Rural-Urban Differences in Risk Factors for Prediabetes and Undiagnosed Diabetes Among Adult Dwellers in Selected Yoruba-Speaking Parts of Nigeria: A Glycated Haemoglobin-Based Population Screening.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Prevalence of prediabetes and undiagnosed diabetes are different in rural and urban dwellings, with varying driving factors. This study aimed to determine the differences in risk factors of prediabetes and undiagnosed diabetes among Yoruba speaking adult dwellers in selected rural and urban communities in Nigeria using haemoglobin A1c. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in five selected states in Southwestern Nigeria. Using a multistage sampling technique, 2,537 participants with no prior diagnosis of prediabetes or diabetes mellitus (DM) were enrolled and their glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) determined. Descriptive statistics, univariate and multiple logistic regression analysis was used to determine the prevalence and risk factors of prediabetes and diabetes at 5% level of significance. RESULTS: Increased age, sex, family history of diabetes, being married, participants' history of hypertension, cardiovascular disease and Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) or delivery of big babies, BMI, systolic and diastolic blood pressure were significantly associated with prediabetes and diabetes in both urban and rural areas. However, adjusted odds ratio showed that family history of diabetes (2.14, 95% CI: 1.26-3.61 versus 1.36, 95% CI: 1.00-1.85) and past GDM among women (2.67, 95% CI: 0.62, 11.39 versus 1.32, 95% CI: 0.61, 2.89) clearly predict dysglycaemia in the rural compared to urban participants, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Family history of diabetes and past GDM disproportionately predict dysglycaemia in rural compared to urban participants. Periodic screening for dysglycaemia and public health education, especially in child-bearing women, are necessary measures to reduce the burden of dysglycaemia in Nigeria.

CONTEXTE ET OBJECTIFS: La prévalence du prédiabète et du diabète non diagnostiqué diffère entre les zones rurales et urbaines, avec des facteurs déterminants variés. Cette étude visait à déterminer les différences dans les facteurs de risque du prédiabète et du diabète non diagnostiqué chez les adultes yoruba-parlants vivant dans des communautés rurales et urbaines sélectionnées au Nigeria, en utilisant l'hémoglobine A1c. MÉTHODES: Une étude transversale a été menée dans cinq États sélectionnés du sud-ouest du Nigeria. Utilisant une échantillonnage en plusieurs étapes, 2 537 participants sans diagnostic antérieur de prédiabète ou de diabète sucré (DS) ont été recrutés et leur hémoglobine glyquée (HbA1c) déterminée. Des statistiques descriptives, ainsi que des analyses de régression logistique univariée et multivariée, ont été utilisées pour déterminer la prévalence et les facteurs de risque du prédiabète et du diabète à un seuil de signification de 5 %. RÉSULTATS: L'augmentation de l'âge, le sexe, les antécédents familiaux de diabète, le mariage, les antécédents d'hypertension, de maladie cardiovasculaire et de diabète gestationnel (DG) ou l'accouchement de gros bébés, l'IMC, la pression artérielle systolique et diastolique étaient significativement associés au prédiabète et au diabète dans les zones urbaines et rurales. Cependant, les odds ratio ajustés ont montré que les antécédents familiaux de diabète (2,14, IC à 95 % : 1,26-3,61 contre 1,36, IC à 95 % : 1,00-1,85) et les antécédents de DG chez les femmes (2,67, IC à 95 %: 0,62, 11,39 contre 1,32, IC à 95 % : 0,61, 2,89) prédisent clairement la dysglycémie en milieu rural par rapport aux participants urbains, respectivement. CONCLUSIONS: Les antécédents familiaux de diabète et les antécédents de DG prédisent de manière disproportionnée la dysglycémie en milieu rural par rapport au milieu urbain. Un dépistage périodique de la dysglycémie et une éducation sanitaire, en particulier chez les femmes en âge de procréer, sont des mesures nécessaires pour réduire le fardeau de la dysglycémie au Nigeria. MOTS-CLÉS: Prédiabète, diabète non diagnostiqué, Facteurs de risque, Rural-urbain, Différences, Basé sur l'hémoglobine glyquée, Nigeria.

Comparative evaluation of three histidine-rich Protein-2 based rapid diagnostic tests, microscopy and PCR for guiding malaria treatment in Ibadan, Southwest Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: Malaria rapid diagnostic tests (mRDTs) are the preferred option for programmatic deployment. AIMS: There are numerous mRDTs on the Nigerian market and there is a need to guide practitioners on the relative performance of the commonly used brands of mRDT in Nigeria. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The performance of three commonly used Histidine-Rich-Protein-2-based mRDTs (SD-Bioline™, Carestart™ and Paracheck-Pf™) against microscopy of Giemsa stained blood and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was evaluated among 190 febrile under-5 children in Ibadan, Nigeria. We calculated the sensitivity, specificity, predictive values, accuracy, and agreements. RESULTS: There were 53.2% males. The prevalence of malaria parasite by microscopy was 46.8% and 57.9% by PCR. Malaria parasite detection by SD-Bioline™ was 60.5%, Carestart™: 60.0% and Paracheck-Pf™ 60.0%. Using microscopy as the gold standard, the sensitivities of SD-Bioline™, Carestart™ and Paracheck-Pf™ mRDT were 97.8%, 96.7% and 97.8% respectively while the specificities were 73.0%, 72.0% and 74.0% respectively. Using PCR as the gold standard, the sensitivity for both SD-Bioline™ and Paracheck-Pf™ was 85.5% and for CareStart was 84.6% while the specificity of SD-Bioline™, Carestart™, and Paracheck-Pf™ was 73.8%, 72.4%, and 75.0% respectively. The test accuracy was 81.0% for both SD-Bioline™ and Paracheck-Pf™ and 80.0% for Caresatrt™. The kappa coefficient of agreement between PCR and each of SD-Bioline™, Carestart, ParaCheck™ and microscopy was 0.597, 0.578, 0.609 and 0.739 respectively. CONCLUSION: The performance of the three mRDTs is a proof that any of the three is suitable for use in the diagnosis of malaria in the southwest of Nigeria.

QUALITY OF PRESCRIPTIONS RECEIVED BY PATIENTS WITH HYPERTENSION ATTENDING A SECONDARY HEALTH FACILITY IN IBADAN, OYO STATE.

Background: High-quality prescription (HQP) which is a key player in optimal blood pressure control reflects good prescribing process and thus quality health care. Aims: To determine quality of prescription and its correlates in patients with hypertension attending a secondary health facility in Ibadan, Nigeria. Methodology: A cross-sectional hospital-based study among 347 known hypertensive patients attending the Medical Outpatient clinic of Jericho Specialist hospital, Ibadan. Quality of prescription was determined using prescription quality index (PQI) tool and it was categorized into high, medium and low-quality prescriptions. The respondents were recruited using a simple random sampling technique (computer generated random number). Data was analyzed using SPSS version 2020. Mean, standard deviation, Chi-square and Spearman correlation were used for data analysis and level of significant was set at <0.05. Results: The mean (PQI) was 31.4±5.6; less than half of the patients 163 (47.3%) had low PQI, while medium and high PQI was found in 41(11.8%) and 143 (41.2%) patients respectively. There was a significant difference in the quality of prescriptions between male and female hypertensive patients (χ2=15.85, p-value<0.0001). Two-thirds of the patients, 229(66.0%) experienced associated health problems and this was significantly inversely correlated with prescription quality (r=-0.33, p<0.001). Conclusion: The study revealed marginally low quality of prescription, statistically significant poor-quality prescription among the male patients and higher number of comorbidities significantly correlated negatively with prescribing quality. Thus, to comply with high quality prescriptions, combined medications among hypertensive patients with comorbidities should be used cautiously.

Cholera outbreak in a southwest community of Nigeria: investigation of risk factors and evaluation of a district surveillance system.

BACKGROUND: Following confirmation of cholera outbreak in a southwest community of Nigeria, we set to identify possible risk factors for contracting the disease and to evaluate the completeness as well as the representativeness of the cases reported to a district health authority. METHODS: Cholera cases were identified through an active case search that involved the review of records in health facilities and a house-to-house search using the standard case definition in the Nigeria integrated disease surveillance and response technical guidelines. Two neighborhood controls appropriately matched on age and sex for each case, were also identified. An interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to collect information on the demographic characteristics and potential risk factors. Completeness of reporting of cases notified to the district health authority was evaluated using a two source capture-recapture method. In addition, the representativeness of the reported cases was determined by comparing the age and sex distributions of notified cases to those identified through the active case search. RESULTS: Thirty-nine cases were identified, of which 22 consented to participate. Contact with a diarrhoea case at home or in the neighborhood within the last 7 days prior to illness onset in cases was significantly associated with having cholera (Matched triplets Odds Ratio 8.5, 95% CI: 1.36-52.9). The completeness of the district surveillance report was estimated to be 54%. In the district notification data compared with the active case search data, males <5 years (31% vs 18%) and females 15 years (3% vs 21%) were significantly over- and under-represented, respectively. CONCLUSION: The odds of having cholera were increased in those who had contact with a case of diarrhea. Reporting of cases to the district health authority was not complete and the surveillance data on gender and age grouping were not representative of the cases that occurred in the population. There is a need for efficient reporting of cases to the health authority during outbreaks in order to improve decision-making and public health interventions.

Socio demographic and clinical correlates of knee pain in adult women attending a primary care clinic.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: The objectives of the study were to determine the socio demographic and clinical correlates of knee pain in women in a primary care clinic. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study was a cross-sectional survey of 400 women attending the General Outpatients' clinic of the University College Hospital (U.C.H.), Ibadan, Nigeria using the systematic random sampling technique. RESULTS: The prevalence of knee pain was 42.0% (95% CI 40.0- 41.0). The radiographic findings in the knees showed mostly osteophytes in 24 out of the 28(85.7%) respondents who had radiographs done. The highest prevalence of knee pain was found in caterers and traders, 62.5% and 51.6%, respectively (p= 0.001). Multivariate analysis done using logistic regression with a backward selection showed that the odds of developing knee pain increases with age (Odds Ratio=1.585, 95% CI 1.321-1.903, p=0.000), and body mass index (Odds Ratio 1.587, 95% CI 1.295-1.946, p=0.000). CONCLUSION: The prevalence of knee pain in women seen at the primary care clinic is high. Preventive measures for knee pain need to be instituted.

Population-based prevalence of abnormal cervical cytology findings and local risk factors in Ibadan, Nigeria: implications for cervical cancer control programs and human papilloma virus immunization.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the prevalence of abnormal cervical cytological findings and local risk factors in Ibadan, Nigeria. STUDY DESIGN: All women aged ≥15 years in each household in Idikan, Ibadan, were invited to participate in a population-based study. Structured questionnaires were administered to all consenting women. Conventional cervical Papanicolaou smears obtained from sexually active women were classified using the 2001 Bethesda system. The diagnoses were correlated with sociodemographic data and risk factors. RESULTS: Of 2,870 women aged ≥15 years estimated to live in Idikan, 1,204 sexually active women consented to pelvic examination and cervical smears. Results were available for 1,104 women (mean age: 39.8 years). Mean ages at menarche, first sexual intercourse and first pregnancy were 16.1, 20.3 and 20.7 years, respectively. Cytological results were categorized into atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance and atypical glandular cells 22 (1.99%); low-grade 43 (3.89%) and high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (HSIL) 17 (1.54%); invasive cancer 2 (0.18%) and normal 593 (53.8%) and reactive changes 427 (38.7%). The prevalence of epithelial abnormalities is 7.6%. Significant host-related factors in those with HSIL and invasive cancer included older age (mean 56.2 years), high parity and gravidity, lack of formal education and being divorced (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: This study provides prevalence data and local risk factors for abnormal cervical cytology in a Nigerian population, which will be useful for planning future cervical cancer control programs.

Altered vascular reactivity induced by malaria parasites.

OBJECTIVE: In this study, we have examined the possibility that there is altered vascular reactivity due to the direct interaction between parasitized erythrocytes and vascular endothelial cells. METHOD: Ring preparations of rat aorta were studied using standard in vitro techniques, the rings were mounted in 20 ml organ baths containing PSS under an initial load of 1 g, maintained at 37 degrees C at pH 7.4 and isometric contractions were recorded electronically. Rings were allowed 90 minutes to equilibrate before the commencement of the various protocols: Dose responses to phenylephrine (PE) and other vasoactive agents (high-K+). Acetylcholine (Ach)--induced relaxation in phenylephrine-contracted rings (pre-contraction was induced by EC70 concentration of phenylephrine). Ach-induced relaxation in PE-precontracted, endothelium-denuded rings. Also, relaxation responses to acetylcholine was investigated through application of a single. (EC70) concentration of acetylcholine in rings exposed to blood with varying concentrations and dilutions of parasitized blood and varying durations of exposure. RESULTS: Incubation with parasitized blood resulted in a significant increase in maximum contractile response to phenylephrine in the rat aortic rings (p < 0.05) but no effect to the base line. Analysis of the whole dose-response curve (using paired t-test) showed a significant left-ward shift following the addition of parasitized blood (p < 0.05), EC70 (M) values increasing from 7 x 10(-7) to 5 x 10(-6)M. Following exposure to parasitized blood, the magnitude of Ach-induced relaxation responses reduced significantly from 73 +/- 3.6 to 24.75 +/- 7.25% in rat aortic rings (p < 0.05). Ach relaxations were significantly enhanced (p < 0.05) at 5-minute exposure; however at longer durations, Ach-relaxations were variable and inconsistent. The lesser the dilution, due to increased volume of parasitized blood, the lesser the relaxation response. Following endothelium removal, there was a marked impairment in endothelium-dependent relaxation responses to ACh in both the control and incubated vessels. Exposure to parasitized blood did not significantly alter contractile responses induced by potassium depolarization. CONCLUSIONS: This gives evidence in support of an endothelium-dependent action of malaria parasites as vascular effects of malaria parasites are mediated, at least in part, via endothelium-dependent mechanism(s).

Specificity of vascular reactivity and altered response in experimental malaria.

OBJECTIVE: Adherence of erythrocytes infected with Plasmodium falciparum (P falciparum) to microvascular endothelial cells (sequestration) is considered to play an important role in parasite virulence and pathogenesis. In this study, we have examined the possibility that there is altered vascular reactivity due to the direct interaction between the parasitized erythrocytes and vascular endothelial cells and that it could be tissue specific. METHOD: Ring preparations of blood vessels from the rabbit carotid and rat aorta were studied using standard organ bath techniques. Dose response curves for phenylephrine (PE) and acetylcholine (Ach)-induced relaxation were constructed in rings pre-contracted with PE. RESULTS: Incubation of rat aortic rings with parasitized blood resulted in a significant (p < 0.05) increase in maximum contractile response to phenylephrine in the rat aortic rings but there was no effect on the rabbit carotid artery. The dose-response curve showed a significant (p < 0.05) left-ward shift following the addition of parasitized blood. Parasitised blood had no effect on baseline in both tissues. Following exposure to parasitized blood, the magnitude of Ach-induced relaxation responses reduced significantly (p < 0.05) in rat aortic rings and (p < 0.05) in rabbit carotid rings; relaxations to acetylcholine was more pronounced in the aortic compared to the carotid rings. CONCLUSIONS: Malaria altered vascular reactivity through an endothelium-dependent mechanism. The regulation of vascular tone by various vasoactive agents following exposure to malaria parasites might be altered in a vessel-specific manner. This may contribute to or exacerbate the abnormal haemodynamics observed in the microcirculation of numerous vascular beds in malaria.

Obesity: an emerging disease.

Obesity is rapidly becoming an emerging disease in developing countries due to the increasing westernization of societies and change in the lifestyle. The etiology of obesity is said to be multifactorial, with a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Literature has been extensively reviewed to provide a broad overview of obesity. Data for this review were obtained from original articles, review articles and textbooks. Internet search engines were also employed. The years searched were from 1993 to 2008. Obesity, classified in terms of the body mass index and the waist-hip ratio, has several associated co-morbidities such as diabetes mellitus, hypertension, degenerative osteoarthritis and infertility. In Nigeria, there is limited information on obesity. A literature review on obesity is necessary to improve the knowledge about obesity in developing countries, its prevention and its management.

KNOWLEDGE OF HEALTH WORKERS ON CHOLERA MANAGEMENT IN OYO STATE: RESULTS OF A TRAINING INTERVENTION.

Introduction: Primary Health Care (PHC) workers are usually the frontline health workers involved in disseminating health education to the community and implementing cholera prevention and management guidelines. Given that inadequate health worker performance has been a problem in resource-limited settings such as Nigeria and poor health worker knowledge has been implicated in poor health status in developing nations, continuous training of health workers to improve their knowledge has been recommended to improve health outcomes. Objective: This study seeks to ascertain the level of improvement in the knowledge of health workers on cholera, if any, after one of such interventions was carried out in Oyo State. Similarly, the study seeks to discern the specific domains of knowledge on cholera, if any, which were significantly affected by the intervention. Methods: The research was conducted utilizing a pre-post study design to recruit PHC health workers from four local government areas of Oyo State between October and November 2016. Baseline and endline data were collected at both intervention and control sites using a self-administered questionnaire with sections eliciting responses to questions on general knowledge of symptoms of cholera, prevention methods, knowledge and practice of safety procedures health workers. Descriptive statistics and chi-square tests were used to present the data and test for statistical associations between categorical variables at 5% respectively. Results: A total of 542 health workers divided into 2 groups (intervention and control), were interviewed at baseline and at endline. At baseline, the 40-49 years age group was the most represented in the intervention arm (40.0%), the 30-39 years age group was the most represented in the control arm (34.2%). At baseline, only 35.2% of health workers in the intervention sites had good knowledge on cholera. This figure was increased to 52.7% after the intervention. This difference in proportions was also statistically significant (p=0.004). In the control sites, the opposite was observed as the proportion of health workers with good knowledge on cholera slightly reduced from 47.2% to 43.6%. This difference was however not statistically significant (p=0.563). Conclusion: The results from the evaluation of the intervention show that the training significantly improved the overall knowledge of health workers. However, future training interventions can be aimed at improving knowledge of health workers on alert threshold of cholera. In addition, continuous education programs on disease and surveillance and notification should be planned for PHC workers to improve their knowledge.

Malaria prevention practices among mothers delivering in an urban hospital in southwest Nigeria.

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES: The pregnant woman is more prone to malaria than her non-pregnant counterpart with grave consequences for both mother and baby. This study aims at determining the malaria prevention practices among pregnant women in an area hyper-endemic for malaria. METHODS: For the study 983 parturient mothers were enrolled in Ibadan, southwest Nigeria. Information was collected on sociodemographic characteristics, use of malaria chemoprophylaxis, use of anti-vector measures, and malaria parasitaemia. RESULTS: Most mothers [956/972 (98.4%)] reported the use of anti-vector measures for malaria prevention. These include, window screens (78.9%), insecticides spray (69.9%), mosquito coils (25.3%), untreated bednets (2.5%), and insecticide-treated nets (1.1%). Most mothers used anti-vector measures either singly or in combination. About 86% (840/972) of the mothers used drugs for chemoprophylaxis. Thirteen (1.3%) mothers used chemoprophylaxis alone (CP), 135 (13.9%) used anti-vector measures alone (AV) while 820 (84.4%) used chemoprophylaxis plus anti-vector (CPAV). Weekly dose of pyrimethamine [214 (25%)] and intermittent preventive treatment with sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine [598 (71.2%)] were the widely used chemoprophylactic drugs. The prevalence of patent parasitaemia at delivery was 7.7% (1/13), 12.1% (99/820) and 16.3% (22/135) among CP, CPAV and AV groups respectively. Geometric mean parasite densities among the respective groups were 7840/microl, 1228/microl and 8936/microl. CONCLUSION: Window screens and insecticide sprays were widely used for malaria prevention while the use of ITN was very low among enrolled mothers. There is a need to pay concerted efforts to improve ITN usage rate in Nigeria.

Indications and outcome of tracheostomy in Ilorin, North Central Nigeria: 10 years review.

BACKGROUND: The study aims to highlight common indications as well as outcome of treatment among patients with tracheostomy in Ilorin, North-Central Nigeria. METHODS: A review of clinical records of all patients with tracheostomy over a period of ten years (2002-2011), using the Theatre, Ward, ICU and the emergency register after approval from the ethical review committee. Data retrieved included; demographic profile, primary diagnosis, indication for tracheostomy, surgical technique, hospital admission and care outcome of management. All information retrieved input and analysed using an SPSS version 17.0 and data analyzed descriptively. RESULTS: Seventy-six patients had complete data for analysis, age range from 1-89yrs, and mean age of 41.9yrs. There are 48males and 28 females with M:F ratio of 1.6:1. Majority of the patients were in the 3rd-5th decade. About 47.4% had temporary tracheostomy. The commonest indication for tracheostomy is upper airway obstruction secondary to aerodigestive tract tumors in 60.5%, then trauma in 26.3%. The complications are higher among the under tens'. Out of the 36 temporary tracheostomy only 18 were successfully decannulated. The mean hospital stay was 22±2days. Overall 15% mortality was recorded. CONCLUSION: Common reason for tracheostomy is essentially same earlier documentation in developing countries, common among males, emergency type still most common, neoplasm, prolonged intubation and trauma are the commonest indications, its complication is still high among the under tens'. The outcome is good with 15% mortality due to the primary disease and not from tracheostomy.

Burden of depressive symptoms and non-alcohol substance abuse; and their association with alcohol use and partner violence: a cross-sectional study in four sub-Saharan Africa countries.

In sub-Saharan Africa, there are limited data on burden of non-alcohol substance abuse (NAS) and depressive symptoms (DS), yet potential risk factors such as alcohol and intimate partner violence (IPV) are common and NAS abuse may be the rise. The aim of this study was to measure the burden of DS and NAS abuse, and determine whether alcohol use and IPV are associated with DS and/or NAS abuse. We conducted a cross-sectional study at five sites in four countries: Nigeria (nurses), South Africa (teachers), Tanzania (teachers) and two sites in Uganda (rural and peri-urban residents). Participants were selected by simple random sampling from a sampling frame at each of the study sites. We used a standardized tool to collect data on demographics, alcohol use and NAS use, IPV and DS and calculated prevalence ratios (PR). We enrolled 1415 respondents and of these 34.6% were male. DS occurred among 383 (32.3%) and NAS use among 52 (4.3%). In the multivariable analysis, being female (PR  =  1.49, p  =  0.008), NAS abuse (PR  =  2.06, p  =  0.02) and IPV (PR  =  2.93, p < 0.001) were significantly associated with DS. Older age [odds ratio (OR) = 0.31, p < 0.001)], female (OR = 0.48, p  =  0.036) were protective of NAS but current smokers (OR = 2.98, p < 0.001) and those reporting IPV (OR  =  2.16, p  =  0.024) were more likely to use NAS. Longitudinal studies should be done to establish temporal relationships with these risk factors to provide basis for interventions.

Haemorheological variables in Nigeria pulmonary tuberculosis patients undergoing therapy.

Haemorheological changes in response to therapy have not been fully determined in pulmonary tuberculosis patients living in developing countries. This study was aimed at monitoring haemorheological parameters in newly diagnosed pulmonary tuberculosis patients undergoing therapy. Haemorheological parameters were studied in 40 tuberculosis patients (17 males and 23 females, mean age 33.4+/-1.4 years, range 23-45 years) undergoing treatment and 10 newly diagnosed patients (5 males and 5 females mean age 33.0+/-2.1 years) along with 50 apparently healthy controls age and sex matched. There were significantly lower packed cell volume (PCV), platelet count (PC), and total white blood cell count (p<0.0001). Whole blood viscosity (WBV), plasma viscosity (PV), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and plasma fibrinogen (PF) were significantly higher in pulmonary tuberculosis patients than controls (p<0.0001). The packed cell volume was significantly increased by the 8th week of therapy (p<0.01), there was a significant reduction in the erythrocyte sedimentation rate from the 4th week of therapy (p<0.0001). There was no significant change in blood viscosity by the 4th week of therapy (p>0.05), while the plasma fibrinogen showed significant reduction from the 4th week of therapy till 8th week of therapy (p<0.01 and p<0.0001 respectively). We conclude that thrombocytopaenia, stasis and hyperfibrinogenemia may predispose African PTB patients to bleeding and thrombotic disorders. Haemorheological parameters may be useful indices in assessing response to therapy and drug compliance in pulmonary tuberculosis patients living in developing countries.

Pre-hospital treatment of febrile illness in children attending the General Outpatients Clinic, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria.

Many childhood febrile illnesses are treated at home prior to presentation. This study gathered information on treatment practices of caregivers for febrile illnesses in an urban area. A Cross sectional survey of consenting guardians of 535 consecutive febrile children under 10 years presenting at General Outpatients' (GOP) Clinic. University College Hospital. Ibadan was carried out. Thick blood smears were examined for malaria parasite. The mean (SD) age of the febrile children was 3.2 (2.8) years. Nineteen (17.5%) children were brought within 24 hours of noticing fever. Malaria was presumed to be the diagnosis by 217 (40.6%) respondents: 247 (46.2%) did not know the cause of fever. Most. 469 (87.7%) respondents gave drugs bought from chemists/pharmacy shops before presentation at the GOP. Paracetamol 1380 (81.0%)] and chloroquine [171 (36.5%)] were the most commonly used drugs. Twenty-six (15.2%) respondents used chloroquine correctly. One hundred and ninety-nine of 476 children (41.8%) were smear positive and 88 of 191 (46.1%) children whose guardians presumed malaria had parasites. This study reiterates the fact that majority of childhood febrile illnesses are first treated at home. It underscores the need to empower caregivers by appropriate education on knowledge, attitude and practice of the management including home management of malaria.

How well equipped are healthcare facilities to manage childhood malaria? The situation in selected local government areas in South Western Nigeria.

Using a structured questionnaire, surveys were conducted in 55 of 123 primary and secondary healthcare facilities in 4 selected local government areas in Southwestern Nigeria. Heads of healthcare facilities (HCFs) surveyed include nurses (41.8%), medical officers (21.8%) and community extension workers (21.8%). Twenty five (45.5%) HCFs run special clinics for children. About one fifth (20.3%) of staff had received continuing education on management of malaria. Forty seven (85%) HCFs possessed and used national guidelines for management of malaria. Although 48.9% of HCFs had microscopes, fewer had microscope slides, lancets and Giemsa stain which are also required items for definitive diagnosis of malaria. Healthcare workers were not well informed on some aspects in the management of malaria. Selected healthcare workers from various categories attended a workshop where they were trained to correct inadequate knowledge, attitude and practice in the management of malaria. These workers were to train their colleagues on their return to their respective HCFs.

Patient satisfaction with the services provided at a general outpatients' clinic, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria.

Patient-based assessments of medical care are increasingly being used to measure the quality of health care. A variety of methods - qualitative and quantitative - are available. However, patient satisfaction surveys are frequently used. Triangulation of methods increases both the validity and reliability of data. This study assessed patients' perception of care provided at an outpatient clinic using triangulation of methods. No evaluation of care provided at this clinic has been carried out since established. Four hundred and seven adult patients selected by systematic sampling technique were interviewed, 10 focus group discussion sessions (FGD) were held and observations were made at the record clerks' desk, nurses' desk and waiting hall. Also, 35 consultations were observed. Generally, all methods revealed high level of satisfaction with the different aspects of care assessed. However, assessment of satisfaction using survey method concealed a variety of negative experiences reported at FGD and observation. These discrepancies were related to satisfaction with the organization of the clinic, attitude of record clerks' and consultation process. The study provided valuable information to assist in improving the quality of care at the clinic; specifically, the long waiting time, attitude of the record clerks, the dearth of basic amenities, deficient patient-doctor communication skills and health promotion services.

Mobilization for cervical cancer screening: lessons from a poor-urban Yoruba community in Nigeria.

Cervical cancer is a major public health problem worldwide and it remains one of the commonest malignancies in Nigeria. Screening remains the most effective tool for the detection of pre-invasive stages of cervical cancer, giving the opportunity for prompt and effective treatment before the emergence of invasive disease. In Nigeria, as in most developing countries, the concept of screening for cancer and its pre-emptive treatment is underdeveloped. The fact that the facilities and logistics for cervical cancer screening are generally located in the hospital setting, a place where one goes when ill, according to local beliefs, makes acceptance more difficult. That Nigeria urgently needs to set up or develop cervical screening programmes that will reach women outside the hospital setting in a culturally acceptable milieu is not in doubt. A community cervical screening survey for the prevalence of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia and HPV infection was initiated in Idikan, a poor-urban inner core area of Ibadan. The challenges and experiences encountered in the execution of the project which could serve as useful knowledge to those undertaking similar exercises, requiring mass mobilization for cancer screening of an uninformed group, are highlighted. Our experience in the course of this study is important as it brought out the probable influences of community dynamics and social organization in illness decisions and prescriptions for health operative in this particular population group. Cervical cancer screening programmes should therefore make provisions to accommodate the occasional outcomes as we had encountered. In addition, screening programmes in developing societies would require sensitive designs that should address the cultural attitudes, personal conflicts, expectations of treatment and overall context of preventive care.

The use of mail reminders in STD contact tracing in Ibadan, Nigeria.

Contact tracing has become the most important tool in the control of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) world-wide, and different strategies have been introduced into it in recent years to improve its effectiveness. Of all these strategy components, index patient counselling and co-operation to do their own contact tracing by themselves has been identified as the most important one. In Ibadan, it is the only component of the contact tracing strategies that has proven worthwhile. This study has assessed the contribution of supplementary mail reminders to defaulting index patients and their defaulting contacts to our control efforts in the first two years of its usage. It demonstrates that, like the other components of the contact tracing strategies, it is not successful in improving the contact or defaulting index patient attendance, thus only contributing to success in 7 of 141 patients. The intensification of efforts towards encouraging the index patient in contact tracing must therefore be ever more strongly emphasised as the top priority in STD control in Nigeria and similar developing countries for the success of this strategy.

PIP: Contact tracing has become the most important tool in the control of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) world-wide and different strategies have been introduced in recent year to improve its effectiveness. Of all these strategy components, index patient counselling and co- operation to do their own contact tracing by themselves has been identified as the most important one. In Ibadan, it is the only component of the contact tracing strategies that has proven worthwhile. This study has assessed the contribution of supplementary mail reminders to defaulting index patients and their defaulting contacts to our control efforts in the first 2 years of its usage. It demonstrates that, like other components of the contact tracing strategies, it in not successful in improving the contact or defaulting index patient attendance, thus only contributing to success in 7 of 141 patients. Of the 141 letters sent to defaulting index patients, 38% and 19% of them were returned as untraceable addresses by the postal services in 1985 and 1986. The remaining 103 letters were assumed to have reached their correct destination. Only 7 of these 103 index patients attended the clinic on account of mail reminders, while non of the 39 contacts to whom slips were sent came for follow-up. 11 of the non-responding 96 index patients were later traced physically. 7 of these 11 were found, 6 of whom would not return to the clinic because they felt cured. Efforts must be intensified towards involving index patients in contact tracing as a top priority in STD control in Nigeria. (Author's modified).

Knowledge and attitude of general outpatient attendants in Nigeria to cervical cancer.

OBJECTIVES: This study sets out to determine: a. How much women in low socio-economic settings know about cancer and cervical cancer. b. Their source of information. c. Their general attitude to cervical cancer. DESIGN: A cross sectional study. SETTING: General outpatient (GOP) department of a tertiary hospital in Ibadan, Nigeria. SUBJECTS: 254 randomly selected women aged 20 to 65 years attending or visiting the GOP department in a University Teaching Hospital were studied. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Knowledge about cancer and cervical cancer as well as source of information. RESULTS: The response rate was 100%. Of the respondents, 90% had heard of cancer at one time or the other while only 15% had heard of cervical cancer. The media (38%) and peers (36%) were the major sources of information on cancer. Fifty five percent, 53% and 61% had no knowledge while 40% and 23% had poor to moderate overall knowledge of cervical cancer. CONCLUSION: Knowledge about cervical cancer is poor in these women, unlike findings in developed countries. There is need to educate our women on the early warning signs of cervical cancer as failure to recognise the early symptoms and signs contribute to the late presentation common in Nigeria.

PIP: A cross-sectional study of 254 randomly selected women 20-65 years of age attending or accompanying someone to the general outpatient department of University College Hospital in Ibadan, Nigeria, assessed knowledge about cervical cancer. 90% of respondents had heard of cancer, most often breast cancer (64.5%). The major sources of knowledge about cancer were the media (38%) and peers (36%). Only 38 women (15%) had heard of cervical cancer. Among those who had at least heard of cervical cancer, 36.8% had no overall knowledge of the disease, 39.5% had poor knowledge, and 23.7% had moderate knowledge. Substantial proportions of these respondents had no knowledge of the description (55.3%), clinical presentation (52.6%), and causes (60.5%) of cervical cancer. These findings will be utilized to design a health education program about cervical cancer. Nigerian women's failure to recognize the early signs of cervical cancer contributes significantly to the late presentation of Nigerian women for medical attention.