Integrated Journal of Medicine and Medical Sciences

Assessment of the Utilisation of Multimodal Non-Pharmacological Intervention for Postoperative Pain Management among Surgical Nurses in Two Tertiary Hospitals in North-Central Nigeria

2026-10-31T23:37:14+00:00

Background: Effective postoperative pain management requires surgical nurses to integrate multimodal non-pharmacological interventions (MNPIs) alongside pharmacological therapies. However, despite evidence supporting their effectiveness, MNPIs remain underutilised and poorly integrated into clinical practice.

Objectives: This study assessed the utilisation of MNPIs for postoperative pain management among surgical nurses in selected hospitals in Ilorin, Nigeria.

Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted with 174 surgical nurses selected via proportionate random sampling. Data on knowledge, attitudes, and utilization were collected using a validated semi-structured questionnaire and analyzed via SPSS using descriptive and inferential statistics was set at (p < 0.05).

Results: The findings shows that majority (67.8%) of nurses possessed adequate knowledge, and 54.0% held positive attitudes toward MNPIs. Only 58.6% reported overall MNPI utilization. The most common methods were positioning and early mobilization, while aromatherapy and TENS were the least utilized. Knowledge and attitude were significantly associated with utilization. Factors such as high workload, lack of continuing education, and patient non-cooperation hindered use. Also, nurses with 11–20 years of experience were more likely to use MNPIs. However, Nursing Officer I (7; 33.3%) and Chief Nursing Officers (21; 53.8%), as well as those in adult surgical (22; 55.0%) or theatre units (14; 56.0%), showed significantly lower utilization compared to their counterparts in pediatric wards (18; 90.0%).

Conclusion: Despite adequate knowledge, MNPI utilization remains suboptimal. Improving integration requires addressing institutional workload, enhancing professional education, and tailoring strategies to specific clinical environments to ensure comprehensive pain management.

Prevalence, Patterns, and Risk Levels of Substance Abuse among Senior Secondary School Students in Oyo State, Nigeria

2026-11-01T19:14:17+00:00

Background: Substance abuse among adolescents has become a major global public health challenge especially in Nigeria. However, region-specific epidemiological data, particularly in Oyo State, remains limited.

Objectives: This study aimed to determine the prevalence, patterns, and risk levels of substance abuse among senior secondary school students in Oyo State, Nigeria.

Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was employed. Six hundred (600) senior secondary school students were selected through multistage sampling from public secondary schools in Oyo State. Data were collected using the WHO Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test (ASSIST). Data were analysed using SPSS (version 27), and results were presented using frequency tables and inferential statistics. Statistical significance was determined at p<0.05.

Results: The mean age of the respondents was 15.45±1.73years. The prevalence of substance abuse was 35.7%. The most commonly abused substances were alcohol (125, 58.4%) and opioids (120, 56.1%), with 55 (25.7%) reporting polysubstance use. The ASSIST risk classification revealed that while the majority of students were at low risk (388, 64.7%), a substantial proportion were at moderate risk (63, 10.5%) and high risk (149, 24.8%). Significant associations were found between gender (χ² = 25.386, p<0.001), family type (χ² = 13.043, p = 0.042), living arrangement (χ² = 20.637, p = 0.002) and the risk levels of substance abuse.

Conclusion: Substance abuse is prevalent among senior secondary school students in Oyo State, Nigeria, with a significant minority at moderate to high risk. There is an urgent need for school-based prevention and early intervention programmes targeting these specific substances and high-risk groups.

Assessment of Occupational Health-Hazards and their Perceived Impacts on Quality of Life among Healthcare Workers in Selected Hospitals, Ogun State.

2026-11-01T19:56:39+00:00

Background: Occupational health hazards pose significant challenges to healthcare workers and may adversely affect their quality of life, ultimately influencing the quality of healthcare delivery. Despite growing concerns about healthcare service quality, workplace-related factors often receive insufficient attention.

Objective: This study assessed occupational health hazards and their perceived impacts on the quality of life of healthcare workers in selected hospitals in Ogun State, Nigeria.

Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional quantitative study was conducted among healthcare workers at State Hospital, Ijebu-Ode, and Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, Sagamu. A sample of 297 respondents was selected using simple random sampling. Data were collected using a self-structured questionnaire with a reliability coefficient of 0.82. Data analysis was performed using SPSS version 27. Descriptive statistics (frequencies and percentages) and Pearson Product-Moment Correlation were employed at a 0.05 significance level.

Results: Most respondents were female (86.9%), married (85.1%), and aged 30–39 years (30.3%). The most prevalent occupational hazards were work-related stress (92.6%), musculoskeletal disorders (87.8%), exposure to hazardous substances (83.9%), exposure to infectious diseases (83.8%), and cuts/lacerations (83.8%). Key predisposing factors included insufficient personal protective equipment (79.0%), inadequate staffing (69.5%), excessive workload (64.3%), and inadequate safety training (57.9%). Occupational hazards negatively affected general health (83.7%), emotional wellbeing (68.0%), physical wellbeing (66.2%), and vitality (58.4%). A significant positive relationship was found between occupational hazard exposure and poor quality of life (r= 0.611, p < 0.05).

Conclusion: Occupational health hazards are highly prevalent among healthcare workers and significantly impair their quality of life. Strengthening occupational health policies, ensuring adequate staffing, regular safety training, and sufficient PPE provision are essential to improve worker wellbeing and healthcare service delivery.

Inhibitory Effects of Traditional African Scar Remedies on Fibroblasts Derived from Rat Scars

2026-11-01T22:01:54+00:00

Background: Scars are the result of wound healing and arise largely from fibroblast activity during tissue repair. Among the Yoruba people of the South Western Nigeria, patients have reported symptomatic improvement and reduction of excessive scarring with traditional remedies like shea butter, snake oil, fish oil etc.

Objectives: This study investigated the effects of dietary shea butter, snake oil and omega-3 oil, compared with triamcinolone, on haematological parameters, serum biochemistry, and fibroblast density in experimental scars in rats.

Methodology: Male Sprague-Dawley rats (100-250g) were used in the randomized controlled study. The rats were randomly allocated into five groups: Control, Triamcinolone (0.5mg/kg), Shea butter (30mls/kg), Snake oil (30mls/kg) and Omega-3 oil (30mls/kg) based on the test substance added to their feeds. Each group had five different rats. Excision of a 2cm-by-2cm rectangular full thickness skin was done at the right dorsolateral part of their hind limbs. The wounds were dressed daily till they healed by secondary intention. On the 28th day of the experiment, all the rats were sacrificed and blood collected by cardiac puncture. All experiments were performed according to the “Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals”. The resulting scars were excised and fixed in 10% formalin. The tissues were further processed and stained with Haematoxylin-and-Eosin stains (H & E). For each case, five high power fields were selected at random using the X40 objective lens. A standardized field size was employed using the Image J calibration. The fibroblasts in each photomicrograph groups were then counted using the Image J software by a blinded researcher. The fibroblast counts were expressed as mean cells per HPF per animal. Analysis was done using SPSS Version 22. One-way ANOVA with Tukey’s post hoc test was used. The level of significance was p< 0.05. Data were expressed as mean ± standard deviation.

Results: Histological findings of the scars from the rats showed markedly increased fibroblast density in the control group compared to that of the one with agents administered. Scars from both triamcinolone and shea butter groups show almost the same quantity of fibroblasts while the scars which had snake oil administered show significant reduction of fibroblasts compared to the others. One-way ANOVA with Tukey’s post hoc test was used. The level of significance was p< 0.05. Data were expressed as mean ± standard deviation.

Conclusions: The results showed reduction in the fibroblast level in all the agents used, with snake oil having the highest fibroblast suppressing effect.

Serum Lipid Profile Alterations in Hepatitis B Infection: Evidence of Metabolic Dysregulation in Nigerian Men

2026-11-01T22:17:06+00:00

Background: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection remains a significant global public health challenge, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, where persistent infection contributes substantially to liver-related morbidity and mortality. Beyond hepatic injury, HBV infection may impair the liver’s metabolic functions, including lipid synthesis, transport, and regulation, thereby resulting in alterations in serum lipid profile.

Objective: This study evaluated serum lipid profile alterations among male patients with HBV infection attending Bowen University Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso, Nigeria.

Methods: A hospital-based, comparative, analytical cross- sectional study was conducted among 60 adult males comprising 30 confirmed HBV-infected patients and 30 HBV-negative apparently healthy controls. HBV infection was confirmed by serological detection of Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg). Socio-demographic and clinical information was obtained using structured interviewer-administered questionnaires. Following an overnight fast, venous blood samples were collected, and serum concentrations of total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), and high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), were determined using standard enzymatic spectrophotometric methods, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) were estimated using the Friedewald formula. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS), and group comparisons were performed using the independent Student’s t-test at a significance level of p < 0.05.

Results: HBV-infected participants exhibited significantly lower serum total cholesterol (98.00 ± 10.08 mg/dL vs. 142.83 ± 22.26 mg/dL; p < 0.001) and HDL-C levels (52.00 ± 9.24 mg/dL vs. 93.23 ± 17.73 mg/dL; p < 0.001) compared with controls. However, no significant differences were observed in triglyceride (p = 0.754) and LDL-C concentrations (p = 0.485).

Conclusion: HBV infection is associated with significant reductions in serum total cholesterol and HDL-C, suggesting disruption of hepatic lipid metabolic pathways. Routine lipid profile assessment may provide additional clinical insight into metabolic alterations associated with HBV infection and support comprehensive patient management.

Prevalence, Perception and Predictors of Rape among Elementary Students in Ogbomoso North Local Government Area, Nigeria: A School-Based Cross-Sectional Study

2026-11-01T22:32:50+00:00

Background: Rape and other forms of sexual violence against children remain major public health and human rights concerns globally. Female school-aged children are particularly vulnerable due to developmental immaturity, dependence on adults, and limited capacity to recognize and report abuse. This study assessed the prevalence, perception, and predictors of rape among female elementary school pupils in Ogbomoso North Local Government Area, Nigeria.

Methods: A school-based cross-sectional analytical study was conducted among 520 female elementary school pupils selected through multistage sampling. Data were collected using a structured pretested questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive statistics, Chi-square tests, and multivariate logistic regression at p < 0.05.

Results: Most respondents were aged 11–14 years (66.7%), and 63.5% had heard about rape. The prevalence of self-reported rape was 17.5%; 16.3% experienced attempted rape, and 26.2% reported unwanted sexual touching or fondling. Rape experience was significantly associated with age group (χ² = 43.599, p < 0.001), family order (χ² =25.654, p < 0.001), residence (χ² = 23.022, p < 0.001), family type (χ² = 8.342, p = 0.004), religion (χ² = 22.665, p < 0.001), and tribe (χ² = 12.697, p = 0.002). Significant predictors included age ≤10 years (AOR = 2.31, 95% CI: 1.40–3.82), urban residence (AOR = 1.76, 95% CI: 1.02–3.04), living with relatives (AOR = 2.45, 95% CI: 1.30–4.60), family size ≥4 children (AOR = 1.92, 95% CI: 1.15–3.18), and low parental supervision (AOR = 2.63, 95% CI: 1.52–4.53).

Conclusion: Rape remains a significant threat to female elementary school pupils and public health interventions should be geared towards reducing the menace.

Comparison Of Cardiovascular Risk Factors, Lifestyle and Socioeconomic Status of Urban and Rural Dwellers in Lagos State, Nigeria: Results of World Heart Day Campaigns

2026-11-01T22:49:19+00:00

Background: Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death worldwide, and the prevalence is increasing at an alarming rate. Hitherto, urbanization and westernization of lifestyle have been attributed to the rising prevalence. This study, therefore, seeks to compare the cardiovascular risk factors, lifestyles and socioeconomic status of both urban and rural dwellers in Lagos State, Nigeria.

Methods: During the World Heart Day (WHD) campaigns of 2019 and 2022, we recruited participants from rural (Agbowa) and urban (Oshodi) centres in Lagos State and compared their risk factors using the World Health Organization (WHO) STEPS questionnaire.

Results: The prevalence of self-reported hypertension in the rural and urban communities was 36.6% and 23.7% (p=0.49) respectively; the measured blood pressure were also higher in the rural dwellers(p<0.000). The prevalence of diabetes and the rates of physical activity were similar in both communities. There was a higher mean BMI in urban than rural areas: 28.16kg/m2 vs 26.89kg/m2 p=0.471), however the rate of obesity was higher in the rural than urban area (28%vs25.7%; p=0.644) while adherence to antihypertension medication was 72.3% in Agbowa compared to 15.9% in Oshodi (p=0.000). The highest rates of hypertension were found in the low socioeconomic class while the middle socio-economic class had the highest rate of obesity. The Agbowa participants had a statistically higher prevalence of healthy lifestyle(p=0.000).

Conclusion: Some Cardiovascular disease risk factors are more prevalent in some rural than urban regions of Lagos state, and there is an urgent need for better education, intervention and greater access to health care.

Family History and Substance Use Among Out-Of-School Adolescents in Nigeria: Do Occupation and Self-Esteem Modify the Association?

2026-11-01T20:19:53+00:00

Background: This cross-sectional study examined whether occupation and self-esteem moderate the association between family history of substance use and psychoactive substance use among out-of-school adolescents in Nigeria.

Methods: Secondary analysis of cross-sectional data from 408 out-of-school adolescents (aged 10-19 years) in Osogbo, Nigeria, collected between February and October 2018, was conducted. Family history of substance use (parent or sibling use) was the primary predictor, and lifetime psychoactive substance use measured with the WHO Alcohol, Smoking and Substance Involvement Screening Test (ASSIST) was the outcome. Moderation was examined using hierarchical logistic regression with product terms and adjustment for age, gender, socioeconomic class, family functioning, and parental control.

Results: Family history of substance use was associated with significantly higher odds of lifetime psychoactive substance use (adjusted OR=3.56, 95% CI: 2.14-5.91, p<0.001). The interaction between family history and occupation was not significant (OR=1.24, 95% CI: 0.59 2.60, p=0.568), and the interaction between family history and self-esteem was also not significant (OR=1.37, 95% CI: 0.60-3.13, p=0.458).

Conclusions: Family history of substance use is a robust and consistent correlate of substance use among out-of-school adolescents in Nigeria, and there was no evidence that occupation or self-esteem significantly modified this association. Universal screening for family history of substance use may help identify adolescents with higher odds of psychoactive substance use regardless of occupational setting or self-esteem level.