COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy and Determinants of Acceptance among Healthcare Workers, Academics and Tertiary Students in Nigeria

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in millions of human deaths, prompting the rapid development and regulatory approval of several vaccines. Although Nigeria implemented a COVID-19 vaccination program on 15 March 2021, low vaccine acceptance remains a major chal-lenge. To provide insight on factors associated with COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy (VH), we conducted a national survey among healthcare workers, academics, and tertiary students, between 1 September 2021 and 31 December 2021. We fitted a logistic regression model to the data and exam-ined factors associated with VH to support targeted health awareness campaigns to address public

Slaughter of pregnant goats for meat at Nsukka slaughterhouse and its economic implications: A public health concern

Aim: This study was conducted to determine the incidence rate of the slaughter of pregnant goats in Nsukka slaughterhouse, which has become a major cruel occurrence in Nigeria, as well as it's economic and public health implications. Materials and Methods: All the goats slaughtered at Nsukka slaughterhouse over a period of 3 months (February-April, 2017) were screened. The data collected were: total number of goats slaughtered, age, breed and sex of goats slaughtered, pregnancy status of the goats, and sex of the fetuses observed, and gestational age of the fetuses estimated by crown-rump length. Results: In the 3-month study, a total of 684 goats were slaughtered, of which 617 (90.2%) were females. 364 (59%) of the females slaughtered were pregnant, and more than 80% of the gestations were in the second and third trimesters. Of 661 fetuses recorded, 320 (48.3%) were males, and 341 (51.7%) were females with 438 (66.3%) predominantly twins. At the cost of ₦ 6,000 ($16) and ₦ 8,000 ($20) for male and female kids, respectively, a total of ₦ 4,648,000 ($11,620) was lost in just one slaughterhouse in 3 months. Conclusion: This study shows that there is a high rate of slaughter of pregnant goats in Nsukka slaughterhouse with a tremendous economic loss, and most chevon sold in Nsukka are unwholesome and of low meat quality

Persisting Vaccine Hesitancy in Africa: The Whys, Global Public Health Consequences and Ways-Out—COVID-19 Vaccination Acceptance Rates as Case-in-Point

Vaccine hesitancy (VH) is the seventh among the WHO’s top 10 threats to global public health, which has continued to perpetuate the transmission of vaccine preventable diseases (VPDs) in Africa. Consequently, this paper systematically reviewed COVID-19 vaccine acceptance rates (VARs)—including the vaccine uptake and vaccination intention—in Africa from 2020 to 2022, compared the rates within the five African regions and determined the context-specific causes of VH in Africa. Generally, COVID-19 VARs ranged from 21.0% to 97.9% and 8.2% to 92.0% with mean rates of 59.8 ± 3.8% and 58.0 ± 2.4% in 2021 and 2022, respectively. Southern and eastern African regions had the top two VARs of 83.5 ± 6.3% and 68.9 ± 6.6% in 2021, and 64.2 ± 4.6% and 61.2 ± 5.1% in 2022, respectively. Based on population types, healthcare workers had a marginal increase in their mean COVID-19 VARs from 55.5 ± 5.6% in 2021 to 60.8 ± 5.3% in 2022. In other populations, the mean VARs decreased from 62.7 ± 5.2% in 2021 to 54.5 ± 4% in 2022. As of 25 October 2022, Africa lags behind the world with only 24% full COVID-19 vaccinations compared to 84%, 79% and 63% reported, respectively, in the Australian continent, upper-middle-income countries and globally. Apart from the problems of confidence, complacency, convenience, communications and context, the context-specific factors driving COVID-19 VH in Africa are global COVID-19 vaccine inequality, lack of vaccine production/maintenance facilities, insecurity, high illiteracy level, endemic corruption, mistrust in some political leaders, the spreading of unconfirmed anti-vaccination rumors and political instability. With an overall mean COVID-19 acceptance rate of 58%, VH still subsists in Africa. The low VARs in Africa have detrimental global public health implications, as it could facilitate the emergence of immune invading SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern, which may spread globally. Consequently, there is a need to confront these challenges frontally and engage traditional and religious leaders in the fight against VH in Africa, to restore public trust in the safety and efficacy of vaccines generally. As the availability of COVID-19 vaccines improves, the vaccination of pets and zoo-animals from which reverse zoonotic transmission of SARS-CoV-2 have been reported is recommended, to limit the evolution and spread of new variants of concern and avert possible SARS-CoV-2 epizootic or panzootic diseases in susceptible animal species

Indiscriminate slaughter of pregnant goats for meat in Enugu, Nigeria: Causes, prevalence, implications and ways-out.

BackgroundThe indiscriminate slaughter of pregnant goats (SPGs) undermines meat production and food security especially in developing countries. It also connotes animal cruelty, depletion of goat population and may enhance the spread of zoonotic pathogens inhabiting the female reproductive tract during carcass processing. Consequently, this study determined the causes and prevalence of slaughtering pregnant goats for meat in Enugu, Nigeria. The study also estimated the economic losses associated with SPGs, discussed the negative public health consequences and suggested the ways-out.MethodsStructured, validated and pilot-tested questionnaire was used to ascertain the reasons for SPGs for meat among 78 willing and randomly selected respondents. The questionnaire survey was conducted in the form of interview. Pregnancy statuses of the goats slaughtered were ascertained by visual inspection and palpation of the eviscerated and longitudinally incised uteri and the horns for macroscopic evidence of pregnancy. Ages of the dams were estimated by dentition method. Estimation of the gestational age was performed by crown-rump length method. The study lasted for six months, comprised of three months (December to March) during the dry/hot season and another three months (May to August) during the wet/rainy season. Economic loss estimation was based on the current monetary values of a matured (30 kilogram) goat and one kilogram of chevon in Enugu, Nigeria; which was determined through market survey. Pearson's Chi-square test was used to determine whether there were significant (PResultsMajor reasons adduced for SPGs were: economic hardship (41%), ignorance of the goat's pregnancy status (21%), increased demand for chevon (13%) and feed scarcity during drought (11%). Of the 1,658 does examined during the six months study, 589 (35.5%) were pregnant. The majority (876/1658, 52.8%) of the female goats slaughtered were in their active reproductive age of ≤ 4 years, while 782 (47.2%) were aged > 4 years. Similarly, majority (1007/1658, 60.7%) of the does/nannies were slaughtered during the dry/hot season. A total of 907 foetuses at first (n = 332, 36.6%), second (n = 486, 53.6%) and third (n = 89, 9.8%) trimesters of gestation were recovered from the 589 PGs. Singleton, twin and triplet pregnancies were observed in 312 (53%), 236 (40%) and 41 (7%) PGs, respectively. About ₦34.44 million ($83,390) would have been earned if the foetuses were born alive and raised to maturity. Additionally, 19,136 kg of chevon, valued at ₦47,841, 000 ($115,838), which would have accrued from the wasted foetuses was also lost.ConclusionConsidering the economic, zoonotic and livestock production implications of this work, frantic efforts to reduce SPGs in Enugu, Nigeria is imperative. This could be achieved through advocacy, goat farmers' enlightenment, ante-mortem pregnancy diagnosis, provision of subsidized feed materials during the dry season and strict enforcement of the Nigerian Meat Edict law, which proscribes unapproved slaughter of gravid animals. These measures may improve food safety and security, improve goat reproduction and production, reduce protein malnutrition, limit dissemination of zoonotic pathogens during carcass processing and hence protect public health in Nigeria

Reasons advanced for sale or slaughter of pregnant goats for meat in Enugu, Nigeria.

Reasons advanced for sale or slaughter of pregnant goats for meat in Enugu, Nigeria.</p

Major methods of disposal of caprine foetuses or gravid uterine content among slaughterhouse workers (n = 78) in Enugu, Nigeria.

Major methods of disposal of caprine foetuses or gravid uterine content among slaughterhouse workers (n = 78) in Enugu, Nigeria.</p

Gestational age distributions of pregnant goats slaughtered and the corresponding number of foetuses recovered at Akwata and Artisan slaughterhouses in Enugu, Nigeria.

Gestational age distributions of pregnant goats slaughtered and the corresponding number of foetuses recovered at Akwata and Artisan slaughterhouses in Enugu, Nigeria.</p