Challenges associated with the implementation of institutional quarantine and isolation strategies during major multicountry viral outbreaks in Africa (2000-2023): a scoping review.

Background: Quarantine and isolation (Q&I) are interrelated but not mutually exclusive public health practices for disease control, which may face public resistance in the context of health emergencies due to associated challenges. Hence, it is often tough for most countries to implement Q&I even in the context of health emergencies. Therefore, this scoping review examines the challenges associated with the implementation of institutional Q&I strategies during major multicountry viral outbreaks (Ebola, Lassa and COVID-19) in Africa between 2000 and 2023.

The Social Reality of Meaning Making: The Dichotomy in the Illness Narratives of Women With Breast Cancer and Biomedical Practitioners in Nigeria.

Background: Despite the increasing burden of breast cancer in the developing world, there is a misunderstanding of the complex and multifaceted relationship between culture and cancer, particularly breast cancer. Hence, a dichotomy of illness narratives exists due to differential meaning making concerning breast cancer. While clinicians always recommend biomedical treatment, women with breast cancer often seek alternative treatment pathways.

Living With a New Normal: Self-Identities of Women With Breast Cancer in Nigeria.

Background: Breast cancer is the most prevalent cancer for women in Nigeria, representing 25% of all cancers in women. How do women self-identify with the new realities of living with breast cancer before, during and after treatment?

Aims: This study aims to examine the self-identities of 22 women with breast cancer in Nigeria.

Methods: The paper relies on grounded theory research method to collect data, analyse and capture the processes of self-identity formation.

Sociocultural context of exclusive breastfeeding in Africa: A narrative review.

Background And Aims: Although exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) has many benefits, it is not commonly practiced in several countries as a result of context-specific challenges. EBF practice is thus a global health discourse because over 200 million children suffer from malnutrition despite the abundance of human milk. The risk of starvation remains very high among African children with less than 40% of them exclusively breastfed.

Theories, determinants, and intervention models and approaches on inequalities of undernutrition amongst under fives: A literature review.

Background And Aims: One of the greatest public health problems of the 21st century is undernutrition in children under the age of 5 years (CAUFY). Globally, over 232 million CUAFY are undernourished and approximately 45% of mortality in this population are undernutrition-induced. This paper reviewed and critically explained the factors perpetuating undernutrition in CUAFY in the global space.

E-cigarettes in Nigeria: A scoping review of evidence.

Background And Aims: E-cigarettes will continue to be a public health issue in Nigeria. To curb the growing menace of the e-cigarette use in Nigeria through evidence-based approach, it is crucial to first map the empirical research landscape of e-cigarettes in Nigeria. No known study has mapped the existing empirical evidence and gaps concerning e-cigarettes in Nigeria; hence, this scoping review was conducted.

Quality of life of patients treated with robotic surgery in the oral and maxillofacial region: a scoping review of empirical evidence.

Background: There is a blooming trend in the application of robotic surgery in oral and maxillofacial care, and different studies had evaluated the quality of life (QoL) outcomes among patients who underwent robotic surgery in the oral and maxillofacial region. However, empirical evidence on the QoL outcomes from these procedures is yet to be mapped. Thus, this study was conducted to evaluate the available scientific evidence and gaps concerning the QoL outcomes of patients treated with robotic surgery in the oral and maxillofacial region.

Strategies adopted by oral physicians, oral and maxillofacial surgeons, and oral pathologists in patient education on oral cancer: A Nigerian study.

Background: The burden of oral cancer in Nigeria is increasing. Different studies have shown how public education on oral cancer have increased knowledge of oral cancer across populations, however, it is not known if these practices are adopted by oral physicians, oral and maxillofacial surgeons, and oral pathologists in Nigeria.

Aims: To investigate the patient oral cancer education strategies adopted by oral physicians, oral and maxillofacial surgeons, and oral pathologists in Nigeria.

The use of Qigong and Tai Chi in the management of temporomandibular joint dysfunction: A systematic review.

Background And Aims: Qigong and Tai Chi (QTC) are mind-body exercises involving a sequence of graceful movements, which promote self-healing, meditation, and self-cultivation. There is growing evidence that Qigong and/or Tai Chi therapy may improve the physical and psychological health among adults with multiple health conditions including joint movement. This systematic review aims to synthesize the available evidence on the type and effectiveness of QTC therapies used in the management of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction.

The roles of chaplains in dispelling cancer myths in Nigeria: A narrative review.

Background And Aims: The epidemiological burden of cancer in Africa, and Nigeria in particular, has been increasing significantly over the past few decades due to exposure to numerous risk factors as well as belief in various myths and misconceptions. Chaplains can play crucial roles in dispelling these myths and misconceptions about cancer among people. Therefore, this study seeks to review the epidemiological burden, risk factors, and myths relating to cancer and the roles of chaplains in dispelling cancer myths in Nigeria.

Perceived causes of change in Nigerian adolescent sexual risk behaviour - Results from semi-structured mobile instant messaging interviews.

The study explores the perceived causes of change in sexual risk behaviour among Nigerian adolescents over the past years. By embedding the results into a theoretical context, the study aims to further develop interventions targeting adolescent sexual health. To do so, 23 semi-structured interviews are conducted through the mobile-instant-messaging tool WhatsApp.

Quality of life of dental patients treated with laser surgery: A scoping review.

Background And Aims: The use of lasers has been increasing in various surgical procedures. Its specific characteristics have conquered the scalpel used to a major extent in certain surgical procedures. This scoping review aimed to assess the empirical evidence that exists on the quality of life (QoL) of dental patients treated with laser surgery.

Polio-philanthropy in Africa: A narrative review.

Background And Aim: Polio eradication efforts including polio-philanthropy have been coordinated and sustained since 1988, with the introduction of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI). The polio fight is sustained in the name of evidence-based benevolence or beneficent philanthropy from which Africa has benefited immensely. With the recorded polio cases as of 2023, more efforts and funds are required to eradicate polio.

School-based interventions on Mpox: A scoping review.

Background And Aims: The 2022 multicountry mpox outbreak necessitated the declaration of mpox as a public health emergency. This is the first time a wide mpox spread and human-to-human transmission are recorded in several countries outside West and Central Africa. The outbreak reveals a strong need for wider intervention to increase awareness and control measures on mpox, especially in schools.

School-Based Interventions on Dental Trauma: A Scoping Review of Empirical Evidence.

Introduction: Accidents involving sports or leisure activities, falls, blows from objects, acts of interpersonal violence, and accidents can all result in dental trauma (also known as traumatic dental injuries [TDIs]). School children are one of the population groups that are highly vulnerable to TDIs. Multiple school-based interventions have been conducted around the world on the prevention and management of TDIs; however, no known scoping review has been conducted to map the evidence.

Dental caries in Rwanda: A scoping review.

Background And Aims: Dental caries is an infectious disease affecting virtually all nations, including Rwanda. In Rwanda, the burden of dental caries is an issue of public health concern. To ensure the progressive eradication of the current dental caries burden in Rwanda through an evidence-based approach, it is imperative to have an overview of the scientific research landscape of dental caries in the country.

Research on natal and neonatal teeth in Africa: A systematic scoping review of empirical evidence.

Background And Aims: In Africa, natal and neonatal teeth is a culture-bound phenomenon which is associated with several sociocultural connotations which might affect child survival. Different empirical studies have been conducted in Africa on natal and neonatal teeth; however, no known scoping review has been conducted to map the empirical evidence. This systematic scoping review (SSR) aims to document the available empirical evidence, research gaps, and hotspots on neonatal and natal teeth in Africa.

Preventative interventions by dental care professionals in Africa on oral human papillomavirus, gonorrheal, chlamydial, syphilitic and trichomonas infections: A scoping review.

Background: Oral human papillomavirus (HPV), gonorrheal, chlamydial, syphilitic and trichomonas infections are very common sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) in Africa. However, no known study has reviewed the available evidence concerning the preventative interventions by dental care professionals (DCPs) in Africa on oral STDs; hence, this scoping review was conducted to evaluate the research landscape of this topic area in Africa.

Methods: The scoping review methodology and documentation were informed by the Arksey and O'Malley's guideline, the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis extension for conducting Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) checklist, and the AMSTAR-2 guideline.

Applications of yoga in oral oncology: A systematic scoping review.

Background And Aims: Yoga is well-thought-out as an all-inclusive approach globally and can be administered in clinical care as an integrative or alternate approach to regular treatment. Yoga exercise has been disclosed to influence remission from cancer cells over a long period of time and also reverses epigenetic alterations. Applications of Yoga in the management of oral oncology patients are scarce, hence the need for a scoping review of the literature.

Coronavirus outbreak in Nigeria: Burden and socio-medical response during the first 100 days.

Background: The coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic shocked the world, overwhelming the health systems of even high-income countries. Predictably, the situation has elicited social and medical responses from the public and governments, respectively. Nigeria recorded an imported case from Italy on February 27, 2020.

The question of autonomy in maternal health in Africa: a rights-based consideration.

Maternal mortality is still very high in Africa, despite progress in control efforts at the global level. One elemental link is the question of autonomy in maternal health, especially at the household level where intrinsic human rights are undermined. A rights-based consideration in bioethics is an approach that holds the centrality of the human person, with a compelling reference to the fundamental human rights of every person.

Gender context of personalism in bioethics.

Personalism is one of the philosophical perspectives which hold that the reality in person and the human person has the highest intrinsic value. This paper makes reference to Louis Janssens' eight criteria in adequate consideration of the human person but further argues that there is need to consider people as situated agents especially within gender relational perspectives. The paper identifies gender as an important social construction that shapes the consideration of the human persons within socio-spatial spheres.