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Background: Antenatal care is an evidence based intervention that improves maternal and perinatal outcome. Assessment and re-assessment of its utilization by rural and urban women in Nigeria is necessary for planning healthcare programmes and interventions.Aim: This study aims to assess urban – rural differences in antenatal care services utilization among women in South-East Nigeria and factors that influence such.Methodology: This is a cross-sectional study carried out among women of reproductive age in Anambra State, South-East Nigeria. Participants were selected using multistage sampling technique. Data was collected using pre-tested, semi-structured questionnaires which were interviewer-administered. Data obtained was analyzed using SPSS version 17. Tests of significance were done using Chi square test and student T test at 95% confidence intervals.Results: Six hundred women were included in the study; 300 respectively, from urban and rural settings. The mean age of respondents was 33.9+2.7 years. The average month at booking was higher in the rural areas (5.2 months) when compared to the urban (4.4) months, with more respondents in the urban areas booking earlier (P=0.000). More respondents in the urban, 140 (50.8%), attended ANC up to 4 times when compared to their rural counterparts, 102(37.0%) (p= 0.000). Women in the urban areas were more likely to have deliveries supervised by skilled birth attendants (p= 0.000). The estimated cost of antenatal care was higher in the urban areas than the rural (p= 0.000). Satisfaction received from antenatal and delivery services was also higher in the urban settings (p= 0.000).Conclusion: Rural-urban differences exist in the utilization of antenatal care services, with a higher proportion of urban women utilizing these services.Increased health education of women, especially in the rural areas, is advocated.Key Words: Antenatal utilization, Rural, Urban, Women, Nigeria.

BACKGROUND Periodic medical checkup helps improve life expectancy. Traders are a major economically active population in south eastern Nigeria and are expected to benefit from periodic medical checkup. A good knowledge and understanding of the prevailing health knowledge, attitude and preventive health behaviour of these traders is essential for creating population-specific health programs. OBJECTIVES To determine the knowledge, attitude and practice of periodic medical checkup by traders in South east Nigeria, as well as the influence of age, gender and educational status on its practice in this group. METHODS: A questionnaire- based descriptive study carried out among traders in Nnewi, South east Nigeria, who were selected randomly between September and October 2010. A total of 323 traders responded, 252 males (78.0%) and 71(22.0%)females. Themeanagewas 31.9± 10 years and the ages ranged from15 to 65 years withmajority(49.2%) between 20-29 years. Majority (61.0%) had secondary school education and 1.2% had post secondary school education. About 74.9% were aware of periodic medical checkup; all females and 67.9% of males. Major source of information was through friends (61.2%), then mass media(18.2%). The commonest known type of medical checkup was general examination (60.7%), then blood pressure measurement (55.4%). About 63.8% feel everybody needs medical checkup. Most (85.5%) feel medical checkups can improve their work efficiency. Only 29.4% of males and 39.4% of females practice periodic medical checkup. Age, gender and educational status were found not to affect practice of periodic medical checkup significantly. CONCLUSION: This study revealed a high level of awareness of periodic medical checkup, but a very low level of practice among this group. Effort should be made by health agencies to educate traders on the various types of medical check up, their indications and benefits as well as its practice encouraged. Keywords: Periodic medical checkup, traders,Nigeria.

Cervical cancer is one of the commonest female cancers especially in developing countries. Efforts towards its prevention worldwide have focused on screening women at risk of disease using Pap smears and treating pre-cancerous lesions. A good knowledge and understanding of the level of practice of cervical cancer screening among female workers in south east Nigeria will help in creating population-specific healthcare programs and interventions aimed at improving women’s health. OBJECTIVES: To determine the perception and practice of cervical cancer screening among female workers in south east Nigeria as well as ascertain the influence of age, educational status and marital status on the practice of cervical cancer screening among this group. METHOD: A cross-sectional descriptive study carried out among female workers in Nnewi who were selected using multi-stage approach between December 2007 and January 2008. Tests of statistical significance were done using chi square test at 95% confidence interval. RESULTS A total of 172 females responded. The mean age was 29.7 ± 8.8 years and the ages ranged from 15 to 65 years. One hundred and twenty-three respondents (71.5%) knew about cervical cancer screening. Only 12 (9.8%) of the respondents who were aware of Pap smear had done the test, of which 9 (75.0%) had disease detected. There was no statistically significant association between educational level, age andmarital status respectively and the practice of cervical cancer screening. CONCLUSION: There is avery lowlevel of practice of cervical cancer screening in this group. Educational level, age and marital status were found not to affect the practice of cervical cancer screening. Key Words: Cervical cancer, workers, practice, Nigeria

No Abstract Available Afrimedic Journal 2011;2(1):36-38

Background: Cervical cancer is an important women's reproductive health problem, especially in developing countries. Efforts towards its prevention worldwide have focused on screening women at risk of disease using Pap smears and treating pre-cancerous lesions. A good knowledge and understanding of the level of awareness of cervical cancer and its screening among female workers in Nnewi will help in creating population-specific health programs. Objectives: This is to determine the awareness of cervical cancer screening among female workers in Nnewi as well as ascertain the influence of age, educational status and marital status on the awareness of cervical cancer screening among this group. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study carried out among female workers in Nnewi who were selected using multi-stage approach between December, 2007 and January, 2008. Results: A total of 172 females responded. The mean age was 29.7 ± 8.8 years and the ages ranged from 15 to 65 years. A total of 146 respondents (84.9%) were aware of cervical cancer. One hundred and twenty-three respondents (71.5%) knew about the Pap smear screening test. Educational level was found to significantly affect the awareness of cervical cancer and Pap smear screening test. Age and marital status were found not to affect awareness of cervical cancer and Pap smear screening test. Conclusion: There is relatively high level of awareness of cervical cancer and Pap smear test among this group. Educational status was found to significantly influence the level of awareness of cervical cancer and its screening. Key words: cervical cancer, knowledge, screening. Afrimedic Journal 2010; 1(1): 31-36

Background: Unsafe abortion continues to contribute significantly to maternal morbidity and mortality especially in developing countries. Adequate knowledge and correct use of Emergency Contraception (EC) will serve as a backup for regular contraception. This will help to reduce unwanted pregnancies and the consequent unsafe abortion. Objective: This was to determine the knowledge, attitude and use of EC by the females of reproductive age group in Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital (NAUTH), Nnewi. The findings will help in making recommendations on the use of EC. Methods: This was a cross-sectional survey, using self administered questionnaire among female workers and students in NAUTH, Nnewi aged 15-49 years. Result: A survey of 450 females of reproductive age in NAUTH Nnewi showed that the concept of Emergency Contraception (EC) was well known. The majority of the respondents 330 (73.3%) were aware of emergency contraception. However, only 120(26.7%) had used one form of emergency contraception or the other. Among the various methods of EC mentioned by the users, progesterone only pills (postinor) 60 (50.0%) and combined oral contraceptive pills 30 (25.0%) were the commonest types used by the respondents. Few respondents 25 (20.8%) had misused other form of agents and methods for EC. The respondents reported varying circumstances under which EC was indicated but the majority cited miscalculation of rhythm method, 107 (32.3%) and condom breakage during coitus 76 (22.7%). The most common source of information about EC was from friends, 128 (40.0%) while patent medicine store was the commonest source of procurement 60 (50.0%). Most, 180 (40.0%) of the respondents felt that EC should not be used mainly on religious grounds. Conclusion: The knowledge of EC was high among the females of reproductive age in NAUTH but the utilization was poor. Training and retraining of health workers and public health education in hospitals, schools and religious groups are necessary to develop a positive attitude and correct use of EC. Key words: perception, practice, emergency contraception Afrimedic Journal 2010; 1(2): 15-21

Background: There is widespread public and professional concern about the increasing proportion of births by caesarean section (c/s). Objectives: This study is to determine the c/s rate, the indications and the reasons for the high rate. Methods: The obstetric records of all caesarean deliveries that occurred at Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital (NAUTH), Nnewi, South-Eastern Nigeria, between 1st January, 1999 and 31st December, 2008 were reviewed retrospectively. Results: Of the 6,015 deliveries, 1,114 were by C/S giving an overall rate of 18.5%. Caesarian birth rose from approximately 1 in 7 deliveries in 1999 to 1 in 4 deliveries in 2008 and this was 2 statistically significant (x =20.75; df=1; p

Background: The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) pandemic remains a major public health issue in developing countries with the prevention of mother to child transmission (PMTCT) being a key challenge. Various reports have been published on the effect of HIV on pregnancy with conflicting results. Objective: This was to determine the effect of HIV infection on pregnancy outcome among women booked for antenatal care at Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital (NAUTH), Nnewi to provide a baseline for further studies. Methods: This is a retrospective study of cases of HIV in pregnancy managed between 1st January, 2006 and 31st December 2007, at NAUTH, Nnewi. Results: Out of a total of 2,960 pregnant women booked for ante-natal care within the study period and a seroprevalence rate of 10.5% was noted. Two hundred and fifty patients were included in the study. The majority, 170 (68%) of the patients were between 21-29 years and the majority also, 148 (59.2%) were of low parity (0-2). Only 181 (72.4%) of the patients had an entry CD4 count of = 500/ml. All the patients were on Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART) during the pregnancy. Maternal complications were encountered in 176 (70.4%) cases, anaemia being the commonest, 100 (40.0%). The commonest foetal complications were stillbirth, 26 (10.4%) and low birth weight 54 (21.6%). Sixty three (25.2%) of the women had puerperal complications. There was no maternal or perinatal death. Conclusion: The HIV sero-prevalence rate among pregnant women booked for antenatal care at NAUTH, Nnewi was high, but the effect of HIV on pregnancy was very minimal. Key words: pregnancy outcome, HIV sero-positive, booked women Afrimedic Journal 2010; 1(2): 28-33