Knowledge and utilization of preventive measures in the control of neonatal malaria in south-eastern Nigeria

Background: The burden of neonatal malaria remains a major public health problem in Nigeria receiving less attention. Knowledge and awareness of preventive measures of neonatal malaria is still very low. This study aimed at assessing the Knowledge and utilization of preventive measures in the control of neonatal malaria in South-eastern Nigeria.Methods: Structured pretested questionnaires were used to collect data from 230 consenting pregnant women attending antenatal clinics in the Federal Medical Centre, Owerri, Nigeria. These women were followed up until delivery and blood samples were taken from their new born for malaria parasite tests. Using SPSS, qualitative variables were summarized with proportions and chi-square test was used to investigate associations between qualitative variables.Results: There was high level of awareness on the use of malaria preventive measures by pregnant women in the control of neonatal malaria. A significant relationship between the use of malaria preventive measures and neonatal malaria was also shown. Over three-quarters (79.7%) of women had knowledge of malaria preventive measures during pregnancy. Use of anti-malarial prophylaxis (91.8%) followed by the use of insecticide treated nets (ITNs) (49.5%) were practiced. ITNs were less (19.6%) used during pregnancy.  Most of them (57.8%) received single dose of intermittent preventive treatment (IPT) using sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine during pregnancy, while 37% received two doses of IPT.Conclusion: More effort need to be made and support provided to women during pregnancy to encourage usage of preventive measures. There is also need to develop a health promotion package to eliminate factors discouraging the use of specific preventive measures like IPTp and ITNs

Malaria transmission and morbidity patterns in holoendemic areas of Imo River Basin of Nigeria

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>This study determines the relationship between malaria transmission intensity and morbidity in holoendemic areas of Imo River Basin, Nigeria.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Standard entomological and parasitological techniques were used to determine transmission intensity and parasite rates respectively while sociocultural methods and review of hospital records were used to determine morbidity patterns. The average transmission rate was 16.1 infective bites per person per night (ib/p/n). The average malaria specific morbidity rate for the study area was 30.2%. These parameters showed no significant differences among the communities studied (<it>P </it>> 0.05). Transmission intensity and morbidity rate had a linear relationship such that high transmission intensity corresponded with high morbidity rate and vice versa.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>This therefore puts to rest discrepancies about the relationship between malaria transmission and morbidity in the study area and calls for serious scaling up of the insecticide treated nets strategy especially in high transmission areas and seasons. Concerted efforts should also be made towards production of transmission blocking vaccines.</p

Malaria Care-Seeking Behaviour Among HIV-Infected Patients Receiving Antiretroviral Treatment in South-Eastern Nigeria: A Cross-Sectional Study.

This study assesses malaria prevention and treatment behaviour among people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) in Owerri, South Eastern Nigeria. Although Nigeria bears one of the world\u27s largest burdens of both malaria and HIV, there is almost no research studying how co-infected patients manage their care. We systematically sampled 398 PLWHA receiving care at Imo State Specialist Hospital and the Federal Medical Centre in Owerri to complete a structured, pre-tested questionnaire on malaria care-seeking behaviour. Descriptive statistics were reported and chi-square tests and multivariate logistic regressions were also used. The majority of HIV-infected patients (78.9%) reported having had an episode of suspected malaria quarterly or more often. There was a large variation in care-seeking patterns: on suspicion of malaria, 29.1% of participants engaged in self-medication; 39.2% went to drug shops, and only 22.6% visited HIV/AIDS care centres. Almost 40% waited more than 24 hours before initiating treatment. Most (60.3%), reported taking recommended artemisinin-based combination treatments (ACT) but a significant minority took only paracetamol (25.6%) or herbal remedies (3.5%). Most (80%) finished their chosen course of treatment; and completion of treatment was significantly associated with the frequency of suspected malaria occurrence (p = 0.03). Most (62.8%) did not take anti-malaria medication while taking antiretroviral treatment (ART) and almost all (87.6%) reported taking an ACT regimen that could potentially interact with Nigeria\u27s first-line ART regimen. Our findings suggest the need to pay more attention to malaria prevention and control as a crucial element in HIV/AIDS management in this part of Nigeria and other areas where malaria and HIV/AIDS are co-endemic. Also, more research on ART-ACT interactions, better outreach to community-level drug shops and other private sector stakeholders, and clearer guidelines for clinicians and patients on preventing and managing co-infection may be needed. This will require improved collaboration between programmes for both diseases

Malaria care-seeking behaviour among HIV-infected patients receiving antiretroviral treatment in South-Eastern Nigeria: A cross-sectional study.

This study assesses malaria prevention and treatment behaviour among people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) in Owerri, South Eastern Nigeria. Although Nigeria bears one of the world's largest burdens of both malaria and HIV, there is almost no research studying how co-infected patients manage their care. We systematically sampled 398 PLWHA receiving care at Imo State Specialist Hospital and the Federal Medical Centre in Owerri to complete a structured, pre-tested questionnaire on malaria care-seeking behaviour. Descriptive statistics were reported and chi-square tests and multivariate logistic regressions were also used. The majority of HIV-infected patients (78.9%) reported having had an episode of suspected malaria quarterly or more often. There was a large variation in care-seeking patterns: on suspicion of malaria, 29.1% of participants engaged in self-medication; 39.2% went to drug shops, and only 22.6% visited HIV/AIDS care centres. Almost 40% waited more than 24 hours before initiating treatment. Most (60.3%), reported taking recommended artemisinin-based combination treatments (ACT) but a significant minority took only paracetamol (25.6%) or herbal remedies (3.5%). Most (80%) finished their chosen course of treatment; and completion of treatment was significantly associated with the frequency of suspected malaria occurrence (p = 0.03). Most (62.8%) did not take anti-malaria medication while taking antiretroviral treatment (ART) and almost all (87.6%) reported taking an ACT regimen that could potentially interact with Nigeria's first-line ART regimen. Our findings suggest the need to pay more attention to malaria prevention and control as a crucial element in HIV/AIDS management in this part of Nigeria and other areas where malaria and HIV/AIDS are co-endemic. Also, more research on ART-ACT interactions, better outreach to community-level drug shops and other private sector stakeholders, and clearer guidelines for clinicians and patients on preventing and managing co-infection may be needed. This will require improved collaboration between programmes for both diseases

Seasonal Variation and Geographical Distribution of COVID-19 across Nigeria (March 2020–July 2021)

Globally, the novel corona virus infection has continued to witness a growing number of cases since December 2019 when the outbreak was discovered and noted in China. Despite this has not been well studied for the case of COVID-19, human contact, public moveableness and environmental variables could have an impact onairborne’spropagation and virus continuance, such as influenza virus. This study aimed to determine the seasonal variation and geographical distribution of COVID-19 across Nigeria. An internet based archival research design was employed for this study on the seasonal variation and geographical distribution of COVID-19 across Nigeria. This involved the use of goggle mobility data and world map on Corona Virus Infection (COVID-19). The search strategy for getting information for this research was done electronically. The keywords in the case search using the goggle mobility software was “COVID-19 Update”, “COVID-19 Update in Nigeria”, ‘COVID-19 Winter Report’, “COVID-19 Case Fatality March 2020–July 2021”, “COVID-19 Case Fatality in Nigeria”. The data gotten from the goggle motor updates were entered into Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) which was used in the analysis of the study. Results from the study, reported that official COVID-19 cases number was significantly higher in the Dry season (October 2020–April 2021) with 59.0% (127,213) compared to 41.0% (85,176) in the wet/rainy season (May–September) it revealed that the dry and rainy seasons had a COVID-19 prevalence of 0.063 and 0.041 respectively. Further results from the study showed that the prevalence of COVID-19 was 0.07% in the North-Central, 0.04% in both the North-East and North-West, 0.03% in the South-West, 0.09% in the South-South, and the highest prevalence of 0.16% in the South-East. Considering the case Fatality rate of COVID-19 during the Dry and Wet Seasons. The study revealed that North-Central had a death toll of 196 (10.4%) out of 9457 confirmed COVID-19 cases hence a fatality of 2.07. Fatality rate of 1.49% in South western Nigeria, South-South Nigeria, 1.49%, South-East accounted to a fatality rate of 1.25%. Nigeria based on the finding of this study records increased fatality in Dry season over wet seasons. The study concluded that prevalence of COVID-19 varies in seasons in Nigeria Hence; further Data and Meteorological analysis on weather variations towards the SARS-CoV-2 Virus spread should be evaluated by future researchers. It is imperative to ensure strict and controlled application of social measures, such as social distancing, mandatory wearing of non-medical masks to prevent droplets from entering the respiratory tract, screening of affected patients along with quarantine is essential to defeat and improve infection control

Seasonal Variation and Geographical Distribution of COVID-19 across Nigeria (March 2020&ndash;July 2021)

Globally, the novel corona virus infection has continued to witness a growing number of cases since December 2019 when the outbreak was discovered and noted in China. Despite this has not been well studied for the case of COVID-19, human contact, public moveableness and environmental variables could have an impact onairborne&rsquo;spropagation and virus continuance, such as influenza virus. This study aimed to determine the seasonal variation and geographical distribution of COVID-19 across Nigeria. An internet based archival research design was employed for this study on the seasonal variation and geographical distribution of COVID-19 across Nigeria. This involved the use of goggle mobility data and world map on Corona Virus Infection (COVID-19). The search strategy for getting information for this research was done electronically. The keywords in the case search using the goggle mobility software was &ldquo;COVID-19 Update&rdquo;, &ldquo;COVID-19 Update in Nigeria&rdquo;, &lsquo;COVID-19 Winter Report&rsquo;, &ldquo;COVID-19 Case Fatality March 2020&ndash;July 2021&rdquo;, &ldquo;COVID-19 Case Fatality in Nigeria&rdquo;. The data gotten from the goggle motor updates were entered into Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) which was used in the analysis of the study. Results from the study, reported that official COVID-19 cases number was significantly higher in the Dry season (October 2020&ndash;April 2021) with 59.0% (127,213) compared to 41.0% (85,176) in the wet/rainy season (May&ndash;September) it revealed that the dry and rainy seasons had a COVID-19 prevalence of 0.063 and 0.041 respectively. Further results from the study showed that the prevalence of COVID-19 was 0.07% in the North-Central, 0.04% in both the North-East and North-West, 0.03% in the South-West, 0.09% in the South-South, and the highest prevalence of 0.16% in the South-East. Considering the case Fatality rate of COVID-19 during the Dry and Wet Seasons. The study revealed that North-Central had a death toll of 196 (10.4%) out of 9457 confirmed COVID-19 cases hence a fatality of 2.07. Fatality rate of 1.49% in South western Nigeria, South-South Nigeria, 1.49%, South-East accounted to a fatality rate of 1.25%. Nigeria based on the finding of this study records increased fatality in Dry season over wet seasons. The study concluded that prevalence of COVID-19 varies in seasons in Nigeria Hence; further Data and Meteorological analysis on weather variations towards the SARS-CoV-2 Virus spread should be evaluated by future researchers. It is imperative to ensure strict and controlled application of social measures, such as social distancing, mandatory wearing of non-medical masks to prevent droplets from entering the respiratory tract, screening of affected patients along with quarantine is essential to defeat and improve infection control