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Introduction: Africa bears the largest burden of communicable and non-communicable diseases globally, yet it contributes only about 1 % of global research output, partly because of inaccessibility and low maintenance of medical data. Data is widely recognized as a crucial tool for improvement of population health. Despite the introduction of electronic health data systems in low-and middle-income countries (LMICs) to improve data quality, some LMICs still lack an efficient system to collect and archive data. This study aims to examine the underlying causes of data archive inaccessibility and poor maintenance in LMICS, and to highlight sustainable mitigation measures. Method: Authors conducted a comprehensive search on PubMed, Google scholar, organization websites using the search string “data archive” or “medical data” or “public health statistics” AND “challenges” AND “maintenance” AND “Low Middle Income Countries” or “LMIC”. to Identify relevant studies and reports to be included in our review. All articles related data archive in low and middle income countries were considered without restrictions due to scarcity of data. Result: Medical data archives in LMICs face challenges impacting data quality. Insufficient training, organizational constraints, and limited infrastructure hinder archive maintenance. To improve, support for public datasets, digital literacy, and technology infrastructure is needed. Standardization, cloud solutions, and advanced technologies can enhance data management, while capacity building and training programs are crucial. Conclusion: The creation and maintenance of data archives to facilitate the storage of retrospective datasets is critical to create reliable and consistent data to better equip the development of resilient health systems and surveillance of diseases in LMICs.

In this study, porous carbon has been prepared through potassium hydroxide (KOH) activation of coconut fiber (CF) and subsequent carbonization in the presence of an inert gas. The activated carbons (AC) were prepared via carbonization of the precursor at different temperatures. Subsequently, their electromagnetic wave absorption (EMWA) performance was investigated at X-band frequency. The phase crystallinity, porous features, and degree of graphitization of the activated carbons were studied using XRD, nitrogen adsorption/desorption isotherm, and Raman spectroscopy, respectively. Using the BET method, the activated carbon prepared at 750 °C displayed a high specific surface area of 602.9 m2 g−1 and an average pore size of 6 nm, which confirms the extant of mesopores. The EMWA was studied using COMSOL Multiphysics software based on the finite element method. Results show that the activated carbon prepared at 750 °C attained an optimal reflection loss of −45.6 dB at 10.96 GHz with a corresponding effective bandwidth of 3.5 GHz at a thickness of 3.0 mm. In conclusion, this study interestingly shows that porous carbon obtained from coconut fiber has great potential for attenuating electromagnetic waves. Resumen: En este estudio, el carbono poroso se ha preparado mediante la activación con hidróxido de potasio (KOH) de la fibra de coco (CF) y la posterior carbonización en presencia de un gas inerte. Los carbones activados (AC) se prepararon mediante carbonización del precursor a diferentes temperaturas. Posteriormente, se investigó su rendimiento de absorción de ondas electromagnéticas (EMWA) en la frecuencia de banda X. La cristalinidad de fase, las características porosas y el grado de grafitización de los carbones activados se estudiaron utilizando XRD, isoterma de adsorción/desorción de nitrógeno y espectroscopia Raman, respectivamente. Empleando el método BET, el carbón activado preparado a 750 °C mostró una alta superficie específica de 602,9 m2 g−1 y un tamaño de poro medio de 6 nm, lo que confirma la existencia de mesoporos. La EMWA se estudió utilizando el software COMSOL Multiphysics basado en el método de elementos finitos. Los resultados muestran que el carbón activado preparado a 750 °C alcanzó una pérdida de reflexión óptima de −45,6 dB a 10,96 GHz con un ancho de banda efectivo correspondiente de 3,5 GHz con un grosor de 3,0 mm. En conclusión, este estudio muestra de manera interesante que el carbono poroso obtenido de la fibra de coco tiene un gran potencial para atenuar las ondas electromagnéticas.

The geophysical investigation was conducted using integrated Wenner-Schlumberger Array to determine the extent of waste on soil and groundwater around Madi area of Ilorin West L.G.A of Kwara State, Nigeria. 2-D resistivity meter with a digital read out resistivity meter (ABEM SAS 1000) was used to acquire data on the study area. Contaminant leachate plume was delineated with both electrical sounding curve 1-D and 2-D resistivity sections as low resistivity zones. The results are presented in terms of resistivity, thickness, and depth (1-D). The 2-D sections are identified as bluish zones of lower resistivity (less than 17Ωm-36Ωm) with the depth ranging from 5 m to 40 m. The result of the electrical resistivity survey also showed three layers of geo-electric sections and an H type sounding curve. Groundwater at 5 m and above will pose a major threat to the health of the inhabitants of the study area due to contaminant leaching. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Access to accurate, timely and reliable information has crucial roles in production efficiency of wildlife hunters. An understanding of information needs could propel actors in the agricultural information business to provide information that will meet the needs. To this end, the present study investigated the information needs of wildlife hunters in Kwara State, Nigeria. A three-stage sampling technique was used to select 120 respondents for the study. Primary data collected with the use of interview schedule were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistical tools. The result revealed that hunters’ group (M = 2.48) and consultation with older/experienced hunters (M = 2.02) were the prominent channels of information accessible to the hunters. Information on market situation (M = 2.16), games search techniques and ethics (M = 2.07) and hunting locations (M = 1.98) were the major areas of information needs of the hunters. Also, lack of awareness of extension information source (M = 1.96), inaccessibility of extension workers (M = 1.86) and trust of the information source (M = 1.79) were the major identified obstacles to accessing information from extension channels. The study further showed that age of the hunters, level of education and years of experience have a significant relationship with their information needs at p < 0.05. The study concluded that the hunters have ample information needs and recommends that an arm of extension service operation should be devoted to wildlife with the mandate of hunters’ education on vital areas of wildlife management for improved livelihood.

To tackle the problem of electromagnetic (EM) pollution and the adverse effect of EM interference, tremendous research works have been aimed at the realization of the optimal EM wave absorbing materials. In this study, Fe3O4@C microspheres with a regular size of 5–7 μm were prepared via a simple hydrothermal process and subsequent high-temperature calcination. The carbon microspheres were produced from the pyrolysis of a carboxyl and carbohydrate group. The Fe3O4@C microspheres are made up of Fe3O4 nanoparticles entangled with even distribution on the carbon microsphere. The Fe3O4@C microspheres displayed a good BET surface area (181.89 m2/g). A Fe3O4@C-30 sample exhibited a minimum reflection loss value of −47 dB at 16.89 GHz, with 2.0 mm matching thickness. Large amounts of EM waves transmit through the material due to favorable impedance match at the Fe3O4@C microspheres air interface, this resulted in low reflections of the EM waves at the boundary.

Background/Aims: Ear disease in children is a major public health concern in developing countries. World Health Organization suggests external ear examination for all school entrants in developing countries to identify those with ear discharge and study the extent of ear diseases in the community. The aim of this survey is to screen ears of children attending Ahmadu Bello University staff schools, Zaria and to document the findings. Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional survey conducted at four staff schools of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria between March and May 2013. One thousand and nineteen (1019) consecutive children aged 4-15 years from primary 1 to junior secondary school 3 (JSS 3) were included in this survey. All students were interviewed for the presence or absence of various symptoms of ear diseases followed by ear examination. Results: This survey included 1019 participants, of which 511 (50.1%) and 508 (49.9%) were males and females, respectively. The mean age and standard deviation were 9 and 2.53, respectively. Three hundred and eighty-two (37.5%) of the study population had otologic diseases whereas 637 (62.5%) did not. Impacted wax was the most common otologic disorder observed in 297 (29.1%) followed by otitis media with effusion (tentatively) 43 (4.2%), otomycosis 11 (1.1%), chronic suppurative otitis media 9 (0.9%), preauricular sinus (0.9%), and otitis externa 6 (0.6%). Conclusion: This survey highlights that ear diseases are common among children. Periodic ear examination and health education are essential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Although spinal cord stimulators (SCS) continue to gain acceptance as a viable nonpharmacologic option for the treatment of chronic back pain, recent trends are not well established. The aim of this study was to evaluate recent overall demographic and regional trends in paddle lead SCS placement and to determine if differences in trends exist between private-payer and Medicare beneficiaries. Methods A retrospective review of Medicare and private-payer insurance records from 2007–2014 was performed to identify patients who underwent a primary paddle lead SCS placement via a laminectomy (CPT-63655). Each study cohort was queried to determine the annual rate of SCS placements and demographic characteristics. Yearly SCS implantation rates within the study cohorts were adjusted per 100,000 beneficiaries. A chi-square analysis was used to compare changes in annual rates. Results A total of 31,352 Medicare and 2,935 private-payer patients were identified from 2007 to 2014. Paddle lead SCS placements ranged from 5.9 to 17.5 (p < 0.001), 1.9 to 5.9 (p < 0.001), and 5.2 to 14.5 (p < 0.001) placements per 100,000 Medicare, private-payer, and overall beneficiaries respectively from 2007 to 2014. SCS placements peaked in 2013 with 19.6, 7.1, and 16.8 placements per 100,000 Medicare, private-payer, and overall patients. Conclusion There was an overall increase in the annual rate of SCS placements from 2007 to 2014. Paddle lead SCS placements peaked in 2013 for Medicare, private-payer, and overall beneficiaries. The highest incidence of implantation was in the Southern region of the United States and among females. Yearly adjusted rates of SCSs were higher among Medicare patients at all time points.

Fabrication and investigation of microwave absorbing materials have been widely explored to mitigate the emerging EM pollution. In this study, we prepared magnetite (Fe3O4) nanoparticles via a rare facile sol–gel method followed by a calcination process. Then, Fe3O4 and polyvinylidene fluoride (Fe3O4@PVDF) nanocomposite were prepared and the electromagnetic wave absorption (EMWA) properties were studied using the finite element method. Characterization techniques employed in this study include; X-ray diffraction, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM), Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and Transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The microwave absorption properties of Fe3O4@PVDF were studied at the X-band (8.2–12.4 GHz) and Ku-band (12.4–18 GHz) frequency range. The Fe3O4@PVDF nanocomposite displayed minimum reflection loss of −62.7 dB at 16.9 GHz for 3.5 mm thick sample. These outstanding EMWA coefficients could be attributed to favorable impedance match from outstanding dielectric and magnetic loss mechanisms. Keywords: Microwave absorption property, Magnetite nanoparticles, PVDF, Reflection loss

Objective The aim of the study was to compare trends and differences in preoperative and prolonged postoperative opioid use following spinal cord stimulator (SCS) implantation and to determine factors associated with prolonged postoperative opioid use. Methods A database of private-payer insurance records was queried to identify patients who underwent a primary paddle lead SCS placement via a laminectomy (CPT-C3655) from 2008–2015. Our resulting cohort was stratified into those with prolonged postoperative opioid use, opioid use between 3- and 6-month postoperation, and those without. Multivariate logistic regression was used to determine the effect preoperative opioid use and other factors of interest had on prolonged postoperative opioid use. Subgroup analysis was performed on preoperative opioid users to further quantify the effect of differing magnitudes of preoperative opioid use. Results A total of 2,374 patients who underwent SCS placement were identified. Of all patients, 1,890 patients (79.6%) were identified as having prolonged narcotic use. Annual rates of preoperative (p = 0.023) and prolonged postoperative narcotic use (p < 0.001) decreased over the study period. Significant independent predictors of prolonged postoperative opioid use were age < 65 years (odds ratio [OR], 1.52; p = 0.004), male sex (OR, 1.33; p = 0.037), preoperative anxiolytic (OR, 1.55; p = 0.004) and muscle relaxant (OR, 1.42; p = 0.033), and narcotic use (OR, 15.04; p < 0.001). Increased number of preoperative narcotic prescriptions correlated with increased odds of prolonged postoperative use. Conclusion Patients with greater number of preoperative opioid prescriptions may not attain the same benefit from SCSs as patients with less opioid use. The most significant predictor of prolonged narcotic use was preoperative opioid use.

In this study, scattering parameters of sandstone saturated with brine and nanofluids are evaluated experimentally and numerically for the application in enhanced oil recovery (EOR). Zinc Oxide (ZnO) and Bismuth ferrite BiFeO3 (BFO) nanoparticles were synthesized via facile sol–gel method followed by nanofluid preparation. Sandstone samples were saturated with brine and nanofluids for 48 h. Electromagnetic properties of the saturated sandstones were measured experimentally using the vector network analyzer, and the scattering parameters of the samples were studied numerically by finite element method. BFO displayed higher permeability value of 1.52 and 1.30, as well as superior dielectric permittivity value 11.55 and 6.59 for real and imaginary parts, respectively. In addition, the sandstone saturated with BFO showed an impressive reflection loss (RL) value of −9.77 dB at high frequency. Conclusively, BiFeO3 nanofluids showed the best potential to enhance oil recovery which can be accredited to the superior electromagnetic properties of BFO.

This paper studies convective heat transfer in an unsteady vertical porous channel with suction/injection in the presence of heat generation. A semi-implicit finite difference method was employed to solve the Cartesian coordinate forms of the governing equations. Subsequently, the entropy generation number for varying values of intrinsic parameters, as well as the temperature and velocity profile, Bejan number and irreversibility of the system were successfully calculated. We observed that the convective cooling by suction is more effective on thermal properties than injection convective cooling. Hence, the process of entropy can be enhanced by convective heat transfer and viscous dissipation.

Electromagnetic wave is a viable means of introducing energy into reservoirs for the recovery of residual oil. However, previous studies have not considered the precise frequency of the electromagnetic (EM) wave. These studies focused on EM heating, not considering the efficiency dependence of EM transmitter and EM propagation on the EM properties of the medium. Thus, sandstone effective permittivity was experimentally measured, and electrical conductivity calculated for different saturation stages encountered in the nanofluid enhanced oil recovery process. The effective permittivity at the resonant frequency of the sandstone increased from 10.94 to 19.1 with a simultaneous frequency shift from 1.2 to 0.6 GHz due to the inclusion of magnetite nanofluid. This implies that the maximum transfer of EM energy for stimulation and activation of injected nanofluid can be achieved by irradiating the EM wave of this frequency within the reservoir for mobilization of the residual oil.

High dietary sugar consumption from snack can be reduced by replacing sucrose fraction with healthier sweeteners. Potentials of African locust bean pulp (ALBP) as replacement for sucrose in biscuit production from cassava-wheat flour was evaluated. ALBP was manually extracted from the yellow fruit of African locust bean and oven-dried. Sucrose contents were replaced with ALBP at 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100% in biscuit formulation using standard recipe. Baked biscuit samples were evaluated for chemical (proximate composition, minerals and phytochemical) and physicochemicals (vitamin C, Carotenoids, Total sugar, Brix and pH) properties, using standard methods. Sensory properties were evaluated on a nine-point hedonic scale by thirty panelists. Data were analysed using ANOVA at p

Category: Ankle, Ankle Arthritis Introduction/Purpose: While ankle arthrodesis (AA) has long been considered the gold standard treatment for ankle arthritis, total ankle arthroplasty (TAA) has become increasingly popular with improving implant designs. Although AA is currently performed more frequently than TAA, it has been associated with increased pain/degeneration, and loss of function in adjacent joints of the foot. Contrastingly, TAA has been suggested to preserve motion of the ankle while reducing the stress imposed on other areas of the foot. However, it has been questioned whether TAA may carry a higher risk for hardware failure and infection. The purpose of this study was to assess complications associated with these two surgical methods, and compare patient characteristics for better risk stratification when choosing to perform one procedure over the other. Methods: Query was performed using the Pearl Diver Patient Records Database (Pearl Diver Inc., Colorado Springs, CO), which contains all Medicare patient records from 2008-2014. All patients who underwent an arthroscopic/open AA (CPT-27870; 29899) or TAA (CPT: 27870, 29899) were identified. Perioperative complications within the 30-day period following operation were identified and categorized as major complications (mortality, surgical site infections, myocardial infarctions, pulmonary embolisms, deep venous thromboembolisms, cerebral vascular accidents, sepsis, peri-prosthetic fracture, and peripheral nerve injury), minor complications, and 30-day readmission rate. Upon matching patients for age, gender, and body mass index, t-tests were used to analyze differences in continuous variables, while chi-squared analyses were utilized for categorical variables. An adjusted multivariate logistic regression model was generated to assess for independent associations between the two procedures and postoperative outcomes. Results were considered significant at p

Magnetite (Fe3O4) have been thoroughly investigated as microwave absorbing material due to its excellent electromagnetic properties (permittivity and permeability) and favorable saturation magnetization. However, large density and impedance mismatch are some of the limiting factors that hinder its microwave absorption performance (MAP). Herein, Fe3O4 nanoparticles prepared by facile co-precipitation method have been coated with citric acid and embedded in a polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) matrix. The coated Fe3O4 nanoparticles were characterized by X-ray diffraction spectrometer (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). COMSOL Multiphysics based on the finite element method was used to simulate the rectangular waveguide at X-band and Ku-band frequency range in three-dimensional geometry. The citric acid coated Fe3O4/PVDF composite with 40 wt.% filler loading displayed good microwave absorption ability over the studied frequency range (8.2−18 GHz). A minimum reflection loss of −47.3 dB occurs at 17.9 GHz with 2.5 mm absorber thickness. The composite of citric acid coated Fe3O4 and PVDF was thus verified as a potential absorptive material with improved MAP. These enhanced absorption coefficients can be ascribed to favorable impedance match and moderate attenuation.

Lung cancer associated with neurofibromatosis type I is considered very rare, and only a few case reports have been described in the literature. There is some evidence that a genetic linkage between neurofibromatosis and carcinogenesis in the lung may exist. We present a 42-year-old female, lifetime nonsmoker with a known history of neurofibromatosis type I, free of respiratory symptoms, who underwent a low-dose HRCT of the lungs to investigate any occult interstitial lung changes. A solitary ill-defined nodule of a ground-glass opacity was detected incidentally in the middle lobe with no associated lymphadenopathy or metastatic disease. Several thin-walled lung cysts were also seen in the lower lobes. Histological analysis of the nodule after middle lobectomy revealed well-differentiated adenocarcinoma. The patient did not receive systemic chemotherapy or radiotherapy. She was free of disease on 18-month followup.

Background: Anti-retroviral therapy (ART) using Highly Action Anti-retroviral Therapy (HAART) has led to considerable reduction in morbidity and mortality associated with human Immune deficiency virus (HIV) infection. This has led to increased life expectancy in HIV infection individual on one hand, and side effect of chronic administration of these drugs on the other. One of such untoward effects is the association of antiretroviral drugs especially the protease inhibitors (PI') with metabolic derangements such as dyslipidaemia, lipodystrophy, insulin resistance and rarely diabetes mellitus. Although there is extensive literature in this dysmetabolic syndrome in the Western World; there is to our knowledge no previous report from West Africa. Objective: To raise awareness of practitioners in the West African sub-region on the metabolic complications of HAART. Method: A ease report of dysmetabolic syndrome manifesting with dyslipidaemia, lipodystrophy, and diabetes mellitus six months after the introduction of second line drugs which includes a PI in a 48 years old Nigerian male. Conclusion: Awareness and high index of suspicion would be required not to miss the metabolic complication of ART especially now that there is improved access to these agents in the subregion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Kartagener syndrome consists of congenital bronchiectasis, sinusitis, and total situs inversus in half of the patients. A patient diagnosed with Kartagener syndrome was reffered to our department due to 3-vessel coronary disease. An off-pump coronary artery bypass operation was performed using both internal thoracic arteries and a saphenous vein graft. We performed a literature review for cases with Kartagener syndrome, coronary surgery and dextrocardia. Although a few cases of dextrocardia were found in the literature, no case of Kartagener syndrome was mentioned.

Background: Expanding access to equitable health insurance is an important lever towards the overall strategy for achieving universal health coverage. In Nigeria, health insurance coverage is low with a renewed government action on increasing access to and coverage of high-quality healthcare services to citizens, particularly for the vulnerable and poor population. Therefore, our study co-creates the priorities for expanding health insurance in Nigeria, focusing on key policy reforms, public advocacy, and innovative financing strategies to ensure broader and more equitable coverage for the population., Methodology: We employed a Delphi approach methodology through strategic health insurance meetings with a diverse multidisciplinary panel of 125 stakeholders including representatives of accredited Health Insurance Maintenance Organizations, Heads of States Social Health Insurance Agencies, Development Partners representatives, academics, government officials, national health insurance authority expanded management team and experts in health insurance across all the states of Nigeria to recommend specific actions towards health insurance expansion and universal health coverage in Nigeria., Results: The participants/panels were able to come up with a consensus on 66 priorities for health insurance expansion in Nigeria working with stakeholders within the Nigerian health insurance ecosystem across the 36 states and Nigeria's FCT. From these priorities, seven priority areas and 17 themes were derived that should be considered by the government, policymakers, regulators, and practitioners to deepen health insurance penetration in Nigeria. These seven priority areas that have been identified include enrolment, equity, organizational health and structure, data and technology, quality, market efficiency, and citizen engagement., Conclusion: The priorities identified for health insurance expansion in Nigeria will go a long way in shaping health insurance. We hope that government, policymakers, regulators, and practitioners in the health ecosystem will use these social policy actions to set priorities for increasing health insurance coverage and address inadequacies to accelerate the drive towards the attainment of UHC by 2030., Competing Interests: Declarations. Ethics approval and consent to participate: Ethical clearance was sought for and obtained from the Health Research Ethics Committee of the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA REC: 2023/IR/09) before the commencement of the study. The nature and objectives of the study were explained to each participant and assurance of confidentiality and anonymity was given with an option to opt-out at any time, and a written consent for participation in the study by way of signing the consent form was obtained. Participants were made to understand that participation in the study was completely voluntary ab initio, and individuals who did not consent to participate in the study were exempted. The respondents’ right to voluntary participation and right to withdraw at any stage of the study, or absolute refusal to participate in the study was equally emphasized and duly respected and was not made to affect the participation of subsequent meetings or engagement in any way. Finally, respondents were made to understand that participation in this study would not cause any physical harm to them. In the same vein, participants were made to understand that as part of the benefit of participating in the study, findings from the study would be used by policymakers to formulate and implement policies and practice frameworks that would enhance health insurance coverage in Nigeria. By participating in the research, participants were willing to contribute towards achieving these set objectives towards building a healthier and more productive population. The research was also conducted by Helsinki Ethical Principles for Medical Research involving human participants and the local guidelines as outlined in the ethical approval guidelines. Consent for publication: Not applicable. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2025. The Author(s).)

Study Design: A prospective observational study., Objectives: To explore the potential utility of the Coin Test as a valuable tool for assessing and diagnosing cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM)., Methods: In the first cohort, 36 patients with balance issues were assessed for CSM using the new Coin Test. In the second cohort, the Coin Test and mJOA scores were compared in 36 CSM patients before and 6 weeks after surgery., Results: Among the 36 patients with balance problems who failed tandem gait test, 15 out of 16 (94%) CSM patients failed the Coin Test. The other 20 patients (56%) without CSM completed the Coin Test successfully but failed the tandem gait test for various reasons. The Coin Test demonstrated high specificity (100%) and sensitivity (94%) for diagnosing CSM in patients who failed tandem gait test. In the second cohort, the mJOA score improved significantly from 12 to 15 6 weeks postoperatively, and the Coin Test completion time decreased from 29.5 seconds to 16.4 seconds postoperatively ( P < 0.0001). Higher mJOA scores correlate with better performance (shorter time) on the Coin Test, both at baseline and 6 weeks post-surgery., Conclusion: The Coin Test is a useful tool for evaluating hand fine motor and sensory function in CSM patients with high specificity. It also can serve as a tool for assessing surgical outcomes in patients with CSM., Competing Interests: Declaration of Conflicting InterestsThe author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Introduction: Globally, hypertension is considered a public health problem affecting over 1.3 billion individuals of which 60% need reminders to take medication to achieve adherence, optimal blood pressure and avert complications. Literature shows electronic short message reminders (eSMS) improved medication adherence., Objective: To determine the effect of e-SMS reminders on medication adherence among hypertensive patients in Katsina State., Methods: A quasi-experimental study was employed to determine the effect of e-SMS reminders on medication adherence among 252 control and 252 intervention groups selected using a multistage sampling technique. e-SMS reminders were sent to the intervention group only. Data was collected using a pretested interviewer-administered questionnaire, and analysed using IBM-SPSS-25, while medication adherence was assessed using the 8-item Modified Morisky Adherence Scale., Results: The commonest respondents' age group was 40-49 years (23.8%) and Male-Female ratio was 0.8:1 Majority were Hausas (97.6%) by tribe and Muslims (98%). Adherence in the study group was 59.5% and 75.9% (P<0.001) that of the control group was 63.1% and 66% at pre and post-intervention stages respectively. Factors associated with adherence in the intervention group were sex, occupation, insurance coverage, and being in the 4th wealth quintile. e-SMS reminder increased adherence in the intervention groups by >16% (P<0.001) In the control group, males were 3.4 times more likely to adhere to medication than females (aOR 3.4; 95% CI 1.4-8.3) while in the intervention group, business tycoons were 3 times more likely to adhere to medication than other occupations (aOR 3.7; 95% CI 1.006-13.75;)., Conclusion: e-SMS reminders significantly increased adherence to the intervention. Determinants of adherence were occupation, male sex, insurance coverage, and being in the 4th wealth quintile. It is recommended that the State Hospital Management Board integrate e-SMS reminders as part of hypertension treatment protocols due to their potential to improve medication adherence., Competing Interests: The Authors declare that no competing interest exists, (Copyright © 2024 by West African Journal of Medicine.)

Objective: To describe the incidence, and sociodemographic and clinical factors associated with preterm birth and perinatal mortality in Nigeria., Design: Secondary analysis of data collected through the Maternal Perinatal Database for Quality, Equity and Dignity (MPD-4-QED) Programme., Setting: Data from births in 54 referral-level hospitals across Nigeria between 1 September 2019 and 31 August 2020., Population: A total of 69 698 births., Methods: Multilevel modelling was used to determine the factors associated with preterm birth and perinatal mortality., Outcome Measures: Preterm birth and preterm perinatal mortality., Results: Of 62 383 live births, 9547 were preterm (153 per 1000 live births). Maternal age (<20 years - adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.52, 95% CI 1.36-1.71; >35 years - aOR 1.23, 95% CI 1.16-1.30), no formal education (aOR 1.68, 95% CI 1.54-1.84), partner not gainfully employed (aOR 1.94, 95% CI 1.61-2.34) and no antenatal care (aOR 2.62, 95% CI 2.42-2.84) were associated with preterm births. Early neonatal mortality for preterm neonates was 47.2 per 1000 preterm live births (451/9547). Father's occupation (manual labour aOR 1.52, 95% CI 1.20-1.93), hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (aOR 1.37, 95% CI 1.02-1.83), no antenatal care (aOR 2.74, 95% CI 2.04-3.67), earlier gestation (28 to <32 weeks - aOR 2.94, 95% CI 2.15-4.10; 32 to <34 weeks - aOR 1.80, 95% CI 1.3-2.44) and birthweight <1000 g (aOR 21.35, 95% CI 12.54-36.33) were associated with preterm perinatal mortality., Conclusions: Preterm birth and perinatal mortality in Nigeria are high. Efforts should be made to enhance access to quality health care during pregnancy, delivery and the neonatal period, and improve the parental socio-economic status., (© 2024 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Objective: To determine the prevalence of primary postpartum haemorrhage (PPH), risk factors, and maternal and neonatal outcomes in a multicentre study across Nigeria., Design: A secondary data analysis using a cross-sectional design., Setting: Referral-level hospitals (48 public and six private facilities)., Population: Women admitted for birth between 1 September 2019 and 31 August 2020., Methods: Data collected over a 1-year period from the Maternal and Perinatal Database for Quality, Equity and Dignity programme in Nigeria were analysed, stratified by mode of delivery (vaginal or caesarean), using a mixed-effects logistic regression model., Main Outcome Measures: Prevalence of PPH and maternal and neonatal outcomes., Results: Of 68 754 women, 2169 (3.2%, 95% CI 3.07%-3.30%) had PPH, with a prevalence of 2.7% (95% CI 2.55%-2.85%) and 4.0% (95% CI 3.75%-4.25%) for vaginal and caesarean deliveries, respectively. Factors associated with PPH following vaginal delivery were: no formal education (aOR 2.2, 95% CI 1.8-2.6, P < 0.001); multiple pregnancy (aOR 2.7, 95% CI 2.1-3.5, P < 0.001); and antepartum haemorrhage (aOR 11.7, 95% CI 9.4-14.7, P < 0.001). Factors associated with PPH in a caesarean delivery were: maternal age of >35 years (aOR 1.7, 95% CI 1.5-2.0, P < 0.001); referral from informal setting (aOR 2.4, 95% CI 1.4-4.0, P = 0.002); and antepartum haemorrhage (aOR 3.7, 95% CI 2.8-4.7, P < 0.001). Maternal mortality occurred in 4.8% (104/2169) of deliveries overall, and in 8.5% (101/1182) of intensive care unit admissions. One-quarter of all infants were stillborn (570/2307), representing 23.9% (429/1796) of neonatal intensive care unit admissions., Conclusions: A PPH prevalence of 3.2% can be reduced with improved access to skilled birth attendants., (© 2024 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Lagos state remains the epicenter of COVID-19 infection in Nigeria. To facilitate the emergency preparedness and response to COVID-19, the State Governor and Incident Commander constituted a Think Tank comprising 13 experts from various disciplines committed to the health of the public. The Think Tank assisted the government with decision-making strategies and supported the emergency operation centre (EOC) for the COVID-19 response. Their main achievements were developing frameworks for decision-making and strategies for phased easing of the State-wide lockdown. The challenges encountered were that it was often viewed as a parallel structure to the EOC and separated from the traditional civil service structure; causing some reluctance to implement ideas generated by the Think Tank. Nevertheless, the Think Tank played an important role during the COVID-19 pandemic; the lessons learned might help other states and resource-limited countries wishing to adopt this approach to emergency response., (Copyright © 2024 Copyright: © 2024 Annals of African Medicine.)

Study Design: Retrospective database analysis., Objectives: To study postoperative complication rates following anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) in patients with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) compared with patients without EDS., Methods: The Mariner database was utilized to identify patients with EDS undergoing one or two level anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF). Postoperative short-term outcomes assessed included medical complications, readmissions, and ED-visits within 90 days of surgery. Additionally, surgical complications including wound complications, surgical site infection, one- and two-year anterior revision along with posterior revision, pseudarthrosis, and hardware failure within 2 years were assessed. Multivariate logistic regression was used to adjust for demographic variables, comorbidities and number of levels operated on., Results: The present study identified 533 patients in the EDS group and 2634 patients in the matched control group. EDS patients undergoing ACDF are at an increased risk for 90-day major medical complications (OR 3.31; P < .001). EDS patients were also found to be associated with surgical complications including wound complications (OR 2.94; P < .001), surgical site infection (OR 8.60; P < .001) within 90 days, pseudarthrosis (OR 2.33; P < .001), instrument failure (OR 4.03; P < .001), anterior revision (OR 22.87; P < .001), and posterior revision (OR 3.17; P < .001) within 2 years., Conclusions: EDS is associated with higher rates of both medical and surgical complications following ACDF. Spine surgeons should be cognizant of the increased risks in this population to provide appropriate preoperative counseling and enhanced perioperative medical management., Competing Interests: Declaration of Conflicting InterestsThe author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Background: Client satisfaction is a multidimensional construct focusing on clients' perceptions and evaluations of the treatment and care received. It is one of the factors affecting the outcomes of healthcare and the use of health services. Therefore, we aimed to assess clients' satisfaction with PHC services in Kaduna State, Northwest Nigeria., Methodology: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted in Kaduna State, Northwest, Nigeria which evaluate the satisfaction of clients and caregivers accessing healthcare in PHC centres. A sample size of 217 was determined using Fisher's formula, with a multi-stage sampling technique used to randomly select eligible respondents, who have accessed at least a PHC service in any of the PHCs in the State were included in the study, A semi-structured, interviewer-administered questionnaire was administered, and the data collected was analyzed using SPSS version 23.0. Appropriate statistical tests were used to examine the association between dependent and independent variables, while predictor variables that showed significant association with the outcome variables were further subjected to logistic regression analysis, to determine factors that affect clients' satisfaction with PHC services. Statistical significance was determined at an alpha level set at 0.05 at a 95% confidence interval., Results: Thirty-one percent of the respondents were satisfied with PHC services in Kaduna State with a mean composite satisfaction score of 3.78 ± 0.67. Age, ethnicity, level of education, and occupational status were factors affecting clients' satisfaction with PHC services among the respondents. On multivariate analysis, age, ethnicity, educational status, and occupational status were significant factors affecting clients' satisfaction with PHC services. Clients of Hausa/Fulani extraction are one and a half times less likely to be satisfied with PHC services when compared to clients from other tribes [aOR = 1.5, 95% CI (1.21-4.67); p = 0.003]. In terms of educational status, clients with formal education are one and a one-third times more likely to be satisfied [aOR = 1.3, 95% CI (0.17-0.94)] with PHC service when compared with their counterparts with informal education (p = 0.034)., Conclusion: Clients' satisfaction with PHC services in Kaduna State, Northwest Nigeria was sub-optimal. Healthcare providers were recommended to improve their attitude bearing in mind clients' peculiarities., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Introduction: Between 2000 and 2015, significant gains were recorded in reducing the global burden of malaria due to enhanced global collaboration and increased funding. However, progress has stagnated post-2015, and the COVID-19 pandemic seems to have reversed some of these gains, necessitating a critical reevaluation of interventions. This paper aims to analyze the setbacks and offer recommendations for advancement in malaria control and prevention in sub-Saharan Africa., Methods: We conducted searches on Google Scholar, PubMed, and relevant organization websites to identify relevant studies on malaria control and prevention and associated challenges in sub-Saharan Africa from 2015 to the present. Additionally, studies on individual sub-Saharan African countries were reviewed to ensure comprehensiveness. Data from selected studies were extracted and analyzed using a narrative synthesis approach to offer a concise overview of the evidence., Findings: We observe that the halt in progress of malaria control in sub-Saharan Africa has deep roots in socioeconomic, political, and environmental factors. These challenges are exacerbated by the population explosion in the region, low coverage of interventions due to funding deficits and incessant crises, and the degradation of the efficacy of existing malaria commodities., Conclusion: Sub-Saharan Africa is at a crossroads in its fight against malaria. Promising new frontiers such as malaria vaccines, preventive monoclonal antibodies, new-generation insecticide-treated nets, and potentially artificial intelligence-driven technologies offer hope in advancing malaria control and prevention in the region. Through commitment and collaboration, leveraging these opportunities can help surmount challenges and ultimately eliminate malaria in sub-Saharan Africa., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest., (© 2024 The Author(s). Health Science Reports published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Study Design: Retrospective cohort study., Objective: The aim of this study was to compare the outcomes of pedicle subtraction osteotomy (PSO) with multilevel anterior lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF) and lateral lumbar interbody fusion (LLIF) in posterior long-segment fusion., Background: PSO and ALIF/LLIF are 2 techniques used to restore lumbar lordosis and correct sagittal alignment, with each holding its unique advantages and disadvantages. As there are situations where both techniques can be employed, it is important to compare the risks and benefits of both., Patients and Methods: Patients aged 18 years or older who underwent PSO or multilevel ALIF/LLIF with posterior fusion of 7-12 levels and pelvic fixation were identified. 1:1 propensity score was used to match PSO and ALIF/LLIF cohorts for age, sex, and relevant comorbidities, including smoking status. Logistic regression was used to compare medical and surgical outcomes. Trends and costs were generated for both groups as well., Results: ALIF/LLIF utilization in posterior long fusion has been steadily increasing since 2010, whereas PSO utilization has significantly dropped since 2017. PSO was associated with an increased risk of durotomy ( P < 0.001) and neurological injury ( P = 0.018). ALIF/LLIF was associated with increased rates of postoperative radiculopathy ( P = 0.005). Patients who underwent PSO had higher rates of pseudarthrosis within 1 and 2 years ( P = 0.015; P = 0.010), 1-year hardware failure ( P = 0.028), and 2-year reinsertion of instrumentation ( P = 0.009). Reoperation rates for both approaches were not statistically different at any time point throughout the 5-year period. In addition, there were no significant differences in both procedural and 90-day postoperative costs., Conclusions: PSO was associated with higher rates of surgical complications compared with anterior approaches. However, there was no significant difference in overall reoperation rates. Spine surgeons should select the optimal technique for a given patient and the type of lordotic correction required., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Parkinson's disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by motor and non-motor symptoms, including hallucinations. The use of antipsychotic medications is a common strategy to manage hallucinations associated with Parkinson's disease psychosis (PDP). However, careful consideration is necessary when selecting the most appropriate drug due to the potential risks associated with the available treatment options. Atypical antipsychotics (AAPs), such as Pimavanserin and Clozapine, have effectively controlled PDP symptoms. On the contrary, the support for utilizing quetiapine is not as substantial as other antipsychotics because research studies specifically investigating its application are still emerging and relatively recent. The broad mechanisms of action of AAPs, involving dopamine and serotonin receptors, provide improved outcomes and fewer side effects than typical antipsychotics. Conversely, other antipsychotics, including risperidone, olanzapine, aripiprazole, ziprasidone, and lurasidone, have been found to worsen motor symptoms and are generally not recommended for PDP. While AAPs offer favorable benefits, they are associated with specific adverse effects. Extrapyramidal symptoms, somnolence, hypotension, constipation, and cognitive impairment are commonly observed with AAP use. Clozapine, in particular, carries a risk of agranulocytosis, necessitating close monitoring of blood counts. Pimavanserin, a selective serotonin inverse agonist, avoids receptor-related side effects but has been linked to corrected QT (QTc) interval prolongation, while quetiapine has been reported to be associated with an increased risk of mortality. This review aims to analyze the benefits, risks, and mechanisms of action of antipsychotic medications to assist clinicians in making informed decisions and enhance patient care., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest. Athanasios Alexiou and Ghulam Md Ashraf are serving as the Guest editors of this journal. We declare that Athanasios Alexiou and Ghulam Md Ashraf had no involvement in the peer review of this article and has no access to information regarding its peer review. Full responsibility for the editorial process for this article was delegated to Gernot Riedel. Additionally Athanasios Alexiou is employed by AFNP Med Austria but he declares no conflict of interest with this work., (© 2024 The Author(s). Published by IMR Press.)

Study Design: Retrospective Cohort., Objective: This study utilized a large national database to compare two-year revision rates, in addition to complications and costs, of hybrid surgery (HS) compared to two-level anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF)., Methods: This study used the PearlDiver Mariner dataset selecting for patients aged 18 and older who had at least 90-day active longitudinal follow-up who underwent two-level ACDF or two-level Hybrid surgery (single level ACDF and single level CDA). Patients with prior spinal trauma, infection, cancer, or posterior fusion were excluded. Primary outcomes measures were 90-day major and minor medical complications, ED visits, readmissions, as well as two-year revisions. Patients were also assessed for postoperative dysphagia, incidental durotomy, vascular injury, 90-day surgical site, and implant complications. Additionally, hospitalization and postoperative costs were evaluated., Results: There were 4570 two-level ACDF surgeries and 888 hybrid surgeries. After matching the cohorts, no statistical differences in demographics were found. There were no differences in reoperation rates at all measured time points nor 2-year complications. HS had a lower incidence of major (1.6% vs 3.1%, P = .003) and minor complications (3.0% vs 4.6%, P = .009) than ACDF. 90-day readmission was lower in the HS cohort (2.8% vs 4.2%), P = .024. HS was associated with reduced hospitalization costs -$2614 (-$3916 to -$904, P < .001). 3516 patients had ACDF, and 699 had HS with at least 2 years of follow-up., Conclusion: Hybrid surgery is a safe and effective surgical treatment for cervical disease in appropriately selected patients., Competing Interests: Declaration of Conflicting InterestsThe author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

In organic reactivity studies, quantum chemical calculations play a pivotal role as the foundation of understanding and machine learning model development. While prevalent black-box methods like density functional theory (DFT) and coupled-cluster theory (e.g., CCSD(T)) have significantly advanced our understanding of chemical reactivity, they frequently fall short in describing multiconfigurational transition states and intermediates. Achieving a more accurate description necessitates the use of multireference methods. However, these methods have not been used at scale due to their often-faulty predictions without expert input. Here, we overcome this deficiency with automated multiconfigurational pair-density functional theory (MC-PDFT) calculations. We apply this method to 908 automatically generated organic reactions. We find 68% of these reactions present significant multiconfigurational character in which the automated multiconfigurational approach often provides a more accurate and/or efficient description than DFT and CCSD(T). This work presents the first high-throughput application of automated multiconfigurational methods to reactivity, enabled by automated active space selection algorithms and the computation of electronic correlation with MC-PDFT on-top functionals. This approach can be used in a black-box fashion, avoiding significant active space inconsistency error in both single- and multireference cases and providing accurate multiconfigurational descriptions when needed., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing financial interest., (© 2024 The Authors. Published by American Chemical Society.)

Tumor progression and eradication have long piqued the scientific community's interest. Recent discoveries about the role of chemokines and cytokines in these processes have fueled renewed interest in related research. These roles are frequently viewed as contentious due to their ability to both suppress and promote cancer progression. As a result, this review critically appraised existing literature to discuss the unique roles of cytokines and chemokines in the tumor microenvironment, as well as the existing challenges and future opportunities for exploiting these roles to develop novel and targeted treatments. While these modulatory molecules play an important role in tumor suppression via enhanced cancer-cell identification by cytotoxic effector cells and directly recruiting immunological effector cells and stromal cells in the TME, we observed that they also promote tumor proliferation. Many cytokines, including GM-CSF, IL-7, IL-12, IL-15, IL-18, and IL-21, have entered clinical trials for people with advanced cancer, while the FDA has approved interferon-alpha and IL-2. Nonetheless, low efficacy and dose-limiting toxicity limit these agents' full potential. Conversely, Chemokines have tremendous potential for increasing cancer immune-cell penetration of the tumor microenvironment and promoting beneficial immunological interactions. When chemokines are combined with cytokines, they activate lymphocytes, producing IL-2, CD80, and IL-12, all of which have a strong anticancer effect. This phenomenon opens the door to the development of effective anticancer combination therapies, such as therapies that can reverse cancer escape, and chemotaxis of immunosuppressive cells like Tregs, MDSCs, and TAMs., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: Children with sickle cell anemia (SCA) are at high risk for stroke. Protocols for stroke prevention including blood transfusions, screening for abnormal non-imaging transcranial Doppler (TCD) measurements, and hydroxyurea therapy are difficult to implement in low-resource environments like Nigeria. This study aimed to examine the contextual factors around TCD screening in a community hospital in Nigeria using qualitative interviews and focus groups., Methods: We conducted a descriptive qualitative study in a community hospital in Kaduna, Nigeria, using focus groups and interviews. Interview guides and analysis were informed by the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) framework and the Theory of Planned Behavior. Transcripts were coded and analyzed using an iterative deductive (CFIR)/Inductive (transcribed quotes) qualitative methodology., Results: We conducted two focus groups and five interviews with health care workers (nurses and doctors) and hospital administrators, respectively. Themes identified key elements of the inner setting (clinic characteristics, resource availability, implementation climate, and tension for change), characteristics of individuals (normative, control, and behavioral beliefs), and the implementation process (engage, implement, and adopt), as well as factors that were influenced by external context, caregiver needs, team function, and intervention characteristics. Task shifting, which is already being used, was viewed by providers and administrators as a necessary strategy to implement TCD screening in a clinic environment that is overstressed and under-resourced, a community stressed by poverty, and a nation with an underperforming health system., Conclusion: Task shifting provides a viable option to improve health care by making more efficient use of already available human resources while rapidly expanding the human resource pool and building capacity for TCD screening of children with SCD that is more sustainable., Trial Registration: NCT05434000., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Background: Aeromonas species are one of the most important etiologies of diseases in fish farms, leading to clinical manifestation and mortality and are associated with public health risks. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence, phenotypic and molecular characteristics of Aeromonas species isolated from farmed Clarias gariepinus using 16 S rRNA sequencing. Additionally, their antibiogram and multiple antibiotic resistance index were determined using a disc diffusion test., Results: A total of 230 Aeromonas strains were isolated from Clarias gariepinus with 40.9% obtained from diseased fish, and 25% isolated from apparently healthy ones. Five different species including Aeromonas caviae, Aeromonas veronii, Aeromonas hydrophila, Aeromonas dhakensis and Aeromonas enteropelogenes were fully identified and genetically characterized. Based on the available literature, this is the first report of Aeromonas enteropelogenes from the study area. The phylogenetic analysis showed genetic heterogeneity and distance within the species and the reference strains. The multiple resistant Aeromonas species were susceptible to ciprofloxacin, gentamycin, and florfenicol. The Aeromonas species' multiple antibiotic resistance index values varied between 0.20 and 0.80 and were isolated from the farms where antibiotics were intensively used., Conclusions: The diversity of multidrug-resistant Aeromonas species isolated from fish farms is a major threat to fish production giving us more understanding of epidemiology and the multidrug Aeromonas species with a MAR index of greater than 0.2 were isolated from farms where antibiotic use was widespread. As a result, a considerably increased danger of multiple antibiotic resistance spreading to the fish culture environment may impact aquaculture production. Hence there is a need for appropriate and monitored drug usage., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Competing Interests: Disclosure of interest: The authors completed the ICMJE Disclosure of Interest Form (available upon request from the corresponding author) and disclosed no relevant interests.

Introduction: The introduction of the diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (DTP) vaccine into childhood immunization programs resulted in its widespread elimination in high-income countries. However, Nigeria is currently experiencing an outbreak. The primary cause of diphtheria outbreaks and its high mortality rates in Nigeria was waning herd immunity due to low DTP coverage and a lack of diphtheria antitoxin (DAT), respectively. However, the underlying causes of Nigeria's low DTP coverage and DAT supply remain unknown., Method: Relevant studies and reports included in our review were obtained by a search through Google Scholar, PubMed, and organization websites using the terms "Diphtheria-Pertussis-Tetanus vaccine OR Diphtheria antitoxin and Nigeria OR Diphtheria Outbreak." All articles considering diphtheria outbreaks, DTP vaccine, and DAT supply in Nigeria were considered without time restriction due to the paucity of data. We used the narrative synthesis approach to critically appraise, analyze, and draw inferences from the selected articles., Results: The main causes of low DTP coverage are insufficient supply, an inefficient cold chain system, and low uptake due to poor health literacy and negative sociocultural and religious beliefs, whereas the key barriers to DAT availability are insufficient production by pharmaceutical industries because of low demand and priority., Conclusion: The underlying causes of Nigeria's low DTP coverage and DAT supply are multifactorial. Both short-term and long-term measures are needed to control this outbreak and prevent future occurrences., (© 2023 The Authors. Immunity, Inflammation and Disease published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Introduction: Africa bears the largest burden of communicable and non-communicable diseases globally, yet it contributes only about 1 % of global research output, partly because of inaccessibility and low maintenance of medical data. Data is widely recognized as a crucial tool for improvement of population health. Despite the introduction of electronic health data systems in low-and middle-income countries (LMICs) to improve data quality, some LMICs still lack an efficient system to collect and archive data. This study aims to examine the underlying causes of data archive inaccessibility and poor maintenance in LMICS, and to highlight sustainable mitigation measures., Method: Authors conducted a comprehensive search on PubMed, Google scholar, organization websites using the search string "data archive" or "medical data" or "public health statistics" AND "challenges" AND "maintenance" AND "Low Middle Income Countries" or "LMIC". to Identify relevant studies and reports to be included in our review. All articles related data archive in low and middle income countries were considered without restrictions due to scarcity of data., Result: Medical data archives in LMICs face challenges impacting data quality. Insufficient training, organizational constraints, and limited infrastructure hinder archive maintenance. To improve, support for public datasets, digital literacy, and technology infrastructure is needed. Standardization, cloud solutions, and advanced technologies can enhance data management, while capacity building and training programs are crucial., Conclusion: The creation and maintenance of data archives to facilitate the storage of retrospective datasets is critical to create reliable and consistent data to better equip the development of resilient health systems and surveillance of diseases in LMICs., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest Authors wish to declare no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

The Ebola virus, a member of the filoviridae family of viruses, is responsible for causing Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) with a case fatality rate as high as 50%. The largest EVD outbreak was recorded in West Africa from March 2013 to June 2016, leading to over 28 000 cases and 11 000 deaths. It affected several countries, including Nigeria, Senegal, Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone. Until then, EVD was predominantly reported in remote villages in central and west Africa close to tropical rainforests. Human mobility, behavioral and cultural norms, the use of bushmeat, burial customs, preference for traditional remedies and treatments, and resistance to health interventions are just a few of the social factors that considerably aid and amplify the risk of transmission. The scale and persistence of recent ebola outbreaks, as well as the risk of widespread global transmission and its ability for bioterrorism, have led to a rethinking of public health strategies to curb the disease, such as the expedition of Ebola vaccine production. However, as vaccine production lags in the subcontinent, among other challenges, the risk of another ebola outbreak is likely and feared by public health authorities in the region. This review describes the inequality of vaccine production in Africa and the resurgence of EVD, emphasizing the significance of health equality., (© 2023 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Background: Over the last two decades, global stakeholders and the Nigerian government have invested approximately $2 billion in malaria control, reducing parasite prevalence to 23% from 42% to 2010. However, there is a risk that the modest gains will be reversed due to unmet resource gaps. Backward integration is presented in this paper as a viable option for sustainable funding of malaria intervention commodities in Nigeria., Methods: Following a critical appraisal of the resource profile and malaria expenditure, a conceptual framework on backward integration as a means of ensuring long-term supply of malaria intervention commodities was developed. The study analysed secondary annual data from the National Malaria Elimination Programme to estimate commodity needs for the period 2018-2020, as well as total resources committed and the financial gap., Results: The funds needed to implement national malaria interventions from 2018 to 2020 totaled US$ 1,122,332,318, of which US$ 531,228,984 (47.3%) were funded. The Nigerian government contributed 2.5%, the Global Fund (26.7%), the President's Malaria Initiative (16.5%), and the UK Department for International Development (6.2%). The funding shortfall was $591,103,335, or 52.7% of the needs. Various funding scenarios were evaluated for their relative merits and limitations, including advocacy for more external funding, bank borrowing, increased domestic resources, and backward integration., Conclusions: The study concluded that backward integration should be used, based on a government-led public-private partnership that will increase local production of malaria intervention commodities that are accessible and affordable through market-based demand and supply arrangements., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Objective: The aim was to determine the prevalence of depressive disorder and associated psychological factors among adolescents living with HIV/AIDS., Methods: One hundred and five adolescents with HIV were assessed for self-esteem, internalized HIV stigma and diagnosed of depressive disorder. Chi square and t tests were used to test associations and hierarchical logistic regression used to identify independent risk factors for depression., Results: The mean age of participants was 16.5 (± 1.97) years and 55.2% were males. Mean stigma scores were significantly higher in those with depressive disorder (16.53 ± 3.85) when compared with those without (13.42 ± 3.464) and this difference was statistically significant (t = 3.17, p = 0.01). The mean self-esteem scores were significantly lower in participants with depressive disorder (17.53 ± 4.69) compared to those without depressive disorder (19.71 ± 3.86), though not significant (t = 1.96, p = 0.053). Depressive disorder was further significantly associated with female sex, being in romantic relationship, decline in work output due to HIV and HIV stigma. Independent risk factors were sex and HIV stigma., Conclusion: Depressive disorder is common among adolescents living with HIV infection in Nigeria. The association between HIV stigma and depression, thus suggests the need for prevention strategies targeting the impacts of HIV infection among adolescents., (© 2023. The Author(s).)