BackgroundPregnant women are susceptible to symptomatic malaria due to invasion of the placenta by plasmodium. Malaria increases the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes for mothers, the foetuses and newborns. The effective use of Insecticide Treated Nets (ITNs) would be of benefit to these vulnerable women. Previous studies have focused on prenatal-women but this study sought to explore the actual trend of utilization of the proven strategy across all the pregnancy stages among postpartum women in Ibadan.MethodsThis cross-sectional survey utilized a validated structured questionnaire for data collection. A calculated sample of 335 postpartum women was proportionately recruited from three fee-paying facilities within Ibadan, Nigeria using a simple random sampling technique. These hospitals have high client flow for maternity cases and are known for provision of care under traditional ANC model. The data collected were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics by means of Statistical Package of Social Sciences (SPSS) version 15. The level of significance was set at = 0.05.ResultsThe women's age ranged between 18 and 47 years, mean age was 29.4 ± 0.8 years. Various irregularities marked the traditional model of ANC provided at the settings and no exposure to preconception care. Also, 276 (82.4%) had heard of ITNs. Antenatal clinics formed the major source of information. Low utilization and compliance rates were observed. One hundred and twenty-seven (37.9%) of the women had high knowledge of Malaria in Pregnancy (MIP) but only 70 (20.9%) demonstrated positive attitude towards the use of ITNs. Participants' educational status, family types, employment and residential areas significantly influenced ITNs utilization.ConclusionsThe women knew and learned about ITNs from ANC visits. Majority of the women did not own ITNs because of lack of access to free distribution. The existing traditional model of ANC was marked by irregularities and none of the women was exposed to preconception care. In addition, negative attitude in spite of increased knowledge of MIP was observed among the women. Therefore, evaluation of free distribution of ITNs is recommended. Integration of focused ANC and preconception care are advocated to promote early access to health information.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer, and the leading cause of cancer death among women globally [1]. In 2018, there are over 2 million new breast cancer cases globally and 24.2% of all types of cancers; 54,900 new cases diagnosed in the United Kingdom (UK), 330,080 in the United State of America (USA), [2]. The incidence rate ranges from 29.3 per 100,000 people in North Africa to 22.4 per 100 000 in Sub-Saharan Africa [3,4]. The number of new cases and mortality rate from breast cancer is a result of population growth and increased life-span in both high-and low-income countries [5].Before now, breast cancer is considered to be a disease of affluence that affects the developed countries but has now cut across all socioeconomic levels with burden more in developing countries such as Nigeria [6]. The increasing incidence of breast cancer in Nigeria and the paucity of the specialist man-power and structural facilities imply that the caregiving burden rests mostly on family caregivers/informal caregivers. Breast cancer presents a typical picture of the enormity of cancer burden on the Nigerian nation [7].Breast cancer affects not just those who have the disease but also their informal caregivers who provide care. The informal caregivers perform many activities that used to be done in the health facilities by health workers [8]; they can help in drugs administration, counselling, dressing, and other treatment plans

BackgroundThe heart-breaking maternal and neonatal health indicators in Nigeria are not improving despite previous interventions, such as ‘Health for all’ and ‘Millennium Development Goals. The unattained health-related goals/targets of previous interventions put the success of the new Sustainable Development Goals in doubt if the existing paradigm remains unchanged. Thus, mere branding of health policies without improving what constitutes the health system such as manpower capacity and quality as well as staff-patients ratio will be wasteful efforts. This issue of global public health concern provided an indication for describing the capacity of manpower and reasons for staff shortage in primary level of health that are providing maternity services to women and their new-borns in Nigeria.MethodsThis is an embedded mixed-methods study. Its quantitative strand collected data with the aid of a structured questionnaire from 127 health workers across the 21 purposively selected primary health care centres in five local government areas. Descriptive statistics were employed for analysis. The qualitative strand of the study collected data through in depth interviews from medical officers of health or their representatives. The tape recorded and transcribed data were thematically coded, while reporting was by direct quotes. The mixing of the data from both strands was done in the discussion section.ResultsTwenty-nine (22.8%) of the health workers were between ages 51–58; 111 (87.4%) were married, while 44 (34.6%) had worked for duration of 21–33 years in service. Evidences of incompetence were observed among the health workers. A total of 92 (72.4%) had been performing episiotomies on women in labour. Similarly, 69.8% had been repairing vaginal traumas. Nine (7.1%) knew the necessary steps of controlling postpartum vaginal bleeding, while 115 (91.3%) of them had not been trained in Life-Saving Scheme and post-abortions care.ConclusionThe shortage of manpower, disproportional skilled/semi-skilled ratio, lack of framework for staff recruitment, staff incompetence and inappropriate childbirth practices show that women were not receiving quality maternal and neonatal cares at the maternity centres.

Objective: Late antenatal care (ANC) registration and irregular attendance have been implicated as factors preventing women from receiving the full benefits of effective ANC. Therefore, this study seeks to elicit the factors that impact pregnant women's timing of registration for ANC in a mission hospital, in Ibadan, Nigeria. Method: A cross-sectional study of 160 women attending the booking clinic over a 4-week period. A structured questionnaire was utilized to collect data on sociodemographic characteristics, index pregnancy, previous pregnancy and past obstetrical history. Result: Only 14 women (9.4%) booked at first trimester while 93 (62.4%) and 42 (28.2%) booked at second and third trimesters respectively. For previous and current pregnancies, the husband's instruction was the leading influence for booking, at 71 (45.8%) and 89 (57.4%) respectively. Knowledge of ANC timing, experience of loss of child and miscarriage were significant predictors of gestational age at booking. Conclusion: This study suggests the need for education at a pre-conceptual stage of the benefits of early initiation of ANC for women.

AimThe study assessed the return for prenatal care and childbirth services among Nigerian women using primary health care facilities.DesignA descriptive cross‐sectional approach was employed for the study.MethodsA total of 730 participants randomly recruited systematically from 21 purposively selected primary health care facilities in Ibadan, Nigeria were studied. A questionnaire and a checklist were used for data collection. The collection of data spanned three months (April to June, 2014). The data were analysed descriptively and inferentially while the results were presented in frequency tables.ResultsThe women's mean age was 28 ± 5.3 years. Out of the 730 women studied, 92.6% received prenatal care. The mean difference between the number of prenatal care registration and the number of childbirths was 76.5. Poor environmental hygiene of facilities, statistically significant cost of services and non‐availability of 24‐hr service were implicated for dissatisfaction with care received by the women and consequent poor return rate for childbirth.