Female adolescents and the future of female genital mutilation/cutting: a report from an endemic area

Background: Despite collaborative efforts aimed at its eradication, Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C) continuesin endemic areas. Objective: To evaluate the experience and preparedness of female adolescents to protect their future daughters from FGM/C. Methods: A cross-sectional survey involving adolescent secondary school girls in North Central Nigeria. Participants were secondary school students who completed the study’s self-administered questionnaire after informed parental or participant’s consent. Data management was with SPSS 20.0 (IBM, USA), P-value <0.05 was significant. Results: There were 2000 participants aged 13-19 years (mean 15.56±1.75), prevalence of FGM/C was 35.0%, awareness was 86.1%, mutilation was performed between infancy and eight years of age (mean 3.85±3.24 years), 644(32.2%) desire to mutilatetheir future daughters, 722(36.1%) expressed support for FGM/C and 63.1% of victims of FM/C reported adverse post-mutilation experiences. Support for FGM/C was associated with low social class (P0.0010), opinion that FGM/C has benefit (P0.001) and desire to mutilate future daughters (P0.001) while awareness of efforts to eradicate FMG/C was 813(40.7%). Conclusion: FGM/C remains prevalent with potential support for its continuation among female adolescents despite reported adverse post-mutilation experiences. The multi-pronged approach to eradicate FGM/C should prioritize re-orientation for adolescent girls, rehabilitation of mutilated girls and girl child formal education. Keywords: Female genital mutilation/cutting; female circumcision, harmful traditional practices, adverse childhood experiences

Knowledge, practice and acceptability of HPV vaccine by mothers of adolescent girls in Ilorin, Nigeria

Background: Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) is a sexually transmitted cause of carcinoma of the cervix. An important determinant of the success of a primary preventive strategy like HPV vaccination is the knowledge and willingness of parents to vaccinate adolescents before sexual debut. Materials and methods of study: A cross sectional descriptive survey of mothers of girls in 8 secondary schools in Ilorin was carried out from February to April 2015. Schools were selected using multi staged sampling. Descriptive and inferential statistics were performed with Chi Square and ANOVA. Results: There were 470 questionnaires returned for analysis out of 600, giving a response rate of 78.3%. One hundred and sixty-one (34.3%) knew HPV to be sexually transmitted infection and 40.4% knew it was the cause of cervical cancer. While 35.1% were aware of HPV vaccine, only 1.9% had ever vaccinated their children.Less than half (44.9%) were willing to vaccinate their children. Women with good knowledge of HPV and cervical cancer were more willing to vaccinate their children than women with poor knowledge (P <0.001). Conclusion: There is poor knowledge of HPV and practice of vaccination among mothers in llorin. Willingness of mothers to vaccinate their daughters is suboptimal. Mother’s knowledge is an important determinant of HPV vaccination of adolescents

Non-fistulous urinary leakage among women attending a Nigerian family planning clinic

Urinary leakage is an important gynecological challenge, which has a substantial impact on quality of life. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and types of non-fistulous urinary leakage among women attending the family planning clinic of the University of Ilorin teaching hospital, Ilorin, Nigeria. The study was a cross-sectional study carried out between January 3 and April 25 2009. One hundred and two women experienced urinary leakage out of 333 women interviewed, giving a prevalence rate of 30.6%. Stress incontinence was the most common urinary leakage (prevalence rate 12.0%). This is followed by urge incontinence (10.8%), urinary incontinence (4.8%), and overflow incontinence (3.0%). None of the women afflicted sought medical help. Conclusively, this study has demonstrated that non-fistulous urinary leakage is a common problem among women of reproductive age in this environment

Parental perception of human papillomavirus vaccination of prepubertal girls in Ilorin, Nigeria

Context: Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination of young girls is yet to be a routine practice in Nigeria and parents' acceptance may influence immunization of their children. Aims: The aim of this study is to determine beliefs and concerns of parents about HPV vaccination of girls. Subjects and Methods : A cross-sectional survey of parents of girls between 10 and 15 years in 12 selected secondary schools of Ilorin using a self-administered questionnaire designed by researchers was conducted. Statistical Analysis Used: Data analysis involved univariate and bivariate analyses with SPSS version 20. The level of significance for all tests was set at 5%. Results: The respondents were 470 mothers between 31 and 50 years, 58.1% had at least secondary school education, 70.2% were employed, and 22.8% belonged to the upper social class. Of the study participants, 35.1% were aware of HPV vaccine and 33.8% knew that the vaccine was available in Nigeria. While 55.8% of mothers believed that all girls should be vaccinated, 19.5% responded that only sexually active girls should have it. Among all respondents, full protection, need for repeated doses, and age of the girls were significantly related to willingness to vaccinate statistically (P < 0.05). These concerns were not significant among mothers that were aware of HPV vaccines. Conclusions: There is low awareness of HPV vaccine among mothers in Ilorin despite the high prevalence of cervical cancer in our environment. Parental perception of HPV vaccines in terms of concerns and beliefs was significantly related to willingness of mothers to vaccinate their daughters

Oral health status of pregnant women in Ilorin, Nigeria

Oral diseases have been shown to negatively affect pregnancy outcomes, yet, routine oral health care is not a component of the antenatal care package in Nigeria. This study was designed to describe the pattern of the oral conditions in pregnancy compared to the non-pregnant controls. Two hundred and twenty-five pregnant women and 166 non-pregnant controls were studied from two healthcare facilities in Ilorin. Oral-related complaints were assessed in the pregnant population while both of the groups had an oral cavity examination. The mean age of the respondents was 28.24 years ±4.77 and 80% had at least a secondary school level of education. The prevalence of oral complaints among the pregnant women was 19.1%. Gingivitis was more common among the pregnant women than the non-pregnant women, and more demonstrable on examination. Oral healthcare should be a component of the antenatal care in our environment. Impact statement What is already known on this subject? Women experience oral disorders in pregnancy, which may be worsened by the physiological changes in pregnancy. What do the results of this study add? This study has demonstrated a higher prevalence of gingivitis in the pregnant women than in the non-pregnant women on oral examination. The signs of gingivitis were higher than its related complaints. What are the implications of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? Therefore, dental care and an examination should be part of a routine antenatal care package to prevent the unwanted pregnancy outcomes that are related to oral disorders