Geophagia is defined as deliberate consumption of earths' materials, e.g. soil, clay and soft stones. The practice is widespread among pregnant women, and there are conflicting views as to whether it is beneficial to health or not. Geophagic materials may be a source of micronutrients though the materials may bind the micronutrients thus reducing or hindering their bioavailability in the body. Geophagia is closely associated with geohelminthic infections among pregnant women and heavy metal poisoning, which constitute significant public health problem in many developing countries such as Kenya. In our research, the geophagic materials consumed by the pregnant women were studied. A total of 38 geophagic materials in the possession by different pregnant women were analysed. The collected samples were subjected to standard digestion procedures and analysed for zinc, lead and iron by atomic absorption spectroscopy. Results indicated that the geophagic materials contained elevated levels of Fe at mean concentration value of 80.10 ppm, Pb at 3.28 ppm and Zn 1.81 ppm for a 1.00 g sample. An average of 20 g of the geophagic materials was being consumed per day. Based on the average consumption, the pregnant women were exposed to 65.52 ppm Pb per day, 36.2 ppm Zn per day and 1602 ppm Fe per day. Lead exceeded the WHO-lead exposure limits of 25 ppm/day for pregnant women. The materials were also subjected to microscopic examination for Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura, Taenia Spp., Necator americanus and Ancylostoma duodenale. In conclusion, the women were exposed to heavy metals-iron, zinc and lead, but there was no observable eggs, larvae or adult species of the geohelminths. The key recommendation was that there is need to integrate public health education on geophagia, lead screening and testing with antenatal support care systems. This will enhance maternal and child health, thus reducing infant and maternal morbidity and mortality rates.

Background: Individual factors may have an impact on how well healthcare workers adhere to standards for infection prevention. The aim of the study was to identify individual factors affecting compliance with personal protective equipment (PPE) use among community health practitioners in Bayelsa State, Nigeria.Methods: Three hundred and fifty-four (354) self-structured questionnaires were manually distributed among community health practitioners who worked at government-owned primary health care facilities in Bayelsa State, Nigeria. Item mean analysis with a criterion mean set at 2.0 was used to analyze the quantitative data of the 3-Likert scale and results were presented in tables, item mean, and percentages.Results: Individual factors affecting compliance with standard infection prevention precautions on the use of PPE were difficulty to feel veins while wearing PPE (x=2.7), some level of discomfort while performing skills using the PPE (x=2.0), and lack of knowledge of how to use the PPE (x=2.9). It was also revealed that those who complied with the standard infection prevention precaution do so because they understand that the use of PPE prevents them from being infected (x=2.9).Conclusions: Individual factors that affect compliance with standard infection prevention precautions on the use of PPE among community health practitioners can be modified. It is recommended that community health practitioners should have a positive attitude towards compliance with standard infection prevention precautions, especially in this post-COVID-19 era. The government should conduct continuous in-service training and regular supportive supervision on compliance with standard infection prevention precautions among health workers in the primary health care setting.

Background:The health-related quality of life (HRQoL) HRQoL continues to be understudied among family caregivers with chronically ill children especially in developing countries like Malawi. Aim: This study aimed to assess health-related quality of life and determine the sociodemographic factors associated with the health-related quality of life of caregivers of children with lymphoma at a referral hospital in Malawi. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out at a referral hospital in Malawi, and 107 caregivers were recruited. The Medical Outcomes Study Questionnaire 36-Item Short Form was used to collect data which were analysed using SPSS Version 25. Results: All 107 targeted participants were assessed. Both the physical health component and the mental health component mean scores were low (M=50. 63, SD=11.86 and M=45.51, SD=11.95, respectively). Time since diagnosis of the child's cancer accounted for significant differences in both the physical and mental health components' mean scores (F(2, 104)=5.030, p=0.002 and F(2, 104)=5.030, p=0.006, respectively). The caregivers >41years old, those who were married, those who were employed, and caregivers whose children were diagnosed >12 months were among those more likely to report a better physical health perception compared to those without these characteristics. Conclusion: The health-related quality of life of the caregivers at the referral hospital was severely impaired. The findings suggest that caregivers of children with lymphoma have the potential to develop more serious mental and physical health problems; hence, interventions to mitigate the burden of caring for children with lymphoma are needed.

Aim: Leishmaniasis is a parasitic and vector-borne disease existing in two main forms, Cutaneous Leishmaniasis and Visceral Leishmaniasis with an average global incidence of 0.95 and 0.3 million cases consecutively per annum. The study determined the prevalence and risk factors associated with Leishmaniasis in Baringo County-Kenya. Methods: Analytical cross-sectional study design that employed a mixed method was used. Study recruited 333 head of households in Marigat sub-County of Baringo County-Kenya. Purposive and multistage sampling techniques were used to recruit study participants. SPSS version 26 was used for analysis of quantitative data. Statistical test employed were X2 test of independence and binary logistic regression. NVivo version 10 was used for analysis of qualitative data. Results: Of 333 participants, 96 reported to have had Leishmaniasis translating to the prevalence of 28.8%. Increased odds of contracting Leishmaniasis were associated with living in a temporary house (OR = 5, 95% CI 2.64 – 9.44), Living below the poverty line (OR = 2.4, 95% CI 0.23 – 0.78), primary level of education (OR = 8.6, 95% CI 0.14 – 0.97), presence of termite hills (OR = 7.6, 95% CI 0.60 – 0.97) and presence of soil cracks (OR = 3.6, 95% CI 0.16 – 0.50). Having bed net (OR = 3.5, 95% CI 1.90 – 6.57), use of repellent (OR = 3.7, 95% CI 1.58 – 8.58), and wearing long sleeves after sunset (OR = 2.5, 95% CI 0.24 – 0.84) were associated with decreased odds of Leishmaniasis infection. Conclusion: In the study area, Leishmaniasis was found to be aggravated by low level of education, living below the poverty line, living in a temporary house, presence of termite hills and soil cracks near the residential area. Government should network with development partners to improve the livelihood of people and people should destroy dormant termite hills around their area of residence.

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