"From Preparation to Consumption." Food Safety Practices among Public Food Handler's in Enugu Metropolis.

Background: demand for public prepared food with numerous food handlers creates uncertainties in the quality of safe foods and possible food contamination. This study aimed to ascertain the food safety hygiene practices, and associated factors among public food handlers in Enugu Metropolis, Nigeria.

Methodology: This was a cross-sectional study conducted among 400 public food handlers in Enugu Metropolis, Nigeria.

A Systematic Review of Yellow Fever Outbreaks and Public Health Responses in Nigeria.

Background: Yellow fever (YF) outbreaks continue to occur in Nigeria with a high mortality rate despite a well-established mode of transmission and the availability of a potent vaccine. This review is aimed at describing the epidemiology, determinants, and public health responses of yellow fever outbreaks in Nigeria from 1864 to 2020.

Methodology: The guidelines for the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) were used to conduct the review from November 2020 to April 2021.

A narrative review of evidence to support increased domestic resource mobilization for family planning in Nigeria.

Background: Family planning (FP) is an important public health intervention that is proven to reduce unplanned pregnancies, unsafe abortions, and maternal mortality. Increasing investments in FP would ensure stability and better maternal health outcomes in Nigeria. However, evidence is needed to make a case for more domestic investment in family planning in Nigeria.

Risk Perception amongst Petrol Pump Attendants and Analysis of Indiscriminate Siting of Petrol Stations in Enugu Metropolis.

Proliferation and unregulated siting of petrol stations expose petrol pump attendants to occupational hazards. This study assessed knowledge, risk perception, occupational hazards of petrol pump attendants and site-suitability of petrol stations in Enugu metropolis, Nigeria. This was a cross-sectional analytical study of 210 pump attendants from 105 petrol stations spread within the city and highways.

Evaluating the state of the science for adeno-associated virus integration: An integrated perspective.

On August 18, 2021, the American Society of Gene and Cell Therapy (ASGCT) hosted a virtual roundtable on adeno-associated virus (AAV) integration, featuring leading experts in preclinical and clinical AAV gene therapy, to further contextualize and understand this phenomenon. Recombinant AAV (rAAV) vectors are used to develop therapies for many conditions given their ability to transduce multiple cell types, resulting in long-term expression of transgenes. Although most rAAV DNA typically remains episomal, some rAAV DNA becomes integrated into genomic DNA at a low frequency, and rAAV insertional mutagenesis has been shown to lead to tumorigenesis in neonatal mice.

The Use of External Controls in FDA Regulatory Decision Making.

The regulatory standards of the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) require substantial evidence of effectiveness from adequate and well-controlled trials that typically use a valid comparison to an internal concurrent control. However, when it is not feasible or ethical to use an internal control, particularly in rare disease populations, relying on external controls may be acceptable. To better understand the use of external controls to support product development and approval, we reviewed FDA regulatory approval decisions between 2000 and 2019 for drug and biologic products to identify pivotal studies that leveraged external controls, with a focus on select therapeutic areas.

Global regulatory progress in delivering on the promise of gene therapies for unmet medical needs.

The rapid expansion of the gene therapy pipeline in recent years offers significant potential to treat diseases with great unmet medical need. However, the unique nature of these therapies poses challenges to regulating them within traditional frameworks, even when developing in a single country. Various factors exacerbate the issues in commercializing products across regions, including the lack of established regulatory frameworks for developing gene therapy products in many jurisdictions.

Food Security Status and Factors Affecting Household Food Security in Enugu State, Nigeria.

Introduction: In Nigeria, high inflation rates, increasing consumer price index, insurgency, and displacement of households have negatively affected household income expenditures on food resulting in food insecurity. This study aimed at determining the food security status and factors affecting this among households in Enugu state, Nigeria.

Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study of 800 households in Enugu state, Nigeria.

Sero-prevalence of Hepatitis B virus infection: A cross-sectional study of a large population of health care workers in Nigeria.

Background: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection has been recognized globally as a major public health challenge necessitating a global call for increased awareness, patients' identification, and development of activities for prevention and control of the disease. Consequently, massive health education campaigns and screening exercises have been mounted globally to mark the World Hepatitis Day (WHD).

Aims: As part of WHD 2016 activities, we undertook a survey and screening of health care workers in order to raise awareness, identify patients and contribute to the Global Health Strategy goal of eliminating HBV infection by the year 2030.

What are the Predictors of Burn out in Nigerian Bankers? A Case Study of Bankers in Enugu, Nigeria.

Background: In developing countries such as Nigeria, due to globalization and the deteriorating economy, workers are especially vulnerable to burnout. The pressure on bank employees from tight deadlines and unrealistic targets may predispose them to burnout. Burnout has been shown to occur in workers because of failure to cope with occupational stress, especially in the banking sector which requires intensive communication and interaction with service recipients.

Inequities in the use of sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine for malaria prophylaxis during pregnancy in Nigeria.

Background: Intermittent presumptive treatment in pregnancy (IPTp) of malaria using sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP) was introduced in Nigeria in 2005 to reduce the burden of malaria in pregnancy. By 2013, 23% of reproductive aged women surveyed received SP for malaria prevention in their last pregnancy of the past 5 years. This paper highlights geographic and socio-economic variations and inequities in accessing and using SP for malaria prophylaxis in pregnancy in Nigeria, as well as client-related and service delivery determinants.

Prevalence of psychological workplace violence among employees of a public tertiary health facility in Enugu, Southeast Nigeria.

Background: Psychological violence is the most common form of workplace violence (WPV) that can affect job performance and health of the workers.

Aims: This study sought to determine the prevalence of psychological WPV among employees working in a tertiary health institution in a South-eastern state of Nigeria.

Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study done in 2018 among healthcare workers at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital Enugu State using a pretested self-administered questionnaire adapted from Workplace Violence in the Health Sector Country Case Study Questionnaire.

Patient satisfaction with services at a tertiary hospital in south-east Nigeria.

Background: Patients' views of the services they receive in a healthcare service help identify critical areas that may need improvement. This survey set out to determine patients' satisfaction with quality of general services and specifically with staff attitude and the hospital environment, while on admission at a teaching hospital in Enugu, south-east Nigeria.

Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study using a structured self-administered questionnaire on 170 patients (54% females and 46% males, aged between 20 and 65 years), post admission, selected by multistage sampling.

Prevalence of malaria in HIV positive and HIV negative pregnant women attending antenatal clinics in south eastern Nigeria.

Introduction: Globally, malaria in pregnancy is a public health challenge. Malaria and HIV are among the two most important diseases contributing to the global health burden of our time. HIV positive pregnant women are at increased risk of all the adverse outcomes of malaria in pregnancy.

Knowledge, Misperceptions, Preparedness, and Barriers towards Lassa Fever Control among Health Care Workers in a Tertiary Institution in Enugu, Nigeria.

Background: Lassa fever outbreaks are common in Nigeria. The study aimed to assess knowledge, misperception, preparedness and barriers towards Lassa fever among health care workers (HCWs) in a tertiary hospital in Enugu.

Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study among 400 HCWs of a Teaching Hospital in Nigeria.

Development of an RT-LAMP assay for the detection of Lassa viruses in southeast and south-central Nigeria.

Lassa virus (LASV) causes Lassa fever (LF), a viral hemorrhagic fever endemic in West Africa. LASV strains are clustered into six lineages according to their geographic location. To confirm a diagnosis of LF, a laboratory test is required.

Machine Learning Accurately Predicts Short-Term Outcomes Following Open Reduction and Internal Fixation of Ankle Fractures.

Ankle fractures are common orthopedic injuries with favorable outcomes when managed with open reduction and internal fixation (ORIF). Several patient-related risk factors may contribute to poor short-term outcomes, and machine learning may be a valuable tool for predicting outcomes. The objective of this study was to evaluate machine-learning algorithms for accurately predicting short-term outcomes after ORIF for ankle fractures.

Genetic characterization of Lassa virus strains isolated from 2012 to 2016 in southeastern Nigeria.

Lassa virus (LASV) is endemic in parts of West Africa where it causes Lassa fever (LF), a viral hemorrhagic fever with frequent fatal outcomes. The diverse LASV strains are grouped into six major lineages based on the geographical location of the isolated strains. In this study, we have focused on the lineage II strains from southern Nigeria.

Identifying Risk Factors for 30-Day Readmissions After Triple Arthrodesis Surgery.

Rigid flatfoot deformity is a debilitating condition that can be managed by triple arthrodesis surgery. Triple arthrodesis has the potential to restore health-related quality of life, but it is also associated with several complications. Few studies have examined the 30-day readmission rates after triple arthrodesis.

Malaria Knowledge and Treatment Practices in Enugu State, Nigeria: A Qualitative Study.

Background: Malaria accounts for 60% of outpatient visits in Nigeria. The aim of the study was to assess the knowledge of malaria and its treatment practices in Enugu state, Nigeria.

Methods: Qualitative data was collected through the use of focus group discussions (FGDs), from six villages three each from urban and rural areas of Enugu state, Nigeria.

Standard precaution knowledge and adherence: Do Doctors differ from Medical Laboratory Scientists?

Background: Doctors and laboratory scientists are at risk of infection from blood borne pathogens during routine clinical duties. After over 20 years of standard precautions, health care workers knowledge and compliance is not adequate.

Aim: This study is aimed at comparing adherence and knowledge of standard precautions (SP) among Medical Laboratory Scientists (MLSs) and doctors.

Uptake of hepatitis B vaccination and its determinants among health care workers in a tertiary health facility in Enugu, South-East, Nigeria.

Background: Hepatitis B vaccination is the most effective method of prevention for hepatitis B virus infection. It is a major public health problem in Nigeria, and health workers are at increased risk. This study determined the uptake of hepatitis B vaccination and assessed its determinants among health care workers (HCWs).

E-learning readiness from perspectives of medical students: A survey in Nigeria.

Context: Learning in the medical school of the study university is still by the traditional face-to-face approach with minimal e-communication.

Aim: This paper assesses student's perspectives of E-learning readiness, its predictors and presents a model for assessing them.

Settings And Design: A descriptive cross-sectional study of medical students.