Premarital sickle cell genetic screening is a test that determines the genotype of the intending couple before marriage. As a result, counseling is given before and after the test. This study assessed and compared the level of knowledge, attitude and practices of premarital sickle cell screening among married and unmarried youths in Epe, Nigeria. A crosssectional descriptive research design was used to examine 370 participants, using stratified sampling technique. Data were collected with an instrument and analyzed, stating the mean, frequency and standard deviation. Scores were built for knowledge, attitude and practice. Chi-square test with p < 0.05 was used to test the hypotheses. The study revealed that an association exists between knowledge and practice of premarital sickle cell genetic screening among unmarried (X 2 = 6.359, Cramer's v=0.09, p=0.0116, df = 1) and married (X 2 = 12.9325, Cramer's v=0.10, p=0.0003, df =1) youths. Similarly, an association exists between attitude and practices of premarital sickle cell genetic screening for unmarried youth (X 2 = 20.3077, p=0.0007, Cramer's v=0.17, df = 1) but for married youths there was no association (X 2 = 0.0168, p = 0.8969, Cramer's v=0.08, df = 1). Furthermore, finding revealed that 77% of the married participants did not have sickle cell genetic screening test before marriage, while 67% of the unmarried participants were not willing to carry out the test, due to fear of the unknown and stigma. Conclusively, the level of knowledge of the participants' was good (70.06%), attitude was negative towards practices of premarital sickle cell genetic screening. Therefore, continuous health education that focuses on sickle cell genetic screening test could improve the practices among the youth to avert the associated morbidity and mortality.

Battery technicians need to maintain due diligence on safety practices at workplace to guide against lead poisoning, since preventive measures are the most cost-effective interventions against lead-related diseases. This study compared and investigated factors that influence battery technician's safety practices in Lagos, Nigeria. It was predicted that workplace conditions, blood lead levels and perceived risks could influence safety practices on lead poisoning. A quantitative, cross-sectional survey design, and systematic sampling were used to select N=293 adults aged 18 years and above. The instrument was validated and reliability established. The hypotheses were tested with chi-square and multiple logistic regression at p < 0.05 and 95% CI. The finding on safety practices status of battery technicians is 20% and the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) 18%. There was no significant difference between battery technicians in the organized and roadside settings considering perceived risk of lead poisoning and utilization of safety equipment.

Background: Nurses are at increased risk of developing posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) due to response of the body and mind to a threatening working environment as they care for COVID-19 patients in isolation centres. This study determined the prevalence of PTSD and examined the associated factors among nurses working in COVID-19 isolation centres. Subjects dan Method:The study was a cross-sectional design. Purposive method was used to select two isolation centres, while 75 nurses who participated in the study were selected using total enumeration sampling technique. A structured questionnaire with validity and reliability established was used to collect data which were screened, collated and analyzed with SPSS 27. The Fisher's Exact Test and Multivariate logistic regressions were the inferential statistics used to test the level of significant at p<0.050 and 95% confidence interval. The dependent variable of this study is posttraumatic stress disorder while the independent variables included socio-demographic characteristics of the participants, psychological and working conditions factors. Results:The mean age of the participants was (Mean=37.60; SD=10.20). Percentage of nurses having mild to severe PTSD was 27.8%. Duration stayed in COVID-19 isolation centres by nurses was significantly associated with the PTSD (p=0.003). The age, gender, marital status, and education level of the nurses were not statistically significant associated with the PTSD (p>0.05). Nurses who felt their life was under threat by working in COVID-19 isolation centres were 4.2 times more likely to develop PTSD compared to nurses who did not (OR=4.22, 95% CI=3.57 to 12.60, p=0.001). Conclusion: Nurses suffered PTSD due to psychological and physical exhaustion during the care of COVID-19 patients in isolation centres. Support program is recommended for the affected nurses to improve their quality of life.

Background: hypertension is one of the leading causes of disability and death worldwide. But despite this fact, adult's rarely gives deserved attention to preventive practices on hypertension. Objective: to examine the predictors of preventive practices on hypertension among adults in Ikoyi, Nigeria. Method: the survey was a descriptive and cross-sectional design, a random sampling technique was used to select N=149 adults from a cluster of the participants. A self-administered questionnaire with validity and reliability established was used to collect data on predictors that influence compliance with preventive practices on hypertension. Chi-square statistical model was used to test the stated hypotheses at p < 0.05. Results: the finding indicated that participants seldom checked their blood pressure unless on consultation in the health institutions. Variables' such as age, gender, marital status, education attainment, knowledge of the risk factors and knowledge of complications of hypertension, were all predictors of preventive practices on hypertension except occupational status that was not significant at X 2 =11.6, df=4, p= 0.060 in this study. Conclusion: adult should not wait to attain definite age bracket or belong to a status before engaging in active preventive practices on hypertension considering the associated peril and complications of the disease.

Background: Individuals at shooting ranges are exposed to high amount of lead fumes either indoor or outdoor. The shooters sprayed lead dust into the air upon discharge of the cartridge at arm’s length distance. Most of the previous studies conducted at shooting ranges focused on blood lead levels (BLLs) of exposed people and there are limited studies on the risk associated with the shooting of firearms. This study aimed to review previous studies on the hazards associated with the discharge of firearms, and safety measures at shooting ranges. Methods: A systematic review was conducted to explore the available evidence. The databases were searched using the keywords “indoor shooting ranges”, “outdoor shooting ranges”, “firearms shooting”, “lead poisoning hazard”, “blood lead biomarkers”, “permissible exposure limit”, and “safety practice on lead”. Results: The designated BLL for case definition in lead poisoning was between 0.1μg/dL - 0.49μg/dL. It was estimated that at Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL). PEL of 0.5μg/m3, 95 percent of range users who are exposed to lead poisoning regularly can have BLL of <5μg/dL during 20 years of working life, while at 2.1μg/m3, 95 percent of the workers can have BLL of<10μg/dL during their working life. Conclusion: To protect firearm handlers and shooting range workers, policy on preventive measures should be implemented at shooting ranges by policymakers. Compliance with preventive measures is encouraged to avoid the high cost of rehabilitation lead poisoning.