Population Density and Armed Robbery in Nigeria: An Analysis of Variation Across States

The occurrence and rate of crime in a society are often associated with factors such as unemployment, urbanization and the strength of law enforcement. In Nigeria, very little is known about the association between population density as an independent variable and the frequency and rate of crime. This study sought to address this puzzle. Data on reported cases of armed robbery and populations across the states of Nigeria in the year 2006 were analyzed using Pearson’s correlation and multiple regression analysis. The study shows statistically significant variation in the occurrence of crime across the states with Southern states recording more crimes and higher rates than Northern states. Population density was found to be a predictor of the volume of crime, but not the rate. The spatial analysis further shows that proximity to major cosmopolitan states may be a factor that contributes to the rate of crime in the country. The paper recommends the creation of a national database in order to address the problem of anonymity and put crime under control in the country

Prevalence and predictors of unsolicited exposure to and involvement in online sexual activites among young Internet users in Lagos metropolis

oai:aps.journals.ac.za/oai:article/3The study draws empirical evidence from adolescents (aged 10 to 19 years) and young adults (20 to 24 years) who use the Internet in exploring the relationship between two sets of independent variables – background characteristics and context of Internet use and two sets of dependent variables – unsolicited exposure to online materials with sexual contents, and involvement in online sexual activities. The background characteristics explored in the study are age, sex, autonomy (whether living alone or with parents), access to funds and parent-child communication, while the Internet use context variables are place of access, all-night Internet use and intensity of use. The study reveals that close to half of the subjects had been involved in at least one online sexual activity with intensity and time of Internet use as the strongest predictors of involvement. doi: 10.11564/27-1-

Infertility and Treatment Seeking Behaviour among Women in Mushin Local Government Area, Lagos State, Nigeria

A paradox in the demographic and epidemiological transitions in sub-Saharan Africa is that as population growth has increased, the rates of infertility have also increased, due to higher rates of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and earlier age at initiation of sexual intercourse. The majority of married couples desire to have their own biological children, and if they are unable to have children, it is, in most cases, the result of their inability to reproduce. The objective of this study was to examine the social context of infertility treatment seeking behaviour among women in Mushin Local Government Area of Lagos State, Nigeria. Three theories were used to provide explanation for treatment seeking behaviour among women with unmet fertility needs. They include the Health Behaviour model (HBM), theory of stigma and Caldwell’s wealth flow theory of fertility. Mixed methods, including a cross-sectional survey and in-depth interview was adopted. The study revealed that nature of infertility and perceived cause of infertility have a significant influence on treatment seeking behaviour among women with unmet fertility needs. A significant number of the respondents visit traditional healers thus these traditional healers should be trained to aid them address the issue of infertility without complications

Does economic growth reduce childhood stunting? A multicountry analysis of 89 Demographic and Health Surveys in sub-Saharan Africa

Background: There is mixed evidence and lack of consensus on the impact of economic development on stunting, and likewise there is a dearth of empirical studies on this relationship in the case of sub-Saharan Africa. Thus, this paper examines whether economic growth is associated with childhood stunting in low-income and middle-income sub-Saharan African countries. Methods: We analysed data from 89 Demographic and Health Surveys conducted between 1987 and 2016 available as of October 2018 using multivariable multilevel logistic regression models to show the association between gross domestic product (GDP) per capita and stunting. We adjusted the models for child's age, survey year, child's sex, birth order and country random effect, and presented adjusted and unadjusted ORs. Results: We included data from 490 526 children. We found that the prevalence of stunting decreased with increasing GDP per capita (correlation coefficient=-0.606, p<0.0001). In the unadjusted model for full sample, for every US$1000 increase in GDP per capita, the odds of stunting decreased by 23$1000 increase in GDP per capita, the odds of stunting decreased by 12% (OR=0.88, 95% CI 0.87 to 0.90). Conclusion: There was no significant association between economic growth and child nutritional status. The prevalence of stunting decreased with increasing GDP per capita. This was more pronounced among children from the richest quintile. The magnitude of the association was higher among children from low-income countries, suggesting that households in the poorest quintile were typically the least likely to benefit from economic gains. The findings could serve as a building block needed to modify current policy as per child nutrition-related programmes in Africa

Online Sexual Activities and Sexual Risk-taking among Adolescents and Young Adults in Lagos Metropolis, Nigeria

As internet penetration surges in different parts of the world, access to a wide range of subject matters also increases. Matters of sexuality are no exceptions. While there is ample empirical evidence that youths seek knowledge about sexuality, and get involved in sexually stimulating and/or gratifying activities on the internet, the relationship between involvement in these online sexual activities (OSAs) and real life sexual behaviour remains a matter of polemic. Modelling theorists contend that exposure to sexuality related information propel acting out such information. Catharsis on the other hand holds the view that exposure to such information serves as safety valves for the peaceful release of imperfectly sublimated antisocial sexual drives. Using data gathered from adolescent internet users involved in OSAs as well as those not involved within the city of Lagos, this study concludes that OSA is associated with involvement in risk-bearing sexual behaviours (Afr J Reprod Health 2012 (Special Edition); 16[2]: 207-217).Au fur et à mesure que la pénétration de l&apos;internet avance dans des régions diverses du monde, l&apos;accès à un grand choix de sujets s&apos;accroit. Les sujets de la sexualité n&apos;en font pas exception. Alor qu&apos;il y a beaucoup d&apos;évidence empirique que les jeunes recherchent la connaissance au sujet de la sexualité et qu&apos;ils s&apos;impliquent dans les activités sexuellement excitantes et/ou agréable sur l&apos;internet, le rapport entre l&apos;implication dans ces activités en ligne (ASO) et le comportement sexuel dans la vie réelle reste une question qui provoque des arguments. Les théoriciens qui se fondent sur la thérapeutique prétendent que l&apos;exposition à l&apos;information liée à la sexualité pousse à la mise en pratique de telle information. Par contre, la catharsis soutient que l&apos;exposition à une telle information sert de soupape de sûreté pour la libérer paisiblement les pulsions sexuelles antisociales imparfaitement sublimes. A l&apos;aide des données collectées de la part des usagers adolescents de l&apos;internet, qui sont impliqués dans les ASO aussi bien que ceux qui ne le sont pas au sein de la métropole de Lagos, l&apos;étude conclue que les ASO sont liées à l&apos;implication dans les comportements sexuels à risque (Afr J Reprod Health 2012 (Special Edition); 16[2]: 207-217)

Domestic violence by women against their intimate partners in Nigeria

Victims of domestic violence (DV) are more often than not, women and children. However, studies have shown that men are also victims of DV. The main objective of this article is to assess the predictors of DV against men in Nigeria. Data were generated from the 2013 NDHS. Using SPSS version 21 and multivariate logistic regression analysis, the findings indicated that region, education, marital and employment status, experience of violence and partners’ alcohol consumption were significant predictors of DV against men. Highly educated, divorced and separated, employed women, those respondents whose husbands/partners drank alcohol, women who had experienced domestic violence and those who resided in the North-East (OR=7.967; p&lt;0.001), North-Central (OR=1.623, P&lt;0.05), South-East (OR=2.161; p&lt;0.001) and South-South (OR=1.936 p&lt;0.001) zones were more likely than women from the South West to perpetrate violence against their husbands/partners. We recommend that couples should be counselled and educated about the dangers of domestic violence and vulnerable men should be encouraged to speak out

A survival analysis of the timing of onset of childbearing among young females in Nigeria: are predictors the same across regions?

Abstract Background Early childbearing comes at high health costs to girls, the children they bear, their future life chances and the larger society. Nationally representative data suggest variation in onset of childbearing across regions and states of the country. Yet, there is need for strong evidence on how background characteristics explain time to first birth among young females across regions in Nigeria. Methods We analysed the 2013 DHS dataset using Kaplan Meier and Cox Regression. The outcome variable is age at onset of childbearing with location (rural/urban), education, religion, wealth index, region and having ever married/cohabited as covariates. Models were computed for national level analysis and the six regions of the country. Results The effect of marriage/cohabitation on time to first birth is strong and universal across the regions. Ever married girls had higher adjusted hazard ratios for starting childbearing than single girls, ranging from 5.35 in the South South to 44.62 in the North West (p < 0.001 in all models). Education also has significant effect on time to first birth across regions. The significance of state of residence, wealth, and religion varies across regions. Conclusion We conclude that the combinations of factors that explain onset of childbearing vary across regions. Therefore, context specific factors should be considered in program designs aimed at achieving a significant reduction in early childbearing and similar problems in Nigeria

Intimate Partner Violence: A Potential Challenge for Women’s Health in Angola

Intimate partner violence (IPV), as the most common form of violence against women, is recognised as a fundamental violation of women&rsquo;s human rights and a significant public health concern worldwide. IPV is also a widespread phenomenon in Africa where the associated health challenges can be particularly serious due to fragile healthcare systems. To date, there is no systematic research on IPV and its association with healthcare use among adult women in Angola. Therefore, we conducted the present study on IPV among women of childbearing age (15&ndash;49 years) in Angola by analysing cross-sectional data from Angola Demographic and Health Survey (2015&ndash;2016). The objectives were to assess the predictors of IPV and its association with healthcare use. IPV was assessed by women&rsquo;s experience of physical, emotional and sexual violence, and healthcare use was assessed by self-reported medical visits during last 12 months. Logistic regression methods were used to analyse the data. Our findings showed that more than two-fifths of the women reported experiencing any IPV (41.1%, 95%Confidence Interval (CI)= 38.7 to 43.6), with physical IPV (32.3%, 95%CI = 30.3 to 34.5) being the most prevalent followed by emotional (27.3%, 95%CI = 25.3 to 29.4), and sexual IPV (7.4%, 95%I = 6.6 to 8.4). In the multivariate analysis, women&rsquo;s religious background, husband&rsquo;s alcohol drinking, spousal age difference, and frequency of attending church appeared to be the most important predictors of IPV. Nonpregnant women who experienced emotional [OR = 1.476, 95%CI = 1.154,1.887] and sexual IPV [Odds Ratio (OR) = 1.393, 95%CI = 1.068,1.816] had increase odds of healthcare visits during last 12 months. In conclusion, our findings suggest a noticeably high prevalence of IPV among Angolan women. Those who experience emotional and sexual IPV might be at higher odds of suffering from medical conditions and should be given special attention in primary care settings

Prioritising sexuality education in Mississippi and Nigeria: The importance of local actors, policy windows and creative strategy

Mississippi and Nigeria are two socially conservative places unlikely to prioritise sexuality education. Nonetheless, Mississippi passed a bill in 2011 mandating all school districts to offer sexuality education, and Nigeria approved a national sexuality education curriculum in 2001. To identify the factors that drove the process of prioritisation of sexuality education in each context, we conducted more than 70 semi-structured interviews with nongovernmental organisations/nonprofits, donor organisations and federal and state ministries involved in the prioritisation and implementation of sexuality education in Mississippi and Nigeria. Prioritisation of sexuality education occurred for similar reasons in both Mississippi and Nigeria: (1) local individuals and organisations committed to sexuality education and supported by external actors; (2) the opening of a policy window that made sexuality education a solution to a pressing social problem (teen pregnancy in Mississippi and HIV/AIDS in Nigeria) and (3) strategic action on the part of proponents. We conclude that promoting sexuality education in challenging contexts requires fostering committed local individuals and organisations, identifying external resources to support implementation costs and building on existing relationships of trust between actors, even if those relationships are unrelated to sexuality education

International norms and the politics of sexuality education in Nigeria

Abstract Background Proponents have promoted sexuality education as a means of empowering adolescents, yet it has been thwarted in many low and middle-income countries. Nigeria represents an exception. Despite social opposition, the government in 1999 unexpectedly approved sexuality education policy. Since then, implementation has advanced, although efficacy has differed across states. We draw on theory concerning international norm diffusion to understand Nigerian policy development. Results We find that a confluence of international and national norms and interests shaped policy outcomes, including concern over HIV/AIDS. A central dynamic was an alliance of domestic NGOs and international donors pressing the Nigerian government to act. Conclusions We argue that theory on international norms can be applied to understand policy dynamics across a variety of health and population areas, finding value in approaches that integrate rather than juxtapose consideration of (1) international and national influences; (2) long and short-term perspectives on policy change; and (3) norms and interests