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Background / Aims: Functional constipation (FC) is an emerging global health problem that could be associated with psychological maladjustments in childhood. The objectives were to determine the prevalence, associated factors and predictors of FC among in-school adolescents in Sokoto. Methods: It was a cross sectional survey of apparently healthy secondary school students in Sokoto metropolis selected via multistage random sampling, using a pretested semi-structured questionnaire. Rome IV criteria for the diagnosis of FC were adopted in determining FC among the subjects. Data was analyzed using IBM-SPSS version 25. Results: Six hundred and three (603) adolescents were studied, majority 327 (54.2%) were males, their ages ranged between 10 and 19 years with mean (±SD) of 15.2 ± 2.6 years, with majority 246 (40.8%) belonging to age category 10-14 years. Most 383(63.5%) of the respondents attended public schools and 326(54.1%) were CC –BY 4.0 senior secondary class category. Their parents were mainly 483 (80.1%) Hausa by tribe, graduates of tertiary institution 227 (37.6%),civil servants 268 (44.4%), and majority 272(45.1%) belonged to the middle social class. There was family history of constipation among 64(10.6%) of the subjects. Of the 603 adolescents that were studied, 123 of them had FC giving a prevalence of 20.4%. Gender (p=0.001), school type (p

Background: In most developing countries, the health of the children is strongly dependent on maternal health-care-seeking behavior. The ability of caregivers to recognize and seek appropriate care for childhood illnesses is instrumental in reducing childhood deaths and preventing significant number of complications. The study aimed to determine the health-care-seeking behavior and associated factors among the mothers of under-five (U5) children in Sokoto Metropolis. Methodology: This was a descriptive, cross-sectional study carried out among 386 mothers of U5 children in Sokoto metropolis from August 1 to September 30, 2021. The study participants were selected using the multistage sampling technique. A structured questionnaire was used to collect the information. Data were analyzed using the SPSS version 24. The level of significance for Chi-square was set at a P < 0.05. Results: Majority 312 (80.8%) of the respondents U5 children had fallen sick in the last 6 months, most of which 238 (61.7%) were not taken to a health facility. The major reasons why respondents do not take their U5 children to a health facility when sick are because they bought drugs from patent medicine vendor and perceiving the illness of the U5 as not serious to warrant taking the child to a health facility in 93 (24.1%) and 63 (16.3%), respectively. There was association (P ≤ 0.05) between health-care-seeking behavior and respondents' level of education, occupation, monthly income, as well as distance taken to reach a health facility within 30 min' walk. Conclusions: The health-seeking behavior of the mothers for their U5 was poor. Maternal level of education, occupation, income, and lesser number of children in the family were the factors that were significantly associated with seeking health facility care for a sick U5. This study recommends girl child education, women empowerment, and increase access to family planning by the government. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose - To assess the proportion of Health Care Providers (HCPs) in Sokoto practicing Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) in their various health facilities and identify barriers to KMC practice among HCPs in Sokoto. The purpose of this research is to evaluate the extent of KMC adoption and uncover the obstacles that hinder its effective implementation. Design/methods/approach - A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted among 80 Health Care Providers (HCPs) who attended the World Prematurity Day celebration in 2022. The program was held at the Medical and Health Workers Union office, Tamaje, Sokoto, on December 2, 2022. A structured questionnaire comprising both open and close-ended questions was used. Data obtained were analyzed using SPSS version 25. Findings - The mean age of the HCPs was 32.9±7.6 years, with the majority, 30 (37.5%), having less than five years of working experience. Of the 80 respondents, 41 (51.3%) were nurses, 9 (11.2%) were doctors, and 16 (20.0%) were midwives. Forty-three (53.7%) of the HCPs practiced KMC. The most common barriers to implementing KMC among the HCPs were lack of privacy for the mothers (23, 28.8%), lack of space for the mothers (21, 26.3%), cultural reasons (19, 23.8%), and lack of skills on KMC (16, 20.0%). The factors associated with the practice of KMC were previous training on KMC and working in tertiary hospitals (p<0.05). Research implications/limitations - This research implies that to mitigate barriers to KMC practice in hospitals, HCPs need to be trained to acquire skills for KMC, and rooms for KMC that ensure privacy for mothers should be available in health facilities. Practical implications -By identifying and addressing the barriers to KMC, such as lack of privacy, space, and skills, health facilities can improve the adoption and effectiveness of KMC practices. Originality/value - Kangaroo Mother Care reduces morbidity and mortality in Low Birth Weight (LBW) infants, making it crucial for countries with scarce resources to adopt this practice. Healthcare providers play a vital role in educating, supporting, and assisting mothers to practice KMC in the hospital and continue it at home after discharge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose - To explore the knowledge, attitude, and practices regarding oral and dental health for mothers of children aged 6 months to 8 years and older children aged above 8 years to 15 years seeking healthcare in a tertiary health facility in the Sokoto metropolis. Design/methods/approach - A cross-sectional study was conducted between February and April 2022. Subjects included mothers of 6 months to < 8 years and children aged 8 to 15 years presenting with minor illnesses to the General outpatient clinic. A structured questionnaire and focus group discussion guide were used to collect the information. Data was analyzed using IBM SPSS version 25. Findings - Out of 238 participants, 128 children were 6 months to <8 years, while 110 were above 8 to 15 years old. Less than half of mothers, 46.9%, had inadequate knowledge, while 20.3% had adequate practices. Among the older children in this study, the proportion of those with good knowledge, attitude, and practice level of oral health was 60%, 61.8%, and 32.7%. There was a significant moderate positive correlation between knowledge and attitude scores but not practice for the 2 groups. Mothers' education and fathers' occupation were significantly related to good scores (p=<0.05). Mothers of children with primary teeth and older children with permanent teeth in this study all had poor oral and dental health practices. More awareness programs should be conducted in the community to target those with poor practices. Increasing female education and empowerment is also essential in this regard. Research implications/limitations - This research implies that from an early age, it is necessary to check oral and dental health to prevent infectious diseases. Originality/value - Oral and dental health is an essential aspect of primary health care and is a situation in which the mouth, teeth, and gums are healthy and free from any diseases. Parents, especially mothers, are responsible for maintaining good oral hygiene practices and inculcating good oral hygiene habits in children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]