Validation of Wound-QoL Questionnaire among Patients with Acute Wounds in Enugu, South-east Nigeria

Globally, health related quality of life (HRQoL) has become an essential wound outcome measure in evaluating holistic care, clinical practice and research. In Nigeria, there is a dearth of validated studies on standardised instruments to assess quality-of-life in patients with acute wounds. This study validated the Wound-QoL questionnaire in Nigeria. It was a single-blinded randomized controlled study, carried out amongst 42 participants using simple blocked randomization to assign patients to different groups (Biodress, honey and povidone-iodine). Wound-QoL was used for data collection with due ethical consideration and data analysis. The median age of the participants was 32.5 years, with a slight male preponderance (52.4%). The global score was above 0.7 at both times tested with the subscale scores ranging from 0.420 to 0.754. The mean values for both Wound-QoL global scores (T0: 0.83, T1: 0.79) and two subscale scores (body: T0: 1.28, T1: 1.17, everyday life: T0: 0.61, T1: 0.58) decreased over time while the psyche subscale remained unchanged (T0: 0.53, T1: 0.53). On item selectivity, the global score was significantly correlated to each of the items and the subscales. This result showed that acute wounds affect patients’ quality of life. It also indicates that the Wound-QoL questionnaire has positive psychometric properties. The Wound-QoL is a valid and reliable tool in assessing quality of life of people with acute wounds in Nigeria. A large-scale study in different regions of the country is recommended bearing in mind the cultural differences

Barriers to Cervical Cancer Screening Uptake among Women of an urban community in south-Eastern Nigeria

Objective: This survey examined the barriers to cervical cancer screening uptake by adult women in Nnewi, a town located in southeast Nigeria. Methods: In this descriptive survey, data were collected data from 379women aged between 21 and 65 years using the adapted version of the Health Belief Model Scale for Cervical Cancer and Pap smear test questionnaire. Results: The major perceived barriers to the practice of cervical cancer screening were fear of the result (2.32±1.05), lack of knowledge of what pap smear is (2.32±0.90), and lack of information about when and where pap smear could be done (2.25±1.07). The logistic regression model showed that the following perceived barriers predicted uptake of cervical cancer screening (P< 0.05): time constraint (P = 0.001, OR= 3.368, CI= 1.455, 4.11); attitude of healthcare workers (P = 0.008, OR= 6.642; CI= 2.764, 18.196); knowledge of test frequency (P = 0.005, OR= 1.443; CI 0.946, 3.811); fear of result(P = 0.001, OR= 3.660, CI=0.679, 4.061); lack of information on when and where pap smear could be obtained (P = 0.010; OR= 6.732; CI= 2.286, 10.490); distance from test centre (P = 0.003; OR= 1.387; CI=0.126, 2.193); not knowing what it is for (P = 0.024, OR10.895, CI = 2.938, 14.401)

HIV/AIDS Knowledge and Risk-Taking Behaviours among Youths at a University in Enugu, Nigeria

 A national sentinel survey of 2006 shows that Enugu State in south-eastern Nigeria is the worst hit by HIV infections. Despite numerous control strategies having been implemented, the state was still reported by another national HIV sentinel survey in 2010 as the worst hit by HIV/AIDS within the zone, and that youths are the most affected. The researchers conducted a cross-sectional descriptive survey to assess the HIV/AIDS knowledge and risk-taking behaviours of youths at a federal university in Enugu, south-eastern Nigeria. They adopted a multistage sampling method to recruit 460 unmarried, consenting students between 15 and 30 years of age, from three faculties of the university. Almost 90 per cent of the university youths had a sound knowledge of key concepts related to HIV/AIDS; despite this, a subset (7.39%) still engaged in risk-taking behaviours. The major risky behaviours identified include having premarital sex, having multiple sexual partners, the sharing of shaving or razor blades, the use of public clippers and tribal marking. Although an analysis of variance demonstrated no significant relationship (t = −0.036) between university youths’ knowledge of HIV/AIDS and their related risk-taking behaviour, risky behaviours were found to be more (13%) among respondents who had insufficient or incorrect knowledge of the disease. An analysis of covariance, however, showed that gender and socio-economic backgrounds were not determinants of the HIV/AIDS risk-taking behaviours of these youths. Therefore, factors such as attitude or culture are areas that should be focused on, and should then, along with educational awareness campaigns, help to reduce the spread and prevalence of the disease

Health-related Quality of Life (HRQOL) of Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and People without Diabetes at a Tertiary Hospital in Port-Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria

Background: Health-related quality of life (HRQOL), a patient-sensitive outcome globally, has become the clinician’s primary goal of care. Evidence suggests that diabetes mellitus (DM) and its treatment/care impair patients’ HRQOL, which varies depending on the patient population/factors. Diabetics’ HRQOL in South-South Nigeria is largely unknown. Objectives: This study assessed and compared the HRQOL of patients with type 2 diabetes attending the outpatient diabetic clinic at a tertiary hospital in Port-Harcourt, Rivers State, South-South Nigeria with age-/gender-matched nondiabetics living within the same environment. Materials and Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional comparative study recruited 200 respondents, respectively those with type 2 diabetes (cases) and nondiabetics (controls). Data were collected by using the World Health Organization Quality of Life–BREF (WHOQOL-BREF) questionnaire and analyzed by using descriptive and inferential statistics at P≤ 0.05 level of significance. Results: The two groups (200 each) had no significant differences (P = 0.35 - P = 0.98) in terms of their demographic variables. The diabetic group's mean scores were significantly (P = 0.00) lower than that of the non-diabetics in terms of WHOQOL-BREF overall, health satisfaction, physical, psychological, and social domains. Diabetics with tertiary education (58%) had a significantly higher mean score (P = 0.012) in terms of overall WHOQOL-BREF than those with secondary and primary education (42%). Ninety-two patients (46%) with diabetes had comorbidities that increased significantly with age (P = 0.00) and expressed less satisfaction with their health (P = 0.04). Conclusion: Patients with diabetes had lower HRQOL scores than nondiabetics, implying the negative impact of diabetes and its treatment/care on their life. Diabetics’ HRQOL should be routinely evaluated and enhanced by empowering diabetic self-care activities that aid diabetes control and retard complications

Cancer Patients’ Perceived Need for Information and Education on Sexuality Challenges in a Regional Oncology Center in South-Eastern Nigeria

Background: Cancer patients in low and middle-income countries (LMIC) experience sexuality concerns most often un-disclosed by patients and unaddressed by oncologists. This study investigated adult cancer patients’ need for information and education on perceived sexuality challenges in Nigeria.Materials and Methods: This descriptive, cross-sectional study enlisted 298 adult cancer survivors. A pre-tested researcher-developed questionnaire was used for data collection and analysis done with IBM SPSS, version 19.0 using descriptive and inferential statistics (at p&lt;0.05).Results: Findings showed that only 5.4% have tried discussing sexuality concerns with caregivers, (282=94.6%) had never even when the majority felt anxious about the sickness (3.66±1.12) and depressed about the loss of a body part (3.13±1.41); females had difficulties performing roles as mothers/wives (3.45±1.47), men reported having difficulties performing roles as fathers/husbands (3.53±1.52). The majority considered discussions on sexuality as important (4.17±1.36) and desired to a very high extent discussion/information on the impact of cancer and cancer treatment on sexuality and sexual life/behaviour (4.36±0.88) with nurses (67.1%) than doctors.Conclusion: Cancer patients need information on cancer and sexuality. Health care providers should include such discussions during patient assessment and treatment. Sexuality discuss, although appreciated is a sensitive issue that requires skills and ongoing training for cancer care professionals

Exclusive Breastfeeding Knowledge, Intention to Practice and Predictors among Primiparous Women in Enugu South-East, Nigeria

Breastfeeding is considered as the most complete nutritional source for infants because breast milk contains the essential carbohydrates, fats, proteins, and immunological factors needed for infants to thrive and resist infection in the formative first year of life. Knowledge of exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) among women is essential when promoting optimal breastfeeding practices. This cross-sectional descriptive survey assessed knowledge and intention to practice EBF and its associated factors during pregnancy among primiparous women in selected communities in Enugu State, Nigeria. A total population study that applied inclusion criteria was used to recruit 201 primiparous mothers attending their third trimester antenatal care from selected health facilities in rural and urban communities in Enugu State. A researcher-developed questionnaire was used to collect data on participants’ knowledge and intention to practice EBF. Descriptive statistics of frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation were used to summarize categorical and continuous variables while Chi-square and Wald statistic tests predicted demographic data associated with knowledge status and intention to practice EBF of the participants. More than half (58.7%) of primiparous mothers had inadequate knowledge of EBF and only 62.7% had intention to exclusively breastfeed for 4–6 months. The Chi-square test result showed significant difference in the participants’ place of residence (p = 0.024), EBF knowledge sources (p = 0.001), and EBF knowledge. The Wald statistic in Logistic regression model indicated the coefficient of age (p = 0.026), educational attainment (p = 0.046), EBF knowledge (p = 0.016), and sources of information about EBF (p = 0.027) to be significant predictors of good intention to practise EBF. Poor EBF knowledge and intention to practice in this population may be improved by combining facility-based and in-house methods of breastfeeding counseling, education, and support especially to intending and expectant mothers. Further studies are needed to be done using the multiparous women as well as assessing the effects of in-house EBF supportive-educative intervention to improve breastfeeding outcomes