Differential associated factors for inadequate receipt of components and non-use of antenatal care services among adolescent, young, and older women in Nigeria

Nigerian women continue to die in childbirth due to inadequate health services such as antenatal care (ANC). Among other factors, the inadequate receipt or non-use of ANC appears to be associated with the age of women, remoteness, and poor households. This cross-sectional study aimed to compare the factors associated with inadequate receipt of the components and non-use of ANC among pregnant adolescents, and young and older women in Nigeria. Data for this study were from the 2018 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) and covered a weighted total of 21,911 eligible women. Survey multinomial logistic regression analyses that adjusted for cluster, and survey weights were conducted to examine factors associated with adolescent, young, and older women. Adolescent women reported a higher prevalence of inadequate receipts and non-use of ANC than young and older women. Increased odds of inadequate receipt of the components of ANC were associated with residence in the North–East region and rural areas for all three categories of women. For adolescent women, the increased odds of inadequate receipt of the components of ANC were associated with delivering a baby at home and a big problem with distance to health facilities. Limited education or no schooling was associated with the increased odds of receiving inadequate ANC among older women. Implementing interventions to improve maternal and child health care should focus on the factors associated with the increased odds of receipt of inadequate or non-use of ANC services among Nigerian adolescent women, particularly those living in rural areas in the North–East region

Uptake of Antenatal Care Among Pregnant Women in Plateau State Nigeria

Background-Antenatal care offers pregnant women promotive, preventive and curative services. Despite this, some pregnant women still donrsquot access ANC at all while others donrsquot have access to ANC by skilled health care professionals. This increases the risk of maternal morbidity and mortality. This study therefore aims to determine the predictors of ANC attendance among in Plateau State. Methodology-A community based cross sectional study,400 study participants across six communities in the three senatorial zones in Plateau State were selected. Focused Group Discussion was conducted among study participants. Data was analysed using SPSS version 23. Results- 90.8% of respondents booked their last pregnancy out of which 55.8% had more than four ANC visits. Only 52.9% of the women had ANC by skilled health care providers. 69.7% of women who did not book their pregnancy delivered at home. Educational status, marital status and marital setting were predictors of ANC attendance among the study population. Women who had formal education were 1.7 times more likely to attend ANC compared to those with non-formal or no education at all. (P-value lt0.001 CI 1.267-2.321). Also, women in monogamous settings were more likely to attend ANC compared to those in polygamous setting (P-value 0.015 CI 0.162-0.822). Conclusion-Many of the respondents did not have the required number of ANC visits.nbsp More targeted interventions should be implemented in order to ensure that women have access to skilled care during pregnancy as this will reduce the risk of complications in pregnancy and delivery

Tinea capitis infection among school children in rural setting of Jos north-central, Nigeria

Background: Tinea capitis is a common infection of the scalp and hair shaft caused by dermatophytes. It is an infection associated with low socioeconomic status and poor personal hygiene.Methods: This was a cross sectional study involving pupils in two public schools in rural setting with clinical features suggestive of tinea capitis. Scrapings were collected from the scalp of the pupils between September 2018 and February 2019 and subjected to laboratory analysis of microscopy and culture. The data obtained was analyzed using SPSS version 20 statistical software.Results: Atotal of 67 pupils with clinical features of tinea capitis had positive cultures in the laboratory (21.5%), most of the pupils were of age range 4-8years (56.7%) and mainly males 167(52.2%). Factors associated with spread of tinea capitis were not statistically significant except for the sharing of towel(P<0.001). Trichophyton mentagrophyte (40.3%) was the most isolated agent of tinea capitis followed by Microsporumgypseum (31.3%)Conclusion: Tinea capitis infection remains a problem associated with rural settlement and poor personal hygiene. A nationwide surveillance is required to prevent the spread. Keywords: Tinea capitis, Trichophyton mentagrophyte, Dermatophytes, Microsporumgypseu

Stability of candida albicans over long and short term storage in a resource-limited setting

BACKGROUND: Candida albicans are widely isolated fungal yeast agents from clinical samples. Several storage methods for fungi have evolved overtime and they are not without setbacks. Preservation method is critical for research,training and teaching.In resource–poor setting,the method to employ must be cheap and easy to maintain with minimal risk of contamination as well as degeneration of the organisms.We thus,set out to study the stability of Candida albicans over long and short term storage in a resource-limited setting.METHODS: One hundred Candida albicans strains isolated from patients with vulvovaginal candidiasis and oral candidiasis were preserved in triplicates using sterile distilled water,Chromagar plate,mineral oil overlay and brain heart infusion broth plus 10% glycerol at -20OC.Recovery rates were determined at six months,12 months and 18 months by sub-culturing onto sabouraud dextrose agar.RESULT: The recovery rate of C. albicans was 100% for all the preservation methods used during the six months storage,mineral oil overlay and brain heart infusion broth plus 10% glycerol for the 12months storage,and only the brain heart infusion broth plus 10% glycerol during the 18months storage.CONCLUSION: Candida albicans can be preserved over long period of time in resource- limited setting where power supply is erratic using brain heart infusion broth plus 10% glycerol at -20OC and mineral oil overlay technique whereas for short term preservation, sterile distilled water and taped culture plates technique can be used. Preservation of Candida albicans isolates in resource- limited setting over short or long term period is possible and affordable depending on the technique employed.KEYWORDS: Candida albicans, preservation, sterile distilled water, Chromagar plate, mineral oil overlay, brain heart infusion broth

Proceedings of the 39th Annual Scientific Conference of The Association of Public Health Physicians of Nigeria

No Abstract

Differences in perceived risk of contracting SARS-CoV-2 during and after the lockdown in Sub-Saharan African countries

This study investigated risk perception of contracting and dying of SARS-CoV-2 in sub-Sahara Africa during and after the lockdown periods. Two online surveys were conducted one year apart, with participants 18 years and above living in sub-Sahara Africa or the diaspora. Each survey took four weeks. The first survey was taken from 18 April to 16 May 2020, i.e., during the lockdown. The second survey was taken from 14 April to 14 May 2021, i.e., after the lockdown. A cross-sectional study using adopted and modified questionnaires for both surveys were distributed through online platforms. Question about risks perception of contracting and dying of SARS-CoV-2 were asked. The Helsinki declaration was applied, and ethical approvals were obtained. Total responses for both surveys, i.e., both during and after the lockdown, was 4605. The mean age was similar in both surveys (18–28 years). The mean risk perception scores were higher after lockdown by 3.59%. Factors associated with risk perception of COVID-19 were survey period, age group, region of residence, and occupation. Non-health care workers had a lower risk perception of COVID-19. This first comparative study on the level of risk perception of Africans during and after the lockdown shows that one in every three and every four persons in sub-Sahara Africa felt at high risk of contracting COVID-19 and thought they could die from contracting the same, respectively

International research collaboration during the pandemic: Team formation, challenges, strategies and achievements of the African Translational Research Group

This paper discusses multidisciplinary international research collaboration team formation during the COVID-19 pandemic, challenges faced, strategies adopted, achievements and dynamics in the implementation of research on Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19), by the African Translational Research Group (ATReG). The paper also discusses the lessons learnt and future opportunities for global collaborative research. In-depth virtual interviews were conducted with consenting members of ATReG. Questions were designed to provide rich, deep, and insightful opinions, lived experiences and perspectives of ATReG group members on group formation, challenges, strategies and achievements. Interview data was transcribed and analysed thematically, and the results were presented with important quotations presented. The ATReG consisted of English (n = 13) and French (n = 1) speaking sub-Saharan African (SSA) researchers who specialise in public health, epidemiology, optometry, information technology, supply chain management, psychiatry, community health, general medical practice, nutrition and biostatistics. Most members of the group reported an informal but well-coordinated structure of the group. Formed during the pandemic, all group meetings were held online, and many members are yet to meet each other in person. The group collected data from Africans and published 10 peer reviewed journal articles on COVID-19 within two years. It presented in international conferences, engaged with the media and the public and was awarded a national competitive funding in Nigeria all of which which contributed to career progression and academic promotion of some members. There have been challenges in sustaining the research collaboration and maintaining productivity. Challenges include difficulties meeting deadlines and obtaining funding for research activities. However, these challenges have been addressed through a collaborative problem-solving approach. The study found the need for operational and methodological flexibility, centralised coordination, and established funding sources as being essential for long term sustainability and performance of the group. The ATReG’s objective of providing useful data on COVID-19 and generating useful knowledge about COVID-19 in SSA has been achieved. In such a multi-disciplinary international collaborative team relaiant on the online medium to operate, the experiences and challenges can be a model for learning for researchers intending to form international multidisciplinary collaborative groups. Nonetheless, there are still many important areas of research which ATReG will continue to pursue

Perception of Substance Use among In-School Adolescents and Key Informants in Gombe State, Nigeria

Background: Substance use has gradually become a global problem resulting in negative effect on the physical, mental and social wellbeing of individuals. This study aimed to determine the perception of adolescents and key informants on substance and illicit drug use in order to control this menace.Methods: A cross-sectional study design employing qualitative method of data collection. Focused Group Discussions (FGDs) and Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) were conducted. All data generated were collated and analysed using content analysis. Results: The key informants reported that peer influence, male sex and having broken homes were factors that were responsible for substance use. Adolescents also reported that easy access to these substances, the zeal to perform better in school, ability to have more fruitful relationships and ability to confront their parents were some of the reasons they engaged in substance use. Conclusion: This study has therefore implied that adolescents in school have easy access to and engage in substances despite being aware of the complications as it is mostly done to address their social needs.Recommendation: It is therefore recommended that periodic mental health screening should be conducted for adolescents with the support of their parents and guardians in line with school health services in order to identify and manage those with mental problems that could predispose them to use of substances

Risky sexual behaviour and associated factors among female students of a Tertiary institution in North-Central Nigeria

Background: Human sexual behaviour is the way in which humans experience and express their sexuality. It could be risky and non-risky. Risky  sexual behaviours including early sexual debut, unprotected sexual intercourse, multiple sexual partners and having sex under the influence of  alcohol or drugs. Objective: This study assessed the sexual practices and factors associated with risky-sexual behaviour of the female students. Methodology: This was a cross-sectional study involving 400 female students of the Plateau State Polytechnic. The subjects were selected from all  the departments using a two-stage sampling technique. A pretested semi-structured selfadministered questionnaire was used to obtain relevant  information from the subject. Analysis was done using IBMSPSS 22.0. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. Results: Sixty-four percent of the respondents had sexual debut at age 19-23 years. Fifty-two percent had sex with only one partner within the last  six months while respondent's sexual partners were mostly male. About 92% practiced vaginal sex, 6.2% oral sex and 2.3% anal sex. Less than one-quarter and 19.2% of the study participants used condom always and did negotiate for safer sex respectively. There was a significant association  between substance use and risky-sexual behaviour. Conclusion: There is a high prevalence of risky-sexual behaviours among the study cohort.  These were seen from the high percentage of the female students who had sexual debut before the age of 18 years, unprotected sexual intercourse  as well as multiple sexual partners. Substance use, desire for pleasure, expression of love, and quest for money were the factors  associated with sexual behaviour of the cohort