scholarly journals Impacts of Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention on Malaria Burden among under Five-Year-Old Children in Borno State, Nigeria

2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
J. P. Ambe ◽  
S. T. Balogun ◽  
M. B. Waziri ◽  
I. N. Nglass ◽  
A. Saddiq

Malaria disproportionately affects all ages with a high burden among children below five years. Thus, control measures are deployed including Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention (SMC). The present study assessed the impacts of SMC on malaria burden among subjects aged 3–59 months in Borno State, Nigeria. Twenty (20) clusters were randomly selected from accessible 16 Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Borno State, Nigeria, and SMC was deployed in 10 of the clusters by administering a full dose of amodiaquine plus sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine at monthly intervals for 4 months consecutively. Three hundred and ninety-nine children were enrolled in the study. A structured questionnaire was used to obtain demographic and malaria-related data. Thick blood smear, thin blood smear, and capillary sample were collected two weeks after the 4th cycle of SMC. The prevalence of malaria and anaemia was determined among the subjects and for the clusters. The proportions of the female (46.4%; 185/399) and male (53.6%; 214/399) subjects were similar (p>0.05) with subjects aged 24–47 months (35.8%; 143/399) accounting for the highest proportion (p<0.05). Malaria prevalence was 10.3% (41/399) and was higher among non-SMC subjects (15.9%; 31/195) than among SMC subjects (4.9%; 10/204) (p<0.05, df = 1, χ2 = 10.8). Malaria prevalence was higher in non-SMC clusters (80.0%; 8/10) than in SMC clusters (30.0%; 3/10) (p<0.05, df = 1, χ2 = 40.5). The mean haematocrit of the 399 subjects was 34.0 ± 5.3% with an anaemia prevalence of 18.1% (72/399). The mean haematocrit was higher among SMC subjects (35.4 ± 5.0% vs. 33.1 ± 4.2%; p<0.05) while anaemia prevalence was higher among non-SMC subjects (21.5% vs. 14.6%; p<0.05, df = 1, χ2 = 2.8). Of the SMC subjects, 4.9% reported adverse drug reactions. SMC is safe and significantly reduced malaria burden among children in Borno State, and thus, the measure could be deployed in the state for effective malaria control.

2015 ◽  
Vol 9 (11) ◽  
pp. 1257-1263 ◽  
Author(s):  
Verner N Orish ◽  
Joseph Y Ansong ◽  
Isaac B Anagi ◽  
Onyekachi S Onyeabor ◽  
Adekunle O Sanyaolu ◽  
...  

Introduction: Children under five years of age are highly vulnerable to malaria infection and often face dire consequences such as severe malaria if they are not promptly and adequately treated with effective anti-malarial medications. We set out to evaluate malaria and associated co-morbidity among children admitted with febrile illness in Sekondi-Takoradi, Ghana. Methodology: This retrospective study focused on children admitted with fever over a three-year period at the pediatric unit of Effia-Nkwanta Regional Hospital. The children were identified, and the medical records of those who were successfully treated and discharged were searched, retrieved, and reviewed. Results: A total of 1,193 children were identified and selected for analysis. The mean duration of admission increased from 2.17 days in 2010 to 3.36 in 2012. Conversely, the mean age decreased from 3.85 years in 2010 to 2.74 in 2012. Overall, laboratory-confirmed malaria prevalence decreased; however, this decrease was only observed among children five years of age or younger, while malaria prevalence increased among children one year of age or younger. The proportion of children with severe malarial anemia significantly increased, while the proportion of those with mild malaria decreased significantly. Conclusions: Despite the general decrease in malaria morbidity seen in this study, children younger than one year of age remain at increased risk of malaria morbidity. With an increase in malaria prevalence among children younger than one year of age over the three years of study, integrated and targeted control measures are highly needed for this age group.


2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. 171-174
Author(s):  
Ram Chandra Poudel ◽  
Sabika Munikar ◽  
Biswanath Acharya ◽  
Gambhir Shrestha ◽  
Kanchan Thapa

Background: On 2015, a cluster of chickenpox like symptoms was reported in Baidauli VDC of Nawalparasi, Nepal. This study aims to report the outbreak investigation and guide preventive and control measures. Methods: This investigation was conducted in Baidauli VDC of Nawalparasi, Nepal where a large number of cases with infectious rashes with fever was reported. Data were collected using a semi-structured questionnaire comprising of socio-demographic characteristics and clinical features. A detailed clinical examination of the cases was also performed. The outbreak was described by time, place and person and the epidemiological curve drawn. Results: A total of 55 cases from 27 households were affected by chickenpox. The outbreak continued for 45 days. The number of cases peaked (n=25) one month after detection of the primary case. The last case was reported after 15 days of the peak. The commonest age group affected was 5 to 15 years with a mean of 11.3 years (SD 8.9). The mean duration of rashes was 7.2 days (SD 1.7) which ranged from 3 days to 12 days. All the cases had rashes on head/face, trunk, arm and legs, and some had rashes inside the mouth (n=8) and palm (n=5).  Almost 95% (n=52) cases experienced fever. Conclusions: This study concluded that there was an outbreak of chickenpox. The signs and symptoms of the disease were due to chicken pox infection. Immediate preventive and control measures were recommended to halt the spread of the disease. Health education and awarness regarding the preventive measures of disease should be promoted.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chanda Chalela

BACKGROUND ABSTRACT Introduction a study on prevalence of ITN use was carried out in Buchi community Kitwe Zambia from August to October 2019 OBJECTIVE Prevalence of ITN in BUchi METHODS Methodology: This was a cross sectional study design. A structured questionnaire was used to ascertain ownership and utilization and oral interviews, 200 households were targeted 844 individual covered across the 200 households. Data was analyzed with SPSS version 23. RESULTS ABSTRACT Introduction a study on prevalence of ITN use was carried out in Buchi community Kitwe Zambia from August to October 2019 Methodology: This was a cross sectional study design. A structured questionnaire was used to ascertain ownership and utilization and oral interviews, 200 households were targeted 844 individual covered across the 200 households. Data was analyzed with SPSS version 23. Findings: household ownership of at least an ITN was 52% and individual utilization at 37.6%, with 0.825 ITN/households and 0.195ITN /individual. Malaria prevalence of 52.4% /household and a 12.4% of the population. With 47.6% malaria patient coming from households with ITN and 60% of households with ITN have insufficient coverage.61% of malaria patient were female and 31 % male. however there was no significant relation between Gender and malaria prevalence in study area (p value was >0.05). Malaria cases distribution with age groups, 0-15yrs old represented 49.5%, 16-30 yrs., was at 27.6% and the over 30 yrs. case were at 22.9% .use of other preventive measures 23% used mosquito repellent ,others methods 1% with those not using any other methods 76%. CONCLUSIONS Conclusion The study showed clearly that malaria still poses a problem .the prevalence rate of malaria was still high 12.4% of the population and 52.4% of households. With high prevalence of malaria of 49.5% for 0-15yrs.the difference between ownership 52% and Utilization 37.6% showed that even household with ITN, the ITN were not sufficient.60% of households with ITN, the ITN were not sufficient for all occupants


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qiangsheng Huang

BACKGROUND As of the end of February 2020, 2019-nCoV is currently well controlled in China. However, the virus is now spreading globally. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of outbreak prevention and control measures in a region. METHODS A model is built for find the best fit for two sets of data (the number of daily new diagnosed, and the risk value of incoming immigration population). The parameters (offset and time window) in the model can be used as the evaluation of effectiveness of outbreak prevention and control. RESULTS Through study, it is found that the parameter offset and time window in the model can accurately reflect the prevention effectiveness. Some related data and public news confirm this result. And this method has advantages over the method using R0 in two aspects. CONCLUSIONS If the epidemic situation is well controlled, the virus is not terrible. Now the daily new diagnosed patients in most regions of China is quickly reduced to zero or close to zero. Chinese can do a good job in the face of huge epidemic pressure. Therefore, if other countries can do well in prevention and control, the epidemic in those places can also pass quickly.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Clare Shakespeare ◽  
Handsome Dube ◽  
Sikhangezile Moyo ◽  
Solwayo Ngwenya

Abstract Background On the 27th of March 2020 the Zimbabwean government declared the Covid-19 pandemic a ‘national disaster’. Travel restrictions and emergency regulations have had significant impacts on maternity services, including resource stock-outs, and closure of antenatal clinics during the lockdown period. Estimates of the indirect impact of Covid-19 on maternal and perinatal mortality was expected it to be considerable, but little data was yet available. This study aimed to examine the impact of Covid-19 and lockdown control measures on non-Covid outcomes in a government tertiary level maternity unit in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, by comparing maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality before, and after the lockdown was implemented. Methods This was a retrospective, observational study, using a cross-sectional design to compare routine monthly maternal and perinatal statistics three months before and after Covid-19 emergency measures were implemented at Mpilo Central Hospital. Results Between January-March and April-June 2020, the mean monthly deliveries reduced from 747.3 (SD ± 61.3) in the first quarter of 2020 to 681.0 (SD ± 17.6) during lockdown, but this was not statistically significant, p = 0.20. The Caesarean section rates fell from a mean of 29.8% (SD ± 1.7) versus 28.0% (SD ± 1.7), which was also not statistically significant, p = 0.18. During lockdown, the percentage of women delivering at Mpilo Central Hospital who were booked at the hospital fell from a mean of 41.6% (SD ± 1.1) to 35.8% (SD ± 4.3) which was statistically significant, p = 0.03. There was no significant change, however, in maternal mortality or severe maternal morbidity (such as post-partum haemorrhage (PPH), uterine rupture, and severe preeclampsia/eclampsia), stillbirth rate or special care baby unit admission. There was an increase in the mean total number of early neonatal deaths (ENND) (mean 18.7 (SD ± 2.9) versus 24.0 (SD ± 4.6), but this was not statistically significant, p = 0.32. Conclusions Overall, maternity services at Mpilo showed resilience during the lockdown period, with no significant change in maternal and perinatal adverse outcomes, with the same number of man-hours worked before and during the lockdown Maternal and perinatal outcomes should continue to be monitored to assess the impact of Covid-19 and the lockdown measures as the pandemic in Zimbabwe unfolds. Further studies would be beneficial to explore women’s experiences and understand how bookings and deliveries at local clinics changed during this time.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Fetulhak Abdurahman ◽  
Kinde Anlay Fante ◽  
Mohammed Aliy

Abstract Background Manual microscopic examination of Leishman/Giemsa stained thin and thick blood smear is still the “gold standard” for malaria diagnosis. One of the drawbacks of this method is that its accuracy, consistency, and diagnosis speed depend on microscopists’ diagnostic and technical skills. It is difficult to get highly skilled microscopists in remote areas of developing countries. To alleviate this problem, in this paper, we propose to investigate state-of-the-art one-stage and two-stage object detection algorithms for automated malaria parasite screening from microscopic image of thick blood slides. Results YOLOV3 and YOLOV4 models, which are state-of-the-art object detectors in accuracy and speed, are not optimized for detecting small objects such as malaria parasites in microscopic images. We modify these models by increasing feature scale and adding more detection layers to enhance their capability of detecting small objects without notably decreasing detection speed. We propose one modified YOLOV4 model, called YOLOV4-MOD and two modified models of YOLOV3, which are called YOLOV3-MOD1 and YOLOV3-MOD2. Besides, new anchor box sizes are generated using K-means clustering algorithm to exploit the potential of these models in small object detection. The performance of the modified YOLOV3 and YOLOV4 models were evaluated on a publicly available malaria dataset. These models have achieved state-of-the-art accuracy by exceeding performance of their original versions, Faster R-CNN, and SSD in terms of mean average precision (mAP), recall, precision, F1 score, and average IOU. YOLOV4-MOD has achieved the best detection accuracy among all the other models with a mAP of 96.32%. YOLOV3-MOD2 and YOLOV3-MOD1 have achieved mAP of 96.14% and 95.46%, respectively. Conclusions The experimental results of this study demonstrate that performance of modified YOLOV3 and YOLOV4 models are highly promising for detecting malaria parasites from images captured by a smartphone camera over the microscope eyepiece. The proposed system is suitable for deployment in low-resource setting areas.


2010 ◽  
Vol 52 (2) ◽  
pp. 107-110 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juan Nunura ◽  
Tania Vásquez ◽  
Sergio Endo ◽  
Daniela Salazar ◽  
Alejandrina Rodriguez ◽  
...  

We report a case of severe toxoplasmosis in an immunocompetent patient, characterized by pneumonia, retinochoroiditis, hepatitis and myositis. Diagnosis was confirmed by serology, T. gondii in thick blood smear and presence of bradyzoites in muscle biopsy. Treatment with pyrimethamine plus sulfadoxine was successful but visual acuity and hip extension were partially recovered. This is the first case report of severe toxoplasmosis in an immunocompetent patient from Peru.


Author(s):  
Ghafar-Ali Mahmoudi ◽  
Maryam Ahadi ◽  
Ali Fouladvand ◽  
Bareza Rezaei ◽  
Zahra Bodagh ◽  
...  

Background: Antivenom is a gold-standard treatment for snakebite envenoming. However, adverse reactions to snake antivenom are common in many parts. Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the allergic reactions following intravenous administration of antivenom sera. Methods: This was retrospective study, conducted snakebites patients referred to the Rahimi Hospital in Khorramabad. The files of these patients were accessed for demographic data, snakebite-related data, treatment provided, clinical presentation and allergic reaction status as a result of antivenom treatment. Results: 141 cases were investigated including 73.8% male and 26.2% female patients. The mean age of the patients was 38.1±17.1years. Age group 30-39 years accounted for highest number of snakebite cases (24.1%). A majority of victims (89.4%) were from the rural areas. Most of the patients (51.8%) were bitten in the spring and highest number of snakebite were reported in May (39.1%). The most common site of snakebite was lower extremities (50.4%) and upper extremities (44.7%). Among clinical feature of snakebite, pain was the most prevalent in 135 cases (95.7%) followed by swelling (83.7%). The mean antivenom vials used were 6.5±3.7 vials. Allergic reactions occurred in 6 patients (4.26%); reactions were mild in 5 patients and sever in 1patient. The commonest presentation was maculopapular rash (1.4%) and the least common were headache (0.71%), nausea (0.71%), fever (0.71) and hypotension (0.71%). Conclusion: Snakebite is one of the significantlife-threatening environmental events.Immediate antivenom treatment can reduce mortality however, patients should be carefully monitored for adverse allergic reactions.


2018 ◽  
Vol 17 (4) ◽  
pp. 638-643
Author(s):  
Mohammad Khursheed Alam ◽  
Shifat A Nowrin

Background: Enlightening facial esthetic is reflecting as one of the main influences in orthodontic treatment during establishing of ideal occlusion.Method: In present study, a determination was made to subsidize to the existing pool of information on the soft-tissue profile and facial awareness. Main aim of the study is to investigate how the Bangladeshi laypersons are aware of their own faces by analyzing the data collected through a structured questionnaire.Result: This study involved total 200 Bangladeshi Individuals age ranged 19 to 23 years old. A validated structured questionnaire was used to assess subjects’ evaluation of their own facial appearance. The mean awareness score for the subjects of Bangladeshi individuals ranged from 1.4 to 2.3 in male and from 1.7 to 1.9 in female for the overall impressions and from 1.3 to 2.1 in male and from 1.2 to 2.3 in female for the facial parts. Satisfaction score for the 9 items out of 24 items differed significantly between Bangladeshi female and male. An average profile of the jaw and lips are desired over more retrusive or protrusive profiles among Bangladeshi laypersons.Conclusion: It can be determined that Bangladeshi laypersons are adept to understand their own faces in the various commands and most of the peoples are worry about their profile in their everyday survives. We must evaluate our existing data to find orthodontic standards that are valid for specific ethnic groups.Bangladesh Journal of Medical Science Vol.17(4) 2018 p.638-643


2009 ◽  
Vol 17 (5) ◽  
pp. 625-631 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adriana Cristina de Oliveira ◽  
Clareci Silva Cardoso ◽  
Daniela Mascarenhas

This study aimed to assess the knowledge and behavior of professionals working in Intensive Care Units (ICU) related to the adoption of contact precautions for the control of hospital infections (HI). This cross-sectional study used a semi-structured questionnaire to collect data. Descriptive and multivariate analyses were carried out, including logistic regression and decision tree using CHAID algorithm. A total of 102 professionals participated in the study, of whom 36.3% presented appropriate knowledge and 51% appropriate behavior in relation to HI control measures. Nursing professionals had almost four times more chance (OR = 3.58, CI 1.48-8.68) of presenting appropriate behavior than the remaining professionals. The multivariate analysis did not reveal variables associated with knowledge. No statistically significant association was found between knowledge and behavior (p = 0.196). These results suggest the need to implement educational activities so as to permit a balance between theory and professionals' practice concerning HI preventive measures, aiming to improve knowledge and behavior.


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