ABSTRACT
Cadmium is a toxic metal, an environmental contaminant and a multi-organ poison which has been implicated in the derangement of a number of biological and molecular systems. Exposure to cadmium is a serious global health threat particularly in developing countries and pregnant women are at great risk, This is because they have increased gastrointestinal absorption and retention of cadmium and the tendency for increased risk of complications owing to its toxic effects. Preeclampsia is a pregnancy complication characterized by the development of onset of hypertension and significant proteinuria after 20 weeks of gestation or during labour and/or within 48 hours of delivery. This pregnancy-specific syndrome is a leading cause of maternal death particularly in developing countries. Several reports have provided evidence of remote association between preeclampsia and cadmium but the mechanism of the involment of this toxic metal in this disease is still surrounded with uncertainty. Some possible mechanistic pathways such as induction of oxidative stress, acting as an antimetabolite to zinc and deregulation of epigenetic mechanisms have been elucidated in this article may be interconnected, work synergistically or act independently. However, pertinent to understand them in a bid to possibly prevent the disease or forestall its devastating consequences. Environmental cadmium exposure may be considered a factor that merits further serious attention in the continuous search for the precise an etiology of preeclampsia particularly in developing countries that experience uncontrolled cadmium release into the environment.
ABSTRACT
Background: Universities in the high prevalence nations of sub-Saharan Africa have significant proportions of their students and staff being infected with HIV. The prevalence of risk behaviors for HIV/AIDS continues to rise especially among university students. The objective of this study is to identify predictors of sexual abstinence and attitude towards PLHIV among Babcock University students. Methods: A cross-sectional study of 1225 undergraduates selected by multistage sampling technique was conducted in a privately University in Nigeria. Data were collected using structured self-administered questionnaire. Results: All the participants were aware of HIV/AIDS. About one-quarter (24.1%) of the students had ever had sex. Knowledge about HIV/AIDS was very high as 87.7% of them had very good knowledge. Between 74.1% and 89.8% of the students demonstrated correct attitude towards the various attitude questions about PLHIV. Students who were less than 21 years (AOR=1.64), do not take alcohol (AOR=1.94), those with good knowledge of HIV/AIDS (AOR=2.15) were more likely to abstain from sex than their counterparts respectively. Male participants (AOR=0.64) were less likely to abstain from sex than females. The likelihood of having poor attitude towards PLHIV was less in those with good knowledge (AOR=0.16) and more in those with self-reported poor knowledge (AOR=2.97) than their respective counterparts. Conclusions: This study has identified the factors that promote sexual abstinence and reduce HIV-related stigmatization among young people. Many factors are involved. Hence, an integrated multi-sectoral and multidirectional approach is recommended for the provision of relevant HIV/AIDS knowledge, comprehensive abstinence sexuality education to young persons.