PREVALENCE AND RISK FACTORS FOR HEPATITIS C AND HUMAN IMMUNODEFICIENCY VIRUS CO-INFECTION AMONG CHILDREN IN ENUGU, NIGERIA

Background: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) and Human Immunodeficiency virus (HIV), are major public health challenges in the developing world especially sub-Saharan Africa. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and risk factors of Hepatitis C virus infection among children infected with HIV. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted at the Paediatric HIV Clinic, UNTH, Enugu between July and December 2009. Antibodies to HCV were analyzed by newer generation rapid chromatographic immunoassay method using the Chromatest one step HCV test kit. The data was analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 15 statistical software. The chi squared test was used to test for significant association of categorical variables. A p-value o

Complementary Feeding Pattern in a Population of Pre-school Children: Any relationship with Current Feeding Habit?

Objective: It has been postulated that offering bland diets to infants could habituate to food refusal during early childhood. To investigate the complementary feeding pattern in Nigerian preschool children and a possible association with their current feeding habits, a cross-sectional study of two hundred (200) children was done in Enugu, eastern Nigeria. Method: Their mothers were interviewed with a structured questionnaire. Results: Irrespective of socio-economic status, majority of the children were commenced on complementary foods between 4 and 6 months of life, which mainly consisted of poorly fortified home-prepared cereals. A higher percentage (90%) of the children who exhibited food-refusal habit at the time of study were given cereals not fortified with sweeteners, compared to about 75% of their counterparts without this habit who were similarly fed. The difference between the two groups was however not statistically significant (x 0.795, p > 0.05). Conclusion: Although a valid association has not been established between complementary feeding pattern and food refusal, a longitudinal study may be required to establish any causal relationship. Key Words: Complementary feeding, preschool children, food refusal, association. Orient Journal of Medicine Vol.16(3&4) 2004: 26-3

Risk factors for acute otitis media in Nigerian infants

Objective: The risk factors for acute otitis media (AOM) have been well documented in studies mostly conducted in temperate, developed countries. The present study seeks to determine the relevance of five selectedrisk factors in a tropical developing country. Method: A cross-sectional study of two hundred and ten (210) infants was done in Enugu, eastern Nigeria. Their mothers were interviewed with structured questionnaires. Results: The risk for AOM increased more with pacifier use (odds ratio = 1.278) and thumb sucking (odds ratio = 1.258) than with parental smoking (odds ratio = 1.144) and day care attendance (odds ratio = 1.092). Conclusion: It is concluded that primary prevention of AOM may be achieved by strategies that can eliminate or reduce these risk factors since they are potentially modifiable.Keywords: Risk factors, otitis media, Nigerian infants Orient Journal of Medicine Vol. 17 (1&2) 2005: 18-2