Background: Awareness and knowledge can play key roles in influencing the utilization of health insurance programs in Nigeria. Objectives: This study aims to investigate the awareness and use of the ...Tertiary Institutions/Voluntary Participant Social Health Insurance Program (TISHIP) for undergraduate dental services. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted in the Enugu Campus of the University of Nigeria and the study population comprised full-time undergraduate students of the institution with a total sample size of 400. Results: Majority (66.7%) of the respondents were aware of the TISHIP, but 37% were aware that it covered dental treatments, and 16.1% had received dental treatment under TISHIP. Fifty point eight percent (50.8%) of the respondents were not registered under the insurance program. The reason respondents had not registered was because majority (49.7%) were not aware of the compulsory registration into the scheme. Respondents agreed that TISHIP would promote equity in healthcare delivery (57.5%), promote improved health facilities (39.4%), and 52.5% were willing to participate in the scheme while 47.9% were undecided on whether TISHIP was worth the financial contribution. Presumed high cost of dental treatment (51.9%) and non-availability of materials for dental treatment at dental facilities (50.8%) were factors that affected the utilization of TISHIP (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Despite the positive effect of TISHIP in cushioning the cost of dental care, utilization is poor, thus there is a need to scale up awareness among the students' population.
The study was to classify lesions identified on mammograms using Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BIRADS) grading method. This was in view of ascertaining the rate of occurrence of breast ...malignancy of the studied population.
A retrospective cohort study of 416 mammographic reports of women was undertaken. The reports were written by consultant radiologists of 10 years' experience and above. The reports were evaluated and characterised using Breast Imaging Reporting and Data system (BIRADS). Demographic data of patients were sourced from the request cards. The data was entered into a proforma and analysed using SPSS version 17. All request cards with incomplete data were excluded from the study.
Using the BI-RADS Classification, the mammographic reports shows that 29.57% of the lesions were benign, and 4.57% were suspicious and biopsy recommended, while 3.60% were highly suggestive of malignancy. The right breast was predominantly affected with 42.7% of the patients (P<0.05).
Classification of breast lesion using BI-RADS grading system is a veritable tool in the diagnosis of the breast lesion. The present study shows that 3.6% of the population has a high index of malignancy.
Over the years, medicinal plants have been employed in the treatment of inflammation and related ailments. This study evaluated the anti-inflammatory potential of the aerial parts of
S. brevipes
. ...The extracts and fractions were further evaluated for anti-inflammatory activity in carrageenan-induced rat model at varying doses (200 and 400 mg/kg doses, orally) for 5 h of treatment. The result of the phytochemical screening showed the presence of alkaloids, terpenoids, glycosides, flavonoids and tannins in the aerial parts of the plant. The
in vivo
anti-inflammatory study exhibited inhibition of 42% and 44%, 47% and 36%, 33% and 31%, and 43% and 42% for methanol extract
n
-hexane fraction, ethyl acetate fraction, and methanol fraction, at 200 and 400 mg/kg doses, respectively. The positive control (diclofenac sodium) showed an inhibition value of 51% at 5 mg/kg dose. Finally, it is concluded that
S. brevipes
possesses anti-inflammatory potential which validates the enthnomedicinal claim of the plant.
Background: Awareness and knowledge can play key roles in influencing the utilization of health insurance programs in Nigeria. Objectives: This study aims to investigate the awareness and use of the ...Tertiary Institutions/Voluntary Participant Social Health Insurance Program (TISHIP) for undergraduate dental services. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted in the Enugu Campus of the University of Nigeria and the study population comprised full-time undergraduate students of the institution with a total sample size of 400. Results: Majority (66.7%) of the respondents were aware of the TISHIP, but 37% were aware that it covered dental treatments, and 16.1% had received dental treatment under TISHIP. Fifty point eight percent (50.8%) of the respondents were not registered under the insurance program. The reason respondents had not registered was because majority (49.7%) were not aware of the compulsory registration into the scheme. Respondents agreed that TISHIP would promote equity in healthcare delivery (57.5%), promote improved health facilities (39.4%), and 52.5% were willing to participate in the scheme while 47.9% were undecided on whether TISHIP was worth the financial contribution. Presumed high cost of dental treatment (51.9%) and non-availability of materials for dental treatment at dental facilities (50.8%) were factors that affected the utilization of TISHIP (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Despite the positive effect of TISHIP in cushioning the cost of dental care, utilization is poor, thus there is a need to scale up awareness among the students’ population.
Sonographic fetal weight estimation is an important component of antenatal care.
To sonographically estimate fetal weight at term and to compare estimated with actual birth weights to determine the ...validity of estimated fetal weights.
In the prospective study, a convenience sample of 282 women was recruited. Ethical approval and informed consent of patients were obtained. An experienced sonographer estimated fetal weights by measuring BPD, HC, AC and FL using a scanner with Hadlock 3 weight estimation model. Actual birth weights were measured with a Crown weighing scale by a midwife. Data was analyzed with SPSS software version 17.0 while descriptive and inferential statistics were used to interpret results. Results were tested at error level set at p≤ 0.05.
Mean estimated and actual birth weights were 3378±40g and 3393±60g respectively. Difference between the two means was not significant. Eleven percent of fetuses were sonographically estimated to be microsomic while 14.5% were microsomic at birth; 12.1% were sonographically estimated to be macrosomic but 15.2% were macrosomic at birth. Most macrosomic fetuses were delivered through cesarean section(CS) and fetal weights increased with maternal age and parity.
Sonographically estimated fetal weight using Hadlock 3 weight estimation model without validation correlated positively with actual birth weight in a Nigerian population.
Context: There is a dearth of sonologists in Nigeria, yet sonographic estimation of actual birth weight (ABW) is important in antenatal care. Aim: To determine the reliability of estimated fetal ...weight (EFW) by sonographers and sonologists in Lagos Nigeria. Settings and Design: In the cross-sectional study, a convenience sample of 663 healthy women with singleton pregnancy at term was selected. Ethical approval for the study design and consent of participants were obtained. Subjects and Methods: Three sonographers and three sonologists used a single ultrasound scanner with Hadlock-3 algorithm to measure biparietal diameter, abdominal circumference, and femur length in three centers while three midwives used a single neonatal weighing scale to measure ABW. Statistical Analysis Used: Medical® statistical software version 12.5 was used to analyze data. Descriptive and inferential statistics, as well as Bland/Altman plots were used to determine reliability of EFWs. Results were tested for statistical significance at P ≤ 0.05. Results: Majority (76.2%) of babies had normal weight while mean EFW and ABW were 3.50 ± 0.10 kg and 3.45 ± 0.12 kg, respectively and the difference between them is not statistically significant (P > 0.05). For sonographers and sonologists in each center, mean error and coefficient of variation were very small while Pearson's correlation coefficient as well as intra- and interclass correlation coefficients was very high. Conclusion: Independent estimation of ABW by sonographers in Lagos metropolis was very reliable. Sonography was also highly reliable in predicting macrosomia.
Background: Plain radiography rather than magnetic resonance remains the first-line modality in the evaluation of patients with nontraumatic neck pain (NNP) in most hospitals in Lagos, Nigeria. ...Objective: The objective of the study is to determine the usefulness of plain radiography in the detection of causes of NNP. Subjects and Methods: A sample of 596 patients was evaluated in a retrospective study carried out at a tertiary hospital. Request forms were used to sort patients into the type of X-ray views requested by physicians while radiologists' reports were used to sort patients according to radiological findings, type of X-ray views, and type of imaging modality requested by radiologists for further evaluation of patients. Results: No abnormality detected was reported in 67.6% of patients while computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging was requested for further evaluation in 74.6% of patients. Physicians requested anteroposterior (AP) and lateral views for most patients (71.1%) while AP, both oblique and lateral as well as AP, open-mouth, and lateral views were requested for 12.5% and 16.4% of patients, respectively. Radiologists requested either oblique or open-mouth view for 214 patients after film review. The mean age of patients was 46 ± 6 years; 39.3% of patients were men while 60.7% were women; pain was most common after the 5th decade of life. Conclusion: Plain radiography was useful in the evaluation of patients with NNP in the tertiary hospital studied although it was not totally done in line with any standardized pathway for imaging of patients with NNP.
To evaluate the computed tomography (CT) findings of intracranial hemorrhage among patients with head trauma in Lagos, Nigeria.
In this retrospective, cross-sectional study, a convenience sample of ...500 patients with head trauma who had diagnostic cranial CT scans was selected. All the radiological reports and CT scans of patients with head trauma were retrieved in the hospitals selected as study sites. The reports were sorted into 2 groups - normal findings and intracranial bleeding. The reports of intracranial bleeding were sorted again into different classes of intracranial bleeding as identified by the radiologist who reported it. All data were analyzed using the Epi Info public domain software package. The chi-square test was used to measure the statistical significance of study results at P < .05.
Most of the study subjects (68%) were men. Traffic accidents accounted for 44% of all the head traumas found in the study, and 58% of the head traumas resulted in intracranial bleeding. Among the hemorrhages found, 37% were intracerebral, 25% were subdural, 16% were intraventricular, 15% were subarachnoid, and 7% were epidural.
Intracranial hemorrhage was a common consequence of acute head trauma sustained from traffic accidents in the population studied, with intracerebral hemorrhage being the most prevalent type.
Traffic accidents are the main cause of acute head trauma in Lagos, Nigeria. The use of CT for early diagnosis of intracranial hemorrhage appears justifiable.
Use of ionising radiation in diagnostic radiography could lead to hazards such as somatic and genetic damages. Compliance to safe work and radiation protection practices could mitigate such risks. ...The aim of the study was to assess the knowledge and radiation protection practices among radiographers in Lagos, Nigeria.
The study was a prospective cross sectional survey. Convenience sampling technique was used to select four x-ray diagnostic centres in four tertiary hospitals in Lagos metropolis. Data were analysed with Epi- info software, version 3.5.1.
Average score on assessment of knowledge was 73%. Most modern radiation protection instruments were lacking in all the centres studied. Application of shielding devices such as gonad shield for protection was neglected mostly in government hospitals. Most x-ray machines were quite old and evidence of quality assurance tests performed on such machines were lacking.
Radiographers within Lagos metropolis showed an excellent knowledge of radiation protection within the study period. Adherence to radiation protection practices among radiographers in Lagos metropolis during the period studied was, however, poor. Radiographers in Lagos, Nigeria should embrace current trends in radiation protection and make more concerted efforts to apply their knowledge in protecting themselves and patients from harmful effects of ionising radiation.
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