To start and quit smoking cigarettes: an evaluation of students in a Nigerian city

Introduction. Several factors have been shown to influence ciga- rette smoking and are important in creating measures for tobacco control. The aim of this study is to identify the factors responsible for making decisions to start or stop cigarette smoking among students. Methods. This was a cross-sectional study which sampled 280 youths in tertiary institutions using multi-stage sampling tech- nique. The data was collected using self- administered question- naire that had been pretested and validated. Data analysis was done using SPSS version 16. Frequency tables and cross-tabu- lations were generated with a 95% confidence interval and pre- determined p-value at less than 0.05. Results. All the current smokers (100%) were males, most (73.2%) were within 21 to 25 years of age and 87.8% of them had a relative or friend who smoked. Some (29%) of the students who currently smoked were willing to quit smoking while 73.2% of them had ever attempted to quit smoking. Students who smoked to relieve stress were willing to stop smoking (100.0%), while 40% of those who smoked for pleasure/relaxation were willing to stop smoking. Students who had received lectures on smoking were significantly willing to quit (100.0%) compared with those who had not received such lectures (0.0%) (p=0.000). Discussion. Understanding the role of the factors associated with smoking initiating and cessation is very crucial in plan- ning appropriate intervention for the control of cigarette smok- ing among the youths and there is need for more youth oriented health education directed towards a proper attitude to tobacco control

Knowledge and prevalence of risk factors for arterial hypertension and blood pressure pattern among bankers and traffic wardens in Ilorin, Nigeria

Background: High job strain, mental stress, sedentary lifestyle, increase in BMI are among the factors associated with significantly higher incidence of hypertension. The job of bank employees is both sedentary in nature and accompanies high mental stress. The aim of this study is to assess the level of knowledge of risk factors among respondents and to compare the blood pressure pattern of bankers and traffic wardens.Methodology: The study design is a descriptive cross-sectional conducted among bankers and traffic wardens in Ilorin to determine the pattern and knowledge of blood pressure. Self-administered questionnaires, weighing scale (Omron Digital scale), stadiometer and sphygmomanometer were used as the research instruments. Simple random sampling was used to select respondents involved in the study.Results: The prevalence of hypertension in this study was 34.4% in bankers and 22.2% in traffic wardens. The risk factors the bankers commonly had knowledge of are alcohol, obesity, high salt intake, certain drugs, stress, emotional problems and family history while the traffic wardens commonly had knowledge of all these in addition to cigarette smoking. Also, more bankers (32.2%) than traffic wardens (13.3%) were smoking cigarette and more of these cigarette smokers that are bankers (17.8%) had elevated blood pressure compared to the traffic wardens (3.3%).Conclusion: Workers in the banking industry as well as traffic wardens should be better educated about the risk factors of hypertension and bankers should be encouraged to create time for exercise.Key words: Hypertension, risk factors, bankers, traffic warden

Cigarette Smoking Practices and Its Determinants Among University Students in Southwest, Nigeria

Background: Tobacco smoking is one of the largest causes of preventable morbidity and mortality globally, and is responsible for many causes of premature deaths. This study seeks to find out cigarette-smoking practices among University Students in Ekiti State, Nigeria and identify its determinants. Methodology: This study was a descriptive cross-sectional study of young adults in tertiary institutions. The sample size was 300 while multi stage sampling technique was adopted to select the students that were interviewed. The pre-tested questionnaire was semi structured and it was self administered. Data analysis was done using Epi-Info version 3.4.1. Frequency tables and cross-tabulations were generated with a statistical significance p-value pre-determined at less than 0.05. Results: The prevalence of students that ever smoked was 66 (22.0%) while those that currently smoke are 41 (13.7%). Of the students that smoked, largest proportion (53.0%) smoked for pleasure. The mean age at onset of smoking was 15.14 + 4.34 while the mean number of sticks smoked per day was 4.46 + 4.59. Introduction to smoking was mainly by friends at home (48.6%), colleagues in school (33.3%) and siblings (18.1%) The factors that were positively associated with smoking habits were male sex, alcohol consumption, having a friend/relative that smokes, having no prior education on the dangers of smoking. They were all statistically significant. Conclusion: Peer influence is a very important source of cigarette smoking among the youths. Previous education on dangers of smoking and the perception that smoking is risky to health significantly reduced the prevalence of smoking. It is therefore recommended that health education on the risks associated with smoking be introduced to young adults early

Detecting Nosocomial Intrinsic Infections through Relating Bacterial Pathogens of Incision

Surgical procedures often lead to both intrinsic and extrinsic infections. In order to improve on recovery of patients, investigations were carried out on samples collected from patients during and after surgery. Laboratory analysis was performed on wound swabs from incision, colon segments, scrapes, tissues, pus and catheter specimen urine. The samples were cultured on MacConkey and Blood agar and incubated aerobically at 370C for 16-24 hours. Thereafter, isolates were identified using standard microbiological methods. Results showed that isolates from wound were also found on endogenous indicators of surgery. Klebsiella species from incision was 15 (18.75%) while those from colon segment was 30(37.6%), scrapes 8(16%) and pus 3(7.5%). Acinetobacter species found on incision was 15(7.5%) and pus 7(2.3%). Pseudomonas species was distributed on incision 5(2.5%), colon segment 4(5%), tissue 3(1.6%), scrapes 5(10%) and pus was 5(12.5%). Staphylococcus aureus which was isolated from incision was 2(1%), while scrapes and pus were 5(10%) and 7(17.5%) respectively. Catheter associated urinary tract infections yielded significant bacteriuria (64.7%), almost twice the rate of non-significant bacteriuria (35.3%); indicating the need to remove all catheters as soon as possible. Antibiogram of isolates of Klebsiella pneumoniae with resistance pattern: ApGnNaNt, Escherichia coli (ApCtNaTtCm) and S. aureus (ApChCxErPn) with plasmid sizes in the range (30.2-52.51Kb) were common to both indicators and wound, showing that the pathogens were the same clusters. This study demonstrated surgical procedures as precursory to intrinsic infections and that bacterial pathogens found on wounds and endogenous indicators of surgery are links to intrinsic infection. The study therefore emphasizes the need to culture wounds promptly to effect speedy recovery of patients who have undergone surgery. Key Words: Bacterial pathogens, Endogenous indicators, NosocomiaI infection, Surger

Knowledge, attitudes and practice of breast cancer screening among female health workers in a Nigerian urban city

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Late presentation has been observed as the hallmark of breast cancer in Nigerian women and an earlier onset has been reported in this population. This study was designed to assess the awareness of female health workers about risk factors and screening methods for early detection of breast cancer.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out among female health workers in the two major government health institutions in Benin City, Edo State capital in Nigeria.</p> <p>Data analysis was by SPSS version 10 and test of significance was done with differences considered significant at p < 0.05.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Three hundred and ninety-three (393) female health workers out of five hundred and five eligible subjects completed and returned the questionnaires, giving a response rate of 77.8%. One hundred and two (26%) were Doctors, two hundred and fifty-four (64.6%) Nurses, and thirty-seven (9.4%) were Radiographers, Laboratory Scientists and Pharmacists. A high proportion of our respondents had very poor knowledge about risk factors for breast cancer (55%). The awareness of mammography as a diagnostic method was very high (80.7%), but an extremely low knowledge of mammography as a screening method was found. Mammography practice of only 3.1% was found among those above 40 years of age who qualify for routine annual screening. Relatively low knowledge (45.5%) about Breast Self Examination (BSE) as a screening method was found.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>These female health workers who are expected to act as role models and educate the public had poor knowledge of risk factors for breast cancer and practice of breast cancer screening. There is very urgent need for regular update courses for health workers concerning breast cancer education including screening methods.</p

Early out come of day surgery for inguinal hernia in Sub-urban general Hospital in Lagos, Nigeria

No Abstract.Nigerian Medical Journal Vol. 46 (2) 2005: pp. 33-3

Intravesical Migration of a Failed and Forgotten Intrauterine Contraceptive Device after 20 years of Insertion - A case report

Intrauterine contraceptive device (IUCD) is a commonly utilized reversible contraceptive technique especially in the developing world. Though effective, it is not immune to complications. Migration of the device is a rare but serious complication which may be symptomatic or asymptomatic. We report a case of a 45yr old woman who had IUCD inserted 20 years earlier and had forgotten about it since she subsequently had three full term pregnancies leading to successful vaginal deliveries. The forgotten IUCD was discovered incidentally during evaluation of the woman for haematuria as it had migrated to the wall of the bladder. The case is reported to increase index of suspicion as detailed clinical history is important in evaluating cases of haematuria.Keywords: IUCD, intravesical migration, haematuria, LUT

Haemosuccus pancreaticus as a rare initial manifestation of pancreatic carcinoma

No Abstract

Haematology, serum biochemistry and organ weight changes of wistar rats fed processed dehulled jack bean (Canavalia ensiformis)

A total of fifty Wistar albino rats weighing 50-60g were randomly allocated to five dietary treatments in a completely randomized design to investigate the haematology, serum biochemistry and organ weight changes on diets containing processed dehulled jack bean. Four diets containing 10% crude protein were formulated to contain casein (T1)-control diet, dehulled jack bean soaked in filtrate obtained from 24hr water-steeped whole maize grains (T2), dehulled jack bean soaked in lye solution (T3), dehulled jack bean boiled for 15 minutes (T4) while a protein free diet served as a negative control (T5). The feeding trial lasted for 28 days after which four rats per treatments were sampled to evaluate haematological and serum biochemical indices while three rats per treatment were sacrificed by cervical decapitation and the heart, liver, kidneys and the lungs removed and weighed separately. Haemoglobin (Hb), white blood cells (WBC), eosinophil and Mean Corpuscular Haemoglobin Concentration (MCHC) were not affected by dietary treatments while the packed cell volume, red blood cells, lymphocytes, neutrophils, monocytes, Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV) and Mean Corpuscular Haemoglobin (MCH) were significantly affected (P&lt;0.05) by dietary treatments. Rats on T4 had the highest PCV (47.00%), and neutrophil (25.67%) values, while rat on control had the highest value of RBC 5.95 (×106/mm3). Rats on T2 had the highest lymphocyte (80.33%) and monocyte (3.50%) values, while the lowest value was for rats T4 (73.25%) and T3 (2.00%). Rats on T3 had the highest MCV (1.57fl) and MCH (0.40pg) values the total protein and alkaline phosphatise (ALP) were similar (P&gt;0.05) for all group, while the albumin, globulin, cholesterol, Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) were influence by dietary treatments (P&lt;0.05). Albumin values ranges from 5.83g/dl to 7.68g/dl with rats on T4 having the highest albumin value (7.68g/dl). Globulin value for rats on T4 is significantly (P&lt;0.05) different from rats on T1, T2, T3, and T5 with rats on T3 having the highest value (3.42). Rats on T1 had the highest Cholesterol (55.37mg/dl) and ALT (17.49IU/L) value, while Rats on T2 had the highest AST (16.13IU/L) value. Kidney weights were similar for all group (P&gt;0.05) while the liver, lungs and heart relative weights were significantly affected (P&lt; 0.05) by dietary treatments. Rats on control diet had the lowest relative weight for liver (3.74), lungs (1.03), kidney (0.92) and heart (0.49). Rats on T3 and T5 had the highest value for heart weight (0.75) and liver weight (5.67)while rats on T4 had the highest value for lungs (1.59).Rats fed dehulled jack bean seed soaked in ogi liquor showed slight improvement on haematological, serum profile and organ weight changes over those fed lye soaked jack bean and boiled for 15minutes. However, all the processing methods were ineffective when compared to the performance of rat fed casein based diets.Keywords: Jack bean, rats, haematology, blood serum, carcass