The role of melatonin to attain electroencephalograms in children in a sub-Saharan African setting.

Purpose: Limited access to electroencephalograms (EEGs) in sub-Saharan Africa results in a high patient load attending the few neurophysiology units. The state of sleep in children improves yield and reduces artefact of EEGs. Melatonin induces "natural sleep" without the risk of airway compromise.

Psychosocial dysfunction among adolescents who abuse substances in secondary schools in Abakaliki, Nigeria.

Background: Substance abuse has been associated with psychosocial dysfunction from previous reports; however, the prevalence and pattern of such morbidity is unknown in our environment.

Aims: The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence and pattern of psychosocial dysfunction among adolescents who abuse substance.

Methods: A case-control study was carried out among adolescents selected from five secondary schools in Abakaliki.

Prevalence and socioeconomic correlates of autism among children attending primary and secondary schools in south east Nigeria.

Objectives: The objectives of the study were to determine the prevalence and socio-economic determinants of autism among children attending primary and secondary schools in South East, Nigeria.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study that assessed the prevalence and socio-economic pattern of childhood autism among children attending primary and secondary schools in Enugu and Ebonyi states, South East Nigeria. The questionnaire was adapted from American Psychiatric Association: Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV-TR, 2000).

Epileptic spasms - 175 years on: Trying to teach an old dog new tricks.

Purpose: This text provides an overview of how the condition "infantile spasms" has evolved in the last 175 years.

Method: Key references are summarised to assimilate this review.

Results: Infantile spasms, first described by Dr West in 1841, has undergone extensive investigation to understand the pathogenesis, aetiologies, optimal intervention and most likely prognosis for the affected child.

An assessment of sexual maturation among school girls in Abakaliki Metropolis, Ebonyi State, South-East Nigeria.

Background: Sexual maturation is an important milestone which starts between 8 and 14 years in girls. However, varying ages of onset of sexual maturation have been reported in different environments, with more recent studies showing earlier ages of onset in girls. There is therefore need to describe the sexual maturation of girls in each environment.

Epidemiology of congenital anomalies of the central nervous system in children in Enugu, Nigeria: A retrospective study.

Background: Congenital anomalies, including those of the central nervous system (CNS), are among the leading causes of morbidity, mortality, and fetal loss.

Objective: To determine the prevalence and associated factors of CNS congenital anomalies in children.

Methods: A cross-sectional retrospective study of children managed with CNS anomalies was undertaken.

Seroprevalence and Correlates of Hepatitis C Virus Infection in Secondary School Children in Enugu, Nigeria.

Background: Although children comprise a small fraction of the burden of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections, which is a major global health challenge, a significant number of them develop chronic HCV infection and are at risk of its complications.

Aim: The aim of the current study was to determine the prevalence and associated factors of HCV infection in school children in Enugu urban.

Subjects And Methods: This was a cross-sectional seroepidemiological study involving children aged 10-18 years selected using multistage systematic sampling in Enugu metropolis, Southeast Nigeria.

Determinants of Noncompliance to Clinic Appointments and Medications among Nigerian Children with Epilepsy: Experience in a Tertiary Health Facility in Enugu, Nigeria.

Purpose. To determine the frequency and determinants of noncompliance to clinic appointment and medication among Nigerian children with epilepsy. Method.

Factors Associated with Missed Immunization Opportunities in Abakaliki, South-Eastern Nigeria.

Objective: To determined the extent and sociodemographic factors associated with missed opportunities to NPI-scheduled childhood immunizations Methods: The exit interview method of the World Health Organization was used.

Results: Only 41.6% of the children were fully immunized.

Seroprevalence and Risk Factors of Hepatitis B Virus Infection among Adolescents in Enugu, Nigeria.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence and correlates of hepatitis B virus infection in adolescents in Enugu-urban.

Methods: A cross-sectional seroprevalence survey was conducted among school children aged 10-18 years. Subjects were selected using multistage sampling.

Nocturnal Enuresis among Nigerian Children and its Association with Sleep, Behavior and School Performance.

Objective: To study the association of nocturnal enuresis with sleep, behavior and school performance.

Methods: Hospital-based, cross-sectional descriptive study of 216 children (?6-year-old) using structured questionnaire and behavioral tools.

Setting: Two hospitals at Lucknow in Northern India.

Knowledge of conversion disorder in children by pediatricians in a developing country.

Introduction: Conversion disorder (CD) in children presents the clinician with a diagnostic and treatment dilemma. Mistaking a physical condition for CD carries serious consequences for the child while continued investigation in line with physical disease in a child with CD also may expose the child to serious harm.

Materials And Methods: One hundred and seventy-four consenting doctors who attended a national conference of pediatricians were administered a 10 item questionnaire developed by the researchers.

Modifiable Risk factors of Hypertension and Socio-demographic Profile in Oghara, Delta State; Prevalence and Correlates.

Background: Factors associated with the development of hypertension can be categorized into modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors. The modifiable risk factors include obesity, physical inactivity, high salt diet, smoking alcohol consumption and others.

Aim: This study was aimed to determine the prevalence of modifiable risk factors of hypertension in a rural community; Oghara and to ascertain if any association exists with these risk factors and socio-demographic variables.

End--users' perception of quality of care of children attending children's outpatients clinics of University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital Ituku--Ozalla Enugu.

Background: Knowledge of the specific details of end-users actual experiences with health system helps to identify areas for improvement in ways that standardized satisfaction measures are less able to provide in order to save lives, uphold public confidence and trust in healthcare delivery. The aim of the study was to assess the end-users' perception of the quality of clinical services rendered to children attending paediatric out-patient clinics of University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Ituku - Ozalla, Enugu.

Methods: A cross sectional descriptive study was undertaken using exit point interviewer administered pre-tested/semi-structured questionnaire.

Injection safety practices among resident doctors in a tertiary health facility in Benin City.

Introduction: Unsafe injections are a major source of infection with blood borne pathogens including hepatitis B virus, hepatitis C virus and human immunodeficiency virus. World Health Organization estimates the burden of disease associated with unsafe injection practices to be about 1.3 million early deaths, loss of about 26 million years of life and an annual burden of 535 million US dollars in direct medical costs.

Lung function indices of flour millworkers in Edo and Delta States.

Unlabelled: AIMS AND OBJECTIVES Flour dust has been associated with lung function impairment and Chronic Obstructive Airway Disease (COAD) among grain workers. This study was therefore conducted to assess the lung function indices of flour mill workers in Edo and Delta states, of Nigeria. MATERIALS AND METHODS Comparative cross-sectional study designed was utilized for the study and it was carried out over a period of six months, (Nov 2010 to May 2011) among 200 flour mill workers and 200 hospital workers in Edo and Delta states.

Childhood urinary tract infection in abakaliki: etiological organisms and antibiotic sensitivity pattern.

Background: Urinary tract infection (UTI) is a common childhood infection in the Tropics which causes significant illness and is frequently missed, probably because of its non-specific presentation and similarity with other common illnesses.

Objectives: To determine the prevalence, common etiological agents, and the susceptibility of these pathogens to the commonly available antimicrobial agents in this center.

Materials And Methods: This was a retrospective study carried out at the Children's Outpatient Clinic and Children's Emergency Ward of Ebonyi State University Teaching Hospital Abakaliki (EBSUTH).

Outcome of exchange blood transfusions done for neonatal jaundice in abakaliki, South eastern Nigeria.

Background: Neonatal jaundice (NNJ) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality among neonates in Nigeria and exchange blood transfusion (EBT) is a common modality of its treatment in Ebonyi State University Teaching Hospital (EBSUTH), Abakaliki. This communication aims to audit this service.

Materials And Methods: A 3-year retrospective review of the case files of all neonates that had EBT for NNJ at the new born special care unit of EBSUTH.

Childhood suppurative otitis media in Abakaliki: isolated microbes and in vitro antibiotic sensitivity pattern.

Background: Suppurative otitis media (SOM) is the most common pediatric problem seen by otolaryngologists in Nigeria. Devising simple and effective ways of treating pediatric patients with suppurating ears, especially in situations without a specialist care, will help prevent chronicity. Our experience with som at the ebonyi state university teaching hospital (ebsuth), abakaliki, is reviewed in this study.

Factors associated with mortality in under-five children with severe anemia in Ebonyi, Nigeria.

Objective: To determine the risk factors associated with poor outcome among under-five children with severe anemia in sub Saharan Africa.

Design: Cross-sectional.

Setting: University Teaching Hospital, Nigeria.

Non-traumatic childhood coma in Ebonyi State University Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki, South Eastern Nigeria.

Background: Coma is a medical emergency, and optimal management, especially in a resource-poor setting, would depend on the knowledge of its etiology and predictors of outcome. This communication reviews the etiology and outcome of non-traumatic childhood coma in Ebonyi State University Teaching Hospital (EBSUTH), Abakaliki.

Objective: To determine the incidence, etiology and outcome of non-traumatic coma in children seen at the EBSUTH, Abakaliki.

Mothers' perception of excessive crying in infancy in south eastern Nigeria.

Background: Excessive infant crying, though usually benign, can be very troublesome to parents with unwanted consequences on the child. Previous reports had shown cultural and racial differences in it's perception by mothers. We undertook this study to determine the prevalence of excessive crying in our area of practice and also determine associated factors.

Infant sleeping environment in South-eastern Nigeria (sleeping place and sleeping position): a preliminary survey.

Objective. To determine infant sleeping position/place and the factors associated with them in South-eastern Nigeria. Methods.

Provision of essential obstetric care (EOC): a sine qua non to reducing maternal mortality rate in Nigeria.

Nigeria's maternal mortality rate has been on the increase even after the launching of the Safe Motherhood Initiative (SMI) 16 years ago. The causes of this increase are well known, and mainly result from inability of a health system to deal effectively with complications, especially during or shortly after childbirth. Shortage of health professionals and health facilities equipped to offer EOC and emergency obstetric care 24 hours a day are significantly related to quality of care and maternal mortality rates.