SCHOOL OF BASIC MEDICAL SCIENCE

his study elicits self –management of hypertension among elderly patients in a tertiary health institution in Benin City, Edo State. The aim of this study is to ascertain the self-management behaviors the elderly hypertensive patients in University of Benin Teaching Hospital. It employed a cross-sectional survey design by administrating a well structured questioner to two hundred and sixty nine (269) hypertensive patients in university of Benin teaching hospital. The respondents were selected using random sampling and subjected to statistical analysis. The data set from the administered questionnaire was analysed using descriptive and inferential statistical and the level of significance was set at p<0.05. Analysis of the data was presented with descriptive statistics using tables and means to represent information. The result of the findings revealed that 30% had poor knowledge, majority 50.7% had fair knowledge, 38.1% had good knowledge of hypertension. 20.9% of respondents had poor level practice of hypertension self management, 23.1% had a fair level of practice while majority 56% had good knowledge of hypertension self management. This study recommends that good knowledge of hypertension help in self management therefore health providers should create awareness to enlighten hypertensive patients on their self management.

Tuberculosis continues to be a major public health problem globally. The aim of the study was to detect Mycobacterium tuberculosis antibodies in apparently healthy individuals in Gabia and Chike communities of Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State, Nigeria. Out of the 228 respondents of the questionnaire served, 205 (89.9%) acknowledged that they heard about tuberculosis. Two hundred and twenty eight (228) samples of human serum were examined for Mycobacterium tuberculosis antibodies using a one step TB IgG/IgM flow chromatographic immunoassay. The prevalence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in
the study areas was 19.7%. The prevalence in the inhabitants of Chinke was 10.5% while that of Gabia was 9.2%. The females in the study population had a prevalence of 12.3% while the males had 7.5%. The prevalence was more in individuals in the age brackets of 40 – 49 years (7.9%) and 50 – 59 years (3.5%), while individuals within the age brackets of 70 – 79 years in Chinke and 80 – 89 years in Gabia did not present with Mycobacterium tuberculosis antibodies. Considering active and inactive (Latent) infection, a total of 18 (7.9%) individuals had IgM antibodies, with males constituting 4.7% and females with 3.1%, indicative of recent infection while 27 (11.9%) had IgG antibodies showing previous infection. Considering active and inactive (Latent) infection, a total of 18 (7.9%) individuals had IgM antibodies, with males constituting 4.7% and females with 3.1%, indicative of recent infection while 27 (11.9%) had IgG antibodies showing previous infection. The sputum of IgM positive cases were further examined for acid fast bacilli and the result was statistically significant (p>0.02), showing 2.6% with 2+, 5.2% with a +. The high prevalence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in the study areas is worrisome as the positive individuals are not only at risk of having full blown tuberculosis in the future but are also sources of spreading the bacteria to the populace.

Aqueous extract of Gongronema latifolium was examined for its hepatoprotective properties. For a week, 98 male Wistar rats—which weigh between 120 and 150g each—were kept in orderly, quiet cages and given access to grower mash as needed to aid in their acclimatization. Groups of rats were separated out. The weight range of each group member was typical for the entire group. As a result, at the start of the experimental period, the rats had reached an average weight of 150–200g. Animals in Group 1 just got food and water as a standard control. In groups 2, 3, 4, and 5, diabetes was produced. Streptozotocin was used to stimulate the group 2 rats, however they were not given any medication. Streptozotocin was used to stimulate group 2 rats, but they were not given any further treatment, making them the negative control group. Metformin was used to initiate and treat the group 3 rats. Group 4 rats received 200mg/kg body weight of the bvaqueous fraction, and group 5 received 400mg/kg of the aqueous fraction. The results of the fasting blood glucose levels (mg/dl) of the rats in each group were: group 1, 84.40±2.50a, group 2, 348.10±10.20d, group 3, 108.50±6.20c, group 4, 160.20±1.25d, group 5, 150.12±2.50d, for each group respectively. The average body weights of the rats in each group were: group 1, 13.99±0.14, group 2, -21.44±0.11, group 3, 18.13±0.18, group 4, -13.72±0.11, group 5, 11.91±0.22. Gongronema latifolium significantly (p0.05) decreased fasting blood glucose level, raised albumin level, decreased ALT and AST level, and increased body weight in rats when administered at doses of 200 mg/kg body weight and 400 mg/kg aqueous fraction, respectively.

The main purpose of teaching is to bring about change in the learners’ behaviour. This change is the major responsibility of the teachers. The aim of this study is to assess effective teaching methods as perceived by undergraduate Basic Medical Sciences students, University of Benin, Benin City as there is a scarcity of information on the perception on effective teaching methods
and their choice of teaching methods for effective learning. The study employed a descriptive survey research design and used multistage sampling technique to select 387 participants in Basic Medical Sciences Students, University of Benin, Benin City. A well-structured questionnaire was used as instruments of data collection Descriptive and inferential statistics was used for data analysis with p<0.05 level of significance. The result from the study shows that students perceived that all clinical teaching skills and behaviours are important with demonstration overwhelmingly favoured with 99.9% of students agreeing that the method is
effective, and the teacher’s ability and preference are the most influential factors that affects the choice of teaching methods. Lecturers should utilize effective teaching strategies via continual improvement and updating of their teaching strategies.

This aim of this study is to assess the knowledge and practices of safe handling and administration of chemotherapeutic drugs amongst tertiary health facility, Benin City. The study adopted a descriptive cross-sectional research design and simple random sampling method was used to select Two hundred and seventy-eight nurses in the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City. A well-structured questionnaire was used as instruments of data collection. The data was analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Simple frequency and percentage were used to describe the data, while chi-square was used to test
the hypotheses. The level of significance was set at p<0.05. The analysis was performed using the IBM Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 28.0 for windows. The result shows that majority of the respondents have fair level of knowledge of chemotherapeutic drugs and low level of practice of safe handling of chemotherapeutic drugs and that none of the sociodemographic characteristics was associated with level of knowledge of chemotherapeutic drugs. The study therefore recommends that there is the need for Institutions to implement and enforce standardized procedures for administering chemotherapy, ensuring the use of appropriate PPE and adherence to safety protocols.

The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of neonatal jaundice in University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) from 2018 – 2022. The research design adopted for the study is a non-experimental, retrospective research design method and total
population sampling method of all the neonatal jaundice cases of children admitted into the special baby unit from January 2018 – 2022. An observational checklist for manual collection of secondary data of admitted children in the unit from their case
notes and hospital records was used as instruments of data collection. The data was analyzed using descriptive statistics. The result from the study shows a steady increase in the prevalence of neonatal jaundice with a drop in 2021 and the highest
prevalence in 2022. The result shows a steady increase in the prevalence of neonatal jaundice with a drop in 2021 and the highest prevalence in 2022. The study however also identified that that there is a significant association between prevalence of
neonatal jaundice in male and female neonates and there is a significant association between clinical factors and outcomes of neonatal jaundice.

Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder marked by persistent hyperglycemia, which drives yet often overlooked aspect of diabetes pathophysiology is its reciprocal relationship with physiological stress. Oxidative stress can impair the function of the Hypothalamic–Pituitary– Adrenal (HPA) axis, causing an increase in cortisol secretion. Elevated cortisol, in turn, aggravates hyperglycemia and intensifies oxidative damage, creating a vicious cycle that accelerates the onset and progression of diabetic complications. Picralima nitida, a medicinal plant traditionally used in diabetes treatment, is known for its antidiabetic and antioxidant properties. However, its potential role in modulating cortisol imbalances associated with diabetes has not been previously examined. This study therefore investigated the protective effects of an aqueous fruit extract of Picralima nitida (APN) on hyperglycemia, oxidative stress, and serum cortisol levels in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. Diabetes was induced in adult male Wistar rats using STZ (55 mg/kg), after which the animals received varying doses of APN for a specified treatment period. A group treated with glibenclamide served as the standard drug control. Fasting blood glucose levels were monitored throughout the study, and serum cortisol concentrations were measured using a competitive ELISA technique. The findings revealed that STZ-induced diabetic rats experienced a significant rise in cortisol levels (18.5 ± 0.1 µg/ml) compared with the non-diabetic control group (13.35 ± 2.45 µg/ml), confirming that oxidative stress triggers heightened HPA axis activity. Treatment with APN produced a pronounced reduction in cortisol levels, with the low-dose and high-dose groups showing values of 10.3 ± 1.4 µg/ml and 10.15 ± 1.45 µg/ml respectively. These reductions were statistically significant when compared with both the control and diabetic groups (P < 0.05). In addition, APN administration led to marked improvements in fasting blood glucose and oxidative stress markers. In summary, the study demonstrates that Picralima nitida effectively lowers blood glucose, mitigates oxidative stress, and corrects cortisol imbalances in diabetic rats. These results underscore its potential therapeutic value in addressing both metabolic disturbances and stress-related abnormalities associated with diabetes mellitus.

Azanza garckeana , a plant native to Central, Eastern, and Southern Africa, as well as parts of West Africa, is traditionally renowned for its medicinal properties, particularly its role in enhancing male reproductive health. This study investigated the protective effects of aqueous leaf extract of Azanza garckeana (AGE) against lead acetate-induced testicular toxicity in Wistar rats. This specific objectives evaluated the phytochemical constituents and antioxidant capacity of Azanza garckeana , as well as its effects on various physiological and
biochemical parameters in Wistar rats. The objectives also included assessing changes in body and organ weights, oxidative stress markers, and male reproductive hormones (FSH, LH, testosterone) across experimental groups. Additionally, sperm analysis was conducted, and the impact of A. garckeana aqueous extract on the histology of testes in lead acetateinduced rats was examined. Thirty-six adult Wistar rats were divided into six groups. Group A served as the control, receiving only feed and water. Group B was exposed to 100 mg/kg body weight (BW) of lead acetate. Group C received 400 mg/kg BW of AGE only, while Group D was administered 800 mg/kg BW of AGE. Group E received a combination of 400 mg/kg BW of AGE and 100 mg/kg BW of lead acetate, and Group F received 800 mg/kg BW of AGE alongside 100 mg/kg BW of lead acetate.

Background / Purpose of the Study: Non-specific chronic low back pain (NSCLBP) is a leading cause of disability worldwide. Prolonged waiting in physiotherapy clinics may aggravate pain and influence treatment outcomes. This study examined the effect of waiting time on clinical outcomes of pain intensity and coping strategies (catastrophising, diverting attention, reinterpretation of pain, cognitive coping) in patients with NSCLBP attending physi therapy sessions at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), Benin City, Nigeria. Methods / Procedures: Sixty patients diagnosed with NSCLBP participated in this prospective study. Standardized instruments were used, including the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) for pain intensity, the Coping Strategies Questionnaire (CSQ-24), and a 0–100 satisfaction score. Waiting time was measured as the interval between patient arrival and treatment start, using a Digital stopwatch. Descriptive statistics of mean and standard deviation were used to summarize participants’ characteristics, while inferential statistics of paired t-tests, MANOVA, Pearson’s correlation, and chi-square tests were used to analyse data at p < 0.05. Results: Most participants (73.3%) waited less than 30 minutes. Pain intensity slightly increased during waiting (p < 0.001) but significantly decreased post-treatment (p < 0.001). Waiting time had no significant effect on pain, catastrophizing, or cognitive coping but influenced reinterpretation of pain (p = 0.006). A strong association was found between shorter waiting periods and higher satisfaction levels (χ² = 51.74, p < 0.001). Longer waits showed weak but positive correlations with post-treatment cognitive coping (r = 0.285, p = 0.027).
Conclusion: Brief waiting times increased pre-treatment pain slightly but did not adversely affect overall outcomes. Physiotherapy effectively reduced pain and improved adaptive coping. Efficient scheduling, patient education, and supportive communication during waiting are recommended to enhance satisfaction and treatment success

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) is a prevalent occupational health concern among workers performing repetitive hand movements. This cross-sectional study investigated the prevalence of CTS among male barbers in Benin Metropolis and assessed the utilization of radiological examinations in diagnosis. A total of 142 male barbers aged 18-50 years were recruited using convenience sampling from barbershops across Oredo, Egor, and Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Areas. Data were collected using structured questionnaires covering sociodemographic information, occupational factors, CTS symptoms, and radiological examination history. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 28, with chi- square tests examining associations between variables at p<0.05 significance level. Results showed a clinically diagnosed CTS prevalence of 23.9% and symptom-based prevalence of 62.7%, substantially higher than general population estimates. Significant associations were found between CTS symptoms and years of experience (p=0.019), daily working hours (p=0.010), and grip style (p=0.001). Among symptomatic barbers, only 46.1% sought
medical care, and merely 22.0% received radiological examinations. Plain radiography predominated (17.1%) despite limited diagnostic value, while nerve conduction studies (9.8%)
and ultrasound (4.9%) were rarely utilized. The study confirms male barbers as a high-risk occupational group for CTS and reveals significant gaps in healthcare-seeking behavior and
diagnostic imaging utilization. Comprehensive occupational health interventions including ergonomic education, workplace modifications, and improved access to appropriate diagnostic services are urgently needed