Premenstrual Symptoms and Dysmenorrhoea among Muslim Women in Zaria, Nigeria

Background/objective:To document the premenstrual and menstrual symptoms of Muslim women, with a view to providing adequate and sensitive care.Methods: Two hundred Muslim women were interviewed at Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital and Muslim Specialist Hospital, both in Zaria between August and October 2003. Results: Premenstrual symptoms were present in 23.8% of the women and breast pain was the commonest symptom (50%). Self-medication was practiced by those who needed medication for the premenstrual symptoms (29.8%). Premenstrual symptoms were significantly associated with lower parity (p = 0.02), previous (p = 0.03) and current (p = 0.01) contraceptive use and dysmenorrhoea (p = <0.001). Dysmenorrhoea was present in 36.4% and was significantly associated with lower age (p = 0.03), and lower parity (p = 0.01).Conclusions: Health care workers and the general public need to be aware of premenstrual symptoms and dysmenorrhoea in order to provide adequate care and support that is sensitive to Muslim women's needs. Health care providers should also be aware that premenstrual symptoms are more likely to coexist with dysmenorrhoea and provide therapies that can cater for both problems whenever possible.Introduction/Objectif: Documenter les sympt\uf4mes pr\ue9menstruel et menstruel des femmes musl\ue8mes afin de fournir des soins ad\ue9quats et sensitifs. M\ue9thodes: Deux cents femmes musl\ue8mes ont \ue9t\ue9 sond\ue9es du centre hospitalier universitaire d'Ahmadu Bello et d'H\uf4pital des sp\ue9cialiste des Musl\ue8ms, les deux \ue0 Zaria entre le pr\ue9mier ao\ufbt 2003 et le 31 octobre 2003. R\ue9sultats:Des sympt\uf4mes pr\ue9menstruels \ue9taient pr\ue9sent en 23,8% des femmes et douleur de sein \ue9tait le sympt\uf4me le plus ordinaire (50%). M\ue9dicament de soi-m\ueame \ue9tait mis en action par ceux qui ont besoin des drougues pour des sympt\uf4mes pr\ue9menstruel (29,8%) sympt\uf4mes pr\ue9menstruels \ue9taient principalement li\ue9s \ue0 la parit\ue9 inf\ue9rieure (p = 0,02), auparavant (p =0,03) et actuel (p = 0,01) l'utilisation du contraceptif et de la dysmenorrh\ue9e (p = < 0,0001) La dysmenorrh\ue9e \ue9tait pr\ue9sent en 36,4 % et \ue9tait remarquablement li\ue9e \ue0 l'\ue2ge inf\ue9rieur (p = 0,03), et parit\ue9 inf\ue9rieure (p =0,01). Conclusion:Des m\ue9decins des soins m\ue9dicaux et la publique en g\ue9n\ue9ral sont besoin d'avoir une connaissance sur des sympt\uf4mes pr\ue9menstruel et la dysmenorrh\ue9e afin de fournir des soins ad\ue9quats et de donner des soutients qui sont sensitifs visant aux besoins des femmes musl\ue8mes. Les m\ue9decins des soins m\ue9dicaux devraient \ue9galement avoir connaissance qui souligne que des sympt\uf4mes pr\ue9menstruels sont plus probablement de co-\ue9xister avec la dysmenorrh\ue9e et donner des th\ue9rapies qui peuvent resoudre les deux probl\ue8mes aussi souvent que possible

Improvement of composition of CdTe thin films during heat treatment in the presence of CdCl2

CdCl2 treatment is a crucial step in development of CdS/CdTe solar cells. Although this rocessing step has been used over a period of three decades, full understanding is not yet achieved. This paper reports the experimental evidence for improvement of composition of CdTe layers during CdCl2 treatment. This investigation makes use of four selected analytical techniques; Photo-electro-chemical (PEC) cell, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy and Scanning electron microscopy (SEM). CdTe layers used were electroplated using three Cd precursors; CdSO4, Cd(NO3)2 and CdCl2. Results show the improvement of stoichiometry of CdTe layers during CdCl2 treatment through chemical reaction between Cd from CdCl2 and elemental Te that usually precipitate during CdTe growth, due to its natural behaviour. XRD and SEM results show that the low-temperature (~85ºC) electroplated CdTe layers consist of ~(20-60) nm size crystallites, but after CdCl2 treatment, the layers show drastic recrystallisation with grains becoming a few microns in size. These CdCl2 treated layers are then comparable to high temperature grown CdTe layers by the size of grains

Premenstrual Symptoms and Dysmenorrhoea among Muslim Women in Zaria, Nigeria

Background/objective:To document the premenstrual and menstrual symptoms of Muslim women, with a view to providing adequate and sensitive care.Methods: Two hundred Muslim women were interviewed at Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital and Muslim Specialist Hospital, both in Zaria between August and October 2003. Results: Premenstrual symptoms were present in 23.8% of the women and breast pain was the commonest symptom (50%). Self-medication was practiced by those who needed medication for the premenstrual symptoms (29.8%). Premenstrual symptoms were significantly associated with lower parity (p = 0.02), previous (p = 0.03) and current (p = 0.01) contraceptive use and dysmenorrhoea (p = <0.001). Dysmenorrhoea was present in 36.4% and was significantly associated with lower age (p = 0.03), and lower parity (p = 0.01).Conclusions: Health care workers and the general public need to be aware of premenstrual symptoms and dysmenorrhoea in order to provide adequate care and support that is sensitive to Muslim women&apos;s needs. Health care providers should also be aware that premenstrual symptoms are more likely to coexist with dysmenorrhoea and provide therapies that can cater for both problems whenever possible.Introduction/Objectif: Documenter les symptômes prémenstruel et menstruel des femmes muslèmes afin de fournir des soins adéquats et sensitifs. Méthodes: Deux cents femmes muslèmes ont été sondées du centre hospitalier universitaire d&apos;Ahmadu Bello et d&apos;Hôpital des spécialiste des Muslèms, les deux à Zaria entre le prémier août 2003 et le 31 octobre 2003. Résultats:Des symptômes prémenstruels étaient présent en 23,8% des femmes et douleur de sein était le symptôme le plus ordinaire (50%). Médicament de soi-même était mis en action par ceux qui ont besoin des drougues pour des symptômes prémenstruel (29,8%) symptômes prémenstruels étaient principalement liés à la parité inférieure (p = 0,02), auparavant (p =0,03) et actuel (p = 0,01) l&apos;utilisation du contraceptif et de la dysmenorrhée (p = < 0,0001) La dysmenorrhée était présent en 36,4 % et était remarquablement liée à l&apos;âge inférieur (p = 0,03), et parité inférieure (p =0,01). Conclusion:Des médecins des soins médicaux et la publique en général sont besoin d&apos;avoir une connaissance sur des symptômes prémenstruel et la dysmenorrhée afin de fournir des soins adéquats et de donner des soutients qui sont sensitifs visant aux besoins des femmes muslèmes. Les médecins des soins médicaux devraient également avoir connaissance qui souligne que des symptômes prémenstruels sont plus probablement de co-éxister avec la dysmenorrhée et donner des thérapies qui peuvent resoudre les deux problèmes aussi souvent que possible