Rivers State University of Science and Technology

About: Rivers State University of Science and Technology is a education organization based out in Port Harcourt, Rivers, Nigeria. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Threatened species. The organization has 1826 authors who have published 1833 publications receiving 15183 citations.

Knowledge, Practice and Problems of Exclusive Breastfeeding among Mothers Attending the Outpatient Clinic of a Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative Designated Hospital in Port Harcourt, Nigeria

Abstract: Background: Exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) provides all an infant requires for optimal growth and development in the first six months of life. Although most babies are breastfed in Nigeria, only 23% are exclusively breastfed. This study was carried out to ascertain the knowledge, practice and problems associated with EBF amongst mothers attending the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital (RSUTH). Methods: A 5-month cross sectional study was carried out in the Paediatric outpatient clinic (POPC) of RSUTH. A total of 343 mothers were randomly recruited and a pre-tested structured questionnaire administered after obtaining informed consent. Original Research Article Okari et al.; EJNFS, 12(9): 103-115, 2020; Article no.EJNFS.60903 104 Results: Ninety eight percent of the mothers had heard of EBF, 88% knew of its content and 80.2% knew that the duration of EBF was for 6 months. Only 46.4% exclusively breastfed their babies for 6 months and about 66% of participants knew of its benefits to both mother and child. Breastfeeding was commenced within 1 hour of delivery by 40.8% of mothers and pre-lacteal feeds given by 34.1% of mothers. Tertiary education, attending antenatal clinic and hospital delivery were significantly associated with good knowledge of EBF, while hospital delivery and multiparous women with at least 4 pregnancies were significantly associated with good EBF practice. Common challenges to EBF were perception that breast milk was insufficient for the babies (17.5%) and the need for mothers to return to work (9.3%). Conclusion: Knowledge of EBF was high among mothers attending the POPC in RSUTH but the EBF rate was suboptimal. Increased health education on the importance of EBF, the provision of creches at work places and the extension of maternity leave is advocated.

A clinical case study that raised ethical issues in a developing country

Abstract: A 4-day-old female was admitted into a Nigerian Hospital, with neonatal tetanus, jaundice, and sepsis. Four days into the treatment, her clinical condition continued to deteriorate. The family requ...

The Complete Blood Count in Children and Adolescents with Tuberculosis: Utility and Prevalence of Anaemia, Lymphopenia and Neutrophilia

Abstract: There are very few reports about complete-blood-count (CBC) findings in paediatric tuberculosis. We assessed the prevalence and predictors of haematologic abnormalities and the utility of a routine CBC in initial management of paediatric TB. We reviewed records and results of investigations of all children and adolescents (ages 0–18) treated for TB disease at the Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada from January 2002 to December 2012. Anaemia was found in 52/138 (42%) patients, was often microcytic, more prevalent in adolescent females (Odds Ratio (OR) 3.7 [95% confidence intervals (CI) 1.27–10.6]) and those with disseminated disease (OR 3.60 [95% CI 1.12–11.53]), and often resolved with anti-tuberculous treatment. Only 4 children received iron therapy. White cell abnormalities that occurred often suggested diagnoses other than TB: lymphopenia occurred in 30/124 patients (24%) (all HIV negative) and neutrophilia in 20/124 (16%) patients, 9 of whom had pulmonary airspace disease. An initial routine CBC seldom changed patient management and had limited utility.