Assessment of Iron Content of Breast Milk in Preterm and Term Mothers in Enugu Urban

Background: It is commonly assumed that preterm babies are malnourished and this has led to all forms of micronutrient supplementation including iron. Objective:The aim of the study is to compare the iron content in breast milk of mothers who had preterm and term babies.Methods:Ninety six (96) lactating mothers who delivered their babies at term and 68 lactating mothers who had preterm deliveries were recruited for the study. The mothers were attending the postnatal clinic of one secondary and two tertiary healthcare facilities in Enugu. Breast milk iron concentration was determined by Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer.Results:The differences in the mean values for the iron concentrations in preterm and term breast milk were statistically significant (39.06±10.78 versus 32.79±14.17 µmol/L, P =0.02). In both groups, the breast milk iron concentration gradually decreased as lactation progressed. (P <0.0001).Conclusion:The iron content of breast milk from mothers who had preterm babies is higher when compared to mothers who had term babies. It may thus be needless to introduce exogenous iron during lactation

Factors That Affect Medical Students' Performance in Anatomy in the University Of Nigeria

Background: Much attention has been drawn to the area of medical education in contemporary times with the aim of developing effective teaching strategies in our medical schools. Objectives: To identify the problems encountered by students in the study of Anatomy and suggest ways of enhancing their performance in the subject.Materials and Methods: Three hundred structured; pretested self administered questionnaires were applied to medical students of the Faculty of Medical Sciences; University of Nigeria Enugu Campus (UNEC); who had spent at least two years in the medical school. Data analysis was by SPSS version 15.Results: Of the 300questionnaires; 201(67.0) were correctly filled and analysed. One hundred and three (51.2) of the respondents were females; 163 (81.1) were aged 21 to 30 years and 105(52.3) had spent more than two years in the medical school. One hundred and eleven (55.2) believed that dissection followed by audio-visual aids 101(50.3) offered students adequate exposure to the learning of anatomy. One hundred and eleven; (55.2) also implicated overcrowding as a major cause of students' aversion for dissection leading to inadequate exposure to the subject and the resultant poor performance. One hundred and seven (53.2) believed that the preparatory period for 2nd MBBS exams should be extended so as to offer students adequate exposure to laboratory specimens.Conclusion: Over-population causes inadequate exposure of students to anatomical specimens and thus affects their performance negatively

The Incidence of External Male Genital Defects in Enugu State of Nigeria: an Estimate Based on the Prevalence among Secondary School Students

Background: Enugu State typifies a Third World environment where most deliveries occur outside the hospital setting. In such circumstances; therefore; hospital-based data about congenital defects are unreliable and call for special methods of approach. Objective: To assess the place of school prevalence survey results in estimating the population incidence of anomalies of the male external genitalia.Method: From February 2; 2002 to August 1; 2004 a sample of male students aged 10 years and above seen in randomly selected secondary schools in Enugu State of Southeast Nigeria were guided through a protocol involving; self-administered questionnaires; physical examinations for evidence and types of anomalies present in their external genitalia and personal interviews. The participant schools were selected by stratified random sampling; first by Local Government Area (LGA) and then by school. Consents for the study were obtained from Local Government authorities; Heads of the schools; and Parents' Teachers Associations; (P T A) Executives. Results: Altogether; four urban and thirteen rural schools were studied over the 18 month-period of the investigation and a total of 6226 male students participated. Overall; 416 (6.8) were identified with various types of external genital anomalies; with the prevalence rates observed being within the ranges of population prevalence reported in the literature. The commonest types of anomalies encountered were crypto-orchidism with / or without scrotal hypoplasia 268 (4.30); inguino-(scrotal) hernias 56 (0.90); and hydrocoeles 52 (0.83); in descending order. As many as 183 (44) of those with congenital genital defects were not aware they had them. When compared with urban schools; rural schools were characterized by a higher frequency [8.4 vs. 2.8respectively; x2 = 58.35; P 0.0001] and a lower level of awareness about anomalies of the external male genitalia [P