Uptake of immunization and associated factors among 0-11 months infants in a rural community of Ekiti State

Background: Immunization is one of the most effective public health  interventions, leading to reduced infant and childhood mortality caused by vaccine preventable diseases worldwide. Rates of vaccine preventable diseases have been observed to be decreasing in many parts of the world in the past few decades with many children still remain unvaccinated. Studies have shown that factors that are associated with immunization rates include; low family income, lack of health insurance, low level of parental education, religion, young age of parents, presence of other siblings in the household, lack of source of health care, distance to health facilities, place of delivery etc. The aim of this study is to determine the uptake of  immunization and its associated factors among infants of a rural community inEkiti State.Methods: A systematic random sampling techniques was used to select 360 respondents from the rural Local Government Area whose mothers or caregivers were interviewed and vaccination cards observed to gather information on their immunization status. An interviewer administered semi-structured questionnaire and observational check-list were used to collect needed information. Descriptive analysis of findings was done using SPSS version 16.Results: Uptake of immunization by 0-11months children is relatively high in rural communities of Ekiti State (88.9%). The immunization card retention rate is also high (90%) and this is very good for authentic data gathering on routine immunization. The high uptake rate was found to be significantly associated with level of education, marital status and  occupation. Healthcare workers and radio announcement still remain major sources of information on immunization; therefore attitude of health  workers to clients is an important factor for uptake. Unavailability of vaccines, attitude of health workers and having no faith in immunization are important reasons for non-immunization.Conclusion: Uptake of immunization by children less than one year is relatively high in rural communities of Ekiti State (88.9%). The immunization card retention rate is also high (90%) and this is very good for authentic data gathering on routine immunization. Recommendation: Government to ensure regular, uninterrupted supply of vaccines to all points of vaccination to curb stock out, expand vaccination sites and centres to improve access and provide incentives to mothers/caregivers/families who completed their childhood immunization.Keywords: Uptake, Immunization, Infants, Rural Community, Ekiti Stat

Psychological, Socioeconomic Effects of COVID-19 Pandemic and Associated Prevalent Self-Reported Vulnerability Factors among Residents of Southwest Nigeria

Background: Infectious diseases wrecked havoc in global economies, especially when outbreak or pandemic occurs. The present  COVID‑19 pandemic has not only caused disruption to global activities but also of businesses, trades, movements, and academic activities. Southwest Nigeria has the highest burden of COVID‑19 of all the six geopolitical zones in the country. This study, therefore, aims at determining the psychological, socioeconomic effect of COVID‑19 pandemic and associated vulnerability factors among residents of Southwest Nigeria.Methods: This survey is a cross‑sectional study in the six southwest states of Nigeria via Google questionnaire sent electronically to obtaininformation from respondents. Targeted sampling and snowball techniques were used to reach the respondents. Data were analyzed using SPSS 23, and the level of statistical significance was at P < 0.05. Results: The mean age of the respondents is 32.89 ± 9.59 years and age range of 16–57 years. Majority of the respondents were males, married with tertiary education. Majority (83.9%) of the respondents have severe psychological effects, 78.2% have their family income affected, while diabetes, asthma, cardiovascular diseases, cancers,  previous contact with a confirmed case and travel history outside Nigeria were among the self‑reported vulnerable factors of COVID‑19.  Conclusion: The study concluded that the psychological and economic effects of COVID‑19 are high in Southwest Nigeria and major self‑reported vulnerable factors include cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, asthma, and cancers. Scale‑up of public awareness,  subsidization of personal protective equipment, and financial stimulus are recommended measures against the disease. Keywords: COVID‑19, effect, Nigeria, vulnerabilit

Knowledge of COVID‑19 and Practice of Preventive Measures among Adult Residents during the Ease of Lockdown in Nigeria

Background: The governments of many countries have taken steps to avert the spread of COVID 19. The  gradual relaxation of the lockdown in Nigeria might be counter‑productive if not properly managed. The best means to reduce and stop transmission is for the public to be adequately informed about the disease and its preventive measures. This research assessed the knowledge of COVID‑19 and practice of preventive measuresalong with its predictors among Nigerian residents during the ease of the lockdown. Methodology: A cross‑sectional study was conducted among 1421 adult residents of Nigeria. Data were  collected between 6th and 20th September, 2020, using a semi-structured online questionnaire adapted from previous studies. IBM SPSS version 26 was used for data analysis. Pearson’s Chi‑square and logistic regression were used to determine the predictors of preventive practices. Results: The mean age of the respondents was 27.5 ± 9.1 years. Avery large proportion (98.8%) of the respondents had a good knowledge of the disease (score of ≥4 out of 6 variables) and the internet (70.1%) was the major source of their information. However, only 57.6% of them had good practice of preventive measures of the disease (score of ≥3 out of 4). Predictor of good practice of preventive measure included female sex (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 2.626; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 2.078–3.319), being married (AOR = 2.177; 95% CI = 1.568–3.023), and possessing tertiary and postgraduate level of education (AOR = 1.813; 95% CI = 1.082–3.036 and AOR = 2.102; 95% CI = 1.206–3.664, respectively). However, residents in local government headquarters and other villages as well as towns (AOR = 0.541; 95% CI = 0.388–0.756 and AOR = 0.587; 95% CI = 0.350–0.983, respectively) have less likelihood of engaging in good practice of preventive measures. Conclusion: Majority of the research participants had good knowledge of the disease, while about half take part in good preventive practices measures. Predictors of the practice measures included sex, level of education, place of residence, as well as marital status. Therefore, targeted interventions should be directed to the males, those who reside outside the Federal Capital Territory and state capitals, and other high‑risk groups as found by this study to reduce the risk of disease contraction during this period

PERCEPTION AND WILLINGNESS TO THE UPTAKE OF COVID-19 VACCINE AMONG HOUSEHOLD-HEADS IN A RURAL COMMUNITY OF SOUTH-WESTERN NIGERIA

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic and its vaccine have been met with varying perceptions that may have both negative and positive effects on the willingness to uptake the COVID-19 vaccine. The study is set to determine the perception and willingness of the household heads to the uptake of COVID-19 vaccine in a rural community in Southwestern, Nigeria. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out among 409 household heads selected through a multistage sampling technique. The instrument of data collection was a semi-structured interviewer-administered questionnaire using the Health Belief model constructs. Data were analyzed with IBM SPSS version 21.0 and Pearson's Chi-square test was used to determine the association between perception and willingness to uptake vaccine. P<0.05 was taken as significant at 95% confidence interval. Results: The majority of the unvaccinated respondents in the study were not willing to take the COVID-19 vaccine (60.1%). There was a poor perception of the susceptibility/severity of unvaccinated respondents to COVID-19 infection and a poor perception of the benefit/barrier to the uptake of the COVID-19 vaccine. Perception of susceptibility and severity of COVID-19 infection were statistically related to the willingness to uptake the COVID-19 vaccine. Conclusion: There should be an increase in awareness campaigns to change the perception of people positively to COVID-19 infection and uptake of the COVID-19 vaccine

Health-seeking behavioural practices of the elderly in rural community of Ekiti State, Southwestern Nigeria

Background: The aging process increases the risks of contracting a disease among elderly people. Health-seeking behaviour is poor among the aged in sub-Saharan countries like Nigeria, escalating the burden of noncommunicable diseases and the cost of health care which further impact the utilisation of orthodox medicine. Aim: This study aims to assess the health-care-seeking behavioural practices and associated factors among elderly people in Ido-Ekiti. Materials and Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 420 elderly respondents in Ido-Ekiti. An interviewer-administered semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect information. The data collected were analyzed using SPSS version 25 and results were presented in the form of tables and bar charts. Chi-square tests were used to test for associations. All data analysis was done at a 5% level of significance. Results: The age range of respondents was between 65 and 95 years, with a mean age of 73.88 ± 6.84 years and 64.0% within the age range of 65–75 years. About 63.3% of the respondents have had an episode of illness in the last year preceding the study and only 35.3% consulted a doctor for treatment (good health-seeking behaviour); however, 57.9% of the respondents admitted utilising any of the following: self-medication, consult spiritualist, and use of herbal medicine (poor health-seeking behaviour). The factors statistically significantly associated with respondents' health-seeking behavioural practices are employment status (P < 0.001), educational level (P < 0.002), cost of health care, access to the health facility, length of time before consultation, beliefs, and lack of support from relations (P < 001). Conclusion: This study shows that the majority of the elderly had poor health-seeking behaviour due to educational and economic factors. Making the free or subsidized cost of health care for the elderly in rural communities and the provision of monthly financial support to the aged by the government will promote and encourage good health-seeking behaviour of old people

Perception and willingness to the uptake of covid-19 vaccine among household-heads in a rural community of south-western Nigeria

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic and its vaccine have been met with varying perceptions that may have both negative and positive effects on the willingness to uptake the COVID-19 vaccine. The study is set to determine the perception and willingness of the household heads to the uptake of COVID-19 vaccine in a rural community in Southwestern, Nigeria. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out among 409 household heads selected through a multistage sampling technique. The instrument of data collection was a semi-structured interviewer-administered questionnaire using the Health Belief model constructs. Data were analyzed with IBM SPSS version 21.0 and Pearson's Chi-square test was used to determine the association between perception and willingness to uptake vaccine. P<0.05 was taken as significant at 95% confidence interval. Results: The majority of the unvaccinated respondents in the study were not willing to take the COVID-19 vaccine (60.1%). There was a poor perception of the susceptibility/severity of unvaccinated respondents to COVID-19 infection and a poor perception of the benefit/barrier to the uptake of the COVID-19 vaccine. Perception of susceptibility and severity of COVID-19 infection were statistically related to the willingness to uptake the COVID-19 vaccine. Conclusion: There should be an increase in awareness campaigns to change the perception of people positively to COVID-19 infection and uptake of the COVID-19 vaccine

S1 Data -

BackgroundThere is increasing evidence suggesting that adolescents are contributing to the populations at risk of malaria. This study determined the prevalence of malaria infection among the adolescents and examined the associated determinants considering socio-demographic, Long Lasting Insecticide Nets (LLINs) usage, and hematological factors in rural Southwestern Nigeria.MethodsA hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted between July 2021 and September 2022 among 180 adolescents who were recruited at a tertiary health facility in rural Southwestern Nigeria. Interviewer administered questionnaire sought information on their socio-demographics and usage of LLINs. Venous blood samples were collected and processed for malaria parasite detection, ABO blood grouping, hemoglobin genotype, and packed cell volume. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 20. A p-value ResultsThe prevalence of malaria infection was 71.1% (95% CI: 68.2%-73.8%). Lack of formal education (AOR = 2.094; 95% CI: 1.288–3.403), being a rural residence (AOR = 4.821; 95% CI: 2.805–8.287), not using LLINs (AOR = 1.950; 95% CI: 1.525–2.505), genotype AA (AOR = 3.420; 95% CI: 1.003–11.657), genotype AS (AOR = 3.574; 95%CI: 1.040–12.277), rhesus positive (AOR = 1.815; 95% CI:1.121–2.939), and severe anemia (AOR = 1.533; 95% CI: 1.273–1.846) were significantly associated with malaria infection.ConclusionThe study revealed the prevalence of malaria infection among the adolescents in rural Southwestern Nigeria. There may be need to pay greater attention to adolescent populations for malaria intervention and control programs.</div

Prevalence of malaria parasitaemia among the respondents.

Prevalence of malaria parasitaemia among the respondents.</p

Health, well-being, and burnout amongst Early Career Doctors in Nigeria.

BackgroundEarly Career Doctors (ECDs) in Nigeria are faced with many individual and systemic problems, which consequently adversely affect their health, well-being, patient care and safety.ObjectiveThis study, the second phase of the Challenges of Residency Training and Early Career Doctors in Nigeria (CHARTING II) Study, sought to examine the risk factors and contributors to the health, well-being and burnout amongst Nigerian ECDs.MethodsThis was a study of health, well-being and burnout amongst Nigerian ECDs. Outcome variables included burnout, depression, and anxiety, which were respectively assessed using the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory (CBI) and Oldenburg Burnout Inventory (OLBI), Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) depression scale, and Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7) scale. The quantitative data obtained was analysed using the IBM SPSS, version 24. Associations between categorical outcome and independent variables were assessed using chi square, with level of significance set at ResultsThe mean body mass index (BMI), durations of smoking and alcohol consumption of the ECDs were 25.64 ± 4.43 kg/m2 (overweight range), 5.33 ± 5.65 years and 8.44 ± 6.43 years respectively. Less than a third (157, 26.9%) of the ECDs exercised regularly. The most common disease conditions affecting the ECDs were musculoskeletal (65/470, 13.8%) and cardiovascular diseases (39/548, 7.1%). Almost a third (192, 30.6%) of the ECDs reported experiencing anxiety. Male and lower cadre ECDs were more likely than female and higher cadre ECDs to report anxiety, burnout and depression.ConclusionThere is an urgent need to prioritize the health and well-being of Nigerian ECDs, so as to optimize patient care and improve Nigeria's healthcare indices

Crude and adjusted odd ratios for the factors significantly associated with malaria parasitaemia (N = 180).

Crude and adjusted odd ratios for the factors significantly associated with malaria parasitaemia (N = 180).</p