Acute diarrhoea in hospitalized under-five children in Ilorin, Nigeria: Relationship between isolated enteropathogens and clinical outcome

Background: Acute diarrhoea due to different enteropathogens contributes significantly to childhood morbidity and mortality globally, despite the advances made in diarrhoea management via use of fluid therapy and zinc supplementation. Aim: To determine the prevalence of bacterial and viral etiology among children hospitalized with acute diarrhoea and the relationship with clinical outcome. Methods: A total of 135 children aged one to 59 months with acute diarrhoea were recruited in Ilorin, Nigeria. Stool specimens were investigated for three viruses (rotavirus, adenovirus and norovirus) and bacterial pathogens using immunochromatographic and conventional culture techniques respectively. Results: One hundred and twenty-two (90.4%) study participants had stools that yielded enteropathogens, while 13 (9.6%) had no isolates. Sixty-one (45.2%) children had a single pathogen isolated, while 61 (45.2%) had co-infections. The prevalence of viruses was 17.0% with rotavirus, adenovirus and norovirus detected in 10.3%, 3.7% and 3.0% respectively. Bacterial pathogens were isolated in 28.2% with Escherichia coli (14.1%), Klebsiella spp. (8.2%), Proteus spp. (3.7%) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (2.2%) detected as isolates. The duration of hospital stay, likewise the duration of diarrhoea were prolonged by the presence of an infectious aetiology and co-infections (p <0.001 and p =0.04 respectively). However, these clinical outcomes were not influenced by the type of bacteria/virus isolated nor the enteropathogens constituting co-infection (p >0.05). Conclusions: There was a high burden of infectious aetiology of childhood diarrhoea, with bacteria being the predominant enteropathogens isolated. The clinical outcomes of the children studied were influenced by the isolation of enteropathogens and the presence of multiple infections

The effects of inclusive and exclusive item response rule options on item difficulty and discrimination in multiple choice tests

The paper investigates the effects of exclusive (all of the above (AOTA)) and inclusive (none of the above (NOTA)) item rule options on item difficulty and discrimination of multiple choice tests. The study adopted experimental research design. Forty multiple-choice economics items adapted from the Senior Secondary Certificate Examination were used for the study. Three item formats were used. Homogeneous contained the question in its original format without NOTA/AOTA option; Key used NOTA/AOTA option as the correct answer; and distractor had NOTA/AOTA option as an  incorrect answer. The results showed that items with NOTA and AOTA alternatives required more thinking from examinees than those with specific alternatives. NOTA and AOTA options have psychometric significance in multiple choice tests, therefore, the effect of NOTA and AOTA should be  taken into consideration in item writing. Thus, item writers should endeavour to generate enough options to avoid the use of these options. Keywords: Inclusive options, Exclusive options, Item discrimination, Item difficulty, Multiple-choice test

Nutritional status and the risk of obesity among market women in Offa Local Government Area, Kwara State

Background: Obesity has been declared a global epidemic and linked to nutrition transition in developing nations.Objective: This study assessed the nutritional status and risk of obesity amongst market women in Offa, Kwara State.Methods: A total of 353 market women were sampled. Data were collected using a pre-tested semi-structured questionnaire adapted from WHO STEP-wise approach to surveillance-instrument. Anthropometric measurements [(Weight, Height, Waist circumference (WC), Hip circumference (HC)] were conducted using standard procedures. Nutrients intake was estimated using 24-hr dietary recall. Body Mass Index (BMI) and Waist Hip Ratio (WHR) were calculated and compared with WHO standard. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics while Pearson product mean correlation was used to establish relationship between variables.Results: The result shows that 70.8% of the respondents were between 31 – 60 years, while 25.1% were above 60 years. About 71.9% engaged in moderate physical activities, 28.1% engaged in light activities. Majority (77.3%) ate three times daily, 8.5% ate more than three times daily. BMI classification revealed that 25.2%, 29.2% and 41.6% were normal, overweight and obese, respectively. Dietary intake revealed that nutrient intake was more than 100% RDA for energy, protein, carbohydrate, fat, vitamin B12, iron, and calcium. There was a significant association 12 between body mass index, and body fat, body mass index and waist hip ratio of respondents (r=0.453, p < 0.05).Conclusion: Overweight and obesity rate were high, low physical activity level and sedentary lifestyles were observed, nutrient intakes showed excess consumption of calories. There is need for...Keywords: Nutritional status, Obesity risk, Market wome

Assessment of Functional Impairments among the Elderly in Ijebu Ode Local Government Area of Ogun State, Nigeria

Background: The aging process is characterized by various physiological conditions that results in decline of functional capacity and physical abilities. This leads to limited quality of life and increased dependency among the elderly.Objective: The study assessed the prevalence of functional impairments among elderly persons in IjebuOde Local Government Area of Ogun State, Nigeria.Methods: This is a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted among 500 elderly subjects selected from 100 households in the study area using systematic random sampling. An interviewer administered questionnaire was used to elicit relevant socio-demographic information. Functional impairment was assessed using the Katz Index of Independence Activities of Daily Living (KADL). Six aspects of daily activities were assessed - urinary continence, toileting, dressing, bathing, feeding and transferring. Frequency counts, percentages, mean, standard deviations and Chi square test were used in data analysis.Results: The study comprised of 41.2% males and 58.8% females with age ranging from 60-92years and mean age of 71.10±8.40years. More female (58.6%) compared to male (41.4%) were impaired. Overall prevalence of functional impairment was 26.6%. There were significant associations between functional impairment, older age and lower educational level (p=0.001). The most common impairment was related to transference (25.6%) while the least was with feeding (3.6%).Conclusion: Elderly subjects are prone to functional impairments related to transference which advances with age and more in women. Thus, assessing functional impairment is important in preventive geriatric health care for screening to help in reducing further morbidity in the elderly.Keywords: Assessment, prevalence, functional impairment, elderl