The pattern of prescription drug use in Nigerian Army hospitals is unsatisfactory. It is characterised by high number of drugs per prescription, high rate of antibiotic usage and unscientific prescription by doctors. There is a need for further education and research on rational drug use among prescribers in Nigerian military health facilities.
Background: There is a popular belief among the general population that Nigerian soldiers tend to have large families but this has not been substantiated with evidence-based research. The Nigerian military health authority implements femaletargetted contraception strategies, with less focus on their husbands; who are the dominant fertility determinants. Objective: To determine the perception and practice of contraception among male soldiers of Sobi Cantonment, Ilorin, Nigeria, with a view to instituting male-targeted contraceptive/family planning strategies. Methodology: A cross-sectional survey of 334 male soldiers using multistage sampling technique and pre-tested interviewer administered questionnaires. Results: The respondents' approval of contraception (73.6%) and willingness to discuss it with their spouses/partners (71.6%) were high. Fear of wives/partner's sexual promiscuity (55.7%), cultural and religious beliefs (43.2%), fear of the side effects of contraceptives (29.5%) and the desire for more children (21.6%) were reported reasons for the non-approval of contraception. The prevalence of contraceptive use among the respondents was low (12.3%). There was a significant relationship between the respondents' educational level and contraceptive use (p< 0.05). Conclusion: The study revealed a high approval and willingness to discuss contraception with their spouses/partners but low contraceptive use.
Background/Objective: Studies have shown that military personnel are aware and knowledgeable about HIV/AIDS and its impact on combat preparedness and efficiency. However, this knowledge did not appear to have translated to reduced risky sexual behaviours. This study, therefore aimed at determining the sexual behaviour and condom use among Nigerian Army personnel in Ilorin, Nigeria. Materials and methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study using a multistage sampling technique to select 400 participants. A pre-tested semi-structured questionnaire was administered. Results: Out of 386 respondents (response rate 96.5%) males constituted 91.2%. Two hundred and seventy two (70.5 %) were married while 42 (15.4%) of the married did not live with their spouses. A significant proportion of the respondents (45.5%), especially those within the age of 18 to 34 years (p=0.000), those who had participated in foreign military operations (p=0.030) and those who did not live with their spouses (p=0.000) engaged in pre/extramarital sexual activities. Regular condom use among the respondents was low. Conclusion/Recommendations: There was a high risky sexual behaviour with irregular condom use among the study population. A continuous information, education and communication on HIV/AIDS to effect safe sex behaviours and regular condom use among this population are recommended.
The prevalence of ophthalmic disorder among army personnel at the 82nd Division, Enugu, is comparatively high. Spherical refractive error and anterior segment disorders are the commonest ophthalmic disorders. These have implications for needs-based and cost-effective provision of eye care services to this military formation and probably to the rest of the Nigerian Army as well. To generate broad-based comparative data, future multi-centre surveys are warranted.
Background: Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is a disease of public health importance in Nigeria, with high prevalence in the Northwest and Northeastern part of the country. The side effects of antimonial drugs {stibogluconate (SSG) and meglumine antimoniate} in the treatment of CL have often resulted in poor drug adherence and default by patients and possible drug resistance. The increasing default to follow-up and the significant side effects associated with antimonial therapy necessitated the dire need of alternative therapeutic modalities. Thus, this study aimed at comparing the efficacy of topical silver nitrate with the antimonial drugs in the treatment of CL. Methods: A total of 95 patients with clinically diagnosed leishmaniasis and parasitologically proven CL participated in the study after their informed-consent had been obtained. The treatment selection was optional to the participants. Sixty (63.2%) patients received alternative therapy of topical silver nitrate as a single dose while 35(36.8%) patients received antimonial therapy for 21 days at 20mg/kg body weight. Results: On day 30 of treatment, 68 (86.1%) lesions among patients on topical silver nitrate healed completely as compared with only 5 (6.8%) among those on i.m. SSG. There was no improvement in 25 (34.2%) lesions among those on i.m. SSG compared with only 1 (1.2%) lesion among those on topical silver nitrate. Overall, there was a statistically significant difference in the cure rate among patients on silver nitrate as compared with those on i.m. SSG on the 21 st and 30 th days of treatment.(p<0.05). Conclusion: Topical silver nitrate therapy is an effective and better drug treatment for CL among this study population.
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