Adejoh Charles Achile, Community Medicine - Ahmadu Bello University, 2025

Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is a constellation of affective, behavioural, cognitive and physical symptoms that occur cyclically during the luteal phase of menstrual cycle and resolve shortly at or within few days of the onset of menstruation. The exact cause of PMS is unknown. PMS is associated with various psychological, socio-demographic factors (age, marital status). Dietary and lifestyle. The common premenstrual symptoms are irritability, abdominal cramps, breast tenderness, fatigue, decreased concentration, mood swings, headache, and anxiety. The study aimed to access the knowledge, prevalence and effects of premenstrual syndrome on female undergraduate students of Federal University of Education Zaria, Kaduna State. A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted using a self-administered questionnaire. A multistage sampling technique was used to select 255 eligible students. Analyses were done using IBM-SPSS version 25. Descriptive statistic measures were done and presented as tables and graphs. Chi Square test was applied for the comparison of proportions and associations between categorical variables and p value was set at <0.05 for statistical significance. The mean age of Respondents was 22.0 ± 2.89. Majority (48.3%) were Hausa, predominantly Muslims (61.2%), almost all were single (88.2%), and more than half (51.0%) were in faculty of sciences and department of biology (24.3%). The knowledge of PMS was very poor among respondents with only 17.3% having good knowledge and 82.7% had poor knowledge. The prevalence of PMS was high (83.6%) and the common symptoms were abdominal cramps, mood swings, breast tenderness. and fatigue. Common effects of PMS on respondents were difficulty concentrating, absenteeism from class, and avoidance of social gathering, with menstrual pain, regular consumption of caffeine containing drinks, sugary food and high level of work before periods were found to be associated with PM. The study showed a wide gap in the knowledge and a high prevalence of PMS among female students of Federal University of Education, Zaria.

Yunusa Isah Chiroma, Community Medicine - Ahmadu Bello University, N/A

Job stress is a mental and physical condition, which affects an individual’s productivity, effectiveness, personal health and quality of work while Job satisfaction is a feeling that supports or does not support employees who are related to their work and their conditions. The global average prevalence of job stress among workers is 55%. In Africa, Senegal recorded 50.1% of workers experience stress in the workplace, fairing a little better than Chad, Uganda, Tanzania, Ghana, and Sierra Leone, which recorded higher stress rates of up to 58%. In Nigeria, 50% of workers experience stress in the workplace, a figure that has risen by 3% annually. The employees admit that 46% of their negative emotions are felt during a lot of days as a result of stress, with most workers actively seeking a new job. This study was aimed at the assessment of job stress and job satisfaction among Interns and House Officers at Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Shika, Zaria. A cross sectional-descriptive study using self-administered closed-ended questionnaire was carried out. Multi-stage sampling technique was used to select the total sample size of 105 respondents. The data was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 27. Descriptive statistics was done for the socio-demographic characteristics and categorical variables using simple frequencies and percentages. Bivariate analysis was done using Chi square test to test the significance of association between the independent and dependent variables at p < 0.05 level of significance. The study reveals that the majority of interns and house officers at ABUTH, Shika, Zaria, are young professionals, with 54.3% aged between 23-27 years and were males 53.3%. The predominant internship category is house officers (57.1%). Additionally, a higher percentage of interns work 40-79 hours per week (65.7%). The prevalence of job stress among interns and house officers was notable, with 81.9% reporting high stress levels. Job satisfaction levels were mixed, with only 31.43% expressing satisfaction with their internship experience. The bivariate analysis indicates that younger interns (aged 28-32 years) reported the highest stress (χ² = 9.751, p = .008). Work hours also had a significant effect, with those working 60 hours or more per week experiencing higher stress levels (χ² = 13.188, p = .004). Result also revealed significant statistical relationship between stress and job satisfaction (χ² = 5.221, p = .022). The findings suggest that interns and house officers at ABUTH experience high levels of job stress, primarily due to long working hours, excessive workload, and inadequate support systems. Job satisfaction is relatively low, with key concerns including unmanageable workloads, lack of mentorship, and insufficient compensation. It was recommended among others that the hospital should review duty hours and implement fair workload distribution to reduce excessive stress and burnout. Ensuring compliance with regulated working hours could improve job satisfaction.

Shehu Maryam Ingawa, Community Medicine - Ahmadu Bello University, 2025

Induced abortion is termination of pregnancy before the age of viability. Unsafe induced abortion contributes significantly to maternal mortality and morbidity especially in developing countries. Induced abortion occurs in Nigeria despite law restricting abortion. Despite several efforts to improve on abortion services, legal constraints, religious and sociocultural factors prevent the access to induced abortion. This study assessed the knowledge, attitude and perception of induced abortion among women attending antenatal and reproductive health clinics in ABUTH, Zaria. A descriptive cross-sectional design was employed. Systematic random sampling was used to select 140 women of reproductive age. Data were collected using structured interviewer-administered questionnaire. Data were analysed using SPSS v27 with statistical significance set at p< 0.05. The mean age ± SD was 28.88 ± 5.31 years. About 53.6% of respondents had good knowledge of induced abortion, 96.4% showed positive attitude, and 97.1% had a positive perception. The major sources of information were friends (47.9%) and family (45%). Statistically significant associations were found between knowledge and source of income (p=0.002). Age had a significant association with attitude (p=0.013). Despite the majority having positive attitudes and perceptions towards induced abortion, knowledge levels remain moderate, indicating the need for improved educational interventions and awareness campaigns.

Maikano Abigail Stanley, Community Medicine - Ahmadu Bello University, 2025

Cervical cancer remains a major public health issue, particularly in low- and middle-income countries where screening uptake is low. Early detection through regular screening is key to reducing cervical cancer-related morbidity and mortality. Female undergraduates, being in the sexually active age group, are at risk and their awareness is vital in the prevention of the disease. This study aimed to assess the knowledge, perception, and uptake of cervical cancer screening among female undergraduate students of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. A cross-sectional descriptive study design was employed involving 312 female undergraduate students of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State, selected through multistage sampling. Data was collected using a self-administered structured questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS version 23. The results were presented using tables and charts. The mean age of respondents was 23.23±2.43. Only 64.4% have heard of cervical cancer screening and 12.8% had good knowledge. Most of the respondents (98.4%) had a positive perception of cervical cancer screening. Only 7.4% had ever been screened for cervical cancer screening. There was a statistically significant relationship between marital status and the uptake of cervical cancer screening. There is a significant gap between positive perception and actual uptake of cervical cancer screening among female undergraduates at Ahmadu Bello University. While most respondents acknowledge the importance of screening, poor knowledge and several barriers, such as lack of awareness of screening centres and absence of symptoms, hinder utilization. There is a need for targeted health education and awareness programs to bridge knowledge gaps, correct misconceptions, and promote positive attitudes toward screening.

Yisa Abdulhammed Yinka, Community Medicine - Ahmadu Bello University, 2025

First aid is an essential skill for secondary school teachers, who are often the first to respond to emergencies involving students. However, studies in Nigeria and other parts of the world have shown gaps in teachers’ knowledge, perception, and practice of first aid. In Nigeria, limited school health services have made it even more important for teachers to be well-prepared. This study aimed to assess the knowledge, perception, and practice of first aid among secondary school teachers in Sabon Gari Local Government Area (LGA), Kaduna State. A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out among 379 secondary school teachers from both public and private schools in Sabon Gari LGA. A multi-stage sampling technique was used to select respondents. Data were collected in March 2025 using a semi-structured, interviewer-administered questionnaire. The data were analyzed using IBM SPSS version 25, and results were presented in tables. Associations between selected variables and level of practice were tested using a significance level of p ≤ 0.05. Ethical approval was obtained from the Health Research Ethics Committee of Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital (ABUTH). The mean age of the respondents was 34.31 ± 7.929 years, with most (49.6%) aged between 26 and 35 years. Good knowledge of first aid was recorded in 68.3% of respondents, and 95.3% had a positive perception toward its importance. However, only 59.3% had good practice, and 22.2% had never administered first aid. Practice was significantly associated with age (p = 0.009), educational qualification (p = 0.001), and type of school (p = 0.002), but not with perception (p = 0.340). Although most teachers had good knowledge and a positive perception of first aid, the level of practice was sub-optimal. Some teachers had never administered first aid, showing that more needs to be done to prepare them for emergencies. It is recommended that the Kaduna State Ministry of Education provide regular training and supply first aid materials to schools to improve emergency response.

Jega Abdulmajeed Ibrahim, Community Medicine - Ahmadu Bello University, 2025

Peptic Ulcer Disease (PUD) is a common health issue among university students, influenced by risk factors like Helicobacter pylori infection, NSAID use, and lifestyle habits. This study aimed to assess the knowledge, perception, and prevalence of PUD risk factors among students at Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, to address gaps in awareness and inform health interventions. A cross-sectional study was conducted in March 2025 with 240 ABU undergraduate students, selected via multistage sampling across 16 faculties. Data was collected using a semi-structured electronic questionnaire on sociodemographics, knowledge, perception, and prevalence of PUD risk factors. Knowledge was scored as good (≥50%) or poor (<50%), perception was assessed via a Likert scale, and prevalence was based on self-reported behaviours. Data was analyzed using SPSS with descriptive statistics and chi-square tests. Of the 240 respondents (mean age 22.86 years, 57.5% male), 57.1% had good knowledge of PUD risk factors, though misconceptions (e.g., spicy foods as a cause) persisted. Perception was accurate in 60%, with 40% showing misconceptions. Prevalence of risk factors was low (95%), with occasional NSAID use (54.6%) and meal skipping (62.5%) most common; only 10% tested positive for H. pylori. No significant link was found between knowledge and prevalence (p = 0.163). While many ABU students have reasonable knowledge and perception of PUD risk factors, gaps and misconceptions remain, and prevalence of modifiable risk factors is low. Health education and screening programs are recommended to improve awareness and reduce PUD risk.