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Objective: In Africa, cancer is considered a death sentence. Its impact can be debilitating for the patient and those who care for them. This study therefore assessed the spiritual needs and Quality of life of Cancer patients in a tertiary hospital in Nigeria., Methods: This study utilized a cross-sectional descriptive design. We systematically recruited 302 cancer patients who visited the cancer registry and outpatient departments. A standardized and validated Spiritual needs questionnaire (SpNQ) and WHO Quality of Life (WHOQL) were used to collect data. Data was analyzed with SPSS version 23 with a significance level set at p < 0.05., Results: The preponderance cancer among respondents was breast cancer 146 (48.4%) followed by prostate cancer 41 (13.6%). Most of the respondents admitted having "strong" spiritual needs. Categorization of the spiritual need score was below average in 20% of the respondents which indicated those with low spiritual needs and the majority 241 (79.8%) of the patients had high spiritual needs. Most respondents had poor quality of life in all four domains. The spiritual care needs of respondents were significantly associated with the quality of life of the respondents particularly in the psychological domain (p = 0.040) and social domain (p = 0.005)., Conclusion: This study revealed high spiritual needs and poor quality of life among cancer patients. Healthcare practitioners should provide for the spiritual needs of cancer patients to enhance their quality of life., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors at this moment declare that they have no competing interests associated with this study., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier España S.L.U.)

Background: Adequate eHealth literacy and health promotion behavior (HPB) are important to achieve good health-related quality of life. There is limited information on the influence of eHealth literacy and HPB on body mass index (BMI) in our setting and among public service workers., Objectives: This study assessed the eHealth literacy, HPB, and BMI of public service workers and determined the influence of eHealth literacy and HPB on BMI., Design: A descriptive cross-sectional design was adopted., Methods: A simple random sampling technique was used to select 440 public service workers from civil service of redacted . A structured questionnaire was used to collect data on socio-demographics, eHealth literacy, and HPB. Weight and height were measured and BMI was calculated. Data were analyzed using frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, and logistic regression analysis. The significant level was set at 0.05., Results: More than one quarter (28.2%) of respondents had low eHealth literacy, and more than one third (42.5%) had inadequate (30.0% fair and 12.5% poor) HPB. An average (50.5%) had a level of obesity that ranged from preobesity to type 2 obesity. There was a significant association between eHealth literacy and HPB with the BMI of respondents at p  < .05., Conclusion: There was inadequate eHealth literacy and HPB among public service workers. An average of the workers had a level of obesity that ranged from pre-obesity to type 2 obesity. There was a significant association between eHealth literacy and BMI and also between HPB and BMI of respondents. Community health professionals should assist public service workers to develop competencies and skills useful in evaluating health information on the Internet and applying such information to make informed decisions., Competing Interests: The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article., (© The Author(s) 2024.)

Human exposure to indoor radon has been a subject of continuous concern due to its health implications, especially as it relates to lung cancer. Radon contaminates indoor air quality and poses a significant health threat if not abated/controlled. A seasonal indoor radon assessment of residential buildings of Obafemi Awolowo University was carried out to determine radon seasonal variability and to evaluate the cancer risk to the residents. AT-100 diffusion-based track detectors were deployed within living rooms and bedrooms for the radon measurement. During the rainy season, the average indoor radon concentration was 18.4 ± 10.1 Bq/m 3 , with higher concentrations observed in bedrooms compared to living rooms, whereas the average radon concentration was 19.0 ± 4.4 Bq/m 3 in the dry season, with similar radon levels in living rooms and bedrooms. The potential alpha energy concentration values ranged from 1.62 to 7.57 mWL. The annual effective dose equivalent values were below the world average and recommended limits for public exposure. Of the three geological units underlying the residences, the buildings overlying the granite gneiss lithology have the highest radon concentrations with average value of 21.4 Bq/m 3 . The soil gas radon concentration to indoor radon concentration ratio over the granite gneiss lithology is 0.006. The estimated average lifetime cancer risk due to radon inhalation in the residences indicated a potential risk of cancer development in 178 persons in 100 000 population over a lifetime period. The average indoor radon concentrations were below the recommended limit, requiring no immediate remediation measures. Improved ventilation of residential apartments is recommended to minimize residents' risk to indoor radon., Competing Interests: The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article., (© The Author(s) 2024.)

The burden of human schistosomiasis, a known but neglected tropical disease in Sub-Saharan Africa, has been worrisome in recent years. It is becoming increasingly difficult to tackle schistosomiasis with praziquantel, a drug known to be effective against all Schistosoma species , due to reports of reduced efficacy and resistance. Therefore, this study seeks to investigate the antischistosomal potential of phytochemicals from Azadirachta indica against proteins that have been implicated as druggable targets for the treatment of schistosomiasis using computational techniques. In this study, sixty-three (63) previously isolated and characterized phytochemicals from A. indica were identified from the literature and retrieved from the PubChem database. In silico screening was conducted to assess the inhibitory potential of these phytochemicals against three receptors ( Schistosoma mansoni Thioredoxin glutathione reductase, dihydroorotate dehydrogenase, and Arginase) that may serve as therapeutic targets for schistosomiasis treatment. Molecular docking, ADMET prediction, ligand interaction, MMGBSA, and molecular dynamics simulation of the hit compounds were conducted using the Schrodinger molecular drug discovery suite. The results show that Andrographolide possesses a satisfactory pharmacokinetic profile, does not violate the Lipinski rule of five, binds with favourable affinity with the receptors, and interacts with key amino acids at the active site. Importantly, its interaction with dihydroorotate dehydrogenase, an enzyme responsible for the catalysis of the de novo pyrimidine nucleotide biosynthetic pathway rate-limiting step, shows a glide score and MMGBSA of -10.19 and -45.75 Kcal/mol, respectively. In addition, the MD simulation shows its stability at the active site of the receptor. Overall, this study revealed that Andrographolide from Azadirachta indica could serve as a potential lead compound for the development of an anti-schistosomal drug.

Background: Body image perception and social support during pregnancy can impact the psychological distress levels experienced by pregnant women. As a result, the purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between various components of social support and body image perception on psychological distress levels among pregnant women in their third trimester in Nigeria., Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 246 pregnant women who were in the third trimester and attending selected health care facilities in Ogbomoso, a semiurban city in Oyo State, Nigeria. Body image perception, social support, and psychological distress scales were used to collect the data. Data were analyzed and summarized using descriptive and inferential statistics (ANOVA and multiple regression), with significance set at p < 0.05., Results: Regression analysis showed that 44% of the variation in psychological distress among pregnant women was explained by the background variables, marital status, body image perception, appraisal support, tangible support, belonging support, interaction between body image perception and appraisal support, belong support and tangible support., Conclusion: Intervention programs focusing on bolstering tangible support, belonging support and appraisal support are recommended at reducing the psychological distress due to body image perception among pregnant women at third trimester., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: This mini review aims to provide an overview of the role of telemedicine in preventing multi-drug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) in Nigeria. The specific objectives include examining the potential benefits of telemedicine, identifying the challenges associated with its implementation, and highlighting the importance of addressing infrastructure limitations and data privacy concerns., Methods: This minireview is based on a comprehensive analysis of existing literature, including scholarly articles, and reports,. A systematic search was conducted using electronic databases, such as PubMed and Google Scholar, to identify relevant publications related to telemedicine and MDR-TB prevention in Nigeria. The selected articles were assessed for their relevance, and key findings were synthesized to provide an overview of the role of telemedicine in addressing the challenges of MDR-TB in Nigeria., Results: The review demonstrates that telemedicine has the potential to significantly contribute to MDR-TB prevention efforts in Nigeria. The benefits of telemedicine include improved access to specialized care, enhanced patient adherence to treatment, and potential cost savings. However, challenges such as infrastructure limitations and data privacy concerns need to be addressed for successful implementation. Integrating telemedicine into the healthcare system has the potential to strengthen MDR-TB prevention, particularly in underserved areas, including within Nigeria. Specifically, the integration of telemedicine into the healthcare system can enhance access to specialized care, improve patient adherence, and potentially reduce costs associated with MDR-TB management., Conclusions: Addressing infrastructure challenges, ensuring data privacy and security, and fostering trust among healthcare providers and patients are critical for successful implementation of telemedicine. Further research and policy frameworks are needed to guide the effective implementation and scale-up of telemedicine in MDR-TB prevention efforts in Nigeria., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2024 The Author(s).)

Introduction: Differences in availability and choices of contraceptive methods among postpartum women have been found to influence their quality of life as the fertility rate is very high, and the contraceptive usage rate persistently remains low in Nigeria., Objectives: This study assessed the determinants of contraceptive options among postpartum women in Nigeria., Methods: Two Local Governments were randomly selected from the four Local Governments. Within these two local governments, five health facilities were selected. A multistage sampling technique was used to select the 240 respondents, while a structured questionnaire was used to collect data., Results: Findings from the study indicated that 81.7% of the respondents have planned to have their current baby, and about 65.4% of the women have resumed sexual activities since delivery. Of those who have resumed sexual activities, the majority, 91.1% did so 6 weeks after delivery. Some form of contraceptive usage was prominent among 59.2% of the respondents, as the most common contraceptive method used was withdrawal (24.8%). Contraceptive prevalence was slightly lower for urban respondents than rural respondents, although the relationship was not significant. Also, there was a statistically significant relationship between the current use of contraceptives and resumption of sexual activities since delivery ( p  = .001), resumption of menstruation ( p  = .001), and information received about postpartum family planning ( p  = 0.013)., Conclusion: Findings from this study emphasize the urgent need for enhanced accessibility and availability of contraceptive methods, with a parallel emphasis on targeted interventions and effective communication strategies to promote contraceptive uptake and family planning. Addressing these determinants is vital in improving postpartum women's overall quality of life in the study area., Competing Interests: The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article., (© The Author(s) 2024.)

The activities of people and equipment used within shopping malls are major factors that contribute to air pollution and increased sound levels, thereby affecting indoor environmental quality and the well-being of mall operators. This study assessed indoor environmental quality through microbial characterization and measurement of environmental conditions present in selected shopping malls. Investigations were conducted at three shopping malls in Ibadan selected through convenience sampling technique. Environmental parameters such as noise level, relative humidity, temperature, PM 2.5 levels, total volatile organic compound (TVOC) levels, microbial characterization, and quantity were determined. Microclimatic parameters (temperature and relative humidity) were measured using a 4-in-1 Precision Gold N09AQ multi-tester. Culturable airborne microbes were collected using the settle plate technique. PM 2.5 and TVOC levels were measured using a Thermo Scientific MIE pDR-1500 PM monitor and sf200-TVOC meter respectively. Two bacteria species and five fungi species were isolated across the malls. The noise levels ranged from 61.27 to 81.20 dB. The mean temperatures (highest mean of 33.44 ± 1.42 °C), PM 2.5 (highest mean of 114.06 ± 25.64 μg/m 3 ), and TVOC (highest mean of 55.21 ± 8.28 ppm) concentrations were higher than the permissible limits stipulated by the WHO guidelines and NESREA standard limits across all the selected malls. A positive correlation was found to exist between particulate matter and TVOC (r = 0.174, p = 0.004). The total bacteria count was generally high with the highest mean of 1965.33 ± 368.56 CFU/m 3 , while the total fungi count was generally low with the highest mean of 579.82 ± 51.55 CFU/m 3 . Bacillus spp. and Candida spp. were found to the consistent from all sample points across the three malls. The bacteria isolated are Gram-positive bacteria associated with human skin which suggests a high rate of indoor pollution from humans. In conclusion, this research has demonstrated the necessity to monitor noise levels and indoor air quality in malls. Also, there is need for government policies to improve indoor air quality which must be enforced and regulated, especially within shopping malls., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) during gravidity are among the most preponderant contagion globally and can culminate in fetal and maternal mortality. Lack of awareness and poor preventive practices can exacerbate this outcome. This study assessed the knowledge and preventive practices of antenatal mothers' towards UTIs in pregnancy., Design: This was a cross-sectional descriptive survey involving antenatal mothers in selected health care facilities in Ekiti State., Methods: A pre-tested adapted questionnaire was used for data collection. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and Chi-square at p  < 0.05., Results: The mean respondents' age was 24.6 ± 2.1 years and barely less than half (43.8%) were multigravida. The findings of the study revealed that 64.0% of the respondents had good knowledge of UTIs. Overall, majority (78.9%) of the respondents exhibit good preventive practices toward UTIs in pregnancy, although the prevalence of UTIs among the studied subjects was found to be high (54.1%), with nearly half (48.7%) of the respondents reported been tested once for UTIs in the current pregnancy. Furthermore, there was a statistically significant relationship between educational level and respondents' knowledge on the prevention of UTIs in pregnancy ( p  = 0.00; p  < 0.05)., Conclusions: Respondents had good knowledge and good preventive practices toward UTIs. However, the high prevalence of UTIs reported among respondents justifies the need for implementation of knowledge enhancement program, routine testing and prompt treatment of UTIs among antenatal mothers., Competing Interests: The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article., (© The Author(s) 2023.)

Objective: To assess the influence of an educational intervention on midwives' knowledge, detection and management of intimate partner violence (IPV)., Methods: A quasi-experimental study involving 158 midwives from two districts in Ekiti State, Nigeria. The sample was divided into experimental and control groups (79 midwives per group). Data were collected using a questionnaire and an observation checklist. A customized educational training program on IPV detection and management was conducted in the experimental group. Measurement was performed before the intervention, immediately after and 6 weeks later. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics (Chi-square and binary logistic regression) with a level of significance set at p < 0.05., Results: Prior knowledge regarding IPV detection and management among midwives in both groups was poor, with only 16.5 % of the experimental group and 17.7 % of the control group having good knowledge in the pre-intervention phase. The experimental group had a significant improvement in knowledge of IPV screening and management, with 82.1 % having good knowledge immediately after the intervention and 92.0 % at 6 weeks after the intervention (p = 0.001). Observed practice of IPV detection and management improved significantly from 21.9 % satisfactory practice before the intervention to 63.5 % after the intervention (p = 0.001) in the experimental group, with no appreciable improvement in practice detected in the control group (21.9% versus 36.5%; p = 0.682)., Conclusion: The use of a customized educational training program improved midwives' knowledge and practice in the detection and management of intimate partner violence., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

Traditional birth attendants (TBAs) have become an integral part of the workforce providing delivery services in Nigeria due to the limited number of skilled birth attendants and cultural preferences. This study assessed the knowledge, management and preventive practices regarding postpartum haemorrhage (PPH) among TBAs in selected communities in Osun State, Southwest Nigeria. The study employed a descriptive cross-sectional study design and recruited 260 TBAs in four communities in Osun State. Data were collected by means of an adapted semi-structured questionnaire. Data were analysed using SPSS version 23 and summarized using descriptive and inferential statistics (chi-square and logistic regression) with the level of significance set at p < 0.05. The findings indicated that most (71.4%) of the TBAs were cleric, while others were herbalist (28.6%). Although the majority (76.4%) of the TBAs had good knowledge of the causes and warning signs of PPH, a high percentage (69.3%) of TBAs had poor management practices, while 114 (64.1%) TBAs had inadequate preventive practices. Notably, almost none of the participants practised active management of the third stage of labour; the majority of TBAs did not administer any uterotonic drugs to the mother, nor did they deliver the placenta by controlled cord traction. Gender (P = 0.029), educational level (P = 0.035) and average number of births per month (P = 0.001) significantly influenced TBAs' management practices. Similarly, the TBA type (P < 0.001), average number of births per month (P = 0.003) and experience with formal training (P = 0.005) showed significant associations with TBAs' preventive practices. Furthermore, TBAs' preventive practices towards PPH were influenced by the TBA type (OR: 4.23; 95% CI 1.64-10.90). TBA management practices were also influenced by the TBA type (OR: 4.42; 95% CI 2.03-9.61). Traditional birth attendants in this study had poor management and poor preventive practices for postpartum haemorrhage., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Objectives: Maternal mortality continues to pose a critical challenge in obstetric practice, with postpartum haemorrhage as one of the major causes. This study aimed to explore the lived experiences of midwives regarding the management of postpartum haemorrhage (PPH)., Methods: The study employed a qualitative phenomenological approach. Participants were selected using purposive sampling technique, and 15 participants were recruited for the study. Data collection was done using a semi-structured interview guide for in-depth interviews. The interviews were audio-recorded, and data analysis was done using thematic analysis., Results: Two themes emerged from the analysis, including 1) management practices adopted against PPH and 2) hospital protocol for the management of PPH. The major management practices adopted by the midwives were using uterotonics, especially oxytocin, and other management practices such as anti-shock garments, stimulation of contractions by rubbing the uterus, and assessment of the cause of bleeding and suturing of lacerations. It was also deduced that different healthcare facilities had policies for managing postpartum haemorrhage. Barriers affecting the effective management of PPH were understaffing, unavailability of suitable facilities and equipment, restrictions on nurses/midwives in managing PPH, unfavourable hospital policy and lack of communication among the healthcare team., Conclusion: The participants' experiences suggest they are somewhat satisfied with PPH management in their facilities. However, barriers such as understaffing, unavailability of equipment, poor communication among healthcare teams and restrictions on nurses in PPH management should be addressed to improve midwives' experiences in PPH management., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: Family members of hospitalized patients are often faced with challenges and may experience difficulty in coping without appropriate support. The aim of this study was to assess hospitalized patients' family members' perception of nurses' support., Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive design was utilized. A total of 138 family members of hospitalized patients in a tertiary health facility were selected using a purposive sampling technique. Data were collected with an adopted structured questionnaire. Analyses of data were performed using frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, and multiple regression. The level of significance was set at 0.05 ( p < .05. Also, age, gender, and type of family were the predictors of emotional support ( R 2 = 84, F (6, 131) = 5.92, p < .05., Results: Twenty-seven qualitative studies were included in the review. A thematic synthesis showed over 100 themes and subthemes across the studies. A cluster analysis revealed positive elements and others that were seen in the studies as a barrier (hindrance) to clinical learning. Positive elements included supportive instructors, close supervision, and belonging (in the team). Unsupportive instructors, a lack of supervision and not being included were seen as a hindrance. Three key overarching themes that could describe a successful placement were revealed as "Preparation," "Welcomed and wanted" and "Supervision experiences". A conceptual model of clinical placement elements conducive to nursing students' learning was developed to enhance understanding of the complexities associated with supervision. The findings and model are presented and discussed., Conclusion: A significant number of families of hospitalized patients reported poor perception of cognitive, emotional, and overall support from nurses. Adequate staffing is a prerequisite for effective family support. Nurses also need appropriate training in providing family support. The focus of family support training should emphasize practices that nurses can use in everyday interactions with patients and family members., Competing Interests: The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article., (© The Author(s) 2023.)

Objectives: Shopping malls are fast becoming one of the most visited public spaces globally. However, information on the possible environmental conditions in relation to health hazards in shopping malls is poorly documented in developing countries. This study assessed the sanitary conditions, waste management, safety measures and sources of air pollution associated with selected shopping malls in Nigeria.Study Design: a descriptive cross-sectional study design was adopted using a comparative approach., Methods: Three shopping malls (Mall Q, Mall R, and Mall S) in urban areas in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria, were selected using convenience sampling technique. Three major shopping malls were selected using convenience sampling technique. Fifty seven, thirty five, and twenty nine stores were sampled in Mall Q, Mall R, and Mall S respectively. Direct on-site built environment and sanitary conditions of shopping malls were assessed using an observational checklist., Results: It was observed that all the selected shopping malls had air vents that were free from dust, unbroken walls, and emergency exits, although mold growths were observed on the walls and ceilings of Mall Q and Mall R. Toilet facilities were present and functional across all the shopping malls. Waste management facilities were available across the shopping malls with the absence of overfilled waste bins as regular emptying of the waste bins was a routine. Also, various safety measures and equipment were utilized across all the shopping malls, but safety signals and smoke detectors were absent in Mall R. Furthermore, Mall R and S were 5 m within the proximity of major roads, parking lots and public drainage channels., Conclusions: These findings reveal a need for improvement in the hygiene and sanitary conditions within shopping malls. Hence, there should be periodic environmental monitoring, and proper housekeeping practices should be encouraged in shopping malls in Nigeria., Competing Interests: The authors hereby declare there is no conflict of interest associated with this study or any of the procedures and materials used for the purpose of the study., (© 2023 The Authors.)

Introduction: The importance of spirituality in health and wellness has been documented in the literature. While the developed countries have reported robust evidence of spirituality in nursing practices, there is scant evidence in low- and middle-income countries like Nigeria., Objectives: This study assessed the spiritual care practices of the nurses attending to cancer patients in a tertiary health institution in Ilorin. It further determined factors associated with spiritual caring practices among nurses., Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted between November 2021 and December 2021 to assess spiritual care practices among nurses caring for cancer patients. During the study period, 66 nurses were recruited randomly from the hospital's medical and surgical clinics, palliative care department, and Obstetrics and Gynecology department. Twelve items validated Nurses' spiritual care practices questionnaire was adapted for this study. Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS version 23., Results: The mean age of the respondents was 36.5 years ( + 10.1) while female respondents made up 83.3%. About 48% of the nurses had good spiritual caring practices while 52% had poor spiritual caring practices. Nurses with training in oncology (96%) with p  = .001 and those with spirituality training (86.2%) with p  = .017 showed significant association with spiritual care practices. This study concluded that spiritual care practices among nurses are sub-optimal with training as a significantly associated factor with spiritual care practices., Conclusion: It is, therefore, suggested that spiritual care practices should be incorporated into all nursing training and curriculum. This will allow them to better support the spiritual needs of the patients, especially those with chronic diseases like cancer., Competing Interests: The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article., (© The Author(s) 2023.)

Introduction: teenage pregnancy remains a major public health issue in Nigeria with many teenagers being fated to early motherhood resulting in a life filled with turmoil. The aim of this study was to explore the perspectives of teachers and students of high schools on the causes, enablers and solutions to teenage pregnancy., Methods: this study employed an exploratory design using a qualitative approach. Participants were selected using purposive sampling technique and a total number of 33 participants interviewed. Data collection was done by means of audio-recorded semi-structured interviews and data were analysed using a thematic analysis approach. Descriptive statistics were used to generate participants' demographic profile., Results: three themes emerged from the study. They include perception of teachers and students on the causes of teenage pregnancy, perceived enablers of teenage pregnancy and solutions to teenage pregnancy. Findings revealed that the majority of the participants had knowledge of teenage pregnancy but had limited knowledge of contraceptives, particularly the students. Almost all participants viewed teenage pregnancy as a more common occurrence in their community than in schools. Participants identified poverty, peer pressure and poor parental control as causes of teenage pregnancy. Participants further identified poverty, substance abuse and lack of education as enablers of teenage pregnancy while perceived solutions included poverty eradication, abstinence from sexual activities, girl child education and government involvement. Majority of the participants disagreed with giving condoms to teenagers in schools., Conclusion: among other causes of teenage pregnancy identified in this study, poverty was a recurring theme. Therefore, there is, a need for the government of Nigeria to combat poverty at all levels, as a strategy to curb teenage pregnancy while not neglecting other causes., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (Copyright: Deborah Tolulope Esan et al.)

The study assessed the maternal satisfaction with delivery care in selected health care facilities in Ekiti state. The study employed a descriptive cross-sectional study design and a simple random sampling technique was utilized to select respondents based on calculated sample size and a total of 267 respondents participated in the study. A semi-structured pretested questionnaire was used for the data collection. Data was analyzed and summarized using descriptive statistics and inferential statistics (Chi-square) with significance set at p  < 0.05. The mean respondents' age was 28.2 ± 1.4 years with majority falling within the age group of 21-30 years. Majority of the respondents revealed to be satisfied with the following: proximity of the health facilities 194 (72.7%); cost of service 174 (65.2%); drug availability 184 (69.7%); cleanliness of the hospital ambience 219 (82.0%); and professional conduct of the care givers 186 (70.2%). However, the respondents expressed dissatisfaction in terms of the following: referral link 107 (40.1%); waiting time 122 (45.7%); communication gap 56 (21.0%); and maintenance of privacy 51 (19.1%). Overall, majority (94.8%) of the respondents were satisfied with the delivery services rendered at the facilities while 14 (5.2%) expressed dissatisfaction. Furthermore, a significant association exists between respondents' level of education and maternal satisfaction on delivery care ( p  < 0.05). Although the general maternal gratification/satisfaction on intrapartum and postpartum care in this study was overwhelmingly high, the few domains of discontentment identified need to be addressed by all the stakeholders in the health sector to enhance the usage of health care services amongst women, thus promoting the attainment of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3., Competing Interests: The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article., (© The Author(s) 2022.)

Objective: Pain is termed as a subjective phenomenon, however almost all women acknowledge that labor pain is the most severe form of pain a woman experiences in her lifetime. Obstetric analgesia is underutilized in developing countries due to cultural myths and taboos. Hence, the present study aims to identify Nigerian women's knowledge of labor analgesia and to explore what myths and factors hinder with the use of analgesia in labor., Method: A quantitative descriptive cross-sectional design was adopted in this study. The population of the study predominantly consisted of pregnant women from the «Yoruba ethnic group». An adapted semi-structured questionnaire was used to obtain data from participants from selected Health Care Centers in Ekiti state, Nigeria. The collected data was analyzed using a descriptive and inferential statistics and was represented in form of tables and charts with level of significance set at p ≤ 0.05., Results: A total of 236 respondents were included in the study (n = 236). Findings from this study revealed that, the participants showed very poor knowledge on labor pain management strategies, with only 26.3% being aware of pain management strategies used in relieving labor pain. An elevated number of the participants (56.8%) believed that labor pain should not be relieved with the use of drugs, strongly agreeing that analgesia was «a sign ofweakness» (57.2%). Also, more than half (51.7%) of participants had fears that pain relief administered during labor can cause harm to the unborn baby. Belief that experiencing labor pain completes one's motherhood (49.6%), Religion (50.4%) and Culture (54.5%), were reported as factors influencing the uptake/acceptance of labor analgesia among participants. Furthermore statistical significant association was found between educational level of participants and knowledge of labor analgesia among participants (p value = 0.000; p ≤ 0.05)., Conclusions: Cultural myths on the use of analgesia exist among participants. It is suggested that women-centered education should be targeted toward eliminating these myths and increasing awareness about labor analgesia., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.)

The distribution of natural radioactivity levels of 238 U, 232 Th, and 40 K in soils overlying the 3 lithologic units within Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria was investigated to characterize the gamma radiation dose distribution over the lithologies and to assess the radiation hazard due to the natural radionuclides. A thallium-doped cesium iodide detector was employed to determine the activity concentrations of 238 U, 232 Th, and 40 K in 21 soil samples. The respective average concentrations of the 3 radionuclides are 37.7, 3.2, and 245.6 Bq kg -1 for granite gneiss, 31.9, 2.8, and 241.1 Bq kg -1 for banded gneiss, and 21.1, 1.7, and 196.7 Bq kg -1 for mica schist. The average concentration of 238 U in granite gneiss lithology exceeds the world average value. The evaluated values of radiation hazard parameters including average absorbed dose rate, outdoor annual effective dose and external hazard index are below the recommended limits. The spatial distribution of the radiation hazard parameters evaluated over the lithologies has been delineated. The highest average cancer risk of 1.15 per 10 000 population was obtained for the study area within the soil overlying the banded gneiss lithology. Generally, the radiation hazard from the soils in study area poses no significant health hazard., Competing Interests: Declaration of Conflicting Interests: The author declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article., (© The Author(s) 2022.)

Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess and determine associations between maternal health literacy (MHL) levels, utilisation of maternal healthcare services and pregnancy outcomes among newly delivered mothers., Study Design: Cross-sectional descriptive study., Methods: In total, 185 newly delivered mothers were selected from two health facilities using a purposive sampling technique. Data were collected using an adapted structured questionnaire. Analyses of data were performed using frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, Kruskal-Wallis test and logistic regression. The level of significance was set at 0.05 (p < 0.05)., Results: More than one-third of participants (41.6%) had inadequate MHL. Utilisation of maternal healthcare services was moderate; only 55.7% of participants were registered for antenatal care at ≤14 weeks of pregnancy and 59.5% received three doses of tetanus vaccine, however, the majority of participants (85.9%) attended antenatal care with skilled birth attendants. Almost half of participants (49.2%) had poor pregnancy outcomes. A significant association was found between MHL and utilisation of maternal healthcare services (p < 0.05). MHL was also significantly associated with certain sociodemographic characteristics of participants (i.e. age, educational level, occupation and income)., Conclusions: More than one-third of participants had inadequate MHL, utilisation of maternal healthcare services was moderate and approximately half of study participants had poor pregnancy outcomes. Health workers should provide training sessions for pregnant women to improve MHL., (© 2022 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of The Royal Society for Public Health.)

The incidence of malnutrition in the first two years of life has been directly linked with inappropriate complementary feeding practices along with high infectious disease levels. This study was therefore aimed to assess the complementary feeding pattern among mothers of children aged zero to two years in selected health centres in Ado Ekiti, the capital of Ekiti State, Nigeria. The study was cross-sectional in design. One hundred and thirty-five mothers were selected from two health centres within Ado-Ekiti for this study. A semi-structured interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to collect information from the mothers. The questionnaire included questions that assessed the mothers' socio-demographic characteristics and complementary feeding pattern. Most (62.5%) infants were introduced to complementary foods at 3-5 months old and water (43.3%) at 3 months of age. The main food item given to the infants on commencement of complementary feeding was formula food (45.9%) followed by fermented cereal gruel (37%). The timing of introduction for different food items revealed that in contrast to the use of fermented cereal gruel (23.8%), fewer children were introduced to iron-rich foods (15.1%) and fruits (11%) at 6 months to a year old. Mother's knowledge of ideal age for the introduction of complementary feeding ([Formula: see text] 20.547; p < 0.001) associated significantly with the age of introduction of complementary feeding. More than three-fifth (62.5%) of the respondents had commenced complementary feeding to their infants between 3 and 5 months while an excess of two-fifth (43.3%) of the respondents started giving their children water to drink at 3 months of age. Nurses and nutritionists in primary health care centers should take the lead role in educating mothers about the need for exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months of life and appropriate complementary feeding for ages 6-24 months., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Introduction: cancer is viewed in the African context as a death sentence. Its effect can be overwhelming to both the patient and their support system. The objective of the study was to assess the perceived quality of life of cancer patients undergoing varied cancer treatments in a tertiary health institution in Ekiti State and to determine the life style modification of cancer patients undergoing varied treatments in the same health facility., Methods: the study employed a descriptive cross-sectional design. A consecutive sampling approach was utilized to select 80 respondents among the cancer patients who attended the cancer registry within the study time frame. Data was collected from these cancer patients by using structured and validated questionnaire. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and inferential statistics with level of significance set at p < 0.05., Results: respondent´s ages ranged from 20 - 61 years with a mean age of 50 ± 18.3 years. Only 7.8% are not dependent on medications to function in their daily life. Most of the participants reported that their sex life has been affected (61.1%) and 77% of the respondents reported fatigue. About 76% of respondents need varying measure of medical treatment to function in their daily life. Overall, 44.8% have poor quality of life, while 55.1% had good quality of life in this current study. Moreover, a significant relationship was found between quality of life and self-assessment of patient´s health (p < 0.001). Multivariate analysis predicting factors affecting quality of life of respondents revealed that self-assessment of respondents (AOR: 3.389; 95% CI: 1.897-6.054) remained a significant and more likely predictor of quality of life while respondent´s age (AOR: 0.244; 95% CI: 0.068-0.876) and level of education (AOR: 0.054; 95% CI: 0.005-0.546) were less likely predictors., Conclusion: one quarter of the participants have poor life and majority of the participants need varying measure of medical treatment to function in their day to day life. Management of cancer patients should be geared towards improving/ameliorating symptoms and improving quality of life of cancer patients., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing interest., (Copyright: Deborah Tolulope Esan et al.)

Introduction: while pregnancy is a very beautiful and memorable experience for most women, some women may experience apathy towards childbirth and have feelings of fear and anxiety (tocophobia). Tocophobia can be far reaching with adverse physiologic and emotional consequences for mothers, infants and families. This study therefore explored tocophobia experiences among primigravid women and explored its influence on birth choices among antenatal women., Methods: the study employed a qualitative exploratory research design. Participants who were primigravida (women who had never experienced childbirth), were selected using purposive sampling technique on antenatal clinic days. Data was obtained using semi-structured interview questions. Data was analyzed using content analysis approach and thematic categorization., Results: results showed that few of the women experienced tocophobia and these fears were not strong enough to make them opt for caesarian section. Reasons attributed to tocophobia experience among the participants included "horror stories" told in the neighborhood, "past experiences" of close acquaintance and "entertainment videos" broadcast. Furthermore, all the participants preferred to have vaginal delivery., Conclusion: few of the primigravid women in Ekiti State, Nigeria, experience tocophobia and this experience does not influence their choice of delivery option, as all participant´s preferred vaginal delivery to caesarian section. It is important for midwives to be aware of their role in counselling and identifying women with tocophobia in order to promote good and safe transition from pregnancy to motherhood., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (Copyright: Deborah Tolulope Esan et al.)

Objectives: Despite the fact that quality and effective services are provided to meet adolescents' needs, the perceptions of parents regarding the delivery of these services must be taken into consideration. This aim of this study was to explore the perceptions of parents of High school students on the sexual and reproductive needs of adolescents., Study Design: The study employed an exploratory research design using a qualitative approach., Methods: Participants were selected using purposive sampling technique and a total number of 30 participants were recruited in two States in Nigeria. Data collection was done by means of audio-recorded, semi-structured interviews and data were analyzed using content analysis approach. Descriptive statistics were used to generate participants' demographic profiles., Results: Almost all (28 of 30) of the participants had a basic understanding of the sexual and reproductive health needs of adolescents. Majority (90%) stated that parents have a major role to play in counseling and educating their children on sexual and reproductive health issues and others felt is a joint responsibility of teachers and parents. Furthermore, majority (20 of 30) of the participants are not aware of youth friendly services in their communities. However, most of the parents preferred sex education and counseling services for the adolescents above other youth friendly services, as only a few of the participants were in support of distribution of condoms and contraceptives in schools., Conclusion: The participants reported that youth friendly health care services are very effective in improving young people's health, thus they are in support of their implementation., (© 2021 The Authors.)

Introduction: almost 99% of neonatal deaths occur in developing countries and these deaths can be prevented by the presence of a skilled birth attendant during labour. This study therefore assessed the knowledge and practices of midwives towards immediate newborn care., Methods: this study employed a descriptive cross-sectional design. Eighty nine midwives were selected using purposive sampling technique from the two health facilities. Questionnaire was adapted from helping babies breathe manual. Data collected were analyzed with SPSS version 25 and the results were presented using descriptive statistics., Results: the mean age of the respondents was 33.20 years ± 8.07. More than half of the midwives (56.2%) had a good knowledge on immediate newborn care. About 62.9% had good practices of immediate new born care, though some still carry out some obsolete practices like routine suctioning of the airway of newborns, immediate cleaning/removal of the vernix caseosa with olive oil and immediate cord clamping., Conclusion: a bit above average of the midwives had good knowledge about immediate newborn care and some of the midwives still carry out obsolete practices that has been judge as non-beneficial and are not in line with recommendations of World Health Organization/UNICEF on immediate newborn care. This study therefore recommends that midwives undergo training and retraining on immediate newborn care and there should be increased awareness and education on recent up to date practices of immediate newborn care., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (Copyright: Deborah Tolulope Esan et al.)

Objectives: The seriousness and long-term health effects of radon exposure are often underestimated due to inaccurate perceptions of radon risk. The aim of this study was to assess radon risk perception and barriers for residential radon levels testing among Obafemi Awolowo University faculty., Study Design: A quantitative cross-sectional design was used for this study., Methods: Lecturers' residents of the Obafemi Awolowo University participated in the study. A semi-structured questionnaire was administered to 296 residents to assess their knowledge about radon and determine their perceived susceptibility to radon health risks. Data were analysed and summarised using descriptive and inferential statistics., Results: The respondents' mean age was 43 ​± ​8.5 years and 71% were male. The study revealed that awareness of radon was low (46%), while 61% of respondents had poor knowledge. Only a fifth (19.5%) of the respondents had a high perceived risk of radon, and 70% were not aware of measures to detect radon in their respective homes. A majority (74%) of the respondents reported not knowing where to get a radon testing kit as a barrier to radon testing. Professional background (p ​< ​0.001), academic qualification (p ​< ​0.05) and designation/cadre (p ​< ​0.001) were the major determinants of radon knowledge among residents. Moreover, religion and profession were statistically significantly related to the perception of residents about radon risk (p ​< ​0.05)., Conclusion: Despite having a high level of education, knowledge/awareness about radon health risks is low in the Obafemi Awolowo University faculty members; furthermore, lack of knowledge about house testing supplies are a significant barrier to residential testing., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing interest exist regarding this research work., (© 2020 The Authors.)

Radiation dose from natural sources is mainly from exposure to radon in the environment. Radon has its origin from uranium-bearing bedrocks and overburden. In the present study, assessment of the level of radon over the three lithological units upon which the residential areas of ObafemiAwolowo University Campus, Ile-Ife (OAU) was situated was carried out. Soil gas radon concentration measurement was carried out at a constant depth of 0.80 m across the three lithologies (granite gneiss, grey gneiss and mica schist) using a RAD7 electronic radon detector. A total of 138 in-situ soil gas radon measurements were carried out. Obtained experimental data were analysed and summarised using descriptive and inferential statistics with statistical significance set at p < 0.05. A radon potential map was also developed using existing permeability data of the soils in the area. Soil radon concentration varied across the different lithologies ranging from 0.04 kBq/m 3  - 190 kBq/m 3 with a mean value of 14 kBq/m 3 . The mean value of Rn-222 concentration obtained in the three lithologies are 3.5 ± 5.9, 11.5 ± 25.8 and 28.4 ± 37.4 kBq/m 3 for granite gneiss, grey gneiss and mica schist respectively. There is a statistically significant difference (p < 0.001) in the mean concentration of radon-222 measured on the three lithologies. The granite gneiss and grey gneiss lithologies have been designated into low radon index, while mica schist lithology has been designated as medium radon index. 34% of the sampled areas exhibit high radon risk based on Swedish risk criteria, thereby warranting protective actions.

Background: Self-medication is the use of drugs to treat self-diagnosed disorders or symptoms or the intermittent or continued use of prescribed drug for chronic or recurrent disease or symptoms, and it is mostly common in developing countries. This study therefore assessed the practice of self-medication among undergraduate students of a private university in Nigeria., Methods: The study employed a descriptive cross-sectional design. A pretested questionnaire was self-administered to 384 undergraduate students of the university. Data were analysed and summarised using descriptive and inferential statistics such as chi-squared and Fisher's exact tests., Results: Overall, 297 (81.8%) undergraduate students practiced self-medication. About 71% of the students had used analgesic, antibiotics (10.5%), and antimalarial drugs (33%) without prescription within one month prior to the survey. The most commonly used drug for self-medication was paracetamol (75.1%). Furthermore, self-medication was found to be significantly associated with age ( p =0.021), gender ( p < 0.001), college ( p =0.025), and year of study ( p =0.004). Some of the reasons why undergraduate students practiced self-medication were because of the unfriendly attitude of health care workers (27.7%), lack of time to go to school clinic (26.7%), school clinic is too far from hostel (15.3%), and drugs prescribed in the school clinic do not improve health condition (15.3%)., Conclusion: Majority of the students attributed the practice of self-medication to unfriendly attitude of health care workers in the university clinic.

Background: Globally, radon is a natural contaminant that affects indoor air quality. Several epidemiological studies have implicated high radon levels in the causality of lung cancer. The study therefore determined the environmental level of radon in selective offices in the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife. The study employed a descriptive cross-sectional design. A Pro 3-series radon detector was used to determine the radon levels in randomly selected offices. The instrument was set-up in each office and after 48 h, reading was taken and recorded on a proforma data sheet. The structural characteristics of the offices were also assessed by observation., Results: The result revealed that the radon level obtained in the sampled offices ranged from 0.0 to 5.3 pCi/L (196 Bq/m(3)). The median concentration of radon obtained from sampled offices was 0.9 pCi/L. Almost all (95 %) of the offices had radon levels within the 'permissible' reference level recommended by World Health Organization. Radon levels also showed a statistically significant decline with height of office building with the mean concentration of radon in offices located on the basement, ground floor and first floor being 1.54 ± 1.32, 0.99 ± 0.56, 0.63 ± 0.41 pCi/L respectively, (F statistic 5.8, p < 0.001)., Conclusion: The radon levels obtained in most assessed offices in Obafemi Awolowo University were found to be within the permissible reference levels. Mitigation measures should be put in place in the few offices above permissible levels.