ABSTRACT
Background: Disclosure of HIV serostatus is essential for the care and eradication of HIV infection. The World Health Organization recommends disclosure to school-age children and younger children but this practice is commonly hindered by stigmatization and other presumed psychosocial effects of the disease. Objective: To identify limitations to the disclosure of serostatus in HIV-infected children, outcomes of disclosure as well as compare the outcomes of disclosure by either parents/caregiver only with the involvement of health care personnel. Methods: A questionnaire-based study of primary caregivers of children aged 6 years to 18 years with HIV infection who were enrolled at two government-owned tertiary institutions in Lagos State, Nigeria. The healthcare personnel directly involved in the care of these children also participated in the study. Results: A total of 190 primary caregivers participated in the study. In all, 29 health care personnel completely filled the questionnaires. Disclosure (partial and full) was recorded among 31.0%. Older children and children with single parents were more likely to know their HIV status. Similar positive and negative impacts of disclosure were observed irrespective of the individuals involved in the processes. In all, 62.1% of healthcare personnel have had training on disclosure. Conclusion: Disclosure rate in HIV-infected children was low. There is a need for more training of health personnel and education of caregivers on the benefits of disclosure as well as the introduction of effective measures to tackle the barriers to disclosure
Subject(s)
Clinical Competence , Disclosure , HIV Infections , HIV Seropositivity , Health Personnel , NigeriaABSTRACT
La frecuencia del síndrome de Down es fuertemente dependiente de la edad materna y la incidencia varia según las edades maternas. Esta incidencia puede diferir de un país a otro de acuerdo a los factores sociales y ambientales predominantes en tales países. Este estudio pretende documentar la prevalencia de defectos cardíacos congénitos en pacientes con síndrome de Down, identificar la asociación entre la edad materna y la frecuencia de enfermedades cardíacas congénitas en estos sujetos. Métodos: El estudio fue prospectivo, cruzado-sectorial y consecutivo, involucrando a sujetos de dos centros los cuales eran un hospital terciario hospital vado y un centro cardiológico principal. Los niños con características clínicas de síndrome de Down fueron sometidos a ecocardiografías transtorácicas efectuadas por un cardiólogo. Resultados: Un total de 195 pacientes con síndrome de Down cuyas edades abarcaban entre 1 día a 12 años, fueron estudiados. La edad media + SD fue 241.03 + 529.71 días y la relación masculino a femenino de 1.04.1. El promedio de la edad materna iba desde los 19 a los 44 años con una edad media +SD de 32.36 + 5.43 años . Hasta el 16.9 % tenían un corazón estructuralmente normal. El defecto más común fue el defecto septal aurículoventricular 24.1 % . No hubo una asociación significativa entre la edad materna y la frecuencia de defectos cardíacos congénitos en estos sujetos. Conclusión: La incidencia de enfermedad cardíaca congénita es alta en los sujetos con síndrome de Down. Los defectos aurículoventriculares fueron los defectos cardíacos más comunes en estos sujetos. La incidencia de defectos cardíacos congénitos en los sujetos fue decreciendo de la edad materna de 36 años y por encima. La evaluación cardíaca rutinaria incluyendo la ecocardiografía se recomienda a todos los pacientes con síndrome de Down.
Summary The occurrence of Down syndrome is strongly dependent on maternal age and incidence varies at various maternal ages. This incidence may differ from one country to another according to the social and environmental factors predominant in such countries. The study aims to document the prevalence of congenital heart defects in patients with Down syndrome, identify the association between maternal age and occurrence of congenital heart disease among these subjects. Methods. The study was prospective, cross-sectional and consecutive, involving subjects from two centers which were, a tertiary hospital a private hospital and a major cardiology center. Children with clinical features of Down syndrome had transthoracic echocardiography done by a cardiologist. Results. A total of 195 patients with Down syndrome with their ages between 1 day to 12 years. The mean age + SD were 241.03 + 529.71 days and male to female ratio of 1.04.1. The mother´s age range was from 19 to 44 years with a mean age of + SD of 32.36+ 5.43 years. Up to 16.9 % had structurally normal heart. The most common heart defect was atrioventricular septal defect 24.1 %. There was no significant association between maternal age and occurrence of congenital heart defects in the subjects. Conclusion. The incidence of congenital heart disease is high among subjects with Down syndrome. Atrioventricular defects were the commonest cardiac defect among the subjects. The incidence of congenital heart defect in the subjects was decreasing from maternal age 36 years and above. Routine cardiac evaluation including echocardiography is recommended for all patients with Down syndrome
Subject(s)
Humans , Infant , Child, Preschool , Child , Echocardiography , Prospective Studies , Follow-Up Studies , Maternal Age , Down Syndrome/complications , Cross-Over Studies , Heart Diseases/congenitalABSTRACT
Background: Sickle cell anemia (SCA) has multisystemic manifestations and is associated with severe morbidity and high mortality. It commonly affects growth leading to wasting and stunting. Aims and Objectives: This study aimed to determine the influence of socioeconomic status on the nutritional status using anthropometric measurements and steady-state hemoglobin; of children with homozygous SCA; aged 1 year to 10 years in steady state at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital. Materials and Methods: This is a cross-sectional study involving 100 children with SCA and 100 age-; sex-; and social class-matched controls that fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Social class was assessed using educational attainment and occupation of parents. Hemoglobin concentration was determined using the oxy-hemoglobin method. Results: This study demonstrated a significantly lower mean weight and weight-for-height in the SCA patients than those of controls (P 0.001). By contrast; this study did not demonstrate any statistical significant difference in the mean height and mean body mass index of SCA patients and controls (P 0.1). However; SCA patients had significantly lower values than controls in each of the social classes. Conclusion: Poor socioeconomic status has an adverse effect on the nutritional status and hemoglobin of SCA patients