Determinants of family planning uptake among men in Ibadan, Nigeria

Background: Adoption of family planning by men or their spouses many times is influenced by men particularly in developing countries. This is despite evidence that reduction of maternal mortality and morbidity is tied to family planning use. In order to design programmes that enhance adoption of family planning methods by men, this study was carried out to identify determinants of family planning uptake among them.Methodology: A cross sectional survey of 259 men aged 15-65 years with at least one child less than 3 years of age was conducted employing a multistage sampling technique. Information was collected on socio-demographic characteristics, awareness, perception of family planning and use. Data were analysed with SPSS version 22 using descriptive and inferential statistics. Level of significance was set at 5%.Results: Contraceptive awareness was high (93.1%), with use moderate (56.0%).About half (51.4%) believed that the decision to use family planning methods is for men while 41.7% would communicate with their wives about the need for either partner to use family planning and 44.0% knew where to obtain commodities. Monogamy, primary education and having three to five children were associated with use (p 0.05). Education (OR 0.43, 95% C.I 0.20-0.94) and number of children (OR 2.22, 95% C.I 1.09-4.51) were predictors of use.Conclusion: Family planning use is not commensurate with knowledge with very little adoption of joint decision making.Spousal communication is necessary to facilitate method use as well as programmes that highlight communication strategies and foster joint reproductive health decision making.Keywords: Family planning, Men, Spousal communication, Reproductive health decision makin

Male knowledge of danger signs of obstetric complications in an urban city in south west Nigeria

Background: Knowledge of danger signs in pregnancy can be regardedas one of the ways to eliminate the first level of delay as a factor influencing maternal mortality. The role of men as decision makerscannot be overlooked in this regard. The aim of this study was to determine men’s knowledge of danger signs in pregnancy and theirrole in pregnancy related decision making.Methods: A cross sectional survey was conducted among 259 men aged15-65 years in selected communities in Ibadan, Oyo State by multistagesampling. A semi-structured pretested questionnaire was used to obtaininformation on socio-demographic characteristics, attitude and practices concerning antenatal care, knowledge of danger signs in pregnancy and decision to seek hospital care. Knowledge of danger signs was the main outcome measure categorized into poor and good based on a score of < 6 and > 6. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and bivariate analysis with level of significance set at 5%.Results: Mean age of respondents was 40.4 ± 11.4 years. Almost halfhad at least secondary education (47.5%) and were mainly artisans byoccupation (59.8%), while 18.1% could not mention any danger sign.Majority had poor knowledge about danger signs in pregnancy (60.6%).There was no significant difference in knowledge of respondents withindifferent age groups, by occupation, number of children and fromdifferent educational levels.Conclusion: Poor knowledge of obstetric danger signs was evidentamong these men. Programmes targeted at providing education aboutdanger signs in pregnancy for men are recommended.Keywords: Danger Signs in Pregnancy, Obstetric Complications, Male Knowledg

Alcohol consumption and cigarette smoking pattern among brothelbased female sex workers in two local government areas in Lagos state, Nigeria

Background: Alcohol and tobacco use are known risk factors for non communicable diseases especially among women. Brothel based female sex workers may be at increased risk of exposure to these two substances.Objective: To assess the pattern of alcohol and tobacco use among female sex workers in two selected local government areas in Lagos state, Nigeria.Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out among 323 brothel-based female sex workers in 39 consenting brothels. Data was collected by trained interviewers using a pretested structured  questionnaire.Results: Majority (67.8%) were current drinkers with 89.5% of these having their most recent drink less than a week ago. Most of them (89%)  consumed more than the reference limits for alcohol use among women. Up to 20.7% were current smokers with (92.5%) having their most recent cigarette less than a week ago. More than a third (37.4%) were heavy smokers while 19% were dual users. Current drinking was associated with current smoking. Smokers consumed significantly more units of alcohol than non-smokers.Conclusion: The prevalence of harmful alcohol use and cigarette smoking are very high among this group of female sex workers. Programs that address the use of these substances should be made available for these women

Health workers sensitization: effects on perceived quality of immunization services among mothers of under five children in Ilorin, North Central Nigeria

Clients? satisfaction with services received is an important dimen- sion of evaluation that is examined only rarely in developing coun- tries. Health care professionals have always acknowledged that satisfying the consumers at some level is essential to providing ser- vices of high quality. This is a quasi-experimental study. The study group included 150 mothers bringing their children for immuniza- tion at Alanamu Health Centre, Ilorin. The control group included 150 mothers bringing their children for immunization at Okelele Health Centre. Total population of mothers bringing their children for vaccines against tuberculosis/poliomyelitis/hepatitis B (BCG/ OPV/HBV) and against diphterite-pertussis-tetanus (DPT)/OPV/ HBV were recruited sequentially until sample size was attained. Mean waiting time at pre-intervention was 82.7 ± 32.5 and 90.4 ± 41.7 minutes for the study and control groups respectively. Post intervention, there was a significant decrease (p inf. 0.05) in the estimated waiting time in the study group (mean = 48.0 ± 24.4 minutes) while there was no observed difference in the control p > 0.05 (mean = 88.4 ± 40.6 minutes). Perceived adequacy of information on services being provided by the health facility was low (58%) in the study group while it was relatively higher in the control group (80%), but there was a significant increase in pro- portion of those that felt information was adequate only in the study group (p inf. 0.05) at post intervention. Waiting time in health facili- ties by clients should be reduced as this may give clients a positive perception of the service they have come to access. Information dis- semination to clients should be encouraged among health workers as this would affect clients? knowledge and also quality of health care delivery

Pattern and Perception of Risky Sexual Behaviour among Young People in South-West Nigeria

Background: Young people constitute a fifth of the global population and have been identified as a group that are vulnerable to risky sexual behaviour. Consequences of such behaviour may include Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) including HIV/AIDS and can have deleterious effects on their current and long term reproductive health. This study described the pattern, perception and risk factors influencing risky sexual behaviour among students in the first year of a tertiary institution in South- West Nigeria.Methodology: The study entailed a quantitative cross sectional survey among a total sampling of 222 first year students. Information was collected on types of risky sexual behaviour viz: sexual intercourse without the use of condoms, multiple sexual partners, early sexual debut and sex under the influence of alcohol. Perception of sexual risky behaviour was scored and categorized into good and poor. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and bivariate analysis with level of significance set at 5%.Results: More than half of the respondents were male (55.1%) and sexually active (54.6%). A fifth had early sexual debut (20.8%), 40.8% had multiple sexual partners, 23.3% had sex under the influence of alcohol while 34.2% didn't use condoms at the last sexual encounter. About half of the respondents had poor perception of risky sexual behaviour (51.8%). Gender and age were associated with sexual activity (p<0.05) while males were more likely to have a poor perception of risky sexual behaviour.Conclusion: Interventions targeted at addressing the perception of risky sexual behaviour among students are advocated.Keywords: Risky sexual behaviour, young people, sexual debut, multiple sexual partner

Transactional Sex, Condom and Lubricant use among Men who have Sex with Men in Lagos State, Nigeria

Men who have unprotected sex with men may also have unprotected sex with women and thus serve as an epidemiological bridge for HIV to the general population. This cross sectional descriptive study assessed condom and lubricant use and practice of transactional sex among men who have sex with men (MSM) in Lagos state. Simple random sampling was used to select three community centres and snowball sampling technique was used to recruit 321 respondents. Almost half (50.9%) had received payment for sex while 45.4% had paid for sex in the past. Consistent condom use was practiced by 40.5% of respondents during the last 10 sexual encounters, 85.6% used lubricants mostly with condom, products used were KY jelly, body cream, saliva and Vaseline. There is need for behavioural change to reduce risky practices which predisposes this group of MSM to HIV and sexually transmitted infections. Afr J Reprod Health 2013 (Special Edition); 17[4]: 90-98).Keywords: MSM, sex for money, unprotected sex, lubricant

Anthropometrically determined nutritional status of children in public and private primary schools in Lagos, Nigeria

Background: Under-nutrition remains high while overweight/obesity are on the rise in developing countries. Little is known about the differences in the prevalence of malnutrition among public and private primary school children in urban areas of Lagos, Nigeria. This study determined and compared the nutritional status of children in public and private primary schools in an urban area of Lagos, Nigeria.Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted among public and private primary school children in an urban town in Lagos, Nigeria using multi-stage sampling technique to select 206 pupils. A structured interviewer administered questionnaire was used to obtain information on sociodemographic characteristics while anthropometric measures were obtained and compared to standards using WHO AnthroPlus, to determine the nutritional status.Results: The prevalence of underweight (WAZ <-2SD) in the public primary schools, 6.8% (n=7) was higher than in the private schools, 1.9% (n=2) but the difference was not statistically significant. (p = 0.085). However, the higher prevalence of stunting (HAZ <-2SD) in public (20.4% (n=24) compared to private schools 3.9% (n=4) was statistically significant (P<0.000). The prevalence of overweight and obesity were significantly higher among respondents in private schools (8.7% and 4.9%) compared to those in public schools (0.0% and 1.0% ) (p=0.0003).Conclusions: Stunting was higher in the public schools, while obesity and overweight were higher in the private schools. Appropriate feeding from birth should be promoted to prevent under-nutrition among children in public schools and overweight/obesity among children in private schools. Keywords: Anthropometry; Children; Nutrition; Stuntin

Sexually transmitted infections: Prevalence, knowledge and treatment practices among female sex workers in a cosmopolitan city in Nigeria

Sexually transmitted infections constitute economic burden for developing countries, exposure to causative agents is an occupational hazard for female sex workers. Targeted interventions for this population can reduce the incidence and prevalence of sexually transmitted infections including human immunodeficiency virus, but barriers exists which can hinder effective implementation of such programs. This descriptive cross sectional study sought to assess the prevalence, knowledge and treatment practices of sexually transmitted infections among brothel based female sex workers Three hundred and twenty three consenting female sex workers were surveyed using pre tested, interviewer administered questionnaires. More than half of the respondents (54.2%) had poor knowledge of symptoms of sexually transmitted infections. Only 13.9% were aware that sexually transmitted infections could be asymptomatic. The self reported prevalence of symptomatic sexually transmitted infections was 36.5%. About half of those with sexually transmitted infectionss sought treatment in a hospital or health centre while 32.5% from a patent medicine vendor. Most respondents (53.8%) mentioned the perceived quality of care as the main reason for seeking treatment in their chosen place. More of the respondents with good knowledge of sexually transmitted infections  reported symptoms compared to those with fair and poor knowledge. The knowledge of sexually transmitted infections among these female sex workers is poor and the prevalence is relatively high. Efforts to improve knowledge promote and encourage preventive as well as effective treatment practices must be made for this population.RésuméLes infections sexuellement transmissibles constituent un fardeau économique pour les pays en développement et l'exposition aux agents pathogènes est un risque professionnel pour les prostituées. Les interventions qui visent cette population peuvent réduire l'incidence et la prévalence des infections sexuellement transmissibles, y compris le virus de l'immunodéficience humaine, mais il existe des obstacles qui peuvent entraver la mise en oeuvre effective de ces programmes. Cette étude descriptive transversale a cherché à évaluer les pratiques de la prévalence, la connaissance et le traitement des infections sexuellement transmissibles chez les prostituées qui pratiquent leur métier dans des bordels. Trois cent vingt-trois prostituées consentants ont été interrogées àl'aide des questionnaires déjà testés et administrés par l’intervieweur. Plus de la moitié des interviewées (54,2%) avaient une mauvaise connaissance des symptômes des infections sexuellement transmissibles. Seulement 13,9% étaient au courant que les infections sexuellement transmissibles peuvent être asymptomatiques. La prévalence des symptômes d'infections sexuellement transmissibles auto signalés était de 36,5%. Environ la moitié de ceux qui sont atteints des infections sexuellement transmissibles ont recherché un traitement dans un centre hospitalier ou dans un centre de santé tandis que 32,5% le recherchaient auprès d'unvendeur des médicaments brevetés. La plupart des interviewées (53,8%) ont mentionné la qualité perçue des soins comme la principale raison pour se faire soigner dans les lieux choisis. Beaucoup d’interviewées qui ont une bonne connaissance des infections sexuellement transmissibles ont signalé des symptômes par rapport à ceux qui les connaissent passablement ou mal. La connaissance des infections sexuellement transmissibles chez les prostituées est mauvaise et la prévalence est relativement élevée. Il faut faire des efforts pour améliorer les connaissances, pour promouvoir et pour encourager la prévention ainsi que les pratiques de traitement efficaces à l’intérêt de cette population.Keywords: Symptomatic STIs, Patent medicine vendor, Brothel

Response of shika-brown pullet chicks and layers to home made and commercial feeds in Zaria, Kaduna state, Nigeria

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