Prevention of Pressure Sore Development in Orthopaedic Wards of Selected Nigeria Teaching / Specialist Hospitals

Pressure sore is a localized area of tissue damage leading to ulceration of the skin due to the effect of prolonged pressure. The role of the nurses in the prevention of pressure ulcer cannot be over-emphasized because the nurse helps in preventing calamities associated with development of pressure ulcer. The study is aimed at investigating the causes, incidence and method of prevention of pressure ulcer in patients admitted in orthopaedic wards of both specialist hospitals, Sobi and University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria. The method used was a descriptive study and variables were demographic, perception of the causes of pressure sores and measures of prevention of pressure sore. Simple percentage was used for the analysis of the results. A total of 90 participants (50 nurses & 40 patients) were used for the study with 35 (38.89%) males and 55 (61.11%) females. Among these respondents (patients) 24 (60%) have been on admission for period of 3-4 years, 11 (27.5%) for period of 1-2 years, and 5 (12.5%) between 5-6 years. The findings from the study showed that the nurses’ and patients’ understanding of the methods of prevention of pressure sore was low. This is because the incidence of pressure sores in the two orthopaedic wards had risen. Keywords: Mobility, Orthopaedic wards, prolonged Activities of Daily Living, Delcubitus ulcer pressure

Knowledge of Postpartum Depression and its Associated Risk Factors Among Nurse-Midwives in a Nigerian Tertiary Hospital

Postpartum depression (PPD) is a global childbirth-related problem that affects many women and if ignored can have long-term adverse consequences, for both mother and child. Timely identification of its risk factors requires a good knowledge base for the care provider A descriptive cross sectional study was used to assess the knowledge of PPD and its associated risk factors among nurse-midwives in a tertiary hospital in Bayelsa State. A systematic random sampling technique was used to select a sample size 114 nurse-midwives respondents. A well-structured questionnaire was used to collect data from the participants. The same were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics with level of significance set at 0.05(5%).Despite the fact that majority of nurse-midwives rated their information level on postpartum depression as moderate, most of them still maintained that cigarette smoking, unwanted pregnancy, poor economic status cannot predispose a woman to PPD. Furthermore, majority affirmed that Edinburg Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) can be used to screen for PPD yet only about half of the respondents opined that PPD tendency can be detected during pregnancy and less than half of them affirmed that a score of > 10 using the EPDS indicates depression. The study also found significant relationship between educational qualification and level of information about PPD and its associated risk factors.The level of knowledge of nurse-midwives is not at the expected level since majority still have knowledge deficit regarding risk factors and how to detect PPD. Hence, it was recommended that periodic suitable training programs on PPD should be developed for healthcare professionals especially for nurse-midwives who are the first point of contact during antenatal, labour and post natal period

Methods employed in the prevention and treatment of malaria among pregnant women in a riverine community in Bayelsa State, Nigeria

Background: Malaria remains a major public health problem in Nigeria and is the most common cause of hospital attendance in all age groups, of which children and pregnant women are the major risk groups; therefore this study was designed to explore various methods of prevention and treatment of malaria among pregnant women in riverine community in Bayelsa State, Nigeria.Method: A descriptive cross-sectional survey was used for the study and a pre-tested structured questionnaire was administered to 180 respondents’ selected using purposive sampling technique. Results were presented as tables and charts.Results: The study revealed that majority of the respondents were within 16-25years, with a minimum age of 16yrs, maximum age of 45yrs and a mean of 30yrs. More than half of the respondents agreed that malaria can be transmitted to the fetus and can lead to intrauterine fetal death. Most of the respondents used more than one preventive measures and the most commonly used methods employed in the prevention of malaria by the respondents were window and door nets (83.3%); clearing of bushes (72.2%), insecticide treated nets (ITNs) (67.2%) snapper(66.7%); insecticide spray (66.7%). Despite the fact that a good number of the respondents (91.7%) claimed to use drugs when they have malaria, most of which were prescribed by medical practitioners; only few of the respondents (31.7%) used prophylactic anti-malaria drugs during pregnancy.Conclusion: Findings above revealed that, majority of the respondents had adequate knowledge of malaria and its consequences in pregnancy, and also employed good methods in the prevention and treatment of malaria. However, some of the respondents still used crude methods such as pouring kerosene in stagnant water, burning of bushes, and use of herbs, native chalk and broom etc in the prevention and treatment of malaria which may be detrimental to healthand often ineffective. Therefore, there is need to concentrate on health education of these women on the hazards associated with the crude methods as well as importance of intermittent preventive treatment (IPT) during pregnancy so as to achieve effective control of malaria among pregnant women.Keywords: Malaria prevention, Malaria treatment, Pregnant wome