Seroprevalence and Correlates of Hepatitis C Virus Infection in Secondary School Children in Enugu, Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: Although children comprise a small fraction of the burden of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections, which is a major global health challenge, a significant number of them develop chronic HCV infection and are at risk of its complications. AIM: The aim of the current study was to determine the prevalence and associated factors of HCV infection in school children in Enugu urban. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: This was a cross-sectional seroepidemiological study involving children aged 10-18 years selected using multistage systematic sampling in Enugu metropolis, Southeast Nigeria. The anti-HCV was tested using a 3(rd) generation enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Data were analyzed using SPSS Version 16.0 with the level of significance set at P < 0.05. RESULTS: Four hundred and twenty children were selected and screened comprising 210 (50.0%) males and females. The seroprevalence of anti-HCV was 4 (1.0%). Three (75%) out of the four positive cases for the anti-HCV were females while one was a male giving a male to female ratio of 0.3-1. Traditional scarifications/tattoos were the putative risk factors observed to be significantly associated with anti-HCV seropositivity. CONCLUSION: This study has demonstrated an anti-HCV seroprevalence of 1.0% among children aged 10-18 years in Enugu with traditional scarification as the predominant associated risk factor. Proper health education including school health education and promotion of behavioral change among the public on the practice of safe scarifications/tattoos should be encouraged in our setting.

Seroprevalence and Correlates of Hepatitis C Virus Infection in Secondary School Children in Enugu; Nigeria

Background: Although children comprise a small fraction of the burden of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections; which is a major global health challenge; a significant number of them develop chronic HCV infection and are at risk of its complications. Aim: The aim of the current study was to determine the prevalence and associated factors of HCV infection in school children in Enugu urban. Subjects and Methods: This was a cross-sectional seroepidemiological study involving children aged 10-18 years selected using multistage systematic sampling in Enugu metropolis; Southeast Nigeria. The anti-HCV was tested using a 3rd generation enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Data were analyzed using SPSS Version 16.0 with the level of significance set atP 0.05. Results: Four hundred and twenty children were selected and screened comprising 210 (50.0%) males and females. The seroprevalence of anti-HCV was 4 (1.0%). Three (75%) out of the four positive cases for the anti-HCV were females while one was a male giving a male to female ratio of 0.3-1. Traditional scarifications/tattoos were the putative risk factors observed to be significantly associated with anti-HCV seropositivity. Conclusion: This study has demonstrated an anti-HCV seroprevalence of 1.0% among children aged 10-18 years in Enugu with traditional scarification as the predominant associated risk factor. Proper health education including school health education and promotion of behavioral change among the public on the practice of safe scarifications/tattoos should be encouraged in our setting

Parity related changes in obesity and some antioxidant vitamins in non-pregnant women of South-Eastern Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: The delivery of many children at short interval is associated with micronutrient depletion and weight gain. However, the relationship between the levels of the micronutrients and the body weight is yet to be ascertained. OBJECTIVES: To determine the relationship between parity, body weight and some antioxidant vitamins in non-pregnant Nigerian women. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Randomly recruited 200 non-pregnant women, comprising 82 primiparous and 118 multiparous women completed the study. Their age, parity, mid-arm circumference (MAC), waist circumference (WC), weight, height and body mass index (BMI) were determined. The serum levels of vitamins A, C and E were assayed using standard methods. Results : The mean BMI, WC and MAC of the multiparous subjects (parity = 3.0 ± 0.58) were significantly higher than that of the primiparous subjects (parity = 1), (P < 0.05, P < 0.01 and P < 0.01 respectively). Furthermore, there were statistically significant decrease in the vitamin A, vitamin C and vitamin E in multiparous compared with the primiparous women (P < 0.005, P < 0.05 and P < 0.005), respectively. CONCLUSION: Multiparty enhances weight gain, but depletes antioxidant vitamin micronutrients in non-pregnant Nigerian women.

Low Levels of some Nutritional Parameters of Pregnant Women in a Rural Community of South East Nigeria: Implications for the Attainment of the Millennium Developmental Goal

In developing countries; under nutrition is common; and this plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of malaria and anemia. Indeed it has been associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes. Unfortunately; published evidence concerning the situation is lacking. Objectives: To evaluate some nutritional function indices of pregnant women in a rural Nigerian community. Subjects and Methods: This is a cross sectional study involving of 171 pregnant women from a rural area in South-eastern Nigeria. They included 72 and 99 women in their second and third trimesters respectively. The control group was of 60 women; matched in age; parity and socioeconomic conditions; non-pregnant; non-menstruating and non lactating apparently healthy women. The parameters measured by standard methods included serum iron; total proteins; albumin; globulin; packed cell volume and hemoglobin. Results: The results obtained from control group; second and third trimesters; recorded as Mean (SEM) were 134.60(3.12) ?g/L; 101.20(4.48) ?g/L and 91.87(3.42) ?g/L respectively for iron; 69.12(0.80) g/L; 63.60(0.71) g/L and 57.74(0.75) g/L for total proteins; 42.95(0.92) g/L; 35.74(1.00) g/L and 35.26(0.64) g/L for albumin; 26.77(1.00) g/L; 27.78(1.07) g/L and 22.93(0.88) g/L for globulin; 32.80(0.36); 27.92(0.37) and 27.73(0.34) for packed cell volume; and 11.25(0.11) g/L; 9.59(0.13) g/L and 9.57(0.14) g/L for hemoglobin respectively. These results showed that all the parameters decreased significantly in pregnancy (P0.001) except globulin that did not show immediate; significant decrease. Conclusion: There is a general decrease in the nutrition parameters studied among the pregnant women from our study area; indicating under-nutrition. Urgent measures should be taken to improve the nutritional status of rural dwellers especially the antioxidant micronutrients

Copper and selenium status of healthy pregnant women in Enugu, southeastern Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: Copper and selenium are important trace elements in man. They function as antioxidants and play roles in oxido-reductase reactions. Several imported multivitamin preparations are given to our women during pregnancy and lactation to correct possible deficiencies. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study is to determine the serum level of these micronutrients (selenium and copper) in a cross section of pregnant women in Enugu, southeastern Nigeria. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross section of 130 healthy pregnant women at different trimesters of pregnancy and 30 non-pregnant controls were selected from two health facilities in Enugu, southeastern Nigeria. Serum from the samples collected was assayed for copper and selenium using atomic absorption spectrophotometer. RESULTS: The mean copper level increased (P = 0.018), while the selenium level decreased (P < 0.0001) as pregnancy advanced. CONCLUSION: High copper levels indicate that supplementation should not be undertaken during normal pregnancy. Dietary intake should be modified to ensure optimal selenium levels during pregnancy.

Copper and Selenium Status of Healthy Pregnant Women in Enugu; Southeastern Nigeria

Background: Copper and selenium are important trace elements in man. They function as antioxidants and play roles in oxido-reductase reactions. Several imported multivitamin preparations are given to our women during pregnancy and lactation to correct possible deficiencies. Objective: The aim of the study is to determine the serum level of these micronutrients (selenium and copper) in a cross section of pregnant women in Enugu; southeastern Nigeria. Materials and Methods: A cross section of 130 healthy pregnant women at different trimesters of pregnancy and 30 non-pregnant controls were selected from two health facilities in Enugu; southeastern Nigeria. Serum from the samples collected was assayed for copper and selenium using atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Results: The mean copper level increased (P = 0.018); while the selenium level decreased (P 0.0001) as pregnancy advanced. Conclusion: High copper levels indicate that supplementation should not be undertaken during normal pregnancy. Dietary intake should be modified to ensure optimal selenium levels during pregnancy

Malaria parasitaemia among pregnant women in a rural community of eastern Nigeria; need for combined measures.

Malaria in pregnancy is a major contributor to adverse maternal and perinatal outcome. In hyper endemic areas like ours, it is a common cause of anaemia in pregnancy in both immune and non-immune individuals and is aggravated by poor socioeconomic circumstances. The aim of this study is to assess the prevalence of asymptomatic malaria parasitaemia among pregnant women in a rural setting. 272 pregnant women, aged between 18 and 40 years in some remote rural areas of Ebonyi State, Nigeria were recruited between January 2007 and March 2008.Their blood samples were collected and examined for malaria parasite, haemoglobin and packed cell volume using standard methods. Our results showed 59.9% prevalence of parasitaemia with the highest prevalence occurring in the first trimester [84.1%]. Among the positive cases, mild parasitaemia was recorded in 47.2% moderate parasitaemia in 37.4% while severe parasitaemia was recorded in 15.3% of cases. These differences were statistically significant [P<0.016]. Furthermore the distribution of malaria densities in different gravidity groups showed an inverse relationship, 45.4% in primigravidae, [31.9%] in secundigravidae and [10.4%] among people with more than five pregnancies. These findings were statistically significant [P<0.0001]. The prevalence of anaemia in pregnancy in this study was 62.4%. Apart from the use of nets, drugs and vector control, the prevention of malaria in pregnancy in very poor socioeconomic settings should make provision for nutritional support.

An improved dosing schedule for ivermectin as a microfilaricidal agent against onchocerciasis.

The introduction of ivermectin therapy has proved to be the most important advance in the management and control of onchocerciaisis. By using the standard dosing schedule (150 micrograms/kg) in a mass chemotherapy campaign in Awhum, Nigeria, 128 (14.6%) of 875 eligible subjects used in this study were underdosed while 696 (79.6%) and 51 (5.8%) were overdosed and correctly dosed, respectively. Since underdosing is more serious than overdosing, an improved dosing schedule (300 micrograms/kg) is hereby suggested, bearing in mind that ivermectin is safe at doses well in excess of the standard dose. 824 (94.2%) And 51 (5.8%) of these eligible subjects would be overdosed and correctly dosed respectively, if this improved dosing schedule (< 15 kg, 0 mg (0 tablet); 15-20 kg, 6 mg (1 tablet); 21-40 kg, 12 mg (2 tablets); 41-60 kg, 18 mg (3 tablets); > 60 kg, 24 mg (4 tablets)) were to be employed. This dosing schedule is worth adopting and an investigation of the effects of these high single doses of ivermectin on adult Onchocerca volvolus worms is advocated. Furthermore 'non-responders' may be investigated for doses administered.