Health needs and health seeking behaviour of Internally Displaced Persons in Dalori camp, Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria

Objectives: In recent years, thousands of people have been displaced due to conflict and have been forced to live in crowded camps. The study assessed the common health problems, health needs and healthseeking behaviours of internally displaced persons in Nigeria.Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive design was used to study 240 randomly selected respondents using an interviewer-administered semi-structured questionnaire. Data collected were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistical techniques.Results: The prevalence of communicable disease outbreak was 59.2% and common health problems of the IDPs were malaria (97.9%), cold and catarrh (65.8%), heart diseases (56.7%), and diarrhoea (53.3%). Findings also revealed that access of IDPs to potable water, insecticide-treated nets (ITN), blankets and health care facility, as well as waste disposal, were generally poor. A large proportion of the respondents reported overcrowding (45.8%), inconducive housing (94.6%), dirty environment (54.6%) and poor food distribution (90%) in the camp. Furthermore, factors that predicted poor health among the IDPs include: educational status (OR: 0.397, p = 0.010), poor water supply (OR: 0.343, p = 0.006), hand washing (OR: 7.064, p = 0.004), and overcrowding (OR: 0.055, p = 0.001).Conclusion: This study concluded that ccommon health problems among the IDPs were malaria, cold and catarrh, heart diseases and diarrhoea and their health needs include lack of access to potable water and inadequate health care services.Keywords: Health-seeking behaviour , Health – need, Internally Displaced Persons, Nigeri

Perceived risk and consequences of bleaching practices among university students in Southwest Nigeria

Despite the social, pathological, physiological and psychological effects that skin bleaching presents, it has become a widespread practice among different groups in Nigeria. This cross sectional study involving two selected universities in Osun State, Nigeria, assessed the perceived risks and consequences of skin bleaching among undergraduates in higher institutions in Osun State, Nigeria. Data was collected from 400 undergraduates using a validated self-administered questionnaire with a Cronbach’s alpha value of 0.78. The data was analyzed descriptively and inferentially. Findings showed that almost half of the respondents (41.5%) had used bleaching agents, and 70.5% have a negative perception of its risks and consequences. Reasons for the use of bleaching product included removal of facial pimples or scars (79.8%), skin lightening (58.3%), spot removal (79.5%), fashion enhancement (67.0%) and to become more attractive (65.8%). There was a significant difference in the perception of the risks of skin bleaching based on institutional affiliations (t=3.57, p=.000). This study concluded that skin bleaching was prevalent among the studied population and that the participants had a negative perception of its risks and consequences.Key words: Adverse effects, bleaching, bleaching agents, cosmetics use, undergraduate student

Utilization of old people's home: Residence elderly's perspectives in selected centres in Lagos

Background of the study: Populations around the world are rapidly ageing with emphasis placed on long term care necessary for the dependent fastgrowing members of the population with geriatric conditions.Objectives: To assess the perception of elderly about old people's homes and determine the factors influencing its utilization in selected centres in Lagos. Materials and Methods: This was a descriptive, quantitative cross-sectional study. Self-administered questionnaires were distributed to all the 52 elderly in the two selected homes for the elderly in Lagos. Data was analysed with SPSS version 20 and presented as tables using descriptive and inferential statistics.Results: They were mainly females (65.4%) with widowed (65.1%). The mean age was 73 years ± 11.86. Majority of respondents (92.3%) have a positive perception about old people's home. Above half (55.8%) got information about the homes from their children and a good number (34.6%) have spent more than 5 years in the home. Culture, children perspectives and children occupation were the major factors agreed by the elderly influencing their utilization of the old people's homes. There were no statistically significant association between Sociodemographic variables (age, gender, ethnicity) of the respondents and the utilization of the home with 'p' = 0.501.Conclusion and recommendation: Even though the elderly had positive perception about the utilization of the old people's home but their children perspectives had altered their participation in the homes which outrightly affected their health status. The nurses should therefore ensure optimal health of the elderly to improve their participation in the home. Keywords: Utilization, Perception, Old People's Homes, Elderly

Antenatal Care Services Utilization and Factors Influencing it Among Pregnant Women in a Teaching Hospital, Lagos, Nigeria

Antenatal care (ANC) is the care provided by skilled health-care professionals to pregnant women and adolescent girls in order to ensure the best health conditions for both mother and foetus during pregnancy. ANC services help pregnant women and care providers to identify early, complications associated with pregnancy. This study assessed level of utilization of ANC services and also identified factors influencing its utilization among Pregnant Women at Lagos University Teaching Hospital in Lagos, Nigeria. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 182 pregnant women attending antenatal clinic at Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) in Lagos, Nigeria. Data was collected using a structured self-administered questionnaire and analysed descriptively and inferentially using Statistical Package of Social Science SPSS version 20.  Results showed that majority of the respondents (81.4%) had good level of utilization of ANC services. Availability of facilities (81.4%), affordability of ANC services (75.4%), waiting time (70.1%), attitude of the healthcare providers (59.9%), Schedule of ANC clinic (58.7%) and accessibility of ANC services (59.3%) were the factors influencing utilization of ANC services by the pregnant women. There was no statistically significant association between respondents’ level of utilization of antenatal services and their socio-demographic characteristics (Age: x2 = 10.719, P =0.153, educational qualification:  x2 = 0.735, P =0.692 and Income monthly: x2 = 5.868, P =0.118. The study concluded that there was high level of utilization of ANC services among the women. Affordability and accessibility of ANC services were the major factors influencing utilization of ANC services among pregnant women. Therefore, the management should look into the cost of the services rendered and make the ANC services affordable and accessible. Keywords: Utilization, Antenatal Care Services, Influencing Factors, Pregnant women. &nbsp

Knowledge of screening and management strategies for gestational diabetes mellitus among primary health care providers in Ile-Ife, Nigeria

No AbstractKeywords: Gestational Diabetes Mellitus, Knowledge, Screenin