Prevalence and comorbidities of childhood overweight and obesity among school aged children in an urban settlement in Benin City, Nigeria

Background: The prevalence of childhood overweight and obesity is rising worldwide and its impact spanning through adolescence to adulthood.Objectives: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of overweight and obesity and the occurrence of high blood pressure and elevated blood glucose among school aged children in an urban settlement in Benin City, Nigeria.Design: A cross-sectional, descriptive study was utilized.Subjects and setting: A total of 195 school aged children residing in households in the selected ward were recruited for the study carried out between 2014 and 2015.Outcome measures: Anthropometric measurements were recorded and used to determine the body mass indices (BMI) of the children. Also blood pressure measurements and random blood sugars of the respondents were determined to ascertain the blood pressure and glycaemic status of the children.Results: The proportion of overweight respondents was 7.7% and 3.1% for obesity giving a combined proportion of 10.8% while that for underweight was 11.8% amongst the study respondents. The females, 18 (16.6%) had a significantly higher proportion of overweight and obesity than the males, 3 (3.5%) [p = 0.003]. The prevalence of hypertension was 6 (3.1%) and elevated blood glucose was 4 (2.1%).Conclusion: The prevalence of overweight was 7.7% while that for obesity was 3.1%. Also, the prevalence of hypertension and elevated blood glucose was 3.1% and 2.1% respectively amongst the school aged children and females had a significantly higher proportion of overweight and obesity than males in the study. There is a need for public enlightenment towards promoting healthier lifestyle choices and screening of disease conditions early in childhood.Keywords: Prevalence, Comorbidities, Overweight and obesity, School aged children, Nutritional statu

Prevalence and determinants of contraceptive use among women of child-bearing age in a rural community in southern Nigeria

Background: Women’s ability to determine whether and when to have children, enhances their health, education and employment chances. Determinants of contraceptives use are key variables in the evaluation of family planning  programmes. The study assessed the knowledge, prevalence and determinants of contraception among women of child-bearing age (WCA) in a rural community.Method: A total population study was conducted using a descriptive cross-sectional study design among women of child-bearing age in Awuyemi community of Etsako East LGA, Edo State, Nigeria. A pre-tested, structured interviewer-administered questionnaire was the tool for data collection. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 21.0. Test of associations were carried out using Chi-squared tests and binary logistic regression was used to determine significant predictors of  contraceptive use. The level of significance was set at p < 0.05.Results: Two hundred and ninety-five WCA with mean age of 27.4 ± 7.9 years participated in the study. One hundred and seventy-seven (60.0%) of them were multiparous women. Of these, 115 (65.0%) had an average birth interval of ≤ 2 years. About one-third had ever used contraceptives while 26.4% were current users. The commonest contraceptive used by the respondents was condoms (33.3%). Determinants of current use of contraceptive were cost of contraceptive (p = 0.036), informed choice (p < 0.001), and level of education (p = 0.024).Conclusion: Contraceptive prevalence rate among the respondents was low. Determinants of current use of contraceptive were cost of contraceptives, informed choice and level of education and these should be used for targeted interventions by all stakeholders in intervention programmes.Keywords: Contraception, Women of Child-Bearing Age, Nigeri

Prevalence and Management of Perceived Adverse Events Following Immunization in Infants attending Well Baby Clinics in Benin City, Nigeria

Background: Immunization is an important public health intervention for vaccine-preventable diseases (VPDs). However, adverse events may follow immunization of infants. This study determined the prevalence and management of Adverse Events following Immunization (AEFI) reported by caregivers of infants in Well-Baby Clinics in Benin City, Nigeria.Methods: The study was carried out in 2015 among 400 caregivers of infants attending Well- Baby Clinics in Benin City, Nigeria. A descriptive cross-sectional study design was utilized. Respondents were selected using a systematic sampling technique. An adapted structured interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to collect data. Data analysis was done using IBM SPSS version 20.0.Results: Less than half, 169 (42.3%) of the caregivers stated that their children had AEFI. Three-quarters 126 (74.6%) and 68 (40.2%) of the AEFI occurred following vaccination with Bacillus Calmette-Guerin and pentavalent vaccine. Fever and swelling of the injection sites occurred in 142 (84.0%) and 65 (38.5%) of the children, respectively. Almost all 167 (98.8%) of the respondents reported an AEFI. Few of those who reported an AEFI, 13 (7.8%) had their children hospitalized.Conclusion: A significant proportion of children vaccinated experienced side effects perceived to be AEFI that presented mainly as fever and swollen injection sites which were mainly reported at the immunization clinic. Few of the reported cases of AEFI were hospitalized. Healthcare workers should continue to educate and reassure caregivers of infants of the symptoms and signs that may occur following vaccination and how they can be managed. Keywords: Adverse Events Following Immunization; Infants; Management; Prevalence; Nigeria

The pain of labour: Perspectives of traditional birth attendants in Edo State, Nigeria

Objective: To determine the concept of labour pain and its relief in a cultural setting using the perspectives of Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs).Design: Cross Sectional Comparative Study.Setting: An urban area (Benin City) and a semi-urban town (Auchi) in Edo State, Nigeria.Subjects: Traditional Birth Attendants in an urban area (Benin City) and a  semi-urban town (Auchi) were identified using  information from a local directory and a respondent driven sampling method.Results: A total of 58 TBAs (37 in Benin and 21 in Auchi) were interviewed. MostTBAs, 36 (97.3%) in Benin and 21 (100.0%) in Auchi, agreed that there is pain during labour. Almost all the TBAs, 34 (94.4%) in Benin and 21 (100,0%) in Auchi, reported that labour pain could be severe. Most of the TBAs, 31(83.8%) in Benin and 20 (95.2%) in Auchi reported that their clients request for pain relief in labour. Use of oral herbs was the most common method of pain relief in labour amongst the TBAs, 12(32.2%) in Benin and 20(100.0%) in Auchi. Most of the TBAs in Benin, 19(61.3%) offer nothing for labour pain, when pain relief is sought by their clients.Conclusion: Labour is considered painful in our culture and most women desire relief. TBAs in semi-urban setting used herbal remedies more readily than their urban counterparts. Efforts should be made at providing comfort to all women in labour irrespective of the location of delivery

A modified figure of merit for pyroelectric energy harvesting

This paper reports a new figure of merit for the selection of pyroelectric materials for thermal energy harvesting applications, for example, when the material is exposed to heat or radiation of a specified power density. The figure of merit put forward and developed is of interest to those selecting materials for the design of thermal harvesting devices or the development of novel ceramic, single-crystal and composite materials for pyroelectric harvesting application