Data analysis on the level of exposure to pollutions in industrial zone: A case study of Ewekoro and Ota Township.

This study focused on a comparative analysis of exposure to pollution in Ota and Ewekoro Township where we have concentration of industries that emits pollutant to the air. This was with a view to proffer solution to the negative effects of industrial activities on residents within industrial location. The study involved empirical observation and interview of residents. About 652 questionnaires were administered randomly on the residents. Analysis involved descriptive statistical tools including chi-square techniques. The results suggest that air pollution was most frequently reported in Ewekoro and Ota and this can help in the prediction of stringent factor in which industrial activities could pose to society.

Studies of immunoglobulin M and malarial antibodies in Nigerians.

Measurements of immunoglobulin M, in 111 healthy adult Nigerians have been presented. IgM values ranged between 10 and 518 mg per 100 ml with a mean of 213.2 mg per 100 ml. Using the indirect immunofluorescent antibody test, 53.7 per cent of the 111 symptomless subjects in the study had demonstrable malarial antibodies of titres greater than 10,000. The implications of the observations in a holoendemic malarial zone are briefly discussed.

The need for medical statistics in the training of health personnel.

Medical statistics is essential in the training of all categories of health workers and early involvement with the subject is advocated during the training of these health personnel. Four important areas of the application of statistical methods have been defined, namely, (1) the study of specific rates, (2) evaluation of clinical trial of drugs, (3) the assessment of factors affecting health or disease, and (4) the establishment of new avenues of medical research. Using examples from the training of the undergraduate medical student, the midwife and the family planning field health worker, different aspects of medical statistics should be emphasized at different levels of learning depending on the professional or academic needs of the trainee health worker.

Onchocerciasis in Nigeria: observations on the geographical basis of the endemicity in Lagos.

Ninety-five patients suffering from onchocerciasis in Lagos, Nigeria have been presented. The majority were young adults with no ocular complications suggesting the Rain Forest type of African onchocerciasis. Geographical distribution shows that the majority came from endemic foci outside Lagos. The case finding of five patients from Lagos State and in particular two from Lagos City suggests an endemicity of onchocerciasis in Lagos. Furthermore this observation emphasizes a need for prevalence studies of onchocerciasis in this area. The public health importance of this disease is briefly discussed.

Current mortality patterns among Nigerians in the age-group 15 - 44 years.

PIP: This paper describes mortality patterns among young adults aged 15 to 44 years seen at the Ahmadu Bello University Hospital, Kaduna, during the 3 year-period from January 1971 to December 1973. The findings among those under working-age (infants and children) and those above the age of 44 years have not been included. The prevention of mortality in this age group is an urgent priority because mortality at this period may be sufficient to cause the nation a serious economic and social loss. Mortality patterns are described in terms of age, sex and ethnic variations; figures on preventable deaths in different age groups are given. The infective and parasitic diseases (ICD 000-136) account for a high proportion of the deaths, being commoner in younger than in older adults. Meningitis and tuberculosis are responsible for over 50% of the deaths from infections. Many deaths are associated with adverse social and environmental conditions and should be preventable; chief of these is road traffic accident. Some complications of pregnancy and childbirth, too, are preventable. Obstructed labor, hemorrhage and eclampsia are high on the list of causes of maternal deaths. For the different categories of causes of mortality there are suggestions for epidemiological research to identify high risk groups and thus make possible surveillance, early diagnosis and the applications of preventive measures. Education in accident prevention is important and there should be more campaigns for safety on the road; it may also be necessary to back up health education with properly enforced legislation. The prevention of mortality among young adults could be measured in terms of the economic contributions that avoidance of these untimely deaths could have contributed as an asset to the national income. It is suggestsed that a mortality register should be established in each hospital in the country, and such registers may subsequently form the basis for a State or National Atlas of Disease Mortality.^ieng