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Adolescents and HIV/AIDS: an update of cases seen in Benin City, Nigeria
Abstract
The seroprevalence of HIV infections was investigated among 1,208 adolescents aged 13–19 years who presented for HIV testing between 1994 and 2000 at the two largest hospitals in Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria. The serum samples of the subjects were tested for HIV antibodies using ELISA and/or rapid test kits and confirmed by Western blot. The overall prevalence rate was high (11.4%), with a higher percentage (74.6%) being recorded in females as compared to males. There was a marked increase in prevalence from 7.0% in 1995 to 13.3% in 2000. Studies in Nigeria have shown that adolescents are sexually active, have multiple sexual partners and have recorded high prevalence of STDs. In view of the association of HIV infection with these high risk factors, the results of this study further re-echoes the urgent need to target specific intervention programmes at adolescents.
Key words: HIV/AIDS, adolescents, Benin City, Nigeria
[Jnl Medicine & Biomedical Res. Vol.1(2) 2002: 59-62]
Haemorheological parameters in hypertensive Nigerians compared to normotensive controls
DV Dappera and DA Ighorojeb
aDepartment of Physiology, College of Health Sciences, University of Port Harcourt, P. M. B. 5323, Port Harcourt, Nigeria. E-mail: dapperdv2001@yahoo.com
bDepartment of Physiology, College of Medical Sciences, University of Benin, P. M. B. 1156, Benin City, Nigeria. Tel: 052 600781 E-mail: ahboruniben.edu ; dighoroje@yahoo.com ; dighoroje@hotmail.com
Correspondence: Dr A. D. A. Ighoroje, Department of physiology, College of Medical Sciences, University of Benin, P. M. B. 1156, Benin City, Nigeria. Tel: 052 600781 E-mail: ahboruniben.edu ; dighoroje@yahoo.com ; dighoroje@hotmail.com
: The values of five important haemorheological parameters, namely, haematocrit (Hct), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), haemoglobin concentration (Hbc), fibrinogen concentration (FC), relative plasma viscosity (RPV) and whole blood relative viscosity (WBRV) were determined in 30 male and 20 female hypertensives without complications, aged between 30 and 70 years. Thirty male and 20 female normotensives, matched for age, weight and height served as controls. Hct was determined by Hawksley micro capillary centrifugation, Hbc by the cyanmethaemoglobin method, FC by the clot weight method, ESR by the Westergren method, while both RPV and WBRV were determined by capillary viscometry. Systolic and diastolic blood pressures were measured by standard clinical procedures and mean arterial pressure (MAP) determined. The results show significantly higher values of FC, RPV and WBRV in the hypertensives (p < 0.05). By contrast, there were no significant differences in ESR, Hbc and Hct between the hypertensive and normotensive subjects. We conclude that the increases in the various haemorheological parameters in Nigerian hypertensives are attributable to the significantly elevated levels of fibrinogen in hypertensive subjects.
Acceptability of surgery as initial treatment for primary open angle glaucoma
AE Omoti, OT Edema and MJM Waziri-Erameh
Department of Ophthalmology, University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City.
Correspondence: AE Omoti, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City.
: One hundred and fifty four new glaucoma patients at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital were interviewed to determine the acceptance of surgery, reasons for refusal, and factors affecting acceptability of surgery as an initial treatment option. Fifty patients (32.5%) accepted surgery while 89 (57.8%) refused. The main reasons for refusal were knowledge that there may be no visual improvement after surgery [22 patients (24.7%)], fear of surgery [22 patients (24.7%)] and cost of surgery [15 patients (16.9%)]. Very poor vision was significantly associated with refusal of surgery (c2 = 21.72, df = 10, p = 0.016) while hospital or clinic attendance prior to presentation was significantly associated with acceptance of surgery (c2 = 24.52, df = 8, p = 0.0019). This study shows that the level of acceptance of surgery as initial treatment for glaucoma by patients is low. Public enlightenment campaigns on the safety and efficacy of surgery need to be embarked upon.
Key words: Acceptability, surgery, glaucoma
Key words: HIV/AIDS, adolescents, Benin City, Nigeria
[Jnl Medicine & Biomedical Res. Vol.1(2) 2002: 59-62]
Haemorheological parameters in hypertensive Nigerians compared to normotensive controls
DV Dappera and DA Ighorojeb
aDepartment of Physiology, College of Health Sciences, University of Port Harcourt, P. M. B. 5323, Port Harcourt, Nigeria. E-mail: dapperdv2001@yahoo.com
bDepartment of Physiology, College of Medical Sciences, University of Benin, P. M. B. 1156, Benin City, Nigeria. Tel: 052 600781 E-mail: ahboruniben.edu ; dighoroje@yahoo.com ; dighoroje@hotmail.com
Correspondence: Dr A. D. A. Ighoroje, Department of physiology, College of Medical Sciences, University of Benin, P. M. B. 1156, Benin City, Nigeria. Tel: 052 600781 E-mail: ahboruniben.edu ; dighoroje@yahoo.com ; dighoroje@hotmail.com
: The values of five important haemorheological parameters, namely, haematocrit (Hct), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), haemoglobin concentration (Hbc), fibrinogen concentration (FC), relative plasma viscosity (RPV) and whole blood relative viscosity (WBRV) were determined in 30 male and 20 female hypertensives without complications, aged between 30 and 70 years. Thirty male and 20 female normotensives, matched for age, weight and height served as controls. Hct was determined by Hawksley micro capillary centrifugation, Hbc by the cyanmethaemoglobin method, FC by the clot weight method, ESR by the Westergren method, while both RPV and WBRV were determined by capillary viscometry. Systolic and diastolic blood pressures were measured by standard clinical procedures and mean arterial pressure (MAP) determined. The results show significantly higher values of FC, RPV and WBRV in the hypertensives (p < 0.05). By contrast, there were no significant differences in ESR, Hbc and Hct between the hypertensive and normotensive subjects. We conclude that the increases in the various haemorheological parameters in Nigerian hypertensives are attributable to the significantly elevated levels of fibrinogen in hypertensive subjects.
Acceptability of surgery as initial treatment for primary open angle glaucoma
AE Omoti, OT Edema and MJM Waziri-Erameh
Department of Ophthalmology, University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City.
Correspondence: AE Omoti, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City.
: One hundred and fifty four new glaucoma patients at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital were interviewed to determine the acceptance of surgery, reasons for refusal, and factors affecting acceptability of surgery as an initial treatment option. Fifty patients (32.5%) accepted surgery while 89 (57.8%) refused. The main reasons for refusal were knowledge that there may be no visual improvement after surgery [22 patients (24.7%)], fear of surgery [22 patients (24.7%)] and cost of surgery [15 patients (16.9%)]. Very poor vision was significantly associated with refusal of surgery (c2 = 21.72, df = 10, p = 0.016) while hospital or clinic attendance prior to presentation was significantly associated with acceptance of surgery (c2 = 24.52, df = 8, p = 0.0019). This study shows that the level of acceptance of surgery as initial treatment for glaucoma by patients is low. Public enlightenment campaigns on the safety and efficacy of surgery need to be embarked upon.
Key words: Acceptability, surgery, glaucoma
