Physical development pattern and crime incidences in Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria

The paper inquired if the nature and physical development characteristics of the neighbourhoods constitute crime exposure factors in Ilorin. The study identified common crimes experienced and their spatial distribution in the neighbourhoods of Ilorin. It further characterized the nature and physical development conditions of the neighbourhoods of the study area. In carrying out the study 960 households spread across 35 aggregated neighbourhoods of the study area were sampled for their crime victimization experiences using a designed crime victimization survey questionnaire administered through a systematic random sampling procedure, in a survey conducted in October, 2015. In addition, extensive but discreet physical observations and rating of the physical development characteristics of the neighbourhoods were conducted as part of the survey. In analyzing the data obtained, the study employed Jenks' natural breaks classification method to classify the neighbourhoods of the study area into four crime densities; and Pearson Product-Moment Correlation technique to establish the relationship between the quality of neighbourhood physical development and exposure to crime. The study confirmed the common crimes experienced by residents of the study area; established a spatial classification of criminality in the study area; as well established a (r) value of -0.633 between the nature of neighbourhood physical development and exposure to crime using correlation analysis. The study recommends the design and implementation of periodic urban renewal programmes to minimize exposure to crime in poorly developed neighbourhoods of the study area.Keywords: crime pattern, neighbourhood, physical development patter

Clinical and sonographic features in infertile women with and without polycystic ovarian syndrome

Background: Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrine cause of infertility affecting about 1 in 10 women of reproductive age. This study determined the proportion of infertile women with PCOS and compared clinical and sonographic features in infertile women with PCOS and without PCOS.Methods: This was a prospective comparative cross-sectional study at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital over a 6 month period. One hundred and fifty two infertile women were recruited and had trans-vaginal ultrasonography for the presence and absence of polycystic ovaries. The diagnosis of PCOS was made using the Rotterdam criteria with other relevant socio-demographic and clinical data noted in the study proforma. Student t and chi-square tests were used as appropriate.Results: The prevalence of PCOS among infertile women was 32.9%. The mean age of infertile women diagnosed with PCOS and without PCOS was 33±4.90 and 32.71±5.00 years, respectively. Women with PCOS had significantly higher BMI than women without PCOS. Increased ovarian volume, peripheral follicular distribution and increased stromal echogenicity were observed in 60%, 74% and 94% of women with PCOS on trans-vaginal ultrasound compared to 11.8%, 2% and 2% of women without PCOS, respectively.Conclusions: The prevalence of PCOS among infertile women is high. Clinical characteristics of women with PCOS and women without PCOS are similar except in their BMI and features that constitute the diagnostic criteria for PCOS

Sonographic estimation of foetal weight versus actual birth weight at term

Background: Estimated foetal weight is very critical to decision making in the management of pregnant women. It is therefore important to evaluate the accuracy of ultrasound estimated foetal weight (USEFW) at term in our environment. We compared ultrasound estimated foetal weight at term with the actual foetal birth weight at delivery.Methods: This was a prospective, comparative cross-sectional study at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital over a 6-month period. Four hundred and five pregnant women with normal singleton pregnancy, who had sonographic estimation of foetal weight at term, using the Hadlock IV formula, were followed up and had their actual birth weight (ABW) determined at delivery. Accuracy was determined by proportion of estimates within 10% of actual birth weight and mean absolute percentage error (MAPE). The p<0.05 was considered significant at 95% confidence interval.Results: The prevalence of macrosomia was 10.3%. At 10% margin of error, ultrasound accurately estimated the weights of 73.3% of babies. The mean USEFW was 3559.89±316.9g and mean ABW was 3477.42±422.9g with a mean difference of 82.44g (p<0.001) and MAPE of 7.11. There was positive correlation (r=0.669) between the EFW and ABW (p<0.001). The USEFW had a sensitivity of 66.7%, specificity of 91.5%, positive predictive value of 47.5% and negative predictive value of 96.0% in predicting macrosomia.Conclusions: Ultrasound estimation of foetal weight at term is reliably accurate in predicting actual birth weight in south-western Nigeria.

Effect of Environmental Quality on Property Rental Values in Peri-urban Neighbourhoods of Minna, Nigeria

The study examined the effect of environmental quality on rental values of residential accommodation at the peripheral neighbourhoods of Minna, Nigeria. Cluster sampling method was employed in the selection of sampled areas and, six neighbourhoods were randomly selected. Sample size of 600 was drawn out of the total 18,387 households in the sampled neighbourhoods using Adams et al. (2007) simplified formula. Estimation rate of 50% and precision range of ±4 were adopted in determining the sample size. Various houses and infrastructure attributes were used in assessing environmental quality, while current rent passing in the year of study was adopted. Pearson moment correlation coefficient was employed in assessing the relationships between environmental quality and rents using environmental indices and mean rents. Results revealed a moderate linear relationship between environmental quality and rents in the 2 neighbourhoods (r= 0.48, N= 591, p= 0.000). The coefficient of determination (r2 = 0.23), implied that only about 23% variation in rents in the selected peri-urban neighbourhoods can be attributed to environmental quality factors; other variations in rents are explainable by other factors relating to physical, legal and locational attributes of individual building. The implication is that, developers invested in location that promised them optimum returns over a period of time without much consideration to the quality of the environment. The study recommends routine housing maintenance, infrastructure provision and refurbishment for the achievement of qualitative and sustainable environment.Keywords: environmental quality, rental value, peri-urban neighbourhood

Pattern of primary caesarean deliveries in a Nigerian tertiary hospital

Background: Primary caesarean section (CS) has become a major driver of the steadily rising total caesarean rate. This study determined the primary CS rate, pattern and associated factors.Methods: It was a retrospective, hospital-based cross-sectional study of 645 pregnant women who had primary caesarean section over a 3-year period in Lagos state university teaching hospital, Lagos, Nigeria. Data obtained were expressed in frequency and percentages.Results: Primary CS accounted for more than 50% of all the CS done during the study period with a primary CS rate of 16.7% and total CS rate was 30.6%. Primary CS was commonest among women of age group 30-39years (50.1%) and women with no prior parous experience (58.6%). The commonest indication for primary CS was poor progress in labour due to cephalopelvic disproportion, which occurred in 170 women (26.4%), followed by suspected foetal distress in 94 women (14.6%) and hypertensive disease in pregnancy in 91 women (14.1%). Post-operative wound infection and/or dehiscence was the most prevalent post-operative complication occurring in 12.1% of women who had primary CS.Conclusions: Primary CS rate is increasing and relatively more common among primiparous women. Cephalopelvic disproportion, suspected foetal distress and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy are the leading indications for primary CS.

Prevalence of malnutrition and vitamin A deficiency in Nigerian preschool children subsisting on high intakes of carotenes

The prevalence of malnutrition and vitamin A deficiency was determined in 204 preschool children of both sexes aged 3–57 months. The children were recruited from 2 rural communities of Atakumosa Local Government Area of Osun State in South West Nigeria. Dietary vitamin A intake was estimated from frequency of consumption of locally available vitamin A containing food items. Vitamin A status of the children was assessed from concentration of retinol in plasma. Nutritional status was assessed from height and weight compared with international reference standards. The results indicate widespread malnutrition among the children. The prevalence of stunting (low height for age) was 60.8% while prevalence of wasting (low weight for height) was 7.4% and of underweight (low weight for age) 27.5%. Dietary vitamin A intake appeared to be adequate in the children. Intake of vitamin A is predominantly from plant sources. At least 43% of the children consumed the carotene rich red palm oil 6 or more times per week in contrast to less than 1% who consumed eggs or milk for 6 or more times per week. Vitamin A deficiency was low in the children. Only 11.3% of the children had plasma retinol concentration <0.70µmol/L. The results indicate that childhood malnutrition of public health magnitude can coexist with adequate dietary vitamin A intakes or vitamin A status

What are the drivers of recurrent cholera transmission in Nigeria? Evidence from a scoping review

Background: The 2018 cholera outbreak in Nigeria affected over half of the states in the country, and was characterised by high attack and case fatality rates. The country continues to record cholera cases and related deaths to date. However, there is a dearth of evidence on context-specific drivers and their operational mechanisms in mediating recurrent cholera transmission in Nigeria. This study therefore aimed to fill this important research gap, with a view to informing the design and implementation of appropriate preventive and control measures. / Methods: Four bibliographic literature sources (CINAHL (Plus with full text), Web of Science, Google Scholar and PubMed), and one journal (African Journals Online) were searched to retrieve documents relating to cholera transmission in Nigeria. Titles and abstracts of the identified documents were screened according to a predefined study protocol. Data extraction and bibliometric analysis of all eligible documents were conducted, which was followed by thematic and systematic analyses. / Results: Forty-five documents met the inclusion criteria and were included in the final analysis. The majority of the documents were peer-reviewed journal articles (89%) and conducted predominantly in the context of cholera epidemics (64%). The narrative analysis indicates that social, biological, environmental and climatic, health systems, and a combination of two or more factors appear to drive cholera transmission in Nigeria. Regarding operational dynamics, a substantial number of the identified drivers appear to be functionally interdependent of each other. / Conclusion: The drivers of recurring cholera transmission in Nigeria are diverse but functionally interdependent; thus, underlining the importance of adopting a multi-sectoral approach for cholera prevention and control

Descriptive epidemiology of cholera outbreak in Nigeria, January-November, 2018: implications for the global roadmap strategy

Background: The cholera outbreak in 2018 in Nigeria reaffirms its public health threat to the country. Evidence on the current epidemiology of cholera required for the design and implementation of appropriate interventions towards attaining the global roadmap strategic goals for cholera elimination however seems lacking. Thus, this study aimed at addressing this gap by describing the epidemiology of the 2018 cholera outbreak in Nigeria. Methods: This was a retrospective analysis of surveillance data collected between January 1st and November 19th, 2018. A cholera case was defined as an individual aged 2 years or older presenting with acute watery diarrhoea and severe dehydration or dying from acute watery diarrhoea. Descriptive analyses were performed and presented with respect to person, time and place using appropriate statistics. Results: There were 43,996 cholera cases and 836 cholera deaths across 20 states in Nigeria during the outbreak period, with an attack rate (AR) of 127.43/100,000 population and a case fatality rate (CFR) of 1.90%. Individuals aged 15 years or older (47.76%) were the most affected age group, but the proportion of affected males and females was about the same (49.00 and 51.00% respectively). The outbreak was characterised by four distinct epidemic waves, with higher number of deaths recorded in the third and fourth waves. States from the north-west and north-east regions of the country recorded the highest ARs while those from the north-central recorded the highest CFRs. Conclusion: The severity and wide-geographical distribution of cholera cases and deaths during the 2018 outbreak are indicative of an elevated burden, which was more notable in the northern region of the country. Overall, the findings reaffirm the strategic role of a multi-sectoral approach in the design and implementation of public health interventions aimed at preventing and controlling cholera in Nigeri