Sexual violations among married women in southeastern Nigeria

Objective

To investigate domestic sexual violations in southeastern Nigeria and the opinions of married women regarding sexual rights for women.

Method

Married women attending gynecologic clinics at 3 major hospitals in Enugu, Nigeria, completed a structured questionnaire.

Results

A culture of male dominance seemed to be the leading cause for the following high rates: husband's total monopoly on decisions regarding sex, 54.1%; inability to refuse the husband's demands for sex, 60.7%; sex-related verbal abuse, 39.3%; sex-related physical violence, 16.2%; and forced sex, 19.1%. Women with a university education and unemployed women reported sexual violations more frequently than did others. Most respondents supported sexual rights for women.

Conclusion

Married women in southeastern Nigeria still are denied sexual rights, apparently owing to a culture of male dominance. A higher education alone may not lead to the advent of sexual rights for women, and a greater emphasis should be placed on societal reorientation.     

Recreational water quality control in Mississippi, USA: bacteriological assessment in the Pearl River and Ross Barnett reservoir

We assessed the bacteriological water quality in the Pearl River and Ross Barnett reservoir, a major source of public raw water for the city of Jackson, Mississippi, USA and an important site for recreational activities for local residents and visitors. Infectious diseases caused by pathogenic bacteria are the most common and widespread health risks associated with such water contact activities as bathing, canoeing, and swimming in recreational waters. Water samples collected twice monthly from April 2004 to April 2005 from five different sites of the Pearl river/Ross Barnett reservoir were tested for heterotrophic bacteria, total coliforms, fecal coliforms, and enterococci using membrane filtration technique. Physicochemical parameters (temperature, pH, turbidity, dissolved oxygen, conductivity) were also analyzed using standard methods. The respective mean concentrations of bacteria in water samples were 8.9 x 10(4) +/- 7.4 x 10(4) colony forming units (CFU) 100 mL(-1), 3.0 x 10(3) +/- 4.1 x 10(3) CFU 100 mL(-1), 2.3 x 10(2) +/- 5.4 x 10(2) CFU 100 mL(-1), and 2.3 x 10(2) +/- 4.8 x 10(2) CFU 100 mL(-1) for heterotrophic bacteria, total coliforms, enterococci, and fecal coliforms. The mean values of the physical and chemical parameters were at acceptable levels. Bacterial densities, however, significantly exceeded federal/state guidelines, raising public health concerns. Hence, control strategies should be developed and implemented to prevent further bacterial contamination of Pearl River-Ross Barnett reservoir water resource system.     

Antibiotics threats on vegetables and the perils of low income nations practices

Loose control on antibiotics usage, improper waste disposal, the use of reclaimed water in crop production, and other poor practices can enhance the antibiotic contamination of soil, water and the environment. These then threaten food safety and human health. Highly susceptible crops such as vegetables easily accumulate antibiotics and can be a viable route for the spread of antibiotics resistant bacteria and the induction of antibiotics resistant genes. This paper discusses common usages and negative impacts of antibiotics, and the extent of their contamination in various environmental components viz-a-viz their impact on vegetables. Peculiar challenges and practices related to low income nations (LINs) as well as their consequential effects are also discussed. Areas of future research that needs attention in LINs are succinctly presented. This review therefore will serve as tool to increase the awareness of consumers, food producers, environmentalists and policy makers on the impact of antibiotics and inadequate practices on vegetable production.     

Effect of community-based nutritional counseling intervention on children's eating habits

Aim:This study aimed to assess the outcome of community-based nutritional counseling interventions on eating habits of rural-dwelling children.Methods:A group-randomized trial design was used in this study. A total of 108 rural-dwelling children from a community in the Enugu North agricultural zone, Enugu State, who participated in the study. The children were randomly assigned to 2 groups: the treatment group (n = 54) and the no-treatment control group (n = 54). The child eating behavior questionnaire was used for data collection. Parents of the participating children within each study group completed the child eating behavior questionnaire at 3 time points. The data collected were analyzed using an independent sample t test at a probability level of .05.Result:The outcome of the study showed that the children''s eating habits in the treatment group improved positively following the community-based nutritional counseling intervention. The positive gain from exposure to the community-based nutritional counseling intervention program was sustained during follow-up for children in the treatment group compared with the no-treatment group.Conclusion:The community-based nutrition counseling intervention carried out among children in rural communities had a positive adjustment in children''s eating habits. The intervention requires the constant collaboration of professional childhood educators, caregivers, home economists, school staff, healthcare specialists, families, and the children themselves. Furthermore, there is a need for future long-term evaluations of the effects of community-based nutritional counseling interventions on children''s nutrition and eating habits.     

Non-uptake of colposcopy in a resource-poor setting

Objective

To determine the rate of acceptance/refusal of colposcopy and the reasons for refusal by women referred for the procedure in southeast Nigeria.

Methods

An audit was performed of the computerized database for all women referred for colposcopy at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, from August 1, 2009, to July 31, 2010. The characteristics of those who accepted colposcopy were compared with those who refused the procedure. An interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to assess reasons for refusal and the subsequent treatment chosen.

Results

During the study period, 154 women were referred for colposcopy: 103 (66.9%) accepted and 51 (33.1%) refused. Those who refused were younger and tended to be nulliparous (P = 0.029 and P = 0.004, respectively). The most common reasons for refusal were fears of possible diagnosis of cervical cancer and compromise of future fertility. Most women who refused resorted to spiritual healing.

Conclusion

The rate of refusal of colposcopy in southeast Nigeria was high, indicating an urgent need for appropriate remedial measures instituted through intensive education of women regarding cervical cancer and its prevention. Targeted counseling should be initiated early as part of prescreening counseling.     

Denial of pain relief during labor to parturients in southeast Nigeria

Objective

To evaluate the experiences of parturients with regard to pain relief during labor in Enugu, Nigeria.

Methods

Women attending the prenatal clinics of 3 maternity care centers were interviewed via pre-tested interviewer-administered questionnaires between August 2010 and January 2011. Both open and closed questions were asked to evaluate the opinions and experiences of the respondents with regard to labor analgesia in previous pregnancies.

Results

Overall, 34.1% of respondents were aware of their right to labor pain relief. Only 33.5% of maternal requests for labor pain relief were granted. Women who did not request labor analgesia indicated ignorance and fear of labor caregivers as their major reasons.

Conclusion

Most women in southeast Nigeria are unaware of their right to pain relief in labor. Ignorance and fear of unfavorable reactions from labor caregivers are hindering women from requesting labor analgesia. There is a need to address the issue of refusal of maternal requests for labor pain relief because it constitutes a violation of the fundamental right of the parturient and an unnecessary breach of medical ethics.     

Oculopalpebral Dimensions of Adult Nigerians: Report from the Enugu Normative Ocular Anthropometry Study

Objective

To determine the normal oculopalpebral anthropometric measurements of a Nigerian adult population. Subjects and

Subjects and Methods

A population-based prospective observational random survey was conducted in Enugu, South-Eastern Nigeria between January and April 2010. The participants were healthy adults comprising 248 males and 252 females aged 18–76 years. One thousand eyes were examined. Demographic data, and bilateral direct manual millimetre measurements of the horizontal palpebral fissure (HPF), vertical palpebral fissure (VPF), upper lid crease (ULC), brow height (BH), and margin reflex distance (MRD) were obtained from all participants. Data were categorised by demographic variables and analysed to yield frequencies, percentages and proportions. Between-gender comparisons, using the independent t test, were considered significant at p < 0.05.

Results

The mean age of the participants was 36.5 ± 14.6 years. There was no significant difference between the genders in mean age (men: 37.3 ± 15.7 vs. women: 35.8 ± 13.3, p = 0.2302). The mean values of the parameters were (male, female) HPF: 32.8 ± 2.0 vs. 32.6 ± 3.0; VPF: 10.6 ± 1.2 vs. 10.6 ± 1.2; ULC: 8.2 ± 2.5 vs. 7.9 ± 2.2; BH: 13.1 ± 2.4 vs. 13.6 ± 2.7; and MRD: 4.1 ± 0.5 vs. 4.2 ± 0.8. Significant between-gender difference was observed only in BH measurements (p = 0.029) and variable trends with age.

Conclusion

Oculopalpebral measurements of normal adult Nigerians in Enugu showed variations by age and gender. This may have implications for clinical evaluation and surgical management of oculopalpebral disorders in adult South-Eastern Nigerians. Future longitudinal studies are needed.Key Words: Oculopalpebral, Anthropometric dimensions, Adults, Nigeria     

Incidence and Spread of Mycobacterium tuberculosis-associated Infection among Aba Federal Prison Inmates in Nigeria

The study was undertaken to determine transmission of Mycobacterium tuberculosis within the prison environment. In total, 168 Aba Federal prison inmates in Nigeria were evaluated for tuberculosis (TB) by sputum-smear microscopy and sputum culture, simultaneously, and for HIV status by serology. They were subsequently followed up for one year for fresh Mycobacterium-associated infection by tuberculin skin testing or for development of TB and for HIV infection or AIDS. Ninety-one (54.2%) of the 168 prison inmates had infection due to Mycobacterium, and three (3.3%) of them were sputum-smear- and culture-positive while 41 (24.4%), including one (2.4%) with concomitant TB, were HIV-infected. In a one-year follow-up study, 11 (19.3%) of 57 tuberculin skin test (TST)- and HIV-negative inmates became TST-positive and one (1.8%) HIV-positive, eight (13.8%) of the 58 TST-positive but HIV-negative inmates developed TB, and one (1.7%) became HIV-infected: six (24.0%) of 25 TST- and HIV-positive inmates developed TB while five (33.3%) of 15 TST-negative but HIV-positive inmates became TST-positive, and one (6.7%) progressed to AIDS. The duration of imprisonment did not influence the rates of infection, and the transmission of Mycobacterium tuberculosis did not necessarily require sharing a cell with a TB case.Key words: HIV, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Prisoners, Tuberculosis, Tuberculin skin test, Nigeria