Spectrum of intracranial tumours in a tertiary health carefacility: Our findings

Introduction: primary brain tumours are uncommon with an annual incidence of 5-10/100000. This study has attempted to analyse thehistological pattern of intracranial tumours seen in our centre. Methods: a retrospective study of cases of intracranial tumours seen wasconducted over a period of 5 years ie from January 2008 to December 2012. All the slides were reviewed. The age, sex, diagnosis using the WHOgrading and the histological subtypes were recorded. Data were analysed using the (SPSS) Software version 17.Results: altogether, 56 cases of intracranial tumours were seen out of a total of 12,610biopsies representing 0.004% .The male to female ratio (M: F) was approximately 1:1.1The mean age of the patients was 36 ± 20.35 (range, 2 to 85). Astrocytomas accounted for 30% (17)while 29% (16) hadMeningioma.Medulloblastoma accounted for 18%.(10).Of the cases of Gliomas, majority(52%) fell under WHO grade II. (38%)of the Meningiomawere of the mixed type while 25% had transitional type.Conclusion: astrocytomas was the commonest brain tumour.These patternscorroboratedmost studies that have been done.Metastasis to the brain was however, not seen in this study

Body Size Perceptions and Weight Status of Adults in a Nigerian Rural Community

Background: Overweight and obesity are now recognized worldwide as increasing public health problems throughout the life course and wrong perception of one’s body size may reduce the motivation for an overweight person to lose weight. Aim: This study was conducted to investigate how Nigerian rural dwellers perceive their body size and how their perception agrees with their body mass index (BMI). Subjects and Methods: A cross‑sectional sample of 183 adults living in a rural community, South‑West Nigeria was randomly recruited into the study. Their verbal and visual body size perceptions were assessed through structured questions and body images. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the data. Results: Thirty‑five percent (64/183) of participants were classified as either overweight or obese by BMI. More than half of the participants perceived themselves as normal weight. More women perceived themselves to be obese than men in both verbal and visual perceptions. Based on BMI classification, 43% (79/183) and 54% (98/183) of participants misperceived themselves in verbal and visual perception, respectively. Underestimation of body size was higher in men (38.3%, 36/94) while overestimation was higher in women (9.0%, 8/89). Men had consistently higher values of kappa coefficient which indicate greater agreement than women in both types of perception. Conclusion: We found considerable gender differences in body weight perception of adults in the Nigerian rural community. A large proportion of these rural dwellers could not appropriately classify their weight status; and over 30% (64/183) and nearly 50% (92/183) of them underestimated their own body weight in verbal and visual perceptions respectively.Keywords: Body perception, Overweight, Rural community, Weight statu

Prevalence of Low Back Pain among Adolescent Students in a Nigerian Urban Community

This school-based survey was aimed at determining the prevalence of low-back pain (LBP) among adolescent students of selected secondary schools in Ibadan, Nigeria. Nine hundred secondary schools students, comprising 415 boys and 485 girls, with age range 12-17 years were surveyed. They were required to complete a self-developed, three-part items questionnaire which collected information on socio-demographic characteristics, history and intensity of low back pain, factors predisposingto low back pain, and activity limitations suffered because of low back pain.The 12-month and point prevalence of LBP among participants were 40.7% and 12.9% respectively. For boys the 12-month prevalence of LBP was 41.7% and for girls it was 39.8%. The point prevalence of LBP was14.2% for girls and 11.3% for boys. Most of the participants had their first LBP experience at 10-15 years, with a peak at 12-14 years. The LBP experienced by most participants was of short duration and only a few episodes, suggesting non-chronicity. Over 50% of the participants were involved in activities that make them frequently bend at the waist.The findings of this survey suggest that LBP is fairly prevalent among Nigerian adolescents. Health education on LBP prevention will help reduce its incidence in this population.KEYWORDS: low back pain, prevalence, adolescent students, Nigeri

Major limb amputations at a teaching hospital in the sub-Saharan Africa: Any change in trend?

No Abstrac

Results of Operative Fixation of Fractures of the Ankle at a Tertiary Hospital in a Developing Country

Background: Operative fixation of ankle fractures is becoming popular in developing countries. The concern however is the outcome of care. The objective was to evaluate the results of open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF) of fractures of the ankle in our hospital.Methods: All cases ORIF of fractures of the ankle at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan between March 2010 and December 2012 were recruited into the study. The indications for surgery, techniques of fixation, time interval between injury and presentation as well as outcome  measures like time to union, complications and functional outcomes were evaluated.Results: Seventy patients who had ORIF of ankle fractures were studied. Twenty-one (30%) were open fractures while forty-nine (70%) were closed. Sixty (85.7%) patients presented within the first week of injury, 4 (5.7%) after 4 weeks, 4 (5.7%) after 6 weeks and 2 (2.9%) after 52 weeks. Time to union averaged 12.6±4.1weeks. Complications included wound infection 14.3%, wound dehiscence with exposed implants 2.9%, malunion 8.6% and non union 5.7%. Good to excellent functional outcomes were achieved in 77.1% of the patients.Conclusion: ORIF is a viable option in the treatment of ankle fractures

Physiotherapy clinical students’ perception of their learning environment: A Nigerian perspective

Background. A favourable environment has a positive and significant impact on students’ learning, academic progress and well-being. The present study was undertaken to identify the perceptions of physiotherapy students in their clinical years of their learning environment at the College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Nigeria.Methods. A focus group discussion involving 12 undergraduate  physiotherapy students was used to obtain information about their  perception of their learning environment. Six students from two clinical levels of study were recruited through a simple random sampling  technique. The focus interview guide was developed based on information obtained from the DREEM questionnaire and literature review. The  interviews were analysed using the identified themes from DREEM and grounded theory for emerging subcategories.Results. Five descriptive themes and several subcategories were identified: (i) context of learning (course objectives, student focused/teacher centred, active learning); (ii) context of teachers (knowledgeable teachers, provision of formative assessment, approachable lecturers, cordial teacher-student relationship); (iii) context of students’ perception of their academic skills (understanding the subject); (iv) context of atmosphere (adequacy of facilities, e.g. chairs, classrooms, library, books); and (v) context of social life (religious activities, social functions, school-related social activities).Conclusion. Most students perceived their learning environment as good, especially with regard to student-teacher relationships. Some of the  teachers were described as knowledgeable, and as providing formative  assessment. However, students perceived their learning as being teacher centred. To facilitate an excellent learning environment, particular attention needs to be paid to availability of physiotherapy textbooks in the college library, sufficient appropriate furniture in classrooms, and provision of a functioning departmental library. The findings from this study may provide insights for teachers who wish to enhance the effectiveness of their  teaching and of their students’ learning

Comparison of Statistical Models Used for Assessing Factors Associated with Infant Mortality in Nigeria

Background: Infant mortality is a public health concern especially in developing countries, particularly Nigeria. Different models had been used independently to identify factors associated with infant mortality. Some of the used models sometimes violate the underlying assumption for the models. This study was designed to compare the models that have been previously used and identify the appropriate model using standard model selection criteria to analyse risk factors for infant mortality in Nigeria. Methods: The study utilised 2008 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) data with a sample size of 7107. The NDHS was a stratified two-stage cluster design where a questionnaire was used to collect data on the birth history of women aged 15-49 years. The models employed for this study were: Logit, Probit and Clog-log. The model selection criteria were Akaike Information Criterion (AIC), Residual Deviance and Vuong test. The model with the smallest criteria was considered to be the best fit. Results: The results showed that Infant Mortality in Nigeria can be appropriately modelled by Clog-log model. The models and corresponding AIC values were: Logit (6171.1), Probit (6212.6) and Clog-log (6126.6). The residual deviance included: Logit (6135.1), Probit (6176.6) and Clog-log (6090.6). Clog-log had the smallest AIC and residual deviance values; hence, it was of the best fit. Home delivery and delivery by professionals had negative significant associations with infant mortality while women's education (primary/no education) and birth order had positive significant association, (p < 0.05). Conclusion: The best model for infant mortality evaluation in Nigeria was Clog-log. Generally, improved women’s education would significantly reduce Infant Mortality in Nigeria

Investigation of the Perception of Climate Change among Arable Crop Farmers in Akinyele Local Government Area of Oyo State, Nigeria

This study was designed to investigate the perception of climate change among arable crop farmers in Akinyele local government area of Oyo state, Nigeria using a well-structured questionnaire for data acquisition. Descriptive and inferential (chi-square) statistics were used to analyze the data.. The study revealed that majority of the respondents (50.8%) were between the ages of 40-49years and majority of them (85.8%) are married with household size of 7-10 persons. The study further revealed that (33.3%) of the respondents had no formal education while, (42.5%) of the respondents had a farming experience of 16years and above. However, it also shows that majority of the respondents are aware of the effect and causes of climate change. Significant association exists between marital status (x2=68.426, P=0.000), family size (X2=25.777, P=0.012) and perceived effect of climate change. The study therefore recommended that the government and extension agents should enlighten the women farmers more about climate change and should also help in making them adapt excellently to climate change

Introduction of Improved Okra (NHAe47-4) Variety as a Means of Economic Enhancement of Farmers in Ido Village, Ido Local Government Area, Oyo State, Nigeria

The study was carried out to introduce improved okra (NHAe47-4) variety to farmers in Ido Village in Ido Local Government of Oyo State using SAFE approach to agricultural extension which includes; capacity building among farmers to enable them diagnoses their problems, identify solutions and develop plans and implement them with or without support from outside. Farmers in the studied area were selected and a group was formed comprising of twelve (12) members. Sensitization and awareness creation were conducted in the study area through series of activities such as facilitating, interactive group discussions and several meetings with the farmers were held to orientate them of the improved okra variety through teaching and management techniques. Descriptive statistical tool such as frequency distribution and percentages was used to analyze the objectives. At the end of the harvesting and whole exercise, the group (farmers) was interviewed verbally to know their levels of awareness for adoption and their general view about the improved variety in relation to the normal okra variety they were used to. The farmers embraced the technology and they were actively participated through demonstration method exercise. Having known all the techniques involved in the production cycle, the farmers also tried the technology on their individual plot which served as an encouragement factor for adoption. The study thus resulted into improving the standard of living and economic enhancement of the farmers in the study area

Physico-chemical characteristics of Anopheles breeding sites: Impact on fecundity and progeny development

Mosquitoes exploit almost all types of aquatic habitats for breeding. Prevailing physicochemical parameters in these habitats are important factors for survival and development of mosquito. Here, six water samples from Atlantic Ocean, River, well, distilled (control), rain and borehole water were used to culture Anopheline eggs collected from pure bred of Kisimu species. The development of eggs to 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th instars larval, pupal and adult stages were observed from day 1 to 6 using six replicates of each water sample. The number of eggs laid (fecundity) by the emerged adults were estimated using counting microscope. Level of development in emerged adults was determined using the wing size. The analysis of the physicochemical parameters of the water samples was carried out in the Nigerian Institute of Marine and Oceanography. The physicochemical characteristics were compared with the rates of development and fecundity of the Anopheline species. Statistical analysis using ANOVA indicates no significant difference (P > 0.05) in the hatchability of the eggs. However, the rates of larval development to pupal stage and subsequent adult emergence showed a level of significant difference (P 0.05). This study provides information on mosquito ecology in relation to breeding habitat which may have bearing on vector population and distribution as well as malaria transmission in a particular area