Browsing by Author "Brieger, W. R."

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Evaluation of a school-based reproductive health education program in rural South Western,Nigeria
(2007) Ajuwon, A. J.; Brieger, W. R.
This quasi-experimental study compared the relative efficacy of teacher instructions alone, peer education alone, and a combination of these two on reproductive health knowledge, attitude, perceived self-efficacy and sexual practices among secondary schools students in the lbarapa district of Southwestern Nigeria. A baseline questionnaire was administered to a systematic sample of students in four schools that were randomized into four treatment arms: teacher instructions alone (E1), peer education alone (E2), combination of teacher instruction and peer education (E3), and control, The results were used to design the contents of the interventions, which were implemented for one academic session. A follow-up survey using the same sampling procedures as baseline was conducted to measure the outcome of the intervention. The control group had superior reproductive health knowledge at baseline. By follow-up survey however, all three intervention schools showed significant knowledge gains, while the control school students' mean score increased slightly. Increase in knowledge was greatest among E3 (+5.0 points), followed by E2 (+3.4), E1 (+1.4) and C (0.3). The intervention schools showed a significant positive shift in attitude towards use of contraceptives with mean increase of 0.6, 0.5, and 0.9 points in E1, E2 and E3 respectively. Scores that measured the students' perceived self-efficacy for safe sex increased significantly among E1 (from 10.8 to 11.8) and E3 (from 10.4 to 12.6). Reported condom use was significantly higher among E2 (from 16.7 % to 62.8%) (p<0.05) and E3 (from 22.8% to 53%) (p<0.05) compared to E1 (28.6% to 47.4%) (p>0.05) and control (from 25% to 45.8%) (p>O.05). Overall, the students from E3 showed more improvement in knowledge, attitude and self-efficacy, than their counterparts from E2 and E3 and control. Multiple intervention strategies have greater potential of improving reproductive health of students
Evaluation of a school-based reproductive health education program in rural South Western,Nigeria
(2007) Ajuwon, A. J.; Brieger, W. R.
This quasi-experimental study compared the relative efficacy of teacher instructions alone, peer education alone, and a combination of these two on reproductive health knowledge, attitude, perceived self-efficacy and sexual practices among secondary schools students in the lbarapa district of Southwestern Nigeria. A baseline questionnaire was administered to a systematic sample of students in four schools that were randomized into four treatment arms: teacher instructions alone (E1), peer education alone (E2), combination of teacher instruction and peer education (E3), and control, The results were used to design the contents of the interventions, which were implemented for one academic session. A follow-up survey using the same sampling procedures as baseline was conducted to measure the outcome of the intervention. The control group had superior reproductive health knowledge at baseline. By follow-up survey however, all three intervention schools showed significant knowledge gains, while the control school students' mean score increased slightly. Increase in knowledge was greatest among E3 (+5.0 points), followed by E2 (+3.4), E1 (+1.4) and C (0.3). The intervention schools showed a significant positive shift in attitude towards use of contraceptives with mean increase of 0.6, 0.5, and 0.9 points in E1, E2 and E3 respectively. Scores that measured the students' perceived self-efficacy for safe sex increased significantly among E1 (from 10.8 to 11.8) and E3 (from 10.4 to 12.6). Reported condom use was significantly higher among E2 (from 16.7 % to 62.8%) (p<0.05) and E3 (from 22.8% to 53%) (p<0.05) compared to E1 (28.6% to 47.4%) (p>0.05) and control (from 25% to 45.8%) (p>O.05). Overall, the students from E3 showed more improvement in knowledge, attitude and self-efficacy, than their counterparts from E2 and E3 and control. Multiple intervention strategies have greater potential of improving reproductive health of students
Indigenous surgical practices in rural southwestern Nigeria: implications for disease prevention
(Oxford University Press, 1995) Ajuwon, A. J.; Brieger, W. R.; Oladepo, O.; Adeniyi, J. D.
A qualitative, community-based study was conducted in the rural community of Ago Are in southwestern Nigeria to learn about indigenous surgical practices and their potential for disease transmission. Community leaders as key informants assisted in identifying two types of indigenous practitioner whose work involved blood contact, whose work was observed. The olola are surgeons who specialize in circumcision and making traditional facial-markings, while the generic term for healer, onisegun, performed gbeere, that is making incisions into which medicinal herbs are rubbed. Although the onisegun used a clean blade for his procedures, he rubbed the herbs into the cuts with his bare hands. The olola used the same knife for all operations and cleaned it simply by rinsing it in a bowl of water. The potential for HIV transmission between practitioner and clients and among clients during these procedures is discussed-as is the potential of health education for reducing the demand for female circumcision and training indigenous healers in hygienic methods.
Perceived Stress Factors and Coping Mechanisms among Mothers of Children with Sickle Cell Disease in Western Nigeria
(Oxford University Press, 1997) Olley, L. B.; Brieger, W. R.; Olley, B. O.
While many studies have looked at the stressful effects of chronic illness of those who suffer such conditions, less is known about the effects on caregivers, especially in developing countries. Mothers in particular must bear the brunt of care and stress for children who have sickle cell disease (SCD). A sample of 200 mothers attending six SCD clinics in both public and private hospitals in the Ibadan-Ibarapa Health Zone of Oyo State, Nigeria, were interviewed. Stress levels were measured using an instrument comprised of stressors listed by mothers themselves in focus group discussions that preceded the survey. Higher levels of stress were associated with less educated and older women, as well as non-married women and those in polygamous households. Stress levels were also greater when there was more than one child with SCD in the family and when the index child was of school age. Coping mechanisms varied according to the category of stressor. Financial stress and disease factors were met with confrontation, while family sources of stress were either complained about, accepted or avoided. Knowledge of the different types of mothers who experience more stress and of their preferred coping mechanisms can be useful in designing clinic-based counselling.
Psycho-educational therapy among Nigerian adult patients with epilepsy: a controlled outcome study
(Elsevier, 2001) Olley, B. O; Osinowo, H. O.; Brieger, W. R.
Psychological interventions in relation to epilepsy are worthy of empirical investigation since there is broad agreement that the psycho-social problems of epilepsy are often more disabling than the seizure attacks. The present study using a controlled outcome design evaluated the efficacy of a 2-day psycho-educational program among patients with epilepsy in Nigeria. The psycho-educational program is the consequence of a two-stage study design, which set out to identify and evaluate psycho-social factors that determine interictal psychopathology in people with epilepsy. Thirty out-patients matched according to seizure type and frequency of seizures were randomly assigned to treatment (n515) or waiting-list control (n515) groups. The major outcome measures used were knowledge about illness schedule, the Becks depression inventory and the Crown–Crisp experiential index. Significant differences between the two groups were found on the three major scales used. The treatment group by within-group analyses, showed a substantial significant decrease in level of depression, a significant increase in the knowledge about epilepsy as well as a significant decrease in all measures of neurotic disorders except for hysterical sub-scale.