Socio-demographic predictors of food security among rural households in Langai district in Plateau-Nigeria: a cross-sectional study.

Introduction: household food insecurity is a critical social determinant of health globally. There is a rising global prevalence of food insecurity which affects households' access to food of adequate quantity and quality. This study assessed the level of food security and its socio-demographic determinants among rural households. Methods: this is a cross-sectional community survey among 201 rural households in Langai district representing a total population of 1,284. Reported food security was assessed using Food Consumption Scores and Coping Strategy Index. Data were analysed with SPSS 21. Analysis was done to assess the level of food-security associated factors. Multivariable analysis was done to assess determinants of food security. P-value <0.05 is considered significant. Results: forty-three percent of all households have a total income greater than the national minimum wage. Overall, 21.4% are quality-food insecure (FCS), 6.5% have severe coping behaviour (CSI-food insecure) and 34.8% are highly economically vulnerable to food insecurity. Significant predictors of household food security include women earning than the basic monthly wage (AOR: 4.29 [95%CI: 1.34-13.71]; p=0.014); those without marital partners (AOR: 4.91 [95%CI: 1.01-23.90]; p=0.049); smaller household size (≤ 5) (AOR: 2.69 [95%CI: 1.16-6.24]; p=0.021); and those not receiving financial support (AOR: 2.68 [95%CI: 1.17-6.13]; p=0.020). Conclusion: almost a quarter of all households' experience food insecurity with more than one-third being highly vulnerable to food insecurity. Efforts should be made to cushion the effect of global food insecurity among vulnerable populations and improve livelihood through improved agricultural practices to have sustainable and equitable food security.

Supportive supervision: an effective intervention in achieving high quality malaria case management at primary health care level in Jos, Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: Supportive supervision is a form of supervision that promotes quality at all levels of health system by strengthening relationships within the system through prompt identification and resolution of problems among others. It is an effective intervention in improving health worker performance in low resource settings. Malaria is responsible for majority of outpatient consultations in Nigeria at all levels of care. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a facility-based interventional study with pre and post-intervention phases conducted among two groups.The study subjects were selected through a multistage sampling technique and data collection was done using both semistructured interviewer administered questionnaire and supervisory checklist. RESULTS: The mean knowledge scores of malaria within the intervention group showed an increase from 10.3 ± 1.4 at preintervention to 11.3 ± 1.5 at post-intervention (P < 0.0015). The proportion of respondents who correctly followed malaria management guidelines increased from 32.73% at first supervisory visit to 70.91% by the third supervisory visit (P < 0.001). An analysis of the supervisory checklist showed improvement in performance of healthcare workers with each supportive supervisory visit in most of the variables examined. CONCLUSIONS: This study has demonstrated that supportive supervision is a feasible and practicable tool in improving knowledge and practice of malaria case management among PHC workers.