Preventive programs in public health: seminar presentations on HIV, malaria and visual impairment

Preventive programs are standardized behavioral interventions that either stop or reduce course of diseases. Indeed, it is known that much of public health programs are synonymous to preventive medicine, which constitute major theme in primary healthcare. The objective of this study was to provide preliminary summaries of research programs, which determined nutritional status on visual impairment (VI) among children,utilization of ITNs and reduction of HIV/AIDS infection in Nigeria. The studies adopted intervention approaches. In Delta state, antioxidant vitamins and ferrous sulphate were administered to participants, to assess impact on visual impairment. In health education on utilizationof ITNs in Bayelsa and Rivers states; as well as on HIV/AIDS infection in Northern Nigeria. Statistically, the studies followed a quantitative method. Baseline percentages of vitamin A and C deficiencies, anaemia, and VI differed with respective post-intervention levels. Post-intervention result showed that 92.1% owned ITNs, improved knowledge of causes and consequences of malaria. On HIV, community-based television, and radio awareness programs on the use of condom influenced the reduction of HIV/AIDS infection by up to 30%. In conclusion, the preliminary reports indicatethatantioxidant vitamins and iron supplementation ameliorated anaemia and VI. Public health awarenesscampaign influenced behavioural change wheel on use of ITNs as well asuse of condom for the reduction of HIV/AIDS infection in Nigeria.

Occupational Exposure, Risk Perception and Access to Prophylaxis for HIV/AIDS Infection among Health Care Workers in Northern Nigeria.

Introduction: This study was designed to describe occupational exposure, risk perception and access to prophylaxis for HIV/AIDS among the health care workers in Northern Nigeria. Methods: This study is an analytical cross-sectional study. Multistage sampling technique was used to obtain a representative sample and a structured selfadministered questionnaire was used to collect relevant information. Results: A total of 421 health care workers were interviewed, 5.2% reported percutaneous exposure to HIV infected blood or body fluids in the workplace in the last 6 months. Predictors of risk perception were working in public facilities [OR=2.28, C.I=1.26-4.15], male gender [OR=3.42, C.I=1.59-7.36] and training on infection control [OR=1.94, C.I=1.13-3.34]. Significantly more males [OR=2.33, C.I=1.12-4.94], those in public facilities [OR=5.85, C.I=1.97-19.48], urban facilities [OR=24.99, C.I=3.67-491.82] and those in tertiary facilities [[OR=17.96, C.I=6.04-59.99] reported a greater access to prophylaxis medication. Conclusion: The study concludes that male health care workers that are young, working in public facilities and have insufficient knowledge about HIV/AIDS have a high risk perception for HIV/AIDS while those in urban and public facilities especially tertiary facilities reported a ready access to prophylaxis medication. Uneven distribution of medication and other health care resources in Northern Nigeria and similar populations may contribute to increased casualty among the health care workers.

Cryptosporidiosis in Colombian children with HIV/AIDS infection / Criptosporidiosis en niños colombianos con infección por VIH/SIDA

Introduction: Enteric cryptosporidiosis in children with HIV/AIDS is an important cause of morbidity and mortality. Objective: To determine the prevalence of Cryptosporidium spp. in feces, via the Ziehl Neelsen modified technique, among Colombian children with HIV/AIDS and to determine possible associations. Methodology: Prevalence study in 131 children with HIV/AIDS at the Hospital Universitario del Valle in Cali, Colombia. We evaluated clinical records, laboratory results, environmental factors, and socio-demographic variables. Statistical analysis included the estimation of prevalence of infection in children and the corresponding 95% confidence interval; estimation of other descriptive conditions of interest and the association analyses by multiple logistic regression. Results: In this group of children with a mean age of 57 months, we found a prevalence of infection of 29%, more frequently among male children and among those with vertical HIV transmission. The infection was also associated with abdominal pain, having pets inside the house and C stage for HIV, with >100,000 copies/ml of viral load and CD4 percentage >25%. Association analysis showed a larger risk of Cryptosporidium infection with older age, and among patients not living in Cali, with more severe status of HIV disease, previous hospitalizations, and dried oral mucosa. Factors found finally associated were older age, chronic undernutrition, living in day-care institutions and having previous hospitalizations. Conclusion: Almost a third of these children patients had Cryptosporidium infection, and it was found associated with age, previous hospitalizations, chronic undernutrition and living in day-care institutions.

Introducción: La criptosporidiosis entérica en niños infectados por VIH es una causa importante de enfermedad y muerte. Objetivo: Determinar la prevalencia de Cryptosporidium spp. en heces por medio de la técnica de Ziehl Neelsen modificada, en niños colombianos con infección por VIH/SIDA y establecer posibles asociaciones. Metodología: Estudio de prevalencia en 131 niños con infección por VIH/SIDA. Fueron consideradas variables clínicas, paraclínicas, ambientales y sociodemográficas. El análisis estadístico incluyó estimación de la prevalencia de infección en los niños y su correspondiente intervalo de confianza al 95%, la estimación de otras medidas descriptivas de interés y el análisis de asociación por regresión logística múltiple. Resultados: En esta población de niños con una edad promedio de 57 meses se encontró una prevalencia de 29% de infección, predominio del sexo masculino y el modo de transmisión vertical en VIH. La infección se asoció además con dolor abdominal, tenencia de animales en el intradomicilio y a estadio C para VIH, con >100.000 copias/ml de carga viral y porcentaje de CD4 >25%. En el análisis de asociación se encontró mayor oportunidad de infección por Cryptosporidium a mayor edad, en los pacientes de fuera de Cali, con mayor severidad del estadío para VIH, con hospitalizaciones previas, y con mucosa oral seca. Los factores finalmente asociados fueron la mayor edad, la DNT crónica, la convivencia en guarderías y las hospitalizaciones previas. Conclusión: Casi una tercera parte de los pacientes presentaron infección y esta se encontró asociada con la edad del niño, con hospitalizaciones previas, con convivencia en guarderías y DNT crónica.

Knowledge and practice on HIV/AIDS infection prevention of public security cadres policemen in Hanoi

Study on 290 policemen in Hanoi suggested that almost policemen (96.9%) believed that HIV/AIDS is preventable. The policemen who had knowledge to avoid getting HIV from illegal drug users and HIV/AIDS patients were at a high rate (>90%) but the rate of full knowledge about HIV/AIDS was still low (82.1%). The source of information mainly came from media: television (97.6%), newspaper (92.8%) and radio (83.4%). Almost policemen often had to get in touch with criminal persons (92.8%). 66.7% of them did not knew criminal persons with HIV/AIDS and 39.1% of policemen exposed with blood and body fluid of criminal persons due to trying arrest them. After exposing, most of policemen used themselves anti-infection chemical (56.6%) or did not be treated at all (43.4%). The rate of HIV/AIDS protection equipment was very low (22.8%). The main equipment is rubber gloves (87%).