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Introduction: The non-communicable eye diseases such as diabetic retinopathy have become significant threats to vision and require lifelong management. The development of ocular complications of diabetes has been associated with longstanding and/or poorly controlled disease. Early detection and prevention are keys to reduce this scourge, but this largely depends on the existing knowledge. Objective: This study is aimed at determining the knowledge, attitude and practice regarding eye care among patients living with diabetes with a view to making recommendations for a multidisciplinary patient-centered approach to ophthalmic care. Methods: One hundred and three respondents were interviewed using a structured questionnaire in a cross sectional study carried out in the Endocrinology Clinic of Federal Medical Centre, Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria. Results: There was a female preponderance with a male to female ratio of 1:1.3. Of these respondents, 68.9% had been diabetic for 5 years or less; 56.4% could define diabetes; but only 40.77% could mention some ocular complications of diabetes. Only 31.1% had had their eyes examined; the rest had not been to an eye clinic due to lack of funds, time, no ocular problems and not having been referred to an eye doctor. This attitude and practice were not significantly associated with age, sex, occupation or duration of illness. Conclusion: Though more than half of the respondents could define diabetes, there is still a poor knowledge of the ocular complications of diabetes and a poor attitude and practice regarding eye care among these patients. An interdisciplinary patient-centred approach to the management of diabetic eye diseases is recommended so as to reduce the burden of visual impairment from diabetes.

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Objectives:The objectives of this study were to determine the anthropometric variables of children with sickle cell anaemia and comparing it with those with normal haemoglobin genotype.Methods:A cross sectional study of anthropometric measurements was conducted over a period of six months. Children with sickle cell anaemia in steady state aged between 6-20 years were recruited. Nutritional assessment was done using anthropometrical variables. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences program (SPSS), version 20.Results:The sickle cell patients comprised of 20 males and 20 females. There were an equal number of controls with an equal male to female ratio of 1:1. Forty eight percent (19) of the children with sickle cell anemia were underweight (< 5th %ile) and this is statistically significant. χ2=18.02 and p=0.000. When compared with subjects with normal haemoglobin genotype only five of them (13%) were underweight. χ2=10.286 and p=0.001. The controls weighed significantly more than the HbSS patients and also had significantly larger body surface compared to the HbSS population (P<0.05).Conclusion:BMI and other anthropometric variables among children with sickle cell anemia were low when compared with children with normal Haemoglobin genotype.