The use of foot length and foot breadth in estimating standing height of adolescents in Yenagoa, Nigeria

Background: Previous studies have shown that when standing height is difficult to measure, the length of other body parts may be a reliable alternative. However, there is limited information about the use of foot length (FL) and foot breadth (FB) in estimating standing height in the African population. The objective of this study was to investigate the appropriateness of foot length and foot breadth in estimating standing height of adolescents in Yenagoa.Methods: Using a multistage sampling technique, 1222 adolescents were recruited from secondary schools in the Yenagoa local government area. Height, foot length, and foot breadth were measured using standard techniques. Data was analysed and equations for prediction of standing height from foot length and foot breadth, were derived. Results: The mean standing height of the females was significantly lower than that of males (p<0.001). The mean foot length and mean foot breath for males were significantly higher than those for females. The mean foot length and mean foot breadth were found to increase across all the stages of adolescence. There was a significant positive correlation between standing height and foot length (r=0.700; p<0.001), foot breadth (r=0.543; p<0.001), and age (r=0.369; p<0.001). Multiple linear regression was used to derive equations for the estimation of FL and FB.Conclusions: This study found that FL and FB can be used in the estimation of standing height. For adolescents in Yenagoa, the equations derived are recommended for predicting the standing height of those who have difficulty standing upright.

Primary health workers' knowledge and practices relating to neonatal jaundice in Ibadan, Nigeria

Background: Over half of births and newborn care occur in primary healthcare facilities in Nigeria, but information on activities of personnel working there is scarce. Aim: To assess the knowledge and practices relating to neonatal jaundice (NNJ) among community health workers (CHWs) and community birth attendants (CBAs) in Nigeria. Setting: We conducted a cross-sectional survey of all 227 CHWs and 193 registered CBAs in Ibadan, Nigeria.Methods: Knowledge and practices regarding NNJ were measured using a pretested questionnaire. Knowledge and practices were assessed on a 33-point scale and a 13-point scale, respectively. Scores ≤ 17 and ≤ 9 was regarded as poor knowledge and as wrong practice, respectively. Results: Many (64.5%) of the respondents could not correctly describe examination for NNJ (CHWs: 49.4%; CBAs: 50.6%). Of the 200 (47.6%) who treated NNJ 3 months prior to the study, 62.5% (CHWs: 66.9% and CBAs: 53.7%) treated NNJ with orthodox drugs. Drugs prescribed included: antibiotics (93.3%), antimalarials (5.3%), multivitamins (28.0%), paracetamol (6.2%) and phenobarbitone (7.1%). Significantly more CHWs than CBAs practiced exposure to sunlight (33.1% versus 16.4%) and administration of glucose water (28.6% versus 14.9%), while 58.0% of all respondents referred cases to secondary health facilities. Overall, 80.2% had poor knowledge (CHWs: 78.9%; CBAs: 81.9%) and 46.4% engaged in wrong practices (CHWs: 57.3%; CBAs: 33.7%). CHWs were more likely to indulge in wrong practices than CBAs (OR = 2.22, 95% CI = 1.03, 4.79). Conclusion: Primary Health Workers in Ibadan had poor knowledge and engaged in wrong practices about NNJ. The needs to organise regular training programmes were emphasised

Evaluation of Renal Blood Flow Using Doppler Sonography in Children with Acute Falciparum Malaria in South-Western Nigeria.

Background: Renal blood flow evaluation during malaria illness is rarely done despite the high incidence of kidney injury from malaria and availability of Doppler ultrasound scanners in malaria endemic areas. Aims: This study is to evaluate the renal blood flow changes using Doppler ultrasonography among uncomplicated and complicated malaria subsets of pediatric patient with laboratory evidence of malaria parasitemia and without background clinical and laboratory evidence of renal impairment. And to compare these with parameters of age matched healthy pediatric control. Study Design: This was a prospective case control study of renal Doppler indices in children with acute malaria. Place of Study: The study was conducted among pediatric patients presenting at the children outpatient clinics, emergency and pediatric wards of the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan Nigeria. Methodology: Doppler indices of 602 kidneys were evaluated among 85 uncomplicated (UM), 85 complicated malaria (CM) children that presented within 24 hours and follow up scans on days 3 and 5 of their illness. These were compared with that of 131 healthy children (control). Results: The main renal artery diameter of the CM group was 0.41±0.07 mm, UM=0.48±0.09 mm and 0.53±0.11 mm (p=<0.001) in the control group. The main renal vein diameter were 0.59±0.11 mm and 0.48±0.10 mm and 0.63±0.15 mm (P=<0.000) among the CM, UM and the control group respectively. The PSV and EDV were slightly lower in the malaria groups than in the control group. PSV=49.01±18.21 cm/s in the UM and CM=50.71±19.68 cm/s. The control group PSV was 56.95±15.47 cm/s. AT was however significantly lower in the two malaria subgroups than in the control. (UM=47.70±18.28 cm/s, CM=52.33±21.06 cm/s and control=75.20±27.66 cm/s respectively (p=<0.000). The Intrarenal S/D in UM was 2.73±0.49 and the CM group S/D was 3.05±0.65 and control=2.62±0.47 (P=0.04). Slightly lower but statistically insignificant mean values were seen in the RI and PI. Conclusion: The main renal arterial and vein diameters and the intra renal vessel AT are significantly reduced during acute falciparum malaria illness. The intra-renal PSV and EDV are likely to be lower in acute falciparum malaria than in the normal healthy children. The intra-renal S/D are significantly higher in the UM and CM. Also, the PI and RI are likely to be higher in the malaria groups. The AT and S/D both showed inverse and direct relationship respectively as malaria severity worsens. We propose that renal Doppler ultrasound can be used to monitor renal status and should be included in the management of children with acute malaria infection more so in malaria endemic area.