International Journal of Public Health and Epidemiology

International Journal of Public Health and Epidemiology ISSN: 2326-7291 Vol. 2 (5), pp. 101-107, December, 2013. © International Scholars Journals
 
Full Length Research Paper
 
Epidemiology of sickle cell disorder: The urban scenario in EASTERN Maharashtra, India
 
*A. U. Deore1 and S. B. Zade2

¹Jawaharlal Nehru College, Nagpur (MS), India.
²Department of Zoology, RTM Nagpur University, Nagpur (MS), India.

*Corresponding Authors. Email: [email protected]

Accepted 13 September, 2013

Abstract

The present study was designed to determine the current status of sickle cell disease (SCD) in urban population of eastern part (Vidarbha) of Maharashtra State in India. A Ttotal of 3479 subjects belonginged to 40 ethnic groups, including 29 non tribal, 8 tribal and three migratory groups were encounteredsampled. Blood samples were collected aseptically from all individuals and positive samples were further subjected to cellulose acetate hemoglobin electrophoresis for discriminatory confirmation. The overall Pprevalence of sickle cell trait was found to be 4.94%, of which genotype HbAS and HbSS were found to be represented by 3.88% and 1.06% respectively. All tribal populations were found to be SCD positive with moderate frequency (0-14%)Prevalence of SCD was identified from all tribal groups and its distribution ranges from 0-14%. Among non tribestribal populations, out of 32 ethnic groups, it has beenSCD was diagnosed from 14 groups with frequency ranging between 0-and 10%.  The age group 0-30 years was found to be more prone to the disorder and the rate declined progressively with increasing age especially in the peoples above 30 years of age.
 
Key words: Sickle cell disease, urban population, Eastern Maharashtra, tribal  populationgroups, caste populationgroups, ethnic groups.

International Journal of Public Health and Epidemiology ISSN: 2326-7291 Vol. 2 (5), pp. 090-100, December, 2013. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Pattern of condom use and perceived risk of HIV infection among female sex workers in selected Brothels in Ogun State, Nigeria

Adeneye A.K.¹, Adeneye A.A.², Mafe M.A.¹, Adeiga A.A.³

¹Public Health Division, Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, Lagos, Nigeria.

²Department of Pharmacology, Lagos State University College of Medicine, Lagos, Nigeria.

³Microbiology Division, Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, Lagos, Nigeria.

*Corresponding author.E-mail:[email protected] Tel: +234-805-788-7698, +234-816-945-3782

Accepted 22 October, 2013

Abstract

In view of the paucity of empirical data on condom use among female sex workers (FSWs) with their clients and regular/trusted sex partners in Nigeria, particularly Ogun State, this study was conducted to examine FSWs’ knowledge and perception about HIV/AIDS and find out their pattern of condom use with their clients and regular/trusted sex partners. One hundred and thirty-one FSWs were interviewed using semi-structured questionnaires in Ogun State, South-West Nigeria. Results showed pervasive consistent condom use (95.4%) with high (74.8%) incidence of condom breakage with clients, inconsistent condom use with regular/trusted partners (75.6%), drug/substance abuse as post-exposure prophylaxis, recent STI experiences, and low self-perceived risk of HIV infection among the FSWs studied. A few (1.5%) respondents who were not using condoms with their clients at all were also not using with their regular/trusted sex partners. Results showed the need for urgent educational interventions on proper condom use particularly targeting FSWs who use no condom or often experience condom breakage with clients and deemed it less imperative to use condom with their regular/trusted sex partners. The programmatic response should emphasise the dangers of substance abuse, their vulnerability to STIs and HIV and becoming vessels of spreading such infections.

Keywords: HIV/AIDS, perceived risk, condom use, female sex workers, Nigeria.

International Journal of Public Health and Epidemiology ISSN: 2326-7291 Vol. 2 (5), pp. 085-089, November, 2013. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Cardiovascular risk among Undergraduates in a Nigerian University

*¹Johnson O.E, ¹Adedoyin R.A, ¹Awotidebe T.O, ¹Mbada C.E, ¹Otolorin O.A and ¹Owoseni  I

^*1,Department of Medical Rehabilitation, College of Health Sciences, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile – Ife, Nigeria.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected]

Accepted 18 September, 2013

Abstract

This study assessed the cardiovascular (CV) risk profile of undergraduate students of Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria. Seven hundred and ninety five copies of Framingham Heart study questionnaire were used to obtain information on CV risk factors; including smoking habit, sedentary lifestyle, diet, personality trait, age and gender. Participant’s blood pressure was obtained in sitting observing standard precautions. Weights and heights were obtained and body mass indices (BMI) and CV risk levels calculated. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and inferential statistics at 0.05 α-level. The mean age, weight, height and BMI of participants were 27.65±6.49years, 62.10±11.78kg, 1.65±0.86m, 22.91±4.29kg/m2 respectively. Participants were mostly in the low and moderate risk categories with only 15 (1.9%) of the 795 participants in high level of CV risk. Participants in high CV risk level were mostly in year 4. There was significant difference in age, weight and BMI of participants in the different faculties studied (p<0.05) but there was no significant difference in their heights (p>0.05). The study concluded that the majority of participants were mostly at low CV risk level. An awareness of CV disease is therefore strongly warranted so as to maintain such low levels of CV risk.

Keywords: Young adults, cardiovascular risk, CVD, Nigerian University, Framingham questionnaire, BMI.

International Journal of Public Health and Epidemiology ISSN: 2169-303X Vol. 2 (4), pp. 072-077, July, 2013. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Determination of hematological parameters among homeless children exposed to chemical intoxication in Khartoum State, Sudan

Malik Hassan Ibrahim Mustafa^1,2, Elkhazin Ali Abd Elmageed Eltayeb ^2, Tariq Elfatih Elmisbah Elmahadi ^1,2 and Omaima Nasir¹

¹Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Turabah, Taif university, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, KSA.

²Department of Hematology, College of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Sudan University of Science and Technology, P. O. Box 407, Khartoum, Sudan. 

*Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected]. Tel +96628224377

Accepted 21 January 2013

Abstract

Homelessness increases a person’s exposure to infectious and communicable diseases paired with long periods of malnutrition which can cause some chronic conditions e.g anemia and degenerative bone diseases. Numerous studies in Canada, United States and Great Britain document the relationship between homelessness and health, the phenomenon does exist all around the world but in Sudan it was evident during the seventies and eighties of the 20^th century. Chemicals used by homeless children such as inhalants are volatile substances producing chemical vapors that can be inhaled to induce a psychoactive, mind-altered euphoric state, in spite of health problems, homeless children generally lack access to consistent health care, and this lack of care can increase severity of illness. An analytical, descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among homeless children from Tayba, Soba, and Althawra for Homeless Children Rehabilitation in Khartoum State, Sudan, during the period of August 2008 to March 2010, two hundred participants were recruited aged between 6 to18 years. Blood collected for different hematological measurements and prior to the collection general questionnaire paper have been given to get the knowledge about age, gender, place of origin, education and experiences surrounding infectious diseases from all participants. The most prominent type of anaemia was normocytic normochromic anaemia (86%) followed by microcytic hypochromic anaemia(13%) with abnormal blood cell morphology. Normal count of white blood cells with marked lymphocytosis, eosinophilia & monocytosis and hypersegmentation of neutrophils. The iron profile showed serum ferritin (140.22mg/dl), serum iron (56.75mg/dl), TIBC (264mg/dl) and saturation (24.27%). The majority of the homeless participants used silision (85%), Cigarette (77.5%), Snuff (41.5%), Benzene (34.5%), Alcohol (30%) and Shesha (16%). Most of the study participants showed abnormal hematological parameters mostly due to environmental, nutritional and medical status.

Key words: Chemicals, homeless children, blood cells, Khartoum, Sudan. 

Full Length Research Paper

Malnutrition among rural Indian children: An assessment using web of indices

Fahmina Anwar¹, Manoj Kumar Gupta², C.Prabha³ and R.K.Srivastava⁴

^1,3 Research fellow, Department of Community Medicine Institute of Medical sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India.

²Assistant professor, Institute of Health Management Research, Bangalore, India.

 ⁴Professor, Department of Community Medicine Institute of Medical sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India.

*Corresponding author E-mail:  [email protected]

Accepted 9 April, 2013

Abstract

Childhood malnutrition is an enduring problem in developing countries. Cases with mild-to-moderate malnutrition are likely to remain unrecognized because conventional measures of under nutrition may be missing out a considerable proportion of undernourished children present in the population. With this background, a community based study was conducted to estimate the prevalence of under nutrition among children by using various available indicators. It is a community based on cross sectional study carried out in the rural area of Varanasi, India. A total of 483 children aged 0-36 months were examined that were selected by adopting appropriate sampling methodology. They were subjected to anthropometry (weight, height and Mid Upper Arm Circumference (MUAC)) measurements following standard technique.BMI and other parameters were also assessed, the data thus obtained was analysed using SPSSv16.0.  Prevalence of stunting, underweight and wasting were 43.1%, 35.2% and 31.5%, respectively. The Composite Index of Anthropometric Failure (CIAF) shows 62.5% of children suffering from anthropometric failure. As much as 88 (42.9%) children were suffering from malnutrition according to MUAC criteria (< 13.5 cm). Nearly two thirds of the children were in the zone of anthropometric failure. There is a need and scope to construct an alternative indicator to provide a single, aggregated figure of the number of undernourished children in a population.

Key words: Anthropometric measurements, stunting, underweight, wasting, anthropometric failure.

 International Journal of Public Health and Epidemiology (ISSN: 2169-303X) Vol. 2 (3), pp. 060-066, March, 2013. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Prevalence and risk factors for Toxoplasma gondii infection in humans from Khartoum State, Sudan

Khalil Mohamed¹ ; AAziz A. Ahmed²; Intisar E. Elrayah ³ 

^{1Commission for Biotechnology & Genetic Engineering, Department of Medical Biotechnology, Khartoum, P.O. Box, 2404, Sudan. 
2Faculty of Science, University of Khartoum-Sudan.
3Tropical Medicine Research Institute TMRI, Khartoum, Sudan.}

Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected].

Accepted 04 February 2013

Abstract

Toxoplasma gondii is one of the most common parasites that cause infection to human. The aim of this study was to conduct a sero-prevalence survey of toxoplasmosis in several target groups, including: pregnant women, aborters, neonates, children, suspected cases, cancer patients, HIV patients, volunteers, and camels, drivers. A total of 1146 serum samples were collected and researched for Toxoplasma gondii antibodies using Latex Agglutination Test (LAT). Five hundred (out of 1146 cases) resulted positive with a prevalence of 43.6%. High prevalence was found among HIV patients (75%), aborters (58.3%), and suspected cases (55.5%). Higher prevalence was observed in 26-30 years old group than the others (P = 0.0001). Prevalence rate by sex was found to be higher in females than males (P<0.05). Residence was found to be significant in rural areas (P=0.001). The relationship between LAT results and women who aborted was significant (P<0.05). Contact with cats, eating raw meat, and eating soil were significant (LAT) (P=0.0001, P=0.0001, and P=0.006), respectively. Thus, high prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii was recorded in Khartoum State.

Key word: Prevalence- Toxoplasmosis - LAT- ISAGA - Sudan.