Writing a scientific paper: getting to the basics.

Research is an important tool in the discovery of new events and inevitable in the advancement of our understanding of new phenomena. However, the process of carrying out a research will be incomplete and irrelevant if the results are not published. While the process of carrying out a research is a challenging experience for many researchers, an even more daunting exercise is publishing the research findings. Thus, writing scientific paper requires skill and experience. A scientific paper should have a clear purpose, be organized systematically and target a specific audience. It is important that before planning to write out a scientific paper certain questions regarding the message of the paper and its worthiness, the format, target audience for the message and the journal for that audience, are addressed. These issues are crucial and determine how well written a paper is and its acceptability for publication.

Research proposal writing: breaking the myth.

BACKGROUND: Research is an essential activity required for the advancement of science and improvement of human existence. To carry out a research, a proposal is mandatory. However, in spite of the widespread demand for research proposals, experience has shown that a number of them are so poorly written that they rejected by assessors. This article aims at assisting researchers develop acceptable research proposals by reviewing the different components of a research proposal. METHOD: A review of relevant literature on research proposal writing sourced from manual library and internet search was used for this review RESULT: A research proposal is a formal and detailed statement of intent to carry out a research. It presents and justifies a plan of action and shows how the investigator thinks. A research protocol on the other hand is a plan written to seek approval for research from a supervisor or an organization. It is developed as a guide for a study and helps to keep the researcher focused on the topic and scope of the research. A research proposal has the following components: The Title page; The Abstract/Executive Summary; The Introduction/Statement of the Problem; Literature Review; Information on the applicant's centre; The Objectives/Research Questions/Hypotheses; The Study Design; Methods; Plans for Analysis; Data Analysis; Plans for Data Interpretation; Plans to report. Thus, although proposals and protocols are sometimes used interchangeably, a proposal precedes a protocol. CONCLUSION: To reduce the time wastage and frustration faced by intending researchers and their assessors it is essential that good proposals be written at all times.

Barriers to timely initiation of breastfeeding among mothers of healthy full-term babies who deliver at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital.

OBJECTIVES: (I) To determine the barriers to timely initiation of breastfeeding in mothers who Hospital. (2). To determine if there is any statistical association between the time of initiation of breastfeeding and certain socio-demographic, obstetric, psychosocial and environmental factors in the mother-baby pairs. METHODOLOGICAL: A prospective, hospital-based study of 500 consecutive health mother-infant pairs delivered at UPTH (both vaginally and by Caesarian section). Information was obtained using a structured questionnaire, medical record review and direct observation. Early initiation, i.e. mothers who initiated breastfeeding within 30 minutes of delivery (in the case of the vaginally delivered (VD) mothers) or within 30 minutes of recovery of post-operative consciousness (in the case of those delivered by Caesarian section) were compared with those who initiated breastfeeding after 30 minutes (Late initiator) in the VD and C/S groups. The association between time of breastfeeding initiation and factors under consideration were determine using the chi-squared test. RESULTS: Approximately 34% of the VD mother initiated breastfeeding early while no mother with Caesarean section had early initiation of breastfeeding. The mean time of breastfeeding initiation was 3.35 -/+ 2.6 hours in mother who had vaginal delivery, 6.50 +/- 3.4 hours and 5.9 +/- 1.9 hours in those who had Caesarean section with general or spinal anaesthesia respectively. Among those with vaginal delivery, mothers younger than 25 years and of high socioeconomic class were found to practice early breastfeeding initiation. Delay in the time of repair of episiotomy and labour duration less than 12 hours were associated with early breastfeeding initiation. Early contact between baby and mother, help received on the delivery table and the presence of more than one delivery assistant also positively influenced breastfeeding initiation. Similarly, the presence of a breastfeeding-trained delivery assistant enhanced the mother' practice of early initiation of breastfeeding. Observation of routine labour ward practices such as cleaning of the newborn and weight/length measurement had negative impact on the practice of early initiation of breastfeeding. Early contact between the mother and her newborn on the delivery table with assistance to initate breastfeeding was the most important predictor of early breastfeeding initiation. Parity, attendance at the antenatal clinic, receipt of breastfeeding information and use of analgesics during labour did not show any statistical association with time of initiation of breastfeeding. CONCLUSION/RECOMMENDATION: There was a low prevalence of early initiation of breastfeeding in mothers delivered at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital. This low prevalence was due to delay in helping the newly delivered mother, especially those with Caesarean delivery. Routine labour ward practices interfere with the time of breastfeeding initiation. Routine labour ward and delivery table, specific assignment to the staff in the delivery/labour rooms help newly delivered mothers initiate breastfeeding early, and empowering the to request for babies are recommended.

Upsurge of paediatric tuberculosis in Port Harcourt; Nigeria: Has HIV infection any role?

Background: The Niger Delta region in Southern Nigeria is peculiar; not only for its oil and mineral resources; but also; for the adverse socio-environmental factors; which enhance the occurrence of communicable diseases like tuberculosis and Human Immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Because childhood tuberculous infection is a reflection of ongoing transmission in the community and can be reactivated as adult TB; which in turn maintains a chain of transmission; it is important to determine its incidence in this region. Aims: To describe the pattern of paediatric tuberculosis at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH); Port Harcourt; in the Niger Delta and the role; if any; of HIV co-infection in the cases. Methods: A retrospective analysis of children diagnosed to have tuberculosis; using clinical data; tuberculin test and chest radiography; and managed at the UPTH from January 1; 2002 to October 31; 2005 was done. Results: Out of 13;367 children aged 0-15 years who received care at UPTH during the period under review; 188 had tuberculosis. The median age of the tuberculosis cases was 2 years. Seventy six percent were under-fives and 53.2HIV seropositive. Pulmonary tuberculosis (80.6) was the commonest form of the disease. The proportional incidence of tuberculosis and HIV co-infection increased from 0.88in 2002 to 87.5in 2005. Conclusions: Tuberculosis and HIV co-infection seems to be an emerging pattern of paediatric tuberculosis infection in Port Harcourt. There is therefore a need to screen all children with tuberculosis for the presence of HIV co-infection

The influence of pre- and post-partum factors on the time of contact between mother and her new-born after vaginal delivery.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this report is to determine the pre-partum and post-partum factors that may influence the time interval from vaginal delivery to first skin-to-skin contact between the mother and her newborn at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital. METHOD: A prospective study of 250 consecutive healthy mother-infant pairs. Information on pre- and post-partum factors was obtained from interview of mothers, direct observation and medical records. The proportion of mothers who made skin-to-skin contact with their babies within 30 minutes of delivery (early contact) was compared with those who did not (late contact) in the various pre- and post-partum groups. RESULTS: There was early skin-to-skin contact between mother and child in ninety-six (38.4%) of the 250 mother-infant pairs. Age of mother below 25 years, primiparity, labour less than 12 hours and late repair of episiotomy were associated with early skin-to-skin contact between mother and child. Early performance of routine cleaning and taking measurements of newborn was significantly associated with late skin-to-skin contact with mother. A significantly high proportion of mothers who were assisted to breastfeed had early contact with their babies compared with those who did not have any such assistance (48.8% vs. 17.1%). Ninety-six (39.7%) of the 242 mothers who received information on breastfeeding had early contact compared with none of the 8 mothers who did not have breastfeeding education. The mother's marital status and level of education did not show any statistically significant association with time of mother skin-to-skin contact with baby. CONCLUSION/RECOMMENDATION: Post-partum labour ward practices (cleaning and measurement of baby, assistance received by mother on breastfeeding and timing of repair of episiotomy) are the most important factors found to affect time of first contact between mother and child. It is recommended that immediate contact between newborn and mother should take precedence over hospital routines.