S J Ozims's scientific contributions

The study was aimed at ascertaining the prevalence of prostate enlargement Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia BPH) among males > 50 years of age who were treated at Abia State University Teaching Hospital (ABSUTH), Aba from 2010-2014, Four objectives, four research questions and four null hypotheses guided tile study. Related literatures were reviewed and summarized. Ex-post facto -research design was used for the study. The population of the study consisted of all the males > 50 years of age whose records were kept in the hospital record room for prostate enlargement from 2010-2014. Self Developed Data Collection 'Scheme (SDDCS) was used as the main instrument for data collection. Data were validated by jury of Public Health Lecturers in the I mo State University, Owerri and its reliability was ascertained by split half technique. Data were analyzed by descriptive statistics of frequency/ nomadic percentage and inferential statistics of chi-square at 0.05 significant level. Result indicated that the prevalence of benign prostatic hyperplasia progresses with aging. The least prevalence was in the age bracket of 50-54 years - 1 (50-54) year while the highest prevalence was in 70-72 years of age bracket and above - 252 (70-72) years. There were significant differences in the prevalence of benign prostatic hyperplasia BPH in marital status/ occupational status and age of males > 50 years of age who were treated at ABSUTH from 2010-2014. There were relatively high prevalence of BPH among married and sedentary life males while unmarried and physical activity males indicated fairly low prevalence of BPH. This study recommends extensive education and awareness campaign programme to improve knowledge on BPH, its prevalence and risk factors to help males take precautionary measures to reduce prevalence and take adequate/timely treatment to prevent complications. Keywords: prostate enlargement, males > 50 years of age, Abia State University Teaching Hospital, Aba, 2010- 2014.

This study x-rays the impact of human activities on the breeding of mosquitoes of human disease in Owerri metropolis, Imo State with a view to p r offering practical solutions, and ensuring overall reduction of the consequent nealth, social and economic implications of mosquito diseases in general and malaria in particular in Owerri metropolis. The study was a descriptive survey involving mosquito larval collection and identifications carried out at 3 different oreeding sites within Owerri metropolis. The breeding sites were surveyed in a deliberately non random fashion to maximize sensitivity of collections using standard procedures. The habitats were categorized into five groups according to the similarity of the habitats into gutters/drains, ground pools, used tyres, domestic containers and refuse dumps, The results showed that a total of 749 iiosquito larvae were harvested from the breeding sites belonging to 13 different mosquito species of Anopheles, Culex and Aedes genera. The contribution of human activities and increasing environmental modification to the breeding of human disease vector mosquitoes is of importance. It is recommended that selective vector control measures including larvidding as well as enlightening the populace on human environmental factors that contribute to breeding of mosquitoes of human disease as well as the various control measures.

This research work was carried out to investigate the prevalence of hypertension among adults aged 30-69 years who used Imo State Specialist Hospital, Owerri (IMSSHO), from 2009-2013.The study was designed to ascertain the frequency distribution of hypertension and the associated mortality among these adults who used IMSSHO from 2009-2013.Four specific objectives were formulated for the study. In line with the objectives of the study, four research questions and four research hypotheses were formulated. The study adopted the Ex-Post Facto Design to ascertain the prevalence of hypertension in the population of study. The target and accessible population consisted of all adult hypertensive victims aged 30-69 years who used IMSSHO from 2009-2013. There was no sample and sampling technique. The instrument for data collection was Self-Developed Data Collection Schedule Sheet and the hospital's Medical Records. The validity and reliability of the instrument were ensured. The data collection schedule sheet was approved by the thesis supervisor and validated by three lecturers. The Medical Director (MD) in-charge of IMSSHO signed the data collection schedule sheet and the thesis supervisor confirmed the suitability. The researcher practically visited IMSSHO and retrieved data from the Medical Records. Facts collected were tallied and recorded in the data collection schedule sheet in figures and were analyzed using descriptive statistics of frequency table and percentage and inferential statistics like chi-square (^ 2) at 0.05 level of significance. The results of the analyses revealed that there were 556 adults aged 30-69 years living with hypertension from 2009-2013. It revealed that age and gender influenced prevalence of hypertension among these adults. The prevalence of hypertension was highest among ages 60-64 years-150 (26.98%) and lowest among ages 30-34 years-8 (1.44%); and by gender, it was higher among women-306 (55.04%) than men-250 (44.96%). It also revealed that there were 33 deaths due to hypertension, out of which, 12 (36.6%) were men and 21 (63.66%) were women. It further revealed that both age and gender did not significantly influence the prevalence of hypertension mortality among these adults. In view of the results, some recommendations were made which included provision of hypertension centers for free blood pressure checking and 72 multi-sectional approaches among others to ensure early detection and diagnosis, prompt treatment, prevention and control of hypertension.

This study was carried out between March 2014 and June 2014 on the occurrence of malaria infection in under five children in Orlu Local Government area of Imo State Nigeria. The study covered 381 randomly selected households and 622 consenting subjects with information's gotten mostly from mothers and nannies as care providers. The study population was 510 children below 5 years of age. Analysis of data collected shows that 77% of respondents in the rural area had no education above secondary school level, while 56% of respondents in the suburban area had education up to secondary school and 67% of respondents in the urban area had education up to the secondary school level this incidence of malaria in the studied areas in inversely proportional to the socioeconomic levels of the areas in under study Incidence increased with decrease in socioeconomic levels and the improvement in living standard. Use of bed nets is more common in communities with better socio economic status. Regarding management of Malaria ie purchase of across-the counter drugs use of leftover drugs, application of traditional medication etc. was highest in Amike and decrease to the lowest in the urban local Government headquarters. Also malaria related complications were more among the children from low socioeconomic households than their counterparts of high socioeconomic level.

The effect of aqueous leaf extract of Cymbopogon citratus (lemongrass) on liver function in paracetamol-induced hepatotoxicity in albino rats was investigated using these biochemical markers: total and conjugated bilirubin, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), Aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alkaline phosphatase. A total of forty eight adult albino rats (male/female) weighing between 150g to 200g were used for the study. The animals were randomly divided into six groups of eight animals each. Group I served as healthy control and was fed with normal animal feed and water throughout the experiment. Animals in groups II to VI were administered with paracetamol (lg/ kg) in distilled water solution per oral. After three days of this challenge, animals in groups III, IV, V and VI were treated with lOOmg/kg, 200mg/kg, 300mg/kg and 400mg/kg body weight of aqueous lemongrass leaf extract respectively daily for 14 days. Animals in group II (disease control) however did not receive any treatment with lemongrass e xtract and were instead given sterile water. All the animals were allowed unlimited access to tap water and grower's mash. There were significant decreases (p<0.05) in final body weight (161.3 ±11.3g), liver weight (3.3 ± 0.2g) with corresponding increases (P < 0.05) in ALT (86. ± 7.2 U/L), AST (41.4 ± 3.9 U/L), ALP (21.8 ± 2.1 U/L) total bilirubin (1.50 ± 0.19 mg/dl), and conjugated bilirubin (1.06 ± 0. 18 mg/dl) of group II when compared with those of group 1: final body weight (182. 5 ± 15.8g), liver weight (5.9 ± 0.6g), ALT (10. 9 ± 2.0 U/L), AST (11. 3 ± 2.3 U/L), ALP (17.4 ± 1.3 U/L), total bilirubin (0.53±0.16mg/dl) and conjugated bilirubin (0.28 ±0.13 mg/dl). However, post-treatment of the diseased animals of groups III to VI with different concentrations of aqueous leaf extract of Cymbopogon citratus alleviated most of those changes though not strictly in a dose dependent manner. The results of this study indicate that aqueous leaf extract of Cymbopogon citratus has anti-hepatotoxic action against paracetamol-induced hepatic toxicity in rats.

Since the discovery of HIV/AIDS, concerted efforts are being made by different countries and some international organisations to curb the spread nationally and globally. These efforts involve providing adequate information about the virus and the infection modes as well as the preventive measures. They also include providing information on the available treatments of infected persons. This study investigates the awareness of HIV/AIDS among senior secondary school students in Calabar, Cross River State Nigeria leaning on the AIDS Risk Reduction Model (ARRM) as its theoretical framework. Using a multistage sampling technique, data for the study were collected from 360 respondents (180 each male and female) from selected 6 senior secondary schools in Calabar South and Calabar Municipality Local Government Areas, Cross River State, Nigeria. The analysis showed that the female respondents have more knowledge of HIV/AIDS in the study area than the male respondents. Although a majority of the subjects showed evidence of relative knowledge of HIV/AIDS, low awareness of some of the transmission modes such as the mother to baby transmission, as well as preventive methods such as the use of condom were found. The incorporation of HIV/AIDS education into school activities of the students and involving the adolescents in the HIV/AIDS campaign is suggested.

This study was aimed at ascertaining knowledge of preventive measures and management of HIV/AIDS victims among parents in Umuna Community of Orlu Local Government of Imo State. In line with the eight objectives of the study eight research questions and four null hypotheses were formulated. Related literature were reviewed and summarized, Descriptive survey research design was used. The sample for the study consisted of 300 male and female parents from five randomly drawn villages in Orlu Community. The instrument used for data collection was self developed structured interview protocol, Validity and reliability of the instrument were established through the data analysis and from the questionnaires. The instrument was administered on face to face basis to the respondents by the researcher with the help of executive members of Umuna Development Union (male and female wing). Data collected from 282 copies of the structured interview guide were tallied and analyzed using descriptive statistics of frequency percentage and grand mean as well as inferential statistics of Chi-square the findings revealed that all the six null hypotheses tested for the study were rejected, indicating that knowledge of both preventive measures and management of HIV/AIDS victims were based on age, Gender and levels of education. Level of knowledge of preventive measures of HIV infection was moderate while level of knowledge of management of HIV/AIDS victims was low. Based on the findings and conclusion, it was recommended among others, that there should be printing of posters, Flyers and advert messages that contains issues on the preventive measure of HIV AIDS as well as management of HIV AIDS victims by government Non Governmental organizations as well as health educators through intensive Campaign/ Educational programmes to the grassroots.

The study investigates the predisposing factors in adoption and utilization of natural family planning methods among women in Okpuala Amakohia community in Ikeduru. The population of study was randomly selected women from Amakohia community in Ikeduru with a sample size was 250 women from randomly selected villages. The instrument of data collection was self developed questionnaire and the instrument was validated by three experts in the department of public health Imo State University Owerri. The reliability of the instrument was by test re-test method and the data collected was analyzed using percentage, frequency and chi-square. The findings revealed that all the respondents have heard about family planning before and that the practice of the natural family planning occurred only in 22 women (8.80%) while the remaining women practiced other family planning methods of which the main source of information and awareness was the hospital which was 109 women (43.6%) of the population and the least common source of information was obtained from news papers and magazine which was just 4 women (1.6%) of the population. The key factors found to militate against natural family planning among women were lack of time for daily monitoring of irregular and unpredictable menstrual cycles and lack of information and ignorance. Conclusions drawn from the findings recommended that the practice of natural family planning among women would be improved by wider dissemination of information on this through public lectures and electronic media, training of family planning counsellors to facilitate grass root coverage, universal entrenchment of natural family planning counselling into routine antenatal clinic activities with emphasis on female education and empowerment, encouraging men's involvement in family planning etc suggestions were also made for further research in related areas.

This study was carried out to assess the antioxidant status of children with Plasmodium falciparum malaria in Owerri. A total of 50 children aged between 1-10 years were recruited for this study. They were grouped into two, 30 Plasmodium falciparum infected children (test) and 20 apparently healthy children (control). The test group were children attending Federal Medical Centre, Owerri who were infected with malaria as confound by caumsa reduces. Antioxidant vitamin C and E were evaluated using standard colorimetric procedures, while antioxidant enzyme Superoxide Dismutase (SOD) was evaluated using enzyme assay Kit. The mean antioxidant concentrations for vitamin C and E among plasmodium parasitized subjects were 0.4±0.08 mg/dl and 0.60±0.09 mg/dl respectively. The mean concentrations of vitamin C and E among the non-malaria parasitized controls were 1.49±0.15 mg/dl and 1.70±0.11mg/dl respectively. The antioxidant enzyme, SOD level of the test and control group was 4.52±0.64m/mol and 7.31±0.55m/mol respectively. I observed that the mean antioxidant concentration of vitamin C and vitamin E and SOD were lower among the test subjects compared with the control subject (p<0.05). These antioxidants are also lower in younger children tha n older children, and in males than in females. In conclusion, my study has shown that the antioxidant levels in plasmodium parasitized children are lower than non-plasmodium parasitized children.

This study was designed to evaluate the changes in antioxidant vitamins (C&E) and malondialdeiyde as a marker of lipid peroxidation in HIV infected children, the study was carried out at the HIV /AIDS clinic FMC Umuahia with a total number of One hundred and twenty six (126) subjects aged 2-12 years. They were grouped into control (group 1), HIV-infected children on therapy {group II) and HIV-infected children without therapy {group 111). Each of these groups having 42 subjects with equal number of males and females. The levels of the MDA, vitamins C and E were determined spectrophotometrically after determination of the HIV-Statuses of each subject. There was an observed significant higher level. Of MDA (P<0.05) in HIV-infected children in group III (2.6± 0.6nmol/L) when compared with group I (0.8± 0.1 nmol/L) and II (2.2 ± 0.5nmol/L). The result also showed a significantly lower levels of vitamins C and E of group 111 children (3.7 ± 0.5 u.g/ml; 6.1 ± 0.5 u.mol/L) when compared with groups I (6.5± 0.5u.g/ml; 10.4± 1-8 u.mol/L) and II (4.8±0.5 u.g/ml; 7.410.7 umo/L) respectively at P<0.05. A strong negative correlation was observed between MDA and the non enzymatic antioxidants. The changes were found not to be sex dependent as it suggested increased lipid peroxidation and oxidative stress.