Uptake of immunization and associated factors among 0-11 months infants in a rural community of Ekiti State

Background: Immunization is one of the most effective public health  interventions, leading to reduced infant and childhood mortality caused by vaccine preventable diseases worldwide. Rates of vaccine preventable diseases have been observed to be decreasing in many parts of the world in the past few decades with many children still remain unvaccinated. Studies have shown that factors that are associated with immunization rates include; low family income, lack of health insurance, low level of parental education, religion, young age of parents, presence of other siblings in the household, lack of source of health care, distance to health facilities, place of delivery etc. The aim of this study is to determine the uptake of  immunization and its associated factors among infants of a rural community inEkiti State.Methods: A systematic random sampling techniques was used to select 360 respondents from the rural Local Government Area whose mothers or caregivers were interviewed and vaccination cards observed to gather information on their immunization status. An interviewer administered semi-structured questionnaire and observational check-list were used to collect needed information. Descriptive analysis of findings was done using SPSS version 16.Results: Uptake of immunization by 0-11months children is relatively high in rural communities of Ekiti State (88.9%). The immunization card retention rate is also high (90%) and this is very good for authentic data gathering on routine immunization. The high uptake rate was found to be significantly associated with level of education, marital status and  occupation. Healthcare workers and radio announcement still remain major sources of information on immunization; therefore attitude of health  workers to clients is an important factor for uptake. Unavailability of vaccines, attitude of health workers and having no faith in immunization are important reasons for non-immunization.Conclusion: Uptake of immunization by children less than one year is relatively high in rural communities of Ekiti State (88.9%). The immunization card retention rate is also high (90%) and this is very good for authentic data gathering on routine immunization. Recommendation: Government to ensure regular, uninterrupted supply of vaccines to all points of vaccination to curb stock out, expand vaccination sites and centres to improve access and provide incentives to mothers/caregivers/families who completed their childhood immunization.Keywords: Uptake, Immunization, Infants, Rural Community, Ekiti Stat

Psychological, Socioeconomic Effects of COVID-19 Pandemic and Associated Prevalent Self-Reported Vulnerability Factors among Residents of Southwest Nigeria

Background: Infectious diseases wrecked havoc in global economies, especially when outbreak or pandemic occurs. The present  COVID‑19 pandemic has not only caused disruption to global activities but also of businesses, trades, movements, and academic activities. Southwest Nigeria has the highest burden of COVID‑19 of all the six geopolitical zones in the country. This study, therefore, aims at determining the psychological, socioeconomic effect of COVID‑19 pandemic and associated vulnerability factors among residents of Southwest Nigeria.Methods: This survey is a cross‑sectional study in the six southwest states of Nigeria via Google questionnaire sent electronically to obtaininformation from respondents. Targeted sampling and snowball techniques were used to reach the respondents. Data were analyzed using SPSS 23, and the level of statistical significance was at P < 0.05. Results: The mean age of the respondents is 32.89 ± 9.59 years and age range of 16–57 years. Majority of the respondents were males, married with tertiary education. Majority (83.9%) of the respondents have severe psychological effects, 78.2% have their family income affected, while diabetes, asthma, cardiovascular diseases, cancers,  previous contact with a confirmed case and travel history outside Nigeria were among the self‑reported vulnerable factors of COVID‑19.  Conclusion: The study concluded that the psychological and economic effects of COVID‑19 are high in Southwest Nigeria and major self‑reported vulnerable factors include cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, asthma, and cancers. Scale‑up of public awareness,  subsidization of personal protective equipment, and financial stimulus are recommended measures against the disease. Keywords: COVID‑19, effect, Nigeria, vulnerabilit

PERCEPTION AND WILLINGNESS TO THE UPTAKE OF COVID-19 VACCINE AMONG HOUSEHOLD-HEADS IN A RURAL COMMUNITY OF SOUTH-WESTERN NIGERIA

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic and its vaccine have been met with varying perceptions that may have both negative and positive effects on the willingness to uptake the COVID-19 vaccine. The study is set to determine the perception and willingness of the household heads to the uptake of COVID-19 vaccine in a rural community in Southwestern, Nigeria. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out among 409 household heads selected through a multistage sampling technique. The instrument of data collection was a semi-structured interviewer-administered questionnaire using the Health Belief model constructs. Data were analyzed with IBM SPSS version 21.0 and Pearson's Chi-square test was used to determine the association between perception and willingness to uptake vaccine. P<0.05 was taken as significant at 95% confidence interval. Results: The majority of the unvaccinated respondents in the study were not willing to take the COVID-19 vaccine (60.1%). There was a poor perception of the susceptibility/severity of unvaccinated respondents to COVID-19 infection and a poor perception of the benefit/barrier to the uptake of the COVID-19 vaccine. Perception of susceptibility and severity of COVID-19 infection were statistically related to the willingness to uptake the COVID-19 vaccine. Conclusion: There should be an increase in awareness campaigns to change the perception of people positively to COVID-19 infection and uptake of the COVID-19 vaccine

Challenges of Residency Training and Early Career Doctors in Nigeria Phase II: Update on Objectives, Design, and Rationale of Study

Background: Early career doctors (ECDs) are a dynamic and highly mobile group of medical and dental practitioners who form a significant proportion of the health workforce in Nigeria. The challenges of residency training and ECDs in Nigeria CHARTING Phase I study explored limited challenges affecting ECDs under the broad themes of demography, workplace issues, and psychosocial issues. The CHARTING II was expanded to provide wider insight into the challenges of ECDs in Nigeria. Objective: This protocol aims to provide clear objectives including description of objectives, design, and rationale for the conduct of the proposed CHARTING II study which seeks to explore other components under the various themes of demographic, workplace, psychosocial issues affecting the ECDs in Nigeria, and which were not explored under CHARTING I.   Methodology: This shall be a mixed study design that will combine qualitative and quantitative methods, to investigate 27 subthemes among 2000 ECDs spread across 31 centers, accredited by the Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors. Participants shall be selected using the multistage sampling method. The primary data will be generated using structured proforma and validated questionnaires,while administrative sources would serve as a source of secondary data. Data will be entered and analyzed using appropriate statisticalsoftware. Conclusion: CHARTING II study would provide more robust data and insight into the problems encountered by ECDs in Nigeria. This would in turn build a platform for institutional engagement and advocacy in order to drive relevant policies to mitigate these challenges. Keywords: Early career doctors, Nigeria, residency, resident doctors, trainin

Perception and willingness to the uptake of covid-19 vaccine among household-heads in a rural community of south-western Nigeria

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic and its vaccine have been met with varying perceptions that may have both negative and positive effects on the willingness to uptake the COVID-19 vaccine. The study is set to determine the perception and willingness of the household heads to the uptake of COVID-19 vaccine in a rural community in Southwestern, Nigeria. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out among 409 household heads selected through a multistage sampling technique. The instrument of data collection was a semi-structured interviewer-administered questionnaire using the Health Belief model constructs. Data were analyzed with IBM SPSS version 21.0 and Pearson's Chi-square test was used to determine the association between perception and willingness to uptake vaccine. P<0.05 was taken as significant at 95% confidence interval. Results: The majority of the unvaccinated respondents in the study were not willing to take the COVID-19 vaccine (60.1%). There was a poor perception of the susceptibility/severity of unvaccinated respondents to COVID-19 infection and a poor perception of the benefit/barrier to the uptake of the COVID-19 vaccine. Perception of susceptibility and severity of COVID-19 infection were statistically related to the willingness to uptake the COVID-19 vaccine. Conclusion: There should be an increase in awareness campaigns to change the perception of people positively to COVID-19 infection and uptake of the COVID-19 vaccine