Insecticide Treated Nets Possession and Utilization among Pregnant Women in Enugu Nigeria: A Descriptive Cross-sectional Study

Background: Pregnant women, particularly the primigravida are doubly at risk of malaria. The use of insecticide treated nets (ITNs) among pregnant women take into account the community attitudes and beliefs about malaria.  This study examined the socio-demographic, cultural and economic factors that influence the use of ITN among pregnant women in Enugu, Nigeria.Methods: The study design was descriptive cross-sectional and it involved 290 ante natal clinic attendees in three facilities selected by simple random sampling method and data collected using interviewer-administered questionnaires. Results: The mean age of respondents was 30±5.9 years and they exhibited an overall ITN knowledge of 254 (87.9%). The overall ITN utilization rate among the pregnant women was 20.7%. About 88.3% had no fear about ITN use, but 50 (18.5%) and 41 (15.2%) of them gave feeling of “suffocation” and “heat” respectively as reasons for not using ITN while 140(49.5%) of respondents expressed preference for white ITN colour. Conclusion: Government and other stakeholders should make ITNs available and affordable to all pregnant women, while decisions about the nets should consider their shape, size, designs and colour. Key words: Insecticide Treated Net, Utilization, Pregnant women, Enug

Effect of Free ACT and ITN Provision on Caregivers’ Attitude and Practice of Home Management of Malaria in a Local Government Area of Anambra State

In Nigeria, only about 20% of malaria episodes are treated in the health centres, while care provided at home and community ranked first in the actions taken during illness in under fives. These treatments are usually incorrect or sub-optimal, sometimes due to poor accessibility to essential anti malarial drugs. The main purpose of this study is to test the effectiveness of health education with free supply of ITNs and ACTs in enhancing and improving the practice of home management of malaria among mothers in Dunukofia Local Government Area of Anambra State, Nigeria. Two rural communities, Ifitedunu and Ukwulu in Dunukofia LGA were randomized into study (ACT, ITN and Health Education) and control groups (only Healthy Education). A total of 425 Caregivers with children aged 0-5 years were studied. Data was collected at baseline and 3 months after using an interviewer administered questionnaire. SPSS version 11 software package was used for data analysis with the hypotheses tested at 0.05 percent level of significance. Caregivers who used ACTs in the study group increased markedly from 4.3% to 61.4% post-intervention and the same was true for ITN use (17.4% to 57.8%). Also window and door nets use increased from 44.1% to 66.8% at post intervention while patronage of drug stores reduced markedly from 25 (21.6%) to 6 (5.5%). No significant changes occurred in the control group. Provision of free ITNs and ACTs brought significant improvement in their usage. Therefore, the availability of these products remains a sine-qua-non for their sustained appropriate utilization in the home management of malaria among Caregivers. Key words: ACT, ITN, Caregiver, Practice of Home management of Malari

Eff ect of the sub-chronic administration of some commonly used herbal products on the liver enzymes, body weight, and feed intake of albino Wistar rats: Any implication for public health?

The present study was focused to assess the effects of the administration of commonly used herbal products viz.:Yoyo cleansing bitters, T. angelica herbal tonic, and Bio-Strath elixir on the liver enzymes, body weight, and feedintake in adult albino Wistar rats. A total number of seventy Wistar rats were divided into three major groups.Each group received a particular herbal product and each of these groups was further subdivided into subgroupsthat received various dosages of each of the herbal products. The rats were acclimatized for 14 days after whichthey received different doses of each of the herbal products for 6 weeks. The body weight, feed intake, andmodulation in liver enzymes were evaluated. The feed intake and body weights were reduced in animals thatreceived T. angelica herbal tonic and Yoyo cleansing bitters at twice the normal dose once and twice daily, butthe reverse was the case for the rats that received Bio-Strath elixir even at higher doses. The liver enzymes wereincreased at all doses in rats which were given Bio-Strath elixir but it was not significant (P > 0.05), while thoseof Yoyo bitters and T. angelica herbal tonic were significantly increased (P < 0.05), especially at higher doses.From our study results it was suggested that a higher dose than the manufacturer’s recommended dose takenfor a longer duration can elevate liver enzyme, thus causing abnormal liver function

Sexual health knowledge, attitude and risk perception among in-school and out-of-school female adolescents in Onitsha, Anambra State, Nigeria

Aim: Young people need protective information and skills in order to reduce the riskassociated with unsafe sex. This study assessed and compared the sexual health knowledge, attitude and risk perception of in-school and out-of-school female unmarried adolescents in Onitsha North Local Government Area, Anambra State, Nigeria. Methods: A comparative cross-sectional design was used in which 391 in-school female adolescents (mean age: 15.9±1.4 years ) were selected from 25 private and 17 public schools in Onitsha North Local Government Area, Anambra State, Nigeria using multistage sampling method. A comparison group of 392 out-of school female adolescents (mean age: 15.5±2.5 years) was also selected from a major market in the same Local Government Area using cluster sampling technique. Data was collected from the respondents with pre-tested, interviewer-administered questionnaires on reproductive and sexual health knowledge, risk perception and attitude, sexual behaviour, contraceptive knowledge and sources of sexual health information. Results: In-school girls demonstrated better knowledge of sexual and reproductive health compared to their out-of-school counterparts. The awareness of fertile period, contraception methods, STI and HIV transmission and prevention were all significantly better among the in-school adolescents compared to their out-of-school counterparts (P<0.05). They also had markedly higher risk perception of getting pregnant (P<0.05) or acquiring HIV infection (P<0.05) compared to their out-of-school counterparts. Conclusion: About 21% of adolescents in this study area were involved in risky sexualbehaviour and this was higher among the out-of-school adolescents than their in-school counterparts. All stakeholders in the state and the Local Government Area should come together and develop interventions that would improve the sexual health knowledge and sexual risk perception of the adolescents

Sexual health knowledge, attitude and risk perception among in-school and out-of-school female adolescents in Onitsha, Anambra State, Nigeria

Aim: Young people need protective information and skills in order to reduce the riskassociated with unsafe sex. This study assessed and compared the sexual health knowledge, attitude and risk perception of in-school and out-of-school female unmarried adolescents in Onitsha North Local Government Area, Anambra State, Nigeria.Methods: A comparative cross-sectional design was used in which 391 in-school female adolescents (mean age: 15.9±1.4 years ) were selected from 25 private and 17 public schools in Onitsha North Local Government Area, Anambra State, Nigeria using multistage sampling method. A comparison group of 392 out-of school female adolescents (mean age: 15.5±2.5 years) was also selected from a major market in the same Local Government Area using cluster sampling technique. Data was collected from the respondents with pre-tested, interviewer-administered questionnaires on reproductive and sexual health knowledge, risk perception and attitude, sexual behaviour, contraceptive knowledge and sources of sexual health information.Results: In-school girls demonstrated better knowledge of sexual and reproductive health compared to their out-of-school counterparts. The awareness of fertile period, contraception methods, STI and HIV transmission and prevention were all significantly better among the in-school adolescents compared to their out-of-school counterparts (P<0.05). They also had markedly higher risk perception of getting pregnant (P<0.05) or acquiring HIV infection (P<0.05) compared to their out-of-school counterparts.Conclusion: About 21% of adolescents in this study area were involved in risky sexualbehaviour and this was higher among the out-of-school adolescents than their in-school counterparts. All stakeholders in the state and the Local Government Area should come together and develop interventions that would improve the sexual health knowledge and sexual risk perception of the adolescents

Effectiveness of Treatment Outcomes of Public Private Mix Tuberculosis Control Program in Eastern Nigeria

Effective tuberculosis treatment has been shown to have significant effect on the control of tuberculosis. Completion of treatment of active cases is therefore the most important priority of tuberculosis control programmes. Descriptive statistics with a retrospective cohort study design used to analyze secondary data set (2007-2010) of patients accessing TB-DOTS treatment in two facilities (Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, NAUTH and Department of Health Services Tuberculosis and Leprosy  Control Unit Nnewi North Local Government Area (L.G.A.) Secretariat, DHSTLCU ) as public health facilities and other two facilities ( Immaculate Heart of Catholic Church Hospital, IHCCH  and Diocesan Anglican Communion Hospital, DACH) as private health facilities in Nnewi North L.G.A., Anambra State. Gender of patients were male: female 54%(1016 patients) : 46% (883 patients) and 53%(63 patients) : 47%(56 patients) in public and private health facilities respectively . Using WHO (1996) standards the health facilities adjudged as efficient were: in 2007, private facilities using the indicator  of treatment failure rate; private facilities using the indicator of death rate;  public facilities and private facilities using  the indicator of transfer-out rate ; public facilities using the indicator of  treatment completion rate. In 2008, effective health facilities were: private health facilities using the indicator of failure rate; public and private health facilities using the indicator of transfer-out rate; private facilities using the indicator of treatment completion rate. In 2009, effective health facilities were public and private health facilities using indicator of treatment failure rate; public and private health facilities using the indicator of death rate; public and private facilities using the indicator of transfer out; public and private facilities using the indicator of treatment completion rate. In 2010, effective health facilities were: private health facilities using the indicator of  cure rate; private facilities using the indicator of death rate ; public and private facilities using the indicator of transfer-out; public facilities using the indicator of treatment completion rate. In conclusion, private health facilities were more effective than public health facilities  by the several indicators over the four year period.  Future research is needful to use primary and secondary data sets in assessment of TB control program effectiveness; technical efficiency assessment using non-parametric statistics will assess the validity of assessing effectiveness using only the WHO standards; identify centre-specific factors associated with poor treatment outcome; institutionalizing a reward system for effective TB-DOTS facilities will engender healthy competition in the Public Private Mix for sustained effectiveness; the Monitoring and Evaluation tools especially the treatment card for data capture should be improved upon for comprehensiveness of patients socio-economic history. Keywords: Tuberculosis, Effectiveness, Treatments Outcomes, Public Private Mi

Intimate Partner Violence among Women of Childbearing Age in a Primary Health Care Centre in Nigeria

This study assessed the prevalence and characteristics of intimate partner violence among women of childbearing age in a primary health centre. With interviewer-administered questionnaire, information on partner violence was elicited from three hundred women of childbearing age selected by systematic sampling in a primary health care (PHC) centre. Over 40% had experienced violence within the last 12 months. Type of marriage and partner\'s education had effect on violence. Perceived reasons for violence were economic demand (56.1%), reproductive issues (42.5%), alcohol and drugs (61.2%). Forty eight per cent reported to family members. Only 1% reported to the Police. Intimate partner violence is a prevalent public health problem in eastern Nigeria. Health workers and social organisations should recognise the problem and offer necessary support, and women should be empowered to navigate through the problem. (Afr J Reprod Health 2002; 6[3]: 53-58) Résumé La violence du partenaire intime chez les femmes en âge d\'avoir des enfants dans un centre des services médicaux primaries au Nigéria. Cette étude a etude a évalué la prévalence et les caractéristiques de la violence du partenaire intime chez les femmes en âge d\'avoir des enfants, dans un centre des services médicaux primaries. A l\'aide d\'un questionnaire administé par l\'intervieweur, nous avons recueilli des renseignements sur la violence du partenaire de trios cents femmes en âge d\'avoir des enfants. Elles ont été selectionnées à travers un échantillon systématique dans un centre des services médicaux primaries (SMP). Plus de 40% avaient vécu la violence ces douze derniers mois. Le type de mariage et le niveau de scolarité du partenaire avaient un effet sur la violence. Les raisons perçues de la violence étaient l\'exigence économique (15,1%), les questions de la reproduction (42,5%), l\'alcool et la drogue (61,2%). 48% ont signalé aux members de famille. Seul 1% ont signalé à la police. La violence du partenaire intime est un problème de la santé publique prévalent à l\'Est du Nigéria. Il faut que les Assistantes Sociales et les organisations sociales reconnaissent le problème et qu\'elles offrent le secours nécessaire. Il faut également rendre les femmes capables d\'affronter le problème. (Rev Afr Santé Reprod 2002; 6[3]: 53-58) KEY WORDS: Intimate partner violence, women, childbearin

Awareness and knowledge of disease surveillance and notification by health‑care workers and availability of facility records in Anambra state, Nigeria

Background: Disease surveillance and notification (DSN) is part of the Health Management Information System (HMIS) which comprises databases, personnel, and materials that are organized to collect data which are utilized for informed decision making. The knowledge about DSN is very important for the reporting of notifiable diseases. Objective: The aim of this study is to examine the awareness and knowledge of health‑care workers about DSN, and availability of facility records in Anambra State, Nigeria. Materials and Methods: The study was a descriptive cross‑sectional one in which relevant data were collected from health‑care workers selected by a multistage sampling technique. Qualitative information was also elicited by key informant interviews, whereas an observational checklist, preceded by a desk review was used to examine the availability of facility records. Results: Although 89.8% of the health‑care workers were aware of the DSN system, only 33.3, 31.1, and 33.7% of them knew the specific uses of forms IDSR 001, IDSR 002, and IDSR 003 (IDSR: Integrated Diseases Surveillance and Response), respectively. Knowledge of use of the various forms at the facility and local government area (LGA) levels were generally low, although the observational checklist revealed that IDSR 001 and IDSR 002 forms were predominantly found in primary health‑care facilities. HMIS forms were less likely to be available in secondary health‑care facilities (χ2=7.67, P=0.005). Conclusions: Regular training and retraining of concerned health‑care workers on DSN at the LGA level is recommended. This should run concurrently with adequate and regular provision of IDSR forms, copies of the standard case definitions, and other necessary logistics to the health‑care facilities by the local and state governments.Keywords: Awareness, disease surveillance and notification, facility records, knowledgeNigerian Medical Journal | Vol. 53 | Issue 4 | October-December | 201