DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY HEALTH

BACKGROUND: Globally, COVID-19 pandemic emerged as a major public health concern and has had severe, wide-reaching effects on the functioning of societies, economies, social and healthcare systems worldwide. In addition to the ongoing health crisis, mental health crisis has been unfolding. During the COVID-19 pandemic, healthcare workers had high workload and exposure to multiple psychosocial stressors. The psychological impact of the pandemic on healthcare workers has been assessed worldwide, but there are limited data on how healthcare workers have been affected in Low and Middle Income Countries (LMICs). OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this study were to assess and compare the knowledge, attitude, prevalence and effect of COVID-19 on the mental health status of Frontline and Non-Frontline Health Workers of University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) and also to identify their coping strategies. METHODOLOGY: A comparative cross-sectional study was conducted from August 2021 through June 2023 among Frontline Health Workers and Non-Frontline Health Workers of University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin-City using a systemic random sampling technique. The sample size was calculated using the formula for estimating two proportions for a comparative cross-sectional study. Ethical approval was obtained from the Ethics and Research Committee, University of Benin Teaching Hospital. Data was collected using a structured self-administered questionnaire adapted and modified from the World Health Organization( WHO )Interim Guidance document on the knowledge, attitude and practice of health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic, General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12), and the Brief-COPES Strategy scale. Data was analyzed with IBM SPSS version 25.0 and the level of significance was set at p < 0.05. Data presentation was done using graphs, frequency tables and prose.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, originated in Wuhan,
China, in December 2019 and was declared to be a global pandemic by the WHO in March 2020.
Vaccination is a crucial measure for controlling the spread of the virus. Several vaccines have been
developed and approved for use including the novel mRNA type vaccines. Uptake of the vaccine
is affected by factors such as hesitancy, supply-demand gaps and the economic impact of the
lockdown measures as well as knowledge of and attitude towards the vaccine. This study aims as
assessing level of uptake of the COVID-19 vaccination and factors affecting it among traders in
Benin City. Method: The study was a descriptive cross-sectional study carried out among traders in Egor,
Ovia North-East and Oredo Local Government Areas of Benin City, the capital of Edo State,
Nigeria. A sample size of 426 was obtained, and a multistage sampling technique was used to
select respondents. Ethical clearance was obtained from the Research Ethics Committee in
University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) before commencement of the study with ethical
clearance number ADM/E 22/A/VOL.VII/14831293. An interviewer-administered questionnaire
was used to collect the data for the study after pretesting. Data was analysed using the Statistical
Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 25. Results: The mean age of respondents was 45.7 ± 11.2. A higher proportion, 89.0% were female,
Christians (93.0%) and married (81.0%). Out of 426 respondents, 42.7% had primary level of
education. The median household income was 120,000 naira. From the responses, 35.7% and
15.5% had good knowledge of and good attitude towards the COVID-19 vaccine respectively.
About a quarter of the respondents, 26.3% were willing to take the vaccine and 15.0% had taken
it. The factors found to affect uptake of the vaccine were age (p=0.012), household monthly
income (p<0.001), knowledge of (p<0.001), attitude towards (p=0.013) and willingness (p=0.025)
to take the COVID-19 vaccination. Conclusion: The study showed that knowledge of and attitude towards the COVID-19 vaccine
were low. Also, willingness to take and uptake of vaccine were also low among the respondents.
The federal and state governments should create awareness on the vaccine importance and
availability using multimedia and make vaccines available at the market. Individuals should rely
on credible sources for information on the vaccine and consider the negative impact of taking the
vaccine on their health, community, nation and the world.

BACKGROUND: Globally, COVID-19 pandemic emerged as a major public health concern and has had severe, wide-reaching effects on the functioning of societies, economies, social and healthcare systems worldwide. In addition to the ongoing health crisis, mental health crisis has been unfolding. During the COVID-19 pandemic, healthcare workers had high workload and exposure to multiple psychosocial stressors. The psychological impact of the pandemic on healthcare workers has been assessed worldwide, but there are limited data on how health care workers have been affected in Low and Middle Income Countries (LMICs). OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this study were to assess and compare the knowledge, attitude, prevalence and effect of COVID-19 on the mental health status of Frontline and Non-Frontline Health Workers of University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) and also to identify their coping strategies. METHODOLOGY: A comparative cross-sectional study was conducted from August 2021 through June 2023 among Frontline Health Workers and Non-Frontline Health Workers of University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin-City using a systemic random sampling technique. The sample size was calculated using the formula for estimating two proportions for a comparative cross-sectional study. Ethical approval was obtained from the Ethics and Research
Committee, University of Benin Teaching Hospital. Data was collected using a structured self administered questionnaire adapted and modified from the World Health Organization (WHO) Interim Guidance document on the knowledge, attitude and practice of health care workers during COVID-19 pandemic, General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) and the Brief-COPE Strategy scale. Data was analyzed with IBM SPSS version 25.0 and the level of significance was set at p < 0.05. Data presentation was done using graphs, frequency tables and prose. RESULT: A total of 500 respondents with mean age (SD) of 37.5 ± 5.6 and 39.9 ± 6.2 years for Frontline and Non-Frontline Health Workers participated in this study respectively. Findings from the World Health Organization (WHO) Interim Guidance document on the knowledge, attitude and practice of health care workers during COVID-19 used to assess knowledge and attitude of respondents revealed that: majority 145 (86.8%) and 191 (57.4%) of the Frontline and Non-Frontline Health Workers had overall good knowledge of COVID-19 (p < 0.001, 0.006 respectively) and a high proportion 134 (80.2%) and 284 (85.3%) of the Frontline and Non Frontline Health Workers had overall positive attitude towards COVID-19 (p = 0.054, 0.096 respectively). The General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) tool used to assess the mental health status of respondents showed that majority 148 (88.6%) of the Frontline Health Workers experienced depression, anxiety and PTSD while 286 (85.8%) of the Non-Frontline Health Workers experienced depression, anxiety and psychological distress (p = 0.240, 0.547 respectively). Being more aware (good knowledge), Frontline Health Workers were 24.7% times more likely to be psychologically affected (depression, anxiety and PTSD) by COVID-19 compared to Non As a result of positive attitude, Frontline Health Workers were 85.5% times more likely to be psychologically affected (depression, anxiety and PTSD) by COVID-19 compared to Non Frontline Health Workers. This was also statistically significant (p= 0.444, OR: 1.855, 95% CI: 0.381– 9.021). The Brief-COPE Strategy scale used to assess coping styles of respondents showed that most 137 (82.0%) of the Frontline Health Workers coping styles were religion, getting support from people, making fun and being positive of the situation while 255 (76.6%) of the Non-Frontline Health Workers coping styles were getting support from people, concentrating on their work and use of drugs and alcohol (p = 0.128, p= 0.162 respectively). Coping styles were effective for both categories. Frontline Health Workers with tertiary level of education were 10.3% times less likely to be psychologically affected (depression, anxiety and PTSD) by COVID-19 compared to Non Frontline Health Workers. This was however not statistically significant (p= 0.082, OR: 0.897, 95% CI: 0.216– 3.734).
CONCLUSION: From this study, respondents had overall good knowledge of COVID-19. Good knowledge was higher among Frontline Health Workers than in Non-Frontline Health Workers. Majority of the respondents had positive attitude towards COVID-19, and it was observed to be higher among Frontline Health Workers than in Non-Frontline Health Workers.
About half of the respondents tested positive to COVID-19. Positive test was higher in Frontline Health Workers than Non-Frontline Health Workers. Higher proportion of the population were affected mentally. Negative mental health effect was
noticed to be higher among Frontline Health Workers compared to Non-Frontline Health Workers. Domains such as depression, anxiety, PTSD and psychological distress were identified as areas responsible for the psychological symptoms. Good knowledge of COVID-19, positive attitude towards COVID-19 and religion were predictors of coping styles among Non-Frontline Health Workers while knowledge of COVID 19, attitude towards COVID-19, level of education and marriage were identified as predictors of coping styles of Frontline Health Workers. Timely identification and implementation of an appropriate support to vulnerable groups would effectively mitigate the mental health impact of future pandemics on Health Care Workers. KEYWORDS: COVID-19, Health Care Workers, Mental Health, Depression, Anxiety, PTSD, coping strategies

Background: Globally, it is estimated that nearly 500,000 women die annually from causes related to pregnancy and child birth and 99% of these deaths occur in developing countries. Historically, the involvement of men in labor and delivery was limited, with the process primarily being seen as a female domain. However, societal attitudes and expectations have evolved, leading to increased recognition of the role that men can play during childbirth. By actively participating in the childbirth process, men contribute to a supportive and empowering environment, facilitating a positive birth experience for all involved. Objectives: To assess the delivery experiences and the involvement of adult males whose spouses are in labour and other associated factors in Evbuomore Community, Benin City, to improve labour experience and maternal and child health outcomes. Materials And Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study design was utilized for this study. Five hundred and ninety-seven males were selected using multi-stage sampling techniques. Data were collected using a structured interviewer-administered questionnaire comprising both opened ended and closed questions. Data was analyzed using IBM SPSS version 25.0 and a p <0.05 was considered significant. Results: The mean age group of the respondents was 40.70( + 7.89) years. Out of the total respondents, 504 (90.5%) had good knowledge while 57 (9.5%) had poor knowledge of the role they should play when their spouse is in labour. Five hundred and eighty-two (97.5) of them had a positive attitude while 15 (2.5%) had a negative attitude toward the role they should play when their spouse is in labour. Five hundred and twenty-two (87.4%) of the total respondent had apositive delivery experience while 75 (12.6%) had a negative delivery experience. Conclusion: The majority of the respondents had good knowledge, attitude, and delivery experiences toward spousal labour. The major contributors were monthly income, religion, occupation, and marriage type

awareness among patients is often limited, particularly in low­ and middle­income countries. In Nigeria, many individuals misattribute psychiatric symptoms to stress, spiritual causes, or ordinary life difficulties, resulting in delayed presentation, poor treatment adherence, and worsened outcomes. Doctors’ perspectives are vital in assessing the extent of patients’ awareness and identifying barriers to care. Objective: This study assessed doctors’ perspectives on the level of patients’ awareness of mental health challenges at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), Benin City, Nigeria, and explored perceived barriers, consequences, and strategies for improvement. Methods: A descriptive cross­sectional study was conducted among doctors at UBTH using a structured, self­administered questionnaire. Data collected included socio­demographics, perceptions of patients’ awareness, barriers, and suggested interventions. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 25.0, with results presented in prose, tables, and charts. Results: Most doctors perceived patients’ awareness of mental health challenges to be low to moderate, with only a small proportion demonstrating good awareness of common conditions such as depression and anxiety. Patients often misattributed symptoms to stress or spiritual problems, delaying diagnosis and treatment. Stigma (reported by over two­thirds of respondents), cultural and religious beliefs, low literacy, and weak health system capacity were identified as major barriers. Doctors noted that poor awareness contributed to late presentation, misdiagnosis, treatment non­adherence, and frequent relapses. Suggested strategies included integrating mental health education into routine consultations, strengthening community outreach, collaborating with religious and cultural leaders, expanding training for healthcare providers, and implementing hospital­based and national awareness campaigns. Conclusion: Doctors at UBTH perceive patients’ awareness of mental health challenges as inadequate, with significant consequences for timely diagnosis, treatment adherence, and clinical outcomes. Stigma and sociocultural misconceptions remain key barriers. Targeted interventions—including patient education, anti­stigma programs, and community engagement— are urgently needed to improve awareness and enhance mental health care delivery.

Academic dishonesty encompasses a spectrum of unethical behaviours employed by students to gain unfair academic advantage, ranging from cheating during examinations to plagiarism, collusion, and falsification of work, and represents a critical
threat to educational integrity. It manifests in diverse forms, including copying, impersonation, undeclared use of digital or artificial intelligence tools, and misrepresentation of effort, with consequences that are intellectual, ethical, and institutional. Research
consistently demonstrates its rising prevalence in higher institutions, often occurring in familiar academic settings, influenced by peer pressure, inadequate enforcement of policies, and cultural perceptions that tolerate dishonest practices. Preventive measures include strengthening institutional policies, promoting awareness of academic integrity, redesigning assessment methods, and fostering a culture of honesty and accountability within universities.

Malnutrition is the single biggest contributor to under-five mortality due to greater susceptibility to infections and slow recovery from illness. Every year, an estimated 2.5 million under-five children in Nigeria suffer from severe acute malnutrition and this makes them vulnerable and nine times more likely to die from diarrhea, acute respiratory tract infection and fever. This interaction between malnutrition and infection creates a potentially lethal cycle of worsening illness and deteriorating nutritional status

Malnutrition is the single biggest contributor to under-five mortality due to greater susceptibility to
infections and slow recovery from illness. Every year, an estimated 2.5 million under-five children
in Nigeria suffer from severe acute malnutrition and this makes them vulnerable and nine times
more likely to die from diarrhea, acute respiratory tract infection and fever. This interaction
between malnutrition and infection creates a potentially lethal cycle of worsening illness and
deteriorating nutritional status. OBJECTIVE: To assess the association between the nutritional status and morbidity pattern of
under-five children in Benin-City, Edo State Nigeria. METHODS: This was a community-based cross-sectional study carried out among 771 mother- child pairs that were selected using a multi-stage sampling technique. A structured, pre-tested, interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to collect information on demographic and socio- economic characteristics, dietary pattern, morbidity pattern and child health practices while
nutritional status was assessed using anthropometric methods. Focus group discussions guide was
used to collect data on maternal knowledge, attitude and practices on child health and infant and
young child feeding. Data was analyzed using Software Statistical Package for Scientific Solutions
(SPSS) version 20.0 manufactured by IBM incorporated and the level of statistical significance was
set at a p< 0.05. RESULTS: A total of 771 mother-child pair participated in this study. The mean age of the
participants was 27.3 ±15.9 months. The results showed that 215 (27.9%) mothers had introduced
complementary foods to their children at the appropriate time. The most consumed food were foodsren. Only 113 (14.7%) of children had an adequately diverse diet, in which they
made from grains, roots and tubers; 26.9% among breastfeeding children and 73.1% among non- breastfeeding child

BACKGROUND: Globally, COVID-19 pandemic emerged as a major public health concern and has had severe, wide-reaching effects on the functioning of societies, economies, social and healthcare systems worldwide. In addition to the ongoing health crisis, mental health crisis has been unfolding. During the COVID-19 pandemic, healthcare workers had high workload and exposure to multiple psychosocial stressors. The psychological impact of the pandemic on healthcare workers has been assessed worldwide, but there are limited data on how health care workers have been affected in Low and Middle Income Countries (LMICs).
OBJECTIVES: The objectives ofthis study were to assess and compare the knowledge, attitude,prevalence and effect of COVID-19 on the mental health status of Frontline and Non-Frontline Health Workers of University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) and also to identify their coping strategies.
METHODOLOGY: A comparative cross-sectional study was conducted from August 2021 through June 2023 among Frontline Health Workers and Non-Frontline Health Workers of University ofBenin Teaching Hospital, Benin-City using a systemic random sampling technique.The sample size was calculated using the formula for estimating two proportions for a comparative cross-sectional study. Ethical approval was obtained from the Ethics and Research Committee, University of Benin Teaching Hospital. Data was collected using a structured self-administered questionnaire adapted and modified from the World Health Organization (WHO)Interim Guidance document on the knowledge, attitude and practice of health care workers during COVID-19 pandemic, General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) and the Brief-COPE Strategy scale. Data was analyzed with IBM SPSS version 25.0 and the level of significance was set at p < 0.05. Data presentation was done using graphs, frequency tables and prose.