Exploring electronic cigarette portrayals: a content and thematic analysis of African online news coverage

Background: Electronic cigarette use has surged internationally in recent years, with numerous countries noting an uptick in users. Despite this, the portrayal of e-cigarette usage in African news remains unclear. Methods: This research investigates the subject, employing a mixed-methodology approach. The study units were news articles on electronic cigarette use retrieved from AllAfrica, an online African news archive. A total of 38 online news and opinion articles published between June 2017 and June 2022 qualified the exclusion and inclusion criteria. A content analysis revealed prevalent codes and themes, while a thematic analysis explored the association between news sources and framing. Results: The results indicate that articles and arguments presenting e-cigarettes positively outnumber those with a negative slant. The health impacts of electronic cigarettes emerged as the most discussed topic, with health authorities frequently cited as news sources. However, these health authorities often lacked a unified stance on e-cigarette safety. Conclusion: The lack of consensus among health officials could have public health consequences, possibly resulting in the formulation of uninformed policies

Toward pharmacy-based smoking cessation services in Nigeria: Knowledge, perception and practice of community pharmacists

Introduction: Worldwide, tobacco smoking is one of the leading causes of avoidable deaths. In Nigeria, there is currently no clinical guidelines for tobacco dependence treatment. However, globally, pharmacy-based smoking cessation intervention has been associated with improved cessation rates and quality of life. This study aims at assessing the knowledge and perception of community pharmacists about smoking cessation and tobacco harm reduction as well as barriers to the practice of pharmacy based smoking cessation intervention. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was carried out among 104 community pharmacists, between August and December 2019, using a self-administered paper questionnaire. Data entering, cleansing, and analysis were done using IBM SPSS (version 23). Descriptive statistics including frequencies and percentages were used to summarize the data. Results: Thirteen pharmacists (12.5%) were providing smoking cessation services. One-tenth (10.6%) of the pharmacists were aware of tobacco harm reduction. The majority (89.4%) were willing to attend smoking cessation training. Among the respondents, 65 (62.5%) had poor knowledge regarding smoking cessation and tobacco harm reduction. Lack of knowledge and skills were reported by all (100%) as a barrier to providing the service. However, 101 (97.1%) community pharmacists agreed that smoking cessation treatment is an important role of pharmacists. Conclusions: A suboptimal level of knowledge of smoking cessation and tobacco harm reduction was noted among the community pharmacists. However, they believed smoking cessation intervention is an important role of pharmacists. It is advocated that smoking cessation training should be included as part of the Pharmacists’ Council of Nigeria Mandatory Continuing Professional Development Training. Thus, it is imperative to establish basic national smoking cessation guidelines that can be functional towards reducing mortality and morbidity associated with tobacco smoking in Nigeria

The impact of COVID-19 pandemic on medicine security in Africa: Nigeria as a case study

COVID-19 is an unprecedented pandemic posing major threat to global public health. In the past decades of years or so, one could have heard of how dangerous it is to be virtually reliant on medicine supply from other countries. Nonetheless, no action was taken because it seemed to many that the global trade system was operational and Nigerians as well as citizens of African countries appear to have sufficient supply of the medications required at quite appealing cost. Currently in 2020, this apprehension has revolved from an imaginary problem to an actual challenge that might have consequences for millions nationwide due to COVID-19 pandemic. Now, African countries can realize that putting all our eggs in one basket was not such a good idea. In Nigeria, over 70% of the prescribed medications are produced from active ingredients (API) primarily sourced from firms in China and India. Access to medicine is an integral part of healthcare systems, uninterrupted access to medicine is much needed and essential for the well-being of the population. We are now approaching the conclusion that it is more reasonable to probably invest a little more to resuscitate a domestic pharmaceutical synthesis and herbal medicine research capacity in Nigeria and across African countries to improve public health

Fixing data gaps for population health in Africa: an urgent need

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COVID-19 Pandemic: medical and pharmacy education in Nigeria

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Leaving no one behind: addressing the sexuality of people with disabilities

Addressing the sexuality of individuals with disabilities is important within the framework of global health and societal inclusivity. Despite comprising 16% of the world’s population, this demographic faces sexual autonomy inequality. Acknowledging this intersection is pertinent for achieving inclusive healthcare and upholding the commitments of the 1994 International Conference on Population and Development and the 2006 United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Dispelling stereotypes and promoting dialogue are key to empowering individuals with disabilities and ensuring equitable access to sexual health resources. Integrating sexual health and rights into broader healthcare systems is vital for creating an inclusive society where no one is left behind. This article advocates for the need to address the specific sexual health needs and rights of individuals with disabilities, to implement inclusive policies, and to foster a healthcare environment that respects and supports their autonomy and dignity

Community engagement in global health research

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The African continent needs to prioritise planetary health

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The need to adopt planetary health approach in understanding the potential influence of climate change and biodiversity loss on zoonotic diseases outbreaks

No abstract available