Perception, interpretation, and implication of non-penile vaginal sex among young adults in tertiary institutions in Northcentral Nigeria.

Young adults in tertiary institutions engage in different sexual behaviours including penetrative and non-penetrative sex. This study explored young adults' perceptions, interpretations and implications for engaging in non-penile-vaginal sex (NPVS) in tertiary institutions of Plateau state, in the north-central Zone. An exploratory qualitative research approach was adopted. Eight (8) focus group discussions (FGDs) of singles and married males and females were conducted with seventy-nine (n=79) participants aged 18 - 30 years). Audio files were transcribed, coded, and managed using NVivo 12 software. Thematic analysis was applied to present themes and a description of key findings. Four (4) themes emerged. All groups acknowledged sexual satisfaction and improved intimacy as benefits of NPVS. The sexual orientation of people who partake in NPVS are often misinterpreted. Young adults involved in NPVS face rejection and stigmatization. Lastly, the sexual orientation misinterpretation, rejection and stigma of those who engage in NPVS is likely to be a result of the general believe that Nigeria is conservative in sociocultural values and expression.

Les jeunes adultes des établissements d'enseignement supérieur adoptent différents comportements sexuels, notamment des relations sexuelles avec et sans pénétration. Cette étude a exploré les perceptions, les interprétations et les implications des jeunes adultes concernant la pratique de relations sexuelles non péniennes-vaginales (NPVS) dans les établissements d'enseignement supérieur de l'État du Plateau, dans la zone centre-nord. Une approche de recherche exploratoire qualitative a été adoptée. Huit (8) discussions de groupe (FGD) d'hommes et de femmes célibataires et mariés ont été menées avec soixante-dix-neuf (n = 79) participants âgés de 18 à 30 ans). Les fichiers audio ont été transcrits, codés et gérés à l'aide du logiciel NVivo 12. L'analyse thématique a été appliquée aux thèmes présentés et à une description des principales conclusions. Quatre (4) thèmes ont émergé. Tous les groupes ont reconnu la satisfaction sexuelle et l'amélioration de l'intimité comme avantages du NPVS. L'orientation sexuelle des personnes qui participent aux NPVS est souvent mal interprétée. Les jeunes adultes impliqués dans les NPVS sont confrontés au rejet et à la stigmatisation. Enfin, l'interprétation erronée de l'orientation sexuelle, le rejet et la stigmatisation de ceux qui s'engagent dans les NPVS sont probablement le résultat de la croyance générale selon laquelle le Nigeria est conservateur en termes de valeurs et d'expression socioculturelles.

Serum copper, zinc and selenium levels in women with unexplained infertility in Ibadan Nigeria: A cross-sectional analytical study.

Background: Infertility is a global public health issue affecting couples. Trace metals have been implicated in effective reproductive functions in males but less studied in females. Objective: To compare the serum levels of copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), selenium (Se) and copper/zinc ratio in women with unexplained infertility and fertile women. Subjects and Methods: This was a cross-sectional analytical study that compared 75 consenting women who had unexplained infertility with 74 fertile women that were controls. Both groups were seen within 1 year of delivery and were recruited from the family planning unit, at the University College Hospital, Ibadan. Data were obtained through a semi-structured questionnaire, after which 10 mL of venous blood was collected. Analysis of selected trace elements were done by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. IBM SPSS version 23 was utilized for data analysis and the levels of statistical significance was set at <0.05. Results: The mean (± SD) serum concentrations of Cu (93.11 ± 16.55 µg/dL), Zn (72.04 ± 15.03 µg/dL) and Se (28.28 ± 8.33 µg/dL) amongst the women with unexplained infertility were lower when compared to the control group (all with P < 0.001). The serum Cu/Zn ratio was higher among the fertile women, though not statistically significant (P < 0.62). Age of <35 years was associated with normal serum levels of Cu (P < 0.01), while women with normal body mass index had low serum concentrations of Cu (P = 0.04), amongst the fertile group. Conclusion: Serum copper, zinc and selenium concentrations are significantly lower in women with unexplained infertility, therefore diets or supplements containing these trace elements may be helpful in their management.

Prevalence of infertility in Sudan: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Infertility is defined as the inability of heterosexual couples to achieve a successful clinically recognizable pregnancy after 12 months or more of regular, unprotected sexual intercourse. Infertility estimations are very important to inform the healthcare policymakers and governments to implement appropriate social and economic policies. Thus, this study aimed to estimate the pooled prevalence of infertility (primary and secondary) and its etiologic factors in Sudan. METHODS: This study included all published and unpublished studies written in Arabic or English. Electronic sources (namely, PubMed, MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and ClinicalTrials.gov) and nonelectronic sources (direct Google search, Google Scholar, OpenGrey, OATD, WorldCat log, and university websites) were used from their inception to May 16, 2021. A total of 1955 studies were reviewed, of which only 20 studies were eligible for the meta-analysis. Studies were eligible if they provided the prevalence of infertility in Sudan. The Joanna Briggs Institute Quality Assessment Tool was used to evaluate each study. Data synthesis and statistical analysis were conducted using Jeffrey's Amazing Statistics Program version 0.14.1.0. RESULTS: The pooled prevalence of overall infertility, primary infertility, and secondary infertility in Sudan were 13% (I2 = 96.45, p < 0.001), 65% (I2 = 98.5, p < 0.001), and 35% (I2 = 98.5, p < 0.001), respectively, and the prevalence of infertility factors were 41%, 27%, 16%, and 17% for female, male, combined factors, and unexplained factors, respectively. Women with infertility were mainly present because of ovulatory disorders (ovulatory factors, 36%; polycystic ovary syndrome, 38%). By contrast, spermatic disorders such as azoospermia (37%), oligozoospermia (30%), and asthenozoospermia (30%) were the main causes of male infertility. CONCLUSION: In Sudan, the prevalence of primary infertility is higher than that of secondary infertility. Female factors were the most common causes of infertility in Sudan, and this study found a high prevalence of unexplained factors. Polycystic ovary syndrome and azoospermia were the most common causes of female and male infertility in Sudan, respectively. The interpretation of these findings should take into consideration the presence of substantial heterogeneity between the included studies.

Attitudes of women and men living with HIV and their healthcare providers towards pregnancy and abortion by HIV-positive women in Nigeria and Zambia.

Fertility decisions among people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) are complicated by disease progression, the health of their existing children and possible antiretroviral therapy (ART) use, among other factors. Using a sample of HIV-positive women (n = 353) and men (n = 299) from Nigeria and Zambia and their healthcare providers (n = 179), we examined attitudes towards childbearing and abortion by HIV-positive women. To measure childbearing and abortion attitudes, we used individual indicators and a composite measure (an index). Support for an HIV-positive woman to have a child was greatest if she was nulliparous or if her desire to have a child was not conditioned on parity and lowest if she already had an HIV-positive child. Such support was found to be lower among HIV-positive women than among HIV-positive men, both of which were lower than reported support from their healthcare providers. There was wider variation in support for abortion depending on the measure than there was for support for childbearing. Half of all respondents indicated no or low support for abortion on the index measure while between 2 and 4 in 10 respondents were supportive of HIV-positive women being able to terminate a pregnancy. The overall low levels of support for abortion indicate that most respondents did not see HIV as a medical condition which justifies abortion. Respondents in Nigeria and those who live in urban areas were more likely to support HIV-positive women's childbearing. About a fifth of HIV-positive respondents reported being counselled to end childbearing after their diagnosis. In summary, respondents from both Nigeria and Zambia demonstrate tempered support of (continued) childbearing among HIV-positive women while anti-abortion attitudes remain strong. Access to ART did not impart a strong effect on these attitudes. Therefore, pronatalist attitudes remain in place in the face of HIV infection.

Knowledge of the human papilloma virus vaccines, and opinions of gynaecologists on its implementation in Nigeria.

The objective of this study was to determine the knowledge and perception of Nigerian Obstetricians and Gynaecologists towards human papilloma virus vaccine use in Nigeria. A cross sectional study was conducted amongst participants that attended the 42nd Society of Gynaecology and Obstetrics of Nigeria. The findings revealed that 44.5% knew the correct HPV vaccine schedule. Regarding implementation in Nigeria, 87.4% suggested its incorporation into the national immunization program and about a third agreed that it should be a precondition for school enrolment. Regression analysis showed that senior residents were more likely to have adequate knowledge of the vaccine compared to junior residents (AOR 7.181 95% CI OR = 1.792 - 28.782). We conclude that the knowledge of eligibility and schedule is poor. It is recommended that adequate information should be provided to this group of health workers because of their strategic position in its implementation in Nigeria.

Characterization and risk factors for unexplained female infertility in Sudan: A case-control study.

BACKGROUND: Female infertility with unknown causes (unexplained) remains one of the mysteries in the reproductive health field, where the diagnostic evidence is still weak and the proposed treatments still work with unknown methods. However, several studies have proposed some possible causes and risk factors for unexplained female infertility. AIM: To characterize and identify factors associated with unexplained infertility in Sudanese women. METHODS: A matched (age and body mass index) case-control study was conducted from March 2021 to February 2022. The study samples were 210 women with unexplained infertility (UI) and 190 fertile women of reproductive age who were attending the maternity hospitals and fertility clinics in Khartoum, Sudan. The risk factors of unexplained infertility were identified using a structured, pre-tested questionnaire containing information on socio-demographic variables, anthropometrics, clinical diagnosis of infertility, behavioral factors, physical activity assessment, diversity, and consumption of different food groups by the study participants. RESULTS: The results showed a higher proportion of women diagnosed with UI were residents of rural areas than controls (21.4% vs 11.1%, P < 0.05), and previous miscarriages and/or abortions were more common in fertile women compared with infertile women (13.16% vs 5.71%, P < 0.05). Additionally, infertile women had a significantly (P < 0.05) higher proportion of family history of infertility (explained and unexplained) compared with controls. Finally, after controlling for the effects of potentially confounding variables using multivariable logistic regression analysis, only marital status, family history of infertility, use of modern contraceptives, smoking, caffeine consumption, physical activity level, meals consumed, other vitamin-A-rich fruits and vegetables, and other vegetables were found to be significant (P < 0.05) factors associated with unexplained infertility among Sudanese women. CONCLUSION: Married women with a family history of infertility who smoke and consume a high amount of caffeine, who live a sedentary lifestyle, and who consume more than two meals free of vitamin-A-rich fruits and/or vegetables and/or other vegetables per day are at the highest risk of developing unexplained infertility.

Prevalence of genital Chlamydia trachomatis among women of reproductive age attending outpatient clinic at Kisumu County Referral Hospital, Kenya, 2021.

Background: Chlamydia trachomatis is a common a sexually transmitted infections (STI). Asymptomatic Chlamydia is undetectable because it is asymptomatic. In Kenyan women ages 18 to 49, the disease is poorly understood. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at Kisumu County Referral Hospital, Kenya. 385 women consented and completed the electronic questionnaire. The women then provided vaginal swab samples which were tested for Chlamydia trachomatis using Chlamydia rapid diagnostic test kit. Results: A total of 29 (7.5%) patients tested positive and were given medication. 65.2% of 385 participants were 18-25, with 5.7% prevalence. Women preferred self vaginal swab collection over health worker collection (0.3%). Multiple sexual partners, coinfection with other STIs, and upper tract infections are linked to genital Chlamydia. 92% of participants didn't know Chlamydia's effects. Conclusions: The study's prevalence of genital Chlamydia trachomatis was within previous estimates. Populations and screening methods vary. Patient and community education about genital Chlamydia infection is needed. Multiple sexual partners, marital status, education, and STI history are risk factors. Most women preferred self vaginal swab collection.

Seroprevalence of Gestational and Neonatal Toxoplasmosis as well as Risk Factors in Yaoundé, Cameroon.

Background: Toxoplasmosis, caused by Toxoplasma gondii in pregnant women, is a significant public health problem due to risk of mother to child transmission. The aim of the study was to determine the seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis in pregnant women and corresponding cord blood among women attending Biyem-Assi and CASS Nkoldongo hospitals in Yaoundé, Cameroon. Methods: An institutional based cross-sectional study was conducted between June 2019 and May 2020 on 300 pregnant women from late second trimester to third trimester. A total of 259 cord blood samples were collected at birth from these women. Toxoplasma gondii-specific IgG and IgM antibodies in maternal and cord blood were detected using the Toxoplasma Enzyme Immunosorbent Assay kit, and potential risk factors captured through questionnaire were identified using binary logistic regression model. Statistical significance was measured at P < 0.05. Results: The overall seroprevalence of gestational and neonatal toxoplasmosis was 80% and 88%, respectively. IgG seropositivity was 72.7%, IgM only was 1.3% and cooccurrence of IgG/IgM was 6% amongst pregnant women. Out of 259 newborn cord bloods, 72.2% were positive for IgG only, 8.9% for IgM only, and 23.9% for both IgG/IgM. Pregnant women 15-24 years (AOR = 4.6, P = 0.011) and women with primary level of education (AOR = 3.9, P = 0.042) were significantly at risk of infection with Toxoplasma gondii. Conclusion: Gestational and neonatal toxoplasmosis appears to be more common with higher risk of infection in younger women and less educated women. Hence, these findings will serve as baseline data for further investigations on mother to child transmission of toxoplasmosis in Yaoundé and the need for reinforcement of pregnant women toxoplasmosis-related health measures.

Serum leptin level in Sudanese women with unexplained infertility and its relationship with some reproductive hormones.

BACKGROUND: The excessive concentration of leptin has negative effects on all aspects of female reproduction. Despite this established relationship, the exact role of leptin in women's fertility is not clear enough and needs more clarification. AIM: To evaluate the serum leptin levels in Sudanese women and to ascertain the relationship between serum leptin levels and unexplained infertility (UI). METHODS: A matched (age and body mass index) case-control study was conducted from March 2021 to February 2022. The study samples were 210 women with UI and 190 fertile women of reproductive age who were attending the maternity hospitals and fertility clinics in Khartoum state Sudan. The serum concentration of leptin and other serum biomarkers were determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. RESULTS: The results showed that there was a highly statistically significant difference between the two groups (P < 0.001) for all examined eight biomarkers. Whereby, leptin, luteinizing hormone (LH)/follicular stimulating hormone (FSH) ratio, prolactin hormone (PRL) and testosterone (T) were significantly higher in the UI group compared with the control group. In contrast, FSH and estradiol (E2)/T ratio were significantly lower in the UI group than in the control group and the effect size test for the difference between the two groups was very large (effect size > 0.80), for leptin level, LH/FSH ratio, PRL level, and E2/T ratio, and large (effect size 0.50- ≤ 0.80) for FSH and T. CONCLUSION: This study reveals that leptin could be a potential biomarker for UI in Sudanese women and it may be useful for identifying women with a high risk of infertility.

Intravenous magnesium sulfate in the management of severe pre-eclampsia: A randomized study of 12-hour versus 24-hour maintenance dose.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effectiveness of a 12-hour versus 24-hour intravenous maintenance dose of magnesium sulfate (MgSO4 ) in women with pre-eclampsia, and the maternal and fetal outcomes. METHODS: This was a randomized controlled trial conducted at the labor ward complex of University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria between May and August 2014. Pregnant women with severe pre-eclampsia were randomized to receive a 12-hour versus 24-hour maintenance dose of MgSO4 . Study outcomes were occurrence of seizures, adverse maternal effects, neonatal survival, and admission to the intensive care unit. Data analysis involved descriptive statistics and bivariate analysis using Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 20. RESULTS: There were 80 patients randomized to the 12-hour (n=40) and 24-hour (n=40) groups. The participants in the two groups had comparable demographic features. There was no significant difference (P>0.999) between the satisfactory maternal outcome following the 12-hour maintenance dose and the standard 24-hour regimen (95.0% vs 97.5%). Similarly, there was no significant difference (P=0.276) in perinatal mortality in the 12-hour versus 24-hour arm (17.5% vs 12.5%, respectively). No case of eclampsia and maternal death was recorded. CONCLUSION: A 12-hour maintenance dose of intravenous MgSO4 in the management of severe pre-eclampsia is effective and safe when compared with the 24-hour maintenance dose.

Case-control study on ocular changes and ophthalmic Doppler velocimetric indices among preeclamptic and normotensive pregnant women in Ibadan, Nigeria.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the ocular changes and Doppler velocimetric indices in preeclamptic and normotensive pregnant women. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: This was a case-control study of 71 preeclamptic women and 72 parity-matched normotensive pregnant women conducted at the University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria. Demographic data were obtained using questionnaires. All participants had visual acuity assessment, funduscopy, intraocular pressure measurement and orbital Doppler ultrasonography. The differences in parameters between the two groups were tested using Student's t-test for quantitative variables and χ2 tests for categorical variables. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between cases and controls with respect to sociodemographic variables. The mean pulsatility index was 1.35±0.46 in cases and 2.1±0.4 in controls (p<0.001); the resistivity index was 0.7±0.18 in cases and 0.83±0.27 among the controls (p=0.01). A similar pattern was observed in the peak systolic velocity (p<0.001) and the peak ratio (p<0.001). There was no significant difference between the groups concerning end-diastolic velocity (p=0.535). Three preeclampsia patients (5.2%) had abnormalities on funduscopy compared with none of the controls. Preeclamptic women had significantly higher intraocular pressures in both eyes at baseline and at 24 hours post delivery. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated lower Doppler velocimetry and impedance parameters and higher intraocular pressure among preeclampsia cases compared with controls. Abnormal funduscopic findings were observed in a few preeclamptic women and none among the controls. Ophthalmic artery Doppler parameters could be useful in identifying those women who are likely to suffer preeclampsia and its complications.

Assessment of the effect of psychosocial support during childbirth in Ibadan, south-west Nigeria: a randomised controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of psychosocial support on labour outcomes. METHODOLOGY: A randomised control trial conducted at the University College Hospital Ibadan, Nigeria, from November 2006 to 30 March 2007. Women with anticipated vaginal delivery were recruited and randomised at the antenatal clinic. The experimental group had companionship in addition to routine care throughout labour until two hours after delivery, while the controls had only routine care. The primary outcome measure was caesarean section rate. Others included duration of active phase, pain score, time of breast-feeding initiation and description of labour experience. Multivariable analyses were used to adjust for potential confounders. The level of statistical significance was set at 5%. RESULTS: Of the 632 recruited, 585 were eventually studied: 293 and 292 were in experimental and control groups, respectively. Husbands constituted about two-thirds of the companions. Women in the control group were about five times more likely to deliver by caesarean section (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.98-12.05), had significantly longer duration of active phase (P < 0.001), higher pain scores (P = 0.011) and longer interval between delivery and initiation of breast-feeding (P < 0.001). However, those in experimental group had a more satisfying labour experience (odds ratio 3.3 95% CI 2.15-5.04). CONCLUSION: Women with companionship had better labour outcomes compared to those without. It is desirable to adopt this practice in our health-care settings as an alternative strategy to provide comparable quality services to would-be mothers in labour.

Acceptability of child adoption as management option for infertility in Nigeria: evidence from focus group discussions.

Infertility remains a global health challenge with devastating psycho-social consequences in many African communities. Adoption that may serve as an alternative strategy for the affected couples is not widely practiced. This study was conceptualized to assess the acceptability of child adoption as a management option by Nigerians. Twelve focus group discussions were held involving three communities stratified into inner core, transitory and peripheral, within Ibadan metropolis, South-Western Nigeria from May to July 2008. The participants were purposively selected based on gender and age group. The barriers mentioned were cultural practices, stigmatization, financial implications, and procedural bottle-necks. Measures suggested to curb these negative attitudes were advocacy, community mobilization and enactment of supportive law that will protect all parties involved.

Gustatory Function of Pregnant and Nonpregnant Women in a Tertiary Health Institution.

Physiological changes in pregnancy may cause taste dysfunction. The aim of this study was to determine and compare gustatory function of pregnant women with nonpregnant women and also to investigate the effect of pregnancy on gustatory function. It was a case-control study of consecutive 70 healthy pregnant women (cases) and 70 healthy nonpregnant women (control). Participants scored their taste perception on a visual analogue scale (1-10) and their gustatory function was assessed using "taste strips" impregnated with graded concentration of sweet, sour, salty, and bitter taste substances applied on tongue surfaces. Subjective mean gustatory score, correct identification of taste in the strips and total taste strip (TTS) score were compared between both groups and analysis was done using appropriate statistics. The mean age of pregnant women (30.5 [3.9]) and controls (28.5 [6.6]) were comparable. Twenty-one (30%) pregnant women changed their diet in first trimester due to change in taste sensation. Almost all cases developed craving for spicy and salty foods and, aversions to fish, beans, and vegetables. There was a significant difference in the subjective rating of taste perception between the 2 groups ( P = .037). About 2.9% of pregnant women have hypogeusia. There was a significant difference between pregnant and nonpregnant women in sour taste ( P = .006; 2.90 [0.71] vs 3.92 [0.82]) and TTS ( P = .02; 27.50 [3.48] vs 29.21 [2.69]) scores, respectively. In conclusion, gustatory function was reduced in pregnancy compared to nonpregnant women and this led to dietary change in some pregnant women.

Community-based study of contraceptive behaviour in Nigeria.

A cross sectional, community-based, descriptive study among women of reproductive age group (15-49 years) in Nigeria to explore the possible reasons for contraceptive non-use despite reported high awareness was carried out. Data were obtained using a standard questionnaire instrument and applied on 2001 respondents. Contraceptive prevalence among sexually active respondents was 14.8% for all methods, 10.1% for modern methods and only 0.8% for emergency contraceptives. The most frequently stated reasons for non-use of contraceptives, among those who had never used any contraceptives but who did not want more children were: "did not think about it", "against religious belief" and "fear of side effects." Prior counseling significantly improved the continuation rate of contraception. Multivariate analysis showed that older, married and more educated women tended to use contraceptives more. Health-care providers should be trained to offer counseling services to all clients in general, and young, unmarried and uneducated women in particular in order to improve their acceptance of contraceptives.

Sources of contraceptive commodities for users in Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: Understanding the sources of contraceptive commodities is an important aspect of the delivery of family planning services and is required by planning programme managers for strategic planning purposes. Findings from the 2003 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey have previously showed that the private sector was the most frequently reported source of contraceptive supply, providing contraception to two and a half times as many women as the public sector. We conducted a community-based study to examine further the sources of contraceptive commodity for users in Nigeria with a view to identifying their preferences for distribution centres. This information would be useful to improve commodity distribution and to build the necessary capacity for satisfactory delivery of contraceptives. METHODS AND FINDINGS: A multi-stage random sampling technique was used. A state was randomly selected to represent each of the four health zones in Nigeria. Two local government areas (LGAs) were then selected representing both urban and rural areas. Ten enumeration areas were subsequently selected from each LGA. Of the 2,001 respondents aged 15-49 years, 1,647 (82.3%) were sexually active, out of which 244 were found to be using contraceptive methods at the time of the study, giving a contraceptive prevalence of 14.8%. The commonest source of information on contraceptives was through friends (34%), followed by the radio (11.5%) and husbands (10.2%). Most respondents procured their contraceptives from chemist/patent medicine shops (19.7%), while only 0.8% obtained them from designated family planning clinics. The younger groups in this study (15-24 years), single people, Catholics, and Muslims, showed a greater preference for chemist/patent medicine shops for their sources of contraceptives. The older groups and married respondents, however, made use of government and private hospitals to obtain their contraceptives. CONCLUSION: Strategies to increase contraceptive use must take into consideration these identified sources of contraceptives with a view to enhancing the quality, quantity, and variety of methods available, and to building capacity for effective service delivery. There is also a need to encourage the establishment of adolescent-friendly clinics where young people can go for counselling and obtain contraceptives of their choice, including emergency contraceptive pills.

Asymptomatic bacteriuria among HIV positive pregnant women.

The prognostic significance of asymptomatic bacteriuria resides in the observation that the prevalence is, relatively, high in persons with certain medical conditions, such as diabetes mellitus and pregnancy. This prevalence might, even, be higher in patients with human immunodeficiency virus infection. Hence, this study set out to determine the prevalence of asymptomatic bacteriuria among symptom free and newly enrolled HIV infected pregnant women attending PMTCT unit of Antiretroviral Clinic of University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria between 1st May and 30th September 2007.Information was obtained on the socio-demographic characteristics of the subjects, CD4 count and viral load. Microbial culture was carried out on aseptically collected urines from the patients. Statistical analysis was done with SPSS 12 package. There were 161 analyzable samples from the participants. The mean age and gestational age at presentation of participants was 30.49 ± 4.3 years and 27.3 ± 3.2 weeks, respectively with modal parity of 2. Twenty-five (15.5%) of the urine samples significantly grew bacteria. The CD4 cells were significantly lower and the viral loads significantly higher(250.52 vs. 355.57 cells/mm3; 88,731 vs. 55,384 copies/ml; p = <0.0000) for the urine culture positive patients. Eshcherichia coli were isolated in 48%, Proteus in 16.0%, Klebsiella in 8.0% and Staphylococcus aureus in 28.0% of the urine positive cultures.The study showed that the prevalence of asymptomatic bacteriuria among PLWHAs is high. The microbial isolate from the urine samples were not different from those of HIV-negative patients.

Proximate predictors of early antenatal registration among Nigerian pregnant women.

BACKGROUND: Provision of antenatal care (ANC) is included in the pillars of maternal health care promoted as effective answers to maternal mortality. Early antenatal registration has been linked with optimal utilization and appreciable reduction of perinatal morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to determine the profile and possible predictors of pregnant women who presented early for antenatal registration. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 796 women presented for antenatal registration at a tertiary hospital. Information was obtained by a self-administered open- and closed-ended questionnaire and analyzed with Statistical Package of Social Science (SPSS) 12.0 software. RESULTS: The mean gestational age at booking was 20 weeks. Univariate analysis showed that first trimester booking was significantly with more educated women, professionals, women of lower parity and those who have had previous stillbirths (P < 0.05). Low parity (OR 1.76, 95% CI 2.79-1.11) and previous stillbirth (OR 2.97, 95% CI 1.61-5.51) were significant predictors of early booking on multivariate analysis. CONCLUSION: Long-term advocacy and investment in female education will contribute significantly to primary prevention of late or non-attendance of ANC. Pre-conception clinics and community awareness campaigns would be necessary tools to reach these women and encourage them to register early when pregnant.