International Journal of Public Health and Epidemiology

International Journal of Public Health and Epidemiology ISSN 2326-7291 Vol. 8 (7), pp. 001-006, July, 2019. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Technical competence of tutors in pre-service health training institutions on Expanded Programme on Immunization in North Western Nigeria

A. S. Umar¹*, A. O. Olatunji¹*, A. O. Abiola¹, A. Yakubu² and M. Oche¹

¹Department of Community Health, College of Health Sciences, Usmanu Dan Fodiyo University, Sokoto, Sokoto State, Nigeria.

²Department of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Usmanu Dan Fodiyo University, Sokoto, Sokoto State, Nigeria.

Accepted 11 May, 2019

Abstract

The study was conducted to assess the knowledge and skills of tutors on Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) in some pre-service health training institutions in Nigeria to identify their training needs. The study was a cross sectional survey using a structured self-administered questionnaire and an observational checklist. A total of 62 tutors from 5 pre-service health training institutions were selected. The level of knowledge was assessed using a scoring system as adequate or in adequate. Overall, 25 (40.3%) of respondents’ had adequate knowledge on basic knowledge on immunization concepts, principles and components of Reaching Every Ward approach (REW). The overall mean score was 24.4 ± 2. In all the 5 schools studied, there were no teaching aids (vaccine carriers, ice packs, cold box, AD syringes, safety box, IEC materials and data tools) and no reference materials (REW field guide or immunization in practice) in the school library. In-service training is the only variable that have demonstrated significant statistical association on overall knowledge of respondents’ (df = 1; F = 8.62; P<0.0001). There is significant gap in knowledge of the tutors on all components of REW and hence the need for training intervention.

Key words: Tutors, pre-service health training institutions, knowledge, teaching aids, Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI), Nigeria.

International Journal of Public Health and Epidemiology ISSN 2326-7291 Vol. 8 (6), pp. 001-004, June, 2019. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Antibiotic self-medication among university medical undergraduates in Northern Nigeria

Joseph O. Fadare¹* and Igbiks Tamuno²

¹Department of Medicine, Kogi State Specialist Hospital, Lokoja, Nigeria

²Department of Pharmacology, Bayero University, Kano, Kano State, Nigeria.

Accepted 20 April, 2019

Abstract

Self-medication is becoming a common type of self-care behavior among the population of many countries. Many international studies have investigated the prevalence and nature of self-medication practices at the population level. In Nigeria, some workers have also looked at the population prevalence of self-medication in general; however the prevalence of antibiotic self-medication among medical undergraduates has not yet been studied. The interest in studying this practice among this select group is due to the fact that they are the future prescribers and health educators of the population of Nigeria. The study was a cross-sectional pre-tested questionnaire-based study carried out among medical students of the Bayero University, Kano, North-West Nigeria during a two-week period in August 2008. The information from the returned questionnaire were coded, entered and analyzed using SPSS Version 12 statistical software. A total of 183 students filled and returned the questionnaire giving a response rate of 83.2%. Out of these respondents, 120 (65.6%) were males and the mean age of respondents was 23.2 ± 2.5 years (Range 17 to 31). 71 (38.8%) of the medical students admitted to the practice and there was no statistically significant difference among the different levels of medical education (p >0.05). Antibiotics from the penicillin group (ampicillin/cloxacillin, amoxicillin and ampicillin) were the most frequently used. Self-medication with antibiotics is prevalent among medical undergraduates in Northern Nigeria. There is a need for an intervention to address this practice.

Key words: Antibiotics, self-medication, medical undergraduates, Nigeria.

International Journal of Public Health and Epidemiology ISSN 2326-7291 Vol. 8 (6), pp. 001-006, June, 2019. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Comparison between all patients refined diagnosis related groups with the centre for medicare and medicaid services diagnosis related groups

Alberto Pilotto¹, Marilisa Franceschi², Mauro Di Bari³, Franco Rengo⁴, Roberto Bernabei⁵, Luca Lorenzoni⁶, Niccolò Marchionni³ and Antonio Greco²

¹Geriatric Unit ULSS 16, S. Antonio Hospital,Padua,and Geriatric Research Laboratory, IRCCS Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, San Giovanni Rotondo (FG) Italy.

²Geriatric Unit IRCCS Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, San Giovanni Rotondo (FG), Italy.

³Unit of Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine, Department of Critical Care Medicine and Surgery,University of Florence and Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi, Florence, Italy.

⁴Geriatric Unit, University “Federico II”, Napoli, Italy.

⁵Department of Geriatrics, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Rome, Italy.

⁶  Health Department, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, Paris.

Accepted 11 April, 2019

Abstract

Aim of the study was to compare the ability of the all patients refined diagnosis related groups (APR-DRG) with the centre for medicare and medicaid services diagnosis related groups (CMS-DRG) in predicting multidimensional impairment of elderly patients. Cases discharged from 20 geriatric units were grouped by the CMS-DRG and the APR-DRG. A comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) was performed using the activities of daily living (ADL), instrumental activities of daily living (IADL), short portable mental status questionnaire (SPMSQ), comorbidity index rating scale (CIRS), mini nutritional assessment (MNA), geriatric depression scale-short form (GDS-SF) and exton smith scale (ESS). Number of drugs at admission (DPA) and length of stay (LOS) were also recorded. CMS-DRG and APR-DRG relative weights (RW) were used for comparisons. 1273 patients were included. With increasing the APR-DRG-RW, a significant increase in the prevalence of impaired patients was found in ADL, IADL, SPMSQ, CIRS, GDS-SF and ESS. The CMS-DRG-RW subgroups showed a significant difference for MNA and GDS-SF. LOS was significantly different for both APR and CMS DRG. The number of CGA domains in which APR showed a more significant trend in disability when compared to CMS DRG demonstrates that the former was a better predictor of multidimensional impairment.

Key words: All patients refined diagnosis related groups (APR-DRG), centre for medicare and medicaid services diagnosis related groups (CMS-DRG), comprehensive geriatric assessment, elderly.

International Journal of Public Health and Epidemiology ISSN 2326-7291 Vol. 8 (5), pp. 001-009, May, 2019. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Analysis of factors related to complaints in medical schemes

Michael Mncedisi Willie

Council for Medical Schemes, South Africa. E-mail: [email protected] Tel: +27 12 431 0407. Fax: +27 12 431 0699.

Accepted 17 April, 2019

Abstract

Medical schemes are insurance institutions that cover medical expenses in South Africa. These institutions reimburse their members for actual expenditure on health. The Medical Schemes Act (Act 131 of 1998) defines the business of a medical scheme as the business of undertaking liability in return for a contribution in order to make provision for obtaining any relevant health service. The Council for Medical Schemes (CMS) is an autonomous statutory body created by parliament to regulate the medical schemes industry in South Africa. The CMS handles complaints from members of medical schemes. The objective of the study was to assess factors that impact on the response time to complaints by members of medical schemes. Survival analysis techniques were employed to assess these factors. The regression models controlled for factors such as, medical scheme type, medical scheme size, severity of complaints and effects of the analysts. The model revealed the effect of analysts as a significant factor to response time to complaints. The findings of the study revealed useful results in terms of identifying analysts that take longer to resolve complaints. The study also revealed that the nature of complaints as an important factor to the response time. There is a need for the complaints department to be properly resourced and continuously train staff to ensure effective resolution of complaints in medical schemes.

Key words: Survival analysis, Kaplan-Meier, Tarone-Ware test, Cox proportional hazard model, log-rank test.

International Journal of Public Health and Epidemiology ISSN 2326-7291 Vol. 8 (5), pp. 001-008, May, 2019. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Retrospective study of bovine and human tuberculosis in abattoirs and hospitals in Enugu State, Southeast Nigeria

Nwanta J. A.*, Umeononigwe C. N., Abonyi G. E. and Onunkwo J. I.

Department of Veterinary Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria.

Accepted 11 April, 2019

Abstract

A study to generate epidemiological data on tuberculosis in cattle and humans in Enugu State, through a retrospective survey of abattoir and hospital records for a five-year period (2004 to 2008) was undertaken. A total of 748 and 2452 cases of tuberculosis were recorded in cattle and humans respectively. Statistical analysis showed that a variation in seasonal prevalence in both studied population, but the variation was not statistically significant. Sex-associated prevalence differed in both studied populations. Cows and male persons were both significantly (p<0.05) affected in cattle and humans, respectively. Patients within the age-group of 21 to 40 years had statistically significant (p<0.05) higher proportion of tuberculosis in humans. Overall mean prevalence of 1.4% and 12.9% was recorded for cattle and humans, respectively. This prompts intensification of control programmes against tuberculosis in both cattle and humans in the state.

Key words: Cattle, humans, tuberculosis, Enugu State, prevalence.

International Journal of Public Health and Epidemiology ISSN 2326-7291 Vol. 8 (5), pp. 001-005, May, 2019. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

A study of travel medicine among National and International travellers in Egypt

Naglaa A. El Sherbiny¹* and Ghada M. Wafik²

¹Fayoum University, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo, Egypt.

²Fayoum University, Faculty of Tourism, Cairo, Egypt.

Accepted 20 March, 2019

Abstract

Travel medicine has emerged as a new field of medicine that involves pre-travel evaluation, contingency planning during travel, and post-travel care. Its implementation showed major discrepancies among different countries. This study aims to assess the health information given to travelers and detect their sources of information. This is a cross sectional analytical observational study of 397 travelers implemented on different travel destinations all over Egypt. It adopts self-administered structured questionnaires according to the International Travel Health Questionnaire (ITHQ) and in-depth interviews with managers in the Ministry of Tourism. The results showed that 17.5% of the international travelers and none of the national travelers heard about the ITHQ; whereas, 58.9% of the international travelers and 26.8% of the national travelers took information about safety measures from different sources. However, there was a lack of travelers’ knowledge about safety measures with no obvious role of travel agencies.

Key words: Travel medicine, traveler safety, travel agent health advice.