Assessing Oral Health Knowledge and Practices: A Study of Mothers and Children in Northwestern Nigeria

Purpose – To explore the knowledge, attitude, and practices regarding oral and dental health for mothers of children aged 6 months to 8 years and older children aged above 8 years to 15 years seeking healthcare in a tertiary health facility in the Sokoto metropolis. Design/methods/approach – A cross-sectional study was conducted between February and April 2022. Subjects included mothers of 6 months to < 8 years and children aged 8 to 15 years presenting with minor illnesses to the General outpatient clinic. A structured questionnaire and focus group discussion guide were used to collect the information. Data was analyzed using IBM SPSS version 25. Findings – Out of 238 participants, 128 children were 6 months to <8 years, while 110 were above 8 to 15 years old. Less than half of mothers, 46.9%, had inadequate knowledge, while 20.3% had adequate practices. Among the older children in this study, the proportion of those with good knowledge, attitude, and practice level of oral health was 60%, 61.8%, and 32.7%. There was a significant moderate positive correlation between knowledge and attitude scores but not practice for the 2 groups. Mothers’ education and fathers’ occupation were significantly related to good scores (p=<0.05). Mothers of children with primary teeth and older children with permanent teeth in this study all had poor oral and dental health practices. More awareness programs should be conducted in the community to target those with poor practices. Increasing female education and empowerment is also essential in this regard. Research implications/limitations – This research implies that from an early age, it is necessary to check oral and dental health to prevent infectious diseases. Originality/value – Oral and dental health is an essential aspect of primary health care and is a situation in which the mouth, teeth, and gums are healthy and free from any diseases. Parents, especially mothers, are responsible for maintaining good oral hygiene practices and inculcating good oral hygiene habits in children. Paper Type Research paper

Total anomalous pulmonary venous connection in a 9-year-old girl at Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto, Nigeria

Total anomalous pulmonary venous connection (TAPVC) is a rare cyanotic congenital heart disease in which all the four pulmonary veins drain into the right atrium instead of the left. Without surgical intervention, 80% of the patients die before the age of 1 year. We report a 9-year-old girl with unrepaired supracardiac TAPVC complicated by severe pulmonary artery hypertension. The patient was managed conservatively including the use of pulmonary antihypertensive (sildenafil), with significant improvement. She is currently on follow-up at our pediatric cardiology clinic. TAPVC requires surgical intervention in early infancy to prevent the onset of pulmonary hypertension, which may contraindicate surgery. High index of suspicion and improved diagnostic skill will enhance early diagnosis and enable timely intervention

Hybrid derivative-free methods for solving system of nonlinear equations

This work presents a predictor-corrector iterative approach for solving systems of nonlinear equations. The methods are derivative-free with correction and acceleration parameters obtained via approximating the Jacobian matrix. Using an inexact line search procedure and under appropriate conditions, we proved that the proposed method is globally convergent. We, additionally, present some numerical results to show the efficiency and effectiveness of the proposed method

Prevalence, clinical profile and outcome of children with cardiomyopathy

Background: Cardiomyopathies are myocardial disorders in which the heart muscle is structurally and functionally abnormal, thereby affecting the ventricular systolic function and/or diastolic function. Comprehensive approach to management warrants recognizing the clinical profile in order to strategize to improve outcomes. Aim: To evaluate the types of cardiomyopathies, presentation and outcome among children admitted into a tertiary hospital in Sokoto. Methods. A hospital based prospective study of children aged below 15 years who were seen over an 8.5-year period. A proforma was used to collect the information on their socio-demographics, type of cardiomyopathy, associated presentations and outcome. Data was analysed using IBM SPSS version 25. Results: 71 out of 78,321 children seen that period (0.1%) were diagnosed with CM giving a hospital prevalence of 90.7/100,000. They comprised 40 (56.3%) males and 31 (43.7%) females. Age ranged from 1 month to 15 years (6.2 ± 3.8 years). Dilated CM (DCM) was the commonest in 63 (88.7%), restrictive CM (endomyocardial fibrosis-EMF) in 5 (7.0%) and hypertrophic (HCM) in 3 (4.2%). Forty-six (73%) of DCM had severe systolic dysfunction. DCM also occurred in 2 siblings of 2 patients on follow up. Two of the patients with EMF had recurrent pericardial effusions and all the patients with HCM died in infancy. Thirty (42.2%) of the total patients were lost to follow-up while 27 (38.0%) died. Conclusion: Dilated cardiomyopathy followed by restrictive type are the commonest types seen among children in Sokoto. It is associated with high morbidity and mortality

Wilms' Tumour in a Child with Horse Shoe Kidney seen at Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto- A Case Report

Background- Occurrence of Wilms' tumour in patients with horseshoe kidney is an unusual presentation, with incidence being higher than in the general population. Hence, it can lead to diagnostic and management challenges.Objective- To report a case of Wilms' tumour that occurred in a child with horse shoe kidney in Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital (UDUTH), Sokoto.Case report- UA an 18 month old boy presented with a six weeks history of progressive painless abdominal swelling. Abdominal examination revealed a huge right sided abdominal mass extending from the hypochrondium to the iliac fossa. Ultrasound revealed a huge heterogenous mass occupying the right hemi-abdomen extending from the right hypochondrium to pelvis. It crossed the midline to the contralateral side with multiple cystic portions and calcifications. The right kidney was not demonstrated while the left kidney was normal. Computed tomography (CT) scan showed a huge heterogeneously enhancing isodense mass occupying most part of the right lumbar region extending to the pelvis and crossing the midline. The mass was continuous with normal renal parenchyma on the inferomedial aspect consistent with Wilms' tumour. The inferior poles of both kidneys were merged in the midline in keeping with horse shoe kidney. Chemotherapy was commenced however he deterioratedand died after 2 courses.Conclusion- Wilms' tumour can occasionally occur in a child with horse shoe kidney. Hence, patients with horseshoe kidney should therefore be closely monitored for the possibility of co-existing Wilms' tumour.Key words- Horse shoe kidneys, Wilms' tumour, Child, diagnostic challenge