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Introduction: Occupational exposure to dust and cigarette smoking play important roles in the pathogenesis of lung diseases, particularly in developing countries. To determine the effects of outdoor cement dust exposure and cigarette smoking on lung health, we compared ventilatory function in cement handlers (smokers and non-smokers) to non-smoking persons without occupational exposure to dust in north-central Nigeria.Methods: In this comparative cross-sectional study, 90 male cement handlers and 90 age and sex matched controls were interviewed using the Medical Research Council respiratory questionnaire to assess for respiratory symptoms, dust exposure and cigarette smoking. Spirometry was carried out using ATS/ERS criteria. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 16 software.Results: The mean FEV1 among cement handlers and controls were 3.46 (0.83) L and 4.00 (0.71) L respectively (p < 0.001), and the mean percentage predicted FEV1 was 88.4 (17.4) % in cement handlers and 105.1 (13.3) % in controls (P < 0.001). There were 28 (31.1%) cigarette smokers among the cement handlers, and this group had significantly higher frequencies of cough, sputum production, breathlessness, wheeze and chest tightness as well as lower FEV1 than non-smoking cement handlers.Conclusion: Exposure of cement handlers to cement dust was associated with ventilatory function impairment and a high frequency of respiratory symptoms, both aggravated by cigarette smoking.

Background: The Electronic Health Record (EHR) is a key component of medical informatics that is increasingly being utilized in industrialized nations to improve healthcare. There is limited information on the use of EHR in sub-Saharan Africa. This paper reviews availability of EHRs in sub-Saharan Africa.Methods: Searches were performed on PubMed and Google Scholar databases using the terms 'Electronic Health Records OR Electronic Medical Records OR e-Health and Africa'. References from identified publications were reviewed. Inclusion criterion was documented use of EHR in Africa.Results: The search yielded 147 publications of which 21papers from 15 sub-Saharan African countries documented the use of EHR in Africa and were reviewed. About 91% reported use of Open Source healthcare software, with OpenMRS being the most widely used. Most reports were from HIV related health centers. Barriers to adoption of EHRs include high cost of procurement and maintenance, poor network infrastructure and lack of comfort among health workers with electronic medical records.Conclusion: There has been an increase in the use of EHRs in sub-Saharan Africa, largely driven by utilization by HIV treatment programs. Penetration is still however very low.

Background: The clinical characteristics and consequences of HIV-1 infection observed in studies from developed countries cannot be generalized across the multiple virus subtypes that circulate in sub-Saharan Africa in general and Nigeria in particular. This study was therefore conducted to determine the commonest symptoms and signs at presentation in HIV-infected individuals at the Jos University Teaching Hospital. Method: This descriptive study was conducted at the antiretroviral clinic of the Jos University Teaching Hospital, Jos, between May and October 2004. Two hundred (200) newly diagnosed and laboratory confirmed adult cases of HIV infection without prior antiretroviral drug use were recruited after obtaining informed consent. Each qualified patient had a comprehensive history taken with emphasis on the clinical symptoms and detailed physical examination performed by the researchers. The data collected were analyzed using a multipurpose computer programme, Epi-info 2000 version 1.1.3 (Atlanta GA, USA). Results: There were 86(43.0%) males and 114(57.0%) females whose mean ages were 39.0±7.8 and 32.0±8.1 years, respectively. The major symptoms in the study population were: weight loss (65.5%), fever (41.5%), chronic cough (38.5%), diarrhea (32.0%), pruritus (13.0%) and body rash (12.5%). The major signs were pallor (25.0%), oral thrush (20.5%), wasting (20.0%), lymphadenopathy (18.0%), dermatitis (16.0%), hyperpigmented nails (13.5%) and finger clubbing (8.5%). Conclusion: The symptoms and signs of HIV/AIDS obtained were similar to those obtained by other workers from different parts of the world; however, the findings of hyperpigmented nails and finger clubbing have not been frequently reported for other populations. Nigerian Journal of Medicine Vol. 17 (1) 2008 pp. 83-87