A 6-year review of post-neonatal tetanus at Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto

Background: Tetanus is a vaccine-preventable disease but its incidence has remained unacceptably high in developing countries. Objective: To determine the prevalence, risk factors and outcome of post-neonatal tetanus at Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital (UDUTH), Sokoto. Methods: A retrospective descriptive study from 1st January 2010 to 31st December 2015. Children aged 1 month to 15 years diagnosed with post-neonatal tetanus were studied. Information from the admission files was extracted. Data was analysed using SPSS version 20. Results: Total admissions during the study period were 14,458; 61 had post-neonatal tetanus, giving a prevalence of 0.4%. The M: F ratio was 1.5:1. The mean age was 7.4±3.2 years. Fifty-nine (96.7%) were not immunised against tetanus. Portal of entry for the organism was trauma injuries to the foot in 33(54.1%). Thirty-one (50.8%) were discharged, 5(8.2%) DAMA, while 25(41.0%) died, and case fatality was 41.0%. Conclusion: Post-neonatal tetanus is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in Sokoto. There is need for improved health education, sustainability of immunisation programmes and coverage to eradicate this scourge

Pubertal breast development in primary school girls in Sokoto, North-western Nigeria

Background. There is wide variation in normal pubertal timing among various populations. Objectives. To determine the mean age of pubertal stages of breast development and menarche, and the influence of nutrition and ethnicity on pubertal onset in primary school girls in Sokoto, North-Western Nigeria.Methods. A cross-sectional study using a multistage random sampling design was conducted on 994 primary school girls in grades 3 - 6. Weight and height measurements and Tanner breast staging were done. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated, and a BMI-for-age percentile was used to categorise nutritional status. There were four major ethnic groups. P≤0.05 was taken as showing statistical significance. Results. The participants' mean age was 10.23 years (standard deviation (SD) 1.70, range 6 - 15 years). Of the 994 girls, 628 (63.2%) were pre-pubertal, and 366 (36.8%) were pubertal. Of the latter, 158 (15.9%) were in breast stage 2, while 112 (11.3%), 70 (7.0%) and 26 (2.6%) were in breast stages 3, 4 and 5, respectively. The mean ages (SD; range) of pubertal onset and menarche were 10.50 (1.33; 8 - 13), and 12.67 (1.65; 11 - 15), years, respectively. The overnourished (overweight/obese) and Igbo ethnic group girls had early-normal pubertal onset (p=0.006 and p=0.001, respectively). Conclusion. The mean ages of Tanner breast stages 1 - 5 and menarcheal age of girls in Sokoto, North-Western Nigeria, were within the age ranges reported worldwide. Pubertal onset was influenced by nutrition