Avascular necrosis (AVN) especially of the femoral head, has long been recognised as a manifestation of sickle cell disease (SCD). Despite this knowledge the actual prevalence of this complication among sickle cell patients in Nigeria is not known.To determine the prevalence and patterns of presentation of avascular necrosis of the femoral head in sickle cell disease.
A retrospective study carried out at the Orthopaedic and Haematology clinics of Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex, Ile-Ife, Nigeria. Four hundred and sixteen patients with sickle cell disease seen over a 15-year period.
Of the 416 patients with sickle cell disease 340 (81.7%) had haemoglobin SS genotype while 76(18.3%) had SC genotype. Sixty-six (15.9%) patients 35 males (53%) and 31 females (47%) had clinical and radiologic features of avascular necrosis (AVN) of the femoral head. Fifty-three of them (80.3%) had Hb SS while 13 had Hb SC. The peak age incidence in both Hb SS and Hb SC was 21-30 years. Forty patients (60.6%) presented with stage IV disease (Ficat and Arlet Staging) while 21.2% had stage III and 18.2% had stage II. No patient was diagnosed in stage 1 or 0.
The prevalence of AVN of femoral head in Hb SC and HbSS is similar i.e. the difference is not statistically significant (P=0.48). Most of our patients present late with advanced diseases. Considering the paucity of facilities available for total hip replacement in Nigeria and the young age group affected we recommend regular screening of patients with sickle cell disorder for AVN and regular community educational programmes for early diagnosis.

This study investigated the awareness and use of Online Public Access Catalogue (OPAC) by students of Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria. A questionnaire was distributed to 800 students at various faculties and in different levels of studies in August 2012. Five hundred and twenty copies of the questionnaire was retrieved and used for the study. The study revealed that 68.7 % of the respondents were aware of the OPAC services; students who were aware of the library OPAC and did not use it to access library resources were statistically significant (x2 =82.073; df =2; α = 0.001); 23.8% of the respondents used OPAC independently; only 3.2% of the respondents accessed library resources from their hostels, 0.2% access it from homes. Similarly, majority of the respondents lacked information searching skills while lack of awareness, irregular power supply, network failure and inadequacy of computer terminals designated for the use of OPAC were among the problems identified as factors inhibiting the use of library OPAC. Therefore, the study concludes that majority of the students used manual catalogues to access library resources due to lack of awareness, skills to use OPAC and problems encountered during usage. Hence, students have not been making effective and efficient use of the library OPAC. Therefore, we recommend that the Library should create more awareness and effective education for students at various levels to ensure maximum utilization of library resources.

Background Rapid access to medical services which is an important predictor of treatment and rehabilitation outcome requires that there is an understanding of stroke risk factors and early warning signs. This study assessed awareness of stroke risk factors and warning signs among students and staff of Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria. Methods This was a cross sectional survey involving 994 (500 students and 494 staff) respondents. Information on the awareness of stroke risk factors and warning signs was collected with the aid of a structured questionnaire. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used for data analysis. Results Weakness (66.2%) was the most commonly identified warning sign of stroke with more staff (69.8%) identifying correctly than students (62.6%). Hypertension (83.4%) was the most commonly identified stroke risk factor, with more staff (91.7%) identifying correctly than students (83.2%). There were significant differences (p < 0.05) in the awareness of some risk factors (age, hypertension, stress and obesity), and warning signs (dizziness, numbness, weakness, headache and vision problems) between students and staff. Predictors for adequate awareness of both stroke risk factors and warning signs were younger age, smoking history and higher educational level. Conclusions Majority of the respondents recognized individual important stroke risk factors and warning signs, but few recognized multiple stroke risk factors and warning signs. Awareness programs on stroke should be organized, even in communities with educated people to increase public awareness on the prevention of stroke and on the reduction of morbidity in the survivors. © 2014 by National Stroke Association.

Background Stroke, a significant health problem affecting adults, is increasing among younger age groups, particularly because of changing lifestyles. The aim of the study was to compare the awareness of stroke risk factors and warning signs among students and teachers in selected secondary schools in Osun State, Nigeria. Methods This was a cross-sectional survey involving 703 (589 students and 114 teachers) respondents in selected secondary schools in Osun, Nigeria. Information on the awareness of stroke risk factors and warning signs was collected with the aid of a structured questionnaire. Results Hypertension (69.4%) was the most commonly identified stroke risk factor, with more teachers (79.8%) identifying correctly than the students (67.4%). Weakness (51.9%) was the most commonly identified warning sign of stroke with more students (53.8%) identifying correctly than the teachers (42.1%). There were significant differences in the awareness of some risk factors (age, obesity, family history, alcohol use, diet, transient ischemic attack, and hyperlipidemia) and warning signs (dizziness, weakness, and vision problems) between students and teachers. Predictors for adequate awareness of risk factors were being a teacher, not being obese and being hypertensive, whereas predictors for adequate awareness of warning signs were stroke in the family and being hypertensive. Conclusions There was inadequate awareness of risk factors and warning signs among the respondents with students having better awareness of warning signs and teachers having better awareness of risk factors. Stroke campaigns should emphasize stroke risk factors particularly among adolescents and warning signs in adults. The use of media, particularly television, is recommended.