Knowledge and practice of smoking cessation services among health care workers in Abuja, Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria

Cigarette smoking cost the global economy billions of dollars and results in the death of millions of people yearly. Despite efforts at national, regional and global levels to control cigarette smoking, there is still much yet to be achieved. Brief intervention by health care workers to their smoking patients is one strategy that could be conducted anywhere, if the health care workers are trained and positively disposed towards smoking cessation. Thus, this study was designed to assess the knowledge, attitude and delivery of smoking cessation services among health care workers in Abuja.A cross sectional descriptive study design was used. Questionnaire was used to collect required information. Stata statistical software version 11 was used to describe the data and determine associations between knowledge, perception, delivery of smoking cessation services and sociodemographic characteristics using chi-square test.Only 5% of respondents ever received training on tobacco control. Awareness of interventions that enhance smoking cessation was: telephone quit lines (11%), pharmacotherapy (30.5%), behaviour therapy (34.2%) and brief intervention (51%). Only 4.3% of the respondents were not willing to support clients with tobacco cessation services. Being a physician and male were associated with higher knowledge of smoking cessation among the respondents (p < 0.05).In conclusion, there was poor perception and low capacity toprovide smoking cessation services among the respondents. There is need to improve the perception and capacity of health care workers to provide smoking cessation services.Keywords: Cigarette Smoking; Health care workers; knowledge; perception; attitude; smoking cessation; Abuja; Nigeri

Hata-Okumura Model Computer Analysis for Path Loss Determination at 900MHz for Maiduguri, Nigeria

Empirical propagation models are used extensively for coverage prediction during the design and planning of wireless networks. Some of the most widely used empirical models include the COST 231 Hata Model (COST 231 1999, Saunders 2000, COST 231 revision 2), COST 231-Walfisch-Ikegami Model (COST 231 1999), etc. These models, however, are not universally applicable due differences in terrain clutter. Thus, when planning a wireless communication network it is necessary to determine radio propagation characteristics optimal to the terrain in question. In this paper, the applicability of the COST 231 Hata Model to the metropolis of Maiduguri, Nigeria, is tested by computing variations between the COST 231 Hata predictions and predictions based on the Least Squares function, being the best fit curve through measured data points. This was achieved with the help of a software system comprising of Visual Basic as Front End and Microsoft Excel as Back End. The Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) was found to be 5.33dB, which is acceptable, the acceptable maximum being 6dB. Further statistical proof testifies to the acceptability of the COST 231 Hata Model for path loss prediction across the metropolis of Maiduguri, Nigeria. Keywords: COST 231 Hata, Hata-Okumura Model, COST 231-Walfisch-Ikegami Model, Root Mean Square Error, , Mean Prediction Error

Prediction of received signal power and propagation path loss in open/rural environments using modified free-space loss and Hata models

This paper describes a modification of the Free-Space and Hata formulae for the prediction of received signal power, P R and propagation path loss, L P , in two cellular mobile radio systems (CMRS), in the Northern Nigeria. Measurements of P R s were taken with a Cellular Mobile Radio test Receiver (Sagem OT 160), in some selected open/rural environments, when the receiver was being moved away from the base stations along the propagation paths. L P s were then obtained from values of measured P R s using an appropriate expression. A close comparison of measurement values and computed values from the free-space and Hata formulae revealed that direct application of these formulae is inappropriate for the prediction of these parameters in the region of investigation, as computed values fell short significantly from the corresponding measured values. Consequently, some correction factors have been introduced to both models and these have produced results which closely matched the measured values

A Modified Energy-Efficient Clustering with Splitting and Merging for Wireless Sensor Networks using Cluster-Head Handover Mechanism

Energy efficiency is one of the most important challenges for Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs). This is due to the fact that sensor nodes have limited energy capacity. Therefore, the energy of sensor nodes has to be efficiently managed to provide longer lifetime for the network. To reduce energy consumption in WSNs, a modified Energy Efficient Clustering with Splitting and Merging (EECSM) for WSNs using Cluster-Head Handover Mechanism was implemented in this research. The modified model used information of the residual energy of sensor nodes to select backup Cluster Heads (CHs) while maintaining a suitable CH handover threshold to minimize energy consumption in the network. The backup CHs take over the responsibilities of the CHs once the handover threshold is reached. The modified model was validated in terms of network lifetime and residual energy ratio with EECSM using MATLAB R2013a. Average improvements of 7.5% and 50.7% were achieved for the network lifetime and residual energy ratio respectively which indicates a significant reduction in energy consumption of the network nodes. Keywords— Clustering, Energy-Efficiency, Handover, Lifetime, Wireless Sensor Networ

Determination of the antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of extended spectrum beta lactamase (esbl) producing and the non-esbl producing strains of Escherichia coli

Background: The extended spectrum beta lactamases producing bacteria are bacteria of great concern among Gram negative bacilli. Escherichia coli stand out as major carrier of this enzyme. The appropriate control of this resistance pattern depends on using the antimicrobial regimen of best choice. Therefore the value of the susceptibility profile of organism harboring this enzyme cannot be overemphasized.Objectives: To determine the antimicrobial susceptibility of extended spectrum beta lactamases (ESBL) producing and the non-ESBL producing strains of Escherichia coli from clinical isolates of Escherichia coli in University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital.Methodology: Confirmed variants of Escherichia coli were screened and confirmed for ESBL possession. Subsequently, modified Kirby Bauer method was utilized to test for antibiotic susceptibility using the commercially available Oxoid single disc for some major antibiotics.Results: A total of 172 strains of Escherichia coli were identified during the study period. Out of this number; 131 were identified as ESBL positive while a total of 41 were ESBL negative. The highest sensitivity for both the ESBL positive and ESBL negative strains of Escherichia coli was observed with Imipenem followed closely by Gentamicin.Conclusion: The study reveals narrow choice of antibiotics for the ESBL positive isolates of Escherichia coli although Imipenem antibiotic still retains its sensitivity.Keywords: Cephalosporins, Resistance, Maiduguri, Nigeri

The freeze on mass media campaigns in England: a natural experiment of the impact of tobacco control campaigns on quitting behaviour

Aims To measure the impact of the suspension of tobacco control mass media campaigns in England in April 2010 on measures of smoking cessation behaviour. Design Interrupted time series design using routinely collected population-level data. Analysis of use of a range of types of smoking cessation support using segmented negative binomial regression. Setting England. Measurements Use of non-intensive support: monthly calls to the National Health Service (NHS) quitline (April 2005–September 2011), text requests for quit support packs (December 2007–10) and web hits on the national smoking cessation website (January 2009–March 2011). Use of intensive cessation support: quarterly data on the number of people setting a quit date and 4-week quitters at the NHS Stop Smoking Services (SSS) (quarter 1, 2001 and quarter 3, 2011). Findings During the suspension of tobacco control mass media spending, literature requests fell by 98% [95% confidence interval (CI) = 96–99], and quitline calls and web hits fell by 65% (95% CI = 43–79) and 34% (95% CI: 11–50), respectively. The number of people setting a quit date and 4-week quitters at the SSS increased throughout the study period. Conclusions The suspension of tobacco control mass media campaigns in England in 2012 appeared to markedly reduce the use of smoking cessation literature, quitline calls and hits on the national smoking cessation website, but did not affect attendance at the Stop Smoking Services. Within a comprehensive tobacco control programme, mass media campaigns can play an important role in maximizing quitting activity

Effect of Smoke-Free Legislation on Adult Smoking Behaviour in England in the 18 Months following Implementation

Comprehensive smoke-free legislation covering all enclosed public places and workplaces was implemented in England on 1 July 2007. This study examines the impact of this legislation on smoking prevalence, number of cigarettes smoked and location of smoking, controlling for secular trends through the end of 2008.Repeat cross sectional survey using nationally representative data from the Health Survey for England (HSE). In total there are 54,333 respondents from 2003-2008. Logit and linear regression models were used to examine the effect of the legislation on smoking prevalence and the number of cigarettes smoked daily among continuing smokers which took the underlying trend into account. Our finding suggest that smoking prevalence (current smoker) decreased from 25% in 2003 to 21% in 2008 (AOR = 0.96 per year, 95% CI = 0.95-0.98, P<0.01) and the mean number of cigarettes consumed daily by smokers decreased from 14.1 in 2003 to 13.1 in 2008 (coefficient for time trend = -0.28±0.06 SE cig/day per year, P<0.01). After adjusting for these trends the introduction of smoke-free legislation was not associated with additional reductions in smoking prevalence (AOR = 1.02, 95% CI = 0.94-1.11, P = 0.596) or daily cigarette use in smokers (0.42±0.28 SE; P = 0.142). The percentage of respondents reporting smoking 'at work' and 'inside pubs or bars' decreased significantly from 14% to 2% (p<0.001) and from 34% to 2% (p<0.001), respectively, after the legislation. The percentage reporting smoking 'inside restaurants, cafes, or canteens' decreased significantly from 9% to 1% (p<0.001) and 'inside their home' decreased significantly from 65% to 55% (p<0.01).There is widespread compliance with the smoke-free legislation in England, which has led to large drops in indoor smoking in all venues, including at home. Declines in smoking prevalence and consumption continued along existing trends; they did not accelerate during the 18 months immediately following implementation

Outbreak of measles in Sokoto State North-Western Nigeria, three months after a supplementary immunization campaign

BackgroundWorldwide, measles infects about 20 million people with about 200,000 deaths annually. On February 12, 2016 an outbreak of measles was reported from Sokoto state, Nigeria.AimsA team of Nigeria Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Program (NFELTP) Residents was sent to confirm the existence of the outbreak, describe the socio-demographic characteristics and identify risk factors for the outbreak.MethodsWe defined cases according to the World Health Organization (WHO) criteria. We conducted an unmatched case-control study and descriptive study. We actively searched for cases across local government areas (LGAs) of the state, and administered questionnaires to parents of affected children. We analyzed the data using Epi-Info 7 and Microsoft Excel 2013.ResultsA total of 979 cases were recorded. Median age was 36 months with age range of 3–168 months. Ten deaths were recorded with a Case Fatality Rate (CFR) of 1.02 per cent. About 76.51 per cent of cases were under-five years of age. The outbreak spanned over a period of 10 weeks. Twenty-two out of 23 LGAs were affected. Eighty-nine cases (9.1 per cent) had their blood sample taken for laboratory confirmation, where 21 (23.6 per cent) tested positive for measles.A total of 238 respondents were interviewed; 128 cases and 110 controls. Mothers’ education (OR: 2.9, 95 per cent CI: 1.4–5.9), immunization status of children (OR: 2.0, 95 per cent CI: 1.1–3.4), and fathers’ occupation (OR: 0.2, 95 per cent CI: 0.1–0.5), are the factors that affect measles infection among children in the state.ConclusionOur investigation confirmed a measles outbreak in Sokoto state. Though with a low CFR, the majority of deaths occur in children are factors that adversely affect development of measles in Sokoto state