Mortality In Nigeria Research Articles

The Surge in Human Papillomavirus Vaccine Rejection in Nigeria.

In October 2023, Nigeria integrated the single-dose human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine into its routine immunization program, aiming to protect 7.7 million girls aged 9 to 14 years. This milestone in the fight against HPV-related cancers, especially cervical cancer, faces significant challenges due to high vaccine rejection rates driven by misinformation and cultural barriers. Despite the vaccine's proven safety and efficacy, uptake remains low. This communication highlights the urgent need for a comprehensive public health education campaign to address these barriers. Proposed strategies include leveraging digital health technologies, integrating HPV education into school curricula, training community health workers, engaging religious and cultural leaders, and launching media campaigns featuring personal narratives. Implementing these evidence-based interventions is crucial for dispelling myths, misconceptions, and skepticism surrounding HPV vaccines. This will enhance acceptance and uptake, ultimately reducing cervical cancer mortality in Nigeria.

Assessing the Knowledge Gap in Paediatric Emergency Management among Primary Healthcare Workers in Zaria, Nigeria

Paediatric emergencies remain a significant cause of mortality in Nigeria, particularly in rural areas where primary healthcare centres (PHCs) often serve as the sole source of medical care. This study aimed to assess the knowledge gap among healthcare workers in PHCs in Zaria regarding the management of common paediatric emergencies. A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted among 139 randomly selected healthcare workers in Sabon Gari and Zaria Local Government Areas. A pre-tested questionnaire was used to collect data, which was analysed using SPSS version 21. Results revealed a generally low level of knowledge among healthcare workers regarding both the causes and treatment of common paediatric emergencies. Only a small percentage of respondents demonstrated adequate knowledge in these areas. A statistically significant association was found between academic qualifications and knowledge levels. These findings underscore the urgent need for targeted interventions to improve the skills and knowledge of healthcare workers in PHCs. Collaborations between academic institutions and local health departments can play a crucial role in organising regular training programs to address these deficiencies and enhance the quality of care provided to children in need.

Variability Effects of Meteorological Factors on Reported Malaria Cases in Kano and Lagos States of Nigeria

Abstract: Malaria is one of life’s threatening disease that contributed significantly to morbidity and mortality in Nigeria. The variability effects of meteorological factors between the Northern and Southern region of Nigeria on malaria transmission remain unclear and not well researched. This research was aimed at comparing the non-linear effects of seasonal, trend and meteorological variables on monthly malaria cases in Kano and Lagos State of Nigeria. The monthly malaria cases for age group above 5-year for Kano and Lagos State were obtained from DHIS for the period of January, 2016 to December, 2022. Also, the predictors/meteorological variables (Rainfall, Relative Humidity, Minimum Temperature and Maximum Temperature) were obtained from Nigeria Meteorological Agent. Generalized Additive Model was fitted using Negative Binomial to apply smooth function to estimate and compare the effects of the selected predictors on the malaria transmission in Kano and Lagos States. Rainfall and Maximum temperature were found not significant in explaining the effect of malaria transmission. Malaria transmission was found to be seasonal and varying in Kano State with highest transmission between September and October while the seasonal effect was reduced to linear in Lagos State. The long term trend had a significant increasing effect on malaria transmission in Kano Sate compared to non-significant effect in Lagos State. The effect of Relative Humidity was reduced to linear and increasing in the both State. Paying attention to the variability in the influence of season, trend and meteorological variables on malaria transmission will enhance respective State Government to develop an early warning and awareness that will help in controlling the malaria outbreak in their State.

A time series modelling and forecasting of under-5 mortality rate in Nigeria

A time series modelling and forecasting of under-5 mortality rate in Nigeria

Factors Affecting Maternal Mortality Rates in Nigeria: A Review of Challenges and Potential Solutions

Maternal mortality is a significant public health issue in Nigeria, accounting for approximately 23% of global maternal deaths. This review explored the main factors affecting maternal mortality rates in Nigeria and proposed potential solutions. Accurate data collection on maternal health in Nigeria, especially in rural areas, remains challenging. Aims: this paper aimed to identify the key factors contributing to maternal mortality in Nigeria and proposed solutions to address this issue. Study design: A qualitative analysis of literature review narration was employed taking into account the research methodology, instrument interpretation, and data analysis in order to avoid bias and misinterpretation of result findings. Methodology: The methodology was designed to systematically gather, analyse, and synthesise data from multiple sources, including the peer-reviewed academic literature, government reports, and NGO publications. To ensure rigor and reproducibility, in the literature search were utilised several databases and search engines beyond Google, including PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar, Semantic Scholar, and Research Gate. 50 published papers and articles from credible sources were reviewed in the study, identifying the key issues such as inadequate healthcare infrastructure, socio-economic challenges, cultural and behavioural practices, as well as political factors. Results: The findings revealed that the major causes of maternal mortality in Nigeria included haemorrhage, infection, unsafe abortion, hypertensive diseases of pregnancy, and obstructed labour. There were cases of socio-economic factors such as unavailability of electricity, transportation delay, the lack of skilled medical personal and cultural factors such as traditional beliefs. Despite various interventions, progress in reducing maternal mortality has been limited. Conclusion: This paper emphasised the need for continuous investment in maternal and child health, improvements in healthcare infrastructure, education, and effective policy implementation. A holistic approach that integrates organisational structures, technical expertise, human experiences, and patient needs is essential for effectively reducing maternal mortality rates.

Determinants and outcomes of preterm births in Nigerian tertiary facilities.

To describe the incidence, and sociodemographic and clinical factors associated with preterm birth and perinatal mortality in Nigeria. Secondary analysis of data collected through the Maternal Perinatal Database for Quality, Equity and Dignity (MPD-4-QED) Programme. Data from births in 54 referral-level hospitals across Nigeria between 1 September 2019 and 31 August 2020. A total of 69 698 births. Multilevel modelling was used to determine the factors associated with preterm birth and perinatal mortality. Preterm birth and preterm perinatal mortality. Of 62 383 live births, 9547 were preterm (153 per 1000 live births). Maternal age (<20 years - adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.52, 95% CI 1.36-1.71; >35 years - aOR 1.23, 95% CI 1.16-1.30), no formal education (aOR 1.68, 95% CI 1.54-1.84), partner not gainfully employed (aOR 1.94, 95% CI 1.61-2.34) and no antenatal care (aOR 2.62, 95% CI 2.42-2.84) were associated with preterm births. Early neonatal mortality for preterm neonates was 47.2 per 1000 preterm live births (451/9547). Father's occupation (manual labour aOR 1.52, 95% CI 1.20-1.93), hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (aOR 1.37, 95% CI 1.02-1.83), no antenatal care (aOR 2.74, 95% CI 2.04-3.67), earlier gestation (28 to <32 weeks - aOR 2.94, 95% CI 2.15-4.10; 32 to <34 weeks - aOR 1.80, 95% CI 1.3-2.44) and birthweight <1000 g (aOR 21.35, 95% CI 12.54-36.33) were associated with preterm perinatal mortality. Preterm birth and perinatal mortality in Nigeria are high. Efforts should be made to enhance access to quality health care during pregnancy, delivery and the neonatal period, and improve the parental socio-economic status.

Age-Stratified Assessment of the Impact of Breast Cancer Knowledge on the Lifestyle and Dietary Patterns Among Nigerian Females.

Breast cancer (BC) is a major cause of cancer-related mortality in Nigeria, which is exacerbated by a lack of understanding of how knowledge of BC risk factors influences the lifestyle and dietary patterns of Nigerians across age groups. This study evaluated the influence of knowledge of BC risks on lifestyle and dietary patterns across age groups, aiming to inform early management, prevention, and survival rates. A cross-sectional survey was conducted in Ota, Ado-odo, Ogun State, Nigeria, involving participants from six educational institutions. The study assessed knowledge of BC risks factors and lifestyle/dietary habits using questionnaires. Results were analyzed using Epi Info software and SPSS version 20. The participants' age ranged from 13 to 60 years, with a mean of 21 years. The age categories of the participants were 75.24% adolescents (13-19), 18.68% young adults (20-40), and 6.08% middle-aged (41-60). Middle-aged individuals had the least knowledge about smoking (7.58%), alcohol (26.09%), antibiotics (7.25%), and red meat/smoked foods (20.09%), which translated into their poor dietary/lifestyle patterns. Young adults showed profound physical inactivity (71.00%), while adolescents consumed more carbonated drinks (71.53%), which corresponded to lack of knowledge about the effects of physical inactivity (10.85%) and consumption of carbonated drinks (13.70%) on BC risk. The study found that understanding BC risk factors directly affects lifestyle and dietary patterns. Age groups with higher knowledge had better lifestyle/dietary patterns. This highlights the need for a tailored intervention on lifestyle and dietary education across all age groups, especially the middle-aged, so as to inform a deliberate adjustment in lifestyle and dietary habits, which play crucial roles in BC incidence, survival, and prevention.

Geographical patterns of under-five mortality in Nigeria: does internet use matter?

Geographical patterns of under-five mortality in Nigeria: does internet use matter?

Health Workers Perceived Hindrances to Implementation of National Programme on Immunization among People in Kwara State, Nigeria

Abstract Background: Childhood preventable illnesses that cause high rates of morbidity and mortality in Nigeria include poliomyelitis, tuberculosis, diphtheria, tetanus, measles, and hepatitis. Some factors prevent the effective implementation of the national immunization program among Kwara State residents, despite numerous interventions aimed at preventing them through routine immunization. This study investigated inadequate funding, lack of community involvement, and low public awareness as factors that prevented the implementation of the Kwara State’s national immunization program. Methods: A descriptive survey research design with 460 respondents was used in this study. Results: The results showed inadequate funding, low community involvement, and low public awareness impede the successful execution of the national immunization program in Kwara State, Nigeria. Conclusion: In Kwara State, Nigeria, inadequate funding, lack of community involvement, and lack of public awareness impede successful execution of the national immunization program.

ASSESSING THE NATURE OF PATRONAGE FOR TRADITIONAL MATERNAL HEALTH CARE SERVICES IN SOUTHWESTERN NIGERIA

&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Background:&lt;/strong&gt; The study assessed the nature of patronage for traditional maternal health care services in Southwestern Nigeria. These were in view of providing information on the nature of patronage of traditional maternal health care services (TMHCs) in Nigeria, thus assisting in meeting the 2030 target of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). &lt;strong&gt;Methods:&lt;/strong&gt; The study adopted a descriptive research design method approach. The study population was comprised of all pregnant women and nursing mothers attending TMHCs in Southwestern. The sample size consisted of 1020 pregnant women and nursing mothers. A self-designed questionnaire was used to gather information from the respondents. Data collected were analysed using frequency count, percentage, mean, standard deviation and ANOVA. &lt;strong&gt;Results:&lt;/strong&gt; It showed that respondents patronized centre owned by a tradition and culture 351(41.1%), respondents attended their preferred TMHCs on Wednesdays (738), and respondents were introduced to using TMHCs by their in-laws, religious leaders and friends, respectively. However, a large number of the respondents agreed that they use TMHCs because of the passionate care shown towards them (28.9%), spiritual reasons (26.6%), belief in the efficacy of service (30.2%), accessibility (29.7%) and offer of good and quality service (31.2%). Also, the study shows that there is a significant influence of the husband's age (df=3,870, F=5.909, p&amp;lt;0.05), husband's income (df=4,869, F=3.747, p&amp;lt;0.05) and husband's education level (df=3,870, F=64.70, p&amp;lt;0.05) on the reasons for patronizing TMHCs in the study area. &lt;strong&gt;Conclusion:&lt;/strong&gt; The study concluded that nature patronage is a contributing factor to the high usage of TMHCs, which encourages maternal mortality in Nigeria.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt; &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt; Article visualizations:&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;img src="/-counters-/soc/0528/a.php" alt="Hit counter" /&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

A designathon to co-create HPV screening and vaccination approaches for mothers and daughters in Nigeria: findings from a community-led participatory event

BackgroundOncogenic types of human Papillomavirus (HPV) infection cause substantial morbidity and mortality in Nigeria. Nigeria has low cervical cancer screening and vaccination rates, suggesting the need for community engagement to enhance reach and uptake. We organised a designathon to identify community-led, innovative approaches to promote HPV screening and vaccination for women and girls, respectively, in Nigeria. A designathon is a three-phase participatory process informed by design thinking that includes the preparation phase that includes soliciting innovative ideas from end-users, an intensive collaborative event to co-create intervention components, and follow-up activities.MethodsWe organised a three-phase designathon for women (30-65yrs) and girls (11-26yrs) in Nigeria. First, we launched a national crowdsourcing open call for ideas on community-driven strategies to support HPV screening among women and vaccination among girls. The open call was promoted widely on social media and at in-person gatherings. All eligible entries were graded by judges and 16 exceptional teams (with 4-6members each). All six geo-political zones of Nigeria were invited to join an in-person event held over three days in Lagos to refine their ideas and present them to a panel of expert judges. The ideas from teams were reviewed and scored based on relevance, feasibility, innovation, potential impact, and mother-daughter team dynamics. We present quantitative data on people who submitted and themes from the textual submissions.ResultsWe received a total of 612 submissions to the open call from mother-daughter dyads. Participants submitted ideas via a website designated for the contest (n = 392), in-person (n = 99), email (n = 31), or via an instant messaging application (n = 92). Overall, 470 were eligible for judging after initial screening. The average age of participants for daughters was 19 years and 39 years for mothers. Themes from the top 16 proposals included leveraging local leaders (5/16), faith-based networks (4/16), educational systems (4/16), and other community networks (7/16) to promote awareness of cervical cancer prevention services. After an in-person collaborative event, eight teams were selected to join an innovation training boot camp, for capacity building to implement ideas.ConclusionsInnovative strategies are needed to promote HPV screening for mothers and vaccination for girls in Nigeria. Our designathon was able to facilitate Nigerian mother-daughter teams to develop cervical cancer prevention strategies. Implementation research is needed to assess the effectiveness of these strategies.

Assessing the Link between Maternal Transport Modes and Childhood Mortality in Nigeria

ObjectivesThe study explored the association between maternal transport modes and childhood mortalities in Nigeria.MethodUtilizing data and definitions from the 2018 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey report, the ten-year early mortality rates of the five childhood mortalities and the percentage of live births in the 5 years before the survey, transported by eight identified means of transportation, were statistically correlated for each of Nigeria’s 36 states and the federal capital territory (FCT) in the R environment at a significance level of α < 0.05.ResultsIn the spatial distribution of the five childhood mortalities, a notable north-south dichotomy was observed, contrasting with the spatial spread of maternal transport modes. The five childhood mortalities exhibited a significant, moderately positive correlation with transportation by Private Car or Truck, while their associations with Public Transport or Bus and Walking were notably moderate but negative.Conclusion for PracticeWhile the use of private cars or trucks should be encouraged as a means of maternal transport, public transport should be better organized to provide efficient services to women who need such services for maternal and child healthcare. Additionally, steps should be taken to reduce travel distances to health facilities to manageable distances for mothers.

Maternal morbidity and death associated with pregnancy loss before 28 weeks in Nigeria.

To determine the prevalence of maternal morbidity and death from pregnancy loss before 28 weeks in referral-level hospitals in Nigeria. Secondary analysis of a nationwide cross-sectional study. Fifty-four referral-level hospitals. Women admitted for complications arising from pregnancy loss before 28 weeks between 1 September 2019 to 31 August 2020. Frequency and type of pregnancy loss were calculated using the extracted data. Multilevel logistic regression was used to determine sociodemographic and clinical factors associated with early pregnancy loss. Factors contributing to death were also analysed. Prevalence and outcome of pregnancy loss at <28 weeks; sociodemographic and clinical predictors of morbidity after early pregnancy loss; contributory factors to death. Of the 4798 women who had pregnancy loss at <28 weeks of pregnancy, spontaneous abortion accounted for 49.2%, followed by missed abortion (26.9%) and ectopic pregnancy (15%). Seven hundred women (14.6%) had a complication following pregnancy loss and 99 women died (2.1%). Most complications (26%) and deaths (7%) occurred after induced abortion. Haemorrhage was the most frequent complication in all types of pregnancy loss with 11.5% in molar pregnancy and 6.9% following induced abortion. Predictors of complication or death were low maternal education, husband who was not gainfully employed, grand-multipara, pre-existing chronic medical condition and referral from another facility or informal setting. Pregnancy loss before 28 weeks is a significant contributor to high maternal morbidity and mortality in Nigeria. Socio-economic factors and delays in referral to higher levels of care contribute significantly to poor outcomes for women.

Evaluating the Role of Households' Food Security Status and Socioeconomic Determinants on Child Mortality in Nigeria

When addressing global development, it is imperative to recognize the relationship between food security and child mortality. Despite the targeted goals of SDGs 2 (zero hunger) and 3 (good health and well-being), Nigeria continues to grapple with relatively high rates of child malnutrition, alongside persistent challenges in child mortality and food insecurity that affect its population significantly. This study employed the Nigeria Living Standard Survey (NLSS) dataset with 11,655 households to estimate the impact of food (in)security on child mortality using the Propensity Score Matching (PSM). The study shows that food insecurity is predominant in the rural northern and urban southern part of Nigeria. Child mortality rates were found to be influenced by various factors such as maternal education, maternal age, geopolitical zones, place of residence, and access to healthcare facilities, showcasing a complex interplay of positive and negative impacts. The empirical estimates revealed that households’ food insecurity had a significant impact on child mortality in Nigeria. Hence, in order to achieve the SDG’s 2 and 3 in Nigeria, a more concerted effort should be geared towards food security and child mortality among the Nigerian rural and urban communities. The insights from this study underscore the importance of prioritizing interventions that drives food security, enhancing nutritional access, and tackling underlying social determinants to substantially reduce child mortality rates. It is imperative for policymakers, healthcare professionals, and communities to integrate complementarity approaches in developing sustainable solutions that safeguard the well-being and prospects of Nigeria's children.

Impact of Healthcare Infrastructure on Maternal Mortality in Nigeria

This study investigates the impact of healthcare infrastructure on maternal mortality in Nigeria, focusing on the quality of care, availability of healthcare facilities, and institutional capacity. We employed a cross-sectional survey design, guided by Donabedian's Quality of Care Framework, and targeted 380 healthcare facilities in Lagos, Kano, and Enugu. Data was collected using structured questionnaires and analyzed using multiple regression analysis. The findings reveal that quality of care (β = .643, p &lt; .001) and availability of healthcare facilities (β = .362, p &lt; .001) significantly influence maternal mortality rates, while institutional capacity (β = .003, p = .882) does not have a significant impact. High-quality care and accessible healthcare facilities are crucial in reducing maternal deaths. Recommendations include continuous professional development for healthcare providers, equitable distribution of healthcare resources, and investments in healthcare infrastructure and governance. This research provides valuable insights for policymakers and healthcare stakeholders aiming to improve maternal health outcomes in Nigeria.

Spatially Weighted Multinomial Modelling of Comorbidity of Anaemia and Malaria among Under Five Children in Nigeria

Children in sub-Saharan African countries especially Nigeria continue to suffer increased mortality owing to comorbidity of infections such as anaemia and malaria, which are known to epidemiologically overlap. In order to examine the risk factors and spatial patterns of comorbidity of anaemia and malaria using 2021 Nigeria malaria indicator survey (NMIS), multinomial logit model was extended by incorporating spatially weighted random effect. The impact of climatic variation on the childhood disease comorbidity was explored by weighting the spatial structured component based on the 2021 NMIS average cluster temperature of each state in Nigeria. A number of spatial weighted geo-additive models were fitted and compared using defiance information criterion. Inference was fully Bayesian and Intrinsic Conditional Autoregressive prior was used for structured random effects. Based on the map generated from the best- fitted model which unveiled states that are more susceptible to the risk of disease comorbidity, the average temperature used as a weighting factor however has strong relationship with the spatial pattern of disease comorbidity. States with low temperature have higher risk of comorbidity of anaemia and malaria compared to states with higher average temperature.Area of residence, level of education of the mother, economic status of the mother and owning mosquito-treated nets were identified as the significant risk factors associated with the disease comorbidity.Findings from this study will be helpful to policymakers and health authorities in their effort to combat the comorbidity of childhood anaemia and malaria thereby reducing child mortality in Nigeria.

Seven-year review of paediatric mortality in the University Of Uyo Teaching Hospital, Uyo, Nigeria

Background: Childhood mortality has become one of the world’s targets for reduction as encapsulated in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). Although mortality among children aged younger than 5 years has declined globally in the past two decades, considerable geographical differences exist and remain disproportionately high in sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia. Many hospital-based studies in Nigeria have shown the predominance of infectious diseases such as sepsis, bronchopneumonia, and HIV/AIDS as the leading causes of childhood mortality. Methods: The study was conducted at the Department of Paediatrics of the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital (UUTH), Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. The study was a descriptive, cross-sectional and retrospective review of all the deaths among the hospitalized children from 1st January 2015 to 31st December 2021. Results: A total of 191 deaths in the Paediatrics Department of the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital were recorded, 99 males (51.3%) and 92 females (47.7%). This study shows that 27.00% of children who died where infants, 28.30% were children 1-5 years and 44.50% were children above 5 years. The commonest cause of childhood mortality in this study was severe sepsis (30.00%), followed by HIV/AIDS (11.40%), bronchopneumonia (9.84%). Conclusion: Most of the leading causes of childhood mortality in Nigeria are infectious diseases. These are largely preventable and leave room for improvement in our practice of Infection Prevention and Control (IPC), appropriate community education on hygienic practices and prevention of HIV/AIDS.

Epidemiological Burden of Neurotrauma in Nigeria: A Systematic Review and Pooled Analysis of 45,763 Patients

Neurotrauma is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in Nigeria. We conducted this systematic review to generate nationally generalizable reference data for the country. Four research databases and gray literature sources were electronically searched. Risk of bias was assessed using the Risk of Bias in Non-Randomized Studies of Interventions and Cochrane's risk of bias tools. Descriptive analysis, narrative synthesis, and statistical analysis (via paired t-tests and χ2 independence tests) were performed on relevant article metrics (α=0.05). We identified a cohort of 45,763 patients from 254 articles. The overall risk of bias was moderate to high. Most articles employed retrospective cohort study designs (37.4%) and were published during the last 2decades (81.89%). The cohort's average age was 32.5years (standard deviation, 20.2) with a gender split of ∼3 males per female. Almost 90% of subjects were diagnosed with traumatic brain injury, with road traffic accidents (68.6%) being the greatest cause. Altered consciousness (48.4%) was the most commonly reported clinical feature. Computed tomography (53.5%) was the most commonly used imaging modality, with skull (25.7%) and vertebral fracture (14.1%) being the most common radiological findings for traumatic brain injury and traumatic spinal injury, respectively. Two-thirds of patients were treated nonoperatively. Outcomes were favorable in 63.7% of traumatic brain injury patients, but in only 20.9% of traumatic spinal injury patients. Pressure sores, infection, and motor deficits were the most commonly reported complications in the latter. This systematic review and pooled analysis demonstrate the significant burden of neurotrauma across Nigeria.

Contraceptive methods continuation and its determinants among acceptors on repeat visits to a Nigerian University Teaching Hospital: a 10-year review

Background: Family planning is a known reproductive health modality for reducing the high maternal mortality in Nigeria. Contraceptive use and continuation is thus necessary to achieve its benefits. The study aimed to determine the contraceptive options and the factors associated with the continuation of contraceptive choices among women on repeat visits. Methods: This was a 10-year retrospective study of the family planning clinic register of all clients who presented for a repeat visit for contraceptive method continuation at the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital. Results: There were 6939 contraceptive acceptors on repeat visits aged between 14 and 50 years (mean 31.6 years, SD 5.4). The majority were 26 to 30 years (32.9%), had secondary education (54.6%), were multiparous (90.9%) and chose the subdermal implant (34.9%) and the intrauterine contraceptive devices (27.7%) for continuation. There was a significant association between the women`s age (Df=3, F=10.81, p&lt;0.0001), their educational status (Df=6, Χ2=38.5583, p&lt;0.0001), their parity (Df= 15, Χ2 =76.8644, p&lt;0.0001) and the contraceptive method continued. Conclusions: An interest in long-acting reversible contraceptives for continuation was found, and this is significantly associated with their sociodemographic and obstetric characteristics; however, we recommend cross-sectional and focus-group inquiries among clients in the different contraceptive-specific categories for further information on the reasons for their choices at subsequent visits.

Utilization of Cervical Cancer Screening Services and its Predictors among Health Workers in Hospitals in the Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria

Background: Cervical cancer (CC) ranks second as the leading cause of cancer morbidity and mortality in Nigeria, despite being preventable through screening. Female health workers (HCWs) are expected to be role models to motivate society towards Cervical Cancer Screening Service (CCSS)uptake. This study assesses the utilization of CCSS and associated factors among HCWs in three area councils of Abuja, Nigeria.&#x0D; Method: A cross-sectional design aimed at assessing the utilization of CCSS by HCWs in 13 health facilities across 3 area councils in Abuja. Study participants were selected using a multi-stage sampling technique. The outcome variable was “ever used CCSS” dichotomized into a “Yes” or “No” response. Factors associated with participants' utilization of CCSS were examined using a binary logistic regression at p&lt;0.05 level of statistical significance.&#x0D; Results: Data from 350 participants (90.6%) were analyzed. Most were married women, 290 (82.9%), between the ages of 21 to 30 years, 275 (78.6%). About twothirds of the participants, (237) reported ever being screened for cervical cancer. Factors associated with CCSS utilization at the bivariate level included marital status, duration of practice, and a negative perception regarding access to cervical cancer services. Perceived access barrier to CCSS was the only strong predictor for CCSS utilization after controlling confounders [Adjusted Odd Ratio: 0.01, 95%CI: 0.01 – 0.03].&#x0D; Conclusion: The perceived access barrier is a strong determinant of the CCSS utilization rate among HCWs in our study site Efforts should be made to ensure access and create awareness about service availability and accessibility among HCWs in the Federal Capital Territory.