Perception and Utilization of Primary Health Care Services in a Semi-Urban Community in South-Western Nigeria

Objective: The health status of most people living in developing countries of the world remains poor. Linked to this are some factors, of which low utilization of PHC facilities remain a major issue. This study therefore aimed to determine the utilization of PHC services in a sub-urban community in a developing country in West Africa.Design: The study was a descriptive cross sectional study conducted in Olorunda Local Government Area of Osun State, Nigeria. A multistage sampling technique was used to recruit adults above the age of 18 years, normally resident in the community. Three hundred and ninety five individuals were involved in this community-based study. Interview was conducted using semi-structured pre-tested questionnaire to obtain relevant information.Result: Most (71.7%) of respondents were aware of PHC facilities in their communities and the most frequently mentioned health service provided was the immunization service. Three quarters of respondents felt that PHC services were accessible while over half (57.2%) felt it could address the disease burden in the community. Only 44.1% of them had ever-utilized any PHC health facility within the district. Respondents' age, sex, marital status, educational level and occupation are all significantly related to utilization status.Conclusion: The study demonstrates high awareness level of the PHC system in the population studied; however, utilization of the facilities is still very low. We hereby recommend that managers of this health institution put in place programs and schemes that will facilitate more effective service delivery especially in relation to the workers in this health sector. In addition, orientation programs lauding the benefits of the PHC facilities to correct wrong opinions about PHC among local communities and creation of good access routes that link primary health centers to the communities should be on the priority list of the managers of PHC to enhance utilization of services.Keywords: Perception, Utilization, Primary Health Care, Developing Countrie

Reproductive behaviour and determinants of fertility among men in a semi-urban Nigerian community

Context: A relatively high fertility is still sustained in sub-urban and rural Nigeria despite the efforts of government and other non-governmental family planning service providers. This study was conducted to examine the reproductive behavior and determine the factors that determine the fertility of men at Ganmo, a sub-urban community on the outskirts of Ilorin, Nigeria. Methodology: The study employed a cross-sectional descriptive design. An interviewer-administered semi-structured questionnaire was used to elicit information from 360 men in the households. Only males above the age of 15 years resident in the community were selected for interview. A proportionate sampling procedure was employed in selecting the required number of men from each of the 32 compounds that make up the community. Results: The median age at first marriage for men was found to be 25 years. While about two-thirds of these men were married, at least 25% of them were in polygynous relationships. The Mean Number of Children Ever-Fathered (MNCEF), Mean Number of Living children (MNLC) and Mean Ideal Family Size (MIFS) for the men were 5.2, 4.2 and 5.8, respectively. For men above 50 years old who may be considered to have completed their families, these indicators were 9.3, 7.3 and 5.8 respectively. The predictors of high fertility among the men were low education, being a Muslim and having more than one wife. Men reproduced mainly because they wanted children that will carry on the family name and for economic support in old age. Conclusion: The study concluded that men at Ganmo still have preference for large family sizes and an intensive drive at adult education was advocated among other recommendations.Keywords: men, reproductive behaviour, fertilityJournal of Community Medicine and Primary Health Care 2005, 17(1): 13-1

Awareness and Perception of Androgen Deficiency of Aging Males (ADAM) among Men in Osogbo, Nigeria.

Background: A clinical and biochemical syndrome associated with deficiency of androgen with ageing. Increased longevity of people has rekindled interest in hormonal alterations in the aged. Awareness of the entity is still low among men especially men of African descent.Objective: To evaluate the awareness and perception about ADAM so as to provide basis for evidence based interventions addressing the subject in our environment.Methods:  A descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted in Olorunda LGA , one of the LGAs that constitute Osogbo metropolis, the capital city of Osun State, Nigeria. A pre-tested, semi structured, interviewer administered questionnaire was applied to 400 men that had been selected using a multistage sampling technique. The sample size was calculated using fischer's formula for cross sectional descriptive surveys and the data was analysed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 16.0 .Results:  The mean age of respondents was 42.3±14.8 years. Majority (95.5 %) of the respondents had formal education though up to variable levels. Many (43%) of them have never heard about andropause and 54.7% do not know anything about the symptoms. The commonest source of information about andropause among those who are aware is from friends (43.8%), none heard from health workers. Less than half (44.2%) of them believe it is due to aging, while majority (52%) have misconceptions like excessive sexual activity, or diabolical sources. Knowledge about andropause is better among older men (p<0.05) but educational status did not statistically affect it. (p>0.05).Conclusion:  Many men in this environment still have low levels of awareness about andropause . Among those that are aware, there are large knowledge gaps and wrong perceptions of it. Hence the need for more aggressive public education (irrespective of their educational status) about the existence, aetiology and possible negative health effects of andropause.Keywords: Andropause,Hypogonadism, Androgen, Ageing

Barriers to use of modern contraceptives among women in an inner city area of Osogbo metropolis, Osun State, Nigeria

EO Asekun-Olarinmoye,1 WO Adebimpe,1 JO Bamidele,2 OO Odu,2 IO Asekun-Olarinmoye,3 EO Ojofeitimi41Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Clinical Sciences, Osun State University, Osogbo, Osun State, Nigeria; 2Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Clinical Sciences, Ekiti State University, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria; 3Department of Community Health, School of Public and Allied Health, Babcock University, Ilishan-Remo, Ogun State, Nigeria; 4Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Clinical Sciences, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Osogbo, Osun State, NigeriaObjectives: To determine the knowledge and attitudes on modern contraceptive use of women living in an inner city area of Osogbo.Materials and methods: Three hundred and fifty nine women of childbearing age were studied utilizing a community-based, descriptive, cross-sectional study design. A multistage random sampling technique was used in recruiting respondents to the study. A four-part questionnaire was applied dually, by interviewers and by respondents' self administration, and the data was analyzed using the SPSS software version 17.0.Results: The mean age of respondents was 28.6 ± 6.65 years. The majority (90.3%) of respondents were aware of modern methods of family planning (FP), 76.0% claimed awareness of where to obtain FP services, and 74.9% knew of at least five methods. However, only 30.6% had ever used contraceptives, while only 13.1% were current users. The most frequently used method was the male condom. The commonly perceived barriers accounting for low use of FP methods were fear of perceived side effects (44.0%), ignorance (32.6%), misinformation (25.1%), superstition (22.0%), and culture (20.3%). Some reasons were proffered for respondents' nonuse of modern contraception. Predictors of use of modern contraceptives include the awareness of a place of FP service provision, respondents' approval of the use of contraceptives, higher education status, and being married.Conclusion: Most of the barriers reported appeared preventable and removable and may be responsible for the reported low point prevalence of use of contraceptives. It is recommended that community-based behavioral-change communication programs be instituted, aimed at improving the perceptions of women with respect to bridging knowledge gaps about contraceptive methods and to changing deep-seated negative beliefs related to contraceptive use in Nigeria.Keywords: childbearing age, family planning, fertility desires, perception, knowledge, attitude, benefit

Crude Oil-Degradation and Plasmid Profile of Nitrifying Bacteria Isolated from Oil-Impacted Mangrove Sediment in the Niger Delta of Nigeria

The crude oil degradability and plasmid profile of autotrophic nitrifying bacteria, Nitrosomonas and Nitrobacter species, isolated from mangrove sediment in the Niger Delta of Nigeria were studied. The effects of temperature, pH and optical density on the utilization of different carbon sources by the bacteria were also investigated. Results showed that nitrifying bacteria could utilize kerosene, diesel oil, jet fuel and engine oil as carbon sources. None utilized hexane and xylene but moderate growth was observed in benzene, phenol and toluene. However, their ability to utilized crude oil varied both in rates of utilization and in growth profiles. Mixed culture of the isolates degrades 52 % of crude oil introduced into the medium followed by Nitrosomonas sp. with 40 % degradation. The least was Nitrobacter sp. with 20 % degradation. The ability of the autotrophs to degrade crude oil was found to be plasmid-mediated through curing experiment and electrophoresis. The size of the plasmid involved was estimated to be 23 kb. The high crude oil utilization of the mixed culture implies that nitrifying bacteria isolated from contaminated ecosystem are excellent crude oil degraders and can be harnessed for bioremediation purposes

Family Planning Awareness, Perception, Utilization and Barriers among Women in Irepodun Local Government Area, Osun State, South-Western Nigeria

Background: Infant and maternal mortalities are still very high in Nigeria and other developing countries despite the proven effectiveness of family planning (FP) in curtailing them.Objective: To determine the awareness, perception, utilization and barriers to the use of family planning among women of reproductive age in Irepodun Local Government Area (LGA) Osun State, South-Western Nigeria.Methods: The study, carried out among women of reproductive age in Irepodun LGA, employed a cross-sectional descriptive design. A pre-tested, interviewer administered, semi-structured questionnaire was used to elicit information from 370 women who were recruited by multi-stage sampling method. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 20.Results: Three hundred and sixty-two (97.8%) of the respondents were aware of family planning; 301 (83.1%) out of these had good perception while only 138 (38.1%) had good utilization of FP. The most important barriers to FP utilization among non-current users included spousal refusal 43(19.2%), health reasons 38 (17.0%) and religious reasons 34 (15.2%). Socio-demographic factors which significantly associated with contraceptive utilization among the respondents included: age (p=0.003), marital status (p< 0.001), educational status (p= 0.001) and occupation (p < 0.001)Conclusions: Near universal awareness and good perception did not translate into good utilization of family planning among the women in Irepodun LGA, Osun State, Nigeria. Community based behavioural change communication programs aimed at encouraging spousal involvement and bridging the gap between FP perception and practice among women should be instituted in the LGA. Key-words: family planning, perception, utilization, barriers, women of reproductive age, South-western Nigeria

Men's knowledge of and attitude with respect to family planning in a sub-urban Nigerian community

No Abstract. Nigerian Journal of Medicine Vol. 15(3) July-September 2006: 260-26

Morbidity Pattern among under Five Children and Preventive Practices of Mothers and Care Givers in Olorunda Local Government Area

Despite several intervention measures to improve child survival, morbidity and mortality rate due to common childhood ailments are still very high in this part of the world. An assessment of preventive practices against occurrence of these diseases would go a long way to mitigate those factors influencing disease occurrences. The objective of the study is to determine the pattern of common ailments among under five years children, and assess preventive practices of mothers and care givers against these diseases. A descriptive cross sectional study of 410 children and care givers in Olorunda local government area of Osun state, using multistage sampling method was carried out. Research instruments used were semi structured interviewer administered pretested questionnaires that were arranged into four sections including anthropometric measurements. Data analysis was carried out using the SPSS software. Morbidity was highestamong the toddlers between the ages of 1-3years. Malaria tends to be commonest presentation 38, 149, and 84 in all age group followed by diarrhea 23, 58, 11. Ratio of male to female distribution of malaria, diarrhea and upper respiratory tract infection was 1:1.1. The educational level of mothers/caregivers significantly affects immunization status of their wards, awareness of and usage of malaria prophylaxis

Sharp Injuries Among Hospital Waste Handlers

Background: Health care workers are generally predisposed to injuries from sharps as a health hazard. This is more pronounced among waste handlers.Objective: It is therefore important to assess these injuries among this group of people with a view to identifying the risk factors and suggesting preventive methods.Methods: Questionnaires were administered to People handling wastes in our hospital to assess their level of education on injury prevention, immunization status and preventive methods used by them to prevent these injuries and subsequent infections.Results: Forty three waste handlers were interviewed. Twenty eight (65.8%) of them received training before commencing on the job while 14 (32.5%) never received any training. Only thirty nine (90.7%) of them always use hand gloves before carrying wastes. Only three (7.0%) of the respondents have been screened for Hepatitis B, 19 (44.2%) for HIV, while 10 (23.3%) were screened for Hepatitis B, C, and HIV. Eleven (25.6%) of them have been injured with sharps. The finger was the most injured in 7 (93%) of them.Conclusion: Training and re-training of health workers is important and should be encouraged. All health workers should have pre-employment immunization against Hepatitis B, C as well as other before commencing on their jobs. Workers should be screened for infective diseases that can be of legal problem while at the job and the workers should be effectively immunized.Key words: sharp injuries, waste, handlers, hospital