Incidence of Strongyloides stercoralis infection in Ungogo, Nassarawa, Dala and Fagge local government areas of Kano State, Nigeria

This study was carried out between October, 2005 and August, 2006 to determine the occurrence and distribution of Strongyloides stercoralis in Dala, Fagge, Nassarawa and Ungoggo Local Government Areas of Kano State. A total of 280 stool samples from primary schools pupils in the area were examined for the presence of S. stercoralis using direct smear technique. 104 (37.14%) stool samples were found positive. Pupil ages 11 – 13 years had the highest infection 44 (42.30%). Male pupils were more infected 76(73.07%) and Nassarawa Local Government Area had the highest rate of infection 30 (42.85%). 560 S. stercoralis were isolated from the soil of the study area. The soil analysis showed that most of the parasites 174 (31.07% were also found at Nassarawa Local Government Area. Chi – square method was used in analyzing the data obtained. This study stands as a point for further research on S. stercoralis in the study area. Adequate financial provision for the support of fundamental and applied research programme into this topic is strongly recommended. Keywords: Flariform, Strongyloides, Kano, Nassaraw

A Comprehensive Mapping of Urinary Schistosomiasis Using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in Kano State, Nigeria

This study was conducted between July 2005- August 2007 using Geographic information Systems (GIS) to integrate the demographic, parasitologic and site location data of 132 towns/villages, in the 44 Local Government Areas of Kano state. A total of 6600 urine samples ware examined for S. haematobium infection. Of these number 2820(42.7%) were infected. Out of the 44 Local Government Areas of Kano State, Nigeria, the highest prevalence rate of 64.0% was observed in Kura Local Government Area and the least 18.0% was observed in D/Tofa Local Government Area.Males were observed to have a higher prevalence rate (48.0%) than the Females (29.7%). High micro-haematuria value was observed in 36.3% of the infected individuals with males having the highest values (91.5%).. The implication of these findings with a view to proper planning and control management of the disease is discussed.Keywords: Mapping, Urinary Schistosomiasis, GIS, S. haematobiu

Male responsibility and maternal morbidity: a cross-sectional study in two Nigerian states

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Nigeria continues to have high rates of maternal morbidity and mortality. This is partly associated with lack of adequate obstetric care, partly with high risks in pregnancy, including heavy work. We examined actionable risk factors and underlying determinants at community level in Bauchi and Cross River States of Nigeria, including several related to male responsibility in pregnancy.</p> <p>Method</p> <p>In 2009, field teams visited a stratified (urban/rural) last stage random sample of 180 enumeration areas drawn from the most recent censuses in each of Bauchi and Cross River states. A structured questionnaire administered in face-to-face interviews with women aged 15-49 years documented education, income, recent birth history, knowledge and attitudes related to safe birth, and deliveries in the last three years. Closed questions covered female genital mutilation, intimate partner violence (IPV) in the last year, IPV during the last pregnancy, work during the last pregnancy, and support during pregnancy. The outcome was complications in pregnancy and delivery (eclampsia, sepsis, bleeding) among survivors of childbirth in the last three years. We adjusted bivariate and multivariate analysis for clustering.</p> <p>Findings</p> <p>The most consistent and prominent of 28 candidate risk factors and underlying determinants for non-fatal maternal morbidity was intimate partner violence (IPV) during pregnancy (ORa 2.15, 95%CIca 1.43-3.24 in Bauchi and ORa 1.5, 95%CI 1.20-2.03 in Cross River). Other spouse-related factors in the multivariate model included not discussing pregnancy with the spouse and, independently, IPV in the last year. Shortage of food in the last week was a factor in both Bauchi (ORa 1.66, 95%CIca 1.22-2.26) and Cross River (ORa 1.32, 95%CIca 1.15-1.53). Female genital mutilation was a factor among less well to do Bauchi women (ORa 2.1, 95%CIca 1.39-3.17) and all Cross River women (ORa 1.23, 95%CIca 1.1-1.5).</p> <p>Interpretation</p> <p>Enhancing clinical protocols and skills can only benefit women in Nigeria and elsewhere. But the violence women experience throughout their lives – genital mutilation, domestic violence, and steep power gradients – is accentuated through pregnancy and childbirth, when women are most vulnerable. IPV especially in pregnancy, women's fear of husbands or partners and not discussing pregnancy are all within men's capacity to change.</p

Effect of standing posture during whole body vibration training on muscle morphology and function in older adults: A randomised controlled trial

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Whole body vibration (WBV) is a novel modality of exercise shown to improve musculoskeletal function. This study aims to examine the effects of standing posture during low magnitude WBV training on muscle function and muscle morphology in older adults.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Nineteen men and women (50-80 years) were recruited to a three month randomised controlled trial and allocated to one of three groups: WBV with flexed knees (FK), WBV with locked knees (LK), or sham WBV with flexed knees (CON). Exposure was intermittent (1 min WBV:1 min rest) for 20 min, three times per week for 13 weeks. Measurements were taken at baseline and at three months. Primary outcomes included upper and lower body muscle function (strength, power and velocity). Secondary outcomes were muscle morphology, balance, habitual and maximal gait velocity, stair climb power, and chair stand performance.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Sixteen subjects completed the study. Relative (%) upper body contraction velocity improved significantly after WBV with FK compared to LK (FK 16.0%, LK -7.6%, CON 4.7, p = 0.01). Relative upper body strength (LK 15.1%, p = 0.02; FK 12.1%, p = 0.04; CON 4.7%) increased significantly following WBV compared to control. Absolute (p = 0.05) and relative (p = 0.03) lower leg strength significantly improved with both standing postures (LK 14.4%; FK 10.7%; CON 1.3%). Only the LK group differed significantly from CON in relative leg strength gains (p = 0.02). Potentially clinically meaningful but statistically non-significant improvements in lower leg muscle cross-sectional area (LK 3.7 cm², FK 2.4 cm², CON 2.2 cm²p = 0.13) were observed after WBV with LK compared to the other groups. No significant effects of WBV on any functional performance tests were observed.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Our results suggest that WBV may improve muscle strength and contraction velocity in some muscle groups in older adults. However, hypothesised differential adaptation to standing posture (FK > LK) was observed only for upper body contraction velocity, making recommendations regarding this prescriptive element inconclusive. The efficacy, mechanism of action and long term feasibility of WBV for musculoskeletal health in older adults warrants continued investigation in robustly designed, sufficiently powered future studies.</p> <p>Trial Registration</p> <p>ACTRN12609000353291.</p

Ageing, Muscle Power and Physical Function: A Systematic Review and Implications for Pragmatic Training Interventions.

BACKGROUND: The physiological impairments most strongly associated with functional performance in older people are logically the most efficient therapeutic targets for exercise training interventions aimed at improving function and maintaining independence in later life. OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this review were to (1) systematically review the relationship between muscle power and functional performance in older people; (2) systematically review the effect of power training (PT) interventions on functional performance in older people; and (3) identify components of successful PT interventions relevant to pragmatic trials by scoping the literature. METHODS: Our approach involved three stages. First, we systematically reviewed evidence on the relationship between muscle power, muscle strength and functional performance and, second, we systematically reviewed PT intervention studies that included both muscle power and at least one index of functional performance as outcome measures. Finally, taking a strong pragmatic perspective, we conducted a scoping review of the PT evidence to identify the successful components of training interventions needed to provide a minimally effective training dose to improve physical function. RESULTS: Evidence from 44 studies revealed a positive association between muscle power and indices of physical function, and that muscle power is a marginally superior predictor of functional performance than muscle strength. Nine studies revealed maximal angular velocity of movement, an important component of muscle power, to be positively associated with functional performance and a better predictor of functional performance than muscle strength. We identified 31 PT studies, characterised by small sample sizes and incomplete reporting of interventions, resulting in less than one-in-five studies judged as having a low risk of bias. Thirteen studies compared traditional resistance training with PT, with ten studies reporting the superiority of PT for either muscle power or functional performance. Further studies demonstrated the efficacy of various methods of resistance and functional task PT on muscle power and functional performance, including low-load PT and low-volume interventions. CONCLUSIONS: Maximal intended movement velocity, low training load, simple training methods, low-volume training and low-frequency training were revealed as components offering potential for the development of a pragmatic intervention. Additionally, the research area is dominated by short-term interventions producing short-term gains with little consideration of the long-term maintenance of functional performance. We believe the area would benefit from larger and higher-quality studies and consideration of optimal long-term strategies to develop and maintain muscle power and physical function over years rather than weeks

Age and gender differences in physical capability levels from mid-life onwards: The Harmonisation and meta-analysis of data from eight UK cohort studies

Using data from eight UK cohorts participating in the Healthy Ageing across the Life Course (HALCyon) researchprogramme, with ages at physical capability assessment ranging from 50 to 90+ years, we harmonised data on objectivemeasures of physical capability (i.e. grip strength, chair rising ability, walking speed, timed get up and go, and standingbalance performance) and investigated the cross-sectional age and gender differences in these measures. Levels of physicalcapability were generally lower in study participants of older ages, and men performed better than women (for example,results from meta-analyses (N = 14,213 (5 studies)), found that men had 12.62 kg (11.34, 13.90) higher grip strength thanwomen after adjustment for age and body size), although for walking speed, this gender difference was attenuated afteradjustment for body size. There was also evidence that the gender difference in grip strength diminished with increasingage,whereas the gender difference in walking speed widened (p,0.01 for interactions between age and gender in bothcases). This study highlights not only the presence of age and gender differences in objective measures of physicalcapability but provides a demonstration that harmonisation of data from several large cohort studies is possible. Theseharmonised data are now being used within HALCyon to understand the lifetime social and biological determinants ofphysical capability and its changes with age

A re-assessment of Schistosomiasis infection in Garun-Babba, Kadawa and Kura in Kano State, Nigeria

A survey to re-assess the status of Schistosomiasis after the initial studies by Bassey (1988), was carried out in Garun-Babba, Kadawa and Kura in Kano State in 2001. The results showed that the seven hundred children, aged 5-17 years examined, three hundred and fifty two (50.3%) were infected. The figure in Kura (20.3%) far exceeded previous records while there was significant difference for that in Garun-Babba (17.1%) and Kadawa (12.9%). It revealed that transmission was actively being carried in these areas. The need to critically look into this situation with a view to a proper control programme is discussed. Nigerian Journal of Parasitology Vol. 25, 2004: 107-10

The Epidemiology of Schistosoma heamatobium infections in the 44 Local Government Areas of Kano State, Nigeria

This study was carried out between the months of July 2005 and August 2007, in all the 44 Local Government Areas of Kano State. A total of 6,600 urine samples were examined for Schistosoma heamatobium infection. Of these numbers - 2,820(42.7%) were infected. Out of the 44 Local Government Areas of Kano State, Nigeria, the highest prevalence of 64.0% was recorded in Kura Local Government Area and the least, 18.0 % was observed in Dawakin Tofa Local Government Area. A higher prevalence 48.0% was recorded in males, than in females 29.7%. Among the infected respondents, 52.7% indicated a high level of water contact activities, while 32.4% did not. Only 36.3% of the infected individuals showed high micro heamaturia value. The distribution of Schistosoma heamatobium infection by previous infection exposure of individuals examined was 36.5%. Treatment practices recorded included the use of orthodox medicine (35.1%) and traditional medicine (64.8%). Of the 6,600 respondents interviewed for their knowledge of the disease, 69.2% had knowledge of the disease while 30.7% did not. The implication of these findings, with a view to implement proper planning and control management of the disease, is discussed.Keywords: Epidemiology, Schistosoma heamatobium, infected respondents, Water contact and Micro-haematuriaNigerian Journal of Parasitology, Vol. 32 [1] March 2011, pp.19-2