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Objectives: Health hazards such as adverse drug reactions and prolonged morbidity are fallouts of self-medication among young people in sub-Saharan Africa. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence, practice, determinants, and adverse effects of self-medication among young people living in a suburban community of Ekiti, Nigeria. Methods: This survey was a descriptive, cross-sectional study of 602 young people aged 16–24 years., who were randomly selected in the community. A predesigned self-administered questionnaire was used for data collection. The study was conducted from 1st March to 31st May 2023. The independent variables measured include the sociodemographic characteristics, while the dependent variables are the practice of self-medication and factors that predisposes to self-medication. The general characteristics of the participants were analyzed using descriptive statistics. The categorical variables were reported as frequency distribution and proportions with 95% confidence intervals and were compared using the Chi-square test or Fisher’s exact test. A p -value of

Background: Research on breast cancer risk factors and mortality is gaining recognition and attention globally; there is need to add more information on its determinants among patients admitted in hospital. Some studies on risk factors and mortality of breast cancer in Nigeria hospitals conducted in the urban and suburban areas have been documented. Therefore, an addition of a study conducted in the setting of a rural health institution is necessary. This study assessed the risk factors and determinants of mortality among patients admitted for breast cancer in rural Southwestern Nigeria. Methods: A retrospective observational study was conducted on 260 patients who were admitted for breast cancer between January 2010 and December 2023 using a data form and a standardized information form. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 22.0. The risk factors and the determinants of mortality of patients with breast cancer were identified using multivariate regression model. Results: The breast cancer risk factors were old age, family history, tobacco smoking, combined oral contraceptives, and hormonal therapy use. The case fatality rate was 38.1%, and its determinants of mortality were patients who were older (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 1.956; 95% confidence interval [CI]:1.341-4.333), obese (AOR, 2.635; 95% CI: 1.485-6.778), stage IV (AOR, 1.895; 95% CI: 1.146-8.9742), mastectomy (AOR, 2.512; 95% CI: 1.003-6.569), discontinued adjuvant chemotherapy (AOR, 1.785; 95% CI: 1.092-4.6311), and yet to commence adjuvant chemotherapy (AOR, 2.568; 95% CI: 1.367-5.002). Conclusion: The study revealed that patients with breast cancer were associated with high mortality. Sustained health education to promote early diagnosis, managed co-morbidities, and access to treatment may contribute to reduction in breast cancer mortality in rural Nigeria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The occurrence of asymptomatic bacteriuria in pregnancy has been associated with adverse maternal and fetal outcomes. Objective: This study determined the prevalence of asymptomatic bacteriuria and its determinants among pregnant women in rural Southwestern Nigeria. Methods: A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted between June 2021 and May 2023 among 400 pregnant women with no signs or symptoms of urinary tract infection. Demographic and clinical data were collected using structured questionnaires. Mid-urine samples were cultured using standard laboratory procedures. Bacterial colonies were isolated, and antimicrobial sensitivity was measured using the disc diffusion technique. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 22. The determinants of asymptomatic bacteriuria were measured using odds ratio and 95% confidence Interval (CI) with significant level ( p-value <0.05). Results: The prevalence of asymptomatic bacteriuria was 24.0% (95% CI = 18.2% - 30.5%). The determinants of asymptomatic bacteriuria were the absence of post-coital urination (AOR, 4.433; 95%CI: 1.462-7.116), diabetes mellitus (AOR, 2.468; 95% CI: 1.300 -- 4.684), and anaemia (AOR, 2.699; 95%CI: 1.042 -- 6.729). The most detected asymptomatic bacteriuria was E. coli 52/96 (54.2%). The cultured isolates were 100.0% sensitive to ceftriaxone and ceftazidine but were 100.0% resistant to ampicillin and erythromycin. Conclusion: Based on the urine culture and sensitivity results, the study suggests using ceftriaxone or ceftazidine as an empirical treatment for asymptomatic bacteriuria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Previous studies have been conducted on medication adherence in Southwest Nigeria, but none of these has reported the relationship between highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) adherence, spirituality and viral load (VL) amongst people living with Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/AIDS, especially in rural settings of Southwestern Nigeria. This study assessed the pattern of medication adherence, spirituality and VL and ascertained the association of socio-demographics and spirituality on medication adherence amongst patients on HAART in rural Southwestern Nigeria. Materials and Methods: A hospital-based cross-sectional study involving 321 consented patients on HAART who were recruited by systematic sampling technique at the adult HIV clinic. Data were collected using an interviewer-administered questionnaire that assessed participants' socio-demographic profiles, medication adherence and spirituality. Their blood samples were collected and their VLs were determined. The data were analysed using SPSS version 20. Logistic regression was done to identify the independent predictors of medication adherence. Results: The majority of the respondents reported a medium level of medication adherence (66.4%), a high level of spirituality (68.8%) and a low level of VL (67.3%). Amongst variables that had a statistically significant association with medication adherence were being educated, married, divorced, separated or widowed (P < 0.05). Furthermore, persons with high spirituality were 2.6 times more likely to be adherent to antiretroviral drugs when compared to persons with low spirituality (P < 0.05). Conclusion: It was shown that high spirituality is a positive predictor of medication adherence amongst patients on HAART. It, therefore, suggests that efforts deployed to improve the spirituality of these patients would most likely improve their medication adherence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: In low- and middle-income countries like Nigeria, there is an observed paucity of data on the admission pattern and patient outcomes in health facilities. Few related studies were conducted in the urban centers, but none from the rural areas where the majority of the populace resides. This study is to ascertain the demographic profile, seasonal variations, yearly distribution, admission pattern, and treatment outcomes at the accident and emergency department (AED). Materials and Methods: A retrospective survey was used to review the data of patients admitted to the AED of the institution between January 2015 and December 2019. The data obtained were analyzed using SPSS Version 20.0. The results were presented in descriptive and tabular formats. Results: Five thousand nine hundred and forty-four patients were studied with a mean age of 49.8 ± 19 years. There were 53.9% males and 46.1% females. Many (60.1%) were admitted from April to October. There were 58.9% medical and 41.1% surgical cases. Among the medical cases were 18.6% noncommunicable and 18.5% communicable diseases. Out of 5944 patients, 9435 disease patterns were diagnosed with infectious diseases 15.5%, and orthopedic 14.4% being the most frequently diagnosed medical and surgical cases, respectively. The treatment outcome revealed that the mortality rate was 3.7%. Conclusions: The number of admissions increased over 5 years. Although most patients were treated and discharged successfully, the number discharged against medical advice was high. Therefore, appropriate hospital and community interventions should be implemented to improve admission outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Physical activity is an essential public health goal with crucial evidence in the prevention of non-communicable diseases thus examined in this study. The objective of the study was to determine the prevalence of personal physical activity and its association with physical activity counselling among primary healthcare providers in Osun state, South-west Nigeria. It was a descriptive cross-sectional study that used a pre-tested self-administered questionnaire. Two hundred and eighty primary healthcare providers in Osun state, Nigeria, were recruited using a multi-stage sampling technique. The chi-square test was used to determine the association between personal physical activity and physical activity counselling. Among the respondents, the prevalence of personal physical activity was 78.2% while 70.0% usually counselled their patients on physical activity. Barriers to physical activity counselling include poor knowledge of physical activity recommendations, lack of time and counselling protocols. There was a significant association between personal physical activity and physical activity counselling (χ2 = 8.930, p = 0.003). This study concluded that there was a high prevalence of personal physical activity and an association between personal physical activity and physical activity counselling among the respondents. The findings suggest a need for continued education programmes for primary healthcare providers to improve their knowledge of current physical activity recommendations, and sufficient time should be allowed during consultations for the physical activity counselling process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Considering the magnitude of deaths prevailing in the accident and emergency department (AED) in health facilities of sub-Sahara Africa, there is a need to have information on the burden of admissions and deaths due to surgical emergencies. Few studies in Nigerian hospitals in urban and suburban areas have been documented, but none in the rural setting. The objectives of this study were to ascertain the sociodemographic profile, causes and outcomes of admissions, and the pattern and causes of deaths due to surgical emergencies., Methods: A retrospective survey using a data form and a predetermined questionnaire was used to review the patients admitted for surgical emergencies at the AED of a tertiary hospital in rural southwestern Nigeria from January 2015 to December 2019. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 22.0. The results were presented in descriptive and tabular formats., Results: Surgical emergencies constituted 43.9% of all admissions. The mean age of admissions was 42 ± 16.9 years, and majorities were in the young and middle-aged groups. There were more males (66.4%) than females (33.6%). Trauma(60.9%) of which road traffic accident (RTAs)(56.0%), was the leading mechanism of trauma. The mortality rate was 5.4% and was caused majorly by RTAs (33.0%), diabetes mellitus foot ulcers (11.0%), and malignancies (9.8%)., Conclusion: In this study, surgical emergencies constituted 43.9%, and a majority of the patients were male. Trauma caused by RTA is the most cause of admission. The mortality rate was 5.4%. This finding may provide an impetus for prospective research on this outcome., Competing Interests: There are no conflicts of interest., (Copyright: © 2022 Journal of Emergencies, Trauma, and Shock.)