Eye health myths, misconceptions and facts: results of a cross-sectional survey among Nigerian school children

Background. Vision is critical in the development and performance of children. Factual knowledge of eye health is important for preventive and promotive eye health. Objectives. To identify eye health myths and misconceptions that are considered true in a population of Nigerian school children, with the aim of prioritizing eye health messages. Material and methods. In a cross-sectional survey, self-administered questionnaires were used to obtain pupils’ views, which were elicited using statements presented as 22 ocular health myths/misconceptions and three facts in two selected secondary schools in Enugu state, Nigeria in October 2014. Frequency counts and percentages were generated using SPSS v18. A p-value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results. The sample comprised 404 males (48.5%) and 429 females (51.5%), age range 10–17 years, median 13–14 years; IQR –6). More pupils in the senior classes had previously listened to eye health talks. The most common beliefs concerned the statements “staying close to the television set will damage vision” 782 (93.9%), and “reading in dim light will damage vision” 758 (90.8%). The least commonly-held misconception was “children do not need regular eye checks” 119 (14.3%). The greatest amount of uncertainty concerned the statements “short-sightedness is worse than long-sightedness” 421 (51%), and “crossed-eye disorders cannot be corrected in children” 383 (46%). Conclusions. The majority of the children do not have information on eye health. Despite the persistence of these myths and misconceptions, this study has demonstrated that the children had a reasonable level of knowledge in terms of safe eye care practices. However, appropriate eye health messages still need to be provided

Incidence of rotavirus infection in children with gastroenteritis attending Jos university teaching hospital, Nigeria

This study was conducted to determine the incidence of rotavirus infection in children with gastroenteritis attending Jos university teaching hospital, Plateau State. A total of 160 children with acute diarrhea were selected by random sampling. Stool samples were obtained and assayed for rotavirus antigens by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay technique using standard diagnostic BIOLINE Rotavirus kit. Demographic data of parents were also recorded. Rotavirus were detected in faeces of 22(13.8%) children with acute diarrhea, 90.9% of positive cases of rotavirus gastroenteritis were under 2 years of age with highest prevalence in children 7-12 months of age. Males excreted rotavirus at a significant higher rate than females (P < 0.05). Rotavirus excretion was highest when all three symptoms (diarrhea, fever and vomiting) occurred in the same child (7.5%) and lower when 2 symptoms occurred together (diarrhea and vomiting) with 3.8%, diarrhea and fever with 1.3% and lowest when diarrhea occurred alone with 1.3%. Playing with toys, attending day care, distance of source of water from toilet, eating of food not requiring cooking and playing with other children may serve as predisposing factors of rotavirus disease in these children

Computed Tomography Evaluation of Orbital Wall Fractures among Head Injury Patients Following Vehicular Accidents in Anambra State, Nigeria: A Retrospective Review

Background: Orbital trauma is a common cause of monocular blindness and impairment of vision, usually resulting from significant blunt force to the bony eye socket as may occur during vehicular accidents. Computed tomography is the ideal imaging modality for the assessment of traumatic head injury including orbital fractures. Objective: To document the prevalence and pattern of orbital wall fractures as seen on CT among adult victims of passenger vehicular accidents at two health institutions in Anambra State, with documentation of possible co-existing craniofacial fractures and intracranial haemorrhage and establish associations if any. Methodology: Cranial CT images for Sixty-three adult patients diagnosed with orbital fractures following vehicular accidents at two hospitals in Anambra State (Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi and Iyienu Mission Hospital, Ogidi) between 1st January, 2014 and 31st December, 2015 were reviewed.Results: Study population comprised 36.4% of all cases of craniofacial fractures imaged during study period. 52 males (82.5%) and 11 females (17.5%) were affected, with mean age of 33.4years. Orbital wall fractures were lateral (60.3%), medial (49.2%), orbital roof (36.5%) and orbital floor (3.2%). Lateral orbital wall fractures show statistically significant association with ipsilateral zygomatic fractures (p-value = 0.00). Also, orbital roof and lateral orbital wall fractures show an association with acute subdural (p-value = 0.02) and epidural bleeds respectively (p-value = 0.04). Conclusion: Orbital fractures constitute a fairly high proportion of craniofacial fractures following vehicular accidents in Anambra State affecting mainly the productive age group. Also, a large proportion of patients with orbital fractures have co-existing intracranial complications with likely worsened morbidity.Keywords: Imaging in head injury, Orbital injuries, Cranial CT, Monocular blindness, Vehicular Accidents

A baseline assessment of the knowledge, attitude, and practices of exclusive breastfeeding among women enrolled in a cluster randomized trial in Anambra State Nigeria

Background: Exclusive breastfeeding has great benefits for both the mother and the child. Few studies have been carried out on interventions to improve Exclusive Breastfeeding (EBF) practice by childbearing mothers. No study has formulated and/or implemented a hospital-based maternal counseling guide intervention to improve EBF practice. This baseline study assessed the knowledge, attitude, and practice of EBF on mothers who were enrolled in antenatal clinics for a cluster randomized trial and the disparity in the knowledge of EBF based on lactation, age, sex, and source of income.Methods: We formulated a hospital-based counseling guide on exclusive breastfeeding, which is under implementation by prenatal and nursing mothers, to promote EBF practice in the study area. A cross-sectional study was conducted in two hospitals randomly selected from twelve hospitals in Anambra State. The study was among pregnant women who were in their second trimester. The data collection took place from March to April 2022. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Chi-Square. The test of significance was set at p &lt; 0.05.Results: The control and the intervention arms had an equal number of enrolees (144) each and more than half of the participants were between the ages of 23 &ndash; 32 years. The majority of the participants showed adequate knowledge of exclusive breastfeeding as over 90% knew that EBF is important and capable of improving their baby's immunity. The participants demonstrated a positive attitude to exclusive breastfeeding and they had a significantly high level of practice of daily consumption of galactagogues. The study suggested that the majority did not practice breast milk extraction mainly because the process of extraction is painful and some do not know how to carry out the extraction.Conclusion: The mothers have the requisite knowledge of the benefits of exclusive breastfeeding to their infants and themselves. However, they do not practice EBF. Interventions to improve EBF practice should focus on educating mothers on proper breast milk extraction and storage techniques