Traditional bonesetters (TBS) have been in Nigeria for centuries. Up to 85% of patients with fractures present first to the traditional bonesetters before coming to the hospital and therefore this mode of care delivery cannot be overlooked in Nigeria. We attempted to document the current practice of TBS in Ibadan and their methods of fracture treatment with a view to training and improving the services offered by them. We carried out a literature search to review all previous studies on traditional bonesetters’ practice and visited a few of them to document their current practice. The only change in the management of fractures by the TBS over the past 28 years was the use of spiritual methods of healing to treat open comminuted fractures; a technique for which no scientific basis was readily discernible. There is a need to educate and train the TBS in effective management of both open and closed fractures. Such training should be provided by orthodox orthopedic surgeons with a view to minimizing mismanagement of fractures. To this end, we propose a training algorithm.
25 March 2023 in Environmental Science and Pollution Research
The recent increase in silicosis cases in several countries casts doubt on dust control practices and their effectiveness in preventing respirable crystalline silica (RCS) exposure. Apart from silicosis, RCS may lead to other illnesses, health-related quality of life losses for workers and their families, and economic losses for companies. Thus, this systematic literature review examined the effectiveness of interventions employed to prevent exposure to RCS and increase the use of dust control measures. The review used keywords related to dust control interventions to search seven databases. Search results were screened and extracted for synthesis. The narrative synthesis showed the extent of research investment in China. In several designs and combinations, the interventions utilized water, surfactant, foam, and air currents to reduce dust exposure. These interventions offer varying degrees of dust control effectiveness against RCS and respirable dust. Although evidence indicates that interventions significantly decrease dust concentration levels, the control measures in place may not effectively prevent workplace overexposure to RCS. The review found that education and training interventions are employed to improve dust controls and respiratory protective equipment (RPE) use. Also, marketing strategies promote the use of RPE. These interventions can increase the frequency of use of RPE and the adoption of best practice dust control measures. Interventions increase knowledge, awareness, and attitudes about RPE usage and generate positive perceptions while reducing misconceptions. However, the benefits obtained from an intervention may diminish after its implementation, indicating that the interventions may not continually motivate workers to adopt control measures or use RPE.
1 October 2020 in International Journal of Nursing Studies
Anatomic features such as a flat nose compared with a pointed nose, wide rather than narrow faces, and straight rather than curly hair. Therefore, we cannot assume the same Q-angle values will be applicable to Africans and Caucasians. We established a baseline reference value for normal Q-angles among asymptomatic Nigerian adults. The Q-angles of the left and right knees were measured using a goniometer in 477 Nigerian adults (354 males; 123 females) in the supine and standing positions. The mean Q-angles for men were 10.7° ± 2.2° in the supine position and 12.3° ± 2.2° in the standing position in the right knee. The left knee Q-angles in men were 10.5° ± 2.6° in the supine position and 11.7° ± 2.8° in the standing position. In women, the mean Q-angles for the right knee were 21° ± 4.8° in the supine position and 22.8° ± 4.7° in the standing position. The mean Q-angles for the left knee in women were 20.9° ± 4.6° in the supine position and 22.7° ± 4.6° in the standing position. We observed a difference in Q-angles in the supine and standing positions for all participants. The Q-angle in adult Nigerian men is comparable to that of adult Caucasian men, but the Q-angle of Nigerian women is greater than that of their Caucasian counterparts....