The study investigated the effect of Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench extract on the renal activity of both normal and ailing patients. Phytochemical analysis, antioxidant activity, vacuum liquid chromatography and TLC were carried out. The creatinine reduction ability was analyzed using Jaffe’s method for clean-catch spot urine samples of normal, diabetic and hypertensive patients. S. bicolor showed strong antioxidant activity with an IC50 value of 52.17 μg/ml, compared to the standard vitamin C with an IC50 value of 40.59 μg/ml. Statistical analysis (ANOVA) result showed a significant difference between the patients’ urine (rows) (p-value = 2.77×10–08) and a significant difference between the dose treatments (columns) (p-value = 8.38×10–14). Whilst different fractions of S. bicolor at different concentrations showed varying effects on the creatinine concentration, it reduced creatinine level in low doses and has antioxidant properties. Dhaka Univ. J. Pharm. Sci. 21(2): 165-172, 2022 (December)

BACKGROUND: Some cultural practices which encourages both maternal mortality and infant death, are still a major challenge especially in developing countries like Nigeria, cultural norms and practices during childbirth are common but little is documented about how these cultural and religious beliefs influence women and their childbirth place choices. The aim of this study was to find out the prevalent cultural factors that influence the choice of childbirth places among the women of child bearing age, in Oyigbo Local Government area of Rivers State in Nigeria. METHODOLOGY: A self-structured questionnaire was used as instrument to collect data for the study through simple random sampling, and these data was analyzed using Frequency and percentage for descriptive statistics while chi-square was used for inferential statistics at 0.05 level of significance. RESULT: The result showed that most of the women had secondary education and were mostly influenced by patriarchal system, and also there was a high level of hospital adherence among the women in Oyigbo. The influence of cultural factors; family traditions (x² = 12.56, p = 0.006), religious beliefs (x² = 70.66, p = 0.000), Lack of confidence in health facilities (x² = 367.83, p = 0.000), and Presence of male skilled birth attendants (x² = 50.85, p = 0.000), were statistical significant to the choice of childbirth place while patriarchal system (x² = 2.99, p = 0.393) was not statistically significant to the choices of childbirth places of women in Oyigbo. Influence of religion (x² = 125.46, p = 0.000) on choices childbirth place was statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Therefore, this study has shown that there is significant religious and cultural influence on the choices of childbirth places of women in Oyigbo Local Government Area of Rivers State. KEYWORDS: Birthplace, Childbirth, Maternal Mortality, Oyigbo, Women’s health

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BACKGROUND: Some cultural practices which encourages both maternal mortality and infant death, are still a major challenge especially in developing countries like Nigeria, cultural norms and practices during childbirth are common but little is documented about how these cultural and religious beliefs influence women and their childbirth place choices. The aim of this study was to find out the prevalent cultural factors that influence the choice of childbirth places among the women of child bearing age, in Oyigbo Local Government area of Rivers State in Nigeria. METHODOLOGY: A self-structured questionnaire was used as instrument to collect data for the study through simple random sampling, and these data was analyzed using Frequency and percentage for descriptive statistics while chi-square was used for inferential statistics at 0.05 level of significance. RESULT: The result showed that most of the women had secondary education and were mostly influenced by patriarchal system, and also there was a high level of hospital adherence among the women in Oyigbo. The influence of cultural factors; family traditions (x² = 12.56, P = 0.006), religious beliefs (x² = 70.66, P = 0.000), Lack of confidence in health facilities (x² = 367.83, P = 0.000), and Presence of male skilled birth attendants (x² = 50.85, P = 0.000), were statistical significant to the choice of childbirth place while patriarchal system (x² = 2.99, P = 0.393) was not statistically significant to the choices of childbirth places of women in Oyigbo. Influence of religion (x² = 125.46, P = 0.000) on choices childbirth place was statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Therefore, this study has shown that there is significant religious and cultural influence on the choices of childbirth places of women in Oyigbo Local Government Area of Rivers State.

Choices of childbirth places among women may influence the rate of maternal mortality which is still a major challenge especially in developing countries like Nigeria. Some of these choices could be influenced by social and economic factors and the commonest being home birth which increases maternal risks. This study aimed to find out the prevalent socio-economic factors that influence the birthplace choices among the women in a suburban community in Rivers State, Nigeria. The study utilized a descriptive, cross-sectional design. Respondents were selected through simple random sampling. A self-structured questionnaire was used to collect data for the study. The data were analyzed using frequency and percentage for descriptive statistics and chi-square for inferential statistics with the SPSS software at 0.05 level of significance. The result showed that most of the women had secondary education (57.1%) and choose health facility for childbirth (91.4%).There was significant association between distance (x²= 12.69, p= 0.005)and available finance (x²= 10.26, p= 0.016), and educational qualifications (x²= 18.75, p= 0.005)and the choices of childbirth places among the women, but there was no significant association between road access to health facility (x²= 5.47, p= 0.140)and unavailability of skilled birth personnel (x²= 6.23, p= 0.101) and income (x²= 8.38, p= 0.212) and choices of childbirth places among the women. This study has shown that there is influence of some socio-economic factors on the choices women make on childbirth places.