Introduction. Anaemia in pregnancy affects about half of all pregnant women globally and constitutes an important reproductive health issue. The World Health Organization estimates that the prevalence of anaemia in pregnancy varies from 53.8% to 90.2% in developing countries and 8.3% to 23% in developed countries. Anaemia in pregnancy is common in developing countries and prevalence statistics required for its effective management and control is not adequately available in Nigeria. Thus, this study seeks to provide prevalence statistics of anaemia in pregnancy for the study region and its severity and highlight some possible correlates. Methods. A total of 218 pregnant women were recruited from the antenatal clinic of Central Hospital Warri using simple random technique after approval from the institutional review board and consent from the participants. Data on sociodemographics, economic status, and clinical history were collected using a pretested structured interviewer’s questionnaire. Participant’s haematocrit levels were estimated using standard laboratory techniques and anaemia was diagnosed using WHO-recommended cutoff. Results. The overall prevalence of anaemia was 37.6%. This prevalence dropped to 10.6% when a cutoff of less than 30% haematocrit was used. There was a direct relationship between haematocrit values and the participants’ age while mild anaemia accounted for the bulk (72%) of the anaemic cases. Participants younger than 20 years of age gave the highest age-based prevalence while parity-based prevalence was even among subgroups. Participants without formal education and those who were unemployed accounted for the highest prevalence in their different categories. Conclusion. Based on the findings from our study, anaemia in pregnancy is still of primary public health concern if WHO cutoff is used for the diagnosis. However, the reduction observed when less than 30% haematocrit was used tags our study zone to be of moderate severity. Although all variables lacked statistical significance, younger age, no formal education, and unemployment were highlighted to be predisposing factors.

Background Rifampicin resistant pulmonary tuberculosis (RR-PTB) remains a global health burden especially in low income countries and among HIV positive individuals. Objective This study seeks to measure the prevalence of RR-PTB among confirmed PTB cases in Delta State South-Southern, Nigeria and to determine the correlation between various factors affecting the prevalence of RRTB among notified pulmonary TB cases. Material and methods The study is cross-sectional and retrospective in design and was carried out in Delta State, South-Southern Nigeria among participants with notified pulmonary TB cases. Gene Xpert registers for the selected facilities (Central Hospital Warri, Central Hospital Sapele and Federal Medical Center Asaba) for the year 2017 were retrieved, data extracted and analyzed. Result Prevalence of RR-PTB was 7.3% (47/643). Majority (11.3% and 11.4%) of RR-PTB cases were among ages 0–20 and 61–80 years respectively. The male group and HIV negative participants gave rates of 9.1% and 7.8% respectively. Rates reported for location of residence revealed that Delta Central had a rate that doubled Delta South and tripled Delta North. Conclusion Although our study figures are lower when compared to other reports for the study region, age grades 0–20 and 61–80 years, the male gender and residence in Delta Central were highlighted as independent variables that influence the distribution of RR-PTB. While a call for the sustenance and if possible augmentation of control and eradication efforts is of high essence, further studies aimed at identifying and understanding co-variables to the ones highlighted are recommended.

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Prevalence of hyperlipidaemia among insulindependent and non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus patients in Delta State, Nigeria

The emergence and spread of multi-drug resistant-tuberculosis is a threat, which has complicated the diagnosis, management and control of tuberculosis. In addition to the simultaneous detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacilli and rifampicin resistance, the Gene Xpert assay can also highlight the point of mutation if it occurs around the rifampicin resistance determination region (RRDR) of the rpoB gene, which is responsible for 95% of rifampicin resistance. This study seeks to estimate the prevalence of rifampicin resistance, determine the frequency and distribution of mutations along the rifampicin resistance determination region, and assay for the relationship that exists between these mutations and basic epidemiological variables.

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Mother to child transmission (MTCT) of the AIDS virus remains a persistent means for HIV acquisition and accounts for most cases of paediatric HIV infection. Maternal viral load, antiretroviral therapy for mother and infants, infant feeding pattern and mode of delivery have been implicated as factors that affects MTCT rates. The study evaluated the efficacy of the various PMTCT interventions in relation to HIV status of the babies. Early Infant Diagnosis (EID) register of exposed infants seeking care from January 2015-December 2016 was retrieved and reviewed. Data on mother's antiretroviral therapy (ART) status, infants ART status, sex, feeding pattern and HIV status were extracted, recorded an analyzed using SPSS 23 and results expressed in simple frequency and percentage. Statistical association was assayed for using Chi-square and Fisher's exact test. A total of 249 mother and infant pairs took part in the study. Approximately (50.2%) of the infants were females and virtually all (95.6%) of the participating mothers were on ART. Likewise, almost all (94.0%) of the infants were placed on ART while majority of them (71%) were exclusively breastfed. An incidence rate of 4.4% (11/249) for MTCT of the AIDS virus was recorded while variables such as maternal ART status, infant ART status and infant feeding pattern showed strong association with MTCT. Findings from this study revealed a reduced prevalence for the study region when compared to other regions and a hope for the complete eradication of MTCT of HIV when PMTCT interventions and strategies are properly implemented and utilized.