Awareness and Knowledge of Ergonomics Among Medical Laboratory Scientists in Nigeria

Background: Ergonomics awareness helps in its right application and contributes significantly to general wellbeing and safety of worker at workplace. Aim: This cross‑sectional descriptive study aimed at assessing the level of awareness and knowledge of the science of ergonomics among Medical Laboratory Scientists in Benin City, Nigeria. Subjects and Methods: A total of 106 medical laboratory scientists comprising 64 and 42 in public and private laboratories, respectively, were recruited for this study using systematic random sampling technique. Data were obtained from the study participants using a questionnaire and subsequently analyzed with the statistical software INSTAT®. Results: Out of 106 study participants, 27 (25.5%) were reported to have heard of the term ergonomics. Awareness was significantly associated with gender (male vs. female: 38.5% [15/39] vs. 17.9% [12/67]; odds ratio = 2.9; 95% confidence interval = 1.2, 7.1;P = 0.02). Awareness of ergonomics was not significantly affected by affiliation (P = 0.18), area of specialization (P = 0.78), post‑qualification experience (P = 0.43), and educational qualification (P = 0.23) of the study participants. Irrespective of the affiliation of the participant, only 6 of 27 (22.2%) participants who were aware of ergonomics knew at least a benefit of right application of ergonomics in the laboratory. Knowledge of risk factors for the development of musculoskeletal disorders was reported by 8 of 27 (29.6%) persons who claimed to be aware of ergonomics. Conclusions: Awareness of ergonomics and knowledge of gains of its right application was poor among the study participants. Regular ergonomic education of medical laboratory scientists in Nigeria is advocated.Keywords: Ergonomics, Medical laboratory scientist, Musculoskeletal disorders, Nigeri

Knowledge and utilization of intermittent preventive treatment for malaria among pregnant women attending antenatal clinics in primary health care centers in rural southwest, Nigeria: a cross-sectional study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Intermittent preventive treatment for prevention of malaria in pregnancy (IPTp) is a key component of malaria control strategy in Nigeria and sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP) is the drug of choice. Despite the evidence of the effectiveness of IPTp strategy using SP in reducing the adverse effects of malaria during pregnancy the uptake and coverage in Nigeria is low. This study set out to assess the use of IPTp among pregnant women attending primary health centres in the rural area and determine factors that influence the uptake.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A cross-sectional study was carried out between July and August 2007 among 209 pregnant women selected by systematic random sampling from antenatal care attendees at primary health care in a rural Local Government Area of Ekiti State, Nigeria. Information on knowledge of IPT, delivery, adherence and acceptability was obtained using an interviewer administered questionnaire. Descriptive statistics such as means, range, proportions were used. Chi-square test was used to examine association between categorical variables. All analyses were performed at 5% level of significance.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>One hundred and nine of 209 (52.2%) respondents have heard about IPTp but only 26 (23.9%) were able to define it. Fifty seven (27.3%) reported to have received at least one dose of IPTp during the index pregnancy and all were among those who have heard of IPTp (52.3%). Twenty one of the 57 (36.8%) took the SP in the clinic. Only three of the twenty-one (14.3%) were supervised by a health worker. Twenty two of the 36 women (61.1%) who did not take their drugs in the clinic would have liked to do so if allowed to bring their own drinking cups. Almost half (43.9%) of those who had used IPTp during the index pregnancy expressed concern about possible adverse effect of SP on their pregnancies. Periodic shortages of SP in the clinics were also reported.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>In this study, IPTp use among pregnant women was very low and there was poor adherence to the Directly Observed Therapy (DOT) scheme. Concerted effort should be made to increase awareness of IPTp among the public especially women of child bearing age. Health workers should also be trained and monitored to ensure adherence.</p

Schistosoma haematobium infection and nutritional status of residents in Ezi-anam, a riverine area of Anambra state, South-Eastern Nigeria

No Abstract. The Nigerian Journal of Parasitology Vol. 23(1) 2002: 131-13

Cryptosporidium infection among young children in Onitsha Urban Area in South –Eastern Nigeria

Background: Cryptosporidum parvum is increasingly being reported as a cause of diarrhoea in different part of the world with higher incidence in young children. Objective and Design: A cross –sectional study was carried out in Onitsha, an urban area in Anambra State, Nigeria. Setting, Subject and Methods: Stool samples of 144 children under ten years old who presented in hospitals located in five different zones in the area were examined for Crytosporidum oocyts using modified Ziehl Neelsen technique and other intestinal parasites using wet preparation and formal –ether concentration techniques Results: Sixty –four (44.4%) patients were infected with one or more parasites. Cryptosporidum oocysts were detected in stool of 12 patients aged 0 -2years. Oocysts were found mainly in diarrhoeal stools giving a prevalence rate of 10.6 %( 9 patients) as against 5% (3 patients) with non- diarrhoeal stools. Cryptosporidum was the second most detectable parasitic agent after E. histolytica in diarrhoeal stools but in most of the cases it was the only detectable parasites. Conclusions: This parasitic agent therefore may be responsible for some of the patients brought to hospitals with acute diarrhoeal, in which no causative agents can be detected with available routine laboratory techniques. Awareness of the risk factors to infection is called for hence, the living conditions of the people in the area need to be improved with help of the government and co-operation of the inhabitant themselves. Key Words: Cryptosporidum parvum, diarrhoea, children, Onitsha. Tropical Journal of Medical Research Vol.8(1) 2004: 17-2

A Survey of the impact of Guinea worm eradication program in Ohaukwu L.G.A. Ebonyi State, Nigeria

Campaign for the eradication of dracunculiasis (Guinea worm disease) began in Ebonyi State in the 1980s. A combination of interventions consisting of construction of bore holes,chemical treatment of unsafe water sources with temephos, distribution of filters, health education, social mobilization and active surveillance were applied in Ohaukwu L.G.A. from the early 1990s. Records from health workers in the area showed an infection rate of 4.7%(287/6050) in eight villages from 2001 to 2002. We conducted a survey of the impact of the eradication program in the same area from October 2002 to May 2003. The results showed a decrease in the infection rate with 57 cases in the eight villages. Thirty-five of these cases were recurrent while twenty-two had the infection for the first time. About 63.2% of the infected persons did not use the boreholes for various reasons especially due to its salty taste. Most of the people did not filter or boil their drinking water and their reasons include time factor and the exercise being boring. More than half of those infected indicated that they visited the ponds while the worms were emerging from their bodies. Our study also showed that the intensity of health education had declined and the boreholes were not regularly maintained. Renewed awareness and greater participation of the communities and the local government will help free the area from the disease. KEY WORDS: Guinea worm, Eradication, Impact Journal of Biomedical Investigation 2004;2(1): 31-3

Prevalence of trichomonas vigainalis among pregnant and non pregnant women in Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital Nnewi, Anambra state, Nigeria

No Abstract

Urinary schistosomiasis among primary schoolchildren in local government area, Anambra state, Nigeria

No Abstract

Congenitally acquired malaria in a hyperendemic area: A cohort study.

Objective: To determine the prevalence of congenitally acquired malaria in Nnewi South eastern Nigeria Setting: Hospital based. Tertiary care centre in a tropical rain forest hyperendemic malaria zone. Materials/Subjects: Cross-sectional prospective study. Blood samples of 94 mother-baby pairs were examined for malaria parasitaemia Results: Out of the 94 mothers, 83 or 87.8% had received pyrimethamine prophylaxis throughout pregnancy. Despite this 50.0% were parasitized. 24.6% of neonates had malaria parasites. The birth weights of the infected neonates were not affected. Maternal parasite densities correlated with those of the babies. Conclusions: More effective antenatal antimalarial prophylaxis is needed to reduce the prevalence of congenitally acquired malaria. Tropical Journal of Medical Research 2004;8(2): 44-4

Maternal malaria, birth size and blood pressure in Nigerian newborns:insights into the developmental origins of hypertension from the Ibadan growth cohort

Hypertension is an increasing health issue in sub-Saharan Africa where malaria remains common in pregnancy. We established a birth cohort in Nigeria to evaluate the early impact of maternal malaria on newborn blood pressure (BP).Anthropometric measurements, BP, blood films for malaria parasites and haematocrit were obtained in 436 mother-baby pairs. Women were grouped to distinguish between the timing of malaria parasitaemia as 'No Malaria', 'Malaria during pregnancy only' or 'Malaria at delivery', and parasite density as low (<1000 parasites/µl of blood) and high (≥ 1000/µl).Prevalence of maternal malaria parasitaemia was 48%, associated with younger maternal age (p<0.001), being primigravid (p = 0.022), lower haematocrit (p = 0.028). High parasite density through pregnancy had the largest effect on mean birth indices so that weight, length, head and mid-upper arm circumferences were smaller by 300 g, 1.1 cm, 0.7 cm and 0.4 cm respectively compared with 'No malaria' (all p ≤ 0.005). In babies of mothers who had 'malaria at delivery', their SBPs adjusted for other confounders were lower respectively by 4.3 and 5.7 mmHg/kg compared with 'malaria during pregnancy only' or 'none'. In contrast the mean newborn systolic (SBP) and diastolic BPs (DBP) adjusted for birth weight were higher by 1.7 and 1.4 mmHg/kg respectively in babies whose mothers had high compared with low parasitaemia.As expected, prenatal malarial exposure had a significant impact on fetal growth rates. Malaria at delivery was associated with the lowest newborn BPs while malaria through pregnancy, which may attenuate growth of the vascular network, generated higher newborn BPs adjusted for size. These neonatal findings have potential implications for cardiovascular health in sub-Saharan Africa