Background and Aims:Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a known cause of cervical cancer which is the second-most common cancer among women worldwide. HPV vaccination is a primary prevention to reduce the occurrence of cervical cancer. This study assessed knowledge, attitude and uptake of HPV vaccine among female undergraduates in Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTECH).Methods:A descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted among 400 female undergraduates of LASPOTECH in August 2018. Participants were selected using a multi-stage sampling technique and data was collected with a pretested, self-administered, semi-structured questionnaire. Univariate and bivariate analyses were conducted using IBM SPSS version 20. Statistically significant level was set at P ≤ 0.05.Results:Mean age of respondents was 21.3 ± 2 years. Only 11 (3%) of the respondents had good knowledge of HPV and the vaccine. However, majority of the respondents 356 (92.7%) had positive attitude towards uptake of HPV vaccine. Only 10 (2.6%) of the respondents had received a single dose of HPV vaccine. Age, level of study and number of sexual partners of the respondents were statistically significantly associated with knowledge and attitude towards the HPV vaccine (P ≤ 0.05). The most common reason stated by the respondents for none uptake of HPV vaccine was lack of information.Conclusion:Knowledge and uptake of HPV vaccination among the respondents were poor. However, majority had positive attitude towards uptake of the vaccine. It is recommended that information on HPV and the vaccine should be made available to increase the knowledge and the uptake among female undergraduates in Lagos State.

Background:Human milk is uniquely superior as a source of nutrition for infants, and breastfeeding has many benefits. This study determined the breastfeeding knowledge and practices of women who have children aged 0-2 years living in a Naval Barracks.Methods:This descriptive cross sectional study was carried out among 220 women in a Naval Barracks selected using systematic random sampling method. Pre tested questionnaires were administered by trained interviewers, and data was analyzed using Epi info 2000 and Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 19.Results:There was generally fair knowledge about breastfeeding among the women. Most of the respondents (97.3%) had ever breastfed their babies, 56.5% of them initiated breastfeeding within an hour of delivery, 24.1% admitted that they gave pre lacteal feeds, 74.1% practiced exclusive breastfeeding for a mean period of 4.98 months and 30.7% engaged in bottle-feeding. Several factors were significantly associated with breastfeeding practices.Conclusions:Breastfeeding practices varied among the respondents despite the fair knowledge.Global Health Implications:This study reveals the need to educate women and communities worldwide particularly in low-income countries about good breastfeeding practices. Targeting these women will help to improve maternal and child health.

Background: Globally, postpartum depression is one of the most common but often unrecognized complications of childbirth, yearly affecting about 10–15% of postnatal women. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of postpartum depression and its predictors among postnatal women in Lagos. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 250 mothers in Eti-Osa Local Government Area of Lagos State, Nigeria, attending six Primary Health Care centers for infant immunization at six weeks post-delivery. Data was collected using a pretested semi-structured interviewer administered questionnaire which included the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale. Analysis was carried out using SPSS version 23TM. Chi-square and logistic regression analyses were used to determine associations and predictive relationships between various factors and the presence of postpartum depression. The level of significance was set at <0.05. Results: The prevalence of postpartum depression was 35.6%. Multiparity, delivery by cesarean section, mother being unwell after delivery, and not exclusively breastfeeding the baby were the factors linked with postpartum depression. Following multiple logistic regression, having postpartum blues (p=0.000; OR=32.77; 95%CI=7.23-148.58)., not getting help with caring for the baby (p=0.008; OR=2.64; 95%CI=1.29-5.42), experiencing intimate partner violence (p=0.000; OR=5.2; 95%CI=2.23-11.91) and having an unsupportive partner (p=0.018; OR=2.6; 95%CI=1.17-5.78) were identified as predic- tors of postpartum depression. Conclusion: This study revealed a high prevalence of postpartum depression, identifying both the obstetric and psycho- social predictors. Social support for women both in the pre- and postnatal periods and routine screening of women for postpartum depression should be encouraged for early detection and immediate intervention. Keywords: Postpartum depression; PPD; Eti-Osa; postnatal women; Lagos.

Background: Malaria accounts for approximately 1 million deaths annually and about 300,000 deaths in Nigeria alone. Pregnant women and their unborn babies are particularly vulnerable to the adverse consequences of malaria. This study assessed the knowledge, perception, and preventive practices for malaria in pregnancy (MiP) among women in Lagos, Nigeria. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional, descriptive study design was adopted. A total of 422 respondents were selected using multistage sampling technique. Data were collected using a structured, interviewer-administered questionnaire in the first quarter of 2016. Analysis was done with Epi Info™ 7 software with level of significance set at P < 0.05. Results: All respondents were aware of MiP, and almost all the respondents (96.2%) were aware that malaria is caused by infected mosquito bite. Majority (89.3%) of the respondents registered for antenatal care in their last pregnancy, but 56.6% did so in the second trimester. A little over half (55.5%) had good knowledge of MiP. There was poor knowledge of the complications of MiP in mothers, with 27% unaware of any complications. Majority (51.6%) of them did not know the complications of malaria in the fetus. Better educated respondents had statistically significant better knowledge of MiP ( P = 0.001). Only two-fifths of the respondents (39.8%) agreed that MiP can lead to death of the fetus. Most (41.9%) used insecticide spray and coils in the prevention of MiP, whereas only 36.9% used intermittent preventive treatment. Only 24.1% used insecticide-treated nets and almost 20% used no form of prevention. Conclusion: Respondents’ knowledge, perception, and preventive practices for MiP were not satisfactory. Public health education on MiP should be intensified at the community level in order to improve knowledge and prevention and also to correct misconceptions.

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