Under-Five Mortality in Nigeria: Perception and Attitudes of the Yorubas Towards the Existence of "Abiku"

The paper examines the perception and attitudes of the Yorubas about the existence of abiku (children from the spirit world) and the mode of treatment given to such children. The study elicited information from 1695 women of reproductive age in Ondo and Ekiti state of Southwest Nigeria. The study shows (i) more than half of the respondents believe in the existence of abiku children; (ii) that abiku children can be identified from the evidence of past death, frequent indisposition, non-responsiveness of their illness to modern medical care as well as repeated death and verification from traditional healers; (iii) that causes of illness differ between abiku and non-abiku children; (iv) close to 71 percent of the respondents have faith in traditional methods of treatment for abiku children. The study, therefore, reiterate the need to integrate the people’s beliefs, attitudes and behavioural practices into health promotion programmes.Abiku, attitude(s), healers, perception, treatment

Women's sexual control within conjugal union

This study attempts to examine the extent to which women have control over their sexuality within marriage and its implication for the spread of HIV/AIDS. The survey was carried out in metropolitan Lagos. The study shows that women have some control over their sexuality especially during certain occasions such as during menstruation, breastfeeding, pregnancy and when they are sick. However, only few women could negotiate with their husbands especially by insisting on safe sexual practices. The study therefore shows that women need to be educated on the need for safer sex practices, especially in this era of HIV/AIDS. They should also be economically empowered so as to practice safer sex. Again, men should be educated on the safer sex practices in other to control the spread of HIV/AIDS.conjugal, extramarital, menstruation, safe-sex, sex behavior, sexuality

Perspectives on socio-cultural context of adolescent reproductive health behaviour in Nigeria

This paper utilizes data collected using structured questionnaire, focus group discussion, Rapid Participatory Assessment (RPA) and in-depth interview with stakeholders to obtain information from adolescents on the context of their behaviour at family level, work place, school, the society. The aim was to appraise the changes in the socio-cultural context of adolescent sexual and reproductive health. The study which was carried out among 3,141 adolescents selected from the state capital, one medium-sized town and two villages in three Nigerian states indicates that: (i) premarital sexual behavior has become more common overtime, as Nigerian society has undergone marked social change (ii) most parents do not talk with their adolescent children about family life issues such as sex, pregnancy and contraception mainly because of cultural beliefs. Increasingly, religion and its insistence on chastity is now a dominant factor in adolescent sexual and reproductive health matters

Women's sexual control within conjugal union: Implications for HIV/AIDS infection and control in a metropolitan city

This study attempts to examine the extent to which women have control over their sexuality within marriage and its implication for the spread of HIV/AIDS. The survey was carried out in metropolitan Lagos. The study shows that women have some control over their sexuality especially during certain occasions such as during menstruation, breastfeeding, pregnancy and when they are sick. However, only few women could negotiate with their husbands especially by insisting on safe sexual practices. The study therefore shows that women need to be educated on the need for safer sex practices, especially in this era of HIV/AIDS. They should also be economically empowered so as to practice safer sex. Again, men should be educated on the safer sex practices in other to control the spread of HIV/AIDS

Women's empowerment status and exposure to maternal mortality risks in Nigeria

The statistics on maternal mortality clearly show that Nigeria is lagging in the struggle to significantly improve maternal health. Annually, an estimated 50,000 to 59,000 Nigeria women of reproductive age die because of pregnancy and childbirth. One of the main reasons for this high rate has been the low level of involvement of women in decision-making process. Men generally view some of reproductive health issues as their prerogative, issues in which the compliance of their wives is taken for granted. The study employed the women’s data from the 2008 NDHS to examine the relationship between women’s decision-making autonomy and exposure to mortality risks. Given that the study was interested in the risks of maternal mortality in the country, the analysis was restricted to only the women who had at least a birth in the last five years (preceding the survey). A total of 17635 women out of the 33385 women interviewed nationwide in the 2008 NDHS, met the inclusion criteria. The analysis was done at univariate and bivariate levels. Also, using logistic regression models, multivariate analyses were performed to estimate the odds ratios for each of the predictor variables in the models. The study shows that 36% of the women did not make a single antenatal visit to a hospital during the duration of their last pregnancy; as many as 63% did not deliver in a health facility (government or privately owned); and about 60% did not deliver with the assistance of a skilled provider. After controlling for the confounding influence of some other independent variables, the study suggests that the “strong authority” of women in household decision-making gives them a voice that is heard in the house and ability to initiate moves to obtain healthcare without necessarily waiting for “administrative clearance” from adult males within the husband’s family.Keywords: Women Empowerment, Maternal Mortality Risks, Antenatal Visits, Skilled Birth Attendants, Nigeri