by Ajibola Idowu, Gbenga Omotade Popoola, Babatunde Akintunde, Samuel Aaanu Olowookere and Samson Ayo Deji
Original Research
Introduction: Insecticide Treated Net (ITN) coverage and use remain low in Sub-Sahara Africa. The study assessed factors associated with ITN use in the rural settings of Nigeria. Methodology: Descriptive epidemiological design was employed and multi-stage sampling technique used to select 381 consenting participants in four rural communities of Oyo State, Nigeria. Interviewer-administered, semi-structured questionnaire was used for data collection and analyses done using SPSS; bi-variate analyses were done using chi-square test and binary-logistic regression was used to identify factors that were significantly associated with ITN use. Level of statistical significance was set at p<0.05. Result: The mean age of the respondents was 30±8 years. While 90.1% of the participants possessed ITNs, only 69.3% of them slept under the nets a night before the survey. Respondents who were less than 19 years of age had significantly lesser odds of ITN use compared to older women ((OR; 0.87, CI; 0.82-0.93). Also, women with no formal education had significantly lesser odds of ITN use compared to those with tertiary education (OR; 0.14, CI; 0.02-0.73). Respondents whose households’ monthly income was more than $64 had significantly higher odds of ITN use compared to households earning less (OR; 6.94, CI; 2.76-17.42). Pregnant women were ten times more likely to use ITN compared to non-pregnant participants (OR; 9.84, CI; 1.03-93.88). Conclusion: There is urgent need for more awareness creation on benefits of ITN use particularly among teenage mothers in Nigeria.
American Journal of Public Health Research. 2016, 4(6), 222-229. DOI: 10.12691/ajphr-4-6-5
Pub. Date: January 06, 2017
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by Japheth Mativo Nzioki, Rosebella Ogutu Onyango, James Ouma and James H. Ombaka
Original Research
Globally, Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR) fell by nearly 44% over the past 25 years, to an estimated 216 maternal deaths per 100 000 live births in 2015 from MMR of 385 per 100 000 live births in 1990. Similarly, the number of under-five deaths worldwide has declined from 12.7 million in 1990 to 5.9 million in 2015. Despite these gains, sub-Saharan Africa remains the region with the highest MMR (99% of global maternal deaths) and under- five mortality rate (1 child in 12 die before their fifth birthday). In Kenya, maternal and child mortality rates are still high despite government efforts aimed at improving Maternal and Child Health (MCH). Studies have acknowledged that Focused Antenatal Care (FANC) is an important element of health care with the potential of reducing maternal and child mortality rates. Though the proportion of women in Kenya seeking ANC services from skilled attendants (for at least 1 visit) is high at 95.5%, FANC coverage remains low at 57.6%. This study sought to determine the effect of a community health worker led primary health care intervention (Community Health Strategy) on FANC in Mwingi West sub-county. A pretest -posttest experimental study design with 1 pretest and 2 post-test surveys in intervention and control sites was employed. Data was collected from a sample size of 422 households in each survey. Women with a child aged 9-12 months were main respondents. CHS significantly increased FANC coverage by 9.5% (Z=2.7528, P<005) within six months after implementation, and by 20.1% (Z= 5.7881, P<0.05) within 18 months of implementation. In intervention site, FANC coverage significantly increased to 59% from 38.9%. Women in intervention site were 1.7 times more likely to seek ANC services for at least 4 times compared to women in control site (95%CI: 1.464-2.014, P<0.0001). CHS was effective in increasing FANC coverage in intervention site. To improve MCH outcomes in Kenya the government should fast-track national implementation of CHS.
American Journal of Public Health Research. 2016, 4(6), 213-221. DOI: 10.12691/ajphr-4-6-4
Pub. Date: December 24, 2016
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by Adaeze Chidinma Oreh
Original Research
It has been about a year since the sustainable development goals came into effect, and countries have had to adopt the sustainability agenda. Leaving the millennium development goals and their emphasis behind to chart a new course focusing on integrating and strengthening health systems would require innovative and strategic thinking at the country and global level, in addition to harnessing the potential for multiple inter-sectoral collaborations for success. Despite the adoption of the sustainability agenda post-2015, the achievements of the millennium development goals must still be leveraged and lessons learnt from both its successes and failures for the sustainable development goals to maximize their potential and result in positive global health outcomes. In the context of sub-Saharan Africa, several strengths, weaknesses and opportunities have been highlighted as either stepping stones or possible obstacles to the attainment of the sustainable development goals on the continent in general and Nigeria in particular. The outlook is optimistic but will call upon the galvanizing of partnerships and collaborations in order to build, strengthen and integrate background health systems for people, the planet and for prosperity. This paper is therefore a general reflection which aims at emphasizing Nigeria and Africa’s challenges with achieving the millennium development goals and delineating the prospects which exist for achieving the sustainable development goals.
American Journal of Public Health Research. 2016, 4(6), 207-212. DOI: 10.12691/ajphr-4-6-3
Pub. Date: December 21, 2016
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by Joneshia Bryan-Thomas, Patience Bazuaye-Alonge and Vincent Wright
Original Research
Objective: The present study evaluated the antimicrobial properties of selected plant derived nutraceuticals against Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Streptococcus pneumoniae. Material and Method: The plants utilized were Zingiber officinale, Aloe barbadensis miller, Alipina galanga, Allium sativum, three varieties of Allium cepa, and Moringa oleifera. Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Streptococcus pneumoniae were the microorganisms employed in the study due to the frequency with which they are implicated in several infections and diseases such as boils, skin infections, respiratory diseases and food poisoning. Standard microbiological methods were employed. The microorganisms were collected and identified by a microbiologist and the plant samples were identified by an agronomist. The microoganisms were sub-cultured and the disc diffusion and turbidity testing techniques were applied. Combination tests were done with each herb aimed at ascertaining the efficacy of the herbs. Results: The findings demonstrated that garlic in all its concentrations, with both methods (disc diffusion and turbidity) and in all combinations produced remarkable zones of inhibitions against all microorganisms (Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Streptococcus pneumoniae). Ginger showed no zone of inhibition regardless of combinations, except when combined with garlic. The variety of onions used showed intermediate zones while Alipina galanga and Moringa oleifera showed no visible antimicrobial properties. Conclusion: Garlic and the variety of onions used, in all dilutions were seen to possess antimicrobial properties against Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Streptococcus pneumoniae when compared to the conventional antibiotics used.
American Journal of Public Health Research. 2016, 4(6), 202-206. DOI: 10.12691/ajphr-4-6-2
Pub. Date: November 15, 2016
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by Romina Altamirano, Michael Caponigro, Gabriela Carrion, Juan Carlos Zevallos, Grettel Castro, Juan A. González Sánchez and Noël C. Barengo
Original Research
Diabetes mellitus (DM) patients are at an increased risk of acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Adequate DM control may reduce in-hospital mortality and cardio-pulmonary complications after an AMI. The objective of this study was to determine whether uncontrolled DM in patients with an incidental AMI was associated with an increased risk of in-hospital mortality and selected cardio-pulmonary complications. A secondary data analysis of the Puerto Rican Cardiovascular Surveillance System during 2007, 2009, and 2011 was conducted. The study included men and women living in Puerto Rico who were hospitalized due to an incidental AMI and had information on HbA1c measurement (n=220). Patients were divided according to their HbA1c levels into two groups (i) <7% (controlled); and (ii) >7% (uncontrolled). Mortality and complications were defined according to ICD-9 codes. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression models were used to test for associations between HbA1c and mortality and cardio-pulmonary outcomes. The model was adjusted for gender, obesity (BMI >30kg/m2), hyperlipidemia, hypertension, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, smoking, insurance and age. The results revealed no statistically significant association between the controlled and the uncontrolled DM patients and mortality, respectively cardiopulmonary complications (unadjusted OR 2.1; 95% CI: 0.7-6.4; adjusted OR 2.4; 95% CI: 0.5-10.5). The uncontrolled DM group was statistically significantly younger than those with controlled DM (mean age 65.2 vs. 71.1 years; p-value 0.002). There was no statistically significant difference in the prevalence of uncontrolled DM between patients with complications (80%) and those without complication (66%; p=value 0.203). AMI patients with uncontrolled DM did not have an increased risk of mortality and cardiopulmonary complications compared to patients with controlled DM. This needs further evaluation in a larger study population and DM patients with an AMI should have HbA1c measured to estimate their risk of complications.
American Journal of Public Health Research. 2016, 4(6), 196-201. DOI: 10.12691/ajphr-4-6-1
Pub. Date: November 09, 2016
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