Socio-Cultural Dimensions and Attitude of Women and Community Stakeholders towards Continuation of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in Lagos Metropolis, Nigeria

This article examines the socio-cultural dimensions and attitude of women and community stakeholders to the continuation of Female Genital  Mutilation (FGM) in Nigeria using Lagos metropolis as a study location. To achieve the objectives of the study, a non-experimental research design was adopted. In the design, cross-sectional survey and in-depth interview research methods were utilized. Thus, a total 350 questionnaires were  administered during the survey among ever married women, while 15  in-depth interviews were organized for male and female youths,  ever-married women and men, community and religious leaders to  complement survey data. Elicited data were analyzed with the aids of  quantitative and qualitative analytical techniques. Findings of the study  reveal that theFGM practice is intricately rooted in the socio-cultural milieu of the people. In addition, the study reveals that there is a significant  relationship between women socio-economic characteristics and their  attitude towards the continuation of FGM practice in the study location.  Specifically women’s age and educational status play significant roles.  Consequently, it has been recommended that a programme aiming to  reduce or eradicate the practice must be holistic in nature with great focus on all segments and the culture of the society.Key Words: Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), Socio-Cultural, Community Stakeholders, Attitude, Lagos Metropolis, Nigeria

Adolescent prostitution in south-western Nigeria: demographic characteristics and risk factors.

Context: Adolescent prostitution, an interesting area of reproductive health focus, is of great socioeconomic and medical burden in Nigeria.Objective: This study aims to determine the demographic characteristics and risk factors for adolescent prostitution in NigeriaMethod: This was a cross- sectional study using ethnographic method of in-depth interview based survey of adolescent sex workers in Oyingbo and Yaba communities of Lagos State, Nigeria. This study was conducted between 1st of April, 2014 and 30th of September, 2014. The interview was conducted face to face.Result: A total of 290 adolescent sex workers were interviewed. The mean age of adolescent prostitutes in the study was 16.9 years. While 97.9% of the respondents were of Christian faith, 1.7% belonged to Islam. Financial gain was the commonest reason (90.7%) for involvement in adolescent prostitution in the study.Conclusion: Adolescent prostitution is a significant social and medical problem in Nigeria. Prompt and holistic multidisciplinary approach is required to address this social problem.Keywords: Adolescent, prostitution, reproductive health, demographic characteristics, risk factors, Nigeri

Alcohol Production as an Adaptive Livelihood Strategy for Women Farmers in Tanzania and Its Potential for Unintended Consequences on Women's Reproductive Health.

Although women occupy a central position in agriculture in many developing countries, they face numerous constraints to achieving their full potential including unequal access to assets and limited decision-making authority. We explore the intersection of agricultural livelihoods, food and economic security, and women's sexual and reproductive health in Iringa Region, Tanzania. Our goal was to understand whether the benefits of supporting women in the agricultural sector might also extend to more distal outcomes, including sexual and reproductive health. Using the Sustainable Livelihoods Framework to guide data collection, we conducted 13 focus group discussions (FGD) with female (n = 11) and male farmers (n = 2) and 20 in-depth interviews with agricultural extension officers (n = 10) and village agro-dealers (n = 10). Despite providing the majority of agricultural labor, women have limited control over land and earned income and have little bargaining power. In response to these constraints, women adopt adaptive livelihood strategies, such as alcohol production, that allow them to retain control over income and support their households. However, women's central role in alcohol production, in concert with the ubiquitous nature of alcohol consumption, places them at risk by enhancing their vulnerability to unsafe or transactional sex. This represents a dangerous confluence of risk for female farmers, in which alcohol plays an important role in income generation and also facilitates high-risk sexual behavior. Alcohol production and consumption has the potential to both directly and indirectly place women at risk for undesirable sexual and reproductive health outcomes. Group formation, better access to finance, and engaging with agricultural extension officers were identified as potential interventions for supporting women farmers and challenging harmful gender norms. In addition, joint, multi-sectoral approaches from health and agriculture and alternative income-generating strategies for women might better address the complexities of achieving safe and sustainable livelihoods for women in this context

Socio-Cultural Context of Consistent Use of Condoms among Female Undergraduate Students in Nigeria: Insights from University of Lagos

This paper examines the sexual behaviour and socio-cultural context of consistent use of condoms (male and female condoms) among female undergraduate students of the University of Lagos, Nigeria. Cross-sectional survey and key informant interview research methods were adopted to elicit information from the respondents. In all, a total of 200 female students were sampled in the survey, while 10 key informant interviews were conducted among the students to compliment the survey data. The theoretical orientation of the paper is the voluntaristic theory of action by Talcott Pearsons. The findings of the study show that 75.0% of the sampled female undergraduate students are sexually active. All the respondents have knowledge of the existence of male condom, while femmidom (female condom), the contraceptive method designed for women use to protect themselves from unwanted pregnancies, HIV and other Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs), is unpopular among the study population. Specifically, 63.5% and 5.5% of the sample have ever used male and female condoms respectively. Furthermore, there is erratic usage of male condom during sexual intercourse among the sampled respondents since only 41.0% of them reported consistent use of male condom during every sexual encounter. There are significant relationships between current age, marital status, level of study and consistent use of male condom among the female undergraduate students at P < 0.01. In particular, only 17.6% of female undergraduate students between ages 15-19 years use male condom consistently compared with 43.9% and 16.7% among their counterparts in age group 25-29 years and 35 years and above respectively. In addition, single and 100 level female undergraduate students are more likely to use male condom consistently compared with their counterparts who are married and in 400 level. Consequently, many of the sexually active female undergraduate students in the study location are highly susceptible to STIs including HIV/AIDS.Key words: Socio-cultural context, Female undergraduate students, Sexual practices, Condoms use, STIs/HIV/AIDS. 

Determinants of adolescent fertility in contemporary Yoruba society: a multivariate analysis

Adolescent childbearing has received much attention in the past three decades, but the socio-cultural determinants of this phenomenon remain inexplicitly explained in Yoruba society. Therefore, this paper examined the determinants of adolescent fertility using multivariate analysis and Osun State, Nigeria as study location. Quantitative and qualitative research methods were used to achieve this objective. Two Local Government Areas (LGAs), Osogbo (urban) and Ola-Oluwa (rural), of Osun State were purposively selected based on rural/urban dichotomy. The quantitative method involved cross-sectional survey of 1,000 women of reproductive age (15-49 years). To be eligible, respondent must have at least a child. A multi-stage random sampling technique was adopted to select the respondents. For the qualitative method, 10 In-depth Interviews were conducted with adolescent mothers, their mothers and opinion leaders in the LGAs. Statistical technique used in the analysis of quantitative data was logistic regression, while content analysis technique was used to analyze qualitative data. Findings showed that educational level, parental marital disruption, marital status, and nature of activity which adolescent girls were doing are significant determinants of adolescent fertility in the study location. In conclusion, concerted efforts need to be put together by all the stakeholders (community members, opinion leaders, gatekeepers, governments, private organizations, non-governmental organizations and community based organizations) to improve the existing educational structure in the study location. In addition, appropriate policies and intervention programmes need to be put in place to reduce the incidence of marital disruption and adolescents must be fully engaged in productive social and economic activities.Key words: Adolescent, Fertility, Education, Marital disruption, Yoruba Society, Nigeria