Background: The work environment is rapidly changing and in recent times, occupational stress poses a threat to the health, morale and productivity of workers and the organization. This study sought to determine the prevalence and predictors of stress among bankers in a south-eastern state of Nigeria. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out among 370 bankers in Enugu State, Nigeria using the Health, Safety, Executive (HSE) management standards indicator tool. Multistage sampling method was used to select participants. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS 22.0. Level of statistical significance was set at p< 0.05.Results: The mean age of the participants was 34.54±6.3 years while the mean years of work was 6.01±4.7years. One hundred and seventy-four (47%) reported high level of stress due to relationship at work while 318 (85.9%) reported low level of stress due to roles. Being 35 years or less was found to a predictor of high (AOR 0.55, CI 0.30-1.02) level of stress due to control.Work experience of 5 years or less was found to be a predictor of both high (AOR 0.74, CI 0.40--1.37) and low (AOR 0.99, CI 0.40-1.37) levels of stress due to control.Conclusion: This study has shown that the prevalence of stress was high among bankers in Enugu State, South-East Nigeria. There is, therefore, the need for routine stress assessment and interventions in the banking industry especially for those at high risk. Keywords: Bankers; HSE Stress Questionnaire; Stress; Workplace; Southeast Nigeria

Introduction: birth preparedness and complication readiness (BPCR) is a key component of safe motherhood programs. The study aimed to determine the rural-urban disparities in BPCR and its predictors among pregnant women. Methods: this study was a community-based comparative cross-sectional study carried out among 366 pregnant women living in rural and urban areas in Enugu State, Nigeria. A multistage sampling technique was used to select the participants. Data analysis was carried out using descriptive statistics and inferential statistics at a significant level of p < 0.05. Results: among the respondents, 213 (58.2%) had good knowledge of the components of BPCR. However, a significantly higher proportion of those in urban areas had better knowledge of these components than those in rural areas (p=0.01). Generally, there was a poor practice of BPCR among both groups of respondents. However, between both groups of respondents, good practice of BPCR was statistically significantly higher in respondents from urban areas 69 (37.7%) than those in rural areas 47 (25.7%) (X 2 =6.108, p=0.013). Several factors were found to be associated with good practice of BPCR among the respondents however, the only predictor of good practice of BPCR among the urban respondents was being aware of free maternal and child health services in the State while for the rural respondents, it was having an assisted delivery in the last stages of pregnancy. Conclusion: there are rural-urban disparities in BPCR. Most pregnant women are knowledgeable about its components but the majority do not practice it appropriately.

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Background: Outbreaks of Lassa fever (LF) in Nigeria have become more frequent, with increasing more healthcare worker infections. Prevention of infection is dependent on strict compliance to infection prevention and control (IPC) practices in treatment centres where patients are managed. Objective: To evaluate IPC practices during an ongoing LF outbreak in the two major tertiary hospitals serving as the referral LF treatment centres in the north-central region of Nigeria. Methods: This cross-sectional survey was carried out by the IPC subteam of the National Rapid Response Team of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) deployed to Plateau State, north-central Nigeria during the 2019 LF outbreak. Information on IPC in these facilities was collected using the NCDC viral haemorrhagic fevers (VHFs) isolation and treatment facility IPC survey tool. Results: Both treatment centres had national VHF IPC isolation guidelines and few health workers had received IPC training. In both centres, there were no clearly demarcated entry points for staff going into clinical areas after putting on personal protective equipment, and there were also no standard operating procedures in place for reporting occupational exposure of staff to infected blood or body fluids in both centres. Discussion: The LF treatment centers located in Plateau State during the 2019 LF outbreak were not fully implementing the national VHF IPC guidelines. Periodic assessments of IPC are recommended for proper management of cases and effective control of LF in the State.

Background: Healthcare workers (HCWs) especially those involved in patients’ care are at high risk of violence. The study is aimed at determining factors and characteristics of physical violence among HCWs in a tertiary hospital in Nigeria.Methods: The descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out among 412 HCWs from March to July, 2018. Data entry and analysis were done using Epi InfoTM 3.5.4 and Chi square and Fischer’s exact test where applicable were used to ascertain factors associated with physical workplace violence.Results: Respondents included 111 (26.9%) doctors and 301 (73.1%) nurses. Prevalence of physical violence was 12.6%. Of those who experienced workplace violence, the perpetrators were mainly patients’ relatives 37 (71.2%) and patients 8 (15.4%). In majority of cases, 28 (53.8%), no action was taken against the assailant. Prevalence of physical violence was significantly higher among nurses (15.3%) than doctors (5.4%) p=0.007. It is also higher among females (14.2%) than males (7.8%), although not significantly. Furthermore, HCWs who work in newborn units were most likely to experience physical violence.Conclusions: The study revealed that physical violence is prevalent among HCWs and violence prevention programs should be instituted to address it.