Factors associated with prelacteal feeding practices in a rural northern Nigerian setting

Introduction: Prelacteal feeding practice contravenes the recommendation of World Health Organisation that breastfeeding be initiated within an hour of childbirth. Consequently, the health, social, emotional and economic benefits of optimal breastfeeding are limited. Therefore, to break this vicious cycle of prelacteal feeding and suboptimal breastfeeding, factors associated with the practice must be identified. Objective: To assess prelacteal feeding practices and its associated factors in a rural community with the view to generate data for community-level interventions that will promote optimal breastfeeding.Methods: Data was collected during a community-based surveillance for maternal, newborn and child health project in Tsibiri,a rural community in north-western Nigeria. The survey questionnaire was uploaded into mobile devices running on an android operating system. Trained female interviewers collected the data over a period of one week in 2011.Results: A total of 270 out of 309 interviewed women had experienced childbirth and were included in the analysis. Majority (85.2%) of respondents utilised prelacteal feeds for their newborns. Plain water was the most common prelacteal feed (44.7%).Prelacteal feeding was associated with births assisted by unskilled birth attendants (AOR 5.322, 95%CI 1.634-17.333); while operative delivery reduced the likelihood of the practice (AOR 0.168, 95%CI 0.060-0.470). No statistically significant association was found between use of prelacteal feed and women's age, education or access to income.Conclusion: The predominance of prelacteal feeding practices underscores the need for innovative strategies that create awareness among mothers and health care providers, with emphasis on health facility deliveries, advantages of breastfeeding and risks of prelacteal feeding

Age at menarche and its association with overweight/obesity among adolescents in Kano

Background: There was a dramatic decline of adolescents' menarcheal age worldwide; Africa is witnessing a secular trend of this reducing menarcheal age among its black adolescents. A transition of overweight/obesity among adolescent is believed to be associated with reduced menarcheal age. Materials and Methods: It was a descriptive cross-sectional study that was conducted among female adolescent girls from January to December, 2016. Ethical approval was obtained from the management concerned. All consenting adolescents were recruited for the survey. Information was recorded on a structured, pretested questionnaire. Their respective weight and height were also measured. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated using the formula: BMI = weight (kg)/height (m2). The data obtained were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 18.0 (SPSS Inc., SPSS Statistics for Windows, Chicago, IL, USA). Fishers' exact test was used, and the P ≤ 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Two hundred and nineteen female adolescents participated in the survey. The mean age ± SD at menarche was 12.83 ± 1.312 years. The median and modal ages were both 13 years. There was no statistically significant association between the mean age at menarche and the ethnic groups (P(Fishers') = 0.150). However, mean age at menarche was statistically associated with their BMI (P(Fishers') = 0.00). Obesity was associated with reduced menarcheal age. Conclusion: The median and mean ages at menarche were 13.0 and 12.8 years respectively, which were in accordance with secular trend of reduced menarcheal age among black adolescents. Our study also showed an inverse association between the age at menarche and overweight or obesity among adolescents

Incidence and economic burden of acute otitis media in children aged up to 5 years in three Middle Eastern countries and Pakistan: a multinational, retrospective, observational study

Epidemiological data on acute otitis media [AOM], an infectious disease frequently affecting children, are lacking in some countries. This study was undertaken to assess the incidence of AOM in children 5 years in Saudi Arabia, Oman, Pakistan, and Turkey, as well as the economic burden from a parent/caregiver perspective. Medical records of 4043 children [Saudi Arabia = 1023, Oman = 998, Pakistan = 1022, Turkey = 1000] were retrospectively reviewed and the incidence of AOM episodes calculated from suspected and confirmed cases. Using a standardized Health Economics Questionnaire, parents recorded resource use and expenses incurred per AOM episode [in local currency and converted to US dollars [USD]]. The overall incidence of AOM episodes per 1000 person-years was: Saudi Arabia, 207 [95% confidence interval [CI]: 178-238]; Oman, 105 [95% CI: 85-127]; Pakistan, 138 [95% CI: 116-163]; and Turkey, 99 [95% CI: 79-123]. The mean total out-of-pocket healthcare expense incurred by parents/caregivers per episode was: Saudi Arabia USD67.1 [standard deviation [SD] = 93.0], Oman USD16.1 [SD = 16.4], Pakistan USD22.1 [SD = 20.5], and Turkey USD33.6 [SD = 44.9]. The incidence of AOM episodes varied across all four countries, probably due to different diagnostic and management practices. Nevertheless, our results confirm that AOM causes a substantial burden to public health, reinforcing the need for cost-effective prevention strategies

Knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding travel health among Muscat International Airport travelers in Oman: Identifying the gaps and addressing the challenges

Although the majority of travel-associated communicable diseases can be prevented, the public health burden of these diseases remains significant. Relatively little is known about how travelers know and perceive the health risks associatedwith the travel and how they utilize preventive measures before and while Travel medicine- traveling abroad. This study was conducted to determine the level of the knowledge, attitudes, and practices [KAP] of Muscat International Airport travelers about travel health in order to assess the knowledge gap and the need for travel health services in Oman. A cross-sectional study was conducted over a period of 1 week using a self-administered questionnaire. The overall level of knowledge about vaccine-preventable diseases, food safety, and preventive measures against insect bites of the participants was inadequate. The practice concerning preventive travel health measures, such as the use of specific immunizations and antimalarial prophylaxis, was very limited, and influenced by some personal and travel-related factors. The inadequate level of travelers' knowledge and poor utilization of travel medicine services highlights the need for the provisions of specialized travel medicine services at the national level and to develop educational materials promoting the importance of pre-travel health advice

Auditing the use of percutaneous pinning as a technique of fixation of unstable humeral supracondylar fractures in Sudanese children

Supracondylar fractures of the humerus in children are commonly treated with closed reduction and percutaneous pin fixation. There has been controversy regarding the optimal pin configuration in the management of supracondylar humeral fractures in children. To evaluate the effectiveness of closed percutaneous pinning [P.C.P.] as a treatment modality of supracondylar fractures of humerus in Sudanese children. Hospital based prospective study conducted in Khartoum teaching hospital during the period from July 2006 to March 2007. It included all children less than 14 years of age, with closed type III supracondylar humeral fracture, extension variant, who treated by closed reduction and percutaneous cross pinning. 34 patients were included in the study. Their age ranged between 4 -12 years, with mean +/- SD of 7.68 +/- 2.34 years. Twenty-four [70.6%] fractures were fixed with crossed pins whereas ten [29.4%] fractures with two lateral pins. The two lateral pins fixation was found to be significantly associated with loss of reduction [p=0.004]. PCP is safe and effective with good functional outcome in treatment of unstable supracondylar fractures. The best wires configuration is that which gives ability to extend elbow with much stability

Attitude of Final Year Medical Students Towards Community Medicine in Ahmadu Bello University; Zaria; Nigeria

Background: Several studies were conducted in the past in Nigerian Universities to determine undergraduate medical students' attitudes; aspirations and career preference but none was conducted in Ahmadu Bello University (ABU); Zaria. This study was undertaken to determine final year medical students' attitudes toward Community Medicine. Methodology: The study was cross-sectional and descriptive in design. A total of 94 graduating medical students during the 2006/2007 academic session were invited to participate in the study. All the 94 students were given self-administered structured and closed-ended questionnaire. We collected information on socio-demographic characteristics of the respondents; general and specific attitudes towards Community Medicine (CM); class attendance in Community Medicine; and choice of CM as a field for future specialization. Result: Seventy-two students (76.7) have made up their minds to specialize in a chosen field of Medicine while fourteen (14.4) were undecided. Thirty-five (48.69) students said they could specialize in CM while 19(26.4) cannot. Of the clinical discipline for possible specialization in the future by the whole class; 32(34.0) respondents declared to specialize in Obstetrics et Gynecology; 18(19.1) in Community Medicine 11 (11.7) in surgery. Conclusion: Our finding demonstrated that final year medical student favorably perceived community medicine as a future career

Quality of Care in Primary Health Centres of Tafa Local Government Area of Niger State; North Central Nigeria; The Clients' Perspective

Background: Quality of care is one of the major public health concerns in this 21 century.We tried to assess the clients' perspectives of quality of care provided by the primary health centres of Tafa Local Government Area in Niger state North central Nigeria. Methodology: A cross sectional descriptive study was conducted among the 273 clients utilizing services in the 3 primary health centres of Tafa Local Government Area of Niger state in the North central geo-political zone of Nigeria. Results:Result from the research shows that more than one-third (39) of the clients attending the primary health centres were children within the age group of 0-9 months. Outpatient services for common health care problems such malaria and diarrhoea account for more than onethird (35.7) of the total clients load. On their experiences during receiving care all the clients (100) were seen by the health worker; more than half of the clients (57) obtained all drugs prescribed; three-quarter (76) were satisfied with questions asked during consultation and less than half (44) were examined. Furthermore; more than four-fifth (83) were informed on how to take drugs and 62were informed of when to come back. More than one-third of the respondents (36.7) waited for about 1- 3hrs.. When their overall satisfaction was placed on the Likert's 5-point scale; 3highly satisfied; 8were satisfied; 39fairly satisfied; 29dissatisfied and 9were highly dissatisfied. Conclusion:In conclusion; despite the level of advancement attained in health care in the 21 century which is regarded as the era of Total Quality Management; Quality of care in primary health care centres leavesmuch to be desired. This therefore calls for an urgent; deliberate; sustained and purposeful effort to institutionalize Quality Assurance mechanism as an integral part of our health system

Quality of Care in Primary Health Centres of Tafa Local Government Area of Niger State; North Central Nigeria; the Clients' Perspective

Quality of care is one of the major public health concerns in this 21 century.We tried to assess the clients' perspectives of quality of care provided by the primary health centres of Tafa Local Government Area in Niger state North central Nigeria. A cross sectional descriptive study was conducted among the 273 clients utilizing services in the 3 primary health centres of Tafa Local Government Area of Niger state in the North central geo-political zone of Nigeria. Result from the research shows that more than one-third (39) of the clients attending the primary health centres were children within the age group of 0-9 months. Outpatient services for common health care problems such malaria and diarrhoea account for more than onethird (35.7) of the total clients load. On their experiences during receiving care all the clients (100) were seen by the health worker; more than half of the clients (57) obtained all drugs prescribed; three-quarter (76) were satisfied with questions asked during consultation and less than half (44) were examined. Furthermore; more than four-fifth (83) were informed on how to take drugs and 62were informed of when to come back. More than one-third of the respondents (36.7) waited for about 1- 3hrs.. When their overall satisfaction was placed on the Likert's 5-point scale; 3highly satisfied; 8were satisfied; 39fairly satisfied; 29dissatisfied and 9were highly dissatisfied : In conclusion; despite the level of advancement attained in health care in the 21 century which is regarded as the era of Total Quality Management; Quality of care in primary health care centres leaves much to be desired. This therefore calls for an urgent; deliberate; sustained and purposeful effort to institutionalize Quality Assurance mechanism as an integral part of our health system

Les démences en afrique subsaharienne : aspects cliniques et étiologiques en milieu hospitalier à ouagadougou (burkina faso)

Description En Afrique subsaharienne; l'amelioration progressive des conditions de vie a pour corollaire l'emergence accrue de certaines pathologies en rapport avec l'age dont la demence. L'objectif de cette etude etait de decrire les differents aspects des demences au Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Yalgado Ouedraogo. Methode C'est une etude transversale qui a inclus pendant deux ans les sujets ages de plus de 15 ans hospitalises ou ayant consulte dans les services de Neurologie; Psychiatrie; Cardiologie et Neurochirurgie et repondant aux criteres diagnostiques de demence du DSM-IV. Resultats Soixante-douze demences ont ete diagnostiquees soit une prevalence hospitaliere de 4;55 pour mille patients et 2;21des patients hospitalises. L'age moyen etait de 62;20 ans avec un sex ratio de 2. L'installation des troubles cognitifs et comportementaux a ete insidieuse et progressive dans la plupart des cas. La demence etait severe avec un score MMS inferieur a 9 dans la majorite des cas. Les demences secondaires dites curables etaient les plus frequentes (68;05); dominees par les demences vasculaires et les causes neurochirurgicales. Seulement 18des demences etaient degeneratives avec a leur tete les demences de type Alzheimer. L'entourage familial reste fortement implique dans la demarche de soins et la prise en charge Conclusion La demence est une realite au Burkina Faso; avec une prevalence sous-estimee. Il est donc necessaire de mener des etudes en population dans le but d'envisager des mesures preventives et de prise en charge adaptees a notre contexte

Knowledge and Practice of Breast-Self Examination among Female Undergraduate Students of Ahmadu Bello University Zaria; Northwestern Nigeria

Background: Carcinoma of the breast is an important public health problem in Nigeria and studies have reported low levels of awareness and practice of breast self examination as an important method of prevention. Breast self examination is a cost-effective method of early detection of cancer of the breast especially in resource poor countries. We assessed knowledge and practice of breast-self examination (BSE) among female undergraduate students of Ahmadu Bello University Zaria; Nigeria. Method: In this study; knowledge and practice of BSE were examined among 221 female students aged 16 - 28 years old studying at Ahmadu Bello University Zaria using self administered questionnaires. Results: It was found that despite nearly three quarter of the respondents (87.7) had heard of BSE; only 19.0of them were performing this examination monthly. Regarding the sources of information about BSE among respondents; media was found to be most common followed by health workers accounting for 45.5and 32.2respectively. Regular performance of BSE was significantly correlated with duration of stay in the University (X2 = 81.9; df = 3; P .05) and family history of breast cancer (X2

Marijuana Smoking among Secondary School Students in Zaria; Nigeria: Factors Responsible and Effects on Academic Performance

Background: The use of Marijuana is on the increase worldwide especially among adolescents and youths. Marijuana smoking has gained a foothold in our environment because of peer group influence; accessibility and availability. Its medico-social effects could ruin the life and future of our youths. This study was undertaken to determine the prevalence and the factors that influence secondary school students in Zaria LGA to smoke and the effects on academic performance. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was employed to generate data among secondary school students. A multi-stage sampling technique was used. Data was collected with the use of a structured; pre tested self-administered questionnaire. c2 test was used to test for significance of association between categorical variables. Results: Of the 350 respondents; 262 (74.9) were males; while 88 (25.1) were females. The study shows that 33 of the students smoke marijuana giving a prevalence of 9.4. There were more smokers in the age group 15-19 years (54.6). Other factors that influence marijuana smoking include family background; peer pressure and attendance of social functions. There was better academic performance (51.1) among non smokers as compared to smokers (27.2); and this was found to be statistically significant (x2 = 11.73;df = 5;P .05) There was also statistically significant association between age and marijuana smoking (x2 ) were males; while 88 (25.1) were females. The study shows that 33 of the students smoke marijuana giving a prevalence of 9.4. There were more smokers in the age group 15-19 years (54.6). Other factors that influence marijuana smoking include family background; peer pressure and attendance of social functions. There was better academic performance (51.1) among non smokers as compared to smokers (27.2); and this was found to be statistically significant (x2 = 11.73;df = 5;P .05) There was also statistically significant association between age and marijuana smoking (x2