Knowledge of tuberculosis and self disclosure amongst patients accessing treatment in an urban Local Government Area, Lagos, south west Nigeria

Background: Disease-related stigma and knowledge of the disease by individual are believed to be associated with patients' willingness to seek and adhere to treatment. Increased morbidity and mortality of tuberculosis (TB) have been blamed on neglect of the human dimension of TB control. Assessing knowledge, self disclosure status and perceived stigma among TB patients would help to understand TB-related stigma as a social process and a better understanding of patients.Methods: A descriptive cross sectional study was carried out among newly diagnosed TB patients aged ≥18 years on treatment for at least four weeks. Consecutive enrollment was carried out in all the seven DOTS centers in Ikeja LGA.Patients were asked questions about TB knowledge, self- disclosure and level of perceived stigma. Knowledge scores were grouped as poor (1-11), fair (12-17) and good (18-22). A total of 309 patients were interviewed between January and September 2012.Results: Fifty-six percent of the patients were between 21 to 40 years with the male to female ratio of 1:1.13 while 45.3% and 51.5% had secondary school education and were married respectively. Thirty-two percent, 58% and 10% had poor, fair and good knowledge respectively. Majority (86%) of the patients have disclosed their status and treatment to family members with 39% disclosing to friends and associates. Regarding level of perceived stigma, 50% reported that having TB is an embarrassment to the family while 77% and 68% reported that TB patients should not share plates and sleep on the same bed with others respectively. Those with good knowledge and those that have retired from active service were more likely to selfdisclose to family members than others (p<0.05).Conclusion: Although perceived stigma and poor knowledge of TB was common among patients, most still disclosed status to family members. Health education of new patients on TB should be intensified.Keywords: TB, knowledge, selfdisclosure, stigm

Knowledge and practice of sedentary lifestyle among bankers in Abuja, North-Central Ngeria

Objective: Appropriate regular physical activity is a major component in preventing the growing global burden of chronic disease and at least 60% of the global population fails to achieve the minimum recommendation of 30 minutes moderate intensity physical activity daily. This study was aimed at assessing the knowledge and practice of sedentary lifestyle among bankers in Bwari Area Council, FCT, Abuja in North-Central Nigeria.Methods: This was a descriptive cross sectional study using self administered questionnaire. Systematic sampling was used to recruit 257 bankers from the various banks within BAC. The data was analysed using EPI INFO computer software package (version 3.5.3).Results: More than half 174 (67.7%) of the respondents were aware of sedentary lifestyle; 104 (59.9%) had good knowledge of sedentary lifestyle while 55 (31.5%) had poor knowledge. More than half 155 (60.3%) of the respondents were sedentary while only 102 (39.7%) were physically active. Knowledge of sedentary lifestyle did not significantly influence practice of sedentary lifestyle.Conclusion: There was good knowledge of sedentary lifestyle among the respondents. More than half of the bankers were found to be sedentary and about a third were physically active. Programmes aimed at improving physical activity among employees of this occupation group are therefore advocated.Keywords: Sedentary Lifestyle, Knowledge, Practice, Abuja, Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ

Effect of health workers sensitization on satisfaction with immunization services among mothers of under fives in Ilorin, North Central Nigeria

Objective: Patients' satisfaction is a useful measure of the quality of service. An expression of satisfaction or dissatisfaction is also the patients' judgment on the quality of service in all its aspects. This study examined the effect of health workers sensitization on mothers' satisfaction with immunization service provided in health care facilities in a state in North Central Nigeria.Methods: This is a quasi-experimental study involving sensitization of health workers on quality health service provision at the study site, Alanamu Health Centre, Ilorin. The control group was at Okelele Health Centre, Ilorin. One hundred and fifty mothers were recruited from each of the facilities and the total population of mothers bringing their children (0-14 weeks old) for immunization was recruited consecutively for the study.Results: Less than 80% of respondents in the study group and the control group (73.3% and 77.3% respectively) were satisfied with the waiting time at the pre-intervention stage. At post-intervention, there was a significant increase in the proportion of mothers in the study group that were satisfied with the waiting time, seat provision and information received on immunization (p<0.05) while there were no significant changes in satisfaction among mothers in the control group regarding these measures (p>0.05). Age and level of education had significant influence on mothers' satisfaction (p<0.05).Conclusion: Mothers became more satisfied with various aspects of immunization service received after sensitization of health workers on quality health service. Sensitization of health workers towards quality health service may be necessary to generate options in service provision and improve client satisfaction.Keywords: Clients'Satisfaction, Immunization Services, Health Workers Sensitization, Nigeri

Satisfaction among patients attending oncology clinic in a tertiary hospital in South West, Nigeria

Objective: This study determined patients' satisfaction with health care received at the oncology clinic in a tertiary hospital in Lagos, South West of Nigeria.Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out among patients attending the oncology clinic in Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja, Lagos. A total of 143 patients were recruited using a systematic random sampling and interviewer administered questionnaire was used to collect data. Analysis was done using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS version 20). Test of significance was performed using a 95% confidence interval and the level of significant set at p = 0.05.Results: More than half 123 (86.1%) reported that they got the kind of service they wanted, 125 (87.5%) reported almost all their needs had been met. Majority (92.3%) of the respondents were satisfied with the level of care received while 2.8% were indifferent and 7 (5%) were dissatisfied. The level of satisfaction was statistically significantly associated with age, marital status, level of education and average monthly income (p<0.05).Conclusion: Majority of patients were satisfied with the health care services at the oncology clinic. Regular satisfaction survey is recommendedKeywords: Patient satisfaction, oncology, tertiary hospita

Knowledge and perception of widowhood rites among adults in Ilorin, Kwara State

Widowhood rites vary from one community to another and some of these rites violate a woman's human rights. In some communities, discussion of intimate topics such as widowhood rites are considered as taboos, thus allowing for little research in the aspect of widow abuse in Africa. This study determined the knowledge and perception of widowhood rites among adults in Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria. A descriptive cross-sectional study design was used. Interviewer administered questionnaires were used to collect information from 450 respondents who were selected using a multistage sampling technique. Majority (79%) of the respondents had fair knowledge regarding widowhood rites. Knowledge of widowhood rites was not shown to be influenced by age, gender, religion, tribe and marital status of respondents. However, the level of education and occupation was shown to significantly influence the knowledge of widowhood rites (p<0.05). A total of 170 (39.7%) respondents perceived widowhood rites as gender-based violence while 67.6% opined that widowhood rites violate a woman’s basic human rights. There is a need to create more awareness and sensitization on widowhood rites through the mass media in order to improve knowledge of widowhood rites.Keywords: knowledge, perception, widowhood rites, Nigeri

Antihypertensive use, prescription patterns, and cost of medications in a Teaching Hospital in Lagos, Nigeria

Introduction: Hypertension has been reported as the strongest modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.Aims: The aim of the study was to identify the most prescribed antihypertensive drugs, its patterns, comorbidities, cost of medications, and laboratory investigations.Settings and Design: This study was a cross‑sectional, descriptive study of hypertensive patients conducted at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja.Subjects and Methods: A total of 200 case notes were retrieved from the medical records unit over a period of 8 weeks. Information on antihypertensive prescriptions and comorbidities was retrieved. The average cost of medications and laboratory investigations was calculated.Statistical Analysis Tool Used: SPSS software version 16.Results: The mean age of the patients was 58.44 ± 12.65 years. Of the 200 patients, 5 (2.5%) were on monotherapy and 195 (97.5%) were on combination therapy. One hundred and twenty (60%) patients had comorbidities which included congestive heart failure 55 (27.5%), diabetes mellitus 22 (11%), hyperlipidemia 15 (7.5%), and cardiovascular disease 13 (6.5%). The various classes of antihypertensive drugs prescribed were diuretics 128 (64.0%), beta‑blockers 126 (63.0%), calcium channel blockers 106 (53.0%), angiotensin‑converting enzymes inhibitors 103 (51.5%), angiotensin receptor blockers 33 (16.5%), alpha blockers 9 (4.5%), and fixed drug combinations 2 (1.0%). The average cost per month of the antihypertensive medications was ₦ 2045 (US$10.2).Conclusions: Antihypertensive prescription pattern was in accordance with the seventh report of Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of high blood pressure. Community‑based insurance scheme should be encouraged and effective implementation of integrated noncommunicable diseases screening into the primary health care services would be helpful.Keywords: Antihypertensive drugs, comorbidities, costs, prescription pattern

An overview of RDF processing systems: Current status, design features, and future trends

This paper discusses the recent history of refuse-derived fuel (RDF) processing facilities in the United States. The current status of these facilities, including environmental, institutional, and economic considerations is discussed. The unit operations used to produce a desired RDF product are described, and the future potential of RDF processing systems is evaluated. Current research sponsored by the US Department of Energy is also presented. 6 refs., 3 figs., 8 tabs