The importance of measuring the accuracy and consistency of research instruments (especially questionnaires) known as validity and reliability, respectively, have been documented in several studies, but their measure is not commonly carried out among health and social science researchers in developing countries. This has been linked to the dearth of knowledge of these tests. This is a review article which comprehensively explores and describes the validity and reliability of a research instrument (with special reference to questionnaire). It further discusses various forms of validity and reliability tests with concise examples and finally explains various methods of analysing these tests with scientific principles guiding such analysis.

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Globally, over 40 million people were displaced as a result of wars and violence due to religious and ethnic conflicts in 2015 while 19.2 million were displaced by natural disasters such as famine and floods. In Africa, 12 million people were displaced by armed conflict and violence and there were hundreds of thousands of people displaced by natural disasters. Despite these large numbers of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Sub-Saharan African countries and the potentially negative impact of displacement on the health of these populations, there is limited information on the health problems of IDPs in the region. The previous studies have mainly focused on the health problems of refugees and single disease entities among IDPs. However, a more comprehensive picture is required to inform the provision of adequate healthcare services for this vulnerable population. The objective of this review was to fill this knowledge gap. Bibliographic databases were searched and screened, and nine studies were selected and reviewed. The major physical health problems and symptoms were fever/malaria (85% in children and 48% in adults), malnutrition in children (stunting 52% and wasting 6%), malnutrition in adult males (24%), diarrhoea (62% in children and 22% in adults) and acute respiratory infections (45%). The prevalent mental health problems were post-traumatic stress disorder (range: 42%-54%) and depression (31%-67%). Most of the studies reviewed focused on mental health problems. Limited evidence suggests that IDPs experience various health problems but more research is required to inform the provision of adequate and comprehensive healthcare services for this group of individuals.

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Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic began in China with a group of severe pneumonia cases, later identified to be caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 in December 2019. Thailand reported the first COVID-19 case outside of China on 13^th January 2020, Africa reported its first case in Egypt on 14^th February 2020 and Nigeria reported its index case of COVID-19 on 27^th February 2020. Virtually, all countries in the world are affected, with over 5 million cases reported globally. A literature search was conducted using publications from academic databases and websites of relevant organisations. The disease is associated with typical and atypical signs and symptoms, mimicking other common illnesses. Nigeria is now in the phase of widespread community transmission as almost all the states have reported confirmed cases. The pandemic has shown a wide range of case-fatality rate (CFR) globally; this is postulated to be related to the demographics, existing health systems and probably other unidentified factors. There has been a steady increase in the burden caused by the disease in Nigeria with a relatively stable CFR, which is lower than the global CFR. Health systems have responded with the guidelines for prevention, management, and surveillance of the disease, while effort is being put in place to find a vaccine and a specific therapy for the cure of the disease. The pandemic has had a severe effect on health systems globally, including an unintended disruption in the service delivery of other diseases. It has the potential to disrupt the weak health system in Nigeria significantly. As such, a combination of non-pharmaceutical preventive measures that are cost-effective needs to be scaled up to prevent it from further weakening the existing health system.

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Background: Zika virus (ZIKV), a vector-borne virus affecting a large number of people, has today become a major public health concern in the developed and developing countries worldwide. Aim: The purpose of this study was to assess the knowledge of ZIKV among dental practitioners residing in Tricity area (Chandigarh, Panchkula and Mohali), India. Subjects and Methods: A total of 412 private dental practitioners were randomly sampled of whom 254 (61.6%) responded to participate in this cross-sectional survey. A self-structured, closed-ended questionnaire was administered to each participant to record demographic and professional characteristics followed by their knowledge regarding ZIKV. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS Version 20 (IBM Corp, Armonk, NY). The results were expressed in percentages. Multivariable linear regression analysis was carried out to assess the association of participant's demographics and professional characteristics with knowledge. Results: The sample consisted of 152 (59.9%) male and 102 (40.1%) female practitioners. Majority of the practitioners belonged to the age group of 25-34 years (66.1%). High knowledge was reported by only 38.2% of the practitioners. A statistically significant difference was seen when mean knowledge scores were compared with the qualification of the participants (P = 0.04), with postgraduates having more knowledge than graduates regarding ZIKV. Most of the knowledge of the practitioners came from television (37.8%) while journals only represented 4.7% of the total information gained. Conclusion : ZIKV infection, a new public health emergency, needs to be addressed urgently. All health care professionals should have adequate knowledge of the virus and be conversant with necessary precautionary measures to be taken making it imperative that dental practitioners strive to continually update their knowledge from time to time.

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Background: High maternal and neonatal mortality persist in Benin Republic despite recent improvements. Numerous women and newborns continue to suffer preventable deaths. Although factors associated with the attendance of at least one antenatal care (ANC) visit are well documented, there is little evidence on factors related to compliance with World Health Organization (WHO) recommended four ANC visits. The present study determined the extent to which reproductive age mothers received the ANC check-ups at a health facility focussing on the WHO-recommended regimen. Methods: We examined factors related to ANC services utilisation patterns amongst 8701 women recruited in the 2011/2012 Benin Demographic and Health Survey data using multinomial logistic regression. Results: The percentage of mothers with full ANC attendance was 59.56%, 27.61% received less than 4 visits and 12.84% had never attended ANC services. Results showed that out of 13 variables assessed, only the place of residence was not associated with ANC seeking. Amongst significant variables, household wealth index, female education and desire for pregnancy were the most important factors related to ANC services seeking, especially for the achievement of WHO recommended four ANC visits. The relative risk ratio of ANC attendance, for the achievement of WHO recommended four ANC regimens was high amongst mothers from economically well-off households (adjusted relative risk ratio [aRRR] for richest women = 10.6, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 6.16–18.33), educated women (aRRR for primary level = 4.34, 95% CI: 3.00–6.27) and those with desired pregnancies (aRRR = 3.4, 95% CI: 2.58–4.48). Conclusion: To achieve WHO-recommended minimum four ANC visits in Benin Republic, our findings suggest the need to financially support the most economically disadvantaged pregnant women and their families during pregnancy, advocate for reducing unmet needs for family planning, strengthen girls' education, especially by maintaining them in school till completion of at least the secondary school.

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COVID-19, a highly infectious disease, caused by a novel virus, the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has brought about an unprecedented threat to global health. First reported in Wuhan, China, in December 2019, it has now spread to all continents of the world becoming a pandemic. There is no known treatment or vaccine for it although many candidate drugs and vaccines are in various clinical trial phases. For now, non-pharmacological interventions (NPIs) have become the mainstay of response for COVID-19 and are being used across the world to flatten the epidemiologic curve with some success. This review focussed on identifying which NPIs have been effective. NPIs that are effective include isolation and quarantine, physical distancing, use of face masks and hand hygiene. These measures are best used in combination and simultaneously. The evidence is that they should be instituted early in the pandemic and for sustained periods. They should also be implemented in the context of the cultural and socioeconomic conditions of the populace. Ineffective NPIs include ultraviolet irradiation and spraying of outdoor spaces and individuals. We recommend that decision makers weigh the evidence carefully, as it applies to the local setting to inform public health decisions.

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Background: Dental pain is considered an important public health problem because it affects the daily life of children. This study was designed to assess the prevalence, associated factors, and impact of dental pain among 8–12-year-old school children in Lagos, Nigeria. Subjects and Methods: A cross-sectional survey to determine self-reported dental pain among 8–12-year-old school children using an interviewer-administered questionnaire was conducted. This was followed by a clinical examination to determine the child’s oral hygiene status and dental caries status. Chi-square and Fisher’s exact tests were used for comparing proportions. Binary logistic regression analysis was also conducted. Statistical significance was set at P < 0.05. Results: Of the 414 children included in the survey, 254 (61.4%) children and 103 (24.9%) children reported experiencing dental pain 3 months and 4 weeks before the survey, respectively. Caries prevalence was 21.0%, whereas mean decayed, missing, and filled tooth index score was 0.4420 (±1.078). A report of pain up to 3 months before the survey was significantly associated with the child’s age [odds ratio (OR) = 1.254; confidence interval (CI) = 1.037–1.516; P = 0.019], whereas the type of school attended (OR = 1.786; CI = 1.124–2.840; P = 0.014) and the presence of dental caries (OR = 1.738; CI = 1.023–2.953; P = 0.041) were significantly associated with reporting pain 4 weeks before the survey. Conclusion: The prevalence of self-reported dental pain was high among the children surveyed. Report of dental pain was associated with the presence of dental caries. The provision of school oral health services could be useful in reducing the level of untreated caries and possibly dental pain among school children.

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Background: Dysphagia is assciated with numerous medical conditions including stroke, and there are wide variations in reported frequency of dysphagia in stroke survivors in the literature. Dysphagia has been shown to be an important risk factor for aspiration pneumonia and has profound impact on survivors. Aims: This study aims to determine the frequency of dysphagia in stroke survivors and its effects on short-term outcome. Methods: Consecutive patients hospitalised for first-ever acute stroke at Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital Zaria, Nigeria, were prospectively enrolled from April 2015 to January 2017. Stroke severity was assessed using the National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS). Water swallowing test was used to screen patients for the presence of dysphagia. This was followed by swallowing provocative test which was aimed at evaluating swallowing reflexes. All the patients were then followed up till day 30. Outcome measures applied were 30-day mortality and functional impairment on the Modified Rankin Scale. Results: Ninety-four patients (53 males and 41 females) with acute stroke were studied. Mean age of patients was 55.51 ± 15.7 years and 32 (34.4%) patients had dysphagia at presentation. Mean NIHSS score of patients with dysphagia was significantly higher than those without dysphagia. Aspiration pneumonia occurred more significantly in those with dysphagia. In multivariate logistic regression, only aspiration pneumonia was independently associated with 30-day mortality. Conclusion: The prevalence of dysphagia in this cohort of stroke patients was 34.4%, and the major independent determinant of 30-day mortality was development of aspiration pneumonia.

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Aims and Objectives: The aim and objective of the study was to determine the incidence, bacterial isolates and the antibiogram sensitivity of the isolates in neonates with septicaemia. Patients and Methods: The neonates with clinical diagnosis of neonatal septicaemia (NNS) were consecutively enrolled into our special care baby unit. The patients were investigated including blood cultures, cerebrospinal fluid cultures and urine among others. Data were analysed with Statistical Package for Social Sciences software version 16.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). Results: Forty-six neonates (42.0%) had a positive blood culture, while 64 (58.0%) were blood culture-negative. Eighteen (39.1%) of those septicaemic neonates with positive blood culture were inborn, while 28 (60.9%) were outborn. The incidence of NNS was 5.9/1000 live births. The male-to-female ratio among septicaemic neonates was 1.9:1. The common risk factors for NNS were prolonged rupture of membrane, prematurity and low socioeconomic status of parents among others. Common clinical features were fever, poor feeding, excessive crying, tachypnoea and hepatomegaly. Staphylococcus aureus 16 (69.6%) and Streptococcus pyogenes 5 (21.8%) were the predominant Gram-positive organisms isolated whereas Escherichia coli 9 (39.1%) and Klebsiella pneumoniae 7 (30.4%) were the predominant Gram-negative organisms isolated. S. aureus was sensitive to cephalosporins and quinolones, but resistant to penicillins. E. coli and K. pneumoniae showed a high resistance (16.7% and 25.6%, respectively) to commonly used aminoglycoside such as gentamycin. Conclusion: The burden of NNS was high with high mortality in the study centre. The sensitivity pattern had remarkably changed; however, a combination of cephalosporins such as cefuroxime and gentamycin is still a good option.

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Background: A community-based survey was conducted amongst mothers aged 15–49 years living in Mosan-Okunola, Lagos, Nigeria to determine the knowledge of, attitudes to, preventive and treatment practices towards neonatal jaundice (NNJ). Materials and Methods: The mothers were selected using a multi-stage sampling technique. A pre-tested interviewer-administered structured questionnaire was used to obtain data. The knowledge of the mothers was scored and scores lower than 50% were graded as poor, 50–74% as fair and ≥75% as good. The practice was also categorised as appropriate if one correct option was identified and was categorised as inappropriate where an incorrect option(s) was identified singly or in combination with a correct option. Results: Three hundred and fifty-eight mothers were recruited. The mean age was 34.8 ± 9.05 years. Two hundred and seventy (75.4%) mothers had ever heard about the condition. Two hundred and forty-seven (91.4%) mothers correctly identified the condition and infection was the only most common known cause (47%). Only 34% of the mothers knew that NNJ could cause brain damage, and 40% identified refusal of feeds as a danger sign. Up to 64% of the mothers believed attending antenatal care could prevent the condition, and 58% were of the opinion that exposing babies to sunlight could prevent the condition. Sixty-eight percent (68.9%) of the mothers had a poor level of knowledge. Age and educational qualification did not show any statistically significant relationship with knowledge about NNJ (P < 0.05) but increasing maternal age had a significant association with an appropriate treatment practice (P < 0.05), the association was negative (r = −0.32). Conclusion: Knowledge about NNJ was low in this community and ineffective preventive practices were utilised. Efforts should be made to increase it, and health workers should play a leading role.

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The first epidemic of Ebola haemorrhagic disease in West Africa is the largest and longest Ebola epidemic till date, where the outbreak notably involved three countries with distant spread to other countries. It has caused significant mortality, with reported case fatality rates of up to 70%. Data and relevant information were extracted from the review of majorly relevant publications/papers about the Ebola epidemic in West Africa and other previous outbreaks of Ebola virus (EBOV). As of 2016, with the epidemic under control, the World Health Organization has warned that flare-ups of the disease are likely to continue for some time as recently occurred in Sierra Leone and the on-going in Guinea. As this may not be the last outbreak of Ebola virus disease (EVD) in West Africa, there is a need to focus on diagnostic and research capacity required to curtail EVD with adequate measures for emergency preparedness and policies for innovative treatment strategies.

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Background: Patients with chronic diseases such as Type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) usually have a relatively poor quality of life (QoL), because the cost of care (living expenses and health) or diet restrictions are heavily felt by these patients, and this is of a public health concern. However, limited data on DM QoL exist in Ghana and Nigeria. This makes it imperative for data to be collated in that regard. Materials and Methods: We adopted the Strengthening The reporting of observational studies in epidemiology (STROBE) consensus checklist to survey the patients with DM seen at the diabetic clinic at the Department of Medicine of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital and University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria. Patients with Type 2 DM aged 40 years and older were recruited by using systematic random sampling method. The World Health Organization Quality of Life-BREF, diabetes empowerment scale, and DM knowledge scale were used to assess QoL, patient empowerment, and knowledge of DM, respectively. The predictors of QoL were determined using multiple linear regression analyses. Results: A total of 198 patients in Ghana and 203 patients in Nigeria completed the survey, with female-to-male ratio being 3:1 and 2:1, respectively. The overall QoL in both countries was relatively low: 56.19 ± 8.23 in Ghana and 64.34 ± 7.34 in Nigeria. In Ghana, significant correlates of higher scores on the QoL scale were medication adherence (P = 0.02) and employment status (P = 0.02). Among patients in Nigeria, employment status (P = 0.02) and DM empowerment (0.03) were significant predictors of QoL in patients with DM. Conclusion: Our study revealed an association between a number of psychosocial factors and QoL among patients with DM in Ghana and Nigeria.

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Aims and Objectives: Carbapenemase production among clinical isolates of Enterobacteriaceae has been widely reported with prevalence rates ranging from between 2.8% and 53.6%. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of carbapenemase production among clinical isolates of Enterobacteriaceae from a Tertiary Hospital in Lagos, Nigeria, and to characterize the type of carbapenemase produced. Materials and Methods: Carbapenemase production was detected phenotypically using a commercially available combination disc test (Rosco Diagnostica carbapenemase detection Neo-Sensitab) containing inhibitors to the various carbapenemase classes. The Neo-Sensitabs were used for Enterobacteriaceae isolates that were resistant after the initial antibiotic susceptibility testing with meropenem (10 μg). Results: A total of 177 Enterobacteriaceae isolates were investigated and 27 (15.2%) were carbapenem-resistant. From the 27 carbapenem non-susceptible isolates, 22 (12.4%) were carbapenemase producers while 5 (2.8%) exhibited carbapenem resistance due to extended spectrum beta-lactamase production. Of the 22 isolates that were positive for carbapenemase production, 15 (8.5%) were metallo beta-lactamase (MBL) producers, 6 (3.4%) produced oxacillinase-48 while 1 (0.5%) produced both MBL and Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase. Hence, the overall prevalence of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae in this study was 12.4%. Conclusion: Carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae was indeed prevalent in our institution. The combination disc test was a cost effective and suitable method for the initial detection of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae within the clinical setting especially when molecular detection methods are not available.

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Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is an increasingly prevalent problem worldwide. Treatment of end-stage kidney disease is beyond the reach of an average Nigerian. The prevention and early detection are imperative to reducing its burden. Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of CKD and some of its risk factors among adults in a representative semi-urban Nigerian population. Subjects and Methods: A cross-sectional study involving 400 randomly selected adults. Participants were assessed using the WHO stepwise approach. Urinary protein-creatinine ratio (PCR) and estimated glomerular filtration rate (GFR) from serum creatinine, among other parameters, were analysed. A PCR ≥200 mg/g was regarded as significant proteinuria while GFR <60 ml/min/1.73 m² was regarded as reduced GFR. Participants with abnormal PCR and/or reduced GFR were re-evaluated after 3 months to document persistence of these abnormalities. CKD was defined as persistent significant proteinuria and/or reduced GFR for more than 3 months. Results: Data were complete for 328 participants. Persistent significant proteinuria was found in 5.8% while persistently reduced GFR was obtained in 4.6% of participants. Overall, the prevalence of CKD was 7.8%. The prevalence of some established CKD risk factors was old age, 36.3%; hypertension, 36.9%; diabetes mellitus, 7.9%; and family history of kidney disease, 6.4%. The predictors of CKD included old age (adjusted odds ratio = 3.2; confidence interval: 1.10–8.92; P= 0.02), hypertension: 3.5 (1.93–11.90; P= 0.001), family history of kidney disease; 4.5 (3.91–10.23; P= 0.01), generalised obesity 1.3 (1.20–6.21; P= 0.001) and central obesity 3.8 (1.13–12.68; P= 0.003). Conclusion: The prevalence of CKD and some of its risk factors were high. Effective control of the modifiable risk factors identified will assist in reducing the burden of CKD.

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Background: Pre-eclampsia (PE) is an important public health menace in both developed and developing countries with high maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality globally. A major goal towards improving antenatal management of PE is to develop accurate prediction models that identify women at high risk of this disease for appropriate interventions. Methodology: In a longitudinal cohort study, high-risk singleton pregnant women enroled between April 2015 and February 2016 had uterine and umbilical artery Doppler sonography at 22–24 weeks and 32–34 weeks gestation and had their delivery outcomes documented by the obstetrician and gynaecologist. The peak systolic velocity (PSV), end-diastolic velocity (EDV), Resistivity Index (RI), Pulsatility Index (PI) and the systolic-diastolic ratio (S/D) were recorded. Results: Among the ninety-eight high-risk pregnant women, 61 (62.2%) developed PE and 32 (32.8%) did not have PE. In the PE cases, 15 (24.5%) were mild and 46 (74.5%) were severe PE. The uterine artery PI was significantly associated with PE. A unit increase in uterine PI in high-risk pregnancies, increases the odd of PE by 37.37 times (95% confidence interval; odds ratio = 6.09, 241.9; P < 0.001). The combination of the uterine and umbilical PSV predicted 80.3% of severe PE. All three spontaneous abortions were in women who developed PE, more caesarean section (48.4%) and 69.2% of 45 pre-term deliveries occurred in women with severe PE. Conclusion: The findings from this study show significantly lower uterine and umbilical arteries PSV and EDV but higher RI, PI and S/D in cases that developed PE. The uterine artery PI is the best predictor of PE, whereas the combinations of uterine and umbilical arteries PSV best predict severity of PE among high-risk pregnant Nigeria women.

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Sample size is one of the important considerations at the planning phase of a research proposal, but researchers are often faced with challenges of estimating valid sample size. Many researchers frequently use inadequate sample size and this invariably introduces errors into the final findings. Many reviews on sample size estimation have focused more on specific study designs which often present technical equations and formula that are boring to statistically naïve health researchers. Therefore, this compendium reviews all the common sample size estimation formula in social science and health research with the aim of providing basic guidelines and principles to achieve valid sample size estimation. The simplification of the sample size formula and detailed explanation in this review will demystify the difficulties many students as well as some researchers have with statistical formulae for sample size estimation.

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Background: Structural or functional defects present at birth may lead to physical or mental disabilities. They contribute significantly to perinatal morbidity and mortality. Aims and Objectives: The study aimed to determine the prevalence of congenital anomalies among women delivering in the labour room suites of a tertiary health institution in North-Western Nigeria. Various maternal risk factors were also correlated and analysed. Subjects and Methods: This was a 3-year hospital-based prospective study carried out in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology in association with the Department of Paediatrics in a tertiary health care centre in North-Western Nigeria. All neonates delivered in the labour rooms were examined for congenital abnormalities (CAs) soon after birth. The study group included all live births along with stillbirths delivered after the 28^th week of gestation. Those diagnosed with congenital anomaly were admitted to the special care baby unit for observation and documentation. Results: A total of 72 congenital anomalies were documented among 10,163 deliveries. Central nervous system (CNS) anomalies had the highest prevalence 34.7% (25/72) and were followed by those of the musculoskeletal system 22.2% (16/72). Spina bifida/meningocoele were the most common anomalies of the CNS 44% (11/25) followed by hydrocephaly 28% (7/25). Most of the anomalies involved single organs 59/72 (81.9%). Majority of the CA 84.7% (61/72) were prevalent within the maternal age range of 16–35 years, while 12.5% were seen in teenage pregnancy. Diagnosis of most of the anomalies was made after delivery 69.4% (50/72). History of maternal febrile illness during pregnancy was present in 75% (54/72) and in 50% (27/54) of cases with CNS anomaly. Conclusion: Central nervous system anomalies were the most prevalent congenital anomalies observed. Improved maternal health, pre-conception care, folic acid supplementation and routine foetal anomaly scan may help to reduce these anomalies.

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Background: A descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted among healthcare workers offering immunisation services in primary healthcare facilities in Alimosho Local Government Area, Lagos, Nigeria, on knowledge and reporting practices of healthcare workers on adverse events following immunisations (AEFIs). Materials and Methods: A pre-tested, close-ended, self-administered questionnaire was used to assess knowledge and reporting practices on AEFI. Data were analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 16. Knowledge of healthcare workers was scored and graded as <50% - poor, 50–74% - fair and ≥75% - good. Reporting practices on AEFI was classified as good if it was reported within 24 h of seeing one.P= 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: One hundred and sixty-four healthcare workers duly completed and returned their questionnaires. The mean age was 39.5 ± 2.64 years and mean post-qualification experience was 12.2 ± 2.33 years. Over 80% of the healthcare workers knew that fever, pain, redness and swelling at injection site were clinical signs and symptoms of AEFI, and 93% knew about filling an adverse event form to report an AEFI. Overall, nearly 80% of respondents had fair/good knowledge on AEFI. Fifty-five (33.5%) healthcare workers had encountered an AEFI and 31 (56.4%) reported such within 24 h. There was a significant relationship between being younger healthcare workers and knowledge on AEFIs (P = 0.029). No healthcare worker characteristics were significantly associated with good reporting practices on AEFI. Conclusion: Respondents' knowledge and reporting practices on AEFI were average.

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Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence and pattern of amblyopia in primary school pupils in Kosofe town of Lagos State with a view to providing baseline data that may facilitate the establishment of routine school eye screening programs in primary schools in Lagos State. Materials and Methods: A descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted among pupils from public and private primary schools in Kosofe town. The pupils underwent visual acuity assessment with the HOTV charts, detailed ocular examinations and cycloplegic refractions. Data obtained were analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 20.0. Results: A total of 1702 pupils participated in the study, out of which 899 (52.8%) were males. The age range was 4-16 years with 1630 (95.8%) pupils within the ages of 4 and 10. Amblyopia was detected in 24 (1.4%) of the screened pupils (95% confidence interval = 0.610-0.914). There was no significant sex predilection (P = 0.367) or age trend (P = 0.158) in this study although amblyopia occurred more in boys (54.2%). Refractive amblyopia (58.4%) was the most common type of amblyopia out of which anisometropic amblyopia accounted for 78.6%. Unilateral amblyopia was observed in 87.5% of the amblyopic pupils, and the left eye was more commonly affected than the right eye. All the types of amblyopia were more common within the age group of 4-10 years and in public school children (P = 0.039 and P = 0.015, respectively). Conclusion: The prevalence of amblyopia in this study was low and it falls within the general prevalence range for amblyopia in Nigeria.

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Background: An early first dental clinic appointment offers the prospect of prompt preventative care and parental education regarding the oral health of the child. The evidence-based recommendation by dental professionals all over the world is that a child should visit a dentist before or by 1 year of age. Aim: This study aimed to determine the chronological age at and the purpose for a first dental clinic visit amongst children aged 16 years and below attending the Paediatric Dental Clinic at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH). Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective study conducted amongst children who attended the Paediatric Dental Clinic at the LUTH between January 2017 and December 2018. Data on age at first dental visit, reasons for attending and other information relevant to the study were collected. Descriptive statistics and Chi-square analysis were conducted, and the level of significance was set at P < 0.05. Results: A total of 1157 children were studied, comprising 580 (50.5%) males and 577 (49.9%) females. Their mean age on their first dental visit was 7.9 ± 3.7 years. Most of the children (31.4%) had their first dental visits at 7 and 9 years, and 0.8% of the children had their first dental visit below the age of 1 year. The most common reason for visiting the dental clinic was dental pain (33.1%). A higher proportion of the children (911 [79.0%]) had their first dental visit for therapeutic purposes, whereas 246 (21.0%) children visited the dental clinic for preventive care. Sex and age at first dental visit were statistically significantly associated with the reason for attendance (P < 0.001). Conclusion: Most children had their first dental visit between the ages of 7 and 9 years, mainly because of pain. It is necessary to create more awareness among parents/caregivers and to establish the concept of dental home.

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Introduction: Surgical site infection (SSI) is a major patient safety concern in hospitals. Unlike most developed countries, Nigeria does not yet have an established national system to monitor the occurrence of this infection. This meta-analysis was thus designed to determine the pooled cumulative incidence of SSIs and various determinants of its occurrence in Nigeria. Methods: The electronic databases were systematically searched for articles reporting the occurrence and risk factors associated with SSIs in Nigeria from January 2000 to December 2018. The eligible articles were evaluated using a set of pre-defined criteria. The extracted data were analysed using the comprehensive meta-analysis software. The Begg and Egger's regression tests were used to assess the risk of bias of the included publications. Results: Thirty-two articles emanating from the six geopolitical regions of Nigeria were included in this meta-analysis. The pooled cumulative incidence of SSIs was 14.5% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.113–0.184) with the highest incidence reported in the north-eastern region (27.3%, 95% CI: 0.132–0.481) of the country. It was also found to occur more predominantly following colorectal and abdominal surgeries, among elderly patients and in patients with co-morbid conditions. The most frequently reported was the superficial incisional SSIs occurring in 62.5% (95% CI: 0.333–0.848). Higher preponderance was also observed among patients with dirty wounds (52.7%, 95% CI: 0.367–0.682). Conclusion: This meta-analysis documents for the first time the national burden of SSIs in Nigeria. Control measures geared towards its reduction should be strengthened and a national policy on SSI surveillance, prevention and control developed.

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Background: Non-fermenting Gram-negative bacilli (NFGNB) have emerged as a major cause of healthcare-associated infections and are innately resistant to many antibiotics. Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of NFGNB isolated from various clinical specimens and evaluate their antimicrobial susceptibility profiles. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study was done at our Department of Microbiology from December 2015 to December 2016. NFGNB were isolated from a variety of clinical specimens, plated on blood agar and MacConkey agar and incubated at 37°C for 18–24 h under aerobic conditions. Appropriate biochemical tests were done to identify the organisms isolated. Antibiotic susceptibility test was performed using the modified Kirby–Bauer disc diffusion method using commercially available discs on Mueller–Hinton agar. Data was analyzed using SPSS IBM version 20. Results: Out of 19065 clinical samples, cultures were positive in 1854 samples. Out of 1854 culture-positive samples, 216 (11.6%) yielded NFGNB. Pseudomonas aeruginosa was the most common NFGNB, isolated in 190/216 (87.96%) samples, followed by Acinetobacter baumannii (17/216, 7.87%). Overall, most of the NFGNB isolates were susceptible to polymyxin B (88.4%), imipenem (82.9%) and cefoperazone + sulbactam (50.9%), and a total of 11 (64.71%) multidrug-resistant A. baumannii (MDRAB) strains were isolated in the study. Conclusion: Our study showed a significantly high prevalence of NFGNB. Isolation of multidrug-resistant P. aeruginosa and MDRAB in the present study raises the concern of rapidly emerging antibiotic resistance in this group of bacteria in our region.

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Background: Mechanical intestinal obstruction (MIO) is a common and potentially fatal surgical emergency, which constitutes about 20% of all admissions to the surgical emergency departments. Objective: To determine the predictive factors of morbidity and mortality in patients undergoing treatment for MIO at our tertiary hospital. Patients and Methods: This was a prospective study of consecutive patients, 18 years and above, that presented with features of MIO during a 1-year period (May 2014 to April 2015). Each patient had resuscitation, comprehensive clinical evaluation, appropriate investigations and definitive treatment. The data were analysed using SPSS version 22. Results: One hundred and five patients were studied. The age range was 18–86 years with a mean (standard deviation) of 45.6 (14.8) years. There were 54 males with a male to female ratio of 1.1–1. The common causes of MIO were post-operative adhesion (48.6%), tumour (25.7%), external hernia (15.2%) and volvulus (5.7%). Eighty-four patients (80%) had operative intervention while 21 patients (20%) had conservative management. Univariate analysis showed that dehydration, tachycardia (>90 bpm), pyrexia, abnormal levels of potassium, urea and creatinine, leucocytosis, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) status >IIIE, bowel resection, intraoperative blood loss >500 ml and duration of surgery >2 h were significant predictors of mortality (P < 0.05). Multivariate analysis showed that elevated serum urea at hospital presentation and ASA status greater than IIIE were the independent predictors of mortality, but none of the factors could independently predict morbidity. The most common post-operative complication and cause of death were wound infection (29.6%) and sepsis (66.7%). The mortality rate was 14.3%. Conclusion: The most common cause of MIO was post-operative adhesion. Elevated serum urea and ASA status greater than IIIE were the independent predictors of mortality.

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Purpose: Dental caries and poor oral hygiene cause pain and have an effect on activities of children such as playing, sleeping, eating and school attendance. Previous studies on the prevalence of dental caries and poor oral hygiene have focused more on urban than rural communities in the developing countries. The objective of the study was to assess dental caries and oral hygiene status of schoolchildren in rural communities. Materials and Methods: It was a cross-sectional study involving 778 schoolchildren from 12 public primary schools. A pre-tested, semi-structured interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to obtain information on socio-demographics and oral health practice. Dental caries was assessed using the decayed, missing and filled teeth (DMFT) index and oral hygiene status by the simplified oral hygiene and gingival indices. Results: The mean age of the children was 11.0 ± 1.8 years, and the prevalence of dental caries was 12.2% with a mean DMFT/dmft of 0.2 ± 0.7. Children aged 10–12 years were 3 times more likely to have caries on ≥1 tooth (P = 0.01, confidence interval = 1.3–6.7). Herbal remedies were more often (35.3%) used to manage dental problems. The mean simplified oral hygiene and gingival indices were 1.7 ± 0.9 and 1.1 ± 0.5, respectively. Conclusion: The occurrence of dental caries appears to be increasing in rural Nigerian schoolchildren, but still within WHO limits. Oral hygiene status was poor and gingivitis was common.

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Condyloma acuminata (CA) is a warty lesion caused by the sexually transmitted human papillomavirus that most commonly affects external genitalia and mucocutaneous junctions. Involvement of the urinary tract (UT) is rare. Anogenital CA is considered a predisposition for urethral and subsequently bladder involvement. Isolated urinary bladder involvement is thought to be due to immunosuppression. A 60-year-old man presented with progressively worsening lower UT symptoms, which culminated in acute urinary retention due to histologically proven benign prostatic obstruction (BPO). He had neither cutaneous nor anogenital CA, and viral markers were unremarkable. He had failed a trial of voiding without catheter and had simple prostatectomy 2 years later. Findings at surgery included an enlarged prostate with prominent median lobe and a sessile, warty lesion of 1.2 cm in the widest diameter found incidentally at the dome of the bladder, which turned out to be CA after histopathological analysis of excisional biopsy specimen. CA of the urethra is uncommon while that of the bladder is rare. CA of the bladder without preceding anorectal CA or immunosuppression is uncommon. There is no report of CA of the bladder in BPO till date. Complete surgical excision is the preferred option of management except when not practicable.

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