Background: The use of modern forms of contraception can significantly improve women reproductive health. The rate of sexually transmitted disease, unwanted pregnancies and maternal morbidity and mortality can be significantly reduced following the use of modern forms of contraception. However, there is paucity of studies on the place of modern forms of contraception in improving women reproductive health in Yenagoa. Objective: This study aimed to access the knowledge of modern forms of contraceptive methods and its uptake among female students of Federal University Otueke, Bayelsa State. Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study that was conducted among the female students of Federal University Otueke Bayelsa State. To elicit information about their knowledge of modern forms of contraceptives methods and its uptake. A structured interviewer administered questionnaire was used to obtain required information for the study from a total of 424 students. Results: A total of 424 female undergraduates students of the Federal University Otueke were enrolled for the study. The mean age group of the participants was 20.9±3.2 years. The study showed that most of responds have good knowledge of contraceptives (97.4 %). The awareness of family planning was 96.7%. The study showed that age was found to influence the awareness of contraceptives. (x2=11.8;df=3;p<0.05). Most of the respondents had used oral contraceptive pills 146 (34.4%); followed by those that had used Condom 138 (32.5%). Conclusion: Our study showed that the respondents demonstrated a high level of knowledge and awareness of family planning. However, it is worrisome to note that the uptake of modern forms of contraceptives was low. The importance of improving the uptake of these forms of contraceptives cannot be over-emphasized, especially in our societies where the protection of the reproductive health of young women is paramount.

Background: Cervical cancer is one of the commonest cancers in women. It is the commonest cause of cancer related death in Africa. It is one of the cancers that have well known screening methods. In developed societies with standard protocol for screening, the morbidity and mortality following the disease have been greatly reduced. There is paucity of knowledge of cervical cancer and its screening methods in Yenagoa. Objectives: To determine the knowledge of cervical cancer and its screening methods in female students of a Tertiary educational institution. Methods: This was a cross-sectional descriptive study that was conducted amongst the female students of Federal University Otuoke. Information about their socio-demographic characteristics, knowledge of cervical cancer and the screening methods was obtained using a questionnaire. Results: A total of four hundred and twenty four (424) female students of the Federal University Otuoke were enrolled for the study. The mean age of the respondents was 21.0±3.4 years. The predominant age group was 15-20 years (50.6%). One hundred and eighty three respondents (57.9%) were aware of cervical cancer and the age groups 21-25 years were most aware of cervical cancer. Age was found to influence awareness of cervical cancer. (x2=12.8; df=3; p<0.05). A total of eighty one respondents 26.9% were aware of Pap smear. Age was found to influence the awareness of Pap smear (x2=12.8; df=3; p<0.05). Conclusion: Our study showed that awareness of cervical cancer and the role of Pap smear in the screening of cervical cancer was low amongst the female students of the Federal University Otuoke. Hence the need to make every effort to increase the awareness of this condition and the screening methods amongst these female undergraduates, who are at the prime of their age and at the greatest risk of developing this condition, especially in our societies that lack well organized screening protocols.

Background: Calcium and magnesium are two micronutrients whose role in the development of preeclampsia has been investigated over the years. There is paucity of studies on the role of serum levels of calcium and magnesium in the development of preeclampsia in south-south Nigeria. Objective: Our study evaluated the serum level of calcium and magnesium in preeclamptic and non preeclamptic women in a Tertiary Hospital in southsouth Nigeria. Methodology: We carried out a comparative study in which 52 preeclamptic and 52 non preeclamptic women, who satisfied the eligibility criteria, were enrolled for the study. Data entry and statistical analysis was done using statistical software (IBM SPSS® for windows version 21.0). Data were analyzed for mean and standard deviation. Comparison of serum levels of elements between the two groups was performed by student t-test, and P value < 0.05 was considered as statistically significant. Results: The serum calcium level was statistically lower in the women who developed preeclampsia compared to those who did not (8.37±0.91 mg/dl vs 9.33±1.15mg/dl, p<0.001). The serum magnesium level was not statistically different between women who had preeclampsia and those who did not (1.79±0.24mg/dl vs 1.88±0.37mg/dl, p = 0.102). The systolic and diastolic blood pressure showed a significant negative correlation with serum calcium 438 level, unlike serum magnesiun level in those that had preeclampsia. Conclusion: This study showed that women who developed preeclampsia demonstrated reduced serum calcium level and no reduction in serum magnesium level. This study support the hypothesis that hypocalcaemia, unlike hypomagnecaemia, is a possible aetiology of preeclampsia.