Study protocol for a pilot quasi-experimental study on oral health education for nurses and community health workers in Nigeria

IntroductionThe primary health care system provides an ideal setting for the integration of oral health into general health care as well as equitable access to oral health care. However, the limited oral health knowledge of primary health care workers necessitates appropriate training before they can participate in health promotion efforts. This pilot training was designed to examine the impact of the Oral Health Education module for Nurses and Community Health Care Workers on their oral health awareness and referral practices.MethodsThis study will utilize a quasi-experimental design (pre-and post with a non-equivalent control group) to assess the impact of a five-day pilot oral health education program on the knowledge and referral practices of Nurses and Community Health Workers in primary health care centers in three states in Nigeria-(Lagos, Oyo, and Kano). The training modules were developed based on the six iterative steps described in the intervention mapping framework – needs assessment, highlighting program objectives and outcomes, selection of theory and mode of intervention, designing program based on theory, designing implementation plans, and developing an evaluation plan. Only the intervention group will participate in the full educational training sessions but both groups will complete the pre-and post-intervention questionnaires.DiscussionThis pilot training combined the standardized training modules from the recently launched “Oral Health Training Course for Community Health Workers in Africa” and a newly developed maternal and child oral health module by our group using an evidence-based approach. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first program to examine the impact of the standardized OpenWHO modules. The success of this training will lay the foundation for developing a sustained channel for providing oral health education at the primary health care level in Nigeria, West Africa, and Africa

Kinetics of potassium release and fixation in some soils of Ogun State, Southwestern, Nigeria as influenced by organic manure

Abstract Purpose The study investigated the effects of poultry and goat manures on the kinetics of potassium fixation and release in some sandy loam and loamy soils of Ogun State, Nigeria. Methods The treatments consisted of poultry and goat manures applied at 25 g and 100 g/5 kg soil set in completely randomized design with three replicates. Potassium fixation and release kinetics were computed from the analytical data. Results Experimental soils was sandy, slightly acidic, low in nutrients with 80% fixed potassium. However, manure application resulted in 74% reduction of the amount of K fixed by the soils. Elovich and power functions had the best fit for K released in soils treated with goat manure. The K release pattern in poultry manure-amended soil is best described by the parabolic diffusion, Elovich, and power functions, while the first-order equation described K release in soils treated with cattle manure. The potassium release rate constant correlated positively with K uptake. Conclusion The ability of the studied soils to fixed K was reduced with the application of organic manures. Potassium fixation decreased with increase in organic manure rates, 100 g/5 kg soil tends to be the optimum rate, and poultry manure had greater effect on the fixing and releasing power of K

COMPORTAMENTO DE BUSCA DE INFORMAÇÕES DE PACIENTES COM CÂNCER EM CUIDADOS PALIATIVOS NO NORTE DA NIGÉRIA

This study assessed information seek behaviour of cancer patients in palliative care in Northern Nigeria. The study was guided with two hypotheses. Survey research design was used for this study. The population for this study comprise all patients in palliative care attending Usman Danfudio Teaching Hospital, Sokoto; Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria and National Hospital, Abuja the three (3) hospital were purposively selected because they are the only University Teaching Hospital that offer radiotherapy in Northern Nigeria and a total of five hundred and eighty four (584) (University Teaching Hospital). Availability sampling procedure was used for the study. Split half reliability method was employed to test the reliability of the instrument and the reliability index of 0.85 was obtained. Analysis of data was done using descriptive statistics of mean, standard deviation, frequency counts and percentage. t-test and chi-squre was used to test hypotheses at 0.05 alpha level of significance. The results indicated that there is significant difference in information seeking behaviour of cancer patients in palliative care in Northern Nigeria (P < 0.05) and there is no significant difference between male and female on information seeking behaviour of cancer patients in palliative care in Northern Nigeria (P>0.05). it was recommended that Government and health workers should organise programs for cancer patients in palliative care in Northern Nigeria so as to spread awareness that will make cancer patients acquire correct information on management of cancer.Este estudo avaliou informações em busca de comportamento de pacientes com câncer em cuidados paliativos no norte da Nigéria. O estudo foi orientado com duas hipóteses. O desenho da pesquisa foi utilizado para este estudo. A população para este estudo compreende todos os pacientes em cuidados paliativos que frequentam o Usman Danfudio Teaching Hospital, Sokoto; Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria e National Hospital, Abuja os três (3) hospitais foram selecionados propositalmente porque são o único hospital universitário que oferece radioterapia no norte da Nigéria e um total de quinhentos e oitenta e quatro (584) (University Teaching Hospital). O procedimento de amostragem de disponibilidade foi utilizado para o estudo. Para testar a confiabilidade do instrumento, foi empregado o método da metade da confiabilidade e o índice de confiabilidade de 0,85 foi obtido. A análise dos dados foi feita usando estatísticas descritivas de média, desvio padrão, contagens de frequência e porcentagem. O teste t e o qui-quadrado foram usados para testar hipóteses em nível 0,05 alfa de significância. Os resultados indicaram que há diferença significativa na busca de informações sobre o comportamento de pacientes com câncer nos cuidados paliativos no norte da Nigéria (P < 0,05) e não há diferença significativa entre homens e mulheres na busca de informações sobre o comportamento de pacientes com câncer nos cuidados paliativos no norte da Nigéria (P>0,05). foi recomendado que o governo e os profissionais de saúde organizassem programas para pacientes com câncer nos cuidados paliativos no norte da Nigéria, a fim de difundir a conscientização que fará com que os pacientes com câncer adquiram informações corretas sobre o manejo do câncer

Farmers’ Perception and Practice of Soil Fertility Management and Conservation in the Era of Digital Soil Information Systems in Southwest Nigeria

This study assessed the perception and use of digital applications for soil fertility management and conservation strategies among small-scale crop farmers in southwest Nigeria. A total of 376 farmers were randomly selected across the six southwest states. The data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics. The majority of the farmers relied on perception and other non-scientific approaches such as the appearance of weeds and performance of crops in the previous season to assess soil fertility. Only 1.1% and 0.3% of the farmers assessed soil fertility through soil tests and digital applications, respectively. Most farmers adopted bush fallowing and the use of inorganic fertilizers to improve soil fertility. Although 4.8% of the farmers indicated that they had digital applications on their mobile phones, only 2.9% claimed to have used these. More than half (56.4%) of the farmers stated that a lack of awareness of the existence of digital applications and internet-enabled telephones were the reasons they have not been able to use digital applications. The majority of the farmers (97.3%) indicated their willingness to embrace the use of new farm decision digital applications which could provide more information, especially on soil fertility, if introduced. More extensive services focusing on older, less literate farmers and farmers who hitherto did not belong to any farmers’ association are advocated for in order to encourage the use of digital applications and soil fertility management and conservation practices