Evaluation of utilization of insecticide treated nets among pregnant women in Bayelsa State of Nigeria: a case study of Sagbama community

Background: There has been a roll back mosquito (RBM) program in Nigeria. This study was carried out to determine the effectiveness and utilization of insecticide treated nets (ITNs) among pregnant women in Bayelsa State, Nigeria.Methods: A descriptive survey design was used to assess usage and patient experience. A total of 250 completed survey were returned out of 260 questionnaires distributed. Statistical analysis was in frequency counts and percentages.Results: Over 55% of respondents are aware that the best way to prevent malaria in pregnancy is to always sleep in ITNs. 20% of the respondents lack ITNs due to non-availability in the clinic or unaffordability in the market. Among those that own ITNs, only 31% utilize it every day. Suffocation and skin irritation were reasons for non-utilization. On effectiveness, among those who use their ITNs, 24.3% never suffered malaria or mosquito bite.Conclusions: ITNs utilization seems to have reached the RBM target. However, the study shows patient experience that use of ITNs seems to have limited effectiveness in prevention of malaria during pregnancy, while affordances and quality are barriers to utility. Ministry of Health and especially antenatal and community healthcare workers need to intensify health education campaign to improve attitude and practice of ITNs utility among pregnant mothers. Manufacturers of ITNs also need to improve on the quality of ITNs to reduce skin irritation or suffocation in order to encourage usage among pregnant mothers

Implication of oestrogen in the development of breast cancer: a brief narrative review

The presence of hormones in milk and dairy foods was discussed decades ago but more concerns were with respect to finding hormones as biomarkers in milk for diseases and pregnancy diagnosis. Considerable amount of studies demonstrated that milk is essential for infants growing and immunity, while increasing body of evidence are indicating possible negative impact on human health including the role of some estrogens in the initiation and provoking of breast cancer. In this brief narrative, we reviewed recent data on oestrogens and breast cancer risk including comparative levels of hormones in cow milk, risk of breast cancer attributable to intake of different foods and lifestyle factors. Empirical findings indicate that consumption of cow milk is probably being over-emphasized as source of exogenous oestrogen, whereas control of alcohol as well as obesity and physical activity are under-emphasized in discourses on preventive protocols.