Seroepidemiology of Helicobacter pylori infection among children seen in a tertiary hospital in Uyo, southern Nigeria

Background: Helicobacter pylori infection occurs worldwide with higher seroprevalence rates in the childhood populations of developing countries. In Nigeria, there is a dearth of information concerning its occurrence in children and infection enhancing factors. A prospective seroepidemiologic survey to determine the prevalence rate and possible associations of environmental and socio-demographic factors with its seropositivity was therefore conducted. Methods: The subjects were children seen at the Children’s Emergency Unit of University of Uyo Teaching Hospital in southern Nigeria. Two hundred and thirty subjects, comprising 132(57.4%) males and 98(42.6%) females (male: female ratio= 1.3:1.0) with an age range of 0.5-15 years and a mean age of 5.0 (SD±4.0) years were recruited. The median age was 4.0 years. H. pylori immunoglobulin G (1gG) antibody was determined from serum samples stored at -200C using a commercial Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) kit, VicTorch. Results: The overall seroprevalence rate was 30.9% with a peak prevalence of 40.7% for the 6.0 to 10.0 years age group. H. pylori seroprevalence in our children is associated with low social class (p=0.038), increased household population (p=0.009), source of drinking water (p=0.014), type of convenience used (p=0.019) and the method of disposal of household waste (p=0.043). Conclusion: The seroprevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection in Nigerian children is high and is associated with low social class, poor domestic water and poor sanitation. Improvement of water supply, human and domestic waste disposal systems and ultimately poverty alleviation would control this bacterial infection that has severe long term consequences.Pan African Medical Journal 2012; 12:3

Assessing the effects of entrepreneurship on Nigeria's economic growth

Thesis(Master) --KDI School:Master of Development Policy,2016The aim of this study was to critically assess the effects of entrepreneurship on the economic growth of Nigeria, and how she usurped South Africa to become the largest economy in Africa and the sixth fastest growing economy in the world after Indonesia (Bloomberg 2015). From a theoretical perspective, this study bridges the gap of knowledge on the impact of entrepreneurship on economic growth for Nigeria, contributing to the universal body of knowledge on this subject matter, thereby supporting the nexus between economic growth and entrepreneurship. From a pragmatic stand point, this study illustrates the effects of entrepreneurship on Nigeria’s economic growth, obstacles to entrepreneurship in Nigeria, and how to create an enabling environment, in which inspirations are triggered and for entrepreneurship to thrive in Nigeria. Nigeria is a sovereign state with numerous human and natural resources bequeathed on her by God, but has the promotion and rise of entrepreneurship really helped Nigeria or has it made things worse off for her? This study focused on some of the possible effects of entrepreneurship in Nigeria and obstacles to entrepreneurship in Nigeria. For analysis purposes, this study utilized empirical methods like; multiple regression, chi-square, independent samples test (t-test), ANOVA. The analysis also employed frequency distribution tables, bar charts and pie charts. The findings showed that though Nigerians are predisposed to entrepreneurship regardless of their ethnicity, female entrepreneurs face more obstacles than male entrepreneurs in Nigeria. The study also revealed that though government’s entrepreneurship programs can stimulate economic growth, it cannot fully address the problem of unemployment in Nigeria.1. Introduction 2. Literature Review 3. Hypotheses Development 4. Methodology and Results 5. ConclusionmasterpublishedEmmanuel Uduak EKANEM

Pregnancy in a didelphic uterus: a case report of an unusual phenomenon and review of literature

Mullerian anomalies are defects in the embryological development of the urogenital systems as these organs begin to form at about the 5 and 6th week of intrauterine life. Uterine didelphys is one of the Mullerian or paramesonephric duct anomalies occurring as a result of duplication of the uterine canal with two cervical canals and a single vagina. The incidence uterine didelphys has been quoted as 1 in 2000 women. This case report elucidates the presentation of a multiparous lady with uterine didelphys who had a previous successful pregnancy in of the uterine canals but presented in the second pregnancy with a missed miscarriage at 12 weeks gestational age. She also had a single right kidney. These were all diagnosed on ultrasound scan. She had an initial unsuccessful surgical management of miscarriage with uterine perforation of one of the uterine cavities diagnosed on hysteroscopy and diagnostic laparoscopy. She subsequently had examination under anaesthesia and an attempt at evacuation of retained products and a second look laparoscopy. This was particularly challenging as the cervix was flushed with the vaginal vault making delineation and dilatation of the cervical OS difficult hence sustaining a perforation at the left uterine cavity. The second attempt of surgical management was successful, and she was subsequently discharged. This is one of the few case reports in literature and will further add credence to the body of knowledge of a different aspect to the presentation and management of cases of Mullerian anomalies

Attainment of menstrual hygiene by girls in boarding secondary schools in a state in Sub-Saharan Africa

Background: Menarche is the most dramatic manifestation of puberty in girls; unlike the biometric developmental changes that occur at puberty, menarche requires the personal adjustment and response of an affected girl in order to attain good menstrual hygiene. This study was designed to evaluate how boarding secondary school girls manage their menstruation in school, away from the guidance of their parents.Methods: A cross sectional survey was performed in four public boarding secondary schools in the study area with the aid of structured questionnaires to evaluate how such girls manage their menstruation while in school.Results: The study population was 975 girls whose survey revealed the mean age at menarche of 12.5±1.4 years.  Seven hundred and two (72.0%) respondents had received sexuality education before onset of menarche. Respondents who attained good menstrual hygiene were 775(79.5%). Such respondents were those who had received sexuality education (p<0.001) and those who had access to synthetic sanitary pad (p=0.005). Duration of the menstrual period and the volume of menstrual blood loss did not affect (p=0.219) the ability of respondents to attain good menstrual hygiene. Respondents who received sexuality education had about 605 chances of attaining good menstrual hygiene than those who did not receive such education.Conclusions: A vast majority of the respondents had received sexuality education before onset of menarche and a larger proportion attained good menstrual hygiene. Major factors that positively influenced the girls’ capacity to attained good menstrual hygiene were prior sexuality education and access to synthetic sanitary pad

Sonographic Diagnosis and Clinical Correlates of Gallbladder Stones in Patients with Sickle Cell Disease in Calabar, Nigeria

BACKGROUND: Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) causes chronic haemolysis which is a risk factor for cholelithiasis. AIM: To determine the prevalence and clinical correlates of cholelithiasis in SCD patients in steady state treated at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital. METHODS: This was a prospective study that took place at the Haematology and sickle cell disease clinics, University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Calabar, Nigeria between January and June 2018. The study population were aged between 1.5-5.5 years and confirmed to have SCD through haemoglobin electrophoresis. A brief history was obtained, and all the patients had a physical examination. Ultrasound examination was performed using a B-mode mind-ray ultrasound machine using a 3.5-5.0 MHz probe after an overnight fast. A Calculus is diagnosed when a highly echogenic structure casting a concrete shadow is detected in the lumen of the gallbladder. RESULTS: One hundred and twenty confirmed SCD patients aged between 1.5-55 years were recruited in the study, 69 (57.5%) were males, while 51 (42.5%) were females. The overall prevalence of cholelithiasis was 10%, and it increased with age. The youngest patient with cholelithiasis was 13 years old. All the patients were asymptomatic at the time of examination. At the multivariate level, age, gender, weight and gallbladder volume were associated with gallbladder stones. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of cholelithiasis in patients treated at the Sickle Cell Clinic at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Calabar is fairly high. The patients were largely asymptomatic, and cholelithiasis is more common in females than males. This study showed a weak association between blood transfusion and gallbladder stone. It is recommended that routine abdominal ultrasound scan for gallbladder be done for SCD patients from the second decade of life in our environment

Elemental Composition Study of leachate in some dumpsites in Bauchi Metropolis

Elemental composition study of leachates at four different dumpsites were conducted by analyzing samples of leachates for some heavy metal (cr, cd, pb, and cu ) using complexometric method. The results of analyses showed that the leachate from the four dumpsites have the following ranges of mean concentrations 0.08 – 0.22 mg/dm3 Cd; 0.01 – 0.10 mg/dm3 Cr; 1.81 mg/dm3 Pb; and 1.11 – 1.99 mg/dm3 Cu. These heavy metals are present in the leachates in low amount.   Their presence however suggested that solid waste dumpsite contributes to heavy metals contamination of the environment. Keywords: Heavy metals, complexometric method, dumpsites, Contamination, leachate

The prevalence of hepatitis B virus infection in Nigerian children prior to vaccine introduction into the National Programme on Immunization schedule

Introduction: Hepatitis B virus infection is a major global health problem of public health importance. In a bid to control the infection, the Nigerian government in 2004 introduced hepatitis B vaccine into the National Program on Immunization. There are no studies on the prevalence of hepatitis B in adolescent prior to 2004.The study was aimed at determining the seroprevalence and predictors of viral Hepatitis B in Nigerian children aged 11-19 years. Methods: A cross sectional analytical study was conducted in July 2014.Multi-staged sampling technique was used to select 749 children from six secondary schools in Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria. Ethical clearance was obtained from the Cross River State Medical Ethical Committee. A validated structured interviewer administered questionnaire was used to obtain information from participants following parental consent. Blood samples were obtained for qualitative detection of HBsAg using rapid chromatographic immunoassays with test kits from ABON (China) having sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of &gt;99%, 97% and 98.5% respectively. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 20.2. Results: Nine of the749 students screened were positive for HBsAg giving an overall prevalence of 1.2%. The sex specific prevalence was 0.8% for males and 1.8% for females. After multivariate analysis, age was the predictor of hepatitis B infection (OR 3.92; 95% CI 1.22-12.63; pvalue 0.02). Conclusion: The prevalence of HBV infection was low. Despite the low prevalence, the introduction of the vaccine is justifiable in view of the public health importance of the infection.Pan African Medical Journal 2016; 2

Assessment of Water Quality from Bore Holes in Ikot Akpaden and Some Surrounding Villages of Mkpat Enin Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

The physico-chemical  and bacteriological analysis of borehole water in Ikot Akpaden and the surrounding villages in Mkpat Enin  Local Government  area of Nigeria designated as S1,S2,S3,S4,S5 and S6 have been carried out using  standard analytical techniques. The physico-chemical results show that the  secondary water quality parameters such as pH, EC, TDS, Turb., Alka., CaH., MgH., TH., DO., Cl-., NO3-, NO2-, SO42-, F-,  Fe were either within or below the permissible range  recommended by  NSDWQ, USPH and WHO.The   Statiscal analysis shows a  high positive correlation  between EC and TDS ; TH and MgH;  SO42- and CaH ; evidently, their distribution were significantly correlated, r &gt;0.5. High negative correlation coefficient were seen between F- and Alka; NO2- and pH . Coefficient of Variation has also been calculated for the various parameters. However, the results of bacteriological analysis indicated that the water samples were E.coli contaminated in sites S4 and S5, while all the samples were T.c contaminated. Keywords: Borehole water; Physico-Chemical, Bacteriological , Analysis , Statistical

Helminthic Infestation in Children Aged 6 to 59 Months with Diarrhea in Calabar

Background: Helminthic infections and diarrheal diseases have remained public health problem worldwide, especially in developing countries. Children below five years of age are at a higher risk. This study therefore aims to determine the prevalence, and intensity of intestinal helminths in children with and without the diarrheal disease. Materials and Methods: This was a cross‑sectional analytical study of 130 children aged 6 to 59 months, carried out in the Children Emergency Room and the Diarrhea Treatment and Training Unit of the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital (U. C. T. H), Calabar, Nigeria. Those admitted with and without diarrhoea were consecutively recruited. Data were obtained by administration of questionnaires to parents/caregivers whose children met the inclusion criteria. Clinical examinations including anthropometric parameters (weight and length/height) were carried out on all the children recruited for the study while mid‑upper arm circumference was done for children aged 12–59 months. Stool samples were collected from each child into a wide mouth universal, clean, dry, leak‑proof, container, with the help of their parents/guardians. Microscopy was carried out on the stool&nbsp; samples collected within 1 h in the microbiology laboratory for the presence of ova, larva, or worm segment using direct microscopy with saline and iodine wet preparation and formol ether concentration. Ova were identified and quantified. The type of worm and intensity were recorded. Results: Out of the 130 children, 65 (50%) had diarrhea while the other 65 (50%) were without diarrhoea. The mean age of subjects with diarrhea was 16.86 ± 11.7 months and 17.60 ± 9.9 months for those without diarrhoea. There was no significant difference in sex distribution between the age groups (P = 0.86). The overall prevalence of intestinal helminthic infection in the study population was 1.5%. The prevalence of intestinal helminths in those with diarrhea and those without diarrhea was 3.1% and 0.0%, respectively, (P = 0.496). Only Ancylostoma duodenale (hookworm) was isolated in those with diarrhea and it was of light intensity. There was no significant&nbsp; difference in the method of disposal and source of water, comparing subjects having diarrhea and those not having diarrhea (P &gt; 0.05). The proportions of subjects that usually played in the sand, go on footwear outside home, and go on footwear at home, were not&nbsp; significantly different comparing those having diarrhea and those not having diarrhea (P &gt; 0.05). Conclusions: The prevalence rate of intestinal helminths in children with and without diarrhoea was low. There was general&nbsp; environmental cleanliness and personal hygiene in the study population which were likely responsible for the low helminthic infection thus emphasizing the need for maintenance of good hygiene, access to good water supply and periodic intake of anti-helminthic drugs in view of the public health importance of helminthic infection and diarrhoea