ANALYTICAL STUDY AND PERFORMANCE EVALUATION OF A LAB-SCALE GREYWATER TREATMENT PLANT

This study presents the recycling of greywater for non-potable applications such as toilet flushing, concrete production, and irrigation. In this study, a laboratory-scale greywater treatment plant was designed and fabricated to treat greywater with a combination of physical and natural treatments systems. These natural systems include natural-draft aerator system, coagulation by natural coagulant (Moringa Oleifera), and filtration by sand and sawdust filter media. A total of five samples of raw greywater were collected every morning from two female hostels, namely Prof. Dora Akunyili and Chief Stella Okoli hostels in Nnamdi Azikiwe University, (NAU) Awka,Nigeria. These samples were analyzed for turbidity, biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), total suspended solid (TSS), total dissolved solid (TDS) and total hardness. Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), Coefficient of variance and Correlation Matrix were used to analyse data obtained. Differences in parameter concentration between the influent and effluent parameters were considered significant at 5% level of significance (i.e p ≤ 0.05). The concentration of these parameters decreased significantly as a result of the treatment. Coefficient of Variation indicates that most influent and effluent parameters have coefficient of variations that are less than 10% meaning that the raw greywater samples were well collected and consistent in quality. A correlation matrix show that biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), turbidity and total suspended solid (TSS) are strongly related. This shows that the system is consistent in treatment and may be adopted for treatment of greywater for non-potable uses in areas with limited water supply

Improved Prescription of Intermittent Preventive Therapy for Malaria in Pregnancy (IPTp) among doctors practicing in 68 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital Yaba Lagos, Nigeria

Malaria infestation in pregnancy is a major public health concern in Nigeria . Intermittent preventive therapy for malaria in pregnancy (IPTp) is a key recommendation in the National guideline for malaria control in Nigeria. Previous data from this hospital reported a very low implementation of this guideline . Scale up of services and training were thereafter implemented. This study assessed the current level of prescription of intermittent preventive therapy with Sulphadoxine-Pyrimethamine for pregnant women among doctors practicing in the 68 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital Yaba Lagos, Nigeria. This was a retrospective study of records of pregnant women seen at antenatal clinic of 68 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital Yaba Lagos, Nigeria from January, 2013 to December, 2013. Information on antenatal attendance and IPTp prescription extracted and analysis was done using EPI INFO 2002. A total of 684 case notes were retrieved from the antenatal clinic record. A good proportion of the women (82.1%) registered for antenatal clinic within the first and second trimesters of pregnancy while 75.5% of the doctors prescribed intermittent preventive therapy with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine. This was an improvement on previous IPTp prescription data (3.7%). None of the doctors prescribed weekly pyrimethamine. This study shows good implementation and adoption of the national malaria prevention guidelines by doctors practicing at 68 Nigerian Army Reference Hospital Yaba Lagos, Nigeria. The malaria programme should ensure education of all health workers in both public and private health facilities on prevention guidelines to increase coverage .Keywords: National guidelines, Intermittent Preventive therapy, Malaria in pregnancy, Nigeri

Knowledge, Perception And Practice Of Intermittent Preventive Therapy In Pregnancy (IPTP) Among Pregnant Women Attending A Military Hospital In Lagos Nigeria

Background: Malaria infestation in pregnancy (MIP) is a major public health concern with associated maternal morbidity, low birth weight and neonatal mortality. Intermittent preventive treatment of malaria in pregnancy (IPTp) with sulphadoxine - pyrimethamine is a key recommendation in the National guideline for malaria prevention in Nigeria. This study evaluated the knowledge and perception and practice of IPTp by pregnant women attending a Nigerian military hospital.Methodology: A descriptive cross-sectional study of 190 pregnant women attending antenatal care. The patients were selected by a systematic sampling method and data collected using pretested interviewer-administered questionnaires after obtaining their informed consent.. The administered questionnaires were collated, validated and analyzed using EPI Info 2002 computer software package. Frequency distribution and cross tabulation was done. Statistical level of significance was set at p< 0.05.Results: The mean age of the respondents was 29.5 years . Sixty four (33.7%) respondents had knowledge of IPTp while 123 (64.7%) indicated willingness to use IPTp. Reasons given for not willing to use IPTp included unawareness(25.8%), and fear of harmful/side effects (7.3%). Few patients (11.6%) actually used IPTp. Knowledge of complications of malaria among the respondents was also low.Conclusion and  Recommendation: The study showed a low level of knowledge and use of IPTp among the respondents but close to two-third of them were willing to use IPTp. There is need for the hospital authority to institute a sustainable wareness campaign on complications of malaria and the overall positive effects of IPTp on maternal and child health. Keywords: Knowledge, Practice, Intermittent Preventive Therapy, Pregnancy, Military, Nigeria