Browsing by Author "Adedimeji, A. A."

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Improving outcomes in cancer diagnosis, prevention and control: barriers, facilitators and the need for health literacy in Ibadan Nigeria
(Wiley Online Library, 2016) Adedimeji, A. A.; Lounsbury, D.; Popoola, O.; Asuzu, C.; Lawal, A.; Oladoyin, V.; Crifase, C.; Agalliu, I.; Shankar, V.; Adebiyi, A.
Background: Cancers constitute a significant public health problem in Nigeria. Breast, cervix and prostate cancers are leading causes of cancer-related deaths. Changing diets, lifestyles, HIV/AIDS and macro-structural factors contribute to cancer morbidity and mortality. Poor health information linking cancer risk to individual behaviors, environmental pollutants and structural barriers undermine prevention/control efforts. Studies suggest increasing health literacy and empowering individuals to take preventive action will improve outcomes and mitigate impact on a weak health system. Methods: We obtained qualitative data from 80 men, women, and young adults in 11 focus groups to assess beliefs, risk-perceptions, preventive behaviors and perceptions of barriers and facilitators to cancer control in Ibadan, Nigeria and conducted thematic analysis. Results: Participants demonstrated awareness of cancers and mentioned several risk factors related to individual behaviors and the environment. Nonetheless, myths and misconceptions as well as micro, meso and macro level barriers impede prevention and control efforts. Conclusion: Developing and implementing comprehensive context-relevant health literacy interventions in community settings are urgently needed.
Socio-cultural factors affecting pregnancy outcomes among the Ibani of Rivers State, Nigeria.
(2007-03) Nwokocha, E. E; Obono, O.; Adedimeji, A. A.
The Ibani of Rivers State, Nigeria, have a high incidence of maternal and infant mortality/morbidity, which has been linked to the perception, attitude and practices of the people with regard to pregnancy and childbirth. This study examines the process leading to pregnancy outcomes among the Ibani. Through all interdisciplinary approach, it provides an in-depth and comprehensive understanding of the association between pregnancy outcome and child spacing; source of antenatal care; and access to and use of antenatal health care facilities. Data are collected through in-depth interviews, focus group discussions, case studies, observation and survey questionnaires. The findings indicate that pregnancy outcome among the Ibani is not necessarily derived from spousal communication and gender discourse, because women whose husbands were solely responsible for decision making on child spacing recorded higher type-1(mother and child survival) outcome (87.7 per cent) than those who shared decision making with their spouse. There is no consistent relationship between the amount of time spent on getting to the source of antenatal care and pregnancy outcomes because Ibani women who spent between 31 and 59 minutes to get to the source of antenatal had more type-1 outcomes than those who spent about 30 minutes. Other factors affecting pregnancy outcomes, among the Ibani of Rivers State, include communal and individual values, norms and practices, and their persistent influence signals a need to investigate their separate and combined influences on pregnancy outcomes. The study contributes to a demographic understanding of how macro-level factors impinge upon individual-level events like pregnancy outcomes.