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Textile dye workers are subject to occupational hazards on a daily basis due to exposure to precarious conditions in the workplace. This study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitude and safety practices and its determinants among textile dye workers in Sokoto metropolis, Nigeria. This is a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted among 200 textile dye workers and the respondents were selected by multi stage sampling technique. Data was collected using an interviewer administered questionnaire. Data was processed using SPSS IBM version 20 and analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Majority of the respondents (74.0%) had good knowledge of workplace hazards; (81.0%) had positive attitude and only 20% observed all the safety practices. Formal education (P=0.047); working less than 5 days a week (P=0.001) and permanent employment (P=0.013) were found to be determinants of respondents’ knowledge and attitude towards workplace hazards. Although the respondents had good knowledge and positive attitude, their lack of observance of safety practices brings to fore the need for direct safety instruction and training and retraining of textile dye workers on workplace hazards and safety practices.

Background: Infertility is a global issue causing a lot of psychological and social problems among couples. In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) is one of the options available for couples who want children but cannot have them. This study aims to assess the level of awareness, perceptions and misconceptions of IVF among women of reproductive age group (WRAG) in Sokoto metropolis in north-western Nigeria. Methods: This was a cross sectional descriptive study involving 306 WRAG who were recruited using multistage sampling technique. Semi structured interviewer administered questionnaires was used and the data collected was analyzed using IBM SPSS version 20.level of statistical significance was set ay p=0.05. Results: The mean age of the respondents was a 26.7±6.85 year with less than half of the respondents having no living children. Majority, (74.2%) of the respondents were aware of and had a positive perception (69%) towards IVF. About 54% (157) of those who did not accept IVF gave religion and the high cost of the procedure as reasons for rejecting it. Fifty one percent of the respondents were willing to use In Vitro Fertilization if the need arose. Religion (χ 2 =4.726; df=1; p<0.04) and awareness of the availability of IVF services (χ 2 =5.393; df=1; p<0.023) were factors associated with the willingness to utilize IVF. Conclusion: The respondents had good level of awareness and positive perception about IVF, with few of them willing to utilize it. Awareness of the availability of IVF services and religious beliefs were factors that influenced respondents' willingness to utilize IVF services. Health care providers should try to explore ways to sensitize community, religious and traditional leaders in order to improve the attitude of the populace towards IVF service utilisation.

IntroductionWhen breast milk alone is no longer sufficient to meet a child's nutritional needs, foods other than breast milk are introduced gradually into the baby's diet, first to complement breast feeding and progressively to replace it and get the child used to adult diet. This study aimed to assess the factors influencing complementary and weaning practices among women in rural communities of Sokoto state, Nigeria.MethodsIt was a cross-sectional study. Using a multi-staged sampling technique, 296 mothers of children 6-24 months were recruited. Data was collected using a pretested structured questionnaire and analyzed using IBM SPSS version 20. Chi square test was used to test associations between categorical variables. Binary logistic and multinomial regression was used to compute the determinants of complementary and weaning practices. The level of significance was set at p < 0.05. Ethical approval was obtained from the State Ethical Committee.ResultsTimely introduction of complementary feeds was commenced in 54% of the children. Only 6.2% weaned their children at 6 months; 90.5% weaned their children gradually and 63.5% bottle fed. Factors influencing complementary and weaning practices was found to be child's age; maternal age and family setting.ConclusionThe respect of World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations on complementary and weaning practices was suboptimal. It was also evident from this study that complementary and weaning practices were influenced by maternal and house-hold factors. It is therefore important to develop interventions aimed at bridging the gap between these practices in rural settings and WHO recommendations.

Introduction:The prevention of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV/AIDS) among health-care workers (HCWs) has remained a major topical issue worldwide. Accidental transmission of HIV infection to HCWs during occupational exposure is a real threat today. The study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practice of postexposure prophylaxis (PEP) among HCWs in a tertiary health institution in Sokoto, Northwestern Nigeria.Methodology:The study was carried out at Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto, through a cross-sectional descriptive study design; a total of 156 participants were recruited using a stratified sampling technique. Data were collected using a semi-structured, self-administered questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS computer software after obtaining ethical clearance from the Health Ethics and Research Committee of the teaching hospital.Results:A total of 87.2% (136) of the respondents had heard of PEP and 71.8% (112) thought that HIV/AIDs could be prevented through PEP. A total of 71.2% (111) had good knowledge about PEP, whereas 86.8% (118) had a positive attitude toward PEP.Conclusion:Although the study demonstrated high knowledge and positive attitude toward PEP, the observance of safety measures against needlestick injuries that could result in HIV infections was abysmally low. There is the need to create more awareness and strengthen the use of PEP protocol by all cadres of health workers as this will go a long way in minimizing blood-borne infections.