Physical exercise during postpartum period is beneficial to mothers, and the health gains are abundantly reported. This study characterises the postpartum exercise profile of a group of Nigerian women and reports how their exercise self-efficacies are influenced by sociodemographic characteristics. Participants were women attending the two largest postnatal clinics in Ibadan, south-western Nigeria. A self-developed questionnaire assessed the socio-demographic and exercise profile of participants, while the Exercise Self-Efficacy Scale assessed their exercise self-efficacy. About two-third (61.0%) of the participants were not aware that they could undertake physical exercise to enhance postpartum health, and 109 (47.8%) were not engaged in any exercise. Those who exercised did so for less than three days/week, and 89% of the women did not belong to any exercise support group. Exercise self-efficacy was significantly (P < 0.05) associated with being in an exercise programme, age, employment, work hours/week, monthly income, and number of pregnancies. Most of the women were not aware they could engage in postpartum exercise, and about half were not undertaking it. More women with high compared to moderate exercise self-efficacy undertook the exercise. Efforts at increasing awareness, improving exercise self-efficacy and adoption of postpartum exercise are desirable among the Nigerian women.

Background: Menopausal women experience musculoskeletal changes such as muscle atrophy, muscle weakness and osteoporosis—symptoms associated with advancing age coupled with depletion of the female sex hormone, estrogen. Estrogen is important in the maintenance of the integrity of the musculoskeletal system and its reduction in the circulation due to menopausal transition results in reduced resting metabolic rate, lowered energy expenditure, increase in fat mass, and central adipose tissue accumulation. Objective: This study investigated the prevalence of musculoskeletal pain (MSP) in postmenopausal women (PMW) in Nigeria. We examined the association of overall and central obesity with complaints of MSP and the screening potential of obesity measures for risk of musculoskeletal problems among PMW in Nigeria. Methods: This was a cross-sectional survey of MSP in 310 PMW in Ibadan, Nigeria. MSP was assessed using the Standardized Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire, and overall and central obesity were assessed using body mass index (BMI), waist/height ratio (WHtR), waist circumference, and waist/hip ratio. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, chi-square test, and logistic regression models with the probability level at p = 0.05. Results: Participants were of the modal age group (51–60 years). The highest prevalence rates of MSP were in the lower extremity (189; 61.0%) and the back (164; 52.9%). A direct association was observed between the categories of BMI and lower extremity symptoms ( p < 0.05), and the categories of WHtR and waist circumference were associated with back and lower extremity symptoms ( p < 0.05). Postmenopausal women had greater odds of reporting MSP across various classes of BMI. WHtR revealed the greatest odds for back (odds ratio = 1.70, 95% confidence interval 1.07–2.75) and lower extremity symptoms (odds ratio = 2.33, 95% confidence interval 1.44–3.78). Conclusion: Lower extremity and back pain symptoms were the most prevalent. For overall and central obesity directly associated with MSP, WHtR seemed the best obesity screening tool for MSP in postmenopausal women.

This study investigated factors influencing adherence of stroke survivors to home based exercise in North Western Nigeria. It is a cross-sectional survey in which consenting participants were recruited using purposive sampling technique. The influence of certain socio-demographic and personal factors on home based exercise in stroke survivors were assessed through self-reports and clinician based questionnaires. Data obtained were analyzed with descriptive statistics, Pearson's correlation and Chisquare at a significance level of 0.05. Fifty two stroke survivors 27 (51.9%) males and 25(48.1%) females with mean age of 55.3±10.0 years and age range 33 to 75 years participated in the study. The adherent stroke survivors were 29 (55.8%) while 23 (44.2%) were non-adherent to home-based exercise. Neither of the participants' gender or level of education was significantly associated with home based exercise adherence (P>0.05). Significant negative correlations (r =-0.72 to-0.88; p<0.05) were observed when scores of adherence and discomfort, 'dependency on physiotherapist' and personal barriers were considered. The higher the magnitude of these factors, the lower the scores of home based exercise adherence. In this study, discomfort, dependency and participants' personal barriers were factors associated with low levels of home based exercise adherence. These factors should be considered by clinicians during prescription of home based exercise in stroke survivors.

Background: The involvement of informal caregivers (CGs) in the provision of care for stroke survivors always ensures the success of stroke rehabilitation. Aims: The aim of this review was to find the determinants of caregiving burden and quality of life (QOL) of CGs of African stroke survivors. Methods:The literature was searched in Google Scholar and PUBMED, AJOL and Cochrane Databases using selected search strategies without date restriction. Results: A total of eight African studies met the inclusion criteria. There were more female stroke CGs (55.6%) than their male counterparts. The determinants of CG QOL were duration and burden of caregiving, the CG's age and functional status of the stroke survivors. The determinants of caregiving burden were functional status of stroke survivors and having intimate relationship with them. Conclusion: Impairment of physical function in African stroke survivors was the consistent determinant of increased caregiving burden and deterioration of CG QOL. CG education and training is needed in order to enhance their ability to cope effectively with the burden of providing care to stroke survivors who have impairment of physical function and this may help to improve CG QOL.

IntroductionBenefits of physical activity in the prevention and management of stroke are well documented in the literature. There is increasing evidence that stroke survivors in South-West Nigeria are physically inactive. Data on barriers to the achievement of the recommended physical activity levels including its differences along socio-demographic characteristics among stroke survivors in South-West Nigeria are needed.MethodsThe Exercise Benefits and Barrier Scale and the International Physical Activity Questionnaire were administered on 121 stroke survivors to determine their perceived barriers to physical activity and physical activity levels respectively. Information on socio-demographic data and clinical variables were also collected.ResultsThe sample included 70.2% males, with majority of the participants reporting low physical activity levels (80.2%) and high perceived barriers (Mean = 48.13, SD = 7.88). The four most reported common barriers among stroke survivors were access to exercise facilities (95.0%), being embarrassed to exercise (94.2%), economic cost demands of exercise (94.2%) and notion that people in exercise clothes look funny (94.2%) respectively. There were no significant differences found in barriers to physical activity between gender (U= 1471.00, P= 0.74) and across each of: occupational status (H= 4.37, P = 0.22), age group (H= 0.82, P= 0.84) and educational levels (H= 4.56, P= 0.33). Significant difference however existed in perceived barriers across marital status categories (H = 12.87, P= 0.05)ConclusionStroke survivors indicated high perceived barriers to physical activity and these barriers were associated with marital status.

Objective. This study evaluated variation in functional independence in activities of daily living (ADL) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) among individuals with poststroke fatigue (PSF) and poststroke depression (PSD). Methods. A cross-sectional survey involved 65 consenting poststroke survivors who were purposively recruited from physiotherapy clinics of the University College Hospital, Ibadan, Adeoyo Maternity Teaching Hospital, Ibadan, and Federal Medical Center, Gusau. Participants were assessed for symptoms of PSD with short geriatric depression scale-15, PSF with fatigue severity scale, ADL with Barthel Index and IADL with Nottingham extended ADL scale. Data analysis was done using Chi-square and unpaired t-test with significance level being 0.05. Results. Participants' age ranged from 58 to 80 years. PSD alone (P = 0.002) and both PSF and PSD (P = 0.02) were significantly associated with ADL, while PSF alone was not (P = 0.233). PSD alone (P = 0.001) and both PSF and PSD (P = 0.001) significantly negatively affected IADL, while PSF alone had no significant effect (P = 0.2). Conclusions. Participants with PSD alone and those with both PSF and PSD had lower functional independence in ADL and IADL.

A number of complexities surround the health and well-being of patients with type 2 diabetes. These difficulties relate to self-care efforts and outcomes, and several other factors play regulatory functions. This study was carried out to investigate the inter-relationship among physical activity, quality of life, and clinical and sociodemographic factors in a group of Nigerian patients with type 2 diabetes. The study was conducted at the outpatient clinics of two major healthcare facilities in Ibadan, Southwest Nigeria. Physical activity was assessed using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire, and quality of life was assessed using the Diabetes Quality of Life Brief Clinical Inventory. Clinical and sociodemographic characteristics were also documented.A total of 227 patients with type 2 diabetes with a mean age of 55.83 ± 13.76 years took part in the study. A total of 156 (68.7%) of the participants, had low level of physical activity, while 81 (35.7%) reported quality of life scores below the intermediate score and hypertension was the mo 63 (27.8%) of the participants. Being 50 years and older (OR = 2.5; 95% CI = 1.21-3.67) increased the odds of having lower quality of life, while physical activity of moderate-to-high intensity reduced the odds (OR = 0.4; 95% CI = 0.2-0.8). A substantial proportion of patients with type 2 diabetes had below intermediate level quality of life, and most of them were physically inactive. Lower quality of life was also linked with sociodemographic and clinical variables but patients with moderate-to-high physical activity were likely to reduce by half the risk of poor quality of life.

Several studies have shown that there is a significant relationship between relative weight and hypertension. The anatomical distribution of weight has also been shown to be a factor in determining which people are more susceptible to hypertension and thus at risk of developing cardiovascular diseases. This study investigated the relationship between two anthropometric measurements for obesity-body mass index (BMI) and waist-hip ratio (W HR), and the blood pressure of Nigerians aged 15-85 years. The study employed a cross-sectional survey of individuals living in Ibadan North Local Government Area of Oyo State. Four hundred and four male and female individuals were recruited using a non-probability sampling technique. Measurements taken include subjects' systolic and diastolic blood pressure, waist and hip girths, height, and weight. Information was obtained about lifestyle and occupation as well as familial history of hypertension, diabetes, cardiac and renal diseases. Data was analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics, with alpha set at 0.05. Results show that WHR and BMI had a linear relationship with the blood pressure of the participants.