Prevalence of Obesity among Adolescents in Ile-Ife; Osun state; Nigeria Using Body Mass Index and Waist Hip Ratio: A Comparative Study

Obesity is a global epidemic not just among adults but also among children and adolescents. This study described the prevalence and pattern of obesity among in-school adolescents in Ile-Ife; Osun State using two standard methods; Body Mass Index (BMI) and Waist Hip Ratio (WHR) with a view of comparing the two methods as well as identifying any correlation between the two methods. Materials and Methods: Five hundred male and female respondents; aged 10-19 years; were randomly selected through a multistage sampling technique from private and public schools in Ife Central Local Government Area. Quantitative data were collected with the aid of a pre-tested; semi-structured; self-administered questionnaire. Anthropometric measurements of respondents; BMI and WHR; were recorded. Chi square and linear regression analyses were used. Statistical significance was tested at the 5 level. Results: The prevalence of obesity was 4.2 using BMI of which 12 (57.1) were females and nine (42.9) were males. There was significant association between sex and BMI; ?2 = 9.490 ( P = 0.020). Using WHR; the prevalence was 37.2 of which 180 (96.8) were females and six (3.2) were males. There was also significant association between sex and WHR ( P 0.001). Weak correlation ( r

Unavailability of essential obstetric care services in a local government area of south-west Nigeria.

This paper reports the findings at baseline in a multi-phase project that aimed at reducing maternal mortality in a local government area (LGA) of South-West Nigeria. The objectives were to determine the availability of essential obstetric care (EOC) services in the LGA and to assess the quality of existing services. The first phase of this interventional study, which is the focus of this paper, consisted of a baseline health facility and needs assessment survey using instruments adapted from the United Nations guidelines. Twenty-one of 26 health facilities surveyed were public facilities, and five were privately owned. None of the facilities met the criteria for a basic EOC facility, while only one private facility met the criteria for a comprehensive EOC facility. Three facilities employed a nurse and/or a midwife, while unskilled health attendants manned 46% of the facilities. No health worker in the LGA had ever been trained in lifesaving skills. There was a widespread lack of basic EOC equipment and supplies. The study concluded that there were major deficiencies in the supply side of obstetric care services in the LGA, and EOC was almost non-existent. This result has implications for interventions for the reduction of maternal mortality in the LGA and in Nigeria.