Knowledge of alcohol related harm and pattern of consumption among rural and urban secondary school adolescents in Ibadan, Nigeria

The growing involvement of adolescents in alcohol consumption is a public health concern in Nigeria. This study assesses the  knowledge differentials and alcohol consumption pattern between rural and urban adolescents in Ibadan, Nigeria. A descriptive  crosssectional survey was conducted using a four-stage random sampling technique to select 237 and 263 students from four rural and urban secondary schools respectively. A 14-point knowledge scale questionnaire on patterns of alcohol use was used for data collection. Knowledge scores of ≤ 7 and ≥ 8 were considered low and high respectively. Chi square and t-test were used for data analysis with the level of significance set at 5%.  overall, mean knowledge score of the respondents was 5.5 ± 3.2; the mean score of rural and urban respondents were 5.8 ± 3.4 and 5.2 ± 3.1, respectively. The findings also showed that more urban respondents (60.8%), than their rural counterparts (54.2%) had ever taken alcohol. Adolescents’ knowledge of alcohol was generally low, and the prevalence of alcohol abuse cut across both residential settings. Health education interventions, including peer education and counselling, need to address the prevailing alcohol abuse concerns among these adolescents. Keywords: Adolescents, Alcohol abuse, Alcohol-related knowledge, Alcohol consumption patterns, Alcohol exposur

Dynamics of Household Role Performance and the Culture of Child Health Production in Igbo-Ora, Southwestern Nigeria

Studies about production of health for children have mainly concentrated on the behavior of one or two key household members compared to the dynamics in households involving three or more members. Health production refers to the process of directing available knowledge, skills, and resources towards ensuring, maintaining, and sustaining the health of the members. This cross-sectional design study explored how the dynamics of household structure and members’ roles influence the process of health production in a rural Nigerian community. An interviewer-moderated questionnaire was administered through a panel survey approach in 576 households. Twelve in-depth interviews and eight group discussion sessions were also conducted in Igbo-Ora, Southwestern Nigeria. Twenty-two roles identified from qualitative narratives, grouped into social interaction, material supports, safe environment, and physical health care supports categories, were ranked on a score of performance by household members. The mean household size was 5.4. Malaria, acute respiratory infection, and diarrhea were reported for children in 41.8% households. Mothers recognized and took action on child’s illnesses, while fathers made payment for treatment than other household members. Household decisions on child’s wellbeing focus more on treatment (84.4%) than preventive (7.3%) actions, while final decision resides more in the fathers’ (58.3%) compared to the mothers’ (15.8%) authorities. Mothers scored the highest points in all the role categories, the fathers scored points next to the mothers in material support, and safe-environment roles, while the children’s older siblings scored points next to the mothers on social interaction and caring roles. Health is produced in Igbo-Ora through the consciousness of growth monitoring, safe environment, and hygiene practice

A Review of the Conceptual Issues, Social Epidemiology, Prevention and Control Efforts Relating to Rape in Nigeria

Rape is an endemic criminal sexual behaviour in Nigeria and its  perpetration not only violates survivors‘ dignity but also compromises their health and wellbeing. The rape-related data used in this traditional literature review are derived mainly from small-scale surveys conducted in Nigeria. The deviant behaviour could be perpetrated against both males and females of various socio-demographic characteristics; however, it is young females that are disproportionately more affected. The determinants of rape include factors that are associated with adverse social, cultural and economic conditions. In Nigeria the prevention and control of the practice involve stakeholders such as parents, Non-governmental Organisations, religious institutions, government ministries as well as government agencies that constitute the criminal justice system. The criminal justice system uses existing legal statutes on rape to arrest, prosecute, adjudicate, and punish offenders. The barriers to the control and prevention of rape in Nigeria include the following: inappropriate perception; social stigmatization; under-reporting; and cumbersome legal requirements needed to establish a case of rape. Strategies with potentials for curbing rape in the country include public enlightenment, multi-sectoral action, advocacy, amendment of rape-related laws; training targeted at personnel in health care and criminal justice systems and formulation of evidence-based policies.Keywords: Determinants of Rape, Rape-related laws, Rape prevention and control, Rape in NigeriaLe viol est un comportement sexuel criminel endémique au Nigéria et sa perpétration non seulement porte atteinte à la dignité des survivantes, mais compromet également leur santé et leur bien-être. Les données relatives au viol utilisées dans cette revue de la documentation traditionnelle proviennent principalement des enquêtes à petite échelle menées au Nigéria. Le comportement déviant pourrait être perpétré contre des hommes et des femmes de diverses caractéristiques   sociodémographiques; cependant, ce sont les jeunes femmes qui sont disproportionnellement plus touchées. Les déterminants du viol comprennent des facteurs associés à des conditions sociales, culturelles et économiques défavorables. Au Nigéria, la prévention et le contrôle de cettepratique impliquent des parties prenantes telles que les parents, les organisations non gouvernementales, les institutions religieuses, les ministères gouvernementaux ainsi que les agences gouvernementales qui constituent le système de justice pénale. Le système de justice pénale utilise les lois en vigueur sur le viol pour arrêter, poursuivre, juger et punir les contrevenants. Les obstacles au contrôle et à la prévention du viol au Nigéria sont les suivants: perception inappropriée; stigmatisation sociale; sousdéclaration; et les exigences juridiques lourdes nécessaires pour établir un cas de viol. Les stratégies susceptibles de mettre un terme au viol dans le pays comprennent la sensibilisation du public, l'action multisectorielle, le plaidoyer, la modification des lois relatives au viol; formation destinée au personnel des systèmes de santé et de justice pénale et la formulation des politiques fondées sur des données factuelles.Mots-clés: Déterminants du viol, Lois relatives au viol, Prévention et contrôle du viol, Viol au Nigéri

Malaria knowledge and agricultural practices that promote mosquito breeding in two rural farming communities in Oyo State, Nigeria

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Agricultural practices such as the use of irrigation during rice cultivation, the use of ponds for fish farming and the storage of water in tanks for livestock provide suitable breeding grounds for anthropophylic mosquitoes. The most common anthropophylic mosquito in Nigeria which causes much of the morbidity and mortality associated with malaria is the anopheles mosquito. Farmers are therefore at high risk of malaria - a disease which seriously impacts on agricultural productivity. Unfortunately information relating to agricultural practices and farmers' behavioural antecedent factors that could assist malaria programmers plan and implement interventions to reduce risk of infections among farmers is scanty. Farmers' knowledge about malaria and agricultural practices which favour the breeding of mosquitoes in Fashola and Soku, two rural farming communities in Oyo State were therefore assessed in two rural farming communities in Oyo State.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>This descriptive cross-sectional study involved the collection of data through the use of eight Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) and the interview of 403 randomly selected farmers using semi-structured questionnaires. These sets of information were supplemented with observations of agricultural practices made in 40 randomly selected farms. The FGD data were recorded on audio-tapes, transcribed and subjected to content analysis while the quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Most respondents in the two communities had low level of knowledge of malaria causation as only 12.4% stated that mosquito bite could transmit the disease. Less than half (46.7%) correctly mentioned the signs and symptoms of malaria as high body temperature, body pains, headache, body weakness and cold/fever. The reported main methods for preventing mosquito bites in the farming communities included removal of heaps of cassava tuber peelings (62.3%), bush burning/clearing (54.6%) and clearing of ditches (33.7%). The dumping of cassava tuber peelings which allows the collection of pools of water in the farms storage of peeled cassava tubers soaked in water in uncovered plastic containers, digging of trenches, irrigation of farms and the presence of fish ponds were the observed major agricultural practices that favoured mosquito breeding on the farms. A significant association was observed between respondents' knowledge about malaria and agricultural practices which promote mosquito breeding. Respondents' wealth quintile level was also seen to be associated with respondents' knowledge about malaria and agricultural practices which promote mosquito breeding.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Farmers' knowledge of malaria causation and signs and symptoms was low, while agricultural practices which favour mosquito breeding in the farming communities were common. There is an urgent need to engage farmers in meaningful dialogue on malaria reduction initiatives including the modification of agricultural practices which favour mosquito breeding. Multiple intervention strategies are needed to tackle the factors related to malaria prevalence and mosquito abundance in the communities.</p

Primary care training for patent medicine vendors in rural Nigeria

The provision of essential drugs and the involvement of various potential and existing health care providers (e.g. teachers and traditional healers) are two important primary health care strategies. One local group that is already actively supplying the medication needs of the community is the patent medicine vendors (PMVs), but the formal health establishment often views their activities with alarm. One way to improve the quality of the PMVs' contribution to primary care is through training, since no formal course is required of them before they are issued a license by government. Primary care training was offered to the 49 members of the Patent Medicine Sellers Association of Igbo-Ora, a small town in western Nigeria. Baseline information was gathered through interview, observation and pre-test. A training committee of Association members helped prioritize training needs and manage training logistics. Thirty-seven members and their apprentices underwent the 8 weekly 2-hr sessions on recognition and treatment (including non-drug therapies) for malaria, diarrhoea, guinea worm, sexually transmitted diseases, respiratory infections, and malnutrition, plus sessions on reading doctor's prescriptions and medication counseling. The group scored significantly higher at post-test and also showed significant gains over a control group of PMVs from another town in the district. The Igbo-Ora experience shows that PMVs can improve their health care knowledge and thus increase their potential value as primary health care team members.patent medicine vendors primary health care training

Stigma associated with onchocercal skin disease among those affected near the Ofiki and Oyan rivers in Western Nigeria

Skin diseases have been a major source of social stigma, whether they be infectious or not. The potential stigamtizing effect of skin disease associated with onchocerciasis is currently receiving attention because half of the 17 million victims of onchocerciasis in Africa live where the non-blinding form of the disease is prevalent. Some reports are available that onchocercal skin disease (OSD) is associated with social stigma including problems in finding a marriage partner. Previous studies have also implied positive effects of ivermectin treatment on OSD. Therefore a multi-country trial of ivermectin is underway to test the hypothesis that ivermectin treatment might affect perceptions of stigma associated with OSD. This paper presents the baseline stigma findings from the study site located in southwestern Nigeria. A total of 1032 persons living in villages near the Ofiki and Oyan Rivers were screened and interviewed and 500 (48%) were found to have an onchocercal skin lesion. A 13-item, 39-point stigma scale was used in interviews with affected persons. A mean score of 16.8 was obtained. No personal characteristics or disease factors were found to be associated with stigma score. The highest ranking items focused on issues of self-esteem such as feeling embarrassed, feelings of being pitied, thinking less of oneself, feeling that scratching annoys others, feeling that others thought less of the person and feeling that others had avoided the person. During the interviews it was discovered that only about half of those clinically diagnosed as having OSD labeled their own condition as onchocerciasis. Those who said their lesion was OSD had a lower stigma score than those who did not, conforming with previous studies wherein affected persons perceived less stigma from OSD than those without the disease. A broader community perspective on OSD was obtained through 50 interviews using paired comparisons of five skin-related local illnesses. Onchocerciasis placed midway in aversive responses between the higher end represented by leprosy and chicken pox and lower scoring papular rashes known locally as eela and ring worm. In-depth village based interviews yielded several case studies of how onchocerciasis had a negative social impact on its victims. While study on the cultural perceptions of OSD is recommended, the results indicate that with a fairly high prevalence of OSD, the community level effects of social stigma should be regarded as serious.

Community acceptance, satisfaction, and support for case management of malaria of various degrees in selected rural communities in Ibadan, Oyo-State

Objectives: This study aimed to assess communities’ perception and adoption of the evidenced-based malaria diagnosis and case management intervention targeted at under-five children. The effectiveness of trained Volunteer Community Health Workers (VCHWs) to diagnose malaria among under-five children using rapid diagnostic testing kit, provide treatment using Artemisinin Combination Therapy and rectal Artesunate were assessed.Design: A qualitative evaluation study was conducted in October 2015.Setting: Communities in the 6 rural wards in Ona-Ara Local Government Area, Oyo State Nigeria.Participants: Caregivers of under-five children, community–based frontline health workers, and community leaders selected using purposively sampling.Methods: Nine Focus Group Discussions and 15 Key Informant Interviews were conducted using a pre-tested guide. Data were subjected to thematic analysis.Results: It was disclosed that VCHWs promoted people’s access to prompt and appropriate malaria treatment. The communities accepted the VCHWs; the reasons given for this included the following: effectiveness of VCHWs in case management of malaria; good inter-personal relationship with caregivers; and the positive health outcomes associated with services provided by them. In addition, community members expressed satisfaction with the VCHWs and provided them with all the support needed to function throughout the malaria case management intervention. The VCHWs considered the support as a great source of encouragement.Conclusions: The use of VCHWs to treat malaria was adjudged to be effective and considered acceptable to the communities. The adoption of the intervention and its integration into the primary health system by the government is advocated for in medically underserved rural communities