Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices of Hand Washing Towards the Prevention of Transmissible Diseases among Hair Dressers in Uyo Metropolis of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

The study was conducted to determine the knowledge, attitude and practices of hand washing towards the prevention of transmissible diseases among hair dressers in Uyo Metropolis, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. The specific objectives were to examine the knowledge of transmissible diseases that are associated in hair dressing work, the attitudes of hand washing among hair dressers, the practices of hand washing adopted by hair dressers toward the prevention of transmissible diseases in Uyo Metropolis. Three research questions were raised and two hypotheses were also formulated for testing at .05 alpha level of significance. A cross-sectional survey design was adopted and using sampling techniques. 150 hair dressers were drawn for the study. A multi stage sampling technique was used to pick 7 major roads in Uyo Metropolis, 15 hairdressing salons and 150 hairdressers. A 22 items questionnaire (KAPPTDHQ) was formulated for the study. The questionnaire was pretested and data analyzed using Kuder Richardson 20 formula and a reliability coefficient of .78 was obtained. Frequency and percentage was used to answer the research questions while Chi-square was used to test the null hypotheses at P-value of .05. The findings revealed that knowledge of hairdressers about transmissible diseases were adequate and that knowledge significantly influence practices of hand washing which was also good. It was also noted that attitude of hairdressers towards hand washing do not significantly influence practices of hand washing among hairdressers in Uyo Metropolis. It was recommended that health education to hairdressers should be carried out to create awareness in the need for proper hand washing technique and prescribed standard for hairdressing salons should include adequate hand washing facilities to ensure regular and proper hand washing technique during working hours by hair dressers

Inhibition and Adsorption impact of Leave Extracts of Cnidoscolus Aconitifolius on Corrosion of Aluminium Sheet in 1 M Hcl Medium

Corrosion inhibition in the presence of alokaloid and non alkaloid extracts of Cnidoscolus aconitifolius in 1M HCl was studied using the weight loss and hydrogen evolution techniques at 303, 313 and 333 K. The results obtained revealed that the inhibition efficiency decreased with increase in temperature. Inhibition occurred through adsorption of the alokaloid and non alkaloid extracts molecules on the metal surface. The apparent activation energies, enthalpies and entropies of the dissolution process and the free energies and enthalpies for the adsorption process were determined and discussed. The fundamental thermodynamic functions were used to evaluate important inhibitive properties of Cnidoscolus aconitifolius.Keywords: Activation energy; Gibb’s Free Energy; Langmuir adsorption; Cnidoscolus aconitifolius; Aluminium sheet

Inhibition and Adsorption impact of Leave Extracts of Cnidoscolus Aconitifolius on Corrosion of Aluminium Sheet in 1 M Hcl Medium

Corrosion inhibition in the presence of alokaloid and non alkaloid extracts of Cnidoscolus aconitifolius in 1M HCl was studied using the weight loss and hydrogen evolution techniques at 303, 313 and 333 K. The results obtained revealed that the inhibition efficiency decreased with increase in temperature. Inhibition occurred through adsorption of the alokaloid and non alkaloid extracts molecules on the metal surface. The apparent activation energies, enthalpies and entropies of the dissolution process and the free energies and enthalpies for the adsorption process were determined and discussed. The fundamental thermodynamic functions were used to evaluate important inhibitive properties of Cnidoscolus aconitifolius

Maintaining focus on administering effective malaria treatment during the COVID-19 pandemic

As September marks the start of the malaria season in South Africa (SA), it is essential that healthcare professionals consider both COVID19 and malaria when a patient who lives in or has recently travelled to a malaria area presents with acute febrile illness. Early diagnosis of malaria by either a rapid diagnostic test or microscopy enables prompt treatment with the effective antimalarial, artemether-lumefantrine, preventing progression to severe disease and death. Intravenous artesunate is the preferred treatment for severe malaria in both children and adults. Adding single low-dose primaquine to standard treatment is recommended in endemic areas to block onward transmission. Use of the highly effective artemisinin-based therapies should be limited to the treatment of confirmed malaria infections, as there is no clinical evidence that these antimalarials can prevent or treat COVID-19. Routine malaria case management services must be sustained, in spite of COVID-19, to treat malaria effectively and support SA’s malaria elimination efforts.http://www.samj.org.zadm2022Family MedicineSchool of Health Systems and Public Health (SHSPH)UP Centre for Sustainable Malaria Control (UP CSMC)Veterinary Tropical Disease

Re-defining the extent of malaria transmission in South Africa: Implications for chemoprophylaxis

Background. Malaria case numbers reported in South Africa have reduced considerably over the last decade, necessitating a revision of the national risk map to guide malaria prevention, including the use of chemoprophylaxis.Objectives. To update the national malaria risk map based on recent case data and to consider the implications of the new transmission profile for guiding prophylaxis.Methods. The geographical distribution of confirmed malaria cases detected both passively and actively over the last six malaria seasons was used to redefine the geographic distribution and intensity of malaria transmission in the country.Results. The national risk map was revised to reflect zones of transmission reduced both in their extent and their intensity. Most notably, the area of risk has been reduced in the north-western parts of Limpopo Province and is limited to the extreme northern reaches of KwaZulu-Natal Province. Areas previously considered to be of high risk are now regarded to be of moderate risk.Conclusion. Chemoprophylaxis is now only recommended from September to May in the north-eastern areas of Limpopo and Mpumalanga Provinces. The recommended options for chemoprophylaxis have not changed from mefloquine, doxycycline or atovaquone-proguanil

Re-defining the extent of malaria transmission in South Africa : implications for chemoprophylaxis

BACKGROUND. Malaria case numbers reported in South Africa have reduced considerably over the last decade, necessitating a revision of the national risk map to guide malaria prevention, including the use of chemoprophylaxis. OBJECTIVES. To update the national malaria risk map based on recent case data and to consider the implications of the new transmission profile for guiding prophylaxis. METHODS. The geographical distribution of confirmed malaria cases detected both passively and actively over the last six malaria seasons was used to redefine the geographical distribution and intensity of malaria transmission in the country. RESULTS. The national risk map was revised to reflect zones of transmission reduced both in their extent and their intensity. Most notably, the area of risk has been reduced in the north-western parts of Limpopo Province and is limited to the extreme northern reaches of KwaZulu- Natal Province. Areas previously considered to be of high risk are now regarded to be of moderate risk. CONCLUSION. Chemoprophylaxis is now only recommended from September to May in the north-eastern areas of Limpopo and Mpumalanga Provinces. The recommended options for chemoprophylaxis have not changed from mefloquine, doxycycline or atovaquone-proguanil.http://www.samj.org.zaam2013ay201

Successfully controlling malaria in South Africa

Following major successes in malaria control over the past 75 years, South Africa is now embarking on a malaria elimination campaign with the goal of zero local transmission by the year 2018. The key control elements have been intensive vector control, primarily through indoor residual spraying, case management based on parasitological diagnosis using evidence-based drug policies with artemisinin-based combination therapy since 2001, active health promotion in partnership with communities living in the malaria transmission areas, and cross-border collaborations. Political commitment and long-term funding for the malaria control programme have been a critical component of the programme’s success. Breaking the cycle of transmission through strengthening of active surveillance using sensitive molecular tests and field treatment of asymptomatic persons, monitoring for antimalarial drug resistance and insecticide resistance, strengthening cross-border initiatives, and ongoing programme advocacy in the face of a significant decrease in disease burden are key priorities for achieving the elimination goal.http://www.samj.org.zaam201

Industrial Potential of Two Varieties of Cocoyam in Bread Making

The evaluation of the chemical (proximate composition, mineral composition, toxicant composition and vitamin composition), nutritional and industrial potentials of two varieties of cocoyam (Xanthosoma sagittifolium (XS) and Colocasia esculenta (CE) were carried out using recommended methods of analysis. Baking trials were conducted with the two varieties of cocoyam at different levels of substitution (20%, 30% and 50%). The produced bread samples were analyzed for their physical parameters and proximate composition. Sensory evaluation test was also carried out on the produced bread. The result of the analysis showed that the preferred bread in terms of loaf weight, volume and specific volume was given by sample I (control sample) containing 100% wheat flour with a specific volume of 3.54 cm3/g. This was closely followed by sample A with specific volume of 3.25 cm3/g containing 20% substitution level of CE. Sample H containing 50% substitution level of XS with specific volume of 2.58 cm3/g gave the poorest performance. The sensory evaluation result further revealed that apart from the 100% wheat flour based sample I, sample D with 20% substitution level of XS was rated good and maintained better performance amongst the cocoyam varieties while samples G and C with 100% and 50% substitution level of CE respectively were rated the poorest. The proximate composition of the bread samples was also carried out. CE, XS and wheat bread samples (100%) recorded 15.0633±1.4531, 12.1133±1.5975 and 11.2867±0.7978 respectively for the moisture content. XS bread recorded the highest carbohydrate content of 45.0133±3.0274. In terms of ash, CE bread recorded the highest value of 31.4367±1.6159 while wheat bread recorded the highest value for protein i.e. 20.6033± 0.8113. XS performed better in terms of crude fat and energy value of 12.2967± 0.8914 and 371.5367 respectively. The use of cocoyam - wheat flour mixture in producing composite bread is therefore strongly recommended from this study