Background: Teenage pregnancy (TP) is a serious health problem world-wide which has grievous after effect on health of females. The study aims at identifying factors influencing TP in rural communities of Abia State – Nigeria. It also seeks to determine the current prevalence of TP.Methods:A household survey of 10 randomly selected communities was carried out using a multi-stage sampling method. A sample of 400 girls aged 11-19 years, was calculated from a population of 2505 girls enumerated from the 10 communities, using Lutz’s formula n = Z2pq/d2 as stated by Ejemot- Nwadiaro  Data were collected using a pre-tested structured questionnaire that was interviewer administered. Data were analyzed quantitatively using SPSS V20. Chi-Square statistic was used in determining statistical significance.Results: The prevalence of TP in this study was 49%. Factors identified to influence TP were broadly categorized into four: socio-demographic factors of teenage age P<0.05, marital status P<0.05, education P<0.05, employment P<0.05. Others were awareness factors P<0.05, parental factors P<0.05, teenage life style and societal factors P<0.05.Conclusions:Efforts to mitigate teenage pregnancy and its attendant public health and socio-economic problems should begin by proffering lasting and sustainable solutions to these identified factors.

AIM: Low level of knowledge and practice of exclusive breast feeding have been reported in Nigeria especially in rural communities. The purpose of this study is to identify factors contributing to low knowledge and practice of exclusive breast feeding (E B F) in rural communities of Abia State, Nigeria and apply health promotion intervention (H P I) to address these factors in order to increase knowledge and practice of E B F. METHOD: A quasi-experimental study design was used. Four communities formed the unit of allocation to experimental and control groups for the purpose of introducing health promotion intervention. A multi-stage sampling procedure was used in selecting the study sample. A sample size of 400 households out of 1978 enumerated from the four communities was used for the survey, two as experimental and two as control. Data were collected using a pretested structured questionnaire that was interviewer administered. Data were analyzed quantitatively and qualitatively. Chi-square statistic was used in determining statistical significance. Analysis of knowledge and practice of EBF was taken before and after H P I and compared in both experimental and control groups.\ RESULT: The results indicated increase in knowledge of E B F from 28(14%) to 200(98.5%). Correspondingly, practice of E B F increased from 21 (10%) to 162(80%) in the experimental group. No significant increase was made in the control group both in knowledge and practice of EBF. Factors contributing to low level of practice of EBF in the study area included low level of knowledge about ten steps to successful breast feeding, illusory fears about EBF, ignorance, resistance to change, cultural imperatives and medical reasons. Health promotion intervention directed at the rural women helped to scale up the practice of EBF to 70% within nine months. CONCLUSION: The study recommends health promotion intervention as a proven method for scaling up knowledge and practice of EBF in rural communities. [TAF Prev Med Bull 2011; 10(6.000): 657-664

Effective paragonimiasis eradication programme in Nigeria eradicated the once endemic disease and no case was reported from 1980 to 2007. e �rst reported reemergence case was in 2007 and �ve more cases till January 2011 when this study was undertaken. is study is to determine the pre-disposing factors for the reemergence. e factors will help plan a sustainable long lasting and hopefully everlasting eradication programme. 2760 households from the identi�ed twelve villages with the endemic disease were systematically selected. Pretested questionnaires were interviewer administered to the head of each of the selected household. e data collected were analyzed quantitatively and qualitatively. e pre-disposing factors that precipitated the reemergence of the disease included low level of awareness of the disease by the entire populace including the health workers. is included the causative agent, the mode of transmission, and control; conservative cultural habits of preparing crab meal; eating improperly cooked crab and also insanitary disposal of faeces and sputum. A holistic eradication programme should be planned to have sustained activities that will usher in everlasting disease-free area. e programme should involve all people, policy makers, health workers, and the entire populace, taking care of peculiarities of the peoples habits.

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