RESUMEN
The aim of this study was to propose an alternative approach to traditional knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) studies to enhance the quality of data on which educational health programmes are based. The methodology proposed and illustrated involved a triangulation of approaches derived from linguistics, cognitive science, and medical laboratory sciences. Three diarrhoeal health talks (educational messages) as given to mothers in three primary-care facilities in Borno State (Northeast Nigeria) were subjected to a linguistics analysis. Relationships were then sought between the ontology of knowledge in the health talks as revealed by the text analysis and two other kinds of data, namely: (a) mothers' answers to a set of ecologically-sensitive reasoning questions that test how much relevant inferential knowledge the health talks allow for and (b) results of microbiological and biochemical analyses of salt-sugar rehydration solutions prepared by mothers participating in the study. The findings of the study show a relationship between contents/formatting of the health talks and the extent to which relevant inferential competence was supported or demonstrated by mothers. It was also evident that the laboratory analyses could be related either directly to the health talks or indirectly in terms of what the health talks need to emphasize on. The conclusion shows how the methodology proposed addresses shortcomings of traditional KAP studies in respect of the gap between health knowledge and practice.
Asunto(s)
Diarrea/prevención & control , Conocimientos, Actitudes y Práctica en Salud , Madres/educación , Adulto , Preescolar , Diarrea/terapia , Femenino , Educación en Salud , Promoción de la Salud , Humanos , Lactante , Masculino , Madres/psicología , Soluciones para Rehidratación/uso terapéuticoRESUMEN
OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence of clinical and biochemical rickets in an under-five out-patient population, relate the prevalence of biochemical rickets (BR) to the sociocultural characteristics of families and determine the response of nutritional rickets to vitamin D therapy. DESIGN: Prospective cross-sectional and retrospective case-series surveys. SETTING: Paediatric general out-patient and consultant clinics. SUBJECTS: One hundred and ninety eight out-patients and twenty two patients aged >1 to 60 months treated for nutritional rickets. INTERVENTIONS: Clinical examination, interview with mothers and determination of biochemical abnormalities of under-fives and management of patients with rickets using stosstherapy. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Prevalence of BR and response to stosstherapy. RESULTS: Eight (4%) patients in the survey had clinical and biochemical rickets while 33 (17%) had biochemical rickets only; 92 (47%) other patients had isolated hypocalcaemia and/or hypophosphataemia. The prevalence of BR was higher in males (p <0.05), and increased with age (p <0.001). The prevalence was lower in families who were indigenous to the area (p <0.05), children of Moslem families (p <0.05) and children whose mothers were full-time housewives, unskilled or traders (p <0.01), and who lacked any formal western education (p = 0.157). Three of the seven evaluable patients who received stosstherapy responded late. CONCLUSION: The results support the hypothesis that deficiency or reduced availability of dietary calcium may be of at least equal importance with vitamin D deficiency in the aetiology of nutritional rickets in the Sahel savanna.
Asunto(s)
Hipocalcemia/complicaciones , Raquitismo/epidemiología , Vitamina D/uso terapéutico , Calcio de la Dieta/administración & dosificación , Calcio de la Dieta/metabolismo , Preescolar , Estudios Transversales , Etnicidad , Femenino , Humanos , Hipofosfatemia/complicaciones , Lactante , Masculino , Nigeria/epidemiología , Estado Nutricional , Prevalencia , Estudios Prospectivos , Raquitismo/diagnóstico , Raquitismo/tratamiento farmacológico , Raquitismo/etiología , Factores Socioeconómicos , Vitamina D/sangre , Deficiencia de Vitamina D/complicacionesRESUMEN
The effects of various processing techniques on nutrient composition and anti-nutritional factors in baobab seeds (Adansonia digitata L.) and locust beans (Parkia filicoidea L.) were investigated. The methods used for processing include boiling in water, acid or alkali and fermentation. Using the water treated samples as controls, there were slight decreases in protein and carbohydrate contents of the fermented and alkali-treated meals. However, an increase in extractable oil content was observed in acid, alkali and fermented samples. The alkali treatment appeared to be the most effective method for reducing trypsin inhibitor and tannin contents and has the additional advantage of improving the protein digestibility.