Olusola Ayeni

The age of menarche in Nigerian girls

The median ages at menarche were obtained from a sample of 2029 urban and 328 rural Nigerian girls by the status quo method, and calculated by probits. The median age at menarche for the urban girls was 13-70 +/- 0-03 years whilst it was 14-50 +/- 0-09 years for the rural girls. There were significant differences in the median menarcheal ages of the girls according to the level of education and the occupation of the parents, and their geographical residence. The number of siblings and the birth rank of the girls did not influence the age of onset of menstruation. A secular trend towards earlier menarcheal age at a rate of 5 to 6 months per decade was observed amongst children of the professionally privileged group. The earliest menarche occurred amongst girls with university-educated fathers or mothers; in this group the median was 13-26 +/- 0-06 years, a value comparable with current European medians.

Sex ratio of live births in south-western Nigeria

Among European and North American whites, the proportion of males among live births is about 51.4%, while among negroes in the United States the figure is 50.7%. To test the correctness of the common assumption that the proportion among Africans is the same as that for negroes in the United States, records over seven years for Yorubas of south-western Nigeria have been examined. Among 548 558 hospital live births the male proportion was 51.37%, while vital registration records for one urban and one rural town showed a figure of 51.39% in 315 735 live births. Of the total 864 331 live births, the overall proportion was 51.4 +/- 0.05%, significantly higher than the 50.7% for American negroes.

The effects of sex, birthweight, birth order and maternal age on infant mortality in a Nigerian community

Corrected registration returns in a rural area of Nigeria show that the average infant mortality rate during one five year period was 88.2 per 1000 per annum. The rate was 89.4 per 1000 for females, which did not differ significantly from that of 87.0 per 1000 for males. There were significant variations in the rates by maternal age and by birth order. Forty-two per cent of the infant deaths were of low birth-weight, the mortality rate among this group being approximately six times as high as for those with greater weights.

New trends in under-five mortality determinants and their effects on child survival in Nigeria: A review of childhood mortality data from 1990-2008

Under-five mortality in Nigeria has been reported to be on the decline, but the dynamics are yet to receive adequate attention. Thus the main objective of this study was to assess these factors and quantify their relative contributions to under-five mortality between 1990 and 2008. The Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey data for 1990, 2003 and 2008 were re-analysed to assess the trends in determinants of under-fivemortality. Cox Regression model was applied to determine the relative contributions of each factor to the under-five mortality risk.The results showed there were improvements in maternal education (8.6%), childhood vaccination (17.7%), use of oral rehydration therapy (13.9%) and medical treatment of childhood illnesses (17.5%) over the 19-year period. There were declines in proportions with birth interval less than 24 months (3.9%), access to improved sources of drinking water (24.2%), improved toilet facilities (9.0%) antenatal care (4.5%), skilled delivery (3.0%) while maternal age at childbirth remained unchanged. These factors increased the death hazards by 4.6% between 1990-2003 but decreased them by 12% between 2003 and 2008. It was concluded that Nigeria has recorded very minimal improvements in birth spacing and antenatal/delivery care. Poor access to potable drinking water and sewage disposal, and short birth intervals, are among the factors fuelling childhood mortality risks. Further improvements in these environmental and health practices as well as other factors are recommended as strategies for promoting child survival in Nigeria.

Child survival dynamics in Nigeria: Is the 2006 child health policy target met?

Background: The childhood mortality rate in Nigeria continued to remain high. Unfortunately, information on the regional trajectories, progress, and sociodemographic determinants of childhood mortality in Nigeria are not readily available. The objectives of this study are to describe the childhood mortality trajectory in Nigeria, assess progress made toward achieving the 2006 child health policy targets, and determine the peculiar factors associated with childhood mortality in Nigeria regions. Materials and Methods: Birth history data from the Nigeria Demographic and Health Surveys for 1990, 2003, 2008 and 2013 were analysed. Childhood mortality levels were derived using indirect demographic techniques. Locally weighted scatterplot smoothing technique was employed to ascertain the childhood mortality trajectory. Weibull frailty models were fitted to determine the influence of unmeasured variables and factors associated with childhood death in each region. Results: Childhood mortality stagnated at 207/1000 live births until the year 2000, after which there was a linear decline to 137/1000 live births in 2010 at an annual rate of 4.91% (confidence interval: 4.52–5.29). The rate of decline was least in the South West (2.97%) and highest in the North Central (7.40%). Multivariate analysis revealed that unmeasured community factors played significant roles in North East and North West. Birth interval < 24 months, multiple births, and young maternal age were risk factors across all regions. Conclusions: Nigeria child survival dynamics differ between the Northern and Southern regions and rural and urban locations. Only the North Central and South-South regions are on course to achieve the 2006 targets for under-five mortality reduction. Multiple birth, short birth intervals, and young maternal age at childs birth were risk factors for childhood mortality in the six geo-political regions in Nigeria.

Onchocerciasis: The potential of patient education in the control of a tropical disease

Abstract Onchocerciasis control programmes have usually focused on vector control measures which involve large scale, expensive aerial spraying of breeding sites along major rivers. The commonly used treatment, diethylcarbamazine citrate, requires continuous treatment three or four times a year, giving onchocerciasis the profile of a chronic disease. This profile, plus the severe itching provoked by the drug, create compliance problems which a patient education approach at village level might solve. In this study an experimental group of 32 patients received free drugs in two 3-week treatment blocks along with group counseling, development of coping skills, social support and individual counseling as needed. The 28 control patients received only free drugs and an orientation on how to take these. The experimental group demonstrated consistently better appointment keeping and medication consumption. They also complained less during the initial week of each treatment block when drug side effects would normally be more noticeable. The results imply that onchocerciasis control programmes that include a treatment component should also include patient education interventions at the primary care level.

Trends and transition times in parity progression among women of reproductive age in Nigeria between 1998 and 2012

Context: This study assessed the trends and transition times in parity progression among women of reproductive age in Nigeria between 1998 and 2012. Data Source & Method: This is a descriptive, cross-sectional study which utilized data from the 2003, 2008 and 2013 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey. Data were analysed using Descriptive statistics, Brass P/F Ratio, Pandey and Suchrinder Parity Progression Method and Feeney and Yu Method of Period parity Progression. Findings: Our findings show that the proportion of women progressing to next parity was fairly equal for periods 1998-2002 and 2003-2007 with a slight decrease for period 2008-2012. There was a relatively consistent reduction in the speed of progression to high order parities from 1998 – 2012. Conclusion: In conclusion, not much progress has been made with respect to fertility reduction in the country. However, a reduction in the pace of progression to high order parities suggests Nigeria is experiencing a consistent but slow total fertility decline.

Regional variations in seasonality of births in Nigeria, 1990-2007: A trigonometric regression model approach

Background : Seasonality of births in Nigeria has been previously addressed in a small number of studies. This study was designed to explore and describe the regional variations in the seasonality of births in Nigeria. Data Source and Methods : A total of 82,827 births history data collected in the Nigerian Demographic Survey 2008 were analyzed. It covered periods between January 1990 and December 2007. Seasonal variation by month of birth was explored with the aid of correlogram. A classical time series trigonometric regression model was fitted to describe the pattern of seasonality. Findings : The reported monthly distribution for number of births showed a significant seasonal pattern with a peak in May and corresponding minima in November. Birth patterns differ across the regions, but in every region, births are concentrated in the first half of the year. Conclusion : Though, birth seasonality is more pronounced in the northern part of the country, there has been significant shift in the magnitude of variation in the 18 year period of study .