RESUMO
Aims: The aim of this study was to assess the use of malaria prophylaxis and its related outcome among pregnant women in Imo state. Study Design: Descriptive cross-sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: Six health facilities; the most prominent one from the urban and rural areas of each of the three geopolitical zones of the state was selected, between August and November 2013. Methodology: Pregnant women in their third trimester attending ante-natal care clinics were involved, and for multiparas only those who used the present facility during their last pregnancy were studied. All eligible parturient who gave consent (432) were studied using a pretested, interviewer administered questionnaire. Data analysis was done with SPSS statistical software; version 20 and significance level was set at p value of less than 0.05. Results: The mean age of the parturient was 27.9±6.1 years. Though majority of the pregnant women (64%) used sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine for malaria prophylaxis, a sizeable proportion (9.8%) used chloroquine. Most of the pregnant women (94.7%) used one form of malaria prophylaxis or the other, the major reason given by the non users was erroneously that they felt healthy (56.5%). Primigravidas were more likely to use malaria prophylaxis compared to multigravidas (OR = 0.44, 95% CI: 0.40 – 0.49). Use of malaria prophylaxis had a protective effect on parturient against malaria episodes (OR = 0.08, 95% CI: 0.03 – 0.23) and low birth weight babies (OR= 0.70, 95% CI: 0.55 – 0.89). Conclusion: Malaria prophylaxis in pregnancy was found to be useful in protecting against malaria episodes and in minimizing incidence of low birth weight babies. A sizeable proportion did not use the recommended regimen, and this calls for persistent health education and public enlightenment campaign especially targeted at the pregnant women.
RESUMO
Aims: Aim of study was to determine the perception of rural medical practice among final year medical students in medical schools of southeast Nigeria and the associated factors. Study Design: Descriptive cross-sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: The six medical schools in southeast Nigeria, between March and May 2014. Methodology: All the final year medical students in southeast Nigeria were recruited and were eligible for voluntary participation in the study. The students were interviewed using a pretested, self-administered questionnaire. Data analysis was done using STATA statistical software; version 13 and level of significance was determined at a p value of less than 0.05. Results: Four hundred and fifty seven medical students participated in the study representing a response rate of 86.7%. The mean age of the students was 25.5±2.9 years and majority (57.1%) were male. A minor proportion of the students (13.6%) were willing to practice in the rural area after graduation. Majority of the students (80.1%) were of the opinion that doctors working in rural area should earn more than their urban counterparts. Factors associated with willingness to practice in rural area included family residence in an urban area (AOR= 0.4, 95% CI: 0.2 – 0.9); work experience before admission into medical school (AOR= 2.0, 95% CI: 1.1- 3.9); intention to specialize in Community Medicine (AOR= 3.1 95% CI: 1.2- 7.7) and satisfaction with rural community posting, (AOR=2.1, 95% CI: 1.2- 3.9). Conclusion: Majority of the students were unwilling to work in rural area after graduation. Knowing the need for doctors in rural practice, a re-orientation of the students on rural practice through adequate community exposure during rural posting is essential. There is also need for increased allowances for doctors working in rural areas and opportunities for training and or further studies should be encouraged.
RESUMO
Background: It has been stated that poor utilization of quality reproductive health service continues to contribute to maternal morbidity and mortality in Nigeria. Objective: The objective was to investigate the pattern of orthodox and/or traditional healthcare utilization among pregnant women and mothers of under.five children in Njaba and associated factors. Materials and Methods: A. cross.sectional survey of 422 women using multi.stage sampling; data collection instrument was a semi.structured interviewer.administered questionnaire. Data were analyzed with SPSS. (16.0) and Mathcad 7 professional. Frequency distributions and percentages were tabulated; Z.test was applied as a test of significance; and confidence intervals. (CIs) calculated. P 0.05 was considered significant. Results: Ante.natal choice of care for 83.65 of them was orthodox healthcare; while 11.37 used traditional healthcare. Experienced/trained staff. (Z-score