Rural Origin Health Science Students in South African Universities

Background. Rural areas in all countries suffer from a shortage of health care professionals. In South Africa; the shortage is particularly marked; some rural areas have a doctor-topopulation ratio of 5.5:100 000. Similar patterns apply to other health professionals. Increasing the proportion of rural-origin students in faculties of health sciences has been shown to be one way of addressing such shortages; as the students are more likely to work in rural areas after graduating. Objective. To determine the proportion of rural- origin students at all medical schools in South Africa. Design. A retrospective descriptive study was conducted in 2003. Lists of undergraduate students admitted from 1999 to 2002 for medicine; dentistry; physiotherapy and occupational therapy were obtained from 9 health science faculties. Origins of students were classified as city; town and rural by means of postal codes. The proportion of rural-origin students was determined and compared with the percentage of rural people in South Africa (46.3). Results. Of the 7 358 students; 4 341 (59) were from cities; 1 107 (15) from towns and 1 910 (26) from rural areas. The proportion of rural-origin students in the different courses nationally were: medicine - 27.4; physiotherapy - 22.4; occupational therapy - 26.7; and dentistry - 24.8. Conclusion. The proportion of rural-origin students in South Africa was considerably lower than the national rural population ratio. Strategies are needed to increase the number of rural-origin students in universities via preferential admission to alleviate the shortage of health professionals in rural areas

Menstrual Pain and Associated Factors amongst Undergraduates of Ambrose Alli University Ekpoma; Edo State; Nigeria

Background: We determined the prevalence of dysmenorrhoea and associated factors amongst undergraduates in a Nigerian university. Information on dysmenorrhoea amongst Nigerian populace is limited as it is seen as a norm and hence unreported. This is in spite of its consequences on women's socio-economic lives. Method: This was a prospective questionnaire-based study. Cluster sampling technique was used and tests of statistical significance were done using Yates corrected Chi square. Results: The prevalence of dysmenorrhoea in this study was 76.3. The mean age at menarche was 13.8 years. Dysmenorrhoea occurred at menarche in 36.9respondents. Primary and secondary dysmenorrhoea was reported by 40.6and 16.3respondents respectively. Fifty one point nine per cent (51.9) had painful expectation of dysmenorrhoea. Having a sister with dysmenorrhoea did not have a statistically significant influence on expectation of dysmenorrhoea (CI 95; P value: 0.76). Normal activity was affected by dysmenorrhoea in 35of respondents while 68of those with dysmenorrhoea did not seek help. Hospital admission solely for dysmenorrhoea was reported by 6.9of respondents. Commonly associated symptoms with dysmenorrhoea were mood changes (59.4) and pimples (53.1). Conclusion: The high proportion of women not seeking help for dysmenorrhoea in this study may reflect the attitude of the larger society to the condition. Education to improve women's knowledge of and attitude to dysmenorrhoea is recommended

Estrategia de preparación alumnos-profesores: Filial “Simón Bolívar”, Pinar del Río, 2006 / Diagnosis and strategy for preparing student professors: “Simón Bolívar” branch, Pinar del río, 2006

Como resultado de la transición de la Enseñanza Media a la Enseñanza Superior y debido al elevado número de perfiles y estudiantes, sumado a ello la municipalización, se hace imprescindible la utilización de personal técnico que asuma la docencia a pesar de no poseer formación pedagógica, dado los retos que tienen ante sí los profesionales de la salud para hacer frente a las demandas de la sociedad; sobre todo para la formación de los recursos humanos. Se hace necesaria la incorporación de alumnos a la docencia, por lo que se realizó una selección de estudiantes destacados en determinadas asignaturas e integralmente, con el objetivo de que impartan clases a cursos inferiores. Se realizó una investigación cualitativa acción prospectiva de corte longitudinal en la Filial “Simón Bolívar” de Pinar del Río en el primer periodo del año 2007...(AU)

As a result of the transition of middle to higher education, and because of the high number of profiles and students, and in addition to that, municipalization, it is indispensable the use of the personal technician who takes on teaching job, despite not having a pedagogical formation, given the challenges health professionals have to face societys demands. Above all for the formation of human resources, it is necessary the inclusion of students into teaching activities, that is why a selection of outstanding students in certain subjects and integrally was done, aimed at them teaching classes of lower grades. A qualitative, perspective and longitudinal research was carried out at “Simón Bolivar” institution in Pinar Del Río, in the first period of 2007...(AU)

Result of Seroprevalence of HIV amongst Undergraduate Students of Government Approved Private University in Edo State

The seroprevalence of HIV amongst undergraduate students of a Government Approved University of Edo State was studied. Out of 1020 students randomly selected from the various faculties or departments; qualitative detection of anti bodies to HIV were detected in (4.3) male and (2.3) female. There was a significant difference in seroprevalence rate between the male students and female category as P0.05. The main findings in this seroprevalence rate among male and female is with the prospect of further spread of the infection

Knowledge, attitudes and practices on AIDS in secondary and high schools: Kingston, Jamaica

When AIDS was first identified in 1981, it was a relatively small and demographically concentrated epidemic. The disease has since spread to many countries around the world including Jamaica. While the search for a vaccine is in progress the only effective means of controlling its spread is public education. This study was undertaken in March 1988 to determine the extent of knowledge, attitudes and practices with regards to AIDS among 201 students aged 14-17 years attending 2 co-educational secondary and high schools in Kingston, Jamaica. The study also undertook to make comparisons of knowledge, attitudes and practices of students. The study has shown that there was limited knowledge among the students, some negative attitudes and risky practices. There were no significant differences between the sexes. It is recommended that further studies be carried out among youths in Jamaica, to form the basis for identifying priorities for educational programmes, and that close collaboration should be established between the Ministries of Health and Education in the planning and implementation of educational programmes for AIDS. (AU)