Awareness and practice of emergency contraception at a private university in Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: The pursuit of formal education now causes many people in developing countries to marry later in life, thereby leading to increased premarital sex and unintended pregnancies. Efforts have been made to characterize awareness and use of emergency contraception (EC) among undergraduate students in public universities in Nigeria; however, it is not known if students in private tertiary institutions adopt different practices or if having an affluent family background plays a role. This pilot study therefore aimed to assess the awareness and use of EC among students at a private Nigerian university toward assisting education planners in developing strategies in improving students' reproductive well-being. RESULTS: Out of 94 female students, 42 (44.7%) had sexual experience, but only 32 (34.0%) were currently sexually active. Six students (6.4%) had had unwanted pregnancies, of which all but one were terminated. Fifty-seven respondents (60.6%) were aware of EC, though only 10 (10.6%) ever practiced it. The greatest source of EC information was from health workers and peers; the lowest source was family or relatives. Most respondents desired orientation and availability of EC on campus. EC awareness among the students was predicted by upper social class background (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 2.73; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.06-7.45) and upbringing in the Federal Capital Territory (adjusted OR, 4.45; 95% CI, 1.56-14.22). CONCLUSIONS: Though awareness of EC was higher among the private university students in this study than at most public universities, there was no difference in EC usage. A high pregnancy termination rate was observed; dilatation and curettage were mainly adopted. In Nigeria, youth-friendly reproductive health information and access should not be limited to government-owned tertiary institutions but also extended to private ones

Awareness of HPV and cervical cancer prevention among Cameroonian healthcare workers

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Cervical cancer, although largely preventable, remains the most common cause of cancer mortality among women in low-resource countries.</p> <p>The objective of this study was to assess knowledge and awareness of cervical cancer prevention among Cameroonian healthcare workers.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A cross-sectional self-administered questionnaire in 5 parts with 46 items regarding cervical cancer etiology and prevention was addressed to healthcare workers in six hospitals of Yaoundé, Cameroon. The investigators enlisted heads of nursing and midwifery to distribute questionnaires to their staff, recruited doctors individually, in hospitals and during conferences and distributed questionnaires to students in Yaoundé University Hospital and Medical School. Eight hundred and fifty questionnaires were distributed, 401 collected. Data were analyzed with SPSS version 16.0. Chi-square tests were used and P-values < 0.05 were considered significant.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Mean age of respondents was 38 years (range 20-71 years). Most participants were aware that cervical cancer is a major public health concern (86%), were able to identify the most important etiological factors (58%) and believed that screening may prevent cervical cancer (90%) and may be performed by Pap test (84%). However, less than half considered VIA or HPV tests screening tests (38 and 47%, respectively). Knowledge about cancer etiology and screening was lowest among nurse/midwives.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Knowledge of cervical cancer and prevention by screening showed several gaps and important misconceptions regarding screening methods.</p> <p>Creating awareness among healthcare workers on risk factors and current methods for cervical cancer screening is a necessary step towards implementing effective prevention programs.</p

Mechanisms of Hearing Loss after Blast Injury to the Ear

Given the frequent use of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) around the world, the study of traumatic blast injuries is of increasing interest. The ear is the most common organ affected by blast injury because it is the bodyﾒs most sensitive pressure transducer. We fabricated a blast chamber to re-create blast profiles similar to that of IEDs and used it to develop a reproducible mouse model to study blast-induced hearing loss. The tympanic membrane was perforated in all mice after blast exposure and found to heal spontaneously. Micro-computed tomography demonstrated no evidence for middle ear or otic capsule injuries; however, the healed tympanic membrane was thickened. Auditory brainstem response and distortion product otoacoustic emission threshold shifts were found to be correlated with blast intensity. As well, these threshold shifts were larger than those found in control mice that underwent surgical perforation of their tympanic membranes, indicating cochlear trauma. Histological studies one week and three months after the blast demonstrated no disruption or damage to the intra-cochlear membranes. However, there was loss of outer hair cells (OHCs) within the basal turn of the cochlea and decreased spiral ganglion neurons (SGNs) and afferent nerve synapses. Using our mouse model that recapitulates human IED exposure, our results identify that the mechanisms underlying blast-induced hearing loss does not include gross membranous rupture as is commonly believed. Instead, there is both OHC and SGN loss that produce auditory dysfunction

Costs and returns analysis of improved and alternative cassava production technologies in Enugu State, Nigeria

There has been scientific research into new technologies. Increased Agricultural Productivity depends on the acceptability of the innovations and the willingness to invest on them. For farmers to adopt and successfully use improved farming techniques, effective agricultural extension service is needed. This will go a long way in helping the Nigerian government to address the national food question. The specific objectives of the study was an analysis of the costs and returns of improved and alternative technologies available in the study area by farmers and their level of adoption of the new technologies. Data were collected from a random sample of 250 farmers and 30 extension Staff in the three (3) agricultural zones of Enugu State. Data collected were analyzed with Descriptive Statistics and Cost and Returns analysis principle. The result showed that the improved cassava technologies is more profitable when compared to the farmers alternative technology. The ratio of the gross margin of improved cassava technology to the gross margin from the farmers alternative technology was found to be 3:1. This implied that the improved cassava technologies is three times more profitable than the farmers alternative technology. This holds some promise for the improved cassava technologies and has implication for farm level investment by the farmers in the study area. International Journal of Agriculture and Rural Development Vol. 7(1) 2006: 67-7

Determinants Of Adoption Of Improved Cassava Production Technologies Among Farmers In Enugu State Of Nigeria

The broad objective of this study was to isolate the determinants of improved cassava production Technologies in Enugu State, Nigeria. Data were collected from a sample of 250 farmers from 10 local government Areas of Enugu State. Data were collected by personal interviews using questionnaire. Descriptive statistics and multiple regression analysis were used to analyse the field data The identified cassava production technologies at different stages of adoption by the respondents are use of improved cassava cuttings, use of herbicides/pesticides, Alternate row/crop geometry in a cassava /maize/yam intercrop, planting distance, use of fertilize, machinery, weeding interval, harvesting time, improved storage and processing and planting angle. The overall mean adoption score and index was 0.96 and 0.191 respectively. The low level of adoption was attributed to cost of the technologies, its inappropriateness, scarcity or non-availability of the extension agents in the study area. The results also showed that level of Education, age of farmers, farm size, farm income and extension visits were the major determinants of cassava production technologies at 5% level of significance. Keywords: Adoption, improved cassava production technologiesGlobal Approaches to Extension Practice Vol. 2 (1) 2006: pp. 37-4

Effects of Demographic Factors on Population Dynamics in Imo State, Nigeria; Implications for Farm Labor Availability and Supply

The study assessed the effects of demographic factors on population dynamics in Imo State, Nigeria. Multi-stage sampling technique was used select 60 respondents. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics and the ordinary least square regression technique. Results showed that the area was dominated by female farmers 56.7%, and are married 66.7%. Most of the farming lands used was inherited, with more of hired laborers 76.7% used due to rural-urban drift. Results also showed that over 70% of the people migrated from rural to urban communities. Result further showed that age, gender, educational status, income level and poverty index were important and significant factors affecting population dynamics (expressed as index of rural–urban migration). The study recommended the crop farmers to join cooperative societies to raise funds to support large-scale production while the government is to provide basic rural infrastructures to checkmate rural-urban drift in the area

Poverty Alleviation Through Rural – Urban Linkages : Lessons And Implication For Development In Nigeria

One of the main aspects of rural poverty is the lack of access to basic infrastructure and services. Governments tend to develop infrastructure and provide services to the urban areas mostly because of economies of scale. Linking urban and rural areas is one of the core elements of urban and rural poverty alleviation. There are three related aspects of poverty, which include income poverty, access poverty and power poverty. The alleviation of income poverty can only be sustainable if the poor themselves initiate and sustain the income generating activity. The poor also need access to essential infrastructure and services. This paper posits that rural–urban linkages have implication for poverty alleviation. The linkage helps to strengthen the balance of political power between urban and rural areas and an improved capacity to seize economic opportunities in a globalizing economy. The empowerment of rural communities is of the process of decentralization, the redistribution of government function to lower levels of government, the move towards good governance and the growing emphasis on community participation in decision making Keywords: poverty alleviation, participation, empowermentGlobal Approaches to Extension Practice Vol. 3 (2) 2007: pp. 84-9

An Overview of Benefits of Organic Agriculture as a Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation Strategy for Nigeria

Organic agriculture is a holistic production management which promotes and enhances agro-ecosystem health, including biodiversity, biological cycles and soil biological activity. It emphasis the use of management practices in preference to the use of off-farm inputs, taking into account conditions requiring locally adapted systems. Organic agriculture is not only a specific agricultural production system, it is also a systematic and encompassing approach to sustainable livelihoods in general, where due account is given to relevant factors of influence for sustainable development and vulnerability, be this on physical, economic or socio-cultural levels. Organic agriculture has a long tradition as a farming system and it has been adapted for many climatic zones and local conditions. Again, it is a recognized potential as a development strategy for rural communities. It reduces the vulnerability of the farmers to climate change and variability. Organic agriculture comprises highly diverse farming systems and this increases the diversity of income sources and the flexibility to cope with adverse effects of climate change and variability such as changed rainfall patterns. This lead to higher economic and ecological stability through optimized ecological balance and risk-spreading. Organic agriculture is an adaptation strategy that can be targeted at improving the livelihoods of rural populations and those parts of communities that are vulnerable to adverse effects of climate change and variability