Adult Nigerians Research Articles

Reference luminal diameters of the carotid arteries among healthy Nigerian adults.

The carotid arteries serve as major blood supply to the head and neck region of the body. Understanding their structure and function in the pathogenesis of stroke and in interventional neuroradiology due to luminal stenosis, atherosclerosis and wall stiffness is paramount. Doppler ultrasound scan plays key role in the early diagnosis of the pathologies of the arteries as it is an affordable, accessible, reliable and non-invasive clinical tool. Knowing normal average diameter of the carotid arteries among healthy individuals is important in making correct clinical diagnosis in any population. The aim of the study was to determine mean diameters of the carotid arteries among healthy adult Nigerians for reference. This was a prospective study involving 104 healthy Nigerians within the ages of 18 and 65 years who had their carotid arteries scanned on both sides and each diameter was measured. A 95% confidence level was used; a p-value of < 0.05 was significant. Of the studied population, 62 were males and 42 were females, and the average age of the subjects was 28.32 ± 9.09 years. From this study, the average luminal diameter of the common carotid artery = 0.61 ± 0.08 cm, internal carotid artery = 0.60 ± 0.08 cm and external carotid artery = 0.49 ± 0.10 cm. The results showed that although, there are differences in measurements between the two sexes (males slightly higher than females in common carotid artery) and between right and left sides (with right side slightly higher), they are not statistically significant. This sonographic study on healthy Nigerian adults has given us normal reference values of the luminal diameters of the carotid arteries among Nigerians, which clinicians can make reference to, when assessing carotid artery diameters of patients in Nigeria.

Sleep disturbance and associated factors among Nigerian adults living with HIV in the dolutegravir era

Sleep disturbance is common among persons living with HIV (PLWH) causing significant health impacts. Nigeria recently switched from efavirenz to dolutegravir (DTG) for first-line antiretroviral therapy (ART). This study aimed to assess the prevalence of sleep disturbance and to determine factors associated with sleep disturbance among treatment-experienced PLWH. Using a cross-sectional study design and systematic random sampling, 300 participants were recruited from the Infectious Diseases Institute, Ibadan, Nigeria (IDI). Interviewer administered questionnaire was used to collect data regarding sociodemographic, sleep disturbance (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index; PSQI), depression (Patient Health Questionnaire; PHQ-9), anxiety (Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7; GAD-7), and psychoactive substance use. HIV-specific data were retrieved from IDI's medical records. The relationship between the PSQI score and the scores on the PHQ-9 and GAD-7 were explored with the Pearson correlation coefficient. Chi-square global tests of independence were used to assess factors associated with sleep disturbance and a multivariable binary logistic model was used to determine independent predictors of sleep disturbance. The mean age of the sample was 44.5 ± 11.4 (years), the average duration of HIV diagnosis was 8.13 ± 5.33 (years) and the majority were on DTG-based regimens (95%). Depression and anxiety were present in 14 and 17.3%, respectively. Prevalence of sleep disturbance (PSQI score of 6 or more) was 21.7%. Higher PSQI scores were associated with higher PHQ-9 scores (r = 0.526; p &amp;lt; 0.001) and higher GAD-7 scores (r = 0.529; p &amp;lt; 0.001). Sleep disturbance was associated with age (χ2 = 4.483, p = 0.038), marital status (χ2 = 7.187, p &amp;lt; 0.01), depression (χ2 = 46.589, p &amp;lt; 0.001), and anxiety (χ2 = 38.379, p &amp;lt; 0.001). There was no significant association between sleep disturbance and HIV clinical stage at diagnosis, virological suppression status, and ART regimen type (p &amp;gt; 0.05), whereas tea intake was associated with an absence of sleep disturbance (χ2 = 6.334, p &amp;lt; 0.014). Age (&amp;gt;45 years), depression and anxiety were associated with higher odds of sleep disturbance among PLWH. Sleep disturbance remains common among PLWH in the DTG era. Depression and anxiety are significant factors associated with sleep disturbance. Assessing these factors in future studies may improve the sleep health of PLWH.

Behavioural Responses to the COVID-19 Pandemic among Nigerians: A Nationwide Survey

Background: COVID-19 being a new disease has been fraught with poor public social responses. This survey described the behavioural responses to COVID-19 from individuals in a multi-ethnic and multi-cultural society like Nigeria.&#x0D; Methods: The study used a web-based descriptive cross-sectional design to recruit Nigerian adults, 18 years and above from all the geopolitical zones in the country, by snowball sampling technique. A 6-page Google form survey tool was used to administer the questionnaire via emails, WhatsApp groups and other social media platforms. Data analysis was done using descriptive statistics with percentage frequency distribution.&#x0D; Results: A total of 1841 respondents (45.8% females) were finally analyzed. The age range was 18-84years with mean of 31±11years. Overall, 1079 (58.6%) expressed at least one element of fear of disclosing their COVID-19 status. There were 1047 (56.7%) respondents who expressed worry about being discriminated against if they get COVD-19 and 1087 (59.1%) agreed that family members of COVID-19 patients may be rejected by the community. Majority 1749 (95%) stated willingness to present to the healthcare facility, though 932 (50.6%) stated they will not be attended to if suspected to have COVID-19. Of the respondents, 794 (43.1%) indicated that COVID-19 was caused by the Chinese and 1202 (65.3%) indicated that healthcare workers should be kept in a hotel separate from the rest of the community. Majority 1679 (91.2%) however, disagreed that COVID- 19 was a death sentence.&#x0D; Conclusion: The study revealed that there were elements of fear of disclosure, with discrimination and stigmatization being the major causes of concern.

Improving the health-related quality of life of adult Nigerians living with cancer and their family caregivers: intervention development

BackgroundEvidence for the effectiveness of interventions aimed at improving the health-related quality of life of people living with cancer and/or family members is compelling. However, most interventional research has been conducted in high-income countries, and no intervention had been tested in low-income countries such as Nigeria. It is critical to design a culturally theory-based intervention in a resource-poor setting to address the needs and support coping strategies of cancer patients and their family caregivers.MethodsTheory, evidence, and practical issues were considered. The Medical Research Council framework for developing and evaluating complex interventions and Behaviour Change Wheel provided the framework for intervention design. Findings generated by a needs assessment of adult Nigerians with cancer and their family caregivers and relevant theories (the Spirituality and the Supportive Care Framework for Cancer) informed content development.ResultsA theory-based, culturally tailored socio-spiritual intervention was developed to address the specific needs of adult Nigerians with cancer and their family caregivers. A 4-week intervention included strategies designed to improve social and spiritual support, information and health literacy, and health-related quality of life.ConclusionsA systemic approach was used to conceptualise an evidence-based and theory-informed intervention tailored to address previously identified shortfalls in support available to adults living with cancer and their family caregivers, in Nigeria. If implemented and effective, such an intervention has the potential to improve the health-related quality of life of people living with cancer and their families in Nigeria.

Usher Syndrome in Adult Nigerians: Report of Two Cases

Usher Syndrome in Adult Nigerians: Report of Two Cases

Emphasizing the Right of the Child Through African Cultural Values and Music Education

The right of children has been challenged and threatened in Africa from time immemorial, this has made them vulnerable to abuse, exploitation, and discrimination. African children are abused most of the time because they do not know they are entitled to some rights. Children across Africa face many interconnected cases of abuse and barriers every day to their right to an education (Kilatu, 2019; HRW, 2022). But the African charter on the rights and welfare of the child emphasizes the right of a child to have education directed to preserve and strengthen positive African cultural and traditional values and experiences. The descriptive survey design was adopted for the study with a population of forty respondents in Nigeria. A structured questionnaire which consisted of fourteen items in three sections was used to elicit information from the respondents. The data collected from the investigation were analyzed using percentages. The study equally used unstructured interviews, observation, and library sources to gather data for the work. The research found out that many adults and children are not aware of children’s rights and this makes children vulnerable to abuse and exploitation. It equally found out that there is a need for society to inform and equip African parents and children with knowledge of children’s rights and privileges. This study recommends that since the African tradition is transmitted through folklore and folksongs, it should be included and emphasized in the education of Nigerian children and adults.

Food Intake in Relation to Obesity and Subjective Cognitive Complaints: A Crosssectional Study from Nigeria

There is evidence from research that dietary lifestyle influences health and mental well-being but there is limited understanding of the mechanism in Nigerian adult population. This study evaluated association of food intake with obesity and subjective cognitive complaints (SCCs) in Nigerian adults. We carried out a cross-sectional study of 1338 random samples aged 18-87 years who were visiting six different public hospitals in the southwest Nigeria between March 2016 and April 2016. Standard food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) and SCC questionnaire were used while anthropometric data were measured using standard clinical procedures. Associations were determined by linear and unconditional logistic regressions, after adjustment for age, ethnicity, education, gender, marital status, family type, alcohol and smoking status. Consumption of four different foods was significantly associated with SCC while one food intake was significantly associated with obesity measure (i.e., body mass index): meat product (Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR), 1.002; 95% Confidence Interval (CI), 1.001-1.004; P &lt;.0001), and sugary snacks (AOR, 1.007; 95% CI, 1.002-1.011; P &lt;.01) were associated with increased SCCs whereas consumption of cereal products (AOR, 0.999; 95% CI, 0.998-1.000; P &lt;.01) and potatoes (AOR, 0.998; 95% CI, 0.996-1.000; P &lt;.05) were associated with decreased levels of SCCs. Consumption of non-alcoholic beverages was associated with decreased BMI levels (AOR, 0.998; 95%CI, 0.997-1.00; P &lt;.05). Linear regression analyses on these data largely recapitulated the results. In conclusion, consumption of cereals, potatoes and non-alcoholic beverages appear beneficial to health and the findings could serve as an intervention strategy for tackling SCCs and obesity. Keywords: Food intake; subjective cognitive complaints; BMI, obesity; Nigeria

Determinants of patients' adherence to glaucoma topical therapy among Nigerian adults

Context: Glaucoma is a leading cause of irreversible blindness globally. Among its risk factors only raised intraocular pressure is modifiable with capacity to reduce the progression of glaucoma. Adherence to intraocular pressure lowering medications is a key factor in the medical management of glaucoma. Aims: The aim of this study was to determine adherence to glaucoma topical medications and its determinants among patients. Settings and Design: This was a comparative longitudinal hospital-based study. Subjects and Methods: Ninety-six primary open-angle glaucoma patients were randomly grouped into A and B and surveyed for topical medication adherence and its determinants. All participants were counseled on medication adherence, and given dosing time schedule. Participants in Group B/reliable household members were reminded through phone calls to use their medications. Adherence level, its determinants, effect of adherence on intraocular pressure (IOP), and central visual field defect progression were assessed at baseline, 90 days, and 180 days. Statistical Analysis Used: Data normality was tested using Shapiro–Wilk test. Results were presented in frequency tables, figures, and charts. Chi-square test, Fisher's exact test, and odds ratio were used to evaluate the associations between variables where applicable. Multivariate logistic regression was employed to determine factors predicting adherence. The level of statistical significance was set at P &lt; 0.05. Results: At baseline, 35.4% of the participants were adherent to medications, with intervention at 90 days (81.2%, A, and 79.2%, B) and at 180 days (75.0%, A, and 83.3%, B) of the participants who adhered to medications. Predictors of adherence to medications were age below 40 years (adjusted odd ratio [AOR] = 5.10; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.18–21.82; P = 0.029) and the presence of comorbidities (AOR = 5.41; 95% CI, 1.64–17.86; P = 0.009). There was no significant difference in the mean IOP between the two groups at baseline, 90 days, and 180 days. Conclusions: There was an improvement in medication adherence following counseling. Younger age and comorbidities were notable adherence determinants.

Macular Thickness Measurements Using Stratus Optical Coherence Tomography in Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria

Background: The need to establish the normal parameters of the macular is important for early detection of its changes in various causes of maculopathy. Objectives: To determine the normative values for macular thickness in healthy Nigerian adults in Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria and to correlate macular thickness values with gender, age, axial length, refractive errors, and intraocular pressure in adults using Stratus Optical Coherence Tomography. Material and Methods: Consenting 178 (101 males and 77 females) adult Nigerians with normal eyes were recruited and examined using Carl Zeiss Stratus Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) machine Model 3000 software version 4.0 from December 2014 – December 2015. Results: One hundred and seventy-eight (178) eyes of 178 subjects were assessed. Mean age of subjects was 36.4 ± 11.7 years. Mean Total Macular Thickness (MTMT), was found to be 238.03 ± 16.83μm with an average of 240.45 ± 17.34μm in males and 234.84 ± 15.70μm in females. Significant correlation between MTMT with age (P = 0.000) and parity (0.043) was observed but not with ethnicity, axial length and refractive error (P = 0.315, 0.551 and 0.071 respectively).Mean Central Foveal Thickness (MCFT) was found to be 180.30 ± 19.22μm. However, it was 185.73 ± 18.06μm in males and 173.18 ± 18.46μm in females. MCFT was significantly higher in males than females (P = 0.000). Conclusion: Total macular thickness and central foveal thickness measurements in healthy Nigerian adult eyes in Zaria are presented in this study and results are comparable to that reported in previous studies. However, large population study is required in Nigeria six geopolitical zones in order to derive a reference value for the country. Keywords: Eye, Macular, Optical Coherence Tomography

Prevalence of overweight and obesity in Nigeria: Systematic review and meta-analysis of population-based studies.

In Nigeria, several studies have assessed the prevalence of overweight/obesity with different reports. The purpose of this study was to use a systematic review and meta-analysis to analyze these overweight and obesity reports from different locations in Nigeria over the last ten years. In addition, there was a dearth of systematic reviews and meta-analyses on the prevalence, trends, and demographic characteristics of overweight and obesity in the country. This was a systematic review and meta-analysis of cross-sectional population-based studies among adult Nigerians on the prevalence of overweight/ obesity (defined by body mass index) published from January 2010 to December 2020. Relevant abstracts were scrutinized and articles that included adults of all age groups and were not restricted to a particular group of people (e.g. university community) were selected. Each article was scrutinized by more than 2 authors before selection. The prevalence of overweight/obesity among all participants, among men and among women in Nigeria and its 6 geopolitical zones was determined. All analyses were performed using STATA version 14 (Stata Corp. College Station, Texas, USA). Thirty-three studies were selected and the number of participants was 37,205. The estimated prevalence of overweight and obesity was 27.6%, and 14.5% respectively. The prevalence of overweight among men and among women was 26.3% and 28.3% respectively and, the prevalence of obesity among men and women was 10.9% and 23.0% respectively. The prevalence of overweight in the 6 geopolitical zones was Southeast 29.3%, Southwest 29.3%, South-south 27.9%, Northwest 27.2%, North-central 25.3%, Northeast 20.0% and obesity South-south 24.7%, Southeast 15.7%, Southwest 13.9%, Northwest 10.4%, North-central 10.2%, Northeast 6.4%. Egger's tests showed no statistically significant publication bias among the studies that reported the overweight and obesity prevalence respectively (p = 0.225, P 0.350). The prevalence of overweight/obesity in Nigeria is high. The southern geopolitical zones had a higher prevalence of overweight/obesity.

Association of Dietary Acid Load with Insulin Sensitivity Index among Apparently Healthy Nigerians

The possible role of regular consumption of diets with high acid forming potential in decreasing cellular sensitivity to insulin and its associated complications has been investigated. However, findings across different study groups are conflicting. It is likely that the association is affected by genetic and environmental factors that differ among different populations. We investigated the impact of diet-induced acidosis on the degree of insulin sensitivity among apparently healthy adult Nigerians. Assessment of dietary intake was done using a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire and the Nigerian Food Composition Table. Acid forming potential of our local diets were estimated as Potential Renal Acid Load (PRAL) scores. Fasting plasma glucose and insulin were measured. Degree of insulin sensitivity was calculated as Quantitative Insulin Sensitivity Check Index (QUICKI). About 35 (16.2%) of the study subjects were observed to have insulin resistance. Across the study groups, there was a statistically significant trend with higher intake of dietary acid associated with decreased insulin sensitivity (p for trend &lt; 0.05). We conclude that among apparently healthy adult subjects in this study, regular consumption of diets with high acid forming potential might be linked with worsening of insulin sensitivity.

Perceived Psychosocial Impact of Lockdown and Life Satisfaction Assessment of Nigerian Working Adults during Coronavirus Pandemic

The study assessed the perceived psychosocial impact of lockdown and life satisfaction of Nigerian working adults during the coronavirus pandemic. A cross-sectional research design was adopted, and 518 working adults participated in the study using the convenience sampling technique. Two sets of questionnaires served as the data collection instruments. Data generated from the study were analyzed using mean, standard deviation, and OLS regression analysis. Results revealed, amongst others, that relationships with family members and neighbors, interaction with office colleagues, social connectedness, the use of social media, and shopping are the major psychosocial domains highly affected by the impact of the lockdown. Also, it was revealed that working adults in Nigeria are slightly satisfied with life during the COVID-19 lockdown. Based on the results, suggestions were made to mitigate the effects of the psychosocial impact of the lockdown and low life satisfaction during and after the lockdown period of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Acceptance of COVID-19 Vaccine among Adults in Two Urban Local Government Areas of Kwara State, North Central Nigeria

BackgroundCovid-19 has unquantifiable negative impacts on the world’s socio-economic parameters. The rapid discovery of vaccines to fight this pandemic is a monumental scientific breakthrough.Study objectiveThe study assessed willingness of adult Nigerians to accept Covid-19 vaccine and elucidated on factors influencing such decisions.MethodologyCross-sectional design was employed among 400 respondents recruited using multi-stage random sampling technique in Ilorin, Kwara-State, Nigeria. Pretested interviewer-administered, semi-structured questionnaire was used for data collection. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were carried out.ResultsMean age ±SD of respondents was 40.85±13.75 and 215 (53.7%) of them were males. Those who possessed good knowledge of Covid-19 were 321 (80.3%), but few respondents had misconceptions regarding its causation. Attitude to Covid-19 vaccination was positive in 360 (90%) of the respondents, 278 (69.5%) were willing to accept the vaccine. Respondents’ Covid-19 knowledge and attitude to its vaccination were the main determinants of willingness to receive the vaccine.ConclusionThe Nigerian government urgently needs to leverage on the positive attitude of the people to fully implement its covid-19 vaccination policies which can ensure effective coverage and equitable access to the revolutionary Covid-19 vaccines. Awareness campaign on practice of other preventive measures should be sustained to produce a synergistic control effort.Rwanda J Med Health Sci 2022;5(2):127-140

Comparison of exercise and physical activity routine and health status among apparently healthy Nigerian adults before and during COVID-19 lockdown: a self-report by social media users

BackgroundCOVID-19 is a pandemic that ravaged the world in manners that were never seen in the recent past, and one of the measures to stem the tide of this ravaging pandemic is a stay-at-home order referred to as lockdown. This study compares the physical activity status and perceived health of Nigerians before and during the lockdown.ResultsSocial media platform users (n = 205) were surveyed using a two-part questionnaire. The first part elicited the sociodemographic characteristics of the subject. In the second part, information about their exercise and physical activity, general health, and economic palliatives as offered by the government, non-governmental organizations, and philanthropists were elicited. The frequency of exercise was significantly more (p < 0.05) during the lockdown than before the lockdown. The duration and intensity of the exercise per week were comparable. There was also a negative relationship between the body mass index, frequency, and duration of exercise before and during the lockdown. The subjects perceived their health as worse during (3.70 ± 1.05) the lockdown than before (3.95 ± 0.97) lockdown (Z = − 3.69, p = 0.00).ConclusionOverall, for these cohorts of social media platform users, lockdown did not adversely affect their exercise routine. It is recommended that there should be specific recommendation on exercise as an important Instrumental Activity of Daily Living [IADL]. Therefore, while this pandemic lockdown lasts and beyond, the safety measures to follow while partaking in this IADL should be included in the public health recommendation.

Barriers and Facilitators of Fruit and Vegetable Consumption among Nigerian Adults in a Faith-Based Setting: A Pre-Intervention Qualitative Inquiry.

Background:Inadequate consumption of fruit and vegetable is a risk factor for morbidity and mortality associated with non-communicable diseases (NCDs). An understanding of the barriers and facilitators to consumption is important for effectiveness of intervention in Africa. We present insights among church members before developing a church-based multi-component intervention to address the inadequate consumption of fruit and vegetable. Methods: We conducted eighteen focus group discussions among 163 church members. All discussions were audio-taped, transcribed verbatim, and were analyzed for thematic content. Results:We identified five main themes; Personal: awareness and knowledge of benefits, choice, habits, and curiosity, dietary restrictions and gastrointestinal symptoms following fruit and vegetable consumption. Familial: practices promoting the ready availability of fruit and vegetables in the home or habits that encourage children to eat vegetables as they transition into adulthood, pre-existing health problems of family members and the long preparation time of some traditional vegetables. Socio-cultural: Cultural practices that encourage F&V consumption, the high cost of fruits and vegetables, alternatives foregone, and cultural taboos. Environmental: inadequate farmland and storage facilities, seasonality of several fruit and vegetables, and sharp practices of force-ripening with chemicals. Church-related: inadequate space provided by the church for arable cultivation and lack of knowledge of the benefits among church leaders, church activities that involve serving fruits and vegetables and the biblical support for the consumption of fruits and vegetables. Conclusion:It is essential to leverage practices that promote fruit and vegetable intake and address barriers mentioned by the participants when designing such interventions.

Assessment of Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Thickness in Nigerian Adults Using Spectral-Domain Optical Coherence Tomography

Abstract Objective: To measure the circumpapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness in normal eyes of Nigerian adults using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT). Materials and methods: This was a cross-sectional study of normal eyes of Nigerian adults between July and September 2016 at the eye clinic of a tertiary hospital in Nigeria. Sociodemographic data, clinical history, and examination findings were obtained. Dipstick urinalysis and blood pressure measurements were performed. Circumpapillary RNFL thickness was measured with the Topcon 3D OCT-1 Maestro version 8.30 (Topcon Medical Systems, Inc., Oakland, NJ, USA), using the 3D optic nerve head analysis. Data were analyzed using the International Business Machine (IBM) Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) Statistics, version 25.0 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA) and the level of significance was set at P ≤ 0.05. Results: The study included 120 participants (240 eyes) with an age range of 18 to 53 years and a mean age of 34.06 ± 7.64 years. There were 59 (49.17%) males and 61 (50.83%) females. The average RNFL thickness in the right and left eyes was 112.26 ± 9.6 and 110.53 ± 9.14 μm, respectively. The average RNFL thickness for the Igbo ethnic group was 117.5 ± 7.69 and 115.04 ± 7.18 μm in the right and left eyes, respectively. The mean RNFL thickness for the inferior, superior, nasal, and temporal quadrants was 148.92 ± 15.77, 142.59 ± 16.48, 85.3 ± 15.39, and 71.89 ± 9.35 μm in the right eyes and 149.28 ± 16.03, 141.69 ± 13.33, 81.82 ± 13.59, and 68.8 ± 10.17 μm in the left eyes, respectively. Conclusion: This study showed the normal circumpapillary RNFL thickness values in Nigerian adults using SD-OCT. There were variations based on ethnicity that suggest it may be important to use ethnic-specific benchmarks when interpreting OCT results for the management of glaucoma.

T064 Impact of cardiovascular exercise training on apolipoproteins and atherogenic indices of adult Nigerians

T064 Impact of cardiovascular exercise training on apolipoproteins and atherogenic indices of adult Nigerians

Prevalence, patterns and predictors of dyslipidaemia in Nigeria: a report from the REMAH study.

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and predictors of dyslipidaemia in adults in Nigeria. Using the WHO criteria, we determined dyslipidaemia using serum lipid levels of 3 211 adult Nigerians, aged at least 18 years, obtained between March 2017 and February 2018 from two communities (rural and urban) in a state from each of the six geopolitical zones of Nigeria. The overall prevalence of low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (l-HDL), elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (e-LDL), hypertriglyceridaemia (h-TG) and hypercholesterolaemia (h-CHL) were 72.5,13.6, 21.4 and 7.5%, respectively. The adjusted odds of h-CHL [odds ratio (95% confidence interval) 1.47 (1.10-1.95)], h-TG [1.89 (1.48-2.41)] and e-LDL [1.51 (1.03-2.15)] increased with obesity. Being a rural dweller increased the odds of h-TG [1.55 (1.29-1.85)], e-LDL [1.38 (1.10-1.73)] and l-HDL [1.34 (1.14-1.58)]. The odds of h-CHL [2.16 (1.59-2.95)], h-TG [1.21 (1.01-1.47)], e-LDL [1.42 (1.13-1.80)] and l-HDL [0.78 (0.65-0.93)] increased with hypertension. Diabetes mellitus doubled only the odds of h-TG [2.04(1.36-3.03)]. The prevalence of dyslipidaemia, particularly low HDL-C, is high among adult Nigerians.

Association between ABO and RH blood groups and Hepatitis B virus infection among young Nigerian adults.

SummaryBackgroundSeveral diseases are reported to be associated with ABO/Rh blood groups. Data on the association between ABO and Rh D blood group antigens in the Nigerian population is sparse. This study aimed at determining the prevalence of Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) infection as well as its association with ABO and Rh D antigens among young Nigerian adults.MethodsWhole blood was collected from 496 students and screened for the presence of HBsAg using an immuno-chromatographic technique. The ABO and Rh D antigen status of participants were also determined using standard techniques.ResultsIn this study, the prevalence of HBV infection was 10/496 (2.10%). Of all factors assessed, only age of participants was identified as a risk factor (P < 0.05) for HBV seropositivity. Over half 257/496 (51.5%) of subjects were of the blood group O type, while 18/496 (3.6%) were of the AB blood type which was the least in occurrence. Rh D negative blood group was observed among 24/496 (4.8%) subjects. Those with the B blood type were observed to have an insignificantly (P > 0.05) higher prevalence of HBV infection. However, with respect to Rh D antigen alone, participants negative for the antigen were observed to have a five times higher risk of acquiring HBV infection than those positive for it (OR = 5.273, 95% CI = 1.056, 26.321, P > 0.05). Combining the ABO and Rh blood group systems, an association (OR = 20.174; P > 0.05) was found to exist between B Rh D negative status and HBV infection.ConclusionPossession of B antigen without Rh D antigen is associated with increased risk of acquiring HBV infection.

Dilemma of financial exclusion and inlusion in Africa: Can Nigeria, South Africa and Ghana be compared?

This paper investigates the level of financial inclusion and exclusion in selected African countries with special attention to Nigeria, South Africa and Ghana in a comparative approach. The study utilized global survey data on financial inclusion index published by Global Findex. From the researcher‟s comparative analysis using the basic variables of financial inclusion, it was discovered that: in terms of financial service accessibility, bankable adult Nigerians have less access to financial services than South Africa while the degree of financial services availability and financial service usage are all higher in South Africa than Nigeria and Ghana. The implication of these findings is that South Africa is more financially inclusive than Nigeria and Ghana; indicating that greater percentage of Nigerian and Ghanaian bankable adult citizens are financially excluded from their economy irrespective of the various banking reforms in the two countries. It was recommended among other suggestions that an all-embracing financial inclusion strategy that is rural based be developed for Nigeria and Ghana as well as reduction in the cost of banking and financial services (especially lending and deposit rates in Africa). The implication of these recommendations is that in Africa (and even other continents) the higher the deposit rate, the more people are willing to save and the lower the lending rate the more people are willing to get loans. The study submitted that by hierarchy of financial inclusion in Africa, Nigeria and Ghana with their present high level of financial exclusion cannot be compared to South Africa in all the key indicators of financial inclusion.