Papanicolaou (Pap) smear test is considered the best approach to reduce cervical cancer incidence worldwide. We surveyed 195 female health workers with structured questionnaires to identify factors that could influence the awareness and utilization of the Pap smear as a cervical cancer screening test. More than 65% of the respondents were aware of the disease, cervical cancer, and approximately 64% were aware of the Pap smear test. Seven three (39.7%) of the respondents had their sexual debut (coitarche) before the age of 20 years, while 109 (59.9%) have had multiple sexual partners. The modal number of sexual partners was 3, range 0-8. Pap smear awareness level significantly varied among the categories of the female health workers (P < 0.001). A minority of 14.1% have had a Pap test. There was a significant variation in utilization of Pap test across the various categories of the health workers (Pearson Chi-square 14.67, P < 0.05), and a significant correlation between Pap smear awareness and utilization (P < 0.001). The majority, 89%, believed that they were not at risk of developing cervical cancer. The self-reported utilization of Pap test among health workers was low. While there was a positive correlation between Pap test awareness and utilization, screening uptake was very poor due to a combination of inappropriate beliefs, misapprehension, and deficient knowledge. There is an urgent need for an aggressive awareness campaign and the provision of a screening program nationally.

The prevalence of anemia in pregnancy is still high in our setting. Quality ANC appeared a valuable preventive intervention that should be made widely available, accessible and affordable to all pregnant women.

Papanicolaou (Pap) smear test is considered the best approach to reduce cervical cancer incidence worldwide. We surveyed 195 female health workers with structured questionnaires to identify factors that could influence the awareness and utilization of the Pap smear as a cervical cancer screening test. More than 65% of the respondents were aware of the disease, cervical cancer, and approximately 64% were aware of the Pap smear test. Seven three (39.7%) of the respondents had their sexual debut (coitarche) before the age of 20 years, while 109 (59.9%) have had multiple sexual partners. The modal number of sexual partners was 3, range 0–8. Pap smear awareness level significantly varied among the categories of the female health workers (P < 0.001). A minority of 14.1% have had a Pap test. There was a significant variation in utilization of Pap test across the various categories of the health workers (Pearson Chi-square 14.67, P < 0.05), and a significant correlation between Pap smear awareness and utilization (P < 0.001). The majority, 89%, believed that they were not at risk of developing cervical cancer. The self-reported utilization of Pap test among health workers was low. While there was a positive correlation between Pap test awareness and utilization, screening uptake was very poor due to a combination of inappropriate beliefs, misapprehension, and deficient knowledge. There is an urgent need for an aggressive awareness campaign and the provision of a screening program nationally.

Aims: The aim was to determine the sex ratio at birth in St Philomena Catholic Hospital (SPCH), Benin City, south-south, Nigeria and to assess its relationship with birth order and maternal age. Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, the records of all deliveries at St Philomena Catholic Hospital (SPCH), Benin City, Nigeria between 1st January, 2005 and 31st December, 2014 (10 years) were retrieved and analyzed. Stillbirths and infants with ambiguous genitalia were excluded in the analysis. Results: The total number of live-births during the 10-year period under review was 13,702 and these consisted of 7,007 males and 6,695 females, resulting in a sex ratio of 104.7:100 (approximately 1.05) at birth. The yearly sex ratios varied from 1.01 to 1.14. The maternal age and the birth order significantly influenced offspring sex ratio at birth (p < 0.001). The highest sex ratio was found among third-birth-order offspring and the lowest was found among offspring of fifth-birth order and above. Offspring of mothers aged 25-29 years had the highest sex ratio and those of mothers aged 40 years and above had the lowest sex ratio. Conclusions: The sex ratio at birth in south-south Nigeria is comparable to values obtained from south-west Nigeria but lower than that obtained from north-west Nigeria. The birth order and maternal age influenced the offspring sex ratio at birth.

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