International Journal of Public Health and Epidemiology

International Journal of Public Health and Epidemiology ISSN 2326-7291 Vol. 13 (7), pp. 001-007, July, 2024. https://internationalscholarsjournals.org/journal/ijphe/table-of-contents © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Assessing Toenail Biomarkers: Chromium and Copper Concentrations Among Kano's Population

J. T. Ayodele* and I. C. Ajala

Department of Pure and Industrial Chemistry, Bayero University, P. M. B. 3011, Kano, Nigeria.

Accepted 20 May, 2024

Abstract

Toenail chromium and copper concentrations in toenails of some inhabitants resident in Kano for at least six months were assessed by atomic absorption spectrometry. Average toenail chromium and copper concentrations were 1.33 ± 0.68 and 27.62 ± 13.29 µg/g respectively. Both chromium and copper concentrations in nails decreased with age indicating that these metals may be playing some physiological functions during the formative years. Their concentrations were inversely related to age with approximate average of 10% decline with each decade of age.

Key words: Chromium, copper, toenails, Kano, Nigeria.

International Journal of Public Health and Epidemiology ISSN 2326-7291 Vol. 13 (7), pp. 001-006, July, 2024. https://internationalscholarsjournals.org/journal/ijphe/table-of-contents © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Investigating the Presence of Campylobacter in Poultry Products in Sokoto State, Nigeria

M. D. Salihu¹*, A. U. Junaidu1, A. A. Magaji¹, M. B. Abubakar², A. Y.  Adamu³ and A. S. Yakubu³

¹Department of Veterinary Public Health, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria.
²Department of Veterinary Pathology and Microbiology, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria.
³Department of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria.

Accepted 7 May, 2024

Abstract

The study was conducted in Sokoto, Nigeria from November 2007 to October 2008 to investigate the presence of Campylobacter spp. in poultry meat, by standard culture techniques. Campylobacter was detected in 558 (81.9%) of the 681 meat samples, the isolates were characterized by conventional phenotypic tests. Campylobacter jejuni was the most commonly identified species accounting for 340 (60.9%) of the positive samples and 413 (62.3%) of the total isolates, while C. coli and C. lari had 156 (28.0%) and 39 (7.0%) of the positive samples respectively. Thermophilic strains not identified as C. jejuni, C. coli, or C. lari were grouped as “other thermophilic species” and these account for 23 (4.1%) of the positive samples and 32 (4.8%) of the total isolates. Among these, 19 (59.4%) of the 32 strains were also identified as C. upsaliensis while 5 (15.6%) were identified as C. hyointestinalis. The most frequently identified biotype of C. jejuni, C. coli and C. lari was biotype I which accounts for 58.8, 68.0 and 59.2% respectively of the total individual isolates. The presence of Campylobacter in poultry meat may play a role as food borne pathogen of more importance than hitherto reported.

Key words: Prevalence, Campylobacter, meat, poultry, biotypes, Sokoto.
 

International Journal of Public Health and Epidemiology ISSN 2326-7291 Vol. 13 (6), pp. 001-006, June, 2024. https://internationalscholarsjournals.org/journal/ijphe/table-of-contents © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Longitudinal Analysis of Obesity Trends in Urban Schoolchildren: A Four-Year Study in Sousse, Tunisia

Harrabi Imed¹, Maatoug Maaloul Jihene¹*, Ben Hammouda Hamida¹, Gaha Rafika¹, Lazreg Fatma², Boussaadia Amel² and Ghannem Hassen¹.

¹Department of Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, Farhat Hached Hospital, BP 126 4002 Sousse Tunisia.
²Regional Direction of Scholar Medicine, Tunisia.

Accepted 18 April, 2024

Abstract

Our objective was to examine tracking patterns of body mass index (BMI) as well as their predictors between childhood and adolescence. A cohort of 452 Tunisian children aged 13 - 15 years was followed for 4 years (1999 - 2003). Tracking of BMI was defined as in individual maintaining a certain status or relative position (relative BMI quartile) overtime. After 4 years, almost 50% of the subjects had maintained their relative positions, but 25% had moved into a lower or higher quartile. The BMIs of thin and fat were more likely to track: 61.9 and 66.7% remained in the bottom and upper quartiles, respectively. Overweight children were 2.6 times as likely as all other children to become overweight adolescents. Individual’s initial BMIs, sex and socioeconomic status helped to predict tracking and change in BMI. Predictors of overweight tracking found in this study would be useful to select children at risk for preventive intervention.

Key words: Obesity, adolescents, cardiovascular risk factor.
 

International Journal of Public Health and Epidemiology ISSN 2326-7291 Vol. 13 (5), pp. 001-005, May, 2024. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Prevalence and factors influencing the demand for analgesia during childbirth in Northeastern Nigeria

Bala Audu¹, Usman Yahaya², Mohammed Bukar¹*, Aliyu El-Nafaty², Hadiza Abdullahi¹ and Othman Kyari¹

¹Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, Maiduguri,
Borno State, Nigeria.
²Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Federal Medical Centre, Gombe, Gombe State, Nigeria.

Accepted 15 September, 2023

Abstract

Labour pain is a distressing and psychologically traumatizing experience to the parturient but little data exist in the Northeastern part of Nigeria regarding pain relief in labour, despite its many advantages. To determine the knowledge, desire and access to pain relief in labour as well as perception of labour pain. This is a cross sectional study of two hundred and fifty five women in two tertiary institutions in north-eastern Nigeria. Patients attending the antenatal clinics or staying in the lying in ward of the hospital after delivery were interviewed and questionnaires filled. One hundred and ninety (74.5%) were undelivered while 65(25.5%) were in the immediate postpartum period. One hundred women were interviewed at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH) while 155 were interviewed at the Federal medical Centre Gombe. The interviews centred on their perception of pain and duration of labour. The mean age and parity were 27.6 ± 5.7 and 2.8 ± 2.1 respectively. About 80% of those interviewed rated labour pain as severe to agonizing, 82% had no knowledge of pain relief in labour while 81.6 and 78.8% would like pain relief and recommended same, respectively. Only 11% of those interviewed were given pain relief in labour. The majority of women, 64.7% considered their labour as not prolonged. Parity (P = 0.0002), ethnicity (P = 0.020) and duration of labour (P = 0.00017) significantly influenced pain perception in labour while education (P = 0.25) and age (P = 0.4) had no significant influence on pain perception in labour. Although many of the women were not aware of pain relief in labour, the overwhelming majority would want and have recommended pain relief in labour.

Key words: Labour pain, knowledge, desire.
 

International Journal of Public Health and Epidemiology ISSN 2326-7291 Vol. 13 (4), pp. 001-007, April, 2024. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Environmental exposure to chromium and copper: A cross-sectional study on toenail samples from Kano 

J. T. Ayodele* and I. C. Ajala

Department of Pure and Industrial Chemistry, Bayero University, P. M. B. 3011, Kano, Nigeria.

Accepted 20 October, 2023

Abstract

Toenail chromium and copper concentrations in toenails of some inhabitants resident in Kano for at least six months were assessed by atomic absorption spectrometry. Average toenail chromium and copper concentrations were 1.33 ± 0.68 and 27.62 ± 13.29 µg/g respectively. Both chromium and copper concentrations in nails decreased with age indicating that these metals may be playing some physiological functions during the formative years. Their concentrations were inversely related to age with approximate average of 10% decline with each decade of age. 

Key words: Chromium, copper, toenails, Kano, Nigeria.
 

International Journal of Public Health and Epidemiology ISSN 2326-7291 Vol. 13 (3), pp. 001-005, March, 2024. Available online at www.internationalscholarsjournals.org © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Prevalence of campylobacter bacteria in poultry products in Sokoto, Northwestern Nigeria

M. D. Salihu¹*, A. U. Junaidu¹, A. A. Magaji¹, M. B. Abubakar², A. Y.  Adamu³ and A. S. Yakubu³

¹Department of Veterinary Public Health, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria.
²Department of Veterinary Pathology and Microbiology, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria.
³Department of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria.

Accepted 7 October, 2023

Abstract

The study was conducted in Sokoto, Nigeria from November 2007 to October 2008 to investigate the presence of Campylobacter spp. in poultry meat, by standard culture techniques. Campylobacter was detected in 558 (81.9%) of the 681 meat samples, the isolates were characterized by conventional phenotypic tests. Campylobacter jejuni was the most commonly identified species accounting for 340 (60.9%) of the positive samples and 413 (62.3%) of the total isolates, while C. coli and C. lari had 156 (28.0%) and 39 (7.0%) of the positive samples respectively. Thermophilic strains not identified as C. jejuni, C. coli, or C. lari were grouped as “other thermophilic species” and these account for 23 (4.1%) of the positive samples and 32 (4.8%) of the total isolates. Among these, 19 (59.4%) of the 32 strains were also identified as C. upsaliensis while 5 (15.6%) were identified as C. hyointestinalis. The most frequently identified biotype of C. jejuni, C. coli and C. lari was biotype I which accounts for 58.8, 68.0 and 59.2% respectively of the total individual isolates. The presence of Campylobacter in poultry meat may play a role as food borne pathogen of more importance than hitherto reported.

Key words: Prevalence, Campylobacter, meat, poultry, biotypes, Sokoto.