Rural Communities In Southwestern Nigeria Research Articles

Attitude and predictors of exclusive breastfeeding practice among mothers attending under-five welfare clinics in a rural community in Southwestern Nigeria.

Much previous research on exclusive breastfeeding has focused on urban and semi-urban communities, while there is still a paucity of data from rural areas. We assessed the attitude and practice of exclusive breastfeeding and its predictors among mothers attending the under-five welfare clinics in a rural community. A cross-sectional study was conducted among consecutively recruited 217 mothers attending the three health facilities under-five welfare clinics in Ido-Ekiti, Southwest, Nigeria. Information was collected with a semi-structured interviewer-administered questionnaire adapted from previously published research works. Descriptive and inferential statistics were carried out using IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 26.0. More than half of the mothers, 117(53.9%) were ≥30 years old, and 191(88.0%) were married. Almost all, 216 (99.5%) attended an ante-natal clinic; however, 174(80.2%) delivered in the health facility. The respondent's mean ± SD exclusive breastfeeding attitudinal score was 29.94 ± 2.14 (maximum obtainable score was 36), and the proportion of mothers that practiced exclusive breastfeeding was 40.6%. Married mothers were more likely to practice exclusive breastfeeding than their unmarried counterparts (AOR:6.324, 95%CI:1.809-22.114). The common reasons for not practicing exclusive breastfeeding were work schedule 57(26.3%), cultural beliefs and the need to introduce herbal medicine 32(14.7%), and insufficient breast milk 30(13.8%). This study revealed a good disposition with a suboptimal practice towards exclusive breastfeeding. Also, being married was a positive predictor of exclusive breastfeeding. Therefore, we recommend policies that will improve exclusive breastfeeding among mothers in rural areas, especially those targeting the unmarried, to achieve the World Health Organization's target.

Resource inequality and quality of secondary education: a study of uneven policy in rural schools of southwestern Nigeria

Recent Studies have investigated the influence of the resource factor on the quality of secondary education (QSE) in Nigeria. However, the research on the resource factor as a predictor of quality of secondary education in rural communities of Southwestern Nigeria remains scanty. This study, therefore, investigated the contributions of the resource factor (RF: Resource Adequacy-RA and Resource Utilization-RU) to QSE in rural communities of Southwestern Nigeria (RCSN). The study was located within a pragmatic paradigm that incorporated the convergent parallel design in the collection, analysis and interpretation of the qualitative and quantitative data. The multi-level mixed methods sampling technique was adopted in selecting 467 secondary school graduates, while total enumeration technique was adopted in selecting 134 teachers. Six participants for the Key Informant Interviews comprised three principals and three senior officials from the Teaching Service Commission and Ministry of Education from three selected states in southwestern Nigeria. Two research questions were raised, and one hypothesis was formulated for the study. Two research instruments, namely, the Secondary School Graduate Aptitude Test (SSGAT) and Resource Factor Teachers’ Questionnaire (RFTQ), with reliability coefficients of 0.715 and 0.853, respectively, were used for the study. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Pearson Product Moment Correlation, while qualitative data were analyzed with content analysis. The resource factor with resource adequacy (x=2.50) and resource utilization (x=2.77) influenced QSE. The resource factor (r=0.75) had a negative significant relationship with QSE. The study affirmed that addressing resource inequality in rural communities is urgently required to stem the ebbing tide of quality secondary education in Nigeria.

Metabolic Syndrome and Its Association with Nutritional and Cardiometabolic Risk Factors: Prevalence among Apparently Healthy Adults in a Rural Community in Southwestern Nigeria

Aim: The study assessed the prevalence of cardiometabolic risk factors associated with metabolic syndrome among apparently healthy adults in rural settlements.
 Study Design: Descriptive cross-sectional study.
 Place and Duration: Ejigbo, a rural settlement in Osun State, Southwestern Nigeria, between September and December 2019.
 Methodology: 271 apparently healthy individuals were recruited using a multistage sampling technique with the WHO STEPS Instrument questionnaire, level of significance set at P= 0.05.
 Results: The prevalences of overweight and obesity were 96 (35.4%) and 66 (24.4%) respectively. The prevalence of hypertension among respondents was 83 (30.6%). High plasma levels of Total Cholesterol 64 (23.6%), triglyceride 20 (7.4%), LDL-Cholesterol 28 (10.3%) and very high LDL-Cholesterol 31 (11.5%) were found among the respondents. While 72 (26.6%) of the respondents have a low level of HDL-Cholesterol. The prevalence of impaired glucose tolerance among the respondents was 34 (12.6%) when 45 (16.6%) had diabetic plasma glucose levels and 82 (30.3%) for metabolic syndrome.
 Conclusion: Cardiometabolic risk factors were very high among rural dwellers, especially people without metabolic syndrome. Therefore, public awareness, about those risk factors, should be intensified. Routine medical check-ups and screening should be encouraged.

Functionality of Secondary Education: An Investigation into Numeracy, Literacy and Civic/Citizenship Competencies of Secondary School Graduates in Rural Communities of Southwestern Nigeria

The Functionality of Secondary Education (FSE) system in Nigeria has become a subject of concern among stakeholders. Evidence shows that many secondary school graduates, especially in rural communities of the country, cannot demonstrate basic skills required by the world of work. However, extant studies often devote more attention to functionality of education, generally, than probable causes of dysfunctionality of the system in rural communities. This study, therefore, investigates the current level of functionality of secondary education (functional literacy, functional numeracy, and functional civic/citizenship competence) in rural communities of Southwestern Nigeria (RCSN). The study was located within a post-positivist paradigm that incorporated the convergent parallel design in the collection, analysis, and interpretation of qualitative and quantitative data. The multi-level mixed methods sampling technique was adopted for the study. Three states with the highest rural demography in the southwest zone of Nigeria were purposively selected, while at the second stage, the cluster sampling method was used to select one Local Government Area from each of the three senatorial districts per state. At the third stage, the simple random sampling technique was used to select a secondary school from each Local Government Area. Lastly, proportionate-to-size sampling technique was adopted for the selection of 467 secondary school graduates. The participants for Key Informant Interviews comprised three principals and three senior officials from the Teaching Service Commission and Ministry of Education in each of the 3 states. A research instrument, Secondary School Graduate Aptitude Test (SSGAT) with a reliability coefficient of 0.715 was used for the study. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, while qualitative data were analyzed thematically. The FSE was found to be moderate for Civic/Citizenship Competence (60.8 percent) while it was low for Functional Literacy (50.3 percent) and Functional Numeracy (45.88 percent). The study concluded that urgent interventions are fundamental to stemming the ebbing tide of FSE in RCSN.

The Influence of Policy Factors on the Quality of Secondary Education in the Rural Communities of South-Western Nigeria

Achieving the Quality of Secondary Education seems to have assumed a frightening dimension in South-Western Nigeria. This study, therefore, investigated the contributions of the policy factors (PF: Recruitment and Selection-RS, Salary and Compensation-SC and Training and Development-TD) to the Quality of Secondary Education (QSE) in the rural communities of South-western Nigeria (RCSN). The data were collected via a Secondary School Graduate- Aptitude Test (SSGAT) instrument from 467 secondary school graduates; and a total enumeration technique was adopted for the data collected from 134 teachers from 9 rural secondary schools. Six participants were purposely selected for the Key Informant Interviews, which comprised three principals and three senior officials from the Teaching Service Commissions and the Ministries of Education. Three research questions were developed, and one hypothesis was formulated for the study. The study was located within a post-positivist paradigm that incorporated the convergent parallel design in the collection, analysis, and interpretation of the qualitative and quantitative data. The data generated were analysed using descriptive statistics and a Pearson-Product Moment Correlation at the 0.05 level of significance; while the qualitative data were analyzed thematically. The RS ( =3.08 ± 0.82), SC ( =2.72 ± 0.90) and TD ( =2.62 ± 0.83) strongly influenced the QSE in RCSN. The PF (r=0.75) had a negative significant relationship with QSE. The study concluded that urgently addressing the policy issues is highly essential in revamping the QSE in RCSN.

Chronic Kidney Disease and Its Clinical Correlates in a Rural Community in Southwestern Nigeria.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a burgeoning problem globally, and more than a billion adults were affected as of 2016, with 1.2 million people dying from renal failure in 2017. To arrest the seemingly relentless progression of CKD to renal failure, there is a need to detect CKD early in the community. A community-based study was carried out to look at the prevalence and risk factors of CKD. Anthropometric and other clinical variables were measured. Blood samples were taken for determining creatinine, uric acid, urea, and lipids. CKD was defined as an estimated glomerular filtration rate of ≤60 mL/min/1.73 m2. Electrocardiograms and renal ultrasound scans were performed. In total, 201 people were recruited. Those with CKD had a male:female ratio of 1:3.9 and were older. The prevalence of autosomal-dominant polycystic kidney disease and CKD was 531.9 persons/100,000 population and 46.3%, respectively. Systolic blood pressure, pulse pressure, total cholesterol, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein (HDL), uric acid, QTc interval, and electrocardiographic left ventricular hypertrophy were higher in those with CKD. Age, female sex, and HDL were independently associated with CKD. There was a steep rise in CKD at the community level. Increased awareness of CKD and prompt interventions are therefore imperative.

Exploring Social Support Systems and Experiences of Older Women in Tede Community, Oyo State, Nigeria.

Rural communities in Nigeria are rapidly aging due to the massive movement of young adults to the cities, especially after marriage and/or in search of employment. This has adversely affected the social supports for older persons. The current study explored the experiences of older adults living in rural communities in Southwestern Nigeria. The study adopted an exploratory qualitative research design, in-depth interview techniques were adopted, and results were analyzed using thematic analysis. For this pilot study, conducted in Tede community in Oyo state in Nigeria, 10 older women, aged 70+ years were purposively selected for the study. The fact that all participants were women was due to the fact that older persons found in the community were mostly women. Consonant with previous research, this pilot study found that there was limited formal and informal support systems for older women in the community. The study additionally revealed that older women expressed feelings of abandonment by adult children, having insufficient funds, as well as inability to access health care. Consequently, these women resorted to alternative means to fend for themselves. For instance, despite having functional limitations, older women in the community would engage in physically demanding tasks such as going into the bushes to cut and gather firewood to sell, as well as engaging in other forms of petty trading, while others resorted to begging for alms for sustenance. This pilot study highlights the experience of poverty among older women and the need for more structural interventions for older persons in Nigeria.

Moderated mediation roles of social connectedness and optimism on emotional intelligence and life satisfaction

The processes and circumstances underlying the association between emotional intelligence and life satisfaction were investigated among rural older adults. The factor structure of the measures was also assessed to determine their capacity and suitability for use. Participants were 1053 (639 males and 414 females) older adults with a mean age of 71.34 (SD of 7.15) recruited from selected rural communities in southwestern Nigeria. Results of the factor analysis show that the measures are appropriate for use in the study settings. Emotional intelligence significantly predicts life satisfaction as a result of social connectedness among the samples used. Also, the effect holds better among older adults with higher dispositional optimism than those with lower dispositional optimism. The study outcomes underscore the importance of social connectedness and optimism on life satisfaction among older adults in rural communities.

Will Nigerians Win the War Against Urinary Schistosomiasis? Prevalence, Intensity, Risk Factors and Knowledge Assessment among Some Rural Communities in Southwestern Nigeria.

Urinary schistosomiasis is a devastating parasitic disease in Nigeria. This study was carried out to investigate the current prevalence, intensity, risk factors and knowledge assessment among some rural communities in southwestern Nigeria. A cross-sectional study was carried out in which a standard urine filtrations technique was used to determine the prevalence and intensity of infection. A well-designed questionnaire was used to collect subject’s data on demographic and socioeconomic characteristics. Of the total 620 urine samples examined, overall 346 (55.81%) were positive with a mean egg intensity (S.D) of 65.60 (59.33) egg/10 mL of urine. Significant differences occurred in the analysis. Males had the highest prevalence and intensity of 224 (61.9%) and 69.20 egg/10 mL of urine, respectively. The 10–14 years age group had the highest prevalence of 65.9% while mean intensity of infection among the age group decreases with increasing age, with the highest mean intensity of infection (80.14 egg/10 mL) recorded among the age group ≤ 4 years. Bivariate logistic regression analysis showed that being age group 10–14 (COR 0.27, 95% CI: 0.09–0.79) and dependent on river (COR 0.67, 95% CI: 0.33–1.33) increased the odd of contracting an infection. Similarly, the knowledge of respondents on urinary schistosomiasis was low. Conclusively, urinary schistosomiasis is still persistent at a very high rate in the study area and appropriate control measure should be deployed.

Determinants of choice of birth place among women in rural communities of southwestern Nigeria

BackgroundChoice of birth place remains a significant risk factor for maternal mortality in rural communities. Despite national efforts of increasing availability of maternal healthcare services, rural women across Africa still under-utilize the services. This study assessed the determinants of choice of birth places among childbearing women in rural communities. MethodsThis descriptive community-based cross sectional study employed a convergent parallel mixed methods research design. It involved childbearing age (15 to 49 years) women who gave birth within five years prior to the study. Respondents were selected by multistage sampling technique. Data collection was by pre-tested, structured, interviewer-administered questionnaires and Focus Group Discussion (FGD) guide. Of the 410 questionnaires administered, 403 were suitable for analysis giving a response rate of 98.3%. Questionnaires and FGD data were analyzed using STATA version 14 and software ATLAS.ti version 7.5.10, respectively. Alpha was set at 5%. The study was approved by the Health Research Ethics Committee of Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria (IPHOAU/12/873). ResultsOnly 38% of the respondents had institutional delivery. Among others, distance, providers’ approach, inadequate healthcare facilities and personnel were identified as determinants of choice for childbirth place. Parity and age were not significantly associated with birth place (p > 0.05). ConclusionDeterminants of non-institutional birth found in this study majorly include maternal educational status, distance of health facilities and providers’ approach. These have useful implications for both health providers and health policy makers for improving and strengthening institutional births strategies in rural Nigeria.

UPPER GASTROINTESTINAL ENDOSCOPY IN IDO-EKITI, NIGERIA: A FOUR-YEAR REVIEW

Background: Upper gastrointestinal complaints are common, and the underlying diseases varies widely. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy is the gold standard investigation for upper gastrointestinal symptoms. It helps in the proper diagnosis and the appropriate management of the underlying lesions. Aim: To determine the characteristics of the patients undergoing upper gastrointestinal endoscopy in a rural community in south-western Nigeria. Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study of all patients who had upper gastrointestinal endoscopy between February 2016 and February 2020 (a period of 4 years). The Age, Gender, Indication and the Endoscopy findings were obtained from the Endoscopy Register. A total of 181 upper gastrointestinal endoscopies had been performed over the period. The data obtained was analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 21.0. Descriptive statistics used included frequency tables, means and standard deviations. Results: A total number of 181 Oesophagogastroduodenoscopies (OGDs) were performed during the period under review, out of which 95 (52.5%) were males and 86 (47.5%) were females with a male to female ratio of 1.1 to 1. The age range of the patients was 9 to 89 years with a mean(±SD) of 52.4(±1.69) and median of 52.0 years. The highest number of OGDs were performed on individuals within the age bracket of 50-59 years whom were mostly females. Dyspepsia constituted the commonest indication for OGD (51.9%) followed by symptoms of upper gastrointestinal bleeding (haematemesis/melaena) 16.0%, unexplained persistent vomiting 6.6% and clinical suspicion of a gastric tumour 5.5%. The commonest endoscopic abnormality detected from this study was Gastritis 28.2% followed by Gastric erosions 12.2%, Duodenal ulcers 8.8%, Gastric tumours 8.3% and Oesophagitis 7.2%. Normal endoscopy findings were found in 24.9% of the patients. Gastritis was also the commonest endoscopic finding (constituting 40.4%) in patients who had OGD done on account of dyspepsia followed by Duodenal ulcers (8.5%) and Gastric erosions (6.4%). Gastric erosions constituted the commonest cause of upper gastrointestinal bleeding in this study (44.8%) followed by Duodenal ulcers (13.8%). Conclusion: The commonest indication for upper gastrointestinal endoscopy in this study was dyspepsia while the commonest endoscopic diagnosis was gastritis. Gastric erosion was most commonly seen in patients with upper gastrointestinal bleeding. From this study, Acid-Peptic disorders were the commonest underlying gastrointestinal pathologies of patients’ symptomatology necessitating endoscopic evaluation. The findings from this study conducted in a rural community in Nigeria were similar to those conducted in urban communities in the country. Therefore, a national guideline on the endoscopic evaluation of upper gastrointestinal disorders can be universally applied irrespective of the location of practice in Nigeria.

Perception and Practices of Nomadic Women in a Rural Community in Southwestern Nigeria to Their Children's Oral Health.

Introduction Nomads move from one settlement to another, thus it has been difficult to have adequate documentation about their oral health and that of their children. Aim To investigate the perception and practices of nomadic Fulani women toward their children's oral health. Methodology A cross-sectional study was conducted among 197 Fulani women using a structured interviewer administered questionnaire. Results Perceived causes of tooth decay included tooth germs/worms (23.9%) and sugar (5.1%), and 32.0%, 15.2%, and 5.1%, respectively, self-medicated children with antibiotics, traditional concoctions/herbs, and analgesics for tooth decay. Two fifths (40.1%) attributed bleeding gums to tooth germs/worms. Polyurethane foam (46.7%), toothbrush (32.0%), finger (18.8%), and wooden twigs (2.5%) were aids used for cleaning children's teeth. Conclusions These mothers have suboptimal oral health knowledge, attitudes, and practices toward their children's oral health. There is a need for urgent intervention among this group of people.

Factors influencing maternal mortality among rural communities in southwestern Nigeria.

BackgroundMaternal mortality and morbidity reflect the status of population health and quality of life across nations. Poor understanding of the interplay of many antecedent factors, including sociocultural, economic and logistic factors, combined with an overwhelming poor health services delivery, is a basic challenge in several countries, particularly in rural settings where functional health care services are relatively scarce. There are still uncertainties as to the extent of this burden, owing to current challenges with information and data collation. This study aimed at identifying nonmedical factors associated with maternal mortality in rural and semiurban communities of southwestern Nigeria.MethodologyThe study was carried out in Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Area of Ogun State. A multistage sampling technique and an informant survey approach were used in the study. A total sample of 360 eligible respondents were selected randomly from 11 out of 16 political wards in the study area and interviewed through the administration of questionnaires. The data were processed using descriptive statistics and regression analyses.ResultsPlace of consultation (P=0.000), who pays the treatment costs (P=0.000), awareness of pregnancy complications (P=0.002) and knowledge of the place of antenatal care treatment (P=0.000) significantly influenced maternal mortality (proxy by place of delivery of last birth). The F-statistic (15.100) confirmed the hypothesis that nonmedical factors influence maternal mortality. The correlation of predictor variables was significant at both the 0.01 level and the 0.05 level (2-tailed).ConclusionOur findings suggest that in a rural community setting with a depleted health care system, health education tailored toward community culture, subsidized maternal health care services by the government and operators of private clinics, as well as empowering and improving the status of women may reduce maternal mortality and prompt better utilization and survival chances of women in the study area as well as in all of Nigeria.

Prevalence and modes of complementary and alternative medicine use among peasant farmers with musculoskeletal pain in a rural community in South-Western Nigeria.

BackgroundAnecdotally, use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) for Musculoskeletal Pain (MSP) is common in Nigeria; however, there seems to be a dearth of empirical data on its prevalence and mode of use. This study investigated the prevalence and modes of use of CAM for MSP among farmers in a rural community in South-western Nigeria.MethodsThis cross-sectional survey employed multistage sampling technique guidelines for conducting community survey by the World Health Organization among rural community farmers in Gudugbu village, Oyo State, Nigeria. A questionnaire developed from previous studies and validated by expert reviews was used to assess prevalence and modes of CAM use. Data was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Alpha level was set at p < 0.05.ResultsA total of 230 consenting rural farmers volunteered for this study with a valid response rate of 93.9 % (n = 216). The lifetime, 12-month and point prevalence of CAM for MSP was 96.8 % respectively. Herbal therapy and massage were the predominant types of CAM therapies among previous (83.8 and 80.1 %) and current CAM users (37.5 and 37.5 %). CAM was largely used as sole therapy for MSP (75.5 %) and also in combination with orthodox medicine (23.6 %), and it is consumed on daily basis (21.8 %). CAM was perceived to be very good in maintaining a healthy life (87.1 %) and has less side effects (74 %) and more healthy than taking doctors’ prescriptions (63.4 %).ConclusionThere is a high prevalence of CAM among Nigerian rural farmers. The most commonly employed CAM for MSP were herbal remedies and massage which are attributable to beliefs on their perceived efficacy.

WITHDRAWN: Prevalence and correlates of depression among elderly people living in rural communities in Southwestern Nigeria

This article has been withdrawn at the request of the author. The Publisher apologizes for any inconvenience this may cause. The full Elsevier Policy on Article Withdrawal can be found at http://www.elsevier.com/locate/withdrawalpolicy.

English

Obesity has reached epidemic proportions globally, and is now prevalent in low-income and middle-income countries. This study sets out to determine the prevalence of obesity as well as its predictors in rural South-Western Nigeria. Cross-sectional descriptive survey of 416 participants aged 20 to 70 years in two rural communities in Remo North Local Government area of Ogun State, Nigeria was taken. Relevant clinical and demographic parameters were obtained. Participants were screened for generalized and central obesity, using standard protocol. The prevalence of overweight and generalized obesity was 21.4 and 10.5%, respectively in all the participants. Females had a higher frequency of generalized obesity than the males (p&lt;0.001). Central obesity was significantly more prevalent among the female participants with three different criteria (p&le;0.001). More participants were classified as centrally obese using waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) or waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) than waist circumference (WC). Predictors of central obesity were age, female gender, alcohol and cigarette smoking. The prevalence of obesity is high in rural communities of South-Western Nigeria. Compared to men, the chances of developing central obesity (defined as increased WC) increased by 11-fold among the women. Targeted aggressive healthy lifestyle intervention becomes necessary to prevent future cardiovascular disease. &nbsp; Key words: Obesity, rural communities, cardiovascular disease.

Health risk behaviors and sexual initiation among in-school adolescents in rural communities in southwestern Nigeria

Adolescents exhibit numerous risky sexual behaviors leading to initiation of sexual intercourse not mindful of the many consequences. To determine the prevalence and pattern of sexual risky behavior and its association with sexual initiation. This was a school-based descriptive cross-sectional study among 377 in-school adolescents, who were selected using multistage sampling methods. Research instruments were semistructured self-administered questionnaires. The mean age of respondents was 15.7 (+1.8) years. Most of the respondents claimed to have heard about sex education at one time or another. About 53 (14.1%) had their first sexual experience before or at the age of 15 years. The mean age of the first sexual experience for males was 14 years 3 months and 15 years 3 months for females. Fourteen (3.7%) had no fixed sexual partner; most of the sexually active respondents did not use a condom during their last intercourse. Only 7.7% of the respondents reported to have had a sexually transmitted infection. Most of the 207 female respondents (85.5%) had never been pregnant while 88.9% of those who had been pregnant had an abortion. Females were about 1.5 times more likely to have had first sexual intercourse before the age of 15 years, though the observed likelihood was not statistically significant [odd ratio (OR) = 0.7, 95%; confidence interval (CI) = 0.3-1.5; p = 0.642]. Likewise, males were 1.7 times more likely to have used condoms at the last sexual intercourse, and the observed likelihood was not statistically significant (OR = 1.7; 95% CI = 0.8-3.4; p = 0.079). In this study, adolescents were sexually active with negative consequences on their reproductive health. Stakeholders involved in the care of adolescents should take the consequences into consideration.

Intestinal Helminthic Infection Increases Serum Levels of IL-2 and Decreases Serum TGF-Beta Levels in Nigerian Asthmatic Patients

Background: Asthma is less common in countries outside the organization for economic cooperation and development (OECD). One suggested mechanism for this disparity is the early life exposure to helminthic infection in non-OECD countries due to predominant Th1 immune response, which down-regulates Th2 responses required for exacerbation of asthma. This report is the first in the literature to describe the effects of helminthic infection on immune responses in asthmatic children compared to non-asthmatic controls. Methods: We administered the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) questionnaire to 1690 high school students in three rural communities in southwestern Nigeria. Based on questionnaire responses and medical examination, identified asthma cases were matched with controls. Stool samples were collected from all subjects and screened for intestinal helminthic infection. The serum of 12 asthmatics and 12 non-asthmatics (6 with intestinal helminthic infection and 6 without intestinal helminthic infection in each group) were assayed for interleukin (IL)-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-10, IL-12, IL-13, IL-17A, interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), granulocyte macrophage colo- ny-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), and transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β). Results: The mean (±SD) serum levels of IL-2 significantly increased in asthma cases with intestinal helminthic infection compared with asthma cases without infection (41.5 ± 9.7 vs. 29.7 ± 10.3; p = 0.035), controls with intestinal helminthic infection compared with cases without infection (52 ± 4.7 vs. 29.7 ± 10.3; p < 0.001), and controls with intestinal helminthic infection compared to controls without infection (52 ± 4.7 vs. 34.2 ± 10.4; p = 0.003). Mean levels of TGF-β significantly increased in controls without infection compared with asthma cases with infection (1833 ± 93.1 vs. 633.3 ± 294.4; p < 0.001), controls without intestinal helminthic infection compared with asthma cases without infection (1833 ± 93.1 vs. 916.7 ± 204.1; p < 0.001), controls with intestinal helminthic infection compared to controls without infection (2366.7 ± 760.7 vs. 1833 ± 93.1; p < 0.001), and controls with intestinal helminthic infection compared with asthma cases without infection (2366.7 ± 760.7 vs.916.71 ± 204.1; p = 0.007). Conclusion: Intestinal helminthic infection independently increases IL-2 levels, while asthma decreases the level of TGF-β, which is further depressed by intestinal helminthic infection.

English

In most rural communities in Nigeria, access to potable water is still a challenge. Water quality monitoring was conducted on six (6) surface water catchments in Obokun rural communities in South-Western Nigeria. Parameters were determined using internationally accepted procedures. Among the examined water chemical parameters, only NO3 (50.0 – 154 mg/l) and Mg (20.0 – 110 mg/l) exceeded the WHO and the Nigerian Standard for Drinking Water Quality (NSDWQ) recommended thresholds for potable water. All the surface water samples contained total heterotrophic bacteria (THB) (1100 – 5900 cfu/ml) and total coliform (9.00 – 78.0 cfu/100 ml) above tolerant level. Total heterotrophic fungi (THF) were found in 1.00 – 7.00 cfu/ml density range. All the samples (100%) contained thermotolerant coliform (4.0 – 11.0 cfu/100m l), Escherichia coli (4.00 – 7.00 cfu/100 ml), faecal streptococci (1.00 – 5.00 cfu/ml) and Salmonella (1.00 – 8.00 cfu/100 ml) while 67% contained Shigella (1.00 - 6.00 cfu/100 ml). Presence of pathogenic microorganisms in water samples is indicative of faecal contamination. Multidrug resistance ofPseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella typhi, Shigella flexneri, E. coli andCorynebacterium ulcerans showed that these organisms could pose a serious health threat to the users of the water from these rivers. The qualities of surface water samples used for this study were therefore not suitable for human consumption without adequate treatment. However, most rural community people still rely on surface water for drinking and other domestic use. Identification of cost-effective local water treatment techniques and implementation of WHO Water Safety Plan (WSP) will improve water quality and minimize risks to human health. Key words: surface water, rural water, quality surveillance, microorganisms, antibiotic sensitivity.

Schistosomiasis among pregnant women in rural communities in Nigeria

ObjectiveTo assess the epidemiology of urogenital schistosomiasis among pregnant women in rural communities of southwestern Nigeria. MethodsThe present cross-sectional epidemiologic survey of urogenital schistosomiasis was conducted during 2010–2011 among pregnant women in Yewa North Local Government, Ogun State, Nigeria. The women were microscopically screened for infection with Schistosoma haematobium. ResultsOf 313 volunteer participants, 20.8% tested positive for S. haematobium infection. The prevalence of infection was highest (31.5%) among women aged 20–24years. The infection intensity did not differ significantly between age groups (t=1.848, P=0.71). Primigravidae and women in the first trimester of pregnancy had the highest intensity of infection with 33.1 and 27.7 eggs/10mL of urine, respectively. There was an association between disease prevalence and parasite intensity across the age groups (χ2=68.82, P=0.02). The prevalence of S. haematobium was not associated with age or pregnancy trimester (P=0.06), but associations existed between intensity of infection and gravidity (P=0.001). ConclusionThe prevalence of urogenital schistosomiasis among pregnant women in Nigeria was high, with younger women and primigravidae at the greatest risk. These data can be used to develop a schistosomiasis control program among pregnant women in the study area.