Sexual risk behavior and HIV infection among adolescents in secondary schools in Jos, Nigeria

Background: In adolescents sexual risk behaviours are believed to enhance the transmission of HIV infection. This study, therefore aims to examine prevalent sexual risk behaviours of adolescents in secondary schools in a town in northern Nigeria and its relation to HIV infection.Method: A total of 883 subjects drawn from 10 schools out of 37, were recruited for the study. Structured self administered questionnaire was given to each subject. Consenting subjects received group pretest counseling and had HIV screening using Determine HIV test kits. HIV positive subjects had confirmatory test using Unigold test kit.Result: Males accounted for 42.5% (374) out of the 883 students studied. Of this, 169 (19.2%) were sexually active. Mean age at sexual debut was 13.8±2.9 years; 13.3±2.7 years for males and 14.6±3.2 years for females, p=0.006. Males 101 (27%) were more sexually experienced as against 13.4% of the females, p<0.0001. Among the sexually active37.6% had two or more sex partners, and 63.9% of them never used condoms. In the sexually active, 54 (42.5%) had nonconsensual sex (NCS), with more of NCS occurring in younger subjects p<0.0001, more females p<0.0001, associated with less condom use (p=0.02). Nine (eight females and one male) of the 883 subjects tested HIV positive. among the sexually active subjects, only four tested HIV positive. Condom use among the sexually active, HIV positive subjects was 25%.Conclusion: Prevalent sexual risk behaviors noted were early sexual debut, nonconsensual sex, unprotected sex and multiple sex partners.Key words: Adolescents, Sexual risk behavior, HIV infection, Jo

Exclusive breastfeeding and its relevance to infant teething

Objective: To determine the relevance of exclusive breast-feeding practice, in the development of healthy oral tissue among teething infants. Method: A cross sectional study design of children aged 6-36 months was carried out in 14 wards of Jos North Local Government Area. A multistage sampling technique was adopted in selecting 1081 mothers who qualified and were interviewed using structured interviewer questionnaire on their knowledge and perception on common complaints during teething in children. The index children were examined for number and type of teeth erupted using mouth mirror under natural light. Result: One thousand and eighty-one mothers and their babies were interviewed and examined; out these 16.5%, 38.7% and 44.8% babies were of age groups 6-12, 13-24 and 25-36 months respectively; 50.2% were female and 49.8% were male. Of the babies examined 62.4% were exclusively breast-fed. There was a significant association between maternal educational status and knowledge of teething complaints. Three hundred and twenty-six (30.1%) babies had cough during their teething period, 349 (32.3%) experienced drooling of saliva, and 352 (32.6%) were observed to bite objects during teething. The high percentage of babies that were exclusively breast-fed but did not experience these symptoms were found to be statistically significant (p = 0.00). Seven hundred and forty-two (68.6%) babies had diarrhoea during teething; out of these 459(42.5%) were exclusively breast-fed and it was however not found to be statistically significant (p = 0.55). Conclusion: This study draws attention to the relatively poor anecdotal evidence related to symptoms associated with the teething process. The result has also demonstrated that exclusive breast-feeding is not only able to reduce the symptoms ascribed to teething, but also promote the development of a healthy oral tissue. Key words: Breastfeeding, teething, development, oral tissue

Pattern of acute respiratory infections in hospitalized children under five years of age in Jos Nigeria

Background: Acute respiratory infections are the commonest cause of acute morbidity in children especially those under five in the developing countries. Clinical diagnosis is of utmost importance considering the unavailability of radiological and microbiological services in most primary care settings in most developing countries.Methodology: Thirty nine children with symptoms of acute respiratoryinfection attending our emergency room over a one year period wererecruited. Each had a CXR and blood culture ordered by the attendingphysician on admission.Results: Thirty nine subjects were admitted with ARI with a hospitalprevalence of 43.5/1000 person per year (39/897). Mean age was18.75+17.23 mo, (Females =25.6+19.1, Males = 13.8+14.2, t=2.2, p=0.03). Bronchiolitis was the commonest ARI seen in infants, tonsillitis in children beyond infancy while pneumonia was seen in all age groups. The cardinal feature of each disease entity was Fever, cough, breathlessness, tachycardia and hypoxemia in those with Pneumonia; Catarrh, nasal congestion and tachypnoea in those with bronchiolitis, while fever and vomiting were seen in those with pharyngotonsilitis.Conclusion: This review highlights the common ARI in our setting.Efforts need to be intensified on the identification of children with ARIin the children emergency room with the aim of prompt and appropriatemanagement in order to meet the MDG targets

Nutritional status and intestinal parasitic infestation among Rural Fulani children in Vom, Plateau State

No Abstract. Nigerian Journal of Paediatrics Vol. 33 (2) 2006: pp. 47-5

Leptin and Anthropometric Indices in Adolescents with Sickle Cell Anaemia

Background: Leptin is a peptide hormone secreted by adipocytes and acts to promote weight loss by decreasing food intake, increasing metabolic rate and energy expenditure. In sickle cell anaemia (SCA), poor growth and nutritional status are common clinical features. Adolescence is a period of rapid growth; in sickle cell anaemia patients, this oftentimes is impaired. This is a report of the relationship between leptin, and anthropometric measurements in adolescent SCA patients.Methodology: Sixty seven consecutively consenting patients from the paediatric outpatient clinic of the Jos university teaching hospital were recruited for the study.Results: Sixty seven adolescents aged 10-19years attending the clinic were recruited. Mean weight of patients was 32.4±1.3kg. Mean weight, males was 30.7±9.1kg, females 34.5±11.8kg, p=0.14 Mean height 137.2±2.8cm, 0males 133.7±28.4cm, females 141.5±13.8 p=0.18; mean TSFT was 8.9±0.63mm males 6.86±3.5mm, females 11.4±5.7 p=0.002. Mean MUAC was 17.4±0.3cm, males 16.9±2.7, females 15.4±2.3, p=0.07. Among subjects, 17/67 (25.4%) had BMI-for-age within normal ranges for age and sex while 2/67 (3%) were overweight for age and sex. The rest were thin for age and sex. Mean serum leptin in SCA was 1.67±1.1; males 1.2±0.5, females 2.2±1.4 p=0.005. Serum leptin concentration was higher in mid-adolescent males while females exhibited a higher level in early adolescence and late adolescence. Serum leptin showed positive correlation with BMIFA. Strength of association was greater in females than in males.Conclusion: SCA patients had low anthropometric indices with 3% of them overweight. Mean leptin levels correlated with BMI but more marked in females than in males

Intestinal Worms And Nutritional Status Of Under–Fives In Jos, Nigeria: Any Relationship?

Objective: This study was carried out in Naraguta village a periurban settlement in November, 1999 to determine the relationship between nutritional status and intestinal helminthiasis. Method; A total of 256 children aged 12- 56 months were studied. The subjects were selected through a house – to house visit. Their weight, and stool samples were collected and analyzed. Relevant information were provided by their by their mothers Results: Out of the 256 children recruited 85 (33.2%) had intestinal parasites with Ascaris lumbricoides occurring most frequently (10.2%) This was followed by a mixed infection of Ascarriasis and hookworm (5.5%). out of the 85 infested children 49 (57.6%) were underweight, 56 (65.9%) stunted and 72 (84.7%) wasted. There was statistically significant association between intestinal worm infection and weight – for – height measurements. Conclusion: The prevalence of intestinal of intestinal worms in the studied community was considered high. Mass de – worming of under fives in this community was suggested as one of the measures that will enhance their nutritional status. Key Words: Nutritional status, household, under fives, helminthiasis. Nigerian Journal of Clinical Practice Vol.7(2) 2004: 79-8

Healthcare Service Auditing and Intervention in an Emergency Paediatric Unit.

A pre- and post-intevention randomized cross-sectional study was carried out from January to February and April to May 2001, respectively, to audit and intervene in the timeliness of health services delivery in an Emergency Paediatric Unit (EPU) of Jos University Teaching Hospital. A structured questionnaire was used to observe and follow up 86 and 101 patients (in the pre-and post-intervention periods respectively) from the time of arrival to the time of being seen by the doctor. Also a cause and effect diagram and countermeasure matrix were used to identify and solve the problems of poor timeliness of health service delivery. There were no significant differences in the ages, weights and heights of the pre-and post-intervention children studied (p>0.05). The overall mean excess (wasted) time from arrival to actually being seen by the doctor was 133121.8 minutes. Sixty-three percent of this excess time was the time between retrieving the patients' folders and actually being seen by the doctor, which was significantly reduced from 89 minutes to eight minutes (p0.05) in the mortality rate between the two periods. Timely health care service is very important in the provision of quality care which in turn, will most likely improve the utilization of health services. Nigerian Journal of Paediatrics 2002 ; 29 :71-74

Pattern of Childhood Malignancies in Jos, North Central Nigeria

Background: Malignancies constitute an important cause of childhood morbidity and mortality in Nigeria. This study describes the current trend in the spectrum of childhood malignancies in Jos , North Central Nigeria. Methodology: A four-year prospective study of childhood malignancies seen at the Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH), Jos was conducted between November 2006 and October 2010. Data collected included patients biodata, type of malignancy, treatment modality and outcome. Results: Ninety two (92) cases of childhood malignancies were seen during the 4year period, accounting for 2.7% of all admissions into the paediatric wards, giving an average of 23 cases per year. Out of this, 54 were males; 38 were females. The most common childhood malignancy was Burkitt's Lymphoma accounting for 48.9%, followed by acute leukemias (13.8%), non-Hodgkin lymphoma (12.8%) and Rhabdomyosarcoma (10.6%). The peak age group of children with cancers was 5-9 years (range 2-17 years). The cancer cure rate was as low as 34% while losses to follow up was 30%, and 26% of the patients died in the course of therapy from advanced disease or complications of therapy. Conclusion: Childhood cancers are not uncommon in our environment. Burkitt's lymphoma was the single most common childhood cancer. Cancer cure rate in our centre is still very low. Mobilization of human and material resources towards childhood cancer management and control is advocated.Key Words Pattern, Childhood malignancies, Chemotherapy, Nigeria

Cardiovascular disease risk factors amongst secondary school students in an urban community in Nigeria

No Abstrac