Biting on human body parts of Simulium vectors and its implication for the manifestation of Onchocerca nodules along Osun River, southwestern Nigeria

Background: The biting preference of Simulium vectors has been known to influence the distribution ofOnchocerca nodules and microfilariae in human body. There is, however, variation in biting pattern of Simuliumflies in different geographical locations. This study investigates the biting pattern on human parts by Simuliumvectors along Osun river system where Simulium soubrense Beffa form has been implicated as the dominantvector and its possible implication on the distribution of Onchocerca nodules on human body along the river.Methods: Flies were collected by consented fly capturers on exposed human parts namely head/neck region,arms, upper limb and lower limb in Osun Eleja and Osun Budepo along Osun river in the wet season (August–September) and the dry season (November–December) in 2008. The residents of the communities were alsoscreened for palpable Onchocerca nodules.Results: The results showed that number of flies collected below the ankle region was significantly higher thanthe number collected on other exposed parts (p <0.05) while the least was collected on head/neck region in bothseasons. The lower trunk was the most common site (60%) for nodule location at Osun Eleja followed by uppertrunk (40%). Nodules were not found in the head and limb regions. At Osun Budepo, the upper trunk was themost common site of the nodule location (53.8%) followed by the lower trunk (38.5%) and head region (7.7%).Conclusion: Though, most of the flies were caught at the ankle region, the biting of other parts coupled with thepresence of nodules at the head and upper trunk regions showed that Simulium vectors could obtain microfilariaefrom any part of the body, thus increasing the risk of onchocerciasis transmission

Barriers and Facilitators to Career Advancement of Women in Infectious Diseases of Poverty Research in Nigeria

Women scientists are commonly under-represented in all stages of their research career, thus resulting in fewer women in leadership and decision-making positions. The dearth of women scientists in infectious diseases of poverty research often results in a lack of diverse perspectives necessary for addressing gender dimensions and the burden of the diseases. This study, therefore, aimed to look at barriers and facilitators to the career growth of women scientists in infectious diseases of poverty research in Nigeria. It also aimed at highlighting the importance of positive actions such as research mentorship and adequate funding to ensure that women achieve their full potential in their research careers. This was a cross-sectional quantitative study conducted in six higher institutions in the South-West, North-Central, and North-West geopolitical zones of Nigeria. The institutions were the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, Lagos, and its Kainji out station in Niger State; University Teaching Hospital, Lagos; Nigerian Institute for Trypanosomiasis and Onchocerciasis Research, Kaduna, University of Lagos; and the University of Ibadan. The study population was made up of 134 participants, which included fifty-six (56) women scientists in infectious diseases of poverty research within the age range of 20 to 50 years. They held a minimum of master’s degrees in biomedical, socio-behavioral, and life sciences. Other participants were seventy-eight (78) graduate students and postdoctoral fellows in biomedical and life sciences, aged between 20 and 40 years. Family issues, which included balancing life and career and raising children, and gender stereotyping, such as having full responsibility for caregiving within the family, were some barriers to their career growth. Suggested facilitators to their career growth were adequate funding opportunities, including career re-entry grants, continuous and periodic participation in training, short courses, seminars, and webinars to enable them to stay up-to-date with the latest developments and techniques in their various research fields

Survey of Hypertension Diabetes and Obesity in Three Nigerian Urban Slums

Background: Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) exist in slums as the inhabitants adopt an urbanized lifestyle which places them at a higher risk for. Lack of knowledge about the morbidity, complications and the method of control contributes to a large percentage of undetected and untreated cases.Methods: This cross-sectional survey polled 2,434 respondents from Ijora Oloye, Ajegunle and Makoko, three urban slums in Lagos metropolis, southwestern Nigeria between June 2010 and October 2012. We investigated the prevalence of hypertension, diabetes and obesity. Respondents signed consent forms and their health conditions were documented based on self-reported history of diabetes, hypertension and family history using a semi-structured questionnaire. Diagnostic tests; weight and height for body mass index, blood glucose, and blood pressure were performed.Results: More than one quarter of the participants were suffering from hypertension and only half of this were diagnosed earlier, while a further few were already on treatment. Therefore on screening, it had been possible to diagnose over three hundred more respondents, who were not previously aware of their health status. The respondents’ BMI showed that more than half of them were either overweight or obese and are at risk for diabetes, while 3.3% were confirmed as being diabetic, with their sugar levels greater than the normal range.Conclusion: This study therefore revealed the near absence of screening programs for chronic diseases such as hypertension, diabetes and obesity in these urban slums. This was further confirmed by the detection of new and undiagnosed cases of hypertension in about one quarter of the respondents

Toxoplasma gondii infection: seroprevalence and associated risk factors among primary schoolchildren in Lagos City, Southern Nigeria

INTRODUCTION: Toxoplasma gondii infection has been described as the most widespread zoonotic infection of humans and other animals. Information concerning T. gondii infection among schoolchildren is unavailable in Lagos City, Nigeria. METHODS: This cross-sectional study investigated the seroprevalence and risk factors associated with T. gondii infection among primary schoolchildren (PSC) from a community located in the center of Lagos, southern Nigeria, from November 2013 to March 2014. A total of 382 PSC were screened for the presence of sera anti-T. gondii antibodies using a latex agglutination test (TOXO Test-MT, Tokyo, Japan). A cutoff titer of ≥ 1:32 was considered positive, while titers ≥ 1:1,024 indicated high responders. Questionnaires were also used to obtain data on possible risk factors from parents/guardians. RESULTS: The overall seroprevalence was 24% (91/382), and 83.5% (76/91) of seropositive PSC were classified as high responders. Among the risk factors tested, including contact with cats and soil, consumption of raw meat and vegetables, and drinking unboiled water, none showed statistical significance after multivariate adjustment. No associations were observed among age, gender, body mass index (BMI), and parents' occupation/educational level. CONCLUSIONS: The findings in this study show evidence of active infection, and hence, there is need for urgent preventive measures in this city. Further investigation is required to clarify the transmission routes. Policy makers also need to initiate prevention and control programs to protect pregnant women and immunocompromised patients in particular because they are more severely affected by T. gondii infection

Health research mentorship in low-income and middle-income countries: a global qualitative evidence synthesis of data from a crowdsourcing open call and scoping review

Introduction Research mentorship is critical for advancing science, but there are few practical strategies for cultivating mentorship in health research resource-limited settings. WHO/TDR Global commissioned a group to develop a practical guide on research mentorship. This global qualitative evidence synthesis included data from a crowdsourcing open call and scoping review to identify and propose strategies to enhance research mentorship in low/middle-income country (LMIC) institutions.Methods The crowdsourcing open call used methods recommended by WHO/TDR and solicited descriptions of strategies to enhance research mentorship in LMICs. The scoping review used the Cochrane Handbook and predefined the approach in a protocol. We extracted studies focused on enhancing health research mentorship in LMICs. Textual data describing research mentorship strategies from the open call and studies from the scoping review were coded into themes. The quality of evidence supporting themes was assessed using the Confidence in the Evidence from Reviews of Qualitative research approach.Results The open call solicited 46 practical strategies and the scoping review identified 77 studies. We identified the following strategies to enhance research mentorship: recognising mentorship as an institutional responsibility that should be provided and expected from all team members (8 strategies, 15 studies; moderate confidence); leveraging existing research and training resources to enhance research mentorship (15 strategies, 49 studies; moderate confidence); digital tools to match mentors and mentees and sustain mentorship relations over time (14 strategies, 11 studies; low confidence); nurturing a culture of generosity so that people who receive mentorship then become mentors to others (7 strategies, 7 studies; low confidence); peer mentorship defined as informal and formal support from one researcher to another who is at a similar career stage (16 strategies, 12 studies; low confidence).Interpretation Research mentorship is a collective institutional responsibility, and it can be strengthened in resource-limited institutions by leveraging already existing resources. The evidence from the crowdsourcing open call and scoping review informed a WHO/TDR practical guide. There is a need for more formal research mentorship programmes in LMIC institutions