Late Antenatal Care Booking And Its Predictors Among Pregnant Women In South Western Nigeria

Introduction: Antenatal care is concerned mainly with prevention, early diagnosis and treatment of general medical and pregnancy associated disorders. For it to be meaningful, early booking is recommended, however, late booking is still a major problem.\ud Objective: To determine the prevalence of late booking in our environment and factors related to it.\ud Methodology: A descriptive cross-sectional study using structured interviewer assisted questionnaires.\ud Results: Mean gestational age at booking was 20.3±6.2 weeks. Prevalence of late entry to antenatal care was 82.6%. Maternal education and age remained significant factors influencing late booking.\ud Conclusion: Late booking is still a major problem in this part of the world. Public enlightenment, health education coupled with women empowerment would be helpful in reducing the proble

Eclampsia and Pregnancy Outcome at Lautech Teaching Hospital, Osogbo, SouthWest, Nigeria

Eclampsia is one of the leading causes of maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality in sub-Saharan Africa. This problem has continued unabated due to lack of policies supporting financial protection in times of ill health,non-implementation of proven interventions as well as gaps in capacity building by stakeholders in health care delivery in this region. The aim of this retrospective study is to assess the impact of eclampsia on maternal and perinatal survival and suggest ways of reducing maternal death. A 6-year retrospective study was conducted with eighty-three cases ofeclampsia. The cases were mainly antepartum patients with poor blood pressure control and resultant eclampsia. The case fatality rate was 8.3% and perinatal death was 24.1%. Magnesiun sulphate may have contributed to improvements in pregnancy outcome as mortality was higher amongwomen with no access to magnesium sulphate. Most of the eclamptic patients were referred late from private health facilities hence the need for public-private collaboration in strengthening the referral system and making magnesium sulphate widely available in maternal care centers

Antioxidant potentials of Gongronema latifolium (utazi) leaf extracts

This investigation was carried out to explore the antioxidant potential of Gongronema latifolium (utazi) leaf extracts. The homogenised sample was extracted using two different solvents: methanol and aqueous. Total phenolic compounds, reducing power and DPPH radical scavenging activity of Gongronema latifolium leaf extracts were determined. Results showed that total phenol content was significantly (P<0.05) higher in methanol extract (2.73mgGAE/ml) than aqueous extract (1.13mgGAE/ml). DPPH radical scavenging activity was higher in methanol extract (17.94%) than aqueous extract (15.50%). The reducing power of methanol extract (0.94 ± 0.04) was non-significantly (P<0.05) higher than that of aqueous extract (0.20 ± 0.00). Based on this result, methanol extract of Gongronema latifolium revealed a higher antioxidant potential compared to aqueous extract. However, the study showed that Gongronema latifolium leaf extract is a good source of natural antioxidant due to its high antioxidant potentials.Keywords: Gongronema latifolium, antioxidant, phytochemicals, spectrophotometer, herba

Utilization of the partograph in primary health care facilities in Southwestern Nigeria

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Health Workers' Knowledge of and Experience with Female Genital Cutting in Southwestern, Nigeria

Female genital mutilation with its attendant complications has been a harmful traditional practice that is difficult to eliminate despite all efforts by various government and non-governmental agencies in Nigeria. The aim of this study is to assess the experience and the knowledge of the health workers practicing in our environment on Female genital cutting (FGC). Two hundred and fifty were interviewed with self-administered structured questionnaire. Their mean age was 35.2±8.3 years. Type I 82(66.6%) was the commonest FGC seen by the health workers, type II 31(25.2%), type III 9 (7.3%) and type IV constituted 0.8%. Two hundred and two (202) (80.0%) of the respondents admitted to having sufficient knowledge in preventing FGC while 42 (16.8%) did not have. One hundred and twenty one (121) (48.4%) had been asked to perform FGC. It was concluded that female genital cutting is still a major health problem in Nigeria. There is need for all concerned to step up efforts in the elimination of the practice.Keywords: Experience, Female Genital cutting, Health workers, Knowledge, Nigeri

Knowledge and Utilization of the Partograph among obstetric care givers in South West Nigeria

This cross-sectional study assessed knowledge and utilization of the partograph among health care workers in southwestern Nigeria. Respondents were selected by multi-stage sampling method from primary, secondary and tertiary levels of care. 719 respondents comprising of CHEWS - 110 (15.3%), Auxiliary Nurses - 148 (20.6%), Nurse/Midwives - 365 (50.6%), Physicians – 96 (13.4%) were selected from primary (38.2%), secondary (39.1%) and tertiary levels (22.7%). Only 32.3% used the partograph to monitor women in labour. Partograph use was reported significantly more frequently by respondents in tertiary level compared with respondents from primary/secondary levels of care (82.4% vs. 19.3%; X2 = 214.6, p < 0.0001). Only 37.3% of respondents who were predominantly from the tertiary level of care could correctly mention at least one component of the partograph (X2 = 139.1, p < 0.0001). The partograph is utilized mainly in tertiary health facilities; knowledge about the partograph is poor. Though affordable, the partograph is commonly not used to monitor the Nigerian woman in labour. (Afr Reprod Health 2008; 12[1]:22-29).Cette étude transvasale a évalué la connaissance et l\'utilisation du partographe parmi les membres du personnel soignant au sud-ouest du Nigéria. Les personnes interrogées ont été sélectionnées à l\'aide d\'une méthode d\'échantillon à plusieurs étapes à partir des niveaux de soin primaire, secondaire et tertiaire. Au total 719 personnes ont été interrogées, y compris les travailleurs communautaires pour l\'extension des services de santé 110 (15,3%), des infirmières auxillaires – 148 (20,6%), les infirmières / sages–femmes – 365 (50,6%), les médecins – 96 (13,4%) ont été sélectionnées à partir des niveaux primaire (38,2%), secondaire (39,1%) et tertiaire (22,7%). Seuls 32,3% se sont servis du partographe pour surveiller les femmes au travail. L\'utilisation du partographe a été plus fréquent chez les interrogés qui appartiennent au niveau tertiaire par rapport aux intérrogés des niveaux primaire et secondaire de soin (82,4% vs 19,3% ; X2 = 214,6 p < 0,0001). Seules 37,3% des intérrogés qui appartenaient en majorité au niveau tertiaire de soin pouvaient mentionner au juste au moins un constituent du partographe (X2 = 139, p < 0,0001). Le partographe est utilisé surtout dans les établissement de santé tertiaire ; la connaissance du partographe est faible. Bien qu\'il soit abordable, le partographe n\'est pas communément utilisé pour surveiller la femme nigériane au travail.Keywords: partograph, healthcare providers, knowledge, utilization Knowledge and Utilization of the Partograph among obstetric care givers in South West NigeriaAfrican Journal of Reproductive Health Vol. 12 (1) 2008: pp. 22-2

Pattern of gynaecological consultations at Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Teaching Hospital

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Prevalence of Arcobacter, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Salmonella species in Retail Raw Chicken, Pork, Beef and Goat meat in Osogbo, Nigeria

Three hundred (300) samples of fresh raw chicken, beef, goat and pork meat were screened for Arcobacter species by selective cultural procedures and for Escherichia coli, Salmonella species and Staphylococcus aureus enriched in peptone water and then streaked onto appropriate bacteriological agar. From the 300 samples analysed, S. aureus {138 (46%)} was the most frequently isolated organism, followed by E. coli {78 (26%)}, Arcobacter spp. {57(19%)} and Salmonella spp {6(2%)}. In this study, varying level of resistance of Escherichia coli 66(84.6%), Salmonella 6(100%) and Arcobacter 57(100%) to amoxicillin was observed. The susceptibility pattern indicates that the bacterial isolates exhibited a varying level of resistance to two or more antimicrobial agents with maximum resistance to amoxicillin. The detection of these organisms in meat may constitute a serious public health concern. Hence, there is a need for the implementation of Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point System monitoring of critical contamination points used in meat production to ensure food safety in Nigeria. Keywords: Abattoir-hygiene, Antibiotic resistance, Foodborne-pathogens, Nigeri

Lipid profile of Type 2 Diabetes patients attending Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital Irrua, Edo State, Nigeria

This study investigated the lipid profile (LP) of type-2 diabetics and non-diabetic patients presenting at Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Irrua, Edo State, Nigeria, with a view to assessing the risk of cardiovascular disease among the diabetics. Twenty (20) diabetic and 20 non-diabetic patients (control) formed the study population. Total cholesterol (TC), triacylglycerol (TG), high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C), and low density lipoproteincholesterol (LDL-C) were assayed for each group using standard biochemical methods, while the fasting blood glucose levels of the patients were assayed using the glucose oxidase method. The results showed higher mean TC and HDL-C levels among the diabetic patients than their non-diabetic counterparts and the observed differences were statistically significant (p&lt;0.05). The mean glucose, TG, and LDL-C were equally higher among the diabetics than their non-diabetic counterparts, but in this instance, the differences were not statistically significant (P&gt;0.05). Regardless of the high lipid profile levels among the diabetics, the values obtained fell within acceptable range; suggesting that the patients were responding to treatment or life style changes.Keywords: Lipid Profile, Type-2 Diabetes, Cardiovascular Disease, Teaching Hospita

Comparative effects of washing solution and the survival of Staphylococcus aureus on tomatoes

Various types of fruits and vegetables are often eaten raw or consumed after minimum processing in which this has been connected to an increase in outbreaks of fresh produce associated with food borne diseases in the recent times. In order to determine the micro-flora, survival of Staphylococcus aureus on ripe and unripe tomatoes and to also asses the efficiency of some washing solutions, 100 tomatoes, both ripe and unripe were randomly bought from different selling points in Sagamu Markets, Ogun State Nigeria. Surface swabs of the tomatoes were cultured on both nutrient broth, and selenite F broth. The sample from nutrient broth was then sub cultured on Blood Agar, Mannitol Salt Agar, and MacConkey Agar, (MSA), Potato Dextrose Agar (SDA), while the one on Selenite F Broth was cultured on Salmonella Shigella Agar (SSA). Density of Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923 after pre-inoculation on ripe and unripe tomatoes, and after the application of washing solutions on tomatoes, was determined by surface spread count. The prevalence of any of the isolated micro-flora could not be significantly linked with either ripe or unripe tomatoes (0&gt;0.05).Mean residual counts (log CFU/g) of bacteria was significantly higher in ripe tomatoes (3.52 ±2.40) than unripe tomatoes (2.30 ±1.96) after pre inoculation with Staphylococcus aureus (t =2.75, P&lt; 0.05). Among the washing solution, hypochlorite was observed to be twice more efficient than hydrogen peroxide and thrice efficient than saline solution. In conclusion, Staphylococcal colonization of tomatoes skin is significantly reduced in unripe tomatoes. And also, hypochlorite solutions are better than hydrogen peroxide and saline in Staphylococcal decontamination from tomatoes.Key words: washing solution, Staphylococcus aureus, tomatoe