FACULTY OF NURSING SCIENCE

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a major global public health issue, affecting millions of individuals worldwide. It is characterized by a progressive loss of kidney function, often leading to end-stage renal disease (ESRD), which requires renal replacement
therapy, such as dialysis or kidney transplantation (Tanriover et al., 2022). Among these treatment options, dialysis remains the most common and accessible intervention for patients who do not have immediate access to transplantation(Chaudhry et al., 2022). However, undergoing dialysis is not only a physically demanding process but also presents significant psychosocial challenges, which can impact the overall well-being and quality of life of patients (Lateef, 2022). Dialysis patients experience a range of psychological and social challenges, including depression, anxiety, social isolation, financial burden, and role limitations within their families and communities (Hansen et al., 2021). Studies have shown that the prevalence of depression among patients undergoing dialysis is significantly higher than in the general population (Alshelleh et al., 2022). The chronic nature of the disease, coupled with the stringent treatment regimen and dietary restrictions, often leads to emotional distress, which may further complicate adherence to treatment and overall prognosis (Fraile-Martinez et al., 2022). Socially, dialysis patients may struggle with maintaining employment, family roles, and social relationships. The time-consuming nature of dialysis sessions, which typically occur multiple times a week, often limits the ability of patients to work or engage in social activities (Whitman et al., 2021)

This study investigated the prevalence and risk factors of dysmenorrhea among female students inselected secondary school in Edo State. The study aims to ascertain the knowledge of dysmenorrhea, prevalence of dysmenorrhea and the risk factors of dysmenorrhea among female students in selected secondary schools in Edo State. The study adopted a non-experimental descriptive survey design. The study population consisted of 545 adolescents in public secondary from Ezomo College, OraBenin-city and Ekosodin Secondary School, Ekosodin, Benin-city. A sample size of 331 respondents was selected for study using convenience sampling technique. The instrument for data collection was a well-structured questionnaire. The instrument was validated by the research supervisor. To ensure the reliability of the instrument, a pilot study of the instrument was carried. The data collected were analysed using both descriptive statistics(frequency, percentages and mean score) and inferential statistics (Chi square statistics) to test the research hypotheses at p < 0.05 level of significance. The result showed that most of the adolescents have adequate knowledge of dysmenorrhea. It was also revealed that the prevalence of dysmenorrhea among adolescents is high. It was further revealed that weight loss, exercise, family history of dysmenorrhea, stress and childbirth are all risk factors of dysmenorrhea. It was also indicated that there is a relationship between the respondents’ knowledge of primary
dysmenorrhea and their age.Based on the findings,it was concludedandrecommended among othersthat State Ministry of health, National primary health care development Agency should invest in training and retraining of youths in dysmenorrhea, in order to promote their knowledge as it will help in the management of dysmenorrhea. Relevant agencies should create policy support for the training of adolescents on dysmenorrhea

Kidney disease is increasingly linked to lifestyle choices such as poor diet, physical inactivity, and inadequate hydration. This study assessed the awareness of the perceived impact of lifestyle on the incidence of kidney disease among Faculty of Arts students in a tertiary educational institution in Benin City. A cross-sectional descriptive research design was adopted, involving 329 students selected through a multi-stage stratified random sampling technique from the Departments of English and Literature (34%) and History and International Studies (66%). Data were collected using a structured questionnaire validated for reliability (Cronbach’s α = 0.701)and analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics with SPSS. The findings revealed that
85.8% of respondents were aware that lifestyle choices influence kidney disease risk, while 81.2% recognized the importance of hydration. However, only 4.2% reported learning about kidney health in their studies. Regarding lifestyle habits, 83.9% limited processed food intake, 80% maintained adequate hydration, but only 53.5% exercised regularly. A majority (82.4%)believed kidney disease is preventable through healthy lifestyles, yet just 50.1% possessed adequate knowledge of its risk factors. Additionally, 83.6% supported more health campaigns, and 72.4% agreed kidney health education should be part of theuniversity curriculum. Chi- square tests indicated significant relationships between awareness of lifestyle impact and both gender (χ² =8.088, p = 0.044) and age (χ² = 84.097, p = 0.000). Overall, 64.4% were willing to attend kidney health seminars, and 85.7% desired more information. The study concludes that while awareness of lifestyle-related kidney health is generally positive, knowledge gaps persist, underscoring the need for targeted health education and inclusion of kidney health topics in tertiary curricula.

This study examined the perceived influence of chemotherapy on nutritional symptomatology among patients with cancer attending the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City, Edo State. The study adopted a descriptive cross-sectional design,and data were collected from 154 adult patients undergoing chemotherapy using a structured questionnaire.Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics including frequencies, means, and standard deviations. Findings revealed that 82.5% of respondents reported experiencing loss of appetite, 76.0% nausea, 68.2% vomiting, and 71.4% taste alteration during chemotherapy. About 64.9% of the patients also reported early satiety and difficulty maintaining regular meals, while 58.4% experienced significant weight loss. The mean scores further indicated that loss of appetite (Mean = 4.12), nausea (Mean = 4.06), and taste alteration (Mean = 3.95) were the most common nutritional symptoms. In coping with these effects, the majority of respondents adopted strategies such as eating small frequent meals (Mean = 4.28), increasing fluid intake (Mean = 4.10),and avoiding spicy foods (Mean = 3.85). Most participants (73.4%) perceived that proper nutritional management improved their tolerance to chemotherapy and overall well-being. The study concluded that chemotherapy has a significant negative effect on nutritional health among cancer patients. It recommends that oncology nurses and dietitians strengthen nutritional counseling and integrate individualized dietary plans into chemotherapy care.

Food hygiene is a major public health concern in tertiary academic institutions where a large population depends on food vendors for daily meals. Poor food hygiene practices may expose consumers to foodborne diseases despite vendors’ awareness of hygiene principles. This study assessed the knowledge, attitude, and practice of food hygiene among food vendors in a tertiary academic institution in Edo State. A descriptive cross-sectional design was adopted for the study. A convenience sampling technique was used to select 250 food vendors. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire covering socio-demographic characteristics, knowledge, attitude, practice, and factors influencing food hygiene practices. Out of 250 questionnaires distributed, 243 were properly completed and analyzed, giving a response rate of 97.2%. Data analysis was performed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 27.0. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used at a 5% level of significance. Findings revealed that 53% (128) of the respondents had good knowledge of food hygiene, while 47% (115) had poor knowledge, with a grand mean score of 1.5, indicating overall good knowledge. Attitude toward food hygiene was generally positive, as 63% (153) of the vendors demonstrated positive attitudes, with a grand mean of 2.8. However, food hygiene practices were largely inadequate, as only 41% (99) exhibited good practices, while 59% (144) practiced poor food hygiene, with a low grand mean score of 2.4. Key factors influencing food hygiene practices included access to clean water, level of education, waste disposal facilities, training, financial constraints, regular inspection, and institutional support, with a grand mean of 3.0. Hypothesis testing showed no significant relationship between knowledge and food hygiene practice (χ² = 9.786, p = 0.092) and no significant relationship between attitude and food hygiene practice (χ² = 6.876, p = 0.089). Despite good knowledge and positive attitudes toward food hygiene, food vendors demonstrated poor hygiene practices, indicating a significant knowledge–practice gap. Regular training, improved access to water and sanitation facilities, routine health inspections, and institutional support are recommended to enhance food hygiene practices among food vendors in tertiary institutions.

Academic stress is a significant challenge in nursing education, affecting students' mental health, academic performance, and professional development. Understanding stress levels, contributing factors, and coping mechanisms is essential for developing effective support interventions. This study assessed the level of academic stress, identified contributing factors, and examined coping mechanisms among nursing students in a tertiary institution in Benin City, Edo State. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 252 undergraduate nursing students(200-500 level) at the University of Benin using structured questionnaires. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, including frequencies, percentages, means, and standard deviations. Students experienced moderate overall academic stress (grand mean = 2.77), with high stress levels related to overwhelming workload, meeting deadlines, and financial demands. Major contributing factors included limited time for tasks (91.2%), large workload (84.5%), frequent examinations (79.7%), and poor time management (80.9%). Effective coping mechanisms included spiritual engagement (mean = 3.88), time management (mean = 3.84), and social support (mean = 3.12), while professional counseling services were significantly underutilized(mean = 1.70). Maladaptive coping strategies, such as substance abuse, were rarely employed. Nursing students experience considerable academic stress, requiring a comprehensive institutional
interventions including workload management, mental health awareness, accessible counseling services, and integration of stress management training into nursing curricula.

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.

Workplace violence against nurses is a growing concern that negatively affects their well- being, job performance, and the quality of patient care. This study investigated the factors influencing workplace violence and its impact on nurses’ job performance in selected wards at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), Benin City, Edo State. A descriptive cross-sectional survey design was used, and data were collected from 101 nurses using structured questionnaires. Results revealed a high prevalence of workplace violence, with verbal abuse (98.3%), threats (80.1%), sexual harassment (69%), and physical assault (54.5%)
commonly experienced. Major contributing factors identified included long patient waiting times, understaffing, poor communication, unmet patient expectations, and lack of hospital security. The study also found that workplace violence significantly affected nurses’ job performance, motivation, mental health, and ability to deliver quality patient care. Despite the frequency of incidents, a significant portion of nurses did not report cases of violence. Respondents strongly supported strategies such as conflict resolution training, increased staffing, improved security, psychological support, and better communication with patients as effective in reducing violence. T

This study assessed the awareness, perception, and utilization of genetic counsellingforbreast cancer among relatives of patients with cancer in the University of Benin TeachingHospital (UBTH), Benin City, Edo State. Genetic counselling plays a vital role in identifyingindividuals at risk of hereditary breast cancer and in promoting preventive and early detectionstrategies. However, limited awareness and accessibility hinder its utilization in manylowresource settings, including Nigeria. The study adopted a descriptive cross-sectional design. A purposive sampling technique was used to select 169 participants who were relativesofcancer patients attending the University of Benin Teaching Hospital. Astructuredquestionnaire was used for data collection, and 163 properly completed questionnaires wereanalyzed, representing a 96.5% response rate. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 26.0 and presented in frequencies, percentages, mean scores, and chi-square tests. Findings revealed that the majorityofrespondents (64%) had a poor level of awareness of genetic counselling for breast cancer, while 61% exhibited negative perceptions toward it. The level of utilization was alsolow, with 77% of participants reporting that they had never accessed or engaged ingeneticcounselling services. Major barriers identified included high cost (82.8%), lack of awareness(81.6%), limited availability of trained professionals, cultural and religious beliefs, andpoorinstitutional support. Hypothesis testing showed a significant relationship between awarenessand perception (p = 0.012) and between perception and utilization (p = 0.01). The studyconcluded that awareness, perception, and utilization of genetic counselling for breast canceramong relatives of cancer patients remain low due to informational, financial, and systemicbarriers. It was recommended that government and health institutions intensifypubliceducation, subsidize counselling costs, train healthcare providers especially nurses ingeneticcounselling, and integrate genetic services into routine cancer care to improve accessibilityand uptake.

Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus (T1DM) is a chronic autoimmune disorder predominantly affecting children and adolescents. Despite its rising global prevalence and the lifelong self- management it requires, awareness and understanding of the disease remain low among adolescents. This study aimed to evaluate the knowledge and perception of T1DM among adolescents in selected departments within the Faculty of Arts at the University of Benin. A descriptive cross-sectional survey design was employed, using a structured questionnaire administered to 291 students aged 13 to 19 years. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 25, with descriptive and inferential statistics applied. Findings revealed that while awareness of diabetes was relatively high, only 15.4% of respondents demonstrated good knowledge of T1DM, with 45.4% showing poor understanding. Most respondents (59.5%) could differentiate between Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, but only 26.1% correctly identified the autoimmune nature of T1DM. Additionally, misconceptions were noted regarding its prevention and management. In terms of perception, 57.7% of the participants held negative views toward the condition, though a significant number acknowledged its seriousness and supported increased awareness. A strong statistical relationship (p < 0.001) was found between knowledge level and perception, indicating that improved knowledge correlates with more positive attitudes. However, no significant difference in knowledge or perception was observed across gender. The study concludes that substantial knowledge gaps and misconceptions about T1DM exist among adolescents in the arts faculty, negatively influencing their perception. It recommends targeted health education programs to improve adolescents’ understanding and attitudes toward T1DM, thereby promoting early recognition, supportive peer environments, and better disease management