Habitual health enhancing physical activity is related to lower levels of body adiposity and blood pressure among community dwelling adults in Maiduguri, Nigeria

Community-based promotion of physical activity for health and primary prevention of chronic non-communicable diseases are integral components of physiotherapy practice. This study examined the relationship between habitual health enhancing physical activity and cardiometabolic risk factors among community dwelling adults in Maiduguri, Nigeria. Methodology: A cross-sectional survey of 280 male and female adults (age=20–76 years) randomly selected from the State Low Cost Housing Estate in Maiduguri. Participants' physical activity was measured using the international physical activity questionnaire-short form. Health enhancing physical activity was defined as ≥ 150 minutes/week of moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA). Blood pressure, body weight, height, and waist and hip circumferences were measured following standardized procedures. Results: Most of the participants (85%) engaged in sufficient health enhancing MVPA. The prevalence of generalized obesity (26.1%) and overweight (36.2%), central obesity (68.6%), and hypertension (26.4%) was relatively high. Overall, there were significant negative associations between MVPA and BMI (â = -0.163, P= 0.005), and waist-to-hip ratio (â= -0.138, P= 0.023). Both BMI and waist-to-hip ratio 2 accounted for about 5% (R =0.049) of the variance in MVPA. In gender specific analysis, only among women was MVPA significantly associated with lower BMI (â= -0.189, P= 0.046), and decreased systolic blood pressure (â= -0.241, P= 0.010) and diastolic blood pressure (â= -0.212, P= 0.026). Conclusions: Higher health enhancing MVPA was associated with lower levels of obesity and blood pressure among community dwelling adults (especially women). This evidence can be used to inform effective community physiotherapy practice and health promotion in Maiduguri

The Prevalence of Helminth Eggs and Protozoan Oocysts on Commonly Consumed Vegetables in Abuja, Nigeria

The presence of helminths eggs on vegetables is of public health significance, considering the fact that communities are at risk of infection. Thus, the need to determine the prevalence of intestinal parasites in leafy vegetables sold in markets in Abuja, Nigeria. A total of 150 leafy vegetable samples including cabbage (Brassica oleracea), green leaves (Amaratus hybridus), lettuce (Lectuca sativa), pumpkin leaves (Telfaria accidentalis) and water leaves (Talinum triangularia) were purchased from five randomly selected vegetable markets from each of the six area councils which included, Abaji, Abuja Municipal, Bwari, Gwagwalada, Kuje, and Kwali area councils. The samples were screened for helminth eggs and protozoan cysts using standard methods. Out of the 150 samples collected from all the area councils, 96 (64 %) were positive for geohelminths eggs and protozoan oocyst. The helminth eggs found on the samples included; Ascaris spp (28.57 %), Trichostrongylus spp (17.14 %), Toxocara spp (11.43 %), Stronglyoide spp 11.43 %, Trichuris (8.57 %), Schistosoma spp (8.57 %), Taenia spp (8.57 %) and Strongylus spp 5.72 %. Among the vegetables screened, lettuce had the highest multiple parasite contamination, while green leaves had the lowest. Water leaves were highly contaminated and contributed (6.5±3.55) (27.08 %) of the parasitic contamination followed by pumpkin (5.25±2.75) (21.88 %), lettuce (4.5±1.75) (18.75 %), green leaves (4.25±2.1) 17.71 %, and cabbage (3.5±1.75) (14.58 %). Among the area councils, Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) had the highest contamination with both helminth eggs and protozoan cysts (23.96%). The high level of leafy vegetables contamination with parasitic eggs was significant, hence, the inhabitants of Abuja city should be informed andeducated with regard to food safety.Keywords: Helminths, Geohelminths, Vegetables, Contamination,  Malnutrition, Public, Health

Physiotherapy students’ perception of their teachers’ clinical teaching attributes

Objective. Students’ perspectives on clinical teaching attributes can contribute to knowledge on teaching and learning in clinical education. The objective of the study was to report on Nigerian physiotherapy students’ perceptions of the clinical teaching skills of their teachers.Design and setting. A cross-sectional survey conducted in five physiotherapy training institutions in Nigeria.Subject. Physiotherapy students (N=203) in the clinical phase of their training participated in the study.Outcome measure. The validated 25-item McGill Clinical Teacher Evaluation (CTE) tool was used to rate the students’ perceptions of the attributes of their clinical teachers.Results. Overall the students rated their teachers high on the CTE scale; women rated their teachers higher than their male counterparts. Clinical teachers who are academicians and /or had doctoral degrees were rated higher than clinicians and /or those with bachelor degrees only. Students from two long established programmes not only rated their teachers higher, but were also more satisfied and positively challenged during clinical rotations than those from relatively new programmes.Conclusions. This study found that overall Nigerian physiotherapy students rated the teaching attributes of their clinical teachers highly. The nature of the work appointment (academic or clinical) of their teachers, as well as highest level of academic qualification achieved, influenced student ratings of their teachers. Students found the clinical rotations offered by well-established programmes more challenging and satisfying.AJHPE 2012;4(1):4-9. DOI:10.7196/AJHPE.13

The pattern of blood donation and transfusion transmissible infections in the National Blood Transfusion Service in north central Nigeria

Background: Blood for transfusion in Nigeria is largely collected from family members or commercial blood donors who would rather conceal information that could disqualify them from blood donation. The blood service is expected to transform blood sources to voluntary, guided by altruism and self-risk assessment and deferral. We determined the of pattern of blood donors in North Central Nigeria and the crude prevalence of transfusion transmissible infections among blood donor types.Methods: This retrospective study was carried out at the North Central Zonal Centre of the National Blood Transfusion Service in Jos. Records of blood donors from January 2009 to December 2013 were studied for type of donation and the pathogenic blood borne viruses.Results: The age distribution of blood donors showed increasing successful recruitment of young people into the donor pool with 36.2% blood collection from those aged 18-25 and 34.8% from 26-35 years. 21,330 (70.5%) were males. 49.0%, 33.5%, 3.5%, (14.0%) and = 1% blood donors were firsttime voluntary, regular voluntary, lapsed voluntary, family replacement and autologous blood donors respectively. 5612 (18.5%) donors, were reactive to transfusion transmissible infections with a lower prevalence of 9.1% among regular blood donors.Conclusion: We conclude that the National Blood Transfusion Service has developed a growing voluntary blood donor base, mainly young adults in our region. Increasing the retention rate of our donors could reduce transfusion transmissible infections.Keywords: National Blood Transfusion Service, Blood Donors, Transfusion Transmissible Infection

An immunohistochemical study of the extracellular matrix of the tarsal plate in the upper eyelid in human beings

The superior tarsus is a plate of tissue that stiffens the upper eyelid, gives it support and determines its form. The purpose of the present study was to relate the composition of its extracellular matrix to its function and to report regional differences that may influence the activity of its Meibomian glands. Fourteen methanol-fixed specimens were cryosectioned for immunohistochemistry and labelled with a panel of monoclonal antibodies against a wide range of collagens, glycosaminoglycans and proteoglycans. Labelling was detected with avidin–biotin–peroxidase. A further six specimens were formalin-fixed for routine histology. The tarsal plate immunolabelled strongly for types I, III and VI collagen and for aggrecan, versican, tenascin, cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP) together with a variety of glycosaminoglycans (notably chondroitin 6 sulphate). A region of strong labelling for aggrecan, dermatan sulphate and chondroitin 6 sulphate immediately surrounded the Meibomian glands. The site of labelling corresponded to a layer of acellular and amorphous matrix seen histologically that we have termed the ‘territorial matrix’. The results suggested that the tarsal plate is a specialized connective tissue that is neither purely fibrous nor cartilaginous, yet has an aggrecan content that probably contributes to its stiffness. Its unique character highlights the challenge in choosing an ideal mechanical substitute. As patients with rheumatoid arthritis often have problems relating to tear film deficiency, the ability of aggrecan or COMP to act as autoantigens may be significant. An immune reaction directed against these molecules could alter tarsal gland function by interfering with the interaction between the glands and their territorial matrix