.7%). The monoclonal antibody (Mab) serotyping detected G1 and G3 but did not detect G4 and G2 serotypes. The Mab typing of the G1 and G3 serotypes was consistent with the result of the RT-PCR. The VP4 genotypes detected were P[6] 3 (13%), P[8] 11 (47.8%), and the rare human P genotype (P[9]), found in 9 patients (39.1%). Nine strains identified with the common G and P combinations were G4 P[8] 5 (56%), G4 P[6] 1 (11%), G1 P[8] 2 (22%), and G3 P[8] 1 (11%), while seven strains with unusual combinations or rare G or P genotypes identified were G12 P[8] 1 (14%), G2 P[8] 2 (29%), and G4 P[9] 4 (57%). To our knowledge this is the first molecular study of human rotavirus and report of rare human G and P serotypes in Sokoto State.

Clinical Symptoms of Human Rotavirus Infection Observed in Children in Sokoto, Nigeria.

Rotavirus has been identified among the most important causes of infantile diarrhoea, especially in developing countries. The present study was undertaken to determine the occurrence and clinical symptoms of human rotavirus disease among children presenting with varying degree of diarrhoea in selected urban hospitals in Sokoto metropolis, Nigeria. Diarrhoea samples were collected from 200 diarrheic children younger than 5 years of age and tested using a commercially available DAKO Rotavirus ELISA kit which detects the presence of human group A rotaviruses. A questionnaire, based on WHO generic protocol, was completed for each child to generate the primary data. Of the total number of samples collected, 51 were found to be positive for human group A rotavirus indicating 25.5% prevalence of the disease in Sokoto state. The symptoms associated with the disease were analyzed and discussed.

Seroprevalence of foot and mouth disease virus infection in pigs from Zuru, Nigeria.

AIM: This study was conducted to determine the seroprevalence and distribution of foot and mouth disease virus (FMDV) infection in pigs from Zuru, Kebbi State, Nigeria. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cross-sectional serological surveys were conducted between May and December 2013 using the immunochromatography assay technique. Structured questionnaires were administered to households identified at pig rearing areas to obtain the population structures and some information on managemental practices. RESULTS: A total number of 849 pigs were enumerated at 37 pigs rearing households. Tudun wada had the largest concentration of pigs (237 pigs), while Dabai has the least (38 pigs). A total of 250 blood samples were collected, of which 45 (18%) were positive; Zango has the highest seroprevalence (1.6%), while Dabai recorded the least (0.4%). Based on sex and age, the infection was higher in female (10.4%) and young pigs (11.6%) than male (7.6%) and adult pigs (6.4%), respectively. There was no significant (p>0.05) association between infection and pig rearing areas, sex, and age. Furthermore, none of the 250 pigs examined for classical FMDV lesions was positive. CONCLUSION: The results of this study showed that FMD is an important disease of pigs in the study areas. This result justifies the need for more attention and subsequent molecular study to identify the circulating FMDV in the area, which will help in the implementation of effective control measures.

Vaginal hysterectomy at jos university teaching hospital, jos, Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: Hysterectomy could be performed through the abdomen, via the vagina, as an open procedure or laparoscopically. The debate on whether the uterus should be removed vaginally or abdominally was sparked off when Langenbeck first performed a successful vaginal hysterectomy in 1813. The superiority of the vaginal route was highlighted when women who underwent vaginal hysterectomy experienced significantly fewer complications when compared to the others who had abdominal hysterectomy. OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence of vaginal hysterectomy, common indications, and outcome. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total number of 49 vaginal hysterectomies were performed in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Jos University Teaching Hospital, Jos, Nigeria between January 1998 and December 2007 were studied retrospectively. RESULTS: The combined hysterectomy (abdominal & vaginal) rate comprised 25% of all major gynaecological operations in this centre during the study period; vaginal hysterectomy alone comprised 3% of all the major gynaecological operations. The commonest indication for vaginal hysterectomy was uterine prolapse in 37(83.%) patients. The complication rate was 22%, with no mortality. CONCLUSION: Vaginal hysterectomy is safe and the complication few in experienced hands. Utero-vaginal prolapse was the commonest indication; public enlightenment to prevent prolapse would reduce the incidence and the need for repair.

Threat of number.

PIP: Population growth in Nigeria is particularly problematic because population is expected to increase dramatically from 115 million to 280 million in 25 years. At present there are 206 million in the entire West African sub-region. The population density issues within Nigeria and the region are also reasons for concern. About 50% of Nigeria's population is presently under 20 years old, and the likelihood of this proportion continuing for some time is very high. Population growth will mean increased demand for housing, food, health services, education, electricity, and water. The UN has issued warnings that population pressures strain scarce resources, the environment, and people's adjustment. A national population policy was established in order to improve the standard of living of Nigerians and to promote health and welfare among the population. The policy aims to lower population growth through voluntary family planning and through reductions in infant, child, and maternal mortality. In 1989 the Nigerian government in conjunction with the US Agency for International Development (USAID) committed about $100 million in a 5-year program to strengthen family planning: $33 million from Nigeria and $67 million from USAID. The federal Ministry of Health would maintain family health services with integrated primary health care and with promotion of the balance between resources and number of children. Other international efforts have contributed to family planning programs. For example, the Planned Parenthood Federation of Nigeria focused on adult males and youth. Oral contraceptives and injectables have received criticism in Nigeria for having undesirable health consequences despite their popularity worldwide, the absence of significant side effects, and international and national support. Vasectomy is becoming more popular in Oyo state. Family planning has not been popular because of many misconceptions. Both Muslim and Catholic leaders have encouraged responsible parenthood, although Catholic leaders reject contraception.^ieng

Planners in dark tunnel.

PIP: Augustus Aikhomu, Nigeria's vice-president and a retired admiral, stated in 1991 that accurate population figures were necessary for social and economic planning and policy. Celestine Mezue, assistant director of Bendel state's population commission, stated that non-availability of reliable population statistics was responsible for the failures in national development planning. Two sectors (rural and transportation) have been greatly affected by the lack of data. Educational institutions have been particularly affected by overcrowding or rejection of students due to lack of space and facilities. Over 1 million children must compete for 1000 spaces in primary schools. Complaints at the local level have been directed to insufficient funding for teacher's salaries. About 255,000 students applied for university admission, and only 12% were admitted during 1989-90. Scholarships declined from 1859 awards in 1976 to none in 1984. Post-graduate scholarships declined from 2000 in 1976 to none in 1984. Planning for future health services has also been restricted by lack of accurate statistics. There was a gap between availability of low-income housing and the need for the burgeoning population. Population growth has been estimated at 2.0-3.3%; housing will need to be increased by 2.2-3.5 million more units by 2015. Population growth and congestion in cities has resulted in environmental pollution. The population policy in 1989 recommended 4.0 children per woman. In 1990 a demographic and health survey found fertility to be 6.0 children per woman. Improved data collection and the government support for family planning are needed to reduce population growth in Nigeria.^ieng