BackgroundObesity is a major health problem, and there is an increasing trend of overweight and obese individuals in developing countries. Being overweight or obese is known to contribute significantly to morbidity and mortality rates in various countries around the world. We therefore aimed to identify and discuss current epidemiological data on the prevalence of obesity in Nigeria.MethodA systematic review of papers published on the prevalence of obesity among adults in the country was carried out. We covered work published in MEDLINE, PubMed, Google, and African Journals Online using the terms “prevalence of overweight and obesity in Nigeria” or “overweight and obesity in Nigeria.” In addition, personal inquiries were made. The search limits were articles published from January 2001 to September 2012. Only studies that used the body mass index to assess for overweight and obesity were included.ResultsFour studies met the inclusion criteria out of the 75 studies reviewed. In Nigeria, the prevalence of overweight individuals ranged from 20.3%–35.1%, while the prevalence of obesity ranged from 8.1%–22.2%.ConclusionThe prevalence of overweight and obese individuals in Nigeria is of epidemic proportions. There is a need to pay closer attention to combating these health disorders.

Background and objectiveAbdominal obesity is associated with the risk of developing disorders, such as diabetes and hypertension. The objective of this study was to investigate the prevalence of abdominal obesity in Abia State, Nigeria.Materials and methodsWe carried out a cross-sectional study aimed at ascertaining the prevalence of abdominal obesity in Abia State, Nigeria. Participants in the study were recruited from communities in the three senatorial zones in the state. Screening for abdominal obesity was carried out in these subjects using waist circumference (the National Cholesterol Education Program Third Adult Treatment Panel criteria were used). The World Health Organization Stepwise Approach to Surveillance of chronic disease risk factors was used. Body mass index, anthropometric measurements, and other relevant data were also collected.ResultsData on waist circumference were obtained from 2,807 subjects. The prevalence of obesity using body mass index in the population was 11.12%. In men and women, it was 7.73%, and 14.37%, respectively. The prevalence of abdominal obesity in the population was 21.75%. In men and women, it was 3.2% and 39.2%, respectively.ConclusionThe prevalence of abdominal obesity is high in Nigeria, and needs to be monitored because it is associated with increased cardiovascular risk.

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Objectives: To identify the perceived barriers to the provision of clinical low-vision service among ophthalmologists in Nigeria, with a view to proffering measures for their removal. Methods: A cross-sectional survey of ophthalmologists attending the Annual Ophthalmological Society of Nigeria Congress in September 2005 was conducted. Using self-administered questionnaires, information relevant to low-vision practice and the perceived barriers to the provision of low-vision services was garnered. Results: Eighty-three (70.9%) ophthalmologists out of 117 eligible participants at the congress responded to all of the questions and returned the study questionnaires. Non-availability of low-vision devices within the country (88%), lack of training in low-vision care (73.5%), lack of public awareness of low-vision care and its practitioners (60.2%), and the ophthalmologists' preoccupation with general ophthalmic practice (56.6%) were cited as the major barriers. With regard to the fellows and the residents in training, there was a statistically significant difference in their perception of two of the investigated barriers, namely, that low-vision care is not lucrative (T value: 4.46; 95% CI: 0.16±0.07) and low-vision care is time-consuming (T value: 2.05; 95% CI: 0.145±0.14). Conclusion: Training in low-vision care should be provided within the country for interested relevant personnel at all levels. Moreover, low-vision devices should be made accessible and available to the practitioners. There is a need in Nigeria for widespread health education/awareness campaigns in low-vision care, targeted primarily at ophthalmologists, allied eye-care providers, and the general public. There is a need to include low-vision practice in the curriculum of the ophthalmology residency program in Nigeria. Further qualitative research may need to be conducted to explain the differences in responses between subsets of the study population.

Background: Blood donation is a very important life saving intervention in health care services. It is also known that some diseases are transmitted from the seemly healthy blood donors like HIV, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and Syphilis and WHO has recommended that these diseases should be screened to get safe blood. Since screening of blood donors is done in this health facility, it is therefore necessary to know the prevalence of HIV, HBV, HCV and syphilis in these blood donors. This study aimed at determining the seroprevalence of HIV, HBV, HCV and Syphilis in prospective blood donors in our health institution. Methodology: This was a retrospective study. The records of the blood donors were reviewed and Biodata and positivity of the diseases were collected. Data was analyzed with Excel and Epi-info. Results: The total of 2626 blood donors were recruited in 2012 out of which 2292 (87.3%) were males, 271 (10.3%) females, .7397] and 63, undocumented gender (2.4%). Majority of the donors were within the age group 29-39 (43.3%, N=1143). The seroprevalance of HIV, HBV, HCV and Syphilis were 0.3% (N=8), 0.3% (N=8), 0.2% (N=5), 0.1% (N=3) respectively. All the cases were males. Conclusion:The study revealed a low prevalence of transfusion transmissible infectious agents among our prospective blood donors. It could be that people who know their status do not come for blood donation or as a result of other challenges confronting safe blood practices in sub-Saharan Africa.