Tropical Parasitic Diseases andWomen

Tropical parasitic diseases constitute the greatest threat to the health and socio – economic status of women as a gender and social group. There are some gender specific ways in which parasitic diseasesaffect women in contrast to men due to differences in exposure, occupational risk, sociocultural behavior, gender roles and practices. These parasitic diseases confer some social stigma, which affects the healthseeking behavior of women. Women are therefore important in the control of these parasitic diseases and they are key agents of change, if they are included in community control programs. Women need moreattention in endemic areas as a group that had been neglected. This deprived and excluded group have got vital role to play, as discussed in this revie

Nipping the Malaria Vectors in the Bud: Focus on Nigeria

Vector control is an important component of malaria control. Human malaria is a mosquito-borne parasitic disease which causes up to a million deaths a year and is estimated to infect over 212 million people worldwide. It is present in 97 countries covering half of the world’s population. Around 90% of deaths occur in sub-Saharan Africa, especially Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Malaria is the most widespread mosquito-borne disease in Nigeria where it has a holoendemic status. Of the four malaria parasites in Africa, Plasmodium falciparum is the most common malaria species, while Anopheles gambiae sensu stricto is the predominant vector in Nigeria. This review discusses the challenges to control malaria in Nigeria which gives a larger picture of sub-Saharan Africa. These challenges include the adaptability of the anopheles mosquito to the environment, their diversity, and their different vectorial capacities. Despite all the efforts to control malaria, it is still a public health challenge in Nigeria and in sub-Saharan Africa. However, one of the basic challenges is the source which are the diverse breeding sites. This problem is enhanced by malariogenic activities of humans. Salient recommendations for vector control by nipping the malaria vector in the bud were identified and advocated

Evaluation of the physico-chemical properties of produced water from oil producing well in the Niger Delta Area, Nigeria

Physicochemical properties of produced water from oil producing well were  conducted using standard methods (American standard for testing and materials). Samples were obtained at different periods within two months. Produced water comprises approximately 98% of the total volume of exploration and production (E&P) waste generated by the oil and gas industry. Results obtained; pH (7.90-8.10), total oil and grease (27.00-37.00mg/l), sulphate (45.00-75.00mg/l), total petroleum hydrocarbon (12.00-14.00 mg/l), electrical conductivity (26100.00-26600.00μs/cm), total dissolved solid (16750.00-17100.00mg/l); salinity (22801.00 – 23403mg/l) show that all the measured parameters were within specification as recommended by Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR). TOG of produced water receives the most attention in both offshore and onshore locations while salt content (electrical conductivity, salinity and total dissolved solids) receive more attention in onshore locations. TOG and TPH above permissible limit (40 mg/l and 20 mg/l respectively) reduces the biochemical oxygen demand in the sea which is detrimental to the survival of aquatic life. Maintaining sulphate concentration within acceptable limit prevents scale formation by calcium and barium ions. Volume of water produced increases with the age of Crude oil production.Key Words: Physicochemical, toxicity, reservoir, aquatic, offshore, benthic

Social Aspects of Malaria among Students in Two Tertiary Institutions in Lagos, Nigeria

Studies were carried out on the social aspects of malaria among 600 students. Three hundred students (150 male, 150 females) were randomly selected from two tertiary institutions in Lagos, Nigeria. These schools are Lagos State University (LASU) and AOCOED (Adeniran Ogunsanya College of Education). A structured questionnaire elicited relevant information on knowledge, perception and social aspects of malaria. Students aged 21-23, from faculty of arts and in their second year participated mostly in the study with no significant difference between the two schools. In LASU, 223(74.3%) and 211(70.3%) in AOCOED knew the cause of malaria (P>0.05). In LASU, 282(94%) and 192(64%) in AOCOED believed that malaria could be prevented (P<0.05). In LASU, 283(96%) and 283(94.3%) in AOCOED believed malaria could be treated (P>0.05). 109 (36.3%) respondents in LASU and 112(37.3%) in AOCOED thought that malaria was contagious (P>0.05). Fever was the most recognised symptom of malaria in both schools and self-medication was more popular in AOCOED. In LASU, 284(94.6%) and AOCOED, 273(91%) had malaria in the past one year (P>0.05). 146(48.7%) of the students who participated in LASU and 206(68.6%) in AOCOED had been admitted for malaria within the past one year (P<0.05). Class absenteeism and low academic performance were significantly higher in AOCOED than LASU. However, our results suggested that the LASU students were more informed about malaria than the AOCOED students because their knowledge and perception was better. The students, despite their academic backgrounds need intensified health education on malaria incorporated into their schools’ curriculum.Keywords: Academic performance, Knowledge and perception, Malaria, Socioeconomic status, Student

Transmission dynamics of malaria in Nigeria.

Background: Two of the problems of malaria parasite vector control in Nigeria are the diversity of Anopheline vectors and large size of the country. Anopheline distribution and transmission dynamics of malaria were therefore compared between four ecotypes in Nigeria during the rainy season. Methods: Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used in molecular identification after morphological identification microscopically. Enzyme linked immunorsorbent assay (ELISA) was used for the blood meal analysis and sporozoite detection. Results: Five species were identified out of 16,410 anophelines collected. An. gambiae s.s made up approximately 29.2%-36.6% of the population in each zone. All five species acted as vectors for P. falciparum. An. gambiae s.s had the highest sporozoite rate. The most infected mosquitoes were found in the rain forest. More blood meals were taken from bovids, except the savannah forest, where 73.3%were on humans and Human Blood index (HBI) was 57.3%. The Entomological inoculation rate (EIR) was a mean of 13.6 ib/p but was highest in the rainforest zone. Conclusions and limitations: This study demonstrates the complex distribution of anophelines and theconsiderable variations in the intensity of malaria transmission in Nigeria. We highlight the need to consider diverse epidemiological situations when planning countrywide control programmes

Tropical Parasitic Diseases and Women

Tropical parasitic diseases constitute the greatest threat to the health and socio \u2013 economic status of women as a gender and social group. There are some gender specific ways in which parasitic diseases affect women in contrast to men due to differences in exposure, occupational risk, sociocultural behavior, gender roles and practices. These parasitic diseases confer some social stigma, which affects the health seeking behavior of women. Women are therefore important in the control of these parasitic diseases and they are key agents of change, if they are included in community control programs. Women need more attention in endemic areas as a group that had been neglected. This deprived and excluded group have got vital role to play, as discussed in this review.Les maladies parasitoses tropicales constituent une tres grande menace pour la santee. Un probleme socio economique aux femmes comme un genre et en tant qu'un groupe. Ils ya des manieres specifiques par les quelles ces maladies attaquent les femmes contrairement aux hommes a cause de la facon differente d'exposition, occupation, reagisment culture et social Cette maladie entraine une honte sociale et nuire la santee des femmes. Les femmes sont donc tres importantes, et meme des elements cles a conbatttre cette maladie si l'on les incure dans programmes de la commisnaute. En tant au qu'un groupe exclusif et negligee les femmes ont besoin de beaucoup d'attention puis quelles ont un role importante a jouer dans ce contexte