The prevalence of overweight and its risk factors among adolescents in an Urban city in Edo State

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COVID-19 Pandemic and its Implication for Nutritional Status of Children in Nigeria: A Call for Transformation to a Sustainable Food System

Background: Nigeria contributes the highest burden of childhood malnutrition in sub-Saharan Africa and this has been worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic. Food system unsustainability has been shown to be the main driver for continued food insecurity and subsequent malnutrition. This paper discusses key issues pertaining to child nutritional status in Nigeria within the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and highlights the importance of adopting a sustainable food system framework that ensures food and nutrition security for all including children.Discussion: The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed the weaknesses in the food system, in addition to those already caused by other factors such as  conflicts, climate change, demographic and economic factors, amongst others. Food systems, through diets, give rise to nutrition and health  outcomes as well as those related to the dimensions of sustainability (environmental, economic, and social). The complex nature of the food system and its interactions with food and nutrition security requires adoption and practice of more effective food policy framework that embraces four  critical policy shifts that support all dimensions of food security and transformation pathways which address the negative impacts of the drivers of  food security.Conclusion: The need for the government to adopt a sustainable, resilient, and efficient food policy that appreciates the complexity of food systems  drivers and outcomes cannot be overemphasized. This is essential for upholding the right to adequate food as well as ending hunger, and  malnutrition in all its forms for all children.&nbsp

Ending domestic violence against women: assessment of knowledge and perceptions of women in Benin city, Edo State

Objective: To assess the knowledge and perception of Violence Against Women in Benin City.Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional design was utilized for this study. Study population comprised pregnant women attending routine Antenatal Clinic at Central Hospital, Benin City. Respondents were selected using a systematic sampling technique. Data was collected using a pre-tested structured interviewer-administered questionnaire comprising both open and closedended questions and analyzed using IBM SPSS version 21.0 software. The level of significance was set at p < 0.05.Results: A total of 400 antenatal attendees with mean age of 29.8 ± 4.4 years participated in the study. Two hundred and ninety three (73.2%) of respondents had good knowledge of the meaning of domestic violence. A higher proportion of respondents 70.8% knew that physical violence was a form of DV while 36.8%, 32.3% and 28.5% knew physical, sexual and psychological violence as forms of violence respectively. Overall, only 5.0% respondents had good knowledge of VAW. Less than half(41.8%), had good perception of VAW. Being more submissive (76.8%), prayerful (74.5%) and obedient (66.8%) were recommendations on ways of ending VAW.Conclusion: This study documented poor knowledge and perception of DV among the studied population. It is therefore imperative for all stake holders to ensure collective effort in improving the access to knowledge through awareness programmes which will in turn positively affect perception.Keywords: Knowledge, perception, violence against wome

Intestinal helminthiasis and nutritional status of children living in orphanages in Benin City, Nigeria

Background: Intestinal helminths are often associated with poor growth and reduced physical activities, and may worsen already compromised nutritional status of children living in orphanages.Aims: To determine the relationship between intestinal helminthiasis and nutritional status of children living in orphanages in Benin City, Nigeria.Setting and Design: A cross sectional study carried out from January to April 2011 in orphanages in Benin City, Nigeria.Materials and Methods: Fresh stool samples from 140 children (0-17 years) living in 10 orphanages in Benin City, were analyzed using the Kato.Katz technique for the detection of ova of helminths between January and April 2011. Physical growth of the children was classified as stunted, wasted, and under.weight using height for age Z.score, weight for height Z.score, and weight for age Z.score below . 2 standard deviation of the reference median, respectively, in the World Health Organization growth chart.Statistical Analysis: The data obtained was entered into spread sheet using the Microsoft Excel 2007 and the analysis was done using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software versions 11.0 and 16.0 (SPSS Inc Chicago, IL, USA).Results: Prevalence of intestinal helminthiasis was 20.7% and was observed highest in children aged 12.17 years. Ascaris lumbricoides and Trichuris trichiura were the intestinal helminths isolated. Nearly all infected subjects had significant stunted growth (P = 0.014) and another one.quarter were significantly under.weight (P = 0.021) when compared with noninfected subjects.Conclusion: Intestinal helminthiasis is associated with under.weight and stunted growth.Key words: Growth, helminths, nutrition, orphanag

Prevalence, pattern and determinants of domestic violence among ante-natal clinic attendees in a secondary health facility in Benin City, Edo State

Background: Domestic Violence is a serious, preventable public health problem that affects millions of people. The abuse of women has serious ramifications because of its implications on their sexual and reproductive health as well as their overall well being and that of their households.Objective: To assess the prevalence, patterns and determinants of domestic violence among antenatal attendees in Central Hospital, Benin City, Edo state.Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study among antenatal attendees selected using systematic sampling technique. Pre-tested structured, interviewer administered questionnaire patterned after the WHO multi-country study questionnaire was the tool for data collection. Data was analyzed using IBM SPSS version 20.0 software. Bivariate analysis between socio-demographic variables and presence of domestic violence was done. Binary logistic regression was also done to determine significant predictors of domestic violence. The level of significance was set at p < 0.05.Results: Four hundred antenatal attendees with mean age of 29.8 ± 4.4 years participated in the study. The prevalence of domestic violence among the respondents in the past 1 year was 53.3% and of these, 55.4% experienced it in the current pregnancy. A higher proportion of respondents (41.5%) suffered physical violence followed by those who suffered sexual violence (34.0%) and emotional violence (31.3%). There was no significant association between socio demographic variables of the respondents and the experience of domestic violence.Conclusion: Prevalence of domestic violence in the studied group was high. Implementation of programmes geared towards the prevention and elimination of domestic violence is advocated.Keywords: Prevalence, Domestic violence, Benin City, Ante-nata

Prevalence and intensity of intestinal helminthiasis in children living in orphanages in Benin City, Nigeria

Background. Orphans may be envisaged to have sub-optimal care and may be predisposed to high worm burden. This study was under- taken to determine prevalence and intensity of intestinal helminthi- asis in children living in orphanages in Benin City, Nigeria. Methods. Fresh stool samples from 150 children (0-17 years) living in 10 orphanages in Benin City, were analyzed using the Kato-Katz technique for the detection of ova of helminths between January and April, 2011. Results. The subjects consisted of 62 (41.3%) males and 88 (58.7%) females; mean age (± standard deviation SD) 7.0 ± 4.6 years, and mean (± SD) years lived in the orphanage was 4.0 ± 3.7 years. Prevalence of intestinal helminthiasis was 20.7% and this prevalence was highest in children ages 12-17 years, children who had lived longer years in the orphanages and in orphanages with poor child/care-giver ratio (orphanage F = 12.0: 1 and orphan- age H = 7.3: 1). Mean (± SD) age (8.7 ± 4.5 years) of infected subjects was significantly higher than (6.6 ± 4.5 years) observed in non-infected subjects (p = 0.023). Ascaris lumbricoides and Trichuris trichiura were the intestinal helminths isolated. Inten- sity of intestinal helminths was light in 24/31 (77.4%) and moder- ate in 7/31 (22.6%) infected subjects. Median egg per gram was 999 eggs per gram and range was 48-8000. Conclusion. Improved child/care-giver ratio in orphanages will reduce worm burden in orphanages in Benin City

Nutritional status and its possible determinants among children attending early child care centres in Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria

Background: Nutritional status of children has become a worldwide public health issue and its assessment has been adjudged the best global indicator of well-being in children. One in three children under the age of five (178 million children) in developing countries are stunted due to chronic under-nutrition and poor quality diets. Without addressing malnutrition, the Sustainable Development Goal 2 of ending hunger, achieving food security and improved nutrition may not be attained. This study assessed the nutritional status and its possible determinants among children attending Early Child Care Centres in Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria.Methods: A descriptive crosssectional study was carried out on 544 under-five children attending ECCCs in Benin City. Data was obtained with pretested interviewer-administered questionnaires. Nutritional status was assessed using anthropometric measurement. Data was analyzed with IBM SPSS version 21.0 and statistical significance was determined using Chi square with p value set at < 0.05.Results: Seventy nine (14.5%) of the children were stunted, while 68 (12.5%), 67 (12.3%) and 13 (2.8%) were underweight, wasted, and obese respectively. Significant possible determinants of being underweight and wasted among the children were age of child (p = 0.041) and exclusive breastfeeding (p = 0.011) while the predictor for wasting was exclusive breastfeeding (p = 0.011).Conclusion: Over a tenth of the respondents were either stunted, underweight or wasted while a few of the children were obese. All stakeholders involved in ensuring and promoting proper nutrition among under-five children should work as a team in order to develop intervention programmes and ensure adequate nutrition in children.Keywords: Nutritional Status; Determinants; Early Child Care Center

Utilization pattern of material health services in the prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV/AIDS in Nigeria

Though prevention of mother to child transmission (PMTCT) of HIV/AIDS was introduced in Nigeria in 2002, it is pertinent to determine its availability in the primary health centers, which provide the most available, accessible and affordable maternal health services to 70% of Nigerian women. This retrospective study was carried out to determine the utilization pattern of maternal health services in Nigeria, noting the availability of PMTCT. Records of antenatal bookings, deliveries, postnatal visits, voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) and PMTCT were obtained from 30  randomly selected primary health centers in Edo Central Senatorial District of Nigeria and analyzed. The results  showed that though a yearly average of 2719 women booked in the antenatal clinics of the selected primary health centers, and 50.57% of these women delivered in these centers between 2007 and 2010, neither VCT nor PMTCT was available. It is therefore suggested that all tiers of government in Nigeria and donors, should include Primary health centers in their distribution channels in order to reduce the scourge of HIV/AIDS on innocent children.Keywords: Maternal Health, Utilization, VCT, PMTCT, Nigeri

Risks of intestinal helminthiasis in children living in orphanages in Benin city, Nigeria

Background: Risk factors of intestinal helminthiasis include poor personal hygiene/care, and behavioural aberrations such as finger sucking, nail biting and pica which had been found to enhance intestinal ova transmission.Objectives: To determine risk factors of intestinal helminthiasis in children living in orphanages in Benin City, Nigeria.Subjects and Methods: Fresh stool samples from 140 children (0 – 17 years) living in 10 orphanages in Benin City, were analyzed using the Kato-Katz technique for the detection of ova of helminths between January-April, 2011.Results: Prevalence of intestinal helminthiasis was 20.7%. Children ages 12 – 17 years had highest prevalence of intestinal helminths. Ascaris lumbricoides and Trichuris trichiura were the intestinal helminths isolated. Behavioural aberrations were represented more in infected subjects than the noninfected children (χ2 = 3.94, p = 0.047, O.R = 2.3). Nail biting and use of common towel were the most significant independent predictors of intestinal helminthiasis (p = 0.017 and 0.028 respectively). Hand washing with water and soap after defeacation was significantly associated with decreased prevalence of intestinal helminthiasis (p = 0.016).Conclusion: Behavioural modification, good personal hygiene and provision of towels for each child living in the orphanage should be integral part of intestinal helminths control in orphanages

Blood pressure pattern and prevalence of hypertension in a rural community in Edo State

This cross-sectional study was carried out in Udo, a rural community in Ovia South-west LGA of Edo state to screen for hypertension and determine blood pressure pattern. Cluster sampling method was used in selecting participants. Data collection was by researcher-administered questionnaire. Blood pressure and anthropometric measurements were determined. A total of 590 respondents with mean age 30.7 \ub1 14.6 years participated in the study. Mean systolic and diastolic blood pressures were 122.08 \ub1 15.42 mmHg and 79.54 \ub1 11.55 mmHg, respectively and increased with age. Males had significantly higher mean SBP and DBP than the females (p < 0.001). Prevalence of hypertension was 20.2%, increased significantly with age and was higher in males than in females (p < 0.001). This study revealed that hypertension is a problem even in the rural areas. Therefore need for intervention programmes targeted at non-communicable diseases like hypertension which is usually symptomless