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Research Interests: Medicine and South East
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Research Interests: Buruli Ulcer and Referral
ABSTRACT __________________________________________________________ Background: Major psychotic disorders such as the schizophrenias consume a high proportion of health budgets in developed countries. The economic implications of acute... more
ABSTRACT __________________________________________________________ Background: Major psychotic disorders such as the schizophrenias consume a high proportion of health budgets in developed countries. The economic implications of acute psychotic disorders in Nigeria have not been well documented. Aim: To estimate the direct cost of treating patients with acute psychotic episodes in a mental health unit in Anambra State, Nigeria. Methods: Forty one patients, 29 males (70.7%) with acute psychotic episode admitted between January and September 2006 in a small Private Psychiatric Clinic were assessed with the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) at intake and on discharge. The cost of drugs, laboratory investigations and hospital services were estimated using the charges obtainable in nearby facilities. Results: The 41 patients consumed over $11,000 during the admission period. Hospital bill constituted the highest cost (70.1%), especially professional charges (Nursing fees and Doctor's fees which accounted for about a third of the entire costs). Patients on new generation antipsychotics tended to be discharged earlier than those on first generation drugs, but were more vulnerable to relapse. Conclusion: The direct cost of treating acute psychotic episode in the present health service system is very high. Why avoiding "false economy," there is need to develop cost effective treatment strategies for persons with acute mental disorders.
Research Interests: Psychiatry and Medicine
Background: Breast cancer in Nigeria and other developing countries is characterized by late presentation and poor outcome due to ignorance, superstition, self-denial, fear of mastectomy, and unavailability of treatment facilities. The... more
Background: Breast cancer in Nigeria and other developing countries is characterized by late presentation and poor outcome due to ignorance, superstition, self-denial, fear of mastectomy, and unavailability of treatment facilities. The mortality of breast cancer in Western world is decreasing due to early detection and better management. Objective: This study aims at accessing the knowledge, attitude, and practice of breast cancer screening among female tertiary health workers. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study carried out using a structured, pretested, self-administered questionnaire to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practice of breast cancer and screening methods among female health workers. Results: The mean age of respondents was 31.70 ± 7.62 years. The level of awareness of breast cancer screening methods was high: 158 (98.75%), 127 (79.4%), and 144 (90.0%) for breast self-examination (BSE), clinical breast examination (CBE), and mammography, respectively. However, only 47 (35.9%), 36 (22.5%), and 3 (1.9%) correctly practiced BSE, CBE, and mammography, respectively. The level of education and occupation showed significant correlations with the knowledge and practice of breast cancer screening methods. Conclusion: Breast cancer screening still needs to be promoted to improve the attitude and practice among both health workers and general population.
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Background: Preeclampsia is a pregnancy-related disorder. Symptoms commonly associated with it include elevated blood pressure, protein in the urine and leg swelling. It is one of the leading causes of maternal and fetal morbidity and... more
Background: Preeclampsia is a pregnancy-related disorder. Symptoms commonly associated with it include elevated blood pressure, protein in the urine and leg swelling. It is one of the leading causes of maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality especially in limited resource settings. This study was aimed at determining the risk factors for preeclampsia in a tertiary hospital in south east Nigeria. Methods: This was a retrospective case-control study carried out at Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University teaching hospital Awka, south east of Nigeria. There were 50 cases with 100 controls. Data was retrieved from hospital case notes of both cases and controls. Tables were used to illustrate the descriptive statistics comparing the cases and controls. Categorical variables were compared using the Chi-square test. To ascertain the determinants of preeclampsia, Univari...
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Background: Buruli ulcer is a chronic, debilitating, necrotizing disease of the skin and soft tissue caused by Mycobacterium ulcerans. Early detection and appropriate treatment of the patients are currently the most important measures for... more
Background: Buruli ulcer is a chronic, debilitating, necrotizing disease of the skin and soft tissue caused by Mycobacterium ulcerans. Early detection and appropriate treatment of the patients are currently the most important measures for preventing the debilitating consequences of the disease. Objective: To assess the clinical profile of Buruli ulcer patients presenting in a referral hospital in Anambra state, Nigeria. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out among a cohort of 39 Buruli ulcer disease patients referred to a referral hospital in Anambra State between July and December 2021. A semi-structured, interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to collect data on the socio-demographic characteristics and the clinical presentation of the patients. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 22; with alpha set at p-value ≤ 0.05. Results: Twenty one (53.8%) of the study participants were males while 18 (46.2%) were females. Their mean age was 28.41±18.668. Acti...
Background: Despite inroads in treatment and prevention, childhood febrile illnesses remain global public health issues. Optimal care-seeking by mothers could influence health outcomes. Objective: To assess the differences in care-seeking... more
Background: Despite inroads in treatment and prevention, childhood febrile illnesses remain global public health issues. Optimal care-seeking by mothers could influence health outcomes. Objective: To assess the differences in care-seeking patterns and practices for childhood febrile illnesses among mothers of under–fives in urban and rural areas of Anambra state, Nigeria. Methods: This was a comparative cross-sectional analytical mixed-method study. Multistage sampling technique was used to enrol 600 mothers of under-five children accessing child welfare clinics at the Primary Health Care facilities in Anambra state. Analysis of data was carried out using SPSS version 22; with alpha set at p-value ≤ 0.05.Triangulation of findings of the survey and thematic content analysis of the Focus Group Discussion was done. Results: Appropriate care was sought by 134 (44.7%) of the urban and 125 (43.2%) of the rural respondents (p = 0.458). Prompt appropriate care was sought by 122 (40.7%) of t...
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Background: Breast cancer in Nigeria and other developing countries is characterized by late presentation and poor outcome due to ignorance, superstition, self-denial, fear of mastectomy, and unavailability of treatment facilities. The... more
Background: Breast cancer in Nigeria and other developing countries is characterized by late presentation and poor outcome due to ignorance, superstition, self-denial, fear of mastectomy, and unavailability of treatment facilities. The mortality of breast cancer in Western world is decreasing due to early detection and better management. Objective: This study aims at accessing the knowledge, attitude, and practice of breast cancer screening among female tertiary health workers. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study carried out using a structured, pretested, self-administered questionnaire to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practice of breast cancer and screening methods among female health workers. Results: The mean age of respondents was 31.70 ± 7.62 years. The level of awareness of breast cancer screening methods was high: 158 (98.75%), 127 (79.4%), and 144 (90.0%) for breast self-examination (BSE), clinical breast examination (CBE), and mammography, respectively. However, only 47 (35.9%), 36 (22.5%), and 3 (1.9%) correctly practiced BSE, CBE, and mammography, respectively. The level of education and occupation showed significant correlations with the knowledge and practice of breast cancer screening methods. Conclusion: Breast cancer screening still needs to be promoted to improve the attitude and practice among both health workers and general population.
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Aim/Background: Cervical cancer is one of the most common forms of cancer among women worldwide. This study was aimed at establishing baseline knowledge of cervical cancer risk factors and practice of its preventive measures among female... more
Aim/Background: Cervical cancer is one of the most common forms of cancer among women worldwide. This study was aimed at establishing baseline knowledge of cervical cancer risk factors and practice of its preventive measures among female primary school teachers in urban Anambra State, Nigeria. Methodology: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study in which data on knowledge and practice variables were collected from 250 female school teachers aged 18-65 years, using self-administered questionnaires. Same was analyzed and data presented in frequency tables. Result: Only 15 (6.4%) of the respondents felt they were at risk of cervical cancer even as 149 (59.6%) had no idea of any symptom of cervical cancer, and none knew early stages of the disease could present with no symptoms. Moreover, 137 (58.3%) knew about any risk factor for cervical cancer while a smaller proportion knew HPV-infection 20 (8.5%) and cigarette smoking 23 (9.8%) as risk factors. Only 1 (0.4%) respondent had ever had a cervical screening as over 75% of respondents reported not knowing about the screening test as their main reason for not doing the test. About 23% of respondents would recommend cervical screening to another woman. Conclusion: This study has shown very poor knowledge of cervical cancer and its risk factors; and even a poorer practice of cervical cancer screening among the respondents. Female teachers must be well-informed about this disease in order for them to give the right information to their students. Therefore, in both formal and informal settings, regular and sustained health education on cervical cancer should be directed at this group. Keywords: Cervical cancer, knowledge, risk factors, practice, preventive measures
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Background: In many cultures and countries, mental and physical disorders have been found to occur concurrently with more than mere chance phenomena. Such co-morbidity increases poor outcome for both disorders and results in high... more
Background: In many cultures and countries, mental and physical disorders have been found to occur concurrently with more than mere chance phenomena. Such co-morbidity increases poor outcome for both disorders and results in high mortality and health care costs. Studies in Nigeria along this line seem scanty. Objective: To describe the rates of physical illness in patients with mental disorders in a tertiary health care institution in Eastern Nigeria. Methodology: All first ever referrals to the Mental Health Unit of Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi within one year were recruited. A full and standard structured mental state and physical examination was objectively done for each participant. Necessary ancillary laboratory investigations were done. After three months (for outpatients) or following discharge (for in patients), the physical examinations were repeated. The medical records were checked a year later for service drop out and mortality. Results: Of the 413 ...
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__________________________________________________________ Background: Major psychotic disorders such as the schizophrenias consume a high proportion of health budgets in developed countries. The economic implications of acute psychotic... more
__________________________________________________________ Background: Major psychotic disorders such as the schizophrenias consume a high proportion of health budgets in developed countries. The economic implications of acute psychotic disorders in Nigeria have not been well documented. Aim: To estimate the direct cost of treating patients with acute psychotic episodes in a mental health unit in Anambra State, Nigeria. Methods: Forty one patients, 29 males (70.7%) with acute psychotic episode admitted between January and September 2006 in a small Private Psychiatric Clinic were assessed with the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) at intake and on discharge. The cost of drugs, laboratory investigations and hospital services were estimated using the charges obtainable in nearby facilities. Results: The 41 patients consumed over $11,000 during the admission period. Hospital bill constituted the highest cost (70.1%), especially professional charges (Nursing fees and Doctor's fee...
Research Interests: Epidemiology, Depression, Health Care, Developing Countries, Comorbidity, and 15 moreHealth Services, Chronic Disease, Female, Care, Depressive Disorder, Caregivers, Aged, Cross Section, Cost of Illness, Cross sectional Study, Cross Sectional Studies, Alzheimer Disease, Cognition disorders, Disability Evaluation, and Determinant
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Background: Abuse of medicines is becoming a serious problem in many parts of the world, with negative consequences ranging from addiction, psychosis, cardiovascular complications, and premature deaths from unintentional overdose.... more
Background: Abuse of medicines is becoming a serious problem in many parts of the world, with negative consequences ranging from addiction, psychosis, cardiovascular complications, and premature deaths from unintentional overdose. Objectives: The objective of this study is to assess awareness, knowledge, perception and attitudes toward the abuse of prescription medicines (PM) among medicines prescribers and dispensers in Nigeria. Design and Participants: A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out among pharmacists, other pharmacy staff in retail pharmacies , licensed patent medicines vendors (chemical sellers), and medical doctors in Nnewi, Nigeria. Data were collected through self-completed questionnaire supervised by trained research assistants , between December 2013 and April 2014. Three hundred and seventy-five participants were recruited for this study. Data Analysis: The Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 17 for windows was used for data analysis. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were carried * Corresponding author. P. O. U. Adogu et al. 255 out to evaluate differences and associations based on selected variables. Results: The perception was high 294 (78.4%) among respondents that PM abuse was a problem in the community. Knowledge of health problems associated with PM abuse was also high at 226 (60.3%). However the attitude of the respondents towards early detection of PM abuse among their patients/clients was discouraging. Education, educational status, work status and gender significantly predict good knowledge and positive attitude about PM abuse. Conclusion: Findings from this study will assist health authorities to formulate appropriate health promotion interventions to control and prevent abuse of prescription medicines. Actions directed at early intervention, capacity building, education, public health initiatives and law enforcements will hopefully curb the menace of PM abuse in Nnewi, Nigeria.