Reproductive Age In Rural Community Research Articles

Utilisation and Preference of Contraceptives among Women of Reproductive Age in Rural Communities of Jos North, Plateau State, Nigeria

Utilisation and Preference of Contraceptives among Women of Reproductive Age in Rural Communities of Jos North, Plateau State, Nigeria

Client’s Experiences on Skilled Delivery Services among Women of Reproductive Age in Rural Communities in Kenya

Background: Globally Skilled delivery services are critical aspects to combat Maternal and neonatal mortality. In Kenya, skilled deliveries account for 62% of all deliveries; unskilled deliveries pose a higher risk of maternal and neonatal mortality and morbidity. The maternal mortality ratio in Kenya is currently 462 per thousand live births, with 40% of these deaths occurring at home. The main objective of the study was to explore the experiences of women of reproductive age on skilled delivery services.
 Materials And Methods: The baseline study was conducted between November 2022 and January 2023. It employed a cross-sectional research design involving 347 women of reproductive age. The study aimed to examine their current practices, challenges, and experiences with skilled delivery services. Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) were conducted with 48 recently delivered women (within one year), as well as with 48 Community Health Volunteers (CHVs) and 10 Community Extension Workers (CHEWs). In-depth interviews were also held with local health facility administrators. Quantitative data analysis was performed using SPSS version 25.0. Measures of central tendency were employed for continuous data tabulation. The analyzed data was then presented through charts, tables, and frequencies. The qualitative data underwent thematic arrangement and analysis using NVIVO version 13 and then triangulated with descriptive data.
 Results: The results revealed that (90.6%) of women's previous childbirth experiences influenced their utilization of skilled birth attendance services in subsequent pregnancies. Women who had never given birth in health facilities or had chosen home births were less likely to utilize skilled birth attendance services.
 Conclusion and Recommendations: This study identified factors influencing skilled birth attendance use in Kandara SubCounty, highlighting the role of previous childbirth experiences, health facility-related factors, and danger signs during pregnancy. To improve utilization, interventions should focus on health facility conditions, health worker attitudes, and community awareness programs.

An Implementation Research Problem: Poor Knowledge of HIV/AIDS among Adults of Reproductive Age in Rural Communities and its Effects on PMTCT Retention in Bayelsa State, Nigeria. Ogregade Ileimokumo E.Bayelsa State Agency for the Control of HIV/AIDS

An Implementation Research Problem: Poor Knowledge of HIV/AIDS among Adults of Reproductive Age in Rural Communities and its Effects on PMTCT Retention in Bayelsa State, Nigeria. Ogregade Ileimokumo E.Bayelsa State Agency for the Control of HIV/AIDS

Schistosomiasis, soil transmitted helminthiasis, and malaria co-infections among women of reproductive age in rural communities of Kwale County, coastal Kenya

BackgroundSchistosoma haematobium, soil transmitted helminthes (STH), and malaria lead to a double burden in pregnancy that eventually leads to poor immunity, increased susceptibility to other infections, and poor pregnancy outcomes. Many studies have been carried out on pre-school and school aged children but very little has been done among the at risk adult population including women of reproductive age (WRA). Our current study sought to establish the risk factors and burden of co-infection with S. haematobium, STH, and Plasmodium sp. among WRA in Kwale County, Coastal Kenya.MethodsA total of 534 WRA between the ages of 15–50 were enrolled in this cross-sectional study from four villages; Bilashaka and Mwaluphamba in Matuga sub-County, and Mwachinga and Dumbule in Kinango sub-County. Socio-demographic information was collected using a pre-tested standardized questionnaire. Parasitological examination was done using urine filtration method for Schistosoma haematobium, Kato Katz for STH (Ascaris lumbricoides, Hookworm, Trichuris trichiura), and standard slide microscopy for Plasmodium sp. Statistical analyses were carried out using STATA version 15.1.ResultsThe overall prevalence of S. haematobium was 3.8% (95% CI: 2.6–5.4) while that for malaria was 4.9% (95% CI: 2.0–11.7). The prevalence of STH was 5.6% (95% CI: 2.8–11.3) with overall prevalence of 5.3% (95% CI: 2.5–10.9) for hookworm and 0.6% (95% CI: 0.2–1.9) for T. trichiura. The occurrence of co-infection was low and was recorded between S. haematobium and P. falciparum (0.6%), followed by S. haematobium and STH (0.4%).Among pregnant women, 2.6% had co-infection with S. haematobium and P. falciparum. Only 1.3% had co-infection with S. haematobium and hookworm or T. trichiura. Among non-pregnant women, co-infection with S. haematobium and P. falciparum was 0.2%. Similarly, co-infection with S. haematobium and hookworm or T. trichiura was 0.2%.Bed net ownership and usage among pregnant women was 87.8 and 96.6%, respectively. 66.3% of the women reported using improved water sources for drinking while 78.1% reported using improved sanitation facilities.ConclusionThe use of improved WASH activities might have contributed to the low prevalence of STHs and S. haematobium infections. Further, bed net ownership and usage might have resulted in the low prevalence of Plasmodium sp. infections observed.

Perception, pattern of use, partner support and determinants of uptake of family planning methods among women in rural communities in Southeast Nigeria

BackgroundFamily planning is a cost-effective strategy for achieving population development. Family planning uptake is low in sub-Saharan Africa, including Nigeria. We assessed the perception, pattern of use, partner support and determinants of uptake of family planning methods among married women of reproductive age in rural communities of Ebonyi state.MethodsThis is part of a baseline report of a quasi-experimental study. A total of 484 married women of reproductive age were recruited using multistage sampling method. Four focus group discussions (men and women) and pre-tested semi-structured interviewer-administered questionnaires were used to collect information from the participants. Data were analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20 software and thematic analysis. Chi-square test and logistic regression were carried out at 5% significance level.ResultsOnly 26.2% of respondents were currently using any method of family planning. The most commonly used method was the natural method (57%). Amongst those who reported using artificial methods, 32.7% used condoms, 27.3% used implant while 23.64 and 16.4% used injectables and pills respectively. Predictors of current use of any family planning method were: older age (AOR = 1.7, 95%CI = 1.01–3.00), having more than five children (AOR = 1.7, 95%CI = 1.05–2.83), minimum of secondary level of education for respondent (AOR = 3.3, CI = 1.60–6.96) and their husband/partner (AOR = 2.0, 95%CI = 1.05–3.92). Qualitative findings showed that only few families were using a method of family planning and those who did not practice family planning perceived it to interfere with God’s plan for fruitfulness and to be counter-productive to household income due to decreased manpower for agricultural activities. Poor partner involvement and support for family planning was also cited as a deterrent by both male and female participants.ConclusionsPerception and use of family planning methods is poor in rural communities of Ebonyi state. Improving uptake of family planning methods in these rural communities will require proper demographic targeting as well as debunking fatalistic views, and cultural and religious myths around family planning.

Health and socio-demographic profile of women of reproductive age in rural communities of southern Mozambique.

Reliable statistics on maternal morbidity and mortality are scarce in low and middle-income countries, especially in rural areas. This is the case in Mozambique where many births happen at home. Furthermore, a sizeable number of facility births have inadequate registration. Such information is crucial for developing effective national and global health policies for maternal and child health. The aim of this study was to generate reliable baseline socio-demographic information on women of reproductive age as well as to establish a demographic surveillance platform to support the planning and implementation of the Community Level Intervention for Pre-eclampsia (CLIP) study, a cluster randomized controlled trial. This study represents a census of all women of reproductive age (12–49 years) in twelve rural communities in Maputo and Gaza provinces of Mozambique. The data were collected through electronic forms implemented in Open Data Kit (ODK) (an app for android based tablets) and household and individual characteristics. Verbal autopsies were conducted on all reported maternal deaths to determine the underlying cause of death. Between March and October 2014, 50,493 households and 80,483 women of reproductive age (mean age 26.9 years) were surveyed. A total of 14,617 pregnancies were reported in the twelve months prior to the census, resulting in 9,029 completed pregnancies. Of completed pregnancies, 8,796 resulted in live births, 466 resulted in stillbirths and 288 resulted in miscarriages. The remaining pregnancies had not yet been completed during the time of the survey (5,588 pregnancies). The age specific fertility indicates that highest rate (188 live births per 1,000 women) occurs in the age 20–24 years old. The estimated stillbirth rate was 50.3/1,000 live and stillbirths; neonatal mortality rate was 13.3/1,000 live births and maternal mortality ratio was 204.6/100,000 live births. The most common direct cause of maternal death was eclampsia and tuberculosis was the most common indirect cause of death. This study found that fertility rate is high at age 20–24 years old. Pregnancy in the advanced age (>35 years of age) in this study was associated with higher poor outcomes such as miscarriage and stillbirth. The study also found high stillbirth rate indicating a need for increased attention to maternal health in southern Mozambique. Tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS are prominent indirect causes of maternal death, while eclampsia represents the number one direct obstetric cause of maternal deaths in these communities. Additional efforts to promote safe motherhood and improve child survival are crucial in these communities.

A Cross-Sectional study of prevalence of hypertension among women of reproductive age in rural community of Amritsar-A community based study

Hypertension is a growing health problem worldwide. Globalization brought the lifestyle & behavioral modifications and in turn increased the prevalence of lifestyle disorders such as hypertension. According to ICMR report 2007–08, in India, the prevalence of hypertension was varying from 17–21% in all states with marginal rural-urban differences1. At the same time, people of the rural communities were little affected with globalization. With the growing problem of hypertension worldwide there is concern that hypertension in rural population may also be on a rise. Based on this back ground the present study was conducted with an aim to estimate the prevalence of hypertension in childbearing age group of rural women. Methods: This was a cross sectional observational study conducted among 210 randomly selected consented rural women of the village Mallu-nangal, which is also a field practice area of Rural Health Centre of Sri Guru Ram Das Institute of Medical Sciences & Research, Amritsar. A structured questionnaire was applied and blood pressures were measured with standardized digital blood pressure apparatus. Joint national committee-7 classification was used to estimate the prevalence of hypertension. Data was analyzed statistically and Chi-square & other correlation tests were used to test significance of results. Results: Out of the 210 participants, 173 (82.4%) had normal blood pressure, 44 (21%) had pre-hypertension, 34 (16.2%) participants stage I hypertension and 3 (1.4%) participants had stage II hypertension. Conclusions: Prevalence of hypertension and pre-hypertension was 17.6% and 21% respectively. Increasing age, high BMI, family history of hypertension, extra salt intake in food were the associated factors with hypertension.

Assessment of Unmet Needs of Family Planning and Reasons for Non-Use of Contraceptive Methods among Women in Reproductive Age in Rural Community

Background: Unmet need for family planning (FP), which refers to the condition in which there is the desire to avoid or post-pone child bearing, without the use of any means of contraception, has been a core concept in the field of international population for more than three decades. The concept of unmet need points to the gap between these women’s reproductive intentions and contraceptive behaviour. The sum of the unmet need for limiting and the unmet need for spacing is the unmet need for family planning. NFHS III showed that there is 22% of overall unmet need of family planning. The reasons are multiple to not to use the contraceptive methods. These reasons need to be attended. Materials and methods: The cross-sectional study conducted amongst 378 women in reproductive age group in rural health training centre of tertiary care hospital with the study tool of semi-structured questionnaire. Women in reproductive age group from 35 villages of primary health centres were participated in the study. Results: The result showed that 42% women are having unmet need for family planning with higher (63%) unmet need for limiting method than spacing method (37%) and the most preferred method for future use was female sterilization(63%) followed by OC pills(23%). The most common reason among non-users was fear of side effects (34%) of use of contraceptive methods. Conclusion: Study concludes that there is an unmet need of family planning higher for limiting than spacing methods amongst the rural women.

Knowledge of Obstetric Danger Signs Among Women of Reproductive Age in Rural Communities in Enugu State, Nigeria

Background: Lack of knowledge of obstetric danger signs, resulting in inability to recognize and probably react to the needs for accessing quality health care remains a major cause of preventable maternal deaths. Objective: To determine the knowledge of obstetric danger signs and its determinants amongst women of reproductive age in rural communities in Nigeria. Materials and methods: A total of 602 women of child bearing age were studied. Data collection employed a pretested, self-administered structured questionnaire and was analysed using statistical package for social sciences version 17. Bivariate analysis was done to identify factors associated with good levels of knowledge of danger signs. Logistic regression was used to identify determinants of a high knowledge score among women. A p value of < 0.05 was considered significant. Results were presented in tables and summary indices. Results: Majority of respondents had a poor level of knowledge of obstetric danger signs 286(47.5%). The most mentioned symptom was vaginal bleeding; 358(59.5%). Factors associated with knowledge of obstetric danger signs include: age (p=0.000), marital status (p=0.000), educational level attained (p=0.049) and parity (p=0.000). Attaining tertiary level of education (OR: 3.906), teaching profession (OR: 15.104) self-employed business engagement (OR: 16.144) and a high level of knowledge of disease causation (OR: 3.336) were predictors of the level of knowledge of danger signs among them. Conclusion: We recommend that effective and sustained health education and behavioral change programs with high local content be instituted in our rural communities.

Access to reproductive health information by rural women in Nigeria

This study is a survey of access to reproductive health information amongst rural women in Nigeria with particular reference to Delta State. A total of 483 rural women of reproductive age (15 – 49 years) returned questionnaire; selected through simple random sampling, participated in the study. Questionnaire and interview were employed in gathering data for the study. The questionnaire was designed and administered to senior health workers in the 4 local government headquarters selected for this study. The data obtained were analyzed using simple percentages. Findings revealed that Reproductive Health information (RHI) providers do not exploit appropriate media for dissemination of information in rural communities. Appropriate media such as posters, film shows etc need to be employed in dissemination of health information in rural communities. RHI in appropriate format is yet to diffuse into the rural areas as a result of inadequate health centres and health workers in these areas. There is therefore the need for increased health workers and health centers. Most important is that the rural woman should be a focus in reproductive health care delivery. The study concludes that RHI for women of reproductive age in rural communities must be recognized and addressed as part of a continuum of care in RHI care delivery services. Suggestions to enhance RHI provision and utilization are proffered.