Alcohol consumption and cigarette smoking pattern among brothelbased female sex workers in two local government areas in Lagos state, Nigeria

Background: Alcohol and tobacco use are known risk factors for non communicable diseases especially among women. Brothel based female sex workers may be at increased risk of exposure to these two substances.Objective: To assess the pattern of alcohol and tobacco use among female sex workers in two selected local government areas in Lagos state, Nigeria.Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out among 323 brothel-based female sex workers in 39 consenting brothels. Data was collected by trained interviewers using a pretested structured  questionnaire.Results: Majority (67.8%) were current drinkers with 89.5% of these having their most recent drink less than a week ago. Most of them (89%)  consumed more than the reference limits for alcohol use among women. Up to 20.7% were current smokers with (92.5%) having their most recent cigarette less than a week ago. More than a third (37.4%) were heavy smokers while 19% were dual users. Current drinking was associated with current smoking. Smokers consumed significantly more units of alcohol than non-smokers.Conclusion: The prevalence of harmful alcohol use and cigarette smoking are very high among this group of female sex workers. Programs that address the use of these substances should be made available for these women

Prevalence of Sexually Transmitted Infections and Sexual Practices of Out of School Youths in Border Town Markets in Lagos and Ogun State

People under the age of twenty five make up forty three percent of the world population; most young people do not have access to appropriate information about sexuality and do not know how to protect themselves from sexually transmitted infections, including HIV, or unintended pregnancy. Universal access to reproductive health education and services are important in achieving the millennium development goals. A cross sectional study was carried out among youths working in two border town markets to determine the prevalence sexually transmitted infections and their sexual practices. Calculated minimum sample size of 240 was used, data was collected with pretested interviewer administered questionnaire using systematic random sampling method. Analysis was done with Epi info version 3.5.1, test of association was carried out using chi square at p value < 0.05. The mean age was 19.72+3.06, majority were females and overall 70% (165) of the respondents had stopped schooling. Among the females, 8.4% stopped schooling because they got pregnant. Only 4.2% knew the meaning of safer sex, more than half of the respondents have had sex in the past, by 19years of age about 80% were sexually experienced, among the sexually experienced youths 18.3% had symptomatic STIs in the past. For youths that were currently sexually active, 42.9% had sex with casual partners, 22.4% were consistent condom users while one third had multiple sex partners. Education was a significant predictor of condom use and receiving sexuality education while males were more likely to have multiple partners and symptomatic STIs was commoner among respondents with multiple partners. The high prevalence of symptomatic STIs among the youths in border markets in this study was not surprising in view of the poor practice of safer sex and early age of sexual debut. There is need for community based outreach sexuality education based education and services targeted at adolescents and young people, family life education curriculum should be implemented in all secondary schools.Nigerian Medical Practitioner Vol. 62 No 5-6, 201

Prevalence of obesity and elevated blood pressure among bankers in Lagos, Nigeria

Background: Non - communicable diseases (NCDs) are the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in many developed and developing societies. Overwhelming evidences from epidemiological, prospective cohort and intervention studies, have linked most NCDs to unhealthy lifestyle. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of obesity and hypertension among bankers in Lagos State, Nigeria. Methods: Blood pressure, body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference were measured in 260 professional bankers from 56 bank branches in Lagos. Results: The mean age of the respondents was 33.5 years + 5.7, majority (64.6%) were married and 51.9% were males. About half (52.7%) of the respondents had a first degree The study showed that 40.4% of the respondents had BMI above 24.9more of the females (71.5%) had truncal obesity compared to 35.1% of the males. Increasing age was associated with being overweight. Almost one third (29.6%) of the respondents had elevated blood pressure, males, obese and bankers above the age of 40years were more likely to have elevated blood pressure. Conclusion: The study showed that a significant proportion of individuals in the banking profession are overweight and hypertensive. The management of every bank should invest in periodic health promotion, screening and wellness programs for their employees. Keywords: Cardiovascular Disease, Hypertension, Noncommunicable Disease, ObesityHigh Med Res J 2013;13:12-1

Knowledge and practice of blood donation among university undergraduates

Background: Blood donation is an essential component of health care which saves millions of lives each year.Students of tertiary institutions in Nigeria constitute a significant percentage of the population who areconsidered to meet the criteria for voluntary blood donation. We sought to assess the knowledge, attitude andpractice of blood donation among undergraduates to provide data for developing effective strategies targeted at the youth. Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study of 419 students of the University of Lagos, Nigeria using self-administered questionnaires. Results: The mean age of the respondents was 22.2± 3.8 years; and 88.5% had heard of blood donation. Only 14.3% of the respondents had good knowledge about blood donation. More of the students in the higher level  had good knowledge of blood donation (X2 = 42.9, p < 0.001). Eighty three percent of the respondents had positive attitude towards blood donation, only 19.6% of the respondents had donated blood before; among this group 72% were willing to donate again. More of the males and students in the higher levels had donated blood (X2 = 7.71, P=0.005,  X2=25.7, p<0.0001 respectively). Conclusion: The students had inadequate knowledge and poor practice of blood donation and these needs to be improved on. Establishment of voluntary blood donor club on the campus and enlightenment campaigns are needed to improve the knowledge and of blood donation  practices of youths.Key Words: Attitude, Blood donation, Knowledge, Nigeria, Practice, Students. High Med Res J 2013;13:26-3

Transactional Sex, Condom and Lubricant use among Men who have Sex with Men in Lagos State, Nigeria

Men who have unprotected sex with men may also have unprotected sex with women and thus serve as an epidemiological bridge for HIV to the general population. This cross sectional descriptive study assessed condom and lubricant use and practice of transactional sex among men who have sex with men (MSM) in Lagos state. Simple random sampling was used to select three community centres and snowball sampling technique was used to recruit 321 respondents. Almost half (50.9%) had received payment for sex while 45.4% had paid for sex in the past. Consistent condom use was practiced by 40.5% of respondents during the last 10 sexual encounters, 85.6% used lubricants mostly with condom, products used were KY jelly, body cream, saliva and Vaseline. There is need for behavioural change to reduce risky practices which predisposes this group of MSM to HIV and sexually transmitted infections. Afr J Reprod Health 2013 (Special Edition); 17[4]: 90-98).Keywords: MSM, sex for money, unprotected sex, lubricant

Interpersonal skills and practices of health workers as perceived by patients in Dots Centres in Lagos State, Nigeria

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Predictors of maternal health service utilization: a community based, rural-urban comparison in Nigeria

Objectives: Provision of skilled health care during pregnancy, childbirth and the early postpartum period is an effective strategy to reduce maternal mortality. This study was done to determine and compare the utilization of antenatal and delivery services in an urban and rural area of Lagos State.Methods: A community based cross sectional study was done in Surulere and Ibeju Lekki LGAs among mothers of under-fives. Multistage sampling was used to select 600 respondents in both LGAs. Information was collected with a structured questionnaire. Data was analyzed with Epi info 3.5.1 and inferential statistics done were chi square, fisher’s exact and t tests at p<0.05. Multiple logistic regressions were also done to determine predictors of utilization.Results: Eighty four percent of women in both areas had formal ANC; 79.7% (rural) and 75.0% (urban) had institutional delivery for their last confinement. Among both groups of women, increasing maternal age increased ANC use while higher maternal education was associated with delivery in a health facility. Predictors of ANC use were being married (rural), Christianity and lower parity (urban). For both groups of women, religion, maternal and spouse’s education had a positive effect on having skilled delivery. Among the rural women, ANC utilization positively influenced institutional delivery. Predictors of use of skilled delivery were being older, being married or co-habiting and lower parity (rural); being younger and higher educational level (urban).Conclusion: There is high utilization of ANC services in both groups of women with a lower use of institutional delivery services in the urban area. There is need for intervention to further improve use of skilled delivery.Keywords: Health-seeking behavior, ANC, Delivery, Rural, Urban, Nigeri

Sexually transmitted infections: Prevalence, knowledge and treatment practices among female sex workers in a cosmopolitan city in Nigeria

Sexually transmitted infections constitute economic burden for developing countries, exposure to causative agents is an occupational hazard for female sex workers. Targeted interventions for this population can reduce the incidence and prevalence of sexually transmitted infections including human immunodeficiency virus, but barriers exists which can hinder effective implementation of such programs. This descriptive cross sectional study sought to assess the prevalence, knowledge and treatment practices of sexually transmitted infections among brothel based female sex workers Three hundred and twenty three consenting female sex workers were surveyed using pre tested, interviewer administered questionnaires. More than half of the respondents (54.2%) had poor knowledge of symptoms of sexually transmitted infections. Only 13.9% were aware that sexually transmitted infections could be asymptomatic. The self reported prevalence of symptomatic sexually transmitted infections was 36.5%. About half of those with sexually transmitted infectionss sought treatment in a hospital or health centre while 32.5% from a patent medicine vendor. Most respondents (53.8%) mentioned the perceived quality of care as the main reason for seeking treatment in their chosen place. More of the respondents with good knowledge of sexually transmitted infections  reported symptoms compared to those with fair and poor knowledge. The knowledge of sexually transmitted infections among these female sex workers is poor and the prevalence is relatively high. Efforts to improve knowledge promote and encourage preventive as well as effective treatment practices must be made for this population.RésuméLes infections sexuellement transmissibles constituent un fardeau économique pour les pays en développement et l'exposition aux agents pathogènes est un risque professionnel pour les prostituées. Les interventions qui visent cette population peuvent réduire l'incidence et la prévalence des infections sexuellement transmissibles, y compris le virus de l'immunodéficience humaine, mais il existe des obstacles qui peuvent entraver la mise en oeuvre effective de ces programmes. Cette étude descriptive transversale a cherché à évaluer les pratiques de la prévalence, la connaissance et le traitement des infections sexuellement transmissibles chez les prostituées qui pratiquent leur métier dans des bordels. Trois cent vingt-trois prostituées consentants ont été interrogées àl'aide des questionnaires déjà testés et administrés par l’intervieweur. Plus de la moitié des interviewées (54,2%) avaient une mauvaise connaissance des symptômes des infections sexuellement transmissibles. Seulement 13,9% étaient au courant que les infections sexuellement transmissibles peuvent être asymptomatiques. La prévalence des symptômes d'infections sexuellement transmissibles auto signalés était de 36,5%. Environ la moitié de ceux qui sont atteints des infections sexuellement transmissibles ont recherché un traitement dans un centre hospitalier ou dans un centre de santé tandis que 32,5% le recherchaient auprès d'unvendeur des médicaments brevetés. La plupart des interviewées (53,8%) ont mentionné la qualité perçue des soins comme la principale raison pour se faire soigner dans les lieux choisis. Beaucoup d’interviewées qui ont une bonne connaissance des infections sexuellement transmissibles ont signalé des symptômes par rapport à ceux qui les connaissent passablement ou mal. La connaissance des infections sexuellement transmissibles chez les prostituées est mauvaise et la prévalence est relativement élevée. Il faut faire des efforts pour améliorer les connaissances, pour promouvoir et pour encourager la prévention ainsi que les pratiques de traitement efficaces à l’intérêt de cette population.Keywords: Symptomatic STIs, Patent medicine vendor, Brothel