Appraisal of the efficacy of SP-IPTP in Aminu Kano teaching hospital – impact on maternal anaemia, malaria parasitaemia and clinical malaria in pregnancy.

Background: Sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP) intermittent preventive treatment in pregnancy (IPTp), is the malaria prophylaxis that is recommended in malaria endemic areas. Increasing reports of resistance to SP across the globe, make appraisal of its efficacy to be necessary in health facilities that use it.Objective: To determine the efficacy of SP – IPTp in the prevention of malaria in pregnancy using Proguanil chemoprophylaxis as the gold standard, in Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano, Nigeria.Methods: In this prospective study, 300 primigravid women were enrolled and assigned by block randomization to SP – IPTp (cases) or proguanil chemoprophylaxis (control) group. Each group consisted of 150 women. Study variables of interest were packed cell volume (PCV) at recruitment and at 34 weeks gestation, peripheral malaria parasitaemia, severe anaemia at 34 weeks gestation, and the frequency of clinical malaria during the study period in the two groups. The data obtained were recorded using tables. Students't-test, Z-test and chi-square test were used to compare means and proportions respectively for statistically significant differences, setting the level of significance at P < 0.05.Results: There was statistically significant increase in the PCV between recruitment and at 34 weeks in each group (P < 0.05), but there was no statistically significant difference in the PCV, peripheral malaria parasitaemia and frequency of clinical malaria between the two groups at 34 weeks gestation (P > 0.05).Conclusion: SP-IPTp has similar effectiveness as proguanil chemoprophlaxis. SP-IPTp is still effective in the prevention of malaria in pregnancy at Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital.Keywords ; Sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine, proguanil, malaria, pregnancy

Maternal death and obstetric care audits in Nigeria: A systematic review of barriers and enabling factors in the provision of emergency care.

Acknowledgements We would like to thank Yutaka Osakabe for co-ordinating the retrieval of full text articles. The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation supported this study, grant number 12-100074-000-INPPeer reviewedPublisher PD

Ruptured Uterus-A Study of Socio-Demographic and Obstetric Risk Factors in Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital

Objective: This is a comparative prospective study of the risk factors for ruptured uterus in Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano, Nigeria, between 1st January 2000 and 31st December 2005. Materials and methods: Forty six women with ruptured uterus (cases) were compared with an equal number of women who delivered immediately after them without ruptured uterus (controls). Chisquare (x2) test was used to determine statistical significance. The odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were determined where appropriate. Results: The incidence of ruptured uterus was 1 in 278 deliveries (0.36%). The significant risk factors found were unbooked status (OR = 38.95, CI = 10.36 – 160.27), low socioeconomic status (OR = 4.27.51, CI = 1.64 – 11.29), being 30-39 years of age (OR = 2.77, CI = 1.02 – 7.65), grandmultiparity (OR = 3.37, CI = 1.29 – 8.96), prolonged obstructed labor (OR = 5.60, CI = 1.54 – 22.23). Poor supervision in labor (unbooked status) was the most common cause of ruptured uterus. Conclusion: In a predominantly Islamic community like ours where early marriage is common, female western education and employment, education of their husbands, the community and their religious leaders on the importance of antenatal care and hospital delivery, will go a long way to improve its utilization and reduce the prevalence of ruptured uterus in our community.Keywords: Ruptured uterus, incidence, risk factors, developing countr

Outcome of caesarean delivery at the aminu kano teaching hospital, Kano

To determine the sociodemographic characteristics, indications and feto-maternal outcome among patients who had Caesarean section at Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano, Nigeria. Methods: A review of all Caesarean sections (C/S) that were performed at Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano, Nigeria, between 1st January 2001 and 31st December 2005 was carried out. The study variables of interest were the sociodemographic characteristics of the patients, indications and types of C/S, and feto-maternal outcome. Results: The caesarean section rate in this review was 13.7%. Emergency C/S accounted for 87.9%, while 12.1% were done electively. Among them 52.4% were booked while 47.6% were unbooked, giving a C/S rate of 9.2% for booked and 29.2% for unbooked patients respectively. The leading indications for emergency C/S were pre- eclampsia/eclampsia and cephalo-pelvic disproportion (CPD)/obstructed labour, while for elective C/S, it was two or more previous C/S and breech presentation. The maternal mortality rate was 262.3/100,000, due mainly to pre-eclampsia/eclampsia, CPD/obstructed labour, sepsis and postpartum haemorrhage. Perinatal mortality was 19.7/1000, with birth asphyxia, prematurity and neonatal sepsis being the leading causes. Feto-maternal morbidity and mortality were significantly higher among unbooked patients and those that had emergency C/S. There was increasing trend in the C/S rate during the period of study from 12.7% in 2001 to 14.8% in 2005 (χ2trend = 5.254, P= 0.02190). Conclusion: Pre-eclampsia/eclampsia and (CPD)/obstructed labour were the leading indications for C/S in this study. Unbooked status and emergency C/S were found to be responsible for most of the fetomaternal morbidity and mortality. There is the need for increasing efforts to ensure that our pregnant women avail themselves of the available antenatal care facilities, in order to reduce the fetomaternal morbidity and mortality from caesarean section

A Review of Family Planning Methods Used in Kano, Nigeria

Objective To review the acceptance pattern and the influence of age and parity on the choice of Family Planning Methods at the Family Planning Clinic, Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH), Kano, Nigeria. Method All records of the clients that attended the Family Planning Clinic from January 2003 to December 2007 were analyzed Results New clients were 22% while revisits were 78%, with a steady increase in the number of new clients from 4% in 2003 to 26% in 2007. Injectable contraceptives were the most commonly used (40.63%), followed by the intrauterine contraceptive device (IUCD) (34.53%). Most women of low parity used the injectable contraceptive method (36.2%) and oral contraceptive pills (30.7%), while those in the early reproductive age group (37.1%) used oral contraceptive pills and injectable contraceptive method (32.5%) than any other method. Women of high parity (47.1%) and those in the late reproductive age group (51.2%) used injectable contraceptives more, followed by IUCD (43.0% and 46.1% respectively). There was very low acceptance of Implants (0.54%) and voluntary surgical contraception (0.36%). Majority of the clients (67.5%) were informed about voluntary family planning by Health workers. Conclusion There is an increasing trend in the yearly number of new clients in our centre. Contraceptive methods that do involve surgery or the exposure of the women were preferred, and these should be promoted in a conservative society like ours. The influence of husbands, community and religious leaders and female education are important, if the acceptance of voluntary family planning is to increase in societies like ours, where women marry early and are not socioeconomically empowered. Efforts should be made to step up campaign for voluntary surgical contraception, especially among women who have completed their families, as its utilization is very low in our community. Keywords: Voluntary family planning methods, age, parity, acceptance, Kano

Growth performance of African Giant Land Snails (Archachatina marginata) on dried kola nut testa and palm kernel cake mixture

This experiment was set up to assess the sensory evaluation of African giant land snails (Archachatina marginata) fed dried kola nut testa (DKT) and palm kernel cake mixture (PKC). A total of 72 snails were randomly distributed into four (4) dietary treatments which were replicated 3 times with 6 snails per replicate in a completely randomized design. The treatments were: A (100% fresh pawpaw leaf); B (75% DKT: 25% PKC); C (50% DKT: 50% PKC) and D (25% DKT: 75% PKC). The result revealed significant differences (P0.05) in shell breadth and feed intake. Values recorded for aparture raduis and weight gain were: 2.14cm,2.62cm, 2.43cm and 2.53cm and 20.00cm, 39.96cm 30.15cm and 21.56cm respectively for diets A,B,C and D. As for the carcass analysis the dressing (%),shell/liveweight (%),and visceral/liveweight (%),the values obtained were:37.07,37.89,36.02,and 36.91; 22.31,31.80,29.67 and 28.45; and 13.46,26.42,27.20 and 20.02 for snails fed diets A,B,C, and D respectively. The performance characteristic and carcass values obtained shows that diet B was the best while diet D was the least of all the diet. This study hence established that it is practicable and possible to feed dried kolanut testa and palm kernel cake mixture- a simple concentrate formula for farmer, in feeding African giant land snails (Achachatina marginata).This study will provide a background to effectively utilize the kola testa, regarded as wastes in kola plantations in Nigeria. (Af. J. of Livestock Extension: 2003 2: 9-12

Influence of Emotional Intelligence and Gender on Job Performance and Job Satisfaction among Nigerian Policemen

Abstract: This study examines the influence of emotional intelligence and gender on job performance and job satisfaction among Nigeria Police Officers. It employs a 2x2 factorial design as well as multiple regressions with emotional intelligence and gender as the independent variables. One hundred and nineteen police officers were randomly selected from Esan Area Command. The results show that Police Officers who are of high emotional intelligence are more satisfied and perform better than Police Officers who are of low emotional intelligence. Also, respondents who have male or female roles with high emotional intelligence perform better and more satisfied with their job than respondents who have male or female roles with low emotional intelligence. Based on the above, recommendations are made on how to increase Police Officers' efficiency