BackgroundSchistosomiasis is a disease of public health importance with long term complications mostly common among children, rural dwellers, poor and migrant workers. Studies have not documented the burden among migrant workers and their families. The study aimed to describe the burden of schistosomiasis and demographic characteristics among children of migrant workers residing in a rehabilitation home in Ibadan, Nigeria.MethodsA cross-sectional study using sixty six children, who were tested following complaints of haematuria by six of them. An interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to collect information on demographic and environmental characteristics of the children and urine microscopy, was conducted. Data was analysed using descriptive statistics and correlation. Statistical significance was set at 5%.ResultsMean age of respondents was 11.8 ± 4.0 years and 57.6% were males. The prevalence of schistosomiasis was 19.7% with preponderance among males (64.3%) and children aged 12 years and above (71.4%); 85.7% of infected children were from Kwara State; 78.6% waded in water body and 92.9% had red blood cells and pus cells on urine microscopy.ConclusionsThe burden of schistosomiasis is high among children of migrant workers and they serve as reservoirs for transmission of the disease. Government needs to work synergistically with NGOs, FBOs and other partners to achieve schistosomiasis prevention and control among this particular group.

Aim Preventive reproductive health services have been identified as one of the strategies to reduce maternal mortality and morbidity. The objective of this study was to assess awareness and utilization of these services among rural women in southwestern Nigeria. Subject and methods A descriptive cross-sectional study utilizing one-stage cluster sampling was used to survey 494 women aged 15-49 years. Data were collected on socio-demographic characteristics, awareness and utilization of selected preventive reproductive health services. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and chi-square test at p = 0.05. Results Age of respondents was 29.8 ± 8.2 years, 41.1 % had secondary education and about half (51.8 %) were traders. Majority (66.6 %) were aware of screening services for HIV with 26.1 and 11.7 % aware of breast self-examination (BSE) and clinical breast examination (CBE). Only 1.0 and 1.6 % of respondents were aware of visual inspection for acetic acid (VIA) and Pap smear for cervical cancer screening. Almost half of the respondents (46.8 %) had ever undergone HIV screening, while <1.0 % had obtained a VIA or Pap smear, 18.8 % had ever practiced BSE and 4.5 % CBE. A significantly higher proportion of those with tertiary education (20.9 %) were aware of CBE compared with secondary (12.3 %) and primary education (6.6 %; p = 0.005). Conclusion Awareness and utilization of reproductive health services among this group particularly with regard to breast and cervical cancer screening were poor. Awareness of CBE increased with higher level of education. Greater public sensitization and health education are advocated.