West African Journal of Allied Health Sciences
On behalf of the Vice Chancellor of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, (ATBU) Bauchi, Professor Ibrahim Hassan Garba, we welcome you to the West African Journal of Allied Health Sciences (WAJAHS) website. The WAJAHS is a peer-reviewed, open-access journal established by the faculty of allied health sciences, college of medical sciences, ATBU Bauchi. WAJAHS is dedicated to advancing knowledge and promoting research, education, and practice in the field of allied health sciences across West Africa and beyond. The journal aims to: 1. Promote scholarly research in all areas of allied health sciences including but not limited to Nursing science, Medical laboratory science, Physiotherapy, Radiography, Nutrition and dietetics, Health information management, and Public health. 2. Provide a platform for researchers, practitioners, educators, and policy-makers to share evidence-based findings, innovative practices, and critical analyses relevant to allied health services. 3. Enhance regional and international collaboration in research and practice by publishing contributions that address health challenges within the West African context. 4. Support capacity building in allied health professions through dissemination of high-quality original research, systematic reviews, case studies, and policy briefs. 5. Encourage interdisciplinary dialogue among the various disciplines within allied health sciences to foster integrated approaches to healthcare delivery.
Radiographic Assessment of Proximal Femoral Morphology in Normal Nigerian Adults
Section: Articles Keywords: Anatomy, Hip, femur, neck-shaft angle, head diameter, horizontal offset Introduction: Population-specific data on proximal femoral anatomy is crucial for optimizing orthopedic procedures like total hip arthroplasty, yet such data for Nigerian adults is scarce. This study aimed to assess key radiographic parameters of the proximal femur: neck-shaft angle (NSA), femoral head diameter (HD), and femoral horizontal offset (HO) in normal Nigerian adults, focusing on gender and side differences. Methods: A cross-sectional study of 100 hip radiographs (50 males, 50 females) of patients without history of lower extremity pathology was conducted. NSA, HD, and HO were measured bilaterally. Gender and side differences were analyzed using independent and paired t-tests (p < 0.05). Results: The mean NSA was significantly higher in males (132.13° ± 3.65) compared to females (129.45° ± 5.45), (p < 0.001). Side-to-side comparison also showed a significant difference (Right: 129.47° ± 4.27; Left: 132.11° ± 4.87; p < 0.001). Males had a significantly larger mean HD (4.84 ± 0.26 cm) than females (4.58 ± 0.40 cm), (p < 0.001), with a modest but significant side difference (Right: 4.71 ± 0.36 cm; Left: 4.59 ± 0.43 cm; p = 0.03). The mean HO showed no significant gender difference (Males: 3.82 ± 0.29 cm; Females: 3.80 ± 0.35 cm; p = 0.742) or side-to-side variation (Right: 3.81 ± 0.32 cm; Left: 3.85 ± 0.36 cm; p = 0.184). Conclusion: This study provides essential baseline data on proximal femoral anatomy in the Nigerian adult population. Notable gender differences were observed in NSA and HD, while HO appeared consistent across sexes and sides. These findings underscore the need for population-specific reference values to guide implant design, surgical planning, and orthopedic education in Nigeria.
Anatomy, Hip, femur, neck-shaft angle, head diameter, horizontal offset
Copyright (c) 2025 West African Journal of Allied Health Sciences
Microbiological Quality of Common Snacks Found in Major Markets in Ondo City, Ondo State, Nigeria
Section: Articles Keywords: Microbial quality, Snacks, Escherichia coli, Shigella, Salmonella, Vibro cholera Introduction: Ensuring high microbiological quality is essential for snacks because these foods are often consumed with minimal preparation, which leads to harmful pathogens during production. This study aims at determining the microbiological contamination of common snacks Found in major markets in Ondo City, Ondo State, Nigeria. Methods: Fifty (50) samples of snacks namely, kulikuli, groundnut, cashew nuts, plantain chips, chinchin, coconut chips, wara and potato chips vended in five different markets within Ondo City, Ondo State Nigeria were obtained. The snacks were analyzed for total coliform count, specific pathogens using Pour plate method. Beta poisson model was used to estimate the risk of infection, illness, or death from exposure to pathogenic microorganisms. The data was statistically analysed by the use of IBM SPSS Statistics Data Editor version 25. Results: The highest bacterial counts were observed in Kulikuli, particularly in samples from Okedibo Market, with values reaching up to 8.4×104 CFU/mL. Okedibo Market consistently shows high CFU counts across most snack types. Cashew Nuts and Coconut Chips had bacterial counts of 5.3×104 CFU/mL and 5.7×104 CFU/mL, respectively. Other markets, like Iyalaje Market and Sabo Market, displayed lower and more consistent counts across most snacks. Saluwa Market had high bacterial counts for selected snacks (e.g., Plantain Chips at 3.1×104 CFU/mL). The probability of infection for each organism per meal per day remains quite low, ranging between 0.015 and 0.021 which is about 1.5% to 2.1%. Observations showed that Escherichia coli had 100% chance of infection which has the highest yearly risk of infection when the snacks are daily consumed. Conclusion: The yearly risk of illness (due to accumulation) was notably high for all the listed pathogens. The results highlight potential gaps in food safety protocols within certain markets which can be controlled by food safety regulations.
Microbial quality, Snacks, Escherichia coli, Shigella, Salmonella, Vibro cholera
Prevalence of Postpartum Depression and Breastfeeding practices in Southwestern Nigeria
Section: Articles Keywords: Postpartum Depression, Breastfeeding, Family Support Background Postpartum depression (PPD) is a pervasive psychological issue that can disrupt the breastfeeding journey. This study assessed the prevalence of postpartum depression (PPD) among breastfeeding mothers in Southwest, Nigeria. Methods Three hundred and sixty mothers with infants aged 0-12 weeks were chosen using a multistage sampling technique. Data collection was carried out using structured questionnaires and the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). A score above 13 on the 30-point Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale indicated PPD. IBM SPSS version 26.0 was used for analysis. Results The mean age of mothers was 28.9 ± 5.5. Most (90.3%) were married, and 56.9% had infants younger than six weeks. The majority (99.4%) were still breastfeeding, with 45.8% intending to stop between 13 to 18 months. A majority (72.5%) earned less than ₦40,000 monthly, 34.7% reported challenges in caring for their child, and 83.3% received support. Only 18.6% were classified as having PPD. Chi-square analysis showed significant associations between PPD and maternal age, marital status, income, caregiving challenges, and support (p value < 0.05). Logistic regression analysis revealed that mothers aged ≤ 20 years were more likely to experience PPD than older mothers (AOR = 3.9, 95% CI: 1.171 – 13.401, p = 0.027), while supported mother were less likely to experience PPD than unsupported mothers (AOR = 0.39, 95% CI: 0.170 – 0.888, p = 0.025). Conclusion Nearly one in five mothers experienced postpartum depression. Strengthening psychosocial and family support systems for postpartum mothers (especially younger, unmarried, or of low income) is recommended.
Postpartum Depression, Breastfeeding, Family Support
Awareness of Stroke Risk Factors and Warning Signs Among Informal Caregivers in North-East Nigeria
Section: Articles Keywords: Stroke, Informal caregivers, Awareness, Risk factors, Warning signs, Nigeria Introduction: Stroke remains a leading cause of mortality and long-term disability in Nigeria. Recurrent strokes, which have higher morbidity and mortality rates, necessitate preventive strategies. Informal caregivers are critical in managing risk factors and recognizing warning signs, yet their awareness levels remain understudied. This study aimed to evaluate and enhance informal caregivers’ awareness of stroke risk factors and warning signs to strengthen preventive care behaviors and improve emergency response during stroke events. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at the Federal University of Health Sciences Teaching Hospital Azare, involving 403 informal caregivers of stroke patients aged ≥18 years. Participants were grouped by income and education, and stratified random sampling was used during the recruitment procedure. Validated Hausa or English questionnaires (QFAS and PIF) assessed awareness. Data were analyzed using chi-square tests and logistic regression (SPSS v22). Results: High awareness of hypertension (94%) and visual problems (80.9%) contrasted with low recognition of smoking (23.1%) and severe headache (0.2%) as risk factors/warning signs. Significant predictors of knowledge included tertiary education (OR=3.185, 95% CI:1.387–7.314, P<0.001) and family history of stroke (OR=3.545, 95% CI:2.875–4.369, P=0.012). Conclusion: To reduce stroke recurrence and mortality, targeted educational interventions—including community workshops, pictorial tools, and CHW-led home education—must urgently address awareness gaps in smoking risks, severe headache recognition, and among female/low-literacy caregivers.
Stroke, Informal caregivers, Awareness, Risk factors, Warning signs, Nigeria
Associations between Health Needs, Utilization Factors, and Catastrophic Healthcare Expenditure in Bauchi State
Section: Articles Keywords: CHE, OOP, health insurance, Nigeria, Universal Health Coverage Introduction: Catastrophic healthcare expenditure (CHE) poses a significant financial burden on households, particularly in low-resource settings like Bauchi State, Nigeria, where out-of-pocket (OOP) payments dominate healthcare financing. Understanding the interplay between health needs, utilization factors, and CHE is critical for developing targeted interventions to mitigate financial hardship. Objective: This study examined the associations between health needs, healthcare utilization factors, and CHE among households in Bauchi State, Nigeria, using a mixed-methods approach. Methods: Employed a cross-sectional design to examine the associations between health needs, healthcare utilization factors, and catastrophic healthcare expenditure (CHE) involving 986 households. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics (logistic regression). Results: The prevalence of CHE was 41.5%, with a mean overshoot of ₦80,291.13 (SD = ₦92,568.99). Key predictors of CHE included: Predisposing factors: Younger household heads, male-headed households, lower educational attainment, larger household size, and rural residence. Enabling factors: Lack of health insurance, reliance on OOP payments, and lower income levels. Need factors: Presence of children under five, chronic illnesses, and inpatient healthcare utilization. Conclusion: CHE is highly prevalent in Bauchi State, disproportionately affecting vulnerable households. Strengthening health insurance coverage, expanding subsidized healthcare services, and addressing systemic barriers to access are essential to reducing financial hardship. Policy reforms should prioritize equitable healthcare financing to achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) related to health and poverty reduction.
CHE, OOP, health insurance, Nigeria, Universal Health Coverage
An Elevated Interleukin-6 and TNF-α levels as Predictors of Severity and Poor Outcomes in Critically Ill COVID-19 Patients
Section: Articles Keywords: COVID-19; critically ill; IL-6; TNF-α Introduction: This current research, measured Interleukin 6 (IL-6) and Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) in an attempt to explore their involvement in progression and clinical outcomes of SARS-CoV-2 among critically infected individuals was investigated Methods: The current study comprises of 49 critically ill and 27 mildly infected COVID-19 patients in an isolation centre in Jigawa state, north-western Nigeria. COVID 19 was confirmed using RT-PCR while IL-6 and TNF-α were measured using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay techniques (ELISA). Results: The findings of this study revealed a statistically significant difference in cytokine levels between critically and those with mild infections. Additionally, cytokine levels were observed to be lower in survivors compared to those who succumbed to the illness. Conclusion: Increased cytokines were observed in critically ill compared to the mildly infected ones. Furthermore, the study suggests hypercytokinemia in those patients who lost their lives than those who survived and subsequently discharged.
Community Acceptance and Willingness to Participate in Verbal and Social Autopsy (VASA) in Bauchi, Nigeria; A Cross Sectional Study
Section: Articles Keywords: Verbal Autopsy, Social Autopsy, Community, Bauchi Background: Verbal and Social Autopsy(VASA) is a meticulously conceptualized framework established by the World Health Organization (WHO) to systematically document and determine the predominant causes of mortality within a given community, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, where the majority of deaths occur outside of hospital settings. This study aims to determine acceptance and willingness to participate in verbal and social autopsy in selected communities of Bauchi, Nigeria. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted between June and December 2024 with 289 adult residents of selected communities in the Bauchi Local Government Area (LGA) of Bauchi State, Nigeria. Participants were enrolled using multi-stage sampling technique. Data were collected using a semi-structured questionnaire and analyzed with SPSS (version 23). Results: A total of 289 participants were interviewed. The mean age of the respondents was 39 and a standard deviation of 9.6. A significant proportion of the participants are married (78. 2%), the majority are Hausa-speaking (34. 6%) and are males (64. 0%), business owners (31. 5%) and have a tertiary level of education (56.4%). The findings indicated a high proportion of poor knowledge (87.2% ), although 67.5% expressed willingness to accept and participate in VASA. Logistic regression analysis showed that age, sex, occupation, educational attainment and monthly income serve as predictors of knowledge, while marital status, educational attainment, occupation and monthly income are significant predictors of willingness to accept and participate in VASA. Conclusion: This study explored community acceptance and participation in verbal and social autopsy processes in selected communities within Bauchi town. Although the study indicates a willingness to embrace VASA, a significant deficiency was observed in understanding VASA. The study underscores the need for targeted educational interventions to improve community understanding and acceptance of verbal and social autopsy processes in Bauchi, as well as the need for continuous operational research to explore evolving community perceptions, assess the effectiveness of current engagement strategies, and identify innovative approaches to improve participation in VASA.
Verbal Autopsy, Social Autopsy, Community, Bauchi