Sexual Dysfunction and Infertility Amongst Spouses in Adamawa State, Nigeria (Published)
The rate of family crisis and divorce arising from sexual dysfunction and infertility amongst spouses in Nigeria is alarming. An investigation was carried out to find the causes, signs and symptoms of sexual dysfunction and infertility amongst spouses in Adamawa State, Nigeria. Respondents were purposively selected with the use of questionnaires for oral interviews, observations and discussions. One hundred volunteer spouses were screened and sent to hospitals for diagnosis of reproductive diseases through culture of their urine, stool, vaginal swabs, semen and prostate content. These specimens were also examined under the electric microscope. Ultrasounds scanning of prostate glands, bladders, kidneys and ovaries or fallopian tubes of the spouses were also carried out to check for abnormalities. The results showed that, 88% of the spouses suffering from these conditions are between the ages of 20 to 40years while 12% are in the age bracket of 50 to 70years old. The findings indicated that, 90% of them are married while 10% are still single. The results showed that, 78% of the spouses had infection for 1 to 10years while 22% had it for more than 11years. The results showed that, 80% of them contracted the infection through sexual intercourse while 20% don’t know how and where they got infected. The hospital culture of urine, vaginal swabs, semen and prostate content of all the spouses showed negative results. The microscopic examinations of these specimens yielded positive to abdominal Schistosomiasis (bilharziasis). The ultrasound scanning of the prostate glands, kidneys and ovaries/ fallopian tubes revealed abnormalities of various degrees. Spouses with early or mild infections (for 1 to 10years) manifested the first 15 symptoms while those with severe and critical infections (for more than 11years) manifested all the 30 symptoms. Therefore, infections of the urinary bladders, genital organs, prostate glands and kidneys by Schistosome species contracted through sexual intercourse may be responsible for sexual dysfunction and infertility amongst spouses in the study area. There should be proper sensitivity for the diagnosis of mild infections caused by this parasite. Immediate authorities should, as a matter of urgency, initiate and support the development of a drug that could be used to serve as an intervention programme in Nigeria and the world at large.
Keywords: Adamawa State., Infertility, Nigeria, Sexual Dysfunction, Spouses
Socio-Economic Factors and Awareness of HIV/AIDS among Rural Women Farmers in Ebonyi State, Nigeria: Issues for Guidance and Counselling (Published)
This study analyzed the socio-economic factors influencing rural women farmers’ awareness of HIV/AIDs in Ebonyi State, Nigeria: Issue for Guidance and Counseling. The study employed purposive and multi-stage random sampling techniques in the selection of 120 rural women who formed the sample size. Primary data used for the study were collected using questionnaire and interview schedule. These were analyzed with descriptive and inferential statistics. The result of data analysis showed that the rural women in the study area were knowledgeable on mode of transmission of HIV/AIDs such as: mother-child (94.17 percent), sexual-intercourse ( 93.33 percent), contaminated sharp (piercing ) instruments (91.67 percent) among others. The result of multiple regression analysis indicated a coefficient of multiple determination R2 of 68.5 percent. This means that about 68.5 percent of the level of awareness of HIV/AIDs in the area was influenced by the socio-economic characteristics of the respondents. Most of the explanatory variables were statistically significant and met a priori expectations. The null hypothesis tested at 5 percent level of significance was rejected. This shows that there is significant relationship between the socio-economic characteristics of the rural women and their level of knowledge of HIV/AIDs in the area, hence the need for counseling. Further analysis identified lack of adequate information (3.64), remoteness of the rural areas (3.10), cost of information access (3.12) among others as major obstacles which limited rural women knowledge of HIV/AIDs in the area. It was concluded that improving the knowledge of HIV/AIDs through constant guidance and counseling would minimize the spread of the scourge and as well improve the contribution of the women to agricultural development in the study area. Necessary recommendations such as improving the educational status of the women farmers among others were made.
Keywords: Awareness Guidance and Counseling, Ebonyi State, HIV/AIDS, Nigeria, Rural Women, Socio-Economic Factors