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Introduction: Birth weight is an important determinant of infant morbidity and mortality. Its effect extends upto adult life and may explain some non-communicable diseases that may occur in adult life. In general, males weigh more than females. Birth weight is categorised into three levels, viz., low, normal and high. This study analysed the relationship between gender and the categories of birth weights. Materials and Methods: Data on babies’ gender and birth weights from 961 term life deliveries in a private general practice hospital were analysed. Test on equality of the mean weight of males and females at the three categorical levels were done using z test and t-tests, as necessary. Results: Mean birth weight was found to be 3.30 ± 0.495 kg. Males weighed significantly heavier than females at mean weights of 3.343 ± 0.495 kg and 3.258 ± 0.490 kg, respectively. In the low birth weight category, males weighed 1.844 ± 0.297 kg and females weighed 1.992 ± 0.397 kg. There was no significant difference. Similarly, the mean weight of males and females in the high birth weight category were 4.462 ± 0.343 kg and 4.342 ± 0.219 kg, respectively with no significant difference. In the normal weight category, males weighed significantly more than the females with the mean weight of 3.30 ± 0.359 kg and 3.248 ± 0.392 kg, respectively. Conclusion: Male babies weighed more than female babies only in the normal birth weight category. The factor that selectively affected the birth weight of male babies must be acting under the category of normal birth weight only. More studies are necessary to identify the factors and the reasons, for which they act only at the level of the normal birth weight.  

There are conflicting reports on the relationship between hypertension and diabetes mellitus (DM) with socioeconomic status. This study explores this relationship individually and jointly. This is a cross sectional comparative study. Adults that participated in medical outreach organized for high and low socioeconomic status (SES) were tested for hypertension and DM. Mean age in years for high and low SES was 58.69 (± 10.26) and 57.77 (± 15.54), respectively. Widows were significantly more than widowers (P < 0.001). Frequency of hypertension in middle age (45 to 64 years in high and low SES) was 58.0 and 71.9%, respectively (P = 0.009). Frequency of DM was 19.2 and 7.3% in high and low SES respectively (P < 0.001). Combined frequency of hypertension and DM was 14.0 and 6.0% in high and low SES respectively (P = 0.002) and 13.8 and 5.9% in the middle age group in high and low SES respectively (P = 0.034). Severity of hypertension was more in low than high SES (P = 0.001). The prevalence and severity of hypertension among middle age in low SES is higher than in high SES. Combined frequency of hypertension and DM is more in high than low SES.

Aim: Medical doctors commonly self-prescribe drugs for themselves. This is a dangerous habit that could endanger the life of the sick doctor and affect his behavour to his patients. The objective is to study the self-prescribing habit among medical doctors in Onitsha. Methodology: This is a cross sectional descriptive study of self-prescribing habit among all medical doctors registered with Anambra State ministry of health as at 2006. Self-administered semi structured questionnaire was used. Results: All the 122 doctors studied self-prescribed. Sixty six (54.1%), did because it was convenient while 28 (23.0%) self-prescribed because the illness was perceived as not being serious. Other reasons for self-prescribing were lack of time, 18 (14.8%), certainty of the diagnosis, 6 (4.9%) and disease being in ones' specialty, 2 (1.6%). Seventy six doctors, (62.3%), also self-prescribed investigations while 72 (59%) did not have personal physicians. Some doctors, 18 (14.8%), had never consulted any doctor. Of those that consulted any doctor whether personal or not, 44 (36.1%) did so informally either at a drinking place or along hospital corridor. Though doctors were aware of the dangers self-prescribing posed; 92 (75.4%) knew that it could jeopardize follow up, 75 (61.5%) knew that it could delay making correct diagnosis, 68 (55.7%) knew that it could result in giving wrong treatment and 72 (59.0%) knew that it was against medical ethics, they still self-prescribed. Conclusion: All doctors in Onitsha indulged, knowingly, in the dangerous practice of selfprescribing. There is need to force doctors to stop it. It is recommended that evidence of registration with a personal physician be one of the requirements for renewal of doctors' practicing license.