Objective:To determine the degree of client satisfaction with immunisation services at Primary Health facilities in Calabar,Cross River State,Nigeria.Method:A semi-structured questionnaire was administered on 402 care...Objective:To determine the degree of client satisfaction with immunisation services at Primary Health facilities in Calabar,Cross River State,Nigeria.Method:A semi-structured questionnaire was administered on 402 caregivers who were selected using systematic random sampling from four primary health centres.The four centres were randomly selected from the 19 health centres using the table of random numbers.Data obtained were analysed using Epi-Info s of tware version 2002.Results:The majority of clients were dissatisfied with most aspects of care given at the Health Care Centres including long waiting time,accessibility of immunisation services,poor respect for clients’ rights,especially to their dignity,health information and counseling on their medical needs.Conclusions:The study concludes that client satisfaction with immunization service in Calabar was low due to poor attitude of health care providers,long waiting time and lack of respect for clients’ rights.展开更多
Objective:To ascertain the antibiotic susceptibility patterns of Escherichia coli recovered from blood culture specimens in Calabar.Nigeria.Methods:The study was retrospective in nature and was carried out at Universi...Objective:To ascertain the antibiotic susceptibility patterns of Escherichia coli recovered from blood culture specimens in Calabar.Nigeria.Methods:The study was retrospective in nature and was carried out at University of Calabar Teaching Hospital(UCTH) Calabar.Data generated from blood culture specimens over a five year period(Feb.2004-Feb.2009) was compiled, relevant information such as age,sex,organism recovered and antibiotic susceptibility patterns were obtained from patients records.Samples were collected,transported,stored and processed using standard laboratory procedures.Data obtained was analysed using Epi Info 6 statistical software.Results:Escherichia coli was responsible for 15.3%(31/203) of the blood infections being the third most common microorganism encountered.The community acquired(CA) isolates of the organism were significantly less resistant(P【0.05),compared to the nosocomial(NC) isolates against ampicillin.cloxacillin,amoxicillin,tetracycline,co-trimoxazole.chloramphenicol and erythromycin.The sensitivity of both the NC and CA isolates of Escherichia coli to amikacin, augmentin,ofloxacin,ciprofloxacin,ceftazidime,cefuroxime,ceftriaxone and rifampicin was generally high(80-100%) with no significant difference(P】0.05).Majority(】95.0%) of the NC isolates of Escherichia coli were resistant to six of the antibiotics tested.Conclusions:Control mechanisms for hospital acquired infections should be stepped up so as lo limit the spread of the highly resistant bacterial strains.Also the sale and consumption of antibiotics by the public need to be regulated.展开更多
Objective:This study aimed to determine the prevalence of Hepatitis B antigen among newly employed staff in a Tertiary Hospital in South-South Nigeria.Method:The medical records of a total of 238 newly employed member...Objective:This study aimed to determine the prevalence of Hepatitis B antigen among newly employed staff in a Tertiary Hospital in South-South Nigeria.Method:The medical records of a total of 238 newly employed members of staff of the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital between 2000 and 2006 were reviewed.Their socio-demographic data and Hepatitis B Surface Antigen(HBSAg) results were analyzed.Results:The overall prevalence of Hepatitis B Surface Antiginaemia was found to be 5.04%.The prevalence was 7.30%in males and statistically significant compared to 3.50%in females.Conclusion:There is a reasonably high prevalence of HBSAg among adults prior to employment into Health Care Institutions.This poses a danger to clients seeking care in these health care facilities and other health care workers.Health Institutions must have clear policies on engagement of new staff relating to such communicable diseases based on existing Nigerian labour laws including the Workman Compensation Act.They must also implement policies on universal precautions to safeguard the health workers and clients in their care.Public enlightenment on the National Program on Immunization(NPI) must be intensified as a strategy to reduce the prevalence of HBSAg and its attendant consequences.展开更多
Objective:To ascertain the socio-cultural factors influencing the rate of utilization of insecticide treated bed nets(ITNs) in a malaria endemic city of Makurdi,north central Nigeria. Methods:The study was cross-secti...Objective:To ascertain the socio-cultural factors influencing the rate of utilization of insecticide treated bed nets(ITNs) in a malaria endemic city of Makurdi,north central Nigeria. Methods:The study was cross-sectional in nature using systematic sampling method to identify households.Both quantitative and qualitative data was generated from adult women using structured and semi structured questionnaires,and focused group discussions(FGDs) to obtain information on rate and patterns of utilization of ITNs.Information such as age,educational level, marital status,awareness or otherwise of the existence of malaria,and factors influencing rate of ownership and utilization of ITNs were obtained.FGDs were used to obtain qualitative information on rate of utilization of ITNs not captured in the questionnaires.Data obtained was analysed using Epi Info 6 statistical software.Results:Among the respondents interviewed,97.0% (2 013/2 075) were aware of existence of malaria and 87.0% of these(1 751/2 013) would associate it with mosquitoes.The rate of ownership of any bed net,ITNs and untreated bed nets(UTNs) was 25.1% ,17.0% and 8.3% ,respectively.Utilization of ITNs among children was 30.0% (112/373) and UTNs 12.9% (48/373).Positive contributors to ITNs utilization were literacy,enhanced economy, experience of marriage,and being gainfully employed(P【0.05);while negative contributors were ignorance,poverty and some cultural beliefs and values.Conclusions:A more synchronized advocacy should be carried out on the potential benefits of ITNs utilization and sustained.Also ITNs should be made available to the people of the community at minimal or no cost.展开更多
Objective:To determine the causes of death among human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome(HIV/AIDS) patients as a step to planning strategies to improve mortality from this condition.Methods:Thi...Objective:To determine the causes of death among human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome(HIV/AIDS) patients as a step to planning strategies to improve mortality from this condition.Methods:This study retrospectively analyzed the mortality pattern of adult HIV/AIDS patients in the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital from January 2005 to December 2007.The data were obtained from sexually transmitted infection/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome(STI/AIDS) clinic register,admissions and discharge/death registers as well as the patients’ case records and the hospitals monthly mortality reviews.Information obtained included age,sex,diagnosis and cause(s) of death.The causes of death considered were the direct causes of death,since the originating antecedent cause of death is the same in all the patients,in this case,HIV/AIDS.Data was analysed using Epi Info 2002.Results:The total number of mortalities during the study period was 350,100 were HIV positive representing 28.6%of all deaths.While advanced HIV/AIDS disease was the leading cause of death in our study representing 27.0%,tuberculosis was the single leading cause of deaths in HIV/AIDS patients constituting about 24.0%of deaths.This was followed by sepsis and septicaemia(13.0%), meningitis and encephalitis,and anaemia accounting for 11.0%,while respiratory diseases constituted 5.0%of the mortality burden.The highest number of deaths occurred in those aged between 21-50 years(82.0%).Conclusions:The study has shown that HIV/AIDS is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in our hospital.The causes of death reflect the varied spectrum of infection and other forms of organ involvement that affect HIV/AIDS patients.The present dismal situation of adult patients living with HIV/AIDS calls for enhanced strategies to decrease the mortality trend observed in Nigeria and sub-Saharan Africa.展开更多
文摘Objective:To determine the degree of client satisfaction with immunisation services at Primary Health facilities in Calabar,Cross River State,Nigeria.Method:A semi-structured questionnaire was administered on 402 caregivers who were selected using systematic random sampling from four primary health centres.The four centres were randomly selected from the 19 health centres using the table of random numbers.Data obtained were analysed using Epi-Info s of tware version 2002.Results:The majority of clients were dissatisfied with most aspects of care given at the Health Care Centres including long waiting time,accessibility of immunisation services,poor respect for clients’ rights,especially to their dignity,health information and counseling on their medical needs.Conclusions:The study concludes that client satisfaction with immunization service in Calabar was low due to poor attitude of health care providers,long waiting time and lack of respect for clients’ rights.
文摘Objective:To ascertain the antibiotic susceptibility patterns of Escherichia coli recovered from blood culture specimens in Calabar.Nigeria.Methods:The study was retrospective in nature and was carried out at University of Calabar Teaching Hospital(UCTH) Calabar.Data generated from blood culture specimens over a five year period(Feb.2004-Feb.2009) was compiled, relevant information such as age,sex,organism recovered and antibiotic susceptibility patterns were obtained from patients records.Samples were collected,transported,stored and processed using standard laboratory procedures.Data obtained was analysed using Epi Info 6 statistical software.Results:Escherichia coli was responsible for 15.3%(31/203) of the blood infections being the third most common microorganism encountered.The community acquired(CA) isolates of the organism were significantly less resistant(P【0.05),compared to the nosocomial(NC) isolates against ampicillin.cloxacillin,amoxicillin,tetracycline,co-trimoxazole.chloramphenicol and erythromycin.The sensitivity of both the NC and CA isolates of Escherichia coli to amikacin, augmentin,ofloxacin,ciprofloxacin,ceftazidime,cefuroxime,ceftriaxone and rifampicin was generally high(80-100%) with no significant difference(P】0.05).Majority(】95.0%) of the NC isolates of Escherichia coli were resistant to six of the antibiotics tested.Conclusions:Control mechanisms for hospital acquired infections should be stepped up so as lo limit the spread of the highly resistant bacterial strains.Also the sale and consumption of antibiotics by the public need to be regulated.
文摘Objective:This study aimed to determine the prevalence of Hepatitis B antigen among newly employed staff in a Tertiary Hospital in South-South Nigeria.Method:The medical records of a total of 238 newly employed members of staff of the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital between 2000 and 2006 were reviewed.Their socio-demographic data and Hepatitis B Surface Antigen(HBSAg) results were analyzed.Results:The overall prevalence of Hepatitis B Surface Antiginaemia was found to be 5.04%.The prevalence was 7.30%in males and statistically significant compared to 3.50%in females.Conclusion:There is a reasonably high prevalence of HBSAg among adults prior to employment into Health Care Institutions.This poses a danger to clients seeking care in these health care facilities and other health care workers.Health Institutions must have clear policies on engagement of new staff relating to such communicable diseases based on existing Nigerian labour laws including the Workman Compensation Act.They must also implement policies on universal precautions to safeguard the health workers and clients in their care.Public enlightenment on the National Program on Immunization(NPI) must be intensified as a strategy to reduce the prevalence of HBSAg and its attendant consequences.
文摘Objective:To ascertain the socio-cultural factors influencing the rate of utilization of insecticide treated bed nets(ITNs) in a malaria endemic city of Makurdi,north central Nigeria. Methods:The study was cross-sectional in nature using systematic sampling method to identify households.Both quantitative and qualitative data was generated from adult women using structured and semi structured questionnaires,and focused group discussions(FGDs) to obtain information on rate and patterns of utilization of ITNs.Information such as age,educational level, marital status,awareness or otherwise of the existence of malaria,and factors influencing rate of ownership and utilization of ITNs were obtained.FGDs were used to obtain qualitative information on rate of utilization of ITNs not captured in the questionnaires.Data obtained was analysed using Epi Info 6 statistical software.Results:Among the respondents interviewed,97.0% (2 013/2 075) were aware of existence of malaria and 87.0% of these(1 751/2 013) would associate it with mosquitoes.The rate of ownership of any bed net,ITNs and untreated bed nets(UTNs) was 25.1% ,17.0% and 8.3% ,respectively.Utilization of ITNs among children was 30.0% (112/373) and UTNs 12.9% (48/373).Positive contributors to ITNs utilization were literacy,enhanced economy, experience of marriage,and being gainfully employed(P【0.05);while negative contributors were ignorance,poverty and some cultural beliefs and values.Conclusions:A more synchronized advocacy should be carried out on the potential benefits of ITNs utilization and sustained.Also ITNs should be made available to the people of the community at minimal or no cost.
文摘Objective:To determine the causes of death among human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome(HIV/AIDS) patients as a step to planning strategies to improve mortality from this condition.Methods:This study retrospectively analyzed the mortality pattern of adult HIV/AIDS patients in the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital from January 2005 to December 2007.The data were obtained from sexually transmitted infection/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome(STI/AIDS) clinic register,admissions and discharge/death registers as well as the patients’ case records and the hospitals monthly mortality reviews.Information obtained included age,sex,diagnosis and cause(s) of death.The causes of death considered were the direct causes of death,since the originating antecedent cause of death is the same in all the patients,in this case,HIV/AIDS.Data was analysed using Epi Info 2002.Results:The total number of mortalities during the study period was 350,100 were HIV positive representing 28.6%of all deaths.While advanced HIV/AIDS disease was the leading cause of death in our study representing 27.0%,tuberculosis was the single leading cause of deaths in HIV/AIDS patients constituting about 24.0%of deaths.This was followed by sepsis and septicaemia(13.0%), meningitis and encephalitis,and anaemia accounting for 11.0%,while respiratory diseases constituted 5.0%of the mortality burden.The highest number of deaths occurred in those aged between 21-50 years(82.0%).Conclusions:The study has shown that HIV/AIDS is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in our hospital.The causes of death reflect the varied spectrum of infection and other forms of organ involvement that affect HIV/AIDS patients.The present dismal situation of adult patients living with HIV/AIDS calls for enhanced strategies to decrease the mortality trend observed in Nigeria and sub-Saharan Africa.
