European Journal of Preventive Medicine

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Neonatal Tetanus and Gender Disparity

Received: 23 April 2015    Accepted: 05 May 2015    Published: 13 May 2015
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Abstract

Background: Neonatal tetanus (NNT) is a deadly vaccine preventable disease and one of the most underreported diseases in the developing countries seen in the newborn within the first 28 days of life. NNT remains one of the leading causes of deaths among neonates in the developing countries with about 130,000 neonatal deaths recorded in 2004. Despite the global success recorded in the NNT elimination strategy, Nigeria remains among the 25 remaining countries that record NNT cases. Study Design: Retrospective study Methods: This quantitative cross-sectional study involved mothers who gave birth to children with NNT within their first 28 days of life. The study used secondary data collected between January 2008 and December 2013 from northeast region of Nigeria. Results: The results revealed that 58% had male children (n =182) and the remaining 42% had female children (n = 130). The predominance of the male neonates could partly be as a result of the socio-cultural preference given to the male child in Nigerian. Conclusion: There is the need for parents to promptly seek urgent medical attention for all suspected NNT cases irrespective of the gender of the child to reduce neonatal mortality rates.

DOI 10.11648/j.ejpm.20150303.16
Published in European Journal of Preventive Medicine (Volume 3, Issue 3, May 2015)
Page(s) 71-74
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This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Immunization, Nigeria, Neonatal Tetanus, Neonatal Mortality, Gender Disparity

References
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[14] Okoromah, C. N., Lesi, F. E. A., Egri-Okwaji, & M. T. C., Iroha, E. O. (2003). Clinical and management factors related to outcome in Neonatal tetanus. Niger Postgrad Med Journal, 10, 92– 5. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14567043
[15] Alhaji, M. A., Bello, M. A., Elechi, H. A., Akuhwa, R. T., Bukar, F. L., & Ibrahim, H. A. (2013). A review of neonatal tetanus in University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, northeastern Nigeria. Niger Med J, 54(6): 398–401. doi: 10.4103/0300-1652.126294
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Author Information
  • World Health Organization, EPI Unit, Bauchi Zonal Office, Bauchi State, Nigeria

  • Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Disease Control, Atlanta, GA, U.S.A

  • University of Arkansas, Department Of Public Health, Kansas, U.S.A

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    Jalal-Eddeen Abubakar Saleh, John Nemecek, Chester Jones. (2015). Neonatal Tetanus and Gender Disparity. European Journal of Preventive Medicine, 3(3), 71-74. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ejpm.20150303.16

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    Jalal-Eddeen Abubakar Saleh; John Nemecek; Chester Jones. Neonatal Tetanus and Gender Disparity. Eur. J. Prev. Med. 2015, 3(3), 71-74. doi: 10.11648/j.ejpm.20150303.16

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    AMA Style

    Jalal-Eddeen Abubakar Saleh, John Nemecek, Chester Jones. Neonatal Tetanus and Gender Disparity. Eur J Prev Med. 2015;3(3):71-74. doi: 10.11648/j.ejpm.20150303.16

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ejpm.20150303.16,
      author = {Jalal-Eddeen Abubakar Saleh and John Nemecek and Chester Jones},
      title = {Neonatal Tetanus and Gender Disparity},
      journal = {European Journal of Preventive Medicine},
      volume = {3},
      number = {3},
      pages = {71-74},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ejpm.20150303.16},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ejpm.20150303.16},
      eprint = {https://download.sciencepg.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ejpm.20150303.16},
      abstract = {Background: Neonatal tetanus (NNT) is a deadly vaccine preventable disease and one of the most underreported diseases in the developing countries seen in the newborn within the first 28 days of life. NNT remains one of the leading causes of deaths among neonates in the developing countries with about 130,000 neonatal deaths recorded in 2004. Despite the global success recorded in the NNT elimination strategy, Nigeria remains among the 25 remaining countries that record NNT cases. Study Design: Retrospective study Methods: This quantitative cross-sectional study involved mothers who gave birth to children with NNT within their first 28 days of life. The study used secondary data collected between January 2008 and December 2013 from northeast region of Nigeria. Results: The results revealed that 58% had male children (n =182) and the remaining 42% had female children (n = 130). The predominance of the male neonates could partly be as a result of the socio-cultural preference given to the male child in Nigerian. Conclusion: There is the need for parents to promptly seek urgent medical attention for all suspected NNT cases irrespective of the gender of the child to reduce neonatal mortality rates.},
     year = {2015}
    }
    

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    T1  - Neonatal Tetanus and Gender Disparity
    AU  - Jalal-Eddeen Abubakar Saleh
    AU  - John Nemecek
    AU  - Chester Jones
    Y1  - 2015/05/13
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    DO  - 10.11648/j.ejpm.20150303.16
    T2  - European Journal of Preventive Medicine
    JF  - European Journal of Preventive Medicine
    JO  - European Journal of Preventive Medicine
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    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2330-8230
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    AB  - Background: Neonatal tetanus (NNT) is a deadly vaccine preventable disease and one of the most underreported diseases in the developing countries seen in the newborn within the first 28 days of life. NNT remains one of the leading causes of deaths among neonates in the developing countries with about 130,000 neonatal deaths recorded in 2004. Despite the global success recorded in the NNT elimination strategy, Nigeria remains among the 25 remaining countries that record NNT cases. Study Design: Retrospective study Methods: This quantitative cross-sectional study involved mothers who gave birth to children with NNT within their first 28 days of life. The study used secondary data collected between January 2008 and December 2013 from northeast region of Nigeria. Results: The results revealed that 58% had male children (n =182) and the remaining 42% had female children (n = 130). The predominance of the male neonates could partly be as a result of the socio-cultural preference given to the male child in Nigerian. Conclusion: There is the need for parents to promptly seek urgent medical attention for all suspected NNT cases irrespective of the gender of the child to reduce neonatal mortality rates.
    VL  - 3
    IS  - 3
    ER  - 

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