DEPARTMENT OF MEDICAL LABOURATORY SCIENCE SCHOOL OF BASIC MEDICAL SCIENCE

Standard precautions are essential infection control practices that protect both healthcare workers and patients from the transmission of infectious diseases. Compliance with these precautions is particularly critical for nursing students, who are frequently exposed to clinical environments during their training. This study assessed the knowledge and compliance with standard precautions among undergraduate nursing students at the University of Benin, Benin City. A descriptive cross-sectional survey design was adopted. A total of 249 undergraduate nursing students from 200 to 500 levels were selected using a simple random sampling technique. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire and analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 26.0. Descriptive statistics such as frequency, percentages, and mean scores were used, and a chi-square test was employed to assess the relationship between knowledge and compliance levels. Out of 249 questionnaires distributed, 246 were valid for analysis, resulting in a response rate of 98.8%. Findings revealed that 70.7% of students demonstrated good knowledge of standard precautions, while 29.3% had poor knowledge. Regarding compliance, 77% exhibited high compliance, and 23% showed low compliance. The major barriers identified were lack of personal protective equipment (mean = 3.2), time pressure in clinical settings, insufficient supervision, and inadequate training. Hypothesis testing revealed no statistically significant relationship between knowledge and compliance (χ² = 2.703, p = 0.100). The study concluded that undergraduate nursing students generally possess good knowledge and demonstrate high compliance with standard precautions. However, knowledge alone does not guarantee compliance, as external factors such as resource availability and supervision play significant roles.It is recommended that continuous training programs, improved resource provision, and closer clinical supervision be instituted to enhance adherence to standard precautions among nursing students, thereby strengthening infection control practices within
healthcare settings.

Cervical cancer remains a major public health challenge, particularly in developing countries where awareness, screening, and prevention are inadequate. This study assessed the knowledge, attitude, and factors influencing the utilization of cervical cancer screening services among female non-academic staff at the University of Benin, Benin City. A descriptive cross-sectional research design was adopted, and data were collected using a structured self-administered questionnaire from 90 respondents selected through total enumeration. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics, including chi- square tests at a 0.05 significance level. Findings revealed that while most respondents (86.7%) had heard of cervical cancer, knowledge about specific risk factors such as human papillomavirus (HPV) and recommended screening intervals was limited. Although the majority demonstrated positive attitudes toward screening (mean = 3.52), actual utilization was low, with only 31.1% having ever undergone screening. Major barriers identified included lack of awareness, financial constraints, fear of the screening procedure, and distance to healthcare centers. A significant relationship was found between awareness and screening utilization (p = 0.001) as well as between attitude and utilization (p = 0.003). The study concludes that despite relatively high awareness, inadequate knowledge and prevailing barriers hinder effective screening uptake. It recommends intensified health education, workplace-based screening programs, policy support, and subsidized services to enhance cervical cancer prevention among women in tertiary institutions.

Healthcare-associated infections remain a persistent challenge globally, particularly in developing countries where resource constraints often hinder adherence to infection control protocols. This study investigates the knowledge, attitude, and practice of standard precautions among healthcare workers in selected clinics within Egor Local Government Area, Edo State, Nigeria. The primary aim was to assess how well-informed healthcare workers are about standard precautions, their perceptions toward infection control, and how these translate into practical behaviors. A descriptive cross-sectional research design was employed, with data collected from 150 healthcare workers using a structured, self-administered questionnaire. Key variables assessed included knowledge of hand hygiene and personal protective equipment (PPE), attitude toward routine precautions, actual implementation of infection control measures, and factors influencing compliance, including management support and availability of resources. The results revealed that while most healthcare workers exhibited good knowledge and positive attitudes toward standard precautions, there were variations in actual practice, especially concerning
equipment decontamination and workload-related compliance barriers. Notably, 88.7% regularly practiced hand hygiene, while only 60% consistently decontaminated reusable instruments. Availability of PPE and institutional support emerged as significant factors influencing adherence. The study recommends strengthening continuous training programs, improving PPE supply chains, and enhancing management engagement to sustain high compliance levels. These strategies are essential to improve healthcare safety and reduce the incidence of hospital acquired infections.

This study investigates the influence of menopause on rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in menopausal women attending the Consultant Outpatient Department at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), Nigeria. Rheumatoid arthritis, a chronic autoimmune disorder, disproportionately affects women, with hormonal changes during menopause potentially exacerbating disease activity. The study aimed to assess the prevalence of RA among menopausal women, examine the perceived impact of menopause on RA symptoms, evaluate changes in disease progression post-menopause, and identify coping strategies for symptom management. A descriptive cross-sectional survey design was employed, with data collected from 144 menopausal women diagnosed with RA using a structured questionnaire. Convenience sampling was utilized, and statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 27.0, incorporating descriptive and inferential statistics (Chi-square tests). Results revealed that 70.8% of respondents were menopausal at the time of RA diagnosis, with 83.3%
reporting a formal RA diagnosis. Menopause was significantly associated with worsened joint pain (mean score = 4.64), increased stiffness, and heightened fatigue. A strong correlation (p = 0.000) was observed between menopausal status and RA diagnosis. Common coping strategies included dietary adjustments (mean = 4.34) and seeking emotional support
(mean = 4.33). The study concludes that menopause significantly exacerbates RA severity and symptom progression, highlighting the need for integrated healthcare strategies that address both hormonal changes and RA management. Recommendations include improving patient-provider communication, developing tailored treatment plans, and further research into the biological mechanisms linking menopause and RA

This study was a descriptive cross-sectional survey conducted to assess the level of awareness and compliance with Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) measures among healthcare professionals at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria. A stratified random sampling technique was used to ensure representation across various professional categories, and a total of 300 participants were selected. Of these, 298 correctly filled and returned the questionnaires, yielding a high response rate of 99.3%. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire and analyzed with the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 26.0. Descriptive statistics, including frequencies, percentages, means, and standard deviations, were used to summarize the results. Findings revealed that 76.5% of respondents demonstrated a
good level of awareness of IPC practices. The overall mean score for awareness was 1.8, above the threshold cut-off of 1.5, indicating adequate knowledge among healthcare professionals about critical IPC measures such as hand hygiene, proper use of personal protective equipment (PPE), and safe handling of sharps. Regarding compliance, 82.1% of participants reported adhering consistently to IPC protocols. The grand mean score for compliance was 3.6, exceeding the cut-off point of 2.5, signifying a high level of practical application of IPC guidelines. The highest levels of compliance were reported in the use of PPE (87.2%) and proper waste disposal (84.6%). The study concluded that healthcare professionals at UBTH exhibit a high level of awareness and compliance with IPC measures. Nonetheless, the findings also indicate areas where consistency in practice could be improved, particularly in low-resource settings within the facility. It is recommended that regular in-service training, continuous monitoring, and institutional support be provided to maintain and enhance IPC standards. This approach will help foster a culture of safety and reduce the risk of healthcare-associated infections.

Hypertension is diagnosed if the blood pressure is elevated on at least three different blood pressure measurements taken on two or more office visits. Blood pressure is an indication of
the amount of work that the heart has to do to pump blood around the body. Hypertension is a major risk factor for cardiovascular events and mortality. This research focused on the assessment of anti-hypertensive prescription pattern on blood pressure control among outpatients in a tertiary healthcare facility (University of Benin Teaching Hospital) in Edo state. A total of 254 questionnaires were administered, and 251 were returned, representing a response rate of 98.8%. The study adopted descriptive design. A convenient sampling technique. The results showed that the overall level of knowledge regarding anti-hypertensive prescription patterns among the respondents showed that the majority of the respondents (42.6%) had a fair level of knowledge, followed by those with poor knowledge (29.1%) and those with good knowledge (28.3%). Also, the overall compliance level of respondents to antihypertensive prescriptions showed that the majority of the respondents (46.6%) had a fair level of compliance, followed by those with poor compliance (28.7%) and those with good compliance (24.7%). Furthermore, the findings revealed that the factors influencing compliance to anti-hypertensive prescriptions were found to have a high influence on compliance. The most influential factor was financial constraints, followed by busy schedules, too many medications, lack of information about the disease, and side effects from medication.

Microorganisms are living things ordinarily too small to be seen without magnification, in terms of numbers and range of distribution, microbes are the dominant organisms on earth. The hands are probably the most exposed organs of the human body, to environmental bacterial contamination. They are the central organs for the physical manipulation and control of the surrounding environment. Wash hand basins are common amenities provided in toilets and other facilities used primarily for washing of hands and other purposes. They can become contaminated thereby putting the general public at a risk of infection. The aim of this study was to evaluate the bacterial contamination of wash hand basins in University of Benin Community, Benin city, Edo state, Nigeria.A total of 100 samples were collected asceptically from wash hand basins in toilets and other public facilities in University of Benin using sterile swab sticks moistened in normal saline. Swab samples were collected specifically from the knob of the taps
and the surface area where hands are rested on and analyzed by culturing on chocolate and MacConkey media and biochemical tests were carried out on isolates.The result from the study shows the prevalence of bacterial contaminating wash hand basins was 58.6%. A total of eight (8) bacteria isolated, which are Klebsiella spp, Providencia spp, Pseudomonas spp, Streptococcus
faecalis, Staphylococcus aureus, Enterobacter spp, Escherichia coli and Proteus mirabilis. However, Staphylococcus aureus has the highest prevalence rate of 36.6% which was followed by Klebsiella spp. With 19.5%, Escherichia coli with 14.6%, Enterobacter spp. With 12.2%, Providencia spp. Pseudomonas spp. and Proteus mirabilis has 4.9% each, and lastly Streptococcus faecaliswith 2.4% respectively. In conclusion, this study determined the distribution of bacterial transfer rates between various site of sampling surfaces of wash hand basins commonly encountered during hand washing in the University environment. The results shows a relatively high prevalence that bacterial transfer rates among student hands and wash 11 hand basins surfaces are highly variable, and faucet spigots may be a significant source of cross- contamination. Therefore, daily cleaning and disinfection in conjunction with a regular hygiene service are recommended to reduce cross-infection risks in washrooms and toilets .

Giardiasis is a disease of public health importance, a common cause of acute and chronic human diarrheal. In some developing countries, infection and mortality rates among young children can be quite high. This study was carried out to determine Giardia lamblia infection among children in rural and urban areas in Benin City, Edo State, A comparative study was done, using the microscopy method and ELISA technique, 288 primary school children consisted of (194) males and (94) females were enrolled in this study, Stool specimen was collected from each participant into a sterile universal bottle and sent for analysis to the
laboratory department of City of Hope Medical Centre, Benin city. The age of participants ranged from 6-14years. A well-structured questionnaire bothering on the bio-data and socio-demographic characteristics was administered on each
participant prior to the collection of Specimen. Informed consent was obtained from the parent or guardian of each participant. The stool specimens were analyzed using microscopy and ELISA technique. A prevalence of 5.6% of Giardia lamblia infection was observed among children in the Study Areas. Comparative studies of the microscopy method and ELISA techniques showed a
p-value of < 0.05 (0.001) which was significant. There was a significant difference in the age group 10-11 years old presenting with the highest prevalence of 13.7% in comparison to other age groups with p-value < 0.05 (0.014). Hand hygiene was highly prevalent (12.5%) with p-value <0.05(0.000) which was significant, which showed that those who observed poor hand hygiene are with the high odds of being infected than those who practice good hand hygiene. Epidemiological factors such as Residential locations, settlement type, type of toilet, proximity of kitchen to toilet facility, diarrhoea, and Food source significantly affected the prevalence of G. lamblia infection. Increased Awareness, personal hygiene and good sanitary practices, particularly among mothers and children, should be encouraged as this would curb the spread of giardiasis. ELISA with sensitivity of 95% to 100% and specificity over 90% when compared with direct microscopy provides a relevant alternative method to the routine ova and
parasite examination in diagnosing giardiasis. Based on this, detection of giardiasis should not solely be based on microscopy; more effective methods such as ELISA could be employed.

Giardiasis is a disease of public health importance, a common cause of acute and chronic human diarrheal. In some developing countries, infection and mortality rates among young children can be quite high. This study was carried out to determine Giardia lamblia infection among children in rural and urban areas in Benin City, Edo State, A comparative study was done, using the microscopy method and ELISA technique, 288 primary school children consisted of (194) males and (94) females were enrolled in this study, Stool specimen was collected from each participant into a sterile universal bottle and sent for analysis to the laboratory department of City of Hope Medical Centre, Benin city. The age of participants ranged from 6-14years. A well-structured questionnaire bothering on the bio-data and socio-demographic characteristics was administered on each participant prior to the collection of Specimen. Informed consent was obtained from the parent or guardian of each participant. The stool specimens were analyzed using microscopy and ELISA technique. A prevalence of 5.6% of Giardia lamblia infection was observed among children in the Study Areas. Comparative studies of the microscopy method and ELISA techniques showed a p-value of < 0.05 (0.001) which was significant. There was a significant difference in the age group 10-11 years old presenting with the highest prevalence of 13.7% in comparison to other age groups with p-value < 0.05 (0.014). Hand hygiene was highly prevalent (12.5%) with p-value <0.05(0.000) which was significant, which showed that those who observed poor hand hygiene are with the high odds of being infected than those who practice good hand hygiene. Epidemiological factors such as Residential locations, settlement type, type of toilet, proximity of kitchen to toilet facility, diarrhoea, and Food source significantly affected the prevalence of G. lamblia infection. Increased Awareness, personal hygiene and good sanitary practices, particularly among mothers and children, should be encouraged as this would curb the spread of giardiasis. ELISA with sensitivity of 95% to 100% and specificity over 90% when compared withdirect microscopy provides a relevant alternative method to the routine ova and parasite examination in diagnosing giardiasis. Based on this, detection of giardiasis should not solely be based on microscopy; more effective methods such as ELISA could be employed.