BackgroundDespite the creation of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) by the Nigerian government, most Nigerians are not covered by the scheme.AimThe aim of this study was to assess the knowledge and utilisation of NHIS among adult patients who attended a tertiary health facility in Lagos state, South-Western Nigeria.SettingOutpatient clinic, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja, Lagos.MethodsA descriptive cross-sectional study of 487 respondents recruited using a multi- stage sampling method. Data were collected using pretested semi-structured self-administered questionnaires, and analysis was done using Microsoft Excel 2007 and EPI Info 7 statistical software. Level of significance was set at p < 0.05. Ethical approval was obtained from the Health Research Ethics Committee Lagos State university teaching Hospital.ResultsA total of 487 of the 500 self-administered questionnaires were retrieved and analysed, giving a response rate of 97.4%. The study showed that 80.7% of the respondents had poor knowledge of NHIS, only12.3% of the respondents had registered with the NHIS, and 43.8% of respondents who had not registered with NHIS claimed they do not know where to register. There was a statistically significant association between age and utilisation (p = 0.0007), marital status and utilisation of NHIS (p = 0.016), employment status and utilisation of NHIS (p = 0.001).Most (96%) of those who have utilised NHIS were satisfied with NHIS services.ConclusionMajority of the respondents had poor knowledge of NHIS and also majority of those who had registered were satisfied with the scheme. There should be increased awareness campaigns so that all Nigerians can benefit from the scheme.

Background Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is common and often goes undetected and undiagnosed until the disease is well advanced and kidney failure is imminent. It is estimated that approximately 36 million Nigerians suffer from different stages of CKD, as one in seven Nigerians has kidney disease. Methods This research was a retrospective cohort study of 150 cases and 300 controls. Selection of subjects was by a retrospective review of records of in-patients from 2010–2013 in a state teaching hospital. Data was analyzed using Chi-square at 5% level of significance. Results Majority of subjects were between ages 20 – 29 years. The mean (SD) age of the cases was 40.6 (14.4) and controls was 38.6 (15.8). Ninety (60%) of the cases and 212(70.7%) of the controls were males (p= 0.023). Almost 87% of the cases and 42% of the controls ingest herbal concoction. Use of bleaching substances was more among the cases 20(13.4%) compared with the controls 2(0.7%), ( p= 0.001). Eight (5.3%) of the cases had family history of CKD while only 1(0.3%) of the control had similar history (p= 0.001). There were more cases (10.7%) with diabetic mellitus compared with the controls (2.7%), (p= 0.001). The number of cases with high blood pressure was more than the number of controls, (p-value <0.001). Sixty-four percent of the cases had history of chronic use of analgesic compared with 10.3% of the controls (p < 0.001). Conclusions CKD is mostly found among men in their productive age, who were either diabetic or hypertensive with history of ingestion of herbal concoction and chronic use of analgesic. Individual should engage in regular medical check, modify their life style while government and health care providers increase awareness and campaign on the causes and risk factors of CKD.

Introduction The majority of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections are acquired through unprotected sex between partners; only male or female condoms can reduce the chances of infection with HIV during a sexual act. Aim This study was therefore designed to describe sexual risk history and identify factors associated with condom use among people living with HIV/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) (PLWHAs) in Ogun State, Nigeria. Main Outcome Measures Main outcome measures are sexual and HIV risk history, safe sex practices, and condom use. Methods This study is an analytical cross-sectional study. A total sample of all people living with HIV/AIDS attending secondary health facilities in Ogun State were recruited into the study. Result A total of 637 were interviewed; median age at first sexual intercourse among the study participants was 19 years (mean age = 18.95, standard deviation [SD] = 4.148) with a median of two lifetime sexual partners (mean = 3.22, SD = 3.57). Majority (71.4%) of the respondents had not been diagnosed with a sexually transmitted infection other than HIV. Precisely 47.7% of men and 52.3% of women had two or more sexual partners in the last 6 months. Men were statistically significantly more likely to have multiple sexual partners when compared with women (P = 0.00). Significantly more women (69.8%) than men (30%) had sexual partners whose HIV status they did not know (P = 0.006). Predictors of condom use were individuals who had multiple sexual partners (odds ratio [OR] = 1.41, confidence interval [CI] = 1.05–1.83) and married (OR = 3.13, CI = 1.15–8.51) with higher level of education (OR = 2.78, CI = 1.39–5.79), with knowledge of partner’s serostatus (OR = 2.53, CI = 1.50–4.28), and awareness of reinfection (OR = 1.90, CI = 1.22–2.95). Conclusion The study indicates that the establishment of effective safe sex practices and condom use behavior among PLWHAs in low-income countries such as the study population requires adequate health education on the transmission of HIV/AIDS and the understanding of the dynamics of family life and gender issues.

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