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Tropical Journal of Health Sciences
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ISSN (Print) 1117-4153
Published by African Journals Online

[261 journals]

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  Authors: A.B. Okesina
  Abstract: No
  PubDate: 2023-04-25
  DOI: 10.4314/tjhc.v30i1.
  Issue No: Vol. 30, No. 1 (2023)
A Multiregional Survey of Serum Vitamin D Levels among apparently healthy
Nigerians – Prevalence and Risk Factors of Hypovitaminosis D
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  Authors: M.Y Abubakar, S.O Idris, O.R Quadri, J.O Yusuff, S.A Biliaminu, S. Mohammad, O.A Afolabi, H.K Omokanye, N.A Bemu, O. Wuraola, W.O Oladosu, S. Adamu, N.O Iyanda, N.A. Shofoluwe, J Lawal, W. Omotosho
  Pages: 1 - 5
  Abstract: Globally, Hypovitaminosis D has been reported across age groups, with predisposing factors such as black race, older age, inactivity, diet, lack of vitamin D supplementation, indoor-outdoor lifestyle, winter/ wet season and sociocultural/socioeconomic factors. Vitamin D is an essential fat-soluble vitamin with a significant contribution to human health. The optimal level of serum vitamin D for adults' general health may be between 75 and 100 nmol/L, while there are sparse outcome data to help define a healthy or optimal level in children. In spite of the consideration for a serum vitamin D level below 25nmol/l as the lowest cutoff for vitamin D status, there are pieces of evidence that rickets can occur in infants and young children with a serum vitamin D concentration that is higher than 25nmol/l. The study aimed to determine the prevalence and risk factors of hypovitaminosis D among apparently healthy Nigerian hospital workers and patients' caregivers and possibly provide a rationale for clinical supplementation. It was a descriptive, cross-sectional multicentre study conducted in 198 participants from the three geopolitical zones of the country between January 2019 and March 2019. A multistage sampling method was used to select the geopolitical zones and tertiary hospitals in the country while a simple random sampling method was used to select the participants from each zones. Serum vitamin D level was determined by Calbiotech Inc, kit. Over 68% of the participants had sufficient serum vitamin D levels while 30.8% had low levels, with the latter constituting the prevalence of hypovitaminosis D in this study. Only one participant had a toxic serum level of vitamin D. This study shows that about a third of the sample population had Hypovitaminosis D. This suggests a need for routine vitamin D estimation and supplementation accordingly among blacks.
  PubDate: 2023-04-25
  DOI: 10.4314/tjhc.v30i1.1
  Issue No: Vol. 30, No. 1 (2023)
Serum Levels of Vitamin D in Male Partners of Women with Infertility in a
Tertiary Hospital in Nigeria
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  Authors: A.E Bamgboye, O.O. Ogunbode, A.O. Arowojolu
  Pages: 6 - 11
  Abstract: Globally infertility affects 8-12% of couples, with male and female causes contributing equally. Micronutrient's deficiency such as vitamin D has been implicated as a cause of infertility in animal studies, there is therefore the need to evaluate its role in humans. This study determined serum levels of vitamin D in males who were partners of patients presenting with infertility. This was a prospective cross- sectional study involving 170 consenting male partners of women presenting with infertility at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan. A structured questionnaire was administered while blood sample and semen were collected for serum vitamin D assay and seminal fluid analysis (SFA) analysis. The data was entered into the Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 21 and statistical significance was set at less than 5%. Eighty-four (49.4%) participants had at least one abnormal parameter on SFA. The mean vitamin D level was higher in participants with normal SFA (34.4+12.6ng/ml) compared with abnormal SFA (32.8 + 15ng/ml). None of the participants had vitamin D deficiency, however the prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency among participants with abnormal and normal SFA was 62.5 % and 37.5% and this was statistically significant. (p = 0.01). Sperm progressive motility was the only SFA parameter associated with serum Vitamin D levels. (p-value = 0.03). This study showed that vitamin D insufficiency is associated with male infertility, therefore it may be added as an investigation for men with infertility and Vitamin D supplement be given where insufficiency or deficiency are noted.
  PubDate: 2023-04-25
  DOI: 10.4314/tjhc.v30i1.2
  Issue No: Vol. 30, No. 1 (2023)
The effect of Health Education on the knowledge, attitude and uptake of
Malaria Preventive Practices among Caregivers of Under-Fives in Nigeria :
a systematic review
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  Authors: N.O. Usman, B. Grace, B. Nwankwo, R.A. Zubairu, M.A. Ogunsina
  Pages: 12 - 18
  Abstract: The elimination of malaria by 2030 is one of the targets of the Sustainable Development Goals. However, malaria remains a public health issue causing morbidity and mortality especially among under-fives in sub-Saharan African countries like Nigeria. Suboptimal health knowledge and poor preventive practices for malaria are prevalent in Nigeria. This study determined the effect of health education on the knowledge, attitude, and uptake of malaria preventive practices among caregivers of under-fives in Nigeria. The Cochrane Library guidelines and the PRISMA checklist were used to conduct a systematic review. PubMed, ProQuest, CINAHL and Cochrane Library were the electronic databases used to search for literature published between 2000 and 2022. The initial search yielded 475 studies but only eight of them met the inclusion criteria. At baseline only 3% to 48.4% of the respondents in the experimental group had good knowledge of malaria prevention. This proportion increased after the intervention with findings ranging from 55.8% to 88.7%. The proportion of respondents in the experimental group with good attitude towards malaria prevention increased from 60.5% at baseline to 97.4% after the intervention. Only 16% to 40% of the respondents in the experimental group had good preventive practices against malaria at baseline. After the intervention, the proportion increased (72.6% to 100%). The changes observed in the study (experimental) group were statistically significant i.e., p<0.05. The findings in the control groups were comparable to the study group at baseline however there was no statistically significant increase at the end of the study. Health education has been found to improve knowledge, attitude towards and preventive practices for malaria. In order to achieve effective control of malaria a comprehensive approach needs to be instituted.
  PubDate: 2023-04-25
  DOI: 10.4314/tjhc.v30i1.3
  Issue No: Vol. 30, No. 1 (2023)
Serological prevalence and predictors of Hepatitis B infection among Adult
Patients attending Out-Patient Clinic, General Hospital, Ilorin Kwara
State Nigeria.
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  Authors: C.O Ademola, A.R Yusuf, I.A Obalowu, A Mohammed, O.A Oyeleke , A.N Alabi
  Pages: 19 - 25
  Abstract: Hepatitis B is a viral infection that is ravaging sub-Sahara African countries including Nigeria. Several studies have been done on hepatitis B infection among different population groups including pregnant women, blood donors and children but very few have reported findings among primary care adult patients. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of hepatitis B infection among the primary care patients and the possible associated risk factors. It was a hospital-based descriptive cross-sectional study done among adults attending out-patient clinic of the General Hospital Ilorin. A sample size of 338 was estimated with the use of EPI-info 7 statistical software and Enzyme-based immunoassay testing was used to screen for hepatitis B virus infection among the study participants. The sero-prevalence of hepatitis B infection among the study population was 14.5%. Identified risk factors associated with hepatitis B infection in this study were family history of hepatitis B infection, blood transfusion and unsupervised home delivery. In conclusion, the findings in this study have shown that hepatitis B infection was highly endemic among adult primary care patients. Blood transfusion and unsupervised home deliveries were the predictors of hepatitis B infection among these study participants.
  PubDate: 2023-04-26
  DOI: 10.4314/tjhc.v30i1.4
  Issue No: Vol. 30, No. 1 (2023)
Autoimmune Hepatitis Presenting as Acute Fulminant Hepatitis in a Nigerian
Woman
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  Authors: K.O. Akande, T. Fakoya, O.T. Balogun, A.M. Osundina, T.O. Oke, A. Akere, A. Aje, S.O. Ola, J.A. Otegbayo
  Pages: 26 - 29
  Abstract: Autoimmune hepatitis is rare in sub-Saharan Africa except for south Africa. Only 3 cases have been previously reported in Nigeria with a population of 200 million. All the 3 cases had features of liver cirrhosis at presentation. We report a case of a 49-year-old woman who presented with acute fulminant hepatitis and turned out to be autoimmune hepatitis based on elevated serum gammaglobinaemia, amino transferases, positive anti-nuclear antibody, and absence of other aetiology. Patient had a good response to steroid treatment. Autoimmune hepatitis occurs in Nigerian patients and can present in a rarer form of acute fulminant hepatitis which seen in about 10% of cases globally.
  PubDate: 2023-04-26
  DOI: 10.4314/tjhc.v30i1.5
  Issue No: Vol. 30, No. 1 (2023)