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Background:Literature consistently shows dearth of published data from developing countries on effect of exercise on HIV infected persons.Objective:The study was aimed at determining effect of aerobic exercise on CD4 cell counts and lipid profile of HIV infected persons in Northeastern Nigeria.Methods:Sample of convenience was employed to enroll volunteer and willing 91 HIV infected persons attending antiretroviral clinic at a tertiary hospital in Northeastern Nigeria. Eighty two met the inclusion criteria and participated in the study. Participants were randomly assigned to experimental and control groups. Baseline values of the variables were determined. Experimental group participated in moderate intensity treadmill aerobic exercise for 12 weeks. Control group participated in weekly lectures on nutrition, adherence to therapy among others. At the end, the study recorded 22% attrition rate, leaving 32 participants in each group (64 participants in both). After the 12 weeks, the variables were re-evaluated. Descriptive statistic summarized the socio-demographic characteristics of the participants. Paired and unpaired Student t-tests analyzed the significant difference in mean values of the variables.Results:Mean ages in years of the 64 participants, the control and experimental groups were 39.57 ± 10.13, 39.38 ± 10.03 and 40.84 ± 10.05 respectively. There was significant improvement (p < 0.05) in the variables between pre- and post-tests in the experimental group. In the control group, there was either no significant change (p > 0.05) or significant deterioration (p < 0.05) in lipid profile between pre- and post-tests, while in CD4 cell counts, significant improvement was observed. Significant difference (p < 0.05) existed in the variables at the end of the study between both groups.Conclusion:CD4 cell counts and lipid profile of HIV infected persons who participated in the 12 weeks moderate intensity treadmill aerobic exercise significantly improved. Proper nutrition and adherence to antiretroviral therapy may enhance immune function in HIV population.

Background: Globally, studies on prevalence of WMSDs focused mainly on populations in organized industrial sectors and professions.Purpose: This study was therefore designed to determine the prevalence of WMSDs, risk factors and coping strategies for this disorder among self-employed sewing machine operators in Maiduguri, Nigeria.Method: Close-ended structured questionnaire, drafted and modified from the short version of the standardized Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ) for investigating work-related musculoskeletal symptoms in working populations was used for the study. Copies of this questionnaire were administered on willing and volunteer selfemployed sewing machine operators in Maiduguri using a non-probability sampling of convenience technique.Results: Two hundred and nineteen copies of the questionnaire out of 247 administered were duly completed and retrieved. Ninety five out of the 219 respondents reported WMSDs, giving a prevalence of 43.4%. Mean and age range in years of the respondents were 30.03 ± 11.99 and 11-72 respectively. Majority (81.2%) of the respondents was in the age range of 11-40 years and males accounted for 63.9%. Weak significant association (p<0.05; p=0.042) in prevalence of WMSDs existed among the age groups. Lower back (41.7%) and neck (34.7%) were the most affected body parts. Conclusion:Majority of the respondents suffering from WMSDs were able to identify correctly the risk factors of this condition. This implies that this population may easily adjust to proper ergonomic measures if introduced to them.

Despite the recognition and knowledge of the beneficial effects of exercise on persons living with HIV and AIDS in the developed world, there is global paucity of published studies on knowledge of effect of exercise on HIV infected persons. This study was therefore designed to determine whether physiotherapy students in Nigeria have the basic knowledge on the effect of exercise on HIV infected persons. Simple random sampling was employed to select four out of seven universities in Nigeria that already have existing and established Physiotherapy Departments. The instrument for this study was a validated and reliable 20 item questionnaire on knowledge of effects of exercise on HIV infected persons used in a previous study to investigate knowledge of effect of exercise on HIV infected persons among health care professionals in North eastern Nigeria. This questionnaire was administered to 346 respondents with a response rate of 74%. The mean and age range of the participants were 24.27 ± 2.68 and 20 to 39 years, respectively with majority (97.7%) between the ages of 20 and 31 years. More than one-quarter (29%) of the respondents lacked good knowledge on effect of exercise on HIV infected persons. Overwhelming (80%) Physiotherapy students in Nigeria lacked very good knowledge on effect of exercise on HIV infected persons.

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