Partners In Nigeria Research Articles

Deploying ADVISER: Impact and Lessons from Using Artificial Intelligence for Child Vaccination Uptake in Nigeria

More than 5 million children under five years die from largely preventable or treatable medical conditions every year, with an overwhelmingly large proportion of deaths occurring in underdeveloped countries with low vaccination uptake. One of the United Nations' sustainable development goals (SDG 3) aims to end preventable deaths of newborns and children under five years of age. We focus on Nigeria, where the rate of infant mortality is appalling. In particular, low vaccination uptake in Nigeria is a major driver of more than 2,000 daily deaths of children under the age of five years. In this paper, we describe our collaboration with government partners in Nigeria to deploy ADVISER: AI-Driven Vaccination Intervention Optimiser. The framework, based on an integer linear program that seeks to maximize the cumulative probability of successful vaccination, is the first successful deployment of an AI-enabled toolchain for optimizing the allocation of health interventions in Nigeria. In this paper, we provide a background of the ADVISER framework and present results, lessons, and success stories of deploying ADVISER to more than 13,000 families in the state of Oyo, Nigeria.

Training in the art and science of facilitation to scale research mentor training in low and middle income countries

Advancing biomedical research in low and middle income countries (LMICs) to expand the capacity for LMICs to integrate biomedical research into their health care systems and education has been the focus of many programs in global health over the past two decades. Central to the success of these programs is effective research mentoring, characterized by academic, career and psychosocial support through culturally appropriate practices. Research mentoring is a learned skill, developed through training, mutual discussions, practice and feedback. The majority of extant training programs are designed and delivered by US partners, so the next stage in building capacity is to train facilitators within the LMIC partner institutions to contextualize and advance mentoring specifically within their cultural and institutional norms by co-developing, delivering and evaluating semi-annual research mentoring training. To this end, we describe the development, delivery and outcome evaluation of a 5-week course in the art and skill of facilitation. Care was taken to explicitly distinguish between concepts of “teaching” and “facilitation,” since “teaching” is closely connected to a transmission or banking model of education, which is characterized by “top-down,” hierarchical relationship. The course discussed power and positionality, themes that resonate with partners in Nigeria and Tanzania. These themes provided unique entry into deeper conversations core to advancing mentoring practice away from the traditional dyadic power structure that remains from colonization. Evaluation findings indicate significant advances in awareness of differences between teaching and facilitating, increased confidence in facilitation skills, especially in the area of structured planning and organization, as well as improved communication and interpersonal skills. All respondents felt that students in Nigeria and Tanzania would respond well to the facilitation approach conveyed during the course and they found value in participating in the course as a cohort.

COVID-19 LOCKDOWN AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AMONG PARTNERS IN NIGERIA

The purpose of the study were to examine if COVID-19 will lead to physical violence, emotional violence and sexual violence among partners in Nigeria. A descriptive research design of survey type was employed for this study. One hundred and twenty six (126) respondents were sampled for the study. Researchers developed questionnaire validated by experts in related areas of study were used for the study and was tested for reliability for the study. The data collected was analysed using descriptive statistics of frequency counts and percentages for demographical data of the respondents while t-test was used to test the hypotheses. All hypotheses were tested at 0.05 level of significance. The findings from this study revealed that: COVID-19 lockdown leads to physical violence among partners in Nigeria. This was because Pcalculated value was 0.00, which is lesser than 0.05 level of significance, COVID-19 lockdown leads to emotional violence among partners in Nigeria. This was because P-calculated value was 0.00, which is lesser than 0.05 level of significance, COVID-19 lockdown leads to sexual violence among partners in Nigeria. This was because P-calculated value was 0.00, which is lesser than 0.05 level of significance. The study concluded that COVID-19 lockdown lead to physical, emotional, and sexual violence among partners on Nigeria, it was recommended that couples should try to manage the situation of lockdown and settles matters among themselves in order to avoid physical violence, there should be increase in counseling services on right of women for couples as for them to be able to manage issues among themselves, couples should abide by guidance of sex education expert and avoid the lockdown to push them in sexual violence.

Cohort profile: the Nigerian HIV geriatric cohort study

BackgroundThe Nigerian HIV Geriatric Cohort (NHGC) is a longitudinal cohort setup to learn how elderly people living with HIV (EPLHIV) in Nigeria fare, despite not being prioritized by the national treatment program, and to deepen knowledge for their differentiated care and achieve better outcomes. In this paper, we describe data collected on sociodemographic and clinical data from EPLHIV from the inception of Nigeria’s national HIV program to 2018.MethodsPatient-level data spanning the period 2004 to 2018, obtained from comprehensive HIV treatment hospitals, that are supported by four major PEPFAR-implementing partners in Nigeria were used. These 4 entities collaborated as member organizations of the Nigeria Implementation Science Alliance. We defined elderly as those aged 50 years and above. From deidentified treatment records, demographic and clinical data of EPLHIV ≥50-year-old at ART initiation during the review period was extracted, merged into a single REDcap® database, and described using STATA 13.ResultsA total of 101,652 EPLHIV were analysed. Women accounted for 53,608 (53%), 51,037 (71%) of EPLHIV identified as married and 33,446 (51%) unemployed. Median age was 57.1 years (IQR 52–60 years) with a median duration on ART treatment of 4.1 years (IQR 1.7–7.1 years). ART profile showed that 97,586 (96%) were on 1st-line and 66,125 (65%) were on TDF-based regimens. Median body mass index (BMI) was 22.2 kg/m2 (IQR 19.5–25.4 kg/m2) with 43,012 (55%), 15,081 (19%) and 6803 (9%) showing normal (BMI 18.5 – < 25 kg/m2), overweight (BMI 25 - < 30 kg/m2) and obese (BMI ≥30 kg/m2) ranges respectively. Prevalence of hypertension (systolic-BP > 140 mmHg or diastolic-BP > 90 mmHg) was 16,201 (21%). EPLHIV median CD4 count was 381 cells/μL (IQR 212–577 cells/μL) and 26,687 (82%) had a viral load result showing < 1000copies/ml within one year of their last visit. As for outcomes at their last visit, 62,821 (62%) were on active-in-treatment, 28,463 (28%) were lost-to-follow-up, 6912 (7%) died and 2456 (3%) had stopped or transferred out. Poor population death records and aversion to autopsies makes it almost impossible to estimate AIDS-related deaths.ConclusionsThis cohort describes the clinical and non-clinical profile of EPLHIV in Nigeria. We are following up the cohort to design and implement intervention programs, develop prognostic models to achieve better care outcomes for EPLHIV. This cohort would provide vital information for stakeholders in HIV prevention, care and treatment to understand the characteristics of EPLHIV.

NGOs, Partnership and Accountability – A Case Study of ActionAid and its Local NGO Partners in Nigeria

The NGO sector has been widely criticised for their failure to demonstrate the ideals of partnership in practice, especially between INGOs and their local NGOs in developing countries. Previous literature asserts that conventional partnership often fails to demonstrate its ideals in practice because INGO donors wield enormous power and influence over their local NGO partners because of their control over funds. Using face-to-face interview, focus group discussion, participant observation and documents analysis, firstly, this paper investigates whether ActionAid Nigeria and its local NGO partners share a common understanding of the ideals of partnership? Secondly, it investigates whether these partnership ideals are actually demonstrated in practice. Empirical observations have shown that there is a common understanding of the key principles and values of partnership between the INGO donor and their local partners in Nigeria. In addition, the findings suggest ActionAid Nigeria and its local NGO partners are striving to demonstrate these ideals in practice. Also, the study suggests that the INGO donor and its local NGO partners are willing to promote mutual accountability in their partnership engagements to promote concrete changes in the lives of the beneficiaries of their work.

The Nexus of a Husband’s Educational Status in Conjunction with Alcohol Consumption on His Tendency to Commit Domestic Violence toward Female Partners in Nigeria, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan

The Nexus of a Husband’s Educational Status in Conjunction with Alcohol Consumption on His Tendency to Commit Domestic Violence toward Female Partners in Nigeria, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan

Socio-Demographic Determinants of the Experience of Physical Violence among Intimate Partners in Nigeria

In many cultures women are viewed and treated as inferior or as second-class citizens. Gender-based violence in all its forms is an on-going problem, even in the so-called developed world. Such violence has been associated with serious health consequences, including physical, sexual, and reproductive health, psychological and behavioural problems, as well as fatal health outcomes such as homicide, suicide, and maternal mortality. This paper examined the socio-demographic factors that may predispose a Nigerian woman to experience Intimate Partner Violence (IPV). The paper made use of secondary data from (raw data) NDHS 2013. Data were collected from 21,004 respondents comprising women of childbearing age who are currently married or in union with a partner. The variables required for the analysis were taken from the raw data and analysed using both the descriptive and inferential statistics. Women in the study population reported to have experienced at least one form of physical violence by their partner, slap is the most prevalent form of IPV observed from the findings of this study, also “offence” that was perceived to be the most justified for wife beating is if a woman goes out without telling. Findings also revealed the education level affects experience of IPV, also women with primary education are likely to experience IPV more. It was recommended that there should be a reduction in spousal age difference. Also the issue of child marriage should be abolished, for her to attain some maturity and get certain level of education that will equip her for the future.

Nigeria and World Bank Global Gas Flaring Reduction (GGFR) Partnership: The Tragedy of the Commons

Globally, over 150 billion cubic meters of associated gas are being flared and vented annually. Africa flares 40 billion cubic meters annually in which 35 billion cubic meters are flared in sub-Saharan Africa. In Nigeria alone, gas flaring amounts to about 23 billion cubic meters per annum of the gas generated in association with crude oil production in over 100 flare sites, constituting over 13 percent of global gas flaring. This translates to greenhouse gas emission of 45 million tons of CO2 out of the global total of 400 million tons annually. Nigeria partners with the GGFR, a World Bank led public-private partnership that includes major oil and gas producing countries and companies. The GGFR was established to facilitate and support national efforts to utilize currently flared gas by promoting effective regulatory framework and tackling the constraints on gas utilization. The study essentially adopts qualitative method that relies on secondary data and applies radical environmentalism a combination of Marxism, rentierism and environmentalism as theoretical framework of analysis. The paper focuses primarily on the role of Nigeria in the GGFR vis a vis other partners; and thus, concludes that oil dependence of GGFR partners undermines the enforcement of associated gas flaring and venting reduction and elimination policy in Nigeria.

Domestic violence by women against their intimate partners in Nigeria

Victims of domestic violence (DV) are more often than not, women and children. However, studies have shown that men are also victims of DV. The main objective of this article is to assess the predictors of DV against men in Nigeria. Data were generated from the 2013 NDHS. Using SPSS version 21 and multivariate logistic regression analysis, the findings indicated that region, education, marital and employment status, experience of violence and partners’ alcohol consumption were significant predictors of DV against men. Highly educated, divorced and separated, employed women, those respondents whose husbands/partners drank alcohol, women who had experienced domestic violence and those who resided in the North-East (OR=7.967; p<0.001), North-Central (OR=1.623, P<0.05), South-East (OR=2.161; p<0.001) and South-South (OR=1.936 p<0.001) zones were more likely than women from the South West to perpetrate violence against their husbands/partners. We recommend that couples should be counselled and educated about the dangers of domestic violence and vulnerable men should be encouraged to speak out.

Alliance Instability Among Indonesian Subsidiaries in the Nigerian Market

Alliance instability, which is defined as structural and/or ownership status change in a cooperation, is commonly seen in different parts of the world. This study investigates the main factor causing such phenomenon to occur between Indonesian subsidiaries and their local partners in Nigeria. The findings of the study show that an imbalance of bargaining power becomes a potential factor, which then triggers alliance instability due to conflict of expectations shared between the two sides. The conflict arises because local partners fail to respond to the demands of Indonesian subsidiaries related to the development of distribution systems meant for better dissemination of their products in the country. DOI : https://doi.org/10.21632/irjbs.7.2.141-153 Keywords: Alliance Instability, Bargaining Power, Conflict of Expectations, Distribution Systems, Subsidiaries

Alliance Instability Among Indonesian Subsidiaries in the Nigerian Market

Alliance instability, which is defined as structural and/or ownership status change in a cooperation, is commonly seen in different parts of the world. This study investigates the main factor causing such phenomenon to occur between Indonesian subsidiaries and their local partners in Nigeria. The findings of the study show that an imbalance of bargaining power becomes a potential factor, which then triggers alliance instability due to conflict of expectations shared between the two sides. The conflict arises because local partners fail to respond to the demands of Indonesian subsidiaries related to the development of distribution systems meant for better dissemination of their products in the country. DOI : https://doi.org/10.21632/irjbs.7.2.141-153 Keywords: Alliance Instability, Bargaining Power, Conflict of Expectations, Distribution Systems, Subsidiaries

154 Responding to the challenge of AIDS Associated Cancers in Nigeria

The stabilization of the HIV epidemic in Africa has uncovered new epidemic of HIV associated comorbidities including cancers which the poorly developed health care system, poor infrastructure and lack of personnel is unable to cope with. In November 2012, international leaders in Cancer Research and Policy from 15 countries met at the NIH, Bethesda and made recommendations about the interventions needed to respond to the global cancer challenge in the world. These include (1) Creation of reliable, population-based registries that define the incidence, mortality, and survival rates of different types of cancers (2) Implementation of prevention measures to mitigate factors now known to promote cancer—tobacco, certain infectious agents, ultraviolet radiation, alcohol, obesity, lack of exercise, and diet, (3) Screening individuals for certain cancers (of the cervix, breast, prostate, and colorectum, in particular) and (4) Optimal cancer treatment. In this presentation, I will highlight how the Institute of Human Virology, University of Maryland (IHV) and the Institute of Human Virology Nigeria (IHVN) working with partners in Nigeria and internationally have implemented these recommendations and present data illustrating the outcome of our interventions. For example,Since 2010, 21 cancer registries have been developed or re-strengthened in Nigeria and 3 of these have met the WHO criteria for population based cancer registration (PBCR). These registries are now able to contribute data to the global cancer incidence database after more than 30 years during which there was no data from Nigeria. With mainstreaming of an additional 3 PBCR this year, we would have increased the proportion of Africa covered by PBCR from 11% to 32%. Our results also correct distortions in the estimates of cancer incidence and mortality in Nigeria which was previously based on projections derived from data from cancer registries of other African countries that had been used in the past.Cervical cancer is the commonest female cancer in Africa and in women living with HIV/AIDS. Implementation of screening programs has reduced incidence in developed countries by 80% in recent decades but incidence in developing countries remain stable or has been increasing. IHV implements an innovative “screen and treat” with immediate treatment with cold coagulation, digital cervicography for QA/QC and web based consultation for second opinion for early detection of cervical cancer. In collaboration with the Nigerian authorities and other partners, this program plans to reach 1,000,000 Nigerian women with at least 1 lifetime screening event over the next 10 years.This screening project laid the foundation for the NIH funded African Collaborative Center for Microbiome and Genomics Research (ACCME), part of the Wellcome Trust and NIH funded H3Africa initiative, which we set up at the IHVN and is currently engaged in integrative epidemiology of cervical cancer that is exploring the host and viral genomics and epigenomics, somatic cervical cancer genomics as part of NIH led Cancer Genome Atlas mapping project (TCGA), vaginal microenvironment—innate immunity and vaginal microbiota, as well as detailed risk factor characterization of prevalent and persistent HPV infection. Preliminary results from early studies conducted at this Center will be presented.Because of dearth of systematic information about the epidemiology of AIDS Associated Cancers in Africa, we have created a matched prospective cohort of persons living with HIV/AIDS and healthy volunteers who are being followed up every 2 years with detailed clinical evaluation and collection of data and biological samples in order to improve knowledge of the epidemiology of HIV Associated Comorbidities and provide high quality biological samples for molecular and omics studies. In my presentation, I will also mention some of the trainings that we have conducted, research into other cancer risk factors and the work we are doing to map the infrastructural needs for oncology treatment in Nigeria.

Physical violence among intimate partners in Nigeria: A multi level analysis

Gender based violence is gaining more and more recognition, the world over. The prevalence and factors associated with physical violence as it affects both men and women taking into account the hierarchical nature of the data was reported in this study. A descriptive cross sectional survey was carried out on adult women and men in three selected states of Nigeria. A random effect logistic model was fitted. More female respondents had experienced physical violence compared with males. Behavioural factors of partners were found to greatly influence domestic violence against females such as young age and partner’s smoking and drinking status. These results would provide more insights into the determinants of violence in developing country settings. Key words: Physical violence, intimate partners, multilevel analysis, determinants.