SATURDAY NICHOLAS OGHUMU

Background: Foot health is an important but often neglected component of overall well-being. Despite the high prevalence of foot ailments globally, there is a paucity of research on the knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to foot health among the general adult population in Nigeria. Aim: This study aimed to determine the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of foot health and care among apparently healthy adults in Benin City, Nigeria. Methods: This cross-sectional study involved 1000 apparently healthy adults (598 males, 402 females) residing in Benin City. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire developed by the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA). It assessed sociodemographic characteristics, knowledge of foot health, attitudes towards foot care, self-reported foot health, and foot care practices. Data collected was summarized using descriptive statistics and Chi-square test was used to determine associations between variables. Alpha level was set at p<0.05. Results: 41.7% of respondents rated foot care as 'Very Important', and 48.0% reported giving their foot health 'No thought at all'. Foot ailments were common, with pain in the ball of the feet being the most frequent (56.5%). This pain significantly impacted daily life, inhibiting sleep for most respondents (56.3%). Foot care practices were reactive, with a preference for informal information sources like specific health websites (57.5%) over professional consultation. Sociodemographic factors such as age (p < 0.001) and gender (p < 0.05) were significantly associated with knowledge and attitudes towards foot health and care. Conclusion: Apparently healthy adults in Benin City possess fair to good knowledge and attitudes towards foot health but foot care practices are reactive. Their foot health is impacted by common among them. These findings underscore the need for targeted public health initiatives to improve foot health literacy and promote preventive care practices in Benin City.

Background / Purpose of the Study: Physiotherapy has proven effective in managing musculoskeletal conditions; however, awareness and utilisation of such services among Basic Medical Students at the University of Benin remains underexplored. Methods / Procedure: A descriptive cross-sectional design was employed involving 336 Basic Medical Students selected through stratified random sampling. Data was collected using an adapted questionnaire on awareness and utilization of physiotherapy services from a previous study and analysed using descriptive statistics like mean, standard deviation, frequencies and percentages and Chi-square tests to examine associations between awareness, utilisation, and sociodemographic factors. Results: This study found out that all participants were familiar with the term physiotherapy. The primary sources of information were academic settings (40.8%) and physiotherapists (25.9%). A majority (57.1%) recognized physiotherapists as healthcare providers who treat patients, although misconceptions about their roles were evident. Utilisation was low, with 32.7% having used physiotherapy services, primarily for knee and low back pain. Ignorance about physiotherapy was identified as the major barrier to utilisation. Significant associations were found between awareness and factors such as gender (P= 0.020, X2= 9.28) and level of study (P= 0.043, X2= 37.79), indicating variation in knowledge sources and depth. Despite low utilization, attitudes towards physiotherapy were predominantly positive, with 97.6% willing to recommend the services. Conclusion: The study highlights the need for enhanced health education and policy strategies to improve awareness and encourage utilisation of physiotherapy services among Basic Medical Students, which may contribute to better management of musculoskeletal pain and improved academic outcomes.