Assessment of the knowledge, attitude and practice of voluntary non-remunerated blood donation among residents of Ekpoma, a peri-urban community in Edo State.

Background: The importance of use of blood and blood products in medical practice cannot be over emphasized. Voluntary non remunerated blood donation forms the basis for ensuring regular availability of safe blood during blood donation and transfusion. However, volunteer blood donors account for less than one-half of blood supply in developing countries. Methodology: To assess the knowledge, attitude and practice of voluntary blood donation by residents of a peri-urban community. A descriptive cross sectional study was carried out using a pre-tested semi-structured self-administered questionnaire among 422 respondents using the multistage sampling technique. The target population were residents of Ekpoma comprising the general public ­ workers, students of senior secondary schools and tertiary institutions. Variables were entered and analyzed using SPSS software package. The association between participants level of education and other socio-demographic factors was tested using chi square were appropriate. Results: The study involved 422 participants, majority of which were males (58.1%). A large proportion of them were between ages 16 and 26. The overall knowledge on blood donation was good, attitude towards voluntary donation was fair conversely practice was poor as 91.5% of respondents had never donated blood. A significant association was observed between sex and blood donation as only 2% of females have been donors. The commonest reason for not donating blood was fear to damage of health as reported in 40.7% of the participants. Conclusion: This study elicits the importance of adopting effective measures in our communities to motivate voluntary blood donation as majority of the participant express willingness in donating blood in the future. Health awareness campaign and motivational programmes should be organized regularly to arouse the interest of the general public in voluntary blood donation exercises.

Assessment of knowledge and sexual behaviour among undergraduates in a Nigerian tertiary institution.

Background and Introduction: The achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), particularly goals 5 and 6, is strongly underpinned by the progress that can be made on sexual and reproductive health education of young adults. The large population of young single adults in tertiary institutions in Nigeria and the present dearth of human resources for health necessitates that interventions for this group of individuals are tailored to meet identified gaps in awareness and sexual behaviour. This study sets out to assess the sexual behaviour and practice among single-undergraduates in a tertiary institution in Nigeria. Method: A descriptive cross sectional study was carried out among 410 consenting students selected through a multistage sampling method. Data was collected using a structured self- administered questionnaire and analysed using Statistical Package for Scientific Solutions (SPSS) version 16.0. Results: Mean age of respondents was 20 + 4.4 years, 228 (55.6%) were females and 182 (44.4%) males. The respondents' awareness of contraceptive devices was 81.7% (335) for condoms and less than 20% knew about other forms of contraception such as intrauterine device, tubal ligation and vasectomy. Over 65.7% (270) opined abstinence and use of condom to be the ideal methods for prevention of HIV/AIDS/ STI transmission. The overall mean age at first sexual contact was 14.0+1.4((14.2+1.6) in males and (13.8 +1.2) in females). A Very high proportion of sexually active respondents (93.6%) volunteered they do not routinely use condom in their sexual encounter. Undesired pregnancies occurred in about 11% of females. Recommendations: There is an urgent need for the establishment of specially designated youth friendly centres in the tertiary institutions in the country, manned with staff appropriately trained in the delivery of reproductive health information and services.

Awareness, ownership and utilization of insecticide treated nets in Abavo community of Delta State.

BACKGROUND: Despite free distribution of insecticide treated nets in Nigeria, the use it as a means of malaria prevention and control has not been fuIly embraced. AIM: The aim of this survey was to determine the level of awareness, ownership and utilization of insecticide treated nets among residents of Abavo community, Delta State Nigeria METHOD: It is a descriptive cross-sectional survey conducted among 250 heads of households. RESULT: One hundred and seventy five (70%) respondents were aware of insecticide treated net as a means of prevention against malaria, 111 (44%) claimed to own insecticide treated nets. On further inspection of houses of those who claimed to own ITNs, seventy four (66%) actually had theirs hanged, the rest were either in their packs or not seen. Ninety five (38%) respondents out of the total sleep under insecticide treated net. About 92 (70%) households having under-five and 39 (81.3%) of households having pregnant women claim to use ITNs. It was observed that the level of education (chi2 = 48.35, p = 0.001), presence of under 5 children in a household ?2 = 7.229, p = 0.027) influenced ownership of Insecticide treated nets. In conclusion despite a high level of awareness about ITN found in this survey, ownership and utilization of insecticide treated nets were low.

Seasonal distribution and abundance of tsetse flies (Glossina spp.) in the Faro and Deo Division of the Adamaoua Plateau in Cameroon.

Ten years after the large-scale tsetse control campaigns in the important cattle rearing areas of the Faro and Deo Division of the Adamaoua Plateau in Cameroon, the seasonal distribution and abundance of tsetse flies (Glossina spp.) were determined. During a period of 12 consecutive months (January-December 2005), the tsetse population was monitored along four trap transects consisting of a total of 32 traps and two flyround transects traversing the study area, which comprised the tsetse-infested valley, a buffer zone and the supposedly tsetse-free plateau. Throughout the study period, a total of 2195 Glossina morsitans submorsitans and 23 Glossina tachinoides were captured in the traps and 1007 G. m. submorsitans (78.8% male flies) were captured along the flyround transects. All G. tachinoides and almost all G. m. submorsitans were captured in the valley. Five G. m. submorsitans were captured in traps located in the buffer zone, whereas no flies were captured in traps located on the plateau. The index of apparent abundance (IAA) of G. m. submorsitans was substantially higher in the areas close to game reserves. In the remaining part of the valley, where wildlife is scarce and cattle are present during transhumance (dry season), the IAA of tsetse was substantially lower. In this part of the valley, the abundance of tsetse seemed to be associated with the presence of cattle, with the highest IAA during transhumance when cattle are present and the lowest apparent abundance during the rainy season when cattle have moved to the plateau. It is concluded that the distribution of tsetse in a large part of the valley undergoes substantial seasonal changes depending on the presence or absence of cattle. The repercussions of those findings for the control of tsetse in the valley and the probability of reinvasion of the plateau are discussed.