Knowledge Impact Survey Of Tuberculosis And Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Infection In Aba, Nigeria

The liaison between TB and HIV-infection is a major threat to the health of the public worldwide. Despite wide publicity and educational awareness programmes on these deadly diseases, the much expected positive public reactions, which would facilitate their effective control and prevention, seem to be elusive. Thus, survey of the knowledge of TB and HIV/AIDS among the general population in Aba was necessitated with the view to evaluate certain sociodemographic characteristics of the people which impact on their knowledge of TB and HIV/AIDS.The respondents for the study were randomly selected from two bus  loading bays and two Urban Markets in Aba. Structured questionnaires were administered to the respondents who volunteered information on theirknowledge of the existence of the two diseases as well as their signs and symptoms. A total of 618 respondents interviewed, over 90% across the r age range of 18 to 64 years claimed knowledge of the existence of the two diseases. When sorted into occupational groups, 100% of students and civil servants had heard about HIV/AIDS, while approximately 97.0% had similar knowledge for TB. For the artisans, traders, and drivers/cyclists, the knowledge of HIV/AIDS and TB ranged from 82.0% to 95.9%. The nondependence of knowledge of the two diseases on sex and age notwithstanding, it seems that people showed apprehension when TB is mentioned, and overwhelmingly stigmatized against HIV/AIDS.Key Words: Tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS, Knowledge, Survey

Prevalence of Acid-Fast-Bacillus-Positive Cases Among Patients Attending a Chest Clinic in Aba, Eastern Nigeria

Three sputum smears were made from each of the 440 patients, (182 females and 258 males), presenting with bronchopulmonary symptoms at three hospitals in Aba, Nigeria. The smears were stained by Ziehl-Neelsen\'s method and examined microscopically for acid-fast bacilli. The bacilli were detected in 143 (32.5%) of the patients, with more cases occurring among females patients (38.0%) than males (28.7%). The 15 - 20 year age group, which was the most affected (40.0%), consisted mainly of apprentices, the occupational/social group with the highest prevalence, (45%). The next occupational/social group with high prevalence rate consisted of the hairdressers (42.8%). The risk factor common to these groups was overcrowding in poorly-ventilated accommodation. The prevalence rate of 32.5% is high and the attention of the Nigerian Tuberculosis Control Programme is extensively needed in this region, with more emphasis on the improvement of the life style of the groups with the risk factors. Key words: tuberculosis, surveillance, acid-fast-bacilli Journal of Medical Laboratory Science Vol.13(1) 2004: 30 - 3

High prevalence of asymptomatic plasmodium infection in a suburb of Aba town, Nigeria

Background: Malaria is endemic in many parts of the world. Various strategies have been planned to control malaria from time to time in many places. Whatever may be the strategy the prevalence of symptomatic and asymptomatic plasmodium parasitaemics has been of prime importance as useful parameter for its control. It is hoped that malaria control programme in Nigeria will benefit from prevalence of parasitaemic study such as this. Method: Ndiegoro flood disaster district was selected by stratified random sampling from 16 districts of ward 3 out of 12 wards in Aba South Local Government out of the 2 Local Governments of Aba Town. About three quarters of the houses were uninhabited as they were submerged at various depths of the selected district. The population who consented for the study was 257. Thick and thin blood films were studied by light microscopy for plasmodium parasitaemia. Results: The prevalence of plasmodium parasitaemics in the 257 studied population was very high (45.1%). The asymptomatic parasitaemics were about three times as many as symptomatic parasitaemics (73.2% and 26.7% respectively). This difference is statistically significant (

Trichomoniasis as an indicator for existing sexually transmitted infections in women in Aba, Nigeria

Background: Trichomoniasis is a common clinical problem. Many young women in Aba indulge in high-risk sexual behaviours. A large number of these young women are illiterates, and are in the habit of indiscriminate use of antibacterial agents at the slightest symptoms of a lower genital tract infection. Evaluation of bacterial agents associated with lower genital tract infections is therefore met with much frustration. The diagnosis of Trichomoniasis from lower genital tract is simple and its routine screening among women attending clinics would serve as an indicator for serious sexually transmitted infections in Aba.Methods: This study was undertaken among women attending a women hospital in Aba, Abia State, Nigeria (Princess Mary Hospital, Aba). In the study, 360 women who were attending the family and antenatal clinics were selected. Also, those with gynaecological problems, obvious symptoms of lower genital tract infections and those who visited the hospital for “well women examination” were included in the study population. High vaginal swabs collected from these women were examined microscopically by wet mount preparations and bacteriologically by cultures. Results: Out of 360 women screened for Trichomonas vaginalis through wet mount preparation, and other organisms by culture, 40 (11.1%) were positive for Trichomonas vaginalis, 6(1.7%), 48(13.3%) and 140(38.9%) were positive for Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Gadnerella vaginalis, and Candida albicans respectively. The difference in age specific distribution of Trichomoniasis was statistically significant using the chi-square (

Genito-urinary tract infections among males: implications for infertility problems in Aba, Abia State, Nigeria

Background: Male infertility is an age long socio-medical problem worldwide. It is commonly caused by oligospermia arising from sexually transmitted infections. Assessment of genitourinary tract infections among males with infertility problems may incriminate them (infections) as possible risk factors for male infertility in Aba, Nigeria.Objective: To determine prospectively in male subjects with infertility problems the potential impact of urogenital tract infections.Design: Prospective study.Setting: Gynaecology Clinic, Abia State University Teaching Hospital, Aba, Nigeria.Subjects: Three hundred and ninety six men with infertility problem attending Gynecology Clinic with their spouses at Abia State University Teaching Hospital, Aba.Methods: Semen and blood specimen were collected from 396 men who were unable to achieve conceptions with their spouses 5-8 years after marriage. Each semen sample was evaluated for sperm cell count and cultured bacteriologically for isolation of genito-urinary tract pathogens; while the blood samples were tested serologically for Treponema pallidium (syphilis) and HIV infections.Results: Of the 396 semen samples, 205(51.5%) had normal sperm counts, 63(15.8%) had no sperm cells (azoospermia) and 63(15.8%) had mean sperm cell count of 6.5 ± 1.3 x 106 sperm cell/ml; range, 0.1-19.9 x 106 (oligospermia). Among the males with normal sperm counts 4(0.8%) were infected with HIV, 1(0.5%) with syphilis, 2(1.0%) with E. coli and 37(18.1%) with S. aureus; while among the azoospermia and oligospermia cases, respectively, distributions of the infections were HIV (14.3%, 3.9%), syphilis (7.9%, 2.3%), S. aureus (46.0%, 12.3%), S. pyogenes (30.2%, 5.4%) and E. coli (3.7%, 3.1%). Of the 118 bacterial strains tested for antibiotic susceptibility (117 isolates and 1 typed S. aureus ATCC 25923, control strain), 3.4% were resistant to ofloxacin (OXF), 21.2% to gentamycin (CN), 5.1% to ciprofloxacin (CPF), 25.4% to cefuroxime (CXM), 88.4% to erythromycin (E), and 99.15% to ampicillin and streptomycin, respectively. The control strain, S. aureus ATCC 25923, was susceptible to all the drugs.Conclusion: The adjudged infertile males (48.7%) in this finding may have arisen on account of the genitourinary and syphyllis infections encountered among men with oligospermia and azoospermia

Insecticidal net distribution channel that is rural women-friendly, in abia south, Nigeria

Background: Government channel for distributing free insecticidal nets stop at the health centers. About 70% of rural women who do not access this health facility fail to collect the free nets. Alternative channel for reaching these women is hereby advocated. Materials and Methods: An interventional study was carried out in eight randomly selected villages of Abia South. Experimental and control groups were assigned four villages each. Sample size for each group was 200 households systematically selected. Questionnaire and interview guide were instruments for data collection. Data were analyzed quantitatively.  Chi-square statistic was used in testing for statistical significance.Results: Before intervention, ownership and utilization of treated nets inexperimental group were 36.5% and 28.8%, respectively, while in the control group, it was 38% and 30.0%, respectively. Ownership and  utilization of treated nets in experimental group increased by 54.5% and 46.5%, respectively, after intervention. In the control group, where there were no interventional activities carried out, ownership and utilization of treated nets showed no significant increase.Conclusion: Health promotion intervention, fixed-install mental  payment-basis for net cost, and home-based net distribution channel scaled up net ownership and utilization by 54.5% and 46.5%, respectively, in the study area.Key words: Abia South, Net distribution channel, Nigeria, Rural women-friendl

Survey of Hepatitis B and C infections in an unselected population of members of a sports club in Aba, Abia State, Nigeria

Background: Member of Aba Spots club including some of the family members were screened for the prevalence of Hepatitis B and C infection. Testing members of the Aba Spots club along with their family members is a strategy to identify undiagnosed hepatitis B and C virus infections inAba, Nigeria. We also assessed how the social life of members of Aba Spots Club may influence the acquisition of Hepatitis B and C infections. Materials and Methods: Demorgraphic information of members was collected as blood samples were analyzed for each member using commercially procured test strips. Proportions of those tested for Hepatitis B and C infections were determined.Results: Among the 470 members, 211; comprising 139 club members and 72 family members, were accessible for Hepatitis B and C infection survey. Prevalence of Hepatitis B and C infection was 3(1.4%) and that of Hepatitis C was 2 (0.95%), with an overall prevalence of 5 (2.4%). No pastresults of infection and immunization were noted among the subjects. Conclusion: This study offers opportunity to capture, identify and educate infected and unaffected members of the society on the health hazards associated with Hepatitis B and C infections. Those with known positive hepatitis status also received treatment and those considered susceptible were educated on how to initiate preventive action (e.g. vaccination).Key words: Hepatitis B and C, Surve

Variations in the leukocyte and cytokine profiles between placental and maternal circulation in pregnancy-associated malaria

Okezie Caleb Okamgba,1 Martin O Ifeanyichukwu,1 Ayodele O Ilesanmi,2 Lawrence N Chigbu3 1Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Faculty of Health Sciences and Technology, Nnamdi Azikwe University, Nnewi Campus, Nnewi, Anambra State, 2Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Kwara State University, Malete, Kwara State, 3Department of Microbiology, College of Medicine, Abia State University, Uturu, Abia State, Nigeria Background: Activation of immune cells by malaria infection induces the secretion of cytokines and the synthesis of other inflammatory mediators. This study compared the cytokine levels and leukocyte count between malaria-infected peripheral and placental blood of pregnant women before delivery and postpartum. The cytokines assessed include interferon gamma (IFN-γ), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-4 (IL-4), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-10 (IL-10). Materials and methods: The subjects comprised 144 malaria-infected pregnant women and 60 malaria-infected women at post-partum stage (for placental blood collection). Others were 60 malaria-uninfected pregnant women and 40 malaria-uninfected women at postpartum stage (for placental blood collection). Forty malaria-infected and 40 malaria-uninfected nonpregnant women served as control subjects. The test groups were asymptomatic, and the control groups were apparently healthy subjects. All were aged between 17 and 44 years. Ethical approval for the study was obtained at Abia State University Teaching Hospital and Living Word Mission Hospital, Aba. Informed consent was obtained from the participants. Blood samples were aseptically collected initially from the maternal peripheral circulation and from the placenta on delivery, and tested for HIV and malaria using standard methods. IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-4, IL-6 and IL-10 were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay technique. Kruskal–Wallis test was used for comparison of the groups. Results: IFN-γ was significantly higher in the peripheral than in placental blood (P=0.001). IL-4 and IL-10 were significantly lower in the peripheral than in placental blood (P=0.001 and P=0.004, respectively). The total leukocytes, neutrophils and lymphocyte counts were significantly higher in the placenta than in peripheral blood (P=0.001), and the mixed differential count was significantly higher in the placenta than in peripheral blood (P=0.012). Conclusion: This study has shown that the cytokine levels and leukocyte counts may differ between the peripheral and placental blood of the same women. Therefore, measurement of parameters in the peripheral circulation may not always reflect the levels in the placental blood for the assessment of immune cellular response at the materno–fetal interface. Keywords: malaria parasite density, cytokines, peripheral blood, placental blood, leukocyt

Renal Dysfunction and Hyperlipidaemia in Hypertensive and Diabetic Patients

Hyperlipidaemia and renal dysfunction in four groups of patients( hypertensive diabetics, hypertensive , diabetic patients and normal individuals)was assessed using biochemical markers such as Urea, Creatinine , Cholesterol, Triglyceride, HDL-C, LDL-C and Fasting blood sugar(FBS) . A total of 84 adults’ subjects aged between 20 and 65 years consisting of 22hypertensive, 22 hypertensive diabetics, 20 diabetics and 20 apparently healthy individuals (which served as control) were used for the study all within Aba Metropolitan.The investigations were done with serum and the biochemical parameters were assayed based on calorimetric method. However, the results obtained were subjected to statistical analysis. From the results, it was observed that there was a significant increase in the serum levels of Urea and Creatinine in hypertensive diabetics compared to hypertensive, diabetics and control subjects (P<0.05).Although, there was a slight increase in the levels of Triglyceride and LDL-C in the same group compared to others. Equally indicated was that diabetics exhibited slight increase in Fasting blood sugar (FBS) compared to the other three groups (control Mmol/L; 4.32±0.60 vs 7.34±0.92 vs 4.90± 0.50 vs 10.80± 1.05, P<0.05). The study has established a renal dysfunction in hypertensives and diabetics. Equally noted was hyperlipidaemia in the groups studied. The study is therefore stressing the importance of controlling hyperlipidaemia in Hypertensive diabetics, Hypertensive and Diabetic patients, since it is a major risk factor for atherosclerosis and cardiovascular diseases.Key words:Renal Dysfunction, Hyerlipidaemia, Hypertensives, Diabetics