Protocol for the crowdsourced image-based morbidity hotspot surveillance for neglected tropical diseases (CIMS-NTDs).

Introduction: Efficient NTDs elimination strategies require effective surveillance and targeted interventions. Traditional methods are costly and time-consuming, often failing to cover entire populations in case of movement restrictions. To address these challenges, a morbidity image-based surveillance system is being developed.

Detection and characterization of micro-organisms linked to unsealed drugs sold in Ihiagwa community, Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria.

The contamination of pharmaceutical products by micro-organisms poses a significant risk to public health. This study was conducted to detect and characterize micro-organisms associated with unsealed drugs sold in Ihiagwa community in Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria. A variety of microbiological techniques were employed to analyse samples from unsealed drug containers.

Factors associated with health seeking delay in the screening of cervical cancer among women in Imo state, south Eastern Nigeria.

Background To The Study: Cervical cancer is a curable disease if diagnosed early. The mortality rate due to cervical cancer is high worldwide, mainly because of the absence of a functioning screening process and the advanced stage of the disease at diagnosis. The aim of this study was to assess the factors associated with health-seeking delay in the screening of cervical cancer among women in Owerri Municipal LGA, Imo State.

Seasonal Variation and Geographical Distribution of COVID-19 across Nigeria (March 2020-July 2021).

Globally, the novel corona virus infection has continued to witness a growing number of cases since December 2019 when the outbreak was discovered and noted in China. Despite this has not been well studied for the case of COVID-19, human contact, public moveableness and environmental variables could have an impact onairborne'spropagation and virus continuance, such as influenza virus. This study aimed to determine the seasonal variation and geographical distribution of COVID-19 across Nigeria.

Stakeholders' hopes and concerns about the COVID-19 vaccines in Southeastern Nigeria: a qualitative study.

Background: Equitable access and high uptake of safe and effective vaccines is critical to ending the COVID-19 pandemic. To ensure the success of these vaccines, particularly in many developing and under-developed parts of the world, the concerns of local communities including fears, potency, and levels of acceptance should be addressed. This study assessed community stakeholders' perceptions in parts of Southeastern Nigeria about COVID-19 vaccine, towards engaging them effectively to ensure the success of the vaccination campaigns.

Drug Shop Intervention to Enhance Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices of Patent Medicine Vendors for the Control of COVID-19 In Southeastern Nigeria.

Drug shops are the first point of care for most community members in low-resource countries. Because of symptomatic similarities with common illnesses such as malaria, probable coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases may seek care at drug shops, where the knowledge and skills required to handle it may be lacking, thereby fostering community spread of the disease. This single-arm study provided an intervention to improve COVID-19-related knowledge, attitude, and practices of patent medicine vendors (PMVs) in 97 participating drug shops selected through cluster sampling in Owerri, southeastern Nigeria.

Knowledge, attitude and perception on cervical cancer screening among women attending ante-natal clinic in Owerri west L.G.A, South-Eastern Nigeria: A cross-sectional study.

Background: Cancer of the cervix is the second most common cancer in women globally, and it is a major cause of morbidity and mortality among women in developing countries such as Nigeria. The study assessed the knowledge, attitude and perception on cervical cancer screening among women attending ante-natal clinic in Owerri West, south eastern Nigeria.

Method: This cross-sectional study was conducted using a random sampling technique among 231 respondents attending ante-natal clinic in a cluster of 4 selected public primary healthcare centres.

Malaria care-seeking behaviour among HIV-infected patients receiving antiretroviral treatment in South-Eastern Nigeria: A cross-sectional study.

This study assesses malaria prevention and treatment behaviour among people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) in Owerri, South Eastern Nigeria. Although Nigeria bears one of the world's largest burdens of both malaria and HIV, there is almost no research studying how co-infected patients manage their care. We systematically sampled 398 PLWHA receiving care at Imo State Specialist Hospital and the Federal Medical Centre in Owerri to complete a structured, pre-tested questionnaire on malaria care-seeking behaviour.

Awareness, perceptions and intent to comply with the prospective malaria vaccine in parts of South Eastern Nigeria.

Background: There are potentials of a malaria vaccine being developed sooner than expected. While focus is more on the development of a vaccine, less attention has been paid on the extent to which such vaccines could be well accepted and the readiness among caregivers to comply with its use in order to achieve the effectiveness of the vaccine in the malaria endemic areas. Compliance rates are influenced by the level of awareness, as well as the perception of the population.

Exploring the antimalarial potential of whole Cymbopogon citratus plant therapy.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Cymbopogon citratus (lemon grass) has been used in traditional medicine as an herbal infusion to treat fever and malaria. Generally, whole plant extracts possess higher biological activity than purified compounds. However, the antimalarial activity of the whole C.

Determinants of delay in seeking malaria treatment for children under-five years in parts of South Eastern Nigeria.

One of the components of the current WHO strategy to fight malaria is early recognition and prompt and appropriate treatment. We investigated determinants of delay in seeking early and appropriate malaria treatment for children (0-5 years) in Ohaji/Egbema, South Eastern Nigeria. Data was collected using structured pre-tested questionnaires elicited in the local language (Igbo) to 738 consenting mothers within the child bearing age (15-49 years).

Artemisinin-based combination therapy: knowledge and perceptions of patent medicine dealers in Owerri Metropolis, Imo State, Nigeria and implications for compliance with current malaria treatment protocol.

This study was done to access the knowledge and perceptions of Patent Medicine Dealers (PMDs) in Owerri Metropolis of Nigeria about Artemisinin Based Combination Therapy as first line treatment for malaria using structured pre-tested questionnaires administered to 80 randomly selected and consenting respondents. About 67.5 and 32.

Malaria transmission and morbidity patterns in holoendemic areas of Imo River Basin of Nigeria.

Background: This study determines the relationship between malaria transmission intensity and morbidity in holoendemic areas of Imo River Basin, Nigeria.

Results: Standard entomological and parasitological techniques were used to determine transmission intensity and parasite rates respectively while sociocultural methods and review of hospital records were used to determine morbidity patterns. The average transmission rate was 16.