Rheumatic Heart Disease Burden in Africa and the Need to Build Robust Infrastructure.

Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) is an important public health problem in Africa. Mapping the epidemiology of RHD involves elucidating its geographic distribution, temporal trends, and demographic characteristics. The prevalence of RHD in Africa varies widely, with estimates ranging from 2.

Risk perception and mpox vaccine acceptability among people living with HIV in northern Nigeria.

Background: There is a dearth of information regarding mpox risk perception and vaccine acceptance among people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), especially in countries with a dual burden of HIV and mpox, such as Nigeria.

Methods: We used an explanatory mixed methods design and structured questionnaires administered to a clinic-based sample of people living with HIV (n=430), followed by in-depth interviews with a purposive subsample (n=20). Data were analysed using binary logistic regression and the framework approach.

Prevalence and trends of pregnancy-related acute kidney injury in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Pregnancy-Related Acute Kidney Injury (PRAKI) is an important contributor to maternal-fetal morbidity and mortality. The burden of PRAKI in sub-Saharan Africa is not well documented. We conducted a systematic literature review and meta-analysis to estimate the prevalence of PRAKI in sub-Saharan Africa.

A PROTOCOL FOR ACCELERATING THE ADOPTION OF EVIDENCE-BASED MATERNAL, NEWBORN, CHILD, AND NUTRITION HEALTH (MNCNH) INNOVATIONS TO REDUCE MATERNAL MORTALITY IN NIGERIA.

Background: Maternal mortality remains a significant challenge in Nigeria, where 28.5% of global maternal deaths occur. Barriers such as weak policy environments and lack of product availability hinder the implementation of life-saving interventions.

Development and Piloting of Implementation Strategies to Support Delivery of a Clinical Intervention for Postpartum Hemorrhage in Four sub-Saharan Africa Countries.

Introduction: Postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) remains the leading cause of maternal mortality. A new clinical intervention (E-MOTIVE) holds the potential to improve early PPH detection and management. We aimed to develop and pilot implementation strategies to support uptake of this intervention in Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, and Tanzania.

" Experiences of intimate partner violence among Nigerian men during COVID-19 restrictions.

Limited literature exists on men's experiences with intimate partner violence (IPV) during the COVID-19 lockdown, especially in resource-constrained settings like Nigeria. We investigated the prevalence, risk factors, and lifetime experiences of IPV among men in Nigeria, during COVID-19 restrictions. Using a mixed methods design, we interviewed 420 married men with a structured questionnaire and conducted 20 in-depth interviews.

Acceptability of Teleconsultation Services for HIV Care in Nigeria: A Mixed Methods Study.

Access to HIV care remains challenging, especially for patients living in remote areas, despite advances in antiretroviral treatment. The acceptability of teleconsultations for routine HIV care post-COVID is not well-explored. We explored factors influencing teleconsultation acceptability among people living with HIV (PLWH) and attending a tertiary care center in Kano, Nigeria.

Effects of bacteriocin-producing Lactiplantibacillus plantarum on bacterial community and fermentation profile of whole-plant corn silage and its in vitro ruminal fermentation, microbiota, and CH emissions.

Background: Silage is widely used to formulate dairy cattle rations, and the utilization of antibiotics and methane emissions are 2 major problems for a sustainable and environmentally beneficial ruminant production systems. Bacteriocin has received considerable attention because of its potential as an alternative to antibiotics in animal husbandry. However, the impact of bacteriocin-producing lactic acid bacteria on the microbiological conversion process of whole-plant corn silage and rumen fermentation remains limited.

Feed balances for ruminant livestock: gridded estimates for data-constrained regions.

Demand for animal-source foods and livestock feed are forecast to increase across sub-Saharan Africa. In this context, there is a need to estimate the availability of livestock feed to support decision-making at local, sub-national and national levels. In this study, we assess feed balances for ruminant livestock in Ethiopia and Burkina Faso.

Factors Associated with Utilization of Sexual and Reproductive Health Services among Married Adolescent Girls in Kano, Northern Nigeria.

Background And Objective: Married adolescents face significant obstacles in making informed reproductive health decisions and accessing sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services. It is important to identify barriers hindering these adolescents from accessing SRH services. The aim of this study was to identify factors associated with the utilization of SRH services among married adolescent girls in northern Nigeria.

A Qualitative Study of HIV Testing Experiences and HIV Self-Testing Perspectives among Men in Northern Nigeria.

HIV self-testing (HIVST) holds promise for accessing hard-to-reach populations by overcoming sociocultural and structural barriers to awareness of HIV status. This phenomenological qualitative study explored the experiences and perspectives of married men in Kano, northern Nigeria, regarding HIV testing and counseling (HTC) and HIVST. Twenty married men from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds participated in in-depth interviews conducted in the local language.

Infection Prevention and Control: Baseline Knowledge and Practices of TBAs in Rural Kano, Northwestern Nigeria.

Background: Maternal infections remain a significant contributor to maternal mortality worldwide. Majority of births in northern Nigeria occur at home and are attended by Traditional Birth Attendants (TBAs). Little has been documented about their knowledge and practice on infection prevention and control practices in Kano, northern Nigeria.

Telemedicine Service Adoption During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Physicians' Experience from Nigeria.

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Prevalence and Determinants of Female-Perpetrated Intimate Partner Violence against Heterosexual Men Living with HIV in a Semi Rural Community, Northern Nigeria.

Background: Globally, female-perpetrated IPV has been well studied among various groups but little is known about IPV against heterosexual men living with HIV. This study sought to identify the prevalence and determinants of female-perpetrated IPV among heterosexual HIV-positive men in Birnin Kudu, Jigawa State, Nigeria.

Materials And Methods: This was a descriptive crosssectional study carried out at one secondary and tertiary health facility respectively, both situated in Birnin Kudu.

: Maternity Care in Rural Nigeria During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Background And Objective: The COVID-19 pandemic response overwhelmed health systems, disrupting other services, including maternal health services. The disruptive effects on the utilization of maternal health services in low-resource settings, including Nigeria have not been well documented. We assessed maternal health service utilization, predictors, and childbirth experiences amidst COVID-19 restrictions in a rural community of Kumbotso, Kano State, in northern Nigeria.

Growth performance, survivability and profitability of improved smallholder chicken genetics in Nigeria: A COVID-19 intervention study.

The impact of COVID-19 pandemic on smallholder farming households (SFH) includes increased poverty, and loss of livelihoods. Provision of livestock to SFH is a helpful intervention to mitigate this impact. This study provided a total of 150 smallholder poultry farmers, randomly selected from three states (Kebbi, Nasarawa, and Imo) in Nigeria, with ten 5-week-old chickens (mixed sexes) each, of either FUNAAB Alpha or Noiler chicken genetics.

Detection and management of postpartum haemorrhage: Qualitative evidence on healthcare providers' knowledge and practices in Kenya, Nigeria, and South Africa.

Background: Postpartum haemorrhage (PPH) is the leading cause of maternal death globally. Most PPH deaths can be avoided with timely detection and management; however, critical challenges persist. A multi-country cluster-randomised trial (E-MOTIVE) will introduce a clinical care bundle for early detection and first-response PPH management in hospital settings.

: Correlates of Health Workers' Support for COVID-19 Vaccine Mandates.

This study examined the support for vaccine mandates and uptake among clinical and non-clinical staff at a tertiary hospital in northern Nigeria, focusing on variation of survey responses based on job position, socio-demographic characteristics, and perceived risk of infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). Using an explanatory, sequential, mixed-methods design and deploying a pragmatic paradigm, 370 healthcare workers were administered structured questionnaires. This was followed by in-depth interviews with a sub-sample of respondents to further clarify the responses regarding support for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine mandate.

Livestock feed resources in the West African Sahel.

Limited supply of quality feed is the most important factor limiting livestock productivity in many sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries. Having a systematic inventory of available feed resources, identifying main challenges and potentials for improvement is the first step towards designing development strategies to improve feed quality and quantity. The objective of this study was to review the available feed resources and their quality in West African Sahel across different agro-ecological zones and to identify the research gaps and strategies to improve feed resource availability.

Antibiotic Resistance of Bacterial Isolates from Smallholder Poultry Droppings in the Guinea Savanna Zone of Nigeria.

There is a growing risk of antibiotic resistance (AR) in smallholder poultry (SP). This study, therefore, aimed to investigate AR pattern of bacterial isolates from SP in the Guinea Savanna agro-ecological zone of Nigeria. A total of 120 fresh poultry droppings were aseptically collected, randomly, from two tropically adapted (FUNAAB Alpha and Noiler) and local chickens.

Differences in obstetric practices and outcomes of postpartum hemorrhage across Nigerian health facilities.

Objective: To explore differences in obstetric practices and clinical outcomes of postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) in Nigerian facilities.

Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study of public health facilities providing maternal healthcare services in Nigeria. Surveys were conducted across 38 purposively sampled facilities (January 2020-March 2021) to collect information on obstetric practices related to the management of the third stage of labor, treatment of postpartum hemorrhage, and clinical outcomes related to postpartum hemorrhage in the preceding 12 months.

Length-of-stay after a health facility birth and associated factors: analysis of data from three Sub-Saharan African countries.

Objectives: We estimated the length-of-stay (LOS) in the health facility after childbirth and identified associated factors in three sub-Saharan African countries.

Design: Secondary analysis using data from the most recent Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys.

Setting: Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys from Ghana, Malawi and Eswatini were selected.

A Mixed-methods Study of Correlates of COVID-19 Vaccine Acceptability among Health Workers in Northern Nigeria.

We assessed the acceptability of COVID-19 vaccine, predictors, and reasons for vaccine hesitancy among clinical and non-clinical staff at a tertiary hospital in Kano, northern Nigeria.Using a mixed-methods design, structured questionnaires were administered to 284 hospital staff, followed by 20 in-depth interviews with a purposive sub-sample. Logistic regression and the framework approach were used to analyze the data.