Abdulgafar Jimoh

Utilisation of Antenatal Services at the Provincial Hospital, Mongomo, Guinea Equatoria

This prospective study was carried out to evaluate the utilisation of antenatal care at the Provincial Specialist Hospital, Mongomo, Guinea Equatoria, paying close attention to the confounding factors affecting effective antenatal care (ANC) delivery. Information was elicited from 200 pregnant women attending the antenatal clinic using a questionnaire. Previous antenatal clinic attendance was high (92.5%). However, with increasing gestation, the percentage of those who never had antenatal care increased. Poor ANC attendance is associated with more abortions and poor obstetric performance. Higher levels of education generally improved ANC attendance, particularly early booking for ANC. Hospital workers, husbands and parents were the greatest influence on ANC attendance. Universal education of the women, improved health education, community involvement and integration of traditional birth attendants (TBAs) are significant suggestions made by the patients for improving the delivery of antenatal care.

Behavioral pattern of menopausal Nigeria women

Context : Menopause is one area that has been shrouded in myths and taboos and the way women perceive menopause depends largely on the social belief about menopause in their society. Objective : The aims of this study are to assess how women perceived the physical changes during menopause, what the social as well as the individual adjustment practice to menopausal changes might be. Materials and Methods : Qualitative focal group study among women aged 40 years and above where eight to ten volunteers formed a group. Six sessions were held for different focal group, each lasting 1-2 h. A tape recorder and a notepad were used to record the discussions. Opinions of the women were sought on socio-cultural differences in the perception of aging, perception of menstruation, perceived causes and consequences of menopause, sexual intercourse after menopause, social support networks for menopausal women, and types of care and treatment for women in menopause. Results: The participants in the FGDs used various phrases to describe menopause in local term; while some of the participants attributed disease to be a cause of menopause, others believed that it be could be caused by witchcraft or sorcery. However, younger and old women whose menstrual flow stops prematurely seek assistance, often from traditional or spiritual healers. Conclusion: This study reveals the poor menopausal knowledge among the study group with more than half of the respondents having negative attitude towards menopause in addition to mixed feelings about religious obligation and cohabitation.

Pattern of sexually transmitted infections in human immunodeficiency virus positive women attending antenatal clinics in north-central Nigeria

Background: Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are prevalent during pregnancy and may have adverse sequalae in both mother and fetus. Interactions between these infections and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) synergize and may cause adverse pregnancy outcomes and reverse the gains of prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV. Objectives: The objective of this study is to determine the prevalence of candidiasis, trichomoniasis, gonococcal infection, syphilis, and bacterial vaginosis in HIV pregnant women and compare with HIV negative controls. Materials and Methods: A case-control study was conducted during the period from April to December 2010 at the Department of Obstetrics/Gynecology of University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital and three Primary Health Centers in Ilorin. A total of 160 HIV positive pregnant women attending antenatal clinics were recruited, along with the same number of HIV negative matched controls. A structured proforma was used to collect information from patients, vaginal examination was performed and samples were taken from the endocervix and the posterior vaginal fornix with swab sticks. Results: STIs were recovered from 142 women, giving overall prevalence of 44.4%. HIV infected women had a higher prevalence (60%) compared to uninfected (28.8%). The most prevalent STI was vaginal candidiasis (29.1%), followed by bacterial vaginosis (9.7%), and trichomoniasis (5.6%). The prevalence of candidiasis, bacterial vaginosis, and trichomoniasis was higher among HIV positive pregnant women compared to HIV negative controls ( P Conclusion: The prevalence of candidiasis, bacterial vaginosis and trichomoniasis was higher in HIV infected pregnant women compared to uninfected. Routine screening of HIV infected pregnant women for these organisms is advocated.

Metabolic syndrome in urban city of North-Western Nigeria: prevalence and determinants.

Introduction The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of metabolic syndrome in Sokoto metropolis of North-Western Nigeria. Methods A cross-sectional community based study was carried out. Four hundred and ten subjects (201 males and 209 females) were recruited for the study using a multi-stage sampling technique. Demographic and the life style data was obtained from the participants. Evaluation of anthropometric variables, fasting blood sugar, lipid profiles, insulin resistance and blood pressure was performed. The classification of metabolic syndrome was based on the NCEP ATP III guidelines. Results The mean (SD) age of the sample population was 39.6 (14.4) years. The mean (SD) age of the male subjects was 38.4(14.9) years and that of the females was 40.8(13.9) years (p> 0.05). The overall prevalence of metabolic syndrome was 35.1% with the females having 42.83% and the males 27.36%. The frequencies of metabolic syndrome parameters in the study subjects were low HDL (56.1%), hypertension (46.1%), dysglycemia (32.7%), central obesity (28%), and elevated triglycerides (22.4%). Most of the women had low HDL (62.2%) and central obesity elevated (49.8%). Conclusion Metabolic syndrome is common in residents of North-Western Nigeria, commoner in the females than males. Risk factors for metabolic syndrome should be detected in normal individuals for implementing effective preventive measures.

Menopause perception and care of menopausal women in Nigeria

This article reviews the response of the Arterial Blood Pressure to resistance exercise. Several researchers have adopted several procedures to establish the effects of exercise on reduction of the arterial blood pressure. It is well documented that resistance exercises have attenuating effects on high blood pressure and improve cardiovascular health. However, the exercise protocol, age, fitness level and intensity and consistency determine the effect on blood pressure. Variant in exercise protocols by different authors have made recommendation of a particular dose for a particular result impossible. However, all the studies reviewed proved that resistance exercise have positive effect on the Blood Pressure and also promote cardiovascular health of all categories of people by reducing the risk of heart diseases.Assessment is a vital component of schooling. There is always the need to examine the extent to which stated objectives are achieved. The popular tools for assessment in the school system are tests and examinations. It is therefore pertinent that they are valid for use. Valid tests/examinations yield dependable information and hence rational and appropriate decision making. To enhance the validity of tests/examinations, regular and appropriate validation procedures are necessary. This paper has therefore provided a simplified framework for the validation of tests/examinations; which should be useful to young researchers, examination bodies and test constructors/users. An in-depth review of related literature on the concepts of validity and validation procedures was done. The implications of the expressed views in the literature were presented. The conceptual framework for the validation of examinations was represented using a diagram.This expository paper examines the role of educational media in promoting Information Communication Technology in Nigerian Universities. It takes a critical look at some empirical studies on students’ academic performance after utilizing educational media. The paper also discusses trends in educational media and factors to be considered in promoting effective utilization of educational media in Universities. It recommends that in order to achieve effective educational media utilization, planning, designing and creation of media equipment should be given adequate consideration for quality assurance in media production and utilization.