Emergence In Nigeria Research Articles

Factors associated with health-seeking patterns among internally displaced persons in complex humanitarian emergency, Northeast Nigeria: a cross-sectional study

BackgroundCurrently, over two million persons are internally displaced because of the complex humanitarian emergency in Nigeria’s northeast region. Due to crowded and unsanitary living conditions, the risk of communicable disease transmission, morbidity, and mortality among this population is high. This study explored patterns and factors associated with health-seeking among internally displaced persons (IDPs) in northeast Nigeria to inform and strengthen disease surveillance and response activities.MethodsIn a cross-sectional study conducted during June–October 2022, we employed stratified sampling technique to select 2,373 IDPs from 12 IDPs camps. A semi-structured tool was used to collect data on health-seeking patterns, socio-demographics, households, and IDPs camps characteristics. We classified health-seeking patterns into three outcome categories: ‘facility care’ (reference category), ‘non-facility care’ (patent medicine vendors, chemists, traditional healers, religious centers), and ‘home care/no care’. We performed complex survey data analysis and obtained weighted statistical estimates. Univariate analysis was conducted to describe respondents’ characteristics and health-seeking patterns. We fitted weighted multivariable multinomial logistic regression models to identify factors associated with health-seeking patterns.ResultsOf 2,373 respondents, 71.8% were 18 to 39 years old, 78.1% were females, and 81.0% had no formal education. Among the respondents, 75.7% (95% CI: 72.9–78.6) sought ‘facility care’, 11.1% (95% CI: 9.1–13.1) sought ‘non-facility care’, while 13.2% (95% CI: 10.9–15.4) practiced ‘home care/no care’. Respondents who perceived illness was severe (Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) = 0.15, [95% CI: 0.08–0.30]) and resided in officially-recognized camps (AOR = 0.26, [95% CI: 0.17–0.39]) were less likely to seek ‘non-facility care’ compared to ‘facility care’. Similarly, respondents who resided in officially-recognized camps (AOR = 0.58, [95% CI: 0.36–0.92]), and received disease surveillance information (AOR = 0.42, [95% CI: 0.26–0.67) were less likely to practice ‘home care/no care’ rather than seek ‘facility care’.ConclusionsThis population exhibited heterogeneous patterns of health-seeking at facility and non-facility centers. Perception of illness severity and camps’ status were major factors associated with health-seeking. To enhance surveillance, non-facility care providers should be systematically integrated into the surveillance network while ramping up risk communication to shape perception of illness severity, prioritizing unofficial camps.

Prevalence and Comparative Analyses of Mental Health Outcomes Among Medical and Non-Medical Practitioners During the Third Wave of Covid-19 Pandemic in Nigeria

Abstract This study assessed the mental health state of healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria. A cross-sectional survey using the snowballing sampling technique was utilized to select 300 medical and non-medical healthcare practitioners in the study. An online questionnaire consisting of the Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale, Impact of Event Scale-Revised, Patient Health Questionnaire, and Insomnia Severity Index was used for data collection. Both the medical and the non-medical practitioners reported minimal to severe symptoms of insomnia, generalized anxiety, depression, and posttraumatic stress. However, a significant difference was found in symptoms of insomnia (χ2=16.98, df = 3, p<.01), such that non-medical practitioners exhibited clinical insomnia symptoms (13.8%) than the medical practitioners (11.5%). Further, a significant difference was found in symptoms of depression (χ2=9.93, df = 4, p<.05), such that medical practitioners exhibited more severe depressive symptoms (07.3%) than the non-medical practitioners (06.4%). A significant number of healthcare workers reported mental health challenges during the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic emergence in Nigeria. Therefore, it is recommended that healthcare workers should be exposed to appropriate and regular psychosocial interventions to keep them healthy and functioning optimally.

COVID-19 Pandemic as a mass killer and existential public health emergency in Nigeria remains unproven: A viewpoint

Framing COVID-19 pandemic as mass killer and existential public health emergency/threat in Nigeria with 2,120 COVID-19-related deaths in over 14 months of the pandemic in the country is problematic, especially as other public health conditions kill more Nigerians annually. In 2018, for example, malaria and road traffic accident caused 97,200 and 38,902 deaths, respectively, while HIV/AIDS caused 43,000 deaths in 2019. Therefore, rushing into an extensive vaccination campaign projected to cost 540 billion naira when 76.03 billion naira was allocated for primary health services nationwide including other major immunization programs in the 2021 federal health budget could raise question of priority/effective spending. Especially with COVID-19 deaths relative to reported cases (case fatality ratio) declining to 1.30% by June 30, 2021 from 3.45% in April 2020 and daily mass deaths non-evident. Temporizing to understand how the pandemic evolves especially in jurisdictions with higher need could be cost-effective.

Nonlinear Dynamical Systems for Malaria Transmission and Control: Ross-Macdonald Model

Malaria was declared an emergency in Nigeria and strategies for the control of Malaria in Nigeria were adopted to reduce its prevalence to a level at which the disease will no longer constitute public health problems. In this work, we presented a deterministic (Ross–Macdonald model susceptible, expose/ infected, infectious and recovered) model incorporating the method of control adopted by national Malaria and leprosy control program. We established the disease free and the endemic equilibrium states and carried out the stability analysis of the disease. Free and the equilibrium state. We also carried out numerical simulation of the model to have an insight into the dynamics of the model. We found out that the disease free equilibrium state is stable. The feedback dynamics from mosquito to human and back to mosquito involve considerable time due to the incubation periods of the parasites. In this paper, taking explicit account of the incubation periods of parasites within the human and the mosquito, we first propose a Ross–Macdonald model. The Jacobiant results showed that it would be very difficult to completely eradicate Malaria from Nigeria using the method adopted by national Malaria and leprosy control program.

Digitization of agricultural extension system for effective management of emergency in Nigeria


 
 
 This paper presents challenges facing agricultural extension system in Nigeria most especially, during crises and emergencies, which necessitate the adoption of digitizing extension systems as a basis for improving farmers’ access to extension services during emergencies. The emergence of ICTs has given rise to digitization, which is the delivery of agricultural advice via audiovisual messages (video), interactive voice response (IVR) and short message services (SMS) among others. Efforts should be made by the stakeholders in agricultural extension to digitize the country's extension system by capitalizing on the existing enthusiasm among extension practitioners, and farmers using lessons of best practices from elsewhere.
 
 

Season, not lockdown, improved air quality during COVID-19 State of Emergency in Nigeria

Globally, ambient air pollution claims ~9 million lives yearly, prompting researchers to investigate changes in air quality. Of special interest is the impact of COVID-19 lockdown. Many studies reported substantial improvements in air quality during lockdowns compared with pre-lockdown or as compared with baseline values. Since the lockdown period coincided with the onset of the rainy season in some tropical countries such as Nigeria, it is unclear if such improvements can be fully attributed to the lockdown. We investigate whether significant changes in air quality in Nigeria occurred primarily due to statewide COVID-19 lockdown. We applied a neural network approach to derive monthly average ground-level fine aerosol optical depth (AODf) across Nigeria from year 2001–2020, using the Multi-angle Implementation of Atmospheric Correction (MAIAC) AODs from Terra and Aqua Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) satellites, AERONET aerosol optical properties, meteorological and spatial parameters. During the year 2020, we found a 21% or 26% decline in average AODf level across Nigeria during lockdown (April) as compared to pre-lockdown (March), or during the easing phase-1 (May) as compared to lockdown, respectively. Throughout the 20-year period, AODf levels were highest in January and lowest in May or June, but not April. Comparison of AODf levels between 2020 and 2019 shows a small decline (1%) in pollution level in April of 2020 compare to 2019. Using a linear time-lag model to compare changes in AODf levels for similar months from 2002 to 2020, we found no significant difference (Levene's test and ANCOVA; α = 0.05) in the pollution levels by year, which indicates that the lockdown did not significantly improve air quality in Nigeria. Impact analysis using multiple linear regression revealed that favorable meteorological conditions due to seasonal change in temperature, relative humidity, planetary boundary layer height, wind speed and rainfall improved air quality during the lockdown.

The role of Christianity in gender issues and development in Nigeria

Gender issues permeate all socio-cultural institutions. They condition how people of different genders see themselves, act and relate with each other in any giving situation and time. In Nigeria, the issue of gender is one that affects all facets of human life. It affects personality traits, gender role behaviour, social status, acquisition of property, inheritance, occupation and responsibility in the family, and society. Since most traditional African societies are patriarchal, of which Nigeria is one, it is assumed that the women are subjugated and relegated to the background. This situation has created tension and unhealthy relationship between males and females in Nigerian societies because of the seeming undue advantage the men have over the women. It has also hampered harnessing of women potentials in Nigeria’s developmental process and progress. Christianity as a religion in Nigeria is a dominant force in the lives of men and women. Since its emergence in Nigeria, many people have embraced the religion and its teaching thus changing most of the cultural values of the people. Against this backdrop, this work explored conflicts and challenges associated with gender issues and how Christianity has used some faith-based organisations to address the issue, so as to promote holistic development policy and practices in Nigeria. The methodology used in this article is the phenomenological method of research. It was used so as to provide an objective report on the findings of this research. Contribution: This article advocates for a committed contemporary approach, especially from the Church towards ameliorating the gender disparity in Nigeria and within the Church. Although the context is Nigeria, Christian belief of Jesus Christ as the liberator of humanity emphasised could be applied to other contexts too.

Current status and risk factors of canine parvovirus type 2 in North Central Nigeria

Since its emergence in Nigeria, canine parvovirus type 2 (CPV-2) infection has posed problems to dog breeding and requires constant awareness and monitoring. In this study, the status, the assessment of extrinsic risk factors of parvoviral infection in dog kennels in North Central Nigeria, and isolation of the CPV-2 were carried out. Potential risk factors were considered during sampling: age, breed, sex, location, vaccination and health status, using well-structured questionnaires on dog owners with experience of CPV-2 infection. There was high prevalence which depended on age, breed, location, clinical status of the dog while vaccination status of the dogs did not influence the prevalence. CPV-2 vaccination compliance by the breeders and management system of the kennels were also observed as risk factors. Isolation of CPV-2a and -2c strains from Nigeria for further study has been reported. The spread of CPV-2 in Nigeria is increasing, hence needs for continual epidemiological monitoring and review.

Intellectual Property Rights, Pharmaceutical Patents and Public Health: Adopting Compulsory and Government Use Licenses in the COVID-19 Emergency in Nigeria

COVID-19 pandemic has exacted enormous pressure on public health policies and systems, raising far-reaching political, economic, social and technological questions and uncertainties on global welfare and prospects of cure. As those wide-ranging questions arise, every country must begin to innovate and rethink their political and legal institutions for the post-COVID dispensation. At the core of those questions is the issue of intellectual property rights (IPRs) arising from emerging medical and technological innovations that would attend to finding the much-needed curative vaccines, drugs and diagnostics that would finally stem the tide. The ultimate global innovative test is in the cure that only vaccines, protected by patents, would deliver on the global market. This has significant implications on the ability of the global public health care systems to fulfil one of its most critical objectives of delivering medicines accessible to the population especially in the developing and sub-Saharan countries like Nigeria with underdeveloped health care and innovation ecosystems. How can the demands of IPRs meet the challenging public health emergencies presented by COVID-19 pandemic? This short article briefly discusses the need to integrate IPRs policies in the promotion of public health particularly relating to access to pharmaceutical patents through the adoption of the important compulsory licences instrument for COVID-19 related health care.

Host-parasite translocation: A potential source of zoonoses emergence in Nigeria

Zoonoses are infectious diseases that are spread between animals and people. These diseases are transmitted to humans in many ways, such as direct contacts, indirect contacts, vector-borne, foodborne, and inhalation. Translocation and introduction of animals to new geographic regions correspond to increased human global travel and commerce as underlying factors for infectious disease emergence. In this review, we examined some potential notable driving mechanism of zoonosis in Nigeria. The population explodes, and demand for animal products has resulted in the expansion of animal trade, both local and international, animal and human movements, and intensification of livestock production systems. The above mentioned have an indirect role in zoonotic disease distribution. Animal husbandry, wildlife hunting, and hunting with dogs are potential routes of parasite translocation, most notably when infected animals are killed. Zoonotic diseases cause severe economic loss in the pathogenic spoilage of milk, contaminated animal products, carcass quality, weight loss, infertility, and loss of animal population. The cost of disease control decreases in household income due to a reduction in livestock/product sales. Also, consumption impacts due to reduced food availability, increased household vulnerability where livestock is used as a risk-coping mechanism, and effects on household finance, which influences household savings. Our suggestions for future effective zoonoses control include, an improved surveillance system, well-structured quarantine services, institutionalized one health approach, public enlightenment, interdisciplinary research, and ultimately a strict conservation rules and regulation may be turned into law to avoid transmission of Zoonosis through the consumption of wild animal which is most reservoir of causative pathogen.

The Ulli Beier Archives at the Centre for Black Culture and International Understanding (CBCIU), Nigeria, and a Summary of Holdings

AbstractThe Centre for Black Culture and International Understanding (CBCIU) was established on 7 January 2009. Located behind the Osun State Secretariat, southwest Nigeria, the CBCIU prides itself on being the inheritor of the archival estate of Ulli Beier, the late German connoisseur and African culture enthusiast. Housed in its Archive and Documentation Room/Unit, this repository contains very rich archival materials that include over 700 photographs with carefully preserved negatives and slides all dating back to the 1950s, 1960s and early 1970s, and thousands of works of literature published between 1921 and the 2000s on virtually all aspects of Yoruba art, culture, philosophy and intellectual history. Based on fieldwork conducted at the CBCIU in 2018 and 2019, this study embarks on three mutually-connected transactions. First, it examines Ulli Beier's ‘cultural border-crossings’ into Yorubaland, particularly in Osogbo, southwest Nigeria, where his diverse cultural interactions facilitated the revival of a diminishing culture. Second, the study discusses the genesis of the CBCIU dating back to Ulli Beier's emergence in Nigeria in 1950. Third, it analyses what it means for the CBCIU to inherit an invaluable material legacy. This is done by giving an account of the inventories and a summary of the holdings in the Archives. While the Archive forms the very nucleus of what the CBCIU stands for, I argue that this agency serves as a worthy inheritor of a material legacy that continually seeks cultural relevance and perpetuity.

Re-emergence of monkeypox in Nigeria: a cause for concern and public enlightenment

Monkey pox infection is a zoonotic infection transmitted by direct or indirect contact with blood, body fluids and lesions of an infected animal. Human to human spread of Monkey pox has been described and infection is usually self-limiting, with an incubation period of 6-16 days. In Nigeria, the last case of monkey pox infection was recorded over 46 years ago. The recent emergence in Nigeria occurred in the year 2017 and was reported to have spread to 24 states with 228 suspected individuals affected. Laboratory diagnosis, as well as management and prevention of monkey pox infection in Nigeria, remain challenging as Nigeria is a resource-poor country with limited infrastructure, technical skill and training which is required in making a diagnosis. The ability of the monkey pox virus to evolve, its potential bioterrorism potential, as well as its recent emergence in Nigeria further justifies the need for improving the understanding of the presentation and prevention of monkey pox infection. Keywords: monkey pox, emerging virus, Nigeria, rash, zoonosis, orthopox

Politics and the Adoption of the Policy of State of Emergency in Nigeria: Explaining the 1962 and 2013 Experiences

This article examines the politics of state of emergency in Nigeria in which conflict and instability is the trigger. In general, there are two broad perspectives within which conflict and violence occur in Nigeria; conflict between groups or communities within the country, and conflict between groups against the state. The first is driven mostly by issues of religion and political balancing while the second is driven by issues of distributive politics national policy making. The study reflects an effort to make the case that contrary to generally held opinion, the dynamics for declaration of state of emergency is not engendered by its multi-ethnicity, but by more of politics. The paper argues that internal politics within the ruling party and the idea of strengthening and retaining state power in the run up to general elections play important roles in adopting the policy of state of emergency in Nigeria. The paper concludes that what Nigeria needs for enduring peace is inclusive politics and good governance. DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2014.v5n15p587

Peace at Daggers Drawn? Boko Haram and the State of Emergency in Nigeria

More than 3,500 people have died in Nigeria since 2009 when Boko Haram, a radical Islamist group from northeastern Nigeria, launched its violent campaign to wrest power from the Nigerian government and foist an Islamic state under the supreme law of Sharia. Attempts at negotiating with the group, including the recent amnesty offer extended to its members by the Nigerian government, have stalled due to distrust on both sides and the factionalized leadership of the group's different cells. This article provides a systematic account of Boko Haram's emergence, demands, and modus operandi. It also evaluates how the Nigerian government has responded to the group's threat and how they should respond. The socioeconomic approach of this article helps to explain the Boko Haram problem beyond a usual religious agenda and to evaluate the development of the group in the context of Nigeria's checkered political history and local economic grievances.

1353 – One thousand consecutive attendees of a nigerian psychiatric emergency service: clinical and socio-demographic profile

The Psychiatric Emergency service occupies a strategic position where crucial interventions can be initiated and coordinated in linkage with other services in the mental health network. However, there is dearth of information on users of psychiatric emergency in Nigeria and sub-Saharan Africa. To determine the clinical and socio-demographic characteristics, pattern of presentation and disposal of patients attending a Nigerian psychiatric emergency unit. One thousand Patients consecutively presenting to the emergency unit of the Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital Yaba, Lagos, Nigeria from January 2012 were prospectively assessed. Following a comprehensive psychiatric evaluation, clinical, socio-demographic and other relevant data regarding their presentation and disposition were recorded into a pro-forma and subjected to statistical analysis. The majority were females (54.7%), single (65.6%), and unemployed (62.9%), with a mean age of 36.4 (± 14.7) years. Less than two-thirds (62.0%) were new patients. Only 10.8% of the new patients were formally referred to our facility. The most common diagnoses were schizophrenia (34.3%), depression (16.5%) and substance use disorders (11.4%). The patients were predominantly (89.4%) managed as out-patients. The emergency room is a major port of entry into mental health care and could be prone to over-subscription by patients with non-acute problems, especially when alternatives are not readily accessible. Multipronged interventions, including community based care with relevant linkages, may facilitate appropriate utilization of mental health services and reduce the potential for overcrowding of the psychiatric emergency room.

Adenomyosis and uterine rupture during labour in a primigravida: an unusual obstetric emergency in Nigeria

The primigravid uterus is believed to be immune to rupture during labour. This may not be true for those who have had prior adenomyomectomy, hence this report. The patient was a 28-year-old nullipara who became pregnant 11 months after an adenomyomectomy. Twelve hours after vaginal delivery at term, she developed haemoperitoneum of unclear cause. Emergency laparotomy and subsequent histology showed a fundal complete uterine rupture through the adenomyomectomy site, which was repaired. It is concluded that adenomyomectomy predisposes a pregnant uterus to rupture during labour. Therefore, such women should be offered elective caesarean delivery at term.

Ruptured uterus in a Nigerian community: a study of sociodemographic and obstetric risk factors

Ruptured uterus is a common obstetric emergency in Nigeria, associated with high maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality. There is a need for definitive identification of the risk factors to guide effective interventions to curb its scourge. To identify the sociodemographic and obstetric risk factors for ruptured uterus in Benin City, Nigeria, and based on this, make appropriate recommendations toward curbing the incidence and morbidity and mortality associated with it. Sociodemographic and obstetric variables in 51 women with ruptured uterus and 300 randomly selected hospital controls from the general obstetric population were compared. Fisher's exact test was used to determine statistical significance between proportions. The incidence of ruptured uterus was 1 in 426 deliveries. The risk factors found were low socioeconomic class (OR = 6.8, CI = 3.6-12.9), being unbooked for antenatal care (OR = 10.4, CI = 5.4-20.0), grand multiparity (OR = 8.7, CI = 4.0-19.1), and prolonged obstructed labor (OR = 35.3, CI = 15.3-81.6). Measures that promote education and economic empowerment of women and the utilization of modern antenatal care will reduce the prevalence of rupture of the uterus in the community.