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INTRODUCTION: Adolescence was previously assumed to be a diseases free stage of life. It is however now known that adolescents are not only involved in risky health behaviours but they also have their own share of health problems that other age groups face. The adolescent-friendly model helps to create adolescent-responsive health systems, Nigeria currently has no country-specific report on the adolescent-friendly characteristics of the health services rendered to her adolescents. This study identified various health problems for which in-school adolescents in Ibadan North- East Local Government Area sought healthcare and determined their perception of received healthcare services with regards to its "adolescent-friendliness". METHODS: This was a school-based cross-sectional study that utilized quantitative method of data collection. A multi-stage systematic random sampling technique was employed to select 500 students for school survey. Self-administered, semistructured questionnaire was used to collect data. Descriptive statistics and Chisquare test at α=0.05 were used for data analysis. RESULTS: Perceived malaria (52.4%), acne (36.2%), menstrual pain (17.0%) and depression (3.0%) were the common health problems adolescents sought health care for. Majority of the adolescents perceived the health services received as being adolescent-friendly. These health services were perceived to be accessible by (87%), acceptable by (93.2%), appropriate by (81.4%), effective by (91.4%), and equitable by (82.2%) of the respondents. Adolescents who sought mental care perceived least adolescent-friendliness of received healthcare services. CONCLUSION: Adolescents in Ibadan currently view received health services as adolescent-friendly. However, the management of mental health problems in adolescents should incorporate adolescent friendly elements entrenched at every level of the health system.
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A high proportion of adolescents still engage in risky sexual behaviours that put them at risk of infection complications of risky sexual behaviours including Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection despite the different interventions already in place. This study was designed to determine the adolescents' knowledge of HIV, intention to engage in risky sexual behaviour and sexual practices. A 3-stage sampling technique was used to select 240 adolescents in senior secondary schools in Ibadan, Nigeria. Data were obtained using a pretested, semi-structured, self-administered questionnaire. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and Chi-square test at 5% level of significance. The mean age of the respondents was 16.3±1.4 years and 126(52.5%) were females. Only 34.3% had good knowledge of HIV and there were misconceptions about its transmission. Most of the respondents (95.0%) had intention to engage in risky sexual behaviour and those with good knowledge of HIV were willing to engage in risky sexual behavour with familiar people. Good knowledge was associated with intention to engage in low risk sexual behaviour. Seventy-nine (32.9%) were sexually active and they had better knowledge of HIV. Knowledge of HIV was low among this study group and was not associated with their intention to engage in risky sexual behaviour. There is need for more effective and appropriate school and community-based intervention programmes which can impact positively on the adolescents' sexual behaviour.
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BACKGROUND: Prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV (PMTCT) programme was designed to reduce mother to child transmission (MTCT) of HIV and it has been shown to be effective. However, the uptake of the services is still very low in Nigeria. OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to determine how acceptable the different services of PMTCT are to pregnant women in Ibadan, Nigeria. METHOD: Systematic random sampling was used to recruit 500 pregnant women attending antenatal clinic in a secondary health facility. Questionnaires were used to obtain data regarding socio-demographic characteristics, knowledge about MTCT of HIV and prevention, the awareness and attitude towards infant feeding options for HIV positive mothers. Data were analysed using student's t test and Chi-square test with p set at 0.05. RESULTS: Mean age of respondents was 27.4±6.1years. Most known routes of MTCT of HIV were during pregnancy (86.0%) and from breastfeeding (86.0%). More than 80% knew that having good antenatal care, appropriate supervised delivery, taking antiretroviral drugs and not breast feeding a baby are ways of PMTCT. About two thirds had a positive attitude towards HIV testing and counselling (HTC). Only 18.4% were aware of the exclusive breast feeding option for feeding infants of HIV positive mothers while 52.2% would not comply if asked not to breast feed. Women aged 35 years and above had better attitude towards non breast feeding. CONCLUSION: Intensified health education on the importance of HTC and promotion of exclusive breast feeding for infants of HIV positive mothers is recommended.
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BACKGROUND: Hypothyroidism can present atypically making its recognition difficult especially in resource limited settings. CASE PRESENTATION AND MANAGEMENT: Two children presented with atypical features of hypothyroidism with resultant delay in diagnosis. Patient I presented with persistent respiratory distress, facial swelling and recurrent syncopal attacks. Cardiovascular examination was normal except for pulmonary hypertension. He did not respond to conventional supportive therapy and hypothyroidism was discovered much later. Patient II was a seven month old male infant with abdominal swelling, bilateral pitting leg oedema, poor weight gain and delayed developmental milestones. Examination revealed ascites and pericardial effusion. He was being managed for protein energy malnutrition until he was found to have hypothyroidism and was successfully managed with L thyroxin. CONCLUSION: A typical presentations of hypothyroidism in resource limited settings can result in delay in diagnosis and treatment which can lead to unnecessary morbidity and mortality. High index of suspicion and expertise are therefore required.
