Visual acuity, safe/unsafe practices and self-reported road traffic crash experiences among commuter bus drivers from two motor parks in Lagos, Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: Road Traffic injuries remain a significant public health problem with serious health and economic implications. This study was conducted to determine visual acuity, safety practices and road traffic crash (RTC) experiences of commercial bus drivers in Lagos, Nigeria. METHODS: This cross-sectional study involved visual acuity screening and interviewer- administered questionnaire survey. Participating motor parks were selected by simple random sampling and all intercity, commercial minibus drivers were included. Data was analyzed with Epi info version 3.5.1. RESULTS: A total of 407 drivers participated with a mean age of 43.4 ± 10.8 years. A total of 68 (16.7%) of the drivers did not meet the minimum VA standard required for driving; 8.6% of them use mobile phones while driving; 97% fasten their seatbelt, out of which almost 98% do so always. Fourteen percent also admitted eating while driving. Sixty two (15.2%) of drivers had been involved in RTC in the past 5 years prior to interview. CONCLUSION: A proportion of commercial minibus drivers did not meet the minimum VA required for driving. Some of them also practiced distracted driving. Free visual acuity screening within the motor park is recommended for commercial drivers at least once a year. There should be awareness campaigns to enlighten commercial drivers on the dangers of distracted driving in addition to strict enforcement of regulations and Highway Code.

Compliance with driver's license laws and illegal licensing among commercial bus drivers in Lagos, Nigeria: policy implications and evidence for action.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To determine the level of compliance with driver's license laws among commercial bus drivers in Lagos, Nigeria. SUBJECTS, MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two intercity motor parks were selected by simple random sampling and all consenting minibus drivers participated in the study. Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) were also conducted with selected officials in the driver training and licensing authorities. RESULTS: Compliance with the minimum age for driving was high (93.6%), so also was having driving test prior to driver's license procurement (83.3%). Formal driver training and VA testing were very low, (26.1% and 32.9% respectively) Overall, only 9.3% of them were found to have fulfilled all the pre-license obligations before obtaining their first driver's license. The odds of a driver with a secondary education having formal driver training is 3.33 times higher than those with no education (OR 3.33, 95% CI 1.01-11.35). Drivers who were 60 years or older were 3.62 times more likely to be compliant than those who were between 20-29 years (OR 3.62, 95% CI 0.56-29.19). For the 98.3% of them who possessed valid licenses, 52.3% of them obtained them illegally. All the key officials saw RTIs as a serious public health problem but faced several challenges in the course of their work. CONCLUSION: Overall compliance with pre-license regulations was very poor. There is need for a review and strict enforcement of driver's license laws to improve compliance. Also vital are fostering inter-sectoral collaboration and improvement in the operations of all establishments involved in driver training and license procurement in Nigeria.

A study on cervical cancer screening amongst nurses in Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Lagos, Nigeria.

Cancer of the cervix is the commonest genital tract malignancy in the female, and it has been ranked second to breast cancer. It has positive association with infection of human papillomavirus. Cervical cancer incidence and mortality have declined substantially in western countries following the introduction of screening programmes. This present study investigated the knowledge, attitude and practice of nurses in Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) towards cervical cancer screening as they are important health personnel that are suppose to educate women on the need for cervical cancer screening. The study is a descriptive cross-sectional survey of the knowledge, attitude and practice of 200 nurses in LUTH towards cervical cancer screening. The results obtained showed that 99% of the respondents were aware of cervical cancer and that 92% of the respondents were also aware of the causative organism of cervical cancer (human papillomavirus). Their major sources of information were through electronic media (43.9%) and health professionals (37.4%). Furthermore, the respondents were quiet aware of Pap smear (91%) as one of the screening techniques of cervical cancer and had good attitudes (89%) towards Pap smear, but most of them had never done it before. The study further revealed that majority of the respondents did not know colposcopy as one of the screening techniques for cervical cancer. Finally, it has been made known from this study that nurses have good knowledge of cervical cancer but have limited understanding of the types of cervical cancer screening techniques and poor disposition towards undergoing cervical cancer screening. It may thus be recommended that institutions should periodically organise seminars and training for health personnel especially the nurses which form a group of professionals that should give health education to women about cervical cancer. This training may be done as part of the orientation programme to newly employed staff.

Knowledge, attitude and practice of breast cancer screening among nurses in Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Lagos Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: Breast Cancer has been known to be the most common cancer and second principal cause of cancer death in women. However, the adherence to recommended breast cancer screening guidelines is low especially in Africa. OBJECTIVE: It may be necessary to assess the knowledge, attitude and practice of breast cancer screening among nurses who are in good position to educate people. METHODS: A cross sectional study of 183 nurses was carried out in Lagos University Teaching Hospital, using a close ended questionnaire assessing information on demographic variables, awareness, knowledge and attitude towards breast cancer. RESULTS: The results revealed 100% rate of awareness of breast cancer although 32% of the respondents knew not that breast cancer could be inherited. The major source (76%) of their information about breast cancer was from health professionals. Among the respondents 96% knew self breast examination while 41% knew clinical breast examination as screening method. Eighty two percent of the respondents thought self breast examination should be carried out monthly while very few subscribed to clinical breast examination. CONCLUSION: The studied population has good knowledge of breast cancer, its symptoms and screening methods. However, they lack adequate knowledge of the risk factors and only few practiced clinical breast examination. Thus, there is need for educational intervention to enhance knowledge of the risk factors and the need for clinical breast examination.