Effectiveness of Data Collection and Information Transmission Process for Disease Notification in Anambra State; Nigeria

Background: Disease surveillance and notification (DSN) has been shown to be weak in Nigeria; thus; its inability to promptly detect and control epidemics.Objective: To examine the completeness and timeliness of data collection and information transmission process for DSN in the Anambra state.Materials and Methods: The study was of cross-sectional design and employed the multistage sampling method to select 270 health workers who are involved in DSN in Anambra state. Data were collected by a mix method of interviewer administered questionnaire and observational checklist preceded by key informant interviews and desk review.Results: One hundred (43.9) health workers reported regular supply of Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response (IDSR) forms; 25 and 16.2 reported it was irregular and usually out of stock; respectively. Most facilities (81.5) were the least correct; while out-patient register (88.9) was the most correct. Only 10.0 of health facilities submitted completed forms 5 days after completion; 88.9 of them submitted completed IDSR002 forms within 2 days of completion; while the remainder was submitted 4 days later.Conclusion: The health workers were not operating the DSN system in the State to optimal functionality. Recommendations were therefore made for the periodic training-retraining of health personnel on DSN; improved funding; provision of logistics; improved supervision; and feedback of information

Evaluation of Sexual Maturity among Adolescent Male Sickle Cell Anaemia Patients: the Usefulness of Testicular Volume Estimation

Use of Tanner stages i.e. Sexual Maturity Rating; (SMR); in evaluation of sexual maturity has gained widespread acceptance. Tanner staging assesses pubic hair growth and increase in genital sizes; the latter of which is best reflected by the increase in testicular size. Testicular volume increases is thought to be the most sensitive clinical indication of onset and progress of puberty. It has been argued that the initial stage of sexual development may be missed if testicular volume is not assessed. We explored usefulness of testicular volume estimation for assessing sexual maturity among adolescent male sickle cell anaemia (SCA) patients. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional case-control study evaluating sexual maturation of male patients with sickle cell anaemia and those with HbAA genotype. Tanner staging and testicular volume assessment were both used as models for evaluating stages of sexual maturation among SCA patients and their normal counterparts matched for age and socioeconomic status. Results: SCA patients demonstrated delay in onset and completion of sexual maturation. Testicular volumes (TV) of subjects were smaller than those of controls but when related to stages of sexual maturity; there was no statistically significant difference between both groups. The correlation coefficients between various stages of sexual maturity and TV suggest strong associations. Conclusion: Testicular volume increase is shown as a reasonably good predictor of onset and progression of sexual maturity in both SCA subjects and their healthy controls

Effect of Social Class and Area of Domicile on the Prevalence of Intestinal Helminthiasis in Nursery and Primary School Children in Enugu

Objective:The primary objective of the study was to determine the effect of social class and area of domicile on the prevalence of helminthiasis in nursery and primary school children in Enugu.Subjects and method: This was a cross-sectional study in which stool samples were obtained from 460 nursery and primary school children from different social classes and different areas of domicile and analysed for intestinal helminthiasis using the Kato Katz method.Results: One hundred and sixty-six (36.1) of the 460 children studied lived in the urban area; 215 (46.7) lived in the semi-urban area and 79 (17.2) lived in the urban slum area. The prevalence of intestinal helminthic infection was lowest in children living in urban areas (10.2) and highest in those in urban slums (48.4). There was a significant relationship between residential abode or area of domicile and prevalence of helminthic infection (?2 = 59.54; df = 2; p = 0.001).The prevalence of intestinal helminthic infection was highest in the lower class (50.9); lowest in the upper class (9.7) and intermediate in the middle class (21.7). This trend was statistically significant (?2 = 65.06; df = 2; p = 0.001). Conclusion: It is concluded that the prevalence of intestinal helminthiasis is affected by both areas of domicile and social class of children. Hence; intervention by the government to create better areas of domicile and to improve the social class of its populace will reduce the prevalence of intestinal helminthiasis