The impact of the responsibility of teachers regarding reproductive healthcare to teenage learners

The Life Orientation subject at school is meant to equip learners with important life skills and prepare them to be responsible adults that will contribute positively to the economy of the country. One of such skills is to avoid pregnancy while being a learner and therefore needs information about sex and sexuality. The school curriculum should thus include the subject Reproductive Health Care and the teachers be allowed the responsibility to teach the subject. Teenage girls who become pregnant as learners are in many times compelled to drop out of school to raise the child as it becomes challenging to cope with studies and looking after the baby. The study used a qualitative exploratory research design aimed to determine the impact of the responsibility of teachers regarding reproductive healthcare to teenage learners. The objectives were to, explore the knowledge of school teachers with regard to reproductive healthcare. To explore and describe the views of the teachers with regard to their responsibility to teach the reproductive healthcare topic to teenage girls. Lastly, to develop guidelines for schools to assist teachers regarding their responsibility to teach the reproductive healthcare topic to teenage girls. The article will report on the first two objectives only. Indepth focus group interviews were conducted with twenty willing participants and a narrative questionnaire was completed. The data analysis method used was the spiral method which follows the process of coding and categorising transcribed data. The processallows data to be organised and setting it for several times so as to get a sense of the whole. identifying general categories and themes of the data is the next step followed by integrating and summarising the data to get a response to the research question. Data analysis results were teachers who felt burdened with the responsibility. Some had a positive opinion of the subject as part of the school curriculum and thus the need for stakeholder collaboration for their assistance. In conclusion, teachers are in need of empowerment for the responsibility to teach reproductive healthcare. (Afr J Reprod Health 2022; 26[4]: 82-91).

Management of ambiguous genitalia in Ile Ife, Nigeria: challenges and outcome

Background: Ambiguous genitalia are a major cause of parental anxiety and can create social problems if not properly managed. Diagnosis and management can however be challenging. The aim of this study is to highlight some of the challenges in management of ambiguous genitalia in our environment. Patients and Methods: All cases of ambiguous genitalia managed at the Paediatric surgical unit of the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching hospital; Ile Ife; Nigeria; between January 1993 and October 2007 were analysed for age; sex at presentation; investigation modality; and final sex of rearing and outcome of surgery. Result: Nine patients had surgical reconstruction for ambiguous genitalia during the study period. Their age ranges from 5 weeks to 19 years at presentation. The causes of genital ambiguity in the patients was congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) in 6; true hermaphroditism in 2 and male pseudo-hermaphroditism in 1. Seven patients were reconstructed as females while 2 were raised as males. Change of sex of raring was necessary in 2 patients. Conclusion: The diagnosis and management of ambiguous genitalia is a challenging problem in our environment. Early presentation and treatment is necessary to avoid psychological and social embarrassment

Effects of cottonseed oil (Gossypium SPP.) and cottonsseed meal on Estrous cycle; ovulation and histoarchitecture of female reproductive organs of adult cyclic Sprague-Dawley rats

"Experiments were conducted to determine the effects of various forms of cottonseed oil (whole Cottonseed; ""Refined"" industrially extracted Cottonseed oil and ""Crude"" locally extracted Cottonseed oil) on the Estrous cycle and Ovulation; and Histoarchitecture of female reproductive organs . Regular 4-day adult cyclic female sprague-Dawley rats were divided into four groups; three experimental and one control of five rats each. Group A rats were fed with 1.5mls/kg body weight of industrially extracted ""refined"" cottonseed oil-Sunolar. Group B with 2mls/kg body weight of finely grounded whole cottonseed powder; while same number of animals in group C were fed with locally extracted ""crude"" cottonseed oil. Daily Vaginal smears were taken between 8-9am. Six estrous cycles were monitored before administration of the test substances; another six cycles were monitored during the periods the test substances were administered; then another six cycles were studied after withdrawal of the test substances. Effects of the test substances on ovulation were also studied by administering the test substances on the morning of proestrous and counting the number of ova shed on estrous. Adrenal glands and reproductive organs of test and control animals were subjected to histological study. Varying degrees of variation from the expected 2:1:1 ratio of number of diestrous: proestrous: estrous days were noticed. The variation was greatest in group B animals which were treated with finely ground whole cottonseed powder. Ovulation was completely blocked in animals treated with locally extracted ""crude"" cottonseed oil (Group C). Histological studies of reproductive organs of control and experimental animals showed normal histology."

Fourteen Days Oral Administration of Therapeutic Dosage of some Antibiotics Reduced Serum Testosterone in Male Rats

Fourteen days oral administration of therapeutic dose of Ampicillin (4mg/100g/day); Cloxacillin (6mg/100g/day) and Tetracycline (12mg/100g/day) separately to healthy adult male albino rats significantly reduced their serum testosterone level as assessed by enzyme immunoassay. The control group received equal volume of the vehicle (Normal saline) throughout the period of the treatment. A significant reduction (P0 .05) in testicular and epididymal weight was also produced by Cloxacillin; Cloxacillin and Tetracycline respectively. Ampicillin administration on the other hand significantly reduced (P0 .05) prostrate gland weight. After subjecting the treated animals to a recovery period ranging from 1-2 weeks; during which the drug administration was discontinued; all the animals recovered fully from the antifertility effect of these antibiotics on the serum testosterone level by the end of the second week. A significant recovery in the epididymal; testicular and prostrate gland weight was also recorded in the Cloxacillin and Tetracycline; Cloxacillin; and Ampicillin treated animals respectively. The result suggests that the reversible antifertility effects of these antibiotics were produced via the disruption of testosterone hormone production process. This was also accompanied by reduction in the weight of some of the male reproductive organs

The Incidence of External Male Genital Defects in Enugu State of Nigeria: an Estimate Based on the Prevalence among Secondary School Students

Background: Enugu State typifies a Third World environment where most deliveries occur outside the hospital setting. In such circumstances; therefore; hospital-based data about congenital defects are unreliable and call for special methods of approach. Objective: To assess the place of school prevalence survey results in estimating the population incidence of anomalies of the male external genitalia.Method: From February 2; 2002 to August 1; 2004 a sample of male students aged 10 years and above seen in randomly selected secondary schools in Enugu State of Southeast Nigeria were guided through a protocol involving; self-administered questionnaires; physical examinations for evidence and types of anomalies present in their external genitalia and personal interviews. The participant schools were selected by stratified random sampling; first by Local Government Area (LGA) and then by school. Consents for the study were obtained from Local Government authorities; Heads of the schools; and Parents' Teachers Associations; (P T A) Executives. Results: Altogether; four urban and thirteen rural schools were studied over the 18 month-period of the investigation and a total of 6226 male students participated. Overall; 416 (6.8) were identified with various types of external genital anomalies; with the prevalence rates observed being within the ranges of population prevalence reported in the literature. The commonest types of anomalies encountered were crypto-orchidism with / or without scrotal hypoplasia 268 (4.30); inguino-(scrotal) hernias 56 (0.90); and hydrocoeles 52 (0.83); in descending order. As many as 183 (44) of those with congenital genital defects were not aware they had them. When compared with urban schools; rural schools were characterized by a higher frequency [8.4 vs. 2.8respectively; x2 = 58.35; P 0.0001] and a lower level of awareness about anomalies of the external male genitalia [P

VIH et sexualite sans risque

"Ce numero special de "" Action contre le sida "" fournit a ses lecteurs des informations de base sur le systeme reproductif; la fecondite; les maladies sexuellement transmissibles; ainsi que sur les methodes contraceptives; et explore les liens entre le VIH; la sexualite et la reproduction"

A lower abdominal mass with cryptomenorroea in twelve-year-old girl. [case report]

When young virgin girl presents with a lower abdominal mass; a variety of diagnoses can be considered. This case report highlights how important it is to elicit a menstrual history and examine the female genitalia

Cotrimoxazole (septrin) prophylaxis in the management of vesico-vaginal fistulae in Ilorin; Nigeria

In a 5-year period (1986-1990) 83 Nigerian women with mid vaginal vesico-vaginal fistulae (VVF) were treated in the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital; Ilorin; Nigeria. None of the patients had previous antibiotic therapy before this study. 30 patients received cotrimoxazole (Trimethoprim 80mg; sulphamethoxazole 400mg) two tablets twice daily for 7 days before surgery without sterile urine preparation; 27 similar patients had the same treatment only after surgery; while 26 other patients who had sterile urine preparation before surgery were not given any antibiotics after surgery