Mothers' Utilisation of Programme Interventions to Reduce Maternal Mortality in Southwestern Nigeria

TH"enty three years after the safe motherhood initiative, maternal mortality is still soaring, as more than half a million women die from pregnancy and related causes annually. Improving programme utili::ation would likely reduce the incidence of maternal deaths in Nigeria. The paper examines the socio-economic factors influencing maternal mortality. The study used face-to-face structured inteJTiell' and focus group discussion ll'ith a two level analytical approach capturing both the qualitative data and information from the discussion segment. The findings show that mother's age, education, health centre distance, occupation and husband occupation are significant enhancers of antenatal clinic registration and utili::ation of medicarefacilities among mothers at 'p values' ofO. 002, 0.001, 0.007 and 0.000 respectively. While the paper provided a guide for informed decision on maternal health services in the counfly, it also suggests compulsory maternal health education and job empO\I'ermentfor the prospective mothers

Substance use among adolescents in sub-Saharan Africa:A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background. In sub-Saharan Africa, substance use among adolescents has continued to be a major public health concern, albeit poorly documented across many settings. Objective. To estimate the prevalence of substance use among adolescents in sub-Saharan Africa. Methods. We searched Pubmed, EMBASE, AJOL and Google Scholar for population-based studies on adolescents (age 10 - 19 years) and reporting on the prevalence of substance use across sub-Saharan Africa. Search dates were from January 2000 to December 2016. A random effects meta-analysis was conducted with pooled prevalence rates (and 95% confidence interval (95% CI)) of estimated substance abuse among adolescents in sub-Saharan Africa. Results. Twenty-seven studies across sub-Saharan Africa including 143 201 adolescents (mean age 15.6 years) were selected. The overall prevalence of ‘any substance use’ in sub-Saharan Africa was 41.6%, with the highest rate in Central Africa at 55.5%. The use of caffeinecontaining products (including coffee or kola nut) was most predominant at 41.2% (95% CI 24.3 - 58.1) but limited to West Africa. These were followed by alcohol at 32.8% (95% CI 26.0 - 39.5), tobacco products 23.5% (95% CI 17.7 - 29.3), khat 22.0% (95% CI 12.5 - 31.5) and cannabis 15.9% (95% CI 12.2 - 19.1). Other abused substances included depressants at 11.3% (95% CI 6.5 - 16.1), amphetamines 9.4% (95% CI 6.0 - 12.9), heroin 4.0% (95% CI 3.5 - 4.5) and cocaine 3.9% (95% CI 1.4 - 6.5). Conclusion. Our study reflects a high use of psychoactive substances and drugs among adolescents in sub-Saharan Africa. It is important that interventions and rehabilitation programmes are comprehensive and targeted at adolescents and parents in these settings

Improving postnatal checkups for mothers in West Africa: A multilevel analysis

This study examined multilevel factors related to postnatal checkups for mothers in selected West African countries. The study analyzed data from Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) for five West African countries: Sierra Leone (2013), Cote d’Ivoire (2012), Guinea (2012), Niger (2012), and Liberia (2013). The weighted sample sizes were 2125 (Cote d’Ivoire), 2908 (Guinea), 1905 (Liberia), 5660 (Niger), and 3754 (Sierra Leone). The outcome variable was maternal postnatal checkups. The explanatory variables were community and individual/household characteristics. With the use of Stata 12, the chi-square statistic and multilevel mixed-effects logistic regression were applied. More than two-thirds of respondents in Guinea and Niger did not receive a postnatal checkup after their last birth, while in Cote d’Ivoire, Liberia, and Sierra Leone, more than half of respondents received a postnatal checkup after their last childbirth. Community characteristics accounted for the following variations in postnatal checkups: 33.9% (Cote d’Ivoire), 37.2% (Guinea), 27.0% (Liberia), 33.5% (Niger), and 37.2% (Sierra Leone). Community factors thus had important relations to use of postnatal care in West Africa. Interventions targeting more community variables, particularly community education and poverty, may further improve postnatal care in West Africa

Psychosocial Health of Adolescent living in Urban Slum Nigeria

The paper examines association of neighborhood characteristics with psychosocial statues of adolescent living in urban slums. Data for the study were obtained from a cross sectional survey among adolescent age 15-19, living in urban slums in Lagos State. Adopted a measuring scale for adverse environment and psychosocial attributes, data were analyzed using univariate and binary logistic regression analysis. Results revealed that neighborhood characteristics were associated with low self-academic performance rating. Both parental process and neighborhood factors such social disorganization was able to predict psychosocial wellbeing such subjective academic performance rating. The findings revealed among others that adverse neighborhood characteristics in urban slum were associated with unhealthy subjective wellbeing which reflects wide personal and social contexts and have implications for public health and social wellbeing. This paper calls for programmes that are tailor to addressing rapidly developing slum settlements in low income area, to secure the future generation

Urban renewal in Nigeria: a slash and burn approach?

This research analyses the socio-economic implications of approaches to urban renewal on displaced populations in Ogun State, south-west Nigeria. In the last 5 years,massive renewal has been undertaken in five local government areas—Abeokuta North,Ado/Odo Ota, Sagamu, Yewa South and Ijebu Ode of the State from which two—Abeokuta North and Ado-Odo/Ota—were purposively selected to carry out this study. Primary data through administration of structured questionnaires to randomly selected 420 affected adults who either had their houses or shops demolished formed the source of data. However,380 questionnaires were returned and cleaned upon which all were analyses based. Results from binary logistic regressions show that urban renewal has significant effects on the occupation (odds ratio = 3.0; p < 0.01) and income (p < 0.01) of those affected. Urban renewal also significantly affects the health status of the local residents because results show that persons whose houses or shops were demolished are twelve times more likely to lose sound sleep (odds ratio = 12.08; p < 0.01) and also have serious issues with loss of appetite (p < 0.01) and sadness (p < 0.01) all of which are symptoms of depression. These take place as a result of avoidable consequences like forced displacements and disregard for residents’ economic, social and cultural (ESC) rights all engendered by poorly planned and poorly executed urban renewal. We therefore recommended that urban renewal in Nigeria be more holistic and that compensation be commensurate with the value of property demolished so that incidence of depression which is significant here would not reoccur in subsequent similar endeavours

Neonatal Death in Sub-Saharan Africa and Associated Maternal Interpersonal Socio-cultural Factors

Several factors have been attributed to high neonatal death from studies. However, few studies that have examined mothers’ social factors have limits those factors on education, type of place of residence and income. This study extends on findings from previous studies, using DHS survey data conducted in 2013 in Nigeria, Liberia and Sierra Leone to examine the association between maternal socio-cultural factors and neonatal death. The result of weighted multilevel logistic regression analysis, show that the residing in rural area (OR=0.110, 95% CI=1.116-1.11, Islamic religion (OR=0.091, 95% CI=1.096-1.096), having co-wives (OR=0.105, 95% CI=1.110-1.111), justifying beating for going out without telling husband (OR=0.034, 95% CI=1.035-1.035) and justifying beating for refusing sex (OR=0.122, 95% CI=1.129-1.130)  were significantly more likely to report neonatal death. After adjusting for age, education and wealth, all these factors continued to be significant predictors of neonatal death. Though, the odd of neonatal death is less with age and education. The present study shows relative influence of multiple, interrelated maternal socio-cultural factors on neonatal death and confirm our hypothesis that women context indirectly influences neonatal outcome

AN EMPIRICAL ASSESSMENT OF THE STATE OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT IN NIGERIA CAPITAL CITIES: EXAMINING CORE INDICATORS OF AN ENVIRONMENT-FRIENDLY CITY

It has been observed that daily interactions of millions of Nigeria population estimated at 186.5 million by PRB (2016) with their immediate environment have serious implications on her landscape, environmental aesthetics and atmospheric well-being. Urban decadence, proliferation of slums, deforestation, congestion and all forms of pollution are some of the resultant effects of man’s interaction with his environment which is having adverse effects on Nigerian major cities. Increased industrial activities have engendered more carbon emission in the country and it is estimated at 26.1 million tons per annum, the fourth highest in Africa (PRB, 2016). This paper examines the state of environmental management in the state capital cities of Nigeria in the light of five research-proven indicators of environment-friendly cities. The paper applies qualitative method using the indicators to examine which state capitals are really environment-friendly out of the 37, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, in the country. Results show that only five state capitals out of 37 can be referred to as environment-friendly cities in Nigeria. Recommendations that can spur others to follow in their footsteps by adopting global best practices that makes a settlement environment-friendly were given

Gender differences in credit acquisition techniques of rural dwellers in Obafemi Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State

The study assessed gender differences in credit acquisition techniques of rural dwellers in Obafemi Owode Local Government Area of Ogun state. A multistage sampling procedure was used to select respondents for the study. Data were collected with the aid of structured questionnaire covering respondents’ socioeconomic characteristics, sources of information, constraints faced and credit sources available. Data were analyzed using percentages, frequencies and t-test. Result of analysis showed that the mean ages were 43 and 40 for males and females, 51.5% and 38.5% of males and females had access to credit facilities. Farming was a major (64.7% and 76.9%) source of income in the study area. Farm organization was the major source of information, ̅= 2.53 and =2.58 in the study area. Major constraints faced by males were time wasting and undue embarrassment ̅= 2.93 while high interest rate ̅= 2.88 constrained the females most. Family was the major source of credit, ̅=2.9 for both males and females. There was a significant difference (t= 0.96, p&lt; 0.05) in credit acquisition from money lenders between males and females. The study concluded that respondents mostly acquired credits from family sources, hence, recommended that strings and barriers be lessened to enable respondents have access to formal credit sources.

Edwardsiella ictaluri, an unusual cause of bacteraemia in a Nigerian child with acute bloody diarrhoea

Enteric septicaemia of catfish was first detected in 1976 as an economically significant disease associated with commercial catfish production. Initially, Edwardsiella ictaluri was a host specific pathogen of catfish species but has also been reported from other hosts other than the catfish such as the zebrafish. E. ictaluri has not been isolated in humans hence it is not a zoonotic infection. There has been no previous report of isolation of this organism in humans. This was a case report of a 5 year old boy who presented with fever, vomiting, passage of bloody stool of 6 days and abdominal pain of a day duration. In the case of this 5 year old boy who presented with features of dysentery, blood culture using BACTEC™ grew E. ictaluri. E. ictaluri may be a pathogen which can infect humans just like another closely related species, Edwardsiella tarda. Although, E. ictaluri has not been reported in humans, could this be the first case? Non availability of diagnostic technique appropriate for its diagnosis may explain the rare incidence of the organism in humans, hence many cases would have been treated without isolating the organism