HEALTHCARE

Background: Hand hygiene is a critical preventive measure in healthcare ,reducing the transmission of healthcare associated infections (HCAIs).Despite its importance ,compliance among healthcare workers remains inconsistent ,particularly in resource -constrained settings. Objective: To assess the knowledge,practice,attitude,andcompliancetowardshandhygieneamonghealthcare workers in Oluku community, Benin City. Methodology: Across- sectional study was conducted among 116 healthcare workers from public and private Facilities in Oluku community. Data was collected using structured questionnaires addressing knowledge, practice, compliance, and factors influencing hand hygiene. Descriptive and inferential statistics were employed, with significance set atp<0.05.
Results: The study included 116 health care workers, with females comprising 65.5% and the majority aged between 31-40years(40.5%). Knowledge of hand hygiene was high, with 81.0% demonstrating good knowledge, predominantly obtained through workshops(85.3%). Good hand hygiene practices were reported by 85.3%, with 54.3% consistently adhering to the WHO’s five moments of hand hygiene. Compliance was highest a fter exposure to body fluids(93.1%) and lowest before patient interaction(50.9%). Alcohol- based hand sanitizers were regularly used by 87.9%, and 94.0% washed hands with soap and water. Factor s affecting compliance included the unavailability of soap(59.5%), lack of reminders(57.8%),and busy s chedules(51.7%). Public facility workers exhibited higher adherence compared to private facility workers(p<0.05).
Conclusion: The study revealed good knowledge and practice of hand hygiene among healthcare worker s in Oluku community ,but compliance with key protocols was sub optimal. Addressing barriers could enhance adherence and reduce HCAIs.

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.

This study investigated the prevalence and outcome of malaria infection among children below 11 years of age in a tertiary healthcare facility in Benin City from 2022–2024. The study aimed to determine the months and years when malaria infection was most prevalent, the gender in which malaria infection was most common, the number of children who had malaria infection, and the treatment outcomes of malaria infection among children below 11 years in a selected tertiary healthcare facility from 2022–2024. The study adopted a non-experimental, retrospective
research design method. The study population consisted of all children aged 0 to 10 years who presented with a confirmed diagnosis of malaria at a selected tertiary healthcare facility in Benin City, Edo State, between 2022–2024. A sample size of 900 medical records was selected for the study using a retrospective census sampling technique. A checklist was used for data collection. The instrument was validated by the research supervisor and two other experts in the field. To ensure the reliability of the instrument, a pilot study was conducted prior to full data collection, extracting information from 20 randomly selected pediatric malaria case records not included in the main study. The data collected were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20 to obtain the Mean, SD, chi-square, and P-value < 0.05. The result shows that malaria was most prevalent in May and in the year 2023, and the treatment outcome of malaria infection had a 95% success rate and a 5% failure rate. Based on the findings, it was recommended that health education by health personnel should be intensified to enlighten parents on the dangers of malaria and ways of preventing it. Mass media outlets such as television, radio, road jingles, and posters should also be used to disseminate useful information on malaria.

Access to healthcare is a fundamental human right, yet significant disparities persist in many regions, particularly in Nigeria and across Africa. These disparities are often influenced by race, ethnicity, and age, with underserved populations facing considerable barriers to receiving quality healthcare. This project focuses on geospatial analysis as a tool to assess and address healthcare access inequities. By leveraging geospatial technologies, this study seeks to map healthcare facilities, analyze spatial patterns of accessibility, and evaluate disparities in healthcare availability across diverse demographic groups. Using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and publicly available data on healthcare infrastructure, population demographics, and socioeconomic indicators, the project identifies regions with inadequate healthcare coverage. Key variables, including proximity to healthcare facilities, density of healthcare providers, and transportation infrastructure, are analyzed in relation to demographic data such as race, ethnicity, and age distribution. Special attention is given to rural and peri-urban areas where healthcare infrastructure is typically sparse. This study also integrates statistical models to quantify disparities, providing actionable insights into how race and ethnicity intersect with geographic location to impact access to essential health services. In regions like Nigeria, where the healthcare system faces significant challenges, the project explores how these disparities disproportionately affect vulnerable populations such as ethnic minorities, elderly citizens, and children. The findings are expected to highlight areas of acute need, where targeted policy interventions could have the greatest impact. Moreover, the geospatial approach offers a data-driven framework for decision-makers, empowering them to allocate resources more effectively and design strategies to bridge healthcare gaps.

Background: Radiographers play a vital role in healthcare, utilizing imaging technologies to support accurate diagnosis and treatment. However, non-medical students, such as those in law, may lack comprehensive knowledge of radiographers’ responsibilities, potentially hindering interdisciplinary collaboration and effective healthcare advocacy.
Aim: This study aimed to assess the knowledge of University of Benin Faculty of Law students regarding the role of radiographers in healthcare and to identify factors influencing their awareness.
Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted among 310 undergraduate law students at the University of Benin, using a structured questionnaire adapted from validated health literacy tools. The questionnaire assessed demographic data, knowledge of radiographers’ roles, and sources of health information. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 25, employing descriptive statistics (frequencies, percentages, means) and chi-square tests to examine associations between demographic factors and knowledge levels at a 0.05 significance level. Results: The findings revealed a high level of knowledge among respondents, with a mean knowledge score of 85.02% (SD = 22.70), and 77.1% classified in the “good” knowledge category. A significant association was found between year of study and knowledge levels (χ² = 21.838, p = 0.0052), with senior students demonstrating greater awareness. Gender showed a marginal association (χ² = 5.847, p = 0.0538). Informal sources, such as media and peers, were the primary information channels, highlighting limited formal educational exposure. Conclusion: University of Benin law students exhibit substantial knowledge of radiographers’ roles, though reliance on informal sources suggests potential inaccuracies. Integrating health literacy modules into non-medical curricula and promoting inter-professional education could enhance understanding and foster collaboration. Targeted interventions for lower-level students and public awareness campaigns are recommended to ensure accurate knowledge and support future healthcare advocacy. Keywords: Radiographers, Health Literacy, Law Students, Knowledge assessment, inter-professional collaboration, University of Benin.