Retrospective Evaluation of Intussusception in Under-Five Children in Nigeria

Background: Assessment of the safety profile of the new rotavirus vaccines in Africa requires base-line epidemiological data on intussusception. Hence, this study was aimed at describing the prevalence and associated factors of intussusception in under-five children in Enugu, Southeast, Nigeria. Methods: This was a retrospective descriptive study involving the sixty reported cases of intussusception in under-five children admitted in a hospital in Enugu between 2007 and 2012. Cases of intussusception were selected using the Brighton collaboration intussusception working group level I diagnostic criteria. Information sought from the patients’ folders included demographic characteristics and clinical manifestations including history of previous rotavirus vaccination, duration of illness prior to presentation, diarrhoea, vomiting, passage of red currant jelly-like stool, abdominal mass and distension, method of diagnosis, treatment option(s) employed and their outcomes. The data was analyzed using SPSS version 17.0. Results: The majority of the cases were aged less than one year (53;88.3%) while the average incidence of intussusception was 0.1 per 1000. None of the cases had received rotavirus vaccinations. The common clinical presentations were vomiting, 55 (17.2%), passage of red currant stool 50 (15.6%), fever 50 (15.6%) and abnormal/absent bowel sound 43 (15.9%). Diagnosis was essentially with the aid of abdominal ultrasonography, 38 (63.3%) while surgery (laparotomy) was the treatment of choice in most cases 48 (80.0%). The case fatality rate was 3 (5.0%). Conclusion: None of the cases studied could be directly linked to rotavirus vaccinations. But seasonal peak incidence coincided with rotavirus diarrhea peak incidence. Efforts should be made to institute post-rotavirus vaccine licensure prospective surveillance study in order to fully determine any relationship between rotavirus vaccination and intussusception in Enugu, South east, Nigeria.

Erratum to “Retrospective Evaluation of Intussusception in Under-Five Children in Nigeria” [World Journal of Vaccines Vol.4 No.3 (August 2014) 123-132]

The original online version of this article (Tagbo, B. N., et al. 2014 “Retrospective Evaluation of Intussusception in Under-Five Children in Nigeria”, 2014, 4, 123-132, http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/wjv.2014.43015) was published in August 2014. The author wishes to correct the author’s name and the Table 3 in the text.

Predictors of Exclusive Breastfeeding Duration among Mothers Attending Immunization Clinic in a Tertiary Health Facility in Enugu, Nigeria

Background: Breastfeeding is cost effective means towards the realization of some key United Nations Sustainable Development Goals by the year 2030 particularly in resource limited settings. The objectives of the study were to evaluate the predictors of exclusive breastfeeding duration among mother and child pairs utilizing a tertiary immunization clinic facility. Methods: This was a cross-sectional descriptive study. Respondents were mother-and-child pairs who were recruited consecutively. Relevant maternal and child characteristics were collected using a semi-structured questionnaire. Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 20.0 (p Results: Four hundred and twenty seven mother-child pairs were studied. Majority of the mothers have at least secondary education, 383 (80.7%). 407 (95.3%) of the mothers fully understood the actual meaning of EBF. 189 (42.7%) reported practicing EBF in their index child for six months. Maternal perception of insufficient milk production, 52/99 (52.5%) was the most common reason for practicing EBF for Maternal education and occupation and gender of the child were significantly associated with completion of EBF for 6 months among respondents. Conclusion: EBF duration in the current study is low and is significantly associated with maternal education, maternal occupation and gender of the child. Improving girl child education, complementing baby friendly hospital initiative with baby friendly community initiative should be adopted to improve EBF duration in our setting.