Functional Ability, Community Reintegration and Participation Restriction among Community-Dwelling Female Stroke Survivors in Ibadan

Background: Stroke is not gender-discriminatory. Yet, the subject of stroke among females has apparently not received significant attention from clinical researchers. The consequences of stroke include functional and psychosocial sequelae which may cause disability, hinder community reintegration and restrict participation. The inter-relationships among functional ability, community reintegration and participation restriction of community-dwelling, female stroke survivors in Ibadan were assessed in this descriptive study.Methods: Fifty-two community-dwelling female stroke survivors (mean age = 56.55±9.91 years) were surveyed using consecutive sampling technique. Their functional ability level was measured using the Functional Independence Measure (FIM) while London Handicap Scale (LHS) was used to assess their participation restriction. Data were analyzed using Spearman Rank Correlation Coefficient (rho) and Mann-Whitney U test at p = 0.05.Results: Significantly positive correlations (p< 0.05) were found between functional ability and community reintegration (r = 0.54; p = 0.01) as well as between participation restriction and community reintegration (r = 0.34; p = 0.05). Individuals with left hemiplegia had significantly higher mean rank scores in functional ability (30.41) than those who had right hemiplegia (mean rank scores = 21.94).Conclusion: Functional ability which appears to be related to stroke laterality showed positive association with both community reintegration and participation restriction. This suggests that improving the functional ability of the stroke survivors may reduce participation restriction and enhance their reintegration into the community. A similar study which compares male and female stroke survivors in the same community is thus necessary.Keywords: Stroke, Functional ability, Community Reintegration, Participation Restrictio

Quality of life of mothers of children with cerebral palsy and their agematched controls

Background Caring for a child with cerebral palsy (CP) could negatively impact the quality of life (QoL) of the mothers who are usually the primary caregivers. Studies on the impact of caring for Nigerian children with cerebral palsy on the mothers’ quality of life are not common hence the quality of life of mothers of children with cerebral palsy (MCCP) and age-matched mothers of typically developing children (MTDC) were compared in this study.Methods Eighty mothers (40 MCCP and 40 MTDC) participated in this cross-sectional survey. Participants in both groups had their quality of life assessed using the World Health Organization Quality of Life BREF (WHOQoL-BREF). Data were analyzed using independent t-test, Chi-square and Mann-Whitney U tests with alpha level set at 0.05.Results The two groups were not significantly different in their ages (p = 0.14). The mean overall QoL score of the MCCP (62.83±17.83) was significantly lower than that of the MTDC (68.87±8.51) (U=590.0; p=0.04) just as scores for overall health perception (U=576.5; p=0.03). Religion, educational status and occupational status had no significant influence on the QoL scores of mothers of children with cerebral palsy.Conclusion Caring for a child with CP significantly impacted on the QOL and health of the mothers, irrespective of their socio-economic status. Measures to improve quality of life and health of mothers of children with cerebral palsy should be incorporated in the management of CP with emphasis on identified areas of need.Key words: Caregivers, Cerebral Palsy, Quality of Life, Typically Developing Childre

DESIGN AND OPERATIONS CHALLENGES OF A SINGLE TOGGLE JAW CRUSHER: A REVIEW

A review on the design and operations challenges of a single toggle jaw crusher is presented. Strength and fracture toughness of the material to be crushed are intrinsic properties that determine the time and energy required to crush the material. Economy of the crushing process is partly dependent on the angle of nip. Productivity of the crusher can be improved upon by increasing the eccentricity of the eccentric shaft, use of reversible jaws, bush bearing and easily adjustable toggle plate. Vibrations and fatigue cracks in the crusher frame will be nipped in the bud through structural analysis at design stage. Determination of the optimal angle of inclination of the toggle plate, development of jaws with varying wear rate along the crushing chamber, and development of comminution energy models that take into cognizance relevant crushing parameters for simulation and optimization of the crushing process are some areas that require close attention.  http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/njt.v36i3.2

Profile and professional expectations of medical students in Mozambique: a longitudinal study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>This paper compares the socioeconomic profile of medical students registered at the Faculty of Medicine of Universidade Eduardo Mondlane (FM-UEM), Maputo, for the years 1998/99 and 2007/08.</p> <p>Case study</p> <p>The objective is to describe the medical students' social and geographical origins, expectations and perceived difficulties regarding their education and professional future. Data were collected through questionnaires administered to all medical students.</p> <p>Discussion and evaluation</p> <p>The response rate in 1998/99 was 51% (227/441) and 50% in 2007/08 (484/968).</p> <p>The main results reflect a doubling of the number of students enrolled for medical studies at the FM-UEM, associated with improved student performance (as reflected by failure rates). Nevertheless, satisfaction with the training received remains low and, now as before, students still identify lack of access to books or learning technology and inadequate teacher preparedness as major problems.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>There is a high level of commitment to public sector service. However, students, as future doctors, have very high salary expectations that will not be met by current public sector salary scales. This is reflected in an increasing degree of orientation to double sector employment after graduation.</p

The training and professional expectations of medical students in Angola, Guinea-Bissau and Mozambique

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The purpose of this paper is to describe and analyze the professional expectations of medical students during the 2007-2008 academic year at the public medical schools of Angola, Guinea-Bissau and Mozambique, and to identify their social and geographical origins, their professional expectations and difficulties relating to their education and professional future.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Data were collected through a standardised questionnaire applied to all medical students registered during the 2007-2008 academic year.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Students decide to study medicine at an early age. Relatives and friends seem to have an especially important influence in encouraging, reinforcing and promoting the desire to be a doctor.</p> <p>The degree of feminization of the student population differs among the different countries.</p> <p>Although most medical students are from outside the capital cities, expectations of getting into medical school are already associated with migration from the periphery to the capital city, even before entering medical education.</p> <p>Academic performance is poor. This seems to be related to difficulties in accessing materials, finances and insufficient high school preparation.</p> <p>Medical students recognize the public sector demand but their expectations are to combine public sector practice with private work, in order to improve their earnings. Salary expectations of students vary between the three countries.</p> <p>Approximately 75% want to train as hospital specialists and to follow a hospital-based career. A significant proportion is unsure about their future area of specialization, which for many students is equated with migration to study abroad.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Medical education is an important national investment, but the returns obtained are not as efficient as expected. Investments in high-school preparation, tutoring, and infrastructure are likely to have a significant impact on the success rate of medical schools. Special attention should be given to the socialization of students and the role model status of their teachers.</p> <p>In countries with scarce medical resources, the hospital orientation of students' expectations is understandable, although it should be associated with the development of skills to coordinate hospital work with the network of peripheral facilities. Developing a local postgraduate training capacity for doctors might be an important strategy to help retain medical doctors in the home country.</p

Sexual behavior and experience of sexual coercion among secondary school students in three states in North Eastern Nigeria

BACKGROUND: Interest in the reproductive health of adolescents continues to grow throughout the world. Few studies had explored the reproductive health knowledge, sexual behavior and experience of sexual coercion among secondary school students in North Eastern states of Nigeria. The objectives of this descriptive survey were to collect data to plan appropriate interventions that meet the reproductive health knowledge, service and skills needs of students in Bauchi, Borno and Gombe states. METHODS: Face-to-face interviews were conducted for 624 consenting students who were randomly selected from eighteen secondary schools using an 83-item structured questionnaire. Data were collected on demographic profile, reproductive health knowledge, sexual behavior and experience of sexual coercion. RESULTS: The mean age of the respondents was 16.5 years. There were slightly more males (52%) than females (48%). Students' knowledge about reproductive health was generally low even though girls had better knowledge than boys. Thirteen percent of the entire students had had sexual experience; significantly more males (19%) than females (6%) had done so (p < 0.001). Among boys the age at sexual debut ranged from 10–26 with a mean of 15.7 and median of 16. By contrast, the age at first sex among girls ranged from 10 to 18 years with a mean and median of 16.1 and 17 years respectively. Only 24% of those who were sexually active used a condom during their last sexual encounter. Overall 11% of the students reported that they had been tricked into having sex, 9% had experienced unwanted touch of breast and backside, and 5% reported rape. CONCLUSION: Students low reproductive health knowledge and involvement in risky sexual activities predispose them to undesirable reproductive health outcomes

Inhibition of neuroinflammation in BV2 microglia by the biflavonoid kolaviron is dependent on the Nrf2/ARE antioxidant protective mechanism

Kolaviron is a mixture of bioflavonoids found in the nut of the West African edible seed Garcinia kola, and it has been reported to exhibit a wide range of pharmacological activities. In this study, we investigated the effects of kolaviron in neuroinflammation. The effects of kolaviron on the expression of nitric oxide/inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), prostaglandin E2 (PGE2)/cyclooxygenase-2, cellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the pro-inflammatory cytokines were examined in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated BV2 microglial cells. Molecular mechanisms of the effects of kolaviron on NF-B and Nrf2/ARE signalling pathways were analysed by immunoblotting, binding assay, and reporter assay. RNA interference was used to investigate the role of Nrf2 in the anti-inflammatory effect of kolaviron. Neuroprotective effect of kolaviron was assessed in a BV2 microglia/HT22 hippocampal neuron co-culture. Kolaviron inhibited the protein levels of NO/iNOS, PGE2/COX-2, cellular ROS and the proinflammatory cytokines (TNFα and IL-6) in LPS-stimulated microglia. Further mechanistic studies showed that kolaviron inhibited neuroinflammation by inhibiting IB/NF-B signalling pathway in LPS-activated BV2 microglia. Kolaviron produced antioxidant effect in BV2 microglia by increasing HO-1 via the Nrf2/ antioxidant response element (ARE) pathway. RNAi experiments revealed that Nrf2 is need for the anti-inflammatory effect of kolaviron. Kolaviron protected HT22 neurons from neuroinflammation-induced toxicity. Kolaviron inhibits neuroinflammation through Nrf2-dependent mechanisms. This compound may therefore be beneficial in neuroinflammation-related neurodegenerative disorders

Relevance of physiotherapy in primary health care

Physiotherapy is often regarded as a second-contact health service suitable only for secondary and tertiary health facilities that are usually located in urban centres. Yet many patients who require the professional services of a physiotherapist are unable to access it either as a result of non-availability of physiotherapy centres and or nonaffordability by the populace occasioned by cost and distance to location of the health facilities. Attempts at correcting this anomaly has resulted in health policy focus shift from institution to community care. Bringing physiotherapy closer to the doorsteps of those who need it in low income societies can be ensured through its inclusion in primary health care models. The relevance of primary health care physiotherapy model in promoting health of the population and the feasibility of this model are discussed, with particular reference to low income societies such as Nigeria

Knowledge and Perception of Nigerian University Undergraduates about the Risks Associated with using Commercial Motorcycle for Transportation

Background and Purpose of Study: Commercial motorcycle is a popular mode of mass transportation in Nigeria, which despite its acknowledged benefits has been associated with health and social problems. It is embraced largely by young Nigerians, including university undergraduates who have not been well studied with respect to this mode of transportation. We determined the proportion of undergraduates of a Nigerian university regularly using commercial motorcycle. Level of knowledge and perception of risks associated with usage and some factors that may influence choice of commercial motorcycle were also investigated.Methods: This cross-sectional survey was conducted among Nigeria premier University of Ibadan undergraduates, recruited from their halls of residence using consecutive sampling technique. A self-administered questionnaire was handdistributed to obtain information on the respondents' socio-demographic variables, knowledge and perception of risks associated with using commercial motorcycle for transportation. Descriptive statistics were calculated and Chisquare test was used as inferential statistics at á = 0.05.Results: Among the 1000 respondents, 75% regularly used commercial motorcycle for transportation. A statistically significant association was found between gender and the knowledge of risks (p? 0.001) and also between age and the perception of risks associated with using this mode of transportation. However, there was no significant difference in the knowledge (p=0.03 and perception of risks (p=0.97) associated with using commercial motorcycle for transport between users and nonusers.Conclusions: Respondents had limited knowledge and low perception of the risks associated with using commercial motorcycle for transport. Strategies should be put in place to educate these youths on the risks associated with using commercial motorcycle for transport.Key words: Knowledge and Perception, Risks, Commercial Motorcycle

HELICOBACTER PYLORI SEROLOGY AND EVALUATION OF GASTRODUODENAL DISEASE IN NIGERIANS WITH DYSPEPSIA

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) has been strongly associated with various gastroduodenal diseases worldwide with only a few studies emanating from developing countries. The objectives of this study were to determine the prevalence of serum Immunoglobulin G (IgG) and underlying gastroduodenal pathology in Nigerian patients with dyspepsia and ascertain the usefulness of H. pylori IgG screening in decreasing endoscopic workload in dyspeptics in Nigeria. Fifty-five patients with dyspepsia and 55 age and sex-matched apparently normal control were screened for H. pylori IgG using ImmunocombRII kits. Each of the 55 patients was also examined endoscopically with biopsies taken appropriately. Serology was positive in 94.5% and 92.7% of dyspeptic patients and controls respectively. Gastroduodenal inflammation was the commonest endoscopic finding, 43 (78.18%). Other findings were malignant gastric tumour 6(10.9%), reflux oesophagitis 3 (5.45%), gastric ulcer 2 (3.64%), and duodenal ulcer in 1 (1.82%). Chronic gastritis was the main histopathologic finding in the dyspeptic patients. It is concluded that serum H. pylori IgG cannot be used as a screening procedure to reduce endoscopic workload in Nigerian patients with dyspepsia. Key Words: dyspepsia; Helicobacter pylori serology; gastroduodenal disease African Journal Of Clinical And Experimental Microbiology Jan 2004 Vol.5 No.1 131-13