Pediatric suspension usage & reconstitution practices of mothers in Zaria, northwestern Nigeria

Background: Dry powders for suspension are a common type of drug formulation used for children. Studies have shown that mothers and/other caregivers often have difficulties correctly reconstituting these powders, and accurately measuring out doses.Objectives: To describe the pediatric suspension usage practices, reconstitution techniques and medication related knowledge of mothers attending the antenatal clinic of Ahmadu Bello University Medical Center, Zaria, Kaduna state.Methods: A data collection instrument was used to interview 101 conveniently sampled women in October 2018. After answering the questions in three sections of the instrument, respondents were given a bottle of water and a medicine bottle containing flour. They were then asked to show the researchers how they would normally reconstitute a suspension, and asked to measure out specific doses using a measuring cup.Results: Almost 40% of mothers stored reconstituted medication in the fridge, and less than 20% would administer a forgotten dose when they remembered and continue with the previous dosing times. Regarding reconstitution techniques, 26.7% of mothers initially shook the bottle to loosen the dry powder before adding water, and 39.6% added water in two steps. Less than 10% of respondents could correctly measure 7.5 mL using a measuring cup. Over 40% of them could not accurately calculate medication dosing times in the hypothetical scenario provided to assess their medication related knowledge.Conclusion: The results show that some of the usage practices and reconstitution techniques of the mothers were sub-optimal. Pharmacists can help mothers reconstitute suspensions as part of their pharmaceutical care responsibilities.Keywords: Mothers, Nigeria, Pediatric suspensions, Reconstitution techniqu

Comparative Study of Patients' Adherence between Hospital-based and Communitybased Treatment for Multidrug Resistant Tuberculosis (MDR-TB) in Kaduna State,

Background: Multidrug-Resistant Tuberculosis (MDR-TB) epidemic is threatening the global control of TB. It is driven by the programme, health system  and patient related factors. This study aimed at comparing the level of adherence to treatment among MDR-TB patients treated in hospital-based and  community-based models of care. Methods: This was a comparative cross-sectional survey conducted in 2019 with mixed methods of data collection. The study population were 360 MDR-  TB patients treated in hospital-based and community-based facilities in Kaduna between 2013 and 2018. Questionnaire, FGD and KII guides respectively  were the quantitative and qualitative data collection tools used. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 25.0 was used to analyze the  quantitative data while thematic analysis was used for analysing qualitative data. The quantitative results were presented in descriptive statistics with  level of significance set at p<0.05 and the qualitative results were presented as prose. Results: The majority were males in the community-based 135 (71.8%) and the hospital-based model 126 (73.3%), with median (IQR) ages of 33 (27-40)  years and 34 (27-43) years respectively. Adherence to treatment was significantly higher among patients in hospital-based (64%) compared to  community-based (36%), (p 0.001). Availability of family and community support encourages adherence while lack of food supplies, dissatisfaction with  services and drug side effects were factors against adherence to treatment. Treatment success rate was similar in both models. Conclusion: Adherence was better among patients initiated on treatment in the hospital-based model. Adherence should be strengthened in the  community-based model by regular counselling and health education

Knowledge and Attitude of Men towards Factors influencing Childhood Mortality in a Semi-Urban Community in Northwestern Nigeria

Background: In spite of concerted global efforts to reduce childhood mortality, countries in Sub-Saharan Africa are still being plagued with incomparably high mortality rates; thereby contributing majorly to the global burden. These deaths occur from causes which are preventable. Men play a pivotal role in sustained efforts to reduce childhood mortality, however, they are usually overlooked in favour of the mothers. The study aimed to assess the knowledge and attitude of men towards factors influencing childhood mortality in a semi-urban community, North-Western Nigeria.Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted using structured interviewer-administered questionnaire. A total of 174 married men were sampled using a multistage sampling technique. Data collected were analysed using the IBM SPSS version 21. Results were presented in tables and bar charts. The level of statistical significance was set at p<0.05.Results: The mean age (±SD) of the respondents was 38 (±11.2) years. One hundred and ten (64.7%) of the respondents had lost a child under the age of five years. Majority 142 (83.5%) of the respondents had poor knowledge of risk factors influencing childhood mortality and 141 (82.9%) of the respondents had a positive attitude towards prevention of childhood mortality.Conclusion: The study has highlighted the need for increased male involvement in child health issues. Interventions such as health education and community mobilization that aims to educate men on risk factors and danger signs associated with poor childhood health outcomes should be carried out in this area

Factors associated with prelacteal feeding practices in a rural northern Nigerian setting

Introduction: Prelacteal feeding practice contravenes the recommendation of World Health Organisation that breastfeeding be initiated within an hour of childbirth. Consequently, the health, social, emotional and economic benefits of optimal breastfeeding are limited. Therefore, to break this vicious cycle of prelacteal feeding and suboptimal breastfeeding, factors associated with the practice must be identified.Objective: To assess prelacteal feeding practices and its associated factors in a rural community with the view to generate data for community-level interventions that will promote optimal breastfeeding.Methods: Data was collected during a community-based surveillance for maternal, newborn and child health project in Tsibiri, a rural community in north-western Nigeria. The survey questionnaire was uploaded into mobile devices running on an android operating system. Trained female interviewers collected the data over a period of one week in 2011.Results: A total of 270 out of 309 interviewed women had experienced childbirth and were included in the analysis. Majority (85.2%) of respondents utilised prelacteal feeds for their newborns. Plain water was the most common prelacteal feed (44.7%). Prelacteal feeding was associated with births assisted by unskilled birth attendants (AOR 5.322, 95%CI 1.634-17.333); while operative delivery reduced the likelihood of the practice (AOR 0.168, 95%CI 0.060-0.470). No statistically significant association was found between use of prelacteal feed and women’s age, education or access to income.Conclusion: The predominance of prelacteal feeding practices underscores the need for innovative strategies that create awareness among mothers and health care providers, with emphasis on health facility deliveries, advantages of breastfeeding and risks of prelacteal feeding.Keywords: Breastfeeding, Newborns, Prelacteal feeds, Rural community, Wome

Attitude towards ultrasound among pregnant women attending antenatal care in Zaria Local Government Area

Ultrasonography presently forms an integral part of antenatal care worldwide. It is a common investigative tool in most public and private health facilities in developed and developing countries. Routine obstetric ultrasound has been one of the most important advances in antenatal care worldwide. It is useful in the early detection and monitoring of the conditions that give rise to fetal and maternal compromise and has become an indispensable adjunct to the management efforts of practitioners in this regard. Therefore, pregnant women`s attitude towards the usage of this innovation is paramount for its utilization.The study determined the attitude toward obstetric ultrasound by pregnant mothers attending antenatal care in Zaria Local Government, Kaduna State. It was cross sectional descriptive study of 200 pregnant women selected through multistage sampling technique. A structured interviewer-administered questionnaire, validated questionnaire was administered to each participant to ascertain the attitude towards the usage of ultrasound during pregnancy. Data obtained was analyzed using IBM SPSS 22. Most (29.5%) of the respondents were 20-24years old, majority (95.5%) were full time housewives. Majority of the respondents were Hausa (94.5%) and Muslim (96.5%). This study showed that 64.5% of respondents had positive attitude towards ultrasound usage in pregnancy.There was positive attitude among the respondents in Zaria; towards obstetric scan. This depicts the wide acceptability of ultra-sonography in modern day health care delivery system. Keywords: Pregnant mothers, Ultrasound, Antenatal Care, Zari

Predictors of pediatric HIV disclosure among caregivers of HIV positive children attending special treatment clinic in Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital, Lafia, Nigeria

Background: HIV‑infected children now live longer due to the availability of HIV counseling, testing, and treatment with highly active antiretroviral treatment (HAART). Efforts to help these children to know about the HIV infection and their status are important steps toward long‑term disease management. This study was conducted to determine the factors associated with pediatric HIV disclosure among caregivers of children attending Special Treatment Clinic at Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital, Lafia. Methods: This was a descriptivecross‑sectional study conducted among 160 caregivers of children attending the Special Treatment Clinic (STC) at DASH, Lafia, selected by systematic random sampling technique. Interviewer administered structured questionnaire was used to collect data, while bivariate and multivariate analyses were done with the Epi Info version 7. Results: Pediatric HIV disclosure rate in this study was 33.8%. The mean age at pediatric HIV disclosure was 9.85 ± 1.86 years. The independent predictors for pediatric HIV disclosure following logistic regression were child’s age, 10–14 years (AOR = 4.46; 95%CI 1.47–13.61), child knowledge of caregivers’ HIV status (AOR = 51.18; 95%CI 13.40–195.66), and caregivers’ age ≥40 years (AOR = 3.58; 95%CI 1.25–11.74). Conclusions: The pediatric HIV disclosure was low in this study due to the caregivers’ and their wards’ factors. Health care workers need to intensify health education on the benefit of pediatric HIV disclosure at the STC clinic.&nbsp

Assessment of Perceived Family Psychological Support among Depressed Patients in two Psychiatric Hospitals Kaduna State

A family member experiencing mental illness or any other challenge usually finds the family as the first point of support. Family members supply the required psychological support and care for the affected family member.  This study assessed the perceived family psychological support among depressed patients in Psychiatric Hospitals, Kaduna State Nigeria.  The study adopted a descriptive cross sectional research design. One hundred and forty-four (144) depressed patients were randomly selected from Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital and Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital (FNPH) both in Kaduna State. Statistical package social sciences (SPSS) version 22, was used to analyse the data. The results showed that 40% of the 144 participants claimed to be psychologically supported by their families.  This means that less than half of the depressed patients under review, had high level of perceived psychological support from their family members. Females received more family psychological support than their male counterparts. Recovery rate, using the Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale (HADS), was significantly correlated with the level of family members’ psychological support. It is therefore, recommended that more focus should be placed on enhancing more family psychological supports for depressed patients most especially in the areas of encouragement towards health education, religious and / or spiritual activities, brightening the moods of their patients, and  more moral support. Also, family focused psycho education should be provided to family members of depressed patients by the professional care givers. Keywords: Psychological Support, Family, Care, Depression, Tertiary Hospital