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Background: Dyslexia, a neurodevelopmental disorder affecting reading skills, poses significant challenges to children's academic performance and quality of life. Despite its rising prevalence and adverse effects, understanding of its relationship with vision anomalies remains limited, particularly in low-resource settings like Nigeria. This study aims to assess the prevalence of binocular vision anomalies (BVAs) among children with and without dyslexia in Kano, Nigeria. Methods: This is a hospital-based, cross-sectional, matched-paired, controlled study conducted at the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH) Eye Clinic in Northern Nigeria. The study included school children who visited the AKTH Eye Clinic from January 2018 to December 2022. Visual acuity tests, external eye examinations and accommodative, binocular vision and oculomotor skills tests were conducted. Descriptive statistics, independent t-tests, Mann–Whitney U tests and Fisher's exact tests were conducted, with a significance level set at p < 0.05. Results: Forty-four children aged 12 ± 2 years participated. Children with dyslexia reported higher rates of visual symptoms than those without dyslexia, Blurring vision, visual distortion and eye strain were the most prevalent (p < 0.05) BV symptoms. Accommodative insufficiency), was the most common visual abnormality, and was significantly higher in children with dyslexia than those without dyslexia (45.5% vs. 18.2%). However, other visual anomalies showed no significant difference between groups. There was a high prevalence of binocular vision anomalies in both groups. Binocular test findings showed dyslexic children had significantly lower distance positive fusional vergence recovery values (p = 0.005). All cases of convergence insufficiency alone were found in the non-dyslexic group. Conclusions: The study found that children with dyslexia residing in Northern Nigeria demonstrated higher rates of visual symptoms, more accommodative insufficiency and lower distance positive fusional vergence recovery values compared to their non-dyslexic counterparts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To address challenges affecting education accessibility, learning can be delivered via a variety of mediums to ensure broader reach and engagement in the learning process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objective: Nigeria still remains a major endemic area despite concerted efforts by the World Health Organization to reduce the burden of Schistosomiasis. This study aimed to determine the current prevalence of the infection and its associated risk factors among elementary school children in Osun State. Materials and Methods: The study purposively recruited 504 elementary students from eight schools across three senatorial districts of Osun State, Nigeria. A parasitological assessment of urine samples was done for the detection of S. haematobium eggs. A semi-structured questionnaire was administered to elicit information on the risk factors associated with urinary schistosomiasis. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression was used to estimate the likelihood of infection among the various factors associated with urinary schistosomiasis. All statistics were performed at p< 0.05. Results: The mean (SD) age of respondents was 11±1.93 years with a preponderance of age range between 11 and 16 years (54.0%). The overall prevalence of schistosomiasis was 4.4%. The highest prevalence (12.1%) was recorded in a school located in Osun West while the lowest (1.5%) was recorded in a school located in Osun East. The regression model showed that environmental activities such as fishing (aOR 7.0, 95% CI 1.59-31.14), fetching water from river bodies (aOR 23.3, 95% CI 1.59-42.22) and open defecation (aOR 8.4, 95% CI 2.10-23.82) were independently associated with urinary schistosomiasis. Conclusion: This study revealed a low prevalence of urinary schistosomiasis and this is an indication of ongoing transmission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Schistosomiasis and anemia, are one of the leading global public health problem among children between age 5 and 14 years in marginalized settings. In this study, we provide prevalence and intensity data for both conditions in three southwestern states of Nigeria, where such are lacking. Epidemiological assessment involving parasitological analysis of urine and blood samples was conducted among 1783 consenting school-aged children in Ondo, Osun, Ekiti States of Nigeria. Participants' age and sex data were obtained using field forms, and statistical analysis was performed in R software with a significance level of 95%. An overall prevalence of 26.8% and 29.5% was recorded for urinary schistosomiasis and anemia, respectively. Prevalence varied by location with (40.3% and 29.8%) in Ondo (34.4% and 37.5%) in Osun and (13.4% and 20.9%) in Ekiti for urinary schistosomiasis and anemia, respectively (p=0.00). Schistosoma infections were found among males (28.7%, p=0.05) and children between the age 9–11 years (30.0%, p=0.01). About 36% of children with anemia was also infected with schistosomiasis. Children who were positive for schistosomiasis (OR:1.51; 95% CI: 1.19, 1.93; p=0.001) and between the age category 15–16 years, (OR:1.86; 95% CI: 1.12, 3.09; p<0.05) were twice likely to become anemic. Our findings have shown that children infected with schistosomiasis are twice likely to become anemic than those without infection. It is important to complement ongoing MDA programmes targeted at schistosomiasis with nutrition intervention programs for example micronutrient supplementation for better impact and cost-effectiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Education is a crucial human right, occupying the fourth spot in the Sustainable Development Goals. Despite efforts by governments and donor agencies, Nigeria's educational expectations have not yielded the desired outcomes. With approximately 10.5 million children out-of-school as of January 2022, Nigeria remains among the nations with the highest rates of out-of-school children. Leveraging a combination of a survey with 352 valid responses from diverse demographics, document analysis, and a critical review of extant literature, this study seeks to highlight the dangers of out-of-school children and evaluate the role of the family, government, donor agencies, and media in ebbing the tide of out-of-school children. The study argues that the efforts of governments and donor agencies to eradicate the challenge of out-of-school children are, at best, false generosity and highlights media strategies that are critical towards increasing the enrolment of children in schools. The study goes further to identify handbills, posters, and community radio as the most efficient channels for disseminating information about the importance of formal education and concludes that achieving optimal school enrolment in Nigeria requires a deliberate and sustained programme by the government and diverse donor agencies in which the media has a crucial role to play. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Refractive errors can have profound effects on children. Cost and logistics prohibit national population-based studies and global data do not accurately reflect the burden among Nigerian children. This systematic review and meta-analysis aim to provide pooled prevalence and pattern of refractive error in Nigerian children. This review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. The protocol for this study was pre-specified and registered on the International Prospective Register of Systematic Review (registration number ID: CRD42022303419). A systematic search of PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, CINAHL Cochrane Library, African Journal Online, and African Index Medicus databases, was done for school-based, or population-based studies on refractive error prevalence in Nigerian children younger than 18 years of age or school children in pre-tertiary institutions. Quality-effect model was used to calculate weighted prevalence, odds ratio, and corresponding 95% confidence interval. Twenty-eight school-based studies including 34,866 children were identified. No population-based studies were found. The pooled prevalence of refractive error in Nigerian children was 5.9% (3.6–8.7%) and varied between regions and with the definition of refractive error used in the studies. The number of children needed to be screened to detect one case of refractive error was 15 (9–21). The odds of refractive error was higher in girls (odds ratio: 1.3 {1.1 to 1.5}), children >10 years (odds ratio: 1.7 {1.3 to 2.2}), and urban residents (odds ratio: 2.0 {1.6 to 2.5}). The high prevalence of refractive error in Nigerian children substantiates the value of screening school children for refractive error, particularly targeting urban and older children. Research is needed to refine case definitions and improve screening protocol. Population-based studies are needed to define the prevalence of refractive error in communities. The epidemiologic and methodological challenges in conducting prevalence reviews is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective The presence of dental anxiety in Nigerian public primary schools may be one of the main obstacles preventing schoolchildren from effectively utilizing dental care services. The main objective of this cross-sectional study was to investigate the incidence and factors associated with self-reported dental anxiety among Nigerian public primary school children. Materials and Methods A cross-sectional, observational design was employed to examine 434 primary schoolchildren (aged 6–9 years) from selected schools in Abia State, Southeastern Nigeria. Data collection was conducted using the Modified Dental Anxiety Scale, which includes 5-point Likert responses, five questions, and demonstrates good internal consistency. Results The findings indicate that there was no statistically significant difference in the occurrence of dental anxiety between male and female schoolchildren (p = 0.374). In total, 1.9, 8.7, 10.1, 36.4, and 42.9% of the schoolchildren reported experiencing no dental anxiety, mild, moderate, extreme, and severe levels of dental anxiety, respectively. Furthermore, the results reveal that 2.1% of the variance in children's dental anxiety scores could be accounted for by factors such as gender, age, socioeconomic status, and parental education. However, the influence of gender (B = 0.183; p = 0.060; 95% confidence interval [CI]: –0.008 to 0.374), age (B = –0.128; p = 0.187; 95% CI: –0.318 to 0.062), socioeconomic status (B = –0.067; p = 0.124; 95% CI: –0.152 to 0.018), and parental education (B = –0.045; p = 0.420; 95% CI: –0.154 to 0.064) on schoolchildren's dental anxiety was not significant. Male and female schoolchildren did not have significantly different dental anxiety levels. Gender, age, socioeconomic status, or parent education level did not significantly predict the dental anxiety among schoolchildren. Conclusion School-based interventions need to be targeted to reduce dental anxiety among male and female primary schoolchildren in the study area. Clinicians should consider providing interventions to manage dental anxiety in children with moderate to severe levels of anxiety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Depressive disorders, with a prevalence of 15–21%, are among the most common disorders in children and adolescents, and increases the risk of suicide, the second leading cause of death in children aged 10 to 19. Aim: To determine the prevalence and correlates of depressive disorders among senior students attending secondary schools in Abeokuta. Method: The study was conducted in five schools randomly selected from a representative sample and was carried out in 2 phases. In the first phase, students were selected via systematic random sampling and given consent forms and GHQ-12 to administer to the parents. In the second phase, students who returned a signed informed consent form and filled out GHQ-12 were interviewed using MINI-KID, Rosenberg's Self-Esteem Scale, Family-APGAR, and sociodemographic questionnaire. Multivariate regression analyses were conducted with p-value <0.05 as level of significance. Results: The mean age was 15.3 years (SD = 1.27); 48.8% were male. The twelve-month prevalence of major depression was 11.3% and dysthymia was 1.4%. In the final regression analysis, female gender [OR = 4.3, p = 0.046], the experience of bullying [OR = 7.96, p = 0.004], difficulty getting along with friends, [OR = 7.5, p = 0.004], history of sexual abuse [OR = 8.1, p = 0.01], and perceived family dysfunction [OR = 4.9, p = 0,023] were found to be independent predictors of depressive disorders. Conclusion: Depressive syndromes are a significant health burden in adolescents. Being female, being bullied, having a history of sexual abuse, and family dysfunctionality are risk factors associated with depression among these population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Schistosomiasis is endemic in Nigeria, and the treatment is largely concentrated on children enrolled in schools. Consequently, the coverage of non-enrolled school-aged children is often neglected. Ajagba and Awosan are two communities in Nigeria that have never had any control intervention. Hence, this survey was designed to determine the endemicity of urogenital schistosomiasis and to evaluate the efficacy of a single-dose praziquantel in the communities. Methods: Urine sample (10 mL) of each participant from Ajagba and Awosan communities was filtered through 12μm polycarbonate filter. The filter was placed on a microscope slide, and stained with a drop of 1% Lugol iodine solution. The stained slides were examined under the microscope and the numbers of S. haematobium eggs were counted. Water contact sites were searched for snail hosts and the snails collected were shed for Schistosoma cercariae. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 24.0 and the significance level was set at 95%. Results: The overall prevalence of infection in the Ajagba community was 45.6% with a mean intensity of 61.1 ± 144.5 eggs/10 mL of urine, while the prevalence of infection in the Awosan community was 5.7% with a mean intensity of 1.4 ± 6.8 eggs/10 mL of urine. The school-aged children had a prevalence and mean intensity of infection of 73.1% and 111.6 ± 177.9 eggs/10 mL of urine, respectively. Following treatment, women had a higher egg reduction rate than men (p = 0.0283). Bulinus globosus were found in Ajagba but not in Awosan, with 5.7% shedding Schistosoma spp, cercariae. Conclusion: Urogenital schistosomiasis was hyperendemic in the Ajagba community, and hypoendemic in the Awosan community. The presence of Bulinus globosus supported the transmission of the schistosomiasis in the Ajagba community. Communities where schistosomiasis is still actively transmitted in Nigeria should be identified for effective intervention through the MDA programs. Author summary: Schistosoma haematobium causes urogenital schistosomiasis that is endemic and widely distributed in Nigeria. For effective control strategies, it is important to continue to identify and classify communities where the disease is still been transmitted. A cross-sectional community-based survey was conducted in two closely located rural farming communities that had not had any control interventions, to determine the status of the disease in the communities, and initiate the administration of medicine. Urine samples were collected from volunteering participants and examined for S. haematobium eggs. Of 167 participants who submitted urine samples in the two communities, 32.9% were infected. The Ajagba community had more infected participants (45.6%) than the Awosan community (5.7%). All age groups were infected in the Ajagba community, but school-aged children were more infected than any other age group. Snail intermediate hosts were found at the water contact site in Ajagba but not at water contact site in Awosan. The study suggests that communities with natural freshwater bodies that harbor appropriate snail intermediate hosts are at greater risk of infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Urogenital schistosomiasis (UgS) remains a persistent health challenge among adolescents in Anambra State, Nigeria, despite ongoing control efforts. Mass praziquantel treatment programs, initiated in 2013, primarily target primary school-aged children (5–14 years old), leaving adolescents (10–19 years old) enrolled in secondary schools vulnerable to urogenital schistosomiaisis. Additionally, the extent of female genital schistosomiasis (FGS), a neglected gynaecological manifestation of UgS remains unclear. Methodology: To address these gaps, a cross-sectional study was conducted in Anaocha Local Government Area from February to May 2023. Four hundred and seventy consenting adolescents aged 10–19 years were enrolled. Urinalysis including urine filtration was employed to confirm haematuria and detect urogenital schistosomiasis (UGS) among the participants. For females with heavy infections (≥ 50 eggs/10 ml urine), a gynaecologist performed colposcopy examinations, complemented by acetic acid and Lugol's iodine staining to assess for female genital schistosomiasis (FGS) lesions or other related reproductive health conditions. Socio-demographic data, including information on potential risk factors, were systematically collected using the Kobo ToolBox software, following gender-sensitive data collection guidelines. Data were analysed using SPSS version 25, incorporating descriptive statistics, multinomial logistic regression, odds ratios, and significance testing. Results: Among the 470 adolescents (52.8% females, 47.2% males) examined, an overall UgS prevalence of 14.5% was observed, with an average of 5.25 eggs per 10 ml of urine. Females had a slightly higher prevalence (16.1%), and 7.5% had heavy infections. Although gender differences in infection rates were not statistically significant, males had slightly higher odds of infection (OR: 1.332; 95% CI: 0.791–2.244; p-value: 0.280). Adolescents aged 10–14 had the highest prevalence, with significantly increased odds of infection (OR: 1.720; 95% CI: 1.012–2.923; p-value: 0.045). Colposcopy examinations of females with heavy infections revealed FGS lesions and co-infections with Trichomonas vaginalis. Haematuria, though prevalent (24.6%), was not the sole indicator, as those without it faced significantly higher odds of infection (OR: 2.924; 95% CI: 1.731–4.941; p-value: 0.000). Dysuria and genital itching/burning sensation were other UgS and FGS associated symptoms. Direct water contact was associated with higher infection odds (OR: 2.601; 95% CI: 1.007–6.716; p-value: 0.048). Various risk factors were associated with UgS. Conclusion: The study highlights the need for a comprehensive Urogenital Schistosomiasis (UGS) control strategy that includes secondary school adolescents, emphasizes risk factor management, promotes safe water practices, and raises awareness about UGS and Female Genital Schistosomiasis (FGS) among adolescents, thus improving control efforts and mitigating this health challenge in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: The objective of this study was to determine the blood pressure (BP) pattern and prevalence of hypertension amongst apparently healthy primary school pupils in Abuja. Methodology: This was a descriptive, cross-sectional study carried out on apparently healthy primary school children aged 6-12 years. BP was measured using a standard mercury sphygmomanometer according to standard guidelines. Data were analysed using SPSS version 17.0. Pearson's correlation coefficient (r) and analysis of variance were used to determine the relationship between BP and various variables where applicable. P = 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Out of 1011 pupils recruited for the study, 457 (42.2%) were male. The mean systolic and diastolic BP (SBP and DBP) increased significantly with age from 94.5 mmHg to 101.0 mmHg and from 61.5 mmHg to 65.3 mmHg from 6 to 12 years for SBP and DBP, respectively (P < 0.05). The prevalence of high BP was 9.1%. Age was the only predictor of SBP (β = -0.629, 95% confidence interval [CI] -1.115, -0.142), while age, height and body mass index (BMI) were the predictors of DBP (β = -0.686, 95% CI of -1.152, -0.221; β = 0.490, 95% CI of 0.172, 0.809; β = 1.753, 95% CI of 0.374, 3.160) for age, height and BMI, respectively, at P < 0.05. Conclusion: The predictors of SBP and DBP as shown in this study support the recommendations by various reports for taking body size into consideration in developing reference values for various populations. Age and body size are important determinants of BP in children. Its measurement should be encouraged in schools. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urinary schistosomiasis is one of the parasitic diseases of public health importance in Nigeria. This cross-sectional, prospective study was designed to evaluate the epidemiology of urinary schistosomiasis in school children at Umuikwu-Anam, Anambra West LGA, Anambra state, Nigeria. A total of 232 children aged 7-14 years (Males 127, Females 105) were recruited into the study through systematic random sampling. A structured questionnaire was administered to obtain sociodemographic data with the help of their teachers and mothers. Urine samples were collected in clean universal bottles and packaged in ice packs and were taken to the Parasitology Laboratory of Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital (NAUTH), Nnewi for analysis. Haematuria was tested using Combi-9 test strips. Microscopic examination of urine sample was done for ova of S. haematobium. Circulating Cathodic Antigen (CCA) test was also employed as a diagnostic tool. The results showed that out of 232 children tested, 17 (7.3%) were positive for eggs. Out of 127 males, 12 (9.4%) were positive while 5 of the 105 females (4.8%) were positive. Children aged 13-14 years were significantly more affected than other age groups (P<0.05) Male children were significantly more affected than females (P<0.05). Children who visited the streams more often were more affected than others (P<0.05). Sixteen (16) out of 232(6.9%) children tested positive to CCA test. The study concludes that urinary schistosomiasis was prevalent in the study area and was significantly influenced by socioenvironmental factors. Further studies are suggested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urinary schistosomiasis is a neglected tropical disease that is affecting the health of many children, especially in Nigeria. Awareness about schistosomiasis in some communities is low; hence more children undertake activities in unsafe bodies of water. This study determined the prevalence, socio-demography, risk factors and symptoms of urinary schistosomiasis among school children in Giwa and Makarfi LGAs. A total of 200 school children were enrolled in this study and each of them submitted 10 mL urine sample. Each urine sample was concentrated by centrifugation and the sediment was examined using a light compound microscope. Data collected were analyzed using IBM SPSS Version 23 at 95% confidence interval. Overall prevalence of urinary schistosomiasis in this study was 19(9.5%). Spatial prevalence was 10.0% and 9.0% in Giwa and Makarfi LGAs respectively. There was no infection among the females (0.0%), but 13.5% of infection occurred among the males (P=0.003, OR =1.156). School children within the age-group of 18-19 years old had highest infection of 20.0%, followed by 12.1% and 5.6% among those within agegroups of 14-15 and 12-13 years old respectively. The infection was more occurring among children in junior secondary school (10.4%) than among those in senior secondary school (7.7%). Significant risk factors were irrigation farming, swimming, fishing and washing of clothes in rivers (P<0.05, OR >1). Significant symptoms of the disease among them included painful urination and terminal haematuria (P<0.05, OR >1). However, infected individuals mostly encountered frequent urination and abdominal pains (OR>1). Urinary schistosomiasis prevails in the study area. It is important to create widespread awareness and treatment intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Schistosomiasis negatively impacts children's health. Children expose themselves daily to schistosome infections due to lack of awareness and knowledge about the disease or the danger of infested water bodies. This study was aimed at determining the prevalence, risk factors and symptoms of urinary schistosomiasis among school children in Kaduna South Local Government Area, Kaduna State, Nigeria. Four hundred (400) consented school children submitted 10mL urine each and responded to structured questionnaires. Sediment of each urine sample was examined by light microscopy, after centrifugation at 3000 rpm for 5 min. Overall prevalence of urinary schistosomiasis was 4.5%. Both male and female children were equally infected (4.5% each). Older children between 13-17 years old were more infected (5.0%) and more at risk (OR = 2.982) than younger children (8-12 years old) who had 1.7% of the infection. No infection was recorded among children who had awareness about the disease. Water-based activities that served as significant risk factors for the infection included swimming in river (8.7%, P=0.016, OR= 3.064), fishing (12.2%, P=0.005, OR=3.942) and washing of clothes in river (17.4%, P=0.002, OR=5.459). Significant symptoms of urinary schistosomiasis identified were frequent urination (12.5%, P=0.023, OR=3.612), abdominal pain (10.0%, P=0.045, OR=2.880), and terminal haematuria (13.6%, P=0.002, OR=4.526). Infected individuals were more at risk of experiencing pains during urination (7.4%, OR=2.047). Unawareness promotes the spread of schistosomiasis among Nigerian children; their continuous exposure to infested water poses a greater risk. Creation of awareness amongst children will help to control their play habits in unsafe water bodies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Risk factors for the persistence of superficial skin infestations are prevalent in humid tropical environments, which are favorable for breeding of the causative vector mite Sarcoptes scabiei (ectoparasite) and dermatophyte fungi. Aim: This study aimed at assessing the awareness and knowledge of childhood scabies and ringworm infestations among parents in Calabar, a highly humid rainforest tropical environment. Settings and Design: Cross-sectional study design and systematic random sampling were used to recruit school-age children in selected primary schools in Calabar. Materials and Methods: Researcher-driven administration of a structured questionnaire was conducted to obtain quantitative data from parents of recruited children. Statistical Analysis Used: Chi-square was used to assess factors associated with ever hearing or seeing scabies and ringworm infestations. Statistical significance was set at P < 0.05. Results: One hundred and eighty-two (56.7%) and 218 (67.9%) of the respondents had heard of or seen scabies and ringworm infestation. Among respondents that were aware of scabies, 53.3% knew of the cause, 50.5% were aware of the risk factors while 68.1% and 78.0% knew their treatment and prevention, respectively; 98.6%, 60.6%, 76.6%, and 80.7% of respondents knew the cause, risk factors, treatment, and prevention of ringworm infestation, respectively. Fathers with at least secondary school literacy level and sharing beds were significantly associated with awareness of scabies. Conclusion: There is a suboptimal level of awareness and knowledge of two of the most common superficial skin infestations among parents of primary school children in the study setting. There is a need to redouble our effort at sensitization of parents toward improved awareness of these common infestations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Children are an Heritage of the Lord...! - Psalms 127: 3 This paper interrogates the phenomenon of the insurgency of Boko Haram with a view to understanding its implication on children. The goal is to explore models for rehabilitating 'wanderer-children' as the phenomenon, coupled with the incidence of out of school children in the Sahel portends great danger for the survival of Nigeria and even the integration thrust of the West African Sub-region. The manuscript argues that Nigerian authorities need to strengthen their 'Complex Emergency' policies otherwise the threat against the region may worsen. In the effort to fashion-out these models, the paper takes a voyage to the nineteenth and early twentieth Centuries, and precisely to the colonial state where it discovered a classical model that if authorities would imbibe, the possibility for resolving the complex question of wanderer-children can be achieved. To weave its perspectives, the study depended on the qualitative research methodology. Finally, the paper recommends that governmental authorities need to combat poverty and reduce the rate of unemployment if the goal of curtailing conflict with its propensity for displacing children is to be achieved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Yaws is a disease caused by the bacteria Treponema pallidum subspecies pertenue, which is most commonly seen among children below 15 years. In the twentieth century yaws was endemic in Nigeria but eradication strategies markedly reduced the disease burden. Currently there is minimal data on the ongoing transmission of yaws in Nigeria, despite reports of confirmed yaws cases in neighbouring West African countries. Methods: We conducted both community and school-based active yaws case search among school-aged children in southeast Nigeria. Children were screened by trained community volunteers. Suspected yaws cases were clinically reviewed and tested using rapid diagnostic serological tests. Results: Between February and May 2021, up to 28 trained community volunteers screened a total of 105,015 school children for yaws. Overall, 7,706 children with various skin lesions were identified. Eight (8) suspected cases of yaws were reported, reviewed and screened, but none was confirmed using rapid diagnostic tests. The four most common skin conditions identified were scabies (39%), papular urticaria (29%), tinea corporis (14%) and tinea capitis (12%). Conclusions: No case of yaws was confirmed in this large population of children in south-east Nigeria. Continuous community awareness and yaws case finding activities have been recommended across Nigeria. Author summary: In our research, we searched for a disease called yaws, which is caused by a type of bacteria. Yaws mostly affects children under 15 years old. In the past, yaws was a big problem in Nigeria, but efforts to get rid of the disease have been successful in reducing the number of cases. However, we still needed to check if yaws is still spreading in Nigeria. Even though other nearby countries reported cases of yaws, there wasn't much information about what was happening in Nigeria. So, we did a study in southeast Nigeria. We looked for yaws in school-aged children by visiting communities and schools. If a child had skin problems that looked like yaws, we checked them carefully and used quick tests to see if they had yaws. After checking about 105,015 schoolchildren, we found 7,706 children with skin issues, but when we tested them for yaws, none of them actually had the disease. The most common skin problems we found were scabies, a kind of rash (papular urticaria), and some fungal skin infections. We suggest that Nigeria should keep looking for cases, just to be sure the disease doesn't come back. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Domestic violence is a universal social concern, and its implication on children's mental health is a global health predicament. Although the aftereffect of domestic violence on the mental health of women is well researched, mental health disorders of children in terms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), conduct disorder (CD), oppositional defiant disorder (ODD), general anxiety disorder (GAD), separation anxiety disorder (AD) and mood disorder (MD) on account of domestic violence is rarely investigated. Hence, the purpose of the study is to investigate the impact of exposure to domestic violence on children's mental health. Design/methodology/approach: To examine the correlation between domestic violence and mental health among children, in a survey of public primary schools in Ekiti State, Nigeria, the authors employed 664 pupils with simple random techniques. The Multidimensional Domestic Violence Scale assessed the participants' exposure to domestic violence. The Child & Youth Mental Health General Screening Questionnaire was used to examine respondents' mental health. Findings: The results revealed a high incidence of domestic violence among children. It also showed a substantial correlation between domestic violence and the mental health of primary school pupils. Children living with domestic violence experience significantly increased rates of ADHD, ODD, AD, GAD and MD as forms of mental health disorders. Research limitations/implications: Given the unpleasantness of this social issue affecting the well-being of children globally, it is imperative to engage in intervention and prevention packages that will assist the victims, perpetrators, parents, teachers, schools and other stakeholders. Introducing counselling services into the primary school curriculum will assist victims and those at risk develop self-confidence that will enable them to report their violators. Although counselors do not diagnose, early detection of victims would assist in early intervention where counselors can use different techniques and approaches to help such victims to resolve all forms of cognitive distortions that can lead to mental health disorders. Counselling services can help in providing referral opportunities to victims or "at risk children," rehabilitation and follow-up services for victims of domestic violence. Practical implications: Government organizations should also reintroduce health-care services where clinical psychologists will be available in primary schools to provide psychological services to meet the needs of the victims. Originality/value: Conclusively, the study presents evidence that children who witness domestic violence face a significant risk of developing mental health disorders. The findings highlight the potential harm that domestic violence can inflict on children's mental well-being. Mental health conditions such as ADHD, CD, ODD, GAD, AD and MD are commonly observed in these children. It recommends establishing early intervention programs for children witnessing domestic violence in schools and communities and programs to detect and address mental health issues promptly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil-transmitted helminthic infection is a common public health challenge of primary school children in resource poor and developing countries like Nigeria. The prevalence of intestinal parasites among 200 school children in Oban was carried out between August and November 2021. The investigation was done at St. Michael's Primary School and Early Child Nursery School. The study adopted a cross-sectional, school based, descriptive study. The participants for the study were selected using a systematic sampling technique. Information collected included age, sex, source of drinking water. Results obtained showed that the overall infection rates were 86.72% (i.e., 111 out of 128pupils examined) in St. Michael's primary school, and 90.28% (1.e., 65 out of 72 children examined) in Early Child Nursery School. The children were infected with various parasites. The prevalence of parasites found were as follows: Ascarislumbricoides (57.03%), Trichuristrichiura (32.03%), Hookworm (54.31%) and Strongyloidesstercoralis (16.41 %) in St. Michael's Primary School, Ascarislumbricoides (63.90%), Trichuristrichiura(43.05%), Hookworm (51.38%) and Strongyloidesstercoralis (47.22%) in Early Child Nursery School. Mixed infection with Ascarislumbricoides, hookworm and Trichuristrichiura was observed in six children. It is presumed that poor standard of personal hygiene; insanitary environment and ignorance among other things contributed to the prevalence of these infections amongst children in the community. This calls for radical control measures aimed at the various intestinal parasites. There is need for health education and legislation if the spread of these infections and severe morbidity in infected individuals especially school children must be prevented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Schistosomiasis though neglected is a disease of public health importance which could lead to serious health challenges even in children. This study determined the prevalence and risk factors of Urogenital Schistosomiasis among School Children in Anambra North Senatorial District, Nigeria. This is a cross-sectional study which applied the simple random sampling technique and included a total of 396 school children from 4 schools. Consent was obtained from parents and school authorities. Ages of individuals sampled ranged from 6-20 years. Structured questionnaires were administered to determine risk factors associated with urogenital schistosomiasis. A total of 210 females and 186 males were sampled. Urine samples were collected in 20ml universal bottles. Urinalysis and microscopy were done for each sample. Egg intensity was grouped into light infection (<50 eggs/10ml) and heavy infection (>50 eggs/10ml). Urinalysis test showed that none of the participants had glucose, ketones, nitrate, or protein in their urine. Haematuria was detected in 4(1.01%) school children. The overall prevalence of urogenital schistosomiasis was 9.1%. Onitsha North LGA had the highest prevalence of 20.8%, Ogbaru LGA had 8.4% prevalence, while Anambra East LGA had 5.9% prevalence. Twenty-six females (12.4%) and 10 males (5.4%) were positive for S. haematobium eggs via microscopy. Prevalence of S. haematobium was highest in individuals between ages 11-15 (13.88%). Age group 6-10 had the highest egg intensity rate (50%) followed by 16-20years (37.5%) and 11-15 years (10%). The risk factors associated with urogenital schistosomiasis in this study included proximity to stream, lack of good potable water, swimming, bathing, washing, and carrying out certain day-to-day activities at the S. haematobium infected water source. Females visited the stream more than males however, this was not statistically significant (P>0.05). This study has shown the presence of urogenital schistosomiasis among school children in Anambra North Senatorial District. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Out-of-school children are children of school age who have not been enrolled in any formal learning programme. Despite the high number of out-of-school children in Nigeria, literature is yet to pay significant attention to ways of assisting these vulnerable children to acquire life skills. This study was a comparative analysis of the impact of interactive radio (IR) and interactive television (ITV) instructions in assisting out-of-school nomadic children to develop life skills. A quasi experimental design was utilized to conduct the study involving a sample of 470 nomadic children. Going by the result, although both respondents in the IR and ITV reported a significant increase in their life skills after the intervention, participants in the ITV group reported higher score (β =.721) in their life skills than their counterparts in IR (β =.511). It is recommended, among others, that stakeholders in the education sector should consider the use of IR and ITV as instruments for teaching out-of-school nomadic children in Nigeria with a greater focus on ITV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study investigated the physical and social living conditions of school-aged children in IDPs’ camps in Plateau State, Nigeria. Specifically, it determined socioeconomic/demographic characteristics of the children; their physical and social living conditions. The study adopted a cross-sectional survey research design. The population comprised 948 6-12year-old children in the two IDPs’ camps in Plateau State. A random sample of 50 percent of the population (474) was selected. Questionnaire was used for data collection. Frequencies and percentages were used for data analysis. Findings on socio-economic characteristics of the children showed that there were more male children (55.30%) than female children (44.70%), and up to 85.90% of them had less than ₦10,000 as their household monthly income. The physical living conditions of the children showed that more than half (51.30%) of them lived in small-sized dwellings, 65.40 percent had inadequate room/tent ventilation and 81.40 percent of the children had 6-10 persons living in a room. There were no nets on the children’s dwelling doors and a greater percentage (60.50%) of the children had an average number of 4-6 clothes. Furthermore, the main source of water was well water (85.40%) and firewood (94.90%) was the main type of fuel for cooking. Findings on social living conditions of the children showed that majority of them lived near some basic social amenities such as health centers (82.30%), schools (99.20%) and markets (83.30%). In addition, a good number (77.40%) of the children obtained formal education. It was recommended that government at different levels should equip IDPs’ camps with adequate facilities to enable satisfactory conditions of hygiene and access to social amenities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was to assess the dietary intake of the school age children (7-12 years) in selected urban and rural schools in Ogun state, Nigeria. Specifically, it determined socio-economic characteristics of school children’s parents in rural and urban local government areas (LGAs) in Ogun state, nutrient intakes of rural and urban school age children (7-12 years) in selected urban and rural schools, and relationship between socio-demographic status of the parents and the nutrient intake of the school age children. This study adopted survey research design. Two LGAs (urban and rural) were randomly selected in each of the three senatorial districts. Population was made up primary school children aged 7-12 years in the area of the study. Questionnaire was used for data collection. Data were analyzed using frequency counts, means, standard deviations, and correlations. Results show that 36.5 percent of the respondents’ families earned less than two hundred thousand Naira annually. Also, 43.0 percent and 62.0 percent of the mothers had secondary and tertiary education, respectively. Dietary intake showed that energy intake was above 60 percent of required dietary allowance (RDA) for both sexes, while protein and fat intake for females in urban LGAs was above 80 percent of RDA. Some micronutrients were below 50 percent RDA (Vit A- 42.5% RDA, calcium – 45 percent RDA and iron – 48.9 percent RDA). The correlation shows a significant relationship between micronutrients and economic status because mothers’ education was related to vitamin A (p= 0.321) and vitamin B2 (p= 0.211) intake income was significantly related to irintake (p= 0.134). It was concluded that a significant relationship between socio-economic and dietary status. This means that poor economic status will eventually affect dietary intake, which in turn may result in poor nutritional status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the effect of the Jigsaw and Team‐Pair Solo cooperative learning strategies on interest in Basic Science of primary school children with visual impairment. This is a pretest–posttest control group with a follow‐up design study. A total of 56 students in Enugu State of Nigeria were randomized into one of two groups, n = 27 (male: n = 18; female: n = 9) for the treatment group and n = 29 for the control group (male: n = 20; female: n = 9). A Learner's Interest Rating Scale was used as an outcome measure. The results showed that there was a significant difference in the interest of students with visual impairment exposed to intervention strategies and those exposed to conventional‐lecture strategy in favor of those exposed to intervention strategies. This concluded that Jigsaw and Team Pair‐Solo cooperative learning strategies are effective treatment strategies that enhance the interest of students with visual impairment in Basic Science. Practitioner points: There was a significant improvement in the interest in Basic Science among school children with visual impairment exposed to Jigsaw and Team‐Pair Solo cooperative learning strategies.Gender is not statistically significant in increasing interest in Basic Science, and no significant groups and gender interaction effects.School children's interest in Basic Science was not influenced by time, group, and gender interaction effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Schistosomiasis is a neglected tropical disease. Sub-Saharan Africa accounts for 93% of the world's 207 million schistosomiasis cases. Urogenital schistosomiasis and malaria are both public health problems in Nigeria, where they are endemic. We determined the co-prevalence of urogenital schistosomiasis and malaria in schoolchildren and assessed its implication on anaemia and malnutrition. This crosssectional study was conducted amongst primary schoolchildren in the Warwade, Saya Saya and Jigawar Daha villages of Nigeria. Urine samples were collected to detect Schistosoma haematobium eggs, and finger prick blood was used for haemoglobin concentration and malaria diagnosis. Nutritional status was assessed using anthropometric measurements and a pre-tested questionnaire. The overall prevalence and density of S. haematobium were 27.7% and 9 eggs/10 mL, respectively, with significant differences between villages and sexes. The prevalence of malaria and infection density was 10.4% and 330 mps/µL, respectively. Co-infection prevalence was 3.3%. Anaemia prevalence was 66%, with significant variation across villages and between sexes. Prevalence of stunting, underweight, and wasting was 41.7%, 46%, and 29.7%, respectively. Mean haemoglobin concentrations in Plasmodium and children co-infected with urogenital schistosomiasis were significantly lower than those who were negative for the infection. No significant association was observed between malnutrition and single or co-infection of urogenital schistosomiasis and malaria. After adjusting for variables associated with anaemia, village of residence remained a significant predictor of anaemia. Water contact activities, such as fishing, swimming, and irrigation, emerged as independent risk factors of S. haematobium infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the extent biological factors predict hyperactive behaviours of pupils in South East, Nigeria. The study adopted a correlational research design. Two research questions and two null hypotheses tested at 0.05 level of significance, guided the study. The research questions and hypotheses sought to establish the extent of relationship that exists between biological factors and hyperactive behaviours of pupils. The sample for the study consisted of 1,566 (713 males and 853 females) respondents drawn through multi-stage sampling procedure from 3915 (1857 males and 2058) primary five pupils with hyperactive behaviour in 5477 public primary schools in South East, Nigeria. The data obtained through the administration of the instruments were analysed using Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient to answer research questions. Linear regression was used to test null hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. The study revealed the following findings: Biological factors to a very highly positive and significant extent predicted hyperactive behaviours of pupils in the South-East Zone of Nigeria. Biological factors predicted 82.10% of the variance observed in hyperactive behaviours of pupils; there was no significant gender difference in the relationship between biological factors and hyperactive behaviours of pupils. Gender predicted only 11.4% of the variance observed in the relationship between biological factors and hyperactive behaviours of pupils. Among the educational implications was that the study could provide supportive frameworks from which one can assess how the pupils explore the environment and master the challenges within that environment. It was thus recommended that Educational psychologists, school counsellors and teachers should provide primary school pupils with hyperactive behaviour and their parents information from this study; which would help them understand the primary components of biological approach to hyperactivity and the impact of hyperactivity in the exploration of the environment of pupils with hyperactive behaviour. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Preventive chemotherapy (PC) is an important tool to address transmission and reduce morbidities associated with soil-transmitted helminths (STHs). The aim of the study is to assess the PC implementation programme coverage and relate the same to the endemicity of STH in Nigeria. The secondary data collected by the World Health Organization (WHO) through the expanded special project for elimination of neglected tropical diseases (ESPEN) and made available at the ESPEN portal was used for the study. The PC implementation coverage and frequency of treatment were evaluated and related to STH endemicity levels in Nigeria. STH was actively transmitted in all six geopolitical zones of Nigeria. The southern part of Nigeria was more endemic compared with northern Nigeria. There was no PC intervention in preschoolers and effective PC coverage (19.3%) fell below the WHO ≥ 75% PC coverage index benchmark in school children. The percentages of children that harbour low, moderate, and high STH infections were 41.5, 41.6, and 13.4%, respectively. Multiple treatments did not necessarily reduce the endemicity of STH on certain occasions. STH continues to be a public health threat in Nigeria. The current treatment strategies should be reviewed to accommodate preschoolers in PC implementation programmes. Treatment should be integrated with the WASH programme in order to achieve a lasting impact. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the forms, causes, effects, and solutions to challenging behaviours in primary schools in Ibadan South West Local Government Area of Oyo State, Nigeria. The qualitative research design of the case study type was used for the study. The study population consisted of pupils, teachers, and school heads. The purposive sampling technique was adopted to obtain the study sample. Four research questions were raised in the study. The focus group discussion (for pupils and teachers) and the key informant interview (for school heads) were the research instruments used for data collection. Data obtained were thematically analyzed. Findings from the study explicitly revealed the forms, causes, effects, and solutions to challenging behaviours among pupils in Oyo state primary schools. This study suggests that education stakeholders are to put their hands together in finding a lasting solution to the causes and effects of challenging behaviours in schools. Some of the recommended solutions are presented and discussed in this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study aimed at assessing the prevalence and risk factors of soil-transmitted helminthiases among school-aged children in Ogoja Local Government Area, Cross River State. Fecal samples were collected from 504 participants and analyzed using the Kato-Katz technique and modified Baermann technique for identifying larvae of Strongyloides. A total of 232 (46.0%) samples were positive for soil-transmitted helminths. The overall prevalence of Ascaris lumbricoides, hookworm, Trichuris trichiura, and Strongyloides stercoralis were 14.1%, 16.5%, 2.6%, and 12.9% respectively. The prevalence of infections were higher among males (46.6%) than females (45.4%). Overall, parasitic infection was higher in the 5–7-year age group (65.6%) than in the other age groups (p = 0.000). Infection intensities of A. lumbricoides (84.00 EPG) (p = 0.044) and T. trichiura (96.00 EPG) (p = 0.041) were higher in school-age children aged 14–16 years. A. lumbricoides and hookworm co-infection (8.7%) was the most common mixed infection and was significantly higher in males than females. School-aged children who did not have prior knowledge about soil-transmitted helminth infections, the habit of drinking water without boiling, open defecation, use of pit latrine, and children who did not have toilet facilities in school were significantly associated with soil-transmitted helminthiases. There was a significant relationship between washing hands after using the toilet, the habit of putting on footwear outside the house, and soil-transmitted helminth infection. In addition to preventive chemotherapy, control measures should focus on health education, providing clean drinking water, proper disposal of human excreta and sewage, and environmental hygiene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Typhoid fever remains a significant public health concern due to cases of mis-/overdiagnosis. Asymptomatic carriers play a role in the transmission and persistence of typhoid fever, especially among children, where limited data exist in Nigeria and other endemic countries. We aim to elucidate the burden of typhoid fever among healthy school-aged children using the best surveillance tool(s). In a semi-urban/urban state (Osun), 120 healthy school-aged children under 15 years were enrolled. Whole blood and fecal samples were obtained from consenting children. ELISA targeting the antigen lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and anti-LPS antibodies of Salmonella Typhi, culture, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and next-generation sequencing (NGS) were used to analyze the samples. At least one of the immunological markers was detected in 65.8% of children, with 40.8%, 37.5%, and 39% of children testing positive for IgM, IgG, and antigen, respectively. Culture, PCR, and NGS assays did not detect the presence of Salmonella Typhi in the isolates. This study demonstrates a high seroprevalence of Salmonella Typhi in these healthy children but no carriage, indicating the inability to sustain transmission. We also demonstrate that using a single technique is insufficient for typhoid fever surveillance in healthy children living in endemic areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Schools in migrant-sending contexts often educate many children whose parents live abroad and decide to 'leave' or 'send' their children to be raised 'back home'. Yet there has been little attention to how transnational child-raising is enacted by non-kin actors within educational institutions. This paper addresses this absence, exploring Lagos private schools as crucial sites of care for children with parents in the diaspora. Examining educators' perspectives on schooling children 'sent back' to Nigeria from the UK and USA, the paper argues that they undertake intensive and strategic projects of transnational child-raising. They act as defacto guardians and position their educational offerings as highly moral in ways that draw on endogenous notions of 'training' good character, but are not driven by reproducing tradition. Rather, they play intermediary roles in transnational families: they aim to realise parents' desires for respectful, disciplined children who excel academically, yet are also attuned to young people's struggles. They are conscious of diaspora realities and understand their schools' roles as portals facing both ways in the transnational social field, preparing young people for multiple possible futures. The paper demonstrates that exploring education as a site of social reproduction can be richly revealing of the dynamics of transnationalism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ascariasis is a severe parasitic disease widely prevalent in remote, tropic, and subtropical regions with poor sanitation and improper water supply system. It is an important Soil-transmitted disease with enormous health and social implications for school-aged children in impoverished communities. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and intensity of Ascaris lumbricoides infection in relation to malnutrition among School-aged children in Savannah Staff Primary School of Lamurde LGA of Adamawa State, Nigeria. A cross-sectional study of primary school-aged pupils was sampled, and questionnaires were administered to the pupils to determine their social demographic characteristics and their Body Mass Index (BMI) using nutritional indicators such as weight and height. Faecal samples were collected from 220 pupils and examined for Ova of A. lumbricoides using the wet mount, iodine mount and 10% formol-ether concentration technique, 74 pupils were positive with 33.7% prevalence, 26.4% low intensity and 7.3% moderate intensity, respectively. The Body Mass Index was observed to be more underweight children, with ≤18.5kg prevalence of 28.6%, healthy children at 4.6%, and overweight was 0.45%. There was no significant association between ascariasis and pupils' social demographic characteristics (P>0.05) and ascariasis was statistically significant to the BMI of pupils (p<0.05). A. lumbricoides infection in relation to malnutrition was of moderate prevalence; however, this may not be the reason for the level of underweight pupils recorded in our study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urinary schistosomiasis is caused by a parasitic flatworm (Schistosoma haematobium) commonly called blood fluke which infects humans and causes public health problems. The study was conducted to determine the current status of human water contact behaviour and Schistosoma haematobium infection among Almajiri school children in Kurfi local area of Katsina State, Nigeria. Questionnaires were administered to 367 randomly selected Almajiris to assess the risk factors and to identify the relationship between human water contact and the infection of urinary schistosomiasis. Parasitological analysis was also used to determine the prevalence and intensity of infection among the Almajiri. Out of 367 sampled tested 161 were positive. The prevalence is significantly higher in Kofar Yamma Almajiri School with 51(47.66%) when compared to other schools and there is no significant relationship between human water contact and the infection in the study area due to the absence of intermediate host snail found in the study area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminthiases (STH) are two parasitic diseases mainly affecting school children. The purpose of this study was to estimate the current prevalence and infection intensity, in addition to the associations of these infections with age and sex, in children aged 4–17 years living in Osun State, Nigeria. From each participant (250 children), one urine and one stool sample were taken for the study, for the microscopic detection of eggs or larvae in faeces by means of the Kato–Katz method and eggs in filtrated urine. The overall prevalence of urinary schistosomiasis was 15.20%, with light infection. The intestinal helminthic species identified (and their prevalence) were S. stercoralis (10.80%), S. mansoni (8%), A. lumbricoides (7.20%), hookworm (1.20%), and T. trichiura (0.4%), all of them being classified as light infections. Single infections (67.95%) are more frequent than multiple infections (32.05%). With this study, schistosomiasis and STH are still endemic in Osun State, but with a light to moderate prevalence and light infection intensity. Urinary infection was the most prevalent, with higher prevalence in children over 10 years. The >10 years age group had the highest prevalence for all of the intestinal helminths. There were no statistically significant associations between gender and age and urogenital or intestinal parasites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Nigerian society, the serious drawback of reading culture is becoming more and more common. This paper discusses the culture of reading: the benefits, the role of libraries, and the challenges in the twenty-first century. World Book Day is a day to celebrate reading around the world. One searches for solutions to problems. The role of the library when it comes to this cannot be overemphasized. Promote the culture of reading as it provides various services to information users. Libraries' roles in promoting a reading culture have included offering a favorable setting and resources that deliver information that is more thorough and diversified, encouraging literacy, providing detailed and diverse information resources, and allowing primary and high school students to participate in Library Week. The challenges include Poor Funding, Lack of professional staff, Irrelevant Materials, Economic factors and African Factors. People read for various reasons apart from education and this among other things includes self-improvement, fun and relaxation. People should read a book a day and share a story for at least five minutes. Reading culture, on the other hand must be incorporated into library collections, reader campaigns, reading groups, and World Book Day activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers information on the challenges faced by children with intellectual disorders in accessing inclusive and quality education. Topics include the exclusion these children face in classrooms due to their slower learning pace, the global prevalence of intellectual disorders, and the potential consequences of neglecting non-conventional strategies for educating these children.

Background: The parasite Schistosoma haematobium causes urogenital schistosomiasis, a chronic infectious disease that occurs mainly among school-age children. Objective: The prevalence of S. haematobium infection and level of intensity relative to age, gender and status of selected serum micronutrients among school-age children were investigated in suburban communities in Bekwarra, Nigeria. Methods: This cross-sectional school-based study randomly recruited 353 children aged between 4 and 16 years from five elementary schools between June 2019 and December 2019. We gathered socio-demographic data about each child using a semi-structured questionnaire. Blood samples were collected for micronutrient analysis and urine samples were collected for assessment of S. haematobium infection. Results: A total of 57 (16.15%) school-age children were infected with S. haematobium. Girls (n = 34; 9.63%) were more frequently infected than boys (n = 23; 6.52%). Infection was most frequent among children aged 8–11 years (n = 32; 23.19%) and was significantly associated with age (p = 0.022) and gender (p < 0.001). Serum levels of iron, calcium, copper and zinc among infected children were significantly lower than those of non-infected children. Intensity of infection was negatively associated with iron (r = −0.21), calcium (r = −0.24), copper (r = −0.61; p < 0.001) and zinc (r = −0.41; p < 0.002). Conclusion: This study showed that S. haematobium infection adversely impacted the micronutrient status of school-age children in suburban Nigeria. Measures to lower the prevalence of schistosomiasis among school-age children, including efficient drug distribution, education campaigns and community engagement, are necessary. What this study adds: This research emphasises the significance of implementing infection prevention and control interventions to mitigate the transmission and prevalence of schistosomiasis among school age children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

INTRODUCTION: The appropriate use of insecticide-treated nets (ITNs) has been regarded as a successful, cost-effective, and efficient method of controlling malaria. The objective of this study is to determine the level of ownership, usage, and awareness of ITNs in the control of malaria among students of a tertiary institution in northeastern Nigeria. METHODS: This survey was a cross-sectional study that recruited 451 students of a tertiary institution in northeastern Nigeria by a simple random sampling technique from June to August 2022. The study employed a closed-ended questionnaire with responses on a 4-point Likert scale. Statistical significance was taken at a 95% confidence interval with p<0.05. RESULTS: Of the 451 respondents, 229 (50.78%) and 222 (49.22%) were female and male, respectively. The participants were aged 16-36 years, with those aged 16-25 years numbering 343 (76.1%). Of the total respondents, 261 (57.87%) owned ITNs, while 190 (42.13%) did not own ITNs. Ownership of ITNs was not associated with gender (OR=1.41; 95% CI: 0.97-2.06, p=0.07) or age (OR=0.93; 95% CI: 0.60-1.44, p=0.73). The results showed that government support in the prevention of malaria through the distribution of free ITNs was relatively adequate (p<0.001). Of the 261 respondents with ITNs, 236 (90.42%) used the ITNs the night before the administration of the questionnaire. There was no significant association between ITNs usage with gender (OR=1.33; 95% CI: 0.58-3.03, p=0.49) or age (OR=1.90; CI=0.79-4.53, p=0.1502). The majority of the respondents (407; 90.24%) had the perception and awareness that regular sleeping in ITNs helps to prevent malaria. CONCLUSIONS: The study highlighted ITNs ownership, perception, and awareness of ITNs usage among the study population which were high and encouraging. However, there is need for the government to introduce distribution of free ITNs among school-aged children in dormitories, and students of higher institutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Intestinal helminthic infections are among the commonest infections worldwide. It often affects the poorest communities and has similar geographic distribution with malnutrition. Intestinal helminthic infection contributes to undernutrition through subtle reduction in digestion and absorption of food, chronic inflammation and loss of nutrients. The objective of this study is to determine the prevalence of intestinal helminthic infection and its relationship with nutritional status of primary school children in Gombe, Gombe State, Nigeria. Methodology: This was a cross sectional study of 350 pupils selected through multistage random sampling technique from 24 primary schools in Gombe, Gombe State, Nigeria from July 2018 to January 2019. Demographic information including age, gender, height, and weight were collected from each participant with a designed collection form. The data were analysed using SPSS version 24.0, and presented as frequency distribution and mean ± SD. The Chisquare test (with Odds ratio and 95% confidence interval) was used to test for association between prevalence of helminthiasis and factors such as gender, age group and school type. A p value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant at 95% confidence interval. Results: The prevalence of intestinal helminthic infection was 23.7% (83/350). Eighty (96.4%) of the 83 infected pupils were in public schools while only 3 (3.6%) were in private schools (p<0.001). The prevalence of helminthiasis was significantly higher in underweight pupils (34%, OR=2.113, p=0.0065)) and significantly lower (5.4%, OR=0.1637, p=0.0037) in overweight pupils while the prevalence was not significantly associated with normal weight (p=0.5482) or obesity (p=1.000). Conclusions: Intestinal helminthic infection is a public health problem in children with adverse significant relationship with nutritional status. Provision of toilet facilities in schools and periodic de-worming of pupils aimed at reducing loss of nutrients from intestinal helminthiasis are recommended. Contexte: Les infections intestinales helminthiques sont parmi les infections les plus courantes dans le monde. Elle affecte souvent les communautés les plus pauvres et a une répartition géographique similaire à la malnutrition. L'infection helminthique intestinale contribue à la dénutrition par une réduction subtile de la digestion et de l'absorption des aliments, une inflammation chronique et une perte de nutriments. L'objectif de cette étude est de déterminer la prévalence de l'infection helminthique intestinale et sa relation avec l'état nutritionnel des enfants de l'école primaire à Gombe, dans l'État de Gombe, au Nigeria. Méthodologie: Il s'agissait d'une étude transversale de 350 élèves sélectionnés par une technique d'échantillonnage aléatoire à plusieurs étapes dans 24 écoles primaires de Gombe, dans l'État de Gombe, au Nigéria, de juillet 2018 à janvier 2019. Des informations démographiques, notamment l'âge, le sexe, la taille et le poids, ont été recueillies auprès de chaque participant avec un formulaire de collecte conçu. Les données ont été analysées à l'aide de SPSS version 24.0, et présentées sous forme de distribution de fréquence et de moyenne ± ET. Le test du chi carré (avec rapport de cotes et intervalle de confiance à 95%) a été utilisé pour tester l'association entre la prévalence des helminthiases et des facteurs tels que le sexe, le groupe d'âge et le type d'école. Une valeur de p<0,05 a été considérée comme statistiquement significative à un intervalle de confiance de 95%. Résultats: La prévalence des helminthiases intestinales était de 23,7% (83/350). Quatre-vingts (96,4%) des 83 élèves infectés étaient dans des écoles publiques alors que seulement 3 (3,6%) étaient dans des écoles privées (p<0,001). La prévalence des helminthiases était significativement plus élevée chez les élèves en insuffisance pondérale (34%, OR=2,113, p=0,0065)) et significativement plus faible (5,4%, OR=0,1637, p=0,0037) chez les élèves en surpoids, alors que la prévalence n'était pas significativement associée à un poids normal poids (p=0,5482) ou obésité (p=1,000). Conclusion: L'infection intestinale helminthique est un problème de santé publique chez l'enfant ayant une relation défavorable significative avec l'état nutritionnel. La mise à disposition de toilettes dans les écoles et le déparasitage périodique des élèves visant à réduire la perte de nutriments due aux helminthiases intestinales sont recommandés. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the perspective of public officials in Nigeria about corruption and why corruption continues despite numerous efforts to curtail it. The study conducts a survey among a range of public officials in Nigeria. The paper finds that individuals tend to normalize corruption as they grow older. The results also indicate a slight difference regarding the beliefs of economic versus moral harm of corruption between different religious backgrounds of the public officials. The study concludes that establishing an alternative narrative at younger ages by raising awareness and education among school aged children could assist in preventing and normalizing corruption in later years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study focused on addressing underperformance in chemistry in Anglophone West African countries. The main purpose of the study was to determine if factors such as gender, school location and ownership impact students' perception of the difficulty of chemistry concepts and to suggest how these difficult concepts can be made easy to learn from the perspectives of the students. A mixed-methods approach was adopted. Participants were 1,292 chemistry students from nine public and 12 private secondary schools in Nigeria and Ghana with about three-quarters of the schools from urban areas. About 51% of the participants were females. Twenty-four students were interviewed to gather qualitative data. The Difficult Concept in Chemistry Questionnaire (DCCQ) and the Difficult Concepts in Chemistry Interview Guide (DCCIG) were used for data collection. The test-retest reliability coefficient of the DCCQ was 0.88. We found a slight difference in the perception of male and female students while school type came as a major determinant factor on students' perception of difficult concepts in chemistry, just as school location. Phobia for calculations came out as a major cause of difficulty in the top five perceived difficult concepts. Findings on causes of learning difficulties were reported as well as suggestions for improvement as viewed by the students. Recommendations were made for improving the teaching and learning of chemistry in Anglophone West African schools. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to investigate the preference among primary school pupils in Ibadan in terms of mathematics textbook illustrations and its implications for counselling psychology. An ex post facto descriptive research design was used in the study. One hundred and three (103) respondents were selected from public primary school pupils in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria. The respondents were measured with self-developed scales and the data obtained was analysed using the Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient (PPMC) and Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software. Two (2) research questions were raised and answered in the study. The results show that there is a significant relationship between paper quality and preference for mathematics textbook illustrations (r = .712; P<0.05), and there was a significant relationship between colours used in the book and mathematics textbook illustration preferences (r = .841; P<0.05). In view of these findings, the study stresses that educational stakeholders and counsellors should intensify their effort to organise conferences on the implications of these factors (e.g., colour and paper quality, among others) relating to the pupils' preferences for textbooks, which invariably affect reading comprehension of the pupils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was a quasi experiment involving 470 school children who were survivors of abduction in Northern Nigeria. There were two interventions: the first was a face-to-face counselling, while the second was a visual multimedia counselling intervention. The result of the study showed that at baseline, all the respondents reported high school dropout propensity. However, after the treatment, respondents in the visual multimedia group reported lower school dropout propensity when compared to their counterparts in the face-to-face counselling. The researchers made recommendations based on the results of the study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and objective: Use of insecticide treated nets (ITN), one of the most cost-effective malaria interventions contributes to malaria cases averted and reduction in child mortality. We explored the use of ITN in children under five (CU5) and children of school age to understand factors contributing to ITN use. Methods: A cross-sectional study analyzed 2018 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey data. The outcome variable was CU5 or children of school age who slept under ITN the night before the survey. Independent variables include child sex, head of household's sex, place of residence, state, household owning radio and television, number of household members, wealth quintile, years since ITN was obtained and level of malaria endemicity. Multi-level logistic regression model was used to access factors associated with ITN use among children. Results: In total, 32,087 CU5 and 54,692 children of school age were examined with 74.3% of CU5 and 57.8% of children of school age using ITN the night before the survey. While seven states had more than 80% of CU5 who used ITN, only one state had over 80% of school children who used ITN. ITN use in CU5 is associated with living in rural area (aOR = 1.20, 95% CI 1.14 to 1.26) and residing in meso endemic area (aOR = 3.1, 95% CI 2.89 to 3.54). While In children of school age, use of ITN was associated with female headed households (aOR = 1.14, 95% CI 1.09 to 1.19), meso (aOR = 3.17, 95% CI 2.89 to 3.47) and hyper (aOR = 14.9, 95% CI 12.99 to 17.07) endemic areas. Children residing in larger households were less likely to use ITN. Conclusions: This study demonstrated increased use of ITN in CU5 from poor households and children living in rural and malaria endemic areas. Findings provide some policy recommendations for increasing ITN use in school children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This cross-sectional survey was set out to identify and describe urinary schistosomiasis and associated factors among schoolaged children in a rural Okpoto District, Ebonyi State, Nigeria; given the relevance and scarce scientific information about the epidemiology of the infection in the area. Sedimentation and light microscopic methods were used to examine 180 urine samples of randomly selected school-aged children from three primary schools in the community for Schistosoma haematobium eggs. While relevant epidemiological data were collected using questionnaires, further laboratory investigations were conducted to estimate the amount of blood in the urine. The result of urine microscopy showed that 10 % of all the specimens examined were positive for S. haematobium, amongst which a prevalence of 16.7 % was recorded amongst males and 6.7 % among females. The prevalence of infection with S. haematobium was higher in the group 9-12 years (14.1 %) than in the 5-8 years age group (6.3 %); while Central School Lobasa had 6.6 %, Ukwuachi Primary School had 23.3 % and none detected among pupils from Ndieze Primary School. Results of the urine reagent strip showed 0 %, 20 % and 0 % positives in pupils from Central School Lobasa, Ukwuachi Primary School, and Ndieze Primary School, respectively. The outcome of this investigation confirmed that urine containing blood contains schistosome eggs. The related environmental, as well as host behavioural factors identified in this study, suggest that the overall prevalence of schistosomiasis in this area could be fast-increasing, with attendant morbidity and mortality implications. This effort, therefore, provides an appropriate basis for further investigation; urgent implementation and sustenance of relevant control interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The early childhood education workforce is highly feminized, with women dominating the field. Around the world, calls have been made for increasing participation of men in the profession so that the gender gap could be reduced. Unfortunately, there is still a stigma associated with men teaching young children. In this study, we explored the perceptions about male teachers of early grades in Nigerian schools. The study used an interpretative qualitative research design with a total of 10 participants (5 parents and 5 teachers) in early grade schools to explore the perceptions of male teachers in early grade schools. A semi-structured interview schedule was used to guide the one-on-one interview and data analyzed using content analysis. The findings revealed that sociocultural misconceptions cause male teacher attrition in early grade schools. General suspicion, stigmatization, and prejudice are contributing factors that promote gender stereotypes against male teachers in early grades. Such misconceptions contributed to an overwhelming preference for female teachers in early grades. However, a small proportion of participants believe that male teachers are an essential component of early grade schools for gender balance and effective role modeling. The findings suggest an urgent need for greater awareness of the important role of male teachers in early grade schools in promoting both their academic and social development. More effort is also needed to increase the number of in-service male teachers in the early childhood workforce. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scholars are increasingly concerned about the global learning crisis, which is often measured by the number of In-School Children (ISC) as against the Out-of-School Children (OOSC). However, both contribute to the crisis. Consequently, school-aged children in the Almajiri system are characterized as OOSC. Interestingly, Nigeria has the largest number of such children in Africa. Following the clamor for reforms in the Almajiri system, the Government of Katsina State of Nigeria issued in 2019 an instrument called the “Responsible Parenting Almajiri Rights Edict.” This paper attempts to evaluate the learning and learner rights components of the instrument. The study combines the historical method, observation, and document analysis, with the constructivist paradigm as philosophical basis. Findings reveal that the edict fails to contextualize into the Katsina setting some of the most salient components of the Nigeria Child’s Rights Act and of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study aimed to identify individual and contextual factors that are associated with under- and over-nutrition among school-aged children and adolescents in two Nigerian states. Design: Community-based cross-sectional study. Setting: The study was carried out in rural and urban communities of Osun and Gombe States in Nigeria. Participants: A total of 1200 school-aged children and adolescents. Results: Multi-level analysis showed that the full models accounted for about 82 % and 39 % of the odds of thinness or overweight/obese across the communities, respectively. Household size (adjusted OR (aOR) 1·10; P = 0·001; 95 % CI (1·04, 1·16)) increased the odds, while the upper wealth index (aOR 0·43; P = 0·016; 95 % CI (0·22, 0·86)) decreased the odds of thinness. Age (aOR 0·86; P < 0·001; 95 % CI (1·26, 8·70)), exclusive breastfeeding (aOR 0·46; P = 0·010; 95 % CI (0·25, 0·83)), physical activity (aOR 0·55; P = 0·001; 95 % CI (0·39, 0·78)) and the upper wealth index (aOR 0·47; P = 0·018; 95 % CI (0·25, 0·88)) were inversely related with overweight/obesity, while residing in Osun State (aOR 3·32; P = 0·015; 95 % CI (1·26, 1·70)), female gender (aOR 1·73; P = 0·015; 95 % CI (1·11, 2·69)) and screen time > 2 h/d (aOR 2·33; P = 0·005; 95 % CI (1·29, 4·19)) were positively associated with overweight/obesity. Conclusions: The study shows that selected community and individual-level factors are strongly associated with thinness and overweight/obesity among school-aged children and adolescents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Limited literature exists on how to improve classroom concentration (CC) of survivors of kidnapping. The current study extends the literature in this direction through a quasi-experiment involving 470 schoolchildren (SC) who survived kidnapping in the last one year. The result of the study showed that SC who received counseling through a visual multimedia (VM) package reported more CC than their counterparts who received counseling through face-to-face setting. The study concludes that VM is a cost-effective way of improving CC of SC who are survivors of kidnapping. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The exclusion of physically disabled children from school physical activity has become a national topic in Nigeria. Meanwhile, nothing has been done in Nigeria to investigate the variables that prevent physically disabled children from participating in routine primary school physical activity, particularly from a qualitative perspective. The purpose of this study was to determine factors affecting the inclusion of children with physical disabilities in regular school physical exercise in a Nigerian primary school using an interpretive descriptive research approach. During the data generation process Semi-structured interviews were used. The study's sample includes 21 physically disabled students from Mbutu Umuojima Community Primary School 1 in the Osisioma Local Government Area of Abia State, Nigeria. The researchers employed thematic content analysis in reporting factors such as lack of self-confidence, stigmatization, discrimination, lack of adapted /modified physical activity, and children’s lack of motivation as among the factors that have contributed to exclusivity of children with physical disabilities in regular school physical exertion The study's findings suggested that forces outside of the children's health may have hampered their inclusion and participation in regular school physical activity, as well as their academic success, implying that lack of or poor participation in school may have hampered their inclusion and participation in regular school physical activity and academic success. Physical disabilities may or may not cause them to engage in physical activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]