Nigerian Postgraduate Medical Journal

BACKGROUND: This study assessed the eustachian tube (ET) function in adult patients with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) using tympanometry and nasal endoscope. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a hospital-based cross-sectional study conducted for 9 months. All participants underwent endoscopic evaluation of the pharyngeal end of their ETs, and the middle ear function was assessed using tympanometry. Endoscopic findings were graded based on a validated mucosal inflammatory endoscopic grading scale...

BACKGROUND: Caregivers play an important role in informal patient management. Identification of the support types and the financial challenges faced by caregivers will provide information on strategies to ease this burden. This study aimed to describe the support types and financial burden amongst caregivers in a tertiary hospital in North Central Nigeria. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study conducted amongst caregivers of inpatients in a tertiary hospital in North Central Nigeria...

BACKGROUND: The huge global diabetes burden and the paucity of diabetes specialists make primary care physicians important stakeholders in controlling diabetes. Hence, we examined the predictors of glycaemic control among primary care patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), highlighting the influence of prior internist encounters during the preceding year on glycaemic control. METHODS: This questionnaire-based cross-sectional study involved 276 T2DM patients systematically recruited from attendees of a general outpatient clinic (GOPC) in Kano, Nigeria...

BACKGROUND: COVID-19 pandemic has ravaged the world, causing deaths in different countries. Fortunately, production of its vaccine has brought some tranquillity, and Nigeria was not left behind. This study aimed to determine the role of knowledge and perception towards the uptake of COVID-19 vaccine amidst undergraduate students of the University of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria. METHODS: This descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out amongst 170 students at the University of Lagos using a multi-stage sampling method...

BACKGROUND: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) remained a worldwide public health problem. Risk assessment and mapping can be deployed to assist in the control and management of disease outbreaks. AIM: The aim of this study was to conduct COVID-19 risk assessment and mapping in selected communities of Southwest Nigeria. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study of adults, 18 years and above, involving the use of multi-stage sampling. Data collection was done with a pre-tested, structured, interviewer-administered questionnaire...

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No abstract text is available yet for this article.

We report a rare case of a 32-year-old Indian male who presented to the retina outpatient department with a history of sudden worsening of vision in the left eye. There was a background history of poor vision and deficient night vision since childhood. At the first presentation, the best corrected visual acuity was 6/36 and 6/60 in the right and left eye, respectively. Ocular examination revealed waxy pale disc, bone spicule pigmentation, attenuated vessels and epiretinal membrane in the right eye in keeping with retinitis pigmentosa...

CONTEXT: Adolescence is a crucial phase in preventing and controlling anaemia. One of the efforts made by the Indonesian government to overcome adolescent girl's anaemia is the iron and folic acid (IFA) supplementation programme. This programme is one of the most effective interventions that various countries have used to overcome anaemia. The key to the success of the supplementation of IFA is the compliance of adolescent girls. AIMS: This study investigates the compliance and its contributing factors of IFA supplementation and the role of social support and interpersonal trust as a source of information and reminder amongst adolescent girls in Sidoarjo, Indonesia...

CONTEXT: Currently, little is known about the timely application of clinical screening tools and blood sampling for decision-making in the management of patients with suspected sepsis in the accident and emergency units of hospitals in Nigeria. AIM: The aim of the study was to ascertain the association between the time taken for the conduct of serum lactate and blood culture investigations following a clinical suspicion of sepsis, and the mortality of patients admitted to a Nigerian tertiary hospital...

INTRODUCTION: Periodic evaluations are an indispensable part of any training programme. This study assessed ophthalmology residency training in Nigeria from the perspective of ophthalmology trainers. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a nationwide web-based survey of ophthalmology trainers at the 30 institutions accredited by the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria from April 2021 to June 2021. Trainers were invited to complete a Google form via E-mail and WhatsApp...

INTRODUCTION: The scalp hairs on an average African is dry with low tensile strength and a tendency to break easily. This is mostly due to poor penetration of the natural oils on the scalp and the very curly hair texture. Various techniques developed to manage African hair are associated with certain hair and scalp disorders and are sources of distress. OBJECTIVES: This was a cross-sectional survey to compare natural African hair and chemically processed (relaxed) hair to determine the effect of hair care and grooming practices on common scalp disorders and the psychological effect in Nigerian women...

BACKGROUND: Poorly managed hypertension is still a serious global public health issue, despite medication. It is unclear what is causing treated hypertensive patients to have trouble achieving their target blood pressure (BP). AIM: The goal of this study was to determine the predictors of BP control amongst hypertensive patients attending a teaching hospital in North-eastern Nigeria. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 277 hypertensive patients from a tertiary healthcare institution...

BACKGROUND: Abortion is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality amongst Nigerian women in a country with restrictive abortion laws. Despite being illegal, abortions are still performed, and about 50% of abortions are performed by untrained persons in unhygienic conditions. This study assessed the determinants of attitude of undergraduates to legalisation of safe abortion in Nigeria. METHODS: It is a descriptive cross-sectional study. We used a three-stage sampling technique to select 423 undergraduates using a pre-tested questionnaire...

BACKGROUND: It is predicted that the population of sub-Saharan Africa will be thrice its size by the end of the 21st century. Our study compared patterns, incentives and disincentives for the uptake of contraceptives in rural and urban communities of Lagos, Nigeria. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a population-based cross-sectional study on 1445 women of reproductive ages 15-49 years using a cluster sampling technique and a pre-tested, interviewer-administered electronic questionnaire in 2020...

BACKGROUND: Adverse pregnancy outcomes occur more commonly in developing countries and are still prevalent in our sub-region. Microalbuminuria is a marker of endothelial dysfunction and has been proposed as an aetiological factor in the development of some adverse pregnancy outcomes such as pre-eclampsia, intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) and pre-term labour. AIM: The aim is to determine the prevalence of microalbuminuria and its association with adverse pregnancy outcomes...

INTRODUCTION: In Nigeria, immunisation with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccines commenced in March 2021. COVISHIELD from AstraZeneca (AZ), a viral vector vaccine, was the brand administered in the first phase of vaccinations for pre-determined eligible adults 18 years and above. As more brands of COVID-19 vaccines have been introduced in Nigeria, identifying effective and safe vaccine brands is essential to pharmacovigilance and public health. The current study assessed the safety of the AZ-AZD1222 (ChAdOx1) COVID-19 vaccine in adults during the first phase of the vaccination exercise in Nigeria...

INTRODUCTION: Histoplasmosis commonly occurs in the advanced HIV disease population and also in immunocompetent individuals. Previous reviews and recent studies highlight several cases of histoplasmosis reported in Nigeria. We aimed to describe the current epidemiology of histoplasmosis in Nigeria and the need for active surveillance in the at-risk populations. METHODS: Literature searches for all publications on histoplasmosis in Nigeria were performed using online databases including Google scholar, PubMed and African Journal online...

Carbapenem antibiotics are considered one of the most effective and the last-resort antibiotics for the treatment of infections caused by multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria. However, with the advent of carbapenem resistance, it becomes obvious that quality health-care delivery will be hampered if adequate measure is not put in place. This review assessed the prevalence of carbapenem-resistant Gram-negative bacteria (CR-GNB) and also provided an up-to-date position on carbapenem resistance (CR) in Nigeria...

The solid foundation laid by Prof Theophilus Oladapo Ogunlesi and other founding fathers of the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria (NPMCN) has consistently achieved its mandate of producing specialist medical practitioners in Nigeria. The ever-changing world requires that we have in Nigeria a critical mass of subspecialists to tackle the various old and emerging ailments that afflict the citizenry. Subspecialist training is popular among Nigerian specialists. While those who are not yet subspecialists crave for the training...