The “Relevance” of the African Traditional Medicine (Alternative Medicine) to Health Care Delivery System in Nigeria
This paper set out to examine the relevance of the African Traditional Medicine in Health Care Delivery Services in Nigeria. This has become necessary for three main reasons: Firstly, African Traditional Medicine Practitioners provided the earliest medical care in Nigeria. Secondly, the World Health Organisation has recognized the need to integrate the traditional medicine on the orthodox medicine when it defines it, as the total combination of knowledge and practices, whether explicable or not, used in diagnosing, preventing or eliminating physical, mental or social diseases. Thirdly, there are claims by the practitioners that since orthodox medicine cannot cure all diseases; hence, they can intervene in the areas where orthodox medicine is weak. Such areas include, social psychiatry, hypertension, diabetes, epilepsy and other psychosomatic illnesses. The researcher thus took a purposive sample of one hundred and fifty consisting of (50) traditional medicine practitioners, 50 orthodox medicine practitioners and 50 patients using interview and questionnaire administration to garner information on the relevance of traditional medicine in the Health Care Delivery system in Nigeria. Participant observation method was also used to reinforce the interview and questionnaire administration respectively. Secondary data were also obtained from the traditional medical clinics visited in Ibadan, Oyo, lIe-lfe and Ikire all in South Western Nigeria. Data collected were analysed descriptively and the findings are that: (i) African traditional medicine predated orthodox medicine in Nigeria; (ii) Traditional medical care is strong in some areas where the orthodox medicine is not very effective; (iii) There are problems associated with administration of traditional medical care such as issues of measurability of its drugs, dosage, preparation, documentation, preservation, potency and determination of the side effect and (iv) if the shortcomings are rectified, then, the African traditional medicine has a lot to offer in saving lives of African citizens and beyond the continent. The paper concluded that there is a need to properly integrate and blend African medicine on the orthodox medicine because such reinforcement will be of immense advantage to the sick and humanity in general.
Gender Flexibility as a Social factor in Men's Recovery from Schizophrenia in Northern Nigeria
BackgroundSchizophrenia is a severe mental health condition that impacts more heavily on men. In Nigeria, studies on men and health have mainly focused on sexual health, in contrast, men’s experience of schizophrenia and the role of gender in influencing beliefs about their recovery has rarely been studied. This study explored men’s perceptions of developing schizophrenia in northern Nigeria and what emerged as facilitating factors in their recovery. 
MethodThis qualitative study utilized semi-structured interviews with 30 male outpatients with a previous diag-nosis of schizophrenia and 10 mental health professionals. All were recruited through Nigerian psychiatric hospital clinics. A thematic approach informed analysis of the data collected. 
ResultsA commitment to flexibility in gender-relations emerged as a key finding. Within household members, the meeting of financial needs was talked about interchangeably. This flexible gender-relations was then associ-ated with household poverty reduction, which was previously seen as influencing the men’s recovery from the mental illness. In particular, providing for family needs became a shared responsibility, with departure from traditional gender expectations imposing fewer family hardships. This was also reported as having a bearing on the men’s willingness to access services, which aided recovery. 
ConclusionThe influence of flexible gender-relations demonstrated in this study has practice implications for under-standing men’s management of recovery from schizophrenia. Community-focused gender transformative programs for the men and those involved in their care in Nigeria could help engage participants in discus-sions relevant to facilitate changes in gender expectations.
Assessment of fractures in endodontically treated teeth restored with and without root canal posts using high-resolution cone beam computed tomography
Background Root fractures are a diagnostic challenge for dentists in endodontic treatment. This study aimed to determine the relationship between the characteristics of tooth fractures and the presence of root canal posts in endodontically treated teeth using high-resolution cone beam computed tomography (CBCT). Material and Methods Fifty high-resolution CBCT scans of endodontically treated teeth with a diagnosis of fracture were obtained, of which 30 were from women and 20 were from men. These scans were acquired with three Veraviewepocs 3D units and one 3D Accuitomo 170 unit, with a 40 × 40-mm field of view and 125 μm voxel size. The variables assessed included the type of fracture, extent of fracture, type of retention, post length, cause of endodontic failure, location of the lesion, and time required to detect the fracture (difficulty score). For data analysis, the chi-squared test, Student’s t-test, and multiple linear regression (α <0.05) were used. Results No association was found between the type of fracture and type of retention or between the type of fracture and its extent (P>0.05). On the other hand, the type of fracture significantly influenced the time required for its detection. Additionally, the most difficult plane for detecting the fracture and the difficulty score were associated, with statistically significant results. Conclusions The type of fracture in endodontically treated teeth was not associated with the type of post used for restoration. All of the CBCT systems used to detect tooth fracture showed the same efficiency. Key words:Cone-Beam CT, Tooth Fracture, Root Canal Post.