A retrospective view of Lassa fever outbreak in Nigeria (2012- 2017)

Objective: High mortality is attributed to Lassa fever in Nigeria, making it a disease of great public health importance. In the last 3 years (2015- 2018), the disease has continued to be on the increase. This study examined the retrospective view of Lassa fever outbreak in the last six years (2012-2017) in order to ascertain the spread of the disease. Methodology: Data on Lassa fever from 2012 – 2017 was used for this study. The data was collected, collated and SPSS was used to analyze the data in line with the set objectives.Results: The findings confirmed increase in the spread of Lassa fever in many states of Nigeria. Young people are more affected by the disease and more males than females are also more affected in the ratio of 3:2. The disease is spread throughout the year; and the attack rate and case fatality rate remain high especially in Edo, Ondo and Ebonyi states. Timeliness and completeness report data were barely 80% indicating poor data reporting system as all cases ought to be completely and timely reported in order to detect early and follow up on an unusual trend of disease occurrence. Conclusion: From the findings in this study, Lassa fever is still on the increase in Nigeria. Continuous surveillance and vibrant case management should be employed by all tiers of health care. The government should ask for assistance from other countries to fight Lassa fever to a halt

Knowledge of cholera and its prevention amongst urban residents of a district in Abuja: The pivotal role of health education

Objectives: Cholera is endemic in many Africa countries including Nigeria, where it is still endemic despite all the control measures put in place. It is still a disease of public health importance. The northern parts of Nigeria been implicated in the recent spike in cholera cases in Nigeria. Durumi, one of the communities in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has been observed to have cases of cholera in recent times but with paucity of data on the occurrence of the disease in Durumi. This study examined the knowledge of cholera and its prevention amongst the residents of Durumi to get baseline information and ascertain the role of health education in curtailing cholera in the community.Methods: A Descriptive (cross-sectional) survey design. Multistage sampling was used to select 360 participants (171 females and 159 males) and a self-developed validated questionnaire was used to collect data. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics of frequency counts and percentages and inferential statistics of Chi-square to test the hypotheses at 0.05 significant levels.Results: Knowledge of cholera significant (p-value .000<0.05); age group below 50 years contributed higher percentage scores than those above 50 years old. Awareness of preventive measures to cholera also significant (p-value .000<0.05); the age group below 50 years contributed higher scores than those above 50 years old. Findings suggest insufficient knowledge and awareness of preventive measures of cholera for age > 50 years.Conclusion: Durumi residents appear to have adequate knowledge and awareness of cholera preventive measures. Targeted health education may be employed to prevent cholera in Durumi. Keywords: Cholera, knowledge, prevention, Abuja, health educatio

The effect of demographic variables on the prevention of HIV/AIDS infection among public secondary school students in Abuja

Objectives: HIV/AIDS remains a growing public health concern worldwide. Nigeria has been rated second largest HIV epidemic country in the world, of which 60% is among young people. Adolescents' risky behavior increases their vulnerability to HIV and AIDS and they cannot appreciate the adverse consequences of their actions. They have inherent characteristics among which are demographic variables that affect their ability to prevent HIV/AIDS infection. Thus, the study examined the effect of their demographic variables on preventing HIV/AIDS infection so as to adequately report them and proffer solutions targeted at reducing the disease spread.Methods: A descriptive survey was used for the study. Multistage sampling technique used to select 602 secondary school students that participated in the study. Self-developed validated questionnaire used to collect data. Data analyzed using SPSS 20; descriptive statistics of frequency counts, means, and percentages were used; Inferential statistics of ANOVA, t-test and regression used to test hypotheses set at 0.05 significant level.Results: Students above 18 years markedly displayed awareness of preventive measures of HIV/AIDS (p < 0.05); religion and the class of the students had significant effect on their preventive measures of HIV/AIDS; gender significantly affected peer pressure and the students' risky behaviour. (P < 0.05); females are more at risk.Conclusion: Demographic variables (age, religion, class and gender) still affect students' ability to prevent HIV/AIDS infection. Efforts must be made by stakeholders preventing HIV/AIDs to put them under check through proactive counseling and sexuality education.Keywords: Preventive measures, HIV/AIDS infection, Secondary schools, demographic variables, Abuj

Chemical carcinogenesis and chemoprevention: Scientific priority area in rapidly industrializing developing countries

Occupational cancers are now a serious concern in industrializing developing countries where exposure levels to hazardous chemicals considerably exceed regulatory limits established in industrialized countries. The association between increasing use of chemicals and associated disorders and chemoprevention or anticarcinogenesis is insufficiently recognized in these countries. The eradication of chemicals would assist in cancer prevention. This is however, not pragmatic, thus the need to seek alternative means of cancer prevention. Cancer chemoprevention or anticarcinogenesis is the process of exposure of an animal including humans to a substance that will reduce the incidence of cancer that would otherwise develop. Lack of knowledge of the multiple pathways by which chemically induced cancer may arise has led to the erroneous view for a long time that the study of chemoprevention was academic. While this field is gaining an increasing and sustained attention in the developed countries it has received little attention in the industrializing developing countries where the incidence of cancers appears to parallel the pace of industrialization. Sub-optimal intake of specific micronutrients so common in developing countries may contribute to greater susceptibility to cancer. Micronutrient deficiency disorders (MDDs) is considered orders of magnitude more important than radiation because of constancy of exposure to a milieu promoting DNA damage. Zinc (Zn) for instance is an antioxidant, a component of p53 and a critical factor in gene expression. Poor Zn nutrition may be an important risk factor in oxidant release and development of DNA damage and cancer. A deficiency of Zn ranks among the top ten leading causes of death in developing countries. As chemo preventive agents are present in natural human foods abundant in developing countries, this should be one of the highest research priorities of the rapidly industrializing developing countries.Key words: Chemical carcinogenesis, chemoprevention, DNA damage, oxidative stress, Industrialization, p53protein, mutation

High cadmium / zinc ratio in cigarette smokers: potential implications as a biomarker of risk of prostate cancer.

Tobacco smoke may be one of the most common sources of cadmium (Cd) in the general population, particularly in the rising population of smokers in developing countries. Although a relationship between bothcigarette smoking and environmental Cd contamination with prostate cancer exist, the mechanisms are unclear. Most prospective cohort studies found a positive association between current smoking and a fatal cancer of the prostate. We investigated the interaction between zinc and cadmium and the potential risk of prostate cancer insmokers. Serum cadmium level was significantly (

Evaluation of Demographic Variables on the Knowledge and Prevention of Cholera: A Case Study of Durumi, Abuja, Nigeria

Cholera remains a disease of public health importance globally and particularly in the developing countries including Nigeria. This study evaluated demographic characteristics (age, gender, educational level, religion) in Durumi community in relation to the knowledge and prevention of cholera so as to adequately report them and proffer solutions to reduce the disease occurrence by selecting 360 participants. Data obtained were analyzed using descriptive statistics of percentages (%), frequency counts and mean. Inferential statistics of T-test, ANOVA and regression used to analyze the variables at 0.05 significant levels. Age had significant influence on knowledge (p = v 0.02) and prevention (p < 0.021) of cholera. The younger people appeared to have more knowledge and prevention of cholera than the older people. Gender was significant to knowledge (p = 0.020) and prevention (p = 0.044) of cholera. The educational level was also significant to knowledge (p = 0.000) and prevention (p = 0.000). Religion was significant to knowledge (p = 0.03 and prevention (p =0.004) of cholera. Demographic variables have significant effect on knowledge and preventive measures of cholera P value < 0.05 in all variables tested. However, younger age group (< 50 years), females contributed higher mean score, people with formal education, Christian and Muslims all appeared more knowledgeable and more in tuned with preventive measures of cholera. Therefore,  there is the need to use targeted health education for advocacy for people with no formal education, above 50 years, and others on cholera knowledge and prevention. Keywords: Demographic variables, cholera, Abuja, Health education

Evaluation of heavy metal levels in serum of Wistar rats exposed to engine oil

Purpose: Data are available that indicate there is an elaborate elemental constitution of petroleum products, with identified elements contained in the many products being additive (e.g. Ca, Zn and P) as well as wear metals (e.g. Ag, Al, Ba, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mg, Mo, Na, Ni, Pb and Sn). In addition, incessant deliberate exposure of engine oil to both human beings and farm animals for therapeutic reason has been reported. Therefore the objective of this study is to evaluate the levels of heavy metals in serum of engine oil-exposed rats. Materials & Methods: Thirty adult female rats were divided equally into 5 groups. The first and second groups were treated with engine oil by oral route (as contaminant of feed) at dosage levels of 0.5 and 1.0 mL/kg body weight respectively. The third and forth groups received the test agent through the dermal route at dosage levels of 0.5 and 1.0 mL/kg body weight while the fifth group served as the control. The duration of the study was 30 days, after which blood was obtained from each rat, centrifuged and the resultant serum used for the analysis of heavy metals by employing Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (AAS). Data were analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA), p≤0.05 was considered significant. Results: Data obtained showed that there were significant differences in the levels of aluminium, silicon, cadmium, lead, arsenic, vanadium, and nickel. Conclusions: These increases suggest that incessant exposure to engine oil may be dangerous and therefore constitute health hazard

Antioxidant Micronutrients as Intersectoral Link between Health and Agriculture

Environmental and ecological disorders and the attendant health problems especially cancer and heart diseases are a major concern currently. Although cancer is perhaps the most feared and best known of the chronic pathologic effects of environmental pollution, it should be recognized that environmental agents especially heavy metals, such as lead and cadmium, may also cause behavioural abnormality which can lead to increase in crime rate. Antioxidant micronutrients are protective against these dreaded disorders. Environmental problems extend beyond the boundaries of the traditional confines of the health sector. It also affects the agricultural sector and this sector may also have an ameliorative influence on the degree of environmental and ecological disorders. This report emphases the need for the two major sectors, health and agriculture to evolve ways of checking the deleterious effects. Increase consumption of antioxidant micronutrients available in fruit and vegetables namely vitamins A, B, C, and E, β-carotene and selenium should be consistently recommended by the health sector to reduce the toxic effects of environmental pollutants. This report draws attention to environmental and ecological disorders and emphasizes the needs not to treat them in isolation but that they are inseparable. These disorders will be examined in conceptual and programmatic terms. Intersectoral collaboration between the agricultural and health sectors appears desirable by helping to prevent disease, promoting health and improving the quality of life by means of antioxidant micronutrients. The role of the agricultural sector in this regard should be to increase the production of these crops to make them readily available at low cost in Nigeria. This intersectoral collaboration is required for sustainable development of which health should be a goal

Influence of knowledge, attitude, and demographic variables of healthcare workers in the prevention of HIV/AIDS: Case study in Abuja Nigeria

HIV/AIDS is still ravaging the world and it is a disease of public health importance. Therefore, it is still worthwhile to focus on its preventive measures. Considering the central role of healthcare workers (HCWs) in the care of HIV/AIDS clients, it is imperative for them to have good knowledge, positive attitude and able to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS.  Studies reported that healthcare workers stigmatize people with HIV/AIDs, thus, making the patients default from receiving care and increasing the spread of the disease. It is perceived that the knowledge, attitude, and the demographic variables of healthcare workers may be contributory to their stigmatization towards HIV/AIDs patients. There is a dearth of data in Abuja concerning the examination of these variables about HCWs and HIV/AIDS prevention. This study examined these variables and their influence on the preventive role of HCWs toward HIV/AIDs patients in Abuja in order to provide basis for further studies. Descriptive survey design was used for the study, census sampling was used to select all 210 HCWs that directly care for HIV/AIDS patients in the two area councils where HIV/AIDs patients receive care in Abuja. The HCWs returned 196 analyzable The need to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS questionnaires. Self-developed structured questionnaire was the instrument for data collection.  Data was analyzed using percentages, regression, and T- test at 0.05 significant level. Results revealed that HCWs had good knowledge about HIV/AIDs and control of the spread of HIV/AIDS (p <0.05); gender did not contribute significant difference to knowledge (p> 0.05); relatively good attitude to prevention and control of HIV/AIDs (p < 0.05), females displayed better attitude than males; other demographic variables tested had significant effect on the HCWs' prevention of HIV/AIDS. Healthcare workers in the country should be studied for comparison with the findings in this study

Environmental chemicals and human neurotoxicity: magnitude, prognosis and markers

The neurotoxic effects of exposure to chemicals in the environment, though insufficiently recognized, remains a topic of substantial current concern and interest. Neurotoxicities may be protean; expressed as neuropathologic or as altered neurocthemical, electrophysiological or behavioural functions. The adverse effects of neurotoxicity are among the most feared ill health in humans because they adversely affect the quality of life, and have broad health, social and economic implications. Though the magnitude of neurotoxicity is not exactly known, in some advanced countries over 30 million individuals suffer from neurobehavioural illness with only 20% seeking medical attention. In the United States for instance, of the 63 million youths under 18 years of age about 10% have diagnosable neurobehavioural problems with only 20% receiving therapy. Data developed by the massive Global Burden of Disease (GBD) revealed that neurobehavioural impairment ranks only second to cancer and coronary heart disease combined. These data may indeed be more gruesome owing to the poor regulation of exposure to environmental chemicals in resource poor countries. Biomarkers play a major role in detecting, predicting and screening for neurotoxicity. Development of inexpensive and specific biomarkers of neurotoxicity is a challenge to the scientific community. Undoubtedly, the magnitude and potential severity of neurotoxicity problems make it imperative to invest in resources required to strengthen the basis for preventive intervention, the forerunner of which is the development of biomarkers for neurotoxicity at the individual and population levels. Health education on chemicals and potential for neurotoxicity is also desirable