Effect of male partner’s support on spousal modern contraception in a low resource setting

Background: As efforts continue to increase contraceptive uptake, male partner support remains important in spousal modern contraceptive use.Methods: A prospective cross-sectional survey involving women on modern contraception was conducted at the family planning clinic of the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Nigeria, between December 2013 and April 2014. All consenting participants completed a self-administered questionnaire designed for the study, and statistical analysis was done with SPSS version 20.0 using with chi square test and logistic regression; p value <0.05 was significant.Results: There were 305 participants: 208(68.2%) were multipara, the commonest current and previous contraceptives used were IUD and injectables while male partner was responsible for discontinuation in 30(23.3%) of previous users. Covert contraceptive use was 22(7.2%), male partner support was 209(68.5%) as payment for the contraceptives (203; 66.6%) or transportation to the clinic (198; 64.9%). Also, 55(18.0%) women failed to comply with contraception recently due to male partner hindrance (25;45.5%) or inability to pay for contraceptive (11;20%) or transportation to the clinic (8;14.5%). Male partners hindered contraception by reporting the woman to relatives/friends (8;32%) or denying her money for feeding allowance (6;24%); 277(90.8%) women want contraception to be couple decision while 261(85.6%) want contraception administered only if both partners consented. The significant predictors of male partner support were awareness about the contraceptive use (p<0.001,OR0.114; CI0.041-0.319), level of education (p0.007,OR1.488;CI1.114-1.9870) and social class (p0.029,OR0.690;CI0.495-0.963).Conclusion: Male partner hindrances and costs of contraceptive or transportation to clinic are important in noncompliance. Male partner education, subsidized/free contraceptives and mobile/community services will improve compliance.Keywords: Female contraception; Male partner support; Spousal contraceptio

Attitude and practice of birth attendants regarding the presence of male partner at delivery in Nigeria

Background: Despite increasing request for the male partners’ presence at delivery in developing countries, the view and practice of birth attendants remained poorly understood.This study aimed to evaluate the perception, attitude and practice of birth attendants concerning the requests in Nigeria.Methods: A prospective, cross-sectional survey involving consenting birth attendants was conducted in six public and six private health facilities in North Central Nigeria. Statistical analysis was done with SPSS-version 20.0; p-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant.Results: Among 564 participants (24.8% male, 75.2% female), 465(82.4%) support the presence of male partners at delivery, 409(72.5%) desire to be with their partner at delivery, 434(77.0%) had previous request for male partner’s presence at delivery while 225(51.8%) declined it due to perception that men will disturb. Among the male partners allowed at delivery, 92(44.0%) did not disturb the birth attendant while 5(2.4%) ended in litigation. Among birth attendants who allowed men at delivery in the past, 160(76.6%) will allow men in the future. There was no statistical significance regarding the age, gender, cadre or year of service of birth attendants and attitude to a protocol change to allow men at delivery. Birth attendants who support the presence of men at delivery showed positive attitude (OR33.178, 95%CI6.996-157.358; p<0.001) while those who opined that men would disturb at delivery had a negative attitude (OR0.306, 95%CI0.124-0.755); p0.010) to possible protocol change.Conclusion: Despite perceived negative effects of allowing male partners at delivery, many birth attendants are willing to allow them if necessary structural modifications are instituted.Keywords: Male partner, Men at delivery, Birth Attendant, Labour companionshi

Induction of Oxidative Stress: A Possible Mechanism for the Arsenic Induced Catastrophes in Male Wistar Rats

Arsenic is an environmental pollutant and its contamination in the drinking water is considered as a serious worldwide environmental health threat. The present study investigated the effects of arsenic exposure on antioxidant parameters and p53 expression in male albino rats. The animals (n=45) were exposed to arsenic (100 ppm, 150 ppm and 200 ppm) for 4, 8 and 12 weeks as sodium arsenate in drinking water. Control animals (n=15) received distilled water for the same period. Hepatic superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, glutathione peroxidase (GPx), reduced glutathione (GSH), lipid peroxidation and total protein were evaluated spectrophotometrically. Expression of p53 was also detected by histochemical staining. Before the commencement of arsenic exposure, five animals were sacrificed to obtain baseline data. ANOVA followed by Tukey’s test was used to analyse the results with p<0.05 considered significant. Significant decrement in hepatic activities of SOD, catalase and GPx as well as hepatic concentration of GSH and total protein concentration characterized exposure to all the dose regimens of inorganic arsenic at all the time interval. Corroboratively, significant elevation was observed in malondialdehyde (MDA). The expression of p53 decreased in the groups that were exposed to arsenic as compared to the control animals. The findings from the present study suggests excessive generation of free radicals and reduction in p53 expression in arsenic – induced hepatotoxicity. Keywords: Arsenic, Toxicity, Antioxidants, Lipid peroxidation DOI: 10.7176/ALST/75-04 Publication date:June 30th 201

Determinants of the decision-to-delivery interval and the effect on perinatal outcome after emergency caesarean delivery: a cross-sectional study

BackgroundPreventing prolongation of the decision-to-delivery interval (DDI) for emergency caesarean delivery (CD) remains central to improving perinatal health. This study evaluated the effects of the DDI on perinatal outcome following emergency CD. MethodsA prospective cross-sectional study involving 205 consenting women who had emergency CD at a tertiary hospital in Nigeria was conducted. The time–motion documentation of events from decision to delivery was documented; the outcome measures were perinatal morbidity (neonatal resuscitation, 5-minute Apgar score, neonatal intensive admission) and mortality. Data analysis was performed with IBM SPSS Statistics version 20.0, and P<0.05 was considered significant.ResultsThe overall mean DDI was 233.99±132.61 minutes (range 44–725 minutes); the mean DDI was shortest for cord prolapse (86.25±86.25 minutes) and was shorter for booked participants compared with unbooked participants (207.19±13.88 minutes vs 249.25±12.05 minutes; P=0.030) and for general anaesthesia compared with spinal anaesthesia (219.48±128.60 minutes vs 236.19±133.42 minutes; P=0.543). All neonatal parameters were significantly worse for unbooked women compared with booked women, including perinatal mortality (10.8% vs 1.3%; P=0.012). Neonatal morbidity increased with DDI for clinical indications, UK National Institute of Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and Robson classification for CDs; perinatal mortality was 73.2 per 1000 live births, all were category 1 CDs and all except one occurred with DDI greater than 90 minutes. Severe preeclampsia/eclampsia, obstructed labour and placenta praevia tolerated DDI greater than 90 minutes compared with abruptio placentae and umbilical cord prolapse. However, logistic regression showed no statistical correlation between the DDI and neonatal outcomes. ConclusionPerinatal morbidity and mortality increased with DDI relative to the clinical urgency but perinatal deaths were increased with DDI greater than 90 minutes. For no category of emergency CD should the DDI exceed 90 minutes, while patient and institutional factors should be addressed to reduce the DDI

Mapping saline water intrusion into the coastal aquifer with geophysical and geochemical techniques: the University of Lagos campus case (Nigeria)

Saltwater Intrusion 1nto the coastal aqu1fer. a phenomenon brou9ht by the now of seawater into fre;hwJter aquifers onginally caused by groundwater extract1on near the coast, has long been recogn1~ed as a maJOr concern around the world In this study, we employed geophysical and geochemical techniques to map and provide ev1dences that the coastal aquifers 1n the study area have been Intruded bv saltwater from the adJilCPnt LaCJOS lagoon. The 1eSIStiv1ty dara were acqu1rcd With an electrode spacll)g (a) that va1y between 1.6 ro H m. ;md expans1on factor n of 30. The depth 1nverted ,models obt<Hned from mvers1on of the f1fteen res1St1v1ty dcltd obtJ1110d in the area revealed significant impact of the ragoon water on the aqu1fers 1nd1cated as low res1stiv1ty usually below 7 Om. A combination of four different electrode arrays - Schlumberger. Wenner. D1pole-d1pole and pole-dipole. with at least three deployeci at each site (except for three traverses- traverses 13, 14 and 15), y1e,d beuer horizontal and vertici:ll resolution. hav1ng depth range of 36-226 m with 1.6-8 m electrode spacing used. rhe delineated geoelectric layers were juxtaposed with logs from both boreholes located within the campus. Evidence from geochemical study of borehole and the lagoon water samples corroborateci the ERT resu lt rroqrrssive decrease in total d1ssolved solute (TOS) ancl electncal concJuclivily (LC) from the lagoon to the co.'lst.~l aqt11frr buttresses gradual encroachment o f the mland aquifers by the intrud1ng ldgoon water. In <JcldlliOn, Sll11rl,lr tre11d was observed in heavy metal distribution Pollution Index (PI)·plot suggesting possible underground flow of water from the lagoon to thE' aquifers. From th1s study, we deduced that' excesSIVe groundwater extraction and possrbly the reduction of groundwater graciients which allows saline-water to displace fresh watPr rn the ,1qrnfer of the Investigated area are responsible for the saline water rnnusion observe

Bacterial vaginosis: Prevalence and associated risk factors among non-pregnant women of reproductive age attending a Nigerian tertiary hospital

Aim: To determine the prevalence and risk factors associated with bacterial vaginosis (BV) among non-pregnant women of reproductive age group.Methods: A cross-sectional study among non-pregnant asymptomatic women aged 19 to 45 years, attending the gynaecological clinic at University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Ilorin, Nigeria. Participants were counselled and an informed consent was obtained. This was followed by vaginal swabs for microscopy, culture and sensitivity. Diagnosis of BV was by Nugent’s criteria. Data analysis was by Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20.0. Chi-square and Yates corrected chi-square were calculated, and p value &lt;0.05 was significant.Results: Among the 212 participants, prevalence of BV was 40.1%; it was common among women aged 25-34 years (50; 58.8%), the married (77; 90.6%) and those with tertiary education (39; 45.9%). The risk factors for BV were common among women with laboratory evidence of the infection, however statistically significant risk factors were the use of intrauterine device (OR 1.61, 95%CI 0.543-4.759; p0.020) and previous voluntary termination of pregnancy (OR 1.04, 95%CI 0.600-1.808; p0.047).Conclusion: There was high prevalence of bacterial vaginosis in the study population. Universal screening and treatment of cases may assist in lowering the associated morbidity

Pre-and-post-operative aversion among men whose partners had caesarean delivery in a patriarchal setting.

Objectives: The study evaluated pre and post-operative perception and aversion to caesarean delivery (CD) among men whose partners underwent the procedure.Design: A multicentre cross-sectional study.Setting: Two tertiary and two secondary health facilities.Participants: Men whose partners underwent CD at the study sites.Methods: Participants were recruited by purposive sampling, data collection was through interaction via an interviewer-administered questionnaire first immediately the decision for CD was made and thereafter on the third postoperative day. Men whose partners had vaginal delivery were excluded from the study and data management was with SPSS version 21.0 while p&lt;0.05 was significant.Results: Awareness about CD was 84.0% mainly through the healthcare workers (42.1%) and the female partner (34.1%); 88.0% of participants recommended CD for medically-indicated reasons. The greatest influence on consent was the male partner (48.8%). The major pre-operative concerns were limitation of family size (34.7%) and fear of repeat CD (34.0%). Pre-operative perceptions of CD included being expensive (60.7%), fear of the procedure (48.0%), fear of complications (45.3%) and longer hospital stay (44.0%). Aversion to CD was 30.0% pre and 5.3% post-operation; predictors of aversion were history of previous surgery among male or female partner and awareness about CD. However, there were reductions in negative perception and aversion post-operation.Conclusion: The high negative perception and aversion to CD among male partners were reduced post-operation. Healthcare workers should address the concerns and negative perceptions about CD and prioritize patient-friendly experiences during surgical operations

Analysis of Energyauditing in Nigerian Power Systems

Energy is one of the major drivers for the economic development of any country. In order to reduce energy consumptions for sustainable development, continuous energy audit of industrial machines become necessary. Energy audit is one of the most comprehensive methods in achieving energy savings in industry and thus reducing excessive energy consumption. This paper analyzes energy auditing in power system in order to identify the sources of energy waste and assess the effectiveness of the strategies for energy savings using A and T Foods and Beverages PLC as a case study. This was with a view to recommending a policy that would enhance the effectiveness of electrical energy savings in the company. A detailed energy audit is adopted for energy project implementation plan and data from the publication of the International Standard Industrial Classification of All Economic Activities (ISIC) in Nigeria for the period of (2011 -2017)were used for the analysis. The sources of energy in the company comprised of electricity from utility company and use of generating sets (fuel). The result showed that the electrical energy consumption in the companies was mainly from generating set. In addition, the total percentage of electric energy consumed from utility company was 40.95% with an average percentage of 5.85%. The total percentage of fuel consumed by the company was 659.05% with an average value of 94.15%. The results identified areas where the company used and wasted energy, and where actions for energy conservation should be implemented. The study therefore established that energy was not sufficiently utilized, and therefore suggested possible strategies for efficient energy usage for the company. Keywords: Energy Audit, Energy Saving, A and T Food and Beverages PLC, ISIC, Power System, Generating Set, Electric Utility Companies.

Case Report: Unilateral post-tuberculosis lung destruction and massive haemoptysis in pregnancy with successful outcome

Post-tuberculosis destroyed lung is a fatal complication of pulmonary tuberculosis which can manifest with severe life-threatening haemoptysis. Its occurrence during pregnancy is rare and challenging because of the significant risk to both the mother and the foetus. We present an unbooked 36 year old G6P4+1 (4 alive) woman who presented with chronic cough, massive haemoptysis and multiple pregnancy (twin) at 35 week gestation. She had completed anti-tuberculosis treatment twice at and over nine years prior to presentation. On evaluation, there were clinical and radiological evidences of unilateral (right) destroyed lung but no evidence of active tuberculosis; resuscitation was with antibiotics, blood transfusion and oxygen therapy followed by an emergency caesarean delivery due to significant maternal compromise. The  symptoms resolved following antibiotic therapy and she was subsequently discharged home. Post-tuberculosis destroyed lung is a fatal uncommon condition that may present during pregnancy and requires a multi-disciplinary specialist care to ensure good maternal and foetal outcome. Keywords: Unilateral post-tuberculosis lung destruction; Massive haemoptysis; Twin pregnanc

Female adolescents and the future of female genital mutilation/cutting: a report from an endemic area

Background: Despite collaborative efforts aimed at its eradication, Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C) continuesin endemic areas. Objective: To evaluate the experience and preparedness of female adolescents to protect their future daughters from FGM/C. Methods: A cross-sectional survey involving adolescent secondary school girls in North Central Nigeria. Participants were secondary school students who completed the study’s self-administered questionnaire after informed parental or participant’s consent. Data management was with SPSS 20.0 (IBM, USA), P-value &lt;0.05 was significant. Results: There were 2000 participants aged 13-19 years (mean 15.56±1.75), prevalence of FGM/C was 35.0%, awareness was 86.1%, mutilation was performed between infancy and eight years of age (mean 3.85±3.24 years), 644(32.2%) desire to mutilatetheir future daughters, 722(36.1%) expressed support for FGM/C and 63.1% of victims of FM/C reported adverse post-mutilation experiences. Support for FGM/C was associated with low social class (P0.0010), opinion that FGM/C has benefit (P0.001) and desire to mutilate future daughters (P0.001) while awareness of efforts to eradicate FMG/C was 813(40.7%). Conclusion: FGM/C remains prevalent with potential support for its continuation among female adolescents despite reported adverse post-mutilation experiences. The multi-pronged approach to eradicate FGM/C should prioritize re-orientation for adolescent girls, rehabilitation of mutilated girls and girl child formal education. Keywords: Female genital mutilation/cutting; female circumcision, harmful traditional practices, adverse childhood experiences