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BackgroundQuality health care service delivery to children and adolescents is enhanced by continuous research into the health challenges of this subpopulation led by paediatricians with tremendous capacity to investigate and proffer solutions to the myriads of childhood illnesses. Understanding the health issues therefore is the foundation for implementation of viable interventions that assure optimum service delivery. In view of this background, the Paediatric Association of Nigeria (PAN) directed that research into children’s health challenges in Nigeria should be brought to the front burner in the country. Pursuant to this laudable goal this study was conceived to evaluate the research capacity and capability of paediatricians in Nigeria and the institutions they represent. In view of above needs, this study aimed at evaluating the research capacities and challenges among paediatricians.MethodsThe survey used a cross-sectional nationwide design to enroll paediatricians into the study. The study was a combination of both online and face-to-face survey using questionnaire developed from Research Capacity Assessment Framework. Information on previous research work, challenges encountered, existing capacity and utilization of research outcome were obtained. The SPSS version 20 was used for data entry and analysis. For qualitative variables, similar responses were grouped under thematic heading.ResultsThe response rates for online (via email survey, group-administered in a conference and individual face-to-face (at workshops) were 32 (3.2%), 75 (13.6%) and 15 (60%) respectively. The majority, 87(85.5%) of the participants had conducted prevalence studies, compared to 9 (8.8%) that had done experimental studies. Those who have ever received grant funding for their studies were 21 (19.4%), while the proportion whose research outcome had informed policy update and practice were policy 20 (18.2%). More than 55% of the participants had challenges on some of the seven aspects of research: research topic, proposal, funding, fieldwork, analysis, utilizing findings and collaboration. Less than 40% of the participants had received training on some of the tested 14 research capacity areas except for the area of ethics where 78 (70.9%) reported having received training. For 51 (46.4%) this ethics training included the Good Clinical Practice Guidelines.ConclusionNigerian Academic Paediatricians need to be stimulated to develop interest in research by building their presently low research capacity if future paediatric practice is to be driven significantly by evidence.

Background: Vaccine preventable diseases account for 22% of under-five deaths in Nigeria and poor knowledge and attitude have been responsible for non-vaccination of children. This study aimed to assess the knowledge,attitude and practice of childhood immunization among community members in Ile-Ife.Methods: Quantitative data (using an interviewer-administered questionnaire) was collected from a convenience sample of 36 adultresidents who attended a town hall meeting with the PaediatricAssociation of Nigeria. Two focus group discussions were also conductedamong sub-samples of male and female respondents.Results: The mean age of respondents was 43.2 ± 11.9 years with amale to female ratio of 1:0.7. Most had secondary education (63.9%)and had children (91.7%). Most of the respondents understood whatimmunization was and knew the benefits but were unaware of severalof the specific types of immunization. There were erroneous beliefs about the contraindications for immunization and mothers were entrusted with the sole responsibility of getting children immunized. Although most of therespondents had immunized their children, they identified laziness ofmothers, negative attitude of health workers and logistics problemsat facilities as barriers to patronage of immunization services.Conclusion: This study identified knowledge gaps and negative attitudestowards childhood immunization. We therefore recommend a community-wide health education intervention with emphasis on substantial male involvement in immunizations and improvement inimmunization service delivery.Key words: Community, knowledge, attitude, childhood immunization.

Street hawking exposes young girls to all forms of hazards, including sexual abuse. This descriptive study examines the size of the problem and the consequences of sexual abuse on juvenile female street hawkers randomly recruited from two urban towns in Anambra State of Nigeria. Data was collected with semi structured, interviewer administered questionnaires. The mean age of the female hawkers was 13.0 + 2.2 years. Out of 186 respondents, 130 (69.9%) had been sexually abused with 32 (17.2%) having had penetrative sexual intercourse (28.1% were forced and 56.3% submitted willingly) while hawking. Majority (59.4%) of the sexual partners were adults. Other types of sexual abuse experienced include inappropriate touches (106 cases; 81.5%) and verbal abuses (121 cases; 93.1%).. There was low awareness of the twin risks of pregnancy (43.1%) and sexually transmitted infections (54.3%) following sexual abuse among the respondents. Sexual abuse of young female hawkers is an issue of great public health importance. Poverty alleviation, health education and protective child right policies will decrease its prevalence and the associated risks Keywords: Adolescents, In- School, Sexual activity, Sexual exposure, NigeriaAfrican Journal of Reproductive Helath Vol. 12 (2) 2008: pp. 111-119

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