ISSN 2326-7291
Research Article
International Journal of Public Health and Epidemiology ISSN 2326-7291 Vol. 9 (3), pp. 001-005, March, 2020. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
A study of fertility intentions of women in Uyo, Nigeria
Umoh A. V1*, Abah G. M1 and Ekanem U. S2
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, Uyo, Nigeria.
2Department of Community Health, University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, Uyo, Nigeria.
Accepted 21 October, 2019
Abstract
Fertility desires are known to reflect subsequent fertility behaviour, therefore, understanding these desires therefore could help in planning strategies to modify fertility behaviour. We undertook the study to contribute useful information in planning future family planning strategies in our region. This was a questionnaire-based cross-sectional study among antenatal women in two health facilities in Uyo, Nigeria. Results show that the mean number of children desired was four. Majority of women (73.2%) desired a maximum of four children while 24.1% wanted 5 to 6 children. The number of children desired was significantly related to the patient’s education (P<0.001) and the husband’s education (P<0.001) and majority of women (94%) had discussed this with their husbands. The most common reasons given for the number of children desired were the number they can cater for (45.2%), husband’s desires (35.8%) and to protect the woman’s health (21.5%). Majority of respondents (66.7%) were aware of the previous government policy on the number of children to have and contraception (92.4%), but only 52.6% had ever used any form of contraception. In conclusion, women in Uyo are generally desirous of smaller family sizes. It is important to develop strategies to increase contraceptive uptake if these desires are to be achieved.
Keywords: Fertility, fertility intention, fertility desire, contraception, Nigeria.
Abah G. M and Ekanem U. S, Umoh A. V*
Page: 1 - 5
https://doi.org/10.46882/IJPHE/1194Research Article
International Journal of Public Health and Epidemiology ISSN 2326-7291 Vol. 9 (3), pp. 001-009, March, 2020. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Primary health care services in Nigeria: Critical issues and strategies for enhancing the use by the rural communities
Abdulraheem I. S.1*, Olapipo A. R.2 and Amodu M. O.3
1Department of Epidemiology and Community Health, College of Medicine, University of Ilorin. Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria.
2Department of Epidemiology and Community Health, University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria.
3Department of Community Medicine, College of Medical Sciences, University of Maiduguri, Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria.
Accepted 10 November, 2019
Abstract
Quality health is a fundamental right of all Nigerian citizens. While primary health care (PHC) centers are relatively uniformly distributed throughout local government areas (LGAs) in Nigeria, the rural people tend to underuse the basic health services. This article examines some cross cutting issues in PHC and outlines strategies to enhance the utilization of health services by rural people. The responsibility for perpetuating the existing low use of PHC services should be held by PHC policy makers and LGA. Responsible health personnel can build a new social order, based on greater equity and human dignity, in which health for all by the year 2015, including that of rural populations, will no more be a dream but a reality. Capacity building and empowerment of communities through orientation, mobilization and community organization as regards training, information sharing and continuous dialogue, could further enhance the utilization of PHC services by rural populations.
Key words: Healthcare, services, strategies, use, rural.
Abdulraheem I. S*, Olapipo A. R and Amodu M. O.
Page: 1 - 9
https://doi.org/10.46882/IJPHE/1193Research Article
International Journal of Public Health and Epidemiology ISSN 2326-7291 Vol. 9 (3), pp. 001-004, March, 2020. © International Scholars Journals
Review
The plight of Haitian refugees in the Dominican Republic: Physical/psychosocial consequences
AbdulKareem Al-Obaidi1,2 and Ghazwan Maqur, Ghazwan AlBadawi2
1Institute for International Education (IIE), NY, USA.
2AlMustansyria Medical College, Baghdad-Iraq.
Accepted 22 July, 2019
Abstract
Haitians are the largest minority living in Dominican Republic. These destitute people escaped the deprivations and disasters of their home country only to face other more tyrannical situations at asylums in the Dominican Republic. This manuscript focuses on the health consequences facing Haitians living on the north coast of the Dominican Republic. Their plight is a humanitarian crisis that requires the joint efforts of the international community and the local governments.
Key words: Haitians, Dominican Republic, asylum, health, humanitarian crisis.
AbdulKareem Al-Obaidi and Ghazwan Maqur, Ghazwan AlBadawi
Page: 1 - 4
https://doi.org/10.46882/IJPHE/1192Research Article
International Journal of Public Health and Epidemiology ISSN 2326-7291 Vol. 9 (3), pp. 001-006, March, 2020. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Uranium concentration in ground water samples belonging to some areas of Western Haryana, India using fission track registration technique
Sandeep Kansal1*, Rohit Mehra2 and N. P. Singh3
1Department of Physics, Giani Zail Singh College of Engineering and Technology, Bathinda-151001, India.
2Department of Physics, Dr. B. R. Ambedkar National Institute of Technology, Jalandhar-144001, India.
3Punjab Technical University, Jalandhar-144001, India.
Accepted 09 September, 2019
Abstract
Concentration of uranium was assessed in ground water samples taken from hand pumps at different areas from Bhiwani, Hisar, Fatehabad and Sirsa districts of Western Haryana, India. Fission track registration technique was used to estimate the uranium content in water samples. Uranium content in the water ranges from 6.37 µg/L (Sirsa) to 43.31 µg/L (Bhiwani) with an average value of 19.14 µg/L for the study area. Uranium concentration in all the studied samples were above the recommended value of 1.9 µg/L (ICRP, 1993) but most of the values were comparable to the safe limit of 15 µg/L (WHO, 2008). In only 15% of the samples, recorded values that were higher than the recommended level of 30 µg/L (USEPA, 2003). The results of the measurements could be of vital in radio-epidemiological assessment, diagnosis and prognosis of uranium induced diseases in the local population of the area under investigation.
Key words: Uranium, fission track, water, diagnosis.
Rohit Mehra and N. P. Singh, Sandeep Kansal*
Page: 1 - 6
https://doi.org/10.46882/IJPHE/1191Research Article
International Journal of Public Health and Epidemiology ISSN 2326-7291 Vol. 9 (3), pp. 001-007, March, 2020. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Antenatal care services in rural areas of Aligarh, India: A cross-sectional study
M. Athar Ansari* and Z. Khan
Department of Community Medicine, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, India.
Accepted 19 October, 2019
Abstract
The present study was carried out to find out the current status of antenatal care services. A cross-sectional study was carried out in rural areas of Aligarh taking WHO 30 cluster methodology. The required number of villages from each stratum was selected with probability proportional to size (PPS). There were 154 currently pregnant women (CPW) and 248 recently delivered women (RDW), of these, a majority of CPW (72.1%) and RDW (59.7%) did not have any ANC checkup. 65.1% of CPW and 40.0% of RDW had their first ANC checkup in the first trimester. Majority of CPW (53.9%) did not receive any TT vaccination. On the contrary, most of the RDW (73.0%) had two doses of TT vaccination. Similarly, large number of the CPW (75.3%) and 52.4% of RDW did not receive iron folic acid (IFA) tablets. In CPW, weight was measured only in 16.3% women. However, height was measured in 41.9%, B. P. was recorded in 46.5%, The same pattern was observed in RDW. Preferred place of delivery was home in CPW (64.9%) and RDW (81.4%) and mostly conducted by trained birth attendant (TBA). It is concluded that among the aspects ignored during antenatal period, patient education is of vast importance and even a low level of counseling can improve utilization of health services by mothers.
Key words: Currently pregnant women (CPW), recently delivered women (RDW), ANC checkup, trained birth attendant (TBA).
M. Athar Ansari*, Z. Khan
Page: 1 - 7
https://doi.org/10.46882/IJPHE/1188Research Article
International Journal of Public Health and Epidemiology ISSN 2326-7291 Vol. 9 (2), pp. 001-007, February, 2020. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Monitoring the influenza pandemic of 2009 in Thailand by a community-based survey
Chakrarat Pittayawonganon1*, Hathaikan Chootrakool2, Sopon Iamsirithaworn1, Pilaipan Puthavathana3, Sukhum Chaleysub2, Prasert Auewarakul4, Somkid Kongyu1, Kumnuan Ungchusak1 and Pasakorn Akarasewi1
1Department of Disease Control, Ministry of Public Health, Nonthaburi, Thailand.
2Suan Dusit Poll, Suan Dusit Rajabhat University, Bangkok, Thailand.
3Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
4National Science and Technology Development Agency, Ministry of Science and Technology, Bangkok, Thailand.
Accepted 22 November, 2019
Abstract
As an international traveling hub of South-East Asia, Thailand was one of the countries hardest and earliest hit by the influenza A (H1N1) 2009 pandemic. In order to understand the epidemic spread in the country, we conducted community-based surveys in metropolitan, urban, and rural areas using questionnaire interviews. We also determined sero-positive rates from randomly selected samples within the surveyed population. Recalled incidences of fever and acute respiratory symptoms in the survey correlated well with systematic reports of 2009 pandemic influenza cases from hospitals in the same areas, giving a ratio of total cases extrapolated from the surveyed data for persons who sought medical attention reported in the hospital-based surveillance system at 275:1. Conducting a large scale survey of the influenza outbreak is time consuming and also can be difficult to complete in a short time. Therefore, we used the survey for monitoring the outbreak of respiratory disease in the early pandemic phase. The seroprevalence rate was 8 to 10%, with higher rate for younger age groups, and suggests that sufficient herd immunity may have been reached in Thailand, especially in urban areas, while others may still be vulnerable to the second wave of the pandemic.
Key words: Pandemic, influenza, survey, Thailand.
Somkid Kongyu, Kumnuan Ungchusak and Pasakorn Akarasewi, Pilaipan Puthavathana, Prasert Auewarakul, Hathaikan Chootrakool, Sopon Iamsirithaworn, Sukhum Chaleysub, Chakrarat Pittayawonganon*
Page: 1 - 7
https://doi.org/10.46882/IJPHE/1186