Sachet water: Prevalence of use, perception and quality in a community of Jos South Local Government Area of Plateau State

Background: Sachet water is a phenomenon that has gained widespread use as an alternative to the insufficient provision of potable water. It is an alternative that is readily available, affordable but not without concerns about its purity. The objective of this study is to determine the prevalence of use, perception of safety and assess the quality of sachet water consumed by the population.Methods: A total of 360 respondents were selected using a multistage sampling technique. A semistructured interviewer administered questionnaire was used to collect data and analysis was done using Epi info software version 3.5.4. The sachet water samples used were purposively selected and analyzed for specified physical, chemical and microbiological parameters and compared to the National and WHOGuidelines for drinking-water quality.Results: There is 93.1% use of sachet water among respondents amongst other sources such as tap water, bottled water, well and stream water. Sixty seven percent of respondents affirmed that sachet water is safe. Analysis of the five different sachet water brands showed normal physical and chemical values. Microbiological analysis showed presence of coliforms in three of the sachet water samples.Conclusion: The presence of contaminated sachet water available to the community increases the risk for waterborne diseases contributing to the already prevailing  cases present in our society at large. There is a need for regulatory bodies to do more to improve the safety of drinking water in communities which will ultimately improve their health status.Key words: sachet water, prevalence of use, perception, qualit

Uptake of Antenatal Care Among Pregnant Women in Plateau State Nigeria

Background-Antenatal care offers pregnant women promotive, preventive and curative services. Despite this, some pregnant women still donrsquot access ANC at all while others donrsquot have access to ANC by skilled health care professionals. This increases the risk of maternal morbidity and mortality. This study therefore aims to determine the predictors of ANC attendance among in Plateau State. Methodology-A community based cross sectional study,400 study participants across six communities in the three senatorial zones in Plateau State were selected. Focused Group Discussion was conducted among study participants. Data was analysed using SPSS version 23. Results- 90.8% of respondents booked their last pregnancy out of which 55.8% had more than four ANC visits. Only 52.9% of the women had ANC by skilled health care providers. 69.7% of women who did not book their pregnancy delivered at home. Educational status, marital status and marital setting were predictors of ANC attendance among the study population. Women who had formal education were 1.7 times more likely to attend ANC compared to those with non-formal or no education at all. (P-value lt0.001 CI 1.267-2.321). Also, women in monogamous settings were more likely to attend ANC compared to those in polygamous setting (P-value 0.015 CI 0.162-0.822). Conclusion-Many of the respondents did not have the required number of ANC visits.nbsp More targeted interventions should be implemented in order to ensure that women have access to skilled care during pregnancy as this will reduce the risk of complications in pregnancy and delivery

Comparing neonatal outcomes in women with preeclampsia and those with normal pregnancy

Background: Preeclampsia has remained an important public health problem in the developing world where it is associated with a five-fold increase in perinatal morbidity and mortality. Objective: We set out to compare neonatal outcomes between women with preeclampsia and those with normal pregnancy. We also sought to evaluate factors associated with poor outcome in the neonates. Materials and Methods: This was a prospective cohort study that enrolled 90 women (45 with preeclampsia and 45 with normal pregnancy) after 20 weeks gestation. Maternal socio-demographic and clinical information was obtained at enrolment and delivery using questionnaire. Neonatalanthropometric and physiologic data was obtained at delivery and used for classifying the birth weight according to the WHO classification. APGAR score was used to evaluate the presence of birth asphyxia. We defined poor outcome as the presence of at least one of low birth weight,  prematurity, birth asphyxia and need for admission. SPSS version 25 was used in all analysis. Significance testing was set at p=0.05. Results: The women with preeclampsia were significantly heavier at booking (BMI 29.0±6.9 Kg/ m2 vs 25.0±5.2. p=0.005), have higher mean booking systolic blood pressure (122.±22.6 mmHg vs 111.5±12.7mmHg, p=0.003) and diastolic blood pressure ( 7 9 . 8 ± 1 4 . 3mm Hgvs 68.8±9.0mmHg, p<0.001). Neonates of women with preeclampsia were significantly more premature ( meangestational age = 36 . 8 ± 3 . 2 week svs 38.7±2.0weeks, p=0.001) and lighter (mean birth weight =2,529±817.5g vs 3,079.2±527.4g, p<0.001). Overall, 22 (49.4%) of the neonates of women with preeclampsiahad significantly poor outcome compared with 12(27.4%) of the neonates of women with normal pregnancy (p=0.01). Univariate logistic analysis showed only being a male neonate, maternal preeclampsia and admission in index pregnancy were significantly associated with poor outcome.  Multivariable logistic regression showed only being a male neonate to be 3 times more likely to have a poor outcome (Wald=5.34. OR=3.2, p=0.02) Conclusions: Intrauterine exposure to preeclampsia is associated with poor neonatal outcomes especially in males Key words: infant outcome, preeclampsia, Nigeri

Cross Sectional Survey Of Hiv/Aids High Risk Behaviours Among Commertcial Motorcycle (‘Okada\') Riders In Jos Metropolis, Plateau State

Objective: This cross-sectional survey assessed the knowledge about HIV/AIDS and sexual behaviours of the Commercial Motor Cycle Riders in Jos Metropolis, Plateau state. Methodology: A two stage sampling technique was used to recruit 47 subjects from each of the eight (8) Commercial Motor Cycle Riders station to make up a total of 376 eligible subjects for this study. Data was generated using semi-structured interviewer administered questionnaire and the results were analyzed using EPI info version 2000 computer software. Results: The study revealed that all the respondents were males, with mean age of 25.7+3.6 years and 86.4% of them were not married. Up to 55.0% of the respondents did not attend any school, while 30.0% attended either Arabic or primary schools. Only 21.3% of the respondents had good knowledge about HIV/AIDS Whereas 47.8% and 30.9% of them had fair and poor knowledge respectively. Up to 43.0% of the respondents had their first sexual intercourse at or before the age of 17 years, the major circumstance for which was ‘fun' (73.4%). Out of the 24.0% of the respondents who admitted to have had casual sex in the last 12 months, 89.0% had sex with commercial sex workers (as well as other women) and in 87.0% of the cases condom was used. The major reason for not using condom during casual sex was ‘dislike of condom' (41.6%) followed by ‘unavailability of condom' (33.0%) and ‘refusal of partner' (25.0%). One form of illicit drug or the other was used (at least once) by 81.6% of the subjects, while 32.0% of them had ever consumed alcohol. Conclusion: The study revealed that being unmarried have a statistically significant relationship with keeping multiple sexual partners. Alcohol consumption is also shown to have a strong statistically significant relationship with indulgence in casual sex. However it was observed that knowledge had no statistically significant relationship with use of condom, frequency of casual sex and sex with commercial sex workers. Illicit drug use was also not found to have a statistically significant relationship with indulgence in casual sex. Keywords: Commercial Motor-cycle Riders (Okada), HIV/AIDS, Commercial Sex Workers, Regular sexual partner.Highland Medical Research Journal Vol. 4 (2) 2006 pp. 32-3

Evaluation Of Nursing Mothers\' Ability To Interpret The Growth Monitoring Chart In Primary Health Care Facilities In Jos

Objective: To determine the knowledge of nursing mothers in the interpretation of growth monitoring curves and assessing those factors that are responsible for the differences in their knowledge in the primary care facilities.. Study Population/Methods: Three hundred and twenty women were studied which were selected from Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH), Primary Health Clinic, Nassarawa and Tudun Wada, all in Jos North LGC of Plateau State. A structured questionnaire was used to obtain personal information on the mother and cource of information on growth monitoring chart. A graphic representation of the growth curve was presented to each nursing mother for interpretation. Result: The interpretation of growth monitoring was correct in 40.6% of mothers for rising curve, 37.2% for flat curve and 45.3% for falling curve. There is statistically significant difference between the correct interpretation of growth curve by mothers from family health clinic compared with the other two PHC facilities. Conclusion: Mothers should be involved in a formal method of training focus on group discussion and demonstration of growth monitoring and nutritional promotion.. Key words: Growth monitoring curve, growth, and mothers. Highland Medical Research Journal Vol.1(1) 2002: 21-2

Malaria among antenatal clients attending primary health care facilities in Kano state, Nigeria

Background: Malaria in pregnancy remains a major public health problem especially in sub-Saharan Africa. However, the prevalence of clinical and asymptomatic infection among antenatal client (ANC) attendees is largely unknown, especially at primary health care (PHC) level in northern Nigeria. This study assessed the prevalence of fever, malarial parasitemia and anemia among pregnant women attending PHC facilities in Kano, northern Nigeria. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted among 360 ANCs attending PHC facilities in two Local Government Areas (LGAs) in Kano state. Data were collected using a pre-tested semi-structured interviewer administered questionnaire. Blood samples were also obtained for thin blood smear for malaria parasite using Giemsa staining technique. Hemoglobin was estimated from the Packed Cell Volume (PCV) determined using hematocrit. Results: Age of the subjects ranged from 15 to 42 years with a mean ± SD of 24.0 ± 6.0. Up to 39.2% (n = 141) (95% Confi dence Interval = 34.1-44.4%) of the subjects were found to have malarial parasitemia. Exactly 36.2% (n = 51) of those with parasitemia had fever (temperature ≥ 37.5oC) while 63.8% (n = 90) of them were asymptomatic. Anemia, (hemoglobin of ≤11 g/dl) was found in 48.1% (n = 173) of the respondents. A higher proportion of primigravid and secondigravid clients (61% vs. 39%) and younger pregnant women (54.6% vs. 45.4%) had malarial parasitemia compared to multigravid and older women, respectively. Similarly, a signifi cantly higher proportion (67.6%) of anemic ANC clients had malarial parasitemia. (χ2 = 113.25, df = 1, P < 0.05). Conclusion: Malarial infection is common among the ANC clients attending PHC facilities in Kano state and the infection is commonly associated with anemia. Intermittent Preventive Treatment (IPT) should be provided especially among primigravid, secondigravid and younger mothers at PHC centres.Arrière-plan : Le paludisme de grossesse reste un problème majeur de santé en particulier en Afrique subsaharienne. Cependant, la prévalence de l’infection clinique et asymptomatique parmi les participants prénatals client (ANC) est en grande partie inconnue, notamment au niveau des soins de santé primaires (HCP) dans le Nord du Nigéria. Cette étude a évalué la prévalence de la peste, malarienne parasitemia et l’anémie chez les femmes enceintes qui fréquentent les installations HCP dans Kano, Nord du Nigéria. Méthodes : Une étude descriptive transversale a été menée entre 360 ANCs qui fréquentent les installations HCP dans deux locaux zone d’administration (LGAs) dans l’Etat de Kano. Données ont été recueillies à l’aide d’un pré-testées semi-structuré questionnaire de l’interviewer administré. Les échantillons de sang ont été obtenus également pour les frottis sanguin mince pour le paludisme parasite à l’aide de Giemsa coloration technique. Hémoglobine a été estimée de la paniers cellules volume (PCV) déterminé en utilisant hématocrite. Résultats : Âge des sujets allant de 15 à 42 ans, avec une moyenne ± SD de ± 24,0 6.0. Jusqu’à 39.2 % (n = 141) (95 % Témoignage a Confi intervalle = 34.1–44.4 %) des sujets ont eu parasitemia malarienne. Exactement 36.2 % (n = 51) de ceux avec parasitemia avaient la peste (température ≥ 37 .5oC) tandis que 63.8 % (n = 90) d’entre eux ont été asymptomatiques. Anémie, (hémoglobine de ≤ 11 g/dl) a été trouvé dans 48,1 % (n = 173) des répondants. Une proportion plus élevée de primigravid et secondigravid clients (61 % VS 39 %) et les jeunes femmes enceintes (54,6 % VS 45,4 %) avaient parasitemia malarienne comparativement aux femmes multigravid et anciennes, respectivement. De même, une important considérablement plus grande proportion (67,6 %) d’anémique Les clients ANC avaient parasitemia malarienne. ( ÷ 2 = 113.25, df = 1, P < 0,05). Conclusion : Malarienne infection est fréquent chez les clients ANC qui fréquentent les installations HCP dans l’Etat de Kano et la infection est généralement associée à l’anémie. Traitement préventif intermittent (IPT) doivent être fournis en particulier Parmi les primigravid, secondigravid et jeunes mères dans les centres HCP

Malaria among antenatal clients attending primary health care facilities in Kano state, Nigeria

Background: Malaria in pregnancy remains a major public health problem especially in sub-Saharan Africa. However, the prevalence of clinical and asymptomatic infection among antenatal client (ANC) attendees is largely unknown, especially at primary health care (PHC) level in northern Nigeria. This study assessed the prevalence of fever, malarial parasitemia and anemia among pregnant women attending PHC facilities in Kano, northern Nigeria. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted among 360 ANCs attending PHC facilities in two Local Government Areas (LGAs) in Kano state. Data were collected using a pre-tested semi-structured interviewer administered questionnaire. Blood samples were also obtained for thin blood smear for malaria parasite using Giemsa staining technique. Hemoglobin was estimated from the Packed Cell Volume (PCV) determined using hematocrit. Results: Age of the subjects ranged from 15 to 42 years with a mean \ub1 SD of 24.0 \ub1 6.0. Up to 39.2% (n = 141) (95% Confi dence Interval = 34.1-44.4%) of the subjects were found to have malarial parasitemia. Exactly 36.2% (n = 51) of those with parasitemia had fever (temperature 65 37.5oC) while 63.8% (n = 90) of them were asymptomatic. Anemia, (hemoglobin of 6411 g/dl) was found in 48.1% (n = 173) of the respondents. A higher proportion of primigravid and secondigravid clients (61% vs. 39%) and younger pregnant women (54.6% vs. 45.4%) had malarial parasitemia compared to multigravid and older women, respectively. Similarly, a signifi cantly higher proportion (67.6%) of anemic ANC clients had malarial parasitemia. (\u3c72 = 113.25, df = 1, P &lt; 0.05). Conclusion: Malarial infection is common among the ANC clients attending PHC facilities in Kano state and the infection is commonly associated with anemia. Intermittent Preventive Treatment (IPT) should be provided especially among primigravid, secondigravid and younger mothers at PHC centres.Arri\ue8re-plan : Le paludisme de grossesse reste un probl\ue8me majeur de sant\ue9 en particulier en Afrique subsaharienne. Cependant, la pr\ue9valence de l\u2019infection clinique et asymptomatique parmi les participants pr\ue9natals client (ANC) est en grande partie inconnue, notamment au niveau des soins de sant\ue9 primaires (HCP) dans le Nord du Nig\ue9ria. Cette \ue9tude a \ue9valu\ue9 la pr\ue9valence de la peste, malarienne parasitemia et l\u2019an\ue9mie chez les femmes enceintes qui fr\ue9quentent les installations HCP dans Kano, Nord du Nig\ue9ria. M\ue9thodes : Une \ue9tude descriptive transversale a \ue9t\ue9 men\ue9e entre 360 ANCs qui fr\ue9quentent les installations HCP dans deux locaux zone d\u2019administration (LGAs) dans l\u2019Etat de Kano. Donn\ue9es ont \ue9t\ue9 recueillies \ue0 l\u2019aide d\u2019un pr\ue9-test\ue9es semi-structur\ue9 questionnaire de l\u2019interviewer administr\ue9. Les \ue9chantillons de sang ont \ue9t\ue9 obtenus \ue9galement pour les frottis sanguin mince pour le paludisme parasite \ue0 l\u2019aide de Giemsa coloration technique. H\ue9moglobine a \ue9t\ue9 estim\ue9e de la paniers cellules volume (PCV) d\ue9termin\ue9 en utilisant h\ue9matocrite. R\ue9sultats : \uc2ge des sujets allant de 15 \ue0 42 ans, avec une moyenne \ub1 SD de \ub1 24,0 6.0. Jusqu\u2019\ue0 39.2 % (n = 141) (95 % T\ue9moignage a Confi intervalle = 34.1\u201344.4 %) des sujets ont eu parasitemia malarienne. Exactement 36.2 % (n = 51) de ceux avec parasitemia avaient la peste (temp\ue9rature 65 37 .5oC) tandis que 63.8 % (n = 90) d\u2019entre eux ont \ue9t\ue9 asymptomatiques. An\ue9mie, (h\ue9moglobine de 64 11 g/dl) a \ue9t\ue9 trouv\ue9 dans 48,1 % (n = 173) des r\ue9pondants. Une proportion plus \ue9lev\ue9e de primigravid et secondigravid clients (61 % VS 39 %) et les jeunes femmes enceintes (54,6 % VS 45,4 %) avaient parasitemia malarienne comparativement aux femmes multigravid et anciennes, respectivement. De m\ueame, une important consid\ue9rablement plus grande proportion (67,6 %) d\u2019an\ue9mique Les clients ANC avaient parasitemia malarienne. ( \uf7 2 = 113.25, df = 1, P &lt; 0,05). Conclusion : Malarienne infection est fr\ue9quent chez les clients ANC qui fr\ue9quentent les installations HCP dans l\u2019Etat de Kano et la infection est g\ue9n\ue9ralement associ\ue9e \ue0 l\u2019an\ue9mie. Traitement pr\ue9ventif intermittent (IPT) doivent \ueatre fournis en particulier Parmi les primigravid, secondigravid et jeunes m\ue8res dans les centres HCP

Integrated disesase surveillance and response reporting: effects of training on primary healthcare workers in plateau state, Nigeria

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Population‑based Prevalence and Associated Risk Factors of Hypertension among Adults in Benue State, Nigeria

Background: The increasing prevalence of hypertension in low‑ and middle‑income countries is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Aim: To determine the prevalence of hypertension and associated risk factors in Benin state, Nigeria. Materials and Methods: A population‑based cross‑sectional study was conducted among 1265 adults selected by multistage sampling technique. The World Health Organization (WHO) STEPwise approach was used to collect data. Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software program, version 23.0 (IBM). We estimated prevalence and odds of hypertension at 5% level of significance. Results: The prevalence of hypertension was 35.6%. The odds of hypertension was higher among age 30–39 (aOR: 2.0; 95% CI: 1.3–3.1) compared to age 18–29 years, males (aOR: 1.4; 95% CI: 1.1–2.0) compared to females, overweight (aOR: 2.3; 95%CI: 1.6–3.2), and obesity (aOR: 4.9; 95%CI: 3.2–7.7) compared to normal weight, and high cholesterol (aOR: 1.6; 95% CI: 1.1–2.3) compared to normal cholesterol. Conclusion: The prevalence of hypertension was high among young adults in Benue State. The associated risk factors for hypertension were age, sex, overweight, obesity, and high total cholesterol. Keywords: Community, hypertension, Nigeria, population‑based, risk factor

Predictors of Male Condom Utilization in Plateau State, Nigeria

Background: Nigerian men play major roles in the reproductive decision‑making process, including issues concerning fertility. Despite efforts made by the government to reduce the incidence of HIV by using condom as a means of dual protection, the utilization of male condom is still relatively low in Nigeria. This study aimed to assess the condom utilization and predictors of condom use among male respondents in Plateau State. Methodology: An analysis of secondary data of the 2013 Nigeria Demographic Health Survey dataset was done. Data were collected through a cross‑sectional study using multistage cluster sampling technique from 393 consenting males aged 15–49 years in Plateau State using a semistructured, closed‑ended questionnaire. Survey data quality was ascertained using field check tables during data entry. The dataset was analyzed using SPSS version 21.0 software (SPSS, IBM Corp, Armonk, NY, USA). Condom utilization prevalence rate was calculated for the 393 males, while predictors were determined by logistic regression. P ≤ 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Mean age of the respondents was 31.05 ± 9.395 years. Most (90.3%) of the respondents were aware of at least one of the various family planning methods. The prevalence of condom use among them was 15.5% with the 20–29 years’ age group having the highest proportion (28.8%). Significant associations were found between condom use and age, level of wealth, level of education, marital status, knowledge of contraception, occupation, and religion. Predictors of condom use include level of wealth (middle class), not being married, and primary level education. Conclusions: The prevalence of male condom use is low in Plateau State. The predictors of condom use are level of wealth, being unmarried, and primary level of education. Having only a primary level of education and been in the middle class reduces the likelihood of using condoms while being unmarried increases it.Keywords: Male condom utilization, male respondents, Plateau State, predictor