ABSTRACT
Aims: Malaria is a major endemic public health problem in Nigeria and its diagnosis is often either missed or over-diagnosed. It is therefore necessary to determine the use of malaria diagnostic tests by the Community Health Physicians in Nigeria to make the appropriate diagnosis. Methodology: A cross sectional study was conducted among Public Health physicians who attended the National Conference of the Association of Public Health Physicians of Nigeria which held in Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria, in the year 2013. The structured questionnaire was completed by all consenting physicians and analyzed with Excel and Epi-info. Results: A total of 200 questionnaires were distributed but 125 (62.5%) responded. Majority of the respondents were females 69(55.2%), most physicians fell into the age group 31-40years 69(60%) and a large number were Registrars, 38 (46.6%). Although majority of the respondents said their usual diagnosis of patients for malaria were laboratory tests in adults 80.0% and children 79.5% but in the last diagnosis only 51% in adults and children 48% were made using laboratory tests. Conclusion: The study showed that majority of the physicians would have desired to use diagnostic tests but the actual practice in the last diagnosis was low. This could be due to the urgency of treatment and delayed laboratory results. Laboratory results should be made available and timely in order to be used for diagnosis.
ABSTRACT
Background: Tetanus toxoid immunization is given to pregnant women and women of child bearing age to prevent neonatal tetanus and maternal tetanus. The tetanus toxoid vaccine is given five times to women of child bearing age. If the vaccination is given with correct dose, through the right route of administration and completely the woman will be protected for life/ all child bearing years. It was therefore necessary to find out the tetanus toxoid coverage in such tertiary health institution where many pregnant women attend and immunization is given. Objective: To determine the tetanus toxoid coverage in the health facility. Methods: Records of the data management tools of Tetanus Toxoid (TT) immunization were checked and data collected. The data was collected from tetanus toxoid register in the immunization unit of Federal medical centre, Umuahia. Data was analyzed with Excel and Epi info. Results: The health facility summary form showed steady increase in coverage rate for TT1 and TT2 pregnant women only from 2006(33%, 28%) to 2012(64%, 50%) except 2010(37%, 29%) where it reduced. The dropout rate of TT1/TT2 ranged from 14% in 2011 to 28% in 2009. The dropout rate in 2012 was 22%. In immunization register 2006- 2009, those that competed (took TT1 to TT5) ranged from 10%-16%.However, those that started in 2010 to 2012 were not expected to have taken up to TT5 due to interval of administration Conclusion: The coverage rate of TT was low with highest coverage rate in 2012 and there was also high dropout rate. This showed that many pregnant women are still not immunized with TT and some that started did not get the second dose indicating no protection.