Care-seeking behaviour for malaria treatment among community primary school teachers ( a cross sectional study)

Background: The identification of sex from the skeleton is of great medico-legal and anthropological importance. The hip bone is commonly used. The ischio-pubic index is one of the parameters used for sex determination because of its reliability. Aim: To determine from radiographs, ischio-pubic index of Nigerians. This will help to establish a baseline anthropometric data and to define standard values for the local population. Methods: Standard anterio-posterior (AP) pelvic radiographs of 100 normal adults comprising 54 females and 46 males were employed in this study. Radiographs were randomly selected from the Radiology departments of University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital and Braithwaite Memorial Specialist Hospital, Port Harcourt. The pubic lengths and ischial lengths were measured using the method adopted by Washburn and the ischio-pubic index was calculated. Results: The mean ischio-pubic index was greater in females (102.7±5.7). This difference between the sexes was statistically significant (P less than 0.05). The pubic bone was longer in females but the Ischium was longer in males. Conclusion: The result of this study confirmed previous reports that irrespective of race, the ischio-pubic index for females is significantly greater than that of males and that ischio-pubic index can be accurately used for sex determination in this environment. Ischio-pubic index greater than 90 will most probably be that of a female and less than 90 will most probably be that of a male Nigerian in Port Harcourt.   Key words: Ischio-pubic index, Sex determination, Anthropometry, Pelvic radiograph, Nigerians in Port Harcour

KNOWLEDGE ATTITUDE AND PERCEPTION OF HYPERTENSION AMONG STAFF OF A TERTIARY INSTITUTION IN NIGERIA

Background: Hypertension was a prevalent disease in developed countries, but has recently become a major disease of public health importance in developing countries. Objective: Study assessed knowledge, attitude, and perception about hypertension among the staff of University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State. Method: Cross- sectional study was conducted among the staff in July 2019.  256 staff was randomly selected across all the Faculties. Data collected using structured questionnaire include, demographic information, knowledge, perception and attitude about hypertension and statistical analysis carried out with SPSS version 20 Result: Total 54.7% (140) respondents were academic staff and 45.3% (116) non- academic. 61.7% (158) male, females constitute 38.3% (98). Male academic staff was 67.1% (94); most academic staff, 36.4% (51) was within 50-59 years, 28.6% (40) were between 40-49 years. Total 37.1% (43) non-academic staff  were within 40-49yrs. Respondents have a good knowledge, 87.9%, of hypertension, but only 61% (85) of academic and 47% (54) non-academic staff knew that hypertension can be inherited. Total 40% (56) academic, 44.8% (52) non-academic claimed to have multiple source of information about hypertension. Knowledge on risk factors of hypertension was poor, 20%. Conclusion: Knowledge level of respondents on hypertension was high, with moderate attitude but poor perception.                         Peer Review History: Received: 12 January 2022; Revised: 23 February; Accepted: 1 March, Available online: 15 March 2022 Academic Editor: Ahmad Najib, Universitas Muslim Indonesia,  Indonesia, [email protected] UJPR follows the most transparent and toughest ‘Advanced OPEN peer review’ system. The identity of the authors and, reviewers will be known to each other. This transparent process will help to eradicate any possible malicious/purposeful interference by any person (publishing staff, reviewer, editor, author, etc) during peer review. As a result of this unique system, all reviewers will get their due recognition and respect, once their names are published in the papers. We expect that, by publishing peer review reports with published papers, will be helpful to many authors for drafting their article according to the specifications. Auhors will remove any error of their article and they will improve their article(s) according to the previous reports displayed with published article(s). The main purpose of it is ‘to improve the quality of a candidate manuscript’. Our reviewers check the ‘strength and weakness of a manuscript honestly’. There will increase in the perfection, and transparency.  Received file:                Reviewer's Comments: Average Peer review marks at initial stage: 6.5/10 Average Peer review marks at publication stage: 7.5/10 Reviewers: Md. Monirul Islam, Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health Sciences, Northern University Bangladesh, Dhaka, Bangladesh.  [email protected] Rola Jadallah, Arab American University, Palestine, [email protected] Similar Articles: PATTERN OF ANTI-HYPERTENSIVE DRUGS IN A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL IN KERALA AND ADHERENCE TO JNC-8 GUIDELINES SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS EFFECT ON MANAGEMENT OF HYPERTENSION IN COMMUNITY PHARMACY IN SOUTH- SOUTH ZONE IN NIGERI

Antibiotic Utilization and Prescribing Patterns in a Nigerian University Medical Center

The study of prescribing pattern seeks to monitor, evaluate and suggest a modification in prescriber’s prescribing habits so as to make medical care rational and cost effective. Information about antibiotic use pattern is necessary for a constructive approach to problems that arise from multiple antibiotics available. To identify prescribing pattern and antibiotic usage pattern in a Nigerian medical centre. A retrospective study of prescriptions generated within a period of January to December 2006 at the Lagos university medical centre was studied. Core quantitative indicators to measure key aspects of prescribing and the quality of health care developed and tested by WHO Action Program on Essential drugs and the international Network for rational use of drugs was employed. A total of 2909 prescriptions were studied. The average number of drug prescribed per encounter (ANDPE) was found to be 1.53; percentage drug actually dispensed (%DAD) was 84, while average number of antibiotic prescribed per encounter (ANAPE) was 1.28. The percentage encounter with antibiotics (PEA) was 42 while only 2.5% of antibiotic prescribed was based on microbial sensitivity test (MCST). The prescribing habit of the prescribers revealed that 87.5% often prescribed antibiotics. 62.5% base their diagnosis for antibiotic prescription on individual experience and disease prevalent in the community at the time, while 12.5% rely on signs and symptoms on the patient. The antibiotic utilization in the medical centre conforms to a previous study for developing countries on selected core drug use indicators studied retrospectively. The correct knowledge of antibiotic prescribing pattern is evident, but not followed in practice.Keywords: antibiotics, utilization, prescription patter, medical centreNigerian Journal of Pharmaceutical Research, Vol. 8 No 1 pp. 236 - 241 (September 2010

SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS EFFECT ON MANAGEMENT OF HYPERTENSION IN COMMUNITY PHARMACY IN SOUTH- SOUTH ZONE IN NIGERIA

Background to study: Effective management of hypertension is influenced by several factors that center on social and economic status of the patient. Identification of these factors will enable informed intervention in the management of hypertensive patients. Objective: The study aimed to determine possible association between blood pressure control and socioeconomic status of patients who are managed in community pharmacies in Rivers State. Method: A descriptive cross-sectional survey of thirty-nine community pharmacies was conducted between July and December 2018.  A total of 195 respondents participated in the study. Every patient’s consent was obtained. Further information on patients’ demographics were extracted from pharmacists’ documentation files. Such include age, medication patient is on, duration of hypertension, co-morbidity, income/ social status, and habits like smoking, alcohol consumption, educational status, and mean blood pressure over the study period. The outcome measure taken as controlled blood pressure was mean BP ≤140/90 mm Hg for the general population and BP 130/80 mmHg for patients with diabetes as co-morbidity. BP >140/90 mm Hg was considered as uncontrolled blood pressure. Result: A total of 195 respondents participated in the study, of which 105(53.8%) were male and 90(46.2%) were female. Out of this number 75(38.5%) were below 40yrs of age, 105(53.8%) were between 41–50yrs of age and only 15(7.7%) were 60yrs and above. More female had BP control compared to the male (OR 1.89, 95% CI (1.16 - 3.0), P=0.009. Patients within ages 41 - 59yrs had more controlled BP compared to older age, 60yrs and above, OR 1.48, 95% CI (0.84 - 2.42) p 0.18. Uncontrolled BP was found more among employed patients and patients with highest monthly income, OR 1.05 95% CI (0.58 - 2.00); OR 1.16 95% CI (0.49 - 2.78) P, 0.36 respectively. Exercise activities have significant impact on BP control as alcohol consumption increased OR of BP control with no significant difference in OR on amount of monthly expenditure on medications. Conclusion: Male gender, employment, and high income earning have negative effect on BP control while exercise is associated with BP control.                    Peer Review History: Received: 4 September 2021; Revised: 10 October; Accepted: 21 October, Available online: 15 November 2021 Academic Editor:  Dr. Gehan Fawzy Abdel Raoof Kandeel, Pharmacognosy Department, National Research Centre, Dokki, 12622,  Giza, Egypt, [email protected]  UJPR follows the most transparent and toughest ‘Advanced OPEN peer review’ system. The identity of the authors and, reviewers will be known to each other. This transparent process will help to eradicate any possible malicious/purposeful interference by any person (publishing staff, reviewer, editor, author, etc) during peer review. As a result of this unique system, all reviewers will get their due recognition and respect, once their names are published in the papers. We expect that, by publishing peer review reports with published papers, will be helpful to many authors for drafting their article according to the specifications. Auhors will remove any error of their article and they will improve their article(s) according to the previous reports displayed with published article(s). The main purpose of it is ‘to improve the quality of a candidate manuscript’. Our reviewers check the ‘strength and weakness of a manuscript honestly’. There will increase in the perfection, and transparency.  Received file:                Reviewer's Comments: Average Peer review marks at initial stage: 6.0/10 Average Peer review marks at publication stage: 7.5/10 Reviewers: Dr. Muhammad Zahid Iqbal, AIMST University, Malaysia, [email protected] Dr. Vanina Doris Edo’o, University of Yaounde I, Yaounde, Cameroun, [email protected] Similar Articles: PRESCRIPTION PATTERN OF ANTI-HYPERTENSIVE DRUGS IN A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL IN KERALA AND ADHERENCE TO JNC-8 GUIDELINE