School Health Instructions in Primary Schools - A Study of Gwagwalada Area Council, Federal Capital Territory Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: School Health Instructions (SHI) entail the instructional aspect of school health programme, which provides a classroom opportunity for inculcating healthy habits into the school- age child. OBJECTIVE: To assess the status of implementation of school health instruction in primary schools in Gwagwalada Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria. METHODS: A cross-sectional descriptive study of 146 primary schools in the Gwagwalada Area Council of the Nigerian Federal capital was carried out to assess the implementation of SHI with respect to the contents, methods of delivery and teachers preparation for health teaching using an evaluation checklist for SHI. RESULTS: Of 146 schools, 115(78.8%) schools attained the minimum acceptable score of 27. Of the 40 public and 106 private schools, 27(67.5%) public and 88(83.0%) private schools attained the acceptable minimum score of 27. There was a statistically significant difference between the mean scores attained cumulatively in the various components of the school health instruction by the public and private schools (t=2.721, p= 0.008). Public schools had significantly more teachers with education-related qualifications than private schools (p<0.001). Teachings on HIV/ AIDS, safety education and community health were undertaken by 95.9%, 93.2% and 95.2% schools respectively. Only 5(3.4%) schools followed the recommendation of giving health instruction at least thrice a week. CONCLUSION: Implementation of SHI was adequate in the study area, with a better performance among the private schools.

CONTEXTE: L'enseignement de la santé à l'école (SHI) comprend l'aspect pédagogique du programme de santé scolaire, qui offre en classe la possibilité d'inculquer des habitudes saines à l'enfant d'âge scolaire. OBJECTIF: Évaluer l'état de la mise en œuvre de l'enseignement de la santé scolaire dans les écoles primaires du Conseil régional de Gwagwalada du territoire de la capitale fédérale, Nigéria. MÉTHODES: Une étude descriptive transversale de 146 écoles primaires du Conseil régional de Gwagwalada de la capitale fédérale nigériane a été menée pour évaluer la mise en œuvre de l'AMS en ce qui concerne le contenu, les méthodes de prestation et la préparation des enseignants à l'enseignement de la santé en utilisant une liste de contrôle SHI. RÉSULTATS: Cent quinze (78,8%) écoles composées de 27 (67,5%) écoles publiques et 88 (83,0%) écoles privées ont atteint le score minimum acceptable de 27, avec une différence statistiquement significative entre les scores moyens des deux catégories d'écoles (t = 2,721, p = 0,008). Les écoles publiques avaient beaucoup plus d'enseignants avec des qualifications liées à l'éducation que les écoles privées (p <0,001). Des enseignements sur le VIH / SIDA, l'éducation à la sécurité et la santé communautaire ont été dispensés respectivement par 95,9%, 93,2% et 95,2% des écoles. Seulement 5 écoles (3,4%) ont suivi la recommandation de donner des cours de santé au moins trois fois par semaine. CONCLUSION: La mise en œuvre de SHI a été adéquate dans la zone d'étude, avec une meilleure performance parmi les écoles privées. MOTS CLÉS: Enseignement de la santé à l'école, école primaire, privé, public, Conseil régional de Gwagwalada, Territoire fédéral de Capital, Nigéria.

Neonatal outcomes associated with maternal recto-vaginal colonization with extended-spectrum ß-lactamase producing Enterobacteriaceae in Nigeria: a prospective, cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to assess the prevalence of maternal recto-vaginal extended-spectrum ß-lactamase producing Enterobacteriacea (ESBL-E) colonization, identify risk factors for maternal and neonatal ESBL-E colonization, and subsequent impact on neonatal mortality. METHODS: A prospective, cross-sectional study was conducted at the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital from April 2016 to May 2017. Maternal-neonatal pairs were screened for ESBL-E exposure at time of delivery. Neonatal mortality was assessed at 28 days. RESULTS: A total of 1161 singleton deliveries were evaluated. In total, 9.7% (113/1161) of mothers and 4.3% (50/1161) of infants had ESBL-E-positive cultures at delivery. Maternal antibiotic exposure was associated with ESBL-E recto-vaginal colonization (18.6% (21/113) vs. 8.4% (88/1048), p < 0.001)). Maternal ESBL-E colonization (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 14.85; 95% CI 7.83-28.15) and vaginal delivery (AOR 6.35; 95% CI 2.63-17.1) were identified as a risk factor for positive ESBL-E neonatal surface cultures. Neonatal positive ESBL-E surface cultures were a risk factor for neonatal mortality (stillbirths included, AOR 4.84; 95% CI 1.44-16.31). The finding that maternal ESBL-E recto-vaginal colonization appeared protective in regards to neonatal mortality (AOR 0.22; 95% CI .06-0.75) requires further evaluation. CONCLUSIONS: Maternal ESBL-E recto-vaginal colonization is an independent risk factor for neonatal ESBL-E colonization and neonates with positive ESBL-E surface cultures were identified as having increased risk of neonatal mortality.

Erratum: Status of Retinoids and Carotenoids and Associations with Clinical Outcomes in Maternal-Infant Pairs in Nigeria. Nutrients 2018, 10, 1286.

Due to a mistake during the production process, there were spelling errors in four of the author names in the original published version [...].

Status of Retinoids and Carotenoids and Associations with Clinical Outcomes in Maternal-Infant Pairs in Nigeria.

Vitamin A is an essential nutrient in pregnancy, and other carotenoids have been independently associated with maternal-infant outcomes. The objective of this study was to quantify the status of vitamin A and carotenoids in Nigerian maternal-infant pairs at delivery, compare these to a cohort from a developed nation, and determine the impact on clinical outcomes. Maternal and cord blood samples were collected in 99 Nigerian mother-infant pairs. Concentrations of lutein + zeaxanthin, ß-cryptoxanthin, lycopene, α- and ß-carotenes, and retinol were measured using HPLC. Descriptive statistics were calculated and Spearman coefficients were used to assess correlations between maternal and cord measurements; Mann-Whitney tests were used to compare median plasma values between dichotomous variables. Linear regression models were used to adjust for relevant confounders. A p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Thirty-five percent of mothers had plasma retinol concentrations ≤0.70 µmol/L; 82% of infants had plasma retinol concentrations ≤0.70 µmol/L at delivery. Maternal and infant concentrations of vitamin A compounds were highly correlated and were associated with newborn growth and Apgar scores. Despite plasma concentrations of pro-vitamin A carotenoids higher than those reported in other populations, pregnant Nigerian women have a high prevalence of vitamin A deficiency. As vitamin A related compounds are modifiable by diet, future research determining the clinical impact of these compounds is warranted.

A Comparison of Vitamin E Status and Associated Pregnancy Outcomes in Maternal⁻Infant Dyads between a Nigerian and a United States Population.

Oxidative stress is associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes, and vitamin E has powerful anti-oxidant properties with the potential to impact health outcomes. Tocopherol isomers of vitamin E differ in their ability to modulate inflammation and vary in concentration in diets containing high proportions of processed versus unprocessed foods. The purpose of this study was to compare vitamin E status and associated pregnancy outcomes (mode of delivery, chorioamnionitis, APGARs (measure of appearance, pulse, grimace, activity, respiration), gestational age at delivery, and fetal growth) between maternal⁻infant dyads in a developed and a developing nation to identify potentially modifiable differences that may impact pregnancy and neonatal outcomes and provide a way to improve maternal and neonatal health. Plasma tocopherol levels were evaluated in 189 Midwestern United States (US) mother⁻infant pairs and 99 Central Nigerian mother⁻infant pairs. Maternal and infant concentrations of α-, γ-, and δ-tocopherol were measured using HPLC with diode-array detection. Descriptive statistics were calculated and tocopherol concentrations were associated with clinical outcomes such as mode of delivery, chorioamnionitis, APGARS, and fetal growth. Alpha- and γ-tocopherol levels were higher in the US mothers, (alpha: 12,357.9 (175.23⁻34,687.75) vs. 8333.1 (1576.59⁻16,248.40) (mcg/L); p < 0.001) (gamma: 340.7 (224.59⁻4385.95) vs. 357.5 (66.36⁻1775.31) (mcg/L); p < 0.001), while δ-tocopherol levels were higher in the Nigerian mothers (delta: 261.7 (24.70⁻1324.71) vs. 368.9 (43.06⁻1886.47) (mcg/L); p < 0.001). US infants had higher γ-tocopherol levels than Nigerian infants (203.1 (42.53⁻1953.23) vs. 113.8 (0.00⁻823.00) (mcg/L); p < 0.001), while both the Nigerian mothers and infants had higher α:γ-tocopherol ratios (8.5 vs. 26.2, and 8.9 vs. 18.8, respectively; p < 0.001). Our results in both populations show associations between increased circulating γ-tocopherol and negative outcomes like Caesarian sections, in contrast to the associations with positive outcomes such as vaginal delivery seen with increased α:γ-tocopherol ratios. Growth was positively associated with α- and γ-tocopherols in cord blood in the US population, and with cord blood δ-tocopherols in the Nigerian population. Tocopherol levels likely impact health outcomes in pregnancy in a complicated metabolism across the maternal⁻fetal axis that appears to be potentially influenced by culture and available diet.

Effect of sickle cell crises on glomerular filtration rate in children with sickle cell disease in Ilorin, Nigeria.

Children with sickle cell disease (SCD) are plagued with incessant crises. There are few studies on the effect of sickle cell crises on renal function as determined by the glomerular filtration rate (GFR). This study was done to assess the effect of sickle cell crises on GFR during crises and after recovery into the steady state. GFR was assessed using the formula derived by Schwartz et al., for consecutive SCD patients aged between 3 and 18 years who came in crises and after recovery into the steady state. A total of 81 patients with a mean age of 9.95 ± 4.15 years in 81 episodes of crises met the inclusion criteria. Majority of the children (47) had vasooclusive crises, 19 had hyperhaemolytic crises, and 15 had features of both vasooclusive and hyperhaemolytic crises. The means value of GFR in ml/min/1.73 m(2) rose from 81.09 ± 22.92 to 116.24 ± 22.11 subsequent to recovery from vasooclusive crises into the steady state, from 77.45 ± 18.48 to 99.54 ± 17.71 following recovery from hyperhaemolytic crises into the steady state and from 90.95 ± 17.53 to 114.01 ± 22.44 following recovery from crises with features of both vasooclusive and hyperhaemolytic crises with corresponding significant P values of 0.000, 0.001, and 0.004 respectively. The reduced GFR observed during vasooclusive and hyperhaemolytic crises improved significantly following recovery into the steady state.

Bladder stone in a three-year-old Nigerian child with posterior urethral valve: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Stone in the bladder is an uncommon presentation in the tropics, especially in children. Its rarity makes the index of suspicion to be low. Patients presenting with it may be mistaken for urinary tract infection (UTI) because of the presence of frequency and dysuria. OBJECTIVE: To present a rare cause of urinary bladder stone in a child in the tropics. METHODS: The patient, a three-year-old boy, presented with recurrent episodes of dysuria and stragury for a duration of about one year. Work up included clinical evaluation and laboratory assessments, results of which informed surgical intervention. RESULTS: The child had been treated repeatedly for urinary tract infection. He was acutely ill with suprapubic tenderness dysuria and poor urinary stream. He was hypertensive. Micturating cystourethrography showed posterior urethral valves and a bladder stone. He had vesicolithotomy and valvotomy with improvement of his blood pressure. CONCLUSION: The coexistence of bladder stone with PUV coupled with delayed diagnosis may be a predisposing factor to hypertension in children. Conventional surgical treatment gives good results.

Urinary tract infections in children with primary nephrotic syndrome and acute glomerulonephritis

BACKGROUND: The occurrence of urinary tract infection (UTI) in children with Nephrotic syndrome (NS) has been widely reported by various workers; but not much has been documented about its occurrence among children with acute glomerulonephritis (AGN). Hence; the level of susceptibility to UTI by both diseases has not been compared. OBJECTIVE: To determine and compare the prevalence of UTI in children newly diagnosed of AGN or NS. METHODS: Urinary microscopy; culture and sensitivity of all children admitted with a diagnosis of NS and AGN between 1996-2004 were reviewed. Children with NS who had a relapse or were commenced on steroids; cytotoxic agents or antibiotics before admission were excluded from the study. RESULTS: A total of 35 and 32 children diagnosed of AGN and NS respectively met the study criteria. Urinary tract infection occurred in three (9) children with AGN and one (3) of the children with NS. The organisms isolated among the AGN patients included Coliforms; Klebsiella; and Staphylococcus aureus while Coliform was isolated in the only NS patient with UTI. CONCLUSION: There is a low prevalence of UTI in children newly diagnosed of AGN and NS

Poisoning due to yam flour consumption in five families in Ilorin, Central Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: Food poisoning is known to occur sporadically from time to time due to poor hygienic preparation. Its occurrence rarely assumes epidemic proportion. OBJECTIVE: To report the ccurrence of food poisoning due to yam flour consumption among five families and to create public awareness about the condition. CASE REPORT: Food poisoning due to yam flour consumption which occurred almost in quick succession between February and July 2005 among five family clusters in Ilorin is reported. They presented variedly with diarrhoea, vomiting, abdominal pain, convulsion and loss of consciousness. They all recovered within 48 hours of admission. Even though we could not carry out toxicological tests, yam flour consumption was highly implicated as the cause. Investigations indicated that the use of certain lethal preservatives for the processing of the yam flour might be responsible. CONCLUSION: Poisoning from consumption of yam flour should be a differential diagnosis of acute seizure disorder or the occurrence of vomiting, diarrhoea and abdominal pain in the tropics. We recommend education on proper processing of all food products in view of the public health implication of doing otherwise.