The Effects of Oral Intraperitoneal and Inhaled Methamphetamine on some Biochemical Parameters using Wistar Albino Rats

Abuse of hard drugs has become a norm for an increasing number of young people globally with methamphetamine currently the second most abused in Nigeria. The need for people to know as much as it is consumed was what inspired this research. With the oral, inhaled and intraperitoneal as the three routes of administration to be investigated, the animals were sequestered into seven groups of five each. Besides the control group, the other six were used to investigate effects of administering low and high doses of methamphetamine. Doses 0.57mg/kg and 14.28mg/kg were administered to the test animals via inhalation, oral and intraperitoneal means for 21 days while their weights were taken four times in a five day interval before sacrifice and biochemical analysis. The highest reductions in weight were recorded in groups orally administered 14.28mg/kg with a reduction percentage of 24.4% while those intraperitoneally administered 14.28mg/kg showed a 15.9% increase in weight. Groups orally and intraperitoneally administered 14.28mg/kg showed significant (p<0.05) elevations in AST levels when compared to the control group. The ALT levels increased significantly (p<0.05) in all test groups when compared to the control. Significant increase (p<0.05) in serum urea levels was recorded in groups intraperitoneally administered as well as those administered 0.57mg/kg via inhalation while all test groups administered 14.28mg/kg showed significant (p<0.05) rise in serum urea levels. Also, the creatinine levels showed significant increase (p<0.05) in groups intraperitoneally administered 14.28mg/kg. The results summarily suggest that the substance; both in low and high doses, can cause serious perturbations to vital organs and expose patrons to a host of health complications notwithstanding route of administration.

Satisfaction of Nigerian patients with health services: a protocol for a systematic review

BACKGROUND: Patient-based assessment of health services is becoming popular in measuring the standard of care. Both quantitative and qualitative methods are available. Patient satisfaction surveys are commonly used to record the experiences of patients in hospitals, whereas qualitative designs (e.g., interviews and focus group discussions) are used less frequently. To date, there has been no systematic review published devoted to patient satisfaction with health services in Nigeria. We aim to (1) systematically analyze relevant quantitative studies to pinpoint excellent procedures in measuring patient satisfaction with health services, (2) to investigate if a reference method (gold standard method) exists, and (3) to identify relevant topics which are recognized by patients as important for the delivery of a high-quality health service in Nigeria. METHODS: Searches of eight electronic journal databases, including MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, AJOL, CDSR, DARE, and HTA will be conducted to identify studies assessing patient satisfaction with health services in Nigeria. The searches will be supported by manual searches in reference lists of relevant primary studies and systematic reviews. The review will be limited to studies published since 2007. After a stepwise screening process by two reviewers, data from included studies will be extracted and reviewed. The COSMIN RoB checklist will be used to critically appraise included studies. We will carry out an extensive data synthesis to answer the review questions. DISCUSSION: The intended systematic review will provide information on how the satisfaction of patients with health services has earlier been described and assessed in Nigerian studies. It will establish if a gold standard method exists and synthesize information on topics which might be of special interest to patients. Review findings will enrich the debate on patient-centered care and overall performance of health quality standards in Nigeria

Perception of donor breast milk and determinants of its acceptability among mothers in a developing community: a cross-sectional multi-center study in south-east Nigeria

Abstract Background Due to the health and economic benefits of breast milk, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that for infants who cannot receive breast milk from their own mothers, the next preferred option is donated breast milk. This recommendation is however rarely practiced in most developing countries where donor milk is not widely accepted. Methods This cross-sectional multi-center study enrolled mothers attending antenatal or pediatric clinics in six tertiary institution in south-east Nigeria using purposive and convenient sampling method. Data collection was done using pretested questionnaires. The study aimed to assess the knowledge, acceptability and willingness to donate breast milk and/or use donated breast milk for their infants It also explored factors that determine this behavior. Results A total of 1235 mothers participated; 39% (480/1225) have heard about the concept of donor milk, while only 10% (79/759) and 7% (81/1179), respectively, had adequate knowledge of the concept and policy on donor milk. Sixty percent indicated willingness to use donor milk or donate breast milk if need arises. Respondents with lower age (p = 0.049) and with higher occupational status (p = 0.001) were more likely to have adequate knowledge of donor breast milk, while respondents with lower educational attainment (p = 0.002) and those who are non-Christians (p = 0.004) were more likely to request financial inducement for donating their breast milk. Adequate knowledge of the concept of donor milk (p = 0.001), preference of donor milk to infant formula (p = 0.001) and requirement of financial remuneration (p = 0.001) were the only significant predictors of willingness to donate and/or receive donated breast milk. Conclusion The knowledge of the concept of donor breast milk and awareness of policies regulating its practice in Nigeria is low, but the prospect of its acceptability is high among mothers surveyed in south-east Nigeria. Targeted public education by relevant government agencies in collaboration with clinicians, community and religious leaders about the concept of donor breast milk to families may help increase the acceptance and practice of donating breast milk and/or use of donated breast milk among mothers in the region

An appraisal of blood pressure control and its determinants among patients with primary hypertension seen in a primary care setting in Western Nigeria

Background: Achieving guideline-recommended blood pressure is imperative in reducing the rising tide of uncontrolled hypertension and its attendant sequelae, which are major causes of morbidity and mortality globally. The aim of the study was to describe the pattern of blood pressure control and identify the factors influencing blood pressure control among patients with primary hypertension seen at family medicine clinics of FMC, Abeokuta.Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional hospital-based study. A systematic random sampling technique was used in selecting 360 hypertensive respondents over four months. Data were collected through a pre-tested interviewer-administered questionnaire. The Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 17.0 was used to analyse data.Results: Blood pressure was controlled in 167 (46.4%) of the respondents. The independent predictors of blood pressure control were female gender (p= 0.001, OR = 2.494, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.477–4.214), regular use of medication (p = 0.001, OR = 2.900, 95% CI = 1.508–5.577), regular clinic attendance (p  0.001, OR = 3.512, 95% CI = 1.772–6.960), and absence of diabetes mellitus (p 0.001, OR = 7.357, 95% CI = 3.190–16.966).Conclusions: The rate of blood pressure control among the hypertensive respondents was low. Multiple independent predictors of controlled blood pressure call for a team-based approach as well as multiple approaches including education of patients, expansion of a community-based health insurance programme and intensification of treatment efforts when managing hypertensive patients