Breastfeeding support as predictors of sustainable breastfeeding practices of nursing mothers with common mental disorders in tertiary hospital nurseries in Nigeria: a cross sectional study.

Background: The postpartum period is associated with an increased risk of maternal mental disorders. The combined effect of having the mother's infant admitted to a tertiary hospital in a low-resource setting and the need to exclusively breastfeed the infant may exaggerate this risk. This study aimed to determine the breastfeeding support provided to mothers whose infants were hospitalised in Nigerian tertiary hospital nurseries and the prevalence of common mental health disorders among this population.

Intestinal Helminthiasis: Risk factors and relationship with Nutritional status and Anaemia among Institutionalised Children in three States of South-East Nigeria.

Background: Intestinal helminthiasis occurs in sub-optimal living conditions with poor hygiene practices and is more prevalent in rural, suburban and institutionalized centres. Heavy helminthic burden negatively affects the nutritional status and the severity of anaemia among children living in orphanages.

Aim: To determine the risk factors and relationship of intestinal helminthiasis with nutritional status and anaemia among institutionalized children in three states of South-East Nigeria.

Marked variability in institutional deliveries and neonatal outcomes during the COVID-19 lockdown in Nigeria.

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and the interventions to mitigate its spread impacted access to healthcare, including hospital births and newborn care. This study evaluated the impact of COVID-19 lockdown measures on newborn service utilization in Nigeria.

Methods: The records of women who delivered in hospitals and babies admitted to neonatal wards were retrospectively reviewed before (March 2019-February 2020) and during (March 2020-February 2021) the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown in selected facilities in Nigeria.

Factors associated with common mental disorders among breastfeeding mothers in tertiary hospital nurseries in Nigeria.

Background: Several studies have shown that the impact of maternal mental health disorders on newborns' well-being in low and middle-income countries (LMIC) are underreported, multi-dimensional and varies over time and differs from what is reported in high-income countries. We present the prevalence and risk factors associated with common mental disorders (CMDs) among breastfeeding mothers whose infants were admitted to Nigerian tertiary care facilities.

Methods: This was a national cross-sectional study involving mothers of hospitalised babies from eleven Nigerian tertiary hospitals.

Sexual and procreation preferences of adolescents and young adults infected perinatally with HIV in Southeast Nigeria: a hospital-based cross-sectional study.

Introduction: children with perinatal human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection now survive to adolescence and adulthood and so are confronted with issues related to sexuality and sexual reproductive health. This study is aimed at determining the sexual knowledge and behaviours of these adolescents, determining their procreation intention and the impact of their age, gender and understanding of the mother to child transmission risk on their procreation intention.

Methods: a hospital-based cross-sectional study of adolescents and young adults aged 15-24 years infected with HIV in the perinatal period, accessing tertiary care in Enugu.

Physical growth and sexual maturation of perinatally HIV-infected adolescent males in a southeast Nigerian tertiary hospital: a comparative cross-sectional study.

Background: The advent of highly-active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART) has resulted in the survival of children with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) into adolescence. Their prolonged survival has translated into co-morbidities like endocrine deficiencies which may manifest as growth and pubertal delay. This study aimed to determine the physical growth and sexual maturation of perinatally HIV-infected adolescent males and compare them with those of age-matched HIV-negative controls.

Bacterial isolates, antibiogram and outcomes of blood culture proven sepsis in neonates at a tertiary institution in South East Nigeria: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Neonatal sepsis (NNS) in developing countries continues to be a diagnostic and management challenge due to the delays in identifying the aetiologic pathogens and antibiograms.

Aim: To determine the predominant bacterial isolates, antibiotic susceptibility pattern and outcomes of blood culture proven sepsis in neonates.

Methodology: A hospital-based cross-sectional study of 120 neonates admitted into the Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU) of Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital Nnewi with clinical features suggestive of sepsis.

Sexual maturation of HIV-infected and uninfected male children in Abakaliki, South-East, Nigeria: a cross-sectional study.

Introduction: HIV infection, through various mechanisms causes a derangement in sexual maturation. This study compared the Marshal and Tanner staging of HIV-infected and uninfected males. The aim of the study was to determine the sexual maturation in male children infected with HIV on HAART in Abakaliki.

Umbilical cord serum zinc in neonates delivered at the university of Nigeria teaching hospital, Enugu: Variation with gestational age.

Background: Zinc is particularly involved in cellular growth, neurodevelopment, and immune function, which is critical for child survival. To reduce neonatal mortality in developing countries, cost-effective and evidence-based interventions that can enhance growth, development, and immunity, need to be considered. Determining the zinc levels of neonates and how it relates to both gestational age is therefore imperative.

Health-Related Quality of Life Among HIV-Infected Children and Its Association With Socio-Demographic, Clinical and Nutritional Variables: A Comparative Approach.

Background: The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and its treatment impact the child's life as well as that of their caregivers. As therapeutic advances are made in the field, improved survival has shifted the focus from morbidity and mortality to quality of life. This study aims to compare the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of children living with HIV in comparison with an HIV-negative control group and determine its relationship with socio-demographic, clinical, and nutritional variables.

The prevalence and intensity of intestinal helminths among institutionalized children in three states of South-East Nigeria.

Background: Intestinal helminthiasis is one of the most common and neglected diseases affecting all age groups, especially among school children. It is a disease condition of suboptimal environment and poor personal hygiene, and is more prevalent in children in institutionalized centers.

Aims: This study was aimed to determine the prevalence, pattern, and intensity of intestinal helminthiasis among children in motherless babies' homes/orphanages and the relationship between the prevalence and demographic characteristics of the children.

Resuscitation of preterm infants in Nigeria - A national survey on practice.

Introduction And Aims: Preterm births constitute a major clinical problem associated with significant morbidity and mortality in the perinatal, neonatal, and childhood periods. Decisions around initiating and/or continuing resuscitation and treatment of preterm infants (PI) both at birth and afterwards need careful consideration. While the developed countries have published guidelines for the resuscitation and care of the PI, this is not the case in developing countries where availability of resources and the absence of a published guidelines impacts on practice.

Congenital cerebral malaria: a masquerader in a neonate.

Background: Congenital malaria, which is caused by vertical transmission of malaria parasites, is a potentially fatal condition. Despite Africa's high malaria burden, congenital malaria is not routinely screened for, and thus may go undiagnosed. Malaria, if not treated promptly, can quickly progress to severe forms and result in death.

Nutritional status of primary school children: Association with intelligence quotient and academic performance.

Background: Nutrition plays a pivotal role in brain development throughout life. Sub-optimal intellectual ability and poor school performance are said to be among the long term effects of malnutrition. The aim of this study was to determine the association between nutritional status of the participants, their intelligence quotient (IQ) and academic performance.

Validation of pediatric height estimation formulae in suburban communities in South-east Nigeria: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Height measurement is one of the common essential anthropometric measurements in clinical pediatrics. The most accurate method of determining a child's height is to measure the height. However, in emergency situations and some resource limited settings, obtaining the actual height of a child may not be feasible hence the need to estimate.

Comparison of age-based weight estimation with actual measured weight in children aged one to twelve years in Enugu.

Aims: This study was carried out to evaluate the degree of accuracy of age-based weight estimation methods in assessing the weight of the Nigerian child.

Method: The weights of one thousand, four hundred and fifty-six (1,456) children were measured and compared with the updated Advanced Paediatric Life Support (APLS), Best guess, Nelson and Luscombe & Owen methods.

Result: The updated APLS, Nelson and Luscombe & Owen methods underestimated the weights in younger children while overestimating in older ones.

Academic performance and intelligence quotient of primary school children in Enugu.

Introduction: intellectual capacity measured as intelligence quotient (IQ) is one of the determinants of school performance of children. It influences academic achievement, future personal health, social well-being and therefore, is of public health significance. The objective of the study was to determine the intelligence quotient (IQ) and academic performance of primary school children in Enugu-East LGA.

Pre-Transition Readiness in Adolescents and Young Adults with Four Chronic Medical Conditions in South East Nigeria - An African Perspective to Adolescent Transition.

Introduction: When a child reaches a certain age, he or she moves over to the adult physician. For this to maximally benefit the child, there has to be a process of equipping the child with skills required for taking on more responsibilities. Transitioning involves a process in which the adolescent with chronic illness is prepared ahead of time to enable them to eventually transfer to adult care with good outcomes.

Weight estimation in Paediatrics: how accurate is the Broselow-tape weight estimation in the Nigerian child.

Background: Determination of weight in children is an important aspect of their assessment. It has a wide range of usefulness including assessing their nutritional status and drug dose calculation. Despite its usefulness, weight estimation in children in certain conditions can be challenging particularly in emergency situations or in children who are severely ill or cannot stand on standard scales.

Reductive effect of ursodeoxycholic acid on bilirubin levels in neonates on phototherapy.

Background: Phototherapy is paramount in the management of high total serum bilirubin (TSB). Whether its effectiveness can be improved with ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) has not been evaluated among newborns of African descent.

Methods: A double-blind-controlled study was used to evaluate the effect of UDCA on the management of high TSB in neonates.

Perception of donor breast milk and determinants of its acceptability among mothers in a developing community: a cross-sectional multi-center study in south-east Nigeria.

Background: Due to the health and economic benefits of breast milk, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that for infants who cannot receive breast milk from their own mothers, the next preferred option is donated breast milk. This recommendation is however rarely practiced in most developing countries where donor milk is not widely accepted.

Methods: This cross-sectional multi-center study enrolled mothers attending antenatal or pediatric clinics in six tertiary institution in south-east Nigeria using purposive and convenient sampling method.

Socio-demographic determinants of malnutrition among primary school aged children in Enugu, Nigeria.

Introduction: Several factors including the parental literacy, illness, socioeconomic status, poor sanitation and hygienic practices affect the physical growth of children. The aim of this study was to determine the socio-demographic determinants of malnutrition among primary school aged children in Enugu, Nigeria.

Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study involving primary school children in Enugu was carried out over a 3 month period.

Use of Global initiative for asthma (GINA) guidelines in asthma management among paediatric residents in a Sub Saharan African country: a cross-sectional descriptive study.

Introduction: Clinical practice guidelines are systematically developed statements to assist practitioner and patient decisions about appropriate health care for specific clinical circumstances. Despite abundance of asthma guidelines, prevalence has continued to increase globally. There is need to assess how the contents of asthma guidelines are put to clinical use by doctors in the management of children with asthma.