The prospect of anatomy as a career choice among clinical year medical students in Nigeria

Background : Medical doctors are potential important source of anatomy teachers. The aim of this study was to determine the choice of anatomy as a career option among medical students in a Nigerian medical school Method : Descriptive survey of second- and third-year medical students using a self-administered questionnaire to asses age, sex, perception of anatomy as a subject, anatomy training experience and choice of anatomy as a career among respondents. Analysis was conducted using the SPSS and statistical significance inferred at P< 0.05. Results : Three hundred and fifty three (85.3% response rate) who completely filled questionnaire were returned and analyzed of which 195 (55.2%) were males and 158(44.8%) were females. Their ages ranged between 18 and 37 years with a mean of 22.4 \ub1 9.9 years. Although most students agreed that anatomy was an important subject in medical sciences 346 (98%), they had benefited from anatomy training in their clinical classes 320 (90.7%), and the knowledge of anatomy is useful in investigating patients with certain diseases 251 (71.1%), only 22 (6.2%) would choose anatomy as a career. Male students were more likely to choose anatomy as a career (P=0.026). Textbooks were the most common 334 (94.5%), while radiological means were the least 23 (6.5%) method employed in learning anatomy. Conclusion : Anatomy as a subject is perceived positively by clinical medical students, but the choice as a career option is low; attempt at increasing career interest is needful

Surgical eye removal in Ile‑Ife, Nigeria

Objective: To determine the indications and pattern of surgical removal of the eyeball at a Tertiary Hospital in South Western Nigeria.Materials and Methods: Retrospective review of case files and theatre records of all patients who had evisceration, enucleation, or exenteration at the ophthalmic theatres of Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital, Ile-Ife between July 2005 and June 2013 was done. Information on age, sex, indication for surgery, and the type of surgery was analyzed using SPSS 16 software.Results: Eighty eyes of 79 patients, age, ranged from 3 months to 88 years with a male: female ratio of 3.4:1 were surgically removed. The major indications for surgery were ocular trauma (43.8%), orbito‑ocular neoplasm (22.5%), fulminant ocular infection (15%), and staphyloma (12.5%). Children accounted for 33.8% of all cases reviewed.Conclusion: Indications for eye removal in our geographical area of practice are largely preventable and similar to those reported in major Nigerian cities and other developing countries, but dissimilar to what obtains in many developed countries.Keywords: Enucleation, evisceration, exenteration, eye remova

B-mode sonographic evaluation of optic nerve sheath diameter and lens thickness in Nigerian adults with glaucoma

Objective: This study was done to investigate the effect(s) of glaucoma on the ocular optic nerve sheath diameter and lens thickness using B-mode ultrasonography.Materials and methods: One hundred and twenty study participants were recruited; 60 subjects with glaucoma and 60 age- and sex-matched controls without glaucoma. The optic nerve sheath diameter and lens thickness of both eyes were measured using a linear high frequency transducer with frequency of 6.5-12MHz.Results: The mean optic nerve sheath diameter of the glaucomatous eyes (3.57 ± 0.19mm and 3.59 ± 0.33mm on the right and left, respectively) were significantly thinner than that of controls (4.23 ± 0.34 mm and 4.26 ± 0.30 mm on the right and left, respectively; p < 0.001). There is increased mean lens thickness in the glaucomatous eyes (4.15 ± 0.43mm and 4.18 ± 0.46mm on the right and left, respectively) than in the controls (4.01 ± 0.56mm and 3.99 ± 0.45mm on the right and left, respectively) with a statistically significant difference seen in the left eye (p = 0.024).Conclusion: B-mode ultrasound is a reliable tool of assessing the nerve sheath diameter and lens thickness in glaucoma. Optic nerve sheath diameter is reduced in glaucomaKeywords: Glaucoma, ultrasonography, optic nerve sheath diameter, lens thickness

B-mode sonographic evaluation of optic nerve sheath diameter and lens thickness in Nigerian adults with glaucoma

Objective: This study was done to investigate the effect(s) of glaucoma on the ocular optic nerve sheath diameter and lens thickness using B-mode ultrasonography. Materials and methods: One hundred and twenty study participants were recruited; 60 subjects with glaucoma and 60 age- and sex-matched controls without glaucoma. The optic nerve sheath diameter and lens thickness of both eyes were measured using a linear high frequency transducer with frequency of 6.5-12MHz. Results: The mean optic nerve sheath diameter of the glaucomatous eyes (3.57 \ub1 0.19mm and 3.59 \ub1 0.33mm on the right and left, respectively) were significantly thinner than that of controls (4.23 \ub1 0.34 mm and 4.26 \ub1 0.30 mm on the right and left, respectively; p < 0.001). There is increased mean lens thickness in the glaucomatous eyes (4.15 \ub1 0.43mm and 4.18 \ub1 0.46mm on the right and left, respectively) than in the controls (4.01 \ub1 0.56mm and 3.99 \ub1 0.45mm on the right and left, respectively) with a statistically significant difference seen in the left eye (p = 0.024). Conclusion: B-mode ultrasound is a reliable tool of assessing the nerve sheath diameter and lens thickness in glaucoma. Optic nerve sheath diameter is reduced in glaucom

Strengthening retinopathy of prematurity screening and treatment services in Nigeria: a case study of activities, challenges and outcomes 2017-2020.

OBJECTIVES: Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) will become a major cause of blindness in Nigerian children unless screening and treatment services expand. This article aims to describe the collaborative activities undertaken to improve services for ROP between 2017 and 2020 as well as the outcome of these activities in Nigeria. DESIGN: Descriptive case study. SETTING: Neonatal intensive care units in Nigeria. PARTICIPANTS: Staff providing services for ROP, and 723 preterm infants screened for ROP who fulfilled screening criteria (gestational age <34 weeks or birth weight ≤2000 g, or sickness criteria). METHODS AND ANALYSIS: A WhatsApp group was initiated for Nigerian ophthalmologists and neonatologists in 2018. Members participated in a range of capacity-building, national and international collaborative activities between 2017 and 2018. A national protocol for ROP was developed for Nigeria and adopted in 2018; 1 year screening outcome data were collected and analysed. In 2019, an esurvey was used to collect service data from WhatsApp group members for 2017-2018 and to assess challenges in service provision. RESULTS: In 2017 only six of the 84 public neonatal units in Nigeria provided ROP services; this number had increased to 20 by 2018. Of the 723 babies screened in 10 units over a year, 127 (17.6%) developed any ROP; and 29 (22.8%) developed type 1 ROP. Only 13 (44.8%) babies were treated, most by intravitreal bevacizumab. The screening criteria were revised in 2020. Challenges included lack of equipment to regulate oxygen and to document and treat ROP, and lack of data systems. CONCLUSION: ROP screening coverage and quality improved after national and international collaborative efforts. To scale up and improve services, equipment for neonatal care and ROP treatment is urgently needed, as well as systems to monitor data. Ongoing advocacy is also essential

The prospect of anatomy as a career choice among clinical year medical students in Nigeria

Background : Medical doctors are potential important source of anatomy teachers. The aim of this study was to determine the choice of anatomy as a career option among medical students in a Nigerian medical school Method : Descriptive survey of second- and third-year medical students using a self-administered questionnaire to asses age, sex, perception of anatomy as a subject, anatomy training experience and choice of anatomy as a career among respondents. Analysis was conducted using the SPSS and statistical significance inferred at P< 0.05. Results : Three hundred and fifty three (85.3% response rate) who completely filled questionnaire were returned and analyzed of which 195 (55.2%) were males and 158(44.8%) were females. Their ages ranged between 18 and 37 years with a mean of 22.4 ± 9.9 years. Although most students agreed that anatomy was an important subject in medical sciences 346 (98%), they had benefited from anatomy training in their clinical classes 320 (90.7%), and the knowledge of anatomy is useful in investigating patients with certain diseases 251 (71.1%), only 22 (6.2%) would choose anatomy as a career. Male students were more likely to choose anatomy as a career (P=0.026). Textbooks were the most common 334 (94.5%), while radiological means were the least 23 (6.5%) method employed in learning anatomy. Conclusion : Anatomy as a subject is perceived positively by clinical medical students, but the choice as a career option is low; attempt at increasing career interest is needful

Awareness and utilization of protective eye device among welders in a southwestern Nigeria community

Objective: To determine the level of awareness and practice of use of protective eye devices among welders in Ile-Ife. Methods: This is a cross-sectional descriptive study of 405 consenting welders. A pretested proforma was utilized to obtain information on sociodemographic characteristics, as well as awareness and use of protective eye device. Results: The age of the respondents ranged from 16 to 80 years. The mean age was 39 \ub1 13 years. A large proportion (315, 78%) of the welders was aged between 21 and 50 years. The youngest group aged 6420 years accounted for 15 (4%) of all welders, while the oldest group aged &gt;60 years accounted for 21 (5.2%). 402 were males (99.3%) and three were females (0.7%). Three hundred thirty-six (83%) of the welders had practiced for 6 years and above. There was a high level of awareness of protective eye devices among the welders (367, 90.6%), being higher among arc welders compared with gas welders (P&lt;0.001). Less than half (186, 45.9%) of the welders possessed protective eye devices. Of these, only 39 (9.6%) made use of the devices always. Some of the reasons for not using the protective eye devices include discomfort and poor visibility (56, 13.6%) and inadequate appreciation of the necessity to wear it (49, 12.1%). Conclusion: The findings of this study suggest that a significant proportion of welders in Ile-Ife were not utilizing protective eye device. Health education and awareness campaigns about the importance and benefits of utilizing protective eye devices are recommended