The transmission of the hepatitis B virus (HBV) is parenteral, sexual and perinatal. Prevention of vertical transmission of HBV is extremely important because HBV infection in early life usually results in a chronic carrier State.

Worldwide heterosexual sex is the most common mode of HIV transmission, with the marital heterosexual route becoming a major contributor in sub-Sahara Africa. This study examined the role of inappropriate HIV status disclosure, after diagnosis, on marital sexual experiences of HIV positive women. The study employed a descriptive cross-sectional design. An interviewer administered questionnaire that elicited information about HIV status disclosure to partners, sexual experiences, condom use and parity was administered to 122 married women living with HIV/AIDS. Participants were referred from peripheral health centres to receive comprehensive HIV care at the State Specialist Hospital, Osogbo, Nigeria. Mean age (SD) of respondents was 33.8 (8.9) years. Only 23.8% of partners had HIV screening, with 3.3% being HIV positive. A majority (62%) of respondents reported experiencing marital sex deprivation since their partners became aware of their HIV status. There was a reported rejection (74.3%) of condom use by partners during sexual intercourse. Fear of becoming infected (85.7%) and blaming the women for their positive status (85.7%) were the main reasons the respondents gave for being sexually deprived by their partners. Inappropriate status disclosure due to poor HIV counseling and testing (HCT) practices resulted in sexual deprivation of married HIV positive women. Adequate training and retraining of health care workers on HCT and HIV status disclosure will reduce experience of sexual deprivation among married HIV positive women.

Pre-eclampsia progressing to eclampsia is one of the major causes of maternal death in Nigeria. Since there is long term association of pre-eclampsia with cardiovascular disease, cerebrovascular disease, renal disease, short life expectancy and mortality, it is essential to obtain obstetric history for better counseling and long term monitoring. The study assessed the knowledge of health workers about the association of pre-eclampsia with future cardiovascular disease and offering any risk-reduction counseling to women with pre-eclampsia. During a training workshop, a validated questionnaire on the association between pre-eclampsia and cardiovascular risk was distributed among health care workers working at the infant welfare and family planning clinics in Osun State. Data were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. One hundred and forty-six out of 150 health workers approached participated in the study (response rate 97.3 %). Mean age of respondents was 35.6 ± 9.1 years. Median age of practice was 7 years, ranging from 1–40 years. They were medical doctors (60.3 %), community health workers (26.7 %) and nurses/midwives (13.0 %). Most participants had good knowledge on future cardiovascular risk of pre-eclampsia. The medical doctors had better knowledge compared to nurses/midwives and community health workers (78.4 vs. 57.9 vs. 53.8 %; p < 0.05). Below half (45.9 %) offered risk-reduction counseling. Knowledge of the cardiovascular risk factors was lower among the nurses/midwives and community health workers. Risk reduction counseling was quite low across all the health workers. There is need for continuous medical education and possible review of the training curriculum of the lower cadres of health workers.

Predictors of request for antenatal sex determination among pregnant women in Osogbo, Nigeria

Booking status and caesarean section outcome in LAUTECH teaching hospital, Osogbo

Background: Sickle cell disease has remained one of the commonest genetic haematological disorders which could be successfully managed by prenatal diagnosis if adequately utilized. Since female health workers would most likely witness the various complications associated with this condition and being women that are directly involved in child birth and caring, there is thus a need to assess the influence of their exposure on the willingness to accept this preventive measure. Methodology: Structured questionnaires were administered to female health workers of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Teaching Hospital, Osogbo, Nigeria. Result: One hundred and seventy six respondents were obtained. A significant proportion of the respondents, 83(47.2%), did not accept termination of pregnancy in first trimester after confirmation by prenatal diagnosis, 38(21.6%) were undecided while only 53(31.3%) agreed . Only 21 (11.9%) of the respondents knew that facilities for prenatal diagnosis are available in Nigeria. Conclusion: Despite the fact that these female health workers are aware of inherent dangers of sickle cell disease, there is strong opposition to use of prenatal diagnosis in preventive measure, thus aggressive genetic counseling remains the only realistic option.