Prevalence of H. Pylori Seropositivity among Adult Nigerian Dyspeptic Patients

Background: Helicobacter pylori has been recognized as a common cause of diseases that manifest with dyspepsia.Objective: To determine the prevalence of H. pylori in dyspeptic patients and relate this with the duration of presentation, sociodemographic factors and socio-economic class (SEC) of the respondents.Materials and Method: This is a descriptive cross-sectional study carried out between April, 2010 and August, 2010 in the GOPD, Federal Medical Center, Owerri. A total of 150 dyspeptic adults formed the study population. Data was collected by the use of selfadministered questionnaires while the test was done by Rapid Diagnostic Test (serological method). The findings showed that the prevalence of H. pylori in the study population was 76.7(n=115) while 92.9% of the subjects in SEC III who presented with dyspepsia were seropositive to H. pylori. The relationship between SEC and the prevalence of H. pylori was statistically significant (P<0.005). Furthermore, the longer the duration of symptoms the higher the prevalence of H. pylori seropositivity.Conclusion: The Rapid Diagnostic Test for H. pylori which was applied in this study is simple, cheap and does not require expertise. The strips should be made readily available in Primary Health Centers and GOPDs for the screening of dyspeptic patients before empirical treatment with triple regimen and referral to tertiary facilities for diagnostic endoscopy.Keywords: Helicobacter pylori, Prevalence, Demographic

Utilization of Insecticide Treated Nets by Pregnant Women Accessing Antenatal Care at the Federal Medical Centre, Owerri.

Background: Studies have demonstrated that the use of ITNs in pregnancy reduces malaria related morbidity and mortality. This study was conducted to determine the knowledge, attitude and practice of pregnant women on the use of ITNs.Method: It was a descriptive cross sectional study carried out between May November, 2012. A total of 210 pregnant women attending ANC gave consent for the study. Data was collected with the aid of pre tested questionnaires and analyzed by the use of epi info version 6.0.Result: The mean age of the study population was 28.9 Eighty nine percent of the subjects were aware that regular use of ITNs was preventive against malaria while 53.8% were utilizing ITNs as at the time of the study. Respondents aged 40 years and above, civil servants, married subjects, multigravid subjects and respondents belonging to SEC III showed higher rates of utilization when compared with others in the same corresponding socio demographic characteristics. However, there was no statistical significant relationship between any of the above variables and the rate of utilization of ITNs.Conclusion/Recommendations: In view of the relatively low rate of utilization of ITNs when compared with the level of awareness, it was recommended that ITNs should be distributed free to all the pregnant women at booking. More so, intensive sensitization should be embarked upon to demystify the erroneous belief that the chemical used in the treatment of ITNs is teratogenic to the fetus.Keywords: Antenatal care, Insecticide treated net; Owerri