Ekong E Udoh

University of Uyo Teaching Hospital · Paediatrics Department

Background: Moderate acute malnutrition (MAM) is a leading cause of childhood morbidity and mortality globally. The morbidity pattern of underfives with this condition is yet to be described. Objective: To describe the morbidity pattern of underfives with MAM Method: A cross sectional study was conducted in two Primary Health Centres in Uruan Local...

Background: Annually, infections contribute to approximately 25% of the 2.8 million neonatal deaths worldwide. Over 95% of sepsis-related neonatal deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries. Hand hygiene is an inexpensive and cost-effective method of preventing infection in neonates, making it an affordable and practicable intervention in lo...

Introduction: Supplementary feeding programme is a strategy for managing under-fives with moderate acute malnutrition (MAM). This study aimed to determine the effect of adherence to follow-up on recovery from MAM among under-fives. Methods: A clinical trial to evaluate the effectiveness of daily supplementary rations of a standardised milk-based fo...

Introduction : Moderate acute malnutrition (MAM) is a leading cause of under-five morbidity and mortality globally. Supplementary feeding is a strategy recommended by WHO for managing the condition.Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness and tolerability of standardized milk-based formulation (SMBF), standardized non-milk based formulation (SNMBF)...

Background: Moderate acute malnutrition (MAM) causes impaired anthropometry, which can be reversed by supplementary feeding. The present study aimed to compare the effect of a standardised milk-based formulation (SMBF), standardised non-milk based formulation (SNMBF) and hospital-based formulation (HBF) on anthropometric indices of children aged <...

Introduction: Insecticide treated net (ITN) is pivotal to malaria control but reports show a relatively low ITN utilization when compared to household ownership. It is important to explore the determinants of ITN utilization in order to bridge this gap.Objectives: To determine the factors associated with ITN utilization among under-fives.Method: A...

Background Health workers are in a strategic position to provide correct information to mothers on breastfeeding practice. This study assessed knowledge of breastfeeding among health workers in health facilities in Calabar. Methods This was a cross-sectional descriptive study. A 45-item self-administered questionnaire was used to obtain data. Ethic...

Introduction: Breastfeeding is essential for optimum childhood development. Although there is an increased awareness of the importance of breast milk, the Nigerian Demographic and Health Survey of 2018 showed that less than one-third (29%) of mothers in Nigeria practice exclusive breastfeeding. This may be attributed to several factors, hence the n...

Ninety percent of deaths due to malaria infection globally still occur in sub-Saharan Africa. The species largely responsible for these deaths is the Plasmodium falciparum. Another species Plasmodium knowlesi, a simian malaria parasite has also been reported to cause some deaths in South East Asia. Malaria caused by Plasmodium species that primaril...

Objectives: To determine the prevalence and risk factors for functional constipation (FC) in adolescent Nigerians. Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted in rural and urban areas of two states in the southern part of Nigeria. Adolescents aged 10-18 years were recruited from 11 secondary schools, using a stratified random sampling techniqu...

Background: Diarrhea disease is a leading cause of under-five mortality globally. The World Health Organization recommends low osmolality oral rehydration solution, zinc supplementation and adequate nutrition in the management. Antibiotic is indicated only in specific circumstances. This study was aimed at determining the antibiotic prescription in...

Background: Vulvar and clitoral pain are known complications of female genital mutilation (FGM). Several interventions have been used to treat these conditions. This review focuses on surgical and nonsurgical interventions to improve vulvar and clitoral pain in women living with FGM. Objective: To evaluate the impact of nonsurgical and surgical...

Introduction Hepatitis B virus infection is a major global health problem of public health importance. In a bid to control the infection, the Nigerian government in 2004 introduced hepatitis B vaccine into the National Program on Immunization. There are no studies on the prevalence of hepatitis B in adolescent prior to 2004. The study was aimed at...

Objectives: To determine the prevalence, pattern, and predisposing factors of abdominal pain-predominant functional gastrointestinal disorders (AP-FGIDs) in adolescent Nigerians. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2 states in the southern part of Nigeria in June 2014. Adolescents of age 10 to 18 years were recruited from 11 second...

Introduction: Diarrhoea is the second leading cause of under-five mortality globally and ranks second among the top 10 priority child health problems in Nigeria. The World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended some cost-effective, evidence- based interventions for diarrhoea case management. It is needful to evaluate the current practice in the...

Introduction: Artemether-lumefantrine (AL), the most frequently prescribed ACTs for uncomplicated P. falciparum malaria, requires multiple doses which may militate against adherence. It is necessary to evaluate the efficacy and safety of single dose ACT like Artemisininnaphthoquine (ANQ) to enhance adherence.Methods: This was an open label randomiz...

Cochrane Review: Honey for acute cough in children Oduwole O, Meremikwu MM, Oyo‐Ita A, Udoh EE. Honey for acute cough in children. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2012, Issue 3. Art. No.: CD007094. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD007094.pub3. This companion piece to the review, “Honey for acute cough in children,“ contains the following pieces: The...

Objective: This study assessed the utilization of intermittent preventive treatment with sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine for the prevention of malaria in pregnancy against the national treatment policy among women attending health care facilities in Cross River State, Nigeria. Methods: A clinical audit was carried out between January 2012 and March 20...

Background: The six dose regimen of Artemether- Lumefantrine (AL), has high efficacy in clinical trials and is the first -line drug for treating uncomplicated malaria in Nigeria. The complex dosage schedule could militate against its effectiveness.Objective: To assess the effectiveness of AL prescribed under routineoutpatient conditions in the trea...

Purpose: The policy for the treatment of severe malaria in Nigeria was revised in June 2011 to parenteral artesunate followed by a full course of artemisinin-based combination therapy. This audit assesses how well health care providers in public and private facilities comply with the current national treatment guidelines. Patients and methods: A cl...

Malaria remains a leading cause of underfive morbidity and mortality in sub-Saharan Africa. Effective case management is a strategy recommended by the World Health Organization for its control. A clinical audit of case management of uncomplicated malaria in underfives in health facilities in Cross River State, Nigeria, was conducted from January to...

Malaria contributes to high childhood morbidity and mortality in Nigeria. To determine its endemicity in a rural farming community in the south-south of Nigeria, the following malariometric indices, namely, malaria parasitaemia, spleen rates, and anaemia were evaluated in children aged 2-10 years. This was a descriptive cross-sectional survey among...

Fever is common in malaria, and drugs and sponging are widely used for symptomatic relief. Some researchers have suggested that fever reduction may prolong malaria illness. We aimed to assess whether treatments to reduce fever in malaria influence the course of the illness. We searched the Cochrane Infectious Diseases Group Trial Register (June 201...

Background Despite the supply of artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT) drugs to public health facilities in Nigeria, the uptake of these drugs appear to have remained suboptimal with low improvement in childhood morbidity and mortality. Aim To use a controlled study to estimate the factors affecting the uptake of ACT in public health facilit...

Background: Cough causes concern for parents and is a major cause of outpatient visits. It can impact on quality of life, cause anxiety and affect sleep in parents and children. Several remedies, including honey, have been used to alleviate cough symptoms. Objectives: To evaluate the effectiveness of honey for acute cough in children in ambulato...

The complex of Down Syndrome-hypothyroidism-pericardial effusion is largely unreported in sub-Sahara. To present and highlight an unusual manifestation of hypothyroidism. A 16-year-old girl with confirmed Down Syndrome presented with complaints of generalised body swelling of eight months' duration. Her work-up consisted of full clinical and labora...

In an era of evidence based medicine and systematic review, this study seeks to identify priority systematic review topics that address common health problems in Nigeria. Firstly, a primary list of health problems was compiled from the National Health Management Information Systems and information from key informants (health professionals, research...

Background: Cough causes concern for parents and is a major cause of outpatient visits. It can impact on quality of life, cause anxiety and affect sleep in parents and children. Several remedies, including honey, have been used to alleviate cough symptoms. Objectives: To evaluate the effectiveness of honey for acute cough in children in ambulato...

This paper presents health outcomes and associated socioeconomic factors of 41 children admitted to a tertiary care institution in south-east Nigeria with Burkitt's lymphoma (BL) between 1987 and 2004. BL responds well to chemotherapy and does not pose a significant threat to health in industrialized nations. However, in resource-poor settings wher...