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Introduction: Malaria still remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality in children despite concerted efforts to reverse this. Chemoprophylaxis involves the use of anti malarial drugs to prevent malaria infection in humans. However the increasing resistance of plasmodium to medications has limited the effectiveness of chemoprophylactic regimens used in the past. This study will explore the perception of caregivers about these practices and determine the proportion of caregivers who treat their children for malaria without meeting standard criteria. Methodology: This cross-sectional descriptive study, was carried out over a 3-month period, from March 2017 to June 2017. Structured questionnaires accompanied by informed consent forms were sent to parents of selected pupils through their children. The first section of the questionnaire was about socio-demographic features of participants while the second section, collected information on outcome variables which assessed respondents’ level of practice of chemoprophylaxis. Results: A total of 318 (77.2%) caregivers give antimalarial prophylaxis to their children. Mothers without tertiary education (χ = 12.90, P = 0.00) and those f r o m middle and lower socioeconomic classes (χ =15.76, P = 0.00) were significantly more likely to administer malaria chemoprophylaxis to their children. Conclusion: The misconception on malarial chemotherapy could portend treatment failure if not controlled. Extensive public enlightenment programs on the guidelines for use of anti-malarial will go a long way in ensuring rational use of anti-malarial drugs in the fight against malaria particularly in high burden areas such as Nigeria.

Background: A number of factors are thought to influence the academic performance of children with asthma (Subjects) and asthma control is one. Reports on the influence/impact of asthma control on the academic performance of children with asthma are limited and the independent contribution of asthma status, if any, to academic performance of children with asthma has been poorly explored. Aims: To determine the influence of asthma control on the academic performance of children with asthma in Enugu, Nigeria. Methods: Children with Asthma (Subjects) aged 5–11 years were recruited consecutively at the weekly asthma clinic of the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH) Enugu, Nigeria. Level of asthma control was ascertained using the Childhood Asthma Control Test (C-ACT) tool. The IQ of the subjects was calculated using the validated Ziler criteria and the table of Draw –A-person Quotient (DAPQ) by Ebigbo and Izuora. The total number of days of school absence for the academic session was obtained from the class attendance register. Academic performance was assessed using the average of the overall scores in the three term examinations of the academic session. Result: The prevalence of high school absence among subjects with poor asthma control was higher compared to those with good asthma control and this difference was statistically significant (2 = 14.67; d.f = 1; p < 0.001). The difference between the median (range) overall academic score of children with poor asthma control (79.96% (36.00% - 93.57%)) and that of those with good control (78.11% (37% - 99.57%)) was not statistically significant (U= 1235, p = 0.486). However on multivariate analysis, good asthma control had a significant positive effect on academic performance (β = 1.080, p = 0.003). Conclusion: Asthma control had a significant positive effect on academic performance of school children with asthma.

Background: Foreign body (FB) ingestion in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) in children is common. Although most foreign bodies will pass spontaneously, surgical intervention is required when they fail to pass. Aims and Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate our experience in the management of children who presented with FB in the GIT. Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective study of children that underwent laparotomy for the removal of FB in the GIT at the paediatric surgery unit of Enugu State University Teaching Hospital, Enugu over a 10-year period. Results: A total of 272 children presented with FB in the GIT during the study period, out of which 30 patients had laparotomy. This gave an operative incidence rate of 11%. There was a slight male predominance and the ages of the patients ranged from 6 months to 5 years (median 3 years). About half of the patients had no symptoms and all the patients were investigated with an abdominal radiograph. Only one-third of the patients had a predisposing factor that could have led to FB impaction. FB impaction was the most common indication for surgery, and enterotomy with FB removal was the most performed surgical procedure. The most common FB removed were tiny parts of toys, and the most common post-operative complication was surgical site infection. There was no mortality. Conclusion: FB in GIT in children could be associated with complications that require surgical treatment. FB ingestion is preventable. Focus should be placed on caregivers preventing children from ingesting FB.

Background. Hypoxaemia is a common predictor of mortality and a potent marker of severe illness in children with acute lower respiratory tract infection (ALRTI). Objective. To determine the mean oxygen saturation (SpO2) in children with ALRTI and its correlation with selected clinical and anthropometric variables. Methods. A cross-sectional study of 178 children, aged between 2 months and 5 years, treated in two teaching hospitals in southeast Nigeria. All patients were assessed for ALRTI, focusing on their clinical profile and sociodemographic risk factors. Student's t-test was used to compare means of discrete variables. Pearson correlation was used to express association between discrete variables and multiple regression was used to predict dependent variables. Results. Patients with severe ALRTI had significantly lower oxygen saturation (SpO2=89%) than those with mild disease (SpO2=95%) (p=0.001). A negative correlation was found between oxygen saturation and respiratory rate. Multiple regression analysis showed respiratory rate to be the only variable predicting oxygen saturation in children with ALRTI, with a negative association between the two variables. Conclusion. Low oxygen saturation is associated with decreased respiratory rate in children with ALRTI. Oxygen supplementation should always be considered in children with ALRTI, especially those with severe disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Several controversies surround mothers’ willingness to vaccinate against the COVID-19 pandemic especially when mortality is not frequently reported in children. Objectives: This study aimed to ascertain the willingness of mothers of children attending two institutions in Southeast Nigeria to accept the COVID-19 vaccine and factors that may be associated with their choices. Methodology This was a cross-sectional study carried out among 577 mothers who presented with their children in two tertiary health institutions in southeast Nigeria. Results Majority of the respondents (93.9%) were aware of the COVID-19 vaccine. Majority of the respondents, 89.4%, noted that children were not in high priority groups for COVID-19 vaccination in Nigeria. Only 6.9% of the respondents intend to receive the COVID-19 vaccination. Also, a minor proportion of the respondents (4.9%) were willing to vaccinate their children with the COVID-19 vaccine. The odds of receiving the Covid-19 vaccine were four times greater in those who believed that they could be infected than in those who believed that they could not be infected (AOR = 4.0. 95% CI:1.8–8.7). The odds of receiving the Covid-19 vaccine were six times greater in those who were aware of someone that died from COVID-19 than in those who did not know anyone who died from COVID-19 (AOR = 5.7, 95% CI: 2.1–15.8). Conclusion A high level of awareness but low acceptance level for COVID-19 vaccination for mothers and their children was noted. Socioeconomic class, maternal age, and level of education did not influence the willingness of the mother to receive COVID vaccination. Having a belief of possibility of infection with the COVID-19 as well as being aware of someone who died from the disease were important positive variables that could predict vaccine acceptance from this study.

Introduction: Whether children should go back to school amidst the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) menace, is currently a burning issue. The perception of parents on their children returning to school varies. This may be due to discrepancies in the learning methods available to the children at home, as well as the child’s exposure to the vices and abuse of the internet. Aim: To determine the maternal perception and preferences with regard to their readiness to send their children back to school in the COVID-19 Pandemic. Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study undertaken in a tertiary health institution in South East Nigeria. Systematic random sampling technique was used to select mothers who presented in the three units of children outpatient department in the hospital. A pre-tested intervieweradministered questionnaire was used to collect information from the respondents. Chi-square test and multivariate analysis using binary logistic regression were used in the analysis. The level of statistical significance was determined by a p-value of

The academic performance of children with asthma may differ from that of their non-asthmatic colleagues. Reports on the academic performance of children with asthma are limited and the findings are inconsistent. The academic performance of children with asthma in Enugu, Nigeria is determined in this study. Children with asthma aged 5 and ndash;11 years were recruited consecutively at the weekly asthma clinic of the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH) Enugu, Nigeria. Their age-, sex- and socio-economic- matched non- asthmatic classmates were recruited as controls. Academic performance was assessed overall using the average of the overall scores in the three term examinations of same session as well as specifically using the performance in four key subjects (English, mathematics, Social Studies and Sciences). Socio-economic status was determined using the occupational status and educational attainment of each parent. The median (range) overall academic scores for the children with asthma 79.04% (36.08% - 99.57%) was not significantly different from those of controls 80.01% (50.65% - 97.47%) (U = 6804, p = 0.461). We concluded that the academic performance of children with asthma compares favorably with that of children without asthma.

Burn injuries contribute significantly to childhood morbidity and mortality. This study was designed to document the pattern of presentation and outcome of pediatric burn injury in Enugu., Methods: All children with burn injuries over a 7-year period (June 2011 to May 2018) and were managed at three tertiary health institutions, were studied. Information including their socio-demographics, clinical features and treatment outcome were obtained and analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 17.0., Results: 198 out of 201 records were available for analysis. Most (186; 93.9%) burn injuries occurred at home. Hot liquid (112; 56.7%) was the commonest cause of burn injury. A lot of substances were used topically for first aid, raw eggs (52; 31%) being the commonest. The outcome had significant association with cause of injury, depth of injury, total burn surface area (TBSA), and inhalation injury. Most were safely discharged home while a total of thirteen (6.6%) children died. LA 50 was 54.87%, while the maximum TBSA salvaged was 65%., Conclusion: Burn injuries in children in this environment remain a serious challenge in the face of widespread lack of awareness regarding safe practices in handling hot and flammable items at home., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Ltd and ISBI. All rights reserved.)

Background: Despite the high prevalences of Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) infections and cervical cancer in Nigeria, utilization of the HPV vaccine as a highly effective preventive measure remains low. The aim of this study was to find out the awareness and attitudes of caregivers to HPV infections and the factors that determine acceptance of an HPV vaccine for their pre-adolescent girls., Methods: This was a cross-sectional descriptive study of 508 caregivers of female children in Enugu Nigeria. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect information on knowledge of HPV, cervical cancer as well HPV vaccine and its acceptance for pre-adolescent female children. The data was analysed using descriptive statistics., Results: Five hundred and eight (508) caregivers of female children were interviewed. Less than half, 221,(43.5%) of them knew about HPV, among these, 163 knew how HPV is transmitted. Only 12 (2.4%) of the caregivers know that an HPV infection is a major risk factor for cervical cancer. Among the 221 participants who knew the meaning of HPV, 132 (59.7%) were aware of an HPV vaccine. Only 26 (19.7%) of those aware of a vaccine agreed it can effectively prevent cervical cancer. Lack of awareness about the vaccine and accessibility were the major reasons given by parents on why the vaccine has not been received by their female children., Conclusion: Despite high levels of education, awareness of HPV, HPV vaccine and the risks for cervical cancer remains low among caregivers in Enugu, south-east, Nigeria. Awareness and accessibility were the major determinants of HPV vaccine uptake among the caregivers. There is a need for massive and sustained awareness creation to increase HPV vaccination uptake in Nigeria., Competing Interests: Ethical clearance was obtained from Ethics Committee of the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital Enugu. verbal consent to participate were obtained from the respondents before they were enrolled in the study.Not Applicable.The authors declare that they have no competing interests.Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.