The burden and management of neonatal jaundice in Nigeria: A scoping review of the literature

Neonatal jaundice is a leading cause of hospitalization in the first week of life worldwide. If inappropriately managed, it may result in significant bilirubin-induced mortality and disability. We set out to describe the  epidemiology of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia as well as the practices and challenges in the care of infants  with significant neonatal hyperbilirubinemi  (SNH) in Nigeria, as basis for policy intervention and research priorities. We systematically searched PubMed, Scopus, EMBASE, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, WHO Library Database, African Index Medicus, African Journals Online, and local journals for studies published between January 1960 and December 2014. We included studies, without restriction on methodological design that provided evidence on the incidence/prevalence, etiological /risk factors and adverse outcomes of hyperbilirubinemia, care.seeking practices, diagnosis and treatment, as well as follow.up evaluation of infants with SNH in Nigeria. A total of 558 studies were identified from all sources out of which 198 (35.5%) were finally selected. SNH accounted for about one in five neonatal admissions and has been associated consistently with substantial case fatality and neuro.developmental sequelae such as cerebral palsy and auditory impairments, especially among out.born babies.  Glucose.6.phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency, prematurity/low birth weight, infection, and ABO incompatibility were most frequently, and Rhesus disease rarely, associated with SNH. Late presentation at appropriate health facilities was common and resulted in high rates of acute bilirubin encephalopathy (ABE), kernicterus and avoidable exchange transfusions. Uniform practice guidelines, including   developmental assessment and surveillance of infants with SNH, were rare at all levels of healthcare delivery. In summary, since 1960, SHN persists as a major contributor to neonatal mortality and  developmental disabilities in Nigeria. The underpinning maternal, perinatal and neonatal factors as well as systems.based constraints are not insurmountable. Systematic and sustained interventions are  warranted to curtail the disproportionate and perennial burden of this condition in this population.Key words: Etiology, bilirubin.encephalopathy, care.seeking behavior, developing country, developmental disabilities, kernicterus, newborn care, risk factor

The Unknown Risk of Vertical Transmission in Sleeping Sickness—A Literature Review

Children with human African trypanosomiasis (HAT) present with a range of generally non-specific symptoms. Late diagnosis is frequent with often tragic outcomes. Trypanosomes can infect the foetus by crossing the placenta. Unequivocal cases of congenital infection that have been reported include newborn babies of infected mothers who were diagnosed with HAT in the first 5 days of life and children of infected mothers who had never entered an endemic country themselves

Determinants of market participation in non-timber forest products among the rural households of rain forest in Ondo State, Nigeria

Market participation by the rural household on Non-Timber forest products has been found to be important as a means of breaking from the traditional semi-subsistence to fully commercialised production. This study examined the determinants of market participation in Non Timber Forest Products (NTFP)s among the rural households in rain forest zone of Ondo state, Nigeria. Data were collected with the aid of well structured questionnaire from one hundred and twenty-two households using multistage sampling technique. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, budgetary analysis, probit and tobit regressions analysis. The result showed that household size, income from other occupation, labour cost and durable input cost significantly affected the decision and level of participation in extraction and marketing of NTFPs in the area of study. It was also revealed from the study that kolanut and bitter kola were more profitable and efficient out of the seven NTFPs examined. It is recommended that forest management strategies and intervention design should be aimed at those people who settle inside or at the edge of the forest, because they are in a better position to continuously assess the existing situation of the forest and forest resources.Keywords: Traditional semi-subsistence, Fully commercialised, Forest management, Budgetary analysis, Profitabl