A retrospective study of the health profile of neonates of mothers with anemia in pregnancy and pregnancy induced hypertension in Lagos, Nigeria

Our study assessed the health profile of neonates in relation to anemia in pregnancy and pregnancy induced hypertension (PIH). This was a retrospective study where a systematic random sampling technique was used to select a total of 1046 case records of pregnant women registered for ante-natal care at Lagos Island Maternity Hospital, Lagos, Nigeria, between 2005 and 2009. Socio-demographic characteristics of the mothers, prevalence of anemia and PIH, and neonatal health profile were obtained from the case records and were analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. Pearson product moment correlation was used to show the relationship (P≤0.05) between maternal complications and neonatal health profile. Majority (68.8%) of the mothers had anemia and 6.7 % had PIH. Majority (97.12%) of the neonates were live births and 2.88% of the neonates were still births, 65.4% of the women with still birth pregnancy outcome had anemia, and 34.6% had PIH. Majority (74%) of the neonates had birth weight within normal range (2.5-4.0 kg) and majority (68%) had normal Apgar score at 5 min of birth (7- 10). A positive correlation existed between the packed cell volume of the mother and the birth weight of the neonates (r=0.740, P≤0.05). A negative correlation existed between the incidence of PIH and the birth weight of the neonates (r

Prevalence of hypertension and obesity among non-academic staff in a Nigerian University : Hypertension and Obesity among Nigerian Staff

Background: The aim of achieving a healthy society has motivated and led many researchers to understand the prevalence of diseases to create awareness and assess interventions’ effectiveness. Objective: This study determines the prevalence of hypertension and obesity among the non-academic staff of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta. Methods: The study design was descriptive and cross-sectional. 300 Non-academic staff of the institution were randomly selected and data were obtained on their sociodemographic and socioeconomic characteristics, predisposing risk factors of hypertension, anthropometry, and blood pressure measurements using a structured self-administered questionnaire and standard procedures. Data were analyzed and presented using descriptive and inferential statistics. Statistical significance was established at p<0.05. Results: The mean age was 42±8.0years, there were more female respondents (56.0%) than male respondents (44.0%) and 76.0% of the respondents were married. Results further revealed a high prevalence of overweight and obesity (52%), pre-hypertension and hypertension (40%), and risk of abdominal obesity (84%). Conclusion: Non-academic staff are an essential component of the workforce and workplace intervention is essential to reduce the work nature risk factor of Obesity and Hypertension to prolong lives, and boost productivity and economic growth

Household food access and coping strategies adopted during Covid-19 pandemic lockdown among people residing in Odeda Local Government Area of Ogun State, Nigeria

Background: Confinement to flatten curves as a protective measure against the novel corona-virus had made it very difficult for the citizens to have sufficient food to sustain themselves. Objective: This study assessed household's food accessibility and coping strategies adopted during COVID-19 pandemic lockdown in Odeda Local Government Area of Ogun State. Methods: The study was cross-sectional design and 300 households were randomly selected in the Local Government. Data such as socio-demographic, household food insecurity status, and coping strategies were obtained using a semi-structured questionnaire, Household food insecurity experience scale, and coping strategies index scale questionnaire. Data were analysed and presented using descriptive and Results: The age of the respondents was between 20-59 years and 60.3% were traders. Food security status showed that 15.7%,50%,14.3% and 20.0% of the respondents were food secure, severely, mildly, and moderately food insecure respectively. The major coping strategies adopted were relied on less preferred and less expensive foods(35%), limited portion size at mealtimes(31.3%), and reduced number of meals eaten in a day(34.3%). A significant association exists between Coping Strategy categories and food security status (P = 0.00). The result on the nutritional status of the respondents revealed that 51.3%, 11.3%, 25.3%, 12%, 59.7%, 14.3% and 32.4% had normal BMI, underweight, overweight, obese, stunted, wasted, and underweight respectively. Conclusion: The prevalence of food insecurity was high and most households adopted coping strategies that leads to higher levels of food insecurity

Nutritional status and adequacy of selected micronutrients of civil servants in Ogun state, Nigeria

Background: Inadequate micronutrient intake can have a negative impact on physical and mental health causing several health consequences. People who are overweight or obese also fails to meet the majority of micronutrient recommendations Objective: This study assessed the nutritional status and adequacy of selected micronutrients of civil servants in Ogun State, Nigeria. Methods: The study design was cross-sectional in design. The sample consisted of 250 civil servants. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to determine the socio-demographic characteristics, family medical history and nutrition knowledge of the respondents. Nutrient intakes were estimated from 24-hour dietary recall and analyzed using Nutri-Survey software. Anthropometric measurements were carried out to determine nutritional status. Data was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics using SPSS version 20. Statistical significance was established at p≤0.05. Results: Prevalence of overweight and obesity was 39.2% and 11.6% respectively. One-third (32.8%) of the population were at risk of cardiovascular diseases. Nutrient adequacy of micronutrients assessed were low except phosphorus (89.6%), zinc (86.8%), iron (68.8%) and sodium (50.0%) which were in excess. Macronutrients were above the recommended dietary allowances. A significance association (p<0.05) was observed between some micronutrient adequacy ratio (folic acid, Vitamin A and Vitamin E) and nutritional status assessed by Body Mass Index of the respondents.Conclusion: Micronutrient intake was inadequate and prevalence of overweight and obesity were higher than reported in previous studies. There is a need for nutrition education that emphasizes on the consumption of micronutrient dense foods

Nutritional status and micronutrients adequacy of food consumed by adolescents in school in Abeokuta

Background: Micronutrient and nutritional deficiencies remain a serious nutritional problem of significant importance in low-income countries especially Nigeria. Adolescents are vulnerable because they are at a stage of biological and psychological growth and nutrition inadequacy at this stage will have serious nutritional and health consequences. Objectives: The study assessed the nutritional status and micronutrients adequacy of food consumed by adolescents in school in Abeokuta, Ogun state. Materials and Methods: The study design was descriptive and cross-sectional involving multistage sampling for the selection of 200 respondents from public secondary schools in Abeokuta North and South. Data were obtained on socio-demographic, socioeconomic characteristics, nutritional knowledge, nutrients intake and anthropometry of the respondents using a structured self-administered questionnaire, repeated 24-hour dietary recall and standard procedures. Data were analyzed and presented using descriptive and inferential statistics. Statistical significance was established at p≤0.05 Result and Discussion: Result revealed that majority (94%) of the respondents were within the age range of 14-19years, 42% of the respondents consumed breakfast in school, 57.5%, 37.5% and 5% had good, fair, and poor nutritional knowledge respectively. The nutritional status estimation revealed that 31% of the total respondents were stunted, while 50% were thin. There was significant micronutrient inadequacy of vitamin A, carotene, Vitamin B1, Vitamin B2, folate, vitamin C, potassium, calcium, iron, and zinc.  Conclusion: This study established substantial micronutrients inadequacy and increased prevalence of undernutrition among the study respondents

Association between iron status and white blood cell counts in African schoolchildren of the North-West Province, South Africa

Iron deficiency with or without anemia is associated with increased susceptibility to infection owing to impaired immune function; this study aimed to examine the associations between markers of iron status and white blood cell counts in African schoolchildren. This cross-sectional study is part of the larger BeForMi study done in the North-West province of South Africa. A total of 556 African schoolchildren (aged 7–10 years) were recruited from the three schools participating in the BeForMi multiple micronutrient intervention study. Demographic information of the children was obtained from their parents/caregivers/guardians in the language of choice using validated questionnaires. Anthropometric indices (weight and height), iron status parameters, hematological parameters (hemoglobin (Hb), red blood cell count (RBC), total and differential white blood cell counts) were measured using standard procedures. No significant gender differences were observed in most of the iron markers and hematological parameters except in C-reactive protein (CRP) (p = 0.004) and eosinophils (p = 0.042) which were higher in boys while RBC (p = 0.018) and Hb (p = 0.023) levels were higher in girls. No relationships were observed between the different iron markers and differential white blood cell counts. A positive correlation was observed between serum ferritin (SF) and CRP in girls only (r = 0.336, p < 0.01), and a positive correlation between SF and mean cell volume (MCV) in boys only (r = 0.197, p < 0.01). In both genders, no correlations were observed between the different iron markers and the differential white blood cell counts. The study revealed no associations between iron status and differential white blood cell counts in children that participated in the BeForMi study calling for more studies to be done in the area of the significance of iron supplementation in healthy children

Fatty acid profile and dietary fibre contents of some standardized soups and dishes consumed in Nigeria

Background: Dietary fat is implicated in the increasing development of chronic  diseases in developing countries while dietary fibre play major role in the  management of these diseases. Accurate nutrient  composition data for composite dishes unique to a population is essential for the development of a nutrient database and the calculation of dietary intake.Methods: Representative samples of standardized Nigerian soups and dishes were analyzed for fatty acids using gas chromatography mass spectrophotometry (GC-MS) and dietary fibre using an enzymatic-gravimetric standard method of AOAC.Results: The total Saturated Fatty acids (SFAs) ranged from 0.74+0.3g/100g to 73.82+0.07g/100g. The total monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) and  polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) ranged from  2.16+1.13g/100g for Yam pottage to 22.25+0.58g/100g for Okazi soup and eba, and from 0.42+0.10g/100g for Yam pottage to 10.22+0.1g/100g for Pounded yam with egusi ball soup, respectively. Trans fat was observed in Alapafubu and Tuwo shinkafa (2.80+0.2g/100g), Yam pottage (0.20+0.15g/100g), Steamed bean pudding (1.28+0.53g/100g) and Ikokore (5.33+0.41g/100g). The Total Dietary Fibre (TDF) contents of the dishes ranged from 12.95+2.99g/100g in Jollof rice to 62.00+0.94g/100g in Melon seed and vegetable soup, the Soluble Dietary Fibre (SDF) ranged from 2.05+0.32g/100g in Steamed bean pudding to 7.81+0.74g/100g in Ikokore while the Insoluble Dietary Fibre (IDF) ranged from 8.20+0.43g/100g in Jollof rice to   57.91+4.69g/100g in melon seed and vegetable soup.Conclusions: The study has indicated that some Nigerian dishes are characterized by high SFAs, TFAs and dietary fibre, moderate MUFAs and very low levels of PUFAs. High levels of SFAs in some soups and dishes are a major public health concern.Key words: Healthy diet, dietary fibre, fatty acid profile, chronic diseases, Nigerian dishes

Standardization and Proximate Contents of Selected Commonly Consumed Nigerian Soups and Dishes

Background: The change in the dietary pattern of Nigerians to a more western diet has been implicated in adverse health outcomes increassing in the prevalence of undernutrition and chronic diseases. Availability of recent data on recipe and nutrient content of foods as consumed is crucial in disease management and dietary intake studies.Objective: This study standardized and determined proximate contents of selected commonly consumed Nigerian soups and dishes.&nbsp;Materials and methods: A cross-sectional and convergent parallel design was adopted. Recipe of soups and dishes of households were obtained from 800 purposively selected housewives in Lagos, Ogun, Oyo and Osun States, Nigeria using semi-structured questionnaire and 4 focus-group discussion sessions. Recipes were standardized, soup and dish samples were prepared and analyzed for proximate contents using standard methods of AOAC. Data were analyzed using median, mean and standard deviation using Microsoft excel office 2019 software.Results: Moisture content of the soups and dishes ranged from 40.54–85.49 g/100g, carbohydrate content ranged from 0.74–32.53 g/100g, protein content ranged from 4.49–26.85 g/100g, fat content ranged from 6.03–21.81 g/100g, crude fibre content ranged from 0.24–2.38 g/100g and ash content ranged from 0.24–3.00 g/100g.Conclusion:Soups had higher protein, fat and crude fibre contents while dishes had higher carbohydrate contents. Habitual consumption of most of these soups and dishes may promote healthy dietary lifestyle and reduce diet-related disease risk