Attitudes toward scale-up of an Intensive Combination Approach to Rollback the Epidemic in Nigerian adolescents (iCARE) intervention for youth in Nigeria: results of a mixed methods early-implementation study.

Background: Youth living with HIV (YLH) are disproportionately impacted by HIV with poor outcomes along the entire HIV care continuum. In a 2020-2022 pilot study, iCARE Nigeria, successfully tested a combination intervention incorporating mobile health technology and peer navigation to: 1) improve testing and linkage to HIV care for young men, especially young men who have sex with men (YMSM) and 2) improve medication adherence and treatment outcomes for YLH. The intervention was scaled up to 5 sites in 3 Nigerian cities.

User-centered adaption of , A novel mhealth application integrating medication reminders with virtual peer support and social/financial incentives to improve medication adherence.

Youth living with HIV (YLWH) have high rates of virologic failure due to medication non-adherence. is a novel, gamified mobile health (mHealth) application designed with user-centered principles to improve medication adherence by integrating medication reminders with social and financial incentives, virtual peer social support and early clinic outreach for non-adherent YLWH in Nigeria. Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) were conducted to identify reactions to key prototype features (user interface, medication reminders, incentives, and peer support), facilitators and barriers to app use, and how well the app would meet adherence needs.

A Stepped-Wedge, Cluster-Randomized, Multisite Study of Text Messaging Plus Peer Navigation to Improve Adherence and Viral Suppression Among Youth on Antiretroviral Therapy.

Background: To address the need for improved virologic suppression among youth living with HIV (YLH) on antiretroviral treatment (ART), we evaluated peer navigation plus TXTXT daily text message ART reminders.

Setting: YLH aged 15-24 years on ART for at least 3 months at 6 research sites in 4 Nigerian cities.

Methods: Using a stepped-wedge design, cluster 1 was nonrandomized, whereas clusters 2 and 3 were randomized to sequences of routine care (control period) and 48 weeks of the combination intervention (intervention period).

Disparities in dolutegravir utilisation in children, adolescents and young adults (0-24 years) living with HIV: An analysis of the IeDEA Paediatric West African cohort.

Introduction: We describe the 24-month incidence of Dolutegravir (DTG)-containing antiretroviral treatment (ART) initiation since its introduction in 2019 in West Africa.

Methods: We included all patients aged 0-24 years on ART from nine clinics in Côte d'Ivoire (n=4), Ghana, Nigeria, Mali, Benin, and Burkina Faso. Baseline varied by clinic and was defined as date of first DTG prescription; patients were followed up until database closure/death/loss to follow-up (LTFU, no visit ≥ 7 months), whichever came first.

Health-related quality of life among children/adolescents living with HIV/AIDS in Lagos State, Nigeria.

Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQL) is commonly used to assess the impact of health status on quality of life. The HRQL data obtained does not follow the assumption of normality and a non-parametric test was used to make inference in this study. This study compares the characteristics of children with HRQL classified as good, intermediate, and poor quality of life.

PEERNaija-a mobile health platform incentivizing medication adherence among youth living with HIV in Nigeria: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

Background: Poor medication adherence is a major barrier to HIV control among youth living with HIV (Y-PLWH). The PEERNaija application (app) is an adapted smartphone app grounded in social cognitive and contigency management theories and designed to harness peer-based social incentives and conditional financial incentives to promote medication adherence. The app delivers a multifaceted medication adherence intervention including (1) peer-based social incentives, (2) financial incentives, (3) virtual peer social support, and (4) early clinic-based outreach for non-adherent Y-PLWH.

Prescription patterns and compliance with World Health Organization recommendations for the management of uncomplicated and severe malaria: A prospective, real-world study in sub-Saharan Africa.

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the gap between guidelines and local clinical practice for diagnosis and treatment of uncomplicated and severe malaria, the patient characteristics, diagnostic approach, treatment, and compliance to standard guideline recommendations.

Methods: This was a multicentre, observational study conducted between October 2020 and March 2021 in which patients of all ages with symptoms suggestive of malaria and who visited a healthcare facility were prospectively enrolled in six countries in sub-Saharan Africa (The Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, The United Republic of Tanzania, and Zambia).

Results: Of 1001 enrolled patients, 735 (73.

A randomized stepped wedge trial of an intensive combination approach to roll back the HIV epidemic in Nigerian adolescents: iCARE Nigeria treatment support protocol.

Background: Nigeria is one of six countries with half the global burden of youth living with HIV. Interventions to date have been inadequate as AIDS-related deaths in Nigeria's youth have remained unchanged in recent years. The iCARE Nigeria HIV treatment support intervention, a combination of peer navigation and SMS text message medication reminders to promote viral suppression, demonstrated initial efficacy and feasibility in a pilot trial among youth living with HIV in Nigeria.

Design, Implementation, and Coordination of Malaria Therapeutic Efficacy Studies in Nigeria in 2018.

Prior to 2018, malaria therapeutic efficacy studies (TESs) in Nigeria were implemented separately at different sites, as assigned by the National Malaria Elimination Program (NMEP). In 2018, however, the NMEP engaged the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research to coordinate the 2018 TESs in 3 of 14 sentinel sites with the objective of standardizing their conduct across all three sites: Enugu, Kano, and Plateau states in three of six geopolitical zones. Artemether-lumefantrine and artesunate-amodiaquine, the two first-line drugs for treatment of acute uncomplicated malaria in Nigeria, were tested in both Kano and Plateau states.

Self-collected versus medic-collected sampling for human papillomavirus testing among women in Lagos, Nigeria: a comparative study.

Objective: To evaluate the feasibility and performance of self-collected vaginal swab samples for HPV screening among women in Lagos, Nigeria.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was implemented from March to August 2020 among sexually active women. Study participants provided same-day paired vaginal swab samples.

A multi-centre observational study of HIV, tuberculosis and risk of chronic lung disease in urban West Africa.

Objective: HIV and tuberculosis (TB) are risk factors for non-communicable chronic lung disease (CLD). Despite the high prevalence of these infections in West Africa, there are no studies that compare CLD between people with HIV and HIV-negative populations in this setting. This study sought to quantify the contribution of HIV and TB infection in addition to conventional CLD risk factors, such as tobacco and biofuel exposure, to CLD in urban West Africa.

Strategies for enhancing uptake of HIV self-testing among Nigerian youths: a descriptive analysis of the 4YouthByYouth crowdsourcing contest.

Introduction: Youth are often the intended beneficiaries of HIV programs but are rarely involved in program design. Engaging youth in program design is one potential way of identifying promising approaches for HIV service delivery. The purpose of this study is to examine the feasibility of using a crowdsourcing contest to solicit ideas on ways to promote HIV self-testing (HIVST) services among Nigerian youths.

Health-related quality of life of children and adolescents living with HIV in Lagos, Nigeria: a cross-sectional study.

Introduction: adolescents living with HIV [ALHIV] face the dual challenges of adolescence and coping with HIV infection. This study aims to evaluate health-related quality of life [HRQoL] of children and adolescents aged 8 - 18 years living with HIV in an HIV treatment centre in Lagos, Nigeria.

Methods: we conducted a cross-sectional study among children and adolescents living with HIV and receiving antiretroviral therapy.

Growth and Pubertal Development Among HIV Infected and Uninfected Adolescent Girls in Lagos, Nigeria: A Comparative Cross-Sectional Study.

This study aimed to compare growth and pubertal developmental parameters among HIV-infected and uninfected adolescent girls (11-19 years) in Lagos using a cross-sectional approach. Height, weight, BMI -scores, sexual maturity rating by Tanner stages and age at menarche, were compared in the 2 groups. The mean age was similar in both groups (13.

The 4 Youth By Youth mHealth Photo Verification App for HIV Self-testing in Nigeria: Qualitative Analysis of User Experiences.

Background: Despite the global expansion of HIV self-testing (HIVST), many research studies still rely on self-reported outcomes. New HIVST verification methods are needed, especially in resource-limited settings.

Objective: This study aims to evaluate the user experience of a mobile health (mHealth) app to enhance HIVST result reporting and verification.

The use of DIY (Do it yourself) sampling and telemonitoring model for COVID-19 qPCR testing scale up.

The first case of COVID-19 in Nigeria was recorded on February 27, 2020, being an imported case by an Italian expatriate, to the country. Since then, there has been steady increase in the number of cases. However, the number of cases in Nigeria is low in comparison to cases reported by other countries with similar large populations, despite the poor health system prevailing in the country.

Prevalence and Presentation of Paediatric Coronavirus Disease 2019 in Lagos, Nigeria.

Background: The objective of this study was to describe the prevalence and clinical features of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) among children (≤18 years) evaluated for Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection at a testing centre in Lagos, Nigeria. . This was a retrospective study.

A designathon to co-create community-driven HIV self-testing services for Nigerian youth: findings from a participatory event.

Background: Youth are at high risk for HIV, but are often left out of designing interventions, including those focused on adolescents. We organized a designathon for Nigerian youth to develop HIV self-testing (HIVST) strategies for potential implementation in their local communities. A designathon is a problem-focused event where participants work together over a short period to create and present solutions to a judging panel.

Designing HIV Testing and Self-Testing Services for Young People in Nigeria: A Discrete Choice Experiment.

Background And Objective: A third of new human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections occur among young people and the majority of young people living with HIV are in sub-Saharan Africa. We examined the strength of Nigerian youth preferences related to HIV testing and HIV self-testing (HIVST).

Methods: Discrete choice experiments were conducted among Nigerian youth (age 14-24 years).

Socioeconomic, clinical, and behavioral characteristics of adolescents living with HIV in Southwest Nigeria: implication for preparedness for transition to adult care.

There is a need to generate data that demonstrate preparedness (or a lack of it) of adolescents to crossover to adult care to inform policy and create appropriate models in LMICs. This cross-sectional survey of 252 adolescents (15-19 years) receiving HIV-care assessed sociodemographic characteristics, clinical and ART status, and HIV-related behaviors. Also, the study appraised HIV status awareness, and disclosure, and access to healthcare.

"Their place is beyond the town's border": A qualitative exploration of stigma associated with tuberculosis in rural and urban areas of Lagos, Nigeria.

Tuberculosis (TB) remains a major public health challenge in Nigeria with a minimum yield of various TB control efforts due to sociocultural determinants of health including TB-associated stigma. Therefore, to achieve the Sustainable Development Goal targets for TB control, an understanding and reduction in TB-associated stigma is necessary. The study aims to explore the perspective of community members and investigate the possible ways of mitigating TB-associated stigma in rural and urban areas in Lagos State, Nigeria.

: A Gamified mHealth Behavioral Intervention to Improve Adherence to Antiretroviral Treatment Among Adolescents and Young Adults in Nigeria.

Background: HIV is the leading cause of death for youth in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). The rapid proliferation of smart phones in SSA provides an opportunity to leverage novel approaches to promote adherence to life-saving antiretroviral therapy (ART) for adolescents and young adults living with HIV (AYA-HIV) that go beyond simple medication reminders.

Methods: Guided by the Integrate, Design, Assess and Share (IDEAS) framework, our multidisciplinary team developed a peer-based mHealth ART adherence intervention- Grounded in Social Cognitive Theory, and principles of contingency management and supportive accountability, delivers a multi-faceted behavioral intervention within a smartphone application to address important obstacles to adherence.