ABSTRACT
Introduction: Pain is one of the most recurrent complaints obtainable in paediatric settings especially while carrying out procedures. The emergency section is averytaskingplaceforchildren. Hence itisimportant for health care workers to follow a child focussed or individual methods in their assessment and management of pain and painful procedures.Aim:To determine health workers’ approach towards non-pharmacological management of procedural pain in children at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH). Methods: Thisdescriptive cross-sectional study was carried out between November 2019 and January 2020. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to retrieve information on biodata, knowledge and practice of non -pharmacological management of procedural pain in children. Data was entered into Microsoft Excel spread sheet and analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 21.Results: Respondents in this study included 25(24.8%) physicians and 61(60.4%) nurses. Forty-four respondents (43.5%) had more than 10 years’ workexperience. Self-development 59 (58.4%) was the most common source of knowledge of paediatric pain management. Fourteen(13.9%) respondents knewthe appropriate time of applying non-pharmacological measures of which distraction was the most common strategy mentioned (n=85, 84.2%) and used (36%). Nurses were significantly more knowledgeable about non-pharmacological methods of pain management in children (p= .000).Conclusion: There are gaps in knowledge and practice of clinicians concerning use of non-pharmacological interventions in the management of procedural pain in children. Development of a standard protocol would be an asset. There is need for necessary tools, and institutional commitment to adequate pain relief for children in our institution
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Introduction:Anophthalmia which is the congenital absence of the eyes could be bilateral or congenital, it occurs globally although it is rare. It is usually in association with other systemic congenital abnormalities. Case Report:A case of a female baby delivered at a primary health center in Port Harcourt, Nigeria who had bilateral anophthalmia is reported here along with review of literature Magnetic Resonant Imaging (MRI) of brain and orbit was used to confirm the diagnosis which showed absence of both globes, with hypoplasia of the orbits as well as the extraocular muscles, the optic nerves could not be differentiated from the visualized intra-orbital structures. All other systems were essentially normal. This is an exceptional case in Port Harcourt, Nigeria, as literature search shows that no other case has been reported in Port Harcourt. She is currently being followed up at the paediatric, ophthalmology and ENT clinics of the University of Port Harcourt teaching hospital.
ABSTRACT
Background:Malaria is a life threatening protozoan infection and children under 5 years are one of the most vulnerable group. Good malaria preventive practices among these group is key to reducing malaria burden and its associated mortality Objective:The aim of the study was to assess malaria preventive practices among under-five children in Rivers State, Nigeria. Materials and Methods:This was a cross sectional study carried out in public and private health facilities in Rivers state. Ethical approval for the study was obtained from the Research and Ethics committee of the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, while an informed written consent was obtained from the parents or caregivers of the participants. Stratified sampling method was used to select the health facilities and the subjects for the study. A pretested interviewer administered questionnaire was used to harvest relevant information on socio demographic characteristics of the subjects and informants and malaria preventive practices. Obtaineddata was analysed using SPSS version 22 and results are presented in prose and tables. Results:A total of 1138 children participated in the study constituting of 613 (53.9%) male and 525(46.1%) female giving a male: female ratio of 1.2:1. Mean age of participants was 1.74±1.08 years. Mothers, accounted for majority 1012 (88.9%) of the informants. Most of the informants had tertiary degree; 605 (53.4%) and 697 (61.8%) among mothers and fathers respectively. Among the occupations of fathers, public servants, civil servants and the self-employed were more represented, constituting 242 (21.4%), 200 (17.7%) and 149 (13.2%) respectively. Traders/business women, the self-employed and civil servants were most represented among the occupations of mothers in the study and these accounted for 444 (39.7%), 181 (16.2%) and 137 (12.3%) respectively. Malaria preventive practices included use of Insecticide-treated bed nets (ITNs), Indoor spraying of insecticide (modified IRS), use of antimalarial drugs, clearing of bushes/ disposal of containers where mosquitoes breed and use of mosquito repellent creams which constituted 605 (53.2%), 483 (42.4%), 133 (11.7%), 4 (0.4%) and 2 (0.2%) respectively; there were 512 (45.0%) children who slept under ITNs the previous night. Also, 970 (85.2%) had window nets installed in their homes. Protective window nets was also in place in the homes of 970 (85.2%) of the study participants. Among families that practiced use of ITNs, 110 (61.8%) were from the middle social class and 62 (34.8%) were from the upper social class, while 316 (52.2%) and 276 (45.6%) were from the upper and middle social class respectively among those that practised Indoor spraying of insecticide (IRS). Conclusion:Use of ITNs, modified IRS and use of anti malarials were the common malaria preventive practices among under-fives in Rivers state and these methods were more practiced among the middle and upper social class. Education on the integrated approach to malaria prevention which advocates the use of several malaria prevention methods in a holistic manner should be intensified