Civil Registration and Vital Statistics as Sources of Socio-Demographic Data for Good Governance in Nigeria

Timely and accurate demographic data, resulting from robust Civil Registration and Vital Statistics [CRVS] systems play critical roles in facilitating the realisation of key developmental goals in most countries. A well-functioning CRVS system can afford Nigeria the ambit to gather timely data for evidence-based policy-making. However, just as in many other developing countries, Nigeria’s CRVS framework is plagued by weak institutional linkages resulting to poor quality sociodemographic data. Therefore, this paper focused on the importance of a robust CRVS system as source of quality sociodemographic data in Nigeria, with the objective of situating it within the broader context of good governance. The paper is primarily theoretical and employed the activity theory to examine access to and use of population-based data from the CRVS system for good governance. This paper concludes that the inability to generate actionable and quality population-based data due to Nigeria’s weak CRVS system, as well as non-data driven socioeconomic policies hinders good governance. Therefore, more investments are needed to scale-up Nigeria’s CRVS system and the resulting sociodemographic data should be a priority in driving national policy-making for good governance

Postpartum Sexual Abstinence and its Implications for Under-Five Health Outcome among Childbearing Women in South-east Nigeria

Abstinence from sexual intercourse after childbirth is a common practice deeply rooted in the cultures of different communities, including Nigeria with varying duration. Despite the high level of postpartum abstinence in the South-east compared to other neighbouring regions of Nigeria, under-five mortality is relatively higher in the South-east. This paper examined postpartum sexual abstinence as a predictive factor for under-five health outcome in Abia State with data from a sample of 609 childbearingwomen within 15-49 years. The mean duration of postpartum abstinence was 3.1±1.5 months; shorter in rural than urban areas with 2.7±1.4 and 3.5±1.3 months, respectively. The months of abstinence from sexual activity after childbirth is significantly related to experiences of under-five mortality and childhood diseases (p<0.05). The qualitative data showed that period of abstinence from sexual activity after childbirth is rooted in culture and was alluded to have great influence on under-five healthoutcomes. It is concluded that most women resumed sexual activity early after childbirth mostly to secure their marriages which affect their under-five children‘s health. Proper guidelines on resumption of sexual activity after childbirth to avoid its negative effects on under-five health outcome should be instituted to facilitate the achievement of sustainable development. (Afr J Reprod Health 2018; 22[4]: 102-112).Keywords: Sexual behaviour, reproductive health, cultural practices, health consequence

Acute administration of aqueous extract of Garcinia kola on daily blood glucose level and selected biochemical indices in longevity wistar albino rats

<p>This study evaluated the effects of acute administration of aqueous extract of Garcinia kola on daily blood glucose level and selected biochemical indices in wistar albino Rats in connection with human health. The serum liver enzymes ALT and ALP increased significantly (p<0.05) in the test animals in groups two and three, while AST also increased, though not significantly (p<0.05). ALT increased from 35.38 ± 1.35 U/L in control group (group one) to 47.25 ± 1.71 U/L in group three, while AST and ALP increased from 36.75 ± 2.50 U/L to 38.25 ± 4.79 U/L and 27.46 ± 4.57 U/L to 40.14 ± 7.26 U/L respectively. Blood glucose level decreased on daily basis after administration of aqueous extract of Garcinia kola. The results showed that daily consumption of Garcinia kola induced hypoglycaemic effect and hepatic damage in Wistar albino rats as observed in groups two and three. This invariably implies that the longevity of human beings is guaranteed if adequately consumed and life expectancy in Nigeria positively influenced.</p