WHO – Page 3 – Centre for Family Health Initiative

SPEAK WEDNESDAY

Gender, Gender Based Violence, Health, Health Communication, Speak Wednesday, Teenage Pregnancy, WHO, Women, Women Education, Women's Rights / cfhinitiative

EFFECTS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE ON CHILDREN

Domestic violence unlike other forms of violence is the most entrenched and pervasive form of violence in our society today. According to Center for Disease Control and Prevention, homes where violence between partners occur, there is a 45% to 60% chance of co-occurring child abuse, a rate 15 times higher than the average. This is to show that even when children are not physically attacked, they witness 68% to 80% of domestic assaults.

The effects of domestic violence can be devastating and long lasting especially on children. Witnessing abuse and living in an environment where someone else, usually a care giver is a victim of abuse, can be psychologically devastating for a child. Such children often believe that they are to blame, live in a constant state of fear, and are 15 times more likely to be victims of child abuse.

Wikipedia states that Children in homes where one parent is abused may feel fearful and anxious. They may always be on guard, wondering when the next violent event will happen which can cause them to react in different ways, depending on their age and this may include but not limited to delays in cognitive and emotional development, extreme withdrawal or aggressiveness, anxiety disorders, internalizing and externalizing behavior problems. These children are also at higher risk for health problems as adults, these can include mental health conditions, diabetes, obesity, heart disease, poor self-esteem, among others.

Children who are witnesses to domestic violence have a greater likelihood of repeating the cycle of violence as adults by entering abusive relationships or becoming abusers themselves. For example, a boy who sees his mother being abused is a lot more likely to abuse his female partner as an adult. A girl who grows up in a home where her father abuses her mother is according to research more than six times as likely to be sexually abused as to a girl who grows up in a non-abusive home.

How successful a child is at recovering from abuse or trauma depends on several factors. Children can be resilient or sensitive to issues of abuse. Having good support systems or good relationships with trusted adults and healthy friendships can aid in easy recovery. The sooner a child gets help, the better his or her chances for becoming a mentally and physically healthy adult.

Centre for Family Health Initiative (CFHI) through its psychosocial support programs has reached thousands of children who are vulnerable and exposed to any form of violence. Also, Speak Wednesday is an initiative of CFHI to address issues of gender-based violence and gender bias.

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SPEAK WEDNESDAY

Female Roles in Nation Building, Gender, Gender Based Violence, Health, Health Communication, Mental Health, Postpartum Depression, Speak Wednesday, Teenage Pregnancy, WHO, Women, Women Education, Women's Rights / cfhinitiative

EFFECTS OF TEENAGE PREGNANCY

Effects of Teenage Pregnancy

Teenage pregnancy is pregnancy in a woman 19 years of age or younger. A woman can get pregnant if she has vaginal sex with a man at any age after she’s begun having regular monthly periods.

Teenage pregnancies are a global problem that occurs in high, middle, and low income countries. However, there is a higher prevalence in marginalized communities, commonly driven by poverty and lack of education and employment opportunities. According to World Health Organisation (W.H.O), approximately 16 million girls aged 15 to 19 years and 2.5 million girls under 16 years give birth each year in developing regions and the leading cause of mortality for this age group is complication during pregnancy and childbirth. Many girls face considerable pressure to marry early and become mothers at a tender age. Teenage pregnancy increases when girls are denied the right to make decisions about their sexual and reproductive health and well-being.

Studies show that teen mothers face significant levels of stress that can lead to increased mental health concerns. In addition to higher rates of postpartum depression, teenage mothers have higher rates of depression. Pregnant teens also have a higher chance of becoming anemic which is a reduction in the number of red blood cells (RBCs). This can make you feel weak and tired and can affect your baby’s development. They also have higher rates of suicidal ideation than their peers who aren’t mothers. Teen mothers are more likely to experience posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) than other teenage women, as well and this is attributed to the fact that they are more likely to have gone through mental and/or physical abuse.

Many pregnant teens drop out of school, and some never complete their education which means that a large proportion of mothers who get pregnant as teenagers live in poverty and are not able to realize their full potential. Their children are not left out also, born to a teenage mother, they have greater risk for lower birth weight and infant mortality; less prepared to enter kindergarten; are more likely to be incarcerated at some time during adolescence; are more likely to drop out of high school; are more likely to be unemployed or underemployed as a young adult.

When teenagers engage in sexual relationships, they do not think about the consequences. That is why it is pertinent to invest much in the issue of reproductive health with more emphasis on adopting the right attitudes about responsible sexual behavior.

Speak Wednesday is an initiative of CFHI to address issues of gender based violence and gender inequality. Join us every Wednesday on all our social media platforms for more episodes.

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Health Communication, Speak Wednesday, WHO, Women, Women's Rights / cfhinitiative

FINANCIAL ABUSE OF WOMEN IN MARRAIGES

Did you ever think there is such a thing as “financial abuse”? When most people think of domestic abuse, the first thing that comes to mind is likely physical or verbal abuse, but research shows that financial abuse occurs just as frequently in unhealthy relationships as other forms of abuse.

According to Wikipedia, Financial abuse also known as economic abuse is a form of abuse when one intimate partner has control over the other partner’s access to economic resources, which diminishes the victim’s capacity to support themselves and forces them to depend on the perpetrators financially.

Financial abuse happens when an abuser uses control of finances to maintain power in a relationship. According to researchers, this form of abuse occurs in 99% of physically abusive relationships and women are mostly the victims. Victims of domestic violence often say that financial abuse is the main reason they stayed with an abusive partner. This is because the financial burden placed on them made survival on their own seem impossible. For instance, if an abuser is particularly violent and the victim needs to leave in order to stay safe, this is difficult without money or a credit card. Also, if the victims need to leave the relationship permanently, it is challenging to find safe and affordable housing. Provision of basic needs such as food, clothing, and transportation becomes really challenging. However, many forms of financial abuse are more subtle, like when an abuser hides financial information or withholds money for household needs.

Unlike other forms of abuse, financial abuse can be difficult to recognize because it varies from situation to situation since there is no one way to handle money in a relationship. However, there are concrete tactics an abusive partner may use to keep their partners trapped which includes among others: gives you “allowances” or “budgets” without your input; requiring you to account for everything you spend; pressures you to quit your job or sabotages your work responsibilities; feels entitled to your money or assets; spends your money without your knowledge and controls how all of the household finances are spent.

The effects of financial abuse are often devastating especially for women. They feel inadequate and unsure of themselves due to the emotional abuse that accompanies financial abuse. They also have to go without food and other necessities because they have no money. In the short-term, financial abuse leaves victims vulnerable to physical and emotional abuse and violence. Without access to money, credit cards, and other financial assets, it is extremely difficult to adequately plan.

Though it is not easy to break free from financial abuse, it is possible. Victims should evaluate their personal confidence level regarding finances, gain information about their assets and liabilities, gather important financial and personal documents such as copies of bank statements, birth and marriage certificates, and seek for financial independence through learning of new skills, savings, or getting a good job. Financial independence is essential in achieving healthy relationships.

Speak Wednesday is an initiative of CFHI to address issues of gender based violence and gender inequality. Join us every Wednesday on all our social media platforms for more episodes.

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WHO, Women, Women in Leadership, Women's Rights / cfhinitiative

WOMEN’S SEXUAL AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH RIGHTS

Women’s Sexual and reproductive health right means the right for women, regardless of age, ethnicity, HIV status or other aspects of identity, to make informed choices regarding their own sexuality and reproduction. It includes the right to make informed choices about when to give birth, the right to access the full range of affordable and informed family planning services, the right to accurate information and services to prevent and treat sexually transmitted infections (STIs) including HIV and AIDS, and sexual health information and education.

According to United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), good sexual and reproductive health is a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being in all matters relating to the reproductive system. To maintain one’s sexual and reproductive health, people need have access to accurate information and the safe, effective, affordable, and acceptable contraception method of their choice. Women and girls around the world, especially those living in poverty are restricted or have no access to information and services about their reproductive health and rights. Some of the barriers to sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) include discrimination, stigma, restrictive laws and policies, societal expectations, and ingrained traditions.

Research shows that the global status of women’s and girls’ sexual and reproductive health and rights is disturbing: 214 million women worldwide want, but lack access to, contraception and more than 800 women die daily from preventable causes related to pregnancy and childbirth. Studies also stipulate that one in three women globally will face violence in their lifetime and violence against women and girls (VAWG) is integrally linked to the denial of access to Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR). This means many women do not have control over their bodies and their fertility.

Access to comprehensive sexual and reproductive health and rights is a basic human right. It helps eliminate preventable maternal and neonatal mortality and morbidity, sexually transmitted infections (STI), cervical cancer and violence against women and girls.

Governments, multi‑lateral institutions and civil societies can promote or make accessible SRHR services to women by supporting an enabling environment so that SRHR becomes a reality through prioritizing the inclusion of SRHR within global agendas within the context of both health and gender equality. Also, prioritizing SRHR to tackle harmful gender norms and engaging men and boys as partners and change agents in SRHR. Over the years, Centre for Family Health Initiative (CFHI) has used its social media platforms to advocate for the SRHRs of women and has partnered with different organizations including Marie Stopes to provide free family planning to women during the commemoration of Maternal, Newborn and Child Health Weeks (MNCHWs)

Speak Wednesday is an initiative of Centre for Family Health Initiative to stop the cycle of domestic violence by breaking the silence around gender-based violence and gender bias. Join us every Wednesday on all our social media handles for more episodes.

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MONDAY HEALTH BURST

Drug Abuse, Drugs, Health, Uncategorized, WHO / cfhinitiative

DRUG ABUSE

According to Environmental and Public Health Journal in December 2018, drug abuse refers to the use of drugs to treat self-diagnosed disorders or symptoms, and the continued use of a prescribed drug for chronic or recurrent disease or symptoms. It is “the taking of drugs, herbs or home remedies on one’s own initiative, or on the advice of another person, without consulting a medical expert. Also, according to Dr. Ananya Mandal, drug abuse or substance abuse refers to the use of certain chemicals for the purpose of creating pleasurable effects on the brain.

Medical Life Sciences reports that there are over 190 million drug users around the world and the problem has been increasing at alarming rates, especially among young adults under the age of 30. Apart from the long term damage to the body drug abuse causes, drug addicts who use needles are at risk of contracting HIV and hepatitis B and C. Not only does this affect the drug abuser directly, the family members and the society at large are affected negatively in one way or another.

Drug abuse in regards to the usage of antibiotics is reported as being highly prevalent and common in developing nations in Africa, according to World Health Organisation, which can pose a risk to the abuser. Another drug that is constantly abused is Paracetamol and Vitamin C tablet. Research has it that the excessive use of Paracetamol causes the inflammation of the liver and weakens the immune system, and high doses of Vitamin C can cause neurological symptoms, such as tingling and numbness, and possibly permanent nerve damage.

It is essential to consult a medical expert before treating any form of illness. Centre for Family Health Initiative continues to sensitize people especially in rural communities to the dangers ascribed to drug abuse on their health.

Monday Health Burst is an initiative of Centre for Family Health Initiative (CFHI) to tackle issues of basic health concerns. Join us every Monday for more health related articles on all our social media platforms.

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SPEAK WEDNESDAY

Health, WHO, Women / cfhinitiative

WOMEN DEALING WITH SEXUAL VIOLENCE

Sexual violence is one of the most pervasive violation of human rights that occurs worldwide. According to the World Health Organizations (WHO), sexual violence is any sexual act, attempt to obtain a sexual act, unwanted sexual comments or advances, or acts to traffic or otherwise directed against a person’s sexuality using coercion, by any person regardless of their relationship to the victim, in any setting, including but not limited to home and work. It is also estimated by WHO that 35 per cent of women worldwide have experienced either physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence or sexual violence by a non-partner (not including sexual harassment) at some point in their lives. Also, some national studies show that up to 70 per cent of women have experienced physical and/or sexual violence from an intimate partner in their lifetime. Evidence shows that women who have experienced physical or sexual intimate partner violence report higher rates of depression, having an abortion and acquiring Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), compared to women who have not.

In 2015, UNICEF reported that one in four girls and one in ten boys in Nigeria had experienced sexual violence before the age of 18. Sexual violence can have psychological, emotional, and physical effects on a survivor which could be immediate, short-term or long-term. Although these effects and repercussion of rape affects victims differently, individuals tend to suffer from similar issues found within the above categories.

In Nigeria, this act of violence against women is often overlooked especially those perpetrated by the spouse. Women and girls living below the poverty line or with fewer resources are at even greater risk of violence. They have no voices in the legal system because they cannot afford the fee unlawfully requested by the police so, many offenders go without prosecution. Also, women who get abused by a relation almost never seek justice because the family involved would rather choose to save the “family name” at the expense of the victim.

According to National Sexual Violence Resource Centre, the acts of sexual violence are under-reported and this may be as a result of inadequate support systems, shame, fear or risk of retaliation, fear or risk of being blamed, fear or risk of not being believed, fear of being socially ostracized, among others. Sexual violence and indeed every other form of violence against women is a major threat to social and economic development because it is inadvertently linked to poverty, lack of education, gender inequality, and maternal ill health. It also impedes national productivity since it occurs among persons in the reproductive age group who have to deal with the adverse physical and psychological consequences of the vice.

As much as the reform of the criminal justice system is an approach to stopping or reducing the occurrence of sexual violence, other approaches may include continuous review of the existing policies and laws on sexual violence in other to accommodate best practices of sexual violence strategies. Building the knowledge base and raising awareness about sexual violence is also essential in curbing this menace.

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MONDAY HEALTH BURST

Health, Mental Health, Monday Health Burst, WHO / cfhinitiative

STROKE – CAUSES, PREVENTION AND TREATMENT

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), stroke is defined as a “rapidly developing clinical signs of focal (or global) disturbance of cerebral function, with symptoms lasting 24 hours or longer or leading to death, with no apparent cause other than of vascular origin”. Stroke occurs when there is a sudden interruption of blood supply to the brain, preventing brain tissue from getting oxygen and nutrients.

World Stroke Organization (WSO) stated that 90 per cent of strokes are associated with 10 risk factors that can easily be identified: hypertension, exercise, diet, weight, smoking, alcohol, cholesterol, diabetes, depression and stress, and atrial fibrillation (AF, or AFib). They further stated that 1 in 4 people will develop stroke globally, and 58 percent of all stroke cases happen between the age of 25 and 70 which can be blamed on “modern lifestyle”. In Nigeria, just like other low and middle-income countries, the primary care services are often limited, leading to high burden of stroke mortality. About 1000 stroke cases are recorded in Nigeria yearly and still counting according to Web Med.

Stroke can be prevented in many ways across all boards, from government and policymakers to healthcare professionals to members of the community. Knowing the signs of stroke is the first step to its prevention. Hence, some of the ways to prevent stroke include increasing awareness, discovering risk factors for stroke and managing them appropriately, implementing population-wide preventive strategies, amongst others.

Over the years, Medical organizations worldwide have been working towards making sure there is improvement in the treatment of stroke. Treatment consists of blood thinners. Early treatment with medication like TPA (clot buster) can minimize brain damage. Other treatments focus on limiting complications and preventing additional strokes like cardiac monitoring (using an electronic device to heart rate and rhythm which can be done at home or in the hospital), carotid endarterectomy (this is a surgical removal of plague built up in the carotid arteries), speech therapy, rehabilitation, physical therapy, the use of natural herbs and supplements, among others.

Early detection will not just save lives but will reduce the effect of stroke. Most people do not check their mental state or relax as they ought to. Adequate medical checkup is essential as it will help to know when rest is needed and when you need to give yourself a break from certain duties.

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Gender, Speak Wednesday, Suicide Prevention, WHO, Women / cfhinitiative

WOMEN DEALING WITH SUICIDE

Wikipedia defines suicide as the act of intentionally causing one’s own death. Suicide is a public health problem, and it is seen as a public health priority by the World Health Organization (WHO). According to WHO, Suicide is the result of an act deliberately initiated and performed by a person in the full knowledge or expectation of its fatal outcome. Close to 800,000 people die due to suicide every year and it is considered the third leading cause of death in 15-19-year old.

Studies show that women make more suicide attempts than men, but men are more likely to die in the attempts than women. In Nigeria, most people do not believe depression is an illness, neither do they know the extent to which it affects the mind. Yet, between January and June 2019 alone, there were 42 reported cases of suicide that occurred in different parts of the country. An example is the story of Hikmat Gbadamosi, a 100-level student of the University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State. She was alleged to have consumed two bottles of insecticide (Sniper) after showing signs of depression and had opted to live away from her colleagues in the school.

According to Centre for suicide prevention, identified risk factor for suicide attempts and other suicidal behaviours in women include postpartum depression (PPD) affects around 15% of women and is experienced after giving birth and for up to one year after, prenatal period (The time during pregnancy and the first year after the birth of a child)- most women who die during this period have an affective or anxiety-related disorder, domestic violence (women experience partner violence nine times more than men according to different research) which in turn leads to post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and childhood sexual abuse. Other risk factors may include family history of suicide, family conflict, broken homes, anti-social behaviour, and poor peer relationships.

Suicide prevention begins with recognizing the warning signs and taking steps to make sure it does not happen. Though most people contemplating suicide often believe they are helpless, it is necessary to ask for external assistance, mostly a physician who can help find the medication or therapy that is suitable for the person. It is also important to take away harmful tools from their reach and make sure they are never left alone.

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MONDAY HEALTH BURST

Health, Health Communication, Healthy Dieting, Hygiene, Monday Health Burst, WHO, World Food Day / cfhinitiative

HEALTHY DIETING

According to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2015–2020, a healthy eating plan includes eating of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and fat free or low-fat milk and milk products. They are low in saturated fats, trans fats, cholesterol, salt (sodium), and added sugars. While unhealthy diet includes overeating of fatty and greasy food, and of milky products, sweet foods, highly flavoured food, too pungent food, as well as drinking too much alcohol, leading to the formation of Damp-Heat.

Increased production of processed foods, rapid urbanization and changing lifestyles have led to a shift in dietary patterns. People are now consuming more foods high in energy, fats, free sugars and salt/sodium, and many people do not eat enough fruits, vegetables and other dietary fibre such as whole grains. Healthy eating is all about balance. Hence, it is possible to enjoy ones favorite meals, but the key point is eating them less often and balancing them with healthier foods with more physical activities.

Some general tips for healthy dieting include less intake of high-calorie foods and intentionally replace them with lower-calorie versions. Consuming a healthy diet throughout the life-course helps to prevent malnutrition in all its forms as well as a range of non-communicable diseases and conditions.

Monday Health Burst is an initiative of Centre for Family Health Initiative (CFHI) to tackle issues of basic health concerns. Join us every Monday for more health-related articles on all our social media platforms.

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SPEAK WEDNESDAY

Community Development, Gender, Health, International Day for the Eradication of Poverty, International Day of Rural Women, Speak Wednesday, WHO, Women, World Food Day / cfhinitiative

WOMEN DEALING WITH POVERTY IN RURAL AREAS

It is true that a concise and universally accepted definition of poverty has proven elusive because it affects many aspects of human condition. However, different criteria have been used to conceptualize the term “poverty”. Most analysts regard poverty as a function of income levels insufficient for securing basic goods and services.

The 2019 Nigerian Living Standards Survey (NLSS) carried out by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) highlights that 40 percent of the total population, or almost 83 million people, live below the country’s poverty line of 137,430 naira ($381.75) per year. The report also shows that 52.1% of rural dwellers in Nigeria are poor, while only 18.04% of urban dwellers are classified as poor. Also, according to data released by NBS, women ranked the highest when it comes to unemployment. The report shows that unemployment hits 12.2 million females as against 9.5 million men.

The fate of Nigerian women living in rural areas is highly appalling considering the patriarchal nature of the Nigerian society and how women are being marginalized in the labor force. The societal disadvantage and inequality they face because they are women shapes their experience of poverty differently from that of men, it increases their vulnerability, and makes it more challenging for them to climb out of poverty. Indeed, more than half of these rural women live below the nationally defined poverty line, lacking access to basic education, decent nutrition, adequate health and social services. They perform complex multiple roles as mothers, workers and managers of households, taking care of their husbands, children and members of their extended families. They perform the majority of the work in food processing and dominate the rural and urban informal sector activities. Yet an abysmal number of these women own their own farm lands, they have limited access than men to inputs, services, rural organization, agricultural credits, productive infrastructure and technologies to enhance their productivity and incomes.

Women in poor households bear a disproportionate share of the work and responsibility of feeding and caring for family members through unpaid household work. They bear an unequal burden of unpaid, unrecognized, unvalued domestic responsibilities and are overrepresented in informal and risky jobs. Women in poor rural households will often sacrifice their own health and nutrition, or the education of their daughters, by recruiting them to take care of siblings or share in other household tasks.

This lack of investment in the human capital of women propagates a brutal, intergenerational cycle of poverty and hardship that is partly responsible for the persistent nature of poverty. Policies and programs to alleviate poverty must, therefore, take account of gender inequality and gender differences to effectively address the needs and constraints of women. According to the United Nations Women, Women’s economic empowerment is central to realizing women’s rights and gender equality, boosting productivity, increasing economic diversification, and income equality in addition to other positive development outcomes. This economic empowerment could include paid care work (child care, home care, seniors/disabled/palliative care), non-exclusion from inheritance and property ownership, girl child education and scholarships, adult education and scholarships for mothers, continued education during teenage pregnancy, provision of grants, and many more.

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