Background: Cervical cancer is the leading cause of death from gynaecologic malignancies in developing countries. Epidemiologic evidence clearly indicates that oncogenic Human Papilloma Viral (HPV) infection is the principal cause of cervical cancer. Vaccines against HPV have been developed, which provide effective protection against oncogenic HPV subtypes and have been available since 2006, however have been low uptake of this vaccine in Nigeria and many other developing countries. Objective: The aim of this study was to ascertain the level of awareness of cervical cancer and its prevention, perception and wiliness to accept HPV vaccine among women attending gynaecologic clinic in a rural tertiary health care facility. Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional descriptive study of 180 consecutive women attending Gynaecologic clinic at Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital (ISTH), Irrua, Edo State Nigeria. They were given interviewer-administered questionnaire containing both closed and open-ended questions. Information recorded includes socio-demographic variables, knowledge of cervical cancer, and knowledge of HPV/HPV vaccines and acceptance of these vaccines for their adolescent girls. Results: The study showed that only 18 (10.0%) out of the total respondents had heard about human papilloma virus (HPV) infection while 17 (9.44%) were knowledgeable about HPV vaccine. The mean age of the respondents was 32 years. Over 77.22% had at least secondary education. A total of 117 (65%) had the knowledge of cancer of the cervix while 63 (35%) had never heard about it. Among the respondents, only 11.51% and 10.79% of the respondent who have at least secondary level of education had knowledge of HPV and HPV vaccine respectively against 4.87 and 4.87 percent of those who had primary education and less. Overall, 135 (75%) accepted that the vaccines could be administered to their teenage girls. Conclusion: Awareness of cervical cancer, HPV infections, and HPV vaccines is low among women attending gynaecologic clinic in ISTH, Irrua. However, majority of them would want their girls vaccinated against HPV infections. As acceptance does not mean awareness, there is a need for all stakeholders to step up awareness creation for improved HPV vaccination project in Nigeria.

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Background. Spinal Bifida is a congenital malformation of the spine that typified defect of the neural tube with devastating neurological, psychosocial and developmental burden to the growing child with associated huge financial burden to the parents, community and the country. Past and present studies have shown strong evidence to indicate that folic acid supplementation during the periconceptional period reduces the occurrence of spinal bifida in children.Aim. To assess the knowledge, attitude, and practice of use of folic acid during the periconceptional period among women of childbearing age in two rural communities in Edo State, Nigeria.Materials and methods. A prospective cross-sectional study of 170 women between the ages of 15 and 49 years recruited through a multi-stage sampling technique. The survey instrument was a structured interviewer-administered questionnaire. The data was analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 21 and presented as charts, tables, and associations tested with Chi-square at a statistical level of significance set at p<0.05.Results. One hundred and twenty-two (71.8%) of the respondents showed good knowledge, 147(86.5%) had a positive attitude, and 106 (62.4%) had a good practice of use of folic acid. There was a statistically significant association between respondents’ age, marital status, level of education, occupation, and their knowledge of the use of folic acid as well as with their attitude towards the use of folic acid. However, the practice was mainly associated with the socio-demographic variable of each household.Conclusion. The use of folic acid during the perinatal period for the prevention of spinal bifida is found to be absent in about two-fifths of the study population, a number found to be alarming despite the high level of good knowledge and attitude towards the use of folic acid. There is, therefore, an urgent need to step up more advocacy and health education to women of childbearing age to increase the uptake of folic acid for effective reduction of the incidence of spinal bifida.

Introduction: Occupational exposure to blood and body fluids (BBFs) is a serious public health concern and it constitute a major risk factor for transmission of infectious diseases such as hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus, and human immune deficiency virus. Therefore, regular adherence to standard precautions remains the best strategy advocated by World Health Organization and Centres of Disease Control for controlling occupational exposure to blood and body fluids. Objectives: To evaluate the knowledge and practice of HCWs, as it relates to exposure to BBFs and adherence to standard precautions. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out within 8 months among primary health care workers. Information on knowledge of exposure to BBFs, standard precaution practices and post-exposure management were collected using interviewers’ administered questionnaire and observational checklist. The study was conducted among two hundred and thirteen health care workers in Ekpoma, Edo State. Data were entered, cleaned and analyzed using SPSS for window, version 16 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA) statistical package software. Results: Sixty eight (41.7%) of cleaners and 29(17.8%) of nurses/community health extension workers were aware of blood borne infections associated with occupational exposure to BBFs compared to doctors, 3(1.8%) and laboratory workers, 4(2.5%). It was also found out that majority (74.2%) of the participants had poor knowledge of infection control practices. Conclusion: The knowledge and practice of standard precautions was found to be generally poor. Hence, all health care workers should be trained on the principles of infection control and exposure prevention. Also, relevant authorities need to formulate new strategies to create a favorable working environment that will ensure HCWs adherence to standard precautions.

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