Prevalence of smear positive pulmonary tuberculosis among inmates and staff of Abakaliki Prisons, Nigeria

Introduction: Pulmonary Tuberculosis (PTB) is one of the major diseases of public health importance especially in prisons where case finding rate has been low. The WHO established five facts of prisons PTB spread which include: Prisons receive TB, Prisons concentrate TB, Prisons disseminate TB, Prisons make TB worse, and Prisons export TB. Poor TB case finding result in annual TB transmission risks of 90%. This study determined the prevalence of pulmonary tuberculosis among inmates and staff of Nigerian Prisons, AbakalikiMethods: A prison-based cross-sectional descriptive study was undertaken among 307 inmates and staff selected using a systematic sampling technique. Informed consent was obtained from the staff and inmates. The respondents were interviewed using a pre-tested interviewer administered structured questionnaire. GeneXpert test was done for respondents with cough of two weeks or more. Data analysis was done using SPSS statistical software version 22. Chi squared test was used for bivariate analysis and level of significance was set at a p-value of less than 0.05. Results were treated with strict confidentiality.Results: The mean age of inmates was 34.96±5.7 years while staff was 38.43±3.5 years. Majority had secondary education. GeneXpert test result revealed 2.0% prevalence of PTB among suspected inmates, 1.1% among all inmates and 2.8% among staff. Prevalence of TB was associated with age group of both inmates and staff and duration of stay of inmates only.Conclusion: This study found moderate prevalence of tuberculosis among inmates and prison staff in Abakaliki prison. Although this prevalenceis moderate, it is imperative that periodic screening of old inmates and newly introduced ones be practiced so as to minimize the burden of tuberculosis among prisoners. Implementation of current national or international cell occupancy recommendations would reduce TB transmission by 50% and 94% respectively especially now that there is increase in the incidence of MDR-TB.Keywords: prevalence, PTB, prison, inmates and staf

Reducing the environmental impact of surgery on a global scale: systematic review and co-prioritization with healthcare workers in 132 countries

Background Healthcare cannot achieve net-zero carbon without addressing operating theatres. The aim of this study was to prioritize feasible interventions to reduce the environmental impact of operating theatres. Methods This study adopted a four-phase Delphi consensus co-prioritization methodology. In phase 1, a systematic review of published interventions and global consultation of perioperative healthcare professionals were used to longlist interventions. In phase 2, iterative thematic analysis consolidated comparable interventions into a shortlist. In phase 3, the shortlist was co-prioritized based on patient and clinician views on acceptability, feasibility, and safety. In phase 4, ranked lists of interventions were presented by their relevance to high-income countries and low–middle-income countries. Results In phase 1, 43 interventions were identified, which had low uptake in practice according to 3042 professionals globally. In phase 2, a shortlist of 15 intervention domains was generated. In phase 3, interventions were deemed acceptable for more than 90 per cent of patients except for reducing general anaesthesia (84 per cent) and re-sterilization of ‘single-use’ consumables (86 per cent). In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for high-income countries were: introducing recycling; reducing use of anaesthetic gases; and appropriate clinical waste processing. In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for low–middle-income countries were: introducing reusable surgical devices; reducing use of consumables; and reducing the use of general anaesthesia. Conclusion This is a step toward environmentally sustainable operating environments with actionable interventions applicable to both high– and low–middle–income countries

Student Librarian Work Study Programmes in Academic Libraries: An Appraisal

This study explores whether the student work study programme of Hezekiah Oluwasanmi Library of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife Nigeria programme has lived up to the purpose of its establishment. Existing circulation statistical records and interview were used to elicit information. The results of the appraisal reveal that there are challenges and prospects; and that the programme has complemented staff shortages, assisted indigent students, and contributed to academic excellence of the participating students. It is therefore recommended that more funds should be allocated to the programme and more students should be employed

Assessment of the impact of abattoir effluent on the quality of groundwater in a residential area of Omu-Aran, Nigeria

Background: Water pollution from abattoir efuents may create substantial environmental and public health hazards. Available literature is scanty on the quality of groundwater located near abattoirs in tropical developing countries like Nigeria. This study, therefore, accessed the impact of abattoir activities on the quality of groundwater in Omu-Aran Nigeria. Methods: A total of eighteen water samples were taken from fve privately own wells and one control well located at varying distances and elevations to the abattoir. The physicochemical characteristics of the water were determined using the standard methods. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and ANOVA. Results: The mean values of parameters in the water samples collected from the studied wells ranged from 5.80±0.20 to 7.23±0.55 mg/L, 12.0±1.0 to 26.0±2.0 mg/L, 0.06±0.02 to 0.16±0.02 mg/L and 208.0±24.25 to 254.67±12.22 cfu/mL for dissolved oxygen, biological oxygen demand, lead and total coliforms, respectively. There was a signifcant diference in the quality of water from the studied and control wells in the parameters except that of total coliform. The quality of the groundwater improved with increasing distance from the abattoir. Conclusions: Findings revealed that abattoirs have the potential to impact the quality of groundwater. Therefore, careful consideration is required when choosing a location for siting new abattoirs. For existing ones, particularly those close to residential areas, efective pollution control measures should be put in place to protect groundwater. Keywords: Ground water quality, Water pollution, Omu-Aran and abattoir efuent