Contraceptive use among female traders in Ibadan, Nigeria

Context: Female traders are a part of the informal sector which is characterized by flexible timing, easy entry and exit, proximity to residence and compatibility between work and family responsibilities especially child care. More than half of Nigerian women are traders and are reported to have the highest fertility rates. The ability to regulate and control fertility has tremendous impact on women's health by reducing rates of unintended pregnancies and the need for unsafe abortion.Objectives: The study was designed to assess use of contraceptives and associated factors among female traders in a well-defined market.Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional survey was carried out among a total sample of 225 female traders aged 15-49years in Sango market, Ibadan, south west Nigeria. An interviewer administered questionnaire was used to collect information on their socio-demographic characteristics and contraceptive use.Main Outcome Measures: Prevalence of ever and current contraceptive use, types and factors associated with contraceptive use was determined.Results: Their mean age was 32.3± 8.2 years, 172 (76.4%) were married and 102 (45.3%) had secondary education. Ever and current use of contraceptive was reported by 34.7% and 25.3% of respondents respectively. The Intrauterine Contraceptive Device (IUCD) was the most used method (30.0%). Current contraceptive use was highest among respondents aged 30-39 years (p=0.009).Conclusions: Level of contraceptive use among female traders in Nigeria is quite low. Efforts should be made to increase use through market based family planning programmes.Key words: Contraceptive use, reproductive age, female traders, well-defined market

Knowledge about complications and practice of abortion among female undergraduates in the University of Ibadan, Nigeria

Background: Unwanted pregnancies and unsafe abortion pose major health risks to women in the reproductive age group. Female undergraduates are particularly exposed to these risks. This study was carried out to assess the knowledge about complications and practice of abortion among female undergraduates of the University of Ibadan. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using structured, self-administered questionnaires, to collect data on respondents’ socio-demographic characteristics, sexual behaviour, knowledge about various complications of abortion and practice of abortion. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 14. Results: A total of 425 students were interviewed, mean age of the undergraduates was 21.5± 2.8 years. Overall, 122 (29%) of the respondents had ever had sexual intercourse. Twenty five percent of those who were sexually active had ever been pregnant and 90% had terminated the pregnancy. The most common reason given for termination was that pregnancy was unplanned for. Most of the respondents 354 (83.3%) had a good knowledge about complications of abortion and mean knowledge score was 4.01±1.58 (range 0-5). Conclusion: This group of students were aware of the risks associated with unsafe abortion; however, the abortion rate was still high. Sexual reproductive health interventions are needed on campus in order to equip female undergraduates with comprehensive knowledge and skills to reduce the likelihood of unplanned pregnanciesKeywords: knowledge, abortion complications, female undergraduates, Nigeria

Perception about the 'Opt Out Strategy' for HIV testing and counselling among pregnant women attending antenatal clinic in Ibadan, Nigeria

Background: Opt out strategy was designed to improve uptake of HIV testing and counselling (HTC) services but only a fifth of the population utilise this service in Nigeria. This study was conducted to determine perception about the opt out strategy for HIV screening among pregnant women attending antenatal clinic in a secondary health facility in Ibadan, Nigeria where the opt out strategy was used for HIV screening.Methodology: Cross sectional study was conducted and systematic random sampling was used to recruit 500 pregnant women. Data regarding sociodemographic characteristics, general knowledge about HIV transmission, assessment of HIV screening services in the hospital and attitude towards HIV screening was obtained.Results: Mean age of respondents was 27.4 (SD±6.1) years, 86.8% were married and 79.2% had at least secondary school education. Overall, 69.2% had good knowledge about routes of HIV transmission. More than 90% reported that information received during the HTC session was understood. Only 41.8% reported adequate privacy during screening process while 20.4% felt they were forced to participate. Positive attitude towards HTC was seen in 72.0%. Higher education was associated with better knowledge of routes of HIV transmission (OR=3.8; 95%CI= -4.3-3.3) Being married or cohabiting with a partner (OR=3.7; 95% CI=16.8-0.8), having more than one sexual partner  (OR=3.3; 95%CI=-3.7-2.97) and being HIV negative (OR=3.9; 95%CI=39.0-0.39) was associated with a positive attitude towards HIV screening.Conclusion: Inadequate privacy and patient's voluntariness were major complaints about opt out strategy for HTC. Improving privacy and stressing that screening is optional may improve general uptake of HTC when using the opt out strategy.Keywords: Pregnant women, HIV screening, Opt out strategy, Antenata

How acceptable are the Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission (PMTCT) of HIV services among pregnant women in a secondary health facility in Ibadan, Nigeria?

Background: Prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV (PMTCT) programme was designed to reduce mother to child transmission (MTCT) of HIV and it has been shown to be effective. However, the uptake of the services is still very low in Nigeria.Objective: This study was designed to determine how acceptable the different services of PMTCT are to pregnant women in Ibadan, Nigeria.Method: Systematic random sampling was used to recruit 500 pregnant women attending antenatal clinic in a secondary health facility. Questionnaires were used to obtain data regarding socio-demographic characteristics, knowledge about MTCT of HIV and prevention, the awareness and attitude towards infant feeding options for HIV positive mothers. Data were analysed using student’s t test and Chi-square test with p set at 0.05.Results: Mean age of respondents was 27.4±6.1years. Most known routes of MTCT of HIV were during pregnancy (86.0%) and from breastfeeding (86.0%). More than 80% knew that having good antenatal care, appropriate supervised delivery, taking antiretroviral drugs and not breast feeding a baby are ways of PMTCT. About two thirds had a positive attitude towards HIV testing and counselling (HTC). Only 18.4% were aware of the exclusive breast feeding option for feeding infants of HIV positive mothers while 52.2% would not comply if asked not to breast feed. Women aged 35 years and above had better attitude towards non breast feeding.Conclusion: Intensified health education on the importance of HTC and promotion of exclusive breast feeding for infants of HIV positive mothers is recommended

Male knowledge of danger signs of obstetric complications in an urban city in south west Nigeria

Background: Knowledge of danger signs in pregnancy can be regardedas one of the ways to eliminate the first level of delay as a factor influencing maternal mortality. The role of men as decision makerscannot be overlooked in this regard. The aim of this study was to determine men’s knowledge of danger signs in pregnancy and theirrole in pregnancy related decision making.Methods: A cross sectional survey was conducted among 259 men aged15-65 years in selected communities in Ibadan, Oyo State by multistagesampling. A semi-structured pretested questionnaire was used to obtaininformation on socio-demographic characteristics, attitude and practices concerning antenatal care, knowledge of danger signs in pregnancy and decision to seek hospital care. Knowledge of danger signs was the main outcome measure categorized into poor and good based on a score of < 6 and > 6. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and bivariate analysis with level of significance set at 5%.Results: Mean age of respondents was 40.4 ± 11.4 years. Almost halfhad at least secondary education (47.5%) and were mainly artisans byoccupation (59.8%), while 18.1% could not mention any danger sign.Majority had poor knowledge about danger signs in pregnancy (60.6%).There was no significant difference in knowledge of respondents withindifferent age groups, by occupation, number of children and fromdifferent educational levels.Conclusion: Poor knowledge of obstetric danger signs was evidentamong these men. Programmes targeted at providing education aboutdanger signs in pregnancy for men are recommended.Keywords: Danger Signs in Pregnancy, Obstetric Complications, Male Knowledg

Working School Children in a Nigerian Community: Revisiting the Issues

Purpose: The prevalence, risk factors and effects of work on school performance and health consequences of child labour among school children in a rapidly urbanising community in south west Nigeria was assessed. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study of 386 Junior Secondary School students was conducted. Questionnaires were used to obtain information on the students’ socio-demographic characteristics, history of child labour activities, and recent history of illness. The academic records of the students were also reviewed. Results: The prevalence of child labour was 72.5%, the median number of hours spent working per week was 18 hours (range 2- 56 hours). The main reason for working was to augment the family income (37.6%). Child labour was commoner among those: whose mothers were not educated; who had four to eight siblings, and who had a working sibling. Higher proportions of working children had repeated a class and had failed the previous term’s examinations. More of the working children reported being ill and injured in the previous term. Conclusion: Child labour is quite common in this area and is associated with negative academic and health outcomes. Multidisciplinary programmes targeted at reducing the practice should be developed.Keywords: Child labour, secondary school students, south west Nigeri

Experiences of mistreatment among medical students in a University in south west Nigeria

Objective: This study was conducted to assess the experiences of mistreatment and harassment among final-year clinical students in a Nigerian medical school.Materials and Methods: A self-administered questionnaire was used to obtain information on the various forms of mistreatment experienced by 269 students in the 2007 and 2008 graduating classes of a medical school in Nigeria.Results: Almost all the respondents (98.5%) had experienced one or more forms of mistreatment during their training. The commonest forms experienced by the students were being shouted at (92.6%), public humiliation or belittlement (87.4%), negative or disparaging remarks about their academic performance (71.4%), being assigned tasks as punishment (67.7%), and someone else taking credit for work done by the student (49.4%). Religious or age discrimination was reported by 34.2%, sexual harassment and other forms of gender-based mistreatment by 33.8%, and threats of harm by 26.4%. These incidents were mainly perpetrated by physicians and occurred mostly during surgical rotations. The effects included strained relationships with the perpetrators, reduced self-confidence and depression.Conclusion: Most medical students experienced verbal forms of mistreatment and abuse during their training. Appropriate strategies for the prevention and reduction of medical student mistreatment should be developed

Non communicable disease and risky behaviour in an urban university community Nigeria

Background: Most developing countries have only limited information on the burden of Non Communicable Diseases (NCDs) even though rapid transitions in these NCDs have been predicted.Objectives: To describe the burden of selected NCDs and associated risk behaviours in an urban university community in Nigeria.Methods: A cross-sectional survey of 525 representative staff of a University in a large city in Nigeria was conducted.Results: In all, 27.6% were already diagnosed with at least one NCD (hypertension-21.5%, diabetes-11%, cancer 2.9%) while 67.4% reported at least one risk behaviour (unhealthy diet- 96%, sedentary living- 27.4% excessive alcohol use-5.1% and smoking- 1.9%). Multiple risk behaviours were observed in 29.9% with no significant variation by sex or age. Those 40 years and above had significantly higher prevalence of NCD, particularly for hypertension (p<0.05). Only 7%, considered themselves to be at risk of NCDs. Those whose parents had NCDs OR: 5.9 (2.4-14.5) and those who currently had NCDs OR: 3.9(1.8-8.1) perceived themselves at risk of one or more NCDs, but not those with multiple risk behaviours. Conclusion: The high burden of NCDs and risk behaviours in the face of limited self-perceived risk has been demonstrated and calls for urgent intervention.Keywords: Non communicable disease, risk behaviour, Nigeri

Helminthic infections among farmers in a rural community in Oyo State, south-western Nigeria

Background: Helminthic infections are occupationally-related diseases which potentially undermine farmers' work capacity, productivity and life expectancy. These infections are usually under-reported among this group particularly in the rural areas. This study was carried out to determine the prevalence, pattern and factors associated with helminthic infections among farmers in a rural community in Oyo State, South-western Nigeria.Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 400 farmers, selected by a two-stage cluster sampling technique. A structured interviewer administered questionnaire was used to obtain information on respondents' demographic characteristics and farming activities. Stool was examined using microscopy for ova of helminths and Packed Cell Volume (PCV) was determined with anaemia defined as PCV ≤ 30%. Frequencies were generated and Chi-square test was used to determine associations at the level of p≤0.05.Results: Majority of the respondents (71%) were males, aged ≥50 years (67.9%), of Yoruba ethnicity (94.2%), and had no formal education (69.8%). Most respondents (57.0%) were engaged in subsistence farming and 75.8% produced food crops. The prevalence of helminthic infections was 27.9%: the commonest forms were ascaris (68%) and hookworm (29.9%). Co-infections were found in 7.2% respondents with the most frequent combination being ascaris and hookworm. Twenty six (6.5%) of the farmers had anaemia. Significantly higher proportions of those aged ≥60 years and without education had intestinal helminthic infections and higher proportions of those with helminthic infections had anaemia compared with their respective counterparts (p<0.05).Conclusion: Helminthic infection is prevalent among this population. Interventions targeted at prevention and treatment should be implemented.Keywords: Farmers, Helminthic infections, Rural community, South-western, Nigeri

Socio-demographic characteristics of street children in rural communities undergoing urbanization

Background: The concept of the street child in rural communities has received little attention. This study describes the sociodemographic characteristics of the street children found in a group of rural communities.Method: This descriptive study is nested in a cross sectional analytical study of street children in a group of rural communities undergoing urbanization. A cluster sample of street children as defined by the United Nations was taken in the seven chosen political wards.Results: Majority of the street children (88.9%) were within the age group 15-17 years with more males (58.3%) than females  (41.7%). Up to 64.7% had attained secondary level education while only 3.9% had no formal education. A high percentage, (61.4%) were still attending school and 15.8% had no work. Of those who work on the streets, being an apprentice (16.4%), petty trading (15.0%), part-time driving (9.5%) and car washing (5.0%) were the commonest types of work. Of those still schooling, 41.6% had no form of part-time work on the streets. None of the street children lived on the street with 65% still living with parents.However, 75% had been involved in the street life for 1-2 years with a median time of 2 years. More than 30% of their parents work outside town.Conclusion: The street child in rural communities differs from the urban perception which often has to do with those living rough and existing outside the family framework. More studies would be needed on the driving factors for street life in rural communities undergoing urbanization.Keywords: Street children, rural communities, socio-demographic  characteristic