Contraceptive uptake among women attending family planning clinic in a Nigerian tertiary health facility: a 6 year review

Background: Contraceptive uptake is one of the most important determinants of pregnancy rates and birth rates in the world. Aim: To determine the principal trends in contraceptive use from 2004-2009 in the family planning unit of a tertiary health centre in South-Western Nigeria, and to identify the effect of age, marital status and parity on the choice of contraceptive method.Methods: The record of 1,862 clients attending the Family Planning unit of Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex, Ile-Ife, Osun-State, Nigeria for the period between 2004-2009 were reviewed. Information related to the age, marital status, parity and the choice of contraception were obtained using a structured proforma and the data analyzed with SPSS version 16. Pearson chi-square test was used as test of significance where applicable.Results: Within the study period, the contraceptive uptake was 13.2%. Copper-T IUCD was the most commonly used method of contraception (77.9%), followed by the progestogen only injectable contraceptives (12.6%), then oral pills (4.1%) and progestin implants (2.3%). Single women and women of low parity are more likely to use pills than IUCD (69% vs. 38.3%) while long acting reversible contraception (injectables and IUCD) are preferred by women with higher parity (P=0.000).Conclusions: IUCD is the most popular method of contraception in Ife-Ijesha area of Nigeria. Contraceptive uptake is relatively low among the women. Age and parity are key influences on the uptake and choice of contraception practiced by the women, while the influence of marital status is not statistically significant

CHEMOTHERAPEUTIC INTERACTION BETWEEN KHAYA GRANDIFOLIOLA (WELW) CDC STEM BARK EXTRACT AND TWO ANTI-MALARIAL DRUGS IN MICE

In malarial endemic countries especially in the tropics, conventional antimalarial drugs are used with herbal remedies either concurrently or successively. Khaya grandifoliola is one of such popular herbs used in the treatment of malaria. Various doses of ethanol extract of K. grandifoliola stem bark (50-400 mg/kg/day) were administered orally to Swiss albino mice infected with Plasmodium yoelii nigerense. A dose of 100 mg/kg/day of the extract was also combined with 2.5 mg/kg/day of chloroquine or 6.25 mg/kg/day of halofantrine in both early and established malaria infection test models. The results showed that in the early malaria infection test, K. grandifoliola in combination with chloroquine or halofantrine elicited enhanced anti-plasmodial effect in the established infection, there was significantly greater parasite clearance following administration of the combination when compared to the effects of K. grandifoliola or the conventional drugs alone. The mean survival period of parasitized animals was also enhanced by the extract/halofantrine combination. Lower therapeutic doses of halofantrine may be required to potentiate parasite clearance when used in combination with K. grandifoliola. This may constitute great advantage to halofantrine which is associated with cardiotoxicity at high doses

Evaluation of Energy and Micronutrients Intake of Nigerian Adolescent Females: A Case Study of Institutionalized Secondary Schools in Akure South Local

Abstract: The objective of the study is to provide information on the energy and micronutrients intake of Nigerian adolescent females. A cross-sectional surrey was conducted among the 323 institutionalized adolescent females of 10-19 years age range in Akure South LGA, Ondo State. The energy and micronutrient intake were determined by weighing the food intake of the subjects and part of the food samples were subjected to chemical analysis The mean mineral intakes were: Ca 567 mg/kg, Mg 261 mg/kg, Zn 7.58mg/kg, Fe 19.8 mg/kg and P 136.8 mg/kg. And the vitamins intakes were vit. A 860 mg/kg, Thiamine 0.7 mg/kg, Riboflavin 0.28 mg/kg, Niacin 3.27 mg/kg, vit. C 9.1 mg/kg, Vit. D 2.14 mcg/kg Folic acid 9.8 mcg/kg and Vit. B 12 1.2 mcg/kg, and the energy intakes was 6.45 MJ. The result showed that high proportion of the subjects were not meeting the RDA for energy and some of the micronutrients intake. Key words: Institutionalized adolescent female, dietary intake, micronutrients intak

Phytochemical, Scavenging Properties and Glycemic Index of Soy-Enriched Maize-Based Gruel Fortified with Moringa Leaves and Wonderful Kola

In this study, defatted soybean cake, Moringa oleifera leaves and wonderful kola combination were used to raise the nutritional value and scavenging properties of maize-based formulated diets. After blanching and fermentation process, maize (popcorn), moringa leaves, wonderful kola seeds, defatted soybean cake were milled into flour and blended to obtain six samples (R1, R2, B1, B2, F1, F2). Samples were analyzed for antinutrients, phytochemicals, scavenging properties and glycemic index using standard methods. Both processing methods reduced antinutrient levels; particularly for phytic acid. Of the methods used, fermentation is the most effective in increasing the protein content of the formulated diets, it also had the highest scavenging ability and the lowest glycemic index. For DPPH (1,1 diphenyl-2-picryhydrazyl) assay, R1, B1, F1 had high  scavenging abilities with F1 having the highest. Albino rats fed with 1 g of sample F1 showed a great decrease in blood glucose level below 5 mmol/l when compared with other samples and reference sample (glucose). This shows the importance of a healthy diet and the effectiveness of Moringa oleifera leaves in the prevention and management of diabetes

A review of clinical experience with progesterone-only injectable contraceptives at OAUTHC, Ile-Ife

Background: Progestogen-only injectable contraceptives (POICs) remain the most popular contraceptive method in Nigeria. Considering how widely used POICs are worldwide, there is little published evidence of their safety and effectiveness. There is also a paucity of research to determine associations between the influence of age and parity and the preferred choice of POICs in women. Aim: This study was to determine the use prevalence and the influence of age and parity on the preferred choice of POIC, and also the reasons for discontinuation among users of POICs at the family planning clinics of OAUTHC, Ile-Ife. Materials and Methods: A retrospective record of 324 women who chose POICs out of a total of 1,029 clients seen at the family planning units of the hospital was collected for the period between January and December 2015. Information relevant to this study objectives was extracted using a purpose-designed proforma. Data were analyzed with SPSS version 16, and results were presented as frequencies and percentages. Pearson Chi-square test was used as test of significance where applicable and a P value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The prevalence of POIC during the study period was 31.49%. Depo-Provera (depot medroxyprogesterone acetate [DMPA]) was the most popular injectable preferred by the women. Age and parity had significant effects on the preferred injectable contraception with P values of 0.032 (CI 0.088-0.099) and 0.002 (CI 0.009-0.013), respectively, as younger clients with lower parity preferred Noristerat while preference for DMPA increased with age and parity. Majority (67%) did not experience any side effect; secondary amenorrhea was the most common side effect experienced by 27% of the clients. Only 34% continued with the method for the duration of study while 66% discontinued for different reasons. Conclusion: POICs are very effective and safe long-acting reversible method of contraception. While DMPA may be the more popular overall choice, norethisterone enanthate (NET-EN) is preferable in younger women of low parity

Upright or dorsal? childbirth positions among antenatal clinic attendees in Southwestern Nigeria

Background: Upright childbirth positions are associated with better delivery outcomes. These positions such as kneeling and squatting were the norm for childbirth in indigenous Nigerian custom. However, westernization has largely replaced them with supine positions. Objective: This study was conducted to compare the knowledge, attitude and experience regarding childbirth positions between antenatal clinic attendees in southwest and northwest Nigeria. Materials and Methods: A mixed methods design was employed. Quantitative data were obtained using a structured questionnaire in Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex, Ile-Ife (n = 201) and Federal Medical Centre, Katsina (n = 104). Knowledge was graded as poor, fair or good whereas attitude toward each position was graded as favoured, indifferent or against. The resulting proportions were compared using Chi-square. Qualitative data were obtained through key-informant interviews. Results: Knowledge of childbirth positions was generally poor. Overall, only to women (0.6%) had good knowledge, whereas 60 (19.7%) had fair knowledge and the rest (79.7%) had poor knowledge. More women in Katsina than Ile-Ife knew the squatting position (32.7% vs. 16.4%; P < 0.001) and favoured it (25.0% vs. 7.5%; P < 0.001), whereas more Ile-Ife women knew the lithotomy position (42.3% vs. 26.9%; P = 0.01). Attitudes towards the remaining positions were comparable between them. Key-informant interviews of the midwives revealed that they were trained to conduct delivery exclusively in the supine positions. They were, however, interested in learning the use of upright positions. Conclusion: Knowledge about childbirth positions was very poor. Women in northwestern Nigeria were more aware and favorably disposed to childbirth in their customary squatting position. Training of Nigerian midwives on upright childbirth positions is recommended