Experiences of Violence among Pregnant Women Attending Ante-Natal Clinics in Selected Hospitals in Abuja, Nigeria

Anecdotal records have shown that there is increasing prevalence of gender based violence in Nigeria. Little is known about the extent and magnitude of this phenomenon as it affects pregnant women. This study described the experiences of violence among pregnant women attending ante-natal clinics in Abuja, Nigeria using a cross-sectional design. A three-stage sampling technique was used to select 300 participants from six hospitals in the three out of the six Local Government Areas in the region. Data was collected using a pretested semi-structured questionnaire and analysed using descriptive statistics and chi-square tests. Forty three percent of the respondents had experienced at least one form of violence and 15.0% were experiencing violence in their current relationships. Main forms of violence ever experienced were psychological (38.0%) and physical (36.4%). Partners/husbands (70.2%) and partner/husband relatives (29.8) were the perpetrators. Of the partner/husband’s relatives, sisters-in-law (57.1%) and partners’ cousins (21.5%) were the main perpetrators of the forms of violence experienced. Strategies employed to resolve violence conflict included dialogue with spouse (46.7%), ignoring the experience (30.3%), making up with sex (16.7%), providing gifts and special dishes (5.0%) and mediation by family members (1.3%). Health promotion and education intervention strategies such as counselling, male involvement in sexual and reproductive health programs, advocacy for the promotion of women’s health and right as well as use of appropriate culturally sensitive conflict resolution strategies are needed to ameliorate the situation. Keywords: Coping strategies, Gender-based violence, Pregnant women, Prevalenc

Experiences of Girls with Hearing Impairment in Accessing Reproductive Health Care Services in Ibadan, Nigeria

Delivery of health services to people with hearing impairment is poorly understood in Nigeria and limited research has been done to throw more light on the process involved. This study described experiences of 167 girls with hearing impairment in accessing reproductive health services in Ibadan using a validated questionnaire. Descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression were used to analyze the data. Almost 95.0% of respondents had ever visited health facility for reproductive health issues. Of these 6.2% and 4.6% went for treatment of STIs and pregnancy termination respectively; 36.7% were embarrassed to ask questions in the presence of an interpreter, communication (40.5%) and cost (10.8%) were key barriers to access and 85.6% would use facility if hearing impairment-friendly services are provided. Respondents who were currently working were 20 times more likely to receive services they wanted (OR=20.29, CI=1.05-392.16). Availability of certified interpreters and ensuring confidentiality are key to effective service delivery for the hearing impaired.RésuméLa prestation des services de santé aux personnes atteintes de déficience auditive est mal comprise au Nigéria et il n’y a pas eu assez de recherche faite pour jeter plus de lumière sur le processus impliqué. A l’aide d’un questionnaire validé, cette étude décrit les expériences de 167 filles atteintes de déficience auditive, face à l'accès aux services de santé de la reproduction, à Ibadan. Les statistiques descriptives et de régression logistique binaire ont été utilisées pour analyser les données. Près de 95,0% des interviewées avaient déjà visité un établissement de santé pour les questions de santé de la reproduction. Parmi elles, 6,2% et 4,6% sont allées pour le traitement des ISTs et l'interruption de grossesse, respectivement; 36,7% étaient gênées de poser des questions à la présence d'un interprète ; la communication (40,5%) et le coût (10,8%) étaient les principaux obstacles à l'accès et 85,6% se serviront des établissements de santé si les services adaptés à la déficience auditive sont assurés. Les interviewées qui travaillent actuellement étaient 20 fois plus susceptibles de recevoir des services qu'ils voulaient (OR = 20,29, IC = 1,05 à 392,16). La disponibilité des interprètes certifiés et l’assurance de la confidentialité sont essentielles à la prestation efficace des services pour les personnes atteintes de déficience auditive.Keywords: disability, reproductive health, health care access, hearing impaired girl

Geo-demographic and socioeconomic determinants of diagnosed hypertension among urban dwellers in Ibadan, Nigeria: a community-based study

\ua9 The Author(s) 2024. Background: The relationship between diagnosed high blood pressure (HBP) and proximity to health facilities and noise sources is poorly understood. We investigated the associations between the number of persons diagnosed with HBP at different distance corridors of noise-generating sources (churches, mosques, bus stops, and road networks), and blood pressure monitoring outlets (healthcare facilities and pharmaceutical shops) in Ibadan, Nigeria. In addition, we investigated the likelihood of being diagnosed with HBP using distance from noise-generating sources, distance to blood pressure monitoring outlets, socio-demographic and clinical status of the participants. Methods: We investigated 13,531 adults from the African Rigorous Innovative Stroke Epidemiological Surveillance (ARISES) study in Ibadan. Using a Geographic Information System (GIS), the locations of healthcare facilities, pharmaceutical shops, bus stops, churches, and mosques were buffered at 100 m intervals, and coordinates of persons diagnosed with HBP were overlaid on the buffered features. The number of persons with diagnosed HBP living at every 100 m interval was estimated. Gender, occupation, marital status, educational status, type of housing, age, and income were used as predictor variables. Analysis was conducted using Spearman rank correlation and binary logistic regression at p < 0.05. Results: There was a significant inverse relationship between the number of persons diagnosed with HBP and distance from pharmaceutical shops (r=-0.818), churches (r=-0.818), mosques (r=-0.893) and major roads (r= -0.667). The odds of HBP were higher among the unemployed (AOR = 1.58, 95% CI: 1.11–2.24), currently married (AOR = 1.45, CI: 1.11–1.89), and previously married (1.75, CI: 1.29–2.38). The odds of diagnosed HBP increased with educational level and age group. Conclusion: Proximity to noise sources, being unemployed and educational level were associated with diagnosed HBP. Reduction in noise generation, transmission, and exposure could reduce the burden of hypertension in urban settings

Geo-behavioural predictors of diagnosed hypertension in Igbo Ora Area, Oyo State, Nigeria

\ua9 The Author(s) 2025.Diagnosed hypertension stands out as a prominent global cause of mortality, prompting recent efforts to understand not only treatment options but also determinants across diverse age and occupational groups. However, the literature on the impact of environmental factors on diagnosed hypertension is limited, especially in rural areas with restricted access to health infrastructure. Geographical determinants research has often focused on spatial variations across different units, potentially masking individual environmental contributions. Data on diagnosed hypertension patients and their behaviours were gathered during the ARISE project, complemented by geographical data (elevation, vegetation, road network, population density, and nighttime light exposure) from secondary sources. Spatial patterns were analyzed using the Nearest Neighbour Statistic, Ripley K Function, and Kernel Density Estimation, while Binomial logistic regression identified predictors. Diagnosed hypertension patients exhibit spatial clustering, and are mainly comprised of elderly individuals, residing closer to roads, at higher elevations, in areas with higher population distribution, and with little or no green vegetation. Socio-economic, health-related, behavioural, and environmental factors collectively drive diagnosed hypertension. Spatial clustering of diagnosed hypertension in the Igbo Ora community is localized, indicating potential spatial factors influencing its prevalence. Beyond identified behavioural and medical history factors, geographical elements like nighttime light exposure and normalized vegetation index contribute to the observed clustering. Understanding these dynamics is crucial for targeted interventions in the community

Novel functional insights into ischemic stroke biology provided by the first genome-wide association study of stroke in indigenous Africans

\ua9 The Author(s) 2024. Background: African ancestry populations have the highest burden of stroke worldwide, yet the genetic basis of stroke in these populations is obscure. The Stroke Investigative Research and Educational Network (SIREN) is a multicenter study involving 16 sites in West Africa. We conducted the first-ever genome-wide association study (GWAS) of stroke in indigenous Africans. Methods: Cases were consecutively recruited consenting adults (aged > 18 years) with neuroimaging-confirmed ischemic stroke. Stroke-free controls were ascertained using a locally validated Questionnaire for Verifying Stroke-Free Status. DNA genotyping with the H3Africa array was performed, and following initial quality control, GWAS datasets were imputed into the NIH Trans-Omics for Precision Medicine (TOPMed) release2 from BioData Catalyst. Furthermore, we performed fine-mapping, trans-ethnic meta-analysis, and in silico functional characterization to identify likely causal variants with a functional interpretation. Results: We observed genome-wide significant (P-value < 5.0E−8) SNPs associations near AADACL2 and miRNA (MIR5186) genes in chromosome 3 after adjusting for hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia, and cardiac status in the base model as covariates. SNPs near the miRNA (MIR4458) gene in chromosome 5 were also associated with stroke (P-value < 1.0E−6). The putative genes near AADACL2, MIR5186, and MIR4458 genes were protective and novel. SNPs associations with stroke in chromosome 2 were more than 77 kb from the closest gene LINC01854 and SNPs in chromosome 7 were more than 116 kb to the closest gene LINC01446 (P-value < 1.0E−6). In addition, we observed SNPs in genes STXBP5-AS1 (chromosome 6), GALTN9 (chromosome 12), FANCA (chromosome 16), and DLGAP1 (chromosome 18) (P-value < 1.0E−6). Both genomic regions near genes AADACL2 and MIR4458 remained significant following fine mapping. Conclusions: Our findings identify potential roles of regulatory miRNA, intergenic non-coding DNA, and intronic non-coding RNA in the biology of ischemic stroke. These findings reveal new molecular targets that promise to help close the current gaps in accurate African ancestry-based genetic stroke’s risk prediction and development of new targeted interventions to prevent or treat stroke

Attitude towards mandatory pre-marital HIV testing among unmarried youths in Ibadan Northwest Local Government Area, Nigeria

This study assessed the attitude of unmarried youths towards Mandatory Premarital HIV Testing (MPHT) in Ibadan Northwest Local Government Area. A three-stage sampling technique was used to select 571unmarried youths from households. A validated questionnaire was used for the collection of the data. Descriptive, Chi-square statistics and logistics regression were used to analyze the data. Mean age of respondents was 20.6 ± 2.6 years, 52.0% were males and 52.7% had completed their senior secondary education. Though 82.8% believed that MPHT could reduce the spread of HIV, 43.8% stated that it will increase the stigma associated with HIV infection. Attitude towards mandatory pre-marital HIV testing however was positive. Males were about two times more likely to have positive attitude towards mandatory pre-marital HIV testing (OR=1.507, CI=1.067-2.129). Positive attitude towards MPHT among study respondents offers a window of opportunity of undergoing HIV testing before marriage (Afr J Reprod Health 2010; 14[1]:83-94)

Facteurs qui influent sur la violence basée sur les sexes chez les hommes et les femmes dans les états choisis au Nigéria

This study determined the factors associated with gender based violence among 3000 men and women in selected states in Nigeria. Respondents who had experienced physical violence were 806(26.9%), comprising 353(11.8%) males and 453(15.1%) females (p<0.001). Respondents who had experienced sexual violence were 364 (12.1%) of which 221 (7.4%) were males and 143(4.8%) were females (p<0.0001). Married female respondents were more likely to experience physical violence than single respondents (OR= 1.71, 95%CI: 1.15-2.53 p=0.008). In addition, lower risk of experiencing sexual violence among males was observed among those who do not drink alcohol. The study has shown that gender based violence still constitutes a problem in Nigeria, affecting women more than men. However, efforts should be geared towards addressing the factors that promote violence among both sexes through increased awareness and education (Afr J Reprod Health 2011; 15[4]: 78-86).Cette étude a déterminé les facteurs liés à la violence basée sur les sexes chez 3000 hommes et femmes dans les états choisis au Nigéria. Les interviewés qui ont vécu la violence physique comptaient 806(26,9%) y compris 353 (11,8%) mâles et 453 (15,1%) femelles (p<0,001). Les interviewés qui ont vécu la violence sexuelles comptaient 364 (12,1%) dont 221 (7,4%) étaient des mâles et 143 (4,8%) étaient des femelles (p<,0001). Les interviewés femelles mariées avaient plus la possibilité de subir la violence physique que les interviewées célibataires (0R=1,71, 95%CI : 1,15-2,53 p=0,008). De plus, le risque plus élevé chez les hommes de subir la violence sexuelle a été lié significativement à l’état de fumeur des partenaires, l’état professionnel et la consommation d’alcool chez les mâles. L’étude a montré que la violence basée basée sur les sexes constitue encore un problème au Nigéria et touche plus les femmes que les hommes. Néanmoins, il faut faire des efforts pour s’occuper des facteurs qui encouragent la violence chez les deux sexes à travers l’intensification de la sensibilisation et l’éducation (Afr J Reprod Health 2011; 15[4]: 78-86)

Facteurs qui influent sur la violence basée sur les sexes chez les hommes et les femmes dans les états choisis au Nigéria

This study determined the factors associated with gender based violence among 3000 men and women in selected states in Nigeria. Respondents who had experienced physical violence were 806(26.9%), comprising 353(11.8%) males and 453(15.1%) females (p<0.001). Respondents who had experienced sexual violence were 364 (12.1%) of which 221 (7.4%) were males and 143(4.8%) were females (p<0.0001). Married female respondents were more likely to experience physical violence than single respondents (OR= 1.71, 95%CI: 1.15-2.53 p=0.008). In addition, lower risk of experiencing sexual violence among males was observed among those who do not drink alcohol. The study has shown that gender based violence still constitutes a problem in Nigeria, affecting women more than men. However, efforts should be geared towards addressing the factors that promote violence among both sexes through increased awareness and education (Afr J Reprod Health 2011; 15[4]: 78-86).Cette étude a déterminé les facteurs liés à la violence basée sur les sexes chez 3000 hommes et femmes dans les états choisis au Nigéria. Les interviewés qui ont vécu la violence physique comptaient 806(26,9%) y compris 353 (11,8%) mâles et 453 (15,1%) femelles (p<0,001). Les interviewés qui ont vécu la violence sexuelles comptaient 364 (12,1%) dont 221 (7,4%) étaient des mâles et 143 (4,8%) étaient des femelles (p<,0001). Les interviewés femelles mariées avaient plus la possibilité de subir la violence physique que les interviewées célibataires (0R=1,71, 95%CI : 1,15-2,53 p=0,008). De plus, le risque plus élevé chez les hommes de subir la violence sexuelle a été lié significativement à l’état de fumeur des partenaires, l’état professionnel et la consommation d’alcool chez les mâles. L’étude a montré que la violence basée basée sur les sexes constitue encore un problème au Nigéria et touche plus les femmes que les hommes. Néanmoins, il faut faire des efforts pour s’occuper des facteurs qui encouragent la violence chez les deux sexes à travers l’intensification de la sensibilisation et l’éducation (Afr J Reprod Health 2011; 15[4]: 78-86)

Factors Influencing Gender Based Violence among Men and Women in Selected States in Nigeria

This study determined the factors associated with gender based violence among 3000 men and women in selected states in Nigeria. Respondents who had experienced physical violence were 806(26.9%), comprising 353(11.8%) males and 453(15.1%) females (p&lt;0.001). Respondents who had experienced sexual violence were 364 (12.1%) of which 221 (7.4%) were males and 143(4.8%) were females (p&lt;0.0001). Married female respondents were more likely to experience physical violence than single respondents (OR= 1.71, 95%CI: 1.15-2.53 p=0.008). In addition, lower risk of experiencing sexual violence among males was observed among those who do not drink alcohol. The study has shown that gender based violence still constitutes a problem in Nigeria, affecting women more than men. However, efforts should be geared towards addressing the factors that promote violence among both sexes through increased awareness and education