RESUMEN
Background The report of the 2013 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS 2013) showed Ondo State had one of the worst indices for stunting and underweight in the southwestern geopolitical zone of the country, a development that was considered "unacceptable" by the state government. In the bid to reverse the ugly trend, the State Primary Health Care Development Agency put in place a comprehensive nutrition program in 2015 tagged "Nutrition Rebirth," aimed at reversing the high prevalence of malnutrition among under-five children in the State. Aims This study seeks to evaluate the Ondo State comprehensive nutrition program by comparing the children's nutritional status pre- and post-period under review in the implementation of the program. This provides a measure of assessment of the performance of the program as implemented in the period under review. Materials and methods This study covered the period between 2015 and 2017 in the implementation of the nutrition rebirth program. Data for the study were obtained from the NDHS (2013) and NDHS (2018) nutrition of children and women data. Analysis of the NDHS (2013) and NDHS (2018) data commenced simultaneously with field work and lasted for about six and eight months, respectively. Analysis of the data obtained from the NDHS for this study spanned through a period of about three weeks. An ecologic time-trend analysis was used to compare the trends in nutritional status indicators among under-five children in all 18 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in Ondo State. Results Malnutrition among children less than five years dropped in most of the LGAs in 2018. Malnutrition was not associated with children's gender and maternal age in 2013 and 2018. Prevalence of stunting growth and underweight was associated with maternal education, wealth index, residence type, place of delivery, and LGA in 2013 (p < 0.05) but was not in 2018 (p > 0.05). Conclusions The spatial analysis of the Ondo State comprehensive nutrition program showed that the program has a positive impact, reducing malnutrition among children under five years; but critical appraisal of implementation challenges in LGAs with no significant reduction in malnutrition among their children under five years is recommended. The comprehensive and wholistic approach of the program is also recommended for other states and settings with a high prevalence of under-five malnutrition to understudy the possible adaptation, as appropriate.
RESUMEN
PURPOSE: To obtain baseline data and assess the level of awareness and attitudes towards glaucoma among rural communities of Osun State, Nigeria. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a community-based study that involved interviews and descriptive cross-sectional analysis. Serial-recruitment was performed of consenting participants who presented at a community-based screening service in March 2011. Socio-demographic data and information about glaucoma were obtained through face-to-face semi-structured questionnaires. RESULTS: The study population comprised 259 respondents (mean age 49.73 ± 16.6 years; range 18 to 90 years). There were 159 females (61.4%). Skilled workers were the most common 130/259 (50.3%) participants. Only 41 (15.8%; 95% CI: 11.4-20.2) participants had ever heard of glaucoma. Sources of information were from visits to an eye clinic for 21/41 (51.2%; 95% CI: 35.9-66.5) participants and 15/41 (36.6%) participants who know someone with glaucoma. Reponses to the causes of glaucoma included 20/41 (48.8%; 33.5-64.1) participant who said 'I don't know' and 24.4% of participants who responded 'curse-from-God'. Responses to questions on treatment included 20/41 (48.8%) participants who responded 'I don't know how it can be treated' and 10/41 (36.6%) said 'medically'. Thirty 30/41 (73.2%) participants would refuse surgery, half of them because 'it cannot cure or reverse the disease' while (26.7%) would refuse out of 'fear'. Only 8/41 (19.5%; 95% CI: 7.4-31.6) would accept surgery for maintenance. Statistically significant predictors of glaucoma awareness were older participants, males and skilled workers (teachers) (P = 0.028, P = 0.018, P = 0.0001, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The outcomes of study indicate a low level of awareness of glaucoma. Health education at all levels of health and eye care services is required to prevent ocular morbidity and irreversible blindness from glaucoma.