Department of Biological Sciences
Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://dspace.njala.edu.sl/handle/20.500.144402/136
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Item Menstrual Hygiene Management- A Study among Adolescent Girls in Five Schools in Bo District, Sierra Leone(Scientific Research and Community Ltd, 2020-07-01) Osborne, AugustusMenstruation can place significant impacts on girl’s health and education if they are not properly informed about effective menstrual hygiene management. The present study was undertaken to assess the knowledge and practices of menstrual hygiene among adolescent girls in five schools in Bo district, Sierra Leone and to assess the restrictions practiced by them during menstruation. A cross sectional study design was carried out among 103 in November 2019. A self-administered structured questionnaire at schools was used for data collection. Data was collected regarding their knowledge about menstruation, from where they get information and practices followed to maintain menstrual hygiene, problems faced while attending school during menstruation and facilities available in school, etc. The analysis part was done with the help of SPSS version 25. Age of respondents varied between 12-21 years with the mean age of 16.5. 69.9% of the girls don’t know from were menstrual bleeding occurs. Majority of the girls are using sanitary pads as absorbent during menstruation. 42.7% of the girls said they have been restricted from praying when seeing their menses and 49.5% of the girls said they feel their school is uncomfortable to keep hygiene during menstruation. The findings led to the conclusion that the girls have deficient knowledge and inadequate practices regarding menstruation and its management. ISSN: 2634 - 680XItem Assessment of Perceptions and Practices on Menstruation among Adolescent Girls in Five Schools in bo district, Sierra Leone(Scientific Research and Community Ltd, 2020-06-26) Osborne, AugustusMenstrual hygiene is essential as it promotes the health of women. Unhygienic menstrual practices can affect the health of girls and can lead to urinary tract infections. Many girls deficient of appropriate knowledge in menstruation and menstrual hygiene. It is therefore necessary to assess their perceptions, problems, and practices on menstruation. This Cross-sectional study was conducted amongst 103 secondary school girls from five schools in the southern part of Sierra Leone via structured questionnaire. Majority of the students, were aged 15-18 years. 29.1% of the girl’s attained menstruation at age 14 years. 57.3% of the girls believed that the normal monthly interval of menstruation is 28 days. 33% of the girls said Menstruation upsets them. Staining of dress and bad odor 30.1% were the most embarrassment faced by girls during menstruation. 64.1% of the girls said Scared was their reaction to Menstruation. 78.6% of the girls said Worried is how they feel when they don’t get their period on time. Menstrual problems were most commonly discussed with their mothers, (68%), and least commonly discussed with the fathers, 1.9%. Majority of the respondents had poor knowledge on menstruation, menstrual hygiene and practices. Menstruation perceptions are poor, and practices often incorrect. A multi-dimensional approach focusing on capacity building of mothers, and teachers on sexuality education skills; using religious organizations as avenues for sexuality education; and effectively using the Mass Media as reproductive health education channels are recommended towards improving adolescents’ perceptions and practices on menstruation. (Afr Reprod Health 2008; 12\[1\]:74-83).ISSN: 2634 - 680XItem Knowledge, prevalence, and risk factors for self-reported sexually transmitted diseases among University Students in Sierra Leone(African Journals OnLine, 2023-12-12) Osborne, Augustus**Introduction:** Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are a worldwide health concern. Students often engage in sexual acKvity while away at college, puVng themselves at risk for STDs, unintended pregnancies, and unsafe aborKons because of their lack of parental supervision. This research aimed to determine the prevalence of STDs and the variables that contribute to their spread among Sierra Leonean University students. **Methods:** An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted on 340 Njala University students selected using the multistage sampling technique in August 2022. The data were collected using a structured, pre-tested self-administered quesKonnaire. Multinomial logistic regression analyses and Pearson chi-square were employed through SPSS version 26 to identify factors associated with sexually transmitted infections. The odds raKo with a 95% confidence interval was computed to determine the level of associaKon. In the regression analysis, variables with a p-value of less than 5% were considered statically significant associations between covariates and sexually transmitted infections. **Result:** The prevalence of a posiKve test for STIs among the sexually acKve respondents was found to be (33.6%). The knowledge of STIs among the respondents was very high (90.6%). All respondents in the various age groups (16-20, 21-25, 26-30, 31-35, 36-40 and 41-450) were likelier to have good knowledge of STIs with OR >1 and p < 0.05. **Conclusion:** Self-reported STI infection rates among Sierra Leonean University students were relatively high. Therefore, it is crucial to educate students about the dangers of sexual promiscuity and the need to continue using condoms.Item Herbal medicine safety awareness among Healthcare Professionals in Freetown Sierra Leone(African Journals OnLine, 2023-12-12) Osborne, Augustus**Background:** There is a pressing need to incorporate herbal medicine preventaKve measures into the current pharmacovigilance system, as recent evidence from the World Health OrganizaKon (WHO) shows. However, medical professionals are generally unaware of the relaKve safety of herbal remedies. Therefore, this research aimed to determine the awareness of herbal safety among medical professionals in Sierra Leone. **Methodology:** In this study, we used a cross-secKonal survey of medical staff (n=309) working at three of Freetown, Sierra Leone's, leading medical centers between March and April 2022. The data analysis was performed using StaKsKcal Packages for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 28. We employed descripKve staKsKcs to count instances of a category and assign a percentage. We used a backwards stepwise binary logisKcs regression to find significant associaKons between awareness and predictors at the 5% significance level (p0.05). **Results:** Evidence from the study revealed that around 54.7% of respondents knew about herbal medicine safety. There is an associaKon between the knowledge about drug-herbal interacKon and the level of understanding, average observed risk (AOR) = 1.63; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.00-2.66; however, no connecKon was found between years of experience and how well-knownherbal remedies are safe, and finally, no associaKon between the various departments and the level of understanding except for the outpaKent department \[Adjusted Odds RaKo (AOR) = 0.49; 95% Confidence Interval (CI):0.25-0.95\]. **Conclusion:** Our findings reveal that medical professionals' knowledge concerning the security of herbal medicine in Freetown, Sierra Leone is unsaKsfactory. Therefore, the regulatory bodies of the various healthcare cadre must promote standardised, coordinated educaKon for all medical personnel to establish an effecKve pharmacovigilance framework for tracking herbal medicaKon.Item Bullying victimization among in-school adolescents in Sierra Leone: A cross-sectional analysis of the 2017 Sierra Leone Global School-Based Health Survey(Public Library of Science, 2023-12-22) Osborne, AugustusAdolescent bullying victimization is recognized as a public health and mental health problem in many countries. However, data on bullying victimization's prevalence and risk factors is scarce in sub-Saharan Africa Sierra Leone. This research aimed to determine bullying victimization prevalence and its associated factors among Sierra Leonean school-going adolescents. The Sierra Leone 2017 Global School-based Health Survey (GSHS) dataset was analyzed. The outcome variable was the respondent's self-report of bullying victimization ("How many days in the previous 30 days were you bullied?"). Descriptive, Pearson chi-square and binary logistic regression analyses were conducted. The regression analysis yielded adjusted odds ratios (aOR) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) and a significance level of p 0.05. Bullying victimization was prevalent among 48.7% of the in-school adolescents. Adolescents who drank alcohol \[aOR = 2.48, 95% CI = 1.50-4.10\], who reported feelings of loneliness \[aOR = 1.51, 95% CI = 1.07-2.14\] and who had attempted suicide \[aOR = 1.72, 95% CI = 1.03-2.87\] were also more likely to be bullied. Also, school truancy \[aOR = 1.53, 95% CI = 1.24-1.88\] among teenagers was associated with an increased risk of being bullied. Our findings suggest that bullying is a widespread problem among Sierra Leonean school-aged youth, and alcohol drinking, loneliness, suicide attempt and school truancy are potential risk factors. In light of the aforementioned causes of bullying in schools, policymakers and school administrators in Sierra Leone need to develop and execute anti-bullying policies and initiatives that target the underlying risk factors of bullying among teenagers.Item Women’s knowledge of symptoms of obstetric fistula, experiences, and associated factors in Sierra Leone(Public Library of Science, 2024-10-24) Osborne, AugustusBACKGROUND: Obstetric fistula is a devastating childbirth condition that results from prolonged obstructed labour without timely medical intervention, leading to a tear between the birth canal and the bladder or rectum. It is a public health issue, particularly in low-income countries with limited access to quality maternal healthcare. This study aims to assess knowledge of fistula symptoms among women who had a fistula and its associated factors in Sierra Leone. METHODS: Cross-sectional data from the 2019 Sierra Leone Demographic and Health Survey was used for the study. Our study comprised 15,574 reproductive women aged 15 to 49. Using a four-modelled approach, a mixed-effect multilevel binary logistic regression analysis was performed to assess the factors associated with knowledge of fistula symptoms among women who had a fistula. The results were presented as adjusted odds ratios with a 95% confidence interval. RESULTS: The proportion of knowledge of fistula symptoms among women who had a fistula was 57.5% \[55.3,59.7\] in Sierra Leone. Women aged 20-49, particularly those between 40-44 \[aOR = 2.82; 95% CI: 2.13, 3.73\], were more likely to be aware of knowledge of fistula symptoms among women who had a fistula compared to teenagers (15-19). Women with higher levels of education \[aOR = 2.07; 95% CI: 1.49, 2.88\] were more likely to be aware of knowledge of fistula symptoms among women who had a fistula than those without education. Working women \[aOR = 1.33; 95% CI: 1.14, 1.56\], those who listened to the radio \[aOR = 1.47; 95% CI: 1.30, 1.67\] or used the internet \[aOR = 1.64; 95% CI: 1.32, 2.05\], and those with a high number of lifetime births \[aOR = 2.00; 95% CI: 1.57, 2.54\] were more likely to be aware of knowledge of fistula symptoms among women who had a fistula. Women who had ever had sex \[aOR = 2.19; 95% CI: 1.73, 2.77\], were pregnant \[aOR = 1.37; 95% CI: 1.13, 1.66\] or had terminated a pregnancy \[aOR = 1.30; 95% CI: 1.07, 1.59\] were more likely to be aware of knowledge of fistula symptoms among women who had a fistula. A female household head \[aOR = 1.20; 95% CI: 1.05, 1.38\] was associated with a higher likelihood of knowledge of fistula symptoms among women who had a fistula. On the other hand, larger household sizes \[aOR = 0.86; 95% CI: 0.75, 0.97\] and living in the Western region \[aOR = 0.48; 95% CI: 0.31, 0.75\] were associated with a lower likelihood of knowledge of fistula symptoms among women who had a fistula. CONCLUSION: Most reproductive-aged women in Sierra Leone have knowledge of fistula symptoms among women who had a fistula. Factors such as age, education, occupation, media exposure, parity, sexual activity, pregnancy status, abortion history, ethnicity, household structure, and geographic location influence the knowledge of fistula symptoms among women who had a fistula. Based on these findings, the government and partner organisations in Sierra Leone should implement comprehensive health education programs targeting reproductive-aged women, with a specific focus on obstetric fistula prevention, symptoms, and available treatment options.Item Trends, and patterns, of premarital sexual intercourse and its associated factors among never-married young women aged 15–24 in Sierra Leone(Public Library of Science, 2024-08-22) Osborne, AugustusBACKGROUND: Premarital sexual intercourse has essential implications for the sexual and reproductive health and rights of young women. These include increased sexual pleasure and satisfaction as well as exposure to the risks of unintended pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections, including HIV/AIDS. This study examined the trends, patterns, and associations of premarital sexual intercourse among young women aged 15-24 in Sierra Leone. METHODS: Nationally representative cross-sectional data from the 2008, 2013, and 2019 Demographic and Health Surveys in Sierra Leone were used for the study. A weighted sample of 9,675 never-married young women was used to estimate the pooled prevalence of premarital sexual intercourse in Sierra Leone. Percentages were used to present the results of the trends and patterns of premarital sexual intercourse. We employed a multilevel binary logistic regression modelling technique to examine the associations of premarital sexual intercourse. The results were presented using adjusted odds ratio with their respective 95% confidence interval. RESULTS: The pooled prevalence of premarital sexual intercourse among the young women in Sierra Leone was 62.9%. Over the survey years, premarital sexual intercourse increased from 59.8% in 2008 to 65.1% in 2013. However, it declined by 3.5% to 61.6% in 2019. Young women aged 20-24 (aOR = 12.47, 95% CI = 10.54-14.76) had higher odds of engaging in premarital sexual intercourse than those aged 15-19. Young women with higher educational levels (aOR = 1.87, 95% CI = 1.17-2.99), those who were working (aOR = 1.60, 95% CI = 1.44-1.78), those who listened to the radio (aOR = 1.33, 95% CI = 1.29-1.60), and those who lived in the Northwestern (aOR = 2.19, 95% CI = 1.68-2.84), Eastern (aOR = 1.47, 95% CI = 1.23-1.760, Northern (aOR = 1.48, 95% CI = 1.25 -, 1.76), and Southern (aOR = 1.63, 95% CI = 1.36-1.94) regions were more likely to engage in premarital sexual intercourse compared to those with no formal education, those not working, those who did not listen to the radio, and those who lived in the Western region, respectively. Young women in the richest wealth category (aOR = 0.62, 95% CI = 0.49-0.78), and residing in rural areas (aOR = 0.84, 95% CI = 0.72-0.98) had lower odds of engaging in premarital sexual intercourse relative to those from the poorest wealth quintile and those living in urban areas. CONCLUSION: Our study found a high prevalence of premarital sexual intercourse among young women in Sierra Leone. Premarital sexual intercourse was associated with age, educational level, wealth, employment, and region. This necessitates providing them with comprehensive information regarding sexual and reproductive health behaviours, specifically emphasising the benefits and adverse consequences of engaging in sexual experimentation. Additionally, it is crucial to promote the adoption of abstinence, injections, implants, and condom usage through consistent advocacy for youth-risk communication.Item Trends and inequalities in the use of deworming medication during pregnancy in Sierra Leone, 2008–2019(BioMed Central, 2024-11-04) Osborne, AugustusBACKGROUND: Intestinal worm infections are a significant public health concern for pregnant women in low- and middle-income countries. These infections can lead to anaemia, malnutrition, and adverse pregnancy outcomes, including premature birth and low birth weight. Deworming medication during pregnancy is a safe and effective strategy to prevent these complications and improve maternal and child health. This study aims to investigate the trends and inequalities in the use of deworming medication during pregnancy among women in Sierra Leone between 2008 and 2019. METHODS: The study utilised data from the Sierra Leone Demographic Health Surveys conducted in 2008, 2013, and 2019. We used the Health Equity Assessment Toolkit developed by the World Health Organisation to calculate various measures of inequality, including difference, ratio, population attributable risk, and population attributable fraction. An inequality assessment was conducted for five stratifiers: age, economic status, level of education, place of residence, and sub-national province. RESULTS: The prevalence of deworming medication during pregnancy was 43.8% in 2008, 72.4% in 2013, and 83.5% in 2019 in Sierra Leone. There was a decrease in age-related inequality from a difference of 3.7% in 2008 to -0.8% in 2019. Economic-related inequality increased from a difference of -8.5% in 2008 to -8.2% in 2019. Both population attributable fraction and population attributable risk were zero in all survey years for economic status, indicating no improvement in the setting average without economic-related inequality. Inequality in education increased from a difference of -8.9% in 2008 to -8.4% in 2019 and decreased from a difference of -2.6% in 2008 to -5.5% in 2019 for place of residence. Provincial inequality decreased from a difference of 29.5% in 2008 to 11.8% in 2019. The population attributable risk for province reveals that the setting average could have been 10.5 percentage points lower in 2008, 8.2 percentage points lower in 2013, and 5.9 percentage points lower in 2019 without provincial inequality. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of deworming medication use during pregnancy substantially increased from 2008 to 2019 (43.8% to 83.5%) in Sierra Leone. This suggests a positive public health trend in maternal healthcare access and education. Inequalities related to economic status and education increased slightly while age-related, place of residence and provincial inequalities decreased. This indicates an inequitable distribution of this essential healthcare intervention across these stratifiers. The government and policymakers should continue efforts to raise awareness and promote the use of deworming medication during pregnancy.Item Trends and inequalities in oral rehydration therapy and continued feeding for children under five with diarrhoea in Sierra Leone(BioMed Central, 2024-10-02) Osborne, AugustusBACKGROUND: Sierra Leone has improved child health outcomes in recent decades. However, diarrhoeal diseases remain a public health concern, particularly among children under five. This study investigates the trends and inequalities in oral rehydration therapy and continued feeding for children under five with diarrhoea in Sierra Leone in 2008, 2013 and 2019. METHODS: The analysis utilised data from the Sierra Leone Demographic Health Survey rounds conducted in 2008, 2013, and 2019. The software utilised for the calculation of various measures of inequality, including simple difference, ratio, population-attributable risk, and population-attributable fraction, was the World Health Organization Health Equity Assessment Toolkit. An inequality assessment was conducted for six stratifiers: maternal age, maternal economic status, maternal level of education, place of residence, sex of the child, and sub-national region. RESULTS: Our findings reveal that children under five with diarrhoea receiving oral rehydration therapy and continued feeding increased from 56.5% in 2008 to 59.7% in 2019 in Sierra Leone. Children of mothers aged 20-49 had more coverage over time than those with mothers aged 15-19. Children of mothers who are wealthy, more educated, and living in urban areas show a decrease in coverage with time compared to the poor, the lowly educated, and those residing in rural areas. Male children had higher coverage than female children. Regional inequality decreased slightly from 21.5 percentage points in 2008 to 21.2 percentage points in 2019. CONCLUSION: The findings revealed a mixed picture of progress in oral rehydration therapy and continued feeding for children under five in Sierra Leone. While national coverage has increased, inequalities persist. Children of older mothers and those from disadvantaged backgrounds have experienced improvements, while children of younger, wealthier, and more educated mothers in urban areas have seen a decline in coverage. The gender and regional inequalities remain. Expanding community-based health programs, providing subsidised or free supplies, and strengthening health systems in underserved areas are key strategies to ensure equitable and effective healthcare for all children in Sierra Leone.Item Trends and inequalities in modern contraceptive use among women in Sierra Leone, 2008–2019(BioMed Central, 2024-11-19) Osborne, AugustusBACKGROUND: Despite the known benefits of modern contraceptives in preventing unwanted pregnancies and reducing unsafe abortions, their use remains low among women of reproductive age in several sub-Saharan African countries, including Sierra Leone. This study investigated the inequalities in modern contraceptive use among women in Sierra Leone based on data from 2008 to 2019. METHODS: We used data from the Sierra Leone Demographic Health Survey data rounds (2008, 2013, and 2019). The World Health Organization's Health Equity Assessment Toolkit (WHO's HEAT) software was used to calculate both simple measures; Difference (D) and Ratio (R) and complex measures of inequality: Population Attributable Risk (PAR) and Population Attributable Fraction (PAF). The inequality assessment was done for five stratifiers: age, economic status, level of education, place of residence, and sub-national province. RESULTS: The study found that the prevalence of modern contraceptive use among women in Sierra Leone increased from 6.7% in 2008 to 20.9% in 2019. There was an increase in age-related inequality from a Difference of 5.9 percentage points in 2008 to 7.0 percentage points in 2019. PAF decreased from 5.7% in 2008 to 1.6% in 2019, indicating that the national average of modern contraceptive use would have increased by 5.7% in 2008 and 1.6% in 2019 in the absence of age-related inequalities. For economic status, the Difference decreased from 14.9 percentage points in 2008 to 9.9 percentage points in 2019. PAF decreased from 166.3% in 2008 to 23.3% in 2019, indicating that the national average of modern contraceptive use would have increased by 166.3% in 2008 and 23.3% in 2019 in the absence of economic-related inequalities. For education, the Difference decreased from 15.1 percentage points in 2008 to 12.4 percentage points in 2019. The PAF shows that the national average of modern contraceptive use would have reduced from 189.8% in 2008 to 39.5% in 2019, in the absence of education-related inequality. With respect to place of residence, the Difference decreased from 10.4 percentage points in 2008 to 7.6 percentage points in 2019, and PAF decreased from 111.2% in 2008 to 23.0% in 2019. The decline in PAF indicates that the national average of modern contraceptive use would have increased by 111.2% in 2008 and 23.0% in 2019 without residence-related inequality. Provincial-related inequality decreased from a Difference of 15.5% in 2008 to 8.5% in 2019. The PAF results showed a decrease in inequality from 176.3% in 2008 to 16.7% in 2019, indicating that province would contribute 176.3% and 16.7% in 2008 and 2019 respectively to the national average of modern contraceptive use. CONCLUSION: The use of modern contraceptives among women of reproductive age in Sierra Leone increased between 2008 and 2019 reflecting positive progress in reproductive health initiatives and access to family planning resources. The reductions in inequalities related to economic status, education, residence, and province indicate that efforts to promote equity in contraceptive access are yielding results, although age-related inequalities persist. To build on these advancements, it is recommended that policymakers continue to strengthen educational campaigns and healthcare services, particularly targeting younger women. Additionally, enhancing access to contraceptive methods through community-based programs and addressing socio-economic barriers will be crucial in further reducing inequalities and improving overall reproductive health outcomes in Sierra Leone.