Factors influencing COVID-19 vaccine acceptability among household heads in northern Nigeria: a community-based cross-sectional study.

Objectives: COVID-19 vaccine was rolled out for the public in August 2021 in Zamfara state, Northen Nigeria. We determined the factors influencing COVID-19 vaccine acceptance.

Settings: We executed a community-based analytical cross-sectional study during the first 4 months of the second phase of the COVID-19 (Oxford/AstraZeneca) mass vaccination campaign in Zamfara state.

Assessment of adequacy and determinants of HIV related knowledge among senior school students in public schools in Abakaliki Southeast Nigeria.

Misinformation, under-information, and disinformation regarding HIV among adolescents may be associated with a high prevalence of HIV among adolescents and young adults. The source of the HIV-related knowledge determines the accuracy and comprehensiveness of the information received. This study aimed to assess the adequacy (accuracy and comprehensive) of HIV-related knowledge and its determinants among senior school students in Abakaliki.

Dream and its interpretation: scientific perspective.

Dream is a mental activity that occurs during sleep. Its interpretation is common practice in many African cultures and this role is vested in unqualified persons, such as diviners, priests, and healers. Their unprofessional activities have led to dangerous consequences, such as anxiety, depression, loss of material possessions, bodily harm, family, or community conflicts, or even death.

Genetic variability in snake venom and its implications for antivenom development in sub-Saharan Africa.

Snake venom, a complex mixture of proteins, has attracted human attention for centuries due to its associated mortality, morbidity and other therapeutic properties. In sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), where snakebites pose a significant health risk, understanding the genetic variability of snake venoms is crucial for developing effective antivenoms. The wide geographic distribution of venomous snake species in SSA countries demonstrates the need to develop specific and broad antivenoms.

Chronic Complications of Diabetes Mellitus.

Background: This review article describes the chronic complications of diabetes mellitus (DM). The chronic complications of DM are diverse, often progressive and difficult to manage or reverse.

Objective: The aim of this review is to highlight the current concepts in the pathogenic mechanisms of the chronic complications of diabetes mellitus, with a view to educate doctors and specialists on the management of these problems.

The birth satisfaction scale: Igbo adaptation, validation, and reliability study.

Background: An important indicator of mothers' satisfaction with their care is birth satisfaction. Maternal health care can only be deemed to be of good quality if mothers are satisfied with the care they received. This increases maternal joy.

Impact of schistosomiasis infection on maternal and neonatal outcomes in pregnancy: a prospective cohort study in Nigeria.

Background: Schistosomiasis, a neglected tropical disease, affects approximately 40 million women of reproductive age contributing to preventable anaemia during pregnancy, intrauterine growth retardation and low birth weight. In spite of the high prevalence rate of this disease among school aged children in Abakaliki, no study in Abakaliki has looked at the burden of Schistosomal infection in pregnancy with a view to determining maternal and neonatal outcomes.

Objective: To determine the association between schistosomal infection and maternal anemia, low birth weight, and other neonatal outcomes in Abakaliki.

Scoping Review of Economic Analyses of Rare Kidney Diseases.

Introduction: Rare kidney diseases (RKDs) place a substantial economic burden on patients and health systems, the extent of which is unknown and may be systematically underestimated by health economic techniques. We aimed to investigate the economic burden and cost-effectiveness evidence base for RKDs.

Methods: We conducted a systematic scoping review to identify economic evaluations, health technology assessments, and cost-of-illness studies relating to RKDs, published since 2012.

Descriptive epidemiology of Lassa fever, its trend, seasonality, and mortality predictors in Ebonyi State, South- East, Nigeria, 2018-2022.

Background: Nigeria is an epicenter for Lassa fever. Ebonyi state is located in the South-Eastern region of Nigeria where a high burden of Lassa fever has been reported. Therefore, this study was designed to assess the epidemiology of Lassa fever, its seasonality, trend, and mortality predictors in Ebonyi state, South-East, Nigeria.

Racial and regional disparities in the risk of noncommunicable disease between sub-Saharan black and European white patients.

Objectives: Greater vulnerability of Black vs. White individuals to cardiovascular disease (CVD) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) is well charted in the United States, but studies involving sub-Saharan blacks are scarce.

Methods: Baseline data (2021-2024) were collected in 168 sub-Saharan Blacks and 93 European Whites in an ongoing clinical trial (NCT04299529), using standardized patient selection criteria.

Factors Associated With Feeling Ashamed of Disclosure of HIV-Positive Status Among Women Who Self-Reported to Health Facilities for HIV Testing in Kenya: Analysis of 2022 Kenya Demographic and Health Survey.

Background: This study aimed to determine the factors associated with feeling ashamed of disclosing HIV-positive status among females who self-reported to health facilities for HIV testing in Kenya.

Method: This study used the Kenya Demographic Health Survey data set for 2022. A total of 18,506 women aged 15-49 years were selected from the sample clusters; 13,815 had ever tested for HIV and 332 had positive results for HIV.

PREDICTORS OF HIV STATUS DISCLOSURE AND CONDOM USE AMONG MOTHERS LIVING WITH HIV IN A TERTIARY HOSPITAL SOUTHEAST, NIGERIA.

Background: Non-disclosure of HIV status and poor condom use, among mothers living with HIV may pose risks of HIV transmission to their serodiscordant partners and may influence the outcome of their infants. The study was aimed at assessing predictors of HIV status disclosure, and condom use, among mothers of infants exposed to HIV attending the ART clinic in Abakaliki, Southeast Nigeria.

Materials And Methods: A hospital-based cross-sectional study that involved 246 mothers living with HIV.

Relationship Between Lifestyle, Health Factors, and Severity of Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms Amongst Men Living in Southeast Nigeria.

Background Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) refer to a group of symptoms related to the storage and voiding of urine that comprises storage, voiding, and post-micturition symptoms affecting the lower urinary tract, and the prevalence in men in our society is on the rise as a result of an increase in the life expectancy. This study investigates the relationship between lifestyle, health factors, and severity of LUTS amongst men living in the southeastern part of Nigeria. Method A cross-sectional study of 389 men aged 42-96 years was conducted.

Urinary Proteomics and Systems Biology Link Eight Proteins to the Higher Risk of Hypertension and Related Complications in Blacks Versus Whites.

Blacks are more prone to salt-sensitive hypertension than Whites. This cross-sectional analysis of a multi-ethnic cohort aimed to search for proteins potentially involved in the susceptibility to salt sensitivity, hypertension, and hypertension-related complications. The study included individuals enrolled in African Prospective Study on the Early Detection and Identification of Cardiovascular Disease and Hypertension (African-PREDICT), Flemish Study of the Environment, Genes and Health Outcomes (FLEMENGHO), Prospective Cohort Study in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus for Validation of Biomarkers (PROVALID)-Austria, and Urinary Proteomics Combined with Home Blood Pressure Telemonitoring for Health Care Reform Trial (UPRIGHT-HTM).

Upper limb disabilities and associated factors among breast cancer survivors: A quantitative cross-sectional study.

Objectives: Complications following breast cancer treatment result in chronic upper limb disabilities. To plan an informed and effective rehabilitation for timely intervention to prevent, mitigate, or manage the functional impairments for breast cancer survivors, especially in settings with limited resources, the burden of upper limb disabilities needs to be ascertained. This study examined upper limb disabilities and associated factors among breast cancer survivors.

Artificial intelligence-enhanced biosurveillance for antimicrobial resistance in sub-Saharan Africa.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) remains a critical global health threat, with significant impacts on individuals and healthcare systems, particularly in low-income countries. By 2019, AMR was responsible for >4.9 million fatalities globally, and projections suggest this could rise to 10 million annually by 2050 without effective interventions.

A PROTOCOL FOR ACCELERATING THE ADOPTION OF EVIDENCE-BASED MATERNAL, NEWBORN, CHILD, AND NUTRITION HEALTH (MNCNH) INNOVATIONS TO REDUCE MATERNAL MORTALITY IN NIGERIA.

Background: Maternal mortality remains a significant challenge in Nigeria, where 28.5% of global maternal deaths occur. Barriers such as weak policy environments and lack of product availability hinder the implementation of life-saving interventions.

AWARENESS AND PREVALENCE OF HYPERTENSION AMONG RURAL DWELLERS: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY IN RURAL COMMUNITIES OF EBONYI STATE, NIGERIA.

Background: Hypertension is a leading cause of premature death among non-communicable diseases especially in low and middle-income countries Sudden deaths are on the increase in our rural communities especially among the middle-aged.

Objective: To ascertain the level of awareness and prevalence of hypertension among rural dwellers in Ebonyi State, Nigeria.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study carried out in rural communities of Ebonyi State.

THE NIGERIAN ATRIAL FIBRILLATION NATIONAL REGISTRY: RATIONALE, DESIGN AND EARLY FINDINGS.

Introduction/background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common sustained cardiac arrhythmia. The AF Atrial Fibrillation Registry, which commenced in June 2023, was designed to provide clinical epidemiological data on patients with AF in the country.

Objective(s): The objective is to describe the rationale, design, and early findings from the registry.

INTRAUTERINE TOXIC METALS EXPOSURE AND NEXT GENERATIONAL EFFECTS ON NEONATAL ANTHROPOMETRIC DETERMINANTS IN ABAKALIKI, SOUTH EAST NIGERIA.

Introduction: Growth restriction has been associated with the risk of none communicable disease. Many anthropometric determinants like birth weight, birth length, and pondoral Index, are related to maternal suboptimal nutrition and infants' deficiency of some essential heavy metals.

Objective: The specific objective of this study is to determine the extent of toxic metals in the cord blood, birth outcomes, and their effect on the biophysical profiles of neonates.

POST-MEASLES ACUTE VELOPHARYNGEAL INCOMPETENCE: A RARE CASE REPORT AND REVIEW OF LITERATURE.

Summary/introduction: Velopharyngeal incompetence(VPI) is the failure of closure of the velopharyngeal sphincter, which consists of the muscles of the soft palate and the superior pharyngeal constrictor, and functions to separate the nasopharynx and oropharynx during phonation and swallowing. VPI is most frequently congenital/syndromic (with structural deficit) but can be acquired. A subset of acquired VPI, occurring in structurally intact velopharynx, has been described in children, and these are isolated and acute-onset, with a substantial proportion thought to have an infectious origin.