Alcohol consumption among pregnant women attending the ante.natal clinic of a tertiary hospital in South.South Nigeria

Background: As efforts to reduce maternal and childhood mortality rates continue to yield results in Nigeria, it is time to put more emphases on the health of children. Alcohol consumption is one of the few modifiable risk factors for poor pregnancy outcome. This study assessed the consumption of alcohol among pregnant women attending the antenatal clinic of the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Port Harcourt, Nigeria.Materials and Methods: This study was carried out using a descriptive cross.sectional study design, with data collected using an  interviewer.administered questionnaire. The questionnaire was used to collect information on the knowledge of the harmful effects of alcohol on the fetus, attitudes toward alcohol use by pregnant women, and alcohol use by the respondents.Results: A total of 221 subjects were studied. The respondents had an average age of 29.5 } 4.6 years, were mostly married (96.83%), Christians (94.57%), and had tertiary education (73.76%). Only, 51.58% of the respondents knew of the harmful effects of alcohol on the fetus; of whom, 62.29% were told by a health professional. More than half (59.28%) of the respondents had taken alcohol during the index pregnancy, about a third (39.40%) of whom drank alcohol on a regular basis, whereas 25.79% were binge drinkers. There were no statistically significant differences in the marital (P = 0.16) and educational status (P = 0.15) of the  respondents who abstained from alcohol in the index pregnancy, compared with those who drank alcohol; although, statistically significant differences were observed in the age (P < 0.001), parity (P = 0.02) and religion (P < 0.001) of the respondents.Conclusion: The level of alcohol consumption among the pregnant women is high. Health education is, therefore, required to change the attitude of the public and the knowledge and behavior of the pregnant women.Key words: Alcohol consumption during pregnancy, fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, Nigeria, Port Harcour

Evidence-based assessment of male-only infertility: prevalence and associated risk factors in Port Harcourt metropolis, Rivers State, Nigeria

Background: Male infertility is the condition in which a male is unable to establish pregnancy in a fertile woman over 12 months of unprotected sexual intercourse. In this study, the prevalence of male-factor infertility and some associated risk factors in Port Harcourt, Rivers State was carried out. Methods: The study design was a case-controlled randomized one, in which semen specimens were collected from case and control groups randomly amongst males visiting urology/fertility clinics by masturbation after 3 days of abstinence. A total of 276 males indicated interest to participate in study of which 193 male subjects were recruited. Results: The result showed that 20.8% were azoospermic, 27.4% were oligospermic, 23.7% were asthenozoospermic, 27.9% oligoasthenozoospermic, 15.1% teratozoospermic, 19.4% asthenoteratozoospermic, and 12.9% oligoasthenoteratospermic. Furthermore, the microbial quality of the semen assessed indicated the prevalence of scanty, moderate, and heavy growth as 12.5%, 9.3%, and 7.3% respectively. Likewise, organisms isolated and identified were Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and mixed growth of staphylococcus aureus, and Escherichia coli with a prevalence of 18.2%, 5.6%, 2.0%, 1.04%, and 2.6% respectively. Civil servants had the highest prevalence of 20.8% followed by artisans with 11.9%. The prevalence of primary and secondary infertility was observed to be 30.1% and 18.1% respectively. Conclusions: Male-only factor infertility is on the increase and occupations that are accompanied by prolonged sitting, sedentary work style, or working in or close to high-temperature sources as seen in civil servants and welders (artisans) were observed to be more prone to male-only factor infertility

Auxin pretreatment promotes regeneration of sugarcane (Saccharum spp. hybrids) midrib segment explants

We have developed a new, simple, quick and genotype-independent method for direct regeneration of sugarcane using novel midrib segment explants. Our protocol involves two steps: the pretreatment of starting material on MS (Murashige and Skoog (1962) Physiol Plant 15:473–497) medium containing 3.0 mg/l 2,4- dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) for 8 days under continuous dark and subsequent transfer of the explants to MS medium augmented with 0.1 mg/l benzyladenine (BA) and 0.1 mg/l naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) under light-dark conditions. On the regeneration medium, numerous globular structures appeared from the explants and subsequently differentiated into shoots. Regenerated shoots attained 2–5 cm height within 30 days of culture initiation and readily rooted on MS basal medium. Hardened plants were successfully established in the greenhouse. The regulation of sugarcane morphogenesis by auxin pretreatment is discussed

Brucellosis as an Emerging Threat in Developing Economies:Lessons from Nigeria

Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa, has a large proportion of the world's poor livestock keepers, and is a hotspot for neglected zoonoses. A review of the 127 accessible publications on brucellosis in Nigeria reveals only scant and fragmented evidence on its spatial and temporal distribution in different epidemiological contexts. The few bacteriological studies conducted demonstrate the existence of Brucella abortus in cattle and sheep, but evidence for B. melitensis in small ruminants is dated and unclear. The bulk of the evidence consists of seroprevalence studies, but test standardization and validation are not always adequately described, and misinterpretations exist with regard to sensitivity and/or specificity and ability to identify the infecting Brucella species. Despite this, early studies suggest that although brucellosis was endemic in extensive nomadic systems, seroprevalence was low, and brucellosis was not perceived as a real burden; recent studies, however, may reflect a changing trend. Concerning human brucellosis, no studies have identified the Brucella species and most reports provide only serological evidence of contact with Brucella in the classical risk groups; some suggest brucellosis misdiagnoses as malaria or other febrile conditions. The investigation of a severe outbreak that occurred in the late 1970s describes the emergence of animal and human disease caused by the settling of previously nomadic populations during the Sahelian drought. There appears to be an increasing risk of re-emergence of brucellosis in sub-Saharan Africa, as a result of the co-existence of pastoralist movements and the increase of intensive management resulting from growing urbanization and food demand. Highly contagious zoonoses like brucellosis pose a threat with far-reaching social and political consequences

The human health implications of the environmental conditions and practices in some rural riverine communities of the Niger Delta, Nigeria

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The Management of Sharp Wastes in a Tertiary Health Care Institution in Port Harcourt, South-South Nigeria.

Injection is a very common medical procedure in Nigeria; but most of the injections are not safe, because inappropriate equipment are used, and wastes generated are not properly managed, such that they constitute hazards to the provider, and others in the community. However, national standards have been set to help correct this. This study is to assess the knowledge and compliance to the standards in the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, using a descriptive cross-sectional study design. Data was collected using field observations and structured self-administered questionnaire; and administered on nurses and pre-registration doctors, who gave most of the injections in the hospital. A total of 256 questionnaires were administered, but 237 were retrieved from 59 doctors, and 178 nurses. Most (58.2%) of the respondents were not vaccinated against hepatitis B, even as more than half (53.2%) had received at least one needle stick injury in the past 12 months. Most of the needle stick injuries followed an attempt to recap used needles (43.9%), and from carelessly exposed needles (20.5%). Only (18.4%) of these injuries were reported, mostly due to not knowing whom to report to (60.5%), and the believe that the needle was not from a high risk patient (86.7%). Only (36.7%) of the respondents had good knowledge of the national standards, while compliance to the standards were observed to be poor, with two-handed recapping of used needles very common. In view of the importance of the standards to occupational safety and community health, strict enforcement is advocated, especially the education of relevant health workers, and the provision of needed supplies.Keywords: Injection safety, sharps management, Port Harcour

Clandestine Abortion in Port Harcourt: Providers\' Motivations and Experiences:

No AbstractNigerian Medical Journal Vol. 17 (3) 2008: pp. 291-29

Can palm wine metamorphose into a health drink?

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Experiences and attitudes of young men towards abortion in a semi-urban community in Rivers State, Nigeria

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