Authors:U.U. Epundu, A.L. Ilika, C.C. Ibeh, A.S. Nwabueze, O.F. Emelumadu, C.C. Nnebue Abstract: Background: About 140 million women worldwide have suffered genital mutilation. The practice is common in several African countries including Nigeria. This paper reviews the prevalence, distribution, causes, consequences and strategies for elimination and proffers solutions to aid elimination of this practice.Methods: Relevant literature pertaining to female genital mutilation in Nigeria were obtained from journals, textbooks, selected documents and internet search of databases using Pubmed, Google scholar and African Journals Online. Cross referencing was used to identify additional articles. The study period was from 2004 to 2016.Results: Female genital mutilation is a common practice in several parts of the country, especially the Southern geopolitical zones. Nationally representative surveys reported a gradual decline in the prevalence. The practice has several negative health and economic consequences. Culture and tradition are important factors fuelling its persistence.Conclusion: Female genital mutilation is a crime against womanhood, posing a great health and financial burden to individuals, families and the society. Although its prevalence is on the decline in many parts of Nigeria, more sustained and coordinated efforts of stakeholders at all levels are needed to fast-track the elimination of this practice in Nigeria.Keywords: Female genital mutilation, circumcision, cutting, Nigeria PubDate: 2018-04-24 Issue No:Vol. 6, No. 1 (2018)
Authors:C.B. Duru, C.C. Nnebue, A.C. Iwu, R.U. Oluoha, E.U. Ndukwu, E Nwaigbo Abstract: Background: Nigeria is the most populous black nation in the world, with urban- rural variations. In the face of limited resources, this scenario presents a case on the need for the control of population growth in tandem with the available food, economic and other resources of the country.Objective: To determine and compare the differences in family planning use among women in rural and urban communities in Imo State, Nigeria.Methods: This was a comparative cross-sectional survey of 1,130 women of reproductive age group (565) in urban and (565) in rural communities of Imo state, selected using multistage sampling technique. Data were collected by interview using semi-structured questionnaire and analysed using a computer software package (EPI INFO version 3.3.2). Frequencies and percentages of relevant variables were generated, while Chi-square and t tests were used to identify associations between variables. A p-value <0.05 was considered significant.Results: The mean age of respondents in urban areas, 32.7±7.7 years was higher than in rural areas, 31.2+8.1years, (p=0.001). More women in rural, 433 (77.2%) than urban areas, 365 (65.1%) were married (p<0.0001). More respondents had heard about family planning in urban 555(99.1%) than rural 539(96.1%) (p=0.001). More respondents in urban, 450 (80.90%), had good contraceptive knowledge, compared to rural, 303(56.10%) (p<0.0001). More respondents had ever used any form of contraception in urban, 303(53.9%), than rural 239(47.2%), counterparts, (p<0.0001). Current contraceptive use was higher among urban women, 196(35.2%) than in rural counterparts, 109 (19.5%), p<0.0001. More rural respondents currently used modern methods (74.0%) than their urban counterparts, (58.2%), p=0.002. The commonest reason for choosing any family planning method in both rural (52.3%) and urban, (49.5%) areas was that it is convenient.Conclusion: This study found that though the reported awareness and knowledge about family planning in both localities were high, the overall family planning use was low. Also, family planning use was higher among women from urban communities than those from rural communities of the State. These findings may have implications for public health policies and programs especially at the grass roots. Thus, there is need for stake holders in the State to find ways of increasing the use of family planning services by making it attractive to these women through incentives especially among those living in the rural areas of the StateKeywords: utilization of family planning services, women of reproductive age, urban and rural communities, comparative study, Nigeria PubDate: 2018-04-24 Issue No:Vol. 6, No. 1 (2018)
Authors:A.I. Ugezu, I.N. Nze, C.C. Ihegihu, N.C. Chukwuka, C.U. Ndukwu, R.O. Ofiaeli Abstract: Background: The femur is the longest and strongest bone in the body. The long straight part of the femur is the shaft. The femoral shaft is circumferentially padded with large muscles. A femoral shaft fracture is a fracture of the femoral diaphysis occurring between 5cm distal to the lesser trochanter and 5cm proximal to the adductor tubercle. This occurs more in young adults. Femoral shaft fractures results from a high energy injury. The forces can be by direct, indirect or a combination of both.Objective: To determine the cause, pattern of femoral shaft fractures, treatment modalities and their clinical outcome.Methods: This is a hospital based retrospective study of all patients managed for traumatic femoral shaft fracture over a six year period. Children were excluded from this study. Cases with incomplete records were also excluded. Results were analyzed with Statistical Package for Social Sciences Version 17(SPSS Inc., Chicago, Illinois, USA) and presented in tables.Results: Two hundred and seventy two (272) fractures were treated in Two hundred and forty two (242) patients. Their ages ranged from 18 to 77years with a mean age of 35.0+4.5years. More males were affected than females with a ratio of 2.4:1.Road traffic accidents were the leading cause of femoral shaft fractures (78%) followed by falls(15%).The most common fracture pattern was oblique, accounting for70% of cases. The treatment modalities involved included both conservative and various operative techniques. There were no differences in the average mobilization time across the operative treated fractures except for Interlocking intramedullary nailing. Complication rates varied across the various treatment modalities. Early surgical intervention showed rather decreased complication rate.Conclusion: Road traffic accidents are the most common cause of femoral shaft fractures in our environment. Interlocking intramedullary nailing should be the modality of choice for operative treatment. Early surgical stabilization is safe in patients without co-existing multi-systemic injuries. Early mobilization improves clinical outcome.Keywords: Femoral shaft, Cause, Fracture pattern, Treatment modalities PubDate: 2018-04-24 Issue No:Vol. 6, No. 1 (2018)
Authors:N.P. Kadiri-Eneh, E.C. Azuike, C Tobin-West, B.S.C. Uzochukwu Abstract: Background: Primary Health Care (PHC) development in Nigeria is in its infancy, characterized by scarcity of human and material resources that are unevenly distributed. Attraction and retention of skilled staff in PHC centres require an understanding of the associated variables. Objective: This study assessed retention potential of PHC workers in Rivers State, Nigeria.Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study design with a mixed method of data collection was used. The quantitative data were collected using semi-structured, pre-tested, self-administered questionnaires and analysed using SPSS version 20.0 software. The qualitative aspect was done concurrently using focus group discussions and analysed thematically. The multi-stage sampling method was used to select 378 respondents made up of Community Health Extension Workers, Community Health Officers, nurses and doctors from the Primary Health facilities.Results: The mean age of the respondents was 39.8±8.1 years; with 339 (89.7%) females and 39(10.3%) males. Among the respondents, 215(56.9%) wanted opportunities for better work placement outside their current facility, with 48.4% preferring locations outside Africa. Salary, promotions and capacity building (35.7%, 33.1% and 24.1% respectively) were the commonest factors for their preference. The age, cadre, profession, duration of work, general working conditions, ability and skills as well as work activities had statistically significant relationships with their desire to leave.Conclusion: This study found a low potential for retention of primary health care workers, as more than half of the workers desired better work placement outside their current facilities. In addition, priority attention should be given to the younger age group, which was found to be the high turnover group.Keywords: Primary Health Care, Health Care Workers, Retention, Potential PubDate: 2018-04-24 Issue No:Vol. 6, No. 1 (2018)
Authors:J.C. Umeobika, L.C. Ikeako, C.T. Ezenyeaku, U.I. Ezebialu, E.C. Ojiyi Abstract: Background: Gynaecological malignancies are important component of reproductive health and contribute significantly to morbidity and mortality in women. They have a world-wide distribution which varies from region to region.Objective: To determine the frequency and pattern of gynaecological malignancies at Imo State University Teaching Hospital, Orlu South Eastern Nigeria.Methods: A retrospective analysis of all patients with histologically confirmed genital tract malignancies at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology of Imo State University Teaching Hospital Orlu in South Eastern Nigeria from 1st of January, 2004 to 31st of December, 2013.Results: Out of 218 cases of gynaecological malignancies, 131 (60.1%) were cervical cancer, 45(20.6%) were ovarian cancer, 23 (10.6%) were cancers of the corpus uteri, 12(5.5%) were choriocarcinoma, 11(5.1%) were endometrial cancers while vaginal cancer accounted for only 1 (0.5%). The age distribution was mainly within the 30-69 age range 184 (84.4%) with a peak occurrence at the 40-49 age group 75 (34.4%). The incidence of cervical and ovarian cancers peaked at 40-49 years with 52 (39.7%) and 11 (24.5%) of the individual cancers respectively. The gynaecological malignancies appeared to occur less at the extremes of age (<20 years and ≥70 years).Conclusion: Cervical cancer was the commonest type of gynaecological malignancy in this study, despite the fact that it is the most preventable of all the gynaecological malignancies and a major cause of morbidity and mortality in Nigeria. Establishment of a nationwide health insurance scheme that covers cervical cancer screening and human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccination augmented by health education and awareness creation is very vital towards curbing this ugly trend.Keywords: Gynaecological, South East, Malignancy, Tumour, Nigeria PubDate: 2018-04-24 Issue No:Vol. 6, No. 1 (2018)
Authors:K.G. Enwonwu, A Ilika, C Ifeadike, C Aniemena, R.O. Egeonu Abstract: Background: Immunization is a process of inducing immunity to infection through the administration or introduction of vaccines. However, its coverage is not optimum in most developing countries. The objective of this study is to determine the awareness, perception and coverage of immunization among mothers of under-fives accessing care at the St Charles Borromeo Hospital Onitsha.Materials and Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study involving 300 mothers of under-five children who access immunization services and antenatal care at St Charles Borromeo Hospital Onitsha, Anambra state. A pretested, semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect data. The questionnaire elicited information on the socio-demographic characteristics of the participants, perceptions, attitude and practice of childhood immunization. The participants were interviewed over 5 weeks. The data obtained were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 16 and displayed as percentages.Result: The respondents had a mean age of 28.75 ± 4.44 years. One (0.33%) of the mothers was single while 299 (99.67%) were married and living in a monogamous family setting. All the respondents were Christians, with the majority having completed secondary education 107(35.7%). Majority of the respondents 116(38.67%) were teachers, 94 (31.33%) were traders. The mean age of the children was 2.5±0.6 months. More than half (54.0 %) were females. All the children were delivered in the hospitals where their mothers went for antenatal care. All the mothers said immunization was meant for all children and also that vaccines do not contain contraceptives. Ninety-five percent (95%) of children had received BCG, the remaining 5% were newborns who were about to receive BCG on the day of interview. All the women reported that prevention of deadly vaccine-preventable diseases was the benefit of immunization.Conclusions: Awareness of immunization by the respondents was very high. Majority had good attitude towards immunization. Despite a good uptake of immunization, there were some children who were partially immunized or not immunized at all.Keywords: Immunization, vaccine, perception, under-five, childhood PubDate: 2018-04-24 Issue No:Vol. 6, No. 1 (2018)
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