2024

Background: Amblyopia is a condition that can result from visual deprivation in early childhood. It is a major cause of impaired vision in infants and young children. Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence, laterality and causes of amblyopia among children in Sokoto State, Nigeria. Methods: This study was a hospital-based, cross-sectional study of children aged 3-15 years, presenting at the Ophthalmology clinic, Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital (UDUTH), Sokoto State, Nigeria between January-June, 2022. Socio-demographics data were collected using questionnaire. Comprehensive eye examination were determined using paediatric Snellen charts, retinoscope and direct ophthalmoscope. Amblyopia was defined as two or more Snellen lines difference in the Best Corrected Visual Acuity (BCVA) between the two eyes, or a BCVA of less than 6/12 bilaterally in the absence of any significant organic lesion that could result in a decrease in vision. Data collected were analyzed using SPSS version 26.0. Statistically significant at 95% confidence level were considered at P<0.05. Results: Of a total 108 children with mean age of 8.69 ± 3.75 standard deviation, males 59 (54.6%) were slightly higher than females 49 (45.4%). The prevalence of amblyopia was 12.9% (14), of which 64.3% and 35.7% had unilateral and bilateral amblyopia respectively. Sensory deprivation (42.9%) was the main cause of amblyopia. Conclusion: The high prevalence of amblyopia can lead to severe visual impairment in later life if appropriate measure is not taken early. Increase awareness on the need for early detection and correction of amblyopia will help ameliorate this burden.

Background: Visual impairment (VI) is a major public health concern that can have a significant negative impact on a child's education and quality of life due to inability to perform normal daily tasks such as reading, writing and recreation. Objective: The aim of this study was to identify the sociodemographic characteristics linked to the visual impairment in school children in Delta State, Nigeria. Methods: A total of 201 participants in a descriptive cross-sectional survey, ranging in age from 6 to 19, were chosen at random from primary and secondary schools in each of Delta State's three senatorial districts. A thorough eye examination and a standardized questionnaire were used to assess the participants. SPSS version 28.0 was used to analyse the data, which were then displayed in frequency tables. P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant, and all reported p-values were two-tailed. Results: Among the participants, 118 individuals (58.7%) were female. The prevalence of visual impairment (VI) in this study was 28.9% of which 69.0%, 22.4% and 8.6% had mild, moderate, and severe VI, respectively. VI was higher in females (16.9%) than in males (11.9%), and lower in primary school age group (8%) than the secondary school age group (20.9%). Socioeconomic characteristics, including parents' income, work status, and educational attainment, as well as gender and age group, did not substantially correlate with visual impairment (P> 0.05). Conclusion: The study found that children of parents with low educational status and unemployment were more likely to be blind or visually impaired, even though there was no significant correlation found between sociodemographic characteristics and visual impairment. Initiation of regular school eye screening program by governmental and non-governmental organizations is recommended for early detection, diagnosis, and management of visual impairment among school children.

Anaemia being a condition of low levels of haemoglobin in the blood is a public health problem that affects approximately 1.3 to 2.2 billion people worldwide. Aim: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of anaemia and its association with anthropometric measurements among school children in Delta State, Nigeria. Materials and Methods: The study was a pretest-postest study of 201 primary school (age 6-12 years) and secondary school (age 13-19 years) respondents randomly selected from primary and secondary schools in the three senatorial districts of Delta State. Eighty-three (41.3%) males and 118 (58.7%) females with a mean age of $12.30\pm3.14$ years were enrolled in the study. The preventive intervention protocol consisted of a single dose of vitamin A, daily vitamin C, weekly vitamin E, and twice weekly ferrous sulphate supplements administered for five weeks. Sociodemographic and anthropometric data were collected. Assessment of anaemia was done by pretest-postest haemoglobin determination. Results: The prevalence of anaemia at baseline was 38.3% and 0% post-intervention. The prevalence of stunting, underweight, and thinness at baseline were 7.0%, 14.3% and 15.0%, respectively, and post-intervention were 5.5%, 8.7% and 8.5%, respectively. The prevalence of overweight at baseline and post-intervention was 5.0%. The correlation between anaemia and underweight was $r = -0.399$, $p = 0.005$. The correlation between anaemia and body mass index was $r = -0.234$, $p < 0.001$. Conclusion: Nutritional deficiency could cause anaemia among school children. However, intake of antioxidant vitamins and iron might help to reduce the burden.

The effects of blue light on human eyes, particularly from Light-emitting diode (LED) sources such as televisions, phones, and laptops, have been extensively studied to understand its implications. This review evaluates the advantages and disadvantages of blue-light exposure to the eyes, synthesizing findings from over 75 published works accessed through PubMed, Google Scholar, and Mendeley Reference Library. Blue light plays a vital role in night vision, colour discrimination, and non-visual physiological processes. It activates melanopsinphotopigments, essential for regulating melatonin, circadian rhythms, mood, memory, pupillary reflex, locomotor activity, and body temperature. However, exposure to the narrow blue-violet wavelength range (435±20 nm) can induce retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cell apoptosis. Prolonged exposure disrupts sleep-wake cycles, accelerates RPE cell degeneration, increases retinal cellular acidity, contributes to cataract formation, and causes digital eye strain. While blue light is not entirely harmful, prolonged and unregulated exposure poses health risks. Protective strategies include using blue-light filters, intraocular lenses that block blue light and blue-blocking spectacles, which can mitigate digital eye strain and phototoxic retinal damage. Also, antioxidants may counteract oxidative stress caused by blue light. The findings underscore the need for longitudinal studies to better understand the long-term risks and benefits of blue-light exposure and to develop targeted interventions for safeguarding visual health.

Introduction: Gas flaring is a vital environmental issue that has a negative influence on health of population that host natural gases and oil wells. Exacerbated risk of abnormal outcomes for pregnant women and newborn babies are of great concern in maternal and child health. The researchers aimed to examine how gas flaring impact acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (RDS) in women that were pregnant and newborn babies. Materials and methods: A descriptive cross-sectional survey involving 483 pregnant women of reproductive age, antenatal caregivers and healthcare professionals at health facilities in Delta State Central Senatorial District. Using a multi-stage random sampling technique, a structured survey questionnaire was used to collect respondents’ RDS experiences and that of their new borne. Data were statistically analysed with the use of SPSS. Significant level was considered at P<0.05 Results: Among the 326 children recruited, 205 (42.4%) had experienced respiratory distress. Of the 483 women, 54% suffered from respiratory disease and 33% of the children had been admitted for respiratory distress on a weekly basis. While the age, educational level, gender, and marital status of women were not significant statistically with having children experiencing RDS, bearing children was statistically significant (P<0.001). Health professional reported that developing severe lung infection, release of black carbon and asthma sufferers were major risk factors to RDS. Conclusion: Findings showed that there was an increased prevalence of RDS among the study sub-population. RDS contributes more to cardiovascular disease and diabetes, hence it is important to address this public health issue

The effects of blue light on human eyes, particularly from Light-emitting diode (LED) sources such as televisions, phones, and laptops, have been extensively studied to understand its implications. This review evaluates the advantages and disadvantages of blue-light exposure to the eyes, synthesizing findings from over 75 published works accessed through PubMed, Google Scholar, and Mendeley Reference Library. Blue light plays a vital role in night vision, colour discrimination, and non-visual physiological processes. It activates melanopsinphotopigments, essential for regulating melatonin, circadian rhythms, mood, memory, pupillary reflex, locomotor activity, and body temperature. However, exposure to the narrow blue-violet wavelength range (435±20 nm) can induce retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cell apoptosis. Prolonged exposure disrupts sleep-wake cycles, accelerates RPE cell degeneration, increases retinal cellular acidity, contributes to cataract formation, and causes digital eye strain. While blue light is not entirely harmful, prolonged and unregulated exposure poses health risks. Protective strategies include using blue-light filters, intraocular lenses that block blue light and blue-blocking spectacles, which can mitigate digital eye strain and phototoxic retinal damage. Also, antioxidants may counteract oxidative stress caused by blue light. The findings underscore the need for longitudinal studies to better understand the long-term risks and benefits of blue-light exposure and to develop targeted interventions for safeguarding visual health.