Gender-responsive monitoring and evaluation for health systems.

Gender-responsive monitoring and evaluation (M&E) for health and health systems interventions and programs is vital to improve health, health systems, and gender equality outcomes. It can be used to identify and address gender disparities in program participation, outcomes and benefits, as well as ensure that programs are designed and implemented in a way that is inclusive and accessible for all. While gender-responsive M&E is most effective when interventions and programs intentionally integrate a gender lens, it is relevant for all health systems programs and interventions.

An Observational Study of a Digital Substance Use and Recovery Program.

Objective: Digital substance use treatment programs present an opportunity to provide nonresidential care for people with problematic substance use. In June 2021, the provincial government in Ontario provided free access to Breaking Free Online (BFO), a digital behavioral change program for people with substance use disorders.

Methods: An observational study was conducted with retrospective data to characterize clients' use and engagement patterns in BFO and examine changes in self-reported outcomes.

Design of a Mobile App Interface That Engages Community Members in a Food System Pilot Study.

Supermarkets are scarce in many under-resourced urban communities, and small independently owned retail stores often carry few fresh or healthy items. The Baltimore Urban food Distribution (BUD) mobile application (app) was previously developed to address supply-side challenges in moving healthy foods from local suppliers to retailers. In-app opportunities for consumers to indicate demand for these foods are crucial, but remain absent.

Protocol for the Support Application for Food PAntrieS trial: design, implementation, and evaluation plan for a digital application to promote healthy food access and support food pantry operations.

Introduction: Food-insecure households commonly rely on food pantries to supplement their nutritional needs, a challenge that was underscored during the COVID-19 pandemic. Food pantries, and the food banks that supply them, face common challenges in meeting variable client volume and dietary needs under normal and emergency (e.g.

Predictive Value of Transrectal Ultrasonic Doppler and Elastographic Features in Prostate Cancer Detection in Lagos University Teaching Hospital.

Introduction: This study aimed at determining the predictive value (PV) of transrectal ultrasonic Doppler and elastographic features in prostate cancer (PCa) detection among patients in Lagos University Teaching Hospital.

Materials And Methods: This prospective study involved patients that underwent evaluation for PCa. Participants had digital rectal examination (DRE), prostate-specific antigen (PSA) assay, and transrectal ultrasound-guided prostate biopsy using colour Doppler (CD) and elastography.

Impact of critical shoulder angle in shoulder pathology: a current concepts review.

Background: This review aims to describe the origin and development of critical shoulder angle (CSA) and its correlation with different shoulder pathologies. Current literature is inconclusive in characterizing the role of CSA in predicting pathology and surgical outcomes.

Methods: A literature search of both historical and more contemporary research articles on CSA was conducted to compare data points on the impact of CSA on shoulder pathology and postoperative clinical outcomes.

Design of an innovative digital application to facilitate access to healthy foods in low-income urban settings.

Background: Under-resourced urban minority communities in the United States are characterized by food environments with low access to healthy foods, high food insecurity, and high rates of diet-related chronic disease. In Baltimore, Maryland, low access to healthy food largely results from a distribution gap between small food sources (retailers) and their suppliers. Digital interventions have the potential to address this gap, while keeping costs low.

Effects of community-based interventions for stillbirths in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) alone contributed to 42% of global stillbirths in 2019, and the rate of stillbirth reduction has remained slow. There has been an increased uptake of community-based interventions to combat stillbirth in the region, but the effects of these interventions have been poorly assessed. Our objectives were to examine the effect of community-based interventions on stillbirth in SSA.

Impact of Anemia on The Quality of Life of Chronic Kidney Disease Patients: A Single Institution Experience.

Background: Anemia is a common complication of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and has been shown to worsen as CKD advances. CKD negatively impacts patients' health-related quality of life. It is therefore necessary to determine the impact of anemia on the quality of life in patients with CKD.

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SELECTED TRADITIONAL & NOVEL ANTHROPOMETRIC PARAMETERS AND BLOOD PRESSURE AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE.

Background: Many anthropometric measures have been developed in the last two decades to evaluate cardiovascular health and disease. However, the relationship between these measures and blood pressure is not commonly explored among young population.

Objective: This study sought to explore the relationship between selected traditional and novel anthropometric metrics and blood pressure among young people as part of ThE profile of anthRopometRy And psyChosocial issuEs on campus (TERRACE) study.

Gallstone Disease and Its Correlation With Thyroid Disorders: A Narrative Review.

Over the years, several studies have revealed an important link between thyroid disorders and gallstone disease. According to these studies, hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism are associated with cholesterol gallstone disease. This association between thyroid hormone disorders and cholesterol gallstone disease is due to the importance of thyroid hormones on cholesterol synthesis, bile functioning and content, and gallbladder motility.

Preparedness and response of assisted living facilities toward COVID-19 infection control in Houston, Texas, USA.

Background: Long-term care facilities (LTCFs) including assisted living facilities (ALFs) are hubs for high transmission and poor prognosis of COVID-19 among the residents who are more susceptible due to old age and comorbidities.

Aim: Houston Health Department conducted assessments of ALFs within the City of Houston to determine preparedness and existing preventive measures at the facilities.

Methods: Onsite assessments were conducted at ALFs using a modified CDC Infection Control Assessment and Response (ICAR) Tool.

Types, reporting and acceptability of community-based interventions for stillbirth prevention in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA): a systematic review.

Background: Community-based interventions are increasingly being implemented in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) for stillbirth prevention, but the nature of these interventions, their reporting and acceptability are poorly assessed. In addition to understanding their effectiveness, complete reporting of the methods, results and intervention acceptability is essential as it could potentially reduce research waste from replication of inadequately implemented and unacceptable interventions. We conducted a systematic review to investigate these aspects of community-based interventions for preventing stillbirths in SSA.

A Rare Presentation of Plexiform Schwannoma of the Thumb.

Plexiform schwannomas are rare, benign, neural crest-derived tumors that commonly occur in the hand and upper extremities. They may be sporadic or associated with neurofibromatosis type 2. Although previous literature has described plexiform schwannomas occurring in fingers, nerve and tendon sheaths, and intraosseous lesions, this is the first known case of a plexiform schwannoma of the thumb.

Echocardiographic reference z scores of right ventricular dimension and systolic function of children aged 5-12 years.

Background: Reference values for right ventricular dimension and systolic function in Nigerian children are scarce despite their high burden of right ventricular abnormalities. Reference values from other countries may not be suitable for use in Nigerian children because of possible racial variations in cardiac size.

Purpose: To develop reference values for right ventricular dimension and systolic function in healthy Nigerian children aged 5-12 years.

Patient-level and system-level determinants of stroke fatality across 16 large hospitals in Ghana and Nigeria: a prospective cohort study.

Background: Every minute, six indigenous Africans develop new strokes. Patient-level and system-level contributors to early stroke fatality in this region are yet to be delineated. We aimed to identify and quantify the contributions of patient-level and system-level determinants of inpatient stroke fatality across 16 hospitals in Ghana and Nigeria.

Rhythm abnormalities among hospitalised children in Lagos: a case series.

Arrhythmias refer to disturbances in heart rate or rhythm which leads to heart rates that are abnormally fast, slow or irregular. Rhythm abnormalities may be common among Nigerian children but there are only a few reports. The current write up is a clinical review of eight patients in various age groups including neonates, infants and older children.

Subclinical hypothyroidism in children with idiopathic childhood nephrotic syndrome at a tertiary institution in South-West Nigeria.

Background: Hypothyroidism in children with nephrotic syndrome (NS) is often attributed to prolonged loss of thyroxine binding globulin and thyroid hormones alongside protein in the urine. It has been historically associated with steroid-resistant NS alone. However, recent evidence supports the fact that subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) does occur even in children with steroid responsive NS.

Prevalence and determinants of peripheral arterial disease in children with nephrotic syndrome.

Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is the least studied complication of nephrotic syndrome (NS). Risk factors which predispose children with NS to developing PAD include hyperlipidaemia, hypertension and prolonged use of steroids. The development of PAD significantly increases the morbidity and mortality associated with NS as such children are prone to sudden cardiac death.

Dimensional stability and mechanical properties of extruded-compression biopolymer composites made from selected Nigerian grown wood species at varying proportions.

250 µm particle size of wood and polyethylene (PE) materials were compounded at mixing proportions of 60/40, 70/30, and 80/20 (with an increase in polymer to decrease in wood content) and extruded using a single screw extruder at a temperature range of 110-135 °C. The particles of Gmelina Arborea, Tectona grandis, Cordia milleni, and Nauclea diderichii with recycled Polyethylene were compounded and compressed at 175 N/mm to produce biopolymer composites. The biopolymer composites were subjected to dimensional stability test at 24 h of the water soak method and the ability to withstand load-bearing capacity was investigated.

Leading in a time of crisis: exploring early experiences of health facility leaders during the COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria's epicentre.

Purpose: The COVID-19 pandemic has had a disruptive effect on the health system. Health facility leaders were at the forefront of maintaining service delivery and were exposed to varied stressors in the early phase of the pandemic. This study aims to explore the leadership experiences of health facility leaders during the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria's epicentre.

Risk Factor Characterization of Ischemic Stroke Subtypes Among West Africans.

Background And Purpose: To identify the qualitative and quantitative contributions of conventional risk factors for occurrence of ischemic stroke and its key pathophysiologic subtypes among West Africans.

Methods: The SIREN (Stroke Investigative Research and Educational Network) is a multicenter, case-control study involving 15 sites in Ghana and Nigeria. Cases include adults aged ≥18 years with ischemic stroke who were etiologically subtyped using the A-S-C-O-D classification into atherosclerosis, small-vessel occlusion, cardiac pathology, other causes, and dissection.