Intimate partner violence among women of child bearing age in Alimosho LGA of Lagos State, Nigeria

In this study, the extent to which married women had experienced physical, sexual, psychological and economic forms of violence by their intimate partners was determined. The study was descriptive and cross-sectional. It was conducted in Alimosho Local Government Area (LGA) of Lagos State. Data were collected using a pre-tested, semi-structured, interviewer-assisted questionnaire from married women. The questionnaire explored demographic characteristics, experience of physical, sexual, psychological and economic forms of violence from their spouses, the perceived reasons for these acts and their health seeking behaviour. The respondents were selected through a systematic random technique from all the eight districts of the LGA. Of the 704 women contacted, 606 consented to participate in the study (response rate 86%). The ages of women ranged from 22 ­ 49 years with a mean of 35.9years (±6.48). Majority of the respondents were Yoruba 452 (74.6%) whose main occupation was trading 309 (51%). One hundred and sixty-one (26.6%) had secondary school education. Five hundred and thirty-nine (88.9%) had experience at least one form of violence. The prevalence of physical, sexual, psychological and economic forms of violence were 45.9%, 55.9%, 71.1% and 51.2% respectively. The most common forms of violent behaviours experienced by the women were slaps (41.9%), insistence on having sex (33.3%), verbal insults (41.3%) and not providing money for the needs of the family (38.4%). Full time housewives, women without formal education, women in polygamous marriages and women whose husbands drank alcohol were more likely than others to have experienced at least one form of violent behaviour. The most common perceived reason for physical, psychological and economic forms of violence were argument about money 37.4%, 32.9% and 27.1% respectively and refusal to have sex 34.2%. The proportions of women who had experienced physical, sexual, psychological and economic forms of violence but did not seek outside help were 59.0%, 62.2%, 67.5% and 73.5% respectively. In conclusion, a high proportion of women surveyed had suffered from different kinds of violence and only few sought for help. Interventions including providing conflict resolution skills training and referral to agencies were recommended to address these problems

Effects of peer education on the knowledge and use of HIV counselling and testing services among young persons in Ibadan, Nigeria

Although HIV counselling and testing (HCT) service plays important roles in prevention and control of AIDS; many young Nigerians under-utilize it. A peer education intervention was implemented to promote use of HCT among secondary school students and apprentices in Ibadan; Nigeria. Baseline data were collected from 1281 students from six schools and 100 apprentice workshops in four Local Government Areas of Ibadan. A total of 897 students from four schools and apprentices from 25 workshops were assigned as experimental group while 682 students from two schools and apprentices from 25 workshops were the controls. Three intervention activities were implemented: a one-day sensitization workshop for 31 apprentice instructors and 20 secondary school teacher-supervisors; training of 75 students and 46 apprentices as Peer Educators (PE); and development of Behaviour Change Communication (BCC) materials including posters and handbills. Six months after implementing these interventions; a follow-up survey was conducted to assess the effects of the PE on young person's knowledge of HIV and HCT and reported use of HCT services. Follow-up data were collected from 760 respondents from the experimental sites and 298 from the control areas using the same questionnaire administered during the baseline survey. PE educated a total of 1;917 persons with information on HIV/HCT-related issues. In addition; at follow-up; records of use of HCT services were obtained from two HCT centres situated in the experimental sites and one from the control. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and t-tests. The results showed significant increase in knowledge of HCT among experimental (1.3 to 7.5) (p0.05) and control groups (0.6 to 6.8) (p0.05) at follow-up. At baseline; 29.0% of the experimental and 36.0% of control knew of the location of a HCT centre; at follow-up the percentage of experimental groups who could do so increased to 62.0%; while the number dropped to 34.0% among controls. Records at HCT centres showed that a greater number (309) of experimental groups used HCT services than control (43). PE were successful in influencing behaviour of their peers to use HCT services

Sexual behaviour and serostatus disclosure among persons living with HIV in Ibadan, Nigeria

The study aimed at assessing the practice of HIV status disclosure, sexual behaviour and knowledge of disclosure and safe sex practices among HIV seropositive individuals attending the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) Clinic at the University College Hospital, Ibadan. Systematic random sampling technique was used to select 392 HIV positive adults at the PEPFAR clinic. Data were collected using a validated interviewer-administered questionnaire containing a 12-point knowledge scale. The mean age of respondents was 35.6 ± 9.6 years. Majority (69.9%) were females and 59.4% were married. The overall mean safe sex knowledge score of the respondents was 8.3 ± 2.4. Majority (70.9%) were aware that disclosure of HIV status to a partner before having sex could reduce HIV transmission, while 92.7% knew that consistent and correct use of condom could prevent its spread. However, only 39% of respondents had disclosed their status to all their sexual partners. More married respondents (48.5%) disclosed their status than the unmarried (27.0%) (p<0.05). The proportions of female and male respondents who disclosed their status were 40.3% and 37.1% respectively. Hindrances to disclosure included fear of stigmatization (46.4%) and fear of abandonment (26.4%). Majority of respondents (75.5%) who had disclosed their status to all sexual partners practiced safe sex than those who had not disclosed (59.2%) (p<0.05). Positive attitude towards the disclosure of one's serostatus to sexual partners and safe sex was exhibited by 62.8% and 58.4% of the respondents respectively. Non-usage of condom was more among the unmarried (38.6%) than the married (23.2%) (p<0.05); it was also more among females (33.8%) than males (28.7%), (p<0.05). High rates of non-disclosure of HIV status and unsafe sexual practices were noted. HIV/AIDS educational programmes and media campaigns should be intensified to promote the adoption of serostatus disclosure and safe sexual practices among HIV positive persons

Knowledge and perceptions of reproductive rights among female postgraduate students of the University of Ibadan, Nigeria

The knowledge and perceptions of reproductive rights among female postgraduate students of the University of Ibadan were assessed. The study was a cross-sectional survey of 480 FPGS in three female halls in the University. A validated questionnaire which contained a 20-point knowledge scale was used for data collection while eight in-depth interviews (IDI) were conducted with the aid of an IDI guide. Thematic approach was used for the analysis of the IDI while the quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics; Chi-square and ANOVA. Respondents' mean age was 29.7+ 6.4 years and 75.4% were singles. Sixty - +seven percent of the respondents had heard about RRs with the mass media constituting their major sources of information (54.2%). Respondents' mean knowledge score was 3.3 + 2.9 on a 20 point scale. The mean knowledge scores by age group were not significantly different. There was however assignificant difference in the mean scores by marital status as follows: married (3.3+ 2.4); divorced (7.5+ 0.0); widowed (2.0 + 1.5) and single 3.2 + 3.0 (p0.05). Fifty- one percent of the respondents were not aware of any form of RRs violations. Sixty-six percent of the respondents were opposed to married women's right to bodily autonomy while 77.3% rejected the idea that a wife on her own could access family planning services. Majority of the respondents (77.9%) were of the belief that RR enforcement would not lead women to disrespect their husbands or be promiscuous (78.5%). Most of the IDI participants were against making marital rape an offence punishable by law. All the IDI participants saw gender equality as unrealistic. The respondents had a huge knowledge deficit of reproductive rights. Most of the students' perceptions of these rights rotate around the right to decide number and spacing of children and the right to bodily autonomy. Public enlightenment programs on reproductive rights are strongly recommended using multiple intervention approaches. There is also a need for the review of the University curricula nationwide to integrate topics on reproductive health and gender equality across faculties

Contraceptive knowledge and compliance with guidelines for providing contraceptive services by patent medicine vendors in Ibadan North Local Government Area, Nigeria

Previous studies conducted in Nigeria have shown that Patent Medicine Vendors (PMVs) provide a substantial proportion of contraceptive services. The Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH) provided guidelines for the delivery of contraceptive services by PMVs. This study was therefore designed to identify types of contraceptives dispensed by PMVs and determine their compliance with the FMOH guidelines in Ibadan North Local Government Area. An observational check-list and a validated interviewer administered questionnaire containing a 47- point knowledge scale were used for data collection. Data were analysed using descriptive and Chi-square statistics. Respondents' mean age was 32.8±7.0 years, 80.9% were females, 63.5% were West African School Certificate holders. Most respondents (98.2%) were trained through the apprenticeship system. Only 17.4% were formally trained on the provision of contraceptive services. Contraceptive- related services offered by PMVs as stipulated by the guidelines were: counselling (96.5%), community sensitization (46.3%) and referral (96.4%). Virtually all (98.6%) respondents had ever dispensed contraceptives. A large proportion (72.7%) of respondents dispensed oral contraceptives contrary to the FMOH guidelines. The contraceptives ever dispensed by respondents included: male condoms (96.1%), female condoms (4.3%), doufem (72.3%), pregnon (18.8%), spermicide (4.9%) and intrauterine device (1.8%). Respondents' mean knowledge score was 25.9±5.8. Mean knowledge score on the provision of contraceptives services among males and females were 27.7±5.9 and 25.6±5.7 respectively. On compliance 3.7% of respondents complied fully with the FMOH guidelines on contraceptive service delivery. Compliance with stipulated guidelines by the Federal Ministry of Health on the provision of contraceptive services was low among the study population. The patent medicine licensing authorities should ensure that all patent medicine vendors are provided with the Federal Ministry of Health guidelines relating to the dispensing of contraceptives. Patent Medicine Vendors should be trained on the effective use of the guidelines