Immunisation services in North-Eastern Nigeria: Perspectives of critical stakeholders to improve uptake and service delivery.

We investigated the perspectives of parents, health workers (HWs) and traditional medical practitioners (TMPs) on immunisation advocacy, knowledge, attitudes and immunisation practice and ways of improving immunisation uptake in Borno State, North-eastern Nigeria. A cross-sectional study analysing quantitative data from the three stakeholders' categories. It was conducted across 18 local government areas of Borno State.

Identification of promising small-molecule inhibitors targeting STK17B for cancer therapeutics: molecular docking and molecular dynamics investigations.

Cancer is a complex disease characterized by the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells, leading to the formation of tumours. STK17B, a member of the DAPK family, has been implicated in various cancers and is considered a potential therapeutic target. However, no drug in the market has been approved for the treatment of STK17 B-associated cancer disease.

Computational-based drug design of novel small molecules targeting p53-MDMX interaction.

The regulation of the p53 tumor suppressor pathway is critically dependent on the activity of Murine Double Minute 2 (MDM2) and Murine Double Minute X (MDMX) proteins. In certain types of cancer cells, excessive amount of MDMX can poly-ubiquitinate p53, which can result in its degradation, leading to a subsequent reduction in the levels of this protein. Therefore, the design of small-molecule inhibitors targeting the MDMX-p53 interaction has emerged as a promising strategy for cancer therapy.

Neighborhood environment and quality of life among community-living older adults in Nigeria: The moderating effect of physical activity.

Understanding how neighborhood environments are related to older adults' quality of life (QoL) and physical activity (PA) is important for public health actions on healthy ageing in sub-Saharan Africa. We examined associations of perceived neighborhood environment attributes with QoL among older adults in Nigeria and investigated the moderating effects of PA on these associations. We conducted a cross-sectional study of 353 older adults (mean age = 68.

Newborn care: A qualitative study of inter-cultural variations and similarities among two ethnic groups in Northeastern Nigeria.

Background: Neonatal mortality remains unacceptably high in most sub-Saharan and Asian communities, where cultural practices and poor antenatal care are common. Newborn care practices play a key role in preventing neonatal deaths.

Aims: This study aimed to examine similarities and variations in newborn care between two major ethnic groups in northeast Nigeria.

Associations of Neighborhood Walkability with Sedentary Time in Nigerian Older Adults.

Previous studies have investigated the potential role of neighborhood walkability in reducing sedentary behavior. However, the majority of this research has been conducted in adults and Western developed countries. The purpose of the present study was to examine associations of neighborhood environmental attributes with sedentary time among older adults in Nigeria.

Risk factors for acquisition of meningococcal carriage in the African meningitis belt.

Objective: To investigate potential risk factors for acquisition in seven countries of the meningitis belt.

Methods: Households were followed up every 2 weeks for 2 months, then monthly for a further 4 months. Pharyngeal swabs were collected from all available household members at each visit and questionnaires completed.

Physical activity profile of Nigeria: implications for research, surveillance and policy.

Appraising the status of physical activity surveillance, research and policy in Nigeria is relevant to national and regional public health actions on physical activity promotion and non-communicable disease control. This study aimed to 1) evaluate the physical activity profile of Nigeria and 2) propose strategies for improving physical activity in the country. The Global Observatory for Physical Activity-GoPA! with inputs from local experts systematically collected sociodemographic and physical activity surveillance, national policy and research indicators data for Nigeria in 2014.

Neighborhood environmental factors are related to health-enhancing physical activity and walking among community dwelling older adults in Nigeria.

: Health promotion strategies grounded by evidence-based determinants of physical activity constitute an important focus of physiotherapy practice in the twenty-first century. This study investigated associations between neighborhood environmental factors and health-related moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and walking for transportation and recreation among community dwelling Nigerian older adults. : A representative sample of 353 Nigerian older adults (age = 68.

Investigation of correlates of protection against pharyngeal carriage of Neisseria meningitidis genogroups W and Y in the African meningitis belt.

Background: Serum bactericidal antibody titres that correlate with protection against invasive meningococcal disease have been characterised. However, titres that are associated with protection against acquisition of pharyngeal carriage of Neisseria meningitidis are not known.

Methods: Sera were obtained from the members of a household in seven countries of the African meningitis belt in which a pharyngeal carrier of N.

Correction: A Seroepidemiological Study of Serogroup A Meningococcal Infection in the African Meningitis Belt.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.

Pharyngeal carriage of Neisseria species in the African meningitis belt.

Objectives: Neisseria meningitidis, together with the non-pathogenic Neisseria species (NPNs), are members of the complex microbiota of the human pharynx. This paper investigates the influence of NPNs on the epidemiology of meningococcal infection.

Methods: Neisseria isolates were collected during 18 surveys conducted in six countries in the African meningitis belt between 2010 and 2012 and characterized at the rplF locus to determine species and at the variable region of the fetA antigen gene.

A Seroepidemiological Study of Serogroup A Meningococcal Infection in the African Meningitis Belt.

The pattern of epidemic meningococcal disease in the African meningitis belt may be influenced by the background level of population immunity but this has been measured infrequently. A standardised enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for measuring meningococcal serogroup A IgG antibodies was established at five centres within the meningitis belt. Antibody concentrations were then measured in 3930 individuals stratified by age and residence from six countries.

"Why not bathe the baby today?": A qualitative study of thermal care beliefs and practices in four African sites.

Background: Recommendations for care in the first week of a newborn's life include thermal care practices such as drying and wrapping, skin to skin contact, immediate breastfeeding and delayed bathing. This paper examines beliefs and practices related to neonatal thermal care in three African countries.

Methods: Data were collected in the same way in each site and included 16-20 narrative interviews with recent mothers, eight observations of neonatal bathing, and in-depth interviews with 12-16 mothers, 9-12 grandmothers, eight health workers and 0-12 birth attendants in each site.

Current Neonatal Skin Care Practices in Four African Sites.

Data for this study on skin care practices and emollient use in four African sites were collected using in-depth interviews, focus-group discussions and observations. Respondents were mothers, grandmothers, fathers, health workers, birth attendants and people selling skin-care products. Analysis included content and framework analyses.

Roles and responsibilities in newborn care in four African sites.

Objectives: To explore roles and responsibilities in newborn care in the intra- and postpartum period in Nigeria, Tanzania and Ethiopia.

Methods: Qualitative data were collected using in-depth interviews with mothers, grandmothers, fathers, health workers and birth attendants and were analysed through content and framework analyses.

Results: We found that birth attendants were the main decision-makers and care takers in the intrapartum period.

Household crowding, social mixing patterns and respiratory symptoms in seven countries of the African meningitis belt.

Objectives: To describe the variation in household crowding and social mixing patterns in the African meningitis belt and to assess any association with self-reported recent respiratory symptoms.

Methods: In 2010, the African Meningococcal Carriage Consortium (MenAfriCar) conducted cross-sectional surveys in urban and rural areas of seven countries. The number of household members, rooms per household, attendance at social gatherings and meeting places were recorded.

Methods for identifying Neisseria meningitidis carriers: a multi-center study in the African meningitis belt.

Objective: Detection of meningococcal carriers is key to understanding the epidemiology of Neisseria meningitidis, yet no gold standard has been established. Here, we directly compare two methods for collecting pharyngeal swabs to identify meningococcal carriers.

Methods: We conducted cross-sectional surveys of schoolchildren at multiple sites in Africa to compare swabbing the posterior pharynx behind the uvula (U) to swabbing the posterior pharynx behind the uvula plus one tonsil (T).

Factors influencing the onset of cigarette smoking among adolescents in Konduga local government area.

Background: Tobacco is the leading preventable cause of death in the United States; responsible for more than 400,000 deaths annually. There have been few reports in the literature about the association between these diseases and cigarette smoking from African countries, which may indicate that these diseases are not common in Africans. There is a dearth of knowledge about the smoking habit among adolescents and factors influencing it in Africa.

Communities' awareness, perception and participation in the Community-Based Medical Education of the University of Maiduguri.

Background: Community-based medical education (CBME) is no longer a new innovation in medical education since the establishment of The Network: Towards Unity for Health (The Network: TUFH) 25 years ago. The CBME of the University of Maiduguri medical college is 14 years old and has never been assessed in terms of the population it serves. The study was conducted to determine the level of awareness, perception, and participation of the communities in CBME.

Assessment of the impact of community-based medical education of the University of Maiduguri on communities in three local government areas of Borno State, Nigeria: community leaders' perspectives.

Background: The community-based training of the University of Maiduguri Medical College was expanded in 1990 to cover three rural local government areas (LGAs) located between 25 and 145 km from the University. This study was conducted between March and May 2000 to assess the impact and level of awareness of the training in the three LGAs in promoting the ideals of Primary Health Care (PHC) and community-based medical education, as perceived by community leaders.

Method: Focus group discussions (FGDs) were held with community leaders of each of the communities.

More reliable data for diarrhoeal intervention programmes: rethinking on knowledge, attitude and practice studies.

The aim of this study was to propose an alternative approach to traditional knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) studies to enhance the quality of data on which educational health programmes are based. The methodology proposed and illustrated involved a triangulation of approaches derived from linguistics, cognitive science, and medical laboratory sciences. Three diarrhoeal health talks (educational messages) as given to mothers in three primary-care facilities in Borno State (Northeast Nigeria) were subjected to a linguistics analysis.

Nutritional rickets in young Nigerian children in the Sahel savanna.

Objectives: To determine the prevalence of clinical and biochemical rickets in an under-five out-patient population, relate the prevalence of biochemical rickets (BR) to the sociocultural characteristics of families and determine the response of nutritional rickets to vitamin D therapy.

Design: Prospective cross-sectional and retrospective case-series surveys.

Setting: Paediatric general out-patient and consultant clinics.

Perceptions of and management practices for Diarrhoeal Diseases by traditional healers in northeastern Nigeria.

In Nigeria, there is a paucity of data on the beliefs and practices of traditional healers concerning diarrhoeal diseases. This study was undertaken to provide baseline data for integrating activities of traditional healers into the national Control of Diarrhoeal Diseases (CDD) programme. Interviews of 14 traditional healers, drawn from two large ethnic groups in northeastern Nigeria, were conducted.

Perceptions, beliefs and practices of mothers in sub-urban and rural areas towards measles and measles vaccination in Northern Nigeria.

Measles is of particular concern in Nigeria because of the high fatality rate, and high morbidity rate, particularly in young children. Measles and its complications are a common reason for hospitalization, indicating very low immunization coverage. This study was carried out to elucidate the contributing factors from attitudes, beliefs and practices of mothers towards measles and its vaccination.