Health education to promote knowledge about sickle cell disease and newborn screening in pregnant women: a community-based pilot study using the healthy beginning initiative.

Background: Pregnancy presents a critical period for any maternal and child health intervention that may impact the health of the newborn. With low antenatal care attendance by pregnant women in health facilities in Nigeria, community-based programs could enable increased reach for health education about sickle cell disease (SCD) and newborn screening (NBS) among pregnant women. This pilot study aimed to assess the effect of education on the knowledge about SCD and NBS among pregnant women using the Healthy Beginning Initiative, a community-based framework.

Effect of dolutegravir-based drug combinations on the level of medication adherence and viral load among adolescents living with HIV in resource-limited setting: a pre-post design.

Objectives: The use of antiretroviral drugs among HIV-infected adolescents has been challenged with poor medication adherence, leading to an unsuppressed viral load and ultimately to drug resistance. Recently, dolutegravir has been approved for use in adolescents with HIV, but the evidence on medication adherence and viral load suppression is limited. The study determined the effect of dolutegravir-based drug regimens on the level of medication adherence and viral load among treatment-experienced adolescents.

Effect of nutrition education on dietary diversity among HIV Patients in Southeast, Nigeria.

Background: Integrating nutrition interventions which include nutrition education in HIV/AIDS care program may help people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) make better decisions regarding their nutrition to improve their immune system.

Objective: To determine the effect of nutrition education on dietary diversity among HIV/AIDS patients in Southeast, Nigeria.

Methods: A quasi-experimental study was conducted among 370 HIV patients divided into two groups of 185 each for the study and control groups.

Assessment of depression in children and adolescents with sickle cell anemia in a low-resource setting: a comparative study.

Children with sickle cell anemia (SCA) usually face psychological complications especially depression. Assessment of depression in resource-limited settings may help identify the extent to which the children with SCA in such settings may need its introduction as part of routine care. This study aimed to assess depression in children and adolescents with SCA in a low-resource setting.

Relationship between disease severity and folate status of children with sickle cell anaemia in Enugu, South East Nigeria.

Background: Repeated crises in children with sickle cell anaemia (SCA), which is a manifestation of disease severity, results in depletion of their minimal tissue folate stores, with higher likelihood of folate deficiency. The study aimed to determine the relationship between disease severity and the folate status of children with SCA attending University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Enugu.

Methods: This was a hospital based, cross-sectional study conducted between September 2018 and March 2019.

Community based screening for sickle haemoglobin among pregnant women in Benue State, Nigeria: I-Care-to-Know, a Healthy Beginning Initiative.

Background: Haemoglobin genotype screening at prenatal care offers women an opportunity to be aware of their genotype, receive education on sickle cell disease (SCD) and may increase maternal demand for SCD newborn screening. In developed countries, most pregnant women who access prenatal care and deliver at the hospital receive haemoglobin genotype screening. In settings with low prenatal care attendance and low hospital deliveries, community-based screening may provide similar opportunity for pregnant women.

Assessment of breastfeeding techniques in Enugu, South-East Nigeria.

Background: Good breastfeeding technique is important in ensuring adequate milk delivery and preventing breastfeeding problems. Exclusive breastfeeding rate is quite low, and requisite skills regarding proper positioning and attachment of an infant while breastfeeding appears lacking among mothers in Nigeria. This study was undertaken to assess breastfeeding techniques of mothers attending the well-child clinics of two tertiary hospitals in southeast Nigeria.

Glanzmann's thrombasthenia: a rare bleeding disorder in a Nigerian girl.

Introduction: Glanzmann's Thrombasthenia (GT) is a rare autosomal recessive bleeding disorder due to defective platelet membrane glycoprotein GP IIb/IIIa (integrin αIIbβ3). The prevalence is estimated at 1:1,000,000 and it is commonly seen in areas where consanguinity is high.

Case Presentation: The authors report a 12 year old Nigerian girl of Igbo ethnic group, born of non-consanguineous parents, who presented with prolonged heavy menstrual bleeding which started at menarche 3 months earlier, weakness and dizziness.

Knowledge and awareness of individual sickle cell genotype among adolescents in a unity school in Southeast, Nigeria: a cross-sectional study.

Objective: Our study sought to assesses the knowledge and awareness of individual sickle cell genotype among adolescents.

Methods: Participants were recruited from a large school in Southeast Nigeria where adult prevalence of sickle cell trait is 25%. Data was collected through a 50-item survey with previously pretested questions that assessed awareness of individual genotype, general knowledge of sickle cell disease, perception of sickle cell trait and sickle cell anaemia (SCA).

Pre-Transition Readiness in Adolescents and Young Adults with Four Chronic Medical Conditions in South East Nigeria - An African Perspective to Adolescent Transition.

Introduction: When a child reaches a certain age, he or she moves over to the adult physician. For this to maximally benefit the child, there has to be a process of equipping the child with skills required for taking on more responsibilities. Transitioning involves a process in which the adolescent with chronic illness is prepared ahead of time to enable them to eventually transfer to adult care with good outcomes.

Generalized lymphadenopathy: an unusual presentation of burkitt lymphoma in a Nigerian child: a case report.

Introduction: Burkitt Lymphoma is the fastest growing tumor in human and the commonest of the childhood malignancies. Generalized lymphadenopathy is a common feature of immunodeficiency associated Burkitt lymphoma but an uncommon presentation of the endemic type in Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) negative children.

Case Presentation: The authors report a 6 year old HIV negative boy who presented with generalized lymphadenopathy, cough, weight loss, fever and drenching night sweat and had received native medication as well as treatment in private hospitals.

Cancer Mortality in the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria: A Case Study of the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital.

Aim: The aim of this study is to determine the pattern of cancer mortality (CM) seen in the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH) which is a cancer reference center in the Niger Delta Region.

Methodology: This is a 6-year retrospective study of cancer-related deaths in UPTH using patients' admission registers in all the wards and emergency units. Furthermore, the death certificates of cases were reviewed.

Hypertension in Children: Could the Prevalence be on the Increase?

Background: In children particularly in the developing world, there is a tendency to downplay the role of primary hypertension in their health. In adults, a number of factors have clearly been associated with the incidence of hypertension. Knowledge of the prevalence of hypertension and its associated factors among children in our environment is important and could inform the need for lifestyle changes and routine blood pressure (BP) checks in children so as to reduce BP-related health risks.

Persistent hematuria among children with sickle cell anemia in steady state.

Introduction: Persistent hematuria is a chronic complication of sickle cell anemia (SCA) which can progress to chronic kidney disease. The practice of early detection of persistent hematuria in children with SCA in steady state is important for timely intervention.

Objective: To determine the prevalence of persistent hematuria among children with sickle cell anemia in steady state and compare the result with that of a group of HbAA controls.

Vaso-occlusive crisis in sickle cell disease: current paradigm on pain management.

This narrative review aims to highlight the current paradigm on pain management in sickle cell vaso-occlusive crisis. It specifically examines the pathophysiologic mechanisms of sickle cell pain as well as the pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic methods of pain management. Recurrent painful episodes constitute the major morbidity in sickle cell disease (SCD).

A Multi-centre Survey of Acceptability of Newborn Screening for Sickle Cell Disease in Nigeria.

Background Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a major genetic disease that manifests early in life and may lead to significant morbidities. One of the health care services that have been effective in reducing the burden of SCD in developed countries is newborn screening (NBS) followed by pneumococcal vaccines, penicillin prophylaxis, and hydroxyurea treatment. Yet, in sub-Saharan African countries, where about 75% of annual affected babies worldwide are born, NBS programmes are largely unavailable.

Bioelectric impedance analysis of body composition of children and adolescents with sickle cell anemia in Enugu, Nigeria.

Background: Body composition indices are widely used to evaluate growth and nutrition in children, particularly those with sickle cell anemia (SCA), who are known to have impaired growth, impaired skeletal maturation, and delayed puberty. The current study is aimed at determining the body composition of children with SCA.

Methods: Consecutive selection of SCA children aged 6 to 18 years, who served as subjects and their age and gender matched children with HbAA (controls), selected using multi-stage systematic sampling.

Elevated arterial blood pressure and body mass index among Nigerian preschool children population.

Background: Arterial blood pressure tends to rise with growth and development. Elevated blood pressure (EBP) in children usually occurs during the first two decades of life, and the children with hypertension tend to grow into adulthood with the high level of blood pressure. The prevalence of hypertension in children is increasing, the causes likely to be of different combination of factors.

Out-of-pocket cost of managing sick newborns in Enugu, southeast Nigeria.

Background: Neonatal illnesses usually require long hospital stays and specialized care and/or facilities, which usually results in huge medical bills. With more than 70% of people in Nigeria living on less than US$2 per day, these bills are not affordable to many families' livelihoods.

Aim: This study aims to determine the average cost of managing neonatal illnesses in Enugu in southeast Nigeria and the proportion of family income spent on these illnesses.

Determinants of academic performance in children with sickle cell anaemia.

Background: Some factors are known to influence the academic performance of children with Sickle Cell Anaemia (SCA). Information on their effects in these children is limited in Nigeria. The factors which influence academic performance of children with SCA in Enugu, Nigeria are determined in this study.