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Malaria Morbidity among Under-Five Nigerian Children: A Study of its Prevalence and Health Practices of Primary Care Givers (Mothers) in a Resource-Poor Setting of a Rural Hospital in Eastern Nigeria
Iloh GUP,
Orji Udo Nnorom,
Amadi AN
Issue:
Volume 1, Issue 3, November 2013
Pages:
50-57
Received:
12 November 2013
Accepted:
Published:
30 November 2013
Abstract: Background: Malaria disease, a preventable and treatable disease has continued to plague under-five children in rural Nigeria. Unhealthy health practices contribute to increased morbidity from malaria especially in a resource-poor setting. Aim: This study was aimed at determining the prevalence of malaria among the under-five Nigerian children in a resource-poor setting of a rural hospital in Eastern Nigeria and evaluating the health practices of their mothers as regards home antimalaria and herbal medication practices, awareness and use of insecticide treated nets (ITNs) and the practice of abdominal wall scarification. Materials and Methods: This was a descriptive hospital-based study carried out on 196 out of 244 mothers of under-five children who were treated for malaria and met the selection criteria. The mothers were interviewed using a pretested, structured researcher administered questionnaire which elicited information on home antimalaria and herbal medication practices, awareness and use of insecticide treated nets (ITNs) and the practice of abdominal wall scarification. The period of assessment was in the previous six months for ITNs usage. An under-five child was defined to have malaria if the mother gave complaints of fever, vomiting and other symptoms suggestive of malaria, had body temperature exceeding 37.5oC with the asexual forms of Plasmodium falciparum detected on the peripheral blood film. The data collected included age, sex and diagnosis made. Results: One hundred and ninety six (80.3%) out of a total of 244 under-five children were treated for malaria. Of the 196 under-five children; 128 (65.3%) had home antimalaria treatment, 53(27.0%) received herbal remedies while 15 (7.7%) had antibiotics. The awareness of ITNs was 87.2% while user rate was 11.7%. Eighty three (42.4%) had upper abdominal wall scarification marks. Conclusion: This study has shown that malaria still constitutes a significant health problem in the study area and home treatment of malaria with antimalaria drugs or local herbal remedies and abdominal wall scarification were practised. The awareness of ITNs was high but user rate was low. There is urgent need for effective methods to enlighten primary child care givers (mothers) on appropriate under-five child health practices that are safe, timely, effective and under-five child health friendly and centred.
Abstract: Background: Malaria disease, a preventable and treatable disease has continued to plague under-five children in rural Nigeria. Unhealthy health practices contribute to increased morbidity from malaria especially in a resource-poor setting. Aim: This study was aimed at determining the prevalence of malaria among the under-five Nigerian children in a...
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Seroepidemiology of Rubella IgG among Unvaccinated Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Clinics from Two Rural Communities in Plateau State, Nigeria
Bigwan Emmanuel Isa,
Egah Daniel Zanyu,
Badung Bitrus Pam,
Danung Monday
Issue:
Volume 1, Issue 3, November 2013
Pages:
58-62
Received:
11 December 2013
Accepted:
Published:
30 December 2013
Abstract: Background: Rubella is a mild illness with most cases goes undiagnosed because of its sub clinical nature. However, the disease poses serious threat such as congenital rubella defects, abortions, and still birth if a pregnant woman contracted the infection during her first trimester. Unfortunately lack of sufficient data on its prevalence and incidence with unavailability of rubella vaccines in our antenatal clinics is of great dangers to our sero-negative women with their unborn babies. Objective: To determine the sero-prevalence of rubella IgG within the two Nigerian communities. Methods: Two hundred and sixty seven (267) pregnant women attending antenatal clinics in Mangu and Pankshin General Hospital and Primary Health Care (PHC) Clinics were screened for Rubella IgG using ELISA Test kit (Globalemed, Alexandria VA USA) based on the manufacturer’s instructions. Questionnaires were also used to obtain other vital bio-data of patients and results analyzed using SPSS version, 13.0 statistical software package. Results: Out of all the samples screened, 247(92.51%) were seropositive for rubella IgG. Rubella IgG was detected in all age groups and occupational status considered and the results indicated a significant relation with the presence of the antibody (P<0.05). So also, Rubella IgG was also detected from all the different parity groups, some socio-cultural variables, probable clinical manifestations and location. However, the results indicated that there were no significant relationships between the presence of the antibody with these variables (P>0.05).Conclusion: This work indicates that most of the women screened (92.51%) were already immune due to natural exposure to the virus. The remaining 7.49% needs to be protected from being infected with the virus especially during the first trimester of pregnancy which can result to congenital defects with fatal consequences. As such, there is need for more sero-surveys on rubella in the country to support the advocacy for the inclusion of rubella vaccination in the National Programme on Immunization (NPI).
Abstract: Background: Rubella is a mild illness with most cases goes undiagnosed because of its sub clinical nature. However, the disease poses serious threat such as congenital rubella defects, abortions, and still birth if a pregnant woman contracted the infection during her first trimester. Unfortunately lack of sufficient data on its prevalence and incid...
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Serum and Ascitic Fluid Hepcidin in HCV Positive Liver Cirrhosis with and without HCC
Ehab Abd El Atti,
Alaa Dawood,
Abdallah Said Essa,
Bassam Mohamed Masoud,
Enas Said Essa,
Yasser El-Ghobashy,
Ashraf Anas Zytoon
Issue:
Volume 1, Issue 3, November 2013
Pages:
63-69
Received:
11 December 2013
Accepted:
Published:
10 January 2014
Abstract: Background & Aim: Chronic HCV infection suppresses hepatic hepcidin expression which may enhance iron toxicity and lead to disease progression and HCC development. The aim of the study is to investigate the role of hepcidin in HCV+ve liver cirrhosis patients in relation to disease progression and HCC development. Patients and methods: The study population consists of: 20 HCV+ve patients without HCC (HCV patients), 20 HCV+ve patients with HCC (HCV-HCC patients) and 10 controls. In addition to comprehensive clinical examination, they were subjected to laboratory check-up for albumin, bilirubin, PT %, ferritin, AFP and hepcidin. Ascitic fluid hepcidin was done for all patients. Results: There was a significant difference among HCV and HCV-HCC patients and controls with regard serum ferritin and hepcidin (P = 0.001 & 0.0001 respectively). Serum hepcidin of HCV and HCV-HCC patients were significantly lower than controls (P = 0.0001). Serum and ascitic fluid hepcidin of HCV-HCC patients was significantly lower than HCV patients (P = 0.01 & 0.02 respectively). Serum ferritin was significantly higher in HCV and HCV-HCC patients than controls (P = 0.001). Serum ferritin of HCV-HCC patients was significantly higher than HCV patients (P = 0.02). Ascitic fluid hepcidin was negatively correlated with Child-Pugh score in HCV (r=-0.55 & P=0.01) and HCV-HCC patients (r = -0.53 & P = 0.02). Ascitic fluid hepcidin was negatively correlated with bilirubin in HCV (r = -0.43 & P=0.04) and HCV-HCC patients (r = -0.47 & P=0.04). Ascitic fluid hepcidin was positively correlated with serum albumin in HCV (r = +0.44 & P=0.04) but there was no correlation in HCV-HCC patients (r =-0.1 & P=0.7). Conclusion: Low levels of hepcidin may be involved in the pathophysiologic mechanism of iron overload in patients with chronic HCV with and without HCC. Moreover, there is a positive relationship between hepcidin levels and synthetic liver function suggesting that uniform suppression of hepcidin may be linked to disease progression and HCC development. Further analysis is still required to evaluate its usefulness as a marker for early detection of HCC by serial measurement of hepcidin in blood and ascitic fluid.
Abstract: Background & Aim: Chronic HCV infection suppresses hepatic hepcidin expression which may enhance iron toxicity and lead to disease progression and HCC development. The aim of the study is to investigate the role of hepcidin in HCV+ve liver cirrhosis patients in relation to disease progression and HCC development. Patients and methods: The study pop...
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Prevalence and Family Biosocial Predictors of Abdominal Obesity among Adult Nigerian Africans in a Resource Constrained Setting of a Rural Hospital in Eastern Nigeria
Gabriel Uche Pascal Iloh,
Agwu Nkwa Amadi,
Augustine Obiora Ikwudinma,
Patrick Uchenna Njoku
Issue:
Volume 1, Issue 3, November 2013
Pages:
70-78
Received:
23 December 2013
Accepted:
Published:
10 January 2014
Abstract: Background: The variability of abdominal obesity within and across families is influenced by several factors. However, the relevance of family biosocial factors in the variability of abdominal obesity is an important health care challenge that is often neglected especially in this era of personalized medicine. Aim: This study was designed to determine the prevalence and family biosocial predictors of abdominal obesity among adult Nigerian Africans in a resource constrained setting of a rural hospital in Eastern Nigeria. Materials and Methods: A cross sectional analytic study carried out on 3012 adult patients aged 18-91 years who were screened for abdominal obesity using the Third Report of National Cholesterol Education Panel (NCEP) in adult (ATP III) criterion and 350 patients who had waist circumference (WC) ≥102cm and ≥88cm for men and women respectively and met the inclusion criteria were age and sex matched with 350 non-obese, non-hypertensive and non-diabetic control. Family bio-social variables were obtained using a pretested, structured and interviewer-administered questionnaire. Hypertension and diabetes mellitus were defined using Joint National Committee 7 Report on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation and Treatment of High Blood Pressure and American Diabetic Association criteria respectively. Results: .The prevalence of abdominal obesity was 11.6%. The family biosocial variables significantly associated with abdominal obesity were family history of obesity (p=0.036) and family inadequate dietary fruits consumption (p=0.042). The most significant predictor of abdominal obesity was family history of obesity (OR=2.60, CI=0.95-13.01, p=0.022). The patient with family history of obesity was two and half times more likely to be obese than those without family history of obesity. Conclusion: Abdominal obesity is associated with family history of obesity and inadequate dietary fruits consumption. The interventional control programs for abdominal obesity should consider these risk factors alongside the complex of other cardiovascular risk factors.
Abstract: Background: The variability of abdominal obesity within and across families is influenced by several factors. However, the relevance of family biosocial factors in the variability of abdominal obesity is an important health care challenge that is often neglected especially in this era of personalized medicine. Aim: This study was designed to determ...
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Use and Delivery of Blood Platelet to the National Blood Transfusion Center (NBTC) of Cote d’Ivoire
Sekongo Y. M.,
Konan S.,
Kouamenan S.,
Tchimou J.,
Tiembre I.,
Abisse A.,
Tolo A. D.,
Siransy-Bogui L.,
Yeo N.,
Konate S.
Issue:
Volume 1, Issue 3, November 2013
Pages:
79-81
Received:
3 December 2013
Accepted:
Published:
30 January 2014
Abstract: Objectives: To know the use of blood platelets and their delivery by the National Blood Transfusion Center of Côte d’Ivoire; describe the socio-demographic characteristics of patients receiving transfusion of blood platelets; specify the platelets order history(old or new command); to assess the delivery of platelets by the National blood Transfusion Center (NBTC) and then specify the group of patients requiring blood transfusion of platelets at the National blood Transfusion Center of Côte d’Ivoire. This was a descriptive cross-sectional study that concerned the period from 01 November to 30 November 2012. It was a comprehensive study that involved 36 controls platelet registered to the NBTC during the defined period. Of the 36 orders of platelets retained the age group 0-10 years was the most frequent with 33.3 % of cases. There were 63.9 % men and 32.6 % women. Pupils and students predominated with 30.5 % of cases. Most orders platelets came equally to Cocody Teaching Hospital and Yopougon Teaching Hospital with 30.5%. Services leading orders platelets were hematology services with 22.2% and pediatrics with 16, 6 %.In 33.3% of cases, patients requiring platelet transfusion lived in Yopougon. Among orders platelets, news represented 58.3 %. The delivery of blood platelets by the National Blood Transfusion Center was three days or more in most cases with 44.4 % and patients requiring platelet transfusion were in 38.9 % of cases of group O Rh positive. At the end of our study, we can remember that most orders platelets come from hematology and pediatrics services of CocodyTeachingHospital and YopougonTeachingHospital. These orders are made primarily of platelets for patients of group O Rh positive and issued by theNBTCwithin3 days or more in most cases.
Abstract: Objectives: To know the use of blood platelets and their delivery by the National Blood Transfusion Center of Côte d’Ivoire; describe the socio-demographic characteristics of patients receiving transfusion of blood platelets; specify the platelets order history(old or new command); to assess the delivery of platelets by the National blood Transfusi...
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