ITN utilization among pregnant women attending ANC in Etsako West Lga, Edo State, Nigeria.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the factors affecting utilization of ITN by pregnant women in Etsako West LGA, Edo State. METHODOLOGY: A descriptive cross-sectional study design was employed. Using a systematic sampling method, a total of 385 respondents were selected from all ANC facilities in the LGA following a verbally obtained consent. Tool for data collection was a semi-structured, researcher administered questionnaire. RESULT: The respondents' knowledge of cause of malaria was good, as 269 (69%) had good knowledge but only 9 (2.3%) knew its effects on the foetus. Meanwhile, ownership of ITN and its use were very low, 36 (9.3%) and 31 (8.0) respectively. The main factor affecting the use of the commodity in the LGA was unavailability of ITNs. Other factors included belief of the women on the effectiveness of the commodity, level of education, marital status and family sizes ofrespondents. CONCLUSION: Use of Insecticide treated bed net has been hampered by unavailability of the commodity. It is therefore recommended that efforts should be made to make the commodity available to reduce morbidity and mortality among this vulnerable group.

Sanitary provision and helminthiasis among school children in Benin City, Nigeria.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of sanitary provision and hygiene practices on intestinal helminth burden of primary school children. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The cross sectional descriptive study was undertaken in Egor Area of Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria. Using a calculated sample size of 384, participants were selected from primary schools in the study area, using a multi stage sampling method. Although, 384 pupils were expected to participate in the study only 365 provided faecal samples for examination giving a response rate of 95%. RESULTS: In most of the schools surveyed, open refuse dumping, (score 1) was the prevalent practice. Portable water supply was present only in private schools within the compound, (score 4). Toilet facilities were grossly inadequate in number and without consideration for sex. Pit latrine, (score 2) was the common toilet provided in surveyed schools. Seventy seven, (21.1%) of the pupils were infected with one or more helminth ova. Pupils in public schools were more infected 72 (30.8%) than those in private schools 5 (3.8%). Helminth ova seen in examined faecal samples were A lumbricoides 61, (16.7%); followed by hookworm, 27 (7.4%); T. trichuria, 5(1.4%); S. stercoralis, 1(0.4%). Regular hand washing with soap reduced the prevalence of helminthiasis. CONCLUSION: The level of sanitation observed in the schools studied was low. Consequently, more toilets, preferably the VIP type should be built to overcome the hazard of the pit latrine. Provision of portable water supply should be mandatory for all schools to ensure healthy learning environment.

Prevalence and prevention of malaria in pregnancy in Edo State, Nigeria.

The observational/longitudinal study was undertaken in Igueben Local Government Area (LGA), Edo State, Nigeria. The objective of the study was to determine the effect of prevention on the prevalence of malaria during pregnancy. The study population comprised 4 groups viz; Group l, had 100 women protected with Insecticide Treated bed Nets (ITNs); Group 2, another 100 treated with Sulphadoxine - pyrimethamine (SP); Group 3, 100 protected with both ITN and SP, while Group 4, were 100 unprotected others who served as control. Venous blood was collected 7 days to expected date of delivery while placental blood was collected after delivery from the subjects for parasitaemia determination. Findings showed that all protective devices used were effective against malaria. Prevention used against malaria in pregnancy is a sure safe guard against maternal morbidity/mortality and should be encouraged. It is therefore, recommended that pregnant women should be health educated to appreciate the need for malaria prevention.

Prevalence and prevention of malaria in pregnancy in Edo State, Nigeria

The observational/longitudinal study was undertaken in Igueben Local Government Area (LGA), Edo State, Nigeria. The objective of the study was to determine the effect of prevention on the prevalence of malaria during pregnancy. The study population comprised 4 groups viz; Group1, had 100 women protected with Insecticide Treated bed Nets (ITNs); Group2, another 100 treated with Sulphadoxine ­ pyrimethamine (SP); Group 3, 100 protected with both ITN and SP, while Group 4, were 100 unprotected others who served as control. Venous blood was collected 7 days to expected date of delivery while placental blood was collected after delivery from the subjects for parasitaemia determination. Findings showed that all protective devices used were effective against malaria. Prevention used against malaria in pregnancy is a sure safe guard against maternal morbidity/mortality and should be encouraged. It is therefore, recommended that pregnant women should be health educated to appreciate the need for malaria prevention (Afr J Reprod Health 2008; 12[3]:49-58)

Knowledge of HIV/AIDS and sexual practices among adolescents in Benin City, Nigeria.

A cross sectional study to determine the knowledge of HIV/AIDS and sexual practices of adolescents was undertaken in Benin City, Nigeria. Benin City the capital of Edo State, Nigeria, has 40 government owned secondary schools comprising 6 boys, 10 girls, and 24 mixed. Out of these 3 schools were randomly selected for survey viz; Adolor (boys only), Iyoba (girls only), Army Day (mixed). The sample size for the survey was 920 while the total population for selected schools was 1692 giving a sampling ratio of 1:2. Using the systematic sampling method and class register as sampling frame every other child was selected for the study. However, only 852 students consented to participate giving a response rate of 92.6%. An overwhelming majority of the adolescents were aware of HIV/AIDS but only 16.2% knew the cause of the disease. The submission that kissing, living with infected persons and sharing their utensils could lead to infection was an indication of ignorance. Sexual intercourse was the predominant route of transmission mentioned by 60.0% while multiple sexual partners was prevalent among age group 13-15 years. Playing with sharps, frequent clean head shave with unsterilised instruments in the barbing saloon and promiscuity were some of the activities that adolescents were involved in that could lead to HIV/AIDS infection. In conclusion, the knowledge of the study population was poor and correlates with their reckless sexual practices. Prevention is the best option to the disease. Better informed youths on HIV/AIDS will enhance the principle of prevention.

An assessment of food hygiene among food handlers in a Nigerian university campus.

INTRODUCTION: Food handlers play a major role in ensuring food safety throughout the chain of producing, processing, storage and preparation. Mishandling and disregard for hygiene measures on their part may result in food contamination and its attendant consequences. OBJECTIVES: This study was designed to assess the knowledge and practice of food hygiene by food handlers in a Nigerian University Campus. METHODOLOGY: A descriptive, cross-sectional study was carried out on randomly selected food handlers operating on the campus. A total of 102 respondents were interviewed and inspected using a structural questionnaire administered by researchers. RESULTS: Ninety (88.2%) of the respondents were female, and there was a predominantly poor level knowledge of food hygiene. The practice of storing and reheating leftovers was low and agreed to by 15 (14.7%) of the respondents; there was a very low frequency of hand washing. Inspection of food handlers showed a low level of personal hygiene. Only 31 (30.4%) had had pre employment medical examination and only 49 (48%) had received any form of health education. CONCLUSION: This study has revealed a poor knowledge and practice of food hygiene among food handlers providing food for undergraduates in a Nigerian University. It is recommended that a massive health education campaign directed at both the public and food handlers be embarked on, to enable people take necessary steps to prevent food borne diseases.

Helminthiasis in selected children seen at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), Benin City, Nigeria.

OBJECTIVES: Illiteracy, poverty with associated poor environmental sanitation practices have been implicated in the heavy burden of helminthiasis among children. The objective of this cross-sectional survey is to determine the impact of parents' level of education on the intestinal helminthic status of children. PATIENTS, MATERIALS AND METHODS: All patients, 0-15 years totaling 1030 who visited the communicable disease clinic of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City, from October, 2001 to March 2002 were included in this study. However, only 207 of the enlisted patients submitted faecal samples for examination and constituted the study population. Tool for data collection was structured questionnaire that was researcher administered to mother/caregivers after informed consent was obtained. Information sought in the questionnaire included sex and age of the subjects and level of education of their parents. Formol ether concentration method was used for stool examination while intensity was estimated using McMaster counting chamber technique. RESULTS: Of the 207 faecal samples examined 46(22.2% ) had ova of helminths while 161(77.85% ) had none. More school children, 40(19.3% ), than pre-school children, 6(2.9% ) had helminth ova in their faecal samples and the difference was found to be statistically significant (P < 0.05). More females, 28(13.5% ) than males, 18(8.7% ) were infected but the difference was however not statistically significant (P > 0.05). Intestinal helminth ova seen in order of prevalence include A. lumbricoides, 23(11.1% ); hookworm, 12(5.8% ); T. trichiuria, 8(3.8% ); Schistosoma mansoni, 2(1.0% ); Strongyloides stercoralis, 1(0.5% ) while multiple infection was recorded in 11(5.3% ) patients. Intensity of infection was low. The difference between the means for A. lumbricoides, T. trichiuria and multiple infection by age were found to be statistically significant P < 0.001; P < 0.05; P < 0.001, respectively. Mother's level of education more than father's level of education seemed to influence the pattern of intestinal helminthiasis among the children but the association was not found to be statistically significant (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: Prevalence and intensity of infection was low probably due to periodic antihelminthic treatment offered by the health authorities. Improvement in mother's level of education brought about decrease in prevalence of intestinal helminthiasis among the children. Therefore, improvement in female education should be encouraged to reduce the incidence of communicable disease in the family.

Psychosocial effects of river blindness in a rural community in Nigeria.

Onchocerciasis (river blindness) is a serious public health problem with important socioeconomic consequences. The presence of onchocercal skin lesions is unsightly and has a psychosocial effect on the affected. This cross-sectional study was undertaken to assess the perception and social implication of onchocerciasis in the village of Apana in Nigeria. Apana is a rural community, hyper-endemic for onchocerciasis and currently receiving ivermectin treatment. The village is one of the ten communities of Uzairue district of Etsako West Local Government Area (LGA), Edo State, Nigeria. There are many water streams in the community which serve the domestic needs of the inhabitants but also provide the breeding sites for the vector flies of onchocerciasis. Multi-stage sampling methods were used to select the 385 respondents that participated after informed consent was obtained. A structured researcher-administered questionnaire was the tool for data collection. Of the 385 respondents that participated in the survey, 240 (62.3%) were male while 145 (37.7%) were female. The awareness of the disease among the respondents was fair. They were aware of the nuisance value of blackflies ('Uja-ini') and associated the bite with itching. The signs and symptoms of onchocerciasis were recognised as specific diseases with specific local names. They called itching and rashes 'Erhue', nodules and leopard skin 'Evbiomu-Ogui', worm in the eye 'Okogho-Ikpalo' and blindness 'Orunalo'. The attitude of the non-affected towards the affected was partially discriminatory and suspicious. The affected were socially withdrawn, probably due to the frustration of their health condition. There is a need to improve people's attitude towards the disease and improve disease awareness through appropriate health education, which will encourage the acceptance of ivermectin as adequate treatment and compliance to the treatment regimen to reduce morbidity and promote self-esteem.

Towards malaria control: the knowledge of health care providers about mosquito and malaria transmission.

OBJECTIVE: To find out how much health care providers know about the transmission of malaria and the vector. DESIGN: A cross sectional study was carried out using a predesigned questionnaire which was self administered by the student to collect the necessary information for analysis. Live samples of mosquito larvae, drawn larva and adults were provided for the subjects to identify to assess their knowledge. SETTING: The University of Benin Teaching Hospital and the School of Health Technology. SUBJECTS: 254 randomly selected Community Health Officers in training at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital and the School of Health Technology in Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Many of the students had no knowledge of the subject. The School's authorities were encouraged to include field practicals in their curriculum to improve the students' knowledge on mosquitoes and malaria transmission. RESULTS: Only (26.8%) and (18.1%) of the subjects could identify both drawn and live larvae respectively while (25.2%) identified the adult mosquito correctly. All the respondents knew that the mosquito transmits diseases but quite a few knew the diseases transmitted included malaria (55.3%), yellow fever (16.0%) and elephantiasis (10.7%) respectively. CONCLUSION: The knowledge of the students on the biology of mosquitoes and their role as the malaria vector was poor. The education of the subject on this important endemic disease is advocated to improve the quality of life of citizens and promote the primary Health Care Programme in Nigeria.

Towards malaria control in Nigeria: a qualitative study on the population of mosquitoes.

Malaria is still highly prevalent in many tropical countries and this disease can only survive in areas where mosquitoes and infected human populations are high. Relevant information on the species of mosquitoes, their habitats and their population are important in planning preventative strategies in the control of malaria, hence this study. Mosquito species and their habitats were investigated in both high and low density areas of Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria. The results showed that Culex pipiens fatigans, Aedes aegypti, Aedes albopictus, Anopheles gambiae and Culex trigripes were the commonest mosquitoes found in Benin City. Among the habitats studied, containers and gutters had the highest population of mosquitoes. The serious public health implications of these various species of mosquitoes is the possibility of outbreaks of infectious diseases like yellow fever, dengue, which some of these mosquitoes are known to transmit. Malaria, though endemic, is also important because of its associated high morbidity and mortality rates. This study provides some useful information on the habitats and species of mosquitoes found in Benin City. Follow-up studies are being carried out by the authors on quantitative studies on the population of these species of mosquitoes, the dissolved elements present in the different habitats that could promote or inhibit the breeding of mosquitoes, and KAP surveys on mosquitoes and malaria among the Benin populace. It is hoped that such comprehensive data would be very useful in planning effective preventative strategies in the control of malaria in Benin City.

Anaemia in pregnancy.

Four hundred and thirty-five pregnant women attending the antenatal clinic at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) were investigated. The ages of the women ranged from 16-42 years with an average haemoglobin level of 10.52 gms%. The prevalence rate of anaemia among these antenatals was 20.7% and 2.8% had severe anaemia. This shows that anaemia is still a problem in Nigeria. Mothers in the age groups 10-19 years and 30-39 years constituted higher percentages of anaemic cases compared to the other age groups. The percentages of the pregnant women who were anaemic were also higher in social-classes IV and V contributing 27.6% and 21.9% respectively. One hundred and eight (49.4%) of the pregnant women booked for antenatal care during the 3rd trimester and the percentage of anaemia was highest in this group 54 (28.4%). About half of the mothers who were para 5+ were anaemic. Nutrition education components of the antenatal care should be intensified. In this regard, mothers should be encouraged to participate actively in income generating activities to improve their economic and nutritional status. Also, during the health education activities in the clinics, the importance of family planning and early bookings for antenatal care need to be stressed.

Schistosoma haematobium in rural school children in Nigeria.

A survey of Schistosoma haematobium infection was carried out in 722 rural school children in Emu, Edo State of Nigeria. The ages of the children ranged from 5-19 years with those between the age-group 10-14 years constituting the highest percentage 317 (43.9%). There were more males 383 (53.0%) than females 339 (47.0%) in the study population. Urine analysis of these children showed that 254 (35.2%) of them were excreting Schistosoma haematobium ova and of these 196 (27.2%) had haematuria. The prevalence of the disease was highest in the younger children with 43.1% for haematuria and 55.3% for S. haematobium ova among the age-group 5-9 years. The corresponding figures were 21.4% and 24.7% for age-group 10-14 years and 14.9% and 27.7% for 15-19 years old children. The sex-specific prevalences of haematuria and Schistosoma haematobium ova were higher for females than for the males.