Autopsy as a tool in the prevention of maternal mortality

Maternal mortality rates are an index of the state of a nation's health system. Maternal autopsies help to determine these rates, provide information on avoidable/unavoidable causes of mortality, consequently leading to the development of strategies for treatment and prevention ofmaternalmortality andmorbidity. The lesson from post-mortem examinations, using the vehicle of confidential enquiries into maternal deaths, can save the lives of many; causing reduction in both maternal and perinatal mortality as well as reductions in morbidity. However for autopsies to fulfil this role they must be of a very high standard and must be subjected to quality controlmeasures.Keywords: Autopsy,prevention, maternal mortality

Histopathology practice and training in Nigeria – a model

Objectives: Contemporary histopathology practice and training in Nigeria have been plagued by the fundamental issue of inadequate exposure to surgical pathology material by both trainees and trainers. This paper critically examines the factors that affect the discipline and profers practical solutions to aid its advancement.Materials and Method: This review is based on the authors experience and observations of histopathology practice in Nigeria.Results: The Nigerian health sector is plagued by many ills including poor funding, weak policies, dilapidated structures, disgruntled and frustrated practitioners, amongst others - and pathologists are not immune to all these. In recent times, there has been a proliferation of accredited training centres as well as medical graduates interested in the specialty of histopathology. The busiest histopathology laboratories in the country ascession between 2200 and 5500 surgical samples yearly. Thus there is inadequate exposure by histopathologists and trainee pathologists to surgical materials with the attendant consequences. Many centres still rely principally on routine haematoxylineosin stains. There are no nationally agreed standard reporting formats for most diseases.Conclusion: The development of a deanery or regional system of accredited histopathology laboratories may form the fulcrum for improving the overall quality of histopathological services and training in Nigeria. This will help develop local expertise and ensure adequate exposure to teaching aids and surgical materials. We hope that the proffered solutions will help encourage local pathologists to continue and increase their efforts to raise the profession up to enviable heights.Keywords: Histopathology, practice, training, nigeria, mode

Gender Assessment of Computer and Internet Usage among Student Teachers in Ekiti State Tertiary Institutions

The study investigates the usage of computer and Internet resources (IR) among 240 student teachers randomly selected from the Ekiti State University and College of Education Ikere, using a validated questionnaire. Data analysis involves the use of frequency counts, percentages as well as Likert-type scale. Findings show a high level of awareness of online resources among the student teachers; however, the men were more informed than the women. The Ekiti State University students, irrespective of gender, have access to the use of most internet resources than their counterparts from the college of education. Smart phones and computers from Internet café were the major sources of access to IR while Networking, Music and educational resources recorded the highest usage of IR. The majority of the students are not versed in computer usage as they access to it in the classrooms and homes. The significant challenges of internet resource usage witnessed, (irrespective of gender) are; inadequate power supply; lack of computer skills among teachers; poor internet connectivity, lack of skilled manpower and financial constraints. The study recommends the need to review the educational curriculum and integrate Computer and Internet usage into the teacher’s education. The Ekiti State Government and voluntary Organizations should extend the distribution of computers to the higher institutions in the state. The female student teachers should be encouraged to increase their usage of internet resources. Students from the college of education should be encouraged to utilize internet resources to enhance their performance in the classroom and global economic transformation. Keywords: Gender, Internet Usage, Internet Resoources, Student Teachers

Statistical Analysis of the Impact of Women in National Development

Women have been left out in the past national development plans, even their contributions to Gross National Product (GNP) of the nation have been treated as insignificant. The situation is further worsened by illiteracy, poverty, pest, and diseases, fire and other natural disasters. Many bodies had championed the course of the rural women in recent times notable among which are Better life for Rural Women (BLRW), Family Support Programme (FSP), Family Economic Advancement Programme (FEAP), and National Council for Women Society, empower and better the lots of women. Without doubt this research has through its discovery supported the fact that women are contributing immensely to national economic development through divers’ roles they play in their rest. These with other reasons had falsified the notion that women are subordinate to men in rural and national development. Finally, it is suggested in the study that greater access to education, credit land and technology will go a long way to improve women’s lots in the nation and in their contribution to national development, particularly in the local government to women in the rural communities of the country. Keywords: Development, Women, Econom

WOMEN’S INVOLVEMENT IN THE EVALUATION OF WATER-IMPROVEMENT VARIABLES TOWARDS THE ACHIEVEMENT OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS: ASSESSMENT OF A SEMI-URBAN CITY IN SOUTH-WEST NIGERIA

Target 6 of the Sustainable Development Goals is aimed at the sustainable management of water using different levels of challenges and goals for different countries. The survey presented in this paper involves the distribution of 600 well-structured questionnaires to 340 mapped-out households, as well as personal interviews and group interactions to capture respondents’ perceptions in line with the subject matter. The questions examined variables of analysis pertaining to the level of accessibility, cost perception, sources of water and proposed use of water gotten within Ado-Odo Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria. The outcome from the contributions of respondents was analyzed using the Multinomial Logit model. The Logit result obtained from the survey showed that the responsibility of accessing water within a household lies with the woman, as more women responded in affirmative to that aspect (61.2%). A thorough appraisal of the demographics showed that respondents depend on private sources, which seem expensive to get because the quality of other sources could not be relied on based on the judgment of some physical properties such as smell and colour. After evaluating all logical variables, the results further identified the shortcomings and complications of water service delivery that have caused respondents to lose confidence in government-provided water facilities. To positively improve the SDG metrics, the research highlights positive initiatives such as subsidy, cost recovery, and policy re-visitation to improve water supply access within Ado-Odo Ota

WOMEN’S INVOLVEMENT IN THE EVALUATION OF WATER-IMPROVEMENT VARIABLES TOWARDS THE ACHIEVEMENT OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS: ASSESSMENT OF A SEMI-URBAN CITY IN SOUTH-WEST NIGERIA

Target 6 of the Sustainable Development Goals is aimed at the sustainable management of water using different levels of challenges and goals for different countries. The survey presented in this paper involves the distribution of 600 well-structured questionnaires to 340 mapped-out households, as well as personal interviews and group interactions to capture respondents’ perceptions in line with the subject matter. The questions examined variables of analysis pertaining to the level of accessibility, cost perception, sources of water and proposed use of water gotten within Ado-Odo Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria. The outcome from the contributions of respondents was analyzed using the Multinomial Logit model. The Logit result obtained from the survey showed that the responsibility of accessing water within a household lies with the woman, as more women responded in affirmative to that aspect (61.2%). A thorough appraisal of the demographics showed that respondents depend on private sources, which seem expensive to get because the quality of other sources could not be relied on based on the judgment of some physical properties such as smell and colour. After evaluating all logical variables, the results further identified the shortcomings and complications of water service delivery that have caused respondents to lose confidence in government-provided water facilities. To positively improve the SDG metrics, the research highlights positive initiatives such as subsidy, cost recovery, and policy re-visitation to improve water supply access within Ado-Odo Ota

Histologic and immunohistochemical characteristics of male breast cancer at Lagos University Teaching Hospital. A retrospective study

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Audit of fibroepithelial tumors of the breast in a Nigerian tertiary institution

Background and Objectives: Fibroepithelial lesions are the most common lesions of the breast seen in our laboratory consisting of fibroadenomas (FAs) and phyllodes tumors (PT). The aim of the study was to audit all fibroepithelial lesions and to reclassify all confirmed cases of PTs seen in the study period according to standard criteria.Methodology: Records and slides of fibroepithelial lesions of the breast received at the department between January 2008 and December 2013 were retrieved and reviewed by the authors.Results: Out of the 1242 fibroepithelial lesions of the breast retrieved, all but 19 were FAs. The 19 were initially reported as PT: 11 benign, 2 borderlines, 2 malignant, and 4 not classified; however, only 16 of these 19, PTs (84%) met the WHO criteria on review. The remaining 3 (16%) turned out to be FAs based on the absence of stroma overgrowth and hypercellularity. The PTs were reclassified into benign PT, borderline PT, and malignant PT accounting for 75% (12/16), 18.7% (3/16), and 6.3% (1/16), respectively. All of the PTs previously not classified turned out benign on review. One of the borderline PTs was originally reported as malignant PT. All cases initially diagnosed as FAs did not change on review.Conclusion: These results show that FAs are rarely misdiagnosed. The three cases misdiagnosed as phyllodes may have been prevented if standard data sets were in use. Cases simply referred to as PT without further classification, limit the patients’ access to appropriate management as accurate classification helps in the overall management and prognostication.Keywords: Fibroadenoma, fibroepithelial tumor audit, phyllodes tumor grad

Menopausal transition in women attending a family medicine clinic in Ibadan, Southwest Nigeria

Background: Perimenopausal symptoms may be mild or severe. Symptomatic menopausal women might visit a gynaecologist; but in the absence of amenorrhoea, they might more likely consult a primary care physician. Documentation of the typical local symptoms may be useful for family physicians to counsel clients. The study aimed to assess the prevalence and patterns of symptoms in women in menopausal transition who presented to a family practice clinic in Ibadan.Methods: It was a descriptive, cross-sectional study of middle-aged females at the general outpatients' clinic, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria. Socio-demographic data and presence of climacteric syndrome (classical, somatic and psychologic) were assessed. Data analysis was performed with Χ2 test and logistic regression. Significant p <0.05.Results: Somatic symptoms were the most common; 67.6% had muscle or joint pain, followed by headaches (54.4%). Hot flushes (37.5%), muscle/joint pain, dry vagina/dyspareunia (24.3%) and palpitations (42.3%) were significantly associated with older age, lower socio-economic status, polygamy and tribes other than the local tribe. Participants mostly used analgesia and prayers to cope with their symptoms. No one was on hormone replacement.Conclusion: One quarter to two-fifths of women had classical climacteric symptoms, but mostly relied on analgesia and prayers. Social support may improve the transition and hormone replacement may be explored judiciously.Keywords: Perimenopause, climacteric, vasomotor, menopaus

A review of columnar cell lesions of the breast in a Lagos Tertiary Health Institution: A ten-year retrospective study

This study was to estimate the frequency of occurrence of columnar cell lesions (CCLs) in Nigerian women using Fibrocystic changes (FCC) of the breast as a surrogate lesion as well as to determine the variants of CCLs found using the standard histologic criteria.The materials for this study consisted of all consecutive breast biopsy blocks and corresponding archival slides with a previous diagnosis of FCC within a 10-year period at the department. All cases were reviewed and reclassified. The data obtained was analysed manually using simple statistical methods such as chart and tables. In this study, thirty cases of CCLs were identified among the 559 cases of FCC found. The ages of the patients ranged from 16 years to 63 years, the peak age of occurrence was in the 5th decade. The most common pattern found was Columnar Cell Change (CCC) which accounted for 66.7% of the cases. Columnar Cell Hyperplasia (CCH) accounted for 16.7%, and CCC and CCH occurred together in 16.7% of cases. No case of flat epithelial atypia (FEA) was found. The study showed that CCLs occur in Nigerian women. The FEA variant, the putative precursor of breast cancer, was not found among our cohort, most likely due to the benign surrogate lesion used for this study. FEA often co-exists with lobular neoplasia, and this entity would likely have been found if this study had included cases previously diagnosed with in situ and invasive lobular or ductal carcinoma. The age distribution of our patients was similar to that described among Caucasian women.Key words: Columnar Cell Lesions, Fibrocystic changes, Columnar Cell Change, Columnar Cell Hyperplasia, Flat Epithelial Atypia