A report on oral health delivery to rural underserved communities oyo state using the mobile dental clinic

Objective: In Nigeria, the distribution of health care facilities particularly oral health facilities is urban based. Consequently, the rural people have no access or minimal access to oral health care. Various studies have called attention to the increasing trend of oral diseases in Nigeria, especially in the rural areas. Mobile dental clinic transcends all barriers to oral health care including physical and cultural barriers through community outreach, to rural underserved areas. Therefore, this project set out to determine the oral health needs of poor underserved rural communities in Ibadan and to deliver oral health care at their doorsteps.Methods: Using the services of a mobile dental clinic, inhabitants in selected rural communities namely; Akufo, Olosun, Aremo and Ilaju were given oral health talk and treatment after their needs were determined using dental mirror, natural light, CPITN probe, caries probe.Result: One hundred and thirty one people were examined and treated. Majority were from Yoruba tribe. More females (58.0%) participated in the study. Mean age of the participants was 42.4years (+10.4). Many (61.8%) of the participants had periodontal disease, tooth wear 24.4%, dental caries 16.0%. Majority of the participants had scaling and polishing (61.8%) as treatment, while 3.1% had atraumatic restorative treatment. Extraction was done for 6.8% of participants, while 27.5% were referred.Conclusion: Oral diseases, especially periodontal disease, tooth wear and caries are quite prevalent in underserved rural communities.Keywords: oral health, rural, mobile, barriers, underserve

Intrasound Therapy Improves the Mechanical Properties and the Morphology of Tendons in Fluoroquinolone-Induced Achilles Tendinopathy

Fluoroquinolones (FQs), especially Pefloxacin (PEF) have been reported to increase risk of Achilles tendon rupture. However, prior studies showed that intrasound therapy (ITR) significantly improved the morphology of the healing tendon. This study aimed to compare the effects of 7, 14 and 21 days intrasound treatment on the mechanical properties and morphology of the Achilles tendon in fifty (50) male Sprague-Dawley rats induced with FQ and randomized into three main categories designated as Normal control (A), Experimental control (B) and Treatment groups (C). All animals in groups B and C were orally administered PEF 400mg/kg in a fixed volume of 2.5 ml/kg daily for 6 consecutive days. The Achilles tendon of both hind limbs in group C were treated with the lowest intensity ITR 5 minutes daily for 7, 14 and 21 consecutive days. All the animals were serially sacrificed on days 8, 15 and 22 and the tendons excised and processed. Data were analyzed with RSTUDIO version 4.0.02 and the level of significance set at 0.05. Kruskal Wallis showed no significant differences (p >0.05) in all the biomechanical parameters across all the groups. Compared with group B, ITR 14 days treatment had the best improvement in all biomechanical variables, though insignificant (p>0.05). In the Intrasound groups, there were significant positive correlations of Nitric Oxide Synthase (NOS) with ultimate tensile stress and tensile load (p= 0.005; p=0.003) respectively. Intrasound treatment to the Achilles tendon for 14 days improved the mechanical properties  and morphology of tendons in Fluoroquinolone-induced tendinopathy

Establishing consensus among interprofessional faculty on a genderbased violence curriculum in medical schools in Nigeria: A Delphi study

Background. Gender-based violence (GBV), as a topic of medical study and practice, is an integral component of medical education in many developed countries. There is an increasing need to equip medical practitioners with appropriate knowledge, attitudes and skills to care for victims of GBV.Objectives. To obtain consensus among stakeholders on content, the members of faculty who should teach the subject and the methods of training relating to GBV curricula in three medical schools in south-west Nigeria.Methods. Three rounds of the Delphi technique involving 52 experts from among academics, medical practitioners, government and non-governmental organisations were conducted. The first round (RD 1) was open-ended, while subsequent rounds were structured. Consensus was defined as a gathering around mean (>3.5) responses with minimal divergence (standard deviation (SD) <1.5) to the RD 2 questionnaire; strong consensus was >4.0. For the RD 3, consensus was regarded as >50% satisfaction with the rankings from RD 2. A strong consensus was taken as >60% satisfaction.Results. Themes identified in RD 1 were: reasons for teaching GBV; teaching methods, strategies needed and departments best positioned to teach it; professions to involve in training; academic level to offer training; and strategies to assess effective training. From RD 2, the topics ranked highest for inclusion in training were (mean (SD)): complications of GBV, 4.44 (0.63); and safety plan, 4.44 (0.51). Offering training to final-year medical students was most preferred, at 4.25 (1.13); for teaching methods, using videos for training, at 4.63 (0.89), was ranked highest, followed by information, education and communication materials, at 4.50 (0.82). Discussion with victims ranked highest as the most preferred format for teaching, followed by didactic lectures, at 4.06 (0.93) and 4.00 (0.89), respectively. The departments selected to teach GBV were Public Health, at 4.19 (0.91); Accidents and Emergency, 4.06 (0.85); Family Medicine, 3.81 (1.05); and Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 3.81 (0.89). Other professionals suggested were psychologists, social workers and lawyers. With regards to assessment, written examination ranked highest, at 4.06 (0.85). RD 3 confirmed the rankings of RD 2 on all themes, and sought additional suggestions for the training. Most (82.9%) respondents had no additional suggestions; the few elicited included clarifying cultural misconceptions around GBV, involving religious leaders and psychologists, and the recommendation that the teaching should be sustained.Conclusion. These results will inform the development of evidence-based competencies relevant to healthcare providers in the African context. The need for periodic review of the curricula of medical schools to ensure that they address patient and societal needs is highlighted

Physical, chemical and sesnory properties of flakes (Gari) prepared from refrigerated cassava roots

Cassava is a tropical crop that can be processed into a variety of products including flakes popularly called gari. Gari is a product obtained from cassava root by fermentation, but the root from which the gari is obtained spoils rapidly. Efforts have been made to extend the shelf life of the root through the use of traditional and improved storage techniques, for example storage in boxes, freezing and refrigeration. However, the quality of the products from refrigerated roots, such as gari, has not been reported. In this study, cassava roots were refrigerated for a period of three weeks and the physicochemical properties of gari from the stored roots were determined. With the exception of the carbohydrate content which was very similar (approx. 88%), refrigeration of cassava roots significantly (p < 0.05) affected the physical and chemical properties of the resulting gari. The cyanide content decreased from 2.96 to 1.90 mg/ kg with increase in refrigeration period, while the functional properties including bulk densities and swelling power were only slightly affected. Cassava roots can be refrigerated for a period of two weeks without substantial changes in the eating quality of the resulting gari, if the storage condition is closely monitored. Future studies are required to investigate the physicochemical properties of other valuable products from refrigerated cassava roots to determine their potentials in food and non-food applications. Keyword: Cassava; Functional; Gari; Refrigeration; Pasting; Sensor