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Introduction: the three-dimensional fluid-tight obturation of the root canal system ends the endodontic treatment process and the technical quality of obturation of the root canal (RC) is a determinant of the outcome of the treatment. This final stage of RCT is critical in the outcome of treatment, thus the need to have adequate and quality obturation. The audit of the performance of students in this aspect evaluates performances and identifies where there is a need for improvement. Therefore, we set out to evaluate the quality of root canal obturation performed by undergraduate and postgraduate clinical dental students. Methods: a cross-sectional study that evaluated the root canal obturation performed by undergraduate and postgraduate students in a teaching hospital, for 1 year. The radiographic evaluation was done by calibrated assessors. The radiographs were viewed under magnifying lenses (x3.5). The adequacy of length and homogeneity of the density of obturation were the outcome variables assessed in all the categories of teeth treated among patients who are 18 years and above, seen during the study period. Results: eighty-four maxillary and 36 mandibular teeth were root-filled in 97 patients with a mean age of 37.6 years ± 14.7 SD. A good proportion (47.5%) of the root fillings were done by the postgraduate doctors. Most of the canals (69.4%) had acceptable lengths while density was acceptable in only 37.7%. Slightly over half of canals with acceptable length (64 out of 127; 50.4%) were reported in teeth with single canals (p=0.000) likewise with density (28;40.6%). Overall acceptable length and root filling density was 28.9% and there was no statistical significance in the performances of the operators in relation to the length of root filling (p=0.109), and density (p=0.55). Conclusion: the overall acceptable length and root filling density was 28.9% among both undergraduate and postgraduate students. The adequacy of root canal filling may be dependent on experience, the complexity of the tooth, and the method of instrumentation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) examines the impact of the symptoms of dyspepsia on the daily life of sufferers. There are a few published studies related to HRQoL of persons with dyspepsia in Africa. Methods: this was a hospitalbased cross-sectional study involving 324 dyspeptic patients referred for upper gastrointestinal endoscopy to the University of Benin Teaching Hospitals (UBTH) The ROME IV criteria were used to recruit patients with dyspepsia. The short form Nepean Dyspepsia Index (SF NDI) was used to assess HRQoL in all participants. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy was performed on all 324 dyspeptic patients. Results: the mean age of patients was 47.6 ± 15.6 years. Three hundred (92.6%) patients had significantly impaired HRQoL with an SF NDI mean score of 31.3 ± 9.1. Interference with daily activities and eating and drinking subdomains were more impaired than other subdomains of HRQoL (p < 0.001). There was no statistical difference between the impaired HRQoL in patients with functional dyspepsia and organic dyspepsia (p = 0.694). Among patients with organic dyspepsia, those with upper gastrointestinal cancers had significantly worse HRQoL SF NDI mean (sd) scores (39.7 ± 5.9) compared with patients with gastritis, peptic ulcer disease and GERD with (30.3 ± 9.2, 31.5 ± 9.7 and 32.9 ± 7.1 respectively) (p = 0.01). Conclusion: health-related quality of life is significantly impaired in patients with dyspepsia and those with upper gastrointestinal cancers having overall worse scores. The physical, social and psychological well-being of a majority of patients with dyspepsia in South-South Nigeria is negatively affected by dyspepsia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: teething is a natural process that all infants go through, and most toddlers obtain their first tooth around six months. However, misconceptions about teething and its remedies are still prevalent. The study assessed the knowledge and management practices of infant teething symptoms among mothers whose children were admitted to the Pediatric ward of Tamale Teaching Hospital. Methods: the study adopted a prospective descriptive cross-sectional design with a quantitative data collection method. A total of 251 mothers were selected using a convenient sampling strategy, and a structured questionnaire was used for data collection. Results: the study found that 79.7% and 20.3% of respondents had good and poor knowledge of teething, respectively. Also, 65.3% and 34.7% of the mothers had good and poor practices, respectively, in the management of teething symptoms. Marital status (p= 0.029) and type of ward (p= 0.020) were significantly associated with mothers' knowledge of teething. Furthermore, mothers less than 30 years of age (OR, 2.07; 95% CI: 1.19-3.57; p= 0.009) and mothers with formal education (OR, 2.22; 95% CI: 1.22-3.81; p= 0.004) were more likely to have good management practices for teething symptoms. Conclusion: most mothers have a good understanding of child teething, but they do not think delayed eruptions indicate systemic disease. They identified taking the child to the hospital during teething symptoms and administering Paracetamol to relieve the symptoms as standard practices. However, more education is needed to differentiate between teething signs and other ailments and to prevent substandard first aid practices during teething. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: trichoscopic and histopathological evaluation of non-scarring systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) alopecia is uncommon. We aimed to document the prevalence, pattern of hair loss, trichoscopic and histopathologic differences between systemic lupus erythematosus patients with and without hair loss. Methods: this was a cross-sectional comparative study of 75 systemic lupus erythematosus patients, 36 with hair loss from February to December 2020. Trichoscopic evaluation was conducted on all 75 patients. Twenty-three patients (12 with hair loss and 11 without) had scalp biopsies with mucin deposit evaluation. Disease activity was documented using the SLE disease activity index. Data was analyzed using SPSS 22. Results: the mean age of the patients was 33.7 ± 12.4 years. Non-scarring alopecia was observed in 48%. The pattern of hair loss was <4 patches in 44.4%, mild diffuse in 25%, and severe diffuse in 30.6%. Disease activity was mild in 38.9%. Hair shaft changes included thin hair (97.2%), decreased number of hairs per follicular unit (97.2%), hypopigmented hair (85.7%), and follicular red dots (27.8%). Significant differences between the two groups were; a reduction in size and number of sebaceous glands on histopathology, hair shaft, and scalp pigmentary changes in the hair loss group. Conclusion: the prevalence of nonscaring alopecia is high in SLE patients with patchy type as the commonest pattern. Trichoscopic and histopathologic differences exist in SLE patients with and without hair loss and the normalappearing scalp in SLE patients is involved in the inflammatory process. Hair shaft thinning, hypopigmentation, and scalp pigmentary changes occur in SLE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) is a rare and potentially life-threatening disease associated with pregnancy. There are limited data regarding the outcome of PPCM and its predictive factors in sub-Saharan African patients. We prospectively conducted a double-center (cardiology unit of the department of medicine, Regional Hospital Center of Tenkodogo, Burkina Faso and the department of cardiology of the National Referral Teaching Hospital of N'Djamena, Chad) cohort study in patients with PPCM. Patients were consecutively enrolled from January 2015 to December 2017. Outcomes of interest were left ventricular recovery and poor outcome at one year. Ninety-four patients enrolled with a median age of 28 years. At one-year follow-up, 40.5% of them recovered their left ventricular function. Cox multiple regression analysis revealed that higher left ventricle ejection fraction (LVEF), lower natremia and use of betablockers were baseline variables predicting this end-point. Of the entire study population, 26.60% exhibited the composite end-point of death (n=15) or remaining in New York Heart Association (NYHA) class III-IV or LVEF < 35%. Predictors of poor outcome were lower LVEF at baseline, hyponatremia and use of digoxin. The current cohort study demonstrated that PPCM in sub-Saharan Africa is associated with limited myocardial recovery and significant rate of poor outcome at one year. Therefore, additional studies are needed to better address the disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: the rising prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM) around the world has dramatically increased the number of people bearing the complications of this potentially incapacitating disease. One of these complications is foot ulcers that may result in amputation. This study sets out to determine the profiles of the "foot-at-risk" for ulceration and the associated socio-medical factors in DM patients. Methods: this study was conducted at Bowen University Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso, Southwest, Nigeria. This was a descriptive cross-sectional study comprising 299 outpatient adults aged 18 years and above with diabetes mellitus of at least 6 months in duration. Comprehensive Foot Examination and Risk Assessment tool was used to identify the foot-at-risk categories of the participants. Data analysis was done using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20. Results: the prevalence of foot-at-risk among the participants was 64.9% (194). Among the 194 participants with foot-at-risk, 35.1% (105) belonged to the foot-at-risk categories 0, 37.8% (113) in category 1,16.1% (48) in category 2, and 11.0% (33) in category 3. Other factors that had a statistically significant association with foot-at-risk included; age, religion, level of education, duration of diabetes, history of smoking, and glycemic control. Conclusion: foot-at-risk was found to have an alarming prevalence among the participants. In addition, the level of glycemic control in this group was unacceptably poor. Clinicians need to intensify preventive measures like foot screening and health education to prevent foot ulcerations, which may result in limb amputation in DM patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: point prevalence surveys have been used as a standardized tool to monitor antibiotic consumption to inform antimicrobial stewardship interventions in many countries. The 2021 WHO model list of Essential Medicines has classified antibiotics into three groups: access, watch and reserve. The aim of this paper is to describe the antibiotics used within a space of three years between 2018 and 2021 at the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital based on WHO AWaRe classification. Methods: three point-prevalence surveys were conducted in the wards in our 500-bed tertiary hospital in 2018, 2019 and 2021. Each ward was surveyed on a particular day within a four-week period. The wards were grouped into medical and surgical for comparison. Antibiotics were classified as access, watch, and reserve. Validated data were analyzed with IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 20.0 (Armonk, NY: IBM Corp.). Results: a total of 526 patients were surveyed out of which 344 were on antimicrobial therapy with a total of 687 antibiotic prescriptions. The overall prevalence of patients who received at least one antimicrobial was 65.4% (62.4 -72.8%). The Access group of antibiotics made up 48.2% of prescriptions while the watch group made up 50.5% of prescriptions. More watch Antibiotics were prescribed by surgical wards (49.7%) than by medical wards (43.7%). Conclusion: the use of Access group antibiotics in our hospital falls below the WHO target level in both medical and surgical wards. There is a need for strengthening antibiotic stewardship activities to reduce the use of watch group antibiotics and limit antimicrobial resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: globally, an estimated two billion cases of diarrhea occur every year, and an estimated 1.7 million children under the age of five years, mostly in developing countries die due to diarrheal cases. It is caused by different enteropathogens such as bacteria, viruses, and parasites. Diarrhea caused by parasitic etiology is common in under-five-year children in sub-Saharan Africa. The objective was to investigate the parasitic etiology of diarrhea among under-fiveyear children in Mizan-Tepi University Teaching Hospital, Southwest Ethiopia. Methods: institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted from September to November 2021. A total of 300 under-five-year children presenting with diarrhea in Mizan-Tepi University Teaching Hospital were included in the study. Data used to assess associated factors for intestinal parasitic infections (IPIs) was collected using a structured questionnaire. Stool specimens were collected from the study participants for investigations of the parasitic etiology of diarrhea. The specimens were processed microscopically using direct wet mount and formol ether concentration techniques. Modified Ziehl-Neelsen staining of formol-ether concentrated specimens was also performed. Data was entered using Epi- Data version 4.6.0 and analyzed using Stata/SE version 14.0. Crude odds ratio and adjusted odds ratio were used to determine the association. Results: from a total of 300 children who participated in this study, 68 (22.67%) were positive for at least one intestinal parasite. E. histolytica23(7.67%) and G. lamblia17(5.67%) were the predominant parasitic etiologies and 28(9.33%) were positive for intestinal helminthic parasites; 11(3.67%) Ascaris lumbricoides, 10(3.33%) Trichuris trichiura, 4(1.33%) Hymenolepsis nana, and 3(1%) were double infection with Trichuris trichuria and Ascaris lumbricoides. Multivariable analysis revealed the age group category 2-3 years of age children was more attributable to intestinal parasitic infections (AOR= 0.466, 95% CI: 0.204-0.976). Conclusion: the overall prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections (IPIs) in this study was 22.67%. Diarrheal etiology of intestinal parasites among under five years of children identified in this study were significantly associated with maternal/ guardians´ educational status, (AOR=94.900, 95% CI: 24.664-365.155) use of unprotected water for drinking, (AOR =25.189, 95% CI: 4.671-135.847). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: maternal mortality is a major health concern, especially in low and middle-income countries. In Kenya, about 362 maternal deaths occur in every 100,000 live births. Seventy-five percent of these deaths can be prevented through the provision of quality care, especially during labor and delivery as per the quality standards. The objective of this study was to establish the level of adherence to labor and delivery care quality standards among nurse-midwives, and the factors hindering the adherence. Methods: a descriptive, cross-sectional survey was carried out in the maternity units of Embu and Meru Teaching and Referral hospitals in Kenya. A total of 51 Nursemidwives were involved in the study. Data on adherence was collected through direct observation using an observation checklist, whereas that of factors hindering adherence was collected through face-to-face interviews using a semi-structured questionnaire. Data were checked, coded, and entered into EPI Info version 7.1.2. SPSS Version 25.0 was used to analyze data. Associations between variables were tested using Pearson correlation and Fisher's exact tests at 95% CI. Results: most of the participants (60.7%, n=31) were diploma holders, and a half (51%, n=26) were aged 20-29 years. About half (51%, n=26) had practiced for between 1 and 9 years and 43.1% (n=22) had worked in the maternity unit for more than a year. Out of the 12 quality standards assessed, only 5 (41.7%) were adhered to. Major implementation challenges include unavailability of standards (n=98.0%, n=50), inadequate supplies (96.1%, n=49), inadequate knowledge (88.2%, n=45), and an overwhelming workload (86.3%, n=44). There is a significant correlation between the highest level of qualification and lack of knowledge of quality standards (r=-0.279, p=0.05). Conclusion: adherence to labor and delivery care quality standards is low among nurse-midwives. Stakeholders must allocate more resources for training and the provision of adequate supplies. The facilities should also source for and customize the quality standards to promote greater adherence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: paraoxonase 1 (PON1) is a highdensity lipoprotein (HDL) associated enzyme that has anti-inflammatory, anti-atherogenic, and antioxidant functions. PON1 is noted to be a determinant of resistance to the development of atherosclerosis through hydrolysis of phospholipid and cholesteryl ester hydroperoxides. This study was designed to assess PON1 activity levels among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in Southwest Nigeria. Methods: this was a crosssectional study done over a period of six months. A total of 138 participants; 69 with T2DM and 69 apparently healthy controls were recruited for this study. Fasting plasma glucose (FPG), HDL cholesterol (HDL-c), and PON1 activity were analyzed in the participants. The comparison of the mean between the groups of participants was assessed using the independent student t-test while the Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare two medians. The p-value was set at 0.05. Results: mean age for participants with T2DM was 54.90 ± 8.1 years and the healthy control group was 54.12 ± 8.4 years, with a p-value of 0.549. The male-to-female ratio was 0.47 for both participants with T2DM and healthy controls. Participants with T2DM had significantly higher median glucose concentration of 109.18 mg/dl compared with 82.58 mg/dl among controls, pvalue <0.001. Median serum HDL-c was lower in diabetics compared to controls (52.66 mg/dl vs 57.92 mg/dl; p-value < 0.001). PON1 activity was lower in T2DM compared with that of the controls (690.11 pmol/min/ml vs 3379.7 pmol/min/ml; pvalue <0.001). Paroxonase 1 showed a nonsignificant positive correlation with HDL-c and a negative correlation with FPG, and body mass index (BMI). Conclusion: these findings suggest that PON1 activity is lower in T2DM compared to healthy controls and a lower PON1 activity level was seen among female diabetics compared with the male diabetics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: breast lumps account for a greater number of lesions in women attending surgical clinics in the developing world. Breast cancer which mostly presents as a breast lump is the leading cancer in Kenya, with an incidence of 12.5%. The study aims to describe the patterns of breast lesions in women presenting with palpable breast lumps in two major referral hospitals in Kenya. Methods: seven hundred and sixty-eight study participants with palpable lumps underwent fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC). Sociodemographic data were captured using structured questionnaires. The FNAC materials were evaluated using the International Academy of Cytology Yokohama System (IACYS) and the lesions were classified into five-tier categories. Frequencies and percentages were used to summarize qualitative variables. Results: of 768 smears, 84.8% (n=651) were adequate for evaluation while 15.2% (n=117) were inadequate. Neoplastic lesions comprised 84.5% (n=550) and non-neoplastic 15.5% (n=101). Benign lesions accounted for 83.6% of the lesions followed by breast carcinoma (10.4%). Ductal carcinoma comprised 98.5% of cancerous lesions. The age group most affected with ductal carcinoma and suspicious lesions was 20-34 years (37.3% and 55.6% respectively). Fibroadenoma formed the bulk of the benign lesions identified (44.1%). Suspicious of malignancy was 4.1% (n=27). The age group with the most lesions (47.5%) was 20-34 years. Conclusion: a wide spectrum of breast lesions was established. Such include inflammatory, atypical, benign, suspicious of malignancy, and malignant lesions. Fibroadenoma was a common lesion diagnosed. The age group most affected by malignant lesions was 16-49 years, necessitating enhanced screening of women with breast lumps in our setups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: there is a great diversity in the profile of cancers in the world. This study set out to analyze the profile of gynecological cancer in Federal University Teaching Hospital, Owerri, [FUTHO] (former Federal Medical Centre, Owerri, Imo state, Nigeria). Methods: this was a retrospective cross sectional descriptive study of the records of women admitted in the gynecological ward in FUTHO from January 2020 to November 2022. It was analyzed using SPSS version 23.0 and reported in simple percentages for categorical variables and measures of central tendency for quantitative variables. Results: a total of 1,378 gynecological patients were admitted into the Gynaecological ward of the hospital, out of which 242 (17.6%) were cancer cases. The most common cancer over the three years in review, was ovarian, 81 (33.5%), followed by cervical, 66 (27.3%), endometrial, 65 (26.8%), choriocarcinoma, 22 (9.1%), vulvar, 6 (2.5%) and vagina, 2 (0.8%). The most common gynecological cancers in this study is very different from previous reports from Nigeria and other African countries. The pattern looks like that seen in developed countries where endometrial and ovarian cancers top the list. Conclusion: this report shows a possible change in lifestyle and improved access to cervical cancer prevention strategies. It is also assumed that all the facilities who have recorded cervical cancer as the most common cancer can actually have a similar result as ours if a more current review is done. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: the aim of this study was to determine what proportion of patients with confirmed esophageal cancer at the largest hospital in the country were recorded in the Zambia National Cancer Registry (ZNCR). Methods: we reviewed esophageal cancer records at the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) and ZNCR, between 2015 and 2017. Using Stata version 15, data were summarised and the Kruskal-Wallis was used to compute comparisons, Kaplan-Meier curves for survival estimates and Cox regression for associated factors. Results: included in the final analysis were records for 222 patients with confirmed esophageal cancer and of these 51/222 (41%) were appearing in the ZNCR. The mean age of the patients was 56.2 years (SD, 13.0) and only 2/222 (1%) were confirmed alive at the time of data analysis. The median time from endoscopic diagnosis to histological confirmation was 12.5 days (IQR 7.5 - 21.5) and arrival at the Cancer Diseases Hospital (CDH) for treatment was 20 days (IQR 10 - 34). The overall median survival time in the study was 259 days (CI 95%; 151 - 501). Age, sex, time to diagnosis, histological classification and grade of tumour did not show any evidence of predicting survival in both the univariate and multivariable cox regression model (p>0.05). Conclusion: a significant proportion of esophageal cancer cases seen at UTH were not included in the national registry suggesting that official figures for the prevalence of esophageal cancer in Zambia are underestimated. There is an urgent need to improve the collection of data on esophageal cancer in Zambia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: we compared the antimicrobial resistance profile of young infants' clinical isolates (from blood samples) of Staphylococcus epidermidis and haemolyticus with those colonizing mothers, clinical staff, and students. Also, screened for resistance to the watch and reserve classified groups, antibiotics not prescribed in the Ho Teaching Hospital (HTH), Ghana. Methods: a crosssectional study was conducted from March to June 2018 to determine the antimicrobial susceptibility of twenty-one antimicrobials for 123 isolates consisting of 54 S. epidermidis and 69 S. haemolyticus cultured from the participants. VITEK 2 was used for antimicrobial susceptibility testing. Staphylococcal species were identified using matrixassisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight (MALDI-TOF). Statistical analysis was done with Grad-Pad prism. Results: for S. epidermidis, clinical staff isolates have the highest methicillin-resistant (65%), followed by young infants' (50%) and mothers' and students' twenty-five percent each. Both young infants and clinical staff's Staphylococcus haemolyticus isolates have 100% methicillin-resistant, while mothers' and students' ones have 82% and 63%, respectively. We have identified resistance to one watch (teicoplanin), two reserves (tigecycline and fosfomycin) antimicrobial groups, and mupirocin, an unclassified group. Conclusion: identifying coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) resistance to watch and reserve groups of antimicrobials in a non-previously exposed hospital calls for further studies to determine molecular mechanisms of resistance to these antimicrobials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: pre-eclampsia has been linked to poor neonatal outcomes such as; stillbirth, low birth weight (LBW), prematurity and neonatal morbidities owing to utero-placental insufficiency. The study objective was to determine the prevalence of LBW and immediate (within 24 hours) birth outcomes of LBW neonates born to preeclamptic women at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH), Kenya. Methods: a descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 364 participants (346 singletons and 9 twins) born to pre-eclamptic women at MTRH. A study tool was used to gather data on birth weight and neonatal outcomes. Data was cleaned, coded and entered into SPSS version 22 for analysis. Descriptive statistics were computed for the prevalence of LBW and immediate neonatal outcomes. Results: the study found an LBW prevalence of 180(49.5%) and prematurity of 81(45%). Of the LBW neonates (n=180), 162(90%) were alive and 18(10%) were stillbirths. Their immediate morbidities were, birth asphyxia 51(28.7%), neonatal jaundice 38(21%), hypothermia 18(7.9%) and neonatal sepsis 1(0.7%). Of the neonates that were born alive; 107(59.2%) were admitted to level II nursery care, 53(29.5%) were rooming in with their mothers and 20(11.3%) died within 24 hours. Conclusion: preeclampsia contributes to LBW, nursery admissions and morbidity/mortality of neonates necessitating the need for neonatal units' preparedness for prompt and appropriate management to avert death. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: the increasing prevalence of diabetes (DM) worldwide has resulted in an increase in the morbidity and mortality of DM. This burden is as a result of the development of the chronic complications associated with it. This study determined the burden of occurrence of microvascular and macrovascular complications of subjects with type 2 diabetes attending the out - patient clinic of a tertiary hospital in south west Nigeria. Methods: this cross-sectional study involved 400 consecutive subjects with type 2 diabetes. A study proforma was used to document the socio demographic data. While clinical assessment for anthropometric measurement, blood pressure was done. Laboratory measurement of blood glucose control and lipids were done. Assessment of the occurrence of microvascular and macrovascular complications were performed and documented. Results: four hundred type 2 DM participants made up of 190 males and 210 females with a mean age of 60.35±9.53 years, with a mean age of 60.35(SD 9.53) years for males and 60.81(SD10.29) years for females. Median duration of DM for all subjects was 6.00(IQR 3.00 - 11.00) years. Majority (45%) of the participants were overweight. The prevalence of hypertension was 78% and poor glycaemia using HBA1C was 75.5% and 59.8% had dyslipidaemia. The occurrence of microvascular complications (diabetic neuropathy - 82%, diabetic retinopathy - 46% and diabetic nephropathy - 44%) 69.3% while macrovascular complications (peripheral arterial disease - 42.5%, stroke - 4%, electrocardiographic changes if ischaemic heart disease -9.3% and left ventricular hypertrophy - 22%) in 49%. Regression analyses showed advancing age aOR (1.18 [95%CI 1.01 - 1.38]) and waist circumference (aOR 1.17 [95% CI 1.00 - 1.36]), as significant contributors to the presence of diabetes complications. Conclusion: the risk factors of both microvascular and macrovascular complications remain high in our clinic and this is linked to the high burden of diabetes mellitus and its long duration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: preterm pre-labour rupture of membranes (PPROM) is one of the important causes of preterm birth that can result in high perinatal morbidity and mortality along with maternal morbidity. The purpose of the study was to audit the management of women presenting with Preterm pre-labour rupture of membranes in Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH). Methods: this was a retrospective audit on patients admitted with PPROM in AKTH over a period of 24 months. Data was analysed using SPSS version 22 and presented using percentages and compared with the audit standard. Chisquared test was used to test for association (pvalue <0.05). Results: the mean gestational age was 33.27±2.42 weeks. Diagnosis was made on all patients through history and clinical examination. Almost all patients received a course of erythromycin (88%), corticosteroid (84%) and magnesium sulphate (86%). Vaginal delivery was achieved in 57%. About 60% of the neonates were premature, 78% had Apgar score >7 at 5 mins, 50% were admitted in the special care baby unit and 72% survived. Chorioamnionitis and puerperal sepsis occurred in 8% and 21.7% of the mothers. Prolonged PPROM of >24 hours was statistically significantly associated with puerperal sepsis (χ²=7.218; p = 0.007) and perinatal mortality (χ²= 11.505, p = 0.001). Conclusion: despite high fidelity to institutional clinical practice guidelines in Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital there seems to be poor maternal and neonatal outcome with high perinatal mortality. Thus the guidelines need to be reviewed in context of improving the outcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: health outcomes in hospitals can be improved through regular conduct of clinical audit. This study assessed physicians' knowledge, attitude, and practice of clinical audit at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH) in Rivers State. Methods: a descriptive cross-sectional study involving 460 doctors selected through convenience sampling. A pretested selfadministered questionnaire was administered, and data was analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Research (SPSS) 23.0. Results: a total of 457 questionnaires were analyzed giving a response rate of 99.3%. Only 57 (12.5%) of the 457 respondents had a correct understanding of the clinical audit process. Most respondents (75.1%) agreed that clinical audit is important in improving patient care, however only 29.9% were aware that the hospital has a clinical governance structure. Seventy-three (16.0%) doctors had received training in different forms of clinical audit, while 148 (33.0%) were involved in different clinical audit activities, with mortality audit being the most common clinical audit type (81, 17.7%). Conclusion: physicians at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital have poor understanding of the clinical audit process. The integration and scale-up of clinical audit activities as part of an overall clinical governance system in the teaching hospital is recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cholecystectomy is a commonly performed abdominal procedure, the gold standard currently is the laparoscopic approach and, however, the facilities and expertise for laparoscopy are not available widely, especially in developing countries. A Mini-laparotomy cholecystectomy is an additional approach that is performed through an incision that is less than 5cms thus minimizing the complications of the traditional open cholecystectomy and the postoperative hospital stay. The study aims to evaluate the outcome of mini-laparotomy cholecystectomy in terms of operative duration, complications, and hospital stay in a rural hospital. This is a retrospective study conducted in El-Dwaim Teaching Hospital, Sudan. All cases of mini-laparotomy cholecystectomy conducted from March 2009 to December 2020 were included and retrospectively studied. Descriptive statistics were applied using SPSS version 25. A total of 512 mini-laparotomy cases were involved in the study, of those 442 aged more than 40 years. The operation lasted less than 60 minutes for 486 of the participants, and the most frequent cholecystitis complication observed intraoperatively was mucocele, occurring in 70 (13.6%) participants. Intraoperative complications due to mini-laparotomy occurred in 4 (0.8%) cases, in the form of bleeding and none of the observed cases converted into open cholecystectomy. Postoperative complications occurred in the form of wound infection in 7 participants, biliary leak in 1 participant, and fistula formation in 1 participant. Post-operative hospital stay was 24 hours for 458 participants. Mini-laparotomy cholecystectomy is a safe minimally invasive approach with low rates of complications and short postoperative hospital stay, making it an optimum approach in facility-deprived countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: caustic pharyngoesophageal strictures are life-threatening injuries with important management difficulties, lacking clear therapeutic guidelines. The aim of this study is to evaluate the surgical procedures and outcomes of severe caustic pharyngoesophageal strictures in our institution. Methods: a total of 29 patients who underwent surgery for severe caustic pharyngoesophageal injury at the National Cardiothoracic Center from June 2006 to December 2018 were retrospectively reviewed. The age distribution, sex, management procedures, complications after surgery, and the outcome were analyzed. Results: there were 17 males. The mean age was 11.7 years (range 2-56 years). All patients accidentally swallowed caustic soda, except the oldest patient who ingested an unidentified substance. The treatment procedures included colopharyngoplasty in 15 (51.7%) patients, colonflap augmentation pharyngoesophagoplasty (CFAP) in 10 (34.5%), and colopharyngoplasty with tracheostomy in 4 (13.8%). There was one case of graft obstruction from a retrosternal adhesive band and one case of postoperative reflux with nocturnal regurgitation. No cervical anastomotic leak occurred. Rehabilitative training for oral feeding was required for less than a month in most patients. Follow-up period ranged from one to twelve years. Four patients died within this period; two were immediate post-operative deaths and two occurred late. One patient was lost to followup. Conclusion: outcome of surgery for caustic pharyngoesophageal stricture is satisfactory. Colon-flap augmentation pharyngoesophagoplasty reduces the need for tracheostomy before surgery, and our patients start eating early without aspiration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: sexually transmitted infections are the most common causes of illness in Africa. They are public health important diseases because of their magnitude, potential complications, and interactions with HIV/AIDS during pregnancy. In our country, especially in our study area, limited studies have been conducted to assess the magnitude and trends of sexually transmitted infections among pregnant women. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the prevalence and trends of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among pregnant women. Methods: an institution-based crosssectional study design was conducted in Mizan Tepi University Teaching Hospital in Southwest Ethiopia from August 1-30, 2019. Three hundred women were selected using a simple random sampling method from the women's registry book who visited the hospital for antenatal care (ANC) follow-up in the last five years. The data was collected by using checklists. Finally, the data were entered into Epi Info 7 and analyzed with statistical package for the social sciences (SPSS) version 25.0. Results: the prevalence of sexually transmitted infections was 50 (16.7%). HIV infection was 15 (5%), genital candidiasis 11 (3.7%), T. vaginitis 10 (3.3%), Hepatitis B virus 9 (3.0%), Hepatitis C virus 2 (0.7%), and Chlamydia 3 (1.0%). The trend of sexually transmitted infections over the last five consecutive years was increasing, decreasing, and again increasing. Conclusion: this study showed that the prevalence of sexually transmitted infections in pregnant women was relatively higher than in other similar studies conducted in different study areas. The trend of sexually transmitted infections in the last five years was not constant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: otolaryngological disorders vary among children due to diverse underlying aetiologies and pathologic processes.This study audits the pattern of paediatric ear, nose and throat diseases seen at the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital. Methods: a cross-sectional retrospective review of medical records of children (aged 0 - 17 years) seen between 1st January 2018 and 31st December 2020 were retrieved and analysed using IBM SPSS version 25.0. Results were presented as frequencies and percentages for categorical variables and mean and standard deviation for continuous variables. Results: a total of 5,533 paediatric visits were documented over the study period, making up 36.7% of all patients seen. There were 2,516 completed paediatric medical records. Males slightly predominated, accounting for 1,369 (54.5%), mean age was 6.77 years (SD ± 5.10) and ranged 2 weeks to 17 years. Age groups 0-4 years were the most affected. Ear disorders were the commonest disorders found (1637, 65.1%), followed by throat/neck disorders (650, 25.8%) and then nose disorders (229, 9.1%). The top 2 disorders based on regions were as follows: Cerumen Auris (426, 16.9%) and Otitis Externa (252, 10.2%) for ear disorders; Chronic / Allergic rhinosinusitis (107, 4.3%) and foreign body in the nose (72, 2.9%) for nose disorders and Adenotonsillar hypertrophy (544, 21.6%) and speech disorders (23, 0.9%) for throat disorders respectively. Conclusion: among the paediatric group of patients, ear disorders predominated. Cerumen Auris, Adenotonsillar hypertrophy and chronic/allergic rhinosinusitis were the commonest ENT disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lutembacher syndrome (LS) is a rare syndrome comprising a combination of atrial septal defect (ASD) and mitral stenosis. We present the case of a 28-year-old man, who presented with progressively worsening dyspnea of 2 months associated with orthopnea, paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea, bilateral leg swelling and productive cough. Chest X-ray revealed plethoric lung fields with prominent pulmonary conus and cardiomegaly. Transthoracic echocardiography revealed a large ostium secundum ASD with left to right shunt, mild mitral stenosis, severe mitral and tricuspid regurgitations and pulmonary hypertension. A diagnosis of Lutembacher syndrome in heart failure with pulmonary hypertension was made. The patient was managed conservatively, but declined surgery primarily because of financial reasons. This rare case of LS presenting with heart failure and complicated by pulmonary hypertension is the first reported case in our centre and our region. The patient's inability to afford the cost of definitive care posed a significant problem in his management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surveillance for intussusception (IS) post-rotavirus vaccine introduction in World Health Organization Africa Region (WHO/AFRO) has been restricted mainly to the large referral teaching hospitals. The choice of these facilities for surveillance was made to utilize the abundant expertise of specialists in paediatrics and surgery in these hospitals who can diagnose and manage such patients with IS. The surveillance has been well coordinated by the African Intussusception Surveillance Network established in 2012. This network has supported surveillance across the African region and has accumulated a huge database of IS cases in children < 1 year with findings that have demonstrated safety of the monovalent rotavirus vaccine, Rotarix (GlaxoSmithKline). However, safety data on the pentavalent and RotaTeq (Merck Vaccine) is not yet available from the African region. Although, this network has provided much needed data, there is an inherent bias in monitoring and reporting of IS cases in only large tertiary hospitals. This time limited special project does not capture suspected intussusception cases with no access to hospital facilities used for monitoring IS. Additionally, the design requires extensive resources to support collection of high-quality data for monitoring IS, which is unsustainable. For these reasons suitable linkages between IS monitoring and routine Adverse Event Following Immunization (AEFI) should be established for continuity of monitoring of this condition. We propose alignment of the two systems that offers opportunity for high profile recognition and to enhance a sustainable system for diagnosis, treatment and continuous assessment of intussusception occurring in infancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: good dietary practice is one of the top pillars of self-care among patients of diabetes mellitus. However, the dietary practice of patients attending health institutions in the study area was not studied. Therefore, the prevalence and associated factors of poor dietary practice were determined among diabetic patients on follow-up in Nigist Eleni Mohammed Memorial Referral and Teaching Hospital, Southern Ethiopia. Methods: facility-based cross-sectional study design was employed on type-2 diabetes mellitus adult patients. The study was conducted from March to April 2020. Total sample size was 322. Systematic random sampling method was used to select the study respondents. Odds ratio and their 95% confidence intervals together with P-value <0.05 were used to identify independent predictors of poor dietary practice during multivariable logistic regression. Results: the prevalence of the poor dietary practice among type diabetes patients was 53.7% (n=168). Low wealth status AOR3.34, 95% CI: 1.50-7.41; p-value=0.003 and absence of family and friends support AOR 4.80, 95% CI: 2.54-9.0 and P-value<0.001 were associated factors with poor dietary practice among type-2 diabetes patients. Conclusion: the overall prevalence of poor dietary practice among type-2 diabetic adult patients was high that not going in line with international recommendations on dietary management of the diabetes mellitus. Integrated governmental and non-governmental activities should be in place to improve the economic status of type-2 diabetic patients. Support from the family members is found to be essential factor to promote dietary practice among type-2 diabetic adult patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: maternal satisfaction is the key in health facilities utilization and so improving the birth outcome and reducing maternal morbidity and mortality. The main objective of this study was to assess women's satisfaction with perinatal care provided in maternity at CHUB with its associated factors. Methods: a cross-sectional study was done at maternity of CHUB on clients' satisfaction of maternity care. With a sample size of 422 mothers who were admitted for labor and delivery from July 1st to October 31st 2020. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire and client's satisfaction (eight questions (CSQ-8). Every respondent had to answer all questions under guidance of a data collector. Excel, Stata and SPSS were used for data entry and data analysis. Chi-squared and multivariate regressions were used for analysis of the association. Results: eighty-nine point thirty four (89.34%) percent of our respondents reported that services they received helped them to deal more effectively with their problems; and they were most satisfied with a mean score of 3.9 (97.5%) and least satisfied with the fact that they were not allowed to decide themselves in their management, with a mean score of 3.1 (77.5%). The overall satisfaction of our respondent's equals to the mean score is 28.4/32= 88.75%. Factors found to affect mothers' satisfaction were respecting mother's privacy & values and allowing them to take decision and consenting before procedure. Conclusion: the majority of mothers were satisfied with received services. Respecting patients' privacy and allowing them to participate in decision-making were two factors associated with high satisfaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: stroke is a cerebrovascular disease. Early reperfusion in neurovascular units can reduce its morbidity and mortality. Even when neurovascular units exist, patients usually arrive late in the emergency department. to the purpose of this study was to determine prehospital delay in patients with acute ischemic stroke and associated factors. Methods: we conducted a retrospective cross-sectional study in the neurology department of the Fann University Hospital in Dakar from January 1st to June 30th, 2020. We included patients younger than 80 years seen in the emergency unit for ischemic stroke. The median time to presentation was calculated based on the time of stroke onset and that of arrival at the hospital. Multivariate analysis was used to determine factors associated with prehospital delay. Results: a total of 56 patients were enrolled, among whom 58.6% arrived at the hospital in less than 3 hours. Of them, 37.5% presented to a level 3 or 4 hospital first. Less than 34% of our patient presented to a level 2-3 hospital in less than 3 hours. Based on bi- and multivariate analysis, being married (OR = 7.2 [CI à 95%: 1.5 - 35.8]), being a female (OR = 5.5 [CI à 95%: 1.5 -19.8]) and having stroke during week days (OR = 4.3 [CI à 95%: 1.3-13.9]) were associated with prehospital delay. Conclusion: most of our patients arrived late at a level 2 or 3 hospital. Being a married woman increased the risk of late arrival. This study highlights the importance of improving awareness in order to increase the proportion of patients potentially eligible for revascularization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: workplace violence is a global problem in the health sector, especially in the hospitals affecting healthcare works' job satisfaction and performance. Workplace violence (WPV) is present in different forms associated with various factors and the nurses are the most affected. This study aimed to explore WPV among nurses working at a selected University Teaching Hospital in Rwanda. Methods: the research approach used was the quantitative descriptive cross-sectional design. The stratified random sampling was used to recruit 195 participants among 379 nurses. The data were collected using a structured, validated, and self-administered questionnaire that was adapted from the International Labor Organization, International Council of nurses, the World Health Organization, and Public Services International. Descriptive statistics were used for analyzing frequencies and percentages. The Chi-square test was used for evaluating the association between variables. Results: the findings revealed that (58.5%, n=114) of nurses have experienced some types of WPV in the twelve months preceding the study, among them (44.6%, n=108) of nurses were verbally abused. The nurses providing emergency care, the nurses working in the emergency department, and nurses working with vulnerable patients like HIV/AIDS patients were associated with WPV Chi-square (1, n=195), P=<0.001). The psychological problems have been found to be the first consequences of WPV. Conclusion: based on the study findings, it was concluded that the hospital management needs to be aware of WPV, develop and implement appropriate policies and strategies. These will strengthen nurses' concentration towards them and will result in service delivery improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Autoimmune polyglandular syndromes (APS) are rare autoimmune endocrinopathies characterized by the coexistence of at least two endocrine gland insufficiencies developed from autoimmune mechanisms. APS may also be associated with non-endocrine immune diseases. In HIV infection, antiretroviral therapy can improve the quality of life to reduce the incidence of opportunistic infections, malignancies, and death. HIV disease may also be associated with complications, such as immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (IRIS) presenting as infections, malignancies or autoimmune diseases. We here report the clinical case of an HIV-infected man receiving antiretroviral therapy, who subsequently developed APS type II, characterized by Grave's disease, type 1 diabetes mellitus. He complained of a mass in his anterior neck, diarrhea, weight loss, palpitations, hand tremors and excessive sweating. Six months before he had been diagnosed with type 1 diabetes mellitus. The patient had a diffusely enlarged thyroid on ultrasound, elevated random blood glucose of 14.0 mmol/l; elevated free T4 at 5.03 ng/dL and suppressed thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) at <0.05 micro-IU/mL. The patient was treated with carbimazole and propranolol for Graves' thyrotoxicosis and basal bolus insulin regimen (actrapid and protaphane) for hyperglycemia. At monthly follow-up assessments he was euthyroid and 2-hour postprandial blood glucose test was normal. The goitre had markedly reduced in size. This screening for APS in HIV patients with autoimmune IRIS as well as patients with autoimmune endocrinopathies in order to allow for early diagnosis and prompt initiation of treatment to reduce the risk of morbidity and mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: cervical cancer (CaCx) is the second most common malignancy in women world-wide. Precancer screening aided by visual inspection with acetic acid (VIA) is an early diagnosis method used to detect the lesions that are high indicators of cancer in women. cervical cancer is more prevalent in the developing world affecting mainly women in the reproductive age group and is the commonest cancer among Zambian women. Therefore, the study aimed to determine the prevalence and factors associated with a positive VIA at Livingstone Teaching Hospital (LTH). Methods: this was a cross-sectional study conducted at LTH among 329 women from Livingstone district aged 18 and above, who were coming for routine cervical cancer screening using VIA between 2019 and 2020. Demographic and clinical data were collected from the CaCx clinic. A positive VIA (precancerous cervical lesions) and cervical cancer were the primary and secondary outcome variables. A positive VIA was defined by presence of a dense ulcerative acetowhite area in the transformation zone of the cervix. Cervical cancer diagnosis was defined by presence of cancerous cells on histological examination by a qualified pathologist. Data were analyzed using Statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) version 22.0. Chi-square test, Mann-Whitney and logistic regression were the statistical methods used. Results: the participants had a median (interquartile range) age of 37 (29, 44) years. Prevalence of CaCx and positive VIA were 6% (95% confidence interval (CI) 4, 9) and 19% (95% CI: 15, 24) respectively. At multivariable analysis, the factors associated with a positive VIA were alcohol consumption [odds ratio (OR) 0.30 (95% CI: 0.12, 0.74)] and HIV infection [OR 0.37 (95% CI: 0.19, 0.70)]. Conclusion: the study showed that precancerous cervical lesions are common among our study participants and it was influenced by alcohol consumption and HIV status. There is therefore need to enhance the screening programs using VIA in order to identify cancerous lesions at an early stage for early intervention in resource limited settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: the focus of antiretroviral therapy (ART) in Zambia has been on HIV-1. However, some patients are infected with HIV-2 or both. HIV-2 is resistant to non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs), drugs used for HIV-1. Therefore, this study sought to determine the seroprevalence of HIV-2 or dual infection in HIV infected individuals and compare the treatment outcomes associated with HIV subtype in patients taking NNRTI-based first line cART at the University Teaching Hospitals (UTH). Methods: this was a cross- sectional study, we collected data from the Virological Impact of Switching from Efavirenz and Nevirapine based first-line cART regimens to Dolutegravir (VISEND) study being conducted at UTH. Ninety six individuals were included in the study. Descriptive and inferential statistics were performed. Logistic regression was used to assess the relationship between treatment outcomes and HIV type. Results: the proportion of HIV 1 and 2 co-infected patients was 5.2% (95% CI 2%-12%). The mean age was 46 years ± 2 years with 60 (62.5%) being females. The median viral load was 1.3 log 10 copies/ml, IQR 0-1.7 log 10 copies/ml and the median absolute CD4+ T cell count increased from 231 to 463 cells/mm³ (p < 0.001) after being on cART for one year or more. The study did not report any associations between treatment outcomes and HIV type (p > 0.05). Conclusion: there is a small proportion of patients that are HIV 1 and 2 coinfected but are on an NNRTI-based cART regimen, drugs that are not active against HIV-2. This, however, does not seem to significantly affect the patient's virological or immunological treatment outcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Hysterosalpingography (HSG) is an outpatient fluoroscopic method for the evaluation of the uterine cavity, fallopian tubes, and the surrounding peritoneal cavity. Female fertility depends greatly on normal female reproductive organs; hence tubal abnormalities may contribute significantly to female infertility. HSG is an invaluable screening tool in the evaluation of women with suspected tubal factor infertility. This study aims to review the HSG findings of women who sought fertility treatment at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Lagos (LUTH). Methods: this was a retrospective study of the pattern of HSG findings among female partners of infertile couples seeking fertility treatment at the LUTH, over a 2-year period, from January 2018 to December 2019. Results: a total of 266 medical records and HSG results were reviewed and included in the data analysis. The mean age (± standard deviation) was 38.4 (± 0.3) years with a range of 24 to 50 years. Most (80.5%) of the participants have secondary infertility and majority (65.4%) were nulliparous. Tubal pathology was the commonest abnormality detected on HSG in 54.9% of women. About one-third (30.8%) of women had bilateral tubal occlusion on HSG. With regards to the right fallopian tube, 43.2% of the participants had tubal occlusion, which differs from 41.7% on the left fallopian tube. Similarly, 10.2% of the women had hydrosalpinx on the left tube when compared with 9% on the right tube. Age (OR 1.055; 95% CI: 1.006, 1.106, p-value 0.028), and previous salpingectomy [OR 6.151; 95% CI: 1.335, 28.349] and myomectomy [OR 4.6; 95% CI: 1.814, 11.67] were identified as risk factors for tubal pathologies on HSG. Conclusion: tubal abnormalities are common findings on HSG and the identifiable risk factors for tubal pathologies include age, salpingectomy, and myomectomy. HSG remains a vital screening tool in the evaluation of tubal-factor infertility in Nigeria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: inadequate pain control negatively impacts the quality of life of patients with cancer while potentially affecting the outcome. Proper pain evaluation and management are therefore considered an important treatment goal. This study assessed the prevalence of pain, the prescribing patterns, and the efficacy of pain control measures in cancer patients at the Radiation Oncology Unit of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Lagos. Methods: this was a longitudinal study design recruiting adults attending outpatient clinics. Participants were assessed at initial contact and again following six weeks using the Universal Pain Assessment Tool developed by the UCLA Department of Anaesthesiology. Results: among the patients reviewed, 34.0% (118 of 347) were at the clinic, referred for initial assessment following primary diagnosis. All respondents had solid tumours; the most common was breast cancer. The prevalence of pain at initial assessment was 85.9% (298 of 347), with over half of respondents, 74.5% (222 of 347) characterising their pain as moderate to severe. Over a quarter, 28.9% (100 of 347) of patients were not asked about their pain by attending physicians, and none of the patients had a pain assessment tool used during evaluation. In 14.4% (43 of 298) of patients, no intervention was received despite the presence of pain. At six weeks review, 31.5% (94 of 298) of patients had obtained no pain relief despite instituted measures. Conclusion: under-treatment of cancer pain remains a significant weak link in cancer care in (Low-to-middle-income country) LMICs like Nigeria, with a significant contributor being physician under-evaluation and under-treatment of pain. To ensure pain eradication, the treatment process must begin with a thorough evaluation of the patient's pain, an explicit pain control goal and regular reevaluation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: asthma tends to be more severe with worse symptoms in Africa due to late diagnosis and delayed initiation of treatment. To identify patient and treatment-related factors which influence the appropriate use of asthma medications. Methods: the study was institution based cross-sectional design. Patients were invited to provide information regarding the use of their asthma medications and factors potentially associated with appropriate use of these medications. A stepwise multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the most important factor at a 0.05 level of significance. Results: respondents with better knowledge of their asthma medications were more likely to use them appropriately (OR 5.82 [CI 95% 2.25-15.04]) as were those with positive attitudes and beliefs towards asthma and asthma medications (OR 3.88 [CI 95% 1.44-10.44]). Conclusion: patients need to understand the importance of adhering to the prescribed regimen for their asthma medications even in the absence of overt symptoms in order to optimize clinical outcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: the use of ultrasound is one of the most vital tools in the management of pregnancies and contributes significantly in improving maternal and child health. Certain indications in pregnancy, guide the obstetrician as to which obstetric scan deems appropriate. The full realization of the benefits of ultrasound depends on whether it is being used appropriately or not, and hence this study aimed at auditing for the appropriate indications for obstetric ultrasound. Methods: a review of all request forms for obstetric scan between June 2019 and July 2020 was performed to assess the appropriateness of requests for obstetric ultrasound at the Cape Coast Teaching Hospital. The data obtained was analyzed using SPSS (SPSS Inc. Chicago, IL version 20.0). A Chi-squared test of independence was used to check for statistically significant differences between variables at p ≤ 0.05. Results: three hundred and fourteen (314) out of the 527 request forms had clinical indications stated. 174 (81.7%) of requests from Cape Coast Teaching Hospital and 39 (18.3%) from other health centers did not indicate patients clinical history/indication on the request forms. Majority 76 (68.5%) of scans in the first trimester were done without indications/history. Only 29 of requests with clinical history were inappropriate. Conclusion: practitioners should be mindful of adequately completing request forms for obstetric investigations since a large number of practitioners do not state the history/indications for the scans. There should be continuous medical education on the importance of appropriate indication for obstetric ultrasound. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: optimal management of diabetes involves interplay between patients' understanding of their disease and medication adherence, which would eventually influence glycemic control. However, there is scant published literature on the interconnection of patient related factors that impact on optimal management of diabetes in resource-limited settings such as Kenya. Methods: a hospital based cross-sectional survey involving 270 freely consenting adult diabetics investigated the interconnection between diabetes knowledge, medication adherence and glycemic control. Data on the patient's knowledge and medication adherence was collected using validated tools whilst glycemic control was evaluated using the patients' glycated haemoglobin values. Data analysis was carried out using STATA version 13 statistical software, employing the chi square test for association and simple linear regression for prediction, with p ≤0.05 considered significant. Results: participants' level of knowledge on diabetes was significantly associated with the academic achievement (p=0.001), while their medication adherence was significantly associated with family support (p=0.001) and duration of disease since diagnosis (p=0.019). On linear regression, family support occasioned by the nature of participants' household setup, had a strong positive correlation [r=0.99 (CI 0.60-1.00)] with optimal glycemic control. Conclusion: family support is an important determinant of medication adherence and optimal glycemic control among diabetic patients. Clinicians should team up with family members of diabetic patients for optimal glycemic control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: many hypertensive patients require two or more anti-hypertensive drugs, but in lowand middle-income countries there may be challenges with medication access or affordability. The objective of this study was to determine accessibility and affordability of anti-hypertensive medicines and their association with blood pressure (BP) control among hypertensive patients attending the Korle-Bu teaching hospital (KBTH) polyclinic. Methods: a cross-sectional study was conducted among 310 systematically sampled hypertensive patients attending the KBTH Polyclinic in Ghana. A structured questionnaire was used to obtain data on patient demographics and clinical characteristics, prices, availability and mode of payment of generic anti-hypertensive medicines. Results: fifty-nine patients (19.4%) made out-ofpocket payments. At the private pharmacy and hospital, 123 (40.5%) and 77 patients (25.3%) respectively could not afford four anti-hypertensive medicines. Medicines availability at KBTH was 60%. Continuous access to BP drugs at KBTH was 14.8%. Overall access was 74.9% (SD ± 41.3). Out-of-pocket affordability of the medicines was positively correlated with BP control (R=0.12, p=0.037). Obtaining medicines via health insurance only was more likely to result in BP control than making any out-of-pocket payments (OR= 2.185; 95% CI, 1.215 - 3.927). Access at KBTH was more likely to result in BP control (OR=1.642; 95% C.I, 0.843 - 3.201). Conclusion: there were access challenges although most patients obtained BP medication free. Out-ofpocket affordability is a challenge for some hypertensive patients. Access to affordable BP medication can improve BP control. These findings provide an impetus for urgently evaluating access to affordable anti-hypertensive medicines in other hospitals in Ghana. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: the cancellation of elective surgery is still a worldwide challenge and this is associated with emotional and economical trauma for the patients and their families as well as a decrease in the efficiency of the operating theatre. This study aimed at determining the prevalence and factors associated with cancellation and deferment of elective surgery in a rural private tertiary teaching hospital in Western Uganda. Methods: a crosssectional study design was conducted. Data was collected from 1st July 2019 to 31st December 2019. Patients scheduled for elective surgery and either cancelled or deferred on the actual day of surgery were included in the study. Statistical analysis was done using STATA version 15. Results: four hundred patients were scheduled for elective surgery during the study period, among which 90 (22.5%) were cancelled and 310 (78.5%) had their surgeries as scheduled. The highest cancellation of elective surgical operations was observed in general surgery department with 81% elective cases cancelled or deferred, followed by orthopedic department 10% and gynecology department 9%. The most common reasons for cancellation were patient-related (39%) and health worker-related (35%) factors. Other factors included administrative (17%) and anesthesia related factors (9%). Cancellation was mainly due to lack of finances which accounted for 23.3% of the patients, inadequate patient preparation (16.6%) and unavailability of surgeons (15.5%). Major elective surgeries were cancelled 1.7 times more than minor electives surgeries [adjusted prevalence ratio 1.7 (95%CI: 1.07-2.73) and p-value: 0.024]. Conclusion: cancellation and deferment of elective surgeries is still of a major concern in this private rural tertiary hospital with most of the reasons easily preventable through proper scheduling of patients, improved communication between surgical teams and with patients; and effective utilization of available resources and man power. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: in Africa, genetic diseases and congenital anomalies remain a significant source of morbidity and mortality. Existing data suggests a gap in the use of prenatal tests among pregnant women to better inform decision making. We examined relationships of socio-demographic factors with willingness to terminate affected pregnancies, and the use of, knowledge of, and attitudes towards prenatal screening/diagnostic tests. Methods: this was a cross-sectional descriptive study of pregnant women who attended antenatal clinics at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (N = 422) selected by convenience sampling. Responses were obtained with assisted self-administered structured questionnaires. Results: mean ± S.D. age of the respondents was 32.5 ± 5.3 years. The majority of the participants (92.2%) had at least a secondary education. Ultrasound scans in the second trimester were the most frequently used test (39.1%). Only 77 (18.2%) of the respondents indicated willingness to terminate affected pregnancies. The majority of the respondents had fair knowledge and good attitude scores. Knowledge and attitude scores were significantly correlated (r = 0.25, p < 0.001). Compared to married women, being single was associated with a 2.62-point lower knowledge score (95% CI: -4.63, -0.62, p = 0.01). Compared to women who responded “no” when asked if they were willing to terminate an affected pregnancy, women who responded “maybe” had a 0.81-point lower attitude score (95% CI: -1.45, -0.17, p = 0.01). Conclusion: our results suggest important sociodemographic differences in women´s knowledge/ behaviours towards prenatal diagnostic tests. Further research is needed to explore these relationships and broader pregnancy-related ethical beliefs among pregnant women in Lagos. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rigid esophagoscopy is a common endoscopic procedure worldwide for both diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. Even though this procedure is performed commonly in our center no published reports exist. We reviewed our experience with rigid esophagoscopy. This was a 9-year review of rigid esophagoscopy, done under general anaesthesia, at ENT and Cardiothoracic Units of Tamale Teaching Hospital. Parameters evaluated were patients' demographics, indication for rigid esophagoscopy and outcome of the procedure. One hundred and fifteen cases of rigid esophagoscopies were evaluated. The ages ranged from 10 months to 87 years with a peak incidence 69.6% (n = 80) occurring within the first decade of life and a male preponderance of 54.8% (n = 63). Majority of the cases were emergencies 87.8% (n =101) and for therapeutic reasons 87% (n =100). The most common findings during esophagoscopy were: coins 60.9% (n = 70), fish bone 11.3% (n = 13), esophageal tumours 7.8% (n = 9) and dentures 5.2% (n = 6). All the cases were successfully treated with no mortality recorded. Rigid esophagoscopy was more commonly performed in males with peak age incidence occurring during the first decade of life. Emergency patients and esophagoscopy with therapeutic intent constituted the largest two groups in this study. Coins, fish bone, esophageal tumours and dentures were the most common findings. There was no mortality recorded. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: bleeding during and after caesarean section is one of the contributors to maternal mortality and morbidity. Tranexamic acid can be given before surgery to significantly reduce the amount of blood loss during caesarean section. The objective was to evaluate the effectiveness of preoperative tranexamic acid in reducing blood loss during caesarean section at Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano. Methods: this was a randomized double blind placebo controlled study that was carried out among 244 women who were to have emergency caesarean section between December 2017 and June 2018 and were randomly assigned to the study group or control group. Women in the study group received lg (10mls) of tranexamic acid intravenously while women in the control group received 10ml of normal saline. Oxytocin was administered in the two groups according to protocol. Measurement of blood loss was done immediately after surgery. Postoperative drop in haemoglobin and haematocrit were also determined. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS Version 22. Results: the average intra operative blood loss was 414.0 ml in the study group and 773.8 ml in the control group (t = - 16.18, p ≤ 0.01). Average postoperative haemoglobin was 10.1 g/dl in the study group and 9.5 g/dl in the control group (t = 4.99, p ≤ 0.01). Average postoperative haematocrit was 31.5% in the study group and 29.9% in the control group (t = 4.70, p ≤ 0.01). Conclusion: there was a significant reduction in the blood loss when preoperative tranexamic acid was given to patients who were to undergo emergency caesarean section. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tatumella ptyseos septicaemia in humans is yet to be reported in Nigeria with very few cases reported worldwide. This case report describes the clinical and distinctive biochemical characteristics of Tatumella ptyseos, its antibiotic sensitivity pattern and risk factors associated with Tatumella ptyseos septicaemia. Our case is a 2 months old ex- premature female from Calabar, admitted in the month of May, 2018 into the Children ́s Emergency Room, of the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Nigeria. She presented with cough of one month and fever of three weeks, and was found to be acutely ill looking, febrile with temperature of 38.6°C, mildly pale, dyspnoeic and tachypnoeic with SPO2 of 80% in room air, tender hepatomegaly of 6cm and a splenomegaly of 6cm. Blood culture yielded Gram negative rods identified as Tatumella ptyseos by OXOID MICROBACT™ GNB identification kit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: myoma is commonly diagnosed in our hospital. It can be accidentally discovered or discovered due to metrorrhagia. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the association between the size of myomas and the circumstances under which they are detected and between the location of myomas and the occurrence of bleeding. Methods: we conducted a cross-sectional study including women aged 18 or older undergoing ultrasound at the University Teaching Hospital Bogodogo and who were diagnosed with at least one uterine myoma over a period of 6 years from January 2012 to December 2018. Binary logistic regression was used to assess metrorrhagia while multinomial logistic regression was used to assess circumstances under which they were detected and size. Results: we assessed 1049 women, among whom 2294 had myomas diagnosed on ultrasound. Each woman had two myomas. The average age of patients was 37 years. Women with myomas larger than 50 mm accounted for 29.7% (n=311). There was a strong association between interstitial, subserosal and submucosal myomas and the occurrence of metrorrhagias (p<0.001). A size less than 50 mm was significantly associated with fortuitous discovery (p=0.016) but not with revealing metrorrhagia (p=0.084). Women who had submucosal myomas (OR=3.13; CI95%= [1.45- 6.76]), interstitial and submucosal myomas (OR=2.24; CI95%= [1.05-4.78] as well as interstitial, subserosal and submucosal myomas (OR=3.57; CI95%= [1.88-6.76]) were at higher risk of developing metrorrhagia. Myomas measuring less than 50 mm had twice the odds of revealing fortuitously (RRR=1.80; CI95%= [1.25-2.62]) or by metrorrhagia (RRR=1.75; CI95%= [1.04-2.95]. Conclusion: metrorrhagia is more common in women with myomas in specific locations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: proper tuberculosis (TB) infection control (TBIC) practice of health professionals is one of the effective TB prevention approaches. Despite this reality, the TBIC practice of health care workers was not been well studied. This study assessed the TBIC practice of health professionals and associated factors in Mizan Tepi University Teaching Hospital, southwest Ethiopia. Methods: an institution based quantitative cross-sectional study was conducted from September 1 to 30, 2019, by including all health professionals in the hospital. Participants who answered at least 50% of TBIC practice questions correctly were categorized as having good TBIC practice. Binary logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with the practice of the participants. The odds ratio with a 95% confidence interval and p-value was used to measure the strength of association; the significant association was declared at a p-value less than 0.05. Results: the study found that 64.1% (95% CI: 56.6%, 70.7%) of the participants had good TBIC practice. More than half, 102(51.5 %) of study participants have service years of greater than or equal to five years. Only the service year of health professionals was significantly associated [95%CI (AOR= 2.43; 95%CI: 1.28, 4.6)] with the respondents´ TBIC practice. Conclusion: only less than two-third of health professionals had good TBIC practice which is inadequate. And also experienced staff had significantly better TBIC practice. As a result, health professionals in MTUTH should be supported to practice TBIC as routine activity and opportunities should be made for senior staffs to share their TBIC experiences with others. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: vital sign monitoring is a key component of safe facility-based obstetric care. We aimed to assess quality of care around vital sign monitoring during obstetric hospitalizations in a tertiary-care facility in a resource-limited setting. Methods: retrospective review of obstetric records at a tertiary care facility. We assessed documentation of vital signs including fetal and maternal heart rate, and maternal blood pressure, temperature, oxygen saturation and urine output. The primary outcome was the quality of vital sign monitoring (high- versus low-quality based on frequency of monitoring). We compared quality of monitoring with timing of admission, presence of complication, and delivery mode using chi-squared tests. Results: among 360 records of obstetric admissions (94% of a planned random sample), 96% documented a delivery. Of these, 8% of pregnant women and 11% of postpartum women had highquality vital sign monitoring documented on initial evaluation at admission. For women delivering during the hospitalization, 0.8% of women delivering had high-quality monitoring in the first four hours postpartum, with higher rates of highquality monitoring in women delivering vaginally compared to those delivered by cesarean (1.4% versus 0%, p<0.001). There were no differences in rates of quality monitoring by time of admission, or obstetric complication. Conclusion: very few obstetric hospitalizations had high-quality vital sign monitoring. Attention towards improving vital sign monitoring is a critical need. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: tuberculosis (TB) remains a global major health problem, especially in developing countries. Although treatment regimen for TB has been highly effective, treatment-related adverse effects account for significant morbidity leading to reduced effectiveness of therapy and high default rate. This study evaluated the nature and occurrence of Adverse Drug Reactions (ADRs) in patients receiving first line antitubercular therapy (ATT) in Tamale Teaching Hospital (TTH) and its effects on adherence. Methods: the study was a cross-sectional study for a period of six months. A total of 66 participants who were on first line antituberculotic therapy consented for the study. Data was collected using a questionnaire and analysed using SPSS version 22.0. Results: about 77% (n=51) of the participants had experienced ADRs. Gastrointestinal symptoms were the most commonly reported symptoms of ADR (80%, n=41). Regarding adherence, over half (51.0%, n=26) said the occurrence of the Adverse Drug Reaction had affected the manner in which they take their medications. Of these, 84.6% (n=22) of the participants indicated that they skipped/missed their medications and 15.4% stopped the medication entirely. About 39.2% (n=20) reported ADRs to a healthcare practitioner and 60.8% did not. All the reported cases were managed by a health practitioner using another medication. Conclusion: the study showed that ADRs are common among patients receiving first line ATT. Gastrointestinal tract (GIT) related ADRs were the most common. Adherence to first line antitubercular therapy is poor as a result of adverse drugs reaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: the circle of Willis is an anatomical structure of clinical importance particularly in the evaluation of neurovascular diseases. Individuals show considerable variations in the anatomical configuration of the circle of Willis. A cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the distribution of morphological variations of the circle of Willis in Malawians and compare with other ethnic groups. Methods: brains were collected from twenty-four recently deceased black Malawians during autopsy at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital, a referral teaching hospital in Blantyre, Malawi and fixed in 10% buffered formalin. Digital images of the interpeduncular region (exposing the circle of Willis) were taken with an 18.4 megapixels camera from the base of the brain. Whole-circle and segmental parameters of the circle of Willis were assessed using the Osiris computer programme and classified based on a 22-type classification scheme. Results: the following morphological variations were observed: hypoplasia, aplasia, asymmetry and accessory vessels. Typical circle of Willis was seen in 26% of the cases. Only six of the original twenty-two types were observed. Consistent with most previous studies, types 1, 3, 4, 6, 8 and 9 were common while types 10-22 were rare. Three variants not previously described in the original scheme (unilateral PcoA aplasia, AcoA duplication, and PcoA aplasia with contralateral PcoA hypoplasia) were observed in this study. Conclusion: anatomical variations of the circle of Willis in Malawians seem to be distributed in similar frequencies and patterns as in other more-diverse populations. Circle of Willis variants with potential predilection for atherogenesis and aneurysm formation exist in the Malawian population. These should be considered in clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]