Knowledge and Attitude towards Pregnancy Care and Delivery among Male Commercial Motorcyclists in Ibadan, Nigeria

Background: Men's influences are gradually being recognised in pregnancy and delivery care. The study aims to determine the knowledge and attitude of male commercial motorcyclists on pregnancy care and delivery of women. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among married male commercial motorcyclists, operating in Ibadan North Local Government Area selected using a cluster sampling technique. Data was collected using a pre-tested, structured interviewer-administered questionnaire, and analysed using SPSS version 16. Each section was evaluated using rating of a three-point Likert scale with each item scored based on responses ranging from disagree to agree. Results were presented in tables and charts. Results: Four hundred and fifty three male commercial motorcyclists were interviewed. The mean age was 34.2±7.3years, 301 (66.4%) had secondary education, while 390 (86.1%) were in a monogamous marriage. Thirty 30(6.6%) respondents did not know when their wives registered for ANC while majority, 444(98.1%) did not know the duration of their wives' labour. Few respondents 46 (10.2%) recognized vaginal bleeding as a common danger signs in pregnancy while 277 (61.1%) agree that women should have at least four ANC visits before delivery. Many of the respondents 315 (69.6%) had good knowledge, and 304 (67.1%) had positive attitude towards antenatal and delivery care. Conclusion: Educational efforts on maternal health care should also focus on the men to improve their knowledge, attitude and involvement in antenatal and pregnancy.

Condom use amongst out of school youths in a local government area in Nigeria

Background: Reported low condom use amongst out of school requires studying the context in which condom use occurs. Methods: A cross sectional study of 350 out-of-school youth aged 15-24 years in a local government area of Nigeria was enrolled using cluster sampling. Results: Those who had ever had sexual intercourse were 74.9. Of these; 56.5used no protection while 29.0used condoms. Up to 78.6have had sex within the preceding 12 months with 38.9condom use. The commonest reason for non-condom use was that it reduces sexual enjoyment. Those who believed a single unprotected sexual exposure may result in HIV infection reported more condom use than those who believed otherwise (42vs 27.2; P0.05). Those who had prior discussion with their partners on HIV/AIDS reported more condom use compared to those who had not (50vs 25; P0.05). Also; those who had sexual intercourse occurring as a spontaneous event reported less condom use compared to those who have previously discussed about the possibility of having sex (68.0vs 51.8; P0.05). Conclusion: Condom use is likely to occur within relationships where opportunity exists for discussion on sexual matters. Thus; further studies are needed on communication and condom use within sexual partnerships

The prevalence of occupational asthma and rhinitis among woodworkers in south-eastern Nigeria

Wood dusts are known to cause respiratory disorders like rhinitis and asthma. This study was therefore done to determine the magnitude of the problem among woodworkers in south-eastern Nigeria exposed to high level of wood dust.Five hundred and ninety one woodworkers were selected using a stratified random sampling. The prevalence of woodworkrelated rhinitis and asthma were then observed in the study population. Also the peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) of each woodworker was obtained. The prevalence of occupational rhinitis was 78%, while that of asthma was 6.5%. As period of woodwork increased the prevalence of rhinitis and asthma increased (rhinitis: χ2 trend = 53.015, df = 1, P = 0.000). For asthma, χ2 trend =19.721, df = 1, P = 0.000). Also the PEFR significantly became low with increasing years of exposure to woodwork (χ2 trend = 75.965, df = 1, P= 0.000). In conclusion the prevalence of rhinitis and asthma in woodworkers was high and significantly increased with years of working as a woodworker

The epidemiology and management of sexually transmitted diseases in Maiduguri metropolis

Organization of special venereology clinics in many developing countries; including Nigeria; as a means of controlling sexually transmitted diseases in these countries. The epidemiology; and especially the bihavioural determinants of these diseases; are so varied; even within the same country; that such clinics alone may not be enough or even contribute significantly to the control of these diseases. This study of the epidemiology and treatment patterns of the STDs in Maiduguri in North Eastern Nigeria shows that in spite of the availibility of two special treatment (STD) clinics in the town; only a very small percentage (0.8 percent) of the patients in that city are seen in these clinics. Some of the social and health management factors responsible for this attendance pattern are identified and discussed in the study