Research Articles in Medicine & Surgery

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    Referral System: An Assessment of Primary Health Care Centres in Plateau State, North Central Nigeria
    (World Journal of Research and Review (WJRR), 2018-01-02) Afolaranmi, T.O.; Hassan, Z.I.; Filibus, D.I.; Al-Mansur, U.A.; Lagi, L.A.; Kumbak, F.D.; Daboer, J.C.; Chirdan, O.O.
    Abstract – Background: An effective referral system ensures a close relationship between all levels of the health system and helps to ensure patients receive the best possible care close to home. There appears to be a weak link of referral system in chain of continuity of care across the levels of health care in Nigeria placing huge demands on secondary and tertiary levels of care for health care service provision. In view of this, this study was conducted to assess the level of practice of referral and factors influencing it among health workers in PHCs in Plateau state North central Nigeria. Methodology: This was a cross sectional study conducted among 228 frontline health care workers in PHCs. SPSSS version 20 was used for data analysis, adjusted odds ratio as well as 95% confidence interval were used in this study with a p-value of ≤0.05 considered statistically significant. Results: The respondents’ mean age was 38.0 ± 9 years with slight above half 116 (54.2%) having good understanding of the concept of referral and most 77.6% had referred at least a case within the last one month. Factors such as good understanding of the concept of referral (AOR = 6.2; 95% Cl = 1.4556 – 8.7991) and availability of referral system (AOR = 8.4; 95% Cl =2.1168 – 15.5450) were predictors of the practice of referral. Conclusion: This study has demonstrated the level of practice of referral among cadres of health care workers at PHCs level with significant need for improvement.
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    Situational analysis of Orphans and Vulnerable Children in urban and rural communities of Plateau State
    (Annals of African Medicine, 2015-02-02) Tagurum, Y.O.; Chirdan, O.O.; Bello, D.A.; Afolaranmi, T.O.; Hassan, Z.I.; Iyaji A.U.; Idoko, L.
    Background: Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC) are children affected by HIV and AIDS by virtue of, among others, living in a household where one or more people are ill, dying or deceased, or which fosters orphans, and children whose care givers are too ill or old to continue to care for them. They often have more health needs than their peers. This study was carried out to obtain baseline information on the needs of OVC in North-Central Nigeria as a basis for provision of relief services. Methods: A house to house cross-sectional survey of OVC recruited via a multistage sampling technique was carried out in four LGAs of Plateau State, Nigeria. The Child Status Index (CSI) tool was used to obtain information from the respondents and/or their caregivers. Vulnerability of the children was assessed using a Vulnerability Index (VI) scoring which ranged from 1-21, with 1-9 being vulnerable, 10-14 more vulnerable, and 15-21 being most vulnerable. Results: A total of 825 OVC ages ranging from 0–17 years and mean age of 9.8 ± 4.5 years were studied. 432 were males (52.4%) and 393 females (47.6%). 64.8% lived in households headed by women out of which 77.6% were widows. Six hundred and one (72.8%) household heads were farmers. Paternal orphans made up 59.8% of the respondents and 12.1% had lost both parents. Prevalence of abuse/exploitation was 17.7% and 66.7% experienced household food insecurity. Four hundred and seventy-eight (57.9%) OVC lived in households with no source of income. One hundred and fifty-one (18.3%) children (54.9% boys and 45.1% girls) had never been to school. 55.0% had minimal health problems. Majority of them (60.3%) lived in dilapidated shelter and 3.3% were living on the street. Conclusion: This survey revealed the various needs of OVC. Efforts to care, support and protect vulnerable children should not only focus on their immediate survival needs such as education, shelter and clothing, but also on long-term developmental needs that reduce children’s vulnerability such as life skills, child protection, vocational training, food security and household economic strengthening.