The rising population of the elderlyis one of the most important demographic phenomena in recent times globally. In Nigeria, the estimated population of older persons is about 6 million, and this group of people are confronted with various health challenges and a reduction in earnings, which exacerbates their poor health and healthcare utilization. Studies have shown that healthcare is a fundamental requirement for living a socially and economically productive life; however, in many developing countries including Nigeria, healthcare services utilization among older persons and particularly retirees has received less attention. The main objective of this study was to examine the determinants of healthcare services use among retired primary school teachers in Etinan Local Government in Akwa Ibom State. We utilized Andersen’s healthcare model to explain the factors associated with retirees’ healthcare utilization.Data were collected throughnon-participant observation and semi-structured interviews, conducted with 217 respondents.Data on socio-demographic characteristics of respondents were analyzed using descriptive statistics, while qualitative narratives were analyzed thematically and presented verbatim. Findings from the study revealed that the majority of respondents attributed difficulties in the utilization of health care services to inadequate health facilities, lack of trained healthcare personnel, high cost of health services, distance to health facilities, and late payment of pension, among other factors. Study findings suggest the need for the provision of quality healthcare infrastructure for the retired adults and timely payment of pensions as a panacea for poor healthcare accessibility and utilization.

This study examined the influence of labels used to stigmatise cannabis consumers on the control of cannabis consumption in a Community in Ebonyi State, Nigeria. Three research objectives were raised to guide the study. The questionnaire was used to get information on the socio-demographic variables of the respondents. Focus group discussion (FGD) sessions was thereafter conducted in five different places (N = 55, n = 11). Responses from study participants to FGD questions were transcribed verbatim. Three themes emerged in the process. These themes include stigma labels and its deterrent effectiveness on cannabis consumption, stigma labels and differentiation of cannabis consumers from non-consumers and stigma labels and deterrence of public consumption of cannabis. It was found among other things that labels were often used by non-cannabis consumers to stigmatise the cannabis consumers with derogatory name calling as its major preoccupation. This was not an effective tool in deterring cannabis consumers from cannabis use. It was recommended that other researches should focus only on cannabis users to see how they respond to it. It was concluded that counselling should be extended to cannabis users who live in the rural areas of Nigeria.

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The continuing conflict situation in Nigeria have created over 2 million displaced persons. In 2019, women and children accounted for about 80% of the internally displaced population in the country. Displacement increases the need for reproductive health services. This study explored the reasons for non-use of modern contraceptives among forcibly displaced Bakassi women in Akwa Ibom State, southern Nigeria. Focus group discussions were used to collect data from a convenience sample of 40 women of reproductive age (15–49 years) in two makeshift resettlement camps in the region in January and February 2020. Data were analysed using a qualitative inductive approach, with thematic organization and analysis of the transcribed responses from the focus group discussions. The findings revealed that many of the women were not using modern contraceptives at the time of the study, and the major reasons they gave for non-use were misconceptions, costs, religious beliefs, desire for more children and the inaccessibility and unavailability of contraceptive services. The use of family planning services can be a life-saving intervention in unstable, crisis environments. Programme implementation to address non-use of contraceptive services among women in crisis contexts should target social norm change, reproductive health education, empowerment programmes and health service provision.

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