Profile Of Institutional Infrastructure For Implementing Universal Precautions In Primary Health Care Facilities In Sokoto State, Nigeria: Implication For Occupational Safety

Background: The adoption of primary health care in Nigeria has led to the expansion of health care delivery frontiers especially at the rural level. At this level is the most critical health services delivery point, with an attendant increase in contact between primary health care providers and patients. There is however also a simultaneous increased exposure to occupational and related health risks and hazards.Methods: The objectives of this study were to assess the universal precaution profile of primary health care facilities and determine those factors that inform their prevailing safety status. Using a structured checklist, 23 representative primary health care facilities from the 23 local government areas in Sokoto State were randomly selected for the study, one from each of the local government areas.Results: The facilities were found to have poor universal precaution profile that could guarantee effective control of infection transmission and safety of their personnel. The facilities’ mean score on measures and frameworks for ensuring the implementation of Universal Precautions was 53.12% ± 21.68% with only 56.52% scoring above 50%.Conclusion: Safety protocol and facilities for ensuring safe environment were inadequate and poorly developed. None of the facilities had full complement of facilities or resources for ensuring safety of working environment and for personnel’s implementation of Universal Precautions. Policy for safety practice was poor, and post exposure intervention programmes for staff in event of accidental exposure grossly underdeveloped. Interventions to improve safety environment and creation of safe climate are essential to protect primary health care workers against occupational hazards

Awareness of occupational hazards and use of safety measures amongst welders in northern Nigeria.

Background: Welders are exposed to a variety of occupational hazards with untoward health effects. However, little is known of welders’ awareness of health hazards and their adherence to safety precautions in developing countries. This study assessed the awareness of occupational hazards andadherence to safety measures among welders in Kaduna metropolis in northern Nigeria. Methods: A structured questionnaire was administered on a cross-section of 330 welders in Kaduna metropolis in northern Nigeria. Information was sought on their socio-demographic characteristics,their awareness of occupational hazards and adherence to safety measures. Results: All welders were males with a mean age of 35.7 ± 8.4 years. The illiteracy rate was 7.6%. Overall, 257 (77.9%) of the welders were aware of one or more workplace hazards. This was positivelyinfluenced by educational attainment, age, nature of training and work experience. Of the 330 respondents, 282 (85.3%) had experienced one or more work-related accidents in the preceding year. The most common injuries sustained were cut/injuries to the hands and fingers (38.0%), back/waist pain (19%), arc eye injuries/foreign bodies (17.0%), burns (14.0%), hearing impairment (7.0%), fractures (4.0%) and amputation (1.0%). Only 113 (34.2%) welders used one or more types of protective device with eye goggles (60.9%), hand gloves (50.3%) and boots (34.5%) being more frequently used. Regular use of safety device, shorter working hours and increasing experience were protective of occupational accidents.Conclusions: The level of awareness of occupational hazards was high with sub optimal utilization of protective measures against the hazards. There is therefore need for health and safety education of these workers for health and increased productivity

Mortality and cause of death in Abuth, Zaria: 1999-2005

Background: Accurate mortality statistics are needed for policy formulation,implementation and monitoring of health intervention that are aimed at improving the health status of the people. Mortality level is one of the indicators of the quality of life and status of health of a population. However, accurate collection, collation, analysis and interpretation of such data is poorly organised in developing nations, including Nigeria leading to a gap in health policy formulation, implementation and monitoring. Therefore, policies and strategies for disease prevention are based on empirical evidence rather than on data primarily collected to formulate disease specific interventions.Though, hospital data have inherent deficiency in its use to design prevention. However, when accurately generated and adequately managed would provide both qualitative and quantitative information on morbidity and mortality if not for the entire society at least for a segment of the population utilizing it. We implemented a system of death certification to determine causes and pattern of mortality in Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria Methods: From May 1999 to November 2005, all case folders of deceased patients were retrieved from the central library of health information management department of the hospital; case folders of deceased patients are required to have in them a completed IFMCCD(International Form of Medical Certification of Cause of Death). All case folders of deceased patients after relevant information were extracted by the staff of health management information department, were passed on to the staff of department of Community Medicine directly involved in this study. The completed cause of death certificates received in the department of Community Medicine (between May 1999 and November 2005), were examined. Coding rules were employed to select the appropriate code for those certificates that were incorrectly completed. The underlying cause of death as identified from the correctly completed IFMCCDS is coded according to ICD-10.Results: For the period under study, there were 4019 deaths: 2212 males and 1807 females. Total of 2914 (72.5%) deaths were certified, using the IFMCCD of which 1641 of them were males and 1273 females and formed the basis of this analysis. Coverage rates ranges from 56.2% in 2001 to 85% in 1999. The proportion of garbage codes ranges from 0% to 2.4% while the three leading causes of death are HIV infection, road traffic accident (RTA), and cardiovascular diseases among the ten. The time-trend of the leading causes of death show RTA maintaining steady upward climb while malaria, septicemia, PEM, sepsis in the neonatal period shows unsteady fluctuation. Conclusion: This study assessed the pattern of mortality and causes of death in ABU Teaching Hospital, Zaria; it also provided information on leading causes of death

Awareness of Occupational Hazards and Utilization of Safety Measures Among Welders in Kaduna Metropolis, Northern Nigeria

Background: Welders are exposed to a variety of occupational hazards with untoward health effects. However, little is known of welders\u2019 awareness of health hazards and their adherence to safety precautions in developing countries. This study assessed the awareness of occupational hazards and adherence to safety measures among welders in Kaduna metropolis in northern Nigeria. Methods: A structured questionnaire was administered on a cross-section of 330 welders in Kaduna metropolis in northern Nigeria. Information was sought on their socio-demographic characteristics, their awareness of occupational hazards and adherence to safety measures. Results: All welders were males with a mean age of 35.7 \ub1 8.4 years. The illiteracy rate was 7.6%. Overall, 257 (77.9%) of the welders were aware of one or more workplace hazards. This was positively influenced by educational attainment, age, nature of training and work experience. Of the 330 respondents, 282 (85.3%) had experienced one or more work-related accidents in the preceding year. The most common injuries sustained were cut/injuries to the hands and fingers (38.0%), back/waist pain (19%), arc eye injuries/foreign bodies (17.0%), burns (14.0%), hearing impairment (7.0%), fractures (4.0%) and amputation (1.0%). Only 113 (34.2%) welders used one or more types of protective device with eye goggles (60.9%), hand gloves (50.3%) and boots (34.5%) being more frequently used. Regular use of safety device, shorter working hours and increasing experience were protective of occupational accidents. Conclusions: The level of awareness of occupational hazards was high with sub optimal utilization of protective measures against the hazards. There is therefore need for health and safety education of these workers for health and increased productivity.Fond: Des soudeuses sont expos\ue9es \ue0 une vari\ue9t\ue9 de risques professionnels avec des effets de sant\ue9 impropices. Cependant, peu est connu conscience de soudeuses' des risques sanitaires et de leur adh\ue9rence aux mesures de s\ue9curit\ue9 dans les pays en voie de d\ue9veloppement. Cette \ue9tude a \ue9valu\ue9 la conscience des risques professionnels et de l'adh\ue9rence aux mesures de s\ue9curit\ue9 parmi des soudeuses dans la m\ue9tropole de Kaduna au Nig\ue9ria nordique. M\ue9thodes: Un questionnaire structur\ue9 a \ue9t\ue9 administr\ue9 sur une section transversale de 330 soudeuses dans la m\ue9tropole de Kaduna au Nig\ue9ria nordique. L'information a \ue9t\ue9 cherch\ue9e sur leurs caract\ue9ristiques socio-d\ue9mographiques, leur conscience des risques professionnels et adh\ue9rence aux mesures de s\ue9curit\ue9. R\ue9sultats: Tous les soudeurs \ue9taient des m\ue2les avec un \ue2ge moyen de 35.7 \ub1 8.4 ann\ue9es. Le taux d'analphab\ue9tisme \ue9tait 7.6%. De fa\ue7on g\ue9n\ue9rale, 257 (77.9%) des soudeuses se rendaient compte d'un ou plusieurs risques de lieu de travail. Ceci a \ue9t\ue9 franchement influenc\ue9 par accomplissement \ue9ducatif, \ue2ge, nature de la formation et exp\ue9rience professionnelle. Des 330 r\ue9pondants, 282 (85.3%) avaient \ue9prouv\ue9 un ou plusieurs accidents travailler-connexes par ann\ue9e pr\ue9c\ue9dente. Les dommages les plus communs soutenus ont \ue9t\ue9 coup\ue9s/dommages aux mains et aux doigts (38.0%), douleur arri\ue8re/taille (19%), dommages d'oeil d'arc/corps \ue9trangers (17.0%), br\ufblures (14.0%), affaiblissement d'audition (7.0%), ruptures (4.0%) et amputation (1.0%). Seulement 113 (34.2%) soudeuses ont employ\ue9 un ou plusieurs types de dispositif protecteur avec des lunettes d'oeil (60.9%), des gants de main (50.3%) et des initialisations (34.5%) plus fr\ue9quemment \ue9tant employ\ue9es. L'utilisation r\ue9guli\ue8re du dispositif de s\ue9curit\ue9, les heures de travail plus courtes et l'exp\ue9rience croissante \ue9taient protectrices des accidents professionnels. Conclusions: Le niveau de la conscience des risques professionnels \ue9tait \ue9lev\ue9 avec l'utilisation optimale secondaire des mesures de sauvegarde contre les risques. Il y a donc besoin d'\ue9ducation de salubrit\ue9 et de s\ufbret\ue9 de ces ouvriers pour la sant\ue9 et la productivit\ue9 accrue

Knowledge and Practice of Breast-Self Examination among Female Undergraduate Students of Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, northwestern Nigeria

Background: Carcinoma of the breast is an important public health problem in Nigeria and studies have reported low levels of awareness and practice of breast self examination as an important method of prevention. Breast self examination is a cost-effective method of early detection of cancer of the breast especially in resource poor countries. We assessed knowledge and practice of breast-self examination (BSE) among female undergraduate students of Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, Nigeria. Method: In this study, knowledge and practice of BSE were examined among 221 female students aged 16 \u2013 28 years old studying at Ahmadu Bello University Zaria using self administered questionnaires. Results: It was found that despite nearly three quarter of the respondents (87.7%) had heard of BSE, only 19.0% of them were performing this examination monthly. Regarding the sources of information about BSE among respondents, media was found to be most common followed by health workers accounting for 45.5% and 32.2% respectively. Regular performance of BSE was significantly correlated with duration of stay in the University (X2 = 81.9, df = 3, P < .05) and family history of breast cancer (X2 = 17.4, df = 2, P < .05). Conclusion: We observed a disparity between high levels of knowledge of BSE compared to a low level of practice. Public health education using the media could significantly reduce the knowledge- practice gap and early detection of breast lump.Fond: Le carcinome du sein est un probl\ue8me important de sant\ue9 publique au Nig\ue9ria et les \ue9tudes ont indiqu\ue9 les niveaux bas de la conscience et la pratique de l'examen de conscience de sein comme m\ue9thode importante d'emp\ueachement. L'examen de conscience de sein est une m\ue9thode rentable de d\ue9pistage pr\ue9coce du cancer du sein particuli\ue8rement dans les pays pauvres de ressource. Nous la connaissance et pratique \ue9valu\ue9es de l'examen de sein-individu (ESB) parmi les \ue9tudiants d'\ue9tudiant pr\ue9parant une licence f\ue9minins de l'universit\ue9 Zaria, Nig\ue9ria d'Ahmadu Bello. M\ue9thode: Dans cette \ue9tude, la connaissance et la pratique de l'ESB ont \ue9t\ue9 examin\ue9es parmi 221 \ue9tudiants f\ue9minins \ue2g\ue9s 16 - 28 ans de \ue9tudier \ue0 l'universit\ue9 Zaria d'Ahmadu Bello en utilisant les questionnaires administr\ue9s par individu. R\ue9sultats : On l'a constat\ue9 qu'en d\ue9pit presque de de trois quarts des r\ue9pondants (87.7%) avait entendu parler de l'ESB, seulement 19.0% d'entre eux ex\ue9cutaient cette revue mensuelle d'examen. Concernant les sources d' informations sur l'ESB parmi des r\ue9pondants, des m\ue9dias se sont av\ue9r\ue9s plus terrain communal suivi du personnel sanitaire expliquant 45.5% et 32.2% respectivement. L'ex\ue9cution r\ue9guli\ue8re de l'ESB a \ue9t\ue9 sensiblement corr\ue9l\ue9e avec la dur\ue9e du s\ue9jour \ue0 l'universit\ue9 (X2 = 81.9, DF = 3, p < 0.05) et ant\ue9c\ue9dents familiaux du cancer du sein (X2 = 17.4, df=2, p <0.05). Conclusion: Nous avons observ\ue9 une disparit\ue9 entre le niveau \ue9lev\ue9 de la connaissance de l'ESB compar\ue9e \ue0 un niveau bas de la pratique. L'\ue9ducation de sant\ue9 publique employant les m\ue9dias a pu de mani\ue8re significative r\ue9duire l'espace de pratique en mati\ue8re de la connaissance et le d\ue9pistage pr\ue9coce du sein morceau

Household Expenditure on Treatment of Presumptive Malaria in a Rural Community of North-western Nigeria

Background: Malaria is endemic in Nigeria and there is a vicious cycle between it and poverty. It contributes towards poverty, while poverty influences the risk of its infection. Majority of Nigerians, 70%, live in rural areas, below poverty line. They earn less than $1.25 a day. Subsistence farming is their main occupation. The cost of malaria treatment represents a significant portion of their income.Objective: This study was conducted to assess the direct cost of presumptive malaria treatment on households in Gimba Village of Soba Local Government Area of Kaduna State, Nigeria.Methodology: A cross-sectional descriptive study conducted during community diagnosis posting of final year medical students of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria in July 2012. An interviewer- administered questionnaire was used to collect data from household heads.Results: Most of the respondents (69.7%) were farmers. A large proportion of the respondents (47.3%) earned between N10,000.00 to N20,000.00. monthly. The average household size was 6 while the average number of presumptive malaria cases per household per year was 13. On average, the direct cost of presumptive malaria treatment alone, consumes 4.9 % of the annual income of household heads. There was a statistically significant association between cost of treatment and place of seeking treatment (p <0.001).Conclusion: The direct cost of presumptive malaria treatment alone consumed a large proportion of the meagre annual income of households in the study area. For effective malaria control in Nigeria, free or subsidized malaria treatment and rural health insurance scheme are recommended.Keywords: Household, expenditure, Treatment, presumptive malaria, Gimba Community, Nigeria

Knowledge, attitude and practice of safety measures among cooking gas refill attendants in Zaria Metropolis, Kaduna State, Nigeria

Cooking gas refill attendants play important role in the use of gas in Zaria. The aim of this study was to assess the knowledge, attitude and safety measure practices among cooking gas refill attendants in Zaria metropolis, Kaduna State, Nigeria. A cross sectional study was conducted in January, 2019 among cooking gas refill attendants using structured interviewer-administered questionnaire and checklist. It was a whole-population study of 121 participants. The data was collected using Open Data Kit (ODK) software version 1.21.1 installed in an android device and analyzed using SPSS version 25.0. The results were summarized and presented in tables and charts; p value was set at < 0.05 for statistical significance. Majority (79.6%) of the respondents were within the productive age group of 25 to 44 years with median age 36 years, married (57.9%) and more than half (52.1%) of the respondents had secondary education and all respondents were males. The overall scores for knowledge, attitudes and safety practices were 81.0%, 90.1% and 75.2% respectively but with various deficiencies. Those that attended training were 78.0%. Finding from the checklist showed that 5.8% of the inspected fire extinguishers were expired. The respondents’ knowledge, attitude and safety measures practices were associated with level of education, age and ethnicity. Majority of the gas refill attendants had good knowledge, attitude and safety measure practice, however, with some deficiencies. There is need for training and supervision to ensure use of personal protective equipment and replacement of the expired fire extinguishers

How effective are trained role model caregivers in prompt presumptive treatment of malaria of under 5 children in Kaduna state, North western Nigeria?

Objective: Malaria is Africa's leading cause of under 5 mortality, constituting 10% of the overall disease burden. A major strategy for reducing the burden of malaria is prompt access to effective antimalarials. Community Case Management of malaria (CCMm) can be used to achieve the 80% treatment target of uncomplicated malaria within 24 hours of onset of symptoms. CCMm aims to train selected community members to recognize symptoms of malaria and give appropriate early and prompt treatment. We conducted this study to assess CCMm in trained Role Model caregivers (RMCs) of under fives in Kaduna state, Nigeria. Methods: We conducted a descriptive cross sectional survey in Kaduna state. A sample of 308 RMCs were selected by multistage sampling and interviewed using a standardized questionnaire. The questionnaire had questions on sociodemographic characteristics, malaria transmission and treatment. Results: Mean age (SD) of RMCs was 35.34 years (±8.67). Females were 294(95.5%) and 285(92.5%) were literate. Out of 308, 294 (95.5%) correctly identified that malaria was transmitted by mosquitoes. Two hundred and sixty three (85.4 %) RMCs had treated a child under five years for presumptive malaria in the two weeks preceding the survey. Out of 267 children, 232 (88.2%) received the correct dose of antimalarials and 220 (84.3%) were treated within 24 hours of onset of symptoms. Level of education was significantly found to affect receiving the correct dose of antimalarials.(