Culture and Attitude as Predictors of People’s Participation in Rural Development in Edo South Senatorial District

This study examines culture and attitude as predictors of peoples participation in rural development in Edo south senatorial district A sample of 350 respondents were used for the study. A structured questionnaire was the main instrument used for data collection. The study employed the simple survey research design. The findings revealed that the people's participation in rural development in Edo south senatorial district is marginal. Secondly, the people's belief system influences their level of participation in rural development activities. It was also discovered that people's norms also influence the people's participation in rural development activities. The paper recommended that there is need to ensure that rural development activities when initiated are culture compliant, the people need to be educated on the need to support  rural development activities by helping to identify those cultural practices that are inimical to changes and progress and the people must also be involved in the initiation and evaluation of rural development activitie

Reproductive health options among HIV-infected persons in the low-income Niger Delta of Nigeria

Osaro Erhabor1, Chris I Akani2, Cosmos E Eyindah21Department of Haematology and Immunology, College of Health Sciences, University of Port Harcourt, 2Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Port Harcourt, NigeriaBackground: With the advent and widespread use of highly active antiretroviral therapy for the treatment of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), persons living with HIV/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) are living good quality, longer, and healthier lives. Many couples affected by HIV, both serodiscordant and seroconcordant, are beginning to consider options for safer reproduction. The aim of this study was to assess the reproductive health concerns among persons living with HIV/AIDS in the Niger Delta of Nigeria.Methods and results: The subjects were aged 18–58 (mean 41.25 ± 11.50) years, with 88 males (45.1%) and 107 females (54.9). Of the 195 subjects studied, 111 (56.9%) indicated a desire to have children. The main reasons for wanting to procreate included ensuring lineage continuity and posterity (52.3%), securing relationships (27.0%), and pressure from relatives to reproduce (20.7%). Single subjects were more inclined to have children (76.3%) compared with married (51.5%), widowed (18.2%), and separated/divorced subjects (11.1%, P = 0.03). Of the 111 subjects who indicated their desire to have children, women were more inclined to have children (64.5%) than men (47.7%). The major concern among the 84 (43.1%) subjects not desiring more children were the fear of infecting a serodiscordant partner and baby (57.1%), fear of dying and leaving behind orphans (28.6%), and fear that they may become too ill and unable to support the child financially (14.3%). Persons with no formal education were more likely to have children irrespective of their positive HIV status (66.7%) than persons educated to tertiary education level (37.0%, P = 0.01). Of 111 subjects who desired to have children, only 58% had attended reproductive health counseling with HIV counselors. Reasons for not seeking advice were anticipated negative reactions and discrimination from counselors. A significant number of subjects were only aware of some of the reproductive health options available to reduce the risk of infecting their partners and/or baby, such as artificial vaginal insemination, intrauterine insemination, cesarean section, avoidance of breast feeding, and offering prenatal pre-exposure prophylaxis to the fetus. They were unaware of other options, such as sperm washing, in vitro fertilization, and intracytoplasmic sperm injection. Of the 43.1% not anticipating more children, 36.9% were anticipating adoption.Conclusion: Our study has shown that a significant number of HIV-infected persons in the Niger Delta of Nigeria desire to have children irrespective of their positive serostatus. There is the need to support the sexual and reproductive rights of HIV-infected individuals. Additional training needs to be offered to HIV counselors on evidence-based best and affordable practices regarding reproductive health issues among persons living with HIV. Policies that support availability and accessibility to relevant reproductive and sexual health services, including contraception and procreation, need to be developed. Public enlightenment programs on HIV are needed to reduce the stigmatization that HIV-infected persons face from family members and their communities.Keywords: reproductive health, human immunodeficiency virus, low income, Niger Delta, Nigeri

Distribution of Kell phenotype among pregnant women in Sokoto, North Western Nigeria

Introduction: Kell antigen is highly immunogenic and is the common cause of antibody production in mismatched blood transfusions, haemolytic transfusion reaction (HTR) and maternal alloimmunization, which causes severe anaemia in neonates. The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence and ethnic variation of the Kell phenotype among pregnant women in Sokoto, Nigeria. Methods: Kell antigen status of 150 pregnant women aged 18-45 years and mean age 27.19 ±4.69 years attending antenatal clinic in UDUTH Sokoto Nigeria was determined using the conventional tube method and anti-Kell reagents (Lorne Laboratories, UK). Results: Among the 150 subjects studied, 3 (2.0%) of subjects were positive and 147 (98.0) were negative for K antigen. Of the 150 pregnant subjects; 32 (21.3%) were primigravidae while 118 (78.7%) were multigravidae. Kell phenotype was more prevalent among primigravidae (3.1%) compared to multigravidae (1.7%) women. The distribution of Kell phenotype among the pregnant subjects was compared based on ethnicity. The prevalence of Kell antigen was significantly higher among the Hausa ethnic group (3.2%) compared to other ethnic groups which indicated zero prevalence (p=0.001). Kell negative phenotype was ≥ 96.8% among all the ethnic groups. Conclusion: Our observed prevalence of Kell phenotype is consistent with previous studies among Blacks and Asians but significantly lower than values observed in previous studies among Caucasians. We recommend that all pregnant women should be screened for the presence clinically significant red cell antigens including Kell antigen on their first antenatal visit. Kell negative red cell should be routinely provided for all pregnant women and women with child bearing potential to reduce the risk of Kell-associated HDFN. There is need to introduce routine screening of pregnant women for clinically significant red cell antibodies to facilitate the effective management of HDFN as well as prevent HTR. There is also need for sustained health education of pregnant women in the area to encourage early booking for antenatal care

Protocol For A Randomised, Multicentre, Double Blinded Phase III Study Of Perioperative Ketorolac In Women Of African Descent With Operable Breast Cancer

Cancer remains one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Breast cancer is the most common form of malignancy occurring in women around the world. The aim of this present protocol is to outline the procedure for a randomised, multicentre, double blinded phase III study of perioperative Ketorolac in Women of African Descent with Operable Breast Cancer. The typical type of breast cancer in sub Saharan Africa is triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) and is usually considered the worst early breast cancer diagnosis since there are no known targeted therapies and patients often relapse and die early. sub-Saharan Africa seems the perfect place to conduct a randomized controlled double blinded clinical trial of perioperative NSAID Romano Demicheli 1, Erhabor Osaro 2, Michael Retsky 3 Forget Patrice 4.Vaidya Jayant S 5. Scientific Directorate Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Tumori di Milano Italy 1, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria 2, Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health Boston MA USA 3, Department of Anesthesiology, Universite catholique de Louvain, St-Luc Hospital, Av. Hippocrate 10-1821, 1200 Brussels, Belgium 4, University College Hospital, London, UK 5.etorolac to potentially reduce early relapses in breast cancer. The primary and secondary objectives of this trial are to evaluate and compare the Disease Free Survival (DFS) and Overall Survival (OS) of operable breast cancer patients randomised to standard treatment versus standard treatment plus perioperative Ketorolac and to compare the safety and tolerability of the treatment as well as to identify pre- and post-operative factors with prognostic relevance and establish correlations with clinical outcomes. It is anticipated that trial will be successful and would turn TNBC from the worst prognosis to the best and potentially help improve the quality of life of African women suffering from breast cancer

Maternal death and obstetric care audits in Nigeria: A systematic review of barriers and enabling factors in the provision of emergency care.

Acknowledgements We would like to thank Yutaka Osakabe for co-ordinating the retrieval of full text articles. The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation supported this study, grant number 12-100074-000-INPPeer reviewedPublisher PD