Health Workers' Attitudes Toward Adverse Gender Norms and Implications for Young People's Sexual and Reproductive Health in Nigeria.

Background: Adverse gender norms within the health care system are detrimental to the sexual and reproductive health of young people. This study assessed the attitudes of health workers toward adverse gender norms related to intimate partner relationships across three domains: intimate partner violence (IPV); sexuality; and reproductive health behavior.

Methods: A cross-sectional quantitative survey was conducted among 255 health workers in youth-friendly primary health centers in Ebonyi State, Nigeria.

Can a school health club-based intervention significantly influence the drivers of gendered sexual norms and ideologies among in-school adolescents in southeast Nigeria?

Individual experiences, social policies, and environmental exposure shape beliefs, norms and ideologies about sexuality. The objective of this study was to determine the effectiveness of a school health club training programme in improving adolescents' knowledge and perceptions of gender norms and ideologies about sexuality. This was an intervention study among in-school adolescent boys and girls in 12 secondary schools in Ebonyi State, southeast Nigeria.

Multi-level predictors of young people's attitudes towards gender biases concerning rape, sexual and domestic violence in intimate relationships among young people, Ebonyi State, Southeast Nigeria.

This study assessed multi-level factors that shape young people's attitudes towards gender biases about rape, sexual, and domestic violence in intimate relationships. This cross-sectional study was undertaken in three urban and three rural communities in Ebonyi State, southeast Nigeria. Data were collected from 1,020 young people using an interviewer-administered questionnaire.

Determinants of peer education on sexual and reproductive health and rights among in-school adolescents in Ebonyi State, Nigeria.

Background: Peer education has contributed to increased knowledge and preventive behaviors of adolescents toward reproductive health matters with the unique feature of maintaining peer-to-peer learning ability and sustaining intervention gains. This study examined the factors that predict the agency of in-school adolescents as peer educators on the sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) of adolescents.

Materials And Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 257 adolescent boys and girls, purposively selected from six public secondary schools that had received a package of interventions that aimed to improve peer-to-peer education on SRHR in Ebonyi State, Nigeria.

An assessment of the experiences, and perceptions of the collateral effects of the COVID-19 lockdown measures in Southeast Nigeria: implications for policy and action.

Introduction: there is limited evidence from developing countries including Nigeria on the collateral effects of the COVID-19 lockdown on the socioeconomic lives of citizens. The aim of this study was to explore citizens´ experiences and perceptions of the impact of COVID-19 lockdown measures on daily living in Southeast Nigeria.

Methods: this was a cross-sectional descriptive study conducted among policymakers, researchers, non-governmental organizations (NGO) officials, and health practitioners in Southeast Nigeria.

To what extent did implementing a community-embedded intervention align with the goals and roles of stakeholders in adolescent sexual and reproductive health?

Background: Adolescents' sexual and reproductive health (SRH) needs are largely unmet due to poor access to SRH information and services. A multicomponent community-embedded intervention, comprising advocacy to policymakers and community leaders, training of health workers on the provision of youth-friendly SRH services, and establishment of school health clubs, was implemented in Ebonyi State, Nigeria, to improve access to SRH information and services for adolescents aged 13-18 years in selected communities and secondary schools. This study explored the extent to which the intervention aligned with goals and roles of stakeholders in the State.

Acceptability of a community-embedded intervention for improving adolescent sexual and reproductive health in south-east Nigeria: A qualitative study.

Introduction: Adolescents have limited access to quality sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services that are key to healthy sexual lives in many low and middle-income countries such as Nigeria. Hence, context-specific interventions are required to increase adolescents' access to and utilisation of SRH. This paper provides new knowledge on the acceptability of a community-embedded intervention to improve access to SRH information and services for adolescents in Ebonyi state, southeast Nigeria.

Management staff's perspectives on intervention strategies for workplace violence prevention in a tertiary health facility in Nigeria: a qualitative study.

Introduction: Health workers have increasingly become victims of workplace violence. However, negligible action has been given to developing workplace violence (WPV) prevention programs in hospital settings in low-middle-income countries. An effective workplace violence prevention program is crucial for preventing violence and managing the consequences of incidents.

Determinants of awareness, value perception, and societal support for sexual and reproductive health services among in-school adolescents in South-eastern Nigeria.

Background: Adolescents are vulnerable to sexual and reproductive health (SRH) risks yet, have poor utilisation of SRH services due to personal, social, and demographic influences. This study aimed to compare the experiences of adolescents that had received targeted adolescent SRH interventions and those that did not and evaluated the determinants of awareness, value perception, and societal support for SRH service utilisation among secondary school adolescents in eastern Nigeria.

Methods: We undertook a cross-sectional study of 515 adolescents in twelve randomly selected public secondary schools, grouped into schools that had received targeted adolescent SRH interventions and those that did not, across six local government areas in Ebonyi State, Nigeria.

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.

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.

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.

Gender norms and ideologies about adolescent sexuality: A mixed-method study of adolescents in communities, south-eastern, Nigeria.

Background: Sexual and reproductive health choices and behaviors of adolescents are shaped by gender norms and ideologies which are grounded in cultural beliefs. This study examined the perspectives of adolescents about the influence of gender norms and ideologies on sexuality.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was undertaken in three urban and three rural communities in south-eastern Nigeria using quantitative and qualitative research methods.

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.

Does disrespect and abuse during childbirth differ between public and private hospitals in Southeast Nigeria.

Background: Disrespect and Abuse (D&A) during childbirth represents an important barrier to skilled birth utilization, indicating a problem with quality of care and a violation of women's human rights. This study compared prevalence of D&A during childbirth in a public and a private hospital in Southeast Nigeria.

Methods: This study was a cross-sectional study among women who gave birth in two specialized health facilities: a public teaching and a private-for-profit faith-based hospital in Southeast Nigeria.

How large is the burden of depression in a medical school? A cross-sectional study among medical students in Nigeria.

Introduction: mental health of students deteriorate when they begin studies in a medical school. The study aimed to determine the prevalence of depression and associated factors among medical students in a university in Nigeria.

Methods: a cross-sectional study design was used.

An assessment of perceived prioritisation and resource allocation for health policy and systems research in West Africa.

Objectives: Globally, adequate funding is a strong underpinning to advance health policy and systems research (HPSR) and ensure its impact on strengthening health systems. This study examined the perceived prioritisation, and resource allocation for HPSR in West Africa.

Methods: A desk review was conducted of literature related to HPSR funding published between January 2010 and December 2019, sourced from various databases and government websites.

Demand for malaria rapid diagnostic test, health care-seeking behaviour, and drug use among rural community members with fever or malaria-like illness in Ebonyi state, Nigeria: a cross-sectional household survey.

Background: A good understanding of the demand for malaria rapid diagnostic test (MRDT), malaria health care-seeking behavior, and drug use among community members is crucial to malaria control efforts. The aim of this study was to assess the demand (use and/or request) for MRDT, health care-seeking behavior, and drug use, as well as associated factors, among rural community members (both children and adults) with fever or malaria-like illness in Ebonyi state, Nigeria.

Methods: A cross-sectional household survey was conducted between October 1st and November 7th, 2018, in 18 rural geographical clusters.

Exploring providers' perceived barriers to utilization of antenatal and delivery services in urban and rural communities of Ebonyi state, Nigeria: A qualitative study.

Objective: To determine providers' perceived barriers to utilization of antenatal and delivery services in urban and rural communities of Ebonyi state, Nigeria.

Methods: A descriptive exploratory study design was used. Qualitative data was collected through the use of a pre-tested interview guide.

Beliefs and misconceptions about contraception and condom use among adolescents in south-east Nigeria.

Background: Misconceptions about the usefulness of condoms and other contraceptives still expose many unmarried adolescents to the risk of unwanted teenage pregnancies and sexually-transmitted infections (STIs). This study explored beliefs and misconceptions about condoms and other contraceptives among adolescents in Ebonyi state, south-east Nigeria.

Method: A qualitative study was undertaken in six local government areas in Ebonyi state, southeast Nigeria.

Why does uptake of family planning services remain sub-optimal among Nigerian women? A systematic review of challenges and implications for policy.

Background: Over the years, family planning uptake in Nigeria has remained low and this is as a result of the various challenges and barriers faced by women. The aim of this study was to systematically review studies on family planning services undertaken in Nigeria in order to understand the challenges to uptake of the services and the policy implications.

Methods: A PubMed search was performed in June 2020 and studies that investigated challenges of family planning uptake in Nigeria published in English between 2006 and 2020 were sought.

Exploring factors constraining utilization of contraceptive services among adolescents in Southeast Nigeria: an application of the socio-ecological model.

Background: High rate of teenage pregnancy in Nigeria is potentially an indication of poor access to and utilization of contraceptives among this age group. This paper presents findings from in-depth exploration of perceived barriers to utilization of contraceptive services by adolescents.

Methods: A qualitative study was conducted in six communities in Ebonyi state, southeast Nigeria.