Chioma Ajator - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Chioma Ajator

International Journal Of Health & Medical Research

Background: Buruli ulcer is a chronic, debilitating, necrotizing disease of the skin and soft tis... more Background: Buruli ulcer is a chronic, debilitating, necrotizing disease of the skin and soft tissue caused by Mycobacterium ulcerans. Early detection and appropriate treatment of the patients are currently the most important measures for preventing the debilitating consequences of the disease. Objective: To assess the clinical profile of Buruli ulcer patients presenting in a referral hospital in Anambra state, Nigeria. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out among a cohort of 39 Buruli ulcer disease patients referred to a referral hospital in Anambra State between July and December 2021. A semi-structured, interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to collect data on the socio-demographic characteristics and the clinical presentation of the patients. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 22; with alpha set at p-value ≤ 0.05. Results: Twenty one (53.8%) of the study participants were males while 18 (46.2%) were females. Their mean age was 28.41±18.668. Acti...

EC Emergency Medicine and Critical Care, May 25, 2021

The use of solar energy and a lesser reliance on fossil fuels in Nigeria, which is in line with t... more The use of solar energy and a lesser reliance on fossil fuels in Nigeria, which is in line with the United Nations Paris agreement will help to reduce the excessive emission of green house gases which are the major causes of global warming and climate change. Excessive emission of greenhouse gases has been discovered to affect the health of individuals, communities and institutions in Nigeria adversely. This study identifies that the use of solar energy which is one of the climate change mitigation strategies will help to enhance good health and well being, increase environmental sustainability and also boost sustainable economic growth in Nigeria. This study further highlights the health and psychological benefits as well as the economic opportunities in the innovative use of solar energy in Nigeria. Through our literature review and participant observation, we have discovered that despite the recent remarkable advancements in solar energy technology, many individuals in Nigeria ar...

Journal of Public Health and Epidemiology, 2021

Daily fluid intake in individuals is known to be influenced by several factors such as climatic c... more Daily fluid intake in individuals is known to be influenced by several factors such as climatic conditions, physical activities, nature of fluid and its availability, and behavioural responses. The high temperature of the tropics is expected to increase fluid intake, and more so for labor-intensive workers. The fluid intake of sedentary and manual workers in southeast Nigeria was assessed and compared with international benchmarks. A cross sectional study was conducted among 243 subjects from both groups. The subjects were assessed and data on socio-demographic variables, weight, height and 24 hour fluid intake documented. The fluid intake of the manual workers was significantly higher than that of sedentary workers. Higher proportions of manual workers met the fluid recommendations of WHO and the USA IOM for men on moderate activities. However, the manual workers fared poorly on fluid intake when compared with the WHO recommendation for manual workers operating in high temperatures. Though studies in other countries have shown deficiencies in populations meeting international benchmarks for fluid intake, its occurrence in workers operating in high temperatures of the tropics and its possible effects on body performance and health is of great concern and calls for public enlightenment for adequate intake.

Science Journal of Public Health, 2015

Introduction: Healthcare waste is any solid or liquid waste that is generated in the diagnosis, t... more Introduction: Healthcare waste is any solid or liquid waste that is generated in the diagnosis, treatment or immunization of human beings or animals, in research pertaining thereto, or in production or testing of biologicals. Mismanagement of healthcare waste poses risks to people and the environment. Improving the standards of healthcare waste management protects the health and safety of healthcare workers, patients, visitors to healthcare facilities and the general public. This study was carried out to determine the knowledge and practice of healthcare waste management by the healthcare workers in Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital Nnewi, Nigeria. Methods: This was a cross-sectional descriptive study. There hundred and thirty one healthcare workers who have been in the employment of Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital were recruited into the study by proportionate sampling technique. Data was collected using a semistructured self-administered questionnaire. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 17. A p-value <0.05 was considered significant. Results: One hundred and seventy nine (54.1%) of the respondents were males while 149 (45%) were females. The commonest age group was 25-34 years (49.5%). Three hundred and twenty (96.7%) of the respondents had tertiary education, 8 (2.4%) had secondary education, while 3 (0.9%) had primary education and none of the respondents had no education at all. One hundred and twenty six (38.1%) of the respondents have worked for the hospital for 2-4 years while 4 (1.2%) have worked for greater than or equal to 20 years. The knowledge of healthcare waste management among the healthcare workers was high. But the practice was not optimal. Conclusion: The healthcare workers had a high level of knowledge regarding healthcare waste management but practice amongst the workers was not adequate.

International Journal of TROPICAL DISEASE & Health, 2021

Background and Aim: Healthcare workers have the highest risk of exposure to COVID-19 infection du... more Background and Aim: Healthcare workers have the highest risk of exposure to COVID-19 infection due to the nature of their occupation which daily exposes them to infectious agents/people with COVID-19. The study aimed to determine the knowledge of healthcare workers towards COVID-19 infection prevention strategies and factors that affect infection prevention against COVID-19. Materials and Methods: A hospital-based cross-sectional analytical study conducted in a tertiary health institution. One hundred and ninety-five participants were recruited consecutively into the study. Data was collected using a 13-question semi-structured self-administered questionnaire. The knowledge, perceptions and factors contributing to COVID-19 infection, prevention and control (IPC) were measured. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 23. The test of significance was set at p-value <0.05. Results: The knowledge of COVID-19 Infection, Prevention and Control (IPC) was 31.8%, 63.6% of the participants we...

Background: Gender-based violence (GBV) increases during every type of emergency whether economic... more Background: Gender-based violence (GBV) increases during every type of emergency whether economic crises, conflicts or disease outbreak like in the case of Coronavirus Disease of 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and types of GBV among secondary school students during the COVID-19 pandemic in Anambra State, South East, Nigeria.Methods: The study was a cross-sectional study, conducted among 403 secondary school student who were recruited consecutively after consent and assent were gotten. Self-administered semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect the data. Data was analysed using STATA version 16.0. The level of significance for test of association was set at p-value < 0.05Results: The prevalence of GBV was 63.28%, emotional/verbal abuse were the most prevalent type while sexual abuse was the least type (85.5% vs 8.2%). The highest perpetrator of the emotional/verbal abuse were their fellow students (64.8%). The relationship between GB...

Journal of Adolescent Health, 2017

International Journal Of Health & Medical Research

Background: Buruli ulcer is a chronic, debilitating, necrotizing disease of the skin and soft tis... more Background: Buruli ulcer is a chronic, debilitating, necrotizing disease of the skin and soft tissue caused by Mycobacterium ulcerans. Early detection and appropriate treatment of the patients are currently the most important measures for preventing the debilitating consequences of the disease. Objective: To assess the clinical profile of Buruli ulcer patients presenting in a referral hospital in Anambra state, Nigeria. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out among a cohort of 39 Buruli ulcer disease patients referred to a referral hospital in Anambra State between July and December 2021. A semi-structured, interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to collect data on the socio-demographic characteristics and the clinical presentation of the patients. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 22; with alpha set at p-value ≤ 0.05. Results: Twenty one (53.8%) of the study participants were males while 18 (46.2%) were females. Their mean age was 28.41±18.668. Acti...

EC Emergency Medicine and Critical Care, May 25, 2021

The use of solar energy and a lesser reliance on fossil fuels in Nigeria, which is in line with t... more The use of solar energy and a lesser reliance on fossil fuels in Nigeria, which is in line with the United Nations Paris agreement will help to reduce the excessive emission of green house gases which are the major causes of global warming and climate change. Excessive emission of greenhouse gases has been discovered to affect the health of individuals, communities and institutions in Nigeria adversely. This study identifies that the use of solar energy which is one of the climate change mitigation strategies will help to enhance good health and well being, increase environmental sustainability and also boost sustainable economic growth in Nigeria. This study further highlights the health and psychological benefits as well as the economic opportunities in the innovative use of solar energy in Nigeria. Through our literature review and participant observation, we have discovered that despite the recent remarkable advancements in solar energy technology, many individuals in Nigeria ar...

Journal of Public Health and Epidemiology, 2021

Daily fluid intake in individuals is known to be influenced by several factors such as climatic c... more Daily fluid intake in individuals is known to be influenced by several factors such as climatic conditions, physical activities, nature of fluid and its availability, and behavioural responses. The high temperature of the tropics is expected to increase fluid intake, and more so for labor-intensive workers. The fluid intake of sedentary and manual workers in southeast Nigeria was assessed and compared with international benchmarks. A cross sectional study was conducted among 243 subjects from both groups. The subjects were assessed and data on socio-demographic variables, weight, height and 24 hour fluid intake documented. The fluid intake of the manual workers was significantly higher than that of sedentary workers. Higher proportions of manual workers met the fluid recommendations of WHO and the USA IOM for men on moderate activities. However, the manual workers fared poorly on fluid intake when compared with the WHO recommendation for manual workers operating in high temperatures. Though studies in other countries have shown deficiencies in populations meeting international benchmarks for fluid intake, its occurrence in workers operating in high temperatures of the tropics and its possible effects on body performance and health is of great concern and calls for public enlightenment for adequate intake.

Science Journal of Public Health, 2015

Introduction: Healthcare waste is any solid or liquid waste that is generated in the diagnosis, t... more Introduction: Healthcare waste is any solid or liquid waste that is generated in the diagnosis, treatment or immunization of human beings or animals, in research pertaining thereto, or in production or testing of biologicals. Mismanagement of healthcare waste poses risks to people and the environment. Improving the standards of healthcare waste management protects the health and safety of healthcare workers, patients, visitors to healthcare facilities and the general public. This study was carried out to determine the knowledge and practice of healthcare waste management by the healthcare workers in Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital Nnewi, Nigeria. Methods: This was a cross-sectional descriptive study. There hundred and thirty one healthcare workers who have been in the employment of Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital were recruited into the study by proportionate sampling technique. Data was collected using a semistructured self-administered questionnaire. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 17. A p-value <0.05 was considered significant. Results: One hundred and seventy nine (54.1%) of the respondents were males while 149 (45%) were females. The commonest age group was 25-34 years (49.5%). Three hundred and twenty (96.7%) of the respondents had tertiary education, 8 (2.4%) had secondary education, while 3 (0.9%) had primary education and none of the respondents had no education at all. One hundred and twenty six (38.1%) of the respondents have worked for the hospital for 2-4 years while 4 (1.2%) have worked for greater than or equal to 20 years. The knowledge of healthcare waste management among the healthcare workers was high. But the practice was not optimal. Conclusion: The healthcare workers had a high level of knowledge regarding healthcare waste management but practice amongst the workers was not adequate.

International Journal of TROPICAL DISEASE & Health, 2021

Background and Aim: Healthcare workers have the highest risk of exposure to COVID-19 infection du... more Background and Aim: Healthcare workers have the highest risk of exposure to COVID-19 infection due to the nature of their occupation which daily exposes them to infectious agents/people with COVID-19. The study aimed to determine the knowledge of healthcare workers towards COVID-19 infection prevention strategies and factors that affect infection prevention against COVID-19. Materials and Methods: A hospital-based cross-sectional analytical study conducted in a tertiary health institution. One hundred and ninety-five participants were recruited consecutively into the study. Data was collected using a 13-question semi-structured self-administered questionnaire. The knowledge, perceptions and factors contributing to COVID-19 infection, prevention and control (IPC) were measured. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 23. The test of significance was set at p-value <0.05. Results: The knowledge of COVID-19 Infection, Prevention and Control (IPC) was 31.8%, 63.6% of the participants we...

Background: Gender-based violence (GBV) increases during every type of emergency whether economic... more Background: Gender-based violence (GBV) increases during every type of emergency whether economic crises, conflicts or disease outbreak like in the case of Coronavirus Disease of 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and types of GBV among secondary school students during the COVID-19 pandemic in Anambra State, South East, Nigeria.Methods: The study was a cross-sectional study, conducted among 403 secondary school student who were recruited consecutively after consent and assent were gotten. Self-administered semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect the data. Data was analysed using STATA version 16.0. The level of significance for test of association was set at p-value < 0.05Results: The prevalence of GBV was 63.28%, emotional/verbal abuse were the most prevalent type while sexual abuse was the least type (85.5% vs 8.2%). The highest perpetrator of the emotional/verbal abuse were their fellow students (64.8%). The relationship between GB...

Journal of Adolescent Health, 2017