Perception and Healthcare seeking practices regarding dysmenorrhea among public secondary school students in Lagos, Nigeria

Objectives: Dysmenorrhea is an important health problem which may have a negative impact on female health, school activities and psychological status. This study assessed the prevalence, knowledge, perception and healthcare seeking practices of dysmenorrhea among secondary school students in Lagos State, Nigeria. The pattern of management of dysmenorrhea among respondents was also assessed. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive survey was conducted among 420 adolescents in public secondary schools in Ikeja Local government area of Lagos State, Nigeria. Respondents were interviewed using a structured pretested questionnaire. Data was analyzed with SPSS Version 22.0. The level of statistical significance was set at p<0.05. Results: Mean ± SD age at menarche was 12.3±1.3 years. The prevalence of dysmenorrhea among respondents was 75.2%. About one-quarter 106(25.2%) had good knowledge and 209(49.8%) had good perception of dysmenorrhea. Only 10% had ever sought health care for dysmenorrhea. A statistically significant association was found between the knowledge of respondents and healthcare-seeking behavior towards dysmenorrhea (p = 0.004). Conclusion: The prevalence of dysmenorrhea was high and majority of respondents had poor knowledge. Improving adolescents’ knowledge of dysmenorrhea through health education could positively influence their health care-seeking behavior

Evaluation of a school-based HIV prevention intervention among Yemeni adolescents

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>This article describes an evaluation of a school-based peer education intervention for HIV prevention among students in twenty seven high schools in Aden, Yemen. The intervention was developed after a survey among the same population in 2005, which revealed a high level of stigma towards people living with HIV (PLWH) and a low level of HIV knowledge.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>In a quasi-experimental design students who received the peer education intervention (78.6%) were compared with students who did not receive the intervention (21.4%). No systematic procedure was applied in selecting students for the intervention condition. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire from a sample of 2510 students from all 27 high-schools in Aden governorate. To increase internal validity, students were also compared with a cohort control sample surveyed in 2005, which was a random sample of 2274 students from the same schools.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Sixty eight percent of students targeted by peer education had good knowledge scores, compared with 43.3% of students not targeted by peer education (χ²= (df = 1) = 111.15, p < .01). Multi-level regression analysis revealed that, although there was a significant difference among schools, the intervention effect of peer education at the individual level was significant; students who received peer education had a statistically higher knowledge score(9.24 out of 12.0) compared with those not targeted (7.89 out of 12.0), OR = 2.11, 95% CI = 1.04-4.27, p < .05). Compared with the 2005 cohort control sample, students targeted by peer education had better knowledge on the modes of transmission and prevention and fewer misconceptions; and knowledge on the use of condoms increased from 49.4% to 67.8%. In addition, students who received the peer education interventions suggested significantly more actions to provide care and support for PLWH. Also, the levels of stigma and discrimination were much higher among the 2005 cohort control group, compared with those who received the peer education intervention.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The school-based peer education intervention has succeeded in improving levels of knowledge on modes of transmission and prevention, and in decreasing levels of stigma and discrimination in a culturally conservative setting.</p

Risk factors for HIV incidence in women participating in an HSV suppressive treatment trial in Tanzania.

OBJECTIVES: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial (RCT) of herpes simplex virus type 2 suppressive therapy with acyclovir 400 mg twice daily conducted among women in northwestern Tanzania reported a similar rate of HIV acquisition in both trial arms (Current Controlled Trials number ISRCTN35385041). Risk factors for HIV incidence were examined in the context of 3-monthly follow-up visits offering both voluntary counselling and testing and care for sexually transmitted infections. DESIGN: Prospective cohort analysis of trial participants enrolled and followed for up to 30 months. METHODS: Risk factors for HIV acquisition were analysed using Cox regression. RESULTS: Overall, 821 herpes simplex virus type 2 seropositive, HIV seronegative women were randomized; 400 randomized to acyclovir and 421 to placebo; 659 (80.3%) completed follow-up. HIV incidence was 4.27 per 100 person-years. There was no overall impact of acyclovir on HIV incidence [hazard ratio = 1.01; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.61-1.66]. HIV acquisition was independently associated with younger age at enrolment (age 16-19 vs. 30-35: hazard ratio = 4.02; 95% CI 1.67-9.68), alcohol consumption at enrolment (> or =30 drinks/week vs. none: hazard ratio = 4.39, 95% CI 1.70-11.33), having paid sex within the previous 3 months (hazard ratio = 1.82, 95% CI 1.09-3.05), recent infection with gonorrhoea (hazard ratio = 3.62, 95% CI 1.62-8.08) and injections in the previous 3 months (hazard ratio = 3.45, 95% CI 1.62-7.34). There was some evidence of an association between HIV incidence and living in the recruitment community for less than 2 years (hazard ratio = 1.75, 95% CI 0.98-3.10) and exposure to hormonal contraception (hazard ratio = 1.60, 95% CI 0.93-2.76). CONCLUSION: A high incidence of HIV was observed in this trial cohort, especially in young women. Interventions are needed to address the risk associated with alcohol use and to sustain control of other sexually transmitted infections

11.5.5 et 12.2.4-Le mobilier, dans Clotuche, Raphaël (dir.) Onnaing, ZAC de la vallée de l'Escaut, projet Toyotomi : un secteur occupé du Bronze final à l'époque mérovingienne : rapport de fouilles

Cette opération de fouille, la dernière sur l'emprise de la ZAC, a permis de compléter de nombreuses informations qui ont été récoltées au cours des opérations menées depuis 1998. Excepté La Tène moyenne, toutes les périodes qui ont pu être observées auparavant sont réunies sur ces deux emprises de fouilles : Paléolithique, âge du Bronze, Hallstatt, La Tène ancienne, La Tène finale, période gallo-romaine, haut Moyen Âge. Certes, la Préhistoire n'a pu être observée que dans une grande coupe géologique et le site non fouillé, mais cette stratigraphie rassemble la totalité des données qu'il a été possible de rassembler par compilation des différentes observations faites dans plusieurs sondages au cours des opérations précédentes. Les données concernant l'âge du Bronze ainsi que la période Hallstatt sont, comme sur la plupart des sites de ces époques rencontrés sur la région, constitués d'ensemble de fosses ou de silos recelant un matériel parfois abondant qui permet au fur et à mesure des opérations de compléter le corpus céramique de la région et d'en préciser les datations. La Tène ancienne a livré peu d'éléments mais le premier bâtiment de cette époque a pu être observé. Comme au cours des deux périodes précédentes, il s'agit d'un habitat ouvert, ce qui a été observé durant l'opération Toyota pour les occupations de cette période. L'occupation de La Tène finale est matérialisée par deux enclos se succédant au même endroit. Seule la stratigraphie a permis d'établir leur succession, mais le mobilier recueilli n'a pas permis d'attribuer à chacun d'eux une chronologie précise outre leur appartenance à cette période générale. L'abandon se fait avant le début de la période gallo-romaine vu l'absence de mobilier pouvant être attribué à cette période. Après le fin de la période protohistorique, le site se déplace le long de la voirie où il restera jusqu'au début du IIIe s. avec sans doute un abandon d'une trentaine d'année au cours du IIe s. Sa localisation ainsi que la répartition des structures permettent de supposer que cet établissement ait eu une fonction en relation avec le passage de la voirie : mantio/mutatio. Aprés un abandon durant le Bas-Empire, ce n'est que vers le VIe s. que le terrain est réoccupé par un hameau ou plusieurs bâtiments se succédant dans le temps. Au cours du VIIe s., le terrain est totalement abandonné et ne sera réoccupé qu'au cours du XXIe s. lors de l'aménagement de l'usine Toyotomi, qui est à l'origine de cette opération d'archéologie préventive