Department of Sociology

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Browsing Department of Sociology by Author "Akinwale, O.P."

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    Open Access
    Behavioral Risk Factors for Non-Communicable Diseases in Three Most Populous Nigerian Urban Slums
    (2017) Akinwale, O.P.; Adeneye, A.K.; Oyefara, J.L.; Adejoh, P.E.; Musa, A.Z.; Oyedeji, K.S.; Sulyman, M.A.; Adeneye, A.A.
    Background: Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are rapidly emerging public health challenges to urban populations in developing countries. The Nigeria Demographic and Health Surveys of 1990 and 2003 portrayed a worrisome picture of the risk factors for NCDs in the country, and despite this, there is still paucity of current and reliable data on the burden of these risk factors to guide state and national control programs. This study aimed at understanding the prevalence of major common NCD risk factors and their distribution pattern in three most populous urban poor communities in Lagos, south-west Nigeria. Methods: A study on the behavioral risk factors for NCDs was carried out between June 2010 and October 2012 using Step 1 of the WHO STEPwise approach. It was a cross-sectional quantitative survey that made use of a semi-structured questionnaire containing both open-ended and close-ended questions. The study included 2,434 subjects, 18 years and older, and residing in the three selected slums. Results: The prevalence of behavioral risk factors reflected the interplay of underlying socio-economic driving forces such as low education attainment where 372 (15.9%) people had no formal education, 71 were unemployed (3%), and 595 were on low incomes (25.3%). Poor consumption of fruits and vegetables, high consumption of fat and alcohol, low levels of physical activity, active smoking, and illicit drug use were observed. Conclusions: The socio-demographic characteristics of the inhabitants of the urban poor communities make them vulnerable to known major risk factors for NCDs, given that the communities also had low level of educational attainment and low socio- economic status.
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    Open Access
    The benefits of using a community-engaged research approach to promote a healthy lifestyle in three Nigerian urban slums
    (Taylor and Francis, 2015-07-15) Akinwale, O.P.; Oyefara, J.L.; Adejoh, P.E.; Adeneye, A.A.; Adeneye, A.K.; Musa, A.Z.; Oyedeji, K.S.; Sulyman, M.A.
    Slums are a wide range of low-income settlements with poor living conditions. The quality of the dwellings varies from simple shacks to permanent structures, while access to water, electricity, sanitation and other basic services and infrastructure tends to be limited. Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) exist in slums as the inhabitants adopt an urbanised lifestyle which places them at high risk. Lack of knowledge about the complications of NCDs and how to control them contributes to a large percentage of undetected and untreated cases. Therefore, our recently concluded study aimed to reduce the prevalence of NCDs by promoting a healthy lifestyle in three Nigerian urban slums using a community-engaged research approach. We decided to adopt this approach since community-engaged research takes place in real-world conditions, thus increasing the applicability of findings to practical applications that improve human health. Literature has shown that meaningful community involvement can improve the research process itself, as well as the ultimate findings. Research questions about health issues that concern the community are developed, and people are more likely to give their support when they understand the purpose of the research, and how the results may positively affect them. Thus, this helps when recruiting participants. In addition, research questions help to identify the health risks that are revealed through people’s participation, and helps with the development of appropriate ways to protect participants in this regard. Research questions also assist with improving study and instrument design by producing user-friendly, culturally sensitive, accurate and valid practices and measures. Furthermore, community involvement in analysis and interpretation can provide an important explanation of the results, and provide ideas that the researchers had not even considered. A community-engaged research approach provides an opportunity for greater trust and respect to be built between academic researchers and communities. This can lead to future research collaborations, as well as an improvement in community health.
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    Open Access
    Living conditions and public health status in three urban slums of Lagos, Nigeria
    (2014-01-18) Akinwale, O.P.; Adeneye, A.K.; Musa, A.Z.; Ayodeji, K.S.; Sulyman, M.A.; Oyefara, J.L.; Adejoh, P.E.; Adeneye, A.A.
    Lagos metropolis, southwestern Nigeria, is faced with environmental problems ranging from slums and informal settlements, to crime and delinquency. The aim of the study was to explore the demographic characteristics, migration history and living conditions of 2,434 residents of Ajegunle, Ijora Oloye and Makoko in Lagos metropolis. A cross-sectional survey was conducted between June 2010 and October 2012 using a semi-structured questionnaire. Units of analysis used were households. Many of the respondents are low-income earners working in the informal service sectors, and living in unhygienic conditions. The communities are densely populated, with more than five people living in a room. Residents make use of poor and overstressed facilities and inadequate water and electricity supplies. They also lack appropriate garbage disposal facilities and good drainage. Personal hygiene habits are very poor; open defecation in ditches and the lagoon is widely practiced. Respondents are faced with perennial flooding due to blocked drainage systems resulting in a number of diseases, such as malaria, diarrhea, cold and cough. Migration has led to uncontrolled and unplanned developments of slums in metropolitan Lagos. This in turn has led to poverty, unemployment, illiteracy, polluted environment, uncontrolled population growth and health problems in the slums as are observed in this study. There is an urgent need for comprehensive interventions from the government and other organizations to strengthen existing programs to improve the health and quality of life of this vulnerable population
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    Open Access
    Survey of hypertension, diabetes and obesity in three Nigerian urban slums
    (2013-09) Akinwale, O.P.; Oyefara, J.L.; Adejoh, P.E.; Adeneye, A.A.; Adeneye, A.K.; Musa, A.Z.; Oyedeji, K.S.; Sulyman, M.A.
    Background Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) exist in slums as the inhabitants adopt an urbanized lifestyle which places them at a higher risk for. Lack of knowledge about the morbidity, complications and the method of control contributes to a large percentage of undetected and untreated cases. Methods This cross-sectional survey polled 2,434 respondents from Ijora Oloye, Ajegunle and Makoko, three urban slums in Lagos metropolis, southwestern Nigeria between June 2010 and October 2012. We investigated the prevalence of hypertension, diabetes and obesity. Respondents signed consent forms and their health conditions were documented based on self-reported history of diabetes, hypertension and family history using a semi-structured questionnaire. Diagnostic tests; weight and height for body mass index, blood glucose, and blood pressure were performed. Results More than one quarter of the participants were suffering from hypertension and only half of this were diagnosed earlier, while a further few were already on treatment. Therefore on screening, it had been possible to diagnose over three hundred more respondents, who were not previously aware of their health status. The respondents’ BMI showed that more than half of them were either overweight or obese and are at risk for diabetes, while 3.3% were confirmed as being diabetic, with their sugar levels greater than the normal range. Conclusion This study therefore revealed the near absence of screening programs for chronic diseases such as hypertension, diabetes and obesity in these urban slums. This was further confirmed by the detection of new and undiagnosed cases of hypertension in about one quarter of the respondents.