Infant Feeding Practices, Prevalence of Adolescent Motherhood and Malnutrition among Infants in Mangu Local Government Area, Plateau State, Nigeria.

Background: Adolescent motherhood and malnutrition among children are significant challenges in Africa, but there is limited data on the impact of adolescent motherhood on their children's health and nutrition. This study assessed infant feeding practices, prevalence of adolescent motherhood, and malnutrition among infants in Mangu local government area (LGA). Methodology: A cross-sectional survey using multistage sampling was conducted. Validated questionnaires were used to collect socio-demographic data, and appropriate tools were used for anthropometric measurements. Data were compared with established standards. Descriptive statistical tools, chi square, Pearson correlation, and independent sample t-test were used for data analysis, with significance set at p < 0.05. Results: A total of 200 mothers completed the study. The majority of the infants (78.5%) were less than 6 months old, and 21.5% were 6-12 months old. Breastfeeding initiation within 1 hour was reported by 39% of mothers, while 38% practiced prelacteal feeding. Only 28.5% practiced exclusive breastfeeding, and all mothers breastfed their babies. The prevalence of adolescent motherhood was 37.5%. The prevalence of stunting, wasting, and underweight among infants were 29.5%, 12%, and 8.5%, respectively. Children of adolescent mothers had higher rates of severe stunting compared to children of mothers above 19 years of age. There were significant differences (p = 0.017 and p = 0.029) in stunting rates and weight-for-age indices between children of adolescent mothers and mothers above 19 years of age. Conclusion: Adolescent motherhood contributes to chronic malnutrition in children, and there is a high prevalence of malnutrition among infants in Mangu LGA, Plateau State.

Heavy metal content of rice meals sold in a Nigerian market population with a high prevalence of hypertension.

Context: Some market populations in Nigeria have been shown to have high prevalence of hypertension. Current evidence includes environmental pollutants such as heavy metals as risk factors for hypertension. Aim: To study the heavy metal content of rice meals sold in a market population with a high prevalence of hypertension. Settings and Design: This was a descriptive, cross-sectional study conducted in Ogbete market in Enugu, Southeast Nigeria. Subjects and Methods: Five different cooked rice meals were obtained from 25 locations of the market. The rice meals included jollof rice, white rice and tomato stew, fried rice, white rice and vegetable sauce, and white rice and palm oil stew (ofeakwu). Accompanying protein (meat, fish, and egg) and vegetable salad were excluded. Similar rice meals were homogenized and analyzed in triplicates using spectrophotometric methods for mercury, copper, cadmium, lead, and arsenic determination. Statistical Analysis Used: The mean concentrations of the heavy metals were compared using analysis of variance, and P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Twenty-five rice dishes were evaluated, five of each kind. Arsenic content ranged from 503 to 550 mg/kg and was comparable across the five rice dishes (P = 0.148). Copper was significantly highest (16767 mg/kg) in the white rice and tomato stew dish (P < 0.001), while mercury was significantly highest (33 mg/kg) in white rice and ofeakwu (P < 0.001). Jollof rice had the highest cadmium content (23 mg/kg), which was statistically significant (P = 0.021). Lead was not found in any of the rice dishes. Conclusions: Risk factors such as heavy metals may play a role in the high prevalence of hypertension observed in market populations, and rice meals may be a major source of these heavy metals.

RésuméContexte: Il a été démontré que certaines populations du marché au Nigéria présentent une prévalence élevée d'hypertension. Les preuves actuelles incluent l'environnement des polluants tels que les métaux lourds comme facteurs de risque d'hypertension. Objectif: étudier la teneur en métaux lourds des farines de riz vendues dans une population de marché avec une prévalence élevée d'hypertension. Paramètres et conception: il s'agit d'une étude descriptive et transversale menée sur le marché d'Ogbete en Enugu, sud-est du Nigéria. Sujets et méthodes: Cinq plats de riz cuit différents ont été obtenus dans 25 emplacements du marché. Le riz les repas comprenaient du riz jollof, du riz blanc et du ragoût de tomates, du riz frit, du riz blanc et de la sauce aux légumes, et du riz blanc et du ragoût d'huile de palme (ofeakwu). Les protéines d'accompagnement (viande, poisson et œuf) et la salade de légumes ont été exclues. Des farines de riz similaires ont été homogénéisées et analysées triplicats utilisant des méthodes spectrophotométriques pour la détermination du mercure, du cuivre, du cadmium, du plomb et de l'arsenic. Analyse statistique utilisée: le les concentrations moyennes des métaux lourds ont été comparées à l'aide d'une analyse de variance, et P <0.05 a été considéré comme statistiquement significatif. Résultats: Vingt-cinq plats de riz ont été évalués, cinq de chaque type. La teneur en arsenic variait de 503 à 550 mg / kg et était comparable dans les cinq plats de riz (P = 0,148). Le cuivre était significativement plus élevé (16767 mg / kg) dans le plat de ragoût de riz blanc et de tomate (P <0.001), tandis que le mercure était significativement plus élevé (33 mg / kg) dans le riz blanc et l'ofeakwu (P <0.001). Le riz Jollof avait la plus forte teneur en cadmium (23 mg / kg), qui était statistiquement significatif (P = 0.021). Le plomb n'a été trouvé dans aucun des plats de riz. Conclusions: Des facteurs de risque tels que les métaux lourds peuvent jouent un rôle dans la prévalence élevée de l'hypertension observée dans les populations du marché, et les farines de riz peuvent être une source majeure de ces métaux lourds.