Biomedical subjects

C Ogbonna

Publications and source records attributed to C Ogbonna.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2002

Knowledge, attitude and practice of health workers in Keffi local government hospitals regarding Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) practices.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the knowledge, attitude and practice of health workers towards Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) practices and thereafter plan an advocacy on BFHI training of the workers. DESIGN: A randomised cross-sectional study. SETING: Ten out of 16 health facilities reflecting all the levels of healthcare provision in Keffi Local Government Area in Nassarawa State, Nigeria, were selected. Staff of these health facilities had not received BFHI training, although breastfeeding is the norm in this population, exclusive breastfeeding is almost zero. SUBJECTS: A total of 250 health workers (six doctors, 160 nurses and 84 auxiliary staff) met in the health facilities at the time of interview. INTERVENTION: A structured questionnaire based on 10 steps to successful breastfeeding was administered by one of the authors and a Lactad nurse between July and October 1995. RESULTS: Fifty-two (20.8%) were aware of the need for initiating breastfeeding within 30 min of birth and 92 (36.8%) were aware of breastfeeding support groups. However, there were significant differences in the level of awareness among the doctors compared to the other categories of health staff (P<0.05). Also, 48 (19.2%) of the health workers believed that babies less than 6 months of age should not be given water (statistical difference (P<0.05) between doctors' attitude and that of the other health workers). Thirteen (5.22%) health workers could demonstrate correct positioning and attachment. CONCLUSION: There was general lack of awareness of some major recommended practices in the hospitals that will promote and sustain breastfeeding. There is therefore the need for policy changes and BFHI training for the staff of these health facilities to respond to the concern and growing need for proper infant/young child feeding.

Adult↗

PubMed1984

Post-burn contractures in Ibadan.

A review of our experience with post-burn contractures over a ten-year-period at the University of Ibadan is reported. Fifty-two patients (32 males, 20 females) were treated; 52% were under the age of 5 years. In 25% the contractures were due to therapeutic burns. Sixty-two per cent of the contractures occurred in the upper limbs. Best results were obtained by release of contracture, application of split-thickness skin grafts, and splinting for up to six months.

Adolescent↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Factors influencing exclusive breast-feeding in Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria.

A study to elucidate the factors that influence successful Exclusive Breast Feeding (EBF) was carried out by administering a structured interview questionnaire prospectively on three hundred and thirty three nursing mothers attending Family Health Clinic, Jos University Teaching Hospital from October 1997 to June 1998. 136 (40.9%) of their 333 babies were exclusively breast fed for six months from birth. Mothers' literacy level of 75.6% had a statistically significant positive effect on the practice of EBF (P < 0.05). A high percentage (97.6%) attended Ante-natal clinic but 44% delivered at home. Home delivery was found to have a statistically significant negative effect on the practice of EBF P > 0.001. The drop-out rate on EBF for working nursing mothers was 58% (Discontinued EBF on resumption of duty from maternity leave). Students who had babies during school sessions also recorded a similar drop-out rate (57%). Although there was no statistically significant association between mothers occupation and the practice of EBF, full-time house wives practiced EBF least. The reason was attributed to environment (family influence). The study highlighted the need to get the mothers and mothers-in-law of nursing mothers involved in the promotion of EBF. They are known to command much respect and their opinion is well respected in the family when a new baby arrives. The extension of maternity leave to six months for a working mother is very necessary if she is expected to breast feed for six months and at the same time work to earn a living in an ailing economy.

Attitude to Health↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Levels of calcium, aluminium and chromium in serum of exclusively breastfed infants at six months of age in Savannah region of Nigeria.

This study was undertaken to determine the levels of calcium, aluminium and chromium in the serum of apparently healthy exclusively breastfed infants at the sixth month of lactation. Forty-five infants (with a male:female ratio 2:1) were studied. They were of an average age six months and one week, weighed 6.8-10.0 kg. The mean calcium levels of 83.92 ug/ml (2.1 mmol/L) obtained is within the reference range (2.1-2.5 mmol/L) in this area. The mean level of chromium was 0.11 u/ml while that of aluminium is significantly (P < 0.001) higher than the toxic level reported by some workers, yet none of the subject was manifesting any obvious signs of toxicity. We can then infer from our data that the exclusively breastfed infants are able to extract enough calcium, aluminium and chromium from the maternal breastmilk.

Aluminum↗