Publications by authors named "Iretiola B Fajolu"
Article Synopsis
- Surrogacy in Nigeria allows couples facing infertility to have children through a surrogate who carries the pregnancy, gaining popularity compared to adoption.
- There are two types of surrogacy: gestational, where embryos are created via IVF, and traditional, using the surrogate's own egg; however, it presents challenges including medical, ethical, and legal issues impacting the newborns.
- The case report of preterm triplets emphasizes the necessity for better regulation in surrogacy practices, as challenges included feeding issues, lack of appropriate care, and obtaining necessary legal consents for the infants.
Article Synopsis
- Preterm and very low birthweight (VLBW) infants face high health risks in their early days, with full enteral feeding being crucial for their care, especially in sub-Saharan Africa where data on feeding practices is limited.
- This study analyzed demographic and clinical data from 484 preterm and VLBW infants across 7 neonatal units in Nigeria and Kenya to assess factors affecting the time to achieve full enteral feeds.
- Results indicated a significant percentage of mortality before feeding, revealing that earlier first feeds and gestational age greatly influenced the time to reach full enteral feeds, suggesting that implementing standardized feeding guidelines could improve outcomes in these infants.
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.
'Prospective audit with intervention and feedback' as a core antimicrobial stewardship strategy in the paediatrics department of a Nigerian tertiary hospital.
Niger Postgrad Med J
May 2023
Introduction: Inappropriate use of antibiotics for childhood illnesses, especially for non-bacterial infections, contributes to the development of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Globally, implementation of antimicrobial stewardship programme (ASP) in all healthcare institutions is a strategic intervention to improve the appropriate use of antibiotics, reduce antimicrobial consumption and tackle AMR. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of prospective audit with intervention and feedback as an antimicrobial stewardship strategy on antimicrobial use, evaluate prescribers' response to recommendations and determine the rate of AMR in the Paediatrics Department of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Nigeria.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Neonatal sepsis remains one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in neonates, especially in developing countries.
Objectives: To determine the prevalence, common bacterial pathogens, and the antibiotic susceptibility pattern of neonatal sepsis at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Lagos, Nigeria.
Methods: This was a cross-sectional study of neonates who presented at the facility with symptoms and signs of sepsis from January 2017 to October 2017.
Aim: We aimed to describe in-hospital mortality, and its predictors, in very low birthweight (VLBW) infants managed in tertiary centres in a low- to middle-income country.
Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study of VLBW infants (birthweight 500 to 1500 grams) admitted within 72 h of life to the neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) of three tertiary centres in Nigeria from July 2017 to March 2021. We describe in-hospital mortality rates, causes and when they died.
Background: Neonatal mortality accounts for approximately 46% of global under-5 child mortality. The widespread access to mobile devices in low- and middle-income countries has enabled innovations, such as mobile virtual reality (VR), to be leveraged in simulation education for health care workers.
Objective: This study explores the feasibility and educational efficacy of using mobile VR for the precourse preparation of health care professionals in neonatal resuscitation training.
Article Synopsis
- Neonatal mortality significantly contributes to under-five mortality rates in Nigeria, which has the second-highest neonatal death toll globally.
- A study at Lagos University Teaching Hospital reviewed neonatal admissions from January 2018 to April 2020, revealing a 17.6% mortality rate with common diagnoses including neonatal jaundice, infections, and prematurity complications.
- The findings emphasize the need for enhanced neonatal care, particularly in respiratory support and public education about neonatal jaundice to reduce mortality rates.
Background: Optimizing nutrition in very preterm (28-32 weeks gestation) and very low birth weight (VLBW; 1,000 g to <1,500 g) infants has potential to improve their survival, growth, and long-term health outcomes.
Aim: To assess feeding practices in Nigeria and Kenya for very preterm and VLBW newborn infants.
Methods: This was a cross-sectional study where convenience sampling was used.
Objectives: Retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) will become a major cause of blindness in Nigerian children unless screening and treatment services expand. This article aims to describe the collaborative activities undertaken to improve services for ROP between 2017 and 2020 as well as the outcome of these activities in Nigeria.
Design: Descriptive case study.
Objective: To assess the impact of mobile virtual reality (VR) simulations using electronic Helping Babies Breathe (eHBB) or video for the maintenance of neonatal resuscitation skills in healthcare workers in resource-scarce settings.
Design: Randomised controlled trial with 6-month follow-up (2018-2020).
Setting: Secondary and tertiary healthcare facilities.
Introduction: approximately 1 million children die each year due to complications of preterm birth with the major contributor to mortality being hypothermia. Kangaroo mother care (KMC) is an effective and low-cost technique which prevents neonate from hypothermia. The mother uses her body temperature to keep the infant warm thereby preventing demise from cold injury.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWe assessed the effect of COVID-19 lockdown on deliveries and neonatal admissions according to gestation in Lagos, Nigeria. During lockdown (April-June 2020), there was a marked fall of about 50% in in-hospital deliveries and admissions to the neonatal wards for both in and outborn infants compared with prelockdown (January-March 2020) and a comparison period (April-June 2019). However, the proportion of preterm infants was broadly similar in each period.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: To describe the patient population, priority diseases and outcomes in newborns admitted <48 hours old to neonatal units in both Kenya and Nigeria.
Study Design: In a network of seven secondary and tertiary level neonatal units in Nigeria and Kenya, we captured anonymised data on all admissions <48 hours of age over a 6-month period.
Results: 2280 newborns were admitted.
The COVID-19 pandemic is currently causing widespread infection and deaths around the world. Since the identification of the first case in Nigeria in February 2020, the number of confirmed cases has risen to over 9,800. Although pregnant women are not necessarily more susceptible to infection by the virus, changes to their immune system in pregnancy may be associated with more severe symptoms.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArticle Synopsis
- - The study investigated the prevalence of an unspecified infection among malnourished children and its association with socioeconomic and clinical factors, involving 122 malnourished children and 120 healthy controls.
- - Results showed that 22.8% of malnourished children had the infection compared to 32.5% in healthy controls, with a notably higher prevalence in toddlers and a significant link to low socioeconomic status and stunting.
- - The conclusion emphasized the need for screening malnourished children for the infection and highlighted the importance of further research on the socioeconomic factors related to the infection.
Background: Lead toxicity is a cause of intellectual disability in children and majority of affected children live in developing countries. Its adverse effect on pregnancy outcome has also been documented.
Objectives: To assess the relationship between maternal blood lead levels and umbilical cord blood lead levels in their corresponding newborn infants; to determine factors associated with high blood lead levels and the pregnancy outcome in participants.
Introduction: Human immunodeficiency virus and protein energy malnutrition are still prevalent in Nigeria and the occurrence of the two conditions together confers a poor prognosis. The aim of this study was to determine the current categories of malnutrition amongst under-5 children in Lagos, document their HIV status and determine any peculiarities in the clinical features, haematological and some biochemical profile in these children.
Methods: The study was a cross-sectional study conducted at the Paediatric departments of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital and the Massey Street Children's Hospital, both in Lagos, over a 6-month period.
Background And Objectives: Sick neonates in malaria endemic areas are frequently transfused with donor blood unscreened for malaria parasite. Consequently, they are at risk of transfusional malaria which can lead to increased neonatal mortality. The study aimed to determine the burden of transfusional malaria in neonates to help in policy formulation on prevention of transfusional malaria.
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