LEHMANN TYPE II GENERALIZED HALF LOGISTIC DISTRIBUTION: PROPERTIES AND APPLICATION

In this study, a new four parameter distribution called the Lehmann type II generalized half logistic distribution was derived. The statistical properties of the Lehmann type II generalized half logistic distribution were studied. Estimates of the parameters of the new distribution under complete and censored observations would be obtained using the maximum likelihood estimation method. Simulation studies were carried out to assess the consistency of the maximum likelihood estimates. Application of the new distribution to a data showed that it performed better than the type I generalized half logistic distribution Keywords: distribution, censored, estimates, parameters, function, observation, Lehmann type II

Pilot study of new statistical models for prognostic factors in short term survival of oral cancer

Background: Survival times of oral cancer are poorly documented in Nigeria. This is partly due to poor documentation and limited investigations to elicit sufficient prognostic factors. In this study, we applied a new statistical model for survival times of oral cancer patients considering limited prognostic factors. Methods: A total of 29 cases of Oral cancer patients with stage I to IV invasive primary oral cancer treated at the University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria between 2008 and 2015 were used to generate prognostic models. Profiled prognostic factors include age, stage of tumor development, habitus, and treatment modalities. The baseline statistical distributions considered were Exponential, Weibull, Lognormal and Log-logistic distributions. The Chi-Square test was considered for the suitability of the model chosen. A comparison of the model performance was done using the Akaike Information Criterion (AIC). Results: Seventeen (58.6%) of the oral cancer patients were males and 12(41.4%) were females within the age range of 19 and 73 years. Sixteen (55.2%) of the patients were censored while 13(44.8%) were not censored. The estimated median survival time (MST) for the males was 29.50 months while that of the female was 7 months. Four parametric statistical models were tested and all identified tumor stage [cTNM stage (p= 0.000)] and treatment modality (p= 0.000) as more important predictors of survival. The models were then compared, using the Akaike Information Criterion (AIC) to determine the model best fit for the data. Themodel with the lowest AIC and so considered the best was the Weibull Statistical Model (WSM) with AIC= 100.76. Conclusions: This study suggests that the Weibull survival model is the best fit for estimating oral cancer survival times especially where only limited prognostic factors are available. Larger studies are required to validate the findings of this pilot. Keywords: New statistical; short term survival; oral cancer

Expectations and experiences of urban and rural in-school adolescents of Adolescent Reproductive Health Services in Oyo state

ABSTRACT Introduction: Reproductive health information and services are fundamental to health, well-being and opportunities for women and young people, yet throughout the world, women and youths do not have access to quality reproductive health care thereby exposing them to unplanned pregnancy, teen birth, induced abortion as well as increased exposure to sexually transmitted diseases, HIV inclusive. This study is meant to explore the expectation of adolescents of an adolescent reproductive health services as well as to assess the experiences of those who had visited an ARHS at the centers. Methodology: It was a descriptive cross-sectional prospective study, analytic in design using a multistage sampling technique where 452 secondary school pupils in both rural and urban communities were interviewed using a pretested validated questionnaire. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 21. Chi square was used to test for association between both rural and urban adolescents in issues relating to their expectation and experiences, with p value of <0.05. Results: More of the respondents in the urban communities (73,32.4%) have the expectation that Adolescent Reproductive Health Services (ARHS) should be provided in an existing health service with special attention to adolescents while a larger percentage of those who preferred a special adolescent health institution were from the rural communities (122, 54.2%) which was statistically significant with a p value of 0.001. More of respondents from the rural communities also expect that contraception services should be provided in an ARHS center while life skill services are expected by more of the respondents from the urban communities (122, 55.6%). More of the rural community respondents (57,25.3%) expect that fee at the ARHS centers should be provided at a subsidized rate while more of the urban dwellers have the expectation that services provided should be free of charge. For respondents who had been to an ARHS center, more of the urban respondents were attended to by a Medical doctor and a large percentage (34, 94.4%) of those who had visited ARHS center before professed to be satisfied with the services rendered there. Conclusion: Expectations from adolescents from ARHS are very high. However, most of them prefer a free of charge service as well as a service area nearer to residential area. Confidentiality and having a young health professional at the service centers cannot be overemphasized in the provision of quality ARHS. Keywords: expectation, experiences, rural, urban, adolescents, reproductive healt

Awareness and utilization of adolescent reproductive health services among in‑school adolescents in urban and rural communities in Oyo State

Introduction: Adolescents require a range of scientifically accurate sexual and reproductive health information and services. Adolescent reproductive health services (ARHSs) are an integral part of adolescent health and it is pertinent that adolescents know about them to be able to benefit from them. This study was to assess the awareness and utilization of adolescents in Oyo State about ARHSs. Materials and Methods: A descriptive cross‑sectional study carried out among in‑school adolescents where 225 respondents each were selected for the rural and urban groups using a multi‑stage sampling technique. Data were collected using a semi‑structured questionnaire, and analysis was performed with SPSS version 22. Results: A total of 225 rural and 225 urban respondents participated in this study, with a mean age of 14.3 ± 1.93 and 13.9 ± 2.03 for rural and urban respondents, respectively. Few of the respondents (59, 13.1%) were aware of the existence of ARHS, of which, 34 (57.6%) were of the urban respondents and 25 (42.4%) were from the rural respondents. Only 36 (7.8%) of respondents had ever utilized ARHS with 22 (61.1%) from urban communities. The major reason why almost half of 207 (49.6%) of the adolescents had never been to a facility rendering ARHS before was that they did not know where to go, which was higher among the rural respondents. Conclusions: Awareness of ARHSs was lower among rural respondents, leading to poor utilization of such service. It is, therefore, recommended that more youth‑friendly environments should be made available and accessible to adolescents, especially in rural areas (114, 53.3%)

Safety perception and determinants of complementary and alternative medicine usage among surgery out-patients in LAUTECH Teaching hospital, ogbomoso, Nigeria

Objectives: The use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) stemmed from the search of humans for other means of relieving pain and managing diseases which has plagued its existence. CAM use is on the increase among the general population in both the developed and developing nations and also among surgical patients. There is therefore a need to ascertain the perceived adverse effects, the safety perception and the determinants of its use so as to improve the advocacy for adequate regulation. Methods: It was a cross-sectional study carried out among surgical outpatients in a tertiary hospital. One hundred and fifty patients between the ages of 18 and 85 years were recruited. An interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to collect data from each participant. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 22. Results: The lifetime prevalence of CAM use among the respondents was 76 % while the point/current prevalence was 37.3 %. The percentage of current users using CAM for surgical complaints was 30.4 %. Biological based therapy accounted for 110 (72 %) of CAM used and unbranded herbal products was responsible for more than two-third of it. Almost a third of the patients (46, 30.7 %) perceived that CAM is safe while 62 (41.3 %) were not sure of its safety. Only 15 (13.2 %) and 6 (5.3 %) have ever recorded side effects and drug interactions respectively. Older age group, income less than 10,000 Naira, positive safety perception and belief about CAM were identified as determinants of CAM usage. Conclusions: The prevalence of CAM usage among surgical outpatients was quite high and the major determinants of its use are the patient's age, safety perception and their level of income