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Background: Falls at construction sites are common occurrences with some resulting in fatalities. This study was to determine the prevalence and pattern of falls at construction sites in Port Harcourt Metropolis, Nigeria. Materials and Methods:This descriptive cross-sectional study sampled 340 construction workers from the two Local Government Areas of Port Harcourt Metropolis. A structured, close-ended, interviewer-administered questionnaire and Walk through Survey were the research instruments. Ethical approval was gotten from the Research and Ethics Committee of University of Port Harcourt and informed consent was gotten from each of the respondents prior to commencement of the study. Data obtained were analysed using descriptive and analytical statistics. Results: Of the 340 respondents in the study, 124 had experienced falls giving a prevalence of 36.5%. On the pattern of falls, trips/slips from short distance accounted for 23.4% while falls from ladder was 17.7%, scaffolds 15.3% and roof tops accounted for 12.9%. The commonest cause of the falls was failure to use Personal Protective Equipment PPE (17.7%). Furthermore, 63.2% of the respondents had good knowledge of safety precautions while 57.4% had good safety practice. Knowledge of safety precautions was significantly associated with age, education, experience and safety training (p = 0.000). Ngwu et al.; AJMAH, 14(1): 1-16, 2019; Article no.AJMAH.46662 2 Conclusion: There was a high prevalence of falls at construction sites in Port Harcourt mainly from trips/slips, ladders and scaffolds. Majority of the workers had good knowledge and practice of safety precautions. It is recommended that health education, periodic safety training and enforcement of safety practices among construction workers be instituted, intensified and sustained. Original Research Article

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A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out to identify the sources and assess the quality of drinking water in Abonnema Town of Rivers State, Nigeria. A semi-structured, interviewer-administered questionnaire and field observation were used to obtain information from 374 respondents on main sources of drinking water, time is taken to collect water from these sources per round trip, availability of main water source, water treatment methods and the sanitary conditions around water sources.  A sample of water was collected from each of the six main water sources and analysed for bacteriological parameters. The most common source of drinking water was well water (42.8%), followed by a borehole (33.7%). Packaged water (bottled and sachet) were the least utilized (8.6%). The majority (87.7%) of the respondents affirmed the constant availability of their main drinking water source and only a small proportion (8.6%) of the respondents spent more than 30 minutes in getting water per round trip. Only a small proportion (12.3%) of respondents practised water treatment. All the wells were in a poor sanitary state. All the samples had total coliform counts above the WHO standard of 0 MPN/100 ml, while 93% of the samples had E. coli counts above the WHO standard of 0 MPN/100 ml. The community had no problems with accessibility and availability of drinking water, but water quality was poor thereby considered unsafe for drinking. The community should be educated on cheap water purification methods.

Social support has been linked with positive treatment outcomes for many chronic conditions including breast cancer, and it meaningfully reduces the stress originating from cancer diagnosis as well as improves emotional wellbeing. This study aims to assess the level of social support and HRQOL and its relationship among breast cancer patients over a period of 8 months in the two tertiary hospitals in Port Harcourt. This was a descriptive longitudinal study that was conducted over a period of 8 months among 254 female patients with breast cancer in the two tertiary hospitals in Port Harcourt, Nigeria. They were assessed at the time of diagnosis, 4 months and 8 months after using Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) and the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Core Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30 and QLQ-BR23). Data were analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20. Frequency tables were used to demonstrate the outcome. Means and standard deviation for the continuous variables were calculated. In comparing differences in mean between evaluation times, Friedman ANOVA was used, Correlation co-efficient were used to determine correlation between HRQoL and Social support scores. Results considered statistically significant at P value ˂ .05. The HRQoL and MSPSS scores were relatively high among the respondents. The respondents received high support through-out the evaluation time (62.5%). The high support was noticed more from family and the lowest social support was from friends, this was statistically significant, P =.007. HRQoL was high through-out the evaluation time and it was statistically significant. Correlation between the HRQoL and MSPSS was positive (Pearson correlation co-efficient = ˂0.29) and statistically significant P <.05.  Breast cancer women in Port Harcourt Nigeria had relatively good HRQoL and perceived social support was an important factor for the good HRQoL. It is important to pay close attention on events that enhance and maintain the social support system for breast cancer patients.