BackgroundSchoolchildren are vulnerable to anaemia because of their higher iron need to meet the demands of puberty and adolescence.ObjectiveThe survey determined the haemoglobin levels of schoolchildren aged 6–15 years and the factors affecting their haemoglobin status.DesignData were obtained through a cross sectional survey of 450 randomly selected schoolchildren in Ede-Oballa, Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria. Ninety were selected for clinical examination, biochemical tests, and nutrient intake study. Haemoglobin, malaria, and stool analysis were carried out by the cyanmethaemoglobin, thin blood film, and wet mount direct methods, respectively. Iron intake was determined by a three-day weighed food intake.ResultsResults showed that the schoolchildren had pallor (35.6%), brittle hair (31.1%), koilonychia (2.2%), oedema (4.4%) and sore/smooth tongue (7.8%). The children also had malaria (58.9%) and Entamoeba histolytica (42.2%), hookworm (36.7%), tapeworm (35.6%), whipworm (34.5%), and roundworm (27.9%) infestations. Iron intake was inadequate (<100% of recommended nutrient intake) for most of the children. The mean haemoglobin levels of the schoolchildren were low. The 6–9, 10–12, and 13–15 year olds had 9.0, 9.1, and 9.3 g/dl, respectively. Most (85.5%) of them had anaemia. Moderate anaemia was prevalent in 62.2%. Severe anaemia affected the 6–9 year olds more. Malaria (P<0.001), Entamoeba histolytica (P<0.01), hookworm (P<0.05), tapeworm (P<0.01), and whipworm (P<0.001) caused significant reduction in haemoglobin level. Age (b=1.284, P<0.05), birth order (b=−0.629, P<0.01), frequency of illness attack (b=−1.372, P<0.01), household size (b=−0.526, P<0.05), and frequency of skipping breakfast (b=−1.542, P<0.001) were factors that influenced the haemoglobin status of the children.ConclusionThe schoolchildren had poor iron status as a result of consumption of plant sources of iron with low bioavailability, parasitic infections, birth order, skipping of breakfast, large household size, and frequent bouts of illnesses.

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Background Hypertension, a major cardiovascular disease risk factor exists several years without symptoms. Few data exist on prevalence and predictors of hypertension among apparently healthy Nigerian adults. This makes it difficult for policy-makers to concentrate efforts to control emerging health burden of the disease. This study assessed prevalence and predictors of isolated systolic hypertension (ISH), isolated diastolic hypertension (IDH) and combined systolic and diastolic hypertension (CSDH). Methods Cross-sectional survey design was employed in the study of 517 adult participants (20–60 years) in a rural setting. Selection of the respondents was through multistage sampling which involved systematic, proportionate and simple random sampling. Data on socio-demographic characteristics, blood pressure, height, weight, and waist circumference were collected. Frequencies, T-test, analysis of variance and Chi square were used in statistical analysis. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regressions were used to evaluate variables associated with different patterns of hypertension with significance accepted at P < 0.05. Frequencies, percentages, crude and adjusted odd ratios were reported. Statistical Product and Service Solutions version 21.0 was used in statistical analysis. Results ISH (10.6%), IDH (18.2%) and CSDH (37.8%) were observed among the participants. ISH was less likely among 20–29 year-olds (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 0.35, 95% confidence interval (C.I.) = 0.13–0.94), 30–39 year-olds (aOR = 0.30, 95% C.I. = 0.11–0.82) and those with abdominal obesity (aOR = 0.12, 95% C.I. = 0.03–0.56). Participants who perceived their health status as good (aOR = 3.80, 95% C.I. = 1.29–11.18) and excellent (aOR = 5.28, 95% C.I. = 1.54–18.07) were respectively 3.80 and 5.28 times more likely to have ISH. Those with secondary education had significantly higher likelihood for IDH (aOR = 2.05, 95% = 1.02–4.14) whereas self-perceived poor health status (aOR = 0.24, 95% C.I. = 0.09–0.65), absence of obesity (aOR = 0.10, 95% C.I. = 0.01–0.81) and general obesity (aOR = 0.35, 95% C.I. = 0.17–0.72) were associated with reduced risk for IDH. Secondary (aOR = 0.60, 95% C.I. = 0.36–0.99) and tertiary (aOR = 0.49, 95% C.I. = 0.28–0.85) education were associated with reduced risk for CSDH but combined obesity (aOR = 4.39, 95% C.I. = 2.25–8.58) increased the risk for CSDH by 4. Conclusion ISH, IDH and CSDH were problems among the adults with age, obesity, self-perception of good/excellent health status and low education level as significant predictors. Health and nutrition education to prevent comorbidities and cerebrovascular accidents are recommended.

Background The job one does for a living may increase ones propensity to cardiovascular diseases due to many associated risk factors. University staff may be at high risk of dyslipidaemia, a major cardiovascular disease risk factor. This study assessed prevalence of dyslipidaemia and its associated factors among the staff of University of Nigeria, Nsukka campus, Nigeria. Methods A cross-sectional survey of 386 workers selected through a 4-stage sampling technique was conducted. Data were obtained through questionnaire and lipid profile determination. Bivariate analysis using Cochran and Mantel-Haenszel test was used to determine associations between dyslipidaemia and selected variables. Odds ratios and significance at p < 0.05 were reported. Results Respondents who were 46 years and above accounted for 51.3 % while 95.3 % had tertiary education. Administrative/technical staff were 76.4 % while academic staff were only 23.6 %; 73.8 % were senior staff and 26.2 % were junior staff. More than half (60.4 %) consumed alcohol above recommendation. Lipid biomarkers of the workers were not sex dependent (p > 0.05). Few (23.4 and 6.5 %) of the respondents had borderline high and high total cholesterol values, respectively. Whereas none (0.0 %) had low high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c), borderline low values were observed among 1.3 %. High low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c) affected 1.3 %. Triglyceride was high among 3.9 %; 20.8 % had high atherogenic index of plasma (AIP) and 2.6 % had impaired fasting blood glucose (IFBG). Dyslipidaemia had a prevalence of 54.5 % with female dominance. Hypercholesterolemia with high LDL-c was the commonest combined dyslipidaemia observed (7.8 %). Dyslipidaemia was dependent on hypercholesterolemia (OR = 0.352, 95 % C.I.=0.245–0.505), high LDL-c (OR = 0.462, 95 % C.I.=0.355-0.600) and hypertriglyceridemia (OR = 0.462, 95 % C.I.=0.355-0.600). Alcohol intake above normal was associated with almost 6 times higher risk of dyslipidaemia (OR = 5.625, 95 % C.I.=1.062–29.799). Conclusions Dyslipidaemia is a problem among the workers with hypercholesterolemia in combination with high LDL-c and hypertriglyceridemia compounding the problem. Nutrition education and physical activity are advocated to prevent cardiovascular events among the university staff.

Poor nutritional status among adolescents and young adults can have serious consequences on their health. This study assessed the nutrition knowledge, anthropometric, haematological indices and associated factors among female undergraduate students of University of Nigeria, Nsukka. Multistage sampling technique was used to select 500 respondents from four faculties of the University. Nutrition knowledge and food habit of the respondents were obtained using structured and validated questionnaire. Anthropometric measurements (weight and height), haemoglobin, haematocrit, malaria parasite and blood pressure were obtained. Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 18.0 was used for data analysis. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used for data analysis. Data were presented as frequencies, percentages, means and standard deviation. Relationships existing among variables at p < 0.05 were determined using Pearson's correlation. Fair nutrition knowledge existed in 40.0% of the respondents. Anthropometric measurements revealed that 40.0% and 2.0% were overweight and severely obese, respectively. The prevalence of mild anaemia was 25.3% while 64% had for malaria parasite. Systolic and diastolic hypertension existed in 2.7% and 5.3%, respectively. Significant (p < 0.05) relationship existed between haemoglobin and monthly allowance; malaria parasite; body mass index (BMI) and nutrition knowledge. Poor nutrition knowledge, obesity, malaria and anaemia existed among the respondents. Nutrition education is required and should be promoted amongst University students.