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Background: Malaria is a vector-borne infectious disease caused by eukaryotic protist of genus Plasmodium and transmitted by female Anopheles mosquitoes. Those living mainly in the world's poorest countries are at risk of malaria as it is more endemic in the tropical and sub-tropical regions. Malaria spread has been linked to environmental changes, malaria vector dynamics, host immune status and individual or community factors such as the socio-economic status, knowledge of malaria and the protective behaviour. The objective is to assess knowledge, perceptions and practice of malaria management among non-medical students of higher institutions in Oyo State, Nigeria.Methods: An open-ended structured questionnaire was administered consecutively to 1198 consenting non-medical students by interviewer at various higher institutions. The crosssectional survey questionnaire comprised sections on socio-demographic data, knowledge about causes of malaria and knowledge about malaria management and practice. Results: The mean age (SD) was 21.7 (5.9) years. Five hundred and thirty respondents (44.2%) are male while 668 respondents (55.8%) are female. One thousand and seventy-seven students (89.9%) reported that malaria can be cured. Seventy-four students (6.2%) understand malaria prophylaxis to be a preventive treatment for malaria and 211 students (17.6%) said Artemisinin-based Combination Therapies (ACTs) are the most effective among the drugs they have used to treat malaria. Conclusion: Non-medical students have relatively reasonable knowledge about malaria management and practices, although, certain aspects are still not well understood, probably due to the scope of their educational curricula. Hence, there is need to intensify malaria public enlightenment programs and promote affordable treatment. Keywords: Malaria, student, mosquito, management. Oyo Eyaleti Öğrencileri ve Sıtma YönetimiGenel Bilgiler: Sıtma; ökaryotik tek hüçreli plazmidyum cinsinin sebep olduğu, vektör kaynaklı bulaşıcı bir hastalık ve dişi anopheles türü sivrisineklerle geçiş gösterir. Tropikal ve subtropikal bölgelerde daha yaygın olduğu için dünyanın en yoksul ülkelerinde yaşayanlar sıtma riski altındadır. Sıtma hastalığının yayılması, çevresel değişiklikler, sıtma vektörü dinamikleri, konakçının bağışıklık durumu ve sosyo-ekonomik durum, sıtmaya ilişkin bilgi ve korunma davranışı gibi bireysel ve toplumsal etmenlere bağlıdır. Amaç: Nijerya, Oyo Eyaleti'nde tıp dışındaki yüksek öğrenim öğrencilerinin sıtma hastalığı yönetimine ilişkin bilgi, algı ve uygulamalarının değerlendirilmesidir. Yöntem: Açık uçlu yapılandırılmış anket çeşitli yüksek öğrenim kurumlarında, tıp öğrenimi dışındaki öğrencilerden anketin uygulanmasını kabul eden 1198 kişiye görüşmeci tarafından uygulanmıştır. Kesitsel anket çalışmasındaki bölümler; sosyo-demografik veri, sıtma nedenlerine ilişkin bilgi ve sıtma hastalığı ve uygulmalarına ilişkin bilgiyi kapsamaktadır. Bulgular: Katılımcıların ortalama yaşı 21.7 ± 5.9 yıl idi. Altıyüz altmışsekiz katılımcı (% 55.8) kadın ...

General medical examination is a common form of preventive medicine. Periodic medical check-up generally involves thorough history, physical examination and screening of asymptomatic persons by physicians on a regular basis as part of a routine health care process. Periodic medical check-up is considered effective in preventing illness and promoting health and reducing morbidity and mortality. This study is therefore designed to determine the knowledge, attitude and practice of periodic medical check-up among residents of Osun, Ondo & Ekiti States of Nigeria. It is also to determine the influence of educational status on its practice and compare the outcomes in the three states. Materials & Methods: The cross-sectional survey study utilizing both qualitative and quantitative method of data collection was conducted at various locations across the three states. The locations included those of public servants, private sector workers, artisans, traders, business men/women, farmers, among others. Results: 1200 consenting residents participated in the study in each of the three states. 518 (43.2%) of the respondents in Ondo State are males while 682 (57.8%) are females. 465 (38.8%) of the respondents in Ekiti State are males while 735 (61.2%) are females. 494 (41.2%) of the respondents in Osun State are males while 706 (59.8%) are females. The mean age in Ondo, Ekiti & Osun were 43.8 ± 10.7 years, 44.6 ± 11.5 years and 41.7 ± 10.1 years respectively. 89.2%, 88.3% and 87.4% of the respondents are aware of periodic medical check-up in Ondo, Ekiti and Osun states respectively. Conclusion: There is high level of awareness of periodic medical checkup in all three states but the level of practice of routine medical checkup is low. The majority of the respondents probably don't practice it because their health insurance plan does not cover the medical checkup or due to individual/organizational financial constraints.

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Objectives: HIV/AIDS is a rapidly growing epidemic in sub-Saharan Africa. HIV is a retrovirus that primarily infects components of the human immune system such as CD4+ T-cells, macrophages and dendritic cells. This study is therefore designed to evaluate the CD4+ T-cell count and liver enzymes of adult HIV seropositive subjects receiving Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART) and those yet to be started on HAART as well as HIV seronegative control subjects. Methods: Serum levels of CD4+ counts of subjects were determined using flow cytometry while their serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) were determined using enzymatic spectrophotometric method. Results: Serum ALT was found to be significantly increased in the HAART group as compared with those of the two other groups. In addition, serum ALP was significantly increased in the HAART group as compared with the control subjects, while serum AST was higher in the HAART group as compared with the HAART naive group. Conclusion: HAART is associated with hepatotoxicity, thus, it is recommended that liver enzymes should be measured before and periodically after antiretroviral therapy is initiated and/or when HAART regimen is switched, as this will serve a good index for disease monitoring and/or progression.