Anthelmintic Activity of Nauclea diderrichii Leaf Extracts and Fractions Against Adult Haemonchus placei

Background: Nauclea diderrichii is used in West and Central Africa countries for its insecticidal and antiparasitic properties. There is, however, no documentation on its activity against parasitic nematodes.Objectives: This study investigated N. diderrichii leaf extracts and fractions for anthelmintic activity against adult Haemonchus placei, an abomasal parasitic worm that infect cattle.Materials and Method: Pulverized dried leaves of N. diderrichii was defatted using n-hexane, followed by successive extraction using chloroform and acetone. The extracts were evaluated for anthelmintic activity by incubating ten (10) adult H. placei in a range of concentrations (1 ̶ 20 mg/mL) for 3h and then counting the number of confirmed dead worms. The most active extract was subjected to chromatographic fractionation, and the thin layer chromatographic (TLC) profile of the fractions was documented. The dried fractions were then evaluated for anthelmintic activity and anthelmintic data were fitted to a non-linear regression equation (Log [extract or fraction] vs. response; variable slope) to produce best-fit sigmoidal curves and LC50 values computed.Results: Anthelmintic assay shows that acetone extract is worm-active with a best-fit LC50 of 16.24 mg/mL, while the chloroform extract was inactive. Fractionation of the acetone extract yielded three fractions (FA, FB and FC) and TLC profile revealed the various secondary metabolites in the fractions. Of the fractions, only fraction B was active against H. placei with LC50 of 12.24 mg/mL.Conclusion: Acetone extract of N. diderrichii leaf possessed anthelmintic activity against adult H. placei, and could be useful as anthelmintic phytomedicine to deworm cattle. Keywords: Anthelmintic, Haemonchus placei, Nauclea diderrichii, Chromatograph

Evaluation of the emulsifying property of solid phase purified Garcinia kola seed oil

Background:Crude seed oils consist essentially of naturally occurring mixtures of triacylglycerols (˃95%). They are purified to improve their overall quality. Oil purification facilitates elimination of impurities and toxicants.Objective: The objective of the study is to purify Garcinia kola seeds crude oil and to evaluate the purified oil for its emulsifying character.Materials and Methods:Crude seed oil of G. kola, obtained from the dried, powdered seed, was purified by passing the crude oil in n-hexane through silica gel and charcoal arranged in tandem. The crude and refined oils were evaluated by thin layer chromatography and infra-red spectroscopy. Emulsions of the refined oil at 30% and 20% concentrations were prepared and evaluated.Results: With the purification process, there was removal of dissolved polar solutes and pigments in the crude oil relative to the purified oil as revealed by the thin layer chromatographic profile and infra-red spectra. At 20% concentration of the refined oil, a lotion with viscosity of 25.67 ± 1.20 cP was formed while a creamy emulsion was produced with the refined oil at 30% concentration with viscosity of 46.00 ± 1.16 cP. This suggests the suitability of the purified oil as a base in the formulation of lotions and creams.Conclusion: The purified oil of G. kola possesses emulsifying property and could find applications in cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries.Keywords: Garcinia cola, seed oil, solid phase purification, emulsifying propert

Diagnosis of urinary schistosomiasis among primary school pupils in Patigi local government: Haematuria Vs Microscopy

Objectives: To establish the reliability of haematuria in diagnosing Urinary Schistosomiasis infection.Methodology: The research was a cross sectional study. Information on demographic characteristics and history of haematuria was collected from 2000 primary school pupils aged 5-15 years. Urine samples were collected for microscopy. The data from completed questionnaires were sorted and edited manually to detect omissions and error. Analysis of data was done using SPSS software version 20.0 (Statistical Package for Social Sciences) using simple frequency counts, sensitivity and specificity analysis and chi square test.Results: Prevalence of Schistosomiasis by haematuria was 34.5% while that of microscopy was 35%. Diagnosis by haematuria compared to microscopy had 94.7% sensitivity and a specificity of 97.6%. About 94.6% of urine samples that were positive for haematuria were also positive for ova of Schistosoma haematobium on microscopy. The two diagnostic methods for urinary schistosomiasis showed strong positive relationship (p<0.001). Visible haematuria alone and history of haematuria alone had high positive predictive value (99.1% and 85% respectively) in diagnosis of urinary schistosomiasis. Conclusion: This study has shown that haematuria is as good as microscopy in diagnosing urinary schistosomiasis in endemic areas and should be used routinely. Keywords: Diagnosis, Haematuria, Microscopy, Urinary schistosomiasis, Patig

Nutritional knowledge, dietary habits and nutritional status of diabetic patients attending teaching hospitals in Lagos, Nigeria

Background: This study assessed the nutritional knowledge, dietary habits and nutritional status of adult diabetic patients attending teaching hospitals in Lagos State, Nigeria.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among adult diabetic patients attending the out-patient clinics of the two Teaching Hospitals in Lagos. Respondents were recruited from the clinics consecutively until the desired sample size (342) was obtained. A pre-tested interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to collect data. Dietary habits were assessed using food frequency questionnaire and BMI was assessed following standard procedure and compared with the World Health Organization (WHO) standards. Data was analyzed using IBM SPSS (Version 20). Chi-square and fisher’s exact probability test were used to determine the association between variables. The level of significance was set at p-value less than 5%.Results: The mean age of the respondents was 59.6 + 13.0 years. Only 125 (37%) of the respondents had good nutritional knowledge. Majority ate three meals every day, 237 (69.3%) and have had dietary counseling, 255 (74.6%). More than half of the respondents, 202 (59.1%) skipped meals, 80 (23.4%) consumed alcohol while only 42 (12.3%) ate fruits and vegetables daily. The commonest food consumed was processed cereals. Majority of the respondents were overweight or obese (74%). Obesity was associated with being female and not having dietary counseling.Conclusion: Nutritional knowledge and dietary habits were poor while overweight and obesity were high. Dietary counseling will be necessary to improve the dietary pattern and nutritional status of the diabetic patients.Keywords: Nutritional knowledge; Dietary pattern; Body Mass Index; Diabetic patients; Teaching hospitals; Lago

Effect of health workers sensitization on satisfaction with immunization services among mothers of under fives in Ilorin, North Central Nigeria

Objective: Patients' satisfaction is a useful measure of the quality of service. An expression of satisfaction or dissatisfaction is also the patients' judgment on the quality of service in all its aspects. This study examined the effect of health workers sensitization on mothers' satisfaction with immunization service provided in health care facilities in a state in North Central Nigeria.Methods: This is a quasi-experimental study involving sensitization of health workers on quality health service provision at the study site, Alanamu Health Centre, Ilorin. The control group was at Okelele Health Centre, Ilorin. One hundred and fifty mothers were recruited from each of the facilities and the total population of mothers bringing their children (0-14 weeks old) for immunization was recruited consecutively for the study.Results: Less than 80% of respondents in the study group and the control group (73.3% and 77.3% respectively) were satisfied with the waiting time at the pre-intervention stage. At post-intervention, there was a significant increase in the proportion of mothers in the study group that were satisfied with the waiting time, seat provision and information received on immunization (p<0.05) while there were no significant changes in satisfaction among mothers in the control group regarding these measures (p>0.05). Age and level of education had significant influence on mothers' satisfaction (p<0.05).Conclusion: Mothers became more satisfied with various aspects of immunization service received after sensitization of health workers on quality health service. Sensitization of health workers towards quality health service may be necessary to generate options in service provision and improve client satisfaction.Keywords: Clients'Satisfaction, Immunization Services, Health Workers Sensitization, Nigeri

Knowledge and practice of sedentary lifestyle among bankers in Abuja, North-Central Ngeria

Objective: Appropriate regular physical activity is a major component in preventing the growing global burden of chronic disease and at least 60% of the global population fails to achieve the minimum recommendation of 30 minutes moderate intensity physical activity daily. This study was aimed at assessing the knowledge and practice of sedentary lifestyle among bankers in Bwari Area Council, FCT, Abuja in North-Central Nigeria.Methods: This was a descriptive cross sectional study using self administered questionnaire. Systematic sampling was used to recruit 257 bankers from the various banks within BAC. The data was analysed using EPI INFO computer software package (version 3.5.3).Results: More than half 174 (67.7%) of the respondents were aware of sedentary lifestyle; 104 (59.9%) had good knowledge of sedentary lifestyle while 55 (31.5%) had poor knowledge. More than half 155 (60.3%) of the respondents were sedentary while only 102 (39.7%) were physically active. Knowledge of sedentary lifestyle did not significantly influence practice of sedentary lifestyle.Conclusion: There was good knowledge of sedentary lifestyle among the respondents. More than half of the bankers were found to be sedentary and about a third were physically active. Programmes aimed at improving physical activity among employees of this occupation group are therefore advocated.Keywords: Sedentary Lifestyle, Knowledge, Practice, Abuja, Global Physical Activity Questionnaire (GPAQ

Sexual practices and its predictors among in-school adolescents in an urban city in North Central Nigeria

Objective: To assess the sexual practices and its predictors among in-school adolescents in Ilorin metropolis, Nigeria.Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study design was employed, using a pretested semi-structured interviewer administered questionnaire from 400 respondents via multistage sampling technique.Results: Almost half of the respondents (47.5%) have had only one sexual partner before and more than half of them (52.5%) have had two or more partners. Less than one fifth of the respondents (18.0%) had had sexual intercourse. More than half of the respondents (56.9%) who were sexually active used condom at first experience. Respondents' age, gender and religion were important predictors of sexual behaviour.Conclusion: Risky sexual practices are high in Nigeria and young people especially girls are at risk of morbidity and mortality due to sexually transmitted infections including HIV/AIDS, complications from unsafe abortion and social exclusion from stigmatization thereby calling for extra attention to this population.Key words: Adolescents, sexual practices, risky sexual behaviour, sexually transmitted infections

Predictors of vaccine management practices among primary healthcare workers (PHCWs) in Ilorin, North Central Nigeria

Objective: Worldwide, vaccines are becoming more expensive as new ones are being introduced to the immunization schedule. Inspite of this, researches have revealed poor vaccine management practices among health workers. This study aimed to determine the predictors of vaccine management practices among PHCWs providing routine immunization services in static health facilities in Ilorin, north central Nigeria.Methods: This quasi-experimental study was conducted among 216 intervention and 241 control groups of PHCWs using multi stage sampling technique; pretested questionnaire and an observational checklist. Data were analyzed using EPI-INFO software package. Level of significance was predetermined at a p-value of less than 0.05.Results: The mean age of study respondents was 38.5 ± 9.5 years. Factors having positive influence on vaccine management practices include prior training exposure (p = 0.001), years of experience in immunization (p = 0.012) and baseline knowledge of vaccine management (p = 0.015). In addition, regularity of supervisory visit (0.008), adequacy/regularity of vaccine supply (p = 0.001), vaccine 'bundling' (p = 0.013) and type of health facility (p = 0.005) positively influenced respondents' vaccine management practices. However, basic qualification of health workers (p = 0.096) and availability of data tools (p = 0.628) had no significant influence on respondents' vaccine management practices.Conclusion: Training exposure and years of experience in routine immunization have positive influence on vaccine management practices of PHCWs. On-the-job supervision of health workers should be conducted at least bi-annually.Keywords: Predictors, Vaccine management practices, PHCW

Risk Exposure to Hepatitis B infection among Senior Secondary School Students in a Metropolitan City of North-central Nigeria

Background: Hepatitis B is the most prevalent chronic infectious liver disease worldwide with serious sequelae. Reduction of hepatitis B infection is a national public health priority. Despite international efforts to prevent the infection through global vaccination programs, new cases are still being reported throughout the world.Objectives: This study aims to determine the risk exposure factors for hepatitis B infection among senior secondary school students in Ilorin East Local Government Area of Kwara state, Nigeria.Methods: Multistage sampling technique was used to recruit 424 adolescents into the study. Pretested interviewer administered semi-structured questionnaires were used for the study. Data were analyzed using STATA version 10.1 software. A p-value of less than 0.05 was considered as statistically significant.Results: The major risk exposure factors in the study population were contact with blood or body fluids (33.7%), family history of previous infection of HBV (30.4%) of the respondents; one sexual partner (16.5%), multiple sexual partners (15.3%) and ear or body piercing (14.9%). Majority (78.1%) of the respondents had low risk exposure, while 8.0% had medium risk exposure, only 59 (13.9%) of the respondents had high risk exposure for Hepatitis B virus infection. Significant relationships were found between risk exposure score and school type, gender, family history of the disease mothers’ and fathers’ educational background of the respondents (p<0.05).Conclusion: Risk exposure was low among the respondents. There is a need for a community wide campaign on health risk awareness and perception of HBV. [Ethiop. J. Health Dev. 2016;30(2):96-102]Keywords: Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), Hepatitis B virus (HBV), Risk Exposur

Health workers sensitization: effects on perceived quality of immunization services among mothers of under five children in Ilorin, North Central Nigeria

Clients? satisfaction with services received is an important dimen- sion of evaluation that is examined only rarely in developing coun- tries. Health care professionals have always acknowledged that satisfying the consumers at some level is essential to providing ser- vices of high quality. This is a quasi-experimental study. The study group included 150 mothers bringing their children for immuniza- tion at Alanamu Health Centre, Ilorin. The control group included 150 mothers bringing their children for immunization at Okelele Health Centre. Total population of mothers bringing their children for vaccines against tuberculosis/poliomyelitis/hepatitis B (BCG/ OPV/HBV) and against diphterite-pertussis-tetanus (DPT)/OPV/ HBV were recruited sequentially until sample size was attained. Mean waiting time at pre-intervention was 82.7 ± 32.5 and 90.4 ± 41.7 minutes for the study and control groups respectively. Post intervention, there was a significant decrease (p inf. 0.05) in the estimated waiting time in the study group (mean = 48.0 ± 24.4 minutes) while there was no observed difference in the control p > 0.05 (mean = 88.4 ± 40.6 minutes). Perceived adequacy of information on services being provided by the health facility was low (58%) in the study group while it was relatively higher in the control group (80%), but there was a significant increase in pro- portion of those that felt information was adequate only in the study group (p inf. 0.05) at post intervention. Waiting time in health facili- ties by clients should be reduced as this may give clients a positive perception of the service they have come to access. Information dis- semination to clients should be encouraged among health workers as this would affect clients? knowledge and also quality of health care delivery