Social & Community Medicine

In developing countries such as Nigeria, anaemia in pregnancy is thought to be one of the most common
problem affecting pregnant women accounting for a significa
nt level of maternal morbidity and mortality. This study was carried out to determine the prevalence of  anaemia in pregnancy among  women  visiting  Antenatal  Clinic (ANC) in Bingham University Teaching Hospital (BHUTH). This is a cross sectional descriptive study conducted from August to September, 2015 on two hundred and thirty seven (237) women. A semi–structured interviewer administered questionnaire was used to obtain socio-demographic, obstetrics, and nutritional information from the respondent pregnant women who consented at each antenatal
clinic days (Mondays and Thursdays). Packed cell volume was used to assess the level of anaemia in accordance to WHO
guide lines. The prevalence of anaemia in pregnancy was found to be 43.5%, amongst all women who were
anaemic, 83%, 8.7% and 2% were found to have mild, moderate and severe anaemia respectively. However, 0.9%, 35%, 52% of these women were found to be in their first, second and third trimesters respectively. 61%  were  multi-parous  women (para 2-4); 24.3% women had only two antenatal clinic visits, 66.2% women were within the age group of 34–39 years; 89.3% women had been taking balanced diet, while 89.3% women were on their routine drugs; 66.0% women used insecticide treated mosquito net;
66.0%  women  had  taken  anti-malarial  prophylaxis.  Re
duced  ANC  visits  and  increasing  age  where  significant  factors associated with anaemia in pregnancy.
Prevalence of anaemia amongst pregnant women in BHUTH was 43.5%. The most common  type  of  anaemia  in  this  study  is  mild  anaemia.  However,  the  prevalence  of  anaemia  was  found  to predominate amongst women in their third trimester. Increased maternal age and reduced number of antenatal care visits were statistically significant factors to be associated with anaemia in pregnancy.

Background: Occupational poisoning via the use of agrochemicals is common in developing countries. This is because grass-root farmers, who are the majority, are poor, illiterate and are undertrained on ethics surrounding its use. This is a cross sectional descriptive study carried out in Fadan-Daji (FD) district of Kagoro Chiefdom, Kaura LGA, Kaduna state, Nigeria. Methods: Three villages-Kodwak, Uzha-Tuyit and Zankam were randomly selected in the district. A sample size of 250 farmers was obtained using a p-value of 82%, while the selected farmers completed structured questionnaires. Results: Physical, chemical, biological, mechanical and psychosocial events occurred at the same time in the FD Farming community. Thus, clients present with multiple finding or symptoms. In this study most farmers experienced chest pain/tightness, cough, dizziness, reddening of the eyes; sneezing and rheum more often following the use on their farms. This study further revealed that farmers in the studied communities (31.6%) resorted to self-medication ranging from analgesics, to over the counter antihistamines, whilst 23.6% reported that they ingest milk as antidote. 32.4% did nothing about it while only 12.4% of the respondents visited a health facility. 54.4% of FD farmers used no form of personal protective devices (PPDs). Conclusion: Our findings revealed that the root problem faced with the FD like the average farmer of the developing world is lack of relevant education in terms of ethical use and disposal of agrochemicals which has made a significant number of FD farmers more susceptible to the agrochemical side effects resulting from its use. Such a community located in the heart of Nigeria also being a food basket needs prompt attention in terms of improved western/farmer education and health facilities.

Background: Neonatal infections caused by unsafe umbilical cord practices account for the majority of neonatal deaths in Nigeria. We examined the trends in umbilical cord care practices between 2012 and 2015 that coincided with the introduction of chlorhexidine digluconate 7.1% gel in Bauchi and Sokoto States.