Awareness and use of modern contraceptives among physically challenged in-school adolescents in Osun State, Nigeria.

This study assessed awareness and use of modern contraceptives among physically challenged in-school adolescents in Osun State, Nigeria. A cross-sectional study was carried out among 215 adolescents in the special schools in the state. A pretested semi-structured questionnaire was administered by trained interviewers. Data analysis was done using SPSS 17 and statistical level of significance was set at p < 0.05. The mean age of the respondents was 15.5 years and more than half of them (56%) were males. Only about two fifths of them (38%) had ever heard about modern contraceptives. More males, older adolescents and visually impaired respondents had significantly heard about modern contraceptives compared with females, younger ones and those with other challenges at p-values of 0.026, 0.001 and 0.003 respectively. Only 34% of sexually experienced respondents had used a modern contraceptive method. The male condom was the most commonly used method.

Factors associated with the desire for companionship during labor in a Nigerian community.

OBJECTIVE: To determine preferences for companionship during labor and to identify associated factors. METHODS: The present prospective cross-sectional survey was conducted at a university teaching hospital in Nigeria between September 1, 2011, and February 28, 2012. Participants included women who underwent the first stage of labor and delivery at the facility, male partners, and healthcare workers from the maternity unit. Data were collected using a pretested questionnaire. RESULTS: There were 226 parturients, 158 male partners, and 69 healthcare workers included in the final analysis; in all, 50 (22.1%) parturients and 37 (23.4%) male partners approved of companionship during labor, whereas 62 (90%) healthcare workers supported it. Among those who approved, a parturient's male partner was stated to be the preferred companion by 33 (66%) parturients, 32 (86%) male partners, and 58 (94%) healthcare workers. The perception of conduciveness of the labor ward for companionship was associated with approving of companionship among both the parturients (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 2.74) and male partners (aOR 15.79). Previous home delivery (aOR 31.43) and companionship during a previous delivery (aOR 23.00) were also associated with approval. CONCLUSION: Most couples had negative attitudes toward companionship during labor. Intensive education programs and restructuring of facilities could enable Nigerian labor wards to improve the delivery experience for both parturients and their male partners.

Clustering of behavioural risk factors for non-communicable diseases (NCDs) among rural-based adolescents in south-west Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) have become the leading cause of deaths globally and the key associated risk factors - alcohol abuse, physical inactivity, cigarette smoking and poor dietary patterns - are often initiated in adolescence. Co-existence of these risk factors further increase the risk for NCDs. Yet, very little is known about the pattern of co-occurrence of behavioural risk factors for NCDs among Nigerian adolescents, especially those in rural areas. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and determinants of clustering patterns of behavioural risk factors for NCDs among in-school adolescents in rural areas of Osun State, Nigeria. METHODS: This cross-sectional study involved 476 adolescents recruited through multi-stage sampling across Osun State. Data were collected through a facilitated self-administered questionnaire with questions adapted from the Global School-Based Health Survey (GSHS) instrument. Data were analysed using Stata, with binary logistic regression used to identify determinants. RESULTS: The mean age of the respondents was 14.7±2.0 years and females constituted 50.2% of them. Among the respondents, 36.1% had reported consuming alcoholic drinks but no one met the criteria for harmful alcohol use, while 8.8% had ever smoked cigarettes and only one respondent (0.2%) was a current smoker. The prevalence of poor diet (89.5%) and physical inactivity (85.9%) was, however, high. Poor diet and physical inactivity co-occurred in 369 (77.5%) respondents, while one respondent (0.2%) had three risk factors (poor diet, physical inactivity and current smoking). Being in a senior secondary school class (odds ratio, OR=1.6; 95% confidence interval, C.I.=1.04-2.39) and living with parents (OR=0.53; 0.33-0.90) were significantly associated with clustering of NCD behavioural risk factors. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of clustering of modifiable risk factors for NCDs was high among rural-based in-school adolescents in south-west Nigeria, and there is a need to mount effective interventions. Findings from this study have the potential to inform effective school-based NCD control programmes.

A population based study on the prevalence of cigarette smoking and smokers' characteristics at osogbo, Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: Cigarette smoking has been linked to several cancers worldwide. The characteristics of smokers have not been well documented among Nigerians. OBJECTIVE: This study assessed the prevalence and characteristics of cigarette smokers among the residents of Osogbo, in southwestern Nigeria. METHOD: The study, a population based cross-sectional study of randomly selected consenting adult residents of Osogbo, was conducted in September of 2011. Data was collected using a semi-structured interviewer administered questionnaire on cigarette smoking. RESULTS: A total of 759 respondents were interviewed. Mean age was 42.1 ± 12.5 years. There were 364 (48%) males and 395 (52%) females. About 22% had ever smoked while 8.7% were current smokers, smoking an average of 22.9 ± 10.1 cigarettes per day. Males constituted the majority of current smokers. Most smokers (71%) were introduced to smoking by friends and ill health was the most often reported reason for quitting. CONCLUSION: Cigarette smoking is commonly practiced among males in the studied population and awareness creation and advocacy should be conducted throughout the city in order to inform current smokers about the hazards and cumulative effects inherent in smoking.

Complications of transverse distal penile island flap: urethroplasty of complex anterior urethral stricture.

PURPOSE: To report the complications of transverse distal penile island flap urethroplasty for urethral reconstruction in adult patients with long/multiple segments anterior urethral stricture. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This prospective study was carried out on 55 patients with complex anterior urethral stricture to study complications of transverse distal penile island flap urethroplasty in two teaching hospitals between June 2002 and December 2008. Pre-, intra- and postoperative information were collected on a pro forma to generate data, which was analyzed. RESULTS: The patient's mean age was 43.83 years (range, 19 to 73 years). The leading etiology of the stricture was urethral inflammation (76.4%) with the commonest complication being infection: wound infection in 9.1%, urosepsis in 3.6%, and epididymo-orchitis in 1.8% of the subjects. CONCLUSION: Transverse distal penile island flap urethroplasty has a remarkable outcome in treatment of a long/multiple segment urethral stricture with few manageable complications.