Association of sociodemographic and maternal healthcare factors with birth registration in Angola

OBJECTIVES

Angola has a high burden of unregistered children and efforts to increase birth-registration coverage have not yielded the desired progress. This study aimed to examine sociodemographic and healthcare-related factors associated with birth registration in Angola.

STUDY DESIGN

Secondary data analysis of the Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Handbook randomised controlled trial conducted in Benguela province, Angola and involving 11,006 women.

METHODS

For this analysis, we excluded women with missing data on birth registration (n = 1424), multiple gestation (n = 243), and those with infant death (n = 6). The final study population included 9333 women with infants under one year of age. We used multilevel mixed-effects logistic regression analysis to determine sociodemographic and healthcare-related factors associated with the registration of a child's birth.

RESULTS

Of the 9333 live births, 25% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 13.4-41.8) were registered, while 21% (95%CI = 11.1-35.7) were registered with certificate. There were higher proportions of registered births among mothers who possessed the MCH Handbook across various demographic and healthcare indicators. Birth registration was most significantly associated with facility-based delivery (odds ratio [OR] = 2.97; 95%CI = 2.45-3.61), possession of MCH Handbook (OR = 2.04; 95%CI = 1.70-2.46), and complete scheduled vaccination visits (OR = 1.69; 95%CI = 1.44-1.97). Higher maternal age and education level, belonging to the highest wealth quintile, beginning antenatal care in the first trimester, attending at least four antenatal care visits, and using postnatal care services were positively associated with registration of birth.

CONCLUSION

Maternal healthcare factors showed significant associations with birth registration and integrating birth-registration processes with certain maternal and child health services may further raise awareness and boost registration levels in Angola.

Health status of birds fed diets containing three differently processed discarded vegetable-bovine blood-rumen content mixtures

This study was conducted to determine the effect of feeding three differently processed mixtures on health status of broilers. A total of 1080 day-old Marshal broilers were fed; discarded vegetable-fresh bovine blood-fresh rumen digesta (P1), discarded vegetable-ensiled bovine blood-fresh rumen digesta (P2) and discarded vegetable-fresh bovine blood-ensiled rumen digesta (P3) at three levels of inclusion (0, 3 and 6%). Data on blood parameters was taken and were subjected to 3 x 3 factorial arrangements in a completely randomized design. Birds fed P1 had least values (p < 0.05) of serum glucose, total protein, globulin, uric acid and creatinine at starter phase. Birds fed diets containing 3 and 6% level of inclusion recorded the highest (p < 0.05) Packed cell volume, Haemoglobin, White blood cell and Red blood cell values. However, those fed at 0% level of inclusion recorded the highest albumin value. At finisher phase, birds fed P2 and P3 had the highest glucose, uric acid and creatinine values. 6% level of inclusion significantly (p < 0.05) increased the total protein and albumin values. Therefore, for enhanced performance and without comprising the health condition of birds; broiler chickens could be fed diets containing discarded vegetable-fresh bovine blood-ensiled rumen digesta (P3) up to 6% level of inclusion.

Contraceptive use among hairdressers in South-west Nigeria

Hairdressers and their apprentices are mostly women in their reproductive years. The social environment in hairdressing salons provides the opportunity to discuss sexual exploits among peers and may influence decisions on sexual behavior. This study was designed to assess the knowledge and use of contraceptives among hairdressers. A structured questionnaire was used to collect information on demographic characteristics and knowledge and use of contraceptive methods among hairdressers in Ibadan, South-west Nigeria. A total of 355 hairdressers were interviewed: 60 apprentices (17%) and 295 qualified hairdressers (83%); 110 (31%) single and 240 (67%) married. They were females aged 15 - 49 years (mean 29 +/- 6.9 years). Some 70% of single women had regular sexual partners. A total of 24 single women (21%) had been pregnant and 20 (18%) had abortions. Some 121 (34%) of the study population were currently using contraceptives: 27 single and 94 married respondents. The prevalence of contraceptive use among sexually active single women was 34%. The condom was the most known and used contraceptive method. The major reasons for non-use of contraceptives were fear of side-effects (23%); need for more children (16%); or respondents were not engaged in sexual activity (12%). Contraceptive use among sexually active single hairdressers is lower than the national average. Workplace educational intervention is needed to prevent unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections among these young women.

Methionine requirement of weanling Large White x Landrace pigs and determined by plasma urea concentration, nitrogen retention and some urinary nitrogenous components

The methionine requirements of weanling Large White x Landrace pigs fed a 20% protein cassava flour-soybean meal diet were evaluated using nitrogen balance, plasma urea concentration, urinary nitrogenous end products and the index--(allantoin/urinary urea) x protein intake (A/U x Ip). Sensitivities of the response criteria to sex differences in methionine requirements were compared. Allantoin excretion consistently and significantly (P less than 0.05) increased with increasing methionine levels to a maximum of 0.55% total methionine. Maximum nitrogen retention was observed in diets containing 0.55, 0.47 and 0.55% total methionine for castrated males, females and the pooled data for both sexes, respectively. Minimum urea concentration in plasma was obtained with the diets containing 0.55% methionine. The index, + A/U x Ip, showed that the diet was better utilized when it contained 0.63, 0.55 and 0.63% total methionine in castrates, females and combination of the two sexes, respectively.