Equity of access to free maternal and child health services among reproductive-age women in Delta State, Nigeria.

Objective: The study aimed to assess the equity of access to free maternal and child health services among reproductive-age women in Delta State, Nigeria.

Design: the study adopted a descriptive cross-sectional survey design.

Participants: The population for the study were 368 women of reproductive age (15-49 years) who had given birth between April 2015 and December 2015 in two randomly selected senatorial districts of Delta State.

The Low-Income and Middle-Income Countries' Perspective on Global Neurosurgery Collaborations.

Background And Objectives: Access to neurosurgical care is limited in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs) and in marginalized communities in high-income countries (HICs). International partnerships represent one possible means of addressing this issue. Insights from surgeons in HICs have been explored, but data from LMICs' counterparts are scarce.

Re-emergence of vaccine-derived polio in the demographic Republic of Congo: Causes and consequences.

Poliovirus is a deadly disease that needs to be eradicated in the world. Recently, issues with circulating vaccine-derived polioviruses (cVDPVs) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) have been raised in the country. This article aims to determine the increase in Type 1 cVDPV1 and Type 2 cVDPV2 in the DRC.

The Barriers to Cardiothoracic Surgery Training in Nigeria: Key Insights From Trainees.

Aim Cardiothoracic surgery has the potential to improve care in resource-deprived countries like Nigeria. This study analyzes the barriers to training in cardiothoracic surgery and gaps in the existing curriculum from a cardiothoracic surgery trainee perspective. Methods An online nationwide mixed-method cross-sectional survey was conducted.

Harnessing root powder (MORP) for the sustainable remediation of heavy metal contaminated water.

Heavy metal environmental pollution is rapidly increasing due to the increase in industrialization and urbanization. Industrial processes, such as paint production, mining, and raw materials producing industries release effluents rich in heavy metals, like Pb, Cd, Cu, and Cr. These heavy metals are dangerous because they persist in nature, are non-biodegradable and they have high tendency to accumulate in the environment and in living organisms who are exposed to them.

Bioinformatic identification of monkeypox virus phylogenetic gene trees that are representative of its whole-genome phylogenetic tree.

Phylogenetic analysis based on whole-genome sequences is the gold standard for monkeypox virus (MPXV) phylogeny. However, genomic epidemiology capability and capacity are lacking or limited in resource poor countries of sub-Saharan Africa. Therefore, these make real-time genome surveillance of MPXV virtually impossible.

Effect of physicochemical parameters on the occurrence of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in aquatic environment.

Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and their distribution in aquatic environments have been studied extensively, but more information is needed to link these occurrences to their physicochemical characteristics. Understanding how these parameters influence PFAS can help predict their fate, mobility, and occurrences in water. This study reviewed the influence of physicochemical parameters on the occurrences of PFAS in aquatic environment using the relevant keywords to retrieve articles from databases spanning mostly between 2017 and 2024.

Climate and conflict-induced child nutrition crisis in Sub-Saharan Africa.

This commentary explores the intersection between climate, conflict, and child nutrition, highlighting the severe child nutrition crisis in Sub-Saharan Africa exacerbated by climate change and ongoing conflicts. Shifting climate patterns disrupt agricultural productivity and food security, while persistent conflicts displace populations and destroy infrastructure, significantly increasing food insecurity and malnutrition among children. Recent UNICEF data indicates that 1 in 4 children globally live in severe food poverty, with those affected up to 50% more likely to suffer from life-threatening malnutrition.

An analysis of demographic, socio-economic and clinical variables for mental illness and mental illness relapse in south-east nigeria.

Mental health has come into the front burner of development challenges amid declining socio-economic outcomes, especially in developing countries. Insecurity, conflicts and extremely threatening events, which trigger mental disorders, are common in South-East Nigeria, with many military operations, unknown gunmen attacks and kidnapping leading to the cold-blood assassination and kidnap of dear ones. The study aimed to analyze the demographic, socio-economic and clinical variables for mental illness in South-East Nigeria.

Audit of oral neoplasms in children and young adults in Nigeria.

Background: Orofacial neoplasms in children and young adults may differ significantly from those observed in adults. Our aim was to describe the epidemiological characteristics of histologically diagnosed orofacial neoplasms among children and young adults in Nigeria.

Methods: This was a multicenter cross-sectional study across geopolitical zones in Nigeria.

A scoping review of barriers to accessing aged care services for older adults from culturally and linguistically diverse communities in Australia.

The ageing population of the culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) population is increasing in Australia. This is because the number of early migrants in Australia is ageing, coupled with increasing family reunification. This scoping review aimed to describe the nature and extent of research on the barriers to aged care services for CALD older adults in Australia using Penchansky and Thomas's Access to Care Framework of five A's dimensions: availability, accessibility, accommodation, affordability, and acceptability.

Use of Prophylactic Parenteral Tranexamic Acid for Reduction of Blood Loss During and After Caesarean Section: A Double-Blind Randomized Controlled Study.

Background: Haemorrhage is a leading cause of maternal mortality. The prophylactic use of tranexamic acid during vaginal delivery or caesarean section has the potential to reduce blood loss and postpartum anaemia.

Objective: To determine the effectiveness and safety of tranexamic acid in reducing blood loss during and within twenty-four hours after a caesarean section.

Incidentalomas in Chest Radiograph of Apparently Healthy Individuals Presenting for Pre-Employment Medical Examination in Enugu State, Nigeria.

Background: A chest radiograph is the most commonly requested and performed imaging for diagnosis and screening including medical examination.

Aim: The study aimed to determine the prevalence and pattern of incidentalomas in radiographs of cases presenting for pre-employment medical examination.

Methods: This was a retrospective review of chest radiographs conducted for patients presenting for pre-employment medical examination from January to December 2022.

Complications and long-term impact of early life pneumonia.

Pneumonia is an infection affecting the lower airway, where the air sacs are filled with mucus and pus; and typically presents with cough, fever, and fast breathing. Pneumonia is estimated to be the leading cause of mortality in children under five worldwide with 120 million episodes result in 1 million deaths globally. The Low-Income and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs) are more affected.

Recurrent wheezing and asthma-Epidemiology and environmental determinants.

Wheeze is the musical continuous sound produced by oscillations in any critically narrowed airways, and heard mostly on expiration. It is common in preschool age, about half of all children will experience an episode of wheezing by their sixth birthday. Asthma is usually characterized by cough, wheeze, chest tightness and fast breathing.