scholarly journals Aflatoxin Exposure among Children of age 12-59 Months in Butajira District, South-Central Ethiopia: a community based cross-sectional study

Author(s):  
Mary Ayele ◽  
Demewoz Haile ◽  
Silvia Alonso ◽  
Heven Sime ◽  
Adugna Abera ◽  
...  

Abstract Background The continued provision of safe food, free of aflatoxin remains a huge challenge in developing countries. Despite several favourable climatic conditions that facilitate aflatoxin contamination in Ethiopia, there is little information showing aflatoxin exposure in children. Therefore, this study assessed aflatoxin exposure among young children in Butajira district, South-Central Ethiopia. Methods Community based cross-sectional study stratified by agro-ecology was employed in Health and Demographic Surveillance Site (HDSS) of Butajira. The study included 332 children aged 12–59 months and were selected by simple random sampling technique using the HDSS registration number as a sampling frame. We collected data on dietary practice and aflatoxin exposure. Aflatoxin M1 concentration in urine was measured by Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results Detectable urinary Aflatoxin M1 was found in 62.4% (95% CI: 56.9–67.5%) of the children at a level ranging from 0.15 to 0.4ng/ml. Children living in lowland agro-ecological zone had [AOR = 2.11 (95% CI; 1.15, 3.88] about 2 folds higher odds of being exposed to aflatoxin as compared to children living in highland agro-ecological zone. Children at lower socio-economic status [AOR = 0.27 (95% CI; 0.14, 0.50] and medium socio-economic status [AOR = 0.47 (95% CI; 0.25, 0.87] had 73% and 53% lower odds of being exposed to aflatoxin as compared to children in the higher socio-economic status, respectively. Conclusions Aflatoxin exposure among young children was very high in South-Central Ethiopia. This high aflatoxin exposure might emphasize the need for aflatoxin exposure mitigation strategies in Ethiopia. Further research is required to assess long-term aflatoxin exposure and its association with child growth and development.

2018 ◽  
Vol 95 (5) ◽  
pp. 682-690 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Asadi-Lari ◽  
Y. Salimi ◽  
M. R. Vaez-Mahdavi ◽  
S. Faghihzadeh ◽  
A. A. Haeri Mehrizi ◽  
...  

1970 ◽  
Vol 44 (4) ◽  
pp. 180-184
Author(s):  
BJ Brown ◽  
AO Adeleye

Background: Socioeconomic factors are known to affect health quality, disease occurrence as well as health-seeking behaviors in several ways.Objectives: To determine the influence of socio-economic factors on awareness of cancer, healthseeking behaviors among parents of children with cancer in a developing country and occurrence of cancer using Burkitt lymphoma as index malignancy.Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study that involved children with cancer seen over a 2-year period in a tertiary hospital in Nigeria. Information was obtained by interview through administration of a questionnaire and retrieval of clinical data from patients’ case notes.Results: The caregivers of 91 children (46 boys, 45 girls) were interviewed including 86 biological parents. Majority (84.6%) of the children belonged to the low socio -economic classes 3-5; 45 of 86 parents (52.3%), more likely in parents from higher socioeconomic classes, were aware of cancer but only 7 (8.1%) knew it could occur in children. There was no association between Burkitt lymphoma and socio-economic class. Twenty-eight (30.8%) parents of the 91 children visited alternate sources of health care, most commonly traditional healers, followed by religious centers. There was no association between visits to such centers and the parents’ socio-economic status or with presentation with metastatic disease.Conclusions: Awareness of childhood cancer is low among this cohort of parents; their socioeconomic status seems to impact on this level of awareness but not on their health-seeking behaviors for their affected children. Focused health education is needed to increase childhood cancer awareness and appropriate healthseeking behavior among the population studied.Key words: socio-economic; childhood; cancer; health-seeking; behaviour; awareness


2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Getnet Kassa ◽  
Addisalem Mesfin ◽  
Samson Gebremedhin

Abstract Background In low- and middle-income countries routine vitamin A supplementation (VAS) is a key strategy for reducing vitamin A deficiency and mortality and morbidity of preschool children. However, in Ethiopia, there is paucity of evidence regarding the level and determinants of the uptake of the supplement. This study was designed to assess the coverage and predictors of VAS among preschool children in Humbo district, Southern Ethiopia. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted in April 2016. A total of 840 mothers/caregivers having children 6–59 months of age were selected using multistage cluster sampling technique from six rural villages implementing routine VAS program. Data were collected using interviewer administered questionnaire. Possible predictors considered in the study include distance from the nearby health facility, household socio-economic status, type of the household (model vs non-model), maternal access to health education on VAS, and knowledge on vitamin A and VAS. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to identify predictors of uptake of VAS. The outputs are presented using adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with the respective 95% confidence interval (CI). Results The coverage of VAS was 75.0% (95% CI: 72.1–77.9). Better knowledge of mothers about the importance of the supplement (AOR: 1.49, 1.02–2.17), obtaining VAS related information from frontline community health workers (AOR: 1.51, 1.34–2.72) than health professionals and being from households in the “rich” wealth tertile (AOR: 1.80, 95% CI: 1.07–3.03) were positively associated with uptake VAS. Conclusion The VAS coverage of the area was approaching the expected national target of 80%. However, the uptake can be enhanced though awareness creation and improving socio-economic status of the community.


Author(s):  
Darshan J. Patil ◽  
Maheshkumar M. Shindhe

Background: Worldwide elderly population is rapidly increasing. This is posing many challenges in elderly population. Malnutrition in them is one of the major problems but ignored component. Socio-economic, demographic and environmental factors are those greatly influence their nutritional status. Hence the present study was undertaken to assess the effect of socio-economic, demographic and environmental factors on nutritional status of elderly.Methods: The present study was a cross-sectional study which included 545 elderly population of Uchagaon subcentre and was carried out over a period of 1½ years. After selecting Uchagaon subcentre by simple random sampling technique and house to house survey was carried out to select eligible elderly participants who met the selection criteria. Data was collected from eligible elderly by using pretested questionnaire and Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA) tool.Results: 65.1% were between the age group of 60-69 years. 55% were females, 66% were currently married, 60% had no formal schooling, 67.2% were belongs to socio-economic status of either class IV/V. 23.5% were malnourished and 49% were at risk of malnutrition. There was association found between nutritional status of elderly with increase in age, marital status, educational status, occupation, socio-economic status, type of family and housing condition.Conclusions: In the present study majority of the elderly were at risk of malnutrition. The nutritional status of elderly was associated with increase in age, marital status, educational status, occupation, socio-economic status, type of family and housing condition of rural elderly and subsequently modify those factors to improve the nutritional status of elderly and this can be a scope for further study in future. 


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