Evidence map›Paper›PMID 33270723›Full record

ArticlePloS one2020

Community perceptions on causes of high dizygotic twinning rate in Igbo-Ora, South-west Nigeria: A qualitative study.

Akhere A Omonkhua, Friday E Okonofua, Lorretta F C Ntoimo, Austin I Aruomaren, Ayodeji M Adebayo, Roseangela Nwuba

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in PloS one, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
6citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
2.0field-weighted citation impact, top 13% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

6 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 17 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
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  3. Tapping into the potential of okra (Frontiers in plant science · 2025
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors at 5 institutions in 1 country.

Akhere A OmonkhuaDepartment of Medical Biochemistry, School of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria.ORCID 0000-0002-0905-0181
Friday E OkonofuaCentre of Excellence in Reproductive Health Innovation (CERHI), University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria.ORCID 0000-0002-8777-2606
Lorretta F C NtoimoFaculty of Social Sciences, Department of Demography and Social Statistics, Federal University Oye-Ekiti, Oye-Ekiti, Nigeria.
Austin I AruomarenDepartment of Medical Laboratory Sciences, School of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria.
Ayodeji M AdebayoIbarapa Programme, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria.
Roseangela NwubaDepartment of Biological Sciences, University of Medical Sciences, Ondo, Nigeria.ORCID 0000-0001-6570-9553
University of Benin · NGFederal University Oye Ekiti · NGSocial Action · NGUniversity of Ibadan · NGUniversity of Medical Sciences, Ondo

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundDizygotic (DZ, non-identical) twinning rates vary widely across different regions in the world. With a DZ twinning rate of 45 per 1000 live births, Igbo-Ora Community in South-west Nigeria has the highest dizygotic (DZ) twinning rate in the world. Although several postulations exist on the causes of high DZ twinning rates in Igbo-Ora, no study has yet been conclusive on a definite causative agent.

objectiveUsing qualitative methods, this study explored the perceptions and beliefs of Igbo-Ora residents about the causes of high DZ twinning rates.

methodsFocus group discussion sessions and key informant interviews were organized among fathers and mothers of twins, those without twins, and health care providers. Key informant interviews were also held with persons considered to be custodians of culture who may have knowledge relevant to twinning such as traditional rulers, and traditional birth attendants; as well as health care providers, mothers and fathers of twins, and adult twins.

resultsThe results showed three factors featuring as the leading perceived causes of twinning in the community. These included twinning being an act of God, hereditary, and being due to certain foods consumed in the community. Contrary to reports that the consumption of a species of yam (Dioscorea rotundata) may be responsible for the DZ twinning in this Community; yam was not prioritized by the respondents as associated with twinning. In contrast, participants repeatedly mentioned the consumption of "ilasa" a soup prepared with okra leaves (Abelmoschus esculenta) with water that is obtained from the community, and "amala" a local delicacy produced from cassava (Manihot esculenta) as the most likely dietary factors responsible for twinning in the community.

conclusionSince the same foods are consumed in neighboring communities that have lower rates of twinning, we conjecture that nutritional and other environmental factors may produce epigenetic modifications that influence high DZ twinning rates in Igbo-Ora community. We conclude that more directed scientific studies based on these findings are required to further elucidate the etiology of the high rate of DZ twinning in Igbo-Ora.

Indexed as

CultureTwins, DizygoticAdultDietEpigenesis, GeneticFeeding BehaviorFemaleFocus GroupsHumansMaleNigeriaPregnancyQualitative Research

Identifiers

PMID33270723
PMCPMC7714157
OpenAlexW3110073040

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.