Growth pattern of exclusively breastfed infants in the first six months of life: a study of babies delivered at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Rivers State, Nigeria

BACKGROUND: Some authors demonstrate that exclusively breastfed infants have growth patterns comparable with the NCHS standards while others conclude that exclusively breastfed infants grow slower. These conflicting results informed the need for this study to aid the paediatricians and health workers to justify or condemn the recommendation of exclusive breastfeeding for six months. This was a prospective longitudinal study carried out to determine the growth pattern of exclusively breastfed infants in the first 6 months of life and compare them with the International, National Centre for Health Statistics (NCHS/WHO) reference and the Local, Janes' Elite Standards. METHODS:Using weight, length and occipito-frontal circumference as indices, 530 infants were recruited consecutively by convenience sampling over 17 months. Measurements were taken at birth, 2 weeks, 6 weeks, 2 months and subsequently monthly until the end of the 6th month.RESULTS: The exclusively breastfed infants doubled their birth weights at 3 months. The mean weight, OFC and length gains were maximal at 2 months, 2 weeks and 2 months respectively. The growth of exclusively breastfed infants compared favourably with the NCHS/WHO reference group and also compared favourably with the Janes' 'Elite' reference group. CONCLUSION:It is concluded that the growth in weight, length and OFC of exclusively breastfed infants appears adequate for the first 6 months of life

Screening for Congenital Color Vision Deficiency in Primary Children in Port Harcourt City; Teachers' knowledge and performance

Background: One hundred and thirty teachers were studied to evaluate their knowledge of congenital Color Vision Deficiency (CVD); and their ability to perform the Ishihara color vision test; so as to determine if they can provide color vision screening services for their pupils. Methods: The teachers were randomly selected from 13 schools in Port Harcourt City (PHC) and given a six hours training workshop on vision disorders in children and congenital color vision screening. They were given a self administered pre and post test questionnaires before and after training respectively. Subsequently; they screened 1;300 of their school pupils for congenital vision deficiency using the Ishihara color vision chart; and their results compared to that of the research team. Results: Female teachers constituted 84.6and males 15.4of the study population. Seventy three teachers (53.8) were from public schools while 46. 2were from private schools. Prior to the training workshop; only 6.2of teachers had heard of the Ishihara color vision chart and none of the teachers could identify or knew how to use the chart. However with training there was significant improvement in knowledge of CVD. Comparison of the teachers' performance of color vision screening using the Ishihara chart to that of the research team showed a sensitivity of 67.6with a specificity of 99.1. The prevalence of congenital color vision deficiency in the 1;300 primary school screened was 2.6; with males having a significantly higher prevalence than females. Conclusion: The study thus concludes that congenital color vision deficiency is prevalent amongst primary school children in Port Harcourt City; and with training; teachers can effectively perform color vision screening; and as such modify their teaching methods to accommodate the child with color vision deficiency

Experiences; attitudes and beliefs of secondary school students about breastfeeding

The experiences; knowledge; attitudes and beliefs of 824 teenagers from 18 secondary schools in Enugu and Port Harcourt; about infant feeding and in particular breastfeeding; were investigated; using a questionnaire. The students had good experience of both breast and bottle-feeding as over 75 percent of them had been breast and/or bottle fed and over 80 percent had bottle-fed younger children. The students' knowledge of breastfeeding; breast milk and weaning was poor. Despite their extensive experience with bottle feeding and their poor knowledge of breast milk and breastfeeding; the basic attitudes and beliefs of the students about breastfeeding were positive. To reinforce these positive attitudes and beliefs; it is suggested that formal education on breastfeeding and infant feeding be part of health education programmes in secondary schools. By this means; the breastfeeding culture inherent in the community can be promoted and protected