BACKGROUND: Sexual and reproductive health (SRH) is an important aspect of health and a fundamental human right which includes sexuality education, family planning, safe motherhood, post-abortion care, prevention and management of sexually transmitted infections and HIV/AIDS. The aim of this study was to assess the sexual behaviour and utilisation of SRH services (SRHSs) among in-school adolescents in Ekiadolor, Edo state. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study conducted among in-school adolescents in Ekiadolor. The respondents were then selected using a multistage sampling technique. An interviewer administered questionnaire was used to obtain data for the study. Data were coded and entered into IBM SPSS version 22.0 for analysis and P < 0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: A higher proportion of the respondents were male and 58.2% were of early adolescent age group (10–14 years), with a mean age of 14.29 ± 1.72 years. Only 6 (5%) of the respondents had good knowledge. Forty-seven (11.7%) respondents were sexually active and 36 (76.6%) of these engaged in safe sexual behaviour. Seven (1.7%) respondents visited hospital for SRHS and the major services utilised were counselling, HIV testing and acquisition of contraceptive pill. Eighteen (38.3%) of those sexually active had utilised condom during sex. CONCLUSION: There was a poor knowledge of contraception and low level of utilisation of SRHSs among the secondary school students. However, a higher proportion of the sexually active respondents engaged in safe sexual behaviour.

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BACKGROUND : Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in both developed and developing countries, affecting about 2 million women and causing 6.6% of all cancer deaths each year. Although developed countries have higher rates of breast cancer, the availability of structured screening programmes enables early detection and thus prevention of morbidity and mortality. AIMS : This article presents the findings of a 10-year population-based breast cancer screening programme by a member state of the Medical Women's Association of Nigeria (MWAN). METHODS : A retrospective exploration of the database of MWAN Akwa Ibom state was carried out for 10 years of 2008–2017. RESULTS : A total of 2203 women were screened for breast cancer between 2008 and 2017. Majority were 31–40 years (36.9%) and married (56.8%). Only 27% did monthly self-breast examinations. On clinical breast examination (CBE), breast lump was found in 166 (7.5%) of the respondents, with the most common location being the left outer upper quadrant. An enlarged lymph node was seen in only 1% of the population. Clients aged 20 years or less (24.5%) and those living with a partner (16.1%) formed a significantly higher proportion of those with a breast lump. Respondents who had never breast fed had a significantly higher percentage of breast lumps compared to those who had (10.1%). CONCLUSION : This study found that breast lumps were more common in the younger population and those living with partners. Non-breastfeeding was seen to be associated with an increased risk of developing breast lumps. Routine monthly breast self-examination, regular clinical breast examination and follow-up of individuals with breast lesions are recommended to facilitate early detection of breast cancer in our resource-poor setting. We also recommend reduced age of screening for breast lumps and CBE for younger women.

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BACKGROUND: Trust in health systems is important in the practice of medicine and medical research. Healthcare workers including physicians need to have trust in healthcare systems during this COVID-19 pandemic. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY: This is a cross-sectional study conducted in Nigeria among physicians practicing in Nigeria. The questionnaire used for this study was adapted from the World Health Organization Blue Print Novel Coronavirus Perceptions of healthcare workers regarding local infection prevention and control procedures for a COVID-19 research protocol. Participants were recruited online. RESULTS: The number of participants in this study was 302, with 195 (64.6%) being females. There was no statistical relationship between the socio-demographic data and trust in health facilities (P < 0.05). There was a significant relationship between trust in the health facility and the provision of clear accessible policies and protocols with regard to infection prevention and control, personal protective equipment and support (P = 0.003). There was no relationship between trust in health facilities and location of health facility, job role or gender. CONCLUSION: Clear accessible communication on policies and protocols, as well as the provision of personal protective equipment and support, would contribute greatly to trust in health facilities and the health system and can help curb the COVID-19 pandemic.

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BACKGROUND: Nigeria has experienced repeated outbreaks of Lassa fever over the years, with cases reported in Asaba, Delta State as well. A number of measures to prevent and control the spread of Lassa fever in Delta State have been carried out. This study was conducted to determine the knowledge, attitude and practices of health workers and residents in Asaba towards the prevention and control of Lassa fever, particularly after prevention and control measures had been instituted. METHODS: A cross-sectional descriptive survey was conducted among health workers and residents in Asaba. Self-administered questionnaires were used as the instrument of the study. All collected data were cleaned, sorted and entered into the spreadsheet of Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 22 for analysis. RESULTS: A total of 400 completed questionnaires were retrieved, with 63.5% of respondents being females and 36.5% males. About 85.5% of respondents were aware that rats were the vectors of Lassa fever, but only 10.3% knew that ribavirin was the drug of choice for treatment of the condition. Bagging of waste at home was carried out by 64.3% of the study population, while 55.7% did that at work. As much as 21.5% of the subjects claimed they had been bitten by a rat, while 76% said they soak and drink garri. As much as 41.9% of health workers indicated they would not know what to do if they came in contact with a suspected or confirmed case of Lassa fever, and only 19.3% said they used personal protective equipment at work. CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest that practices of health workers and residents in Asaba put many of them at high risk of contracting Lassa fever. RECOMMENDATION: Stricter enforcement of control measures on a long-term basis is required to achieve positive behaviour change with regard to prevention and control of Lassa fever.

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INTRODUCTION: Breast cancer in the young is rare. Breast cancer in young women seems to be on the rise in Nigeria. They present within the peak of reproductive years and career. They have more aggressive disease with a worse prognosis. Treatment is based on knowledge of treatment of older women. There are very scanty data on breast cancer in the young in our environment. This study aims to highlight the clinical stage of presentation and histological subtypes among women below 40. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This is a prospective study done over 2 years. The patients' sociodemographic data, clinical staging and histological diagnosis were noted. RESULTS: A total of 112 cases of breast cancer were seen, out of which 58 (51.75%) cases were aged below 40 years. Forty patients (68.9%) cases had Stage IV disease, 12 (20.68%) of the cases had Stage III, five (8.62%) had Stage II and one patient had Stage I (1.72%). Out of the 40 who were Stage IV, three were pregnant in the third trimester. Histology was invasive ductal carcinoma for 48 (84.4%) cases, while nine (15.52%) were invasive lobular cancer and one was medullary carcinoma (1.72%). Hormone and immunohistochemistry showed that 30 (51.7%) were triple-negative, 22 (37.93%) were oestrogen receptor and progesterone receptor+ and six (10.34%) were human epidermal growth factor+. CONCLUSION: More than half of the total cases of breast cancer seen within the period were young women who presented with late stage of the disease with the majority as triple-negative.

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Intimate partner homicide – an increasingly global, mental and public health issue with enormous social and economic consequences – is widely unreported and undocumented in Nigeria. This article reports attempted homicides managed in Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital within 2 years. It aims to arouse public interest to stimulate the enactment of protective policies for vulnerable victims who are mostly women.

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Müllerian duct anomalies are a group of congenital uterine disorders that arise from an arrest in development, incomplete fusion or incomplete resorption of the mesonephric ducts. They are usually asymptomatic but diagnosed incidentally. An 18-year-old girl presented at the gynaecology clinic with a history of primary amenorrhea and failure to develop secondary sexual characteristics. She is the only daughter of a widow. According to the mother, her pregnancy and birth histories were normal, and delivery was by spontaneous vaginal delivery. The patient had satisfactory developmental milestones and had completed secondary school at the time of presentation. She is of average physical stature with rudimentary breasts (tanner Stage 2), lacking axillary and pubic hairs. A pelvic examination revealed a 1.5 cm blind-ending vaginal pouch. A radiologic evaluation was done using ultrasonography and magnetic resonance imaging showed the absence of the uterus and the ovaries. The patient and the mother were counselled on management options, including the future fertility options. The mother vehemently rejected the option of surgery and has not been seen since after that.

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