Neonatal care - what do mothers in a rural Nigerian community know and practice?

BACKGROUND: Nigeria ranks among developing countries with poor neonatal health indices. This underscores the need for households and healthcare providers to understand the concept of newborn care and react appropriately and timely too. OBJECTIVE: To determine the knowledge and practices of mothers in the Elele community regarding neonatal care. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a community-based descriptive cross sectional study of 380 mothers who had a neonate. Mothers were selected using a multistage sampling technique. Data were collected by interview using a semi-structured questionnaire (with closed and open ended questions) and analyzed using a statistical package for social sciences version 22.0. Chi-square test was used to identify statistically significant associations among antenatal care clinic (ANC) attendance cum place of delivery and neonatal care practices. RESULTS: Ninety one (23.9%) of respondents were aware of at least four out of nine danger signs, while all reported wrapping their babies within 10 minutes after birth. Duration less than six hours from birth to first bath, feeding with or discarding of colostrum and timing of first breastfeeding within the first hour of birth were significantly associated with ANC attendance (p = 0.000, p = 0.002 and p = 0.000 respectively). Duration less than six hours to first bath, umbilical cord care and feeding with or discarding of colostrum were significantly associated with health facility delivery (p = 0.043, p = 0.026 and p = 0.003 respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Inadequate knowledge of newborn care among mothers was found, while non-ANC attendance and non-health facility delivery were associated with inappropriate neonatal care practices. We recommend comprehensive behavior change interventions, to promote proper neonatal care practices.

Sexual behaviours and contraceptive use among female secondary school adolescents in a rural town in RiverS state, South-south Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: According to World Health Organization (WHO), adolescents are persons aged 10-19 years. They comprise nearly half of the world's population of about 7 billion and 85% of them live in developing countries. AIM: The aim of this study is to assess the sexual behaviours, practices and contraceptive use among secondary school adolescents in Elele, Rivers State, Nigeria. METHOD: A cross-sectional descriptive study of 300 in-school adolescents in a rural community in Rivers State, South-South Nigeria, selected using multi-stage random sampling technique. RESULTS: There was a high awareness of contraception among respondents, 235 (78.3%), with condom, 207 (88.1%), having the highest awareness. About forty-five percent of respondents, (134), in this survey have had their first sexual debut and 84.3% of this number was sexually active in the last six months preceding this survey. The mean, median and the modal age of first sexual debut were; 12.0 + 2.8, 12.6, and 12.4 years respectively with the youngest age of initiation of sexual activity being 5 years. About two-thirds of those sexually active have multiple sexual partners. Contraceptive use was statistically higher among the sexually active respondents, (74.3%), than the sample study population, (30.3%), (Χ2 = 65.08, p = 0.000). Condom use at their last sexual debut, (58.2%), was significantly higher than use in their first sexual debut (31.3%), (Χ2 = 16.17, p = 0.000). The most commonly used contraceptive method was condom, (81.7%). CoNCLUSION: High risk sexual behaviour and increased sexual activity was prevalent in this age group. Efforts to promote sexuality education and contraceptive awareness should be intensified.

Awareness, ownership and utilization of insecticide treated nets in Abavo community of Delta State.

BACKGROUND: Despite free distribution of insecticide treated nets in Nigeria, the use it as a means of malaria prevention and control has not been fuIly embraced. AIM: The aim of this survey was to determine the level of awareness, ownership and utilization of insecticide treated nets among residents of Abavo community, Delta State Nigeria METHOD: It is a descriptive cross-sectional survey conducted among 250 heads of households. RESULT: One hundred and seventy five (70%) respondents were aware of insecticide treated net as a means of prevention against malaria, 111 (44%) claimed to own insecticide treated nets. On further inspection of houses of those who claimed to own ITNs, seventy four (66%) actually had theirs hanged, the rest were either in their packs or not seen. Ninety five (38%) respondents out of the total sleep under insecticide treated net. About 92 (70%) households having under-five and 39 (81.3%) of households having pregnant women claim to use ITNs. It was observed that the level of education (chi2 = 48.35, p = 0.001), presence of under 5 children in a household ?2 = 7.229, p = 0.027) influenced ownership of Insecticide treated nets. In conclusion despite a high level of awareness about ITN found in this survey, ownership and utilization of insecticide treated nets were low.