Background: Universal health coverage implies access to key promoting, preventive, curative, and rehabilitative health interventions for all at an affordable cost, thereby achieving equity in access and service. The mentally-ill belongs to a vulnerable group that has not been given adequate attention especially in the south-eastern part of Nigeria. In September 2015, a health summit was organized in Enugu, South-East Nigeria with the sole aim of strategizing towards achieving universal health coverage in the zone. From all indications, much of the efforts being made towards achieving universal health coverage in the zone are geared towards physical conditions with mental disorders being grossly neglected.
Helminthiasis causes iron deficiency anemia, pica, growth, and mental retardation in children. Deworming exercises are being included as part of various interventional programs to reduce the disease burden. However, the success or failure of such activities in terms of household caregivers’ knowledge and practice of deworming is not usually adequately evaluated, thus this study. This was a cross‐sectional descriptive study carried out in the rural community of Enugu State, Nigeria. Pretested semi‐structured interviewer‐administered questionnaire was used. Inferential statistics, χ2 test, and t‐test were also used in the analysis for categorical and continuous variables, respectively. A total of 294 preschool children and 250 caregivers were studied. Among the caregivers, 212 (71.9%) had good knowledge and 149 (50.5%) had good practice of deworming. There was a statistically significant association between the age of respondents and knowledge score (χ2 = 6.471, p = 0.039) and between the educational level of respondents and practice score (χ2 = 30.632, p < 0.001). Most respondents in the rural community had a good knowledge of worm infestation and only half had good practice of deworming. Also, there was a significant difference between the age of respondents and knowledge of helminthiasis and between the educational level of respondents and deworming activities of respondents.
Background: In high HIV prevalence, tuberculosis diagnosis is challenging. Some countries hence use clinical algorithms to screen for tuberculosis in People Living with HIV (PLHIV). Objectives: The aim of the study was to validate the national algorithm for clinical tuberculosis screening of persons living with HIV who attend comprehensive HIV clinics. Methods: A crosssectional study of PLHIV who presented with cough of at least 2 weeks duration between 2009 and 2011 at St Patrick's Hospital, Ebonyi State, Nigeria. Sputum smear microscopy for acid fast bacilli was obtained from the participants. Results: Three hundred and twelve PLHIV were studied: 146 (46.8%) males and 166 (53.2%) females. Only 55 (17.6%) of the participants had smear positive pulmonary tuberculosis. Weight loss ( 2 = 2.33; P = 0.127), hemoptysis ( 2 = 0.03; P = 0.864), night sweats ( 2 = 1.52; P = 0.218), fever ( 2 = 3.49; P = 0.06), anorexia ( 2 = 0.49; P = 0.484), chest pain ( 2 = 2.48; P = 0.115), breathlessness ( 2 = 0.63; P = 0.426) were not significant in PLHWA with/without pulmonary tuberculosis. Cough, fever, night sweat and weight loss combined gave a sensitivity of 97.0%, specificity of 10.9%, negative predictive value (NPV) of 93.3% and positive predictive value (PPV) of 21.8%. Conclusion: Findings suggest that though national screening algorithm is a valid tool to screen for tuberculosis in PLHIV, it will lead to many false positive results.
Community Medicine tends to study health and disease in a population of a defined community and it provides comprehensive health services ranging from preventive, promotive, curative to rehabilitative services. Understanding the perceptions and attitude of medical students towards Community Medicine will be a great tool in planning a sound medical labour force for a better healthcare delivery Objective This study was carried out to ascertain the perception of medical students towards Community Medicine as a specialty. The study was carried out in UNEC with a total of 204 respondents who were in their fifth and final year classes. Data collection was by means of self-administered close ended questionnaire. Two hundred and four medical students returned their questionnaires and they displayed good knowledge of the discipline and its role in the society; majority 195(95.6%) perceived Community Medicine as vital part of medicine. While 150(73.5%), disagreed with living and working in rural area. However, only 90(44.1%) would choose Community Medicine as a specialty. Among the 114 who would not specialize in Community Medicine, 101(49.5%) were of the opinion that 'it was not interesting'. Medical students in UNEC showed good knowledge of Community Medicine but majority would not specialize in the discipline mainly because they did not find it interesting. Continuous education of stakeholders, students, parents and general populace as to what really constitutes Community Medicine might be useful. Also curriculum should be redesigned to lay emphasis on the peculiarly interesting rural community-based postings. Key messages Continuous education of stakeholders, students, parents and general populace as to what really constitutes Community Medicine might be useful. Curriculum should be redesigned to lay emphasis on the peculiarly interesting rural community-based postings.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.