Family variables and its influence on malaria prevention practices among households in Ife east local government area, Osun state, Nigeria

Background: An understanding of the family variables that influence malaria prevention practices (MPPs) is valuable in endemic communities with  implications for family health. The study aim was to determine the family variables influencing MPPs among households in Ife East Local Government  Area of Osun state.Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional survey that used a pre-tested interviewer-administered questionnaire. Chi-square test was used to  determine the relationship between family variables and MPPs. Binary logistic regression was used to identify family variables influencing MPPs.Results: Among 272 households, 52.6% had good MPPs. Family variables influencing good MPPs include monogamous family (OR = 2.02, 95% CI = 1.10 –  3.71, p = 0.023), less than 5 family size (OR = 2.42, 95% CI = 1.39 – 4.22, p = 0.002) and primary level of education (OR = 5.78, 95% CI = 2.01 – 16.61, p = 0.001).Conclusion: Among the households, use of MPPs was fair and it was significantly influenced by some family variables. These findings highlight the need  to take cognizance of family variables in the design of programs for malaria intervention

Predictors of Child Labour Among In-School Adolescents in a Rural Local Government Area in Oyo State, Nigeria

Background: Child labour continues to be a daunting challenge worldwide. Child labour contradicts the intrinsic value Africans place on children. Objective: The study determined the prevalence and predictors of child labour. Subjects: in-school adolescents aged 10-14 years Methodology: This descriptive cross-sectional study design. The data was collected using a pre-tested semi-structured questionnaire on child labour, school attendance, and academic performance. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Result: About 31.5% of the 660 participants had ever been engaged in child labour while 24.2% were currently engaged. The types of child labour the respondents were involved in included shop trading (85.0%) and street hawking (76.3%). Most employers of child labour were parents (85.0%) and the majority (71.3%) were unpaid. Few respondents involved in child labour had good attendance record (14.2%) and good academic performance (10.6%). The predictors of child labour include mothers lower education (OR=8.786, 95%CI= 3.589-21.508, p<0.0001), having more than three children in the family (OR=2.488, 95%CI=1.403-4.425, p=0.002) and loss of parents (OR=1.7, 95%CI=1.059-2.755, p=0.028). Conclusion: Child labour was prevalent among in-school adolescents. It negatively influences school attendance and academic performance. It is necessary to discourage child labour through community sensitization and improving the socio-economic status of parents

Methods of payment for health care and perception of a prepayment scheme among auto-technicians in Abuja, Nigeria

Background: The National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) in Nigeria has succeeded in enrolling only a minute fraction of the population. Studies on the scheme among informal sector employees are required to plan a scale up of the programme in this group which represents the majority of the working population in the country. Objective: This study sought to assess the method of payment for health care, awareness of and the perception about the NHIS among auto-technicians in Abuja, Nigeria. Method: A cross-sectional descriptive survey was conducted among auto-technicians in Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Nigeria.  Data was collected using interviewer-administered questionnaire, and analyzed with SPSS version 17. Results: A total of 351 auto-technicians and allied workers participated in the study. Post-secondary education [(Odds Ratio (OR) = 7.78, 95% CI = 1.61 – 37.54, p = 0.01)] and having a spouse who is gainfully employed [(OR = 3.67, 95% CI = 1.04-12.93)] predicted awareness of the NHIS. Older people above forty years of age were significantly less likely to be aware of the NHIS, (OR = 0.27, 95% CI = 0.08 – 0.92, p = 0.036). Conclusions: Despite the glaring need and willingness of the participants to enroll  in a prepayment scheme for health, workers in the  informal sector of the economy may remain unreached by NHIS due to lack of awareness and skepticism. Strategic steps to remove ignorance and dispel doubts is imperative for scale up of the NHIS in the informal sector

Management of gestational diabetes mellitus at secondary health care level: a survey of ante-natal care givers' knowledge, attitude and practice

Background: Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM) account for the majority of cases of Diabetes complicating pregnancy. It is amenable to risk reduction measures and if properly managed, complications leading to poor pregnancy outcome can be prevented. However, this requires a good knowledge of the disease by the health professionals attending to pregnant women. This study assessed the knowledge, attitude and practice of ante-natal care givers in Oyo state through a questionnaire survey. Methodology: The sturdy is a cross-sectional survey conducted in the month ofJune 2012 at a workshop attended by Medical Doctors and Nurses attending to pregnant women at secondary healthcare level in Oyo State, South Western Nigeria. The questionnaire was developed locally, similar to diabetes attitude survey third version (DAS 3) 1, but adapted to local setting. It however assessed basic knowledge of the Medical officers and Nurses in the routine ANC practice about screening, diagnoses and attitudes to treatment of GDM at the secondary health care level. Results: A total of 166 questionnaires were administered, 120 met the inclusion criteria and were analyzed. There were 46 Medical Doctors and 74 Nurses. Average age of Medical Doctors was 36±7.4years, Nurses is 44±4.8 years. Except for risk factors and complications, both the Medical Doctors and Nurses have poor knowledge and practice concerning gestational diabetes mellitus. However, Medical Doctors demonstrated better attitudes compared to the Nurses and it was statistically significant (p value i

Patterns of Perception of Causes and Prevalence of Anaemia at Booking in Tropical General Hospital

The main contributor to high maternal mortality in Nigeria is anaemia in pregnancy which can be prevented. Descriptive cross sectional study. Total sampling was done. Consecutive pregnant women presenting at the antenatal clinic, state hospital, Osogbo were requested to complete an interviewer administered questionnaire determining the awareness of pregnant women attending antenatal clinic on common causes of anaemia. Data was analyzed with SPSS v 11. One hundred and sixty seven (100%) pregnant women completed the questionnaire. Mean age of the respondents was 29.0 ±4.8 years. Nearly all (98.2%) were married. Most (97.6%) completed primary education. Majority (44.9%) of the respondents were traders. Majority of their husbands were traders (38%), civil servants (24.6%), and artisans (22.8%). Over half 56.4% had 1-4 children while 2.4% had 5-6 children. Two-fifth (41.3%) were primigravida. Most (78.4%) clients have heard of hookworms while more than half (53.3%) knew its mode of transmission and 33.5% knew its prevention. Majority (73.1%) of the clients knew that sickle cell disease can be inherited while 73.7% knew that marriage counseling can prevent sickle cell disease. Nearly all clients (98.2%) knew their genotype while 33.5% do not know their husband/partner genotype. None of the clients with children had checked the genotype of their children. Most 61.7% eat balanced diet everyday. Over one-third (32.3%) of the clients had moderate anaemia. A significant number of respondents had poor knowledge to causes of anaemia in this environment. More public enlightenment need to be carried out on this very important topic to reduce maternal morbidity and mortality from anaemia in pregnancy.Key words: knowledge; pregnant women; anaemia; maternal mortalit

Factors associated with sarcopenia among older patients attending a geriatric clinic in Nigeria

Context: Aging is characterized by progressive and generalized loss of skeletal muscle mass and strength called sarcopenia which causes poor health and  disability. There is paucity of data on this syndrome of public health importance among older Nigerians. Aim: This study determined the prevalence and factors associated with sarcopenia among persons aged 60 years and above at a geriatric center in Nigeria.Materials and Methods: A cross‑sectional study of 642 persons aged ≥60 years who attended the geriatric center between March and July 2014. Sarcopenia was diagnosed using the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People criteria. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were carried out using SPSS 20. Alpha was set at 0.05.Results: The mean age ± standard deviation of the respondents was 69.1 ± 7.2 years, and 378 (60.6%) were females. The point prevalence of sarcopenia was 5.4% which was significantly higher among the females compared with the males (7.1% vs. 2.8%) P = 0.02. Low muscle mass and low gait speed were found in 10.9% and 36.1%, respectively. Logistic regression analysis showed age (odds ratio [OR] =1.090; 95% confidence interval [CI] =1.034–1.149, P = 0.01), having no formal education (OR = 2.810; 95% CI = 1.043–7.573, P = 0.04), malnutrition (OR = 5.817; 95% CI = 1.471–23.434, P = 0.01), and female gender (OR = 3.068; 95% CI = 1.068–8.817, P = 0.04) to be the predictors of sarcopenia.Conclusion: Older people in this setting are at risk of developing sarcopenia,  especially the females. Healthcare workers should address the social and health‑related factors which could lead to sarcopenia.Keywords: Geriatric clinic, Nigeria, older patients, sarcopeni

Socio-demographic predictors of job-related stress among all cadres of health care workers in a Tertiary Health Institution, South western Nigeria: A need for holistic approach

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Pattern of intestinal helminthiasis among under five children and their family members in Ilesa West Local Government Area, Osun State, Nigeria

Background: Intestinal helminthiasis is one of the most common infestations worldwide, especially among the poorest communities of the developing world. The disease burden of intestinal helminthiasis is as great as those of tuberculosis (34.7 million Disability Adjusted Life Years - DALYs) and malaria (46.5 million DALYs). It has significant adverse impact on the growth and cognitive development of children especially those less than five years who make up 10 to 20 percent of the two billion people who are infested with helminths. A number of studies have identified some of the risk factors for helminth infestation among school-aged children but relatively little work has been done on helminth infestation among children aged less than five years. It was therefore necessary to embark on this study, with the aim of studying the pattern of intestinal helminthiasis among under five children and their family members in Ilesa West Local Government Area of Osun State, Nigeria.Methods: A descriptive cross sectional survey of 340 children under five years, and their caregivers was conducted in Ilesa with a pretested interviewer administered structured questionnaire. Stool specimens were examined using the kato-katz technique.Results: Stool was positive for helminths among 81 (23.8%) study subjects and in 73 (21.5%) families, another family member was helminth infected. Majority (44, 54.3%) of infected children were females. Children in the age group 12 – 24 years (24, 29.6%) were the most affected. Intensity of infection was light (less than 1000 eggs per gram of stool) among study subjects and their family members. Ascaris lumbricoides occurred most frequently among study subjects (82.7%) and their family members (86.3%). Surprisingly, there was no mix infection in the study. Majority of the studied families belong to the higher socioeconomic class (228, 67.1%). Most mothers reported that they washed their hands before eating (99.1%), after using the toilet (94.4%) and after toileting for their children (79.4%).Conclusion: The frequency of helminth infection was found to be high among children under five years and their family members.Keywords: intestinal; helminthiasis; under-five; children; famil

Effects of adherence to antiretroviral therapy on body mass index, immunological and virological status of Nigerians living with HIV/AIDS

Objective: This study determined the effect of adherence to highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) on body mass index (BMI) and immunological and virological parameters of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) attending University College Hospital, Ibadan. Methodology: Prospective cohort of consenting PLWHA was followed up for a minimum of 3 months, had their drug adherence determined using pharmacy records and self-reporting. The sociodemographic data, weight, height, plasma viral load and CD4 count were recorded at baseline and 3 months. These data were entered into the computer and analyzed. Results: A total of 318 PLWHA with a median age of 38 ± 9.6 years participated. Fifty-four percent were female. Sixty-three percent were 95% adherent to HAART. Most (99.4%) were on non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor-based therapy. There was a remarkable fall in viral load to non-detectable levels among adherent compared with non-adherent PLWHA. Furthermore, there was a significant increase in CD4 count among adherent compared with non-adherent PLWHA. Adherent clients showed marked improvement in BMI and immunological and virological status. Conclusion: Adherence to HAART reduced viral load to an undetectable level and increased CD4 count among adherent PLWHA on HAART