scholarly journals Prevalence of Skin Diseases among Primary School Children in Three Semi Urban Communities in Rivers State, Nigeria: A Community Based Study

Author(s):  
B. A. Alex-Hart ◽  
D. D. Altraide

Background: Skin diseases are common among children in the developing countries in Sub Saharan Africa where there is low level of hygiene, overcrowding and warm humid climates.  However, there are no known community based studies on the prevalence of skin diseases among primary school children in Rivers State, Nigeria. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and types of skin diseases among primary school children in three semi urban communities in ObioAkpor LGA in Rivers State, Nigeria. Materials and Methods: This descriptive, cross sectional study was conducted in five public primary schools in three semi urban communities in ObioAkpor LGA over a three months period from September to November 2017.  Five hundred and twenty four children were recruited for the study from the selected schools. Interviewer administered questionnaire was used to obtain information on socio-demographics and a team of investigators examined each child for evidence of skin diseases. Results: There were 263 (50.2%) males and 261 (49.8%) females, with male to female ratio of 1.01: 1. Their ages ranged between 5 to 16 years, with a mean age of 9.5±2.22 years. The prevalence of skin lesions among the children was 35.3% (185/524). Skin infections, inflammatory dermatitis and other skin lesions accounted for 39.5%, 14.1% and 46.5% respectively of the skin diseases. The most prevalent specific skin disease found was Dermatophyte infection in 50 (27.0%) children, followed by Xerosis 21 (11.4%). Tinea capitis was the most common (52.1%) skin infection. The commonest inflammatory dermatitis found was Seborrheic dermatitis 53.8%. Age had no significant influence on the prevalence of skin infections (p=0.711). Conclusion: The prevalence of skin diseases was high among primary school children in the semi urban communities in ObioAkpor LGA and Dermatophyte infection accounted for more than a quarter of the  skin diseases found. Maybe regular inspection of the skin of primary school children by health professionals and teachers should be done in order to reduce the spread of infectious skin diseases within the schools.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Parvina Kazahura ◽  
Theophylly L. Mushi ◽  
Pedro Pallangyo ◽  
Mohamed Janabi ◽  
Rodrick Kisenge ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) is the most common acquired heart disease occurring in children and adolescents. RHD is associated with significant morbidity and mortality particularly in low and middle- income countries (LMICs) where the burden is estimated to be higher compared to high income countries. Subclinical RHD is the presence of valvular lesion diagnosed by echocardiography in a person with no clinical manifestation of RHD. This study aimed at determining the prevalence, types and factors associated with subclinical RHD among primary school children in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania.Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional, descriptive community-based study which recruited primary school children from February to May 2019. A standardized structured questionnaire was used to collect demographic data and information related to prior history of upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs). Anthropometric measurements were taken and chest auscultation and echocardiographic screening were done to all study participants. World Heart Federation echocardiographic classification was used to define the types and prevalence of subclinical RHD. Results: A total of 949 primary school children were enrolled with females being predominant (57.1%). The prevalence of subclinical RHD was 34 per 1000. All the participants had mitral valve disease only whereby 17 had definite disease and 15 had a borderline disease. The associated factors for subclinical RHD were older age of more than 9 years (OR 10.8, 95% CI 1.4-82.2, P=0.02) having three or more episodes of URTI in previous six months (OR 21, 95% CI 9.6-46, P=0.00) and poor hygiene (OR 3, 95% CI 1.3-6.8, P=0.009) Conclusion: Subclinical RHD as detected by echocardiographic screening is prevalent in primary school children, uniformly affects the mitral valve, and is associated with potentially modifiable risk factors. Children with a history of more than three episodes of URTI in six months may represent a particularly high-risk population that should be targeted for RHD.


1991 ◽  
Vol 106 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 121-135 ◽  
Author(s):  
S.G. Ong ◽  
J. Liu ◽  
C.M. Wong ◽  
T.H. Lam ◽  
A.Y.C. Tam ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
Ravish S. Haradanhalli ◽  
Ramya Mandya Prashanth ◽  
Nitu Kumari ◽  
Iswarya Siddhareddy ◽  
Pradeepkumar D. P. ◽  
...  

Background: Government of India has launched ‘Swachh Bharat Swachh Vidyalaya’ initiative in 2014, with emphasis on promoting safe and hygiene practices among school children. Providing easy access to hygiene and health education regarding personal hygiene is a simple and cost effective tool for prevention and control of hygiene related health problems including skin diseases. Objectives of the study were to assess the personal hygiene practices of primary school children and to find out the skin diseases related to personal hygiene practices.Methods: The study was conducted among 12 primary schools in an urban poor locality. The availability of hygiene facilities in all the schools was noted. The hygiene practices among the children were collected using pre-designed, semi-structured proforma and clinical examination was done to find out skin diseases among them. Subsequently, all school children were given health education regarding correct hygiene practices. The data was analysed using mean, percentages and Chi-square test.Results: The study included 1404 students. Among them 40.7% took bath daily, 53.7% wore washed undergarments, uniform and socks daily, 56.5% had trimmed nails and 76.7% washed hands with soap and water before eating and after using toilet. On examination, 475 (33.8%) had skin diseases like pityriasis alba (13.2%), pediculosis capitis (12.3%), pyoderma (4.6%) and others. There was significant association between skin diseases and hygiene practices (p<0.001).Conclusions: Improper hygiene practices were associated with skin diseases. Therefore, regular social and behavioural change communication activities on hygiene practices has to be imparted for school children to prevent related skin diseases.


BMC Nutrition ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Samuel Elolu ◽  
Duncan Ongeng

Abstract Background Undernutrition in childhood is an important factor that greatly impedes the achievement of full human potential at adulthood. Despite increased enrolment of pupils in primary schools in developing countries, short-term hunger and undernutrition continue to impact negatively on school attendance, retention and education outcomes in economically disadvantaged rural areas. This study examined the feasibility of a community-based participatory action research approach building capacity of rural women food vendors to use local food resources to produce nutritionally enhanced food products for primary school feeding in rural localities in a developing country setting. Methods Mixed methods approach incorporating focus group discussions (FGDs) to evaluate parents’ and school administrators’ perceptions of the community-based approach, participatory experimental improvement of nutritional quality of an energy-based cassava product (gari) involving community women food vendors, and cross-sectional acceptability assessment of improved products among rural primary school children. Qualitative content analysis, one-way analysis of variance and correlation analysis was used to analyse FGD data, compare nutritional profile and consumer sensory profile of different products, and examine associations between sensory attributes and acceptability of the products, respectively. Results The approach of using local food resources to produce nutritious products targeting school feeding was strongly recognised by parents, school administrators, teachers and small scale rural women food vendors as an adoptable nutrition-sensitive means of addressing short-term hunger among primary school children in rural settings. The action research resulted in a highly accepted nutritionally enhanced product (consisting of cassava, soy and silver fish) exhibiting superior nutritional properties (23.29% protein, 90.5 g/100 g calcium, 4.5 g/100 g zinc, 11.6 g/100 g iron, 40.40 g/100 g phosphorus, 61.57 μg/100 g vitamin A) compared to the original energy-dominated cassava product (2.18% Protein, 55.6 g/100 g calcium, 1.2 g/100 g zinc, 4.4 g/100 g iron, 6.6 g/100 g phosphorus, 11.23 μg/100 g vitamin A) (p < 0.05). Nutritional computation revealed that serving 120 g of the new product would suffice to meet 30% of the recommended dietary allowance for essential nutrients that children should receive from school meals. Conclusion Community-level nutrition-sensitive innovation using local foods resources offers the opportunity for rural women food vendors to contribute to addressing short-term hunger and undernutrition challenges in primary schools in economically-disadvantaged localities in developing countries.


2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (E) ◽  
pp. 296-301
Author(s):  
Ridha Putri Sjafii ◽  
Oke Rina Ramayani ◽  
Syahril Pasaribu ◽  
Ayodhia Pitaloka Pasaribu

OBJECTIVE: Soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infection remains a public health problem, especially children. Preventive chemotherapy for school-aged children with STH infection in 2012 had only reached half of the World Health Organization target. Therefore, mass drug administration by community-based deworming (CBD) could be a solution to achieve the target. METHODS: A quasi-experimental study was the sample test in STH-infected primary school children at Suka Village, Indonesia. It was conducted from December 2016 to April 2017. A single dose 400 mg albendazole was given in both study groups. Effectiveness was assessed by Kato-Katz stool examination at the 1st and 3rd months after treatment. RESULTS: We enrolled 257 children and divided into school-based deworming (SBD) and CBD group. SBD consisted of 123 children while CBD was 134 children group which divided based on a school cluster system. The prevalence of STH infection is 55.6% with the most common infection that is ascariasis in both groups. The uninfected children are 72.5% of SBD and 59.5% of CBD group. Reinfection was found in 31.8% of SBD and 54.1% of CBD group. There are no significant differences of worm eggs intensity before and after deworming in both groups (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: SBD found to be more effective compared to CBD in primary school children with STH infection in Suka village, Indonesia.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document