Background: This study was a response to the dearth of information on the timing of menarche in l... more Background: This study was a response to the dearth of information on the timing of menarche in low-income countries, and the need to update knowledge on the condition. It thereby enables the provision of adequate support to young girls during menarche. The study determined the timing and range of onset of menarche and identified the factors influencing the timing. Methods: We used data on girls' sexual and reproductive processes from a nationally representative population survey of girls aged 15e24 years in Nigeria. Descriptive statistics, and survival analysis techniques were used for data analysis at p ¼ 0$05. Finding: A quarter of the respondents (26%) had commenced menstruation by age 12. Almost all, (90%) had experienced menstruation by age 17. Girls aged 20e24 years reported later menarche (time ratio
ABSTRACT Prevalent early sexual initiation and unprotected sex involvement with various partners ... more ABSTRACT Prevalent early sexual initiation and unprotected sex involvement with various partners create dilemmas for adolescents and their parents. This article explores parents' involvement in their adolescents’ sexual and reproductive health, particularly with respect to terminating unintended pregnancies. This was done to gain an understanding of the dynamics of parental involvement in resolving anxieties concerning unintended pregnancy and the reasons for seeking induced abortions. The study used a mixed method approach, and 460 female students aged 13–20 years completed the self-administered questionnaire. Thirty-three parents who had an adolescent daughter in school and 31 female adolescents participated in eight different focus group discussion sessions, respectively. A quarter of the respondents had been pregnant at least once. All the females who had ever become pregnant had tried to terminate the pregnancy. Few (9 %) had used contraception at their last sexual intercourse. Twenty nine percent of the respondents had discussed sexual matters with their parents and 82 % preferred discussing such matters with their mothers. In the qualitative findings, some of the parents reported not having been involved in or supportive of terminating their daughter's pregnancy, but confirmed that some mothers had reasons to support induced abortions. Major reasons for mothers' involvement in their daughters' induced abortions were to avoid the social stigma, disruption of schooling and financial stress associated with unintended pregnancy. Resolving conflicting parental interests and values concerning adolescent sexuality and induced abortions is essential for promoting adolescent sexual health in Nigeria.
Paucity of data exists on the timing of puberty, particularly the pubarche, in developing countri... more Paucity of data exists on the timing of puberty, particularly the pubarche, in developing countries, which has hitherto limited the knowledge of the timing of pubarche, and assistance offered by physicians to anxious young people in Nigeria. Factors associated with the timings of puberty and pubarche are not well documented in Nigeria. We hypothesized that the timing of pubarche in Nigeria differs by geographical regions and other characteristics. We assessed the timing of pubarche among adolescents and young adults in Nigeria and identified prognostic factors of the timing by obtaining information on youths' sexual and reproductive developments in a population survey among in-school and out-of-school youths aged 15 to 24 years in Nigeria. A total of 1174 boys and 1004 girls provided valid information on pubarche. Results of time-to-event analysis of the data showed that mean age at pubarche among males aged 15 to 19 years and 20 to 24 years was 13.5 (SD = 1.63 years) and 14.2 (SD = 2.18 years) (respectively) compared with 13.0 (SD = 1.57 years) and 13.5 (SD = 2.06 years) among females of the same age. Median time to pubarche was 14 (Interquartile range (IQR) = 3) years and 13 (IQR = 3) years among the males and females, respectively. Cumulatively, 37% of the males had attained pubarche by age 13 years versus 53% among females, 57% vs 72% at age 14, and 73% vs 81% at age 15. The likelihood of pubarche among males was delayed by 5% compared with females (Time Ratio (TR) = 1.05: 95% CI = 1.03-1.05). Every additional one-year in the ages of both males and females increases the risk of pubarche by 1%. Similar to the females, males residents in
Prior studies have assessed economic/instrumental dimensions of women's empowerment relative to i... more Prior studies have assessed economic/instrumental dimensions of women's empowerment relative to its agency dimensions. This study assessed ever-married women's participation in the labor market as a form of agency for empowerment and household decision-making in Nigeria. The study utilizes secondary data from three national surveys of Nigeria's 2003, 2008, and 2013 Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) to assess the differences and relationship between indices and the status of women's labor market participation and their empowerment or household decision-making over an 11-year period. Explanatory variables adopted were age group, religion, employment status, educational level, household wealth index, and region. Binomial logistic regression was used to predict the proxy variables of women's empowerment from the explanatory variables. Findings showed that women's access to paid employment, educational status, and the household wealth index improved their participation in household decision-making. However, the single factor that consistently increased the likelihood of an ever-married woman to be involved in all forms of household decision-making from 2008 to 2013 was household wealth. Also, religion affected the ability of ever-married women to participate in household decision-making. The ability of Muslim women to participate in all forms of decision-making decreased from 2008 to 2013. The study concluded that the factors that enhance household wealth will enhance married women's ability to be involved in household decision-making. Education of women is, however, a significant contribution to enhancing the balance of inequity between men and women in household decision-making. The attenuating effect of Islam on this prospect needs further investigation and interventions for married women living in Northern Nigeria.
This article examines the socioeconomic inequalities in the use of antenatal care and medical ass... more This article examines the socioeconomic inequalities in the use of antenatal care and medical assistance at delivery in Nigeria, using the multi-rounds of the cross-sectional Nigerian Demographic Health Survey conducted between 1990 and 2008. The analyses include only women aged 15 to 49 with at least one live birth in the past 3 years preceding the surveys date. The socioeconomic indicators selected were household wealth index and women's level of education. The results indicate that the use of antenatal care has stagnated while medical assistance at delivery has increased sluggishly in Nigeria during 1990 to 2008. Stark socioeconomic differences in utilization of antenatal care and medical assistance at delivery services exist with growing inequalities in utilization across household wealth and women's level of education. Despite existing maternal health promotion initiatives in the country, the use of antenatal care and medical assistance at delivery is disproportionately lower among the poor and uneducated women.
In this paper, we explore identity construction and gender involvement of Nigerian undergraduates... more In this paper, we explore identity construction and gender involvement of Nigerian undergraduates in online social networks. This paper presents the qualitative findings on identity construction and gender involvement of Nigerian undergraduates in online social networks. This was with a view to investigating the reasons for the increasing participation of young people in online social networks. The study examines their views on what constitutes an identity and the rationale for adopting a particular identity in online social networks. Qualitative data were collected through four focus Group Discussions and twenty in-depth interviews (IDI) among undergraduate students from two universities in Southwest Nigeria. The findings reveal identity construction in online social interactions as a frequent occurrence and an extension of real life. Trust in online relationships develops overtime depending on frequency and nature of interactions. However, gender influences young people's online activities, as more females than males tend to construct their online social identities using photographs in particular with symbolic interpretations. In addition, there are perceived risks of involvement, especially those relating to privacy in online social networks. Hence, the findings call for diverse interrogations of the contexts and dimensions of involvement in online social networks among youths and how such interactions could influence further positive outcomes.
Background To determine the association between malnutrition and early childhood caries (ECC) in ... more Background To determine the association between malnutrition and early childhood caries (ECC) in preschool children resident in suburban , Nigeria. Methods This is a secondary analysis of a cross sectional study with data generated through a household setting. Variables (sex, frequency of sugar consumption, maternal knowledge of oral hygiene, oral hygiene status) associated with ECC in a primary study conducted in the Ile-Ife, Nigeria, were adjusted for using Poisson regression analysis. Results Of the 370 preschool children, 20 (5.4%) were underweight, 20 (5.4%) were overweight, 67 (18.1%) were wasting, and 120 (32.4%) were stunted. Factors associated positively or negatively with ECC were stunted, underweight, overweight and fair oral hygiene. The prevalence of ECC was lower in children who were stunted (APR: 0.16), almost seven times higher in children who were overweight (APR: 6.88), and predictively absent in children who were underweight (APR: 0) when compared with children who had normal weight. Non-significant risk indicators for ECC included consuming sugar between meals three times a day or more (APR: 2.18), having low socioeconomic status (APR: 2.4) and being female (APR: 2.9).
Background: Oral hygiene practices can be linked to personal hygiene practices, including access ... more Background: Oral hygiene practices can be linked to personal hygiene practices, including access to water and other sanitation facilities. The objective of the study was to determine if there is an association between oral hygiene practices and water and sanitation hygiene (WASH) practices among street-involved young people (SIYP). Methods: A cross-sectional study involving SIYP age 10-24 years in two states in Nigeria recruited through respondentdriven sampling was conducted in December 2018. Interviewer-administered questionnaires were used to collect data on water access, sanitation, personal and oral hygiene. The instruments used for collecting the data were standardized tools for measuring the phenomena studied. The association between knowledge and practice of oral hygiene; oral hygiene and water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), and indicators of good oral hygiene were determined using binary logistic regression guided by two models. Results: A total of 845 study participants were recruited. The proportion of SIYP with good knowledge of oral hygiene was low (31.2%), and fewer had good oral hygiene practice (8.9%). There were signi cant associations between knowledge and practice of tooth cleaning, use of uoride-containing toothpaste, dental ossing, consumption of sugar between meals, and frequency of dental checkups (p<0.001 respectively). Respondents with good water collection and storage (AOR: 2.01; 95% CI: 1.24-3.24; P=0.005) and those residing in Lagos (AOR: 2.85; 95% CI: 1.61-5.06; P=0.001) had a higher likelihood of having good oral hygiene. Conclusion: Good oral hygiene practices of SIYP in Nigeria is associated with access to water collection and storage. WASH programs can have an impact on health through improved oral hygiene practices.
Background: Young people aged 10-24 years constitute about onethird of the total population of Ni... more Background: Young people aged 10-24 years constitute about onethird of the total population of Nigeria. Street-involved young people (SIYP) face a double burden of living condition instability and lack of adequate parental monitoring. This leaves them vulnerable to poor sexual and reproductive health (SRH) choices and behaviour. Risky sexual behaviour with poor access to SRH information and interventions increases their vulnerability to adverse SRH outcomes. This study explored the use of modern contraceptives and sexual practices among male and female SIYP (10-24 years) in Nigeria. Methods: This qualitative study used an exploratory research design to guide the development of the focus group discussion (FGD) and indepth interview (IDI) guides. Participants were asked questions on background information, lived experiences and SRH practices. The FGDs were stratified by sex and age. Both FGD discussions and IDI interviews were recoded; transcripts were transcribed and translated from local dialect into English language. Content analysis was conducted thematically with the aid of NVivo. Results: In total, 17 IDIs and 11 FGDs were conducted among SIYP aged 10-24 years. The total number of respondents interviewed was 109. There is high awareness of modern contraceptives among SIYP; the commonly known method was condom with a few also aware of emergency contraceptives pills. However, participants reported low use of modern contraceptives. The common reasons alluded for not using condoms were reduced sexual pleasure, cost and associated myths. The five themes that emerged under sexual practices of SIYP Open Peer Review Reviewer Status AWAITING PEER REVIEW Any reports and responses or comments on the article can be found at the end of the article.
Background: To determine the relationship between country level prevalence of interpersonal viole... more Background: To determine the relationship between country level prevalence of interpersonal violence (IPV) and the prevalence of early childhood caries (ECC) in children aged 3-5-year-olds. Method: This was an ecological study using extracted IPV (physical, sexual and emotional) and ECC data for 3-5-year-olds in 20 low-and middleincome countries for the period 2007-2017. Linear regression analysis was used to assess the relationship between the percentage of 3-5-year-old children with ECC (outcome variable) and the four IPV indicators (physical, sexual, emotional and a combination of the three). The model was adjusted for the country's Gross National Income GNI. Partial eta squared (as measure of effect size), regression coe cients, con dence intervals and p values were calculated. Results: The strongest association was between ECC prevalence and exposure to physical violence (partial eta squared= 0.01), followed by exposure to sexual violence (partial eta squared= 0.005), and exposure to all types of IPV combined (partial eta squared= 0.001). Exposure to emotional violence had the weakest association with ECC (partial eta squared < 0.0001). For 1% higher percentage of women reporting exposure to physical violence and percentage of women reporting all types of IPV combined, there was a 0.18% higher prevalence of ECC. For 1% higher prevalence of sexual violence, there was 0.22% higher ECC prevalence. For 1% higher prevalence of emotional violence, there was 0.04% higher ECC prevalence. Conclusions: Countries with high prevalence of IPV will likely also have high prevalence of ECC. This needs further studies. Background Intimate partner physical, emotional and sexual violence (IPV) is a recognized threat to the health and rights of women globally [1, 2]. Global estimates indicated that about 30% of women have a history of IPV with this being highest in central (65.6%) and western (41.8%) sub-Saharan Africa, and South Asia (41.7%) [3]. It is de ned as the abuse that takes place between a couple who are either married or living together and may or may not have a child [4]. IPV not only has impact on maternal health and welfare [5], it also has a negative impact on the nutritional status of children of mothers affected by IPV who are more likely to be stunted [6-12]. This may be due to the negative impact on the mental health of affected women [13] with implications for poor nutritional care [14-16] and increased risk for stunting [6-8, 9, 10, 12]; and medical care access problems for children [12, 17-19]. Though several studies have established the negative association between maternal mental health and increased risk for ECC [20-24], there is very little known about the association between IPV and ECC. Lorber et al [25] studied children's exposure to domestic violence and the risk for ECC, and found no signi cant relationship between IPV and ECC though a positive trend was observed. However, in households where women were aggressive towards men, the risk for ECC was higher due to high exposure to cariogenic diets [26]. The social cognitive theory may explain the relationship between IPV and ECC. The theory recognizes that an individual's behavior, cognition, and environment reciprocally and dynamically in uence one another [27]. Key social environmental and personal factors play roles in determining an individual's engagement in health promoting and disease preventing behaviors [28]. Self-e cacy is a central cognitive construct in the social cognitive theory that may predict and explain health behaviors and outcomes [29-31]. Thus, a person's belief or con dence in their ability to perform certain actions in uences the decisions to perform these actions [32], including tooth brushing [33], which is a signi cant risk factor for poor oral hygiene and ECC [34]. IPV undermines self-e cacy of affected individuals [35, 36] who are mostly women [37] serving as caretakers for children [38]. IPV can therefore compromise the ability of women to care for children who are completely dependent on them for daily oral hygiene and accessing professional oral health care services. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between country level prevalence of IPV and the prevalence of ECC in children aged 3-5year-olds in countries where data on IPV and ECC are available. We conducted country-speci c analysis in view of the evidence suggesting differences in the relationship between IPV and ECC [39]. Methods This ecological study was based on IPV data extracted from the domestic violence module of the Demographic Health Survey, a nationally representative household survey that collects information on population-based indicators of health and nutrition in low-and middle-income countries (LMICs). The module includes questions on types and experiences of violence (physical, sexual and emotional) mostly perpetrated by the current or most recent husband/ partner [40]. The present study also used data on ECC collected by El Tantawi et al [42]. Data for both IPV and ECC were available in only 20 LMICs between 2007 and 2017. Early childhood caries: Early childhood caries is identi ed in children < 72 months of age with one or more decayed (cavitated and non-cavitated), missing due to decay or lled primary tooth surfaces [42]. The data on ECC prevalence were extracted from World Health Organization Country Oral Health Profile database and studies published and indexed in MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science and Google Scholar covering the period 2007 to
Background: To achieve the Sustainable Development Goal 3, which is to ensure healthy lives and p... more Background: To achieve the Sustainable Development Goal 3, which is to ensure healthy lives and promote wellbeing for all persons of all ages, street-involved young people (SIYP) must be assured of universal access to sexual and reproductive healthcare. This study aims to determine the factors associated with age-and sex-specific differences in the sexual and reproductive health (SRH) behaviour of SIYP in southwest Nigeria. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study that recruited 1505 SIYP aged 10-24 years by use of respondent-driven and time-location sampling. Data were collected through interviewer-administered questionnaires on socioeconomic characteristics; access to SRH information; contraceptive knowledge and use; sexual behavior; and sexual practice. The outcome variables were inconsistent condom use, multiple sexual partners, and transactional sex. Binomial regression analysis models were developed to determine risk indicators for outcome variables. Results: Although 968 (64.3%) participants were sexually active and 1089 (72.4%) knew about modern contraception, only 300 (31.0%) sexually active respondents used modern contraceptives. Knowledge of modern contraception (AOR: 0.11; 95% C.I: 0.01-0.82, p = 0.03) and being employed (AOR: 0.38; 95% C.I: 0.15-0.95, p = 0.04) reduced the odds for inconsistent condom use among male SIYPs. For female SIYPs, knowledge of modern contraception reduced the odds for inconsistent condom use (AOR: 0.26; 95% C.I: 0.08-0.90, p = 0.03), whereas access to SRH information significantly increased the odds for inconsistent condom use (AOR: 5.06; 95% C.I: 1.67-15.37, p = 0.004). Conclusion: Age-and sex-related factors associated with risky sexual behaviors vary among SIYP. Addressing these differences in the delivery of targeted interventions to reduce sexual health risk of SIYP may be required.
Paucity of data exists on the timing of puberty, particularly the pubarche, in developing countri... more Paucity of data exists on the timing of puberty, particularly the pubarche, in developing countries, which has hitherto limited the knowledge of the timing of pubarche, and assistance offered by physicians to anxious young people in Nigeria. Factors associated with the timings of puberty and pubarche are not well documented in Nigeria. We hypothesized that the timing of pubarche in Nigeria differs by geographical regions and other characteristics. We assessed the timing of pubarche among adolescents and young adults in Nigeria and identified prognostic factors of the timing by obtaining information on youths’ sexual and reproductive developments in a population survey among in-school and out-of-school youths aged 15 to 24 years in Nigeria. A total of 1174 boys and 1004 girls provided valid information on pubarche. Results of time-to-event analysis of the data showed that mean age at pubarche among males aged 15 to 19 years and 20 to 24 years was 13.5 (SD = 1.63 years) and 14.2 (SD =...
The study aimed at determining the effectiveness of rape prevention education facilitated by a po... more The study aimed at determining the effectiveness of rape prevention education facilitated by a police officer and/or a school nurse at reducing rape myths acceptance, improving rape victim empathy, and reducing rape risk behaviors among school adolescents. Quasi-experimental design with repeated measures was used and it was conducted among 228 adolescents in three public high schools in Ile-Ife, Nigeria. The adolescents were grouped into: Control Group; Nurse Facilitated Group; and Nurse-Police Facilitated Group. Rape Discourse Education (RaDE) was conducted for the Nurse Facilitated Group and the Nurse-Police Facilitated Group and data collection was in four waves. Findings showed significant effect on rape myths acceptance (ηp2 = 0.12) more than on other outcome variables and the effect was observed up to a six-month follow-up. Implication for rape prevention education in the school setting is documented.
Aims: Studies have linked individual factors such as education and household variables including ... more Aims: Studies have linked individual factors such as education and household variables including wealth index as predictors of fertility behaviour. This study aims to examine the effect of socioeconomic characteristics on fertility behaviour when combined as a single proxy among women of reproductive ages in Nigeria. Methods: Data for this study was extracted from the Nigeria Demographic and Health Surveys (NDHS) of 2003, 2008, and 2013. The explanatory variable, "socioeconomic status", was derived as a composite index from the combination of individual and household variables. The outcome variable "fertility behaviour" is measured by total children ever born (CEB). Pearson chi-square test was used to determine the association among variables. Ordinal logistic regression was used to assess the effect of the explanatory variable on the outcome variable. Level of significance was determined at 5% and 95% confidence interval. The analysis was carried out using Stata 14.0. Results: There is a statistically significant but inverse association between socioeconomic status and reported CEB. If women were to change their socioeconomic status from low to high, the CEB would reduce by-0.502 (p<.001) and by-1.038 (p<.000). This pattern remained consistent in the adjusted model and across all surveys. Conclusion: The study concludes that women's socioeconomic status significantly predicts fertility behaviour. An improved socioeconomic status would reduce reported CEB. Efforts to reduce fertility in Nigeria must embrace a multi-dimensional approach that creates opportunities aimed at promoting women's economic status.
Prior studies have assessed economic/instrumental dimensions of women's empowerment relative to i... more Prior studies have assessed economic/instrumental dimensions of women's empowerment relative to its agency dimensions. This study assessed ever-married women's participation in the labor market as a form of agency for empowerment and household decision-making in Nigeria. The study utilizes secondary data from three national surveys of Nigeria's 2003, 2008, and 2013 Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) to assess the differences and relationship between indices and the status of women's labor market participation and their empowerment or household decision-making over an 11-year period. Explanatory variables adopted were age group, religion, employment status, educational level, household wealth index, and region. Binomial logistic regression was used to predict the proxy variables of women's empowerment from the explanatory variables. Findings showed that women's access to paid employment, educational status, and the household wealth index improved their participation in household decision-making. However, the single factor that consistently increased the likelihood of an ever-married woman to be involved in all forms of household decision-making from 2008 to 2013 was household wealth. Also, religion affected the ability of ever-married women to participate in household decision-making. The ability of Muslim women to participate in all forms of decision-making decreased from 2008 to 2013. The study concluded that the factors that enhance household wealth will enhance married women's ability to be involved in household decision-making. Education of women is, however, a significant contribution to enhancing the balance of inequity between men and women in household decision-making. The attenuating effect of Islam on this prospect needs further investigation and interventions for married women living in Northern Nigeria.
Objectives This study determined the correlates of unwanted pregnancy and induced abortion among ... more Objectives This study determined the correlates of unwanted pregnancy and induced abortion among sexually active female street-involved adolescents (SIAs) aged 10–19 years in two urban cities in South-west, Nigeria. Methods The data for this study were extracted from a larger mixed-method survey dataset on the sexual and reproductive health (SRH) of 1505 street-involved young people aged 10 to 24 years. For the quantitative data, the explanatory variables were age, history of school attendance, employment status, religion, living arrangement and city of residence. The study outcomes were a history of pregnancy and a history of induced abortion of last pregnancy. Binomial regression analysis was performed to determine the association between the explanatory and outcome variables. For the qualitative data generated through focus group discussions and in-depth-interviews, inductive and deductive approaches were used in conducting a thematic analysis to explore the perspectives and expe...
Background: This study was a response to the dearth of information on the timing of menarche in l... more Background: This study was a response to the dearth of information on the timing of menarche in low-income countries, and the need to update knowledge on the condition. It thereby enables the provision of adequate support to young girls during menarche. The study determined the timing and range of onset of menarche and identified the factors influencing the timing. Methods: We used data on girls' sexual and reproductive processes from a nationally representative population survey of girls aged 15e24 years in Nigeria. Descriptive statistics, and survival analysis techniques were used for data analysis at p ¼ 0$05. Finding: A quarter of the respondents (26%) had commenced menstruation by age 12. Almost all, (90%) had experienced menstruation by age 17. Girls aged 20e24 years reported later menarche (time ratio
ABSTRACT Prevalent early sexual initiation and unprotected sex involvement with various partners ... more ABSTRACT Prevalent early sexual initiation and unprotected sex involvement with various partners create dilemmas for adolescents and their parents. This article explores parents&#39; involvement in their adolescents’ sexual and reproductive health, particularly with respect to terminating unintended pregnancies. This was done to gain an understanding of the dynamics of parental involvement in resolving anxieties concerning unintended pregnancy and the reasons for seeking induced abortions. The study used a mixed method approach, and 460 female students aged 13–20 years completed the self-administered questionnaire. Thirty-three parents who had an adolescent daughter in school and 31 female adolescents participated in eight different focus group discussion sessions, respectively. A quarter of the respondents had been pregnant at least once. All the females who had ever become pregnant had tried to terminate the pregnancy. Few (9 %) had used contraception at their last sexual intercourse. Twenty nine percent of the respondents had discussed sexual matters with their parents and 82 % preferred discussing such matters with their mothers. In the qualitative findings, some of the parents reported not having been involved in or supportive of terminating their daughter&#39;s pregnancy, but confirmed that some mothers had reasons to support induced abortions. Major reasons for mothers&#39; involvement in their daughters&#39; induced abortions were to avoid the social stigma, disruption of schooling and financial stress associated with unintended pregnancy. Resolving conflicting parental interests and values concerning adolescent sexuality and induced abortions is essential for promoting adolescent sexual health in Nigeria.
Paucity of data exists on the timing of puberty, particularly the pubarche, in developing countri... more Paucity of data exists on the timing of puberty, particularly the pubarche, in developing countries, which has hitherto limited the knowledge of the timing of pubarche, and assistance offered by physicians to anxious young people in Nigeria. Factors associated with the timings of puberty and pubarche are not well documented in Nigeria. We hypothesized that the timing of pubarche in Nigeria differs by geographical regions and other characteristics. We assessed the timing of pubarche among adolescents and young adults in Nigeria and identified prognostic factors of the timing by obtaining information on youths' sexual and reproductive developments in a population survey among in-school and out-of-school youths aged 15 to 24 years in Nigeria. A total of 1174 boys and 1004 girls provided valid information on pubarche. Results of time-to-event analysis of the data showed that mean age at pubarche among males aged 15 to 19 years and 20 to 24 years was 13.5 (SD = 1.63 years) and 14.2 (SD = 2.18 years) (respectively) compared with 13.0 (SD = 1.57 years) and 13.5 (SD = 2.06 years) among females of the same age. Median time to pubarche was 14 (Interquartile range (IQR) = 3) years and 13 (IQR = 3) years among the males and females, respectively. Cumulatively, 37% of the males had attained pubarche by age 13 years versus 53% among females, 57% vs 72% at age 14, and 73% vs 81% at age 15. The likelihood of pubarche among males was delayed by 5% compared with females (Time Ratio (TR) = 1.05: 95% CI = 1.03-1.05). Every additional one-year in the ages of both males and females increases the risk of pubarche by 1%. Similar to the females, males residents in
Prior studies have assessed economic/instrumental dimensions of women's empowerment relative to i... more Prior studies have assessed economic/instrumental dimensions of women's empowerment relative to its agency dimensions. This study assessed ever-married women's participation in the labor market as a form of agency for empowerment and household decision-making in Nigeria. The study utilizes secondary data from three national surveys of Nigeria's 2003, 2008, and 2013 Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) to assess the differences and relationship between indices and the status of women's labor market participation and their empowerment or household decision-making over an 11-year period. Explanatory variables adopted were age group, religion, employment status, educational level, household wealth index, and region. Binomial logistic regression was used to predict the proxy variables of women's empowerment from the explanatory variables. Findings showed that women's access to paid employment, educational status, and the household wealth index improved their participation in household decision-making. However, the single factor that consistently increased the likelihood of an ever-married woman to be involved in all forms of household decision-making from 2008 to 2013 was household wealth. Also, religion affected the ability of ever-married women to participate in household decision-making. The ability of Muslim women to participate in all forms of decision-making decreased from 2008 to 2013. The study concluded that the factors that enhance household wealth will enhance married women's ability to be involved in household decision-making. Education of women is, however, a significant contribution to enhancing the balance of inequity between men and women in household decision-making. The attenuating effect of Islam on this prospect needs further investigation and interventions for married women living in Northern Nigeria.
This article examines the socioeconomic inequalities in the use of antenatal care and medical ass... more This article examines the socioeconomic inequalities in the use of antenatal care and medical assistance at delivery in Nigeria, using the multi-rounds of the cross-sectional Nigerian Demographic Health Survey conducted between 1990 and 2008. The analyses include only women aged 15 to 49 with at least one live birth in the past 3 years preceding the surveys date. The socioeconomic indicators selected were household wealth index and women's level of education. The results indicate that the use of antenatal care has stagnated while medical assistance at delivery has increased sluggishly in Nigeria during 1990 to 2008. Stark socioeconomic differences in utilization of antenatal care and medical assistance at delivery services exist with growing inequalities in utilization across household wealth and women's level of education. Despite existing maternal health promotion initiatives in the country, the use of antenatal care and medical assistance at delivery is disproportionately lower among the poor and uneducated women.
In this paper, we explore identity construction and gender involvement of Nigerian undergraduates... more In this paper, we explore identity construction and gender involvement of Nigerian undergraduates in online social networks. This paper presents the qualitative findings on identity construction and gender involvement of Nigerian undergraduates in online social networks. This was with a view to investigating the reasons for the increasing participation of young people in online social networks. The study examines their views on what constitutes an identity and the rationale for adopting a particular identity in online social networks. Qualitative data were collected through four focus Group Discussions and twenty in-depth interviews (IDI) among undergraduate students from two universities in Southwest Nigeria. The findings reveal identity construction in online social interactions as a frequent occurrence and an extension of real life. Trust in online relationships develops overtime depending on frequency and nature of interactions. However, gender influences young people's online activities, as more females than males tend to construct their online social identities using photographs in particular with symbolic interpretations. In addition, there are perceived risks of involvement, especially those relating to privacy in online social networks. Hence, the findings call for diverse interrogations of the contexts and dimensions of involvement in online social networks among youths and how such interactions could influence further positive outcomes.
Background To determine the association between malnutrition and early childhood caries (ECC) in ... more Background To determine the association between malnutrition and early childhood caries (ECC) in preschool children resident in suburban , Nigeria. Methods This is a secondary analysis of a cross sectional study with data generated through a household setting. Variables (sex, frequency of sugar consumption, maternal knowledge of oral hygiene, oral hygiene status) associated with ECC in a primary study conducted in the Ile-Ife, Nigeria, were adjusted for using Poisson regression analysis. Results Of the 370 preschool children, 20 (5.4%) were underweight, 20 (5.4%) were overweight, 67 (18.1%) were wasting, and 120 (32.4%) were stunted. Factors associated positively or negatively with ECC were stunted, underweight, overweight and fair oral hygiene. The prevalence of ECC was lower in children who were stunted (APR: 0.16), almost seven times higher in children who were overweight (APR: 6.88), and predictively absent in children who were underweight (APR: 0) when compared with children who had normal weight. Non-significant risk indicators for ECC included consuming sugar between meals three times a day or more (APR: 2.18), having low socioeconomic status (APR: 2.4) and being female (APR: 2.9).
Background: Oral hygiene practices can be linked to personal hygiene practices, including access ... more Background: Oral hygiene practices can be linked to personal hygiene practices, including access to water and other sanitation facilities. The objective of the study was to determine if there is an association between oral hygiene practices and water and sanitation hygiene (WASH) practices among street-involved young people (SIYP). Methods: A cross-sectional study involving SIYP age 10-24 years in two states in Nigeria recruited through respondentdriven sampling was conducted in December 2018. Interviewer-administered questionnaires were used to collect data on water access, sanitation, personal and oral hygiene. The instruments used for collecting the data were standardized tools for measuring the phenomena studied. The association between knowledge and practice of oral hygiene; oral hygiene and water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), and indicators of good oral hygiene were determined using binary logistic regression guided by two models. Results: A total of 845 study participants were recruited. The proportion of SIYP with good knowledge of oral hygiene was low (31.2%), and fewer had good oral hygiene practice (8.9%). There were signi cant associations between knowledge and practice of tooth cleaning, use of uoride-containing toothpaste, dental ossing, consumption of sugar between meals, and frequency of dental checkups (p<0.001 respectively). Respondents with good water collection and storage (AOR: 2.01; 95% CI: 1.24-3.24; P=0.005) and those residing in Lagos (AOR: 2.85; 95% CI: 1.61-5.06; P=0.001) had a higher likelihood of having good oral hygiene. Conclusion: Good oral hygiene practices of SIYP in Nigeria is associated with access to water collection and storage. WASH programs can have an impact on health through improved oral hygiene practices.
Background: Young people aged 10-24 years constitute about onethird of the total population of Ni... more Background: Young people aged 10-24 years constitute about onethird of the total population of Nigeria. Street-involved young people (SIYP) face a double burden of living condition instability and lack of adequate parental monitoring. This leaves them vulnerable to poor sexual and reproductive health (SRH) choices and behaviour. Risky sexual behaviour with poor access to SRH information and interventions increases their vulnerability to adverse SRH outcomes. This study explored the use of modern contraceptives and sexual practices among male and female SIYP (10-24 years) in Nigeria. Methods: This qualitative study used an exploratory research design to guide the development of the focus group discussion (FGD) and indepth interview (IDI) guides. Participants were asked questions on background information, lived experiences and SRH practices. The FGDs were stratified by sex and age. Both FGD discussions and IDI interviews were recoded; transcripts were transcribed and translated from local dialect into English language. Content analysis was conducted thematically with the aid of NVivo. Results: In total, 17 IDIs and 11 FGDs were conducted among SIYP aged 10-24 years. The total number of respondents interviewed was 109. There is high awareness of modern contraceptives among SIYP; the commonly known method was condom with a few also aware of emergency contraceptives pills. However, participants reported low use of modern contraceptives. The common reasons alluded for not using condoms were reduced sexual pleasure, cost and associated myths. The five themes that emerged under sexual practices of SIYP Open Peer Review Reviewer Status AWAITING PEER REVIEW Any reports and responses or comments on the article can be found at the end of the article.
Background: To determine the relationship between country level prevalence of interpersonal viole... more Background: To determine the relationship between country level prevalence of interpersonal violence (IPV) and the prevalence of early childhood caries (ECC) in children aged 3-5-year-olds. Method: This was an ecological study using extracted IPV (physical, sexual and emotional) and ECC data for 3-5-year-olds in 20 low-and middleincome countries for the period 2007-2017. Linear regression analysis was used to assess the relationship between the percentage of 3-5-year-old children with ECC (outcome variable) and the four IPV indicators (physical, sexual, emotional and a combination of the three). The model was adjusted for the country's Gross National Income GNI. Partial eta squared (as measure of effect size), regression coe cients, con dence intervals and p values were calculated. Results: The strongest association was between ECC prevalence and exposure to physical violence (partial eta squared= 0.01), followed by exposure to sexual violence (partial eta squared= 0.005), and exposure to all types of IPV combined (partial eta squared= 0.001). Exposure to emotional violence had the weakest association with ECC (partial eta squared < 0.0001). For 1% higher percentage of women reporting exposure to physical violence and percentage of women reporting all types of IPV combined, there was a 0.18% higher prevalence of ECC. For 1% higher prevalence of sexual violence, there was 0.22% higher ECC prevalence. For 1% higher prevalence of emotional violence, there was 0.04% higher ECC prevalence. Conclusions: Countries with high prevalence of IPV will likely also have high prevalence of ECC. This needs further studies. Background Intimate partner physical, emotional and sexual violence (IPV) is a recognized threat to the health and rights of women globally [1, 2]. Global estimates indicated that about 30% of women have a history of IPV with this being highest in central (65.6%) and western (41.8%) sub-Saharan Africa, and South Asia (41.7%) [3]. It is de ned as the abuse that takes place between a couple who are either married or living together and may or may not have a child [4]. IPV not only has impact on maternal health and welfare [5], it also has a negative impact on the nutritional status of children of mothers affected by IPV who are more likely to be stunted [6-12]. This may be due to the negative impact on the mental health of affected women [13] with implications for poor nutritional care [14-16] and increased risk for stunting [6-8, 9, 10, 12]; and medical care access problems for children [12, 17-19]. Though several studies have established the negative association between maternal mental health and increased risk for ECC [20-24], there is very little known about the association between IPV and ECC. Lorber et al [25] studied children's exposure to domestic violence and the risk for ECC, and found no signi cant relationship between IPV and ECC though a positive trend was observed. However, in households where women were aggressive towards men, the risk for ECC was higher due to high exposure to cariogenic diets [26]. The social cognitive theory may explain the relationship between IPV and ECC. The theory recognizes that an individual's behavior, cognition, and environment reciprocally and dynamically in uence one another [27]. Key social environmental and personal factors play roles in determining an individual's engagement in health promoting and disease preventing behaviors [28]. Self-e cacy is a central cognitive construct in the social cognitive theory that may predict and explain health behaviors and outcomes [29-31]. Thus, a person's belief or con dence in their ability to perform certain actions in uences the decisions to perform these actions [32], including tooth brushing [33], which is a signi cant risk factor for poor oral hygiene and ECC [34]. IPV undermines self-e cacy of affected individuals [35, 36] who are mostly women [37] serving as caretakers for children [38]. IPV can therefore compromise the ability of women to care for children who are completely dependent on them for daily oral hygiene and accessing professional oral health care services. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between country level prevalence of IPV and the prevalence of ECC in children aged 3-5year-olds in countries where data on IPV and ECC are available. We conducted country-speci c analysis in view of the evidence suggesting differences in the relationship between IPV and ECC [39]. Methods This ecological study was based on IPV data extracted from the domestic violence module of the Demographic Health Survey, a nationally representative household survey that collects information on population-based indicators of health and nutrition in low-and middle-income countries (LMICs). The module includes questions on types and experiences of violence (physical, sexual and emotional) mostly perpetrated by the current or most recent husband/ partner [40]. The present study also used data on ECC collected by El Tantawi et al [42]. Data for both IPV and ECC were available in only 20 LMICs between 2007 and 2017. Early childhood caries: Early childhood caries is identi ed in children < 72 months of age with one or more decayed (cavitated and non-cavitated), missing due to decay or lled primary tooth surfaces [42]. The data on ECC prevalence were extracted from World Health Organization Country Oral Health Profile database and studies published and indexed in MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science and Google Scholar covering the period 2007 to
Background: To achieve the Sustainable Development Goal 3, which is to ensure healthy lives and p... more Background: To achieve the Sustainable Development Goal 3, which is to ensure healthy lives and promote wellbeing for all persons of all ages, street-involved young people (SIYP) must be assured of universal access to sexual and reproductive healthcare. This study aims to determine the factors associated with age-and sex-specific differences in the sexual and reproductive health (SRH) behaviour of SIYP in southwest Nigeria. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study that recruited 1505 SIYP aged 10-24 years by use of respondent-driven and time-location sampling. Data were collected through interviewer-administered questionnaires on socioeconomic characteristics; access to SRH information; contraceptive knowledge and use; sexual behavior; and sexual practice. The outcome variables were inconsistent condom use, multiple sexual partners, and transactional sex. Binomial regression analysis models were developed to determine risk indicators for outcome variables. Results: Although 968 (64.3%) participants were sexually active and 1089 (72.4%) knew about modern contraception, only 300 (31.0%) sexually active respondents used modern contraceptives. Knowledge of modern contraception (AOR: 0.11; 95% C.I: 0.01-0.82, p = 0.03) and being employed (AOR: 0.38; 95% C.I: 0.15-0.95, p = 0.04) reduced the odds for inconsistent condom use among male SIYPs. For female SIYPs, knowledge of modern contraception reduced the odds for inconsistent condom use (AOR: 0.26; 95% C.I: 0.08-0.90, p = 0.03), whereas access to SRH information significantly increased the odds for inconsistent condom use (AOR: 5.06; 95% C.I: 1.67-15.37, p = 0.004). Conclusion: Age-and sex-related factors associated with risky sexual behaviors vary among SIYP. Addressing these differences in the delivery of targeted interventions to reduce sexual health risk of SIYP may be required.
Paucity of data exists on the timing of puberty, particularly the pubarche, in developing countri... more Paucity of data exists on the timing of puberty, particularly the pubarche, in developing countries, which has hitherto limited the knowledge of the timing of pubarche, and assistance offered by physicians to anxious young people in Nigeria. Factors associated with the timings of puberty and pubarche are not well documented in Nigeria. We hypothesized that the timing of pubarche in Nigeria differs by geographical regions and other characteristics. We assessed the timing of pubarche among adolescents and young adults in Nigeria and identified prognostic factors of the timing by obtaining information on youths’ sexual and reproductive developments in a population survey among in-school and out-of-school youths aged 15 to 24 years in Nigeria. A total of 1174 boys and 1004 girls provided valid information on pubarche. Results of time-to-event analysis of the data showed that mean age at pubarche among males aged 15 to 19 years and 20 to 24 years was 13.5 (SD = 1.63 years) and 14.2 (SD =...
The study aimed at determining the effectiveness of rape prevention education facilitated by a po... more The study aimed at determining the effectiveness of rape prevention education facilitated by a police officer and/or a school nurse at reducing rape myths acceptance, improving rape victim empathy, and reducing rape risk behaviors among school adolescents. Quasi-experimental design with repeated measures was used and it was conducted among 228 adolescents in three public high schools in Ile-Ife, Nigeria. The adolescents were grouped into: Control Group; Nurse Facilitated Group; and Nurse-Police Facilitated Group. Rape Discourse Education (RaDE) was conducted for the Nurse Facilitated Group and the Nurse-Police Facilitated Group and data collection was in four waves. Findings showed significant effect on rape myths acceptance (ηp2 = 0.12) more than on other outcome variables and the effect was observed up to a six-month follow-up. Implication for rape prevention education in the school setting is documented.
Aims: Studies have linked individual factors such as education and household variables including ... more Aims: Studies have linked individual factors such as education and household variables including wealth index as predictors of fertility behaviour. This study aims to examine the effect of socioeconomic characteristics on fertility behaviour when combined as a single proxy among women of reproductive ages in Nigeria. Methods: Data for this study was extracted from the Nigeria Demographic and Health Surveys (NDHS) of 2003, 2008, and 2013. The explanatory variable, "socioeconomic status", was derived as a composite index from the combination of individual and household variables. The outcome variable "fertility behaviour" is measured by total children ever born (CEB). Pearson chi-square test was used to determine the association among variables. Ordinal logistic regression was used to assess the effect of the explanatory variable on the outcome variable. Level of significance was determined at 5% and 95% confidence interval. The analysis was carried out using Stata 14.0. Results: There is a statistically significant but inverse association between socioeconomic status and reported CEB. If women were to change their socioeconomic status from low to high, the CEB would reduce by-0.502 (p<.001) and by-1.038 (p<.000). This pattern remained consistent in the adjusted model and across all surveys. Conclusion: The study concludes that women's socioeconomic status significantly predicts fertility behaviour. An improved socioeconomic status would reduce reported CEB. Efforts to reduce fertility in Nigeria must embrace a multi-dimensional approach that creates opportunities aimed at promoting women's economic status.
Prior studies have assessed economic/instrumental dimensions of women's empowerment relative to i... more Prior studies have assessed economic/instrumental dimensions of women's empowerment relative to its agency dimensions. This study assessed ever-married women's participation in the labor market as a form of agency for empowerment and household decision-making in Nigeria. The study utilizes secondary data from three national surveys of Nigeria's 2003, 2008, and 2013 Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) to assess the differences and relationship between indices and the status of women's labor market participation and their empowerment or household decision-making over an 11-year period. Explanatory variables adopted were age group, religion, employment status, educational level, household wealth index, and region. Binomial logistic regression was used to predict the proxy variables of women's empowerment from the explanatory variables. Findings showed that women's access to paid employment, educational status, and the household wealth index improved their participation in household decision-making. However, the single factor that consistently increased the likelihood of an ever-married woman to be involved in all forms of household decision-making from 2008 to 2013 was household wealth. Also, religion affected the ability of ever-married women to participate in household decision-making. The ability of Muslim women to participate in all forms of decision-making decreased from 2008 to 2013. The study concluded that the factors that enhance household wealth will enhance married women's ability to be involved in household decision-making. Education of women is, however, a significant contribution to enhancing the balance of inequity between men and women in household decision-making. The attenuating effect of Islam on this prospect needs further investigation and interventions for married women living in Northern Nigeria.
Objectives This study determined the correlates of unwanted pregnancy and induced abortion among ... more Objectives This study determined the correlates of unwanted pregnancy and induced abortion among sexually active female street-involved adolescents (SIAs) aged 10–19 years in two urban cities in South-west, Nigeria. Methods The data for this study were extracted from a larger mixed-method survey dataset on the sexual and reproductive health (SRH) of 1505 street-involved young people aged 10 to 24 years. For the quantitative data, the explanatory variables were age, history of school attendance, employment status, religion, living arrangement and city of residence. The study outcomes were a history of pregnancy and a history of induced abortion of last pregnancy. Binomial regression analysis was performed to determine the association between the explanatory and outcome variables. For the qualitative data generated through focus group discussions and in-depth-interviews, inductive and deductive approaches were used in conducting a thematic analysis to explore the perspectives and expe...
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