40 research outputs found
Contraceptive practices in Nigeria: Literature review and recommendation for future policy decisions
No full textPredictors of hypertension in an urban HIV-infected population at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Calabar, Nigeria
No full textHenry Ohem Okpa,1 Elvis Mbu Bisong,2 Ofem Egbe Enang,1 Emmanuel Monjok,2,3 Ekere James Essien3 1Department of Internal Medicine, 2Department of Family Medicine, University of Calabar and University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Calabar, Nigeria; 3Institute of Community Health, University of Houston, Texas Medical Center, Houston, TX, USA Background: The introduction of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) has remarkably improved the prognosis of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients, at the expense of the development of long-term complications such as cardiovascular and renal diseases. Hypertension (HTN) is a major risk factor for cardiovascular diseases and its associated mortality. In this study, we aimed to determine the prevalence of HTN and to identify possible predictors among HIV-infected patients attending the HIV Special Treatment Clinic at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Calabar.Materials and methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out over a 5-month period from February to July 2016. A total of 112 HIV-infected persons were consecutively recruited and their blood pressures were measured in two consecutive clinic visits. They were compared with the HIV-negative control group (n=309). Data collected were analyzed with SPSS 18, and statistical significance was set at P<0.05.Results: There was a female preponderance in both the HIV-infected individuals and HIV-negative control group (57.5% vs. 57.4%). The mean ages were 39.3 and 33.9 years in HIV-infected and HIV-negative subjects, respectively. The risk factors that were associated with HTN in both groups were older age (>40 years), increased weight and body mass index (BMI), and presence of obesity. Male sex and duration of exposure to HAART and CD4 count levels >200 cells/mm3 were associated with HTN in HIV-infected patients, whereas the absence of family history of HTN was significantly associated with HTN in both groups. However, in a multivariate logistic regression, the predictors of HTN in both groups are absence of family history of HTN and older age in HIV-infected patients and HIV-negative subjects, respectively.Conclusion: Traditional risk factors such as older age, increased BMI, and obesity were linked to HTN in both HIV-infected and HIV-negative subjects, but higher CD4 count level and cumulative HAART exposure were associated with HTN in HIV-positive individuals. In a multivariate logistic regression, the predictors of HTN in both groups are absence of family history of HTN and older age in HIV-infected patients and HIV-negative subjects, respectively. Keywords: hypertension, urban, HIV, population, Calabar, Nigeri
Contraceptive practices in Nigeria: Literature review and recommendation for future policy decisions
No full textEmmanuel Monjok1, Andrea Smesny1, John E Ekabua2, E James Essien11Institute of Community Health, University of Houston, Texas, USA; 2Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Calabar, NigeriaAbstract: The current prevalence rate for contraceptive use in Nigeria is approximately 11%&ndash;13%. This rate is very low in spite of the high rate of sexual activity and widespread awareness of the various contraceptive methods among Nigerian adolescence and youths. As a result there are many unintended pregnancies and illegal abortions contributing to a high maternal mortality ratio, which seems to indicate a large unmet need for contraceptive use. There is ample research evidence identifying the various factors that contribute to the low prevalence of modern contraceptive use in Nigeria, with the most common factor being the myth about the side effects of modern contraceptives. However, what is lacking is a political will in Nigeria to provide family planning programs on a much larger scale, using community-oriented approaches and communication programs, to help change the myth about the side effects of modern contraceptives. This review highlights current methods and concepts in contraception, reasons for low contraceptive use and practice in Nigeria, and the need for Nigeria to generate a political priority and a will to make a change in maternal health indicators, with the ultimate goal of providing direction to guide changes in the Nigerian Population Policy as it affects contraceptive use and family planning.Keywords: contraceptive practice, literature review, research, Nigeri
Mobile surgical services in primary care in a rural and remote setting: Experience and evidence from Yala, Cross River State, Nigeria
No full textSurgical conditions account for 11 to 15% of the global burden of disease. Yet, surgical services are very scarce in the rural areas of Nigeria where approximately 60 to 80% of the population resides. Among other basic contributing factors is the shortage of surgical workforce, since Nigeria’s few surgeons practise in the urban centre of the major cities. One way to respond to this acute shortage of surgeons is the training of generalist medical doctors to undertake surgery in rural areas. The introduction of mobile surgical services in rural populations as part of the existing primary health care activities in the Local Government Areas (districts) can reduce surgical morbidity and mortality in Nigeria. This can be done by the generalist physician with training and experience in surgery using local health staff and simple surgical equipment. A number of recommendations are made
Predictors of frequency of condom use and attitudes among sexually active female military personnel in Nigeria
No full textE James Essien1, Osaro Mgbere2, Emmanuel Monjok1, Ernest Ekong3, Susan Abughosh1, Marcia M Holstad41Institute of Community Health, University of Houston, Texas Medical Center, Houston, TX, USA; 2Houston Department of Health and Human Services, Houston, TX, USA; 3Institute for Health Research and Development, Yaba, Lagos, Nigeria; 4Nell Hodgson School of Nursing, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USABackground: Despite awareness of condom efficacy, in protecting against both human immunodeficiency virus/sexually transmitted diseases (HIV/STDs) and unintended pregnancy; some females find it difficult to use or permit condom use consistently because of the power imbalances or other dynamics operating in their relationships with males. The purpose of this study was to determine the factors that predict the frequency of condom use and attitudes among sexually active female military personnel in Nigeria.Methods: This study used a cross-sectional design in which a total of 346 responses were obtained from consenting female military personnel in two cantonments in Southwestern Nigeria between 2006 and 2008. The study instrument was designed to assess HIV/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) knowledge (HAK), HIV risk behaviors (HRB), alcohol and drug use, condom attitudes and barriers (CAS) condom use self-efficacy (CUS) and social support to condom use (SSC). The sociodemographic characteristics of participants were also captured. Univariate analysis and multivariable logistic regression were used for modeling the predictors of condom use.Results: The results showed that 63% of the respondents reported using condoms always, 26% sometimes used condoms and 11% never used condoms during a sexual encounter in the past three months. Univariate analysis revealed that significant associations existed between CAB (P &lt; 0.05), HRB (P &lt; 0.01) and SSC (P &lt; 0.01) with the frequency of condom use. The following sociodemographic variables: age, marital status, number of children, employment status and type of sexual relationship were also significantly (P &le; 0.05) associated with consistent condom use in the study group. Multivariate analysis indicated that marital status, type of relationship and CAB were the only significant predictors (r2 = 0.37; P &le; 0.05) of condom use behaviors after adjusting for all other factors in the model.Conclusions: Findings indicate that consistent condom use could be enhanced through gender-specific intervention programs that incorporate the predictor variables identified. These are likely to be successful in decreasing sexual risk behaviors in the subpopulation.Keywords: HIV/AIDS, condom use, risky behavior, military personnel, Nigeri
Stigmatisation liée au VIH/SIDA et la discrimination au Nigéria: Compte-rendu des études de recherche et la direction future pour les stratégies de la prevention
No full textHuman Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection and AIDS remain a major
public health crisis in Nigeria which harbors more people living with
HIV than any other country in the world, except South Africa and India.
A significant challenge to the success of achieving universal access to
HIV prevention, treatment, care and support by 2010 is HIV-AIDS stigma
and discrimination. Eight studies looking at some degree of measurement
of stigma and discrimination in Nigeria were reviewed in an attempt to
investigate the cultural context of stigma, health seeking behavior and
the role both perceived and community stigma play in HIV prevention.
Results suggest that reducing stigma does increase the individual as
well as community acceptance of people living with HIV-AIDS (PLWHAs),
but long term studies are needed. Some suggestions are recommended for
future research on culture specific stigma studies in Nigeria (Afr J
Reprod Health 2009; 13[3]:21-35).L’infection du virus de l’immunodéficience humaine
(VIH) et le SIDA reste une crise majeure de la santé publique au
Nigéria, un pays qui abrite un plus grand nombre des gens
séropositifs que les autres pays du monde, à part
l’Afrique du Sud et l’Inde. La stigmatisation et la
discrimination causeés par le VIH/SIDA constituent un défi
important aux efforts pour l’accès universel à la
prévention, au traitement, au soin et au soutien jusqu’en
l’année 2010. Nous avons fait un compte-rendu de huit
études qui examinaient à quelque niveau de mesures de la
stigmatisation au Nigéria afin d’évaluer le contexte
culturel de la stigmatisation, le comportement qui favorise la
santé et le rôle que jouent à la fois la sstigmatisation
perçu et la stigmatisation de la communauté dans la
prévention du VIH. Les résultats ont montré que la
réduction de la stigmatisation augmente, en effet,
l’acceptation de l’individu ainsi que l’acceptation
par la communauté des gens séropositfs: mais il faut des
études à long terme. Nous avons fait quelques recommendations
pour les recherches futures à l’égard des études
de la stigmatisation propre à la culture au Nigéria (Afr J
Reprod Health 2009; 13[3]:21-35)
Female Genital Mutilation: Potential for HIV Transmission in sub-Saharan Africa and Prospect for Epidemiologic Investigation and Intervention
No full textFemale Genital Mutilation (FGM) which involves alteration of the female
genitalia for non-medical grounds is prevalent in Sub-Saharan Africa,
associated with long- term genitourinary complications, and possible
HIV transmission. This mini-review aims to examine FGM and the
possibility of HIV transmission through this procedure. We performed an
electronic search using Medline for articles published between 1966 to
2006 for evidence of FGM practice, its complications, and the nexus
between this procedure and HIV sero-positivity. The results indicate
ongoing FGM practice, albeit prevalence reduction, due probably to the
increasing knowledge of the consequences of FGM as a result of
non-sterile techniques. Secondly, the complications of FGM are well
established which include Genitourinary disorders. Further, while data
is limited on HIV transmission via FGM, there is biologic plausibility
in suggesting that FGM may be associated with increasing prevalence of
HIV in sub-Saharan Africa. This paper recommends further studies in
order to assess the association between FGM and HIV transmission.Mutilation génitale féminine: Potentiel pour la transmission
du VIH en Afrique subsaharienne et la perspective pour l'enquête
et l'intervention épidémiologiques La mutilation
génitale féminine (MGF) qui implique la modification des
organes génitaux féminins pour des raisons non médicales
est répandue en Afrique subsaharienne et elle est liée aux
complications génitaux-urinaires à long terme et
peut-être à la transmission du VIH. Cette mini-étude a
pour objectif d'examiner la MGF et la possilibité de la
transmission du VIH par cette procédure. Nous avons recherché
sur l'internet à l'aide de la medline des articles publiés
entre 1966 et 2006 pour l'évidence de la pratique de la MGF, ses
complications et la liaison entre cette procedure et la
séropositivité du VIH. Les résultats montrent que la
pratique de la MGFse poursuit bien que la prévalence soit
réduite dû probablement à la croissance de la
connaissance des conséquences de la MGF à cause des
conséquences non-stériles. Deuxièment, les complications
de la MGF sont bien établies y compris les troubles
génitaux-urinaires. De plus, alors que les données sont
limitées par rapport à la transmission du VIH par la MGF, il
y a une plausibilité biologique de suggérer que la MGF peut
être liée à la prévalence croissante du VIH en
Afrique subsaharienne. L'article préconise encore d'études
pour permettre d'évaluer le lien entre la MGF et la transmission
du VIH
Stigmatisation liée au VIH/SIDA et la discrimination au Nigéria: Compte-rendu des études de recherche et la direction future pour les stratégies de la prevention
No full textHuman Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection and AIDS remain a major
public health crisis in Nigeria which harbors more people living with
HIV than any other country in the world, except South Africa and India.
A significant challenge to the success of achieving universal access to
HIV prevention, treatment, care and support by 2010 is HIV-AIDS stigma
and discrimination. Eight studies looking at some degree of measurement
of stigma and discrimination in Nigeria were reviewed in an attempt to
investigate the cultural context of stigma, health seeking behavior and
the role both perceived and community stigma play in HIV prevention.
Results suggest that reducing stigma does increase the individual as
well as community acceptance of people living with HIV-AIDS (PLWHAs),
but long term studies are needed. Some suggestions are recommended for
future research on culture specific stigma studies in Nigeria (Afr J
Reprod Health 2009; 13[3]:21-35).L’infection du virus de l’immunodéficience humaine
(VIH) et le SIDA reste une crise majeure de la santé publique au
Nigéria, un pays qui abrite un plus grand nombre des gens
séropositifs que les autres pays du monde, à part
l’Afrique du Sud et l’Inde. La stigmatisation et la
discrimination causeés par le VIH/SIDA constituent un défi
important aux efforts pour l’accès universel à la
prévention, au traitement, au soin et au soutien jusqu’en
l’année 2010. Nous avons fait un compte-rendu de huit
études qui examinaient à quelque niveau de mesures de la
stigmatisation au Nigéria afin d’évaluer le contexte
culturel de la stigmatisation, le comportement qui favorise la
santé et le rôle que jouent à la fois la sstigmatisation
perçu et la stigmatisation de la communauté dans la
prévention du VIH. Les résultats ont montré que la
réduction de la stigmatisation augmente, en effet,
l’acceptation de l’individu ainsi que l’acceptation
par la communauté des gens séropositfs: mais il faut des
études à long terme. Nous avons fait quelques recommendations
pour les recherches futures à l’égard des études
de la stigmatisation propre à la culture au Nigéria (Afr J
Reprod Health 2009; 13[3]:21-35)
Adherence to antiretroviral therapy in Nigeria: an overview of research studies and implications for policy and practice
No full textFemale Genital Mutilation: Potential for HIV Transmission in sub-Saharan Africa and Prospect for Epidemiologic Investigation and Intervention
No full textFemale Genital Mutilation (FGM) which involves alteration of the female
genitalia for non-medical grounds is prevalent in Sub-Saharan Africa,
associated with long- term genitourinary complications, and possible
HIV transmission. This mini-review aims to examine FGM and the
possibility of HIV transmission through this procedure. We performed an
electronic search using Medline for articles published between 1966 to
2006 for evidence of FGM practice, its complications, and the nexus
between this procedure and HIV sero-positivity. The results indicate
ongoing FGM practice, albeit prevalence reduction, due probably to the
increasing knowledge of the consequences of FGM as a result of
non-sterile techniques. Secondly, the complications of FGM are well
established which include Genitourinary disorders. Further, while data
is limited on HIV transmission via FGM, there is biologic plausibility
in suggesting that FGM may be associated with increasing prevalence of
HIV in sub-Saharan Africa. This paper recommends further studies in
order to assess the association between FGM and HIV transmission.Mutilation génitale féminine: Potentiel pour la transmission
du VIH en Afrique subsaharienne et la perspective pour l'enquête
et l'intervention épidémiologiques La mutilation
génitale féminine (MGF) qui implique la modification des
organes génitaux féminins pour des raisons non médicales
est répandue en Afrique subsaharienne et elle est liée aux
complications génitaux-urinaires à long terme et
peut-être à la transmission du VIH. Cette mini-étude a
pour objectif d'examiner la MGF et la possilibité de la
transmission du VIH par cette procédure. Nous avons recherché
sur l'internet à l'aide de la medline des articles publiés
entre 1966 et 2006 pour l'évidence de la pratique de la MGF, ses
complications et la liaison entre cette procedure et la
séropositivité du VIH. Les résultats montrent que la
pratique de la MGFse poursuit bien que la prévalence soit
réduite dû probablement à la croissance de la
connaissance des conséquences de la MGF à cause des
conséquences non-stériles. Deuxièment, les complications
de la MGF sont bien établies y compris les troubles
génitaux-urinaires. De plus, alors que les données sont
limitées par rapport à la transmission du VIH par la MGF, il
y a une plausibilité biologique de suggérer que la MGF peut
être liée à la prévalence croissante du VIH en
Afrique subsaharienne. L'article préconise encore d'études
pour permettre d'évaluer le lien entre la MGF et la transmission
du VIH
