Exploring barriers to parent-adolescent sexual-risk communication among adolescents in Port Harcourt Nigeria: Adolescents' and parents' perspective.

Adolescent risky sexual behaviour is a public health problem with its deleterious outcomes. Parents are the most influential source of sexuality education to adolescent, yet adolescents' lack sexuality educations. The study explored barriers in parent-adolescent sexual-risk communication from both perspectives in Port-Harcourt LGA, Rivers State.

Risk Factors and Outcomes of Acute Pulmonary Embolism in African Patients: A Systematic Review.

Pulmonary embolism is a common cause of morbidity and mortality. Numerous risk factors have been identified that predispose patients to this disease. This study aims to identify these risk factors and the possible outcomes (recovery or mortality) after receiving treatment from any hospital.

Climate change and contagion: the emerging threat of zoonotic diseases in Africa.

This article investigates the escalating occurrence of zoonotic diseases in Africa, attributing their spread to climate change and human activities. Africa's unique combination of biodiversity, reliance on animal husbandry, and swift urbanization heightens its susceptibility. Climate change disrupts ecosystems and animal habitats, intensifying human-wildlife interactions.

Rates, Diagnoses, and Predictors of Unplanned 30-Day Readmissions of Critical Care Survivors Hospitalized for Lung Involvement in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: An Analysis of National Representative US Readmissions Data.

Introduction/objectives: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease that frequently involves the lungs, contributing to significant morbidity in hospitalized patients. Critical care survivors with lung involvement in SLE are at particularly high risk for unplanned hospital readmissions, which can reflect the complexity of their disease, which often affects multiple organs and requires immunosuppressive therapy that increases infection risk. Severe pulmonary complications, critical illness sequelae, and challenges in medication adherence or follow-up care further contribute to their vulnerability.

Lactational exposure of human infants to metal(loid)s in Sub-Saharan Africa and Mediterranean Europe: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Breast milk, a fundamental component of infant nutrition, may serve as a reservoir for various metal(loid)s, which could pose significant health risks to infants of mothers exposed to toxic metals. Human exposure levels to metal(loid)s vary across regions, influenced by differences in diet, lifestyle, and environmental factors. This systematic review compares metal(loid) concentrations in breast milk from Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and Mediterranean Europe (Med.

Understanding the exodus: a 15-year retrospective cohort study on the pattern and determinants of migration among Nigerian doctors and dentists.

Background: Nigeria faces a critical shortage of healthcare professionals yet experiences a significant annual exodus of doctors and dentists. This alarming trend threatens the country's ability to provide equitable healthcare.

Objective: This study investigated the patterns and determinants of migration among doctors and dentists who graduated from the University of Benin, Nigeria, 15 years ago.

WILLINGNESS TO ENROL AND PAY FOR A CONTRIBUTORY HEALTH INSURANCE SCHEME AND ITS DETERMINANTS: A SURVEY OF RURAL AND URBAN HOUSEHOLDS IN RIVERS STATE, NIGERIA.

Introduction/background: Health insurance schemes make healthcare more accessible and affordable, and are essential for protecting individuals and families from the financial risks associated with medical expenses.

Objectives: This study assessed the willingness to enrol and pay for a contributory health insurance scheme and its determinants among rural and urban households in Rivers State.

Methods: Cross-sectional study, with multistage sampling to survey 1196 households across 9 Local Government Areas, 3 from each Senatorial district.

RISK OF INSUFFICIENT HYDROXYVITAMIN D LEVELS IN DIABETIC FOOT ULCERS IN RIVERS STATE NIGERIA.

Background: The global increase in diabetes, especially in developing nations, has escalated complications like diabetic foot ulcers. Hypovitaminosis D is considerably prevalent among individuals with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM), especially among those with chronic vascular complications.

Objectives: To determine the association between vitamin D levels and foot ulcers among patients with T2DM.

EFFECTIVENESS OF THE BALANCED SCORECARD IN IMPROVING STAFF PERFORMANCE, PATIENT OUTCOMES AND RESOURCE OPTIMIZATION IN LOW- AND MIDDLE-INCOME COUNTRIES: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW.

Introduction/background: Low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) usually have weak health systems with poor health outcomes. The Balanced Scorecard (BSC) is a strategic management tool widely used to improve healthcare services by aligning operational activities with long-term objectives across four dimensions namely patient, financial, internal process, and learning and growth. While BSC has been adopted in various high-income countries with positive impacts, its effectiveness in improving public health systems in LMIC is still unclear.

IODINE NUTRITIONAL STATUS AND GOITRE PREVALENCE IN CHILDREN AGED 2 - 14 YEARS IN SELECTED UPLAND AND RIVERINE COMMUNITIES IN RIVERS STATE, NIGERIA.

Background: Iodine deficiency is a common cause of thyroid disease, prompting the World Health Organisation to recommend universal salt iodification. The iodine status of Rivers State is yet to be investigated following the implementation of this strategy.

Objective: To determine and compare the iodine nutritional status of children aged 2-14 years resident in selected upland and riverine communities in Rivers State, Nigeria.

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN HOUSEHOLD FOOD INSECURITY AND NUTRITIONAL STATUS OF CHILDREN AGED 6-59 MONTHS IN YENAGOA LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, BAYELSA STATE, NIGERIA.

Background: Household Food Insecurity (HFI) is closely linked with nutritional status. The Global Report on Food Crises 2019 reported more than 113 million people face food insecurity hence the need to address Food insecurity in line with Sustainable Development Goal 2 which seeks to achieve food security and improve nutrition by 2030.

Objectives: To determine the prevalence of HFI, compare the nutritional status of children aged 6-59 months in food-secure and food-insecure households, and determine the predictors of malnutrition in food-insecure households in Yenagoa LGA, Bayelsa State.

Intracranial pressure monitoring and treatment practices in severe traumatic brain injury between low-and middle-income countries and high-income countries: Data or dogma?

Background: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Intracranial pressure (ICP) monitoring forms the cornerstone of most severe TBI (sTBI) management guidelines, yet treatment practices vary between high income countries (HIC) and low/middle-income countries (LMICs). We sought to find the reasons for variation in ICP monitoring and treatment practices between neurosurgeons in low- and high-income countries.

Impact of Genetic Testing on the Diagnosis, Management, and Prognosis of Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy: A Systematic Review.

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a hereditary cardiovascular condition marked by heart muscle thickening, fibrosis, and myocardial disorders. It is often inherited in an autosomal dominant pattern. Symptoms include dyspnea, fatigue, palpitations, dizziness, syncope, and an increased risk of sudden cardiac death (SCD).

Awareness of diagnosis and treatment plan among patients in the Accident and Emergency Department of a Nigerian tertiary hospital.

Background: Patient centred care has a correlation to effectiveness of patient engagement, patient care, and perceived quality of care. Even in the emergency room, awareness of diagnosis and treatment plan is a critical component in every doctor-patient interface as it enhances patient-centred care. This study aims to assess awareness of diagnosis and treatment plan among patients in the accident and emergency department.

Assessment of Rifampicin Indeterminate Results among Adult Patients attending a Tertiary Tuberculosis Treatment Center in Port Harcourt Rivers State using Shewhart control Charts: Implications for patients and Tuberculosis Control Programs.

Background: Antimicrobial resistance is a growing global public health concern, and multidrug-resistant Tuberculosis is responsible for roughly one-quarter of all antimicrobial-resistant infection-related deaths worldwide. GeneXpert is a rapid, automated molecular test that detects multi-drug-resistant Tuberculosis using Rifampicin as a predictor. The World Health Organization (WHO) in 2010 recommended GeneXpert for national tuberculosis programs in developing countries; however, it has limitations.

Preoperative quality of life of patients with cleft lip and palate in Nigeria: a multicentre cross-sectional pilot study.

Introduction: the objective of this study was to determine the quality of life (QoL) of the patient with a cleft lip or palate scheduled for surgery.

Methods: this analytic multicenter cross-sectional study involved six participating Smile Train Partner Hospitals from five geopolitical zones of the country and three major ethnic groups. Patients with cleft lip or cleft palate aged between 8 to 29 years scheduled for repair were recruited.

The Role of Ventricular Assist Devices in Patients With Heart Failure Due to Dilated Cardiomyopathy: A Systematic Review.

Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a prevalent heart muscle disease characterized by ventricular dilation and systolic dysfunction, leading to severe heart failure (HF) and often requiring heart transplantation (HTx). This systematic review aimed to synthesize information regarding the role of ventricular assist devices (VADs) in managing HF patients due to DCM. A comprehensive search was conducted across PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane databases for studies published between 2014 and 2024.