bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Harmful traditional practices in a newborn: A case report
Authors: Peterside O , Duru CO , Anene N 
Published: May 2021

Ninetynine percent of the nearly four million newborn deaths occur in developing countries with newborn deaths remaining relatively invisible and neglected1. In these countries, traditional attitudes and practices dominate newborn care and are often harzadous2. As most births and newborn deaths in developing countries occur outside health care facilities, a reduction in neonatal mortality may depend significantly on interventions involving adaptation of traditional care behaviours practiced at home3. However, despite the importance of traditional practices in the newborn period, little is known about the impact of these practices on newborn health2. We herein present a case of an eighteen day old female who was rushed to the hospital with severe wasting, recto-vaginal prolapse and septic umbilical cord resulting from repeated traditional homecare practices by her mother and grandmother. This case highlights the impact of harmful traditional home care practices on newborn health and emphasizes the urgent need for public enlightenment campaigns and other policy decisions and interventions aimed at reducing this societal menace.Keywords: Harmful traditional practices, newborn, neonatal morbidity, neonatal mortality
Pattern of childhood pertussis in a tertiary hospital in Nigeria: a five year review (2007-2011)
Authors: Oloyede IP , Ekanem AM , Udoh EE 
Published: May 2021

Pertussis is being increasingly found in previously immunized subjects. In Nigeria, the immunization coverage rates are low. This study was therefore carried out to highlight the cases of pertussis seen in a young Nigerian tertiary health facility, with emphasis on the clinical features, complications and the impact of prior immunization in the affected children.Methods : This was a hospital based retrospective study, in which data were obtained from case notes of children seen in the Paediatric department of the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital (UUTH) from January 2007 to December 2011 with a diagnosis of pertussis. Information sought included epidemiologic data, duration of illness, signs and symptoms, treatment, complications and outcome.Results: Fifty three patients were diagnosed with pertussis during the five year period, with majority (29; 54.7%) of cases in the year 2011. Twenty one (39.6%) of the subjects were males while 32 (60.4%) were females. The mean age of the subjects was 29.71 + 27.73 months. The most common symptoms were Post-tussive vomiting and paroxysmal cough occurring in 48(90%) and 39 (73.6%) of the patients respectively. The average interval between onset of symptoms and presentation at the health facility was 3.35 + 2.84 weeks. Majority of the patients (25; 47.2%) were adequately immunized for their age. Bronchopneumonia, either alone or in combination with other complications was the commonest complication occurring in nine (52.9%) patients. There was no mortality.Conclusion: Pertussis is still of public health significance. Routine immunization should be strengthened and booster doses of vaccines should be considered for older children whose immunity may begin to wane.Key words: Pertussis, pattern, childhood
Effectiveness of didactic training on the cognitive knowledge of health professionals on neonatal resuscitation in southern Nigeria
Authors: Oloyede IP , Udo PA , Nyong EE 
Published: May 2021

Background: Nigeria has a high neonatal mortality rate. Most of these deaths can be prevented by providing adequate training for health providers with available and functional basic resuscitation equipments. Our aim was to assess the effect of training on the cognitive knowledge of health practitioners on neonatal resuscitation.Method: We conducted neonatal resuscitation trainings for selected health professionals from all the senatorial districts of Akwa Ibom State, based on the Neonatal Resuscitation programme (NRP) of the American Academy of Paediatrics (AAP). The facilitators were trained and certified in the NRP train-the trainers program of the AAP conducted by the Paediatric Association of Nigeria (PAN). Pre -and post-test were organized during the training and the test scores analyzed to assess any improvement in the knowledge of the health professionals on neonatal resuscitation.Results: One hundred and eightyone health professionals were trained over a two year period. Sixty five (35.9%) were doctors, while 116 (64.9%) were nurses. Physicians had similar pre- test but significantly higher post- test scores compared to the nurses: 46.35±15.34 vs 43.70± 14.51; p=0.34 and 76.14±13.02vs 66.29±15.7; p=0.04 respectively. All the health professionals showed significantly higher posttest scores compared to the pre-test scores; p=0.001 respectively. There was also a negative relationship between the number of practice years and the pre-training scores for the physicians and nurses; spearman rho= -0.18; p=0.45 and -0.43;p=0.003 respectively.Conclusion: Neonatal resuscitation training leads to an improvement in the cognitive knowledge of health practitioners. All health practitioners should be trained irrespective of number of practice years. Further studies are required to assess its long term impact on neonatal mortality.Keywords: Neonatal Resuscitation Training, knowledge, health
Prevalence of bacteraemia in febrile, under-five children in the children’s outpatient clinic of University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Port Harcourt, Nigeria
Authors: Onubogu UC 
Published: May 2021

Background: Bacteraemia is the presence of viable bacteria in the circulating blood. The most common manifestation of bacteraemia is fever. Untreated bacteraemia can progress in 10% of children to focal infection and sepsis which can be fatal. Knowledge of the organisms implicated in causing bacteraemia would help in the right choice of antibiotics while awaiting blood culture results.Objective: This study determined the prevalence and aetiology of bacteraemia among febrile non neonatal, under–five children seen in the Children’s Clinic of the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital.Method: Febrile Children, aged 29 days to < 60 months, who presented in the outpatient clinic and whose parents gave consent were recruited from September 2010 to January 2011. Information on their weight, bio-data, and blood culture results were collected and analysed.Result: A total of 362 children (M:F 1.1:1) were studied. Bacteraemia was found in 32 (8.8%) children. The prevalence rate of bacteraemia was highest in children aged 1-12months (12.1%) and higher in males 13(10.2%) compared to females 19(7.4%). Staphylococcus aureus was the commonest (56.3%) organism isolated.Conclusion: The prevalence of bacteraemia in febrile postneonatal under-five children in the Children’s Outpatient Clinic of University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital was 8.8% with Staphylococcus aureus being the commonest organism implicated. It is recommended that antibiotics active against Staphylococcus aureus should be among the drugs that need to be commenced in this group of children while blood culture result is being awaited.Key words: Fever, blood culture, bacteremia, under-five children,
Pattern of childhood and adolescent malignancies at a tertiary health institution in South-east Nigeria : A ten year study
Authors: Okocha EC , Aneke JC , Ulasi TO , Ezeudu CE , Umeh EO , Ebubedike UR , Ukah CO , Onwukamuche ME , Anyiam DC , Onyiaorah IV , Ndukwe CO , Ugwu JO , Ekwunife OH 
Published: May 2021

Background: Cancer remains a major cause of death in children and adolescents, and differs in adults in nature, distribution and prognosis1. A culture of case documentation is lacking in our environment and many cases go unreported.Study objectives: To document the pattern of childhood and adolescent malignancies at a tertiary health institution in south-east Nigeria over a ten year period (January 2004 to December 2013)Methodology: Details of all children and adolescents aged 18 years and below treated for malignancy were extracted from the cancer registry and the records unit of the histopathology department for the period beginning at January 2004 to December 2013 at Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital (NAUTH), Nnewi, Nigeria. Information retrieved was verified against the hospital admission register, as well as the medical and histopathology records for all cancer patients over the period of interest.Results: Eighty-five cases of childhood and adolescent malignancy were treated at NAUTH, Nnewi between January 2004 and December 2013. Median age of the study population was 9years, with a range of 0.1– 18years, more males (56.50%) than females (43.50%). Commonest tumours were the Lymphomas (11.76%) comprising Non- Hodgkin’s lymphoma (80%), Hodgkin’s lymphoma (10%) and Large-cell lymphoma (10%), the Leukaemias (11.76%) comprising Acute myeloblastic leukaemia (80%) and Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (20%). Others were Rhabdomyosarcoma (11.76%), Nephroblastoma (11.76%), Retinoblastoma (5.88%), Ovarian tumours (4.71%), the Soft tissue sarcomas-excluding rhabdomyosarcoma (3.53%) and Osteogenic sarcoma (3.35%)’.Conclusion: Study findings suggest that lymphoma, leukaemia, rhabdomyosarcoma and nephroblastoma are the commonest childhood and adolescent malignancies in south-east Nigeria.Keywords: Childhood, Adolescent, Malignancy
Challenges of childhood obesity in a developing economy: A review
Authors: Eke CB , Ubesie AC , Ibe BC 
Published: May 2021

Background: Obesity once considered a high income country’s malady is now on the rise in most developing countries particularly in urban settings. Most of these emerging economies have been reported to have different shades of under – nutrition coexisting side by side with over-nutrition. It is pertinent therefore that we determine the factors driving the increase in obesity rates in developing countries as they generally lack the infrastructure to adequately handle the associated complications.Objectives: This communication is aimed at reviewing the burden and risk factors for obesity in children in developing countries, double burden of malnutrition, challenges including medical as well as economic costs and sustainable preventive programmes of obesity in our environment with the hope of sensitizing both the health community and policy makers of this emerging epidemic.Methods: We searched relevant literature on the subject published only in English language or translated into English language manually and electronically. The Index Medicus, AJOL, Medline, PUBMED, and HINARI were specifically searched for the period between 1980 and 2014 and reviewed. The following key words were applied in the search: Obesity in childhood, its burden and associated risk factors, complications of obesity in childhood, double burden of malnutrition in developing countries, assessment of obesity, childhood challenges of obesity including its direct and indirect costs in developing countries as well as practical preventive models in developing economies.Results: Several relevant studies were identified. The health as well as economic costs of obesity is diverse. Obesity is the major risk factor for a variety of non – communicable diseases including cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes and malignancies in later life. Also obese children have higher risk of orthopaedic problems and psychological disturbances like low -self esteem and bullying. This can also lead to poor social adjustments among our teeming youths who are the bedrock of our future economy. Most of these diseases cause premature deaths in addition to long term morbidities. Many of these obesity associated complications impose substantial burden on the health care system in developing countries with weak health systems, and if allowed unmitigated the implications are that the cost of its care may overwhelm not only the health budget but also affect the provisions of basic social amenities.Conclusions: Preventive programmes have been shown to reduce the burden of obesity in developed countries. Dearth of data on burden of obesity and its associated complications in children and adolescents still a challenge in most developing economies. Efforts should be made to prevent childhood obesity using multi- pronged approach at population level through targeted education, sustainable interventions related to healthy nutritional practices as well as physical activity promotion.Key words: Challenges; Obesity; Children; Developing Economies
Mothers’ perception of the use of banked human milk for feeding of the infants
Authors: Abhulimhen-Iyoha BI , Okonkwo IR , Ideh RC , Okolo AA 
Published: May 2021

Background: Human breast milk is the most healthful form of milk for human babies. Every infant deserves the best possible start in life in terms of nutrition by breastfeeding or receiving donated human milk. Breast milk is very important for the infant’s growth and well-being that the non-availability of the mother should not deprive the infant from its benefits. To enhance the availability and use of human breast milk for hospitalized babies whose mothers may not have enough milk, there is the need to embark on human milk banking.Objective: To determine the perception of mothers towards breast milk banking in Benin City, Nigeria.Subjects and Methods: The study subjects included 198 mothers who brought their babies to Well Baby/Immunization Clinic of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), Benin City, Nigeria. A structured researcheradministered questionnaire was used to assess their biodata, awareness and perception of breast milk banking.Results: The mean age of the mothers was 29.8 ± 5.5 years with 46.5% having some form of tertiary education and 48.5% having secondary education. Only 51 (25.8%) of them had heard of breast milk banking; source of information being mainly from health workers (43.1%) and from friends (27.5%). Majority 168 (84.8%) of the mothers would not give their babies human milk donated by another nursing mother mainly because of fear of transmission of infections/diseases. Most 105 (53.0%) were also unwilling to donate breast milk to be used for other babies due to the fact that they disliked the idea (51.4%) and because of fear of not having enough for their own babies (16.1%). However, most (59.1%) strongly agreed that human milk banking would help assist mothers in need, orphans and abandoned babies.Conclusion/Recommendation: The awareness of human milk banking and its acceptance among mothers in Benin City is poor. The current findings strongly justify the need for public enlightenment on human milk banking and its benefits.Key words: Breast milk banking, mothers, Perception
Childhood acute lower respiratory tract infections in Northern Nigeria: At risk factors
Authors: Ahmed PA , Yusuf KK , Dawodu A 
Published: May 2021

Background: Childhood Acute Lower Respiratory Tract Infection (ALRTI) remains an important public health problem in the developing world, with significant morbidity and mortality a challenge. An understanding of risk factors in the development of childhood ALRTI may offer clues to prevention of the disease; identify conditions that lead to progression to severe disease, complications and even death in a child receiving treatment.Aim: to determine risk factors for ALRTI among Under five children hospitalized.Methods: A prospective study of children aged 2-60 months admitted into hospital with diagnosis of pneumonia and bronchiolitis from November 2011 to September 2012 at the National Hospital, Abuja, Nigeria. With a questionnaire data on socio- demographic and potential risk factors for ALRTI were obtained.Results: A total of 50 children aged 2-60 months were enrolled, 92.0 % had pneumonia while 8.0% had bronchiolitis. 86.0% of pneumonia subjects were 24months and below, while all those with bronchiolitis were infants. 43(86.0%) of subjects were hospitalized in the rainy season. The weights for height z score was less than minus 2 in 12 (24.0 %) of the subjects. Significant risk factor for ALRTI was the use of kerosene and solid fuel for domestic cooking, 33 (66.0%), p value 0.0001; Mortality was four percent among the infants. We conclude that younger age under 24 months and exposure to hydrocarbon and biomass from indoor pollution was contributing risk factors for ALRTI in Under five children.Key words: Acute lower respiratory tract infection, risk factors, hospitalization, under-five.
Awareness and use of Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) by health professionals in a developing country
Authors: Adeniyi OF , Lagunju IA , Abdus-salam IA , Sidebotham P , Lesi FEA 
Published: May 2021

Introduction The degree of disability in children with Cerebral Palsy (CP) can be evaluated with the Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS), a valid tool which was designed for such purposes. However, there appears to be paucity of data on the awareness and use of the GMFCS particularly in the Sub-Saharan continent where the condition is still prevalent. Thus, this study aims to describe awareness, use, merits and demerits of the GMFCS system as perceived by health professionals who take care of children with CP.Methods: This was a cross sectional study of health professionals from three Nigerian teaching hospitals. Information obtained via structured questionnaire were demographic data, years of qualification, years of experience of working with children with CP, awareness, use, merits and demerits of the GMFCS. Factors associated with use of the GMFCS were also evaluated with the Chi-square analysis.Results: 78 health professionals participated in the study and majority (58.9%) were doctors. 55 (70.5%) of the study participants were aware of the GMFCS but only 33(42.3%) were using it. The nurses were neither aware of the system nor using it. A higher proportion of therapists (65.4%) were familiar with the system compared to the doctors (54.3%) . The location of practice was significantly associated with the use of the GMFCS (p=0.013). More doctors noted the merits and demerits of the system compared to the therapists.Conclusion: Though health professionals were aware of the GMFCS only a small proportion was using this vital tool in the clinical setting. Thus, there is the need to create more awareness on GMFCS and its clinical utility, and the training of nurses should be of paramount importance in the developing country.Key words: Awareness, cerebral palsy, gross motor function classification system, developing country
Feeding practices in late infancy in Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria
Authors: Akpan UJ , Ibadin MO , Abiodun PO 
Published: May 2021

Background: Whereas considerable insight has been gained and progress made in optimum feeding in early infant feeding same cannot be said with nutrition in late infancy. Tacking challenges associated with nutrition in late infancy demands that extant practices and their shortcomings are exposed.Objectives: To evaluate and document practices regarding feeding in late infancy in Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria.Methods: Using a communitybased household survey involving three representative political wards in Egor Local Government Area of Benin City, feeding practices in late infancy were evaluated using a mix of structured and non-structured, pre-tested questionnaires on 522 mothers of infants aged >6months to 11 months. This was done between June and September, 2009.Results: The age range of mothers was 17-48 years. Diverse ethnic groups were represented with the Binis constituting the largest (48.6%). Bottle feeding rate (BOTFR) was 2.55% and Bottle feeding practice was unassociated with maternal occupation (χ2 = 2.741; p=0.740) and family socioeconomic status (χ2=10.145; p=0.930). Timely complimentary feeding rate (TCFR) was very high (92.7%). Delayed introduction of complimentary feeding was very low (3.6%). Maize gruel (pap) was the commonest (76.6%) complementary food utilized and commonly (99.5%) this was enriched with a variety of other items with milk as the commonest item used. Fish was the commonest (41.0%) animal product used as complimentary food. Use of animal feeds was however generally low and their use was uninfluenced by family socio-economic status (χ2 = 5.424, p=0.066).Conclusions/Recommendations: Bottle feeding rate remains unacceptably high even into late infancy. Factors fostering this should be exposed and tackled because of the dangers inherent in the practice. Timely complimentary feeding practice is encouraging and needs to be supported and sustained for its benefits.Key Words: Nutrition, Late, Infancy, Complimentary feeding, Benin City.
Retinopathy of prematurity in a tertiary facility: an initial report of a screening programme
Authors: Olusanya B.A. , Oluleye T.S. , Tongo O.O. , Ugalahi M.O. , Babalola Y.O. , Ayede A.I. , Baiyeroju A.M. 
Published: May 2021

Background: Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) screening in Nigeria is at a nascent stage and at the moment there are no National guidelines for ROP screening in Nigeria. Thus it is desirable for screening programs to report findings amongst screened preterm infants in order to facilitate the development of national ROP screening criteria and guidelines. The aim of this report is to describe the frequency, severity and risk factors for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) among preterm and very low-birth-weight babies screened within the first year of initiating an ROP screening program at a Nigerian tertiary facility.
Methods: A cross-sectional study of infants born at less than 34 weeks gestational age; or with birth weight less than 1500g between May 2016 and May 2017. ROP screening examinations were performed by ophthalmologists with the use of an indirect ophthalmoscope, after pupillary dilation, in collaboration with the neonatology team. Information on gestational age at birth, birth weight, oxygen therapy and presence of other risk factors were recorded and analyzed.
Results: A total of 74 infants were screened during the period. There were 36 (48.6%) males. Mean gestational age at birth was 29.6 (±2.35) weeks. Mean birth weight was 1.26 (±0.27) kg with a range of 800 to 1950g. ROP was detected in 9 (12.2%) infants. Two (22.2%) of these had Threshold ROP. There was no significant difference between the mean birth weight and mean gestational age of the infants who had ROP compared to those without ROP. The two infants with Threshold ROP were treated with intravitreal Bevazicumab and had regression of ROP.
Conclusion: Retinopathy of prematurity was diagnosed in at risk infants in this facility. There is, therefore, a need to establish ROP screening programs in all neonatal units across the country. In addition, established programs need to evaluate their screening criteria with a view towards developing country-specific screening guidelines.
Keywords: Retinopathy; Prematurity; Preterm; Neonates; Nigeria; Africa