Exploring the perspectives of healthcare workers and Program managers on the use of Truenat as a new tool for TB and DR-TB diagnosis in Nigeria: A qualitative study.

Background: World Health Organization in the year 2020 recommended the use of Truenat as a replacement for smear microscopy in Tuberculosis (TB) diagnosis and detection of rifampicin resistance. This study was designed to assess enablers and barriers to effective implementation of Truenat assays for TB diagnosis in Nigeria and determine the acceptability of use of Truenat among healthcare workers and TB Program managers in Nigeria.

Methods: A descriptive exploratory study design was used.

Educational Intervention Can Improve the Pilot Balloon Palpation Method of Tracheal Tube Cuff Pressure Monitoring: An Experimental Study.

Background: Considerable morbidity is attributable to inappropriate tracheal cuff pressure. An earlier study undertaken in our hospital revealed that a normal cuff pressure of 20-30 cm HO was achieved in only 6% of intubated patients using subjective estimation methods.

Objective: To determine whether a training intervention could improve the accuracy of the subjective estimation method in our tracheal cuff monitoring.

Reassessing the Significance of Mycobacterium in Neglected Tropical Diseases: A Study Protocol in Nigeria.

Background: Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) significantly impact the physical and mental well-being of affected individuals, particularly in Nigeria. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of integrating mental health services with self-care practices for individuals suffering from leprosy, Buruli ulcer (BU), and lymphatic filariasis (LF). The role of trained Healthcare Workers (HCWs) and NTD champions (NTD-Cs) will be explored to enhance health outcomes in this population.

Perceived ease of use of Truenat among laboratory staff as a new diagnostic tool for TB in Nigeria: Result of a pilot roll-out.

In January 2020, WHO released a rapid communication on use of molecular assays as initial tests for diagnosis of tuberculosis, recommending Truenat as a replacement for smear microscopy in TB diagnosis. This study was designed to assess perceived ease of use of Truenat among Laboratory staff as a new diagnostic tool for TB in Nigeria. This study used a cross-sectional design.

Willingness to accept malaria vaccines amongst women presenting at outpatient and immunization clinics in Enugu state, Southeast Nigeria.

Background: There are giant steps taken in the introduction of the novel malaria vaccine poised towards reducing mortality and morbidity associated with malaria.

Objectives: This study aimed to determine the knowledge of malaria vaccine and factors militating against willingness to accept the vaccine among mothers presenting in nine hospitals in Enugu metropolis.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study carried out among 491 mothers who presented with their children in nine hospitals in Enugu metropolis, South-East Nigeria.

Problem gambling among secondary school adolescents in Enugu, Nigeria.

Background: Adolescent problem gambling is a common behavioural issue and could be associated with internet addiction.

Objectives: To determine the pattern of problem gambling and factors that predict gambling among adolescents that attended secondary schools in southeast Nigeria.

Methodology: This is a cross-sectional study design.

Improving TB Case Detection Through Active Case-Finding: Results of Multiple Intervention Strategies in Hard-to-Reach Riverine Areas of Southern Nigeria.

Background: A major challenge to TB control globally is low case detection, largely due to routine health facility-based passive case-finding employed by national TB control programs. Active case-finding is a risk-population-based screening approach that has been established to be effective in TB control. This intervention aimed to increase TB case detection in hard-to-reach areas in southern Nigeria.

Willingness of college students aged 10 to 24 years to get vaccinated against COVID-19 disease: a cross-sectional study in South-East Nigeria.

Background: Willingness to be vaccinated against COVID-19 is a topical issue that may change the course and distribution of the pandemic in the country.

Objectives: This study was aimed to determine the willingness to receive the COVID-19 vaccine among college adolescents and associated factors.

Methodology: This was a cross-sectional study carried out among one thousand college adolescents in six secondary schools in Enugu from April to August 2021.

Prevalence and Predictors of Anxiety among Surgical Patients in the Preoperative Holding Area of National Orthopaedic Hospital, Enugu, Nigeria: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: High preoperative anxiety in surgical patients impacts anesthetic management, postoperative pain scores, patient satisfaction, and postoperative morbidity. The Amsterdam Preoperative Anxiety and Information Scale (APAIS) offers an attractive option for the assessment of preoperative anxiety on account of its brevity and validity.

Aim: Our aim was to determine the prevalence and predictors of preoperative anxiety in our surgical patients.

Disease perception, impacts and coping strategies for onchocerciasis in Southeast Nigeria: a qualitative study among patients and program managers.

Background: Onchocerciasis is a disease of public health concern due to the devastating consequences of the disease which impacts negatively on the lives of the people. The negative impact of the disease may affect its perception and lead to the adoption of some coping strategies. Therefore, understanding the disease perception, impacts and coping strategies used by onchocerciasis patients will help plan health interventions aimed at improving their general well-being.

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.

Males' perceptions and practices towards maternity care in rural southeast Nigeria: Policy implication of participatory action research for safe motherhood.

Introduction: High maternal death is attributable to developing countries' health systems and sociocultural factors This study assessed the effect of participatory-action research on males' perception and practice towards maternity care and safe motherhood in rural southeast Nigeria.

Methods: A pre-post-intervention study design was employed to study 396 male partners of pregnant women selected through cluster sampling in rural communities in southeast Nigeria. Males' perceptions and practices towards maternity care and safe motherhood were assessed using an interviewer-administered five-point Likert scale questionnaire.

An appraisal of the implementation of the national school feeding programme and its effect on enrolment and attendance in public primary schools in Southeast, Nigeria: perception of heads of schools.

Introduction: The National Home Grown School Feeding Programme (NHGSFP) was re-launched in Nigeria in 2016, eleven years after it was first introduced in the country, with Enugu as one of the beneficiary States. The objectives of the programme are to improve the health of school children and aid in the realization of Universal Basic Education (UBE) goals. This study explored the opinions of heads of public primary schools on the implementation and policy benefits of NHGSFP in Enugu, southeast Nigeria.

Where, why and who delivers our babies? Examining the perspectives of women on utilization of antenatal and delivery services in a developing country.

Background: The differences in maternal mortality between developed and developing countries is due to differences in use of antenatal and delivery services. The study was designed to determine the views of women on utilization of antenatal and delivery services in urban and rural communities of Ebonyi state, Nigeria.

Methods: Community based descriptive exploratory study design was employed.

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.

Disability and its determinants among individuals with onchocerciasis in Southeast Nigeria: a cross-sectional study.

Introduction: although onchocerciasis is rarely a life-threatening disease, it causes chronic morbidity which ultimately leads to disability due to late detection and treatment of the infected people. Disability in Onchocerciasis results in activity limitation and social exclusion of the affected individuals through stigma. This study aimed at assessing the level of disability and its determinants among persons with onchocerciasis.

A cluster randomized trial for improving mental health and well-being of persons affected by leprosy or buruli ulcer in Nigeria: A study protocol.

This protocol describes a study in which we would assess the effect of using community lay counselors, self-help groups (SHGs), and trained frontline health workers to reduce mental disorders and improve quality of life (QOL) of persons affected by leprosy or Buruli ulcer (BU). A cluster randomized controlled study design will be employed. The study will involve persons affected by leprosy or BU.

Awareness Of Occupational Hazards, Use of Personal Protective Equipment and Workplace Risk Assessment Among Welders in Mechanic Village, Abakaliki, South-East Nigeria.

Background: Occupational diseases can result in sickness absence, economic loss, disability, or death of workers. Several studies have revealed that occupational health and safety practice is still low in some occupational groups despite their knowledge and the occupational health legislation. This study assessed the level of knowledge, Background: Occupational health service delivery, includes the creation of a safe and healthy work environment.

Spatial Differences in Knowledge and Perception of Key Danger Signs of Pregnancy among Mothers in Ebonyi State, Nigeria.

Background: To determine knowledge and perception of key danger signs of pregnancy among mothers in urban and rural communities of Ebonyi state, Nigeria.

Methodology: A comparative cross-sectional study design was used. The two-stage sampling technique was used to select 660 women in four of thirteen local government areas in the state.

Health-related quality of life and associated factors among Onchocerciasis patients in southeast Nigeria: A cross-sectional comparative study.

Introduction: Onchocerciasis, a neglected tropical disease of public health importance, causes chronic morbidity and severe disability that may impact on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of the infected people. This study assessed the HRQoL and associated factors among onchocerciasis patients in southeast Nigeria.

Methods: This was a community-based cross-sectional comparative study.

Knowledge and practice of tracheal tube cuff pressure monitoring: a multicenter survey of anaesthesia and critical care providers in a developing country.

Background: Tracheal tubes are routinely used during anaesthesia and in the intensive care unit. Subjective monitoring of cuff pressures have been reported to produce consistently inappropriate cuffs pressures, with attendant morbidity. But this practice of unsafe care remains widespread.