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Background: Anaemia is a public health problem affecting millions of people globally, especially in low and middle-income countries. It leads to complications that affect patients' daily activities due to fatigue and impaired cognitive function. Objectives: To determine the prevalence and patterns of anaemia amongst patients attending tertiary health institutions. Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective study which used previous records obtained from the registers available at the Haematology Section of the Laboratory Complex, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital, Amaku, Awka, Nigeria. These were records from 1st January 2016 to 31st December 2017. A proforma was used to collect data from the registers in the Haematology Department. Variables extracted were year, month, age, sex and patient's Department. Data were analysed using SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Science) version 20.0. Results were presented in tables. Results: A total of 4950 haemoglobin concentration test results were analysed. 2846 (57.5%) were females. The overall prevalence of anaemia regardless of the degree of severity was found to be 62.9%. Severe anaemia was highest in males 15 years and above (15%). Children below the age of 5 had the lowest prevalence of anaemia. (62.5%). Mild anaemia was highest in Children aged 12 to 14 (35.1%). Patients older than 15 years constituted over half of the data collected. Conclusion: The prevalence of anaemia based on available laboratory results is alarmingly high in Awka, Nigeria, when compared to other related studies within Nigeria and beyond.

Introduction: Diarrhoea is the 10th most common cause of infant morbidity and mortality in the developing countries, though it is regarded as a minor illness in developed countries. The burden of diarrhoea in the developing world has been estimated by the world health organisation (WHO) to be about 1.7x109 episodes of diarrhoea with 4.4 million children per year. This accounts for 15 to 30% of total outpatient visits in many paediatrics clinics. Aim: To determine the prevalence of diarrhoea disease among infants and compare the risk factors for diarrhoea in infants in the two Local Government Areas (LGAs). Methodology: This was a comparative cross-sectional study. An interviewer-administered, pre-tested, semi-structured questionnaire was utilized. Data was analysed using SPSS Version 20. Frequencies and percentages were presented in tables. Chi square test of independence was used to determine association between qualitative variables. Level of statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. Result: Two hundred and ninety one respondents participated in this study. There were 143 respondents in the urban LGA and 148 respondents in the rural LGA. In the urban LGA, Out of the 143 infants, 73 (51.0%) were males while 70 (49.0%) were females. Also in the rural LGA there were more males (50.7%). This difference was not statistically significant. Out of 143 respondents in the urban LGA 65 (45.5%) has had diarrhoea but in the rural LGA, out of 148 respondents, 95 (64.2%) have had diarrhoea. This difference was statistically significant. In the urban LGA 46.2% of the mothers whose infants have had diarrhoea practiced exclusive breast feeding, while in the rural LGA only 26.3% of the mothers whose infants have had diarrhoea practiced exclusive breast feeding. This difference was not statistically significant. Among the mothers of the urban infants that have had diarrhoea, 93.8% reported that they practice hand washing after handling child’s faeces, but in the rural LGA, only 80.0% reported that they practice hand washing. This difference was statistically significant. Among the urban mothers whose infants had diarrhoea, 92.3% wash their hands before meals, but among the rural mothers, only 89% wash their hands before meals. This difference was statistically significant. Conclusion: Diarrhoea prevalence was higher among infants in the rural LGA. Exclusive breastfeeding was practiced more in the urban than in the rural LGA. We recommended that health education should be intensified in the rural areas.

Background: Malnutrition is a common problem in Sub-Saharan Nigeria. The untoward effects of malnutrition on children cannot be overemphasized. There is need for studies to understand the dynamics of malnutrition in order to intervene appropriately. Nutritional assessment in the community is essential for accurate planning and implementation of intervention programmes to reduce mortality and morbidity associated with malnutrition. Objectives: This study was carried out to assess the nutritional status of primary school pupils in urban and rural areas of Anambra state, compare them and find out the factors that affect their nutritional status. Methodology: A cross sectional comparative study of 365 children selected by stratified random sampling method from primary schools in both urban and rural areas of Anambra state was carried out. Their nutritional status was determined using anthropometric measures. The socioeconomic and socio demographic variables of interest were analyzed to determine their association with malnutrition in the children. Results: Three hundred and sixty five pupils participated in the study. Among the pupils 181 were in the rural area while 184 were in the urban area. The overall prevalence of underweight, stunting and overweight were 10.7%, 1.9% and 4.1% respectively. Prevalence of underweight was higher in the rural area (18.8%) than in the urban area (2.7%) and the difference was statistically significant. The prevalence of stunting was higher in the rural area (3.3%) than in the urban area (0.5%) and the difference was statistically significant. Underweight was more among the pupils whose parents had low educational level than among those whose parents had higher educational level, and the difference was statistically significant. Conclusion: Malnutrition is higher in the rural areas than the urban areas in Anambra state. Low level of education of parents predisposes children to malnutrition.

INTRODUCTION: Many adolescents engage in risky sexual activity without protection as shown by recent WHO report and this practice commonly resulted in sexually transmitted infections (STIs) including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), unwanted pregnancy and unsafe abortion. OBJECTIVE: This study is intended to describe the sexual behaviour of students in senior secondary schools in Nnewi North and South LGAs of Anambra State, South-eastern Nigeria and to describe their attitude toward contraceptive use for the prevention of pregnancy and STIs. METHOD: A descriptive cross-sectional study which employed multi-stage and proportionate sampling techniques was conducted. RESULT: A total of 394 students, age range of 12 – 24 years with mean of 17 ± 1.6years were studied. 95 (24.1%) admitted to previous sexual exposure with mean age at sexual debut of 12 ± 3.6 years. More than half of them had multiple sex partners and learnt about sex from the media. 74.7% of the respondents did not use condom during their first sexual exposure and 83.3% of those who had been pregnant or got someone pregnant terminated the pregnancy. CONCLUSION: This study shows a need for better government and societal commitment to adolescent reproductive health issues and incorporation of school-based interventions relating to sexuality education into school curriculum.