Attitudes and sexual behaviours of unmarried people with HIV/AIDS living in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria.

Background Increasing morbidity and mortality associated with HIV/AIDS may be attributable to the lifestyle of individuals. Appropriate sexual behaviour and lifestyle modification may be helpful strategies for prevention and control of HIV/AIDS in many countries. Aim The study was designed to assess the impact of attitudes and sexual behaviour on control of HIV/AIDS among unmarried people living with HIV/AIDS in Uyo, a community in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. Method A total of 365 unmarried individuals living with HIV/AIDS were assessed at the HIV clinic of the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital. Attitudes and sexual behaviour were evaluated using the Attitude and Sexual Behaviour Questionnaire adapted from previous studies. Results Of the 365 individuals living with HIV/AIDS, 142 (38.9%) were male and 223 (61.1%) were female. The majority of the subjects were below 50 years of age. The mean ages (± SD) of men and women were 36.8 ± 3.9 and 29.2 ± 1.7 years, respectively. Sexual attitudes and behaviours were variable. There was no change in the partner's reaction to sex for 28.9% of men and 27.8% of women, abstinence in 7.7% of men and 8.1% of women, and breakdown of the relationship with the partner for 4.9% of men and 7.2% of women. More women than men agreed to undergo testing after their partners had tested positive for HIV. Sexual activity was higher in women than men, with 4.9% of men and 10.3% of women reporting daily sexual intercourse, 16.2% of men and 15.7% of women reporting weekly intercourse, and occasional sexual intercourse being reported by 44.4% of both men and women. After testing positive, 58.4% of male partners and 56.9% of female partners were persuaded to use condoms during sexual intercourse. Conclusion This study has demonstrated unhealthy attitudes and sexual behaviour among individuals living with HIV/AIDS in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. This can potentially limit efforts and investment in controlling HIV/AIDS in this region. Therefore there is a need to initiate concrete policies and programmes that would encourage people living with HIV/AIDS in the Niger Delta region to adopt a healthy lifestyle.

Quality of life following successful repair of vesicovaginal fistula in Nigeria.

INTRODUCTION: The impact of obstetric vesicovaginal fistula (VVF), which continues to occur among women in developing countries, can severely affect the health of the women while the condition persists. This study was designed to discover the effect of successful VVF repair on affected women's quality of life. METHODS: A comparison of the quality of life of a cross-section of women who had VVF was carried out before and 6 months after successful repair. Quality of life was assessed using the WHO Quality of Life (WHOQOL)-BREF Questionnaire. RESULTS: Of the 150 women studied, only 20% felt satisfied with their general state of health and quality of life before the repair, while this increased to 90% following successful repair (highly statistically significant at p<0.000). In the physical health domain, the mean quality of life score was 67.9 ± 4.4 before and 69.3 ± 3.4 after successful repair (p<0.01). In the mental health domain, the mean quality of life score was 32.4 ± 8.7 before and 74.7 ± 3.2 after successful repair (p<0.005). In the social health domain, the mean score was 20.2 ± 2.7 before and 69.7 ± 2.3 after successful repair (p<0.001). In the environment domain, the mean score of quality of life was 60.3 ± 4.3 before repair and 59.7 ± 2.7 after successful repair (comparable at p<0.2). CONCLUSION: Successful repair of VVF is associated with significant improvement in the multidimensional quality of life among affected women.

Intrauterine contraceptive device with rectal perforation and strings presenting at the anus.

A 36-year-old grand multiparous midwife presented to the gynaecological unit of the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital with the string of an intrauterine contraceptive device (IUCD) protruding from her anus. She had had a copper IUCD inserted at a health centre 8 years earlier. However, 4 months later she noticed that she no longer felt its strings and had another IUCD inserted in the same facility when the first device was not located. Four months prior to presentation, she presented to a private clinic when she no longer felt the strings of the second IUCD. The device in the uterus was removed in the private clinic and she was referred to the teaching hospital. At the teaching hospital rectal examination and plain x-ray revealed the presence of a device. Under general anaesthesia, the device was successfully removed in theatre through the rectum with no postoperative complications.