The University of Uyo Teaching Hospital (UUTH) is a tertiary hospital in Abak road, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, an administrative division of Nigeria. The hospital started as the Akwa Ibom State Specialist Hospital, formed by the Akwa Ibom State Government in the year 1994 under the administration of Yakubu Bako. It was later renamed Sani Abacha Specialist Hospital. In 1997, the Federal Government of Nigeria renamed it Federal Medical Centre, Uyo in 1999. But was upgraded to University of Uyo Teaching Hospital in 2008. It is affiliated with University of Uyo College of Medicine all in Akwa Ibom state.
Background: Sleep quality is critical for academic performance, mental health, and cognitive function in university students, yet data from sub-Saharan Africa remain limited. This study aimed to assess the prevalence, patterns, and predictors of poor sleep quality and excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) among undergraduates in a Southern Nigerian university using validated instruments. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 229 undergraduate students selected using a convenience sampling technique from medical and non-medical faculties at the University of Uyo, Nigeria. Sociodemographic and academic data were collected alongside the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) to evaluate nighttime sleep quality and daytime sleepiness. Both the standard Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and a shortened version were administered to assess sleep quality, identify associated sociodemographic and academic factors, and compare the psychometric performance of the two instruments. Results: Overall, 119 participants (55.1%) exhibited poor sleep quality (PSQI > 5), with no significant difference between medical and non-medical students (p = 0.44). Excessive daytime sleepiness was identified in 62 respondents (28.6%), including 12 participants (5.5%) with severe daytime sleepiness. Sleep quality and sleep duration were significantly associated with excessive daytime sleepiness categories (p = 0.0027 and p = 0.0057, respectively), whereas no significant associations were observed with sex, socioeconomic status, campus residence, or roommate status. The shortened PSQI version slightly underestimated sleep disturbances but showed strong psychometric alignment with the full version. Conclusion: Poor sleep quality and clinically relevant EDS are highly prevalent among Nigerian undergraduates across all disciplines and sociodemographic groups. The strong correlation between impaired sleep quality and daytime sleepiness underscores the need for institution-wide sleep hygiene interventions. The shortened PSQI also offers a practical, time-efficient screening option for large-scale student health assessments.
Introduction Healthcare delivery should be based on evidence-informed decisions in the clinical, public health, managerial and policy domains. Data are gathered at the point of care via routine health information systems (RHIS). The Paper-based Health Information Systems in Comprehensive Care (PHISICC) project shifted the paradigm from data collection to decision-making, especially decision-making at the point of care by the frontline health workers. We used a human-centred design (HCD) approach to re-design a RHIS that is responsive to the needs of frontline health workers.Methods The PHISICC research programme took place in Côte d’Ivoire, Mozambique and Nigeria and included the design and testing of a suite of paper-based RHIS tools. We report here the results of the HCD process. This was structured into three phases: (1) setup of co-creation group, (2) concept exploration and (3) detailed design phase.Results The concept exploration included a brainstorming session and produced ‘quick paper mock-ups’, such as ideas to follow-up patients’ healthcare. The output of this ‘concept workshop’ was a design hypothesis of the health information system. A follow-up workshop identified the healthcare areas to prioritise. The first round of design developed a version of several tools. The second round consisted of user testing in the three countries. Several iterations were implemented, incorporating health workers’ feedback. Tools were pilot-tested and then produced and distributed for use in a cluster randomised controlled trial.Conclusion The design phase of PHISICC combined HCD with clinical and public health domains. RHIS should be designed by qualified designers, content experts and users who focus on aiding decision-making of frontline health workers, applying a user-centred approach, from problem identification up to solution testing, multidisciplinarity, flexibility, teamwork and trust. We call for researchers, designers, healthcare providers, healthcare authorities and funding agencies to propose and pilot quality standards for the implementation and reporting of HCD in global health.
Context: Nursing audit is a quality assurance tool in nursing care. The study aims to assess the attitude and perception of nurses towards the implementation and utilisation of Nursing Audit (NA) at the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital (UUTH), Akwa Ibom State. Materials and Methods: The Theory of Planned Behaviour by Icek Ajzen guided the study framework using a descriptive cross sectional design. A total of 280 consenting nurses across all departments of UUTH were selected via simple random sampling method. A structured questionnaire addressing three research questions captured data on socio-demographic characteristics, attitude, perception, and barriers to Nursing audit implementation. Data were subjected to descriptive statistics. Results: The majority of respondents were female nurses (236,84.2%), aged 31-40 years (110,39.3%), with (120,42.9%) holding a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. While (237,84.6%) acknowledged that Nursing audit helps identify areas for improvement in services (189,67.4%) resisted Nursing audit when not well informed, (211,75.4%) viewed Nursing audit as increased workload (174,62.2%), and considered it a waste of time. Also, (238,85%) agreed that Nursing audit fosters transparency and accountability, and (266,95%) affirmed it promotes evidence-based practice. Conversely, 182, 65% lacked the skills to conduct audits, and 196,70% felt it diverts attention from patient care. Limited resources (203,72.1%), insufficient time (168, 59.7%), and fear of criticism (182,65%) were the principal barriers to Nursing audit implementation and utilisation. Notably, 186,66.7% reported using the nursing process in patient management. Conclusion and Recommendation: The study identified varied attitudes and perceptions of nurses towards nursing audit, with predominantly positive perceptions of its value for quality care but significantly negative attitudes toward its implementation. Limited resources, increased workload, fear of criticism, and poor awareness were barriers to its implementation and utilisation. Therefore, structured orientation programs to improve awareness and competence in nursing audit, while providing adequate resources to facilitate its effective implementation and utilisation by the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital Management, is imperative.
This narrative review elaborates on the development of neurovascular surgery in Nigeria, highlighting the growth over the years. It also elucidates the severe shortage of specialists, the financial burden to patients who may require neurovascular services, and the limited diagnostic and therapeutic equipment. It highlights the critical need for specialized training programs, workforce expansion, infrastructural improvements, sustainable financing, and financial reforms. The authors reviewed the literature narratively and examined, in broad strokes, the historical background of neurovascular surgery in Nigeria, the current practices, outcomes, and training and gave recommendations. Search keywords used include neurovascular surgery in Nigeria, history of neurosurgery in Nigeria, endovascular facilities in Nigeria, and advances in neuroimaging in Nigeria in various combinations using Boolean operators. Searches were conducted in a nonsystematic manner through Public/Publisher MEDLINE, SCOPUS, and African Journal Online. The field of neurovascular surgery experienced significant growth, driven by the contributions of Dr E. L. Odeku in the 1960s and 1970s. However, this progress was hindered by economic and political instability between the 1980s and 2001s. Since the resurgence era began in 2002, substantial advancements have been made. However, the challenges being faced are numerous, and development is quite slow. A multidisciplinary approach is crucial to improving neurovascular care in Nigeria and other low- and middle-income countries, and addressing these deficiencies is essential for optimizing patient outcomes and advancing neurovascular care. This study highlights the state of neurovascular surgery in Nigeria, elucidates the challenges of this practice, and offers recommendations for improvement.
Objectives: Maternal human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection remains associated with adverse birth outcomes in many low-resource settings. Despite widespread use of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) as part of prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) measures, its effects on newborn anthropometry and early birth outcomes are not fully defined. This study compared anthropometric parameters, gestational age (GA) at birth, sex, and Appearance-Pulse-Grimace-Activity-Respiration (APGAR) scores between HIV-exposed and HIV-unexposed newborns; explored differences by maternal antiretroviral therapy exposure among HIV-exposed newborns; and examined factors associated with birth weight in both groups. Material and Methods: This was a comparative observational study with record abstraction, which included 144 mother–newborn pairs comprising 48 HIV-exposed and 96 HIV-unexposed newborns. Maternal demographic and obstetric data were obtained from medical records. Newborn assessments included birth weight, head circumference, chest circumference, body length, sex, GA, and APGAR scores at 1, 5, and 10 min. Statistical analyses involved cross-tabulations, Pearson correlation analyses, and multivariable linear regression. Results: HIV-exposed newborns had significantly lower mean birth weight (2.94 ± 0.62 kg vs. 3.26 ± 0.38 kg), smaller head circumference (32.93 ± 2.17 cm vs. 34.11 ± 1.78 cm), and shorter body length (49.13 ± 3.99 cm vs. 50.68 ± 2.49 cm) compared with HIV-unexposed newborns ( p < 0.05). APGAR scores at 1 and 5 min were also significantly lower among HIV-exposed newborns. No statistically significant differences were detected between newborns of antiretroviral-treated and untreated HIV-positive mothers; however, these comparisons were imprecise due to small subgroup numbers and clinical heterogeneity and are interpreted as exploratory. GA and anthropometric measures showed significant correlations with birth weight in both groups. Multivariable regression identified sex, GA, head circumference, chest circumference, and body length as independent factors associated with birth weight (R 2 = 0.832, p < 0.001). Conclusion: In this cohort, maternal HIV status was associated with differences in newborn anthropometry and APGAR scores, indicating that HIV-exposed newborns may require enhanced perinatal assessment and monitoring in resource-limited PMTCT settings. These findings underscore the need for strengthened antenatal care and targeted perinatal monitoring for HIV-exposed newborns in resource-limited PMTCT settings.
