The severe shortage and maldistribution of Western-trained health personnel in Nigeria, and the realization that traditional healers and midwives are the only available providers of health care to most Nigerians living in rural areas led to the recommendation that traditional practitioners be integrated into the present hospital-oriented medical system in the country. Though the two systems of care are utilized jointly by a number of consumers, the recommendation faces several problems; and the inadequacy of existing modern health care facilities further represent a major public health planning problem Most of the studies undertaken in Nigeria to identify some of the socio-demographic and cultural factors which influence the pattern of utilization of health care facilities were conducted in Ibadan/Ibarapa division of Western Nigeria. Their findings, though in general agreement, could not be widely applied to the diverse ethnic/cultural groups in the country The purposes of this study were: First, to identify the pattern of utilization of maternity care services and the socio-demographic and cultural characteristics of 'users' and 'non-users' of modern maternity care services among reproductive-aged Egba-Egbado Yoruba women residing in a rural area of Ogun State (Nigeria). Second, to assess the influence of selected socio-demographic and cultural variables, illness behavior, and knowledge and attitudes of the women regarding modern (hospital-oriented) maternity care on their utilization of existing maternity care services and personnel A sample of 250 households was systematically selected for this study, and 304 Egba-Egbado Yoruba women (age 15-44) who had a child between January, 1979 and December, 1981 were interviewed concerning pregnancy, delivery and child care. An interview schedule prepared especially for the purposes of this study was administered to the eligible women by trained interviewers The factors found to differentiate 'users' from 'non-users' were socio-economic factors (level of education, literacy, and occupation), the use of native medicines during pregnancy, knowledge of location of a 'hospital', number of times attended antenatal clinic, and their utilization experience within the system On the basis of this study, a number of considerations are derived for the planning of maternity health education programs needed, and recommendations are given for future studies that will improve the information base for health planning in general / acase@tulane.edu

Statement of the Problem. The purpose of the research was to describe the present dietary habits of Vietnamese, Black and Caucasian Elementary Public School students in two schools of Orleans Parish. The objectives of the study were to determine: (1) similarities and differences in the dietary habits and socio-demographic characteristics of the three ethnic groups; (2) average consumption of each of nineteen nutrients in the three ethnic groups; and (3) average consumption of nineteen nutrients compared to one-third of the Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDA) for the seven to ten year old students of each ethnic group Method and Material. To achieve the objective of this study a dietary questionnaire was sent home to the parents. The dietary questionnaire was used to obtain data on the dietary habits and socio-demographic characteristics of the three groups of students. Data from 126 questionnaires were tabulated and analyzed. A plate waste study of school lunch for 150 students from each of the three ethnic groups in the two schools was conducted and nineteen nutrients were analyzed, and were compared to one-third of the RDA Findings and Conclusions. Caucasians had the highest yearly incomes, smallest households and spent more money on weekly food purchases. Vietnamese students consumed less milk and consumed breakfast and dinner less frequently than the other two groups. Foods most commonly disliked by all three ethnic groups were vegetables The mean nutrient levels meeting one-third RDA for all three ethnic groups were for: protein, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B(,12) and phosphorus. School lunch trays of food served to the students did not meet one-third RDA for the following nutrients: calories, iodine, magnesium folacin and vitamin E. There were no significant differences for the mean levels of all nineteen nutrients for the three ethnic groups / acase@tulane.edu

acase@tulane.edu

This study examined the geographic variation of infant mortality using zip codes as the unit of analysis in order to facilitate site location and site specific health services for community health centers and/or mobile health units. The relationship between infant mortality and the place of residence by zip code was analyzed using factors related to residential deprivation and selected maternal-infant factors. The design of this study was non-experimental retrospective correlational using a mix of ecological and individual variables. The sample chosen included all births and associated infant deaths from 1988 through 1992 in 22 of the 64 parishes in Louisiana. The 22 sample parishes contained 192 zip codes. Variable data was extracted from linked birth and death files and 1990 Census tapes. Chi-square was used to test variation of infant mortality among and within parishes by zip codes. Correlation and multivariate regression analysis were used to examine the association of six maternal/infant factors and five residential deprivation factors, separately and then combined, with infant mortality. A geographic information system was also used to formulate thematic maps for presentation of data. Results indicated that the mother's marital status was the most significant predictor of infant mortality; being married was associated with decreased infant mortality. Identification of significant predictors varied on an individual basis. The results also indicate that infant mortality does vary significantly within each parish. Overall use of this model in order to locate healthcare services or in predicting infant mortality by zip code is questionable, but may be useful in those parishes that have large populations and exhibit greater internal variability and segregation in general / acase@tulane.edu