Pregnancy and postpartum periods have been associated with physical changes, mental health problems, including stress, anxiety, depression and psychosis as well as changes in women's quality of life (QOL). 11-13 Some ABSTRACT Background: Antenatal exercise (ANE) has been reported to improve postpartum health outcomes in women. However, postpartum health related outcomes of ANE have been inconsistent in previous studies and have not been studied in a Nigerian population. This study assessed the influence of ANE on postpartum health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of Nigerian women. Methods: 350 purposively selected women participated in this cohort study. During the last two pregnancy trimesters, participants completed a questionnaire assessing ANE practice/pattern while the Short Form (SF-36) questionnaire was used to assess HRQOL during postpartum. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics with alpha level set at 0.05. Results: Majority (82.9%) of the women practiced ANE. Women who did not exercise showed significantly (p = 0.001) higher general health scores than those who did not. Women who exercised for <30 mins also showed significantly (p = 0.040) higher general health scores, as compared to those who exercised for ≥30 mins. HRQOL was negatively correlated with each of practice and duration of ANE. Conclusions: It was concluded that ANE practice and patterns did not improve postpartum HRQOL. Improved education and supervision of ANE is recommended for improved postpartum health outcomes.
Background
Disasters represent substantial health risks to the human population. Proper interventions at all stages of disaster management (DM) are essential for human-related outcomes. The role of physiotherapy in DM should not be underestimated, but unfortunately information on the involvement of physiotherapists in DM is limited in sub-Saharan Africa.
Methods
One hundred and fifty Nigeria-based and trained physiotherapists were recruited to complete a questionnaire investigating the knowledge, practices and perceived barriers of the role of physiotherapists in DM.
Results
Physiotherapists had moderate knowledge of their role at every stage of DM. However, their involvement in specific DM-related activities during various stages of DM in the country was low. Major barriers to the involvement of physiotherapists in DM included a lack of established government policies on the integration of physiotherapists in DM (90.0%) and a lack of specialty clinical practice areas in DM (89.3%). For improved involvement of physiotherapists in DM in Nigeria, respondents recommended creating an awareness of the role of physiotherapists in DM (91.3%), providing continuous education programmes on DM (90.6%) and inclusion of DM in physiotherapy training programmes in Nigeria (90.0%).
Conclusion
Physiotherapists perceived that they are not adequately involved in DM in Nigeria, despite their moderate knowledge of their role during DM.
Background:
Breastfeeding-related Neck Pain (BFNP) is prevalent in nursing mothers and cuts across the utilization of different breastfeeding (BF) hold positions. Biomechanical considerations to highlight ergonomically safe BF positions for the prevention of BFNP have not been previously studied.
Aim:
This study was designed to compare the electrical activities of selected neck muscles across three breastfeeding hold positions [cradle (C1), cross-cradle (C2), and football (FB)].
Materials and Method:
Surface electromyographic analyses of four neck muscles (right and left components of each trapezius and sternocleidomastoid) were performed respectively during three BF trials with different BF hold positions (C1, C2, and FB) in 22 nursing mothers. For all the trials, the mothers nursed from the left breast.
Results:
Across the three BF trials, the electrical activities of each of the neck muscles did not vary significantly (P > 0.05). Furthermore, the left muscular components showed predominantly higher activities, as compared to their right components.
Conclusion:
The breastfeeding hold position adopted during BF tasks may not be a determinant of BFNP in nursing mothers. Further studies to ascertain the biomechanical implications of the utilized BF holds are recommended.
COVID-19 is the disease caused by SARS-CoV-2, one of a large family of coronaviruses. Severe forms of the disease can lead to respiratory failure with multiple organ failure necessitating rehabilitation in both acute and long-term care. With the increasing prevalence of COVID-19 and rehabilitation needs, the African Rehabilitation Network (AFRENET) produced a guidance document to assist in reducing variation in clinical practice among rehabilitation professionals in the Africa Region. This report outlines the process of the guideline development.
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