Association Between Urinary Parabens and Sperm Quality in Nigerian Men: A Case-Control Study.

Background: Parabens, which are chemicals used as preservatives in cosmetic and pharmaceutical products, have been reported to be associated with low sperm quality in animal and human models. Despite the high exposure of men to paraben-containing products in Nigeria, there are no known studies that investigate the association of parabens with sperm quality in the country. Objective: To determine the association of urinary levels of metabolites of parabens with sperm count and quality. Design/Setting: A multicenter case-control study among fertile and infertile men in five hospitals in southern Nigeria. A total of 136 men diagnosed with male infertility (cases) were compared with 154 controls with normal fertility. Urinary levels of parabens (ethyl-paraben, methylparaben, propylparaben, and butylparaben) were measured using liquid chromatography mass spectrometry, while semen analysis and hormone assays were carried out using World Health Organization standards and radioimmunoassay, respectively. Data were analyzed with non-parametric statistics and non-parametric linear regression. Results: The results showed high levels of parabens in both cases and controls. However, there was no statistically significant difference in urinary levels of ethyl-paraben, methylparaben, propylparaben, and butylparaben between cases and controls. In contrast, propylparaben had a decreasing association with total motility in both groups, but the effect was only statistically significant in the case of male infertility. The results of the regression analysis showed that a unit increase in propylparaben significantly decreased total motility in the cases (infertile men). Similarly, a unit increase in propylparaben decreased morphology significantly in the unadjusted model for infertile men. Only serum testosterone showed an insignificant correlation with urinary parabens. Conclusion: We conclude that urinary parabens are associated with features of poor sperm quality - motility, morphology, and volume. Measures to reduce exposure of men to agents containing parabens in Nigeria may reduce the prevalence of male infertility in the country.

Association of Urinary Mycotoxins with Sperm Quality: A Case-Control Study in Southern Nigeria.

The objective of this study was to determine the association between mycotoxins and the quality of spermatozoa in Nigeria. We designed a prospective case-control study involving 136 men diagnosed with reduced sperm count and quality in five infertility clinics in southwest Nigeria and 154 normal fertile controls. Sperm analysis was conducted in accordance with the recommendations of the World Health OrganizationWHO, while Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry was used to assay three metabolites of mycotoxins (zearalenone, ochratoxin A, and deoxyvinelol) in the urine samples of cases and controls. The data were analysed with descriptive statistics and non-parametric linear regression. The results showed no overall significant difference in levels of these metabolites between the cases and control groups. In contrast, higher levels of zearalenone and ochratoxin A significantly decreased sperm motility in the cases. Similarly, an increase in the level of ochratoxin A decreased sperm morphology in the unadjusted model in the cases. We conclude that exposure to mycotoxins reduces the quality of spermatozoa (motility and morphology) in Nigerian men but may have no effect on sperm count. Efforts to reduce the exposure of men to mycotoxins are important interventions to improve sperm quality and reduce the prevalence of male infertility in the country.

Causes and Risk Factors for Male Infertility: A Scoping Review of Published Studies.

Background: Despite the evidence of declining sperm counts worldwide and the increasing prevalence of male infertility, there has been limited documentation of the potential causes and risk factors for male infertility. With limited methods of primary treatment of male infertility, understanding the causes and risk factors will pinpoint specific lines of prevention. Objective: We reviewed published studies on causes and risk factors for male infertility and identify gaps in the literature enabling more focused research and innovations. Design/Setting: The study was a scoping review. The review included studies on the causes and risk factors of male infertility published in scientific/academic publications. It was not limited to any region or date. The following databases were searched: Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Wiley online, HINARI, Science Direct, PubMed/Medline, Google Scholar, African Journals Online, and the WHO Repository. In total, 1295 articles were identified. After removing 357 duplicates, 938 articles were screened, and 71 articles were identified for inclusion, while 60 articles met the inclusion criteria. Results: Four broad causes and risk factors of male infertility identified were 1) biological/physiological/genetic causes, 2) behavioral/lifestyle risk factors, 3) environmental factors, and 4) socio-demographic risk factors. However, no substantive results on actual causes under each category were identified, leaving gaps for further research and experimentation. Conclusion: The results indicate limited knowledge of the actual causes of male infertility in published studies. The gaps in knowledge that need to be bridged to enable a fuller understanding of the actual causes of male infertility were highlighted.

Effects of multifaceted interventions to prevent and manage primary postpartum haemorrhage in referral hospitals: a quasi-experimental study in Nigeria.

INTRODUCTION: Primary postpartum haemorrhage (PPH) is the leading cause of Nigeria's high maternal mortality rate. This study investigated the effectiveness of a set of multifaceted interventions to manage and reduce PPH in selected secondary referral health facilities in Nigeria. METHODS: This is a quasi-experimental study using an interrupted time-series design to assess a set of multifaceted interventions that address factors identified by stakeholders as associated with PPH. Interventions were implemented at two regional general hospitals, with a general hospital in the same region as the control. Intervention participants were women during antepartum and clinical and administrative staff. Cases of PPH were determined in women at delivery. The outcomes measured were the incidence of primary PPH and related deaths during the study period. Analyses included a comparative description of characteristics of the women, trend of time-series data at intervention and control hospitals, and multivariable analysis of factors associated with PPH occurrence. RESULTS: Monthly numbers of primary PPH were collected at participating hospitals over 21 months for 18 181 women. Intervention hospitals represent 54% vs 46% in control hospitals. Time-series analyses show a significant downward trend in intervention hospitals. The overall incidence of primary PPH was lower in the intervention hospitals than in the control hospitals. Multilevel regression adjusted for hospital-level effect showed a 68% reduction in odds of PPH cases at intervention compared with control hospitals. There were 12 PPH-related maternal deaths in one of the control hospitals, with no deaths in the intervention hospitals. CONCLUSION: We conclude that multiple interventions that address identified challenges in the prevention of primary PPH can potentially effectively reduce reported primary PPH in Nigerian referral hospitals. This approach is relevant for scaling the development of policies and programmes to prevent primary PPH and maternal mortality in Nigeria.

Why women utilize traditional rather than skilled birth attendants for maternity care in rural Nigeria: Implications for policies and programs.

OBJECTIVE: Data from the Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey indicate that many pregnant women in rural Nigeria use traditional birth attendants (TBAs) rather than skilled birth attendants (SBAs) for maternal health care. This is one factor that accounts for the persistently high rate of maternal mortality in Nigeria. The objective of this study was to identify the pervading reasons that women use TBAs for pregnancy care in rural Nigeria and to make recommendations for policy and programmatic reform. DESIGN: Qualitative research design consisting of focus group discussions, key informant interviews, and community conversations, followed by inductive thematic analysis. SETTING: Twenty rural communities (villages) in Etsako East, and Esan South East Local Government Areas of Edo State, South-South, Nigeria. PARTICIPANTS: Twenty focus group discussions with men and women in a marital union; 15 key informant interviews with policymakers, senior health providers, and women leaders; and 10 community conversations with key community leaders. FINDINGS: Some reasons proffered for using TBAs included perceptions of higher efficacy of traditional medicines; age-long cultural practices; ease of access to TBAs as compared to SBAs; higher costs of services in health facilities; and friendly attitude of TBAs. KEY CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: The continued use of TBA is a major challenge in efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goal 3 in Nigeria. We conclude that efforts to address the factors identified by community stakeholders as inhibiting the use of SBAs will promote skilled birth attendance and reduce maternal mortality in rural Nigeria.

Assessment of service readiness for maternity care in primary health centres in rural Nigeria: implications for service improvement.

INTRODUCTION: several scientific reports from studies across Nigeria revealed a higher incidence of maternal mortality in rural parts of the country as compared to the urban areas. Part of the reasons is the paucity of health care infrastructure and personnel. This study was designed as part of an intervention program with the goal to improve the access of pregnant women to skilled pregnancy care in rural Nigeria. The specific objective of the study was to determine the nature and readiness of Primary Health Centres (PHCs) in two Local Government Areas (LGAs) in rural parts of Edo State, Southern Nigeria to deliver effective maternal and child health services. METHODS: the study was conducted in 12 randomly selected PHCs in the two LGAs. Data were obtained with a semi-structured questionnaire administered on health workers and through direct observation and verification of the facilities in the PHCs. The results obtained were compared with the national standards established for PHCs in Nigeria by the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA). Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data. RESULTS: the results showed severe deficits in buildings and premises, rooms, medical equipment, essential drugs, and personnel. Only 40% of items recommended by the NPHCDA were available for buildings; 41% of the PHCs had facilities available in the labour ward; while less than 30% had the recommended facilities in the antenatal care rooms. Only one PHC had a laboratory space, with only one item (a dipstick for urine analysis) identified in the laboratory. None of the PHCs had ambulances, mobile phones, internet or computers. There was no nurse/midwife in 4 PHCs; only one nurse/midwife each were available in 8 PHCs; while there was no Environmental/Medical Records Officer in any PHC. About 26% of the essential drugs were not available in the PHCs. CONCLUSION: we conclude that PHCs in Edo State, Nigeria have severe deficits in infrastructural facilities, equipment, essential drugs and personnel for the delivery of maternal and child health care. Efforts to improve these facilities will help increase the quality of delivery of maternal and child health, and therefore reduce maternal and child mortality in the country.

Outcome of multifaceted interventions for improving the quality of antenatal care in Nigerian referral hospitals.

BACKGROUND: The study was designed as quasi-experimental research to investigate the effectiveness of multifaceted interventions for improving the quality of antenatal care in referral hospitals in Nigeria. Two referral hospitals (the Central Hospital in Benin City, South-South Nigeria, and the General Hospital in Minna) served as intervention sites, while two hospitals in comparable locations, (the Central Hospital Warri and the Suleja Hospital Abuja) were the control hospitals. METHODS: Intervention activities consisted of the introduction of a strategic plan with the shared vision of reducing maternal mortality by 50% in 1 year in the hospitals; staff training and re-training; the establishment of an automated appointment system; composite health education involving couples and providers; advocacy with policymakers; and the implementation of maternal death reviews and surveillance. These activities were implemented in the intervention hospitals over 21 months (October 2017 to June 2019). Exit interviews of pregnant women at intervention and control sites by trained interviewers were used to assess the quality of antenatal care after their visit, A total of 777 women were interviewed (427 in the intervention sites and 350 in the control sites). Data were analyzed with univariate and multivariate Poisson and logistic regression to determine the extent to which health providers in the clinics completed the 18 signal functions identified in the WHO assessment tool. RESULTS: The regression analyses showed the interventions were effective in improving six quality indicators (QIs) for counseling and information sharing. The difference between intervention and control sites on these QIs was significant at < 0.05. On the contrary, the interventions were less effective for maternal and fetal measurements; and disease testing and management QIs. CONCLUSION: The positive effects of the interventions are likely due to the effectiveness of the training and health education components. The lack of intervention impact observed for maternal and fetal measurements may be due to the high workload of care staff and inadequate clinic supplies, which we did not address. We conclude that interventions that address the quality of antenatal care in low-resource settings should focus on improving all elements of care, including adequate staffing and mobilization of material resources. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This study was registered in the ISRCTN on August 14th, 2020. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: SRCTN17985403 . Retrospective registration. The reason for the retrospective registration is the current non-recognition of the Nigeria Clinical Trials Registry (NCTR); which is currently not an ICMJE or WHO ICTRP approved registry. (This study was registered in the Nigeria Clinical Trials Registry on April 14th, 2016. Trial Registration Number NCTR No: 91540209 ).

Assessing the knowledge and skills on emergency obstetric care among health providers: Implications for health systems strengthening in Nigeria.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the existing knowledge and skills relating to Emergency Obstetrics Care (EMOC) among health providers in eight referral maternity hospitals in Nigeria. STUDY DESIGN: A cross-sectional study of skilled health providers (doctors, nurses and midwives) working in the hospitals during the period. SETTING: Six general hospitals (4 in the south and 2 in the north), and two teaching hospitals (both in the Northern part) of the country. POPULATION: All skilled providers offering EMOC services in the hospitals during the study. METHODS: A pre-tested self-administered questionnaire was used to obtain information relating to socio-demographic characteristics, the respondents' knowledge and skills in offering specific EMOC services (as compared to standard World Health Organization recommendations), and their confidence in transferring the skills to mid-level providers. Data were analyzed with univariate, bivariate, binary and multinomial logistic regression analyses. Main outcome measures: knowledge and skills in EMOC services by hospital and overall. RESULTS: A total of 341 health providers (148 doctors and 193 nurses/midwives) participated in the study. Averagely, the providers scored less than 46% in a composite EMOC knowledge score, with doctors scoring considerable higher than the nurses/midwives. Similarly, doctors scored higher than nurses/midwives in the self-reporting of confidence in carrying out specific EMOC functions. Health providers that scored higher in knowledge were significantly more likely to report confidence in performing specific EMOC functions as compared to those with lower scores. The self-reporting of confidence in transferring clinical skills was also higher in those with higher EMOC knowledge scores. CONCLUSION: The knowledge and reported skills on EMOC by health providers in referral facilities in Nigeria was lower than average. We conclude that the in-service training and re-training of health providers should be included in national policy and programs that address maternal mortality prevention in referral facilities in the country. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Nigeria Clinical Trials Registry 91540209.