Estimating the prevalence and health risks awareness of smoking in nigeria:A meta-analysis approach

Background:The increase use of tobacco products in Nigeria, and lack of common aggregated data on its associate diseases and deaths are parts of emerging public concerns.Objective:This paper estimated national and zonal prevalence of smoking and health risks awareness in Nigeria.Methods:Random effects meta-analysis was conducted on estimates from 19 studies selected across 13 states, within the six-geopolitical zones of Nigeria, to pool nation-wide estimates of the prevalence and health risk awareness of smoking.Results:The sample and aggregated mean ages are 14.7 and 22.4 years, respectively. The overall pooled prevalence of current smoking in Nigeria was 19.7% (95%CI: 14.0-25.5), with male and female at 18.9% (CI:13.3-24.4) and 6.8% (CI:4.1-9.6), respectively.Conclusion:The findings suggest a relatively high prevalence of smoking among the youths in Nigeria. The authors recommend smokers’ counseling services among the youth to reduce health hazards and secure youth contributions to sustainable economic development

Descriptive analysis of men’s sexual behaviour in sub-Saharan Africa: Simplicity-parsimony approach

The interconnection between men’s sexual behaviour as a contributor to burden of reproductive and sexual health diseases in sub-Saharan Africa are often presented with complex and sophisticated statistical analyses with little or no comprehension among the affected population that are mostly with little or no statistical literacy and education. The study adopted simplicity-parsimony idea as amalgam of simplicity and parsimony theories in analysing the trends and patterns of men’s sexual behaviour in Ethiopia, Nigeria and Zambia, the three countries selected from Eastern, Western and Southern parts of sub-Saharan Africa. Demographic Health Survey male-recode datasets (2000–2014) were used. Simple descriptive statistical techniques at univariate and bivariate levels were conducted. The results highlighted that men’s sexual behaviour are not the same in these regions. The men median sexual debut is 18 (Nigeria and Ethiopia) but 16 in Zambia. The median age at first cohabitation differs: 22 in Zambia and Ethiopia but higher in Nigeria. From 2000/2004 to 2010/2014, cohabitation practice reduced in Ethiopia across all ages but increased among men aged 25–29 (Zambia: 14.7–15.0%, Nigeria: 13.3–13.9%). There were declined in union-turnover in Ethiopia (−8.8%), Nigeria (−11.4%) and Zambia (−9.3%) including condom use; but non-spousal sex increased. The study concludes that the increase in non-spousal sex, non-condom use could have implications for STIs/HIV spread and zero-AIDS deaths agenda in the region. The authors suggest that policy decision-takers focus on non-spousal sex, non-use of condom, and union-turnover as crucial factors in the fight against STIs/HIV in sub- Saharan Africa

ONLINE HEALTH SERVICE KNOWLEDGE AND MEN’S REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH IN LAGOS AND OGUN STATES, NIGERIA

Despite the advancement in the diagnosis and treatment of sexual and reproductive health challenges, men are disproportionally affected across the world by adverse reproductive health outcomes. This is more pronounced in the sub-Saharan Africa region where most men lack awareness and knowledge of their reproductive health. This is aggravated by the unwilling nature of men to seek healthcare, especially in the available medical facilities. This study explored the use of online health resources among men in Nigeria towards meeting their reproductive health needs. The study employed a quantitative research approach aided by questionnaire interviews for data collection among 775 statistically representative samples of men aged 15-64 years old in Lagos and Ogun States, Nigeria. Data were analysed using univariate, bivariate and multivariate analyses (binary logistic regression) through SPSS version 20. Findings from the study revealed that 52.3% of the respondents use online health resources for reproductive health concerns. Findings also showed that gonorrhoea (11.9%) was the most prevalent male reproductive challenge; this was followed by premature ejaculation (10.6%) and Syphilis (8.9%). The findings from the bivariate analysis showed that socioeconomic characteristics such as educational attainment, occupational status and income distribution have a significant association with the use of online health platforms for reproductive and sexual health concerns (p<0.005). Findings from the multivariate analysis reveal that men who use the information they saw online, visit their doctors’ regularly, sought vaccines, and have reduced number of sexual partners and those who seek medical help are more likely to change their sexual reproductive health behaviour compared to men who do not. The study concludes that knowledge gained from online health sources significantly influences change in their reproductive behavioural outcomes. The study recommends that since the knowledge of online health services plays significant roles in change in reproductive outcomes, stakeholders, government, policy makers, non-governmental organisations, content and applications developers and primary health care centres should explore the power of online health resources to improve the reproductive health outcomes of men. Also, digital literacy should be provided to men, to feel confident in identifying reputable sources of online health information

DOES AWARENESS AND EXPERIENCE OF MALE REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CHALLENGES AFFECT RISKY SEXUAL BEHAVIOURS OF MEN IN NIGERIA

Risky sexual behaviours among men are well-evident in sub-Saharan Africa and there is a wide perspective that men awareness of reproductive diseases is low, despite rising prevalence of reproductive diseases. While there are literatures on risky sexual behaviours and prevalence of reproductive health diseases of men alone, little is known about whether awareness and experience of male reproductive challenges affect risky sexual behaviours of men in Lagos and Ogun States in Nigeria. This study therefore seeks to examine the awareness and experience of male reproductive challenges and how it affects risky sexual behaviours of men in Nigeria. Primary data was used for this study. Two levels of analysis namely univariate and multivariate was used to analyse the data. The univariate statistics involved descriptive statistics such as frequencies and means. The multivariate analysis involved the use of logistic regression technique to estimate whether awareness and experience of male reproductive challenges affect risky sexual behaviours of men in Nigeria. The result confirms that awareness and experience of reproductive health challenges affect risky sexual behaviour in men. This study helps policy makers, NGOs and government in emanating policies and legislation aimed at militating against risky sexual behaviours. Furthermore, NGOs and government could set up health centres which are for men’s reproductive and sexual health alone, this would encourage men to go for sexual and reproductive health screening

Exposure to Sex Education and Its Effects on Adolescent Sexual Behavior in Nigeria

Sexual behavior during adolescence fundamentally steers the future life of both girls and boys, and it should be guided with appropriate education, especially as it also represents a key factor to be considered in attainment of sustainable developmental goals. �e study assessed the e�ect of exposure to sex education on adolescents’ sexual behavior. �e primary and cross-sectional survey data used for this study were analyzed using basic descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression analytical technique. �e results, among others, highlighted that the most common sources of �rst sex education among the respondents are school (54.6%), family (21.6%), social media (9.5%), and others like television (7.6%) and books or magazines (4.9%). Frequency of discussion on sexual matters is positively associated with the use of protection such as condom (� � 0.261; p � 0.01). �estudy gave support to the increasing pursuit of sexuality education. However, since adolescents’ needs could vary by demographics, streamlining sex education need by age and sex characteristics could enhance its e�ectiveness

Influence of Drug Abuse on Academic Performances, Parents’ life style and Peer-Pressure among the Nigerian University students

The paper tries to explore the influence of drug abuse on academic performances, parents’ life style and peer-pressure among the Nigerian University students. A total sample size of 350 University undergraduates was interviewed through questionnaire administration in a private University in Ota Ogun state, Nigeria. The sample taking for the study was 14 percent of the total population (2,480) of the students in 2013 during data gathering. The univariate, bivariate and Chi-square tests were employed in the analyses of the study. The major findings of this study are: Firstly, at p=0.000, there is a high significant influence of drug abuse on academic performances among the Nigerian University students. Secondly, at p=0.01, it was discovered that parents’ lifestyle (parents’ drug-in-take) had a significant effect on drug abuse by the Nigerian University students. Thirdly, the study revealed that peer influence has no significant effect on drug abuse amongst the University students at p=0.216. The recommendations for this study are: firstly, there should be henceforth, minimum of 5 years jail-term for any Nigerian University student found guilty of drug abuse both within and outside the campus. Secondly, from now on, those parents found guilty of drug abuse in Nigerian society should be sentenced to 10 years imprisonment with hard labor. Thirdly, in any Nigerian family where either the child or parent is guilty of drug abuse, such family should not be allowed to hold any public leadership position in any capacity throughout their life time. Key Words: Academic performances, Drug abuse, Nigerian university students