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Papers by Paul Dienye

Research paper thumbnail of Determination of factors that influence job satisfaction among health workers in Southern Nigeria

Journal of Hospital Administration, Dec 13, 2015

Research paper thumbnail of Contraception as a risk factor for urinary tract infection in Port Harcourt, Nigeria : a case control study : original research

African Journal of Primary Health Care & Family Medicine, 2011

Background: The concerted effort of government and donor agencies to limit fertility by the use o... more Background: The concerted effort of government and donor agencies to limit fertility by the use of contraceptives has been reported in some studies to predispose to urinary tract infection (UTI). Similar studies have not been conducted in the General Outpatient Department (GOPD) of the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH). Objectives: This study was aimed at assessing the role of contraceptives in the development of UTI amongst adult females attending the GOPD of UPTH. Method: A case control study in which contraceptive users who attended the GOPD of the UPTH in four months, and an equal number of age-matched controls, were screened for UTI. The information obtained from them was entered into a specially designed pre-tested questionnaire for analysis. The results were analysed using SPSS version 14. Results: A total of 150 contraceptive users and controls were evaluated. Their age range was 18-50 years, with a mean of 27.8 ± 5.3 years. Most of the participants belonged to the lower socioeconomic classes. The combined prevalence of UTI amongst the contraceptive users and the controls was 23.7%, with the contraceptive users at 35.3% and the controls at 12.0%. The association of UTI with contraceptive use was statistically significant, with McNemar's χ 2 = 16.28, p = 0.000, odds ratio (OR) = 2.9, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.7-5.3, attributable risk (AR) = 23.3, population attributable risk (PAR) = 11.7. The users of barrier contraceptives were more predisposed to UTI (OR = 17.30, 95% CI = 7.49-39.96). Conclusion: Contraceptive use is a significant risk factor for acquiring urinary tract infection, with the barrier methods being more predisposing. Health education for the hygienic and safe use of family planning methods will prevent long-term complications.

Research paper thumbnail of Pattern of inappropriate cases presenting to the Accident and Emergency Department in a Nigeria Tertiary Hospital

South African Family Practice, Jul 1, 2015

Background: Although the primary mission of the Accident and Emergency Department (AED) is to pro... more Background: Although the primary mission of the Accident and Emergency Department (AED) is to provide initial treatment for life-threatening conditions, some patients make inappropriate use of the service. This study is aimed to determine the level of inappropriate use and the morbidity pattern of such patients presenting to the department in a tertiary hospital in Nigeria. Materials and methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study in which inappropriate users of the AED of University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital were recruited. Data on socio-demographic characteristics and diagnoses based on ICPC-2 were collected from them and analysed using SPSS version 17. Results: A total of 430 patients were recruited with age range of 18-62 years and mean of 38.45 ± 7.2 years. Considering the socio-demographic characteristics, only the association between gender and utilisation of the AED was statistically significant (p = 0.014). The prevalence of inappropriate use of the AED was 37.7%. The most frequent diagnosis among inappropriate users using the ICPC rubrics was polyuria and glycosuria (9.88%). When the cases were listed by the organ systems according to ICPC chapters, it was found that the commonest diagnoses were gastrointestinal (20.9%) and general and unspecified conditions (17.7%). Psychological conditions were not identified in this study. The most common reason for inappropriately presentation at the AED was patients referring themselves for quick attention (46. 3%). Conclusions: The level of inappropriate utilisation of the accident and emergency department was very high in this institution. Creation of public awareness will curtail this sickness behaviour.

Research paper thumbnail of Domestic Violence Against Men in Primary Care in Nigeria

American Journal of Men's Health, Oct 23, 2008

Domestic violence against men is rare in Nigeria. This study was aimed at assessing the prevalenc... more Domestic violence against men is rare in Nigeria. This study was aimed at assessing the prevalence of domestic violence against men, the sociodemographic characteristics of victims, and the pattern of injury sustained in a primary care setting. This was a retrospective study over a period of 5 years in which all the medical records of patients were retrieved and information on domestic violence extracted from them and transferred to a data sheet. Those whose records were grossly deficient were excluded from the study. A total of 220,000 patients were seen of which 48 (22 per 100,000) were victims of domestic violence. There were only five married male victims with a prevalence of 0.0023%. The injuries observed were scratches, bruises, welts, and scalds. The primary care physician needs a high index of suspicion to be able to detect it.

Research paper thumbnail of Intersection Between Alcohol Abuse and Intimate Partner’s Violence in a Rural Ijaw Community in Bayelsa State, South-South Nigeria

Journal of Interpersonal Violence, Oct 10, 2011

Research paper thumbnail of Practice of anaesthesia and surgery in a rural clinic: meeting the challenge

Turkish journal of family medicine and primary care, 2014

Practice of Anaesthesia and Surgery in a Rural Clinic: Meeting the Challenge This is a descriptiv... more Practice of Anaesthesia and Surgery in a Rural Clinic: Meeting the Challenge This is a descriptive prospective study aimed at describing the scope of surgery and anaesthetic practice in a rural clinic in Ngo, Nigeria. All the medical records of patients that fulfilled the inclusion criteria and managed in the clinic were retrieved and analysed. Out of 6911 patients who attended the clinic within the period, 575 (8.32%) medical records of surgical patients were retrieved. Fifteen (2.60%) were referred to tertiary health centres for expert management of their surgical conditions. Of the remaining 560 medical records that were retrieved 551(98.4%) met the criteria for inclusion and had their surgical pathology treated in 583 procedures. The most common surgical problem encountered in the rural clinic was hernias(39.75%) done mainly using 1% xylocaine local anaesthesia (63.64%). The most commontype of anaesthesia used in the clinic was ketamine anaesthesia(53.90%). Mortality recorded within the period was in two (0.4%) women who had eclampsia and severe post partum haemorhage. The result suggests that adequately trained family physicians can meet the challenge of scarcity of surgeons and anaesthesiologists in the rural areas satisfactorily.

Research paper thumbnail of Fever of unknown origin in an infant with an unexpected blood film report: a case report

Rural and Remote Health, Jan 5, 2010

Introduction: Fever of unknown origin (FUO) can be defined as a rectal temperature higher than 38... more Introduction: Fever of unknown origin (FUO) can be defined as a rectal temperature higher than 38.3°C on several occasions over more than 3 weeks, the diagnosis of which remains uncertain after initial investigations. Identification of the causes and management of FUO in children is an important role of rural primary care physicians, and is guided by thorough history-taking and repeated physical examinations combined with standard laboratory tests and simple imaging procedures. This can be difficult in rural practice due to poor availability and reliability of laboratory and imaging procedures, and the cost and misuse of antibiotics. Dependence on clinical and laboratory examinations may fail in diseases presenting in non-endemic areas. Trypanosomiasis is a known cause of fever; however, it is an unusual cause of FUO considering the place of residence of this patient. Case report: This report describes a case of trypanosomiasis presenting as FUO. The patient was a one-year-old Nigerian female who had been managed for malaria and bronchopneumonia for 2 weeks in a private clinic and was finally referred for further management to Eku Baptist Hospital, a rural mission hospital in the Niger Delta of Nigeria. Results of her laboratory tests showed nothing of significance apart from anaemia and trypanosomes discovered unexpectedly in the blood film. This was confirmed after a cervical lymph node biopsy and microscopic examination of the glandular fluid. Treatment with eflornithine was effective. Conclusion: The diagnosis of trypanosomiasis in this patient highlights that when a patient is not obviously exposed to the causative factors of a disease, possible occurrences may present a diagnostic problem.

Research paper thumbnail of Inguinal Mesh Hernioplasties: A Rural Private Clinic Experience in South Eastern Nigeria

Global Journal of Health Science, May 13, 2013

The objective of this paper is to review hernioplasties done for inguinal hernias in a rural priv... more The objective of this paper is to review hernioplasties done for inguinal hernias in a rural private hospital, bringing out the socio-demographic and clinical pattern and to sensitize surgeons and family physicians in our environment about the possibility of making hernioplasty a standard of care for inguinal hernias. Method: The records of seventy seven patients operated in a rural private hospital were reviewed. Socio-demographic data, operative techniques and post-operative outcomes were documented. The results were compared with relevant findings in the literature. Results: Eighty one Lichtenstein procedures were done, of which four were bilateral. Polypropylene mesh was used in all cases. A total of three patients (3.9%) had early post-operative complications. The complications were scrotal haematoma, haematoma complicated by wound sepsis and wound sepsis only. All the complications were successfully managed. There was no case of mesh removal or mortality. Conclusion: Early post-operative results suggest that mesh hernioplasty is possible in rural communities of West Africa, given the availability of mesh, basic medical infrastructure and relevant skilled manpower.

Research paper thumbnail of Respiratory symptoms amongst females in a fishing settlement in the Niger Delta, Nigeria : original research

African Journal of Primary Health Care & Family Medicine, 2011

Background: Approximately half of the earth's population in the rural areas of developing countri... more Background: Approximately half of the earth's population in the rural areas of developing countries uses energy obtained from biomass burning, which is harmful to people. Objectives: This study is aimed at determining which respiratory symptoms can be associated with biomass burning amongst fish smokers in the Oyorokoto fishing settlement. Method: A community-based, cross-sectional questionnaire, which employed a modified cluster sampling technique, was used. Results: A total of 300 subjects were recruited for the study, of which 210 (70%) were fish smokers. The mean age was 31.46 ± 13.03 years, with the majority (42.0%) having only primary school education. The prevalence of respiratory symptoms amongst the subjects was 86.7%, the most frequent of which were catarrh (30.48%) and a cough (28.57%). The respiratory symptom occurring least frequently was breathlessness (2.38%). The symptoms most often experienced during fish smoking were those of catarrh (75.5%) and sneezing (73.0%), whereas breathlessness occurred the least, in only 7 (3.3%) of the participants. Sneezing stopped in 64.2% of the subjects after fish smoking had ceased. Most of the fish smoking took place indoors. Conclusion: Health promotion featuring preventive interventions, such as the wearing of facemasks and the use of modern fish smoking methods, which is associated with fewer health risks, is essential to improving the quality of life of fish smokers. The government's provision of certain social services, including better education opportunities for the young, is advocated, and should be especially targeted at improving the lot of the girl child.

Research paper thumbnail of Contraception as a risk factor for urinary tract infection in Port Harcourt, Nigeria: A case control study

African Journal of Primary Health Care & Family Medicine, Feb 22, 2011

Background: The concerted effort of government and donor agencies to limit fertility by the use o... more Background: The concerted effort of government and donor agencies to limit fertility by the use of contraceptives has been reported in some studies to predispose to urinary tract infection (UTI). Similar studies have not been conducted in the General Outpatient Department (GOPD) of the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH). Objectives: This study was aimed at assessing the role of contraceptives in the development of UTI amongst adult females attending the GOPD of UPTH. Method: A case control study in which contraceptive users who attended the GOPD of the UPTH in four months, and an equal number of age-matched controls, were screened for UTI. The information obtained from them was entered into a specially designed pre-tested questionnaire for analysis. The results were analysed using SPSS version 14. Results: A total of 150 contraceptive users and controls were evaluated. Their age range was 18-50 years, with a mean of 27.8 ± 5.3 years. Most of the participants belonged to the lower socioeconomic classes. The combined prevalence of UTI amongst the contraceptive users and the controls was 23.7%, with the contraceptive users at 35.3% and the controls at 12.0%. The association of UTI with contraceptive use was statistically significant, with McNemar's χ 2 = 16.28, p = 0.000, odds ratio (OR) = 2.9, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.7-5.3, attributable risk (AR) = 23.3, population attributable risk (PAR) = 11.7. The users of barrier contraceptives were more predisposed to UTI (OR = 17.30, 95% CI = 7.49-39.96). Conclusion: Contraceptive use is a significant risk factor for acquiring urinary tract infection, with the barrier methods being more predisposing. Health education for the hygienic and safe use of family planning methods will prevent long-term complications.

Research paper thumbnail of Penile Fracture Following Husband Abuse: A Case Report

American Journal of Men's Health, Oct 2, 2008

Research paper thumbnail of Respiratory effects of biomass fuel combustion on rural fish smokers in a Nigerian fishing settlement: a case control study

African Health Sciences, Jul 1, 2016

Backgroud: The aim was to study the prevalence of respiratory symptoms and assess the lung functi... more Backgroud: The aim was to study the prevalence of respiratory symptoms and assess the lung function of fish smokers in Nigeria. Methods: A case control study was done among fish smokers in Nigeria. Women aged 15 years or older (n=210) involved in fish smoking and equal number of matched controls were interviewed on respiratory symptoms and their peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) measured. Data was analysed using chi square test, student's t-test and odd ratios. Results: Both groups were similar in their personal characteristics. The test group had significantly increased occurrence of sneezing (153; 72.86%), catarrh (159; 75.71%), cough (138; 65.71%) and chest pain (59; 28.10%) compared with the control group, odds ratio (OR) 2.49, 95% confidence interval CI (1.62-3.82), P < 0.001), OR 3.77,95% CI (2.44-5.85), P < 0.001, OR 3.38, 95% CI (2.22-5.15), P < 0.001, and OR 6.45,95% CI (3.22-13.15), P < 0.001, respectively. The mean PEFR of 321±58.93 L/min among the fish smokers was significantly lower than 400±42.92 L/min among the controls (p = 0.0001). Conclusion: Fish smokers have increased risk of respiratory symptoms and reduced pulmonary function. There is a need for protective equipment and periodic evaluation.

Research paper thumbnail of Acute Appendicitis Masquerading as Acute Scrotum

American Journal of Men's Health, Aug 3, 2011

Acute appendicitis presents typically with periumbilical pain that in a few hours settles at the ... more Acute appendicitis presents typically with periumbilical pain that in a few hours settles at the right lower quadrant of the abdomen. Atypical presentations are common but association with acute scrotum is an extreme rarity. A 30-year-old fisherman presented at a rural medical facility with a 2-day complaint of severe pain at the right hemiscrotum followed about 24 hours later with mild diffuse abdominal pain. There was associated mild fever and nausea but no vomiting. There were no urinary symptoms and no recent sexual exposure. Initial physical examination revealed mild generalized tenderness worse at the right lower quadrant but the scrotum was not remarkable, and cremasteric sign was negative. He was admitted as a case of acute abdomen for close observation. Abdominal and scrotal ultrasound scan were normal. By the second day of admission, pain became marked at the right lower abdomen with associated vomiting. There was also marked tenderness at the right lower quadrant with rebound. A diagnosis of acute appendicitis was thus made and appendicectomy done after proper workup. The abdominal and scrotal pain stopped after surgery and the patient was discharged on the seventh postoperative day. Patients with unusual abdominal and scrotal pain should be admitted and closely observed and evaluated to prevent unnecessary scrotal exploration or negative appendicectomy.

Research paper thumbnail of Intimate partner violence and associated coping strategies among women in a primary care clinic in Port Harcourt, Nigeria

Journal of family medicine and primary care, 2014

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is an important gender-based, social, and public health problem, ... more Intimate partner violence (IPV) is an important gender-based, social, and public health problem, affecting women globally. The aim was to report the prevalence of IPV and describe the coping strategies of the victims. It was conducted in the general outpatient clinic of a tertiary care hospital using a cross-sectional design. A random sample of consenting women living in an intimate partnership for a minimum of 1 year were served with a three part structured questionnaire which sought information on sociodemographic characteristics, the experience of IPV and the Brief COPE Inventory. SPSS version 17.0 software, Microsoft word and Excel were used in data handling and analysis. Means, percentages, standard deviations, and Chi-square were calculated. P &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt; 0.05 was considered to be significant. Of the 384 participants, 161 (41.9%) were physically abused. IPV was significantly common among women ≤40 years of age, married couples (78.5%), unemployed and in Christians. It was precipitated by argument with husband (19.25%) and financial demands (44.10%). The employed coping strategy with the highest score was religion. The least score was found in substance abuse. There was significantly high prevalence of domestic violence against women in this study. Hence, routine screening is advocated by family physicians to elicit abuse in order to avoid the more devastating psychological consequences after the incidence so as to institute appropriate treatment as multiple episodes of abuse appears to be cumulative in effect. The reason for violence mainly borders around the argument with husband and finance issues. The coping strategies utilized by the participants minimally involve substance abuse, but more of a religion.

Research paper thumbnail of The Association Between Giant Hydrocele and Depression in a Rural Clinic in Nigeria

American Journal of Men's Health, Jun 9, 2011

One of the dreaded disfiguring disease conditions among the Andoni tribesmen in the Nigerian Nige... more One of the dreaded disfiguring disease conditions among the Andoni tribesmen in the Nigerian Niger delta region is hydrocele, especially when its size is large (giant hydrocele) and it cannot be concealed. This case-control study was designed to evaluate the prevalence of depression among patients with giant hydrocele presenting to Bethesda Clinic Ngo, Andoni, Nigeria. A total of 52 patients were recruited into this study: 26 in the giant hydrocele group and 26 in the control group. Their age range was 23 to 78 years, with a mean age of 53.4 ± 15.5 years for the giant hydrocele group and 53.6 ± 14.2 years for the control group. The difference between the prevalence of depression among patients that presented with giant hydrocele (61.54%) and the controls (15.38%) was statistically significant (p = .0015). The authors conclude that depression is common among patients with giant hydrocele when compared with patients with other disease conditions.

Research paper thumbnail of Assessment of Healthcare-Seeking Behaviour and Self-Medication among Adult Patients with Gastrointestinal Symptoms at a Rural Clinic in the Niger Delta of Nigeria

PubMed, Apr 28, 2023

Background: Patients' behaviour in making decisions regarding their health is currently changing ... more Background: Patients' behaviour in making decisions regarding their health is currently changing from a passive role to an active one in which they participate fully in the control of their health as well as take initiatives in self-care. Objectives: This study evaluated health-seeking behaviour and practice of self-medication among patients with abdominal pain in a rural Primary Health Centre in the Niger Delta. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study among 400 patients that attended the Primary Health Centre in Oyorokoto, Rivers State, Nigeria. Interviewer-administered questionnaires were used to collect data on participants' demographics, medicines-taking behaviour, and practice of self-medication, Data analysis was done using Statistical Package for Social Science for windows version 20. The p-value of <0.05 at a confidence level of 95% was considered significant. Results: Most of the participants chose to consult formal health care when they experienced health problems (57.3%), and self-medication prevalence was 29.5%. The majority of the respondents (65.8%) took medication based on a health worker's advice while 32.5% depended on past experience with a similar illness. The practice of self-medication was significantly associated with gender, age, and religion. The female gender and older age groups significantly practice self-medication compared to the males and younger age groups(p<0.001). Christians significantly practice self-medication (p = 0.038). Conclusion: Increasing public awareness of the rational choice of getting medical assistance is very important. A health education program to increase awareness about the use of medicines among the general public and to enable them make the right decisions relating to their health problems is advocated.

Research paper thumbnail of Vulvovaginal haematoma presenting in the puerperium: A case report

Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research), Mar 30, 2021

Background: Vulvovaginal haematoma is an uncommon complication of childbirth that can cause mater... more Background: Vulvovaginal haematoma is an uncommon complication of childbirth that can cause maternal death if not properly managed. We present a case of a large vulvovaginal haematoma managed surgically with a good outcome. Clinical Presentation: JP was an unbooked 34 year old para 2 woman referred from a maternity home to Bethesda Family Hospital on account of a left-sided vulva swelling of two weeks duration following a spontaneous vaginal delivery of a live male baby that weighed 4.3 kilogrammes. She sustained a vaginal tear which was repaired by the attending midwife. Vaginal examination showed a firm and tender swelling of size 12 cm by 14cm involving the left labia majora and minora and extending to the perineal region and vagina. A diagnosis of vulvovaginal haematoma was made and she was educated on her condition and the treatment options. She was haemodynamically stable and the full blood count was normal. She was placed on analgesics and antibiotics, catheterized, and the haematoma evacuated under ketamine cover. She was discharged home on the second day. Conclusion: Surgical management of large vulva haematoma at the primary care level involves counselling, institution of antibiotics and analgesics and appropriately located incisions and evacuation of clots. This leads to quick recovery with minimal scarring, pain and dyspareunia.

Research paper thumbnail of Prevalence and socio-demographic factors associated with anaemia in pregnancy in a primary health centre in Rivers State, Nigeria : original research

African Journal of Primary Health Care & Family Medicine, 2012

Background: Anaemia, though a common problem in Nigeria, has not been adequately studied amongst ... more Background: Anaemia, though a common problem in Nigeria, has not been adequately studied amongst pregnant women in primary health care facilities. Objective: This study is aimed at determining the prevalence of anaemia and sociodemographic factors associated with anaemia in pregnancy in a primary health centre in Rivers State, Nigeria. Methodology: This is a cross-sectional study carried out in a primary health centre. Association between variables was analysed using the Chi-square test. Results: Two hundred and twenty-seven pregnant women whose ages ranged from 16 to 40 years with a mean age of 26.8 ± 4.3 years were recruited for the study. The haemoglobin concentration ranged from 6 g/dL-15 g/dL with a mean of 10.10 ± 1.27g/dL. A total of 142 (62.6%) participants were anaemic. Anaemia was observed to be least prevalent in women within the extremes of reproductive age (≤ 20 years and 36-40 years). There was no statistically significant association between age, educational level and marital status (p > 0.05). The association of anaemia with social class was statistically significant (p = 0.000). Severe anaemia was not a common finding amongst the patients but it was significantly associated with educational status (p = 0.02) and socioeconomic status (p = 0.03). Conclusion: The prevalence of anaemia amongst the pregnant participants in the primary health centre was high. Out of all the socio-demographic characteristics, only socioeconomic status was significantly associated with anaemia. It is recommended that the socioeconomic status of women should be enhanced in line with the Millennium Development Goals to prevent anaemia and to enhance pregnancy outcomes.

Research paper thumbnail of Prevalence and socio-demographic factors associated with anaemia in pregnancy in a primary health centre in Rivers State, Nigeria

African Journal of Primary Health Care & Family Medicine, Jun 4, 2012

Background: Anaemia, though a common problem in Nigeria, has not been adequately studied amongst ... more Background: Anaemia, though a common problem in Nigeria, has not been adequately studied amongst pregnant women in primary health care facilities. Objective: This study is aimed at determining the prevalence of anaemia and sociodemographic factors associated with anaemia in pregnancy in a primary health centre in Rivers State, Nigeria. Methodology: This is a cross-sectional study carried out in a primary health centre. Association between variables was analysed using the Chi-square test. Results: Two hundred and twenty-seven pregnant women whose ages ranged from 16 to 40 years with a mean age of 26.8 ± 4.3 years were recruited for the study. The haemoglobin concentration ranged from 6 g/dL-15 g/dL with a mean of 10.10 ± 1.27g/dL. A total of 142 (62.6%) participants were anaemic. Anaemia was observed to be least prevalent in women within the extremes of reproductive age (≤ 20 years and 36-40 years). There was no statistically significant association between age, educational level and marital status (p > 0.05). The association of anaemia with social class was statistically significant (p = 0.000). Severe anaemia was not a common finding amongst the patients but it was significantly associated with educational status (p = 0.02) and socioeconomic status (p = 0.03). Conclusion: The prevalence of anaemia amongst the pregnant participants in the primary health centre was high. Out of all the socio-demographic characteristics, only socioeconomic status was significantly associated with anaemia. It is recommended that the socioeconomic status of women should be enhanced in line with the Millennium Development Goals to prevent anaemia and to enhance pregnancy outcomes.

Research paper thumbnail of Pattern of paediatric conditions seen in the children emergency room of an urban hospital in South-Eastern Nigeria

GSC Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences

Background: Children Emergency Room (CHER) is a vital health care services point in many hospital... more Background: Children Emergency Room (CHER) is a vital health care services point in many hospitals and can contribute beneficially in the evaluation of many hospitals ncluding tertiary ones. It enables many paediatric cases to be managed in the hospitals without being admitted into the paediatric wards with good outcomes. Material and Methods: This was a retrospective study involving review of records of all the children seen in the CHER between January 2012 and June 2012. The objectives were to look at the pattern and outcome of paediatric conditions in CHER with the aim of providing data for further evaluation and improvement. A proforma developed by the authors was used in collecting the relevant information from the patients’ records. The data collected was simply analyzed. Results: The total of 486 paediatric patients who satisfied the inclusion and exclusion criteria were seen in the CHER. Those less then one year of age constituted 58.6% of the patients. Majority (56.8%) of t...

Research paper thumbnail of Determination of factors that influence job satisfaction among health workers in Southern Nigeria

Journal of Hospital Administration, Dec 13, 2015

Research paper thumbnail of Contraception as a risk factor for urinary tract infection in Port Harcourt, Nigeria : a case control study : original research

African Journal of Primary Health Care & Family Medicine, 2011

Background: The concerted effort of government and donor agencies to limit fertility by the use o... more Background: The concerted effort of government and donor agencies to limit fertility by the use of contraceptives has been reported in some studies to predispose to urinary tract infection (UTI). Similar studies have not been conducted in the General Outpatient Department (GOPD) of the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH). Objectives: This study was aimed at assessing the role of contraceptives in the development of UTI amongst adult females attending the GOPD of UPTH. Method: A case control study in which contraceptive users who attended the GOPD of the UPTH in four months, and an equal number of age-matched controls, were screened for UTI. The information obtained from them was entered into a specially designed pre-tested questionnaire for analysis. The results were analysed using SPSS version 14. Results: A total of 150 contraceptive users and controls were evaluated. Their age range was 18-50 years, with a mean of 27.8 ± 5.3 years. Most of the participants belonged to the lower socioeconomic classes. The combined prevalence of UTI amongst the contraceptive users and the controls was 23.7%, with the contraceptive users at 35.3% and the controls at 12.0%. The association of UTI with contraceptive use was statistically significant, with McNemar's χ 2 = 16.28, p = 0.000, odds ratio (OR) = 2.9, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.7-5.3, attributable risk (AR) = 23.3, population attributable risk (PAR) = 11.7. The users of barrier contraceptives were more predisposed to UTI (OR = 17.30, 95% CI = 7.49-39.96). Conclusion: Contraceptive use is a significant risk factor for acquiring urinary tract infection, with the barrier methods being more predisposing. Health education for the hygienic and safe use of family planning methods will prevent long-term complications.

Research paper thumbnail of Pattern of inappropriate cases presenting to the Accident and Emergency Department in a Nigeria Tertiary Hospital

South African Family Practice, Jul 1, 2015

Background: Although the primary mission of the Accident and Emergency Department (AED) is to pro... more Background: Although the primary mission of the Accident and Emergency Department (AED) is to provide initial treatment for life-threatening conditions, some patients make inappropriate use of the service. This study is aimed to determine the level of inappropriate use and the morbidity pattern of such patients presenting to the department in a tertiary hospital in Nigeria. Materials and methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study in which inappropriate users of the AED of University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital were recruited. Data on socio-demographic characteristics and diagnoses based on ICPC-2 were collected from them and analysed using SPSS version 17. Results: A total of 430 patients were recruited with age range of 18-62 years and mean of 38.45 ± 7.2 years. Considering the socio-demographic characteristics, only the association between gender and utilisation of the AED was statistically significant (p = 0.014). The prevalence of inappropriate use of the AED was 37.7%. The most frequent diagnosis among inappropriate users using the ICPC rubrics was polyuria and glycosuria (9.88%). When the cases were listed by the organ systems according to ICPC chapters, it was found that the commonest diagnoses were gastrointestinal (20.9%) and general and unspecified conditions (17.7%). Psychological conditions were not identified in this study. The most common reason for inappropriately presentation at the AED was patients referring themselves for quick attention (46. 3%). Conclusions: The level of inappropriate utilisation of the accident and emergency department was very high in this institution. Creation of public awareness will curtail this sickness behaviour.

Research paper thumbnail of Domestic Violence Against Men in Primary Care in Nigeria

American Journal of Men's Health, Oct 23, 2008

Domestic violence against men is rare in Nigeria. This study was aimed at assessing the prevalenc... more Domestic violence against men is rare in Nigeria. This study was aimed at assessing the prevalence of domestic violence against men, the sociodemographic characteristics of victims, and the pattern of injury sustained in a primary care setting. This was a retrospective study over a period of 5 years in which all the medical records of patients were retrieved and information on domestic violence extracted from them and transferred to a data sheet. Those whose records were grossly deficient were excluded from the study. A total of 220,000 patients were seen of which 48 (22 per 100,000) were victims of domestic violence. There were only five married male victims with a prevalence of 0.0023%. The injuries observed were scratches, bruises, welts, and scalds. The primary care physician needs a high index of suspicion to be able to detect it.

Research paper thumbnail of Intersection Between Alcohol Abuse and Intimate Partner’s Violence in a Rural Ijaw Community in Bayelsa State, South-South Nigeria

Journal of Interpersonal Violence, Oct 10, 2011

Research paper thumbnail of Practice of anaesthesia and surgery in a rural clinic: meeting the challenge

Turkish journal of family medicine and primary care, 2014

Practice of Anaesthesia and Surgery in a Rural Clinic: Meeting the Challenge This is a descriptiv... more Practice of Anaesthesia and Surgery in a Rural Clinic: Meeting the Challenge This is a descriptive prospective study aimed at describing the scope of surgery and anaesthetic practice in a rural clinic in Ngo, Nigeria. All the medical records of patients that fulfilled the inclusion criteria and managed in the clinic were retrieved and analysed. Out of 6911 patients who attended the clinic within the period, 575 (8.32%) medical records of surgical patients were retrieved. Fifteen (2.60%) were referred to tertiary health centres for expert management of their surgical conditions. Of the remaining 560 medical records that were retrieved 551(98.4%) met the criteria for inclusion and had their surgical pathology treated in 583 procedures. The most common surgical problem encountered in the rural clinic was hernias(39.75%) done mainly using 1% xylocaine local anaesthesia (63.64%). The most commontype of anaesthesia used in the clinic was ketamine anaesthesia(53.90%). Mortality recorded within the period was in two (0.4%) women who had eclampsia and severe post partum haemorhage. The result suggests that adequately trained family physicians can meet the challenge of scarcity of surgeons and anaesthesiologists in the rural areas satisfactorily.

Research paper thumbnail of Fever of unknown origin in an infant with an unexpected blood film report: a case report

Rural and Remote Health, Jan 5, 2010

Introduction: Fever of unknown origin (FUO) can be defined as a rectal temperature higher than 38... more Introduction: Fever of unknown origin (FUO) can be defined as a rectal temperature higher than 38.3°C on several occasions over more than 3 weeks, the diagnosis of which remains uncertain after initial investigations. Identification of the causes and management of FUO in children is an important role of rural primary care physicians, and is guided by thorough history-taking and repeated physical examinations combined with standard laboratory tests and simple imaging procedures. This can be difficult in rural practice due to poor availability and reliability of laboratory and imaging procedures, and the cost and misuse of antibiotics. Dependence on clinical and laboratory examinations may fail in diseases presenting in non-endemic areas. Trypanosomiasis is a known cause of fever; however, it is an unusual cause of FUO considering the place of residence of this patient. Case report: This report describes a case of trypanosomiasis presenting as FUO. The patient was a one-year-old Nigerian female who had been managed for malaria and bronchopneumonia for 2 weeks in a private clinic and was finally referred for further management to Eku Baptist Hospital, a rural mission hospital in the Niger Delta of Nigeria. Results of her laboratory tests showed nothing of significance apart from anaemia and trypanosomes discovered unexpectedly in the blood film. This was confirmed after a cervical lymph node biopsy and microscopic examination of the glandular fluid. Treatment with eflornithine was effective. Conclusion: The diagnosis of trypanosomiasis in this patient highlights that when a patient is not obviously exposed to the causative factors of a disease, possible occurrences may present a diagnostic problem.

Research paper thumbnail of Inguinal Mesh Hernioplasties: A Rural Private Clinic Experience in South Eastern Nigeria

Global Journal of Health Science, May 13, 2013

The objective of this paper is to review hernioplasties done for inguinal hernias in a rural priv... more The objective of this paper is to review hernioplasties done for inguinal hernias in a rural private hospital, bringing out the socio-demographic and clinical pattern and to sensitize surgeons and family physicians in our environment about the possibility of making hernioplasty a standard of care for inguinal hernias. Method: The records of seventy seven patients operated in a rural private hospital were reviewed. Socio-demographic data, operative techniques and post-operative outcomes were documented. The results were compared with relevant findings in the literature. Results: Eighty one Lichtenstein procedures were done, of which four were bilateral. Polypropylene mesh was used in all cases. A total of three patients (3.9%) had early post-operative complications. The complications were scrotal haematoma, haematoma complicated by wound sepsis and wound sepsis only. All the complications were successfully managed. There was no case of mesh removal or mortality. Conclusion: Early post-operative results suggest that mesh hernioplasty is possible in rural communities of West Africa, given the availability of mesh, basic medical infrastructure and relevant skilled manpower.

Research paper thumbnail of Respiratory symptoms amongst females in a fishing settlement in the Niger Delta, Nigeria : original research

African Journal of Primary Health Care & Family Medicine, 2011

Background: Approximately half of the earth's population in the rural areas of developing countri... more Background: Approximately half of the earth's population in the rural areas of developing countries uses energy obtained from biomass burning, which is harmful to people. Objectives: This study is aimed at determining which respiratory symptoms can be associated with biomass burning amongst fish smokers in the Oyorokoto fishing settlement. Method: A community-based, cross-sectional questionnaire, which employed a modified cluster sampling technique, was used. Results: A total of 300 subjects were recruited for the study, of which 210 (70%) were fish smokers. The mean age was 31.46 ± 13.03 years, with the majority (42.0%) having only primary school education. The prevalence of respiratory symptoms amongst the subjects was 86.7%, the most frequent of which were catarrh (30.48%) and a cough (28.57%). The respiratory symptom occurring least frequently was breathlessness (2.38%). The symptoms most often experienced during fish smoking were those of catarrh (75.5%) and sneezing (73.0%), whereas breathlessness occurred the least, in only 7 (3.3%) of the participants. Sneezing stopped in 64.2% of the subjects after fish smoking had ceased. Most of the fish smoking took place indoors. Conclusion: Health promotion featuring preventive interventions, such as the wearing of facemasks and the use of modern fish smoking methods, which is associated with fewer health risks, is essential to improving the quality of life of fish smokers. The government's provision of certain social services, including better education opportunities for the young, is advocated, and should be especially targeted at improving the lot of the girl child.

Research paper thumbnail of Contraception as a risk factor for urinary tract infection in Port Harcourt, Nigeria: A case control study

African Journal of Primary Health Care & Family Medicine, Feb 22, 2011

Background: The concerted effort of government and donor agencies to limit fertility by the use o... more Background: The concerted effort of government and donor agencies to limit fertility by the use of contraceptives has been reported in some studies to predispose to urinary tract infection (UTI). Similar studies have not been conducted in the General Outpatient Department (GOPD) of the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH). Objectives: This study was aimed at assessing the role of contraceptives in the development of UTI amongst adult females attending the GOPD of UPTH. Method: A case control study in which contraceptive users who attended the GOPD of the UPTH in four months, and an equal number of age-matched controls, were screened for UTI. The information obtained from them was entered into a specially designed pre-tested questionnaire for analysis. The results were analysed using SPSS version 14. Results: A total of 150 contraceptive users and controls were evaluated. Their age range was 18-50 years, with a mean of 27.8 ± 5.3 years. Most of the participants belonged to the lower socioeconomic classes. The combined prevalence of UTI amongst the contraceptive users and the controls was 23.7%, with the contraceptive users at 35.3% and the controls at 12.0%. The association of UTI with contraceptive use was statistically significant, with McNemar's χ 2 = 16.28, p = 0.000, odds ratio (OR) = 2.9, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.7-5.3, attributable risk (AR) = 23.3, population attributable risk (PAR) = 11.7. The users of barrier contraceptives were more predisposed to UTI (OR = 17.30, 95% CI = 7.49-39.96). Conclusion: Contraceptive use is a significant risk factor for acquiring urinary tract infection, with the barrier methods being more predisposing. Health education for the hygienic and safe use of family planning methods will prevent long-term complications.

Research paper thumbnail of Penile Fracture Following Husband Abuse: A Case Report

American Journal of Men's Health, Oct 2, 2008

Research paper thumbnail of Respiratory effects of biomass fuel combustion on rural fish smokers in a Nigerian fishing settlement: a case control study

African Health Sciences, Jul 1, 2016

Backgroud: The aim was to study the prevalence of respiratory symptoms and assess the lung functi... more Backgroud: The aim was to study the prevalence of respiratory symptoms and assess the lung function of fish smokers in Nigeria. Methods: A case control study was done among fish smokers in Nigeria. Women aged 15 years or older (n=210) involved in fish smoking and equal number of matched controls were interviewed on respiratory symptoms and their peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) measured. Data was analysed using chi square test, student's t-test and odd ratios. Results: Both groups were similar in their personal characteristics. The test group had significantly increased occurrence of sneezing (153; 72.86%), catarrh (159; 75.71%), cough (138; 65.71%) and chest pain (59; 28.10%) compared with the control group, odds ratio (OR) 2.49, 95% confidence interval CI (1.62-3.82), P < 0.001), OR 3.77,95% CI (2.44-5.85), P < 0.001, OR 3.38, 95% CI (2.22-5.15), P < 0.001, and OR 6.45,95% CI (3.22-13.15), P < 0.001, respectively. The mean PEFR of 321±58.93 L/min among the fish smokers was significantly lower than 400±42.92 L/min among the controls (p = 0.0001). Conclusion: Fish smokers have increased risk of respiratory symptoms and reduced pulmonary function. There is a need for protective equipment and periodic evaluation.

Research paper thumbnail of Acute Appendicitis Masquerading as Acute Scrotum

American Journal of Men's Health, Aug 3, 2011

Acute appendicitis presents typically with periumbilical pain that in a few hours settles at the ... more Acute appendicitis presents typically with periumbilical pain that in a few hours settles at the right lower quadrant of the abdomen. Atypical presentations are common but association with acute scrotum is an extreme rarity. A 30-year-old fisherman presented at a rural medical facility with a 2-day complaint of severe pain at the right hemiscrotum followed about 24 hours later with mild diffuse abdominal pain. There was associated mild fever and nausea but no vomiting. There were no urinary symptoms and no recent sexual exposure. Initial physical examination revealed mild generalized tenderness worse at the right lower quadrant but the scrotum was not remarkable, and cremasteric sign was negative. He was admitted as a case of acute abdomen for close observation. Abdominal and scrotal ultrasound scan were normal. By the second day of admission, pain became marked at the right lower abdomen with associated vomiting. There was also marked tenderness at the right lower quadrant with rebound. A diagnosis of acute appendicitis was thus made and appendicectomy done after proper workup. The abdominal and scrotal pain stopped after surgery and the patient was discharged on the seventh postoperative day. Patients with unusual abdominal and scrotal pain should be admitted and closely observed and evaluated to prevent unnecessary scrotal exploration or negative appendicectomy.

Research paper thumbnail of Intimate partner violence and associated coping strategies among women in a primary care clinic in Port Harcourt, Nigeria

Journal of family medicine and primary care, 2014

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is an important gender-based, social, and public health problem, ... more Intimate partner violence (IPV) is an important gender-based, social, and public health problem, affecting women globally. The aim was to report the prevalence of IPV and describe the coping strategies of the victims. It was conducted in the general outpatient clinic of a tertiary care hospital using a cross-sectional design. A random sample of consenting women living in an intimate partnership for a minimum of 1 year were served with a three part structured questionnaire which sought information on sociodemographic characteristics, the experience of IPV and the Brief COPE Inventory. SPSS version 17.0 software, Microsoft word and Excel were used in data handling and analysis. Means, percentages, standard deviations, and Chi-square were calculated. P &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt; 0.05 was considered to be significant. Of the 384 participants, 161 (41.9%) were physically abused. IPV was significantly common among women ≤40 years of age, married couples (78.5%), unemployed and in Christians. It was precipitated by argument with husband (19.25%) and financial demands (44.10%). The employed coping strategy with the highest score was religion. The least score was found in substance abuse. There was significantly high prevalence of domestic violence against women in this study. Hence, routine screening is advocated by family physicians to elicit abuse in order to avoid the more devastating psychological consequences after the incidence so as to institute appropriate treatment as multiple episodes of abuse appears to be cumulative in effect. The reason for violence mainly borders around the argument with husband and finance issues. The coping strategies utilized by the participants minimally involve substance abuse, but more of a religion.

Research paper thumbnail of The Association Between Giant Hydrocele and Depression in a Rural Clinic in Nigeria

American Journal of Men's Health, Jun 9, 2011

One of the dreaded disfiguring disease conditions among the Andoni tribesmen in the Nigerian Nige... more One of the dreaded disfiguring disease conditions among the Andoni tribesmen in the Nigerian Niger delta region is hydrocele, especially when its size is large (giant hydrocele) and it cannot be concealed. This case-control study was designed to evaluate the prevalence of depression among patients with giant hydrocele presenting to Bethesda Clinic Ngo, Andoni, Nigeria. A total of 52 patients were recruited into this study: 26 in the giant hydrocele group and 26 in the control group. Their age range was 23 to 78 years, with a mean age of 53.4 ± 15.5 years for the giant hydrocele group and 53.6 ± 14.2 years for the control group. The difference between the prevalence of depression among patients that presented with giant hydrocele (61.54%) and the controls (15.38%) was statistically significant (p = .0015). The authors conclude that depression is common among patients with giant hydrocele when compared with patients with other disease conditions.

Research paper thumbnail of Assessment of Healthcare-Seeking Behaviour and Self-Medication among Adult Patients with Gastrointestinal Symptoms at a Rural Clinic in the Niger Delta of Nigeria

PubMed, Apr 28, 2023

Background: Patients' behaviour in making decisions regarding their health is currently changing ... more Background: Patients' behaviour in making decisions regarding their health is currently changing from a passive role to an active one in which they participate fully in the control of their health as well as take initiatives in self-care. Objectives: This study evaluated health-seeking behaviour and practice of self-medication among patients with abdominal pain in a rural Primary Health Centre in the Niger Delta. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study among 400 patients that attended the Primary Health Centre in Oyorokoto, Rivers State, Nigeria. Interviewer-administered questionnaires were used to collect data on participants' demographics, medicines-taking behaviour, and practice of self-medication, Data analysis was done using Statistical Package for Social Science for windows version 20. The p-value of <0.05 at a confidence level of 95% was considered significant. Results: Most of the participants chose to consult formal health care when they experienced health problems (57.3%), and self-medication prevalence was 29.5%. The majority of the respondents (65.8%) took medication based on a health worker's advice while 32.5% depended on past experience with a similar illness. The practice of self-medication was significantly associated with gender, age, and religion. The female gender and older age groups significantly practice self-medication compared to the males and younger age groups(p<0.001). Christians significantly practice self-medication (p = 0.038). Conclusion: Increasing public awareness of the rational choice of getting medical assistance is very important. A health education program to increase awareness about the use of medicines among the general public and to enable them make the right decisions relating to their health problems is advocated.

Research paper thumbnail of Vulvovaginal haematoma presenting in the puerperium: A case report

Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research), Mar 30, 2021

Background: Vulvovaginal haematoma is an uncommon complication of childbirth that can cause mater... more Background: Vulvovaginal haematoma is an uncommon complication of childbirth that can cause maternal death if not properly managed. We present a case of a large vulvovaginal haematoma managed surgically with a good outcome. Clinical Presentation: JP was an unbooked 34 year old para 2 woman referred from a maternity home to Bethesda Family Hospital on account of a left-sided vulva swelling of two weeks duration following a spontaneous vaginal delivery of a live male baby that weighed 4.3 kilogrammes. She sustained a vaginal tear which was repaired by the attending midwife. Vaginal examination showed a firm and tender swelling of size 12 cm by 14cm involving the left labia majora and minora and extending to the perineal region and vagina. A diagnosis of vulvovaginal haematoma was made and she was educated on her condition and the treatment options. She was haemodynamically stable and the full blood count was normal. She was placed on analgesics and antibiotics, catheterized, and the haematoma evacuated under ketamine cover. She was discharged home on the second day. Conclusion: Surgical management of large vulva haematoma at the primary care level involves counselling, institution of antibiotics and analgesics and appropriately located incisions and evacuation of clots. This leads to quick recovery with minimal scarring, pain and dyspareunia.

Research paper thumbnail of Prevalence and socio-demographic factors associated with anaemia in pregnancy in a primary health centre in Rivers State, Nigeria : original research

African Journal of Primary Health Care & Family Medicine, 2012

Background: Anaemia, though a common problem in Nigeria, has not been adequately studied amongst ... more Background: Anaemia, though a common problem in Nigeria, has not been adequately studied amongst pregnant women in primary health care facilities. Objective: This study is aimed at determining the prevalence of anaemia and sociodemographic factors associated with anaemia in pregnancy in a primary health centre in Rivers State, Nigeria. Methodology: This is a cross-sectional study carried out in a primary health centre. Association between variables was analysed using the Chi-square test. Results: Two hundred and twenty-seven pregnant women whose ages ranged from 16 to 40 years with a mean age of 26.8 ± 4.3 years were recruited for the study. The haemoglobin concentration ranged from 6 g/dL-15 g/dL with a mean of 10.10 ± 1.27g/dL. A total of 142 (62.6%) participants were anaemic. Anaemia was observed to be least prevalent in women within the extremes of reproductive age (≤ 20 years and 36-40 years). There was no statistically significant association between age, educational level and marital status (p > 0.05). The association of anaemia with social class was statistically significant (p = 0.000). Severe anaemia was not a common finding amongst the patients but it was significantly associated with educational status (p = 0.02) and socioeconomic status (p = 0.03). Conclusion: The prevalence of anaemia amongst the pregnant participants in the primary health centre was high. Out of all the socio-demographic characteristics, only socioeconomic status was significantly associated with anaemia. It is recommended that the socioeconomic status of women should be enhanced in line with the Millennium Development Goals to prevent anaemia and to enhance pregnancy outcomes.

Research paper thumbnail of Prevalence and socio-demographic factors associated with anaemia in pregnancy in a primary health centre in Rivers State, Nigeria

African Journal of Primary Health Care & Family Medicine, Jun 4, 2012

Background: Anaemia, though a common problem in Nigeria, has not been adequately studied amongst ... more Background: Anaemia, though a common problem in Nigeria, has not been adequately studied amongst pregnant women in primary health care facilities. Objective: This study is aimed at determining the prevalence of anaemia and sociodemographic factors associated with anaemia in pregnancy in a primary health centre in Rivers State, Nigeria. Methodology: This is a cross-sectional study carried out in a primary health centre. Association between variables was analysed using the Chi-square test. Results: Two hundred and twenty-seven pregnant women whose ages ranged from 16 to 40 years with a mean age of 26.8 ± 4.3 years were recruited for the study. The haemoglobin concentration ranged from 6 g/dL-15 g/dL with a mean of 10.10 ± 1.27g/dL. A total of 142 (62.6%) participants were anaemic. Anaemia was observed to be least prevalent in women within the extremes of reproductive age (≤ 20 years and 36-40 years). There was no statistically significant association between age, educational level and marital status (p > 0.05). The association of anaemia with social class was statistically significant (p = 0.000). Severe anaemia was not a common finding amongst the patients but it was significantly associated with educational status (p = 0.02) and socioeconomic status (p = 0.03). Conclusion: The prevalence of anaemia amongst the pregnant participants in the primary health centre was high. Out of all the socio-demographic characteristics, only socioeconomic status was significantly associated with anaemia. It is recommended that the socioeconomic status of women should be enhanced in line with the Millennium Development Goals to prevent anaemia and to enhance pregnancy outcomes.

Research paper thumbnail of Pattern of paediatric conditions seen in the children emergency room of an urban hospital in South-Eastern Nigeria

GSC Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences

Background: Children Emergency Room (CHER) is a vital health care services point in many hospital... more Background: Children Emergency Room (CHER) is a vital health care services point in many hospitals and can contribute beneficially in the evaluation of many hospitals ncluding tertiary ones. It enables many paediatric cases to be managed in the hospitals without being admitted into the paediatric wards with good outcomes. Material and Methods: This was a retrospective study involving review of records of all the children seen in the CHER between January 2012 and June 2012. The objectives were to look at the pattern and outcome of paediatric conditions in CHER with the aim of providing data for further evaluation and improvement. A proforma developed by the authors was used in collecting the relevant information from the patients’ records. The data collected was simply analyzed. Results: The total of 486 paediatric patients who satisfied the inclusion and exclusion criteria were seen in the CHER. Those less then one year of age constituted 58.6% of the patients. Majority (56.8%) of t...