Malaria parasitemia amongst pregnant women attending selected government and private healthcare facilities in Rivers State, Nigeria

A cross-sectional study to determine malaria parasitemia amongst 300 randomly selected pregnant women attending  government and private healthcare facilities in Rivers State was carried out. Blood samples were obtained through venous  procedure and the presence or absence of Plasmodium was determined  microscopically through thin and thick blood films. Socio-demographic information was obtained from questionnaires administered to the pregnant women enrolled. A total of 81 (27.0%) pregnant women were infected with P. falciparum. In private healthcare centres, 39 (26.0%) pregnant women were infected, while 42 (28.0%) were found infected in government hospital (x2= 0.101, df= 1, p>0.05). In the private healthcare centres, malaria prevalence among pregnant women in their first, second and third trimesters varied between 24.0-30.0% while in the government healthcare centre, malaria prevalence varied between 22.0%-30.0% (x2= 0.502, df= 2, p>0.05). In the private healthcare  centres, malaria prevalence among  primigravidae, secundigravidae and multigravidae varied between 22.0-28.0% while in the government healthcare centres, malaria prevalence varied between  23.0-32.0% (x2 = 0.084, df= 2, p>0.05). In the private  healthcare centres, malaria prevalence among age groups 11-20, 21-30 and 31-40 varied between 17.0-29.0% while in the government healthcare centre, malaria prevalence varied between 26.0-29.0% (x2= 1.408, df= 2, p>0.05). There was no overall significant difference in malaria prevalence between the government and private healthcare facilities. Malaria is a public health burden especially amongst pregnant women, therefore adequate health education and proper control measures against malaria should be encouraged.Keywords: Prevalence; pregnancy; plasmodium; gestation; parity; age

Intermittent preventive treatment and its effect on maternal and neonatal malaria in two health facilities, Rivers State, south-south Nigeria

The use of sulphadoxine pyrimethamine (IPTp-Sp) as a control measure for malaria infection has been found to prevent malaria in pregnancy. However there are still gaps in levels of compliance. This study was carried out to evaluate these gaps in compliance to IPTp-Sp and its effects on placental and neonatal malaria in two health facilities in Rivers State, Nigeria. Three hundred consented participants were administered questionnaires, and blood samples collected from maternal peripheral blood (MPB), placental blood (PLB) and neonatal cord blood (NCB) immediately after delivery. Malaria parasitaemia and anaemia were analysed using standard parasitological and haematological methods of examination. Results showed that 83(27.7%) MPB, 66(22.0%) PLB, and 40(13.3%) NCB were positive to malaria parasitaemia cases. On IPTp-SP usage, 261(87.0%) received SP in different doses while 39(13.0%) did not (p<0.05). Sixty-six (25.3%) of users and 17(43.6%) of non-users tested positive to malaria parasitaemia (p<0.05). Sixty-six infected mothers who received IPTp-SP, 49(74.2%), 15(22.7%) and 2(3.0%) had 1, 2, 3 doses respectively. Maternal anaemia was 12(4.6%) for IPTp-SP users and 12(30.8%) for nonusers while neonatal recorded 4(1.5%) and 5(13.5%) respectively (p<0.05). The birth-weight of the babies weighing <2.5 kg recorded 3(1.2%) for IPTp-SP users and 6(16.2%) for non-users. Knowledge on SP showed that 239(79.7%) had good knowledge while 61(20.3%) had no knowledge and 13(4.3%), 201(67.0%) and 86(28.7%) commenced treatment on first, second and third trimesters respectively. Prevalence based on age showed that 22(15.1%) mothers within the age of 31-40 years, while prevalence based on education showed that mothers who had tertiary education has the least infection 21(18.3%). The use and compliance to IPTp-Sp is observed to reduce the prevalence and complications of malaria among the studied population. However, there are still gaps in compliance and efforts should be intensified towards total compliance which includes enforcing total compliance, availability of drugs and education of the pregnant women. Keywords: Malaria parasitaemia; preventive treatment; pregnancy

Malaria parasitaemia among residents of Emohua Local Government Area and Port Harcourt Metropolis, Rivers State, Nigeria

Malaria is responsible for significant cases of morbidity and mortality among children and pregnant women in sub-Saharan Africa. The study investigated the prevalence of malaria among residents of Emohua Local Government Area and Port Harcourt Metropolis, Rivers State, Nigeria. Four hundred randomly selected study participants were examined by oil immersion microscopy, using thick (stained with Field’s stains A and B) and thin (stained with 3% Giemsa) blood films. Data collected was statistically analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-test and chi- square test at 5% significance level. Plasmodium falciparum was the only species found in both study populations. An overall study of 44.3% was observed for malaria parasitaemia; Emohua and Port Harcourt had prevalence of 53% and 35.5% respectively (p<0.05). the overall malaria in relation to sex was 44.2% and 44.3% in females and males respectively (p>0.05); Emohua had prevalence of 55% and 50% for females and males respectively while Port Harcourt had 30.5% and 40% for females and males respectively (p<0.05). study participants in age group 10-12 years had the highest prevalence of 58%; Emohua and Port Harcourt had the highest prevalence in age groups 10-12 years (78.3%) and 16-18 years (50%) respectively (p<0.05). The study shows that malaria is still a significant public health problem in Emohua and Port Harcourt metropolis, there is need for sustained public awareness and effective control measures.Keywords: Malaria; parasitaemia; Emohua; Port Harcourt; Rivers Stat

Synaptic plasticity - confounding factor in declining mental behavior among Nigerian prison inmates

Synaptic plasticity is the change that occurs at synapses, the junctions between neurons that allows them to communicate. and which allows us to acquire new skills, retain memories, and recover from brain injury. The brain is a remarkably adaptive organ. Neurons and the connections between them are continually changing. Neuroplasticity refers to the brain and nervous system’s ability to re-model in response to new information. Being plastic, the brain can change because of behaviour, emotions, external stimuli and injury. These changes in the synaptic junctions have impact on the emotional function and stability of the persons, sometimes leading to behaviours tht are beyond normal. When individuals are confined in a non-conducive place like the prison, individuals concerned may tend to negativisms and this could adversely affect their emotional stability leading to antisocial and under normal behaviours

Phytochemical constituents and wound healing properties of ointment formulations of Ocimum gratissimum crude aqueous leaf extracts

There is need for safe, acceptable and cost-effective wound healing remedies. In this work, the phytochemical constituents of the aqueous leaf extract of Ocimum gratissimum and its wound healing properties wereevaluated using the excision wound healing model. The leaves were air-dried and extracted with Soxhlet extractor. Phytochemical constituents of the crude extract were evaluated. The extract was used to formulate simple ointments containing 1 and 2 % w/w of the extract. Male albino rats weighing 65 – 180 g were divided into 4 groups, shaved, inflicted with circular wounds of 2 mm diameter and treated with the ointment formulations. Animals in Group I were treated with the formulation containing 1% of extract, animals in Group 2 with ointments containing 2 % of extract, animals in Groups 3 with a bland ointment and animals in Group 4 with Cicatrin powder (a standard wound healing agent. Groups 3 and 4 animals served as controls. Wound healing degree was determined by the size of the wound over a period of 21 days. The extract contain alkaloids, glycosides, tannins, flavonoids and resins but not saponin. Concentration- independent, timedependent wound healings were observed in the animals treated with the ointment formulations containing Ocimum gratissimum aqueous leaf extract, superior to those observed in animals treated with the blank ointment and Cicatrin® powder. The aqueous leaf extract of Ocimum gratissimum can be formulated into ointments for use in wound treatments.Keywords: Ocimum gratissimum, wound healing, aqueous extract, excision wound modelJournal of Pharmaceutical and Allied Sciences Vol. 16 No.4 (2019