Evaluating a School-Based Intervention on Adolescents' Ethnic-racial Identity in Sweden.

Finding developmentally appropriate ways to support youth in understanding their own ethnic-racial identity is needed, particularly in contexts like Sweden where such support is not the norm. This preregistered longitudinal study examined whether an 8-week school-based intervention, the Identity Project, impacted youth ethnic-racial identity exploration (participation and search), resolution, private regard, and centrality. Participants were 509 adolescents in the 10th grade (Mage = 16.28, SD = 0.80; 65% self-identified girls; 52% minoritized ethnic background), who were randomized into an intervention or wait-list control group and assessed at baseline and three times post-intervention. The findings indicated an initial and simultaneous effect of the intervention only for exploration participation and resolution but did not show the expected chain of effects with earlier exploration predicting later resolution. Growth models indicated a greater increase in exploration participation over time for the intervention group than the control group. The findings indicate a mixed picture about the effectiveness of the intervention, with effects primarily narrowly targeted to exploration participation, but nevertheless highlight the potential for supporting Swedish youth in engaging with their ethnic-racial identities.

A Qualitative Study of HIV Testing Experiences and HIV Self-Testing Perspectives among Men in Northern Nigeria.

HIV self-testing (HIVST) holds promise for accessing hard-to-reach populations by overcoming sociocultural and structural barriers to awareness of HIV status. This phenomenological qualitative study explored the experiences and perspectives of married men in Kano, northern Nigeria, regarding HIV testing and counseling (HTC) and HIVST. Twenty married men from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds participated in in-depth interviews conducted in the local language. Thematic analysis was employed to analyze the data, yielding key themes related to prior test experiences, knowledge of self-testing, and perceived ease of use, in addition to motivation for self-testing and concerns about reliability and counseling support. The findings shed light on the impact of facility-based HIV testing experiences on the perspectives of participants. Concerns related to delays, overcrowding, discomfort, fear, and unsupportive attitudes from healthcare providers influenced their perceptions. Among persons with previous self-testing experience, initial uneasiness was overcome with repeated use, highlighting the ease of use associated with HIVST. Motivations for self-testing included privacy, convenience, personal empowerment, improved infection detection, and efficiency. Concerns were raised regarding the reliability of self-testing results compared to hospital-based testing, and the absence of counseling support during self-testing. Our findings underscore the need to address infrastructural limitations, enhance counseling support, and promote awareness and knowledge of HIVST.

Neisseria gonorrhoeae infection in female sex workers in an STI clinic in Nairobi, Kenya.

BACKGROUND: Gonorrhea caused by Neisseria gonorrhoeae is the second most prevalent curable sexually transmitted infection worldwide. Female Sex Workers (FSWs) are at a higher risk of contracting gonorrhea due to their risky sexual behaviors like inconsistent condom use and multiple sexual partners. We determined the prevalence and risk factors associated with gonorrhea and its antimicrobial susceptibility pattern among symptomatic FSWs attending Sexual Workers Outreach Program (SWOP) city clinic in Nairobi, Kenya. METHODS: Using convenience sampling, we recruited 379 female sex workers from SWOP City clinic in Nairobi County. We administered a semi-structured questionnaire to collect data on socio-demographics and behavioral risk factors associated with gonorrhea. We also conducted three focus groups. Two endocervical swabs were collected from each participant by the attending physician for the laboratory identification of Neisseria gonorrhoeae. An antimicrobial susceptibility test was performed using the disc diffusion method. RESULTS: Twenty-four out of 379 (6.3%) participants tested positive for gonorrhea by PCR. The significant risk factors associated with gonorrhea were having multiple sexual partners in the previous two weeks, primary education, and being in the age group of 38-49 years (p < 0.05). From the qualitative data, sex work disclosure, and difficulty in engaging protected sex with their partner, and unprotected sex with their clients due to more money from the client, PREP, and alcohol use made the female sex workers vulnerable to gonorrhea exposure and or risky sexual behavior. The culture-positive sample result yielded complete (100%) resistance to all the antimicrobials used. CONCLUSION: Neisseria gonorrhoeae infection is prevalent among symptomatic FSWs in Nairobi. Multiple sexual partners, being in age group 38-49 years and having primary education were the factors associated with gonorrhea among the study participants. Based on our identification of a highly resistant isolate, we strongly recommend increasing capacity for culture-based diagnosis and susceptibility testing.

Pollution of heavy metal threat posed by e-waste burning and its assessment of human health risk.

Improper treatment during recycling of e-waste materials by means of open burning is on the rise which has led to an increase in air pollution. This study looked at heavy metal concentrations, concentrations in relation to threshold values, and assessments of risk for noncarcinogenic and cancer risk threat. The Microwave Plasma-Atomic Emission Spectrometry (MP-AES 4210) series instrument of Agilent Technology, United States of America (USA), was used in analyzing heavy metal (Cd, Cu, and Pb) concentrations. The result of the analysis of the Kuka Bulukiya treatment point revealed that Pb has the highest mean concentration of 0.0693 ppm, Cu 0.0525 parts per million (PPM), and Cd 0.0042 ppm. The mean concentration at PRP Gidan Ruwa for Cd was found to be 0.0059 ppm, Cu 0.0363 ppm, and Pb 0.049 ppm. The result of the adult and children population calculated shows that the hazard quotient (HQ) and hazard index (HI) values are not up to 1 in all the pathways (inhalation, ingestion, and dermal) at both treatment points (1.2 ˟ 10-4 and 9.8 ˟ 10-5) and (6.4 ˟ 10-4 and 5.9 ˟ 10-4), respectively. The cancer risk for Kuka Bulukiya 6 ˟ 10-10 and PRP G/Ruwa 5 ˟ 10-10 for adults and 7 ˟ 10-10 and 4 ˟ 10-10 for children were both lower than the threshold set for cancer risk by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA). This meant that both adults and children were not at risk of cancer and noncarcinogenic threat based on the assessment in this study. The study concluded that informal e-waste burning has substantially helped in the relatively high levels of air pollution identified in the treatment points and in turn posed environmental and public health concerns to people around the area. This study recommends that samples of the vegetable products at the PRP G/Ruwa treatment point should be investigated immediately and adequate restrictions and regulations should be enacted and enforced in order to safeguard the environment and the populace. There is need for caution from the authorities to avert the possible implications (e-waste extractors and the public) of being affected with noncarcinogenic or carcinogenic ailments over time.

Neonatal Hearing Screening, with Otoacoustic Emission, among Normal Babies in a Northeastern Nigerian Hospital.

Background: Hearing is necessary for speech and language development, children with bilateral hearing loss often have impaired speech and language abilities thus limiting educational attainment. Early detection and intervention will help minimize such effects. Therefore, neonatal hearing screening program has been advocated in developing countries. Objective: TThe objective of this study is to determine the prevalence of hearing loss and risk factors among full-term inborn neonates delivered in a University Teaching Hospital with transient evoked otoacoustic emission (TEOAE). Materials and Methods: All full-term neonates delivered in a University Teaching Hospital were included in this prospective cross-sectional study. The hospital's ethical committee gave approval. The researcher obtained informed consent from the parents and administered a questionnaire for demographic, prenatal, and postnatal data. A comprehensive head and neck examination preceded the preliminary otoscopy. With the help of a hand-held otodynamic otoport, Neonatal Hearing Screening Program otoacoustic emission (OAE), each ear's hearing was assessed. Statistical Product and Service Solutions (SPSS) version 22.0 was used to analyse the data. Results: 150 full-term neonates were screened, of which 72 (48%) were males and 78 (52%) were females. Neonates that failed the TEOAE in both ears were 12 (8%). 18 (12%) neonates had a refer in right ear only, while 24 (16%) had a refer in the left ear only. The only significant risk factor with a referral outcome of TEOAE was family history of childhood hearing loss (23.1%). Conclusion: This study found a high prevalence (8%) of failed TEOAE of full-term neonates delivered in our hospital with a significant risk factor of family history of childhood hearing loss.

Endsocopic Internal Maxillary Artery Cauterization in a Patient with Severe Posterior Epistaxis: A Case Report.

Epistaxis from the posterior superior region of the nasal cavity might be fatal in some cases. It is particularly severe in an individual with hypertension, arterial aneurysm of traumatic origin, and bleeding from posterior lateral nasal artery, which is frequently difficult to reach and ligate directly on a bleeding area. Certain cases have been reported in which the bleeding could be stopped only by ligating/embolization of the external carotid artery or the internal maxillary artery at its branching off from the external carotid artery. Despite the multiple anastomoses, the effect of such ligation or cauterization is effective if properly done. We present a case of a 25-year-old young man with a 3-month history of recurrent epistaxis resulting from an internal maxillary artery aneurysm following trauma. The clinical presentation, diagnosis, and successful endoscopy treatment of posterior epistaxis are presented.

Progress toward poliomyelitis eradication in Kano State, Nigeria, 2010 - 2017.

Introduction: Kano State in Northern Nigeria was a major source of Wild Polio Virus (WPV) cases in Nigeria up until 2015. In 2009, the State reported 168 WPV cases out of the 388 reported nationally. This paper characterizes the progress made by Kano State in polio eradication. Methods: In December 2017, we conducted a descriptive review of Routine Immunization (RI) from both the District Vaccine Data Management Tool (DVD-MT) and District Health Information System (DHIS2) from 2010 to 2017. Also, we reviewed the Acute Flaccid Paralysis (AFP) and Supplementary Immunization Activities (SIAs) data reported for Kano State from 2010 to 2017. Also, we obtained the number of reported WPV cases by serotypes. Results: From 2010 to 2017, a total of 65 confirmed WPV cases were reported in Kano State. Of these, 58 (89%) were WPV1 and 7 (11%) WPV3. Almost half of these cases were reported in 2012 from 14 LGAs. The number of reported cases fell to 15 (23%) in 10 LGAs in 2013, and further decreased to 5 (8%) in four LGAs in 2014. No new WPV cases have been detected in Kano since 2015. During the same period, 23 circulating Vaccine Derived Polio Viruses (cVDPV2) cases were reported in Kano. Specifically, 10 LGAs reported 10 cases in 2011. Three LGAs reported three cases in 2012, while eight LGAs reported 10 total cases in 2014. During the 2010 to 2017 period 61 SIAs were conducted. Conclusion: Kano State made progress toward polio eradication. Sustained eradication efforts, in form of high quality RI, SIAs and AFP surveillance are necessary to avert possible importation from 2016 polio resurgence in nearby Borno State, Nigeria.

Reproductive health effects of aflatoxins: a review of the literature.

CONTEXT: Although it is known that aflatoxins have many adverse health effects, there is no systematic summary of how it affects the reproductive system or its reproductive health effects. OBJECTIVE: Summarize evidence on the reproductive health effects of aflatoxins. RESULTS: The search yielded 121 potential studies, of which 25 were retained. One study found a higher concentration of aflatoxins in the semen of infertile men (40% of cases compared to 8% of controls). Six studies found significant associations or correlations between low birth weight and aflatoxins while one study did not find any correlation. One study found maternal serum aflatoxin to be a risk factor for jaundice in infants (OR, 2.68; CI, 1.18-6.10). Overall, maternal breast milk in developing countries had higher rates of aflatoxin contamination than in high income countries. CONCLUSIONS: Stakeholders in developing countries need to take steps to reduce exposure of vulnerable populations to the toxic effects of aflatoxins.