Promoting cessation and a tobacco free future: willingness of pharmacy students at the University of Lagos, Nigeria

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Tobacco use is projected to cause nearly 450 million deaths worldwide during the next 50 years. Health professionals can have a critical role in reducing tobacco use. Therefore, one of the strategies to reduce the number of smoking-related deaths is to encourage the involvement of health professionals in tobacco-use prevention and cessation counseling. As future health care providers, pharmacy students should consider providing assistance to others to overcome tobacco use and be involved in promoting a tobacco free future as part of their professional responsibility.</p> <p>This research was to determine the knowledge of tobacco/smoking policy, willingness to be involved in tobacco cessation, attitude to keeping a tobacco free environment and the smoking habit among pharmacy students at the University of Lagos.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Data was collected by the use of self administered questionnaire which was aimed at assessing their smoking habit, determining their knowledge and attitude to smoking policy and willingness to be involved in smoking cessation. The population sample was all the pharmacy students in their professional years (200 to 500 Levels) at Idi-Araba Campus of the University of Lagos.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Out of 327 qualified participants, 297 responded to the questionnaire which was about 91% participation rate but out of these only 291 questionnaires were useful which came to 89%.</p> <p>There seemed to be no statistically significant difference between the smoking habits among the different levels (p > 0.05). Overall, the current smoking prevalence was 5.5% which is lower than the national prevalence rate of 8.9%.</p> <p>Awareness of WHO FCTC global tobacco treaty was low (9.3%) among pharmacy students but they agreed that pharmacists and pharmacy students should be involved in quit smoking program (93.1%) and they were willing to be involved in helping smokers to quit (85.9%). Majority agreed that smoking should not be permitted in pharmacies (87.9%) and at pharmacy students' events (86.9%).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>From this study it can be concluded that smoking prevalence is low among pharmacy students at the University of Lagos. Awareness of global policy is low but they are willing to be involved in smoking cessation and promoting a tobacco free future.</p

Preservation of Smoked African Catfish, Clarias gariepinus Burchell against Dermestes maculatus De Geer (Coleoptera: Dermestidae) using Neem Seed Oil-iodized Salt Mixtures

Dermestes maculatus is a major fish pest causing serious damage when left uncontrolled. This work identifies the fatty acids of Nigeria-obtained neem seed oil (NSO) and the potential of different mixtures of the NSO and iodized salt in the control of the pest. Seven fatty acids: palmitic acid (18.09%), linoleic acid (33.73%), stearic acid (14.37%), oleic acid (13.4%), octadecanoic acid (12.93%), 9, 12–octadecadienoic acid (1.47%) and arachidic acid (3.33%) were identified in the NSO. Percentage of D. maculatus adu1t mortality (100%) observed in fish treated with 0.00 μl NSO + 0.50 mg salt, 100 μl NSO + 0.125 mg salt and 0.00 μl NSO + 0.25 mg salt was significantly (p<0.05) different from mortality observed in untreated fish (31.25%). Percentage of live larvae (0.0%) in fish treated with 0.50 mg salt + 0.00 μl NSO, 100 μl NSO + 0.125 mg salt, 0.00 μ1 NSO + 0.25 mg salt and 50 μl NSO + 0.125 mg salt was lower than 63.97% observed in the control. Percentage of weight loss of untreated (75.10%) and 50 μl NSO-treated fish (69.65%) was significantly higher than values obtained from fish treated with 0.5 mg salt (26.93%), 100 μ1 NSO + 0.125 mg salt (25.73%) and 0.25 mg salt (23.63%). Application of NSO-iodized salt did not change the colour and odour of treated fish. Consumers significantly rejected fish treated with ≥ 50 μl NSO

Sexually transmitted infections: Prevalence, knowledge and treatment practices among female sex workers in a cosmopolitan city in Nigeria

Sexually transmitted infections constitute economic burden for developing countries, exposure to causative agents is an occupational hazard for female sex workers. Targeted interventions for this population can reduce the incidence and prevalence of sexually transmitted infections including human immunodeficiency virus, but barriers exists which can hinder effective implementation of such programs. This descriptive cross sectional study sought to assess the prevalence, knowledge and treatment practices of sexually transmitted infections among brothel based female sex workers Three hundred and twenty three consenting female sex workers were surveyed using pre tested, interviewer administered questionnaires. More than half of the respondents (54.2%) had poor knowledge of symptoms of sexually transmitted infections. Only 13.9% were aware that sexually transmitted infections could be asymptomatic. The self reported prevalence of symptomatic sexually transmitted infections was 36.5%. About half of those with sexually transmitted infectionss sought treatment in a hospital or health centre while 32.5% from a patent medicine vendor. Most respondents (53.8%) mentioned the perceived quality of care as the main reason for seeking treatment in their chosen place. More of the respondents with good knowledge of sexually transmitted infections reported symptoms compared to those with fair and poor knowledge. The knowledge of sexually transmitted infections among these female sex workers is poor and the prevalence is relatively high. Efforts to improve knowledge promote and encourage preventive as well as effective treatment practices must be made for this population.Les infections sexuellement transmissibles constituent un fardeau économique pour les pays en développement et l&apos;exposition aux agents pathogènes est un risque professionnel pour les prostituées. Les interventions qui visent cette population peuvent réduire l&apos;incidence et la prévalence des infections sexuellement transmissibles, y compris le virus de l&apos;immunodéficience humaine, mais il existe des obstacles qui peuvent entraver la mise en oeuvre effective de ces programmes. Cette étude descriptive transversale a cherché à évaluer les pratiques de la prévalence, la connaissance et le traitement des infections sexuellement transmissibles chez les prostituées qui pratiquent leur métier dans des bordels. Trois cent vingt-trois prostituées consentants ont été interrogées à l&apos;aide des questionnaires déjà testés et administrés par l’intervieweur. Plus de la moitié des interviewées (54,2%) avaient une mauvaise connaissance des symptômes des infections sexuellement transmissibles. Seulement 13,9% étaient au courant que les infections sexuellement transmissibles peuvent être asymptomatiques. La prévalence des symptômes d&apos;infections sexuellement transmissibles auto signalés était de 36,5%. Environ la moitié de ceux qui sont atteints des infections sexuellement transmissibles ont recherché un traitement dans un centre hospitalier ou dans un centre de santé tandis que 32,5% le recherchaient auprès d&apos;un vendeur des médicaments brevetés. La plupart des interviewées (53,8%) ont mentionné la qualité perçue des soins comme la principale raison pour se faire soigner dans les lieux choisis. Beaucoup d’interviewées qui ont une bonne connaissance des infections sexuellement transmissibles ont signalé des symptômes par rapport à ceux qui les connaissent passablement ou mal. La connaissance des infections sexuellement transmissibles chez les prostituées est mauvaise et la prévalence est relativement élevée. Il faut faire des efforts pour améliorer les connaissances, pour promouvoir et pour encourager la prévention ainsi que les pratiques de traitement efficaces à l’intérêt de cette populatio

Ending preventable maternal and child deaths in western Nigeria: Do women utilize the life lines?

<div><p>Introduction</p><p>Nigeria which constitutes just one percent of the world population, accounts for 13% of the world maternal and under-five mortality. Utilization of health care services has been an important determinant of maternal and child outcomes. The vast majority of maternal and child deaths could be prevented if women utilize the available life lines. The study objective was to determine utilization of maternal and child health care services among women of child bearing age in Western Nigeria.</p><p>Methods</p><p>A community based, cross sectional study was done in Oshodi/Isolo Local Government Area among women of child bearing age (15-49 years) with at least one child under five years. Multistage sampling was used to select 371 respondents. Data was collected with a structured, pretested, interviewer administered questionnaire and analyzed with Epi info 3.5.1. Summary and inferential statistics were done. Level of significance was set at 5%(p<0.05).</p><p>Results</p><p>Of the 371 respondents interviewed, the health facility was used for antenatal care (74.3% n = 276), delivery (59.9% n = 222), postnatal services (77.9% n = 289), family planning services (28.8% n = 107), immunization (95.1% n = 353), growth monitoring (77.4% n = 287), nutritional services (64.7% n = 240) and treatment of childhood illness (49.6% n = 184). Only 31.5% (n = 117) of the respondents practiced exclusive breastfeeding and 82% (n = 263) of the mothers used oral rehydration solution for diarrhoea management. Maternal education significantly influenced utilization. In addition maternal age, employment status, number of children, spouse employment and educational status played significant roles.</p><p>Conclusion</p><p>Utilization of maternal and child health services among respondents was above national average but not optimal, especially family planning services, exclusive breastfeeding and curative services for children. Interventions that improve maternal educational status and wealth creation should be undertaken to achieve the SDGs.</p></div

Socio demographic characteristics of respondents.

<p>Socio demographic characteristics of respondents.</p

Determinants of antiretroviral treatment adherence among patients attending secondary health care facilities in north-east and south-west Nigeria: a comparative study

Background: Four decades after its discovery, HIV continues to be a major global public health issue, even with antiretroviral therapy (ART). Strict adherence to ART remains a challenge, with attendant implications for treatment success. This study aimed at comparing ART adherence between north-east and south-west Nigeria.Methods: A comparative cross-sectional study was conducted in two regions in Nigeria among 400 HIV/AIDS patients on ART. Data were collected using a pre-tested, semi-structured interviewer-administered questionnaire. Multivariable analysis was performed to determine predictors of ART adherence in the regions. The level of significance was set at 0.05.Results: The majority of respondents from both the north-east (87.5%) and south-west (92.5%) of Nigeria had good knowledge about ART. The self-reported adherence level was 90.0% in the north-east and 87.5% in the south-west. Predictors of ART adherence in the north-east were knowledge about ART (AOR 9.949; 95% CI 2.009–49.284) and transport costs to the clinic (AOR 0.177; 95% CI 0.047–0.661). In the south-west, education (AOR 0.198; 95% CI 0.047–0.832) and knowledge of ART (AOR 8.945; 95% CI 1.749–45.751) were identified as predictors of ART adherence.Conclusion: In both regions, knowledge about ART was appreciable, but adherence was sub-optimal. Strategies to support adherence should be tailored to specific predictors in each region

Associations between socio demographic data and child health care services utilization.

<p>Associations between socio demographic data and child health care services utilization.</p

Utilization of child health care services among respondents.

<p>Utilization of child health care services among respondents.</p

Multiple logistic regressions (Multivariable analysis) of use of formal ANC & skilled delivery on the socio-demographic factors.

<p>Multiple logistic regressions (Multivariable analysis) of use of formal ANC & skilled delivery on the socio-demographic factors.</p