Public perception of climate change and its impact on health and environment in rural southwestern Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: Climate change (CC) has received extensive media attention recently, and it is currently on the international public health agenda. A study of knowledge and attitudes to climate change, most especially from rural Nigerian communities, is important for developing adaptation strategies. This is a study of public perceptions of CC and its impact on health and environment in rural southwestern Nigeria. METHODS: This was a community-based descriptive cross-sectional study of 1,019 rural respondents using a multistage sampling method. The research instrument used was a pretested, structured, interviewer-administered questionnaire. Data were analyzed using SPSS software. χ2, Cramér's V, and Kendall's τ-c statistics were employed in addition to fitting the data to a logistic regression model to explore associations found significant on bivariate analysis. RESULTS: Mean age of respondents was 36.9 (±12.4) years. About 911 (89.4%) of respondents opined that there has been a change in climate in the last 10 years. Supernatural reasons were prominent among respondent-reported causes of CC. Identified risky behavior contributing to CC included smoking (10.7%), bush burning (33.4%), and tree felling (41.0%). Poor knowledge of causes but good knowledge of effects of CC were found in this study. About two-thirds of respondents had a positive attitude to causes of CC, while half had a positive attitude to the effects of CC. A significant association was found between educational status (P˂0.001, Kendall's τ-c=-0.042), occupational status (P˂0.01, Kendall's τ-c=0.088), and attitude to causes of CC. Further analysis using logistic regression showed that occupational status was significantly associated with likelihood of having a positive attitude, but educational status and marital status were not. CONCLUSION: Rural areas of Nigeria are vulnerable to the adverse effects of CC. Respondents' poor knowledge but positive attitude to CC calls for dissemination of adequate information on CC in sustained health-promotion programs.

Prevalence of obesity among adolescents in Ile-Ife, Osun state, Nigeria using body mass index and waist hip ratio: A comparative study.

BACKGROUND: Obesity is a global epidemic not just among adults but also among children and adolescents. This study described the prevalence and pattern of obesity among in-school adolescents in Ile-Ife, Osun State using two standard methods, Body Mass Index (BMI) and Waist Hip Ratio (WHR) with a view of comparing the two methods as well as identifying any correlation between the two methods. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Five hundred male and female respondents, aged 10-19 years, were randomly selected through a multistage sampling technique from private and public schools in Ife Central Local Government Area. Quantitative data were collected with the aid of a pre-tested, semi-structured, self-administered questionnaire. Anthropometric measurements of respondents, BMI and WHR, were recorded. Chi square and linear regression analyses were used. Statistical significance was tested at the 5% level. RESULTS: The prevalence of obesity was 4.2% using BMI of which 12 (57.1%) were females and nine (42.9%) were males. There was significant association between sex and BMI, χ(2) = 9.490 (P = 0.020). Using WHR, the prevalence was 37.2% of which 180 (96.8%) were females and six (3.2%) were males. There was also significant association between sex and WHR (P < 0.001). Weak correlation (r = 0.02) was found between BMI and WHR among the females, P = 0.043. CONCLUSION: There was a difference in the prevalence of obesity using the two methods. Although, the correlation between the two methods was weak among females, WHR yielded a higher prevalence for obesity with remarkable difference especially among the females. Prevention of adolescent obesity should be encouraged especially among females.

Prevalence of Obesity among Adolescents in Ile-Ife; Osun state; Nigeria Using Body Mass Index and Waist Hip Ratio: A Comparative Study

Obesity is a global epidemic not just among adults but also among children and adolescents. This study described the prevalence and pattern of obesity among in-school adolescents in Ile-Ife; Osun State using two standard methods; Body Mass Index (BMI) and Waist Hip Ratio (WHR) with a view of comparing the two methods as well as identifying any correlation between the two methods. Materials and Methods: Five hundred male and female respondents; aged 10-19 years; were randomly selected through a multistage sampling technique from private and public schools in Ife Central Local Government Area. Quantitative data were collected with the aid of a pre-tested; semi-structured; self-administered questionnaire. Anthropometric measurements of respondents; BMI and WHR; were recorded. Chi square and linear regression analyses were used. Statistical significance was tested at the 5 level. Results: The prevalence of obesity was 4.2 using BMI of which 12 (57.1) were females and nine (42.9) were males. There was significant association between sex and BMI; ?2 = 9.490 ( P = 0.020). Using WHR; the prevalence was 37.2 of which 180 (96.8) were females and six (3.2) were males. There was also significant association between sex and WHR ( P 0.001). Weak correlation ( r

Barrier contraception among adolescents and young adults in a tertiary institution in Southwestern Nigeria: a cross-sectional descriptive study.

Nigeria, like most African nations, is basically conservative, but the young people are becoming more sexually liberated, and the incidence of STD/HIV, unwanted pregnancies and abortions among these young people is on the increase. The use of barrier contraception (BC), which is a cost-effective method of preventing STD/HIV, unwanted pregnancies and its attending complications, has therefore become an important issue in reproductive health. This descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out among first year students of Osun State University, Nigeria. Four hundred respondents were studied using pre-tested semi-structured questionnaires. The respondents were selected by balloting. Most respondents (93%) had heard about the male condom as a method of barrier contraception. Most respondents (79.1%) supported the use of barrier contraceptives, but many (62.5%) thought it would promote sexual promiscuity, 33.4% believed that the use of barrier contraception reflected a lack of trust from the partner, and 38.7% felt barrier contraception is not necessary with a stable partner. One hundred and sixty one (40.5%) had used a form of barrier contraception before, but only 130 (32.7%) are currently using BC. The male condom was the most commonly used method (88.2%), followed by female condom and diaphragm (5.6% respectively). The prevention of STI and unwanted pregnancies were the main reasons (59%) given by respondents for using BC, while religion was the main reason given by non-users. The attitudes of these students toward barrier contraception and their practice were poor. The role of sex education at homes and religious gatherings cannot be over-emphasized.

Spousal communication, changes in partner attitude, and contraceptive use among the yorubas of southwest Nigeria.

OBJECTIVE: This paper highlights the relevance of spousal communication on males' attitude towards their partners' contraceptive use. DESIGN: This was a cross-sectional study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data for the study were obtained from a survey carried out in three states, Oyo, Osun, and Ondo, mainly inhabited by the Yorubas. RESULTS: The results show that men have a significant role to play in the adoption of contraception. About 37% of the respondents reported joint decision making on when to have another child, 40.8% on whether to stop having children, and 44% on what to do to stop childbearing. Communication between a husband and wife on reproductive matters was also recognized as a factor that may influence male participation in family planning. CONCLUSION: This study has shown that the male partner may be highly motivated to obtain contraceptives. The results therefore suggest that male involvement in family planning should be encouraged through inter-spousal communication.

Oral health and the elderly in Nigeria: a case for oral health promotion.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence of problems associated with chewing and the relationship with body mass index, the self-reported rating of oral health and normative oral hygiene assessment among the elderly. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a descriptive community based study carried out in three locations in Ife-Ijesa zone (south western Nigeria). Elderly persons of 55 years and above were recruited through the religious organisations. All elderly who volunteered were assisted in completing a questionnaire on their socio-demographic status, chewing ability, any quadrant associated with problems and self-rating of oral health. An oral examination under a natural daylight using sterile wooden spatulae and an upright chair was carried out. The Oral Hygiene Index of Greene and Vermillion [Journal of the American Dental Association (1964) 61, p. 172] was used to determine the oral hygiene status. RESULTS: The lower right quadrant had the highest frequency of complaint on difficulty with chewing (15.6%), and 44.1% of the subjects had problems with chewing. Twenty-nine per cent rated their oral health as poor or very poor. There was a statistically significant association between the rating of oral health and the presence of calculus (p = 0.022). This was also true for oral hygiene and having any problem with chewing (p = 0.001). The self-rating of oral health was not in agreement with that of the normative finding. CONCLUSION: Health promotion focusing on the oral health of the elderly is a significant requirement for the study population. Proper evaluation of the effectiveness of traditional dentifrices must be carried out and interventions designed to address the possibility of improper usage.

Unavailability of essential obstetric care services in a local government area of south-west Nigeria.

This paper reports the findings at baseline in a multi-phase project that aimed at reducing maternal mortality in a local government area (LGA) of South-West Nigeria. The objectives were to determine the availability of essential obstetric care (EOC) services in the LGA and to assess the quality of existing services. The first phase of this interventional study, which is the focus of this paper, consisted of a baseline health facility and needs assessment survey using instruments adapted from the United Nations guidelines. Twenty-one of 26 health facilities surveyed were public facilities, and five were privately owned. None of the facilities met the criteria for a basic EOC facility, while only one private facility met the criteria for a comprehensive EOC facility. Three facilities employed a nurse and/or a midwife, while unskilled health attendants manned 46% of the facilities. No health worker in the LGA had ever been trained in lifesaving skills. There was a widespread lack of basic EOC equipment and supplies. The study concluded that there were major deficiencies in the supply side of obstetric care services in the LGA, and EOC was almost non-existent. This result has implications for interventions for the reduction of maternal mortality in the LGA and in Nigeria.

The role of men in family planning decision-making in rural and urban Nigeria.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the role of men in family planning decision-making in both rural and urban areas of Nigeria. METHODS: A total number of 370 married men (244 rural and 126 urban) were interviewed using a pre-tested, semi-structured interviewer based questionnaire. The study was conducted in the Iwaro community in Atakumosa West Local Government area (rural men) and the Oranfe Community in Ife East Local government area (urban men), both in Osun State, South West Nigeria. RESULTS: The results showed a high level of awareness of family planning among both study groups (98.3% rural and 98.4% urban). Most men in both groups believe that a decision about family planning should be made jointly by the spouses instead of being the prerogative of either. This contrasts with the generally held belief that men are opposed to family planning and a take predominant role in contraceptive decision-making. The condom was the most commonly known and used method with a preponderance among urban (81.1%) over rural men (69.4%). Many men would use family planning if their wives demanded it. However, most respondents in both study groups believed that men should not accompany their wives to the family planning centre to obtain contraceptive supplies and advice. CONCLUSION: Deciding about contraception should be done jointly by men and women in South West Nigeria.