Psycho-Physiological Coherence of Breastfeeding among Women in Nigeria

The study investigated the psycho- physiological coherence of breastfeeding among Women in South West Nigeria. The research design used was the descriptive research design of the survey type. The population for the study was made up of women with breastfeeding experience. The sample consisted of 1,385 women selected from three states in South West Nigeria. Multistage random sampling technique was used. The research instrument used was titled Psycho-Physiological Coherence of Breastfeeding among Women Questionnaire (PPCBWQ). The instrument was valid and reliable; it was construct validated and a split half reliability coefficient of 0.87 was obtained The reason behind this study was to expose mothers to the realistic expectations of their physique or bodily changes to support the decision to breastfeed and avoid unnecessary supplementation.. From literature it was observed that despite exclusive breastfeeding being the optimal way of feeding an infant, the percentage of mothers who exclusively breastfed drop from over 75% who initiate to less than 11% at six months, well short of the Healthy People 2010 initiative goal of 50% of infants being exclusively breastfed for six months. The result of the finding  clearly shows that more of the breastfeeding activities took place during the night compared to day time as frequency of breastfeeding increased in the night. This is so because mothers do work during the day. It was also discovered that 725 out of 736 respondents who had knowledge of psycho physiological coherence  breastfeed their babies until satisfaction level is reached. Key words: Psycho-Physiological, Coherence, Breastfeeding, South West Nigeria

Seroprevalence of Human Immunodeficiency Virus, Hepatitis B Virus, and Syphilis Infections among Pregnant Women Booked for Antenatal Care at Kogi State Specialist Hospital, Lokoja, Nigeria

Background: Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among pregnant women are an important health issue in Nigeria, but its prevalence inLokoja is not known. Objective: The objective of this study is to establish the seroprevalence of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), and syphilis infections among pregnant women booked for the antenatal clinic in Kogi State Specialist Hospital, Lokoja, Nigeria, and determine risk factors associated with the infections. Methods: We prospectively screened three hundred pregnant women booked for antenatal care between January 1, 2016, and December 31, 2016, for HIV, HBV, and syphilis. Their demographic data, risk factors, and results of the screening tests were analyzed using the SPSS version 20 and presented in simple charts, tables, and percentages. Results: Thirty nine (13%) out of the 300 pregnant women tested seropositive for either HIV (28, 9.3%), HBV (10, 3.3%), or syphilis (one, 0.3%). The most common identifiable risk factor for these infections was multiple sexual partners which accounted for 38.4%. Conclusions: The seroprevalence of STIs in this study was 13% and the most common risk factor for the infections was multiple sexualpartners. Therefore, effective preventive strategies for HIV, HBV, and syphilis are advocated. Keywords: Hepatitis B virus, human immunodeficiency virus, Nigeria, pregnancy, screening, seroprevalence, syphili

Heterogeneous mixtures of granular particles with varying shapes being discharged from a silo

The handling of granular materials in various industries, such as agriculture, mining, and manufacturing, often involves the use of silos for storage and discharge. In these scenarios, the materials stored inside silos can be quite complex, consisting of heterogeneous mixtures comprising granular particles with varying shapes. Understanding the behavior of such mixtures during discharge is essential for optimizing operational efficiency and ensuring product quality. This article explores the intricacies of heterogeneous mixtures in silo discharge, shedding light on the challenges and solutions associated with handling them effectively

Age Prediction through Voiceprints using Machine Learning Algorithms

The human voice is not only a powerful tool for communication but also a unique biometric identifier. Over time, our voices undergo subtle yet distinctive changes, making them potential markers for age prediction. Leveraging machine learning algorithms, researchers have ventured into the fascinating realm of age prediction through voiceprints. This emerging field holds the promise of applications in various domains, from security to healthcare and entertainment

On-demand mobile hypertension training for primary health care workers in Nigeria: a pilot study

Abstract Background Only one out of every ten Nigerian adults with hypertension has their blood pressure controlled. Health worker training is essential to improve hypertension diagnosis and treatment. In-person training has limitations that mobile, on-demand training might address. This pilot study evaluated a self-paced, case-based, mobile-optimized online training to diagnose and manage hypertension for Nigerian health workers. Methods Twelve hypertension training modules were developed, based on World Health Organization and Nigerian guidelines. After review by local academic and government partners, the course was piloted by Nigerian health workers at government-owned primary health centers. Primary care physician, nurse, and community health worker participants completed the course on their own smartphones. Before and after the course, hypertension knowledge was evaluated with multiple-choice questions. Learners provided feedback by responding to questions on a Likert scale. Results Out of 748 users who sampled the course, 574 enrolled, of whom 431 (75%) completed the course. The average pre-test score of completers was 65.4%, which increased to 78.2% on the post-test (P < 0.001, paired t-test). Health workers who were not part of existing hypertension control programs had lower pre-test scores and larger score gains. Most participants (96.1%) agreed that the training was applicable to their work, and nearly all (99.8%) agreed that they enjoyed the training. Conclusions An on-demand mobile digital hypertension training increases knowledge of hypertension management among Nigerian health workers. If offered at scale, such courses can be a tool to build health workforce capacity through initial and refresher training on current clinical guidelines in hypertension and other chronic diseases in Nigeria as well as other countries

Physicians' perception of task sharing with non-physician health care workers in the management of uncomplicated hypertension in Nigeria: A mixed method study.

IntroductionTask sharing and task shifting (TSTS) in the management of hypertension is an important strategy to reduce the burden of hypertension in low-and middle-income countries like Nigeria where there is shortage of physicians below the World Health Organization's recommendations on doctor-patient ratio. The cooperation of physicians is critical to the success of this strategy. We assessed physicians' perception of TSTS with non-physician health workers in the management of hypertension and sought recommendations to facilitate the implementation of TSTS.Materials and methodsThis was an explanatory sequential mixed method study. TSTS perception was assessed quantitatively using a 12-item questionnaire with each item assigned a score on a 5-point Likert scale. The maximum obtainable score was 60 points and those with ≥42 points were classified as having a good perception of TSTS. Twenty physicians were subsequently interviewed for in-depth exploration of their perception of TSTS.ResultsA total of 1250 physicians participated in the quantitative aspect of the study. Among the participants, 56.6% had good perception of TSTS in the management of hypertension while about two-thirds (67.5%) agreed that TSTS program in the management of hypertension could be successfully implemented in Nigeria. Male gender (p = 0.019) and working in clinical settings (p = 0.039) were associated with good perception. Twenty physicians participated in the qualitative part of the study. Qualitative analysis showed that TSTS will improve overall care and outcomes of patients with hypertension, reduce physicians' workload, improve their productivity, but may encourage inter-professional rivalry. Wide consultation with stakeholders, adequate monitoring and evaluation will facilitate successful implementation of TSTS in Nigeria.ConclusionThis study showed that more than half of the physicians have good perception of TSTS in hypertension management while about two-thirds agreed that it could be successfully implemented in Nigeria. This study provides the needed evidence for increased advocacy for the implementation of TSTS in the management of hypertension in Nigeria. This will consequently result in improved patient care and outcomes and effective utilization of available health care personnel

Landscape of team-based care to manage hypertension: results from two surveys in low/middle-income countries

Objectives Team-based care is essential for improving hypertension outcomes in low-resource settings. We assessed perceptions of country representatives and healthcare workers (HCWs) on team-based hypertension care in low/middle-income countries.Design Two cross-sectional surveys.Setting The first survey (Country Profile Survey) was conducted in 17 countries and eight in-country regions: Algeria, Bangladesh, Burundi, Chile, China (Beijing, Henan, Shandong), Cuba, Ethiopia, India (Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Punjab, Telangana), Nepal, Nigeria, Philippines, Saint Lucia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Turkey, Uganda and Vietnam. The second survey (HCW Survey) was conducted in four countries: Bangladesh, China, Ethiopia and Nigeria.Participants Using convenience sampling, participants for the Country Profile Survey were representatives from 17 countries and eight in-country regions, and the HCW Survey was administered to HCWs in Bangladesh, China, Ethiopia and Nigeria.Outcome measures Country-level use of team-based hypertension care framework, comprising administrative, basic and advanced clinical tasks. Current practices of different HCW cadres, perspectives on team-based management of hypertension, barriers and facilitators.Results In the Country Profile Survey, all (23/23, 100%) countries/regions surveyed integrated team-based care for basic clinical hypertension management tasks, less for advanced tasks (7/23, 30%). In the HCW Survey, 854 HCWs participated, 47% of whom worked in rural settings. Most HCWs in the sample acknowledged the value of team-based hypertension care. Although there were slight variations by country in the study sample, overall, barriers to team-based hypertension care were identified as inadequate training (83%); regulatory issues (76%); resistance by patients (56%), physicians (42%) and nurses (40%). Facilitators identified were use of treatment algorithms (94%), telehealth/m-health technology (92%) and adequate compensation for HCWs (80%).Conclusions Our findings revealed key lessons for health systems and governments regarding team-based care implementation. Specifically, policies to facilitate additional training, optimise HCWs’ roles within care teams, use of hypertension treatment protocols and telehealth/m-health technology will be essential to promote team-based care

Additional file 1 of On-demand mobile hypertension training for primary health care workers in Nigeria: a pilot study

Supplementary Material

Socio-demographic characteristics of study participants.

Socio-demographic characteristics of study participants.</p