Browsing by Author "Oduola, O."

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Community based distribution agents’ approach to provision of family planning information and services in five Nigerian States: A mirage or a reality?
(African Online Scientific Information Systems (AOSIS), 2011-01-11) Fayemi, M.; Momoh, G.; Oduola, O.; Delano, G.; Ladipo, O.; Adebola, O.
Background: Reducing maternal mortality in Nigeria has received continuous attention both nationally and internationally. Objectives: This article highlights the outcome of an intervention which sought to address maternal mortality reduction through increasing contraceptive uptake in 10 rural local government areas (LGAs)in five Nigerian states. Method: The community based distribution (CBD) approach was used in the implementation of a three year intervention that targeted 10 LGAs. Two hundred and fifty community members were trained as community based distribution agents (CBDA) to provide information on reproductive health, provide non-prescriptive family planning (FP) commodities, treat minor aliment and make referrals to primary health centres within the communities. Results: Final evaluation revealed an increase in the proportion of community members who had utilised FP commodities at all, from 28% at baseline to 49%, and an increase in the proportion of current contraceptive users from 16% at baseline to 37%. An average of 50% increase in clientele patronage was also observed in the 10 LGAs’ primary health care centres. Most (96%) of the interviewed CBDA agents reported that a drug-revolving system was in place to ensure that drugs and commodities were available. On-the-spot assessment of the service forms revealed that 86% of them had their activities regularly recorded in their worksheets. Some of the challenges faced by CBDA were discrimination and misconception of community members about family planning (38%), inadequate financial support (14%), and transportation problems (8%). Conclusion: This study has demonstrated that the CBD approach played a critical role in enhancing access to Reproductive Health and Family Planning information and services in the project communities.
Contribution of the indigenous health care givers to the herbal management of febrile illnesses in Rivers state, South-south, Nigeria
(2005-12) Ebong, O. O.; Ajaiyeoba, E. O.; Ononiwu, I. M.; Eteng, M. J.; Akinbiye, D. O.; Gbotosho, G. O.; Falade, C. O.; Bolaji, O. M.; Oladepo, O.; Osowole, O. S.; Happi, T. C.; Fawole, O. F.; Ogundahunsi, O. A. T.; Agbagwa, I. M.; Oduola, O.; Oduola, A. M. J.
This study was carried out in two rural communities; kaani and Boue, in Khana Local Government Area (LGA) and in one urban community, Elomo, in Elomo LGA, all in Rivers state, South-south, Nigeria. The investigations involved in-depth interview conducted with 104 health care givers comprising indigenous healers: herberlists, sellers of herbal remedies and community elders. Information was obtained on types of fevers (febrile illnesses) treated, symptoms and methods of establishing illnesses, and traditional herbs used in the prevention and treatment of febrile illnesses. On types of febrile illnesses treated, respondents presented the following: malaria (78.8%), typhoid (23.1%), yellow fever (21.2%), high fever (19.2%), convulsion (15.4%), and pregnancy fever (2.9%). Other illnesses treated were yellow eyes (4.8%), headache (11.5%), waist pain (14.4%), and joint pains (8.7%). Respondents determined whether a person had fever by the following: physical examination (85.4%), listening to patients' complaints (9.4%), through divination and inspiration (9.4%), while others (0.2%) were not quite explicit on their methods of diagnosis. On the treatment of febrile illnesees, respondents used herb teas (88.5%), herb powders (42.3%), incantation (3.3%), and performance of sacrifice (4.8%) or use of special fluids (27.9%). Majority of the respondents in describing the best herbal medicines for the treatment of febrile illnesses, 62.5% said that dogonyaro (Azadiracta indica) was the best medicine. Other responses were: lemon grass (Cymbepegon papaya) leaf/fruit (20.2%): guava (Psidium guajava) leaf (18.3%), akpagbogoro (Salacia nitida), 7.7%, plantain (Musa sapientum) sucker (6.7%), lipton tea (3.8%) and scent leaf (Ocimum gratissimum), 1.9%