Longitudinal evaluation of repellent activity of Ocimum gratissimum (Labiatae) volatile oil against Simulium damnosum.

To determine the repellent activity of Ocimum gratissimum volatile oil against Simulium damnosum (blackflies), a 12 month (January-December 2003) field study was conducted in three onchocerciasis endemic communities (Idomido, Obio camp, and Ikot Adaha) in Ini Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. The result revealed that topical application of 20% (v/v) concentration of the oil with liquid paraffin as a base, reduced the biting rate of S. damnosum by 90.2, 81.6, and 79.7%, in Idomido, Obiocamp, and Ikot Adaha respectively. The oil gave protection against the bite of S. damnosum for at least 3 h. A total of 710 adults S. damnosum were caught by individuals treated with Ocimum oil, as against 4296 caught by the control group. When the flies caught by the treated individuals were dissected none of them was infected with microfilariae of Onchocerca volvulus. Human-vector contact and onchocerciasis transmission could be reduced by the topical application of the volatile oil during the peak biting periods of the vector

Longitudinal evaluation of repellent activity of Ocimum gratissimum (Labiatae) volatile oil against Simulium damnosum

To determine the repellent activity of Ocimum gratissimum volatile oil against Simulium damnosum (blackflies), a 12 month (January-December 2003) field study was conducted in three onchocerciasis endemic communities (Idomido, Obio camp, and Ikot Adaha) in Ini Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. The result revealed that topical application of 20 percent (v/v) concentration of the oil with liquid paraffin as a base, reduced the biting rate of S. damnosum by 90.2, 81.6, and 79.7 percent, in Idomido, Obiocamp, and Ikot Adaha respectively. The oil gave protection against the bite of S. damnosum for at least 3 h. A total of 710 adults S. damnosum were caught by individuals treated with Ocimum oil, as against 4296 caught by the control group. When the flies caught by the treated individuals were dissected none of them was infected with microfilariae of Onchocerca volvulus. Human-vector contact and onchocerciasis transmission could be reduced by the topical application of the volatile oil during the peak biting periods of the vector.

Indicators of accessibility to primary health care coverage in rural Odukpani, Nigeria.

Indicators of accessibility were investigated in Odukpani Local Government Area using a structured questionnaire administered to mothers or heads of households in the study area. The indicators considered included proportion of births attended by trained health personnel, proportion of children with diarrhea treated with oral rehydration therapy (ORT), distance from home to regular immunization site, and acceptability of primary health care services to the target population. Sociodemographic data revealed a typical developing country population profile and surprisingly high literacy rate (57.8%) relative to the national rate, an observation which may account for the appreciable level of awareness.

PIP: In the Akpabuyo zone in the Odukpani local government area, Cross River State, Nigeria, data collected from a survey of 90 households, from health facilities, the State Ministry of Health, and the Ministries of Local Government and of Lands and Surveys were analyzed to examine accessibility to primary health care (PHC) coverage. Children under 5 years old and reproductive age women comprised 58% of the population. 5 km from home to PHC coverage was considered accessible and all the children lived within this distance. Most respondents (67.8%) considered an immunization site to be not far. The majority (88.9%) used PHC health facilities, suggesting a relatively high rate of acceptability. Health personnel made home visits to 55.5% of respondents. Many adults' work schedules limited their ability to take their children to health sites (52.2% were farmers and 18.9% were traders). Thus, inappropriate scheduling of immunizations and maternal and child health services likely explained low immunization coverage (5.3-12.7%). This coverage was low despite the relatively high literacy rate in Akpabuyo (57.8%). Trained health personnel attended 98.9% of all deliveries, but traditional birth attendants (TBAs) conducted 61.3% of all deliveries, suggesting inaccessibility to health services. Further, 3.7% of deliveries at health facilities resulted in newborn death compared to 9.8% of TBA deliveries. This indicated a need for appropriate supervision and health education of TBAs. Only 39 cases of diarrhea existed. Most (87.2%) received oral rehydration therapy (ORT), reflecting the relatively high literacy rate and awareness levels. Yet, just 2.9% received a home-based sugar/salt solution, suggesting a need to increase ORT education for mothers. Almost all respondents (97%) noted that no village health or development committee existed, indicating a low level of community participation.