ITN utilization among pregnant women attendinganc in Etsako West Lga, Edo State, Nigeria

No Abstract

Onchocerciasis Amongst Children Of An Endemic Community In Edo State, Nigeria

Onchocerciasis among 278 children (0-15yrs) of Ekpan village, a hyperendemic community in Uhunmwode Local Government Area of Edo State, Nigeria was investigated using the prevalence of nodules as index. The overall prevalence of palpable nodules was 26.3%. Nodule prevalence increased with age and the association was found to be statistically significant (

Knowledge and attitude towards onchocerciasis and community directed treatment with ivermectin in endemic communities in Edo State, Nigeria.

Objective: Community directed treatment with ivermectin (CDTI) was developed as a solution for the control and elimination of onchocerciasisis. It involves active and structural community participation. CDTI requires that ivermectin be administered continuously over a period of at least 14years before elimination can be achieved in hyper and meso-endemic communities. The study assessed the knowledge and attitude of community's members towards onchocerciasis and the CDTI strategy in endemic communities in Edo State, Nigeria.Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study involving seven hundred and twenty community members' selected using multistage sampling technique. Data was collected using a pre-tested structured interviewers' administered questionnaire and was analysed using IBM SPSS version 21.0 software. Level of statistical significance was set at p < 0.05Results: The mean age (SD) of respondents was 45.9 (15.2) years. Six hundred and one (83.5%) and 591 (82.1%) of the respondents had good knowledge of onchocerciasis and CDTI strategy respectively. The significant predictors of good knowledge on onchocerciasis were age (p = 0.001), sex (p = 0.001) and level of education (p = 0.001) while that of CDTI strategy were sex (p = 0.001) and level of education (p = 0.001). Five hundred and ninety seven (82.9%) of the respondents had a good attitude towards the CDTI strategy and its significant predictor was level of education (p = 0.006)Conclusion: Findings from this study revealed that there are still gaps in knowledge as regards onchocerciasis and the CDTI strategy among community members in the study area. Re-enforcement of health education messages on onchocerciasis and CDTI strategy in endemic areas is recommended so as to improve knowledge and consequent acceptance of the CDTI strategy.Keywords: Community Directed Treatment with Ivermectin, Onchocerciasis. Knowledge, Attitude, Nigeria

Home management of malaria in an academic community - University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria

Malaria remains one of the world's most devastating diseases, killing millions of people yearly. Home management is an important strategy adopted for the reduction of its fatality. This survey to evaluate home management practices towards malaria among heads of households was undertaken at the residential quarters of the University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria. The residential quarters consists of 239 housing units; 179 units accommodating senior workers and 60 units accommodating junior workers. Using the systematic sampling method, a sampling ratio of 1:2 was used in selecting a total of 120 housing units and 120 heads of households for the study. A structured interviewer-administered questionnaire was used for data collection. Results show that of the 120 heads of households interviewed 70.8% were males, while 29.2% were females. Knowledge of the cause of malaria was poor 46 (38.3%). However, knowledge improved with increase in level of education and this association was found to be statistically significant (p = 0.002). The common signs and symptoms associated with malaria in descending order of prevalence were fever 83.3%, weakness 70.0%, headache 62.5%, body pains 50.8%, vomiting 47.7% and loss of appetite 40.8%. Majority of respondents (52.5%) delayed treatment to between one to three days after recognition of signs/symptoms of malaria. Most of the respondents (90.8%) preferred orthodox drugs for home treatment of malaria while 3.3% and 5.8% used herbal preparations. Others used a combination of orthodox and herbal preparations. The commonly used orthodox drugs were choloroquine (45.0%), followed by sulphadoxine pyrimethamine (fansidar) (25.0%) and sulphadaxin pyrimethamine (maloxine) (20.0%), amongst others. However, chloroquine, which was most commonly used, was the most incorrectly administered. Prevention against malaria was mostly achieved through the use of door/window gauze (35%) and combination of insecticide and door/window gauze (30%). Home management of malaria is an important strategy that needs to be sustained. However, inadequate treatment regimen remains a hindrance to the success of this vital control effort. There is a need to educate all strata of the society on the correct administration of common antimalarials to reduce the impact of the disease

Peer education: The effects on knowledge of pregnancy related malaria and preventive practices in women of reproductive age in Edo State, Nigeria

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>There is limited uptake of measures to prevent malaria by pregnant women in Nigeria which is often related to the lack of knowledge on Malaria in Pregnancy (MIP) and its effects on mother and foetus. This study, explored peer to peer education as a tool in raising knowledge of MIP among women of child bearing age.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>1105 women of child bearing age were interviewed in their households using a structured questionnaire about their knowledge of malaria in general, MIP and use of preventive measures. Thereafter, a peer education campaign was launched to raise the level of knowledge in the community. The interviews were repeated after the campaign and the responses between the pre- and post-intervention were compared.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In the pre-assessment women on average answered 64.8% of the question on malaria and its possibility to prevent malaria correctly. The peer education campaign had a significant impact in raising the level of knowledge among the women; after the campaign the respondents answered on average 73.8% of the questions correctly. Stratified analysis on pre and post assessment scores for malaria in general (68.8 & 72.9%) and MIP (61.7 & 76.3%) showed also significant increase. Uptake of bed nets was reported to be low: 11.6%</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Peer education led to a significant increase in knowledge of malaria and its prevention but we could not asses its influence on the use of preventive measures.</p

Predictors of early sexual initiation among a nationally representative sample of Nigerian adolescents

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Early sexual debut among adolescents is associated with considerable negative heath and development outcomes. An understanding of the determinants or predictors of the timing of sexual debut is important for effective intervention, but very few studies to date have addressed this issue in the Nigerian context. The aim of the present study is to examine predictors of adolescent sexual initiation among a nationally representative sample of adolescents in Nigeria.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Interviewer-collected data of 2,070 never-married adolescents aged 15–19 years were analysed to determine association between age of sexual debut and demographic, psychosocial and community factors. Using Cox proportional hazards regression multivariate analysis was carried out with two different models – one with and the other without psychosocial factors. Hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated separately for males and females.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>A fifth of respondents (18% males; 22% females) were sexually experienced. In the South 24.3% males and 28.7% females had initiated sex compared to 12.1% of males and 13.1% females in the North (p < 0.001). In the first model, only region was significantly associated with adolescent sexual initiation among both males and females; however, educational attainment and age were also significant among males. In the second (psychosocial) model factors associated with adolescent sexual debut for both genders included more positive attitudes regarding condom efficacy (males: HR = 1.28, 95% CI = 1.07–1.53; females: HR = 1.24, 95% CI = 1.05–1.46) and more positive attitudes to family planning use (males: HR = 1.19, 95% CI = 1.09–1.31; females: HR = 1.18, 95% CI = 1.07–1.30). A greater perception of condom access (HR = 1.42, 95% CI = 1.14–1.76) and alcohol use (HR = 1.90, 95% CI = 1.38–2.62) among males and positive gender-related attitudes (HR = 1.13, 95% CI = 1.04–1.23) among females were also associated with increased likelihood of adolescent sexual initiation. Conversely, personal attitudes in favour of delayed sexual debut were associated with lower sexual debut among both males (males: HR = 0.36, 95% CI = 0.25–0.52) and females (HR = 0.38, 95% CI = 0.25–0.57). Higher level of religiosity was associated with lower sexual debut rates only among females (HR = 0.59, 95% CI = 0.37–0.94).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Given the increased risk for a number of sexually transmitted health problems, understanding the factors that are associated with premarital sexual debut will assist programmes in developing more effective risk prevention interventions.</p

Prevalence and Prevention of Malaria in Pregnancy in Edo State, Nigeria

The observational/longitudinal study was undertaken in Igueben Local Government Area (LGA), Edo State, Nigeria. The objective of the study was to determine the effect of prevention on the prevalence ofmalaria during pregnancy. The study population comprised 4 groups viz; Group1, had 100 women protected with Insecticide Treated bed Nets (ITNs); Group2, another 100 treated with Sulphadoxine –pyrimethamine (SP); Group 3, 100 protected with both ITN and SP, while Group 4, were 100 unprotected others who served as control. Venous blood was collected 7 days to expected date ofdelivery while placental blood was collected after delivery from the subjects for parasitaemia determination. Findings showed that all protective devices used were effective against malaria.Prevention used against malaria in pregnancy is a sure safe guard against maternal morbidity/mortality and should be encouraged. It is therefore, recommended that pregnant women should be health educated to appreciate the need for malaria prevention (Afr J Reprod Health 2008; 12[3]:49-58)

Ivermictic distribution coverage and the associated factors in Ekpan village, Edo state, Nigeria

No Abstract. The Nigerian Journal of Parasitology Vol. 22(1&2) 2001: 157-16

Knowledge, Attitude And Perceptions Of Onchocerciasis In A Hyper-Endemic Community Of Edo State, Nigeria

An evaluation of the knowledge, attitude and perception of Ekpan, a rural community in Edo State of Nigeria, towards onchocerciasis after 3 years of ivermectin distribution was undertaken. The structured questionnaire administered to the respondents focused on specific aspects of knowledge, attitude and perception related to the disease, its mode of transmission and control activities in the village. Results from the survey showed that 133 (68.6%) had fair knowledge of the disease. All subjects knew the bite of the blackflies was followed by itching but none knew that bites were accompanied by Onchocerca volvulus transmission. Level of education influenced knowledge of the disease and the relationship was statistically significant (