Dental caries experience and treatment needs of an adult female population in Nigeria

Background: Experience and awareness of adult females concerning dental caries is important in its prevention particularly in children because of their natural role as care givers.Objectives: To determine the prevalence of dental caries and treatment needs in an adult female Nigerian population.Methods: In this cross-sectional study, adult females attending outreach programmes were examined for dental caries using the Decayed Missing and Filled Teeth caries index (DMFT). Socio-demographic variables were also recorded and statistical analysis done with SPSS software.Results: A total of 430 females aged 16 to 59 years participated in the outreach programme out of which 109 (25.3%) had a DMFT score > 0. Mean DMFT was 0.7 ± 1.6. Fifty-five (12.8%) participants had decayed teeth, 78 (18.1 %) had missing teeth and 10(2.3%) had filled teeth. The treatment need was 34.3%, restorative index was 13.3% and significant caries index was 2.0. There were significant differences in caries experience based on age, marital status and educational qualifications of participants p < 0.05.Conclusion: The prevalence of dental caries among the study group was low but the treatment need was high. Younger females, singles and those with lower educational qualifications had a higher dental caries experience.Keywords: Adults, dental caries, DMFT, female, prevalence, treatment need

Effect of Smartphone-Assisted Jigsaw Cooperative Learning on Senior Secondary School Students’ Achievement in Mathematics within Education District IV, Lagos State

This study investigated the effect of smartphone-assisted Jigsaw cooperative learning on senior secondary school students' achievement in mathematics in addition to determining how gender and smartphone efficacy as moderating variables influenced students' achievement in mathematics. The study was guided by three research questions and six hypotheses. Purposive sampling was used to select two (2) schools from Educational District IV of Lagos State. Five hundred and thirty-four students from intact classes were assigned into experimental and control groups. The Smartphone Assisted Learning Package was the treatment while Mathematics Achievement Test served as the data collection instrument. Descriptive and inferential statistics employed include mean, standard deviation, and Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA). Findings indicated that students who were taught mathematics using a smartphone-assisted Jigsaw strategy performed significantly better than those exposed to the traditional method of teaching. Smartphone efficacy and gender had no significant consequence on students' achievement in mathematics. Findings led to recommendations including that teachers should expose mathematics students to smartphone-assisted Jigsaw cooperative learning strategy to promote active learning and interaction leading to a significant gain in students' mathematics achievement

Dental caries experience and treatment needs of an adult female population in Nigeria.

Background: Experience and awareness of adult females concerning dental caries is important in its prevention particularly in children because of their natural role as care givers. Objectives: To determine the prevalence of dental caries and treatment needs in an adult female Nigerian population. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, adult females attending outreach programmes were examined for dental caries using the Decayed Missing and Filled Teeth caries index (DMFT). Socio-demographic variables were also recorded and statistical analysis done with SPSS software. Results: A total of 430 females aged 16 to 59 years participated in the outreach programme out of which 109 (25.3%) had a DMFT score > 0. Mean DMFT was 0.7 \ub1 1.6. Fifty-five (12.8%) participants had decayed teeth, 78 (18.1 %) had missing teeth and 10(2.3%) had filled teeth. The treatment need was 34.3%, restorative index was 13.3% and significant caries index was 2.0. There were significant differences in caries experience based on age, marital status and educational qualifications of participants p < 0.05. Conclusion: The prevalence of dental caries among the study group was low but the treatment need was high. Younger females, singles and those with lower educational qualifications had a higher dental caries experience

“Owoero”: a health education tool to dispel teething myths and misconceptions – a report

Research findings in Nigeria have revealed that misconceptions about teething is common in the society, particularly among individuals from the lower social class. This prompted the development of a twenty four minute video in a local Nigerian language (Yoruba) titled “Owoero” (meaning “ease”) . The video conveys a general message on ease of eruption of teeth in children; void of the long list of perceived symptoms. Videos are powerful communication vehicles and important health education tools. They have been used in many countries and previous researches have shown that videotapes are useful aids in health education This present video is to serve as a culturally appropriate community dental health education tool, with special focus on nursing mothers and pregnant women particularly in south western Nigeria because of their essential role in oral health care of children. The video also targets people from the lower socioeconomic class due to their poor knowledge and practice of oral health .This article describes the rationale behind the choice of a culturally appropriate heath educational video and the process and steps that went into the finished work.Keywords: teething , child , video oral health education.Running Title: A health education video on teethin

Oral health awareness, practices and status of patients with diabetes attending a tertiary health institution in Nigeria

Background: Despite the reported increasing prevalence of diabetes mellitus, very few studies have documented report on oral health awareness and oral health conditions of individuals with diabetes mellitus from our environment. Thus this study aimed at assessing the oral health awareness, practices and status of individuals with diabetes mellitus attending a tertiary health facility in Nigeria.Methods: A cross sectional survey of 143 patients with diabetes attending the medical outpatients' clinic of the hospital. Information was obtained from participants using pretested structured questionnaires and oral examination. Tests of associations were determined using Chi-square and student t test.Results: One-fifth (20.3%) of the respondents were aware of good oral health preventing oral diseases in diabetes. Thirty-five (24.5%) knew that diabetes could worsen oral health condition and only 3 (2.1%) could correctly explain the association between diabetes and oral health conditions. Forty-three (30.1%) had participated in an oral health education program focused on diabetes and oral health. The majority (88.6%) had calculus accumulation while none had a healthy periodontium.Conclusion: Oral health awareness, practices and status of patients with diabetes were poor in our environment. Thus, these individuals need to be better informed of the relationship between oral health and diabetes.Keywords: Oral disease; diabetes; awareness; oral health educatio

Dentine hypersensitivity: real or imagined

Background: Dentine hypersensitivity is a common presentation of cause of pain and or discomfort with mastication which has been shown to affect the quality of life of the affected individual. It is also a common cause of presentation at the dental clinics. However, the cause, diagnosis and possible management to give relief can be a dilemma for the clinician who at times may wonder if the sensation the individual is presenting with, is real or imagined.Aim: The purpose of this paper was to review dentine hypersensitivity in view of causes, diagnosis and management.Methodology: Articles used were found by searching the key words: dentine hypersensitivity, tooth wear lesions, desensitization, gingival recession, treatment of hypersensitivity.Result: There are a variety of causes of dentine hypersensitivity with a variety of ways to manage and provide adequate treatment, but the condition must be well understood.Conclusion: Many options of treatment are now available to eliminate the pain from dentine hypersensitivity and thus improving the quality of life of these patients because the sensitivity they experience is real.Keywords: dentine, hypersensitivity, tooth wear, desensitization, quality of lif

How the field of infectious diseases can leverage digital strategy and social media use during a pandemic

Rapid information dissemination is critical in a world changing rapidly due to global threats. Ubiquitous internet access has created new methods of information dissemination that are rapid, far-reaching, and universally accessible. However, inaccuracies may accompany rapid information dissemination, and rigorous evaluation of primary data through various forms of peer review is crucial. In an era in which high-quality information can save lives, it is critical that infectious diseases specialists are well versed in digital strategy to effectively disseminate information to colleagues and the community and diminish voices spreading misinformation. In this study, we review how social media can be used for rapid dissemination of quality information, benefits and pitfalls of social media use, and general recommendations for developing a digital strategy as an infectious diseases specialist. We will describe how the Infectious Diseases Society of America has leveraged digital strategy and social media and how individuals can amplify these resources to disseminate information, provide clinical knowledge, community guidance, and build their own person brand. We conclude in providing guidance to infectious diseases specialists in aiming to build and preserve public trust, consider their audience and specific goals, and use social media to highlight the value of the field of infectious diseases

Factors associated with financial security, food security and quality of daily lives of residents in Nigeria during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic

An online survey was conducted to identify factors associated with financial insecurity, food insecurity and poor quality of daily lives of adults in Nigeria during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. The associations between the outcome (experience of financial loss, changes in food intake and impact of the pandemic on daily lives) and the explanatory (age, sex, education level, anxiety, depression, HIV status) variables were determined using logistic regression analysis. Of the 4439 respondents, 2487 (56.0%) were financially insecure, 907 (20.4%) decreased food intake and 4029 (90.8%) had their daily life negatively impacted. Males (AOR:0.84), people who felt depressed (AOR:0.62) and people living with HIV -PLHIV- (AOR:0.70) had significantly lower odds of financial insecurity. Older respondents (AOR:1.01) had significantly higher odds of financial insecurity. Those depressed (AOR:0.62) and PLHIV (AOR:0.55) had significantly lower odds of reporting decreased food intake. Respondents who felt anxious (AOR:0.07), depressed (AOR: 0.48) and who were PLHIV (AOR:0.68) had significantly lower odds of reporting a negative impact of the pandemic on their daily lives. We concluded the study findings may reflect a complex relationship between financial insecurity, food insecurity, poor quality of life, mental health, and socioeconomic status of adults living in Nigeria during the COVID-19 pandemic

Factors associated with COVID-19 pandemic induced post-traumatic stress symptoms among adults living with and without HIV in Nigeria: a cross-sectional study

Background: Nigeria is a country with high risk for traumatic incidences, now aggravated by the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aimed to identify differences in COVID-19 related post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) among people living and not living with HIV; to assess whether PTSS were associated with COVID-19 pandemic-related anger, loneliness, social isolation, and social support; and to determine the association between PTSS and use of COVID-19 prevention strategies.Methods: The data of the 3761 respondents for this analysis was extracted from a cross-sectional online survey that collected information about mental health and wellness from a convenience sample of adults, 18 years and above, in Nigeria from July to December 2020. Information was collected on the study's dependent variable (PTSS), independent variables (self-reported COVID-19, HIV status, use of COVID-19 prevention strategies, perception of social isolation, access to emotional support, feelings of anger and loneliness), and potential confounder (age, sex at birth, employment status). A binary logistic regression model tested the associations between independent and dependent variables.Results: Nearly half (47.5%) of the respondents had PTSS. People who had symptoms but were not tested (AOR = 2.20), felt socially isolated (AOR = 1.16), angry (AOR = 2.64), or lonely (AOR = 2.19) had significantly greater odds of reporting PTSS (p p Conclusion: The present study identified some multifaceted relationships between post-traumatic stress, HIV status, facemask use, anger, loneliness, social isolation, and access to emotional support during this protracted COVID-19 pandemic. These findings have implications for the future health of those affected, particularly for individuals living in Nigeria. Public health education should be incorporated in programs targeting prevention and prompt diagnosis and treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder at the community level.</p

Pediatric patients’ reasons for visiting dentists in all WHO regions

Oral Function, Orofacial Pain, Orofacial Appearance, and Psychosocial Impact are the four oral healthrelated quality of life (OHRQoL) dimensions (4D) or areas in which oral disorders impact pediatric patients. Using their dentists’ assessment, the study aimed to evaluate whether pediatric dental patients’ oral health concerns ft into the 4D of the Oral Health-Related Quality of Life (OHRQoL) construct.Dentists who treat children from 32 countries and all WHO regions were selected from a web-based survey of 1580 international dentists. Dentists were asked if their pediatric patients with current or future oral health concerns ft into the 4D of the Oral Health-Related Quality of Life (OHRQoL) construct. Proportions of all pediatric patients’ oral health problems and prevention needs were computed