Diseases In Nigeria Research Articles

COMPUTATIONAL INSIGHTS INTO LEAF COMPOUNDS OF Pterocarpus santalinoides AGAINST FabH PROTEIN RECEPTOR

Diarrhea remains one of the most prevalent diseases in Nigeria, especially among children aged between 1 and 5. The death rate by diarrheal disease is about 1.5 million per year, which include 620 thousand children below the age of 5, and 320 thousand adults above the age of 70, Diarrheal disease has been ranked as the second leading cause of mortality of children. Ethno medical and scientific reports abound on using the extract from the leaf of Pterocarpus santalinoides for treatment of diarrhea of any kind. GCMS analysis was carried out to determine the bioactive compound present in the leaf extract responsible for the efficacy and result revealed the presence of 13 bioactive compounds with Oxiraneundecanoic acid, 3-pentyl-cis-methyl ester (37.89 %), Oleic Acid (35.49%) and 9-Octadecenoic acid (Z)-, methylester (12.35%) as the most abundant. The result indicated that the efficacy of the plant against diarrhea diseases could be linked to 9-Octadecenoic acid (Z)-, methylester found in the crude extract. The bioactive compounds from the extract were docked on the diarrhea protein crystal structure of beta-ketoacyl-acp synthase iii + malonyl-coa FabH (1HNJ) to know their binding affinities and compared with that of co-crystallize ligand and standard drug. The docking result showed that the cocrystallize ligand has the best binding affinity of -7.6 kcal/mol, followed by the phytocompound 9-Octadecenoic acid (Z)-, methylester (6.7 kcal/mol). 9,12-Octadecadienoic acid, methyl ester has affinity -6.3 kcal/mol, Aspidospermidin-17-ol and oleic acid have affinity ( -6.1 kcal/mol) while Hexadecanoic acid, 14-methyl-, methyl ester and phytol both have (- 6.0kcal/mol) respectively while Undec-10-ynoic acid, undecyl ester has affinity (-5.9kcal/mol). The result revealed that the co-crystallize ligand has the best affinity followed by all the phytocompounds from the extract while the commercial drug has less affinity but with a very good interaction. All the compounds from the extract have good binding affinities within the range of -6.7 – 4.9kcal/mol. The interaction results of the extracts with the disease protein proved the anti-diarrhea efficacy of the plant as acclaimed ethnomedically therefore validating its traditional use against diarrhea diseases.

Psychocognitive Determinants of Hypertension Prevention Practices among Women in Southwestern Nigeria

Hypertension is an important risk factor for the development of numerous cardiovascular diseases. The prevention of hypertension is vital in the reduction of cardiovascular disease mortality and associated morbidities. Numerous studies have focused in the prevalence of hypertension and the prevalence of risk factors for cardiovascular diseases in Nigeria. However, this study investigated the knowledge of women in hypertension, perceived severity of hypertension and barriers towards engaging in hypertension prevention practices so as to establish key areas to focus public health promotion activities. This study was a cross sectional quantitative research carried out to investigate the pyschocognitive determinants of hypertension prevention practices among women residing in Akinyele Local Government Area of Oyo state in Southwest Nigeria. A total of 370 consenting women were recruited into the study using a multi-stage sampling technique and data was collected using the aid of an interviewer-administered questionnaire. Majority of study participants (74.9%) demonstrated fair knowledge of risk factors for hypertension while many participants (65.4%) had good knowledge of prevention practices for hypertension, with an overall mean knowledge score of 12.39±2.37 on a 24-point scale. Many participants (59.2%) had positive perception of severity of hypertension with a mean perception score of 23.80±2.814 on a 27-point scale. The most reported barrier towards engaging in hypertension prevention practices among participants was financial constraint in maintaining healthy eating habits. Furthermore, there is a significant association between participants’ level of education and their knowledge of hypertension. There is also a significant association between barriers towards hypertension prevention such as lack of awareness from media sources, financial constraint and knowledge of hypertension. The knowledge of hypertension among women in Akinyele Local Government Area ........

The Biology, Epidemiology, Host Variability and Management of Sorghum Smut Diseases in Nigeria: A Review

Sorghum Smut diseases in Nigeria are widely circulated and are economically important in most of the regions of the country growing Sorghum. Perhaps, all the four types of smut can co-exist on the same field and are co-extensive with sorghum cultivation. The four smut diseases are incited by four species belonging to two genera of the order ustilaginales, namely; Sporisorium or Sphacelotheca and Tolyposporium. The distribution of the four smut diseases depend on several interacting factors of epidemiology and pathogenesis. It has been reported that all the four species that causes smuts in sorghum have narrow host range. As a consequence therefore, they do not vary remarkably in their biology and pathogenesis. However, their severity, distribution and prevalence depend on the environmental conditions, seasons and variety of sorghum. Several control as well as management strategies have been suggested by workers for the prevention and control of sorghum smuts including the pre-sowing seed treatment using fungicides, the use of resistant plant variety and modification of cultural and handling practices. However, only few of these measures have been found suitable and promising. Moreover, there is scarce of scientific information on the incidence of sorghum smuts probably because they were thought to have been eradicated or that they are economically less important in most sorghum growing areas in Nigeria. But with the current climatic changes coupled with the negligence from the poor resource sorghum farmers, sorghum smut diseases are re-emerging with high threshold as such they are becoming very important in Nigeria’s sorghum growing regions. This paper reviews the epidemiology, biology and variability of smut pathogens and their possible control strategies.

Effectiveness of Measles Mass Vaccination in the Reduction of Childhood Morbidity and Mortality in Yobe State, Northeast Nigeria

Measles is an issue of public health concern responsible for outbreaks and death of children especially in Sub-Saharan Africa. This study sought to determine the effectiveness of mass vaccination against measles in Yobe State, Northeast Nigeria. An ecological epidemiological study design involving the collection of secondary data from the same population was carried out over a period of two years. These data were collected from Epidemiology Unit of Yobe State Primary Healthcare Development Board from the Integrated Disease Surveillance Response database which collects records of notifiable diseases in Nigeria. All cases of measles within the period under review (2016-2017) were included and a comparison of the number of cases and deaths from measles reported in two different periods before supplementary immunization activity or mass vaccination against measles (2016) and after supplementary immunization activity against measles in the state (2017) was done. The mass vaccination intervention was conducted within first week of January 2017 as a measure to address outbreaks of measles in the state. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) windows version 22. A total of 4242 cases were reported during the study period. 3780(89.1%) in 2016 (before mass vaccination) and 462(10.9%) were reported in 2017 (after mass vaccination). A total of 556 deaths with case fatality rate of 13.1% was recorded during the study period. Majority of the deaths 525(94.4%) occurred in 2016 when there was no mass vaccination while few 31(5.6%) occurred in 2017 after the mass vaccination. Mass vaccination resulted in a 78.2% decline in number of cases and 88.8% decline in the number of deaths from measles. There was a statistical significant difference in the number of cases and mortality from measles pre and post mass vaccination against the disease in Yobe state. Paired sample t-test done revealed a monthly case distribution mean of 276.6 (95% CI 89.8 to 463.3) with alpha set at 0.05, P = 0.008 while monthly mortality mean was 41.1 (95% CI 15.5 to 66.7) with alpha set at 0.05, P = 0.005. Mass vaccination against measles therefore confers immunity and herd immunity to populations with a subsequent significant decline in morbidity and mortality associated with the measles infection. It is therefore recommended that this initiative be sustained for every two years or possibly yearly to ensure elimination of measles in the Sub-Saharan Africa region and the World at large.

Roles of Wildlife Reservoirs in the Maintenance and Transmission of Zoonotic Diseases in Nigeria

Purpose: The aim of the study was to examine roles of wildlife reservoirs in the maintenance and transmission of zoonotic diseases in Nigeria. Methodology: This study adopted a desk methodology. A desk study research design is commonly known as secondary data collection. This is basically collecting data from existing resources preferably because of its low cost advantage as compared to a field research. Our current study looked into already published studies and reports as the data was easily accessed through online journals and libraries. Findings: The study revealed that wildlife populations serve as reservoirs for a diverse array of pathogens, including viruses, bacteria, and parasites, many of which have the potential to spill over into human populations and cause disease outbreaks. Factors such as habitat destruction, encroachment into wildlife habitats, wildlife trade, and climate change contribute to increased interactions between humans and wildlife, facilitating the transmission of zoonotic pathogens. Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: Ecological niche theory & Host-Pathogen Coevolution Theory may be used to anchor future studies on roles of wildlife reservoirs in the maintenance and transmission of zoonotic diseases in Nigeria. Strengthen surveillance systems to monitor wildlife populations, identify emerging zoonotic pathogens, and assess the risk of spillover events. This includes implementing targeted surveillance programs in high-risk regions and species known to harbor zoonotic pathogens. Develop and implement wildlife conservation policies that prioritize the protection of biodiversity and ecosystem health while considering the potential risks associated with zoonotic disease transmission.

On-demand mobile hypertension training for primary health care workers in Nigeria: a pilot study

BackgroundOnly one out of every ten Nigerian adults with hypertension has their blood pressure controlled. Health worker training is essential to improve hypertension diagnosis and treatment. In-person training has limitations that mobile, on-demand training might address. This pilot study evaluated a self-paced, case-based, mobile-optimized online training to diagnose and manage hypertension for Nigerian health workers.MethodsTwelve hypertension training modules were developed, based on World Health Organization and Nigerian guidelines. After review by local academic and government partners, the course was piloted by Nigerian health workers at government-owned primary health centers. Primary care physician, nurse, and community health worker participants completed the course on their own smartphones. Before and after the course, hypertension knowledge was evaluated with multiple-choice questions. Learners provided feedback by responding to questions on a Likert scale.ResultsOut of 748 users who sampled the course, 574 enrolled, of whom 431 (75%) completed the course. The average pre-test score of completers was 65.4%, which increased to 78.2% on the post-test (P < 0.001, paired t-test). Health workers who were not part of existing hypertension control programs had lower pre-test scores and larger score gains. Most participants (96.1%) agreed that the training was applicable to their work, and nearly all (99.8%) agreed that they enjoyed the training.ConclusionsAn on-demand mobile digital hypertension training increases knowledge of hypertension management among Nigerian health workers. If offered at scale, such courses can be a tool to build health workforce capacity through initial and refresher training on current clinical guidelines in hypertension and other chronic diseases in Nigeria as well as other countries.

Validity and Reproducibility of a Semiquantitative Food Frequency Questionnaire and Food Picture Book in Nigeria

BackgroundIncreasing noncommunicable diseases in Nigeria are partly related to dietary factors. However, the lack of validated nutrition assessment tools hinders the conduct of nutritional epidemiology research in this population. ObjectivesTo develop a Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ) and Food Picture Book (FPB) for Nigerian adults, and to assess its reproducibility and validity compared with 24-h dietary recalls (24DRs) during different seasons in the year. MethodsWe compiled 202 foods for the FFQ through focus groups and consultations with local dietitians. We created an FPB with standardized food portion images to enhance the accuracy of reports of dietary intakes. We administered the FFQs to 205 purposively selected adults in Ibadan, Nigeria at ∼6 monthly intervals between November 2018 and October 2020. We evaluated the FFQ’s reproducibility and validity compared with 24DR across the dry and rainy seasons by examining the consumption of common food and mixed dishes. We computed the Spearman’s correlation coefficients (SCC), intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC), and Wilcoxon signed-rank tests, and generated Bland and Altman plots. ResultsOverall, we studied 110 women (53.7%) and 95 men (46.3%) with a mean age of 45.0 ± 13.4 y (mean ± SD). The reproducibility tests showed a mean ± SD SCC of 0.39 ± 0.14 and mean ± SD ICC of 0.32 ± 0.12. Higher mean ± SD SCC values were noted for cereal products (0.43 ± 0.09), starchy roots and tubers (0.45 ± 0.17), and soups (0.44 ± 0.20). Conversely, lower mean ± SD SCC values were observed for milk products (0.29 ± 0.02), solid fats (0.29 ± 0.26), and fish (0.22 ± 0.19). Regarding validity tests, the overall mean ± SD SCC was 0.27 ± 0.16 and mean ± SD ICC was 0.26 ± 0.16. We observed seasonal variations in intakes of fruits, cassava flour-based products, and nuts, although most foods did not show significant differences in intakes between seasons. ConclusionsOur FFQ and FPB demonstrated moderate correlations and seasonal variations in intakes of certain foods, emphasizing the need to account for seasonality in dietary intakes in nutritional studies in Nigeria and similar countries.

Management of Fusarium Wilt of Tomato (Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici) and Related Soil-borne Diseases using Eco-friendly Methods: A Review

Tomato is rich in vitamins, minerals and contains anti-oxidant compounds, like vitamin C and lycopene that has significant role in human health as it has anti-cancer properties. Tomato production is significantly affected by several factors amongst which Fusarium Wilt is one of the major and widespread fungal soil borne diseases in Nigeria. Difficulty in controlling this disease is attributable to long survivability of the pathogen and its existence in diverse pathogenic races. Conventional strategies, such as the use of resistant cultivars and synthetic fungicides, are not completely effective in managing tomato wilt caused by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici and because of unintended effects of chemicals on the environments its application is highly cautioned. This paper has examined many non-pesticide approaches such as application of bio-control agents, use of suppressive soils, composts/vermicomposts and their extracts, animal manure and urine, soil solarization, botanical extracts, good agricultural practices and integrated disease management strategy to control Fusarium wilt and other related soil borne diseases. It is worth noting that no single method can effectively control such diseases. In order to achieve a sustainable and eco-friendly disease management strategy the use of integrated approach is highly recommended. This review will provide farmers with diverse methods to be integrated as management package for Fusarium wilt and related diseases.

Patients and healthcare workers' preferences for using smart lockers in accessing and dispensing chronic disease medication in Nigeria: Findings from a descriptive cross-sectional study.

The use of smart locker technology has been beneficial for patients with chronic diseases who require regular medication and face challenges accessing healthcare facilities due to distance, time, or mobility issues. This study aimed to assess preferences for utilizing Smart Lockers in accessing and dispensing chronic disease medication among healthcare workers (HCWs) and patients in Nigeria. A descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted between November 8th and December 4th, 2021, across secondary healthcare facilities in five states of Adamawa, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Benue, and Niger. Among 1,133 participants included in the analysis, 405 were HCWs and 728 were patients with chronic illnesses. Descriptive statistics, including frequencies and percentages, were used to summarize the data, while chi-square tests were employed to assess significant differences between healthcare workers (HCWs) and patients. Results indicated a strong preference among both HCWs and patients for one-on-one counseling as the preferred method for orientating patients on using Smart Lockers, with 53.8% of HCWs and 58.1% of patients expressing this preference (p = 0.25). Additionally, there was a shared preference for hospitals or clinics as secure locations for Smart Lockers, with 68.9% of HCWs and 71.6% of patients preferring this option (p < 0.05). The majority of participants favored receiving notification of drug delivery via phone call, with 49.1% of HCWs and 48.8% of patients expressing this preference (p = 0.63). There was a significant difference in preferences for access hours, the majority (HCWs: 65.4% and patients: 52.6%) favored 24-hour access (p < 0.05). Participants identified patients with HIV within the age range of 18-40 as the most suitable population to benefit from using Smart Lockers for medication dispensing. These findings offer insights into healthcare policies aimed at enhancing medication access and adherence among patients with chronic diseases in Nigeria. The development of models for using smart lockers to dispense chronic disease medications to chronically ill persons in Nigeria and other populations is recommended.

Knowledge and Practice of Infection Prevention and Control among Healthcare Workers in Secondary Healthcare Facilities in Southern Cross River State Nigeria

Abstract Background: Globally, millions of people are affected annually by health-care-associated infections, many of which could be avoided by strict compliance with standard infection prevention and control (IPC) protocols. Aim: This study assessed the knowledge and practice of IPC among secondary health-care workers (HCWs) in Southern Cross River State. Materials and methods: A structured questionnaire was used in conjunction with a descriptive cross-sectional design to collect data from 336 health-care personnel. IBM SPSS Statistics version 25 was used to analyse the generated data. Results: The results show that 58% of the respondents had a high knowledge level of IPC and 52.4% exhibited a high level of standard IPC practice. About 53% reported that IPC protocols were available in their facility. No association was found between sociodemographic characteristics of HCWs and their practice of standard IPC practice except for sex. A significant association was found between sex and level of IPC practice (P = 0.015), the male HCWs had higher practice of IPC than their female counterparts. Although no association was found between knowledge and practice of IPC among the HCWs, the level of practice was, however, higher among the doctors than the nurses who had a higher level of knowledge on IPC. A logistic regression analysis further showed that only sex was significant (P = 0.021) in influencing a high level of IPC practice among the HCWs in this study. Conclusion: It is, therefore, imperative for health-care facility leadership to organise training and retraining programs on IPC to improve knowledge and compliance among HCWs, especially in the face of emerging infectious diseases in Nigeria.

A Review on Air Pollution and a Link with Neurodegenerative Diseases in Nigeria

Pollution is a common and inevitable situation, encompassing environmental threats and virulent composites from the air, water, soil, and food. Air pollution is becoming a global health challenge, affecting millions of lives. Although many of these pollutants have been identified, this paper is reviewing the established link between air pollution and neurodegenerative disease due to the increase in cases of neurodegenerative disease in middle- and low-income countries like Nigeria. This article reviewed the establishment of a possible relationship between air pollution and neurodegenerative diseases in Nigeria and Africa. Different literature sources were reviewed to identify the sources of air pollution, determine the level of awareness among citizens on the effects of air pollution, know the incidence of neurodegenerative diseases in air-polluted areas, life expectancy in such areas, existing diseases caused by air pollution, and their relationship with neurodegenerative diseases. Available literature on heavy metal pollutants in the brains of animal models from different zones of Nigeria and evidence of neurodegeneration in different animal species was also reviewed. In conclusion, one major setback is that there is no specific data on the prevalence of neurodegenerative diseases in major air-polluted areas in Nigeria, hence, the need for awareness to alert occupants and citizens to neurodegenerative diseases and their connection with air pollution. It is also advised that the government implement steps to solve these difficulties, such as the employment of biodegradation and bioremediation in the removal of contaminants.

Antifungal Activity of Leaf Extract of Alchornea cordifolia Against Aspergillus flavus the causal Agent of Yam Tuber Rot

Rots and mycotoxin contamination of agro-produce are prevalent in tropical world. Aspergillus flavus is a major mycotoxigenic rot contaminant of tubers in Abia state, Nigeria. Consumption of mycotoxin contaminated foodstuffs accounts for 25% of medically important human diseases in Nigeria. The objective of this study was to assess antifungal activity of Alchornea cordifolia against A. flavus a mycotoxigenic rot pathogen of stored tuber produce both in vitro and in vivo. Isolates were made from rotted yam tubers and pathogenicity test carried out to confirm A. flavus as pathogen. Five concentrations (100-500 mg mL-1) of methanol leaf extracts of the plant and thiophanate-methyl–a standard fungicide–were evaluated against the growth of the fungus in culture and pathogen-induced rot development and spread in vivo. The experiment was made up of 7 treatments and 3 replicates laid out in CRD. The plant leaf extract demonstrated varying levels of inhibition of A. flavus in vitro and rot development and spread in living tissues of yam. About 56.38%–68.22% and 67.245–80.01% inhibition was recorded by 100 mg mL-1 and 500 mg mL-1 of A. cordifolia extract for spore germination respectively whereas the same concentrations reduced rot development from 60% in the control experiment to 21.80% and 12.10% respectively which compared favorably (P&lt;0.05) with standard fungicide, thiophanate-methyl. The plant demonstrated strong antifungal activity in vitro and minimized A. flavus induced rot advancement in living yam tissues.

Cardiovascular Diseases in Nigeria: Current Status, Threats, and Opportunities

Cardiovascular Diseases in Nigeria: Current Status, Threats, and Opportunities

Classification of risk factors of climate change on infectious diseases using Bio-Inspired Algorithms

A new index of investigative approaches is being developed to help identify emerging infections and to detect the increased risks factors of infectious disease (IDs) occurrences that are expected to occur with climate change. The impacts of Climate Change with direct effects on human health through climate extremes and indirectly through infectious diseases are enormous. Hence, it requires study to determine correlations between Climate Change and Infectious Diseases using clinically validated data to improve behavioural health plans and early warning of public health risks. This work employs Meteorological and Infectious Disease data from the Figshare Data Repository, NiMET, NIH, WHO and literature, processes these data using SciKit Learn Preprocessing Package in Python and characterizes the risk factors of Climate Change Features: Humidity, Minimum Temperature, Maximum Temperature and Rainfall on Infectious Disease: Malaria, Pneumonia and Diarrhea using Nature-Inspired Algorithm using Artificial Neural Network (ANN) and Random Forest (RF) Algorithm with the R Statistical Programming Language. The work adopts Design Science Research (DSR) Methodology to analyze and classifies the risk factors of climate change on infectious diseases as well as evaluates the performances of selected Nature-Inspired Algorithms in classifying selected climatic factors and associated impacts on infectious diseases. Results obtained demonstrated that the RF performed better than ANN Algorithms with 96.9% and 95% accuracies respectively. Both models indicated that Rainfall and Temperature variations were common risks factors that indicated highest weights impacting the emergence and incidence of Infectious Diseases in Nigeria.

Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Tax: A Crucial Component of a Multisectoral Approach to Combating Non-Communicable Diseases in Nigeria

Abstract There has been a significant increase in the burden of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) in Nigeria in the last few decades. These diseases, such as diabetes and cardiovascular diseases, have become a major public health concern, contributing significantly to morbidity and mortality rates in the country. The consumption of Sugar-Sweetened Beverages (SSBs), including soft drinks, energy drinks, and fruit juices, has been identified as one of the major drivers of the rising trend of NCDs. This is because SSBs are high in free sugars, which are known to be associated with an increased risk of NCDs. This narrative review explored the probable role of SSB consumption in the growing burden of NCDs in Nigeria and made a case for an effective SSB tax as a major public health intervention to reduce SSB consumption and the associated burden of NCDs.

The interplay among conflict, water scarcity, and cholera in Northern Nigeria

AbstractCholera is a recurring issue in Nigeria, with outbreaks predominantly affecting the Northern states. In 2021, Nigeria experienced its most significant cholera epidemic in a decade, resulting in thousands of fatalities and cases. The spread of cholera and other waterborne diseases in Nigeria is linked to various factors such as flooding, conflict, and water scarcity. The country's poor drinking water quality and lack of equitable access to clean water exacerbate the problem, particularly in the conflict‐affected areas of the North. This paper discusses the interaction of conflict‐related displacement, water shortages, and cholera transmission in Northern Nigeria and provides insights into how these factors impact water resources and public health. This information can inform initiatives and policies to reduce the impact of conflict on water resources and enhance access to clean water in impacted areas. The article suggests that the primary challenges in eliminating cholera in the region include a lack of information due to severe security situations, bureaucratic requirements for delivering essential supplies, and a chronic shortage of water. A successful response to cholera in conflict and displacement situations also requires community engagement and the security and safety of humanitarian personnel. Long‐term solutions to the uprisings in the region are necessary to put an end to the issues related to banditry and insurgency.

Assessment of hypertension service availability in some primary health centres in Nigeria: a mixed-methods study

ObjectiveStrengthening primary health centre (PHC) systems is a potentially effective strategy to reduce the burden of non-communicable diseases in Nigeria, a low/middle-income country with limited resources. The aim of this...

Enhancing communication strategies in controlling neglected tropical diseases in Nigeria

AbstractNeglected tropical diseases (NTD), a broad set of infectious diseases prevalent in tropical and subtropical environments, are widely known to affect individuals with limited resources in underserved communities. Nigeria is one of the countries with the highest cases of NTD, with an estimated 100 million people in the country at risk for at least one NTD. In Nigeria, the NTD master plan recognizes behavioural change communication as an important part of its strategy for reducing the burden of NTDs. Behavioural change communication has been proven to be significant in preventing and reducing infection, spread and re‐infection of diseases. However, poor communication strategies, lack of funds and human resources and lack of training on how to deliver behavioural change interventions are major challenges. Enhancing communication strategies will significantly help increase attention towards NTD prevention methods and acceptance of treatment interventions. It is also important to ensure that healthcare professionals are provided with adequate skills in the delivery of behavioural change interventions in the communities. This article reviews the activities to enhance communication strategies in the context settings of Nigeria.

Exploring community reintegration among Nigerian stroke survivors.

Community reintegration is one of the ultimate goals of stroke rehabilitation. The increasing burden of stroke morbidity by other non-communicable diseases in Nigeria indicated the need for our study. The authors explored the factors contributing to successful community reintegration among Nigerian stroke survivors. We conducted an explorative qualitative study design to achieve this aim using in-depth semi-structured interviews with 12-purposively sampled stroke survivors. Three overarching themes emerged: restriction of participation experienced by stroke survivors, activity limitation as pointers to the quality-of-life experience of stroke survivors and enablers or barriers to community reintegration for stroke survivors. Among the core, sub-themes included incapability of returning to work, difficulty performing domestic activities, social isolation or separation, recreation and leisure time. Enablers of community reintegration included creating a positive mindset, encouragement and social support, while barriers included mobility and speech or language challenges. Stroke survivors have challenges in returning to work and experience varying levels of activity limitation, which affects their quality of life with identifiable enablers or barriers to community reintegration. Stroke survivors with severe functional deficits should be monitored closely and given further rehabilitative assistance to aid functional recovery, thereby facilitating community reintegration.

Review of Emerging and Re-Emerging Zoonotic Pathogens of Dogs in Nigeria: Missing Link in One Health Approach

Dogs live in close contact with humans as pets, for hunting, for security, and as a source of income. In addition, the meat is also consumed by some tribes in Nigeria. Dogs could therefore serve as reservoirs, carriers, and transmitters of zoonotic diseases. This review evaluates the literature from 2000 to 2020 for the prevalence and incidence of zoonotic pathogens associated with dogs in Nigeria. The results obtained show that overall, parasites constituted a majority (64%) of the zoonotic pathogens (or species) identified in dog hosts. A good number of studies have examined the role of ticks in the transmission of tick-borne pathogens. Further, bacteria make up 22% of the zoonotic pathogens. From this study, it appears that rabies is the major pathogen in dogs for which there is reliable evidence linking contact between humans and dogs. Oyo State in southwestern Nigeria and Plateau State in north-central Nigeria were the most frequently studied states, while prevalence/disease surveillance studies constituted 80% of the overall papers assessed. Interdisciplinary collaborations as well as research and diagnosis policy amendments are missing links to fully appreciate the role of dogs in the transmission of zoonotic diseases in Nigeria. Policies should integrate a one health approach in the Nigerian health system, whereby diagnostic screening of humans and animals by physicians and veterinarians includes zoonotic pathogens for more accurate diagnosis and control.