ABSTRACT
Background: It is estimated that 3 billion people world wide are infected with intestinal parasites. Morbidity is highest amongst children; infestation causes a threat to the growth and development of the child. The study aims to determine the prevalence of intestinal helminthes in children attending day care centers in Jos metropolis. Methodology:Ten day care centers were randomly selected from the total number of day care centers. From each centre children were randomly selected for study. Parents of selected children completed a structured questionnaire and stool specimens of the children were analyzed using iodine and saline preparation. Results :Two hundred and twenty-one children (57.8) of the 384 children studied had intestinal parasites. Ascaris lumbricoides; Ancylostoma duodenale and Trichuris trichura were the commonest parasites found. The relationship between intestinal parasite infestation and diarrhea in past 2 months (X =19.5; df = 1; p 0.001 OR
Subject(s)
Anthelmintics , Child , ParasitesABSTRACT
It is estimated that 3 billion people world wide are infected with intestinal parasites. Morbidity is highest amongst children; infestation causes a threat to the growth and development of the child. The study aims to determine the prevalence of intestinal helminthes in children attending day care centers in Jos metropolis. Ten day care centers were randomly selected from the total number of day care centers. From each centre children were randomly selected for study. Parents of selected children completed a structured questionnaire and stool specimens of the children were analyzed using iodine and saline preparation. : Two hundred and twenty-one children (57.8) of the 384 children studied had intestinal parasites. Ascaris lumbricoides; Ancylostoma duodenale and Trichuris trichura were the commonest parasites found. The relationship between intestinal parasite infestation and diarrhea in past 2 months (X =19.5; df = 1; p 0.001 OR
Subject(s)
Child Day Care Centers , Intestinal Diseases , PrevalenceABSTRACT
Background: Malaria accounts for 1 million deaths among children under five annually. It has been shown that improving home treatment and preventing delays in seeking treatment; by teaching women to respond promptly when their children have fever; can decrease malaria related complications and mortality. This study looks at the impact of health education on knowledge of malaria: its recognition; treatment and prevention among caregivers of children under five in Jengre; North Central Nigeria. Methods: The study was a community based intervention study conducted in three stages: A pre- intervention stage; where 150 caregivers; were selected through a multistage sampling technique from the households containing children under five. Information for the baseline was collected through an interviewer administered semi-structured questionnaire. The intervention consisted of a series of health education sessions designed based on findings from the pre-intervention stage. The post-intervention impact assessment was conducted using a modified version of the questionnaire used in the pre intervention stage. Results: Malaria was recognized as one of the diseases that cause fever in community by all the respondents. Sixty-one (40.6) had adequate knowledge concerning malaria causation; transmission; prevention and treatment. Twenty eight (56) of respondents reported Self-treatment. There was a statistically significant relationship between years of formal education and first line treatment option (P=.012). Thirty-four (68) mothers acted within eight hours of onset of fever. The intervention had an effect on perception (P.001); knowledge (P.001); malaria preven- tion practice (P