BACKGROUND: Globally, unplanned pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) persist as a significant threat to women's reproductive health. In Nigeria, despite huge resources committed to family planning programs by stakeholders, contraceptive use has been very low. This study aimed at unraveling the barriers to the use of modern contraceptives among women of reproductive age (15-49 years) in Ise-Ekiti community, Ekiti State, Southwest Nigeria. METHODS: This study was a cross sectional study among women aged 15-49 years. A multi-stage sampling technique was used in the recruitment of respondents from the community. An interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to collect data. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 15. RESULTS: Although contraceptive awareness among respondents was high 496(98.6%), only 254 of the 503 respondents were using modern contraceptive methods giving a Contraceptive Prevalence Rate (CPR) of 50.5%. Among those not using any form of contraceptives, some identifiable barriers to contraceptive use includes desire for more children, 62(39.5%), partner disapproval, 40(25.5%), and fear of side-effects, 23(14.6%). Factors associated with contraceptive uptake include marital status (p=0.028), educational level (p=0.041) and religion (p=0.043) with traditional worshippers having the least uptake. CONCLUSION: This study showed that awareness to modern forms of contraceptives does translate into use. The identified barriers to contraceptive uptake suggest the need to improve uptake of contraceptives through a community-based and culturally acceptable intervention as doing this will go a long way in addressing some of these barriers. KEYWORD: Contraceptives uptake, barriers, women of reproductive age

Introduction Recently, there has been an upsurge in the migration of medical personnel, especially early career doctors (ECDs) from low‐ and middle‐income countries, Nigeria inclusive, to high‐income countries with wide‐ranging consequences on the social and economic systems of the donor countries. This study assessed the profile and determinants of intention to emigrate by ECDs in Nigeria. Methods A cross‐sectional study conducted among Nigerian ECDs from nine tertiary hospitals. Socio‐demographic characteristics, intention & reasons to emigrate and willingness to return were collected using a self‐administered semi‐structured questionnaire. Data were analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 23. Results A total number of 763 ECDs participated in the study. The majority (88.2%) were less than 40 years of age and the male to female ratio was 2:1. Majority of the participants (69.4%) received monthly income ≤833 US Dollar. About two‐thirds of ECDs had plans to emigrate and most to developed countries. Common reasons for intention to migrate were better quality of postgraduate training, improved quality of life and better remuneration. Conclusion High proportion of Nigerian ECDs has intention to emigrate out with potential adverse effect on the fragile health system in the country.

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Background Asymptomatic malaria infections have received less attention than symptomatic malaria infections in major studies. Few epidemiological studies on asymptomatic malaria infections have often focused on pregnant women and children under-five years of age as the most vulnerable groups. However, there is limitation on data regarding asymptomatic infections among the old adult populations, particularly in the study area. Therefore, this study determined the prevalence of asymptomatic malaria infection by microscopy and its determinants among residents of Ido- Ekiti, Southwestern Nigeria. Methods A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted between July and September 2021 among 232 consenting apparently healthy individuals aged 40 years and above who were recruited during a free health screening program using a standardised interviewer-administered questionnaire. The questionnaire sought information on respondents’ socio-demographics, presence and types of co-morbidity, and the prevention methods being adopted against malaria infection. Venous blood samples were collected and processed for asymptomatic infections using Giemsa-stained blood smear microscopy. Data were analysed using SPSS version 21. Multivariate logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with asymptomatic infections. Results Of the total 232 respondents, 19.0% (48/232) were confirmed to be infected with Plasmodium falciparum (95% confidence interval (CI): 14.1% - 24.6%). Lack of formal education (Adjusted odds ratio (AOR): 5.298, 95% (CI): 2.184-13.997), being diabetic (AOR: 4.681, 95% CI: 1.669-16.105), and not sleeping under Long Lasting Insecticide Net (LLINs) (AOR: 4.594, 95% CI: 1.194-14.091), were the determinants of asymptomatic Plasmodium falciparum infection. Conclusion The prevalence of asymptomatic Plasmodium falciparum was 19%. Lack of formal education, being diabetic, and not sleeping under LLINs were the determinants of asymptomatic infections.

1) Background: leadership behaviour is a poorly explored phenomenon among early-career doctors (ECDs). Good leadership is vital in maximising the effective management of patients in a clinical setting. While a good number of studies, though with small sample surveys, have researched the role of leadership in clinical setting quantitatively, qualitative investigations are yet to be done in Nigeria. This study aims to explore the attitudes, skills, and experience of ECDs in Nigeria on issues pertaining to leadership in a medical setting, using a mixed-method approach. (2) Methods: we conducted two sessions of key informant focus group discussion (FGD) that involved 14 ECD leaders in Nigeria, exploring their leadership experience in a clinical setting. Furthermore, we used a self-administered questionnaire to quantitatively survey 474 ECDs from seven Nigerian teaching hospitals to explore their attitudes, skills, and experience on issues pertaining to medical leadership.