Perceptions of malaria and the utilisation of long lasting insecticide treated nets in a rural Niger delta community in Nigeria

Malaria represents a heavy disease burden with high death tolls in sub-Saharan countries, particularly among children less than five years of age and pregnant women. Misconceptions about the disease are reported to still exist in malaria endemic countries. Insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) have since been advocated as effective control measures against malaria, but how well are they utilised? Objectives: To explore and ascertain the perception of malaria and the utilisation of ITNs in a rural community in the swampy areas of Nigeria's Niger Delta region. Method: A cross-sectional, descriptive study was conducted using simple random sampling technique. Data were collected from household heads with the aid of pre-tested, semistructured, interviewer-administered questionnaires and analysed using SPSS version 17.0 Results: A good perception of the cause (86.9%), mode of transmission (92.8) and preventive measures of malaria were demonstrated. Although, the awareness of ITNs was high (75.6%) with health facilities (35.5%) and radios (33.5%) being the major sources of information, the utilisation rate of ITNs was poor (29%). Conclusion: Intensified efforts by government agencies and diverse stakeholders are recommended to increase the availability and access to ITNs, in order to improve their utilisation rate in rural communities, with adequate priority given to groups at higher risk. Such interventions when implemented consistently and comprehensively are likely to contribute to moving the nation further from malaria control and elimination, towards the possibilities of malaria vaccines and ultimate eradication

Prevalence of domestic violence against married women: A case study of Oiji Ward, a rural setting in North Central Nigeria

Background: In Nigeria, some provisions in the penal code still allow cultural acceptance of some forms of domestic violence, thereby providing avenue for many in the society to accept domestic violence as an accepted fact of life and as such many people live with it without feeling that it was anything wrong. In recent years, however, it has begun to be viewed as a criminal problem, as the case is increasing and is raising lot of concern especially regarding the victims. This study assessed the prevalence of domestic violence among married women in Oiji ward, a rural setting in Benue State, north Central Nigeria.Methodology: The study was a cross-sectional community-based descriptive survey of 384 married women selected by systematic sampling technique using structured interviewer administered questionnaire. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 20, with level of significance set at p< 0.05. Multiple logistic regression models were performed to investigate independent predictors that had significant chi-square by controlling for possible confounders.Results: Two hundred and fifty eight (67.2%) had experienced domestic violence of different types, ranging from physical assaults (19.5%), to emotional/mental torture (30.2%). The age of the women({OR= 3.191, (95% CI = 2.002-5.087) p=0.000}, age at marriage(({OR= 1.027, (95% CI= 0.508- 2.073), forced marriage{OR= 0.0136 (95% CI = 0.084-0.221) p=0.000}, monthly income {OR= 1.665 (95% CI = -1.081- 2.564) p=0.001}, and freedom of sex expression {OR= 3.917 (95% CI = 1.999 – 7.676) p=0.000} were the main predicting factors.Conclusion: Married should be not being forced and women empowerment, Gender based violence awareness campaigns and legal protection of women should be encouraged in the rural areas.Keywords: Married, Domestic violence, Correlates, Rural, Nigeri

Substance use among healthcare workers in a Nigerian tertiary hospital

Background: Research studies abound on substance use among healthcare workers (HCWs) in the western world, but a paucity of such information is the case in developing countries. Objectives: To determine the prevalence of substance use among HCWs in a Nigerian tertiary hospital and the variety of substances commonly used. Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 380 HCWs selected across 4 professional cadres by stratified random sampling method. Results: About 85.5% of the respondents were past and/or current users of substances or substance-containing food items. Out of the 325 respondents who had ever used substances before, 208 (64%) were current users- these represented 54.7% of the whole. Coffee, alcohol and kolanuts were most frequently used. Diazepam was the least used. Gender was a statistically significant determinant of substance use (p<0.05). Conclusion: Substance use among HCWs carries grave implications for practitioners and patients alike. Further research towards unearthing and addressing the factors fueling this menace in developing countries will contribute immensely in resolving this challenge

Socio-Demographic Determinants of Malnutrition among Under-Fives in Mil-Goma: A Rural Community in Kaduna State, North Western Nigeria.

Malnutrition remains a major public health problem in the developing world. It is a major underlying factor in many childhood diseases; and it is still one of the leading causes of under-five mortality in Sub-Saharan Africa. It is particularly prevalent in rural areas where it affects one out every three preschool age children. This study was carried out to investigate theprevalence of malnutrition and associated socio-demographic factors that affect malnutritionamong under-fives in Mil-Goma community,Kaduna State, North Western Nigeria. This cross-sectional descriptive survey was carried out using structured questionnaires and anthropometric measurements of height and weight of 288 children selected by multi-staged sampling method. Data was analyzed based on descriptive statistics, chi-square and logistic regression analysis using SPSS version 20. The SPSS results were presented in tables.The prevalence of stunting, underweight and wasting in the children under-five years were 59.72%, 36.81% and 13.54% respectively. Malnutrition was found to be higher in children in their second year of life as compared to children in other age groups. There was a statistically significant association between maternal education, family income, mother’s occupation and stunting. Mothers who had only Quranic education were 11 times more likely to have stunted children than those with secondary education. There was also a statistically significant relationship between family income, maternal occupation and the prevalence of underweight among under-fives. There was a high prevalence of stunting observed among the children. Maternal education, maternal occupation and economic status of the family were important associations of poor nutritional status among under-five children. There is an urgent need for mounting nutritional intervention programmes to improve the nutritional status of the children. Keywords: Malnutrition, Under-Fives, Stunting, Wasting, Underweight

Assessment of job satisfaction among health workers in a tertiary hospital in Zaria, Northern Nigeria

Background: One of the best ways to strengthen the already weak health system in Nigeria is human capacity development; particularly if the country is to attain the Millennium Development Goals by 2015. It is therefore imperative to identify those factors that affects job satisfaction in the health sector in order to minimize migration of skilled health workers. Objectives: This study was conductedto determine the level of and factors affecting job satisfaction and retention of health professionals working in Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Shika. Methodology: The study was a cross sectional descriptive study and stratified sampling technique was used to select 208 health workers. A structured, self-administered Job satisfaction survey questionnaire was used. Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 19 was used for analysis. Result: The response rate was 69%, mean age of respondents was 35 years ±8 SD. The mean years of service was 6.5 years ± 8.4 SD, mean number of working hours per week was 43 ± 9 SD and the mean monthly income was N164,106.9 ±N64,577.1 SD. The overall satisfaction of the respondents was 71.6 % while co-worker satisfaction was 60.1%. There was no statistically significant association between socio-demographic data of respondents and job satisfaction. All the components of job satisfaction were found to be statistically significantly associated (service p=0.001, Professionalism p=0.002, Income p=0.031, Competence/Training p=0.005, Work-related stress p=0.001, Management p=0.001, Orientation p=0.005). Conclusion: Professionalism, competency and training, work-related stress, orientation, occupation and income were found to be important determinants of job satisfaction. The overall job satisfaction was high. The identified determinants of job satisfaction will help the hospital management to increase their employee's job satisfaction. Key words: Job satisfaction, health workers, determinants of job satisfaction, Kaduna, Nigeri