Embodying limb absence in the negotiation of sexual intimacy

Some people with physical disabilities experience difficulties in forming and maintaining intimate and sexual relationships (Taleporos and McCabe, 2001). Individuals with physical impairments may variously be seen as inferior, ‘not up to scratch’ and can be less valued than those thought to embody the cultural ideal of ‘normality’ (Edwards and Imrie, 2003). The loss of an anatomical part such as an arm or a leg can therefore set up a complex series of perceptual, emotional and psychological responses that can limit or prevent individuals from fully experiencing the kinds of intimate relationships that many of their ‘non-disabled’ counterparts can more freely enjoy (Oliver, 1990). Drawing on a series of semi-structured interviews and a group visual workshop with five men and two women with varying acquired and congenital limb absences, this study explores the variety of ways in which sexual relationships and intimacies are negotiated and managed. Certain participants reported a great deal of anxiety regarding their perceptions of sexual attractiveness, and experienced feelings of loss of desirability as a sexual partner. Others reported engaging in an ‘active management of visual information’ about the body, through methods of concealment and exposure. Compensatory strategies were also reported as a way to effectively maintain existing intimate relationships. Finally, hyper-masculine or hyper-feminine enactments of sexuality were described within a range of social and intimate contexts as a means to ‘normalise’ the disabled body. The findings of this study provide a richer and more contextualised understanding of the highly complex adjustment process faced by individuals with limb absence, who actively engage in sexual and intimate relationships

Prevalence of obesity among Nigerian school children

The prevalence of obesity among 457 school children in the age group 6-19 years is 3.2% for males and 5.1% for females based on weight for age. 3.7% males and 3.3% females were classified as obese when triceps skinfold thickness was used as the basis of obesity. Preventable socio-economic factors are responsible for the high prevalence of obesity among, Nigerian school children. This the first study of prevalence of obesity among Nigerian school children.

Retention and loss to follow-up in antiretroviral treatment programmes in southeast Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: This study generated new information about the outcomes of patients enrolled in antiretroviral treatment programmes, as well as the true outcomes of those lost to follow-up (LTF). METHODS: Anonymized data were collected for patients enrolled over a 12-month period from two programmes (public and private) in southeast Nigeria. Estimates of retention, LTF, mortality and transfers were computed. All LTF enrollees (defined as patients who had missed three scheduled visits) whose contact information met pre-defined criteria were traced. RESULTS: A total of 481 (public) and 553 (private) records were included. Median duration of follow-up was about 14 months. Cumulative retention and LTF proportions were 66·5 and 32·8% (public), and 82·6 and 11·0% (private) respectively. LTF rates at third, sixth, ninth and twelfth months were 7·5, 19·3, 25·4 and 29·6% respectively (public), and 4·1, 7·1, 9·0 and 10·0% (private). LTF was higher among males, patients with CD4(+) cell count ≤200 and public programme enrollees. For the public facility, 56·7% of 104 traceable patients were dead and 38·8% were alive; the figures were 34·2 and 60·5% of 46 patients respectively for the private. Most deaths had occurred by the third month. CONCLUSION: Not all patients enrolled for treatment were retained. Though some died, many were LTF, lived within the community, and could develop and transmit resistant viral stains. Most traced patients were dead by the third month and poor contact information limited the effectiveness of tracing. Antiretroviral treatment programmes need to improve documentation processes and develop and implement tracing strategies

Abstinence sexuelle du postpartum et les types d'allaitement a Shagamu, Nigeria

This was a prospective study involving 371 mothers. The mean age of the mothers was 27.5 (.3.6) years with a mean years at school (Educational years) of 11.3 (2.9) years. All the mothers had previously breastfed at one of their infants for at least 6 months, while the mothers also breastfed their last child for an average (mean) of 10.3 (4.0) months. The overall mean of previous live births was 1.9 (0.8). In the first month postpartum, 84.6% of the mothers abstained from sexual intercourse, but by the 4th-5th month the proportion had dropped to 18.1%, with just 2.1% of the study population abstaining from sexual intercourse at 11-15 months post-partum. Forty seven (13.5%), 30 (8.6% ) and 3 (0.9 % ) mothers in social classes 2,3 and 1 respectively have resumed sexual intercourse at 4-5 months, while only 12(3.4%) and 4(1.1%) in social classes 2 and 3 respectively continued with sexual intercourse at 11-15 months. More mothers resumed sexual intercourse from 1 to 15 months post-partum when they breast fed for 6-10 minutes and 11-15 minutes than those who breast fed for 1-5 minutes, 16-20 minutes and 21-25 minutes. Also more mothers within the 25-29 years age group resumed sexual intercourse from the first month to the fifteenth month post-partum than mothers in the other age groups.Il s'agit d'une étude prospective concernant 371 mères. L'âge moyen de ces mères était de 27,5 (.3,5) ans ainsi qu'un âge moyen à l'école (des années scolaires) de 11,3 (2,9) ans. Toutes les mères ont allaité au moins un de leurs enfants pendant six mois alors que les mères ont aussi allaité leur dernier enfant pendant un moyen de 10,3 (4 mois). Le moyen global des naissance vivantes précédentes était de 1,9 (0,8). En ce qui concerne le postpartum du premier mois, 84,6% des mères se sont abstenues des rapports sexuels mais vers les 4ème et 5ème mois, le chiffre a chuté jusqu' à 18,1%, mais il n'y avait que 2,1% de la population étudiée qui se sont abstenues des rapports sexuels au cours de la période de 11 - 15 mois du postpartum. Quarante - sept (13,5%) 30 (8,6%) et 3 (0,9%) mères appartenant aux clases sociales 2,3 et 1 respectivement ont repris les rapports sexuels après 4-5 mois, alors que (12 (3,4%) et 4 (1, 1%) dans les classes sociales 2 et 3 respectivement ont continué les rapports sexuels après 11 - 15 mois. Il y a eu encore des mères qui ont repris les rapports sexuels à partir d'un mois jusqu'à 15 mois du postpartum quand elles ont allaité pour 6 - 10 minutes et 11 - 15 minutes plus que celles qui ont allaité pour 1 - 5 minutes 16 - 20 minutes et 21 - 25 minutes. Il y avait plus des femmes du groupe d'âge de 25 - 29 ans qui avaient repris les rapports sexuels à partir du premier mois jusqu'au quinzième mois du postpartum que les mères dans d'autres groupes d'âge

Infant Feeding and Lactational Amenorrhea in Sagamu, Nigeria

Five hundred and twenty educated, breastfeeding women in Sagamu, Nigeria, were observed prospectively in order to describe their infant feeding practices and to determine whether any predictors of the return of menses could be identified. The women remained amenorrheic for seven months. Compared with similarly selected women in other countries, they regularly fed their infants with supplements from a very early age, yet breastfeeding frequency and duration did not decline dramatically. Semi-solid food was introduced at about four months and such supplementation, as well as earlier supplementation with milk/milk-based feedings, was associated with the return of menses. The median duration of abstinence was about four months but the mean may have been much longer. No woman became pregnant until her infant was weaned. (Afr J Reprod Health 2002; 6[2]: 39-50