Overview
The Population Council’s involvement in Nigeria began in the 1960s when it collaborated with the Ministry of Health to implement a safe motherhood project in Calabar, a region in southeastern Nigeria. From then until 2005, the Council undertook occasional operations research projects in Nigeria that were managed from New York, Nairobi, or the Council's regional office in Accra. In 2006, the Council established a Nigeria country office in Abuja charged with carrying out a four-year cooperative agreement with USAID (funded under the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief) to develop the capacity of local institutions to undertake HIV prevention programs among vulnerable youth in northern Nigeria.
Programmatic focus
- Addressing maternal and reproductive health needs of vulnerable populations; conducting intervention research on maternal mortality and morbidity among first-time mothers.
- Providing programming to help prevent HIV and AIDS among vulnerable young people in northern Nigeria; through the Men’s Health Network Nigeria, working to avert new HIV infections and STIs among men engaged in high-risk sexual practices with male and female partners.
- Empowering local NGOs to better address health, education, and quality-of-life issues in their communities.
Highlights of past and present work
- Procuring and distributing magnesium sulfate (MgSO4) in health-care facilities, and training health-care providers in its use to prevent and manage eclampsia and preeclampsia (major contributors to maternal death in Nigeria).
- Establishing a network of Safe Space Youth Clubs for vulnerable girls in northern Nigeria to promote social networking, knowledge transfer, and skills acquisition that is socially, religiously, and culturally acceptable.
- Training community advocates to provide HIV/AIDS-prevention information to pre- and postmarital adolescent girls and key community stakeholders; link young girls with HIV/STI testing, counseling, and treatment, premarital religious counseling, and antenatal and maternal/child health clinic visits.
- Organized and produced radio shows to encourage young girls to stay in school and delay marriage.
- Conducted “The Days of Dialogue,” consultations and trainings with religious leaders and faith-based organizations to discuss health, marriage, and education for young girls.
- Helped develop new policy and program initiatives within Nigeria’s national response to HIV/AIDS to address the HIV prevention, treatment, care, and support needs of men who have sex with men (MSM) and injecting drug users.
Banner photo: © Beryl Goldberg
Projects
ECafrique (more)
The African Forum on Emergency Contraception, or ECafrique, is a bilingual, international network of health care and business professionals that seeks to increase the availability of high-quality emergency contraception (EC) services in Africa.
(1/2002 - ongoing)
Access to contraceptive methods
Assessing the Acceptability of the Progesterone Vaginal Ring in Sub-Saharan Africa (more)
To expand contraceptive options for women in sub-Saharan Africa we are evaluating the acceptability of the progesterone vaginal ring, a user-controlled contraceptive method for lactating women, and exploring strategies for how to introduce the new technology.
(10/2011 - 9/2014)
Access to contraceptive methods; Family planning services; Maternal and newborn health; New and improved reproductive technologies; Postpartum family planning ; Technologies for women
Men’s Health Network Nigeria: Providing Appropriate and Comprehensive Sexual Health and HIV Prevention Services (more)
The Men’s Health Network Nigeria seeks to ensure that all men in Nigeria receive appropriate, comprehensive sexual health and HIV prevention services and targets populations considered most at risk.
(10/2008 - 10/2013)
HIV prevention; Men who have sex with men; Mobile populations; Stigma and discrimination
Addressing the HIV/AIDS Vulnerabilities and Stigma of Africa’s Youth (more)
Council research will provide a comprehensive, evidence-based picture of the HIV-related issues facing young people in Africa and the prevailing legal, policy, and programmatic responses.
(8/2011 - 5/2012)
Adolescence/transitions to adulthood; HIV prevention; Stigma and discrimination
Provider Beliefs, Attitudes, and Practices Concerning Emergency Contraception (more)
The Council is collaborating with national partners to review current access to emergency contraception (EC), particularly with respect to providers’ attitudes toward the method in India, Nigeria, and Senegal. The data generated will be used to develop a global advocacy strategy to improve provider support for EC access and to improve access within each country.
(1/2011 - 3/2012)
Access to contraceptive methods; Family planning services
Formative Assessment and Mapping of Female Drug Users in Kano, Kaduna, Ogun, and Lagos, Nigeria (more)
Using social media and mobile technology, Council researchers are collecting data on female drug users in Nigeria to increase visibility of and services for this hidden yet highly vulnerable population.
(12/2010 - 5/2011)
HIV prevention; Injecting drug users; Vulnerable populations
Addressing Child Marriage in Northern Nigeria (more)
Council researchers conducted a survey and intervention designed to address issues surrounding child marriage in Nigeria.
(11/2005 - 11/2009)
Child marriage
Expanding Access to Magnesium Sulfate in Kano State, Nigeria (more)
Council research helped educate health providers on hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and administration of magnesium sulfate as a treatment for pre-eclampsia and eclampsia.
(2/2008 - 12/2008)
Safe pregnancy, antenatal, and delivery care
Resources
Featured publication
Population Council in Nigeria (PDFs: A4 and letter)
Country profile
Publication date: 2012
Eluwa,George I.; Strathdee,Stephanie A.; Adebayo,Samson B.; Ahonsi,Babatunde; Adebajo,Sylvia
Drug and Alcohol Dependence Published online ahead of print, 8 July
Publication date: 2012
An assessment of individual and institutional research utilization by policy-makers and programme managers at state and national levels in Nigeria (PDF)
National Agency for the Control of AIDS
Publication date: 2012
An ethnographic study of injecting drug users and men who have sex with men in selected states in Nigeria (PDF)
Enhancing Nigeria's HIV/AIDS Response (ENR) Programme
Publication date: 2012
Benefits of using magnesium sulphate (MgSO4) for eclampsia management and maternal mortality reduction: Lessons from Kano State in northern Nigeria (abstract) (PDF)
Okereke,Ekechi; Ahonsi,Babatunde; Tukur,Jamilu; Ishaku,Salisu Mohammed; Oginni,Ayodeji
BMC Research Notes 5(421): doi:10.1186/1756-0500-5-421-
Publication date: 2012
Evidence for action: News from the Population Council in Nigeria (PDF)
Issue no. 2, September
Publication date: 2012
Evidence for action: Quarterly newsletter of the Population Council, Nigeria (PDF)
Issue no. 1, April
Publication date: 2012
HIV prevalence and risk behaviors among female injecting drug users in Nigeria: An emerging mega epidemic (PDF)
Poster presentation at the XIX International AIDS Conference, Washington, DC, 23 July
Adebajo,Sylvia; Eluwa,George I.; Adebayo,Samson B.; Abiodun,Lolade; Ahonsi,Babatunde; Azeez,Aderemi
Publication date: 2012
MARPs sensitization: A diversity training guide for health care providers in Nigeria (PDF)
Enhancing Nigeria's HIV/AIDS Response (ENR) Programme
Series 1: Working with Men who have Sex with Men (MSM)
Publication date: 2012
Maternal and fetal outcomes after introduction of magnesium sulphate for treatment of preeclampsia and eclampsia in selected secondary facilities: A low-cost intervention (abstract) (PDF)
Tukur,Jamilu; Ahonsi,Babatunde; Ishaku,Salisu Mohammed; Araoyinbo,Idowu; Okereke,Ekechi; Oginni Babatunde,Ayodeji
Maternal and Child Health Journal 15(1): doi:10.1007/s10995-012-1105-9-
Publication date: 2012
Providers' and key opinion leaders' attitudes, beliefs, and practices concerning emergency contraception: A multicountry study in India, Nigeria, and Senegal (PDF)
Brady,Martha; Khan,M.E.; Ahonsi,Babatunde; Mane,Babacar; Askew,Ian; RamaRao,Saumya
Program brief, February 2012
Publication date: 2012
Providers' and key opinion leaders' attitudes, beliefs, and practices regarding emergency contraception in Nigeria: Key findings (PDF)
Ahonsi,Babatunde; Salisu,Ishaku; Idowu,Araoyinbo; Oginni,Ayo
Program brief, February 2012
Publication date: 2012
Sexual risk behaviors and HIV among female sex workers in Nigeria (abstract)
Eluwa,George I.; Strathdee,Stephanie A.; Adebajo,Sylvia; Ahonsi,Babatunde; Azeez,Aderemi; Anyanti,Jennifer
Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes 61(4): 507-514
Publication date: 2012
The experiences of men engaged in transactional sex with other men in urban Nigeria--A size estimation and qualitative study (PDF)
Population Council
Publication date: 2012
Training manual [trainee version] on the use of magnesium sulphate in the management of severe pre-eclampsia and eclampsia (PDF)
Federal Ministry of Health,Abuja,Nigeria; Population Council
Publication date: 2012
Attitudinal and behavioral factors associated with extramarital sex among Nigerian men: Findings from a national survey (abstract)
Vu,Lung; Tun,Waimar; Karlyn,Andrew; Adebajo,Sylvia; Ahonsi,Babatunde
International Journal of Sexual Health 23(4): 258-268
Publication date: 2011
HIV integrated biological and behavioural surveillance survey (IBBSS) 2010 (PDF)
Federal Ministry of Health
Publication date: 2011
Managing unplanned pregnancies in five countries: Perspectives on contraception and abortion decisions (abstract)
Tsui,Amy Ong; Casterline,John B.; Singh,Susheela; Bankole,Akinrinola; Moore,Ann M.; Omideyi,Adekunbi; Palomino Ramirez,Nancy; Sathar,Zeba A.; Juarez,Fatima; Shellenberg,Kristen M.
Global Public Health 6(suppl. 1): S21-S24
Publication date: 2011
Prevalence of sexually transmitted infections among men who have sex with men and injecting drug users and validation of audio computer-assisted self interview (ACASI) technique in Abuja, Lagos, and Ibadan, Nigeria: Report fact sheet (PDF)
Enhancing Nigeria's HIV/AIDS Response (ENR) Programme
Publication date: 2011
Prevalence of sexually transmitted infections among men who have sex with men and injecting drug users and validation of audio computer-assisted self interview (ACASI) technique in Abuja, Lagos, and Ibadan, Nigeria: Technical report (PDF)
Enhancing Nigeria's HIV/AIDS Response (ENR) Programme
Publication date: 2011
Provider-related barriers to accessing emergency contraception in developing countries: A literature review (PDF)
Williams,Katherine
Publication date: 2011
Social stigma and disclosure about induced abortion: Results from an exploratory study (abstract)
Shellenberg,Kristen M.; Moore,Ann M.; Bankole,Akinrinola; Juarez,Fatima; Omideyi,Adekunbi; Palomino Ramirez,Nancy; Sathar,Zeba A.; Singh,Susheela; Tsui,Amy Ong
Global Public Health 6(suppl. 1): S111-S125
Publication date: 2011
Adolescent experience in-depth: Using data to identify and reach the most vulnerable young people--Nigeria 2008 (PDF) (HTML)
Publication date: 2010
Adolescent experience in-depth: Using data to identify and reach the most vulnerable young people (HTML)
Series of 51 data guides by country
Publication date: 2009
Adolescent experience in-depth: Using data to identify and reach the most vulnerable young people--Nigeria 2003 (PDF) (HTML)
Publication date: 2009
Men's perceptions of masculinities and sexual health risks in Igboland, Nigeria (abstract) (PDF)
Odimegwu,Clifford; Okemgbo,Christian N.
International Journal of Men's Health 7(1): 21-39
Publication date: 2008
Casamento infantil no contexto da epidemia do VIH (PDF)
Bruce,Judith
Promover transições para a idade adulta saudáveis, seguras e produtivas Sumário (N 11)
Publication date: 2007
HIV prevention project for vulnerable youth in northern Nigeria
Publication date: 2007
The experience of married adolescent girls in northern Nigeria (PDF)
Erulkar,Annabel S.; Bello,Mairo
Publication date: 2007
The HIV/AIDS prevention project for vulnerable youth in northern Nigeria: Community advocates training manual (PDF)
Population Council/Abuja; Adolescent Health and Information Projects; Federation of Muslim Women's Associations in Nigeria; Islamic Education Trust
Publication date: 2007
Facts about adolescents from the Demographic and Health Survey--Statistical tables for program planning: Nigeria 2003 (PDF) (HTML)
Publication date: 2006
Child marriage briefing: Nigeria (PDF)
Child Marriage Briefings
Publication date: 2005
Approaches to researching women's reproductive health (PDF)
Population Briefs 10(2)
Publication date: 2004
« Mon père pensait autrement » : des garçons nigérians réfléchissent à l'égalité entre les sexes ['My father didn't think this way': Nigerian boys contemplate gender equality] (PDF)
Girard,Françoise
Quality/Calidad/Qualité (no. 14)
Publication date: 2003
'My father didn't think this way': Nigerian boys contemplate gender equality (PDF)
Girard,Françoise
Quality/Calidad/Qualité (no. 14)
Publication date: 2003
Selected DHS data on 10-14-year-olds (HTML)
Annexes by country to Facts about Adolescents from the Demographic and Health Survey: Statistical Tables for Program Planning
Publication date: 2003
Selected DHS data on 10-14-year-olds: Nigeria (PDF) (HTML)
Annex to "Facts about adolescents from the Demographic and Health Survey: Statistical tables for program planning"
Publication date: 2003
Facts about adolescents from the Demographic and Health Survey--Statistical tables for program planning: Nigeria 1999 (PDF) (HTML)
Publication date: 2002
Promoting dual protection in family planning clinics in Ibadan, Nigeria (abstract) (PDF)
Adeokun,Lawrence; Mantell,Joanne E.; Weiss,Eugene; Delano,Grace Ebun; Jagha,Temple; Olatoregun,Jumoke; Udo,Dora; Akinso,Stella; Weiss,Ellen
International Family Planning Perspectives 28(2): 87-95
Publication date: 2002
What about us? Bringing infertility into reproductive health care (PDF)
Friday,Okonofua; Datta,Bishakha
Quality/Calidad/Qualité (no. 13)
Publication date: 2002
Facts about adolescents from the Demographic and Health Survey: Statistical tables for program planning (HTML)
Series of DHS data tables by country
Publication date: 2001
Facts about adolescents from the Demographic and Health Survey--Statistical tables for program planning: Nigeria 1990 (PDF) (HTML)
Publication date: 2001
The acceptability of the female condom: Perspectives of family planning providers in New York City, South Africa, and Nigeria (abstract)
Mantell,Joanne E.; Hoffman,Susie; Weiss,Eugene; Adeokun,Lawrence; Delano,Grace Ebun; Jagha,Temple; Exner,Theresa M.; Stein,Zena A.; Karim,Quarraisha Abdool; Scheepers,Elma; Atkins,Kim; Weiss,Ellen
Journal of Urban Health 78(4): 658-668
Publication date: 2001
Predominance of subtype A and G HIV type 1 in Nigeria, with geographical differences in their distribution (abstract)
Peeters,Martine; Esu-Williams,Eka; Vergne,Laurence; Montavon,Celine; Mulanga-Kabeya,Claire; Harry,Takena; Ibironke,Akinsete; Lesage,Denis; Patrel,Delphine; Delaporte,Eric
AIDS Research and Human Retroviruses 16(4): 315-325
Publication date: 2000
Ethnicity and child mortality in sub-Saharan Africa (PDF)
Brockerhoff,Martin; Hewett,Paul C.
Policy Research Division Working Paper (no. 107)
Publication date: 1998
Women's experiences of unwanted pregnancy and induced abortion in Nigeria (PDF)
Okonofua,Friday E.; Odimegwu,Clifford; Aina,Bisi; Daru,Patrick H.; Johnson,Agnes
Robert H. Ebert Program on Critical Issues in Reproductive Health Publication Series
Publication date: 1996
Using situation analysis data to assess the functioning of family planning clinics in Nigeria, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe (abstract)
Mensch,Barbara S.; Fisher,Andrew A.; Askew,Ian; Ajayi,Ayorinde
Studies in Family Planning 25(1): 18-31
Publication date: 1994
Prevention of morbidity and mortality from induced and unsafe abortion in Nigeria (PDF)
Okonofua,Friday E.; Ilumoka,Toun
Robert H. Ebert Program on Critical Issues in Reproductive Health Publication Series
Publication date: 1991
Nigeria Fast Facts
| Population (millions) | 170.1 |
|---|---|
| Total fertility rate | 5.7 |
| Infant deaths per 1,000 live births | 77 |
| Maternal deaths per 100,000 live births | 840 |
| Girls aged 20-24 married by age 18 (%) | 39.4 |
| HIV/AIDS prevalence (%) | 3.6 |
| Living below US $2 per day (%) | 84 |
Country statistics from Demographic and Health Surveys, 1987–2011; UNAIDS and UNICEF websites (accessed 10/22/2012); "World Population Data Sheet" (Population Reference Bureau, 2012) | |
What's New
- "Sometimes, all that stands between a survivor and the help she needs are a few simple questions." The Council’s Chi-Chi Undie discusses intimate partner violence in Africa in a blog post on RH Reality Check. (offsite link)
- 31 January 2013 | Bixby fellowship application deadline: The Council’s Fred H. Bixby Fellowship Program expands training opportunities for social scientists and biomedical researchers in the health and population fields. The program is geared toward developing-country nationals in the early stages of their careers. (more)
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