No abstract

Background: The proportion of unintended pregnancy remains high in developing regions due to unmet need for contraception and inconsistent use of modern contraceptives. Practice of emergency contraception is particularly important because of the high rates of unintended pregnancy. The aim was to assess the practice of emergency contraception among female students. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 5,233 female university students in Nigeria. Results: About 25.4% of the students had ever had sex while 64.3% had heard about emergency contraceptives. About half (49.6%) had good knowledge while 70% thought that emergency contraceptives are effective and easy to access and use. Good knowledge about emergency contraceptives was predicted by dwelling urban or suburban areas (AOR=1.750 and 1.817; P<0.05), being single (AOR=2.597, P=0.001), being in the fourth year (AOR=2.096, P<0.001) and having ever had sex (AOR=1.449, P<0.001). Having ever used emergency contraceptive is predicted by good knowledge (AOR=1.852, P<0.001) and perception that emergency contraceptives are effective (AOR=139.774, P<0.001) and easy to access and use (AOR=8.429, P<0.001). Conclusions: Despite a significant risk of unintended pregnancy among female university students, the usage rate of emergency contraceptive is very low. There is a need to actively promote emergency contraception along with other contraceptive methods with the involvement of health workers and the media.

The case of Jonah Gbemre v. Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited made a historic deviation from the usual trend of seeking monetary compensation by host communities in oil-rich regions in Nigeria. Rather, it seeks to correct regulatory shortcomings which were upheld by the court but never enforced. This article argues that the failure to enforce the judgment of the court is a missed opportunity to strengthen the environmental regulatory framework in the Nigerian oil and gas industry. It further argues that if the judgment had been enforced, it could have contributed to the reduction of the militant activities in the region and also encourages a significant change in the pattern of redress sought by litigants whose communities have been affected by the operations of oil multinational corporations in the region.

Least developed countries (LDCs) generally enjoy some exemptions under the WTO TRIPS Agreement. Despite these exemptions, patents continue to pose a major challenge to access to affordable medicines in the East African Community (EAC), especially with respect to the HIV/AIDS pandemic. The EAC is a regional economic bloc made up of 6 states, with 5 of the member states currently ranked as LDCs by the United Nations. This article argues that the implementation of the patent protection standards following the model adopted in the Trans-Pacific Partnership is likely to further exacerbate the access to medicines conundrum of the EAC.

Copyright law is all about balance; it is a balancing act. Its ultimate goal lies in reconciliation of two seemingly conflicting objectives: to guarantee a just reward for creators of works of arts and intellects and to safeguard public access to those works. 1 This balance is pursued through various modalities which include the idea-expression dichotomy, limited terms of protection, collective rights managements, and limitations and exceptions like fair use and fair dealing. The application of these modalities in striking a balance between competing rights has never been straightforward. This delicate balance has been further threatened by the digital technology. Expectedly, copyright owners revived the usual hostility which normally accompanies introduction of a new technology and become more vociferous in ensuring that the advantage gained in the age analogue technologies was is not lost in the digital sphere. Lawmakers' responses have often represented a capitulation to this lobby and failed to take account of the public interest.By ensuring public access, the copyright system fosters learning and dissemination of information. Examples may be found in exceptions supporting teaching, research and criticism and allied activities. When teaching, tutors use copyrighted works to illustrate their point (e.g. showing a painting or playing part of a broadcast). Also, learners engage in transformational usages sharing acquired information with peers. Through blended or hybrid learning, technology supported learning is becoming the norm while fast internet broadband has created an environment for distance learning to thrive. Students listen to recorded lectures or learn in real-time interacting with instructors and peers around the world. However, it appears the CJEU might have jeopardised this innovative way of learning in favour of copyright protection when it fails to fill the lacunae in the InfoSoc Directive with its decision in Renckhoff.