Introduction: Lassa fever is a zoonotic infectious disease endemic in West Africa with a high case-fatality rate and reported stigmatization of surviving patients. This study examines discrimination among survivors of Lassa fever (LF) complicated by hearing loss (HL).
Methods: This cross-sectional qualitative study used an in-depth interview guide to collect information from patients with HL about their experience of stigma.
Background: The majority of global COVID deaths have occurred in developed countries. Not much is known about the clinical outcomes for the patients admitted with COVID in Nigeria. We thus described the clinical characteristics, outcomes, and predictors of outcomes of hospitalized Nigerian COVID-19 patients.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: Recent research suggests that variation in vaccine-induced immune responses is influenced by genetic, nutritional, environmental, and vaccine-related factors, with significant vaccine design and programmatic policy implications. Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) Conjugate Vaccine (HCV) stimulates the production of antiPolyribosylribitol phosphate (anti-PRP) antibodies, which confer long-term protection against invasive Hib disease and nasopharyngeal colonization by Hib at titre levels ≥1μg/mL and ≥5μg/mL respectively. This study investigated the influence of these factors on the protective anti-PRP levels in children aged 6-23 months in Obi L.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) causes invasive infections almost exclusively in under- fives with those aged 6-23 months being the most vulnerable. In Nigeria, it is estimated to cause nearly 400,000 annual infections and another 30,000 under-five mortality attributable to pneumonia and meningitis alone. The Hib Conjugate Vaccine (HCV) is in widespread use to combat these devastating infections.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBMJ Glob Health
October 2023
Primary prevention of acute rheumatic fever (ARF) and rheumatic heart disease (RHD) encompasses the timely diagnosis and adequate treatment of the superficial group A (GAS) infections pharyngitis and impetigo. GAS is the only known inciting agent in the pathophysiology of the disease. However, sufficient evidence indicates that the uptake and delivery of primary prevention approaches in RHD-endemic regions are significantly suboptimal.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAlthough entirely preventable, rheumatic heart disease (RHD), a disease of poverty and social disadvantage resulting in high morbidity and mortality, remains an ever-present burden in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs) and rural, remote, marginalised and disenfranchised populations within high-income countries. In late 2021, the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute convened a workshop to explore the current state of science, to identify basic science and clinical research priorities to support RHD eradication efforts worldwide. This was done through the inclusion of multidisciplinary global experts, including cardiovascular and non-cardiovascular specialists as well as health policy and health economics experts, many of whom also represented or closely worked with patient-family organisations and local governments.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe aetiologic agent of COVID-19 is a novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2. Like other coronaviruses, it generally induces enteric and respiratory diseases in animals and humans. COVID-19 may be subclinical, and symptomatic, ranging from mild-to-severe disease.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSince 2000, many countries have achieved considerable success in improving child survival, but localized progress remains unclear. To inform efforts towards United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 3.2-to end preventable child deaths by 2030-we need consistently estimated data at the subnational level regarding child mortality rates and trends.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground And Objectives: Measuring head circumference (HC) of newborns is an important tool for evaluating intra-uterine brain development. HC reference charts currently in use in Nigeria are not representative of the local population. We thus present locally derived HC reference data for Nigerian infants at birth.
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