Strengthening The Efficiency of Orphan and Vulnerable Children Program Design and Implementation through Geospatial application in Nigeria

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) as a tool to strengthened program coordination and scale-up of Orphan and Vulnerable Children (OVC) related services in resource-limited settings remains largely untapped. Assessing geographic program coverage in its focus communities, Pact Nigeria in partnership with an indigenous community based organization, Safe Motherhood Ladies Association (SMLAS) implemented a GIS study in 8 communities across 3 Local Government Areas (LGA) of Ebonyi State. Although conventionally used in the context of vertical programs, GIS approaches can help improve service delivery outlets, extent of effective coverage and beneficiaries. About 450 children enrolled in the OVC program, were geotagged with attributes of service providers offering health, nutrition, shelter, economic strengthening, education, child-protection, legal and psycho-social support (services required in the OVC continuum of care), the geotagged ID were then linked to database containing demographics and relevant service assessment information. In-depth spatial analysis of this information led to the identification of geographic features of interest and the mapping of household, OV

An Assessment of the Factors Responsible for Flooding in Ibadan Metropolis, Nigeria

This study examined factors responsible for flooding in Ibadan metropolis, Nigeria. Data for the study were obtained through questionnaire administered on residents in flood prone areas of the metropolis. These were residential areas within less than 15m, between 16-30m and within 31-45m to major rivers in Ibadan metropolis. In each of these strata, there were 327,219 and 189, residential buildings. Twenty percent (20%) of the buildings was systematically selected for survey in each stratum out of which 11.7% of  buildings in less than 15m to the river had incidence of flooding, 8.8% and 1.4% of buildings within  15-30m and 31-45m respectively had been flooded at one time or the other. Residents attributed causes of flood in the metropolis to one or more factors. It was established that indiscriminate dumping of waste was the major cause of flooding in Ibadan metropolis (33.2%). Other causal factors were poor channelization (29.4%), flood plain encroachment (19%), and Pave surface (13.2%). Only excessive rainfall (5.3%) while clearing of drainage (36.4%) was the major actions of the residents toward reducing flooding in the area. The study concluded that various factors were responsible for flooding in Ibadan and strategies to reduce this menace must address each of the factors. Keywords: Flood, Disasters, Waste, Drainage, Environment.

Health and work-related quality of life, wellbeing, and quality of clinical care: a multicentre cross-sectional survey of health care workers in south-western Nigeria

"Study report from four selected tertiary hospitals in South-West Nigeria, 2021-2022.

Effects of an eight-week stepladder exercise protocol on lower limb muscular strength of apparently healthy young adults

Purpose. backward descent of stairs is associated with improved muscle strength and reduced joint stress, but the effect of backward ascent of stairs on lower limb muscle strength has not been reported. This study compared the effects of forward and backward stair climbing on lower limb muscle strength in apparently healthy young adults. Methods. The total of 31 young volunteers were allocated to either forward or backward stair climbing group (n = 16 and 15, respectively). Dynamic quadriceps and hamstring muscle strength was assessed in addition to thigh girth at baseline and at weeks 4 and 8 with the use of the repetitive maximum method and tape measure, respectively. Results. Between baseline and week 8, muscular strength in both groups (quadriceps: 14.4 ± 3.6 to 16.4 ± 3.4 kg; 14.0 ± 2.9 to 15.3 ± 2.7 kg; hamstring: 12.2 ± 3.2 to 13.4 ± 3.2; 11.7 ± 2.5 to 12.9 ± 2.7 kg) increased significantly (p0.05). The groups were comparable in all three measures post intervention. Conclusions. Forward and backward stair climbing protocols are effective for improving the dynamic strength of the hamstring and quadriceps muscles of apparently healthy young adults. Thus, either protocol could be used for the improvement of lower limbs dynamic muscle strength

Influence of well-being and quality of work-life on quality of care among healthcare professionals in southwest, Nigeria

The Nigerian healthcare industry is bedevilled with infrastructural dilapidations and a dysfunctional healthcare system. This study investigated the influence of healthcare professionals' well-being and quality of work-life (QoWL) on the quality of care (QoC) of patients in Nigeria. A multicentre cross-sectional study was conducted at four tertiary healthcare institutions in southwest, Nigeria. Participants' demographic information, well-being, quality of life (QoL), QoWL, and QoC were obtained using four standardised questionnaires. Data were summarised using descriptive statistics. Inferential statistics included Chi-square, Pearson's correlation, independent samples t-test, confirmatory factor analyses and structural equation model. Medical practitioners (n = 609) and nurses (n = 570) constituted 74.6% of all the healthcare professionals with physiotherapists, pharmacists, and medical laboratory scientists constituting 25.4%. The mean (SD) participants' well-being = 71.65% (14.65), QoL = 61.8% (21.31), QoWL = 65.73% (10.52) and QoC = 70.14% (12.77). Participants' QoL had a significant negative correlation with QoC while well-being and quality of work-life had a significant positive correlation with QoC. We concluded that healthcare professionals' well-being and QoWL are important factors that influence the QoC rendered to patients. Healthcare policymakers in Nigeria should ensure improved work-related factors and the well-being of healthcare professionals to ensure good QoC for patients

Survival of Treponema pallidum in banked blood for prevention of Syphilis transmission

Background: Every year, millions of people are exposed to avoidable, life-threatening risks through the trans¬fusion of unsafe blood. Aim: To determine the survival time of Treponema pallidum in banked donor blood. Material and Methods: Two groups of male Wistar rats (group A and B) were inoculated intratesticularly with 0.5ml of artificially infected donor blood (final density of Nichols treponemes: 5x105/ml) stored at 4oC for various periods of time. In group A, a pair each of the rats was injected every 12 hours, starting at 0 hr, up to a maximal storage time of 96 hr. In group B, the rats were injected after 72, 120, 192 and 336 hours of storage of the treponemes-blood mixture. Group C which is a control group was injected with blood only, while group D rats were injected with heat-killed treponemes suspended in blood every 12 hours. The detection of Treponema pallidum IgG/IgM was based on the principle of double antigen sandwich immunoassay, in which purified recombinant antigens are employed sufficiently to identify antibodies to Syphilis. The outcomes of interest included the proportion of Syphilis positive rats and the maximal survival hours of T. pallidum in banked blood. Results: 14 rats (77.8%) out of the 18 rats that were involved in group A developed orchitis and positive serology up to 72 hours of storage time, p<0.05. 2 rats (25%) in group B developed orchitis after 72hrs of storage time. All the 18 rats (100%) in the control group C and D showed neither clinical nor serological changes. Conclusion: It was concluded that the survival time of T. pallidum in banked donor blood lies between 72-120hrs in this study. Regardless of blood banking temperature, T. pallidum and other transfusion transmissible infections should be screened for prior to allogeneic transfusion

Total oxidant status of children with sickle cell anaemia: Correlation with rate of pain episodes and haematological indices

Background: Total oxidative status (TOS) measures cumulative oxidant levels. In sickle cell anaemia (SCA), oxidative stress plays a significant role in the pathophysiology of vasoocclusive and haemolytic phenotypes. In this study, we evaluated serum levels of TOS in children with SCA and matched healthy controls, and determined its relationship with the rates of vasoocclusive crisis (VOC) and haematological profile. Method: One hundred and sixty children, comprising of 80 with SCA aged 1–15 years and 80 age- and sex-matched haemoglobin (Hb) AA controls were studied. Serum TOS was determined by Human TOS Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay. Result: The mean serum TOS of subjects with SCA (13.27 ± 4.62 U/mL) was significantly higher than 9.69 ± 2.74 U/mL for the matched controls, p < 0.001. Among the subjects, TOS had significant positive correlation with rates of VOC (r = 0.24, p = 0.036) and leucocyte counts (r = 0.25, p = 0.027), and significant inverse correlation with haematocrit (r = −0.46, p < 0.001). There was no significant correlation with other haematological indices. Conclusion: Children with SCA had higher TOS than matched controls. Markers of oxidative stress had significant correlation with rates of pain episodes and haematocrit levels. Efforts should be made to minimize altered oxidative milieu in SCA. Keywords: Children, Haematological profile, Sickle cell anaemia, Total oxidant status, Vasoocclusive crisi