Response to childhood fevers among Mbaise parents and caregivers in Imo

This study was carried out to determine the relationship between the sex of a child and response to childhood fever among Mbaise communities in Imo State, Nigeria. The household head and one caregiver of < 5 years children with fever in 1154 households were surveyed using a structured questionnaire, focus group discussions and in-depth interviews. In both cases of the male and female children, mothers were often the first to recognize fever in the children, followed by the other caregivers and then the fathers.The response to childhood fever was faster when a male child was sick (P < 0.001). The longer the delay the poorer the outcomes of the first action taken in response to childhood fevers (R2change = 0.011). The boys improved faster after first treatment than the girls (P < 0.001) because more timely and appropriate responses were taken in the case of the boy child than the girl child. More shopping for treatment takes place for the girl child whose case often gets complicated before the appropriate response is given. In both cases of the male and female children, mothers were often the first to recognize fever in the children, followed by the other caregivers and then the fathers. It is thus concluded that the gender is a major factor in response to childhood fevers and it is often faster when the child is male. Programmes should be designed to address the sex difference attitudes in the management of childhood fevers. Keywords: childhood fever, gender, malaria, treatment seeking, NigeriaTanzanian Health Research Bulletin Vol. 8 (2) 2006: pp. 62-6

Is There a Role for Patent Medicine Vendors in Tuberculosis Control in Southern Nigeria?

Patent medicine vendors (PMVs) are a ubiquitous feature of the informal health sector in Nigeria. A previous study on healthcare-seeking behaviour of persons with chronic cough in southern Nigeria found that over 60% of respondents chose the PMV as a healthcare provider of first instance. This study sought to determine the willingness and capability of PMVs to play a role in the national tuberculosis (TB)-control effort. Study sites were selected through a multi-stage sampling process. In total, 388 PMVs, 17 principal officers of PMV associations, and 17 community leaders were purposively selected. Sets of structured questionnaire were administered to the PMVs while information from the principal officers of PMV associations and community leaders was elicited through in-depth interviews and focus-group discussions (FGDs). Quantitative data were collated using the Epi Info software (version 6.04) and analyzed using the SPSS software (version 15). Most (90%) PMVs indicated that they would be ready to cooperate with the national TB-control programme, if trained. Seventy-three percent attended persons with prolonged cough in the course of their career. However, 48% did not know the cause of TB. Only 3% ever-attended a training session on TB control. Sixty-six percent completed at least 12 years of schooling with secondary school certificate. Eighty percent of the community leaders were happy with the work of PMVs. About two-thirds (65.6%) of the PMVs were male. The PMVs are positively disposed to playing roles in TB control. Given this positive disposition and their widespread acceptance in healthcare-delivery in the communities, they have potentials for playing a role in TB control in southern Nigeria

Access to child health services in Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra State, Nigeria

Background: As the world transits from the era of millennium development goals to that of sustainable development goals, an examination of the access to primary health care services in the previous era is germane to adequate planning and delivery of effective service in the emerging era. The objective of this study was determine factors associated with the use of primary health care (PHC) facilities for the health needs of children in Anambra State, NigeriaMethods: A cross sectional survey of 600 randomly selected mothers (15-49 years) was conducted in Orumba North local government area of Anambra State. An interviewer-based questionnaire, designed to provide information on the socio-demographic characteristics of the respondents as well as their child rearing experiences was used. The questionnaire also provided data on the women’s use of immunization services. The perceptions on government health services were also examined to understand how they influence compliance.Results: More of non-demographic attributes like the mothers’ perceptions and past experiences with the health services influenced utilization more than the demographic attributes. Satisfactory experiences with health service influenced utilization (χ2=168.478; p&lt;0.001).  Those with good perception (95.4%) used the PHC facilities more (χ2=198.032; p&lt;0.001).Conclusion: Irrespective of the socio-demographic backgrounds of the mothers, they all have feelings and react to situations they encounter daily. There is need to improve the experiences mothers get from encounter with the PHC facilities so as to improve on the perception and increase use of the facilities

Where do tuberculosis patients go for treatment before reporting to DOTS clinics in southern Nigeria

No Abstract.Tanzania Health Research Bulletin Vol. 9(2) 2007: pp.94-10

A comparative analysis of pre-equating and post-equating in a large-scale assessment, high stakes examination

Statistical procedure used in adjusting test score difficulties on test forms is known as “equating”. Equating makes it possible for various test forms to be used interchangeably. In terms of where the equating method fits in the assessment cycle, there are pre-equating and post-equating methods. The major benefits of pre-equating, when applied, are that it facilitates the operational processes of examination bodies in terms of rapid score reporting, quality control and flexibility in the assessment process. The purpose of this study is to ascertain if pre- and post-equating results are comparable. Data for this study, which adopted an equivalent group design method, was taken from the 2012 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) pre-test and 2013 UTME post-test in Use of English (UOE) subject. A pre-equating model using the 3-parameter (3PL) Item Response Theory (IRT) model was used. IRT software was used for the item calibration. Pre- and post-equating were carried out using 100-items per test form in an UOE test. The results indicate that the raw-score and ability estimates between the pre-equated model and the post-equated model were comparable

Sleeping under Insecticide-treated Nets to Prevent Malaria in Nigeria: What Do We Know?

Malaria remains a public-health concern in Nigeria despite huge global investments in the production and distribution of insecticide-treated bednets (ITNs) to protect people from Plasmodium falciparum parasite. Information on the use of ITNs is needed for designing strategies for its effective use. Focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted in communities from 3 geopolitical zones of Nigeria. The people had poor knowledge of malaria and mosquito bites, which resulted in wrong perception and misuse of the nets as door and window blinds to \u201cprotect entire household\u201d since only two nets were given per household. The use of community structures (traditional leaders/village heads, youths, churches, and mosques) was suggested to ensure effective distribution of nets, sensitize, and monitor net-use in the communities. Health education would dispel misconceptions that ITNs could kill, curtail human fertility, and that local gin (Kai-Kai) would induce sleep and make one oblivious of mosquito nuisance

Should Internal Displacement Mean Deprivation of Healthcare for Women and Children in Nigeria?

Nigeria accounts for a high percentage of globally displaced persons, most of whom are women and children. Health conditions of women and children in camps of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) have been topical, and so much of concern is on their access to quality healthcare services in the camps. The study adopts Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) in capturing responses of 12 officials from the Kuje and Fariya IDP Camps in Abuja and Maiduguri respectively. It also adopted the use of thematic analysis in analyzing the data. Findings showed that healthcare facilities exist in these camps, despite occurrences indicating poor health conditions of the IDPs. The study concluded that health inequities persist in both camps, and that the challenges facing the available health facilities should be adequately addressed. Among the challenges were corruption, poor staffing, poor environmental conditions, bureaucratic bottlenecks, and absence of adequate and well-trained social service professionals

Anaemia is typical of pregnancies: capturing community perception and management of anaemia in pregnancy in Anambra State, Nigeria

Background: Anaemia during pregnancy continues to constitute significant challenge to maternal health in Nigeria and contributes substantially to the worsening maternal mortality ratio (MMR) in Nigeria despite a global reduction in MMR in response to effort to improve safe motherhood. The incidence of anaemia during pregnancy is still high (&gt;40 %) in Nigeria, and attitudes and management practices are yet unclear as the peoples\u2019 understanding of the phenomenon remains unclear. This study explored the perceptions/attitudes on anaemia during pregnancy and practices to prevent and/or manage it in Anambra State. Methods: In-depth interview and focus group discussion data were collected from health workers and mothers who delivered within 6 months preceding the study and from mothers and husbands of women who delivered within 6 months preceding the study, respectively. Results: The people expressed some knowledge of anaemia, being common in pregnancies. However, some expressed the view that anaemia being a typical sign of pregnancy cannot be prevented. Some mothers expressed desire for focused antenatal care services to control anaemia but lamented the attitude of the health workers, who make access to these interventions difficult. Conclusions: Control of anaemia in pregnancy should start with providing health education to pregnant women and their partners, who reinforce what the women are told during antenatal care, and with training health workers for friendlier attitudes to clients

Is There a Role for Patent Medicine Vendors in Tuberculosis Control in Southern Nigeria?

Patent medicine vendors (PMVs) are a ubiquitous feature of the informal health sector in Nigeria. A previous study on healthcare-seeking behaviour of persons with chronic cough in southern Nigeria found that over 60% of respondents chose the PMV as a healthcare provider of first instance. This study sought to determine the willingness and capability of PMVs to play a role in the national tuberculosis (TB)-control effort. Study sites were selected through a multi-stage sampling process. In total, 388 PMVs, 17 principal officers of PMV associations, and 17 community leaders were purposively selected. Sets of structured questionnaire were administered to the PMVs while information from the principal officers of PMV associations and community leaders was elicited through in-depth interviews and focus-group discussions (FGDs). Quantitative data were collated using the Epi Info software (version 6.04) and analyzed using the SPSS software (version 15). Most (90%) PMVs indicated that they would be ready to cooperate with the national TB-control programme, if trained. Seventy-three percent attended persons with prolonged cough in the course of their career. However, 48% did not know the cause of TB. Only 3% ever-attended a training session on TB control. Sixty-six percent completed at least 12 years of schooling with secondary school certificate. Eighty percent of the community leaders were happy with the work of PMVs. About two-thirds (65.6%) of the PMVs were male. The PMVs are positively disposed to playing roles in TB control. Given this positive disposition and their widespread acceptance in healthcare-delivery in the communities, they have potentials for playing a role in TB control in southern Nigeria