Case Report: Uterine Rupture Resulting From Domestic Violence

No Abstract Ebonyi Medical Journal Vol. 6 (1) 2007 pp. 57-5

HIV/AIDS: Awareness and Practice Among Traditional Birth Attendants in Rural Nigeria

Ebonyi State has an HIV prevalence rate of 11.1%. The state has 2.1 million inhabitants, who are mainly rural dwellers where traditional birth attendants play pivotal role in healthcare delivery. This study assesses the awareness of HIV infection and its route of transmission among the traditional birth attendants in Ebonyi State. A hundred and nine traditional birth attendants (TBAs) randomly selected were interviewed using a semi-structured questionnaire in a cross sectional study that spanned 11 months. Most respondents (88.9%) had no formal education. Only 65.1% have heard of HIV and none had practices directed towards HIV prevention. Aseptic/sterilization procedures were minimal. The level of awareness of the HIV pandemic was low among TBAs. Their practices were sub standard and may encourage the spread of HIV/AIDS among their clients. A strategy considering the unique characteristics and needs of the TBAs is advocated to integrate them into the National Prevention of mother-to-child-transmission (PMTCT) programmes. Keywords: awareness, aseptic, delivery, infection, transmission.The Nigerian Medical Practitioner Vol. 51 (1&2) 2007: pp. 6-1

Knowledge, attitude and practice of breast self examination among nurses in Ebonyi State University Teaching Hospital Abakaliki.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer that afflicts women worldwide. Early detection allows for interventions that will optimize the life of affected individuals. This study determines knowledge, attitude and practice of selfbreast examination among nurses in a tertiary health institution in Nigeria. It was a questionnaire based cross- sectional study that spanned 2 months (September-October 2007). Respondents were randomly recruited upon verbal consent. Ninety-eight respondents were got. The age range of the nurses was 20- 55 years, 54(55.1%) of them were nulliparous, 28 (28.6%) multiparous. Ninetysix (98.0%) of them have heard of breast cancer, mainly (68.4%) heard of breast cancer from the hospital. 69(70.4%) correctly knew that breast cancer starts as a small lump, and 58 (59.2%) knew that early detection ensure management and better outcome. 91 (92.9%) have heard of Breast self examination, mainly (64.3%) through seminars. Only 28 (28.6%) practiced SBE monthly, 77 (87.0%) did not adopt the correct steps. There is an urgent need for continuing education and in service training to improve the knowledge and practice of BSE among nurses because of their perceived role in awareness creation among the local population. Keywords: Breast, examination, nurses, monthly,prevention. Ebonyi Medical Journal Vol. 6 (1) 2007 pp. 44-4

Cervical Cancer Screening: Assessment of Perception and Utilization of Services among Health Workers in Low Resource Setting

Background. Cervical cancer is a preventable disease and the most common cancer among women in Nigeria. Objectives. To appraise the perception and utilization of cervical cancer screening services among female nurses in Federal Teaching hospital, Abakaliki. Materials and Methods. A cross-sectional study was done using semi-structured questionnaires on 408 consenting female nurses. Data was represented using simple percentages, charts, and Chi-square. Results. Of the 408 questionnaires shared, 388 were correctly and completely filled and analyzed. The respondents in this study showed good knowledge of cervical cancer as all (388) were aware that cervical cancer is a preventable disease of public health concern. Majority of them, 179 (46.1%) were between 21 and 30 years of age. The most common symptom of cervical cancer identified was postcoital bleeding (57%). Nursing training was the most common (73.5%) source of cervical cancer information. Utilization of cervical cancer screening was poor in this study as only 20.6% of the respondents had ever undergone screening. The most common reason for nonscreening was that they have not thought of it (28.4%). Conclusion. Despite the high level of awareness of cervical cancer screening, utilization remains low. There is, therefore, the need for cervical cancer education for the nurses to help improve utilization