N.D EKECHUKWU

Background: Physical disabilities resulting from stroke, spinal cord injury (SCI), and traumatic brain injury (TBI) pose significant challenges to affected individuals, yet comparative assessments of these conditions remain limited in Nigeria. Understanding the determinants of disability in these populations is crucial for developing targeted rehabilitation strategies. Aims: This study aimed to compare the level of physical disability and its determinants among stroke survivors, SCI patients, and TBI patients, providing insights into their unique rehabilitation needs. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 60 participants (20 per group). Data on demographic and health variables were collected using structured questionnaires and validated tools, including the WHO Disability Assessment Schedule (WHODAS 2.0), Berg Balance Scale (BBS), and Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). One-way ANOVA was used to identify significant differences among groups. Results: The mean age of participants was 56.27 ± 10.70 years, with a mean condition duration of 5.60 ± 6.85 years the average score for the general health status (GS) was 32.05 ± 9.0. The WHO Disability Assessment Schedule (WHODAS) had a mean score of 21.65 ± 13.6. WHODAS scores suggested moderate disability across groups, with SCI patients showing higher scores, although not statistically significant (p = 0.053). Cognitive function remained preserved across all groups, as evidenced by high MMSE scores (mean: 29.97). the mean PHQ score was 5.70. ±4.3, the mean for PSS was 18.95 ±6.3, the mean BBS was 28.62 ±24.27. Conclusion: SCI patients exhibit greater impairments in balance and mobility compared to stroke and TBI patients.

Background: Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) are a significant public health concern globally, affecting individuals across various occupations, and academic staffs are at risk of Work related musculoskeletal disorders due to the nature of their work which involves prolonged sitting, repetitive tasks, and ergonomic challenges in their workplaces. Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of Musculoskeletal symptoms and identify the key determinants contributing to these symptoms among academic staff in university of Benin, Edo state. Methods: Purposive sampling was used to select 14 faculties in UNIBEN, and 180 lecturers were randomly selected from each faculty. An adapted version of the Nordic Musculoskeletal questionnaire was used to obtain information on socio-demographic data and MSK symptoms, while descriptive statistics and inferential statistics of Chi square were used to summarise and analyse data respectively. Alpha level was 0.05. Results: This study showed that musculoskeletal symptoms were most prevalent in the upper back (50.3%), closely followed by knee (41.3%), lower back (40.2%) and neck (37.4%). Gender and BMI status had significant association with Musculoskeletal symptoms (P<0.05). Conclusion: The burden of musculoskeletal disorders among academic staff of the University of Benin was common, with gender and BMI having significant association with Musculoskeletal symptoms. Keywords: Musculoskeletal disorders, Musculoskeletal symptoms, Prevalence , Determinant