African Journal of Gender and Women Studies

African Journal of Gender and Women Studies ISSN 2516-9831 Vol. 3 (6), pp. 186-188, June, 2018. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

A study of the prevalence of malaria in pregnant women living in a suburb of Lagos, Nigeria

¹Rotimi E. Bolaji, ²Duke Clem, ³Goergeand O. E and ⁴Adesuwa P. S*

¹Department of Biological Science, University of Ibadan, Oyo, Nigeria.

²Department of Microbiology, College of Sciences, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria.

³Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Kwara, Nigeria.

⁴Tropical Disease Research Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry, University of Calabar, Cross River, Nigeria.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected].

Accepted 20 October, 2014

Abstract

Maternal mortality is twice in pregnant women with malaria. This study was intended at assessing the occurrence of malaria among pregnant women living in Lagos Nigeria, which is distinguished by unstable transmission of malaria. 50 pregnant women attending the antenatal Maternity clinic were enlisted for this study. This study was carried out for 5 months (period of high malaria transmission). The result showed that malaria infection was rampant during pregnancy. A total of 26 (52%) of the pregnant women were positive to and showed symptoms of malaria while 24 (48%) were negative and showed no symptoms of malaria. Primigravidae were more susceptible to the parasite especially Plasmodium falciparum with mean parasite density of 2112.50 ± 420.90 (parasite/ l) than the multigravidas with parasite density 446.70 ± 296.90 (parasite/ l). The results showed the prevalence of malaria infection especially P. falciparum infection in pregnant women living in the area and that the younger women were more at risk. although transmission is unstable but high as a result of topography, attitude, rainfall, poor drainage system and high human-vector contact to mention a few. Malaria should therefore be recognized as a global main concern in health care.

Key words: Malaria, pregnancy, occurrence, disease, parasite.

African Journal of Gender and Women Studies ISSN 2516-9831 Vol. 3 (6), pp. 202-210, June, 2018. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Attitude and practice of pregnant women to use of insecticide treated nets in South-West Nigeria

Runsewe-Abiodun¹, Iyabo T¹ and Runsewe Olugbenga O²

¹Department of Paediatrics, Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, Sagamu, Ogun State, SW Nigeria.

²Lagos Island Maternity Hospital, Lagos State, Nigeria.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected]

Accepted 25 June, 2013

Abstract

Malaria remains the leading health problem in Sub-Saharan Africa. Pregnant women are the main adult group at risk of significant morbidity and mortality from this disease. A three pronged approach was advocated for its control amongst pregnant women, one of which was use of ITN as it has been found to offer protection against the morbidity arising from malaria in pregnancy. This study sets out to determine the attitude and practice of pregnant women in this area to this important protective tool. Semi-closed ended questionnaires were administered on pregnant women attending antenatal clinics at first contact over a period of three months. The questions were on their attitude and practice to bed nets in general and Insecticide Treated Nets (ITNs) in particular. Over ninety percent of the study population had one form of mosquito-net at home. However, bed net possession in the study population was 16.9% and 14.8% for Insecticide treated nets. Only 10.4% of those who had ITNs slept on them the night before. Giving it free was the main reason that could compel the respondents to use ITNs. More than two-thirds (66.1%) of them were however willing to buy the ITNs at an unspecified cost. Lack of access to information, non-availability, frequent power outages and hot weather were identified as reasons for non-possession and use of ITNs among the women. While education, marital status and awareness have significant relationship with attitude (p value=0.000), only awareness and marital status have significant relationship with practice. It is suggested that government should step up its efforts at improving the awareness of the benefits of ITNs use and make it more available and affordable for the populace. Subsidized cost as opposed to outright free distribution accompanied by participatory approach is likely to ensure sustainability of the process and likelihood that the nets will be retained and effectively used in the community. Early and regular use of ITNs in pregnancy should be a part of the Health education in the antenatal and infant welfare clinics.

Key words: Attitude, practice, insecticide treated nets, pregnant women, malaria in pregnancy.

African Journal of Gender and Women Studies ISSN 2516-9831 Vol. 3 (6), pp. 189-193, June, 2018. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Urinary tract disease prevalence amongst pregnant women in South-eastern Nigeria

K.I Mojubola¹, Okonji L. E²* and Clement S. Ajayi³

¹Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, University of Port-Harcourt, Rivers state, Nigeria.

²Department of Environmental Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria.

³Department of Epidemiology, Medical Statistics and Environmental Health, Faculty of Public Health, College of

Medicine, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, P.O.Box 3340, Nigeria.

* Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected].

Accepted 15 October, 2014

Abstract

This study is based on the prevalence of Urinary Tract Disease (UTIs) amongst pregnant women in Nigeria attending antenatal clinics at hospitals. Factors that predispose an individual to UTI. Listing, description and recognition of bacteria from urine samples. A total of 100 mid-stream urine (MSU) Specimen were collected and cultured for the presence of bacterial pathogens, 54 showed significant bacterial growths while 46 showed no significant bacterial growth. Bacterial agents were isolated from 54 pregnant women and were identified as: Escherichia coli;Klebsiella spp., Proteus mirabilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus andStaphylococcus epidermidis. Escherichia coli [20(37%)] was the commonest offending bacterial pathogen isolated. Other bacterial pathogens incriminated in this study were Klebsiella spp. [11(20.4%)], Proteus mirabilis [9(16.7%)], Pseudomonas aeruginosa [7(13%)], Staphylococcus aureus [4(7.4%)] and Staphylococcus epidermidis [3(5.6%)]. The study shows a high occurrence of UTIs (54%) despite the fact that most of the pregnant women showed no clinical symptom.

Key words: Pathogens, antibiotics sensitivity, bacteria, urine, urinary tract disease.

African Journal of Gender and Women Studies ISSN 2516-9831 Vol. 3 (5), pp. 164-167, May, 2018. © International Scholars Journals

Review

Problems in approach and application of available tools for analysis to the study of man

*Gordon Pine, Steve Warren, Hannah Morgan Hoffs and Eric Thompson

Department of Anthropology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California.

E-mail: [email protected]

Accepted 28 February, 2013

Abstract

It is difficult to define perspective within sets that are self belonging. For example in the study of mankind, anthropology, both men and their studies fall into the same category that contains the topic out-line. This situation entails a universal quality of uniqueness, an instance of it, to the topic of anthropology that may be viewed in parallel with the topic of nature as the set of unique particulars. Yet one might assent to the notion in the inclusive study of man, anthropology, that nothing in its’ content should conceivably be construed to exceed it, though in approaches to the topic, reference to the topic of nature, unavoided, refer to the scientific topic of nature in which contemporary notions, when contrasted, exceed the perceptual experience of nature. In this presentation problems in approaches and in the application of available tools for analysis to the study of man will be discussed. Framed with respect to a concept of parallelism, notions and stimuli are introduced to augment and reorient towards a more creative perspective with respect to the organization of first perspective considera-tions in studies. The theories of relativity, the idea of mathematical relations for simultaneous events, the presence of artifactual paradoxes as they are reflected in thinking and the scientific tools applied towards investigations are discussed and hopefully highlighted so that they may hopefully be perceived distinctly form realities involved in the pursuit of studies.

Key words: Logical positivism, theory of relativity, universals and constants, parallelism, mechanization

African Journal of Gender and Women Studies ISSN 2516-9831 Vol. 3 (5), pp. 168-175, May, 2018. © International Scholars Journals

Review

Factors hindering the education of the girl child

James Orengo Mutunga

Department of Gender and Development Studies, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Kahawa, Nairobi County, Kenya. E-mail: [email protected]

Accepted 28 January, 2013

Abstract

This research attempted to find out the factors militating against the education of girls in Lower Eastern Province, Kenya. The main purpose of the research was to establish the magnitude of the effects of the factors that are known to militate against the education of girls. The investigation employed both qualitative and quantitative methods of research. A Survey design was used in the research. The study employed open and closed ended questionnaires administered to all the participants. The results derived from the research were analysed using descriptive statistics. The open responses were subjected to content analysis. The significant results of this research have shown that girls have low educational and occupational aspirations and that the greatest hindrance to their educational advancement is alleged to be pregnancy, followed by peer pressure, lack of school fees, lack of parental guidance and counselling, drug addiction and intimate boys/girls relationships. The study recommends that there is need to carry out awareness campaigns to sensitise all stakeholders on the importance of education, especially of the girl child. It is important to create well-maintained single gender boarding schools. Girls should be targeted in terms of bursary and sponsorship.

Key words: Girl, factors, effects, education.