International Journal of Public Health and Epidemiology

International Journal of Public Health and Epidemiology ISSN 2326-7291 Vol. 8 (4), pp. 001-009, April, 2019. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Prevalence, distribution and behavioural determinants of coital activity among High School students in Namibia: A cross-sectional study

Kazhila C. Chinsembu¹*, Choshi D. Kasanda² and Cornelia N. Shimwooshili-Shaimemanya²

¹Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Namibia, P/B 13301, Windhoek, Namibia.

²Department of Science, Mathematics and Sports Education, Faculty of Education, University of Namibia, P/B 13301, Windhoek, Namibia.

Accepted 17 April, 2019

Abstract

Although HIV transmission among Namibian in-school adolescents is mainly heterosexual, previous data on sexual activity are not disaggregated, making it difficult to target interventions. This study conducted a disaggregated analysis of coital activity and explored various factors associated with coital activity among Namibian High School students. A cross-sectional survey was carried out in 18 schools located in six education regions. Data were collected from 829 students through a structured questionnaire. Pearson χ² analysis was used to determine the distribution of coital activity for students from different regions, rural-urban areas, ethnic groups, and gender. Factors associated with coital activity were established by the use of odds ratios and multivariate logistic regression analysis. Overall, 50.2% of the students never had sex before and 29.2% were sexually active. Pearson χ² analysis showed that coital activity was significantly high among students in the Caprivi region, urban areas, Lozi, Herero and Damara-Nama ethnic groups, and male gender. Multivariate logistic regression showed that the only significant factors positively associated with coital activity were Herero ethnicity, male gender, testing for HIV, thinking one could not get HIV if they were faithful to a single sexual partner, having a boyfriend of girlfriend, and drinking beer. These disaggregated results will help design targeted HIV/AIDS preventive programmes for High School students in Namibia. This can be done by targeting messages that reduce students’ coital activity by way of altering personal, peer, and social behaviours.

Key words: Prevalence, distribution, determinants, coital activity, students.

International Journal of Public Health and Epidemiology ISSN 2326-7291 Vol. 8 (4), pp. 001-007, April, 2019. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Disease dynamics, distribution and surveillance of malaria in arid ecology of Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India during 2002 to 2006

P. K. Anand¹*, L. Swarn², S. P. Yadav¹ and H. Singh¹

¹Desert Medicine Research Centre, Indian Council of Medical Research, New Pali Road- Jodhpur, Rajasthan, 342005, India.

²Ex-Senior Resident, Department of Pathology, Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi, 110029, India.

Accepted 04 April, 2019

Abstract

Malaria is under regular and ongoing surveillance, to detect changes in its trends or distribution in order to initiate investigative or control measures in the country. Owing to limited availability of resources and rational use under the program, prevention and control activities against malaria varies in areas with different intensity of malaria transmission. Transmission dynamics, surveillance, mapping of disease burden for malaria in arid ecological setting of Jodhpur, Rajasthan has described in this study. Monthly epidemiological reports of Jodhpur City, district Jodhpur and all its community health centres were obtained from the office, Chief Medical and Health Officer district Jodhpur for the period 2002 to 2006. Secular trend of malaria incidence, transmission dynamics, mapping of disease burden areas and surveillance of malaria was described. The range of annual parasite incidence (API) was from 0.52 to 2.85 in district Jodhpur, with API <2 in the last consecutive 3 years (2004 to 2006). The slide positivity rate (SPR) ranged from 0.59 to 2.29 in district Jodhpur with continuous decline from 1.51 in 2004 to 0.56 in 2006. Transmission dynamics of total malaria varies from one year to another. Total malaria cases during each year reached at peak in the different months in the duration of 2002 to 2006. Malaria is a persistent health problem in district Jodhpur with variation in its transmission dynamics within and between the years. District Jodhpur with its rural and urban areas is a low risk area for malaria. Malaria prophylaxis and management strategies as applicable in low risk area would be appropriate for district Jodhpur.

Key words: Malaria, Rajasthan, arid ecology, low risk area, desert.

International Journal of Public Health and Epidemiology ISSN 2326-7291 Vol. 8 (4), pp. 001-004, April, 2019. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Prevalence of waterborne infections in Northwest Nigeria: A retrospective study

Raji M. I. O.¹* and Ibrahim Y. K. E.²

¹Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharm. Microbiology, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto-Nigeria.

²Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria.

Accepted 21 March, 2019

Abstract

Northwest Nigeria is frequently beset with inadequate water supply. The safety of drinking water to the people in this part of the country has been of major concern as a result of frequently reported incidences of waterborne infections. To ascertain incidences of waterborne infections in this study, patient medical records in several primary health care centres in Sokoto, Shuni and Tambuwal towns in Northwest Nigeria were examined to collect data on incidences of waterborne infections and bio-data of the patients. Simple statistical analysis (Percentage) of collated data was carried out. The records showed that there are high incidences of waterborne infections namely typhoid, cholera, dysentery, diarrhoea and gastroenteritis in the three towns, and that these are more frequent in children below the age of 5 years. Gender distribution of diarrhoea and dysentery cases in 2004 and 2005 showed on average that more female than male residents contracted the infections. The number of cases of waterborne infections in the three towns increased from 10.03% in 2004 to 14.14% in 2005. Diarrhoea, constituting 6.23% in 2004 and 10.04% in 2005 was the most commonly reported cases of waterborne infection in the three towns. Shuni recorded the highest (8.95%) incidences of diarrhoea infection in 2004, followed by Tambuwal (6.23%) and Sokoto had the least (4.81%) while in 2005 Sokoto had the highest (11.99%) followed by Tambuwal (10.23%) and Shuni had the least (7.55%). Pre-study investigations have shown that people in this part of the country lack wholesome drinking water, government should therefore endeavour to make potable water abundant and accessible to its people.

Key words: Waterborne infections, drinking water, diarrhoea, Northwest Nigeria.

International Journal of Public Health and Epidemiology ISSN 2326-7291 Vol. 8 (4), pp. 001-011, April, 2019. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Multiresistant faecal indicator bacteria in stream and well waters of Ile-Ife City, Southwestern Nigeria: Public health implications

O. Oyedeji*, P. O. Olutiola, K. D. Owolabi and K. A. Adeojo

Department of Microbiology, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria.

Accepted 16 March, 2019

Abstract

This study was carried out to determine the prevalence of multiple antibiotic-resistant faecal indicator bacteria in streams and wells which serve as major sources of water for inhabitants of Ile-Ife city in Southwestern Nigeria. Water samples from 2 streams and 10 wells situated at different parts of the city were collected over a 6-month period. The total heterotrophic bacteria, faecal coliform and enterococci counts were performed using standard procedures, and the sensitivity of the isolates to antibiotics was tested. The study indicated high faecal indicator concentrations exceeding quality standards for drinking and recreational waters according to World Health Organization (WHO) and United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA). All the faecal coliforms and enterococci isolates presented multiple antibiotic resistances. The water sources pose a threat to human health due to the danger of waterborne diseases and potential for the transfer of antibiotic resistance genes to pathogens. Effective public health education aimed at creating awareness of the implications of consumption of contaminated and untreated water is imperative. Antibiotics should only be administered based on physicians’ prescription.

Key words: Antibiotic resistance, faecal indicator bacteria, Southwestern Nigeria, stream water, waterborne diseases, well water.

International Journal of Public Health and Epidemiology ISSN 2326-7291 Vol. 8 (4), pp. 001-009, April, 2019. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Demographic, cultural and environmental factors associated with frequency and severity of malnutrition among Zambian children

Selestine H. Nzala¹, Seter Siziya¹*, Olusegun Babaniyi², Peter Songolo², Adamson S. Muula³, and Emmanuel Rudatsikira⁴

¹Department of Public Health, School of Medicine, University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia.

²World Health Organization Country Office, Lusaka, Zambia.

³Department of Community Health, University of Malawi, College of Medicine, Blantyre, Malawi.

Accepted 15 March, 2019

Abstract

Under-nutrition prevents growth and development in children and is the leading factor to illness and death among children less than five years of age in developing countries. The objective of the study was to determine associations of demographic, cultural and environmental factors with frequency and severity of malnutrition among children less than five years of age in Zambia. We used data from the Zambia multiple indicator cluster survey (MICS) from years of 1999 to 2000. Altogether 6,142 children participated in the survey. The prevalence rates for being "underweight", "stunted" and "wasted" were 17.6, 37.5 and 4.1%, respectively. Compared to children from Western province, those from Luapula, Northern, and North-West provinces were more likely to be underweight. Children from Lusaka, Southern, Copperbelt, Eastern, and Central provinces were less likely to be underweight compared to those from Western province. Other factors associated with children malnutrition included sex, low educational level of householder and mother, poverty, vaccination status and type of toilet. The data acquired in this study may be used in developing interventions to prevent and mitigate children malnutrition. Special attention may have to be given to the provinces where children are more likely to suffer from malnutrition.

Key words: Malnutrition, underweight, stunted, wasted, children under 5 years of age, Zambia.

International Journal of Public Health and Epidemiology ISSN 2326-7291 Vol. 8 (4), pp. 001-004, April, 2019. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Chemical and silt-induced eutrophication syndrome at Otamiri River, Owerri, Nigeria

Nwanebu F. C.¹*, Ogbulie, J. N.¹, Obi R. K.¹ and Ojiako O. A.²

¹Department of Industrial Microbiology, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Nigeria.

²Department of Biochemistry, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Nigeria.

Accepted 09 March, 2019

Abstract

Partially eutrophicated site (A) and free-flowing site (B) of Otamiri River in Owerri, Nigeria, separated by a barricade were evaluated to determine their relative pollution status. Microbiological analysis using membrance-filtration techniques detected high presence of Salmonella spp., Vibro spp., Staphylococus aureus and faecal Streptococci. Aerobic bacterial counts of 5.0 x 10⁵ cfu/100ml were obtained from site B and 4.5x 10³ cfu/100ml from site A. The physico-chemical analysis revealed high conductivity of 178 umhoo/cm with total dissolved solids (TDS) of 89.0 mg/L at site B and 52 umhoo/cm with TDS of 26mg/L at site A. Recovery of PO4^3-, SO₄^2-, N0^3-, was obtained, though more at site A than Site B, indicating pollution. Statistical analysis revealed significant differences (P<0.05) in pollution indices obtained between sites A and B. The barricade encouraged siltation and nutrient accumulation at site A creating an eutrophic environment that further complicated a desperate pollution status of the river due to indiscriminate dumping of refuse. This river serves as drinking water source to many inhabitants of Owerri municipality with villages beyond. Government effort to protect it from over pollution is therfore highly desired.

Key words: Eutrophication, pollution, Otamiri River, Owerri, Nigeria.