Challenges in oral health practice in Somalia: a call for regulatory strengthening and inclusion into primary healthcare services.

Background: Oral diseases remain a significant public health problem worldwide despite being largely preventable. Oral disorders such as dental caries, periodontal diseases, and oral cancers are highly prevalent chronic conditions that negatively impact quality of life. The oral health practice in Somalia has been evolving over the years, we therefore explored the challenges of oral health practice in a security-constrained poorly regulated environment to guide policy development.

Pattern of intestinal parasitic infections in children with malnutrition in Somalia.

Objectives: Children living in conflict zones plagued with adverse climatic conditions often suffer from acute malnutrition. Being coinfected with intestinal parasites could worsen the prognosis if adequate interventions are not promptly instituted. We determined the pattern of intestinal parasitic infections (IPIs) in children with acute malnutrition in the Bay and Banadir regions of Somalia.

COVID-19 pandemic response and Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Programs in ECOWAS.

The COVID-19 pandemic has been persistent with a huge demand for human health resources which is a vital component of its preparedness and response. Globally, the public health workforce through field epidemiology and laboratory training programme (FELTP) has been instrumental to global health security. We determined the status of FELTP in the region and its contributions to the COVID-19 pandemic response in the ECOWAS region.

Adverse drug reactions, adherence, and virologic outcomes in adult patients on dolutegravir-based antiretroviral therapy at a tertiary hospital, southeast Nigeria.

Objective: To assess the adherence, adverse drug reactions (ADR), and virologic outcomes of dolutegravir-based antiretroviral therapy.

Design: This was a retrospective chart review.

Setting: A tertiary health facility-based study in Abakaliki, Nigeria.

Maternal death surveillance and response system evaluation in Makonde District, Zimbabwe, 2021.

Background: Maternal mortality is of global concern, almost 800 women die every day due to maternal complications. The maternal death surveillance and response (MDSR) system is one strategy designed to reduce maternal mortality. In 2021 Makonde District reported a maternal mortality ratio of 275 per 100 000 and only sixty-two percent of deaths recorded were audited.

COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among adults in Liberia, April-May 2021.

Background: Vaccination is one of the most cost-effective public health interventions used to prevent diseases in susceptible populations. Despite the established efficacy of vaccines, there are many reasons people are hesitant about vaccination, and these reasons could be complex. This rapid survey estimated the prevalence of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and potentially contributing factors in Montserrado and Nimba counties in Liberia.

Maternal mortality review in a major tertiary referral hospital in Liberia, 2018-2021.

Objectives: Anecdotal evidence showed increased maternal deaths at the major tertiary hospital over the past two years (2020-2021). We reviewed the maternal death audit data, identified the main causes of maternal death, and associated risk factors. Findings were shared with policymakers to help reduce maternal mortality.

Trend of Lassa fever cases and factors associated with mortality in Liberia, 2016 - 2021: a secondary data analysis.

Introduction: Lassa fever (LF) is endemic in Liberia and is immediately reportable. Suspected cases are confirmed at the National Public Health Reference Laboratory. However, there is limited information on the trend and factors associated with mortality.

Descriptive Analysis of Measles Outbreak in Liberia, 2022.

Background: Liberia reported a large outbreak of measles involving all the counties in 2022. We conducted a descriptive analysis of the measles surveillance data to understand the trend of the outbreak and guide further policy action to prevent future outbreaks.

Methods: We analyzed the measles surveillance data from Epi week 1 to 51, 2022.

Seroprevalence of poliovirus antibodies in Nigeria: refining strategies to sustain the eradication effort.

Introduction: in 2016, a switch from trivalent oral poliovirus vaccine (OPV) (containing serotypes 1,2,3) to bivalent OPV (types 1,3) was implemented globally. We assessed the seroprevalence of poliovirus antibody levels in selected Nigerian states, before and after the switch, documented poliovirus type2 outbreak responses conducted and ascertained factors associated with immunity gaps based on seroprevalence rates.

Methods: we conducted a secondary analysis of stored serum samples from the 2018 Nigeria National HIV/AIDS Indicator and Impact Survey.

Tuberculosis cohort analysis in Zimbabwe: The need to strengthen patient follow-up throughout the tuberculosis care cascade.

Introduction: Globally people with tuberculosis (TB) continue to be missed each year. They are either not diagnosed or not reported which indicates possible leakages in the TB care cascade. Zimbabwe is not spared with over 12000 missed cases in 2020.

HIV and AIDS-related knowledge, HIV risk perception, uptake of HIV testing and its predictors among prison inmates in Bauchi State, Nigeria: a cross-sectional study.

Introduction: globally, HIV infection among prison inmates is significantly higher than in the general population. Therefore, it is important to identify inmates-living-with-HIV, through HIV-testing, in keeping with the target of UNAIDS vision 90-90-90. We assessed HIV/AIDS-related knowledge, HIV-risk perception and predictors of HIV-testing-uptake in Bauchi Prison.

Pattern of antimicrobial prescription in Africa: a systematic review of point prevalence surveys.

Introduction: inappropriate use of antimicrobials is a cause for concern and contributes to the global antimicrobial resistance crises especially in Africa. This review aims to summarize the available evidence on the point prevalence and pattern of antimicrobial and/or antibiotic prescription in Africa.

Methods: this review was carried out between April and September 2021 and identified published studies up until March 2021 on the point prevalence of antibiotic and/or antimicrobial use in Africa.

Readiness, barriers, and attitude of students towards online medical education amidst COVID-19 pandemic: A study among medical students of Ebonyi State University Abakaliki, Nigeria.

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic caused massive disruption to medical education in Nigeria, necessitating the call for online medical education in the country. This study assessed the readiness, barriers, and attitude of medical students of Ebonyi State University Abakaliki, Nigeria, to online medical education.

Methods: A cross-sectional study design was employed.

Awareness, knowledge, risk perception and uptake of maternal vaccination in rural communities of Ebonyi State, Nigeria.

Introduction: Knowledge and uptake of maternal vaccination has been reported to be low in low- and middle-income countries.

Objectives: To determine the knowledge, uptake and determinants of uptake of maternal vaccination among women of child-bearing age.

Methods: A cross sectional study was done among 607 women of childbearing age selected from rural communities in Ebonyi State using multi-staged sampling technique.

Antimicrobial use among paediatric inpatients in a Nigerian tertiary hospital: A three-year point prevalence survey.

Aim: Antimicrobials are among the most widely prescribed therapeutic agents among paediatric population. Irrational use of these agents increases the risk of antimicrobial resistance. We described the prevalence and pattern of antimicrobial use among paediatric inpatients from 2017 to 2019.

Capacity building at points of entry during COVID-19 pandemic: harmonising training curriculum for Economic Community of West African States.

This paper describes the process for developing, validating and disseminating through a train-the-trainer (TOT) event a standardised curriculum for public health capacity building for points of entry (POE) staff across the 15-member state Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) that reflects both international standards and national guidelines.A five-phase process was used in developing the curriculum: phase (1) assessment of existing materials developed by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Africa CDC and the West African Economic and Monetary Union, (2) design of retained and new, harmonised content, (3) validation by the national leadership to produce final content, (4) implementation of the harmonised curriculum during a regional TOT, and (5) evaluation of the curriculum.Of the nine modules assessed in English and French, the technical team agreed to retain six harmonised modules providing materials for 10 days of intensive training.

Anthrax outbreak investigation in Tengwe, Mashonaland West Province, Zimbabwe, 2022.

Background: Anthrax continues to be a disease of public health concern in Zimbabwe. Between December 2021 and February 2022, Tengwe reported 36 cases of human anthrax. Gastrointestinal anthrax has the potential to cause serious outbreaks leading to loss of human life.

Evaluation of malaria surveillance system in Benue State, Nigeria.

Background: Malaria is a priority global health disease with high morbidity and mortality especially among children under-five and pregnant women. Malaria elimination requires an effective surveillance system. The malaria surveillance system in Benue State was evaluated to assess its attributes and performance in line with set objectives.

Are rural pregnant women disadvantaged in accessing intermittent preventive treatment in pregnancy in Ebonyi State, Nigeria?

Introduction: Adequate intermittent preventive treatment (IPTp) uptake (≥3 doses) routinely delivered at antenatal clinics is effective in preventing malaria during pregnancy. Whereas, low IPTp uptake (24.0%) had been reported among pregnant women in Ebonyi State, there is paucity of studies comparing the uptake and its predictors in the urban and rural areas of Ebonyi State.

Urban-rural differences in health service-related factors associated with male involvement in family planning services in Abia State, Southeastern Nigeria.

Objective: To identify and compare the health service-related factors associated with male involvement in family planning services among the rural and urban areas in Abia State, Nigeria.

Design: A community-based cross-sectional study.

Setting: Twelve communities (six urban and six rural) in Abia State, Nigeria.

Physical inactivity and perceived environmental factors: a cross-sectional study among civil servants in Abia State, Southeastern Nigeria.

Introduction: physical inactivity has been identified as the fourth leading risk factor for global mortality due to non-communicable diseases. Prevalence rates of 91.0% and 62.

Determinants of male involvement in family planning services in Abia State, Southeast Nigeria.

Background: Male involvement in family planning (FP) remains low in male-dominant communities. Family planning contributes to the regulation of fertility and population growth in Nigeria. Increasing male involvement in family planning services is crucial in reducing maternal morbidity and mortality in patriarchal societies such as Nigeria.

Epidemiological characteristics of Lassa fever cases in Liberia: a retrospective analysis of surveillance data, 2019-2020.

Objectives: Liberia is endemic to Lassa fever (LF) and has the largest reported per capita incidence of LF patients in the West African region. Cases of the disease increased unprecedentedly in 2019 and 2020, characterized by a geographical drift in epidemiology and seasonal variation of occurrence. This study aims to describe the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of LF in Liberia from 2019 to 2020.