Medication Adherence among Pulmonary Tuberculosis Patients in Treatment Centers in a Southern Nigerian Local Government Area: Question Mark on Performance of DOTS Services.

Background: Directly observed treatment short-course (DOTS) offers free, accessible and effective treatments with high treatment success rate and retention. Despite this, evidence from Rivers State suggest a downward trend in tuberculosis (TB) cure rate and a high burden of drug resistance among pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) patients. Medication adherence appears to play a key role in TB evolution.

Caring for Children with Congenital Heart Diseases:Economic Burden of Pre-Surgical Management on Nigerian Families.

Background And Objectives: Managing children with Congenital Heart Disease (CHD) attracts enormous cost especially in resource-poor settings like Nigeria. This study sought to determine the healthcare costs of pre-surgical management of CHD and describe its catastrophic effects on households.

Methods: Using a semi-structured interviewer-administered questionnaire, caregivers of children with CHD were interviewed.