The Oral Hygiene Status of Institution Dwelling Orphans in Benin City; Nigeria

Introduction: Orphans like other vulnerable children face a number of challenges including limited or no access to basic health care including oral health care; which is one of their unmet health care needs. Neglected oral health care is associated with the development and progression of periodontal diseases among others. Objective: To determine the oral hygiene status of institution dwelling orphans. Materials and Methods: Thirty eight orphans from four orphanages in Benin City; Edo State of Nigeria were clinically examined and their oral hygiene status determined using the simplified oral hygiene index of Greene and Vermillion (OHI-S). Results: Seventy-three percent of the orphans were found to have fair oral hygiene comprising mostly of those aged 6-13 years. More females were in this category while more males presented with poor oral hygiene status. Conclusion: More orphans presented with fair oral hygiene that indicated inadequate oral care. There was poor oral health education and limited access to services. There is need for these to be improved as a solution to poor oral health status of these vulnerable children

Characteristics of Abortion Care Seekers in South-Western Nigeria

This prospective hospital-based study was carried out to understand the characteristics of abortion care seekers in south-western Nigeria. Information was obtained from a total of 1876 women seeking abortion at hospitals using a questionnaire. The results show that majority (60 ) were between the ages of 15 and 24 years; of which adolescents between the ages of 15 and 19 years constituted 23.7 . Most (63.2 ) of the respondents were unmarried; but married women also constituted a significant proportion (30.2 ) of the abortion care seekers. Students were the single highest group; while the predominant economic activity was trading (26.7 ). Respondents terminated their pregnancies mainly because they were students or because they did not desire to have children. Most (35.5 ) of the women were introduced to providers by friends. Average contraceptive prevalence among the abortion care seekers was 27.4 . It is obvious from the results that young persons; especially in-school adolescents; should be targeted for comprehensive sexuality education especially in view of the current HIV/AIDS pandemic