Background: Discharge against medical advice (DAMA) is a major public health issue, especially among children owing to its adverse outcome. The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence and reasons for DAMA among neonates admitted in Federal Medical Centre Birnin (FMCB) Kudu, Jigawa State. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted over a period of 5 years in the Special Care Baby Unit of FMCB Kudu, Jigawa State. All the case folders of the neonate whose parents signed DAMA were retrieved, and relevant data were extracted. Results: There were 155 cases of neonatal DAMA during the study. Eighty-three were males (53.5%) with an average duration of hospital stay of 4 ± 3.2 days with most DAMA occurring in the 1^st week of admission. Neonatal infections, birth asphyxia, and prematurity were the most common diagnoses. Financial constraint was the major reason for DAMA. Fathers were the signatories in the majority of cases. Conclusion: DAMA is prevalent and is mainly due to socio-cultural and economic factors.

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Background: Intimate partner violence (IPV) during pregnancy is a human right and public health concern, often life-threatening to both the mother and fetus. This study sought to ascertain the prevalence of IPV, pattern, and associated factors in a Nigerian obstetric population. Materials and Methods: This is a cross-sectional study among 338 pregnant women at term between January and July 2015 using pretested self-administered questionnaires to ascertain their sociodemographic and obstetric characteristics as well as partners' features. IPV was assessed using the hurt, insult, threaten, and scream validated screening tool. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 20 for windows (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA). Multivariate analysis was done to ascertain associated factors for IPV and P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Prevalence of IPV among women was 14.8% (50/338). One hundred and twenty-seven respondents (37.6%) suffered verbal abuse, 28.4% had physical violence, while 5.3% reported sexual abuse. Most of the women, i.e., 72.0% (36/50) did not report violence and 76.0% (38/50) disclosed that they still felt safe in their marital relationship. Independent risk factors for IPV were duration of marriage of 6.8 years (P = 0.04, odds ratio [OR] =8.8, 95% confidence interval [CI] =7.8–9.9), maternal primary educational status (P = 0.02, OR = 10.7, 95% CI = 1.1–103.1), and male partner cigarette smoking (P = 0.003, OR = 3.1, 95% CI = 3.0–316.0). Conclusion: IPV during pregnancy is common in this obstetric population. Screening for IPV should be a part of routine antenatal care, especially among women with long marriage duration, primary educational status, and those whose husbands smoking cigarettes is recommended.

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Background: Diabetes mellitus is associated with increased incidence of thyroid abnormalities, including thyroid nodules and gland enlargement, compared to healthy individuals. Some of these nodules can be malignant. Ultrasound is a valuable tool in assessing the thyroid gland, for such parenchymal abnormalities. We assessed by means of ultrasound, the incidence of thyroid nodules and other parenchymal changes in diabetic patients, and compare same with apparently healthy controls. Materials and Methods: One hundred and twenty adult diabetic patients and an equal number of apparently healthy adults were sonographically examined. In each subject, both lobes of the gland were scanned with a 5-12 MHz linear array transducer of a Sonoace ultrasound scanner. The thyroid was examined for nodules and other parenchymal abnormalities. Results: Thyroid nodules were noted in both diabetic and control groups. Both male and female diabetic patients had significantly greater number of thyroid nodules compared to controls; 18 male diabetics or 34.6% against 2 male controls or 4.5%; P = 0.001 and 22 female diabetics or 32% against 13 females controls or 17%; P = 0.033. Gender did not influence the detection of thyroid nodules among diabetics. Conclusion: Diabetic patients have higher frequency of thyroid nodules compared to apparently healthy individuals. It is recommended that the nodules be subjected to further imaging studies/biopsy for possibility of malignancies.

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Background: Traditional eye medications may be harmful causing ocular morbidity. The aim of this study is to determine the knowledge and practice of traditional eye medication (TEM) among adults in a semi-urban community in Edo state. Materials and Methods: A 3 months cross-sectional descriptive study in Ekiadolor community in Ovia North East Local Government Area of Edo state, Nigeria. A cluster sampling technique was used. Four hundred and thirty respondents aged between 18 years and above were included in the study. Results: A total of four hundred and thirty respondents (430) which comprised of 184 (42.8%) males and 246 (57.2%) females with a male to female ratio of 1:1.3 were studied. The age range of the respondents was 21 to 84 years, with a mean age of 49.83 ± 19.99 years (standard deviation). Three hundred and ninety-two (91.2%) of the respondents knew about TEM. Herbal extract was the most known (94.4%). Although 71.6% said TEM was harmful, the prevalence of use of TEM was 48.7%. The male gender, low socioeconomic class, and no or low level of formal education were more likely to use TEM (P = 0.001). Conclusion: The knowledge and practice of TEM are high in this community. There is a great need to educate the people on the overall harmful effect of this practice through public enlightenment campaigns.

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Background: Trichomonas vaginalis has been recognized as a cosmopolitan parasite of male and female genital tract. This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of asymptomatic trichomoniasis among pregnant women in Benin City, Edo State. Materials and Methods: A total of 300 patients and subjects consisting of 250 pregnant women attending antenatal clinics and 50 non-pregnant apparently healthy subjects who served as controls were recruited in this study. The age ranged from 20 to 40 years. High vaginal swab was collected from each participant and T. vaginalis was diagnosed by microscopy. Results: An overall prevalence of 2.8% of trichomoniasis was observed among pregnant women. Gestational age and educational status of pregnant women were significantly associated with the prevalence of trichomoniasis. Conclusion: Asymptomatic T. vaginalis infection is common in pregnancy. We recommend routine screening for this infection in order to reduce the potential adverse pregnancy outcomes.

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Background: There is an increasing reliance on neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR) as a prognostic marker in certain diseases. Observations have suggested the effects of administering highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) patients to be beneficial as well as having its side effects. Hence, this study is designed to examine the relationship of NLR of HAART in the management and disease progression of HIV infection. Materials and Methods: Twenty male white rabbits weighting between 0.8 and 1.8 kg were randomly assigned to five Groups A, B, C, D, and E with four animals per group. Two milliliters of venous blood was aseptically collected before HAART administration and on days 5, 10, 15, and 20 of treatment. Groups B, C, D, and E received graded doses of 15, 20, 25, and 34 mg/kg body weight of the drug combinations (efavirenz, lamivudine, and tenofovir disoproxil fumarate tablets once daily for 20 days). Neutrophil/lymphocyte counts were determined using hematology autoanalyzer. Results: Showed a significant reduction (P< 0.05) in NLR before HAART administration (controls) when compared to administration of HAART at 15, 20, 25, and 35 mg/kg 5 days after drug administration. The same trend was observed in the various groups at 10, 15, and 20 days after drug administration. Conclusion: Administration of HAART has a significant association on NLR.

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Snakebite is an occupational hazard mainly among rural farming communities accounting for as high as 94, 000 deaths yearly. We present a 73 year old rural male farmer who was managed for left digital gangrene and acute kidney injury following viperine snakebite. There was delay before presenting for medical care. He had amputation of the gangrenous digit and was managed with haemodialysis. He had incomplete renal recovery with an estimated glomerular filtration rate of 23 mls/min/1.73m2 4 months after discharge. Delay in seeking appropriate medical care in patients with snakebite injury may be associated with significant morbidity.

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