A Case for Adoption of Industry-Wide Application of Solar Disinfection of Packaged Drinking Water Before Distribution in Nigeria

The study makes a case for adoption of an industry-wide application of solar disinfection (SODIS) in the disinfection of packaged water at the production stage. To do this, 60 samples, comprising 12 brands of bottled water and 18 brands of sachet-packaged water were randomly purchased from street vendors in Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria and investigated. One sample was hidden from sunlight while the other sample was exposed to a day of sunlight before the two samples were subjected to microbial analysis for the determination of total coliform (TC) using the method of multiple-tube fermentation technique (MPN). Results show that 63% of packaged water vended in Nsukka is not fit for consumption. The risk of contamination is about 44% higher in sachet water when compared with bottled water (relative risk = 1.44). Exposing packaged water to a day of sunlight reduces the risk of consuming contaminated water by about 97% (relative risk reduction value = 0.97). Advocacy of industry-wide application of SODIS may hold the key to ending widespread contamination of packaged water and the resulting life-threatening illnesses that have decimated the population of developing countries

Medical causes of admissions to hospital among adults in Africa: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Despite the publication of several studies on the subject, there is significant uncertainty regarding the burden of disease among adults in sub-Saharan Africa (sSA). OBJECTIVES: To describe the breadth of available data regarding causes of admission to hospital, to systematically analyze the methodological quality of these studies, and to provide recommendations for future research. DESIGN: We performed a systematic online and hand-based search for articles describing patterns of medical illnesses in patients admitted to hospitals in sSA between 1950 and 2010. Diseases were grouped into bodily systems using International Classification of Disease (ICD) guidelines. We compared the proportions of admissions and deaths by diagnostic category using χ2. RESULTS: Thirty articles, describing 86,307 admissions and 9,695 deaths, met the inclusion criteria. The leading causes of admission were infectious and parasitic diseases (19.8%, 95% confidence interval [CI] 19.6-20.1), respiratory (16.2%, 95% CI 16.0-16.5) and circulatory (11.3%, 95% CI 11.1-11.5) illnesses. The leading causes of death were infectious and parasitic (17.1%, 95% CI 16.4-17.9), circulatory (16%, 95% CI 15.3-16.8) and digestive (16.2%, 95% CI 15.4-16.9). Circulatory diseases increased from 3.9% of all admissions in 1950-59 to 19.9% in 2000-2010 (RR 5.1, 95% CI 4.5-5.8, test for trend p<0.00005). The most prevalent methodological deficiencies, present in two-thirds of studies, were failures to use standardized case definitions and ICD guidelines for classifying illnesses. CONCLUSIONS: Cardiovascular and infectious diseases are currently the leading causes of admissions and in-hospital deaths in sSA. Methodological deficiencies have limited the usefulness of previous studies in defining national patterns of disease in adults. As African countries pass through demographic and health transition, they need to significantly invest in clinical research capacity to provide an accurate description of the disease burden among adults for public health policy

Use of mixed methods designs in substance research: a methodological necessity in Nigeria

The utility of mixed methods (qualitative and quantitative) is becoming increasingly accepted in health sciences, but substance studies are yet to substantially benefit from such utilities. While there is a growing number of mixed methods alcohol articles concerning developed countries, developing nations are yet to embrace this method. In the Nigerian context, the importance of mixed methods research is yet to be acknowledged. This article therefore, draws on alcohol studies to argue that mixed methods designs will better equip scholars to understand, explore, describe and explain why alcohol consumption and its related problems are increasing in Nigeria. It argues that as motives for consuming alcohol in contemporary Nigeria are multiple, complex and evolving, mixed method approaches that provide multiple pathways for proffering solutions to problems should be embraced

Impact of dietary patterns, individual and workplace characteristics on blood pressure status among civil servants in Bida and Wushishi communities of Niger State, Nigeria

The global burden estimate of hypertension is alarming and results in several million deaths annually. A high incidence of sudden deaths from cardiovascular diseases in the civil workforce in Nigeria is often reported. However, the associations between Dietary Patterns (DPs), individual, and workplace characteristics of hypertension among this workforce have not been fully explored. This study aimed to identify DP in the Bida and Wushishi Communities of Niger State and establish its relationship with hypertension along with other individual and workplace characteristics. Factor analysis was used to establish DP, Chi-square test to identify their relationships with hypertension, and logistic regression to determine the predictor risk factors. The prevalence of hypertension was 43.7%; mean weight, height, and body fat were: 72.8±15 kg, 166±8.9 mm and 30.4%, respectively. Three DPs: “Efficient Diet,” “Local diet,” and “Energy Boost Diet” were identified. The factor loading scores for these factors were divided into quintiles Q1–Q5; none of them had a significant effect on hypertension status. Conversely, increase in age, the Ministry, Department, and Agency (MDA) of employment, frequency of eating in restaurants, and obesity were identified as significant risk factors. After adjusting for confounders (age, body mass index, MDA, and eating habits), a high score (Q5) in “efficient diet pattern” was significantly related to a lower likelihood of hypertension than a low score (Q1). The prevalence of hypertension among the participants was relatively very high. An increase in age and working in educational sector were risk factors associated with hypertension. Therefore, it is recommended that civil servants engage in frequent exercise and undergo regular medical checkups, especially as they get older. These findings highlight the need for large-scale assessment of the impact of variables considered in this study on hypertension, among the civil workforce across Niger state and Nigeria

Diet, alcohol consumption and serum lipid levels of elderly men and women of ibo extraction in the Delta

Background: Serum lipid levels are directly associated with the development and progression of coronary heart disease especially in the elderly and lifestyle factors can modify this association. This study aims to determine the effect of diet and alcohol consumption on lipid profile of elderly subjects in Asaba, Delta state. Method: Elderly subjects attending quarterly medical lectures organized by a non-governmental organization at the Federal Medical Center, Asaba were recruited. Information on diet, alcohol consumption and hypertension were obtained and serum lipids were determined using standard cholesterol/ LDL cholesterol precipitating reagents. Results: They were 110 males and 66 females. The prevalence of hypercholesterolemia was 47%. Elevated total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol was associated with consumption of high fatty diet and absence/high alcohol consumption, although, this was not statistically significant (p=0.3). Conclusion: Dyslipidaemia is prevalent in our elderly population and low dietary fat and moderate alcohol consumption are associated with better lipid parameter

Prevalence of peripheral artery disease in adult hypertensive patients in Nnewi, Nigeria

Background: Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is usually due to artherosclerosis obliterans of the arteries of the lower limbs. Patients with PAD are at increased risk of mortality from major cardiovascular events, such as myocardial infarction and stroke. This study aims to find the prevalence of peripheral artery disease in adult hypertensive subjects in Nnewi. Materials and Methods : The study was carried out among adult hypertensive subjects in the medical outpatient clinics and the medical wards of the NnamdiAzikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi.Two-hundred and fifty subjects were recruited between August 2004 and December 2004 for this study. The Rose Intermittent Claudication Questionnaire was administered and the Ankle-Brachial Index (ABI) was assessed with a hand-held Doppler device. PAD was defined as ABI > 0.9.TheEpi info (2002 version) statistical software was used for statistical analysis. Results: The mean age of the study subjects was 58.9±8.9 years. They comprises106 (42.5%) males and 144 (57.6%) females. The overall prevalence of PAD was 24.8% in the total study group. The ratio of asymptomatic to symptomatic subjects was 3.4:1. Hypertensive subjects with diabetes mellitus had a slightly higher prevalence rate (26%), compared to those with hypertension only (24%). The prevalence of PAD was much higher in patients above 55 years (30.7%) than in those below 55 yearsof age (15.5%). Conclusion : Peripheral artery disease is common, though largely asymptomatic in Nigerian hypertensive subjects. More efforts at screening and unmasking subjects are required

The importance of chronic pain education and awareness amongst occupational safety and health professionals

Ch&uacute;k Odenigbo,1 Nancy Julien,2 Nabiha Benyamina Douma,2 Ana&iuml;s Lacasse21Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, School of Public Health, Montreal University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; 2Department of Health Sciences, University of Quebec in Abitibi-Temiscamingue, Rouyn-Noranda, Quebec, CanadaPurpose: Occupational safety and health (OSH) professionals are often the point of contact for health and safety policies derived in the workplace, and the handling of incidents in their aftermath. As chronic pain affects 20% of people, many pain-awareness campaigns and educational activities target healthcare professionals. However, initiatives directed toward OSH professionals are also important to aid in prevention and rehabilitation efforts. The objective of this study was to describe knowledge and attitudes of OSH students with regard to chronic pain.Methods: A web-based cross-sectional study was conducted amongst a convenience sample of 88 students enrolled in the distance learning OSH undergraduate certificate program at the Universit&eacute; du Qu&eacute;bec en Abitibi-T&eacute;miscamingue (Quebec, Canada).Results: Although 30% of students were already employed within OSH or human resources and 40% reported intervening in cases involving chronic pain in their line of work, 56% of respondents had received no training on chronic pain and its treatment in the past five years. Only 14% chose to take the optional 45&nbsp;hr course dedicated to pain within the program. OSH students also exhibited poorer knowledge and more negative attitudes toward people suffering from chronic pain when compared to other groups assessed in the province of Quebec, including healthcare professionals, chronic pain patients, and people not suffering from chronic pain (p&le;0.0002). Half of the respondents (51.9%) were not aware that chronic pain affects 1 in 5 adults.Conclusion: Our study demonstrates a need for pain education within OSH training programs and through continuing education.Keywords: knowledge, attitudes, education, chronic pain, occupational safety and health, OS

Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Among Adults Attending Medical Outpatient Clinic Using Ultrasound

Background: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a common metabolic disorder characterized by accumulation of excess fat in the liver in the absence of significant alcohol consumption. This condition has been linked to certain risk factors such as obesity, Type 2 diabetes, and dyslipidaemia. Data in the developing economies are very scanty, hence the need for this study.Objectives: To ascertain the frequency and correlates of NAFLD among adult Nigerians and staging this condition using ultrasound. It also aimed at evaluating correlations between NAFLD and possible associated factors such as obesity, type 2 diabetes and dyslipidaemia.Methodology: Consenting adult patients attending Out Patient Clinic at Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital (NAUTH) who do not have significant alcohol consumption and were serologically negative for Hepatitis B or C infections were recruited for the study. Biodata and other relevant clinical histories were taken and clinical anthropometric measurements obtained. Blood samples were taken from the patients to assess their fasting blood glucose, liver function tests and fasting lipid profiles. An experienced ultra-sonographer performed abdominal ultrasound scan looking for presence of NAFLD and staged it. Data were analysed with statistical package for social sciences software(SPSS), version 17Results: A total of 102 individuals participated in the study, 46(45.1%) females and 56(54.9%) males. The mean age of the study participants was 53.1±16.4 years (range 22-88 years). Female male ratio was 1:1.2. About thirty-one percent of the patients studied had NAFLD. Both the mean BMI and mean Waist Circumference were higher among subjects with NAFLD compared to those without ultrasonographic evidence of NAFLD, with p-values of ˂0.001 and 0.008 respectively. Diabetes mellitus was significantly present among the participants with NAFLD compared to those participants without evidence of NAFLD (53.1% vs 27.1%, p=0.011). Hypertension had a similar relationship, but not significant (p = 0.121).Conclusion: The prevalence of NAFLD seems to be high in this hospital based study and important correlates are obesity and Diabetes mellitus. Key Words: Fatty liver disease, Obesity, Type 2 diabetes, Hyperlipidemia, Metabolic syndrome, Insulin resistanc