Vulnerability and tuberculosis treatment outcomes in urban settings in England: A mixed-methods study.

Background: Evidence on factors contributing to poor treatment outcome and healthcare priorities in vulnerable populations affected by tuberculosis (TB) in urban areas of England other than London is needed to inform setting-specific prevention and care policies. We addressed this knowledge gap in a cohort of TB patients and healthcare providers in Birmingham and Leicester, UK.

Methods: A mixed-methods study was performed.

Perceived impacts of COVID-19 responses on routine health service delivery in Liberia and UK: cross-country lessons for resilient health systems for equitable service delivery during pandemics.

Background: COVID-19 has caused significant public health problems globally, with catastrophic impacts on health systems. This study explored the adaptations to health services in Liberia and Merseyside UK at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic (January-May 2020) and their perceived impact on routine service delivery. During this period, transmission routes and treatment pathways were as yet unknown, public fear and health care worker fear was high and death rates among vulnerable hospitalised patients were high.

Mixed-methods evaluation of integrating female genital schistosomiasis management within primary healthcare: a pilot intervention in Ogun State, Nigeria.

Background: Detection and management of female genital schistosomiasis (FGS) within primary healthcare is crucial for achieving schistosomiasis elimination, however, current technical strategies are not feasible in many settings. In Nigeria, there are currently no established standard operating procedures to support front-line health workers. This article presents an evaluation of piloting an FGS care package in two LGAs of Ogun State, Nigeria.

A quality improvement approach in co-developing a primary healthcare package for raising awareness and managing female genital schistosomiasis in Nigeria and Liberia.

Background: Girls and women living in endemic areas for urogenital schistosomiasis may have lifelong vulnerability to female genital schistosomiasis (FGS). For >2 decades, the importance of FGS has been increasing in sub-Saharan Africa, but without established policies for case detection and treatment. This research aimed to understand the level of FGS knowledge of frontline health workers and health professionals working in endemic areas and to identify health system needs for the effective management of FGS cases and prevention of further complications due to ongoing infections.

Promoting equity through inclusive learning, planning and implementing: lessons from Nigeria's mass drug administration programme for neglected tropical diseases.

Background: An inclusive, localised approach to planning and implementing equitable mass drug administration was developed through participatory action research (PAR). This new approach aligns with principles of learning health systems (LHS). Tools were co-developed to support scaling up the new approach across two Nigerian states.