Sexual autonomy and the use of modern contraceptives in Nigeria: Evidence from the 2018 demographic and health survey.

Objective: The objective of the study was to determine the prevalence and relationship between sexual autonomy and modern contraceptive use among Nigerian women.

Methods: Secondary data analysis of the 2018 Nigerian Demographic and Health Survey was conducted among Nigerian women aged 15-49 years who were married or had a partner. Analysis was conducted using descriptive analysis and univariate and multivariate logistic regression.

Indoor Household Exposures and Associated Morbidity and Mortality Outcomes in Children and Adults in South Africa.

Human exposure to indoor pollution is one of the most well-established ways that housing affects health. We conducted a review to document evidence on the morbidity and mortality outcomes associated with indoor household exposures in children and adults in South Africa. The authors conducted a scientific review of the publicly available literature up to April 2022 using different search engines (PubMed, ProQuest, Science Direct, Scopus and Google Scholar) to identify the literature that assessed the link between indoor household exposures and morbidity and mortality outcomes in children and adults.

Factors contributing to household wealth inequality in under-five deaths in low- and middle-income countries: decomposition analysis.

Background: The burden of under-5 deaths is disproportionately high among poor households relative to economically viable ones in developing countries. Despite this, the factors driving this inequality has not been well explored. This study decomposed the contributions of the factors associated with wealth inequalities in under-5 deaths in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).

Sex inequality in under-five deaths and associated factors in low and middle-income countries: a Fairlie decomposition analysis.

Background: There exist sex disparities in the burden of Under-five deaths (U5D) with a higher prevalence among male children. Factors explaining this inequality remain unexplored in Low-and Medium-Income Countries (LMIC). This study quantified the contributions of the individual- and neighborhood-level factors to sex inequalities in U5D in LMIC.

Decomposition of factors associated with housing material inequality in under-five deaths in low and middle-income countries.

Background: Low-and Medium-Income Countries (LMIC) continue to record a high burden of under-five deaths (U5D). There is a gap in knowledge of the factors contributing to housing materials inequalities in U5D. This study examined the contributions of the individual- and neighbourhood-level factors to housing materials inequalities in influencing U5D in LMIC.

Health Risk Analysis of Elemental Components of an Industrially Emitted Respirable Particulate Matter in an Urban Area.

Particulate matter of aerodynamic diameter of less than 2.5 µm (PM) is a recognised carcinogen and a priority air pollutant owing to its respirable and toxic chemical components. There is a dearth of information in South Africa on cancer and non-cancer risks of exposure to heavy metal (HM) content of PM.

Association between household environmental conditions and nutritional status of women of childbearing age in Nigeria.

Maternal undernutrition remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in Nigeria. Yet, most interventional programmes are focused on infant and child nutrition outcomes and not on maternal nutrition-related outcomes. Evidence suggests that the integration of household environmental interventions into nutrition actions can make a difference in reducing the burden of maternal undernutrition.

Concentration levels and carcinogenic and mutagenic risks of PM-bound polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in an urban-industrial area in South Africa.

Concerns over the health effects of exposure to particulate matter of aerodynamic diameter of less than 2.5 μm (PM) led the South African Government to establish the national standard for PM in the year 2012. However, there is currently no exposure limit for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and PM-bound PAHs.

Biological Composition of Respirable Particulate Matter in an Industrial Vicinity in South Africa.

There is a growing concern that exposure to particulate matter of aerodynamic diameter of less than 2.5 µm (PM) with biological composition (bioaerosols) may play a key role in the prevalence of adverse health outcomes in humans. This study determined the bacterial and fungal concentrations in PM and their inhalation health risks in an industrial vicinity in South Africa.

Household environment and symptoms of childhood acute respiratory tract infections in Nigeria, 2003-2013: a decade of progress and stagnation.

Background: Acute respiratory infections (ARIs) remains a disease of public health importance in Nigeria. Though, previous studies have identified factors associated with childhood ARI symptoms, the progress made in reducing the burden of this major childhood morbidity in the past decade in Nigeria has not been quantified. Therefore, this study describes the trends in the prevalence and factors associated with ARI symptoms among under-five (U5) children in Nigeria between years 2003 and 2013.

Neonatal, infant and under-five mortalities in Nigeria: An examination of trends and drivers (2003-2013).

Neonatal (NMR), infant (IMR) and under-five (U5M) mortality rates remain high in Nigeria. Evidence-based knowledge of trends and drivers of child mortality will aid proper interventions needed to combat the menace. Therefore, this study assessed the trends and drivers of NMR, IMR, and U5M over a decade in Nigeria.

Health risk of inhalation exposure to sub-10 µm particulate matter and gaseous pollutants in an urban-industrial area in South Africa: an ecological study.

Objective: To assess the health risks associated with exposure to particulate matter (PM), sulphur dioxide (SO), nitrogen dioxide (NO), carbon monoxide (CO) and ozone (O).

Design: The study is an ecological study that used the year 2014 hourly ambient pollution data.

Setting: The study was conducted in an industrial area located in Pretoria West, South Africa.

Housing materials as predictors of under-five mortality in Nigeria: evidence from 2013 demographic and health survey.

Background: Nigeria is among countries with high Under-Five Mortality (U5M) rates worldwide. Both maternal and childhood factors have been linked to U5M in the country. However, despite the growing global recognition of the association between housing and quality of life, the role of housing materials as predictors of U5M remain largely unexplored in Nigeria.

Health Outcomes of Exposure to Biological and Chemical Components of Inhalable and Respirable Particulate Matter.

Particulate matter (PM) is a key indicator of air pollution and a significant risk factor for adverse health outcomes in humans. PM is not a self-contained pollutant but a mixture of different compounds including chemical and biological fractions. While several reviews have focused on the chemical components of PM and associated health effects, there is a dearth of review studies that holistically examine the role of biological and chemical components of inhalable and respirable PM in disease causation.

Wealth status and sex differential of household head: implication for source of drinking water in Nigeria.

Background: Source of potable water has implication on the population health. Availability of Improved Drinking Water Sources (IDWS) is a problem in developing countries, but variation exists across segments of the population. This study therefore examined the relationship between wealth status, sex of household head and source of potable water.