Use of contraceptive methods in rural areas in Cote d'Ivoire: a cross-sectional study

Patients and methods: This cross-sectional survey took place in May, 2018 in Kodjokro, a village in the south-east of Côte d'Ivoire. The study population consisted of women of reproductive age, from 15 to 49 years old. A questionnaire was used to collect data on socio-demographic, gyneco-obstetrical characteristics, knowledge and attitudes and he use of contraceptive methods. The chi-square test was used to measure the associations between the use of contraceptive methods and each of the characteristics studied

Knowledge of public health challenge of open defecation in rural areas of South-East Nigeria: Implications for social workers

Background: Practice of open defection has growing health concerns especially on rural dwellers and is among leading causes of diarrhea, typhoid fever, cholera, stunting and responsible for the death of children under 5 years in Nigeria. This study seeks to examine knowledge of public health challenges of open defecation among rural residents in south-east Nigeria and implications for social work. Data source and methods: Focus group discussions and in-depth interviews were used for data collected from 52 respondents in Nsukka and Udenu LGAs of Enugu State. Thematic analysis was adopted and phrases with contextual connotations were pulled as illustrative quotes. Results: Lack of toilet facilities makes community members engage in the practice despite knowledge of its public health implications. Conclusions: The study recommends strengthening of government's efforts to eradicate the practice; incorporating social workers as facilitators in public health regulations and advocacy in sensitising households to provide their own toilets

Low Levels of some Nutritional Parameters of Pregnant Women in a Rural Community of South East Nigeria: Implications for the Attainment of the Millennium Developmental Goal

In developing countries; under nutrition is common; and this plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of malaria and anemia. Indeed it has been associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes. Unfortunately; published evidence concerning the situation is lacking. Objectives: To evaluate some nutritional function indices of pregnant women in a rural Nigerian community. Subjects and Methods: This is a cross sectional study involving of 171 pregnant women from a rural area in South-eastern Nigeria. They included 72 and 99 women in their second and third trimesters respectively. The control group was of 60 women; matched in age; parity and socioeconomic conditions; non-pregnant; non-menstruating and non lactating apparently healthy women. The parameters measured by standard methods included serum iron; total proteins; albumin; globulin; packed cell volume and hemoglobin. Results: The results obtained from control group; second and third trimesters; recorded as Mean (SEM) were 134.60(3.12) ?g/L; 101.20(4.48) ?g/L and 91.87(3.42) ?g/L respectively for iron; 69.12(0.80) g/L; 63.60(0.71) g/L and 57.74(0.75) g/L for total proteins; 42.95(0.92) g/L; 35.74(1.00) g/L and 35.26(0.64) g/L for albumin; 26.77(1.00) g/L; 27.78(1.07) g/L and 22.93(0.88) g/L for globulin; 32.80(0.36); 27.92(0.37) and 27.73(0.34) for packed cell volume; and 11.25(0.11) g/L; 9.59(0.13) g/L and 9.57(0.14) g/L for hemoglobin respectively. These results showed that all the parameters decreased significantly in pregnancy (P0.001) except globulin that did not show immediate; significant decrease. Conclusion: There is a general decrease in the nutrition parameters studied among the pregnant women from our study area; indicating under-nutrition. Urgent measures should be taken to improve the nutritional status of rural dwellers especially the antioxidant micronutrients

Information and its value to health workers in rural Uganda: a qualitative perspective

A study was conducted in 1998/99 to investigate the accessibility and use of information by health workers in rural Uganda. Data were collected qualitatively using semi-structured interviews. As a qualitative study; it focussed in-depth on a relatively small sample of health workers selected purposefully. Different categories of health workers were interviewed. Data were analysed using a grounded theory approach. In this paper; two main categories that emerged from the data will be discussed; namely: value of information and constraints. Information was valuable in clinical work; information dissemination; decision making; administration and detection. Constraints to effective information used included the quality and relevance of the information as well as difficulties of sometimes putting theory into practice. Finally; the concepts that emerged from the analysis of the use of information pointed directly to the information needs of the health workers studied; which shows that information was valuable in meeting those needs. Some implications of the study and areas for further research are highlighted

Recognition; Treatment Seeking Behaviour and Perception of Cause of Malaria among Rural Women in Uganda

This study was conducted in order to udnerstand how women rural Uganda recognise malaria; their treatment-seeking behaviour when malaria is suspected and how the perception of cause may influence this behaviour. Focus group discussions and semi-structured interviews were held with women selected from the general population and from women attending health clinics for both preventive and curative services. The main finding of this study was that the word used for malaria in the local language; omusujja; covered a broad symptom complex which did not consistently correspond to the clinical case definition of malaria. Since there was no specific work for 'malaria'; the study was broadened to encompass monusujja. The women reported that omussujja was an important health problem which had various causes; including poor diet; environmental conditions; and the bites of mosquitoes. The symptoms associated with omusujja were quite varied and ranged from generally 'feeling unwell' to specific fever diagnosis (usually in children) of 'a rise in body temperature'. Women recognised that omusujja posed a particular threat to pregnant women. Preventive actions recommended by the women were in line with their perceptions of cause. The respondents usually mentioned the use of herbs as the first treatment action; followed by the purchase of tablets from shops; with the final recourse being the formal health sector if the previous actions had not affected a cure. Source: Acta-Trop. 1994 Dec; 58(3-4):267-73