Teachers\' Attitude is not an impediment to Adolescent Sexuality Education in Enugu, Nigeria

Studies have shown that adolescents in Nigeria have poor knowledge health issues and that there was a need to provide them with correct broad-based information on reproductive as part of a nationally-approved school curriculum 1,2,3 . However, the non-application of the curriculum on sexuality education in many schools in Nigeria has been blamed on a negative attitude of teachers 4. This study was undertaken to determine the attitude of secondary school teachers in Enugu, South-Eastern Nigeria, to adolescent sexuality education and to determine whether this depends on their socio-demographic characteristics. A cross-sectional study of the attitude of teachers to adolescent sexuality education was done. A total of 249 teachers were studied. Their mean age was 38.7years ±8.08SD. Two hundred and ten teachers (84%) were females. Two hundred and twenty-four teachers (90%) were married and 168(67.5%) were of Roman Catholic Faith. The awareness of reproductive health activities was high. There was a high proportion of respondents who approved of sexuality education for adolescents (77.5%) and an equally high proportion who believed that it was important (89%). One hundred and ninety- eight (79%) of the respondents were willing to teach sexuality education. The attitude to sexuality education was independent of religion, sex or marital status (p>0.05). It was concluded that secondary school teachers in Enugu urban were willing to offer sexuality education to adolescents under their care irrespective of their religion, sex or marital status. It is therefore, recommended that teachers in Enugu be given the necessary special training in the teaching of sexuality education now and that sexuality education be officially incorporated into the school curriculum in Enugu, preferably as part of moral studies. African Journal of Reproductive Health Vol. 10 (1) 2006: pp. 81-9

Risk factors for acute otitis media in Nigerian infants

Objective: The risk factors for acute otitis media (AOM) have been well documented in studies mostly conducted in temperate, developed countries. The present study seeks to determine the relevance of five selectedrisk factors in a tropical developing country. Method: A cross-sectional study of two hundred and ten (210) infants was done in Enugu, eastern Nigeria. Their mothers were interviewed with structured questionnaires. Results: The risk for AOM increased more with pacifier use (odds ratio = 1.278) and thumb sucking (odds ratio = 1.258) than with parental smoking (odds ratio = 1.144) and day care attendance (odds ratio = 1.092). Conclusion: It is concluded that primary prevention of AOM may be achieved by strategies that can eliminate or reduce these risk factors since they are potentially modifiable.Keywords: Risk factors, otitis media, Nigerian infants Orient Journal of Medicine Vol. 17 (1&2) 2005: 18-2

Attitude of antenatal patients in Enugu toward HIV screening

Objective: To assess attitude towards antenatal Human Immuno Deficiency Virus (HIV) screening in Enugu, Nigeria.Method: A self-report questionnaire was administered to two hundred and nine women attending antenatal booking clinics at the University of Nigerian Teaching Hospital, Enugu. Results: The mean age was 29.7 years. One hundred and sixty three patients 78.0% were aware of HIV Screenng before booking while 22.0% were not aware at the time of booking. A total of 123 women (58.9%) had previous HIV Screening while the rest (41.1%) accepted the screening for the first time. Educational Level has a significant effect on uptake of HIV test 2 = 8.97, p = 0.003 df = 2 and on the perceived benefit of HIV Screening x2 = 16.6, p = 0.00005 df = 3 but has no significant effect on the awareness of vertical transmission x2 = 0.62, p = 0.43, df = 2. The reason for declining HIV Screening was that AIDS has no known cure, followed by fear of positive result. Conclusion: The awareness and attitude of Nigeria pregnant women towards HIV Screening and uptake of the test is good. Educational level has a significant effect on the uptake and perceived benefit of the test. Antenatal women should be offered routine voluntary counseling and testing. Keywords: antenatal, HIV screening, NigeriaTropical Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Vol. 22(1) 2005: 156-15

Tobacco use, determinants and effects on treatment among persons living with HIV/AIDS at a Military Hospital in Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria

Aim and objective To assess the prevalence, determinants and effects on treatment among persons living with HIV/AIDS at a Military Hospital in Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria. Methods Study was at a military Hospital, in Benue State. The centre cares for both military and civilian population, with over 98% being civilian clients. Analytical cross-sectional design was used. Patients ≥18 years on care for ≥12 months were studied excluding those with frank psychosis, poor record of CD4 count or viral load, chronic health condition known to interfere with CD4count. Patient’s folder records, Questionnaire and DAST-10 tool were tools used. Ethical clearance and written informed consent were obtained. Results Majority of the patients were aged 31-60 years 61(8.3%) and females 441(63.0%). Prevalence of Tobacco use were 138(19.7%) for ever used and 66(9.4%) for use in past 3 months. Also 114(16.3%) used Tobacco and other substances; 90(12.9%) Alcohol, 73(10.4%) Kola nut, 8(1.1%) Cannabis and 5(0.7%) Cocaine with Tobacco. No statistical significant associations between ever used, use in past 3 months or degree of Tobacco use with Viral load CD4 count. Predictors of use includes; males sex (AOR 0.23; 95% CI 0.15-0.35) and earning <18,000 (AOR 2.23; 95% CI 1.05-4.70). Conclusions Use of Tobacco was high as well as use with other substances. Tobacco use had no effect on CD4 count and viral load. Sex and Family income predicts use of substance. There is serious and urgent need for improved tobacco prevention and control interventions in the country especially among PLWHA

Domestic Violence Against Pregnant Nigerian Women

Context:Domestic violence against women is known to be common and violence against pregnant women can create an adverse outcome both for the mother and the fetus. Objectives: To estimate the prevalence of domestic violence against pregnant women in Enugu, Nigeria and to identify the risk factors promoting such violence. Study Design, Setting and Subjects:Trained personnel administered a self-reporting domestic-abuse questionnaire to 409 women attending antenatal clinics at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital between May and August 2000. Results:A total of 424 women were attending antenatal clinics at the time of the study, of whom 409 agreed to participate in the study. One hundred and fifty two (37.2%) had a previous history of abuse. Fifty-three women (13.0%) had been abused in the preceding twelve months and 45 (11.0%) during the index pregnancy. Eleven women (2.7%) had been sexually abused in the preceding one year, while 3.4% reported being afraid of their husbands. The risk factors for being the victim of domestic abuse, in descending order of magnitude, were financial problems (17.7%), having only female children (11.1%), unplanned pregnancy (8.8%), unemployment (4.4%) and previous caesarean section (4.4%). Conclusion:Prevalence of domestic violence was high among Nigerian pregnant women. Routine screening of prenatal women for domestic violence should be introduced during antenatal care. Key Words: Domestic Violence, Pregnancy, Partners, Screening [Trop J Obstet Gynaecol, 2003, 20: 116-118

Awareness and knowledge of disease surveillance and notification by health‑care workers and availability of facility records in Anambra state, Nigeria

Background: Disease surveillance and notification (DSN) is part of the Health Management Information System (HMIS) which comprises databases, personnel, and materials that are organized to collect data which are utilized for informed decision making. The knowledge about DSN is very important for the reporting of notifiable diseases. Objective: The aim of this study is to examine the awareness and knowledge of health‑care workers about DSN, and availability of facility records in Anambra State, Nigeria. Materials and Methods: The study was a descriptive cross‑sectional one in which relevant data were collected from health‑care workers selected by a multistage sampling technique. Qualitative information was also elicited by key informant interviews, whereas an observational checklist, preceded by a desk review was used to examine the availability of facility records. Results: Although 89.8% of the health‑care workers were aware of the DSN system, only 33.3, 31.1, and 33.7% of them knew the specific uses of forms IDSR 001, IDSR 002, and IDSR 003 (IDSR: Integrated Diseases Surveillance and Response), respectively. Knowledge of use of the various forms at the facility and local government area (LGA) levels were generally low, although the observational checklist revealed that IDSR 001 and IDSR 002 forms were predominantly found in primary health‑care facilities. HMIS forms were less likely to be available in secondary health‑care facilities (χ2=7.67, P=0.005). Conclusions: Regular training and retraining of concerned health‑care workers on DSN at the LGA level is recommended. This should run concurrently with adequate and regular provision of IDSR forms, copies of the standard case definitions, and other necessary logistics to the health‑care facilities by the local and state governments.Keywords: Awareness, disease surveillance and notification, facility records, knowledgeNigerian Medical Journal | Vol. 53 | Issue 4 | October-December | 201

Effect of Social Class and Area of Domicile on the Prevalence of Intestinal Helminthiasis in Nursery and Primary School Children in Enugu

Objective: The primary objective of the study was to determine the effect of social class and area of domicile on the prevalence of helminthiasis in nursery and primary school children in Enugu.Subjects and method: This was a cross-sectional study in which stool samples were obtained from 460 nursery and primary school children from different social classes and different areas of domicile and analysed for intestinal helminthiasis using the Kato Katz method.Results: One hundred and sixty-six (36.1%) of the 460 children studied lived in the urban area; 215 (46.7%) lived in the semi-urban area and 79 (17.2%) lived in the urban slum area. The prevalence of intestinal helminthic infection was lowest in children living in urban areas (10.2%) and highest in those in urban slums (48.4%). There was a significant relationship between residential abode or area of domicile and prevalence of helminthic infection (&chi;2 = 59.54; df = 2; p = 0.001).The prevalence of intestinal helminthic infection was highest in the lower class (50.9%), lowest in the upper class (9.7%) and intermediate in the middle class (21.7%). This trend was statistically significant (&chi;2 = 65.06; df = 2; p = 0.001). Conclusion: It is concluded that the prevalence of intestinal helminthiasis is affected by both areas of domicile and social class of children. Hence, intervention by the government to create better areas of domicile and to improve the social class of its populace will reduce the prevalence of intestinal helminthiasis.Keywords: Intestinal helminthiasis, children, area of domicile, social clas

The Effects of Health Education on Knowledge and Attitudes to Emergency Contraception by Female Students of a Tertiary Educational Institution in Enugu, South East Nigeria.

This was an intervention study to assess the effects of health education on the knowledge and attitudes to emergency contraception (EC) by female students of University of Nigeria in southeast Nigeria. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data from 337 female students of a tertiary educational institution (150 in the study group and 187 from the control group) who were selected by multistage sampling. Subsequently, health education was conducted only among students in the study institution. Three months after this intervention, its effects were assessed through a survey using the same structured questionnaire employed in the baseline survey. Unlike the pre-intervention results, knowledge of EC was significantly higher (P < 0.05) among the study group than the controls. Attitudes to EC were also more favourable at the post- intervention survey among the study group. Health education can effectively improve knowledge and attitudes to EC among female students of tertiary institutions and this should be encouraged