Assessment of the compliance with minimum quality standards by public primary healthcare facilities in Nigeria.

Achieving universal health coverage (UHC) and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) by 2030 relies on the delivery of quality healthcare services through effective primary healthcare (PHC) systems. This necessitates robust infrastructure, adequately skilled health workers and the availability of essential medicines and commodities. Despite the critical role of minimum standards in benchmarking PHC quality, no global consensus on these standards exists.

Alters One-Dimensional Profile of Serum Proteins Due to Mercury Chloride in Rats ().

<b>Background and Objective:</b> Several previous studies have shown that leaf ethanolic extract of <i>Etlingera hemisphaerica</i> (LE3H) has the potential to reduce the toxicity and teratogenicity effects of mercury. This study aimed to describe the effects of LE3H on the protein profile of <i>Rattus norvegicus</i> serum due to treatment with HgCl₂. <b>Materials and Methods:</b> Four groups of male rats, K1 was injected intraperitoneally (IP) HgCl₂ (5 mg kg¹ b.

Amperometric microbial biosensor for sugars and sweetener classification using principal component analysis in beverages.

Unlabelled: Sugar and artificial sweeteners are additives in packaged food and beverage products that are widely used, where excessive sugar consumption can cause an increase in various diseases. Detection and classification of natural sugars sucrose, fructose, glucose, and artificial sweetener aspartame are needed to determine the effects of consuming these sweeteners. This study uses an amperometric biosensor integrated biochip-D, which uses as a bioreceptor through cellular metabolic respiration activity expressed in dissolved oxygen (DO) levels.

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Infection and Pregnancy in Sub-Saharan Africa: A 6-Country Retrospective Cohort Analysis.

Background: Few data are available on COVID-19 outcomes among pregnant women in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), where high-risk comorbidities are prevalent. We investigated the impact of pregnancy on SARS-CoV-2 infection and of SARS-CoV-2 infection on pregnancy to generate evidence for health policy and clinical practice.

Methods: We conducted a 6-country retrospective cohort study among hospitalized women of childbearing age between 1 March 2020 and 31 March 2021.

Traditional birth attendant-assisted versus unassisted births: a comparison of neonatal deaths in Nigeria, 2008-2018.

Purpose: to directly compare the risk of neonatal death between traditional birth attendant (TBA)-assisted and unassisted deliveries in Nigeria.

Methods: Using data on live births from the 2008, 2013, and 2018 Nigeria Demographic and Health Surveys, this cross-sectional study compared risk of neonatal death for TBA-assisted versus unassisted births. We used survey-featured logistic regression to estimate the odds of neonatal death.

Assessment of Clinical Outcomes Among Children and Adolescents Hospitalized With COVID-19 in 6 Sub-Saharan African Countries.

Importance: Little is known about COVID-19 outcomes among children and adolescents in sub-Saharan Africa, where preexisting comorbidities are prevalent.

Objective: To assess the clinical outcomes and factors associated with outcomes among children and adolescents hospitalized with COVID-19 in 6 countries in sub-Saharan Africa.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This cohort study was a retrospective record review of data from 25 hospitals in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, and Uganda from March 1 to December 31, 2020, and included 469 hospitalized patients aged 0 to 19 years with SARS-CoV-2 infection.

The Critical Need for Pooled Data on Coronavirus Disease 2019 in African Children: An AFREhealth Call for Action Through Multicountry Research Collaboration.

Globally, there are prevailing knowledge gaps in the epidemiology, clinical manifestations, and outcomes of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection among children and adolescents; and these gaps are especially wide in African countries. The availability of robust age-disaggregated data is a critical first step in improving knowledge on disease burden and manifestations of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) among children. Furthermore, it is essential to improve understanding of SARS-CoV-2 interactions with comorbidities and coinfections such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), tuberculosis, malaria, sickle cell disease, and malnutrition, which are highly prevalent among children in sub-Saharan Africa.

Effect of SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Pregnancy on Maternal and Neonatal Outcomes in Africa: An AFREhealth Call for Evidence through Multicountry Research Collaboration.

In the African context, there is a paucity of data on SARS-CoV-2 infection and associated COVID-19 in pregnancy. Given the endemicity of infections such as malaria, HIV, and tuberculosis (TB) in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), it is important to evaluate coinfections with SARS-CoV-2 and their impact on maternal/infant outcomes. Robust research is critically needed to evaluate the effects of the added burden of COVID-19 in pregnancy, to help develop evidence-based policies toward improving maternal and infant outcomes.

Quality of life of stroke survivors in Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Purpose: Functional impairments and socioeconomic constraints associated with stroke affect quality of life (QoL). With limited care and social support resources, there is a greater anticipated decline in QoL among stroke survivors in Africa. This study aims to examine post-stroke QoL, properties of outcome measures adopted and predictors of the QoL among African stroke survivors.

Severe necrotising pneumonia in a toddler: A rare presentation with dual bacterial aetiology.

Necrotising pneumonia (NP) is a rare complication of bacterial pneumonia which is associated with severe morbidity and mortality. Pneumonia of polymicrobial aetiology predicts worse pathology with fulminating clinical course. Reports of necrotising pneumonia from multiple bacterial infections are scanty in published literature.

Enablers of adherence to clinic appointments for children attending an antiretroviral clinic in Northern Nigeria: Perspectives of caregivers and care providers.

Background: Nigeria has the highest burden of paediatric HIV infection, and the success of control efforts in the country is crucial to the global control of the HIV epidemic. However, defaults from schedules of care pose a threat to paediatric HIV control in Nigeria. This study was conducted in a pioneer facility for the implementation of the National HIV Prevention and Treatment Programmes.

Evaluation of the cognitive effect of newborn resuscitation training on health-care workers in selected states in Northern Nigeria.

Background: Neonatal deaths contribute significantly to slower progress in under-5 mortality reduction. Lack of sufficiently trained birth assistants partly contributes to early neonatal deaths. Resuscitation training equips frontline health-care workers (HCWs) with requisite knowledge and skills to prevent birth asphyxia.

Prescribing pattern and antibiotic use for hospitalized children in a Northern Nigerian Teaching Hospital.

Background: Assessment of patterns of drug to detect performance problems and compliance with standards facilitates objective comparisons and impact evaluation. Children are at higher risk of consequences of irrational prescribing and antibiotic misuse.

Objective: The objective of the study was to evaluate the prescribing pattern and utilization of antibiotics for children using standard prescribing indicators and indices of rational drug prescribing.

Prevention of Exposure Keratopathy in Critically Ill Patients: A Single-Center, Randomized, Pilot Trial Comparing Ocular Lubrication With Bandage Contact Lenses and Punctal Plugs.

Objectives: To compare the effectiveness of bandage contact lenses and punctal plugs with ocular lubricants in preventing corneal damage in mechanically ventilated and sedated critically ill patients.

Design: Single-center, prospective, randomized, pilot study.

Setting: Sixteen-bed, general ICU at a tertiary academic medical center.

Determinants of quality of life among community-dwelling persons with spinal cord injury: A path analysis.

Context: Recent advancement in technology and medical care has resulted in an increase not only in disability arising from spinal cord injury (SCI) but also its attendant challenges such as poor quality of life (QoL).

Aim: To test a theoretical model of predictors of QoL among persons with SCI.

Settings And Design: Study was conducted in the South Eastern Nigeria.

Sperm chromatin maturity and integrity correlated to zygote development in ICSI program.

Unlabelled: This study aimed to evaluate sperm chromatin maturity and integrity of that injected into good-quality oocytes in an in vitro fertilization-intra cytoplasmic sperm injection (IVF-ICSI) program. A cut-off value of sperm chromatin maturity and integrity was developed as a function of their correlation to the zygote development, i.e.

Caregiver satisfaction with paediatric HIV treatment and care in Nigeria and equity implications for children living with HIV.

Caregiver satisfaction has the potential to promote equity for children living with HIV, by influencing health-seeking behaviour. We measured dimensions of caregiver satisfaction with paediatric HIV treatment in Nigeria, and discuss its implications for equity by conducting facility-based exit interviews for caregivers of children receiving antiretroviral therapy in 20 purposively selected facilities within 5 geopolitical zones. Descriptive analysis and factor analysis were performed.

Application of algae-biosensor for environmental monitoring.

Environmental problems including water and air pollution, over fertilization, insufficient wastewater treatment and even ecological disaster are receiving greater attention in the technical and scientific area. In this paper, a method for water quality monitoring using living green algae (Chlorella Kessleri) with the help of the intelligent mobile lab (IMOLA) is presented. This measurement used two IMOLA systems for measurement and reference simultaneously to verify changes due to pollution inside the measurement system.

Dexamethasone intravitreal implant (Ozurdex®) for pediatric uveitis.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the safety and effectiveness of an intravitreally injected dexamethasone-containing implant (Ozurdex(®)) in the treatment of uveitis in children.

Methods: The study group included ten patients (14 eyes) aged 6.5-15 years (mean age 12 years) with intermediate or posterior uveitis who were treated with the Ozurdex implant at two tertiary medical centers between 2009 and 2014, following an insufficient response to standard uveitis therapy.

Community Integrated Management of Childhood Illnesses (C-IMCI) and Key Household Practices in Kano, Northwest Nigeria.

Introduction: Integrated Management of Childhood Illnesses (IMCI) is a holistic approach to reducing under-five morbidity and mortality and improving growth and development of children. This study compared key household and community practices in IMCI implementing and non-implementing communities in two local government areas (LGAs) of Kano State, Nigeria.

Methodology: A cross sectional study was employed with multistage cluster sampling selection of caregivers of children 0-59 months of age and their index children (=400).

Research profile of physiotherapy undergraduates in Nigeria.

Objectives: Physiotherapy training in Nigeria is almost 50 years old with no history of appraisal of research projects produced by the physiotherapy students. Physiotherapy students complete research projects in partial fulfilment of the requirements for graduation. An appraisal will reveal areas of strength and weakness in the research requirement for students, potentially leading to better research capacity and promoting evidence-based clinical practice among graduates.

Diagnosing renal failure due to diethylene glycol in children in a resource-constrained setting.

Background: In 2008, several Nigerian children developed acute kidney injury (AKI) after ingesting teething syrup contaminated with diethylene glycol (DEG). Because there are limited diagnostic facilities in resource-constrained countries, this study investigated whether AKI associated with DEG could be identified by other means.

Methods: This was a multicenter study.

Gangrene of the limb complicating Salmonella typhi septicaemia in a Nigerian child.

We report an unusual case of lower limb gangrene in a pubertal boy following a typical clinical presentation of septicaemia due to Salmonella typhi. After an initial response to presumed appropriate antibiotic and supportive therapy, the patient developed tissue ischaemia in both feet. There were no clinical or laboratory evidence suggestive of DIC or coagulopathy.