Journal of Epidemiological Society of Nigeria

Level of preparedness in screening for COPD and asthma at Primary Health Care facilities of a local government area of Plateau State, Nigeria.

2023-04-27T16:22:04-05:00

Background: The prevalence of COPD and asthma are on the rise. Both diseases have preventable risk factors. Primary healthcare facilities have a role to play in the prevention of these diseases. This study sought to assess the readiness of PHC facilities to screen for, diagnose and make referrals for COPD and asthma in Jos North Local Government Area of Plateau State.

Methods: A cross-sectional assessment of 24 facilities was made. Data were collected with the use of a facility checklist adapted from a WHO Rapid Assessment Tool. Data were processed and analyzed with Epi-Info version 7.2 and presented as frequencies percentages and means.

Results: For the facilities, it was found that the community health extension workers were the cadre most available for human resources (average of 4.1 ± 2.7 per facility). Only one person had received in-service training in chronic respiratory diseases. No guidelines were sighted for screening of CRDs and all the facilities lacked the instruments and drugs for screening and diagnosis of COPD and asthma. All the facilities were able to refer when needed but lacked the necessary support in terms of transportation and communication gadgets.

Conclusion: Primary Health care facilities in Jos North LGA lack the preparedness to screen for and diagnose COPD and asthma. There is a need for the equipping of primary health care facilities for this purpose.

Bioinsecticidal Efficacy and Antioxidant Potency of Jatropha curcas and Ocimum gratissimum against Anopheles gambiae complex in Gombe State, Northeast Nigeria

2023-11-16T10:09:26-06:00

Background: Safer control measures against malaria vectors can address the problems of pollution and resistance from synthetic insecticides. This study aimed to determine the susceptibility of malaria vectors to methanolic leaf extracts of Jatropha curcas and Ocimum gratissimum and their antioxidant profiles. Methods: Fresh leaves of Jatropha curcas and Ocimum gratissimum were collected from Bajoga in northern Nigeria. The leaves were taxonomically identified and crude extracts were obtained. Larvae of Anopheles mosquito were reared to the adult stage and the adult females were used for the adulticidal bioassay. CDC bottles were coated with 0.2g/L to 0.8g/L methanol leaf extracts of the plants and 10 – 25 female Anopheles were introduced into each test bottle to observe mortality. Mortality was assessed at 0 hour, after 2 hours and after 24 hours. Lethal Concentrations and mortality were determined using LC⁵⁰and LC⁹⁰. Standard procedures were followed for qualitative and quantitative screening and antioxidant activity. Excel spreadsheet was used for data analysis. Results: Findings revealed adulticidal efficacy of Jatropha curcas and Ocimum gratissimum of 100% mortality with LC⁵⁰ value of 0.01g/L and LC⁹⁰ value of 0.4g/L after 24 hours against Anopheles gambiae. Qualitative phytochemical screening of the leaf extract of Jatropha curcas showed alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, saponins anthraquinones, phenolics, and glycosides while that of Ocimum gratissimum had steroids in addition. The percentage inhibition of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl-hydrate radical scavenging potential was dose-dependent. Ocimum gratissimum showed higher inhibition potency than Jatropha Curcas. Conclusion: The study reported adulticidal efficacy of the two plants which can be purified for controlling malaria vectors.

Association between Time Spent on Near Work and Myopia in Children in Calabar, Nigeria: A Case control Study

2022-11-16T08:39:43-06:00

Background: Myopia is a refractive error of the eyes that causes blurred distance vision. Child myopia has received global attention with near work, genetics, and environmental factors implicated as risk factors. This study sought to determine the association between time spent on near-work activities and myopia in Children in Calabar, Nigeria. Methods: A case-control study was conducted among children, 5-17 years old, matched by age and sex. Cases were children diagnosed with myopia and those without myopia were the controls. Eye examination was conducted to confirm refractive status and myopia was defined as a spherical equivalent of ≥-0.50D. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data on near-work activity. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 22 and presented as odds ratios, independent t-tests, and Pearson's correlation. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Cases spent significantly more time on near work than controls (mean = 5.93 vs 5.00 hours daily, p = 0.001). Increased time spent near work was associated with more than twice the risk of developing myopia (Odds Ratio: 2.75; 95% CI; 1.040 - 7.292, p=0.037). There was a positive correlation between time spent near work and myopia. This was statistically significant (r = 0.440, p = 0.001). Conclusion: This study identified long time spent near work by children as a risk factor for myopia. Given the growing educational pressure on children in Nigeria and the use of digital devices, there is a need to regulate the time children spend on near-work activities.

Point of Care Blood Glucose Profile of Neonates in a Lagos State Owned Tertiary Health Facility in Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria

2024-01-20T13:34:12-06:00

Background: Blood glucose abnormality is a well-recognized problem among sick neonates but its diagnosis is overlooked because of the similarity in its clinical presentation to that of the primary disease of the affected neonates. The objective of this study was to determine the blood glucose profile of sick neonates at the point of admission into the paediatric ward of Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja, Lagos. Methods: At the point of admission venous sample was taken from the peripheral vein of the neonates whose parents consented to be part of the study for blood glucose concentration estimation. Detailed history and general and physical examination were carried out. Results: The prevalence of hypoglycaemia, normoglycaemia and hyperglycaemia were 32.7%, 60.8% and 6.5% respectively. The prevalence of hypoglycaemia and hyperglycaemia were significantly higher among neonates with gestational age at delivery <37 weeks compared to those ≥37– 42 weeks (p = 0.041). The prevalence of hypoglycaemia and hyperglycaemia were also significantly higher among neonates with weight on admission of >1.5 – 2.5Kg compared with their counterparts with weight ≤1.5Kg or >2.5Kg (p = <0.0001) as well as neonates that were large for gestational age and those with preterm delivery as their clinical diagnosis on admission. Conclusion: Dysglycaemia was common among hospitalized sick neonates with hypoglycaemia being the most common. Prevalent clinical conditions associated with dysglycaemia were preterm delivery and low gestational age at birth.

Effects of Temperature and Seasonal Variations on the Prevalence and Trend of Diarrheal Diseases among the Under-five Years Children in Yenagoa: 2016-2020

2023-11-03T11:06:34-05:00

Background: Diarrheal disease is a principal contributor to the high mortality and morbidity rate among under-five-year-old children, especially in middle and low-income countries, and temperature and seasons play a major role. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the effects of temperature and seasons on the prevalence and trend of diarrheal diseases in the Yenagoa Local Government Area of Bayelsa State from 2016 to 2020. Methods: A facility-based cross-sectional study design was employed, using a uniform stratified sampling method to select six healthcare facilities. A data extraction tool was used to extract information on diarrhea cases from patients' folders in the paediatrics wards while meteorological information was obtained from the NIMET archive. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 25. Descriptive statistics were presented in frequency tables and expressed in percentages. Chi-square for inferential statistics to compare differences in proportions while Poisson regression was run to determine the trend of diarrhea from 2016-2020 based on temperature and seasons at a 95% Confidence interval and a statistical significance of p≤0.05. Results: Out of the 916 cases of diarrhea identified, 395 (43.1%) were <1 year, with 439 (47.9%) between 1 to 2 years and 82 (8.9%) between 3 to <5 years. Dry seasons (aPR 1.14[95% CI:1.11-1.32], p = 0.001), maximum temperature (aPR 1.19[95% CI, 1.13- 1.25], p = 0.001), and average temperature (aPR 1.03[95% 1.0-1.22], p = 0.020) were all significantly associated with diarrhea occurrence. Conclusion: Although diarrheal disease is preventable and treatable, it is still endemic and highly influenced by seasons and temperature.

Knowledge of Hepatitis B and C among Clients Co-infected with Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Hepatitis B and C in a Tertiary Hospital in Kaduna, Northwest Nigeria

2024-02-10T16:56:49-06:00

Background: Viral hepatitis is an inflammatory disease of the liver that is caused by hepatitis viruses A to G. Approximately ten percent of people living with Human Immunodeficiency virus are infected with viral hepatitis. This coinfection results in a significant increase in liver-related morbidity, mortality, and more immune suppression in PLHIV. This study assessed knowledge of hepatitis B and C among clients co-infected with HIV and hepatitis B and C. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from August 2018 to February 2019. The study population was HIV clients seeking care and tested positive for hepatitis B and C in Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital Kaduna, Nigeria. Data was collected using a structured self-administered questionnaire. Knowledge was classified into poor, fair, and good and analyzed using SPSS version 25. Chi Square test was used to test the relationships between categorical variables and statistical significance set at p ≤ 0.05. Result: A total of 384 clients participated, 272 (70.8%) were females and the mean age was 39.3 ± 9.6 years. Fifty-one (13.3%) of participants had poor knowledge of hepatitis B and C, 39 (10.2%) were aware of the Hepatitis B and C status of their partners. Level of knowledge had a statistically significant association with education (p= 0.042) but none with age group and gender (p=0.87 and 0.93 respectively). Conclusion: There was good knowledge of hepatitis but poor awareness of their partners' status. More enlightenment and partners screening is advocated among the general populace to abate the transmission of this disease

Pattern of Thyroid Disorders at a Tertiary Hospital in Jos, Nigeria

2024-02-27T10:47:27-06:00

Background: Disorders of the thyroid gland may be structural or functional with the functional abnormalities resulting from hypersecretion and hyposecretion of thyroid hormones. Subclinical forms which are mild forms of thyroid disorders can also occur, with euthyroid goitre and thyroid cancers being encountered often. Abnormalities of the thyroid gland are associated with clinical consequences and their pattern and prevalence in a particular area depends on the presence or absence of iodine in the diet. Methods: This was a cross-sectional descriptive study carried out among patients presenting for the first time with any form of thyroid disorder to the medical and surgical out-patient departments of the Jos University Teaching Hospital. Patients were recruited consecutively using a structured questionnaire after consent was obtained. Results: The study had more females (81; 95.3%) with the female to male ratio of 20:1. The age range of the study population was 18-78 years (mean ± SD = 42±13 years). Thyroid disorders seen in this study included euthyroid goitre in 45 (52.9%) persons, hyperthyroidism in 36 (42.4%) persons, hypothyroidism in 2 (2.4%) persons, subclinical hyperthyroidism in 1 (1.2%) person and thyroid cancer in 1 (1.2%) person. The common clinical presentations among persons with hyperthyroidism were palpable goitre in 32 (88.9%) persons and palpitation in 30 (83.3%) persons. Conclusion- Euthyroid goitre is the most common thyroid disorder in this study which may be an indication of iodine deficiency in our environment. We suggest that the populace be educated on the importance of eating iodine fortified food.

Cardiovascular Comorbidities, Hypertension and Associated Factors in Adults Living with HIV in Jos, Nigeria

2024-01-20T11:32:21-06:00

Background: Persons living with HIV infection (PLHIV) are reported to be predisposed to cardiovascular diseases (CVD’s) through multiple mechanisms. Recent reports are indicating the emergence of a CVD epidemic within the HIV/AIDS pandemic with consequent added socio-economic burden particularly in low-resource environment. This study sought to evaluate the prevalence of cardiovascular co-morbidities, hypertension and risk assessment in a cohort of PLHIV in Nigeria. Methods: This was a longitudinal study. Adult clients of the HIV clinic of Jos University Teaching Hospital who met the study criteria were enrolled in a simple random manner. Three hundred PLHIV and one hundred (age and sex matched) HIV negative (HIV-) persons were enrolled. Relevant history, physical examination and investigations were obtained and each participant followed up for 12 months for outcomes of interest. Data was analyzed using STATA version 14, P value < 0.05 was considered significant; the prevalence (with confidence intervals) of cardiovascular comorbidities, hypertension and associated factors were determined for each participant. The baseline cross-sectional results are reported in this paper. Results: There were 177 females and 123 males PLHIV with 59 females and 41 males HIV- participants. The mean ages were 41.26±13.2 and 40.5±12.9 years respectively (P=0.98). The prevalence of hypertension was 26.0% (21.1-31.4%) in HIV+ and 8.0% (3.5-15.2%) in HIV- participants, P=0.001. HIV+ participants had statistically significant elevated Framingham risk score (FRS) compared to the HIV- participants, P=0.002. 56% of the HIV+ participants had abnormal echocardiography, 59% had abnormal electrocardiogram and 40.7% (35.1-46.5%) a clinical diagnosis of cardiovascular comorbidity. Pericardial disease was the commonest echocardiography finding while atrial ectopics was the commonest electrocardiography finding. Hypertensive heart disease (24%, 19.2-28.8%) was the commonest cardiovascular comorbidity. Conclusion: PLHIV are at higher risk for developing hypertension and other cardiovascular co-morbidities. Integration of routine screening and management for CVD risk factors and cardio-metabolic co-morbidities are recommended for PLHIV. This will significantly reduce morbidity, improve quality of life and prolong life in these patients.

Diagnostic Challenges of Female Genital Schistosomiasis: A Case Report from Federal Teaching Hospital Gombe, Nigeria

2024-02-25T15:17:48-06:00

Background: Female Genital Schistosomiasis is a neglected gynaecological complication of urogenital schistosomiasis that affects girls and women in sub-Sahara Africa. Female Genital Schistosomiasis has been known for centuries, yet its diagnosis and management are posing a great challenge to medical professionals. Case report: A case of a 27-year old woman being evaluated for recurrent ovarian cysts. Ultrasound examination revealed a thick-walled right adnexal cyst containing clear fluid measuring 5.2cm by 4.7cm. Histology report after right cystectomy showed a cyst wall lined by luteinized granulosa and theca cells and the cortex showed calcified oval to round structures suggestive of calcified schistosoma ova. She had a course of treatment with praziquantel tablets and made an uneventful recovery. Conclusion: This calls for vigilance as well as more studies on female genital schistosomiasis of the upper genital organs and exploration of indirect, non-invasive and syndromic diagnostic methods for female genital schistosomiasis of the upper genitalia at the point of care.