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The global prevalence of neonatal infection remains high and accounts for one-third of neonatal deaths (1.5 million), with umbilical cord infection as the major risk factor, especially in low-income countries. 1,2 Hospital-based studies in Nigeria revealed that umbilical cord infections account for about 10% -19% of neonatal admissions, resulting in 30% -49% of deaths in neonates. 3 Nigeria therefore ranks the second highest globally, with 276 000 deaths annually resulting from umbilical cord infection. 4,5 In Cross River State, umbilical infection is responsible for 36% of hospital admissions and 45.2% of neonatal deaths. 6 The situation in Nigeria is also typical of other African countries like Tanzania, with neonatal sepsis accounting for 27% -56% of neonatal mortality annually and umbilical cord infection as the major cause of infection. 7 Umbilical cord infection causing about 30% of neonatal mortality was also reported in a related study. 8 Although cord cleansing after delivery is viewed as mainstay of neonatal care, the substances and method of application are not consistent with the best practice guidelines. 9 The increased neonatal mortality rate occasioned by umbilical cord infection has necessitated the recommendation of chlorhexidine (CHX) gel for cord management, which was first introduced by the World Health Organization (WHO) in Geneva on 29 September 2008 but is still poorly used in communities with high neonatal motility. 10 This is particularly indicated for neonates during the first week of life in countries or settings with high neonatal mortality (≥ 30 neonatal deaths per 1000 live births).Background: Umbilical cord infection contributes significantly to neonatal mortality rate in sub-Saharan Africa. Studies have shown low knowledge of chlorhexidine (CHX) gel for umbilical cord management amongst mothers in low-resource settings, including Nigeria.Objective: The objective of this study was to assess the effectiveness of a supportive-educative nursing intervention programme on knowledge of CHX gel amongst mothers in Cross River State, Nigeria. Methods:A quasi-experimental study design was used, and study participants comprised 168 expectant mothers, who were purposely selected and assigned to randomised control and intervention groups. The instrument for data collection was a researcher-developed structured questionnaire. The data were analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 23 for descriptive and inferential statistics at significant level was set at p < 0.05. Results:The result showed that at post-test the knowledge score of mothers on CHX gel improved significantly in the intervention group (t 77 = 24.394; p < 0.05). The result showed no significant difference between mothers' demographic variables and knowledge of CHX gel. Conclusion:A supportive-educative nursing intervention programme could effectively improve knowledge of CHX gel for umbilical cord management amongst mothers. This underscores the need to improve mothers' knowledge of CHX gel by healthcare personn...

Exposure to blood borne viruses, by health care workers has been on the increase with nurses mostly affected. These exposures constitute serious challenges in the health care setting as they are common causes of illness and mortality among health care workers including hospitalized patients. Practice of standard precautions has been shown to reduce the risk of exposure to blood and body fluids. Over the years, injection safety has become an integral part of infection control in view of many diseases that are transmitted through unsafe injection practices. This study was conducted to assess the knowledge and practice of injection safety among nurses in UCTH, Calabar using a descriptive research design. The specific objectives were to assess the level of knowledge of nurses about injection safety, assess injection safety practices and ascertain the barriers to injection safety practices among nurses in UCTH. Purposive sampling was used to select one hundred and ninety one (191) nurses across the wards in UCTH Calabar. A checklist containing 37 items was used to elicit information. Frequency and percentages were used for descriptive data while the hypothesis was tested using Chi square (X 2 ) analysis at 0.05 level of significance. Result revealed that 59.7% of the respondents had good knowledge of injection safety and 66.0% had good practice of injection safety while 6.8% had poor practice. Barriers to injection safety practices included inadequate supply of injection safety material, none display of injection safety guidelines. Statistical analysis revealed a significant relationship between level of knowledge and practice of injection safety among nurses (P = 112.8 < 0.05). Recommendations: health care administrators and nurse leaders should display injection safety guidelines, supply injection safety materials and ensure that more nurses are recruited into the workforce.

Objective structured clinical examination (OSCE) is a means of assessing clinical competence based on objective testing through direct observation. OSCE, as a method of evaluation, was introduced in 1990 by the Nursing & Midwifery council of Nigeria (N&MCN). The aim of this quantitative study is to ascertain if age has any influence on midwives' perception of OSCE and their performance in the examination. Ex-post facto design was adopted for this study. That is because the independent variable was studied in retrospect in order to establish possible relationship with the dependent variables. We were concerned with ascertaining and establishing the status quo and facts at the time of the research and used such facts to analyze data, interpret and extrapolate and also draw inferences. Eight institutions of midwifery education in Akwa Ibom and Cross River states of Nigeria were used for this study. 502 out of 532 midwives who graduated from the institutions between 2004 to 2006 participated in the study. Two validated instruments were used for data collection namely: OSCE stake holder's questionnaire and achievement test on OSCE. The reliability index for perception stood at (r) 0.60 while the index performance stood at (r) 0.66.Data were analyzed using linear regression analysis and one way analysis of variance. Findings show that older midwives had significant higher perception of OSCE than the younger midwives. Conclusion: age has significant influence on midwives' perception of OSCE but perception has no influence on their performance in OSCE.

Study aim: The purpose of this study was to ascertain how young women in Calabar South, Cross River State, were aware of the reasons and preventative measures for obesity. Material and methods: The study adopted the descriptive survey design using simple random sampling technique to select 400 participants (14–26years of age). Self-made and approved questionnaire was employed as a tool for data collection. With the use of descriptive statistics, the data was analyzed using frequency and percentages while chi square analysis was used to test hypothesis. Results: According to the results, a majority of respondents 65.9% had high understanding of the factors that contribute to obesity, compared to just 34.1% who had poor awareness. It was also revealed that short sleep duration, excessive use of technology, parenting and social hindered the preventive practice of obesity. Chi-square analysis showed that the calculated value 28.005a was greater than the critical value 7.81 (p-value = 0.000), thus the null hypothesis was rejected. This shows that there is a significant correlation between level of awareness of the causes of obesity and the educational level of young women. Conclusion: Nurses and midwives should educate young women about obesity during health consultations and prenatal clinic appointments in other to elevate their awareness to enhance their preventive practices