ABSTRACT
Epidemiological monitoring of vaginal candidiasis infection associated with preterm delivery and death of the infants is highly desirable especially on pregnant women. The objectives of this study were to determine the prevalence of vaginal candidiasis and the occurrence of Candida species in pregnant women attending antenatal clinics (not necessarily presenting any disease symptoms) in Aba, Abia State, Nigeria. Selection was by subject consent and presence at the clinics. Vaginal swab and urine samples were collected from 400 pregnant women between the months of May and October, 2014. Candida species were identified using sabouraud dextrose agar (SDA). All cultures were screened for the presence of Candida albicans using the germ tube test. Out of 400 pregnant women sampled, 126 (31.5%) tested positive. The age group 19-28 years had the highest prevalence rate with 48 (39.7%) while 49 years and above recorded the least prevalence rate – 23 (26.7%). The result also showed that women at their third trimester recorded the highest prevalence rate of 71 (38.0%). In terms of the effect of the levels of education, the illiterate pregnant women recorded the highest rate with 22 (46.8%) while the least was obtained from those with tertiary education. Based on their occupation, the traders recorded the highest rate -76 (47.8%) while house wives had the least with 8 (8.3%). There is a need for routine surveillance and education of pregnant women on Candida albicans as a holistic procedure in antenatal care.
ABSTRACT
Background: Over the past decade, significant gains have been made in the implementation of malaria preventive measures in sub-Saharan Africa, including the distribution of insecticide treated nets (ITNs). These have been shown to cause a reduction in the incidence of malaria and other mosquito borne diseases. Methods: Knowledge, attitude and practices of the use of ITNs were critically evaluated in Aba, south eastern Nigeria from February to July, 2013. A cross-sectional study was conducted in four communities in Aba. A total of 500 household heads or their representatives were surveyed using a pre-tested structural questionnaire administered through house-to-house interview. Results: Out of the 500 respondents interviewed, 460 (92.0%) associated malaria with mosquito bites. On home management practices used to prevent mosquito bites, 299 (59.8%) use ITNs, 100 (20.0%) use insecticide sprays, 45 (9.0%) use window/door nets while 32 (6.4%) use repellants. The use of ITNs based on age showed that people between ages 26 and above had the highest percentage (51.8%), while ages 15-20 had the least (9.3%). Based on levels of education, 179 (66.5%) of those with tertiary education use ITNs, 65 (21.0%) of those with secondary education and only 3 (1.0%) of the illiterate group use ITNs. Conclusion: Despite increased access to this intervention over time, the use of ITNs still remains low. There is a need therefore to create more awareness of the anti-malarial significance of ITNs, through intensified health education programmes. The main objective of this work is to evaluate the knowledge, attitude and practice of the use of insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) in Aba, southeast, Nigeria.
ABSTRACT
This study investigated the effect of cooking time on starch and cyanide contents of freshly harvested cassava tubers used for tapioca production. Tapioca is a cassava meal commonly consumed in most part of the world and prepared from freshly harvested cassava tubers. The cassava tubers used for tapioca production are first boiled and sliced, before soaking in water overnight. The cassava tubers used for this study were harvested from the eastern farm of National Root Crops Research Institute, Umudike in Abia State, Nigeria. Some freshly harvested cassava tubers were subjected to 90 minutes cooking in clean water and at intervals of 15 minutes, samples were collected for starch and cyanide analyses. The result showed that increase in cooking time decreased the starch and cyanide contents of the cassava samples. Starch was reduced from 13.37% to 4.65% for every 2 g of starch tuber given 65.22% reduction after 90 minutes. The cyanide content was reduced from 36.65±0.16 to 2.49±0.08 mg/kg after 90 minutes of boiling, given a 93.2% reduction. The statistical analysis on the effect of cooking time on starch and cyanide contents showed significant mean difference (P < 0.0001) at both 5% and 1% levels of the various cooking time of the cassava. It is recommended that cassava used for tapioca production should be adequately cooked to reduce the cyanide content which could result in food poisoning.
ABSTRACT
This investigation aimed at determining the cyanide and starch contents of different species of cassava grown in Abia State. Samples of cassava tubers were purchased from the local market and identified by a taxonomist from the National Root Crops Research Institute, Umudike, Abia State. In this study, the cyanide levels obtained were less than 100 mg/kg for both sweet and bitter cassava. The lower concentration of cyanide obtained from this survey, could have been influenced by the season of harvest (rainy season) in Nigeria. Of the six species analyzed, “0581” recorded the highest in cyanide content with 62.57 ± 0.10 mg/kg, followed by “30211” with 59.55 ± 0.19 mg/kg. Sweet cassava (0505) recorded the least with 36.65 ± 0.16 mg/kg cyanide. On the starch content, 21.70 ± 0.10% was obtained from “30572”, followed by “8083” with 20.62 ± 0.11% and “30211” had the least starch content with 17.48 ± 0.02%. Both Starch (%) and HCN (mg/kg) are statistically significant (p-value < 0.001) in the means for the various species of cassava under study. However, from the posthoc test, there is no significant difference between species 30211 and 0581. The other species are significantly different at 5% level. However, all the species of cassava tested had cyanide above the recommended level (10 mg/kg). Consumption of these cassava species unprocessed/inadequately processed would lead to serious health challenges and therefore, efforts are required to reduce cyanide content at least to the recommended level.
ABSTRACT
This study was designed to document individuals’ adherence to annual ivermectin treatment and people’s willingness to continue taking ivermectin as an important predictor of sustained compliance with long-term ivermectin treatment. The study which was conducted between April and September, 2011 adopted a cross-sectional approach in collecting quantitative and qualitative data from the two Local Government Areas of Abia State that were assessed by REMO as hyper-endemic for onchocerciasis. The study population involved both high and low compliers groups. A Structured questionnaire was administered to 558 people to ascertain their compliance rate to annual and long-term ivermectin treatment and their willingness to sustain the treatment. Of these, 195 (34.9%) were males while 363 (65.1%) were females. Among these groups, 53.8% and 57.3% of males and females respectively were treated before. Of the 195 males and 363 females, only 25 (12.8%) males and 45 (12.4%) females were high compliers. On their willingness to continue with the drug, 483 (86.6%) claimed that most people take the drug, 495 (88.7%) affirmed that most people will continue with the drug while 555 (99.5%) indicated that they are personally willing to continue with the drug if made available. This is confirmed by the Chi-square (χ2) analysis at 0.05 level of significance that people are personally willing to continue with the drug if available (χ2 cal =163.585, P-value < 0.0001). Suggestions on ways to improve compliance to annual and long-term ivermectin treatment showed that health education/enlightenment ranked very high (78.3%). This is followed by “awareness through church/school” (77.5%). It is imperative that the existing health education materials be reviewed by taking into cognizance such factors that will improve individual’s willingness to comply with annual and long-term ivermectin treatment. Such materials should emphasize compliance among youths and children 5 years and above.