Outbreak of suspected pertussis in Kaltungo, Gombe State, Northern Nigeria, 2015: the role of sub-optimum routine immunization coverage.

INTRODUCTION: Despite the availability of vaccines, pertussis outbreaks still occur in developing countries. In December 2015 we investigated a pertussis outbreak in Kaltungo, Nigeria to identify determinants of infection and institute control measures. METHODS: We enrolled 155 cases and 310 unmatched controls. We defined cases as residents of Kaltungo with paroxysmal or whooping cough lasting 2 weeks with or without vomiting and randomly selected neighborhood controls. Using structured questionnaire, we collected data on socio-demographics, clinical and risk factors. We collected twelve nasopharyngeal swabs for laboratory analysis using Polymerase Chain Reaction. RESULTS: Median age was 24 months (range 1-132 months) for cases and 27 months (range 1-189 months) for controls. Female cases and controls were 86 (55.5%) and 150 (48.4%) respectively. A total of 83 (56.6%) cases were in age group 12-59 months. Age-specific-attack-rate was 83/1,786 (4.7%); Age-specific-case-fatality-rate was 21/83 (25.3%); Age-specific-proportional-mortality-ratio was 21/24 (87.5%). A total of 61 (39.4%) zero doses and 30.1% Pentavalent dropouts were documented. Multivariate analysis revealed parental refusal (adjusted OR = 27.8; CI = 8.8-87.7), contact with a case (AOR = 7.9, CI = 4.3-14.7, P = 0.000), belonging to the Muslim faith (AOR = 2.0; CI = 1.1-3.5) and having mothers with informal education only (AOR = 4.7, CI-2.6-8.4) as independent predictors of pertussis infection. CONCLUSION: Sub-optimal vaccination due to parental refusal and informal education of mothers were major determinants of pertussis infection. We conducted awareness campaigns of key immunization messages targeted at the informal education sector. We ensured appropriate case management, contact vaccination and health education in public gatherings, worship places and schools.

Effect of health education intervention on the awareness and use of personal protective equipments among small scale electric arc welders in Ilorin, Nigeria.

INTRODUCTION: Welding is associated with workplace hazards that can affect the health of those who engaged in it as they are exposed to harmful dust. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: This was a health education intervention study carried out among self-employed electric arc welder. Data were collected using an interviewer administered questionnaire and health education intervention was carried out between the preintervention and postintervention stages. Epi-info version 3.5.1 software package was used for data analysis and Chi-square analysis was used to determine the statistical significance of observed differences between the study and control groups before the intervention and after intervention. Level of significance was set at a P < 0.05. RESULTS: At the preintervention phase, 285 respondents were interviewed in each of the study and control groups, while 280 study respondents and 275 control respondents were available for the postintervention phase of the study. Before the intervention, 279 (97.9%) of the respondents in the study group were aware of eye goggles as a means of protection, 20 (7%) were aware of welding helmet, 206 (72.3%) were aware of hand gloves and 4 (1.4%) were aware of face mask. All showed a significant increase in awareness postintervention (P < 0.05) while there was no significant increase in awareness in the control group. CONCLUSION: Health education brought about a significant increase in awareness and use of personal protective equipment among the welders. There is a need for proper education of welders on workplace hazards, the types and use of different protective devices in other to safeguard their health.