Background: In developing countries, school age children continue to bear the greatest burden of intestinal parasites and schistosomiasis. This study determined the prevalence, knowledge, attitude and practice of preventive measures of intestinal and urinary parasitic infections among primary school children in Ebonyi, Nigeria
Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out among 120 pupils in two primary schools in Igbeagu community in Ebonyi State, Nigeria. The pupils were purposively selected based on willingness to participate. Data were collected using questionnaires and stool and urine analyses. IBM-SPSS software version 20 was used for data analysis. Chi square test was done at 5% level of significance and 95% confidence interval. Descriptive and inferential analyses were performed.
Results: Mean age of respondents was 11.33±2.46, with majority between 6-13 years (102, 85.0%). There were 66 (55.0%) females and 104 (86.7%) respondents had good knowledge about intestinal parasites. Drinking contaminated water (104, 86.7%), using clean toilets (102, 85.9%) and diarrhea (105, 87.5%), were the most identified ways of transmission, prevention and symptomatology respectively. Overall, 117 (97.5%) had good attitude towards prevention and control of intestinal and urinary parasites. Respondents had good preventive practices against intestinal and urinary parasites with majority washing their hands with soap after defecation (100, 83.3%), and before eating (101, 84.2%).
Conclusion: This study reported high levels of knowledge, good attitude and preventive practices against intestinal and urinary parasites. No parasites were found. We recommend that caregivers be targeted for behaviour change interventions as this will augment the positive results already being reported.
Background: Umbilical cord care is the handling of the umbilical stump of new-born after delivery. Hygienic umbilical cord care is important for the well-being of the newborn infant. The study was to assess the knowledge, practice and techniques of umbilical cord care among mothers in Primary Health Care centre in Nwezenyi, Ebonyi State, Nigeria .
Methodology: The study was cross-sectional descriptive in design. Systematic sampling method was used to select 222 participants. Data were collected with semi-structured interviewer administered questionnaire and analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 22.
Results: The study showed high (83.3%) awareness of umbilical cord care and low (11.7%) knowledge of proper material (chlorhexidine) for umbilical cord care, poor (8.1%) practice of the use of correct material. Factors influencing the choice of material used are cost (16.7%), availability (17.1%), convenience (10.4%), “works faster” (20.7%) and “type respondent is aware of” (35.1%).
Conclusion: High awareness of umbilical cord care management in this study did not commensurately translate to use of correct materials for its care. Thus, there was high risk of neonatal infection including neonatal tetanus. Focused health education to mothers will help improve their knowledge, practice and the use of correct material in umbilical cord care to reduce neonatal morbidity and mortality.
Background: Hepatitis B virus is the most serious type of viral hepatitis and can cause both acute and chronic infections. The aim of the study was to assess the knowledge of hepatitis B virus infection and its mode of transmission among women of reproductive age in Work and Study programme of Ebonyi State University Abakaliki, Nigeria
Methodology: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study. A systematic sampling technique was used to select 326 respondents. Information was obtained using a pre-tested, self-administered questionnaire. Statistical Package for Social Sciences, version 22 was used in the analysis.
Results: Majority (77.6%) of the respondents were aware of hepatitis B virus infection and the major (50%) source of information was health workers. Knowledge on method of transmission of the virus included blood transfusion, 62.3%; unprotected sexual intercourse, 54.0%; mother to child transmission, 40.5% while for prevention, screening of blood before transfusion had 62.6%; vaccination, 48.8% and use of condom, 42.6%. A minor proportion (32.5%) had been vaccinated with the Hepatitis B vaccine and only 39.6% had received the recommended three doses. The major (50%) reason for non-vaccination was ignorance. Out of 27.0% who had been screened for the virus 1.5% knew they tested positive for hepatitis B surface antigen.
Conclusions: Majority of the respondents were aware of hepatitis B virus infection. Though most of the respondents had good knowledge of the transmission of the virus, their understanding of the methods of prevention was poor. There is need for public enlightenment on the burden of hepatitis B virus infection in Nigeria and the availability and importance of the hepatitis B vaccine.
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