Using antenatal care as a platform for malaria surveillance data collection: study protocol.

BACKGROUND: While many malaria-endemic countries have health management information systems that can measure and report malaria trends in a timely manner, these routine systems have limitations. Periodic community cross-sectional household surveys are used to estimate malaria prevalence and intervention coverage but lack geographic granularity and are resource intensive. Incorporating malaria testing for all women at their first antenatal care (ANC) visit (i.e., ANC1) could provide a more timely and granular source of data for monitoring trends in malaria burden and intervention coverage. This article describes a protocol designed to assess if ANC-based surveillance could be a pragmatic tool to monitor malaria. METHODS: This is an observational, cross-sectional study conducted in Benin, Burkina Faso, Mozambique, Nigeria, Tanzania, and Zambia. Pregnant women attending ANC1 in selected health facilities will be tested for malaria infection by rapid diagnostic test and administered a brief questionnaire to capture key indicators of malaria control intervention coverage and care-seeking behaviour. In each location, contemporaneous cross-sectional household surveys will be leveraged to assess correlations between estimates obtained using each method, and the use of ANC data as a tool to track trends in malaria burden and intervention coverage will be validated. RESULTS: This study will assess malaria prevalence at ANC1 aggregated at health facility and district levels, and by gravidity relative to current pregnancy (i.e., gravida 1, gravida 2, and gravida 3 +). ANC1 malaria prevalence will be presented as monthly trends. Additionally, correlation between ANC1 and household survey-derived estimates of malaria prevalence, bed net ownership and use, and care-seeking will be assessed. CONCLUSION: ANC1-based surveillance has the potential to provide a cost-effective, localized measure of malaria prevalence that is representative of the general population and useful for tracking monthly changes in parasite prevalence, as well as providing population-representative estimates of intervention coverage and care-seeking behavior. This study will evaluate the representativeness of these measures and collect information on operational feasibility, usefulness for programmatic decision-making, and potential for scale-up of malaria ANC1 surveillance.

Incremental cost and cost-effectiveness of the addition of indoor residual spraying with pirimiphos-methyl in sub-Saharan Africa versus standard malaria control: results of data collection and analysis in the Next Generation Indoor Residual Sprays (NgenIRS) project, an economic-evaluation.

BACKGROUND: Malaria is a major cause of morbidity and mortality globally, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. Widespread resistance to pyrethroids threatens the gains achieved by vector control. To counter resistance to pyrethroids, third-generation indoor residual spraying (3GIRS) products have been developed. This study details the results of a multi-country cost and cost-effectiveness analysis of indoor residual spraying (IRS) programmes using Actellic®300CS, a 3GIRS product with pirimiphos-methyl, in sub-Saharan Africa in 2017 added to standard malaria control interventions including insecticide-treated bed nets versus standard malaria control interventions alone. METHODS: An economic evaluation of 3GIRS using Actellic®300CS in a broad range of sub-Saharan African settings was conducted using a variety of primary data collection and evidence synthesis methods. Four IRS programmes in Ghana, Mali, Uganda, and Zambia were included in the effectiveness analysis. Cost data come from six IRS programmes: one in each of the four countries where effect was measured plus Mozambique and a separate programme conducted by AngloGold Ashanti Malaria Control in Ghana. Financial and economic costs were quantified and valued. The main indicator for the cost was cost per person targeted. Country-specific case incidence rate ratios (IRRs), estimated by comparing IRS study districts to adjacent non-IRS study districts or facilities, were used to calculate cases averted in each study area. A deterministic analysis and sensitivity analysis were conducted in each of the four countries for which effectiveness evaluations were available. Probabilistic sensitivity analysis was used to generate plausibility bounds around the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio estimates for adding IRS to other standard interventions in each study setting as well as jointly utilizing data on effect and cost across all settings. RESULTS: Overall, IRRs from each country indicated that adding IRS with Actellic®300CS to the local standard intervention package was protective compared to the standard intervention package alone (IRR 0.67, [95% CI 0.50-0.91]). Results indicate that Actellic®300CS is expected to be a cost-effective (> 60% probability of being cost-effective in all settings) or highly cost-effective intervention across a range of transmission settings in sub-Saharan Africa. DISCUSSION: Variations in the incremental costs and cost-effectiveness likely result from several sources including: variation in the sprayed wall surfaces and house size relative to household population, the underlying malaria burden in the communities sprayed, the effectiveness of 3GIRS in different settings, and insecticide price. Programmes should be aware that current recommendations to rotate can mean variation and uncertainty in budgets; programmes should consider this in their insecticide-resistance management strategies. CONCLUSIONS: The optimal combination of 3GIRS delivery with other malaria control interventions will be highly context specific. 3GIRS using Actellic®300CS is expected to deliver acceptable value for money in a broad range of sub-Saharan African malaria transmission settings.

Design and methods for a quasi-experimental pilot study to evaluate the impact of dual active ingredient insecticide-treated nets on malaria burden in five regions in sub-Saharan Africa.

BACKGROUND: Vector control tools have contributed significantly to a reduction in malaria burden since 2000, primarily through insecticidal-treated bed nets (ITNs) and indoor residual spraying. In the face of increasing insecticide resistance in key malaria vector species, global progress in malaria control has stalled. Innovative tools, such as dual active ingredient (dual-AI) ITNs that are effective at killing insecticide-resistant mosquitoes have recently been introduced. However, large-scale uptake has been slow for several reasons, including higher costs and limited evidence on their incremental effectiveness and cost-effectiveness. The present report describes the design of several observational studies aimed to determine the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of dual-AI ITNs, compared to standard pyrethroid-only ITNs, at reducing malaria transmission across a variety of transmission settings. METHODS: Observational pilot studies are ongoing in Burkina Faso, Mozambique, Nigeria, and Rwanda, leveraging dual-AI ITN rollouts nested within the 2019 and 2020 mass distribution campaigns in each country. Enhanced surveillance occurring in select study districts include annual cross-sectional surveys during peak transmission seasons, monthly entomological surveillance, passive case detection using routine health facility surveillance systems, and studies on human behaviour and ITN use patterns. Data will compare changes in malaria transmission and disease burden in districts receiving dual-AI ITNs to similar districts receiving standard pyrethroid-only ITNs over three years. The costs of net distribution will be calculated using the provider perspective including financial and economic costs, and a cost-effectiveness analysis will assess incremental cost-effectiveness ratios for Interceptor® G2, Royal Guard®, and piperonyl butoxide ITNs in comparison to standard pyrethroid-only ITNs, based on incidence rate ratios calculated from routine data. CONCLUSIONS: Evidence of the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of the dual-AI ITNs from these pilot studies will complement evidence from two contemporary cluster randomized control trials, one in Benin and one in Tanzania, to provide key information to malaria control programmes, policymakers, and donors to help guide decision-making and planning for local malaria control and elimination strategies. Understanding the breadth of contexts where these dual-AI ITNs are most effective and collecting robust information on factors influencing comparative effectiveness could improve uptake and availability and help maximize their impact.

Variation of physical durability between LLIN products and net use environments: summary of findings from four African countries.

BACKGROUND: Physical durability of long-lasting-insecticidal nets (LLIN) is an important aspect of the effectiveness of LLIN as a malaria prevention tool, but there is limited data on performance across locations and products. This secondary analysis of data from the VectorWorks project from 10 sites in four African countries involving six LLIN brands provides such data. METHODS: A total of 4672 campaign nets from 1976 households were recruited into prospective cohort studies 2-6 months after distribution through campaigns and followed for 3 years in Mozambique, Nigeria, DRC and Zanzibar, Tanzania. LLIN products included two 100 denier polyester LLIN (DawaPlus® 2.0, PermaNet® 2.0) distributed in five sites and four 150 denier polyethylene LLIN (Royal Sentry®, MAGNet®, DuraNet©, Olyset™ Net) distributed in five sites. Primary outcome was LLIN survival in serviceable condition and median survival in years. Net use environment and net care variables were collected during four household surveys. Determinants of physical durability were explored by survival analysis and Cox regression models with risk of failure starting with the first hanging of the net. RESULTS: Definite outcomes for physical durability were obtained for 75% of study nets. After 31 to 37 months survival in serviceable condition varied between sites by 63 percentage-points, from 17 to 80%. Median survival varied by 3.7 years, from 1.6 to 5.3 years. Similar magnitude of variation was seen for polyethylene and polyester LLIN and for the same brand. Cox regression showed increasing net care attitude in combination with exposure to net related messages to be the strongest explanatory variable of survival. However, differences between countries also remained significant. In contrast, no difference was seen for LLIN material types. CONCLUSIONS: Variation in net use environment and net care is the main reason for differences in the physical durability of LLIN products in different locations. While some of these factors have been identified to work across countries, other factors remain poorly defined and further investigation is needed in this area. Grouping LLIN brands by similar textile characteristics, such as material or yarn strength, is insufficient to distinguish LLIN product performance suggesting a more differentiated, composite metric is needed.

Correlation of textile 'resistance to damage' scores with actual physical survival of long-lasting insecticidal nets in the field.

BACKGROUND: Attempts have been made to link procurement of long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLIN) not only to the price but also the expected performance of the product. However, to date it has not been possible to identify a specific textile characteristic that predicts physical durability in the field. The recently developed resistance to damage (RD) score could provide such a metric. This study uses pooled data from durability monitoring to explore the usefulness of the RD methodology. METHODS: Data from standardized, 3-year, prospective LLIN durability monitoring for six LLIN brands in 10 locations and four countries involving 4672 campaign LLIN were linked to the RD scores of the respective LLIN brands. The RD score is a single quantitative metric based on a suite of standardized textile tests which in turn build on the mechanisms of damage to a mosquito net. Potential RD values range from 0 to 100 where 100 represents optimal resistance to expected day-to-day stress during reasonable net use. Survival analysis was set so that risk of failure only started when nets were first hung. Cox regression was applied to explore RD effects on physical survival adjusting for known net use environment variables. RESULTS: In a bivariate analysis RD scores showed a linear relationship with physical integrity suggesting that the proportion of LLIN with moderate damage decreased by 3%-points for each 10-point increase of the RD score (p = 0.02, R2 = 0.65). Full adjustment for net care and handling behaviours as well as other relevant determinants and the country of study showed that increasing RD score by 10 points resulted in a 36% reduction of risk of failure to survive in serviceable condition (p < 0.0001). LLINs with RD scores above 50 had an additional useful life of 7 months. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides proof of principle that the RD metric can predict physical durability of LLIN products in the field and could be used to assess new products and guide manufacturers in creating improved products. However, additional validation from other field data, particularly for next generation LLIN, will be required before the RD score can be included in procurement decisions for LLINs.

Monitoring the durability of the long-lasting insecticidal nets Olyset® and PermaNet® 2.0 in similar use environments in Zanzibar.

BACKGROUND: Malaria transmission in Zanzibar has dramatically reduced in recent years but vector control interventions such as long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLIN) must continue to reach malaria elimination. To achieve this, the Zanzibar Malaria Elimination Programme needs actionable evidence of the durability of the LLIN brands distributed. This study compared physical and insecticidal durability of two LLIN brands: Olyset® and PermaNet© 2.0 in two similar districts on the islands of Unguja and Pemba. METHODS: This was a prospective cohort study of representative samples of households from two districts, recruited at baseline 4 months after the mass campaign. All campaign nets in these households were labelled and followed up over a period of 33 months. Primary outcome was the "proportion of nets surviving in serviceable condition" based on attrition and integrity measures and the median survival in years. The outcome for insecticidal durability was determined by bio-assay from sub-samples of campaign nets. RESULTS: A total of 834 campaign nets (121% of target) from 299 households were included in the study. Definite outcomes could be determined for 86% of the cohort nets in Unguja (PermaNet® 2.0) and 89% in Pemba (Olyset®). After 33 months, physical survival in serviceable condition was 55% in Unguja and 51% in Pemba. Estimated median survival was lower in Pemba at all time points with 2.3-2.7 years compared to 3.1-3.3 yeas in Unguja. Multivariable Cox proportionate hazard models confirmed the difference between brands (p < 0.0001) and identified household net-care attitude (p = 0.007) and folding of hanging nets during the day (p < 0.0001) as significant determinants, in addition to exclusive use of nets by adults (p = 0.03) and use only over a finished bedframe (p = 0.01). Optimal insecticidal effectiveness was 80% or higher for both brands at all time points when both cone bio-assays and tunnel tests were applied. CONCLUSIONS: After 3 years of follow-up, Olyset® LLIN showed significantly lower physical survival compared to PermaNet® 2.0 LLIN even after adjusting for other variables of net-use environment and net handling. This suggests that the differences were driven by the textile characteristics of the LLIN brands.

Monitoring the durability of the long-lasting insecticidal nets MAGNet and Royal Sentry in three ecological zones of Mozambique.

BACKGROUND: Malaria prevention with long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs) has seen a tremendous scale-up in sub-Saharan Africa in the last decade. To sustain this success, it is important to understand how long LLINs remain in the households and continue to protect net users, which is termed durability. This information is needed to decide the appropriate timing of LLIN distribution and also to identify product(s) that may be underperforming relative to expectations. Following guidance from the U.S. President's Malaria Initiative, durability monitoring of polyethylene 150-denier LLIN (Royal Sentry® and MAGNet®) distributed during a 2017 mass campaign in Mozambique was implemented in three ecologically different sites: Inhambane, Tete, and Nampula. METHODS: This was a prospective cohort study in which representative samples of households from each district were recruited at baseline, 1 to 6 months after the mass campaign. All campaign LLINs in these households were labelled and followed up over a period of 36 months. The primary outcome was the "proportion of LLINs surviving in serviceable condition" based on attrition and integrity measures and the median survival in years. The outcome for insecticidal durability was determined by bio-assay from subsamples of campaign LLINs. RESULTS: A total of 998 households (98% of target) and 1998 campaign LLIN (85% of target) were included in the study. Definite outcomes could be determined for 80% of the cohort LLIN in Inhambane, 45% in Tete, and 72% in Nampula. The highest all-cause attrition was seen in Nampula with 74% followed by Inhambane at 56% and Tete at 50%. Overall, only 2% of campaign LLINs were used for other purposes. Estimated survival in serviceable condition of campaign LLINs after 36 months was 57% in Inhambane, 43% in Tete, and 33% in Nampula, corresponding to median survival of 3.0, 2.8, and 2.4 years, respectively. Factors that were associated with better survival were exposure to social and behavioural change communication, a positive net care attitude, and folding up the net during the day. Larger household size negatively impacted survival. Insecticidal performance was optimal up to 24 months follow-up, but declined at 36 months when only 3% of samples showed optimal effectiveness in Inhambane, 11% in Tete and 29% in Nampula. However, 96% of LLIN still had minimal effectiveness at 36 months. CONCLUSIONS: Differences in median survival could be attributed at least in part to household environment and net care and repair behaviours. This means that in two of the three sites the assumption of a three-year cycle of campaign distributions holds, while in the Nampula site either continuous distribution channels could be expanded or more intense or targeted social and behaviour change activities to encourage net care and retention could be considered.

Monitoring the physical and insecticidal durability of the long-lasting insecticidal net DawaPlus® 2.0 in three States in Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: Following guidance from the US President's Malaria Initiative, durability monitoring of DawaPlus® 2.0 brand of long-lasting insecticidal net (LLIN) distributed during the 2015/16 mass campaign was set up in three ecologically different states: Zamfara, Ebonyi and Oyo. METHODS: This was a prospective cohort study of representative samples of households from each location, recruited at baseline, 1 to 6 months after the mass campaign. All campaign nets in the households were labelled and followed up over a period of 36 months in Zamfara and Ebonyi and 24 months in Oyo. Primary outcome was the "proportion of nets surviving in serviceable condition" based on attrition and integrity measures and the median survival in years. The outcome for insecticidal durability was determined by bio-assay from sub-samples of campaign nets. RESULTS: A total of 439 households (98% of target) and 1096 campaign nets (106%) were included in the study. Definite outcomes could be determined for 92% of the cohort nets in Zamfara, 88% in Ebonyi and 75% in Oyo. All-cause attrition was highest in Oyo with 47% no longer present after 24 months, 53% in Ebonyi and 28% in Zamfara after 36 months. Overall only 1% of all campaign nets were used for other purposes. Estimated survival in serviceable condition of the campaign nets was 80% in Zamfara, 55% in Ebonyi (36 months follow-up) and 75% in Oyo (24 months follow-up) corresponding to median survival of 5.3, 3.3, 3.2 years, respectively. Factors associated with better survival were exposure to social messaging combined with a positive net-care attitude and only adult users. Failing to fold the net when hanging and having children under 5 years of age in the household negatively impacted net survival. Insecticidal effectiveness testing at final survey showed knock-down rates of 50-69%, but 24-h mortality above 95% resulting in 100% optimal performance in Ebonyi and Oyo and 97% in Zamfara. CONCLUSIONS: Results confirm the strong influence of net-use environment and behavioural factors in the physical survival of the same LLIN brand, which can increase the time until 50% of nets are no longer serviceable by up to 2 years.

Infrared Spectroscopy of the Entrance Channel Complex Formed Between the Hydroxyl Radical and Methane in Helium Nanodroplets.

The entrance channel complex in the exothermic OH + CH4 → H2O + CH3 reaction has been isolated in helium nanodroplets following the sequential pick-up of the hydroxyl radical and methane. The a-type OH stretching band was probed with infrared depletion spectroscopy, revealing a spectrum qualitatively similar to that previously reported in the gas phase, but with additional substructure that is due to the different internal rotation states of methane (jCH4 = 0, 1, or 2) in the complex. We fit the spectra by assuming the rotational constants of the complex are the same for all internal rotation states; however, subband origins are found to decrease with increasing jCH4. Measurements of deuterated complexes have also been made (OD-CH4, OH-CD4, and OD-CD4), the relative linewidths of which provide information about the flow of vibrational energy in the complexes; vibrational lifetime broadening is prominent for OH-CH4 and OD-CD4, for which the excited OX stretching state has a nearby CY4 stretching fundamental (X, Y = H or D).

Field durability of the same type of long-lasting insecticidal net varies between regions in Nigeria due to differences in household behaviour and living conditions.

BACKGROUND: With the recent publication of WHO-recommended methods to estimate net survival, comparative analyses from different areas have now become possible. With this in mind, a study was undertaken in Nigeria to compare the performance of a specific long-lasting insecticidal net (LLIN) product in three socio-ecologically different areas. In addition, the objective was to assess the feasibility of a retrospective study design for durability. METHODS: In three states, Zamfara in the north, Nasarawa in the centre and Cross River in the south, four local government areas were selected one year after mass distribution of 100-denier polyester LLINs. From a representative sample of 300 households per site that had received campaign nets, an assessment of net survival was made based on rate of loss of nets and the physical condition of surviving nets measured by the proportionate hole index (pHI). Surveys were repeated after two and three years. RESULTS: Over the three-year period 98% of the targeted sample size of 3,720 households was obtained and 94% of the 5,669 campaign nets found were assessed for damage. With increasing time since distribution, recall of having received campaign nets dropped by 11-22% and only 31-87% of nets actually lost were reported. Using a recall bias adjustment, attrition rates were fairly similar in all three sites. The proportion of surviving nets in serviceable condition differed dramatically, however, resulting in an estimated median net survival of 3.0 years in Nasarawa, 4.5 years in Cross River and 4.7 years in Zamfara. Although repairs on damaged nets increased from around 10% at baseline to 21-38% after three years, the average pHI value for each of the four hole size categories did not differ between repaired and unrepaired nets. CONCLUSIONS: First, the differences observed in net survival are driven by living conditions and household behaviours and not the LLIN material. Second, recall bias in a retrospective durability study can be significant and while adjustments can be made, enough uncertainty remains that prospective studies on durability are preferable wherever possible. Third, repair does not seem to measurably improve net condition and focus should, therefore, be on improving preventive behaviour.

"We are supposed to take care of it": a qualitative examination of care and repair behaviour of long-lasting, insecticide-treated nets in Nasarawa State, Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: The longevity of long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLIN) under field conditions has important implications for malaria vector control. The behaviour of bed net users, including net care and repair, may protect or damage bed nets and impact the physical integrity of nets. However, this behaviour, and the motivating and inhibiting factors, is not well understood. METHODS: Qualitative research methods were used to examine behaviour, attitudes and norms around damage, care and repair of LLINs. Eighteen in-depth interviews (IDI) and six focus group discussions (FGD) were conducted with LLIN users in two local government areas of Nasarawa State, Nigeria. A brief background questionnaire with the 73 participants prior to IDIs or FGDs collected additional data on demographics, net use, and care and repair behaviour. RESULTS: Respondents cited that the major causes of damage to bed nets are primarily children, followed by rodents, everyday handling that is not gentle, and characteristics of sleeping spaces. Caring for nets was perceived as both preventing damage by careful handling and keeping the net clean, which may lead to over-washing of LLINs. Repairing a damaged net was considered something that net users should do and the responsibility of adults in the household. Despite this, reported frequency of net repair was low (18%). Motivations for taking care of and repairing nets centred around caring for one's family, avoiding mosquito bites, saving money, and maintaining the positive opinion of others by keeping a clean and intact net. Barriers to net care and repair related to time availability and low perceived value of bed nets or of one's health. CONCLUSION: This study provides novel and valuable insights on the perceptions and attitudes of LLIN users in Nasarawa, Nigeria on the durability of bed nets, how to care for and repair nets, and for what reasons. Communication around net care should stress proper daily storage of nets, regular net inspections, prompt repairs, and clarify misconceptions about proper washing frequency and technique. These messages should include compelling motivators, such as local social norms of household hygiene.

Prevalence, morbidity, and mortality patterns of typhoid ileal perforation as seen at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital Enugu Nigeria: an 8-year review.

BACKGROUND: Some recent studies have reported a decrease in mortality from typhoid ileal perforation. The present report aims to determine the prevalence, morbidity, and mortality of this disease in patients mostly drawn from a rural area. METHODS: This is a retrospective study of 50 patients treated between January 1999 and December 2007 at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, Nigeria. The variables studied included patient demographics, clinical features, intraoperative findings, complications, and mortality. Statistical analysis was done with SPSS version 13. RESULTS: Of the 50 patients included in the study, 22 were males with the highest rate in patients aged 20 years and younger. Fever was the commonest symptom and at initial presentation, the mean pulse and respiratory rates were significantly higher in the patients who subsequently died than in those who survived (P < 0.05). All the perforations occurred in the ileum; 62 % of the patients had solitary perforations, 28 % had double perforations, and 10 % had three or more. Fifty-eight perforations were treated by simple closure in two layers, 4 patients had ileal resection and anastomosis, and 2 underwent right hemicolectomy. The mean interval between operation and death was 1.7 days. The overall mortality rate was 30 %, but among those with three or more perforations, mortality was 100 %. CONCLUSIONS: Typhoid ileal perforation still carries a high mortality especially in rural areas. Those with tachycardia and tachypnea at presentation and those with three or more perforations are at a higher risk of dying from the disease.

Attitude towards informed consent practice in a developing country: a community-based assessment of the role of educational status.

BACKGROUND: It has been reported by some studies that the desire to be involved in decisions concerning one's healthcare especially with regard to obtaining informed consent is related to educational status. The purpose of this study, therefore, is to assess the influence of educational status on attitude towards informed consent practice in three south-eastern Nigerian communities. METHODS: Responses from consenting adult participants from three randomly selected communities in Enugu State, southeast Nigeria were obtained using self-/interviewer-administered questionnaire. RESULTS: There were 2545 respondents (1508 males and 1037 females) with an age range of 18 to 65 years. More than 70% were aged 40 years and below and 28.4% were married. More than 70% of the respondents irrespective of educational status will not leave all decisions about their healthcare to the doctor. A lower proportion of those with no formal education (18.5%) will leave this entire decision-making process in the hands of the doctor compared to those with tertiary education (21.9%). On being informed of all that could go wrong with a procedure, 61.5% of those with no formal education would consider the doctor unsafe and incompetent while 64.2% of those with tertiary education would feel confident about the doctor. More than 85% of those with tertiary education would prefer consent to be obtained by the doctor who will carry out the procedure as against 33.8% of those with no formal education. Approximately 70% of those who had tertiary education indicated that informed consent was necessary for procedures on children, while the greater number of those with primary (64.4%) and no formal education (76.4%) indicated that informed consent was not necessary for procedures on children. Inability to understand the information was the most frequent specific response among those without formal education on why they would leave all the decisions to the doctor. CONCLUSION: The study showed that knowledge of the informed consent practice increased with level of educational attainment but most of the participants irrespective of educational status would want to be involved in decisions about their healthcare. This knowledge will be helpful to healthcare providers in obtaining informed consent.

Helium nanodroplet isolation and infrared spectroscopy of the isolated ion-pair 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide.

The ionic liquid 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide was vaporized at 420 K, and the ion-pair constituents were entrained in a beam of liquid He nanodroplets and cooled to 0.4 K. The vapor pressure was optimized such that each He droplet picked up a single ion-pair from the gas phase. Infrared spectroscopy in the CH stretch region reveals bands that are assigned to intact ion-pairs on the basis of comparisons to ab initio harmonic frequency computations of 23 low energy isomers. The He droplet spectrum is consistent with a weighted sum of the computed harmonic spectra, in which the weights are determined from ab initio computations of the relative free energies at 420 K. Anharmonic resonance polyads in the CH stretch region are treated explicitly, which improves the agreement between the experiment and computed spectra for ion-pairs. For isomers having a strong cation···anion hydrogen bonding interaction, the imidazolium C(2)-H stretch fundamental is shifted to lower energy and into resonance with the overtones and combination bands of the imidazolium ring stretching modes, resulting in a spectral complexity in the CH stretch region that is fully resolved in the He droplet spectrum. The assignment of the infrared spectrum to ion-pairs is confirmed through polarization spectroscopy measurements that reveal the permanent electric dipole moment of the He-solvated species to be 11 ± 2 D. The computed permanent electric dipole moments for the low energy isomers of the [emim(+)][Tf2N(-)] ion-pairs fall in the range 9-13 D, whereas the computed dipole moments of decomposition products of the ionic liquid are less than 4.3 D.

Barriers and facilitators to hepatitis B birth dose vaccination: Perspectives from healthcare providers and pregnant women accessing antenatal care in Nigeria.

Nigeria is estimated to have the largest number of children worldwide, living with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, the leading cause of liver cancer. Up to 90% of children infected at birth develop chronic HBV infection. A birth dose of the hepatitis B vaccine (HepB-BD) followed by at least two additional vaccine doses is recommended for prevention. This study assessed barriers and facilitators of HepB-BD administration and uptake, using structured interviews with healthcare providers and pregnant women in Adamawa and Enugu States, Nigeria. The Consolidated Framework for Implementation Sciences Research (CFIR) guided data collection and analysis. We interviewed 87 key informants (40 healthcare providers and 47 pregnant women) and created a codebook for data analysis. Codes were developed by reviewing the literature and reading a subsample of queries line-by-line. The overarching themes identified as barriers among healthcare providers were: the lack of hepatitis B knowledge, limited availability of HepB-BD to vaccination days only, misconceptions about HepB-BD vaccination, challenges in health facility staffing capacity, costs associated with vaccine transportation, and concerns related to vaccine wastage. Facilitators of timely HepB-BD vaccination included: vaccine availability, storage, and hospital births occurring during immunization days. Overarching themes identified as barriers among pregnant women were lack of hepatitis B knowledge, limited understanding of HepB-BD importance, and limited access to vaccines for births occurring outside of a health facility. Facilitators were high vaccine acceptance and willingness for their infants to receive HepB-BD if recommended by providers. Findings indicate the need for enhanced HepB-BD vaccination training for HCWs, educating pregnant women on HBV and the importance of timely HepB-BD, updating policies to enable HepB-BD administration within 24 hours of birth, expanding HepB-BD availability in public and private hospital maternity wards for all facility births, and outreach activities to reach home births.

Prevalence of overweight and obesity in Nigeria: Systematic review and meta-analysis of population-based studies.

In Nigeria, several studies have assessed the prevalence of overweight/obesity with different reports. The purpose of this study was to use a systematic review and meta-analysis to analyze these overweight and obesity reports from different locations in Nigeria over the last ten years. In addition, there was a dearth of systematic reviews and meta-analyses on the prevalence, trends, and demographic characteristics of overweight and obesity in the country. This was a systematic review and meta-analysis of cross-sectional population-based studies among adult Nigerians on the prevalence of overweight/ obesity (defined by body mass index) published from January 2010 to December 2020. Relevant abstracts were scrutinized and articles that included adults of all age groups and were not restricted to a particular group of people (e.g. university community) were selected. Each article was scrutinized by more than 2 authors before selection. The prevalence of overweight/obesity among all participants, among men and among women in Nigeria and its 6 geopolitical zones was determined. All analyses were performed using STATA version 14 (Stata Corp. College Station, Texas, USA). Thirty-three studies were selected and the number of participants was 37,205. The estimated prevalence of overweight and obesity was 27.6%, and 14.5% respectively. The prevalence of overweight among men and among women was 26.3% and 28.3% respectively and, the prevalence of obesity among men and women was 10.9% and 23.0% respectively. The prevalence of overweight in the 6 geopolitical zones was Southeast 29.3%, Southwest 29.3%, South-south 27.9%, Northwest 27.2%, North-central 25.3%, Northeast 20.0% and obesity South-south 24.7%, Southeast 15.7%, Southwest 13.9%, Northwest 10.4%, North-central 10.2%, Northeast 6.4%. Egger's tests showed no statistically significant publication bias among the studies that reported the overweight and obesity prevalence respectively (p = 0.225, P 0.350). The prevalence of overweight/obesity in Nigeria is high. The southern geopolitical zones had a higher prevalence of overweight/obesity.

Assessment of nutritional status in patients with chronic kidney disease in Nigeria.

In Nigeria, there is paucity of data on malnutrition among chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients especially before the initiation of dialysis therapy, necessitating this study. The study subjects consisted of 96 CKD patients recruited from the renal unit of our hospital. Forty age-and sex-matched controls were also studied. Nutritional status was assessed using Subjective Global Assessment (SGA), weight change over six months of follow-up, body mass index, mid-upper arm circumference, triceps skinfold thickness, and serum albumin concentration. A three-day food diary was used to determine the average daily protein intake of the patients. Sixty-six CKD patients completed the study. The age range of CKD patients was 23-65 years with a mean of 47.1 ± 13.2 years while the age range of the controls was 23-65 years with a mean of 44.1 ± 14.3 years. Out of the 66 CKD patients studied, four lost >10% of their body weight. The body mass index (BMI) was low (<20 kg/m2) in eight (12.1%) of CKD patients, while three (7.5%) subjects in the control population had BMI of <20 kg/m2. The serum albumin was less than 3 g/dL in seven (10.6%) of the CKD patients, SGA identified malnutrition in 30 (46%) of the CKD patients. The prevalence of malnutrition in predialysis CKD patients was high in this study.

Tert-butylhydroquinone attenuates doxorubicin-induced dysregulation of testicular cytoprotective and steroidogenic genes, and improves spermatogenesis in rats.

Doxorubicin (DOX) is a broad-spectrum chemotherapeutic drug used in the treatment of cancers. It acts by generating reactive oxygen species in target cells. The actions are, however, not limited to cancerous cells as it attacks healthy cells, killing them. This study investigated the benefits of the antioxidant, tert-butylhydroquinone (tBHQ), on testicular toxicity following DOX therapy. Twenty-four adult male albino rats were assigned randomly into four groups (n = 6), namely: normal control (NC), tBHQ, DOX and tBHQ + DOX groups. tBHQ (50 mg/kg body weight in 1% DMSO) was administered orally for 14 consecutive days, while a single DOX dose (7 mg/kg body weight) was administered intraperitoneally on Day 8. DOX decreased sperm count, motility and viability, and decreased the levels of steroidogenesis-related proteins, and reproductive hormones. Furthermore, DOX decreased the expression of antioxidant cytoprotective genes, and decreased the protein level of proliferating cell nuclear antigen in the testis. Conversely, DOX increased the expression of pro-inflammatory and pro-apoptotic genes in the testis. These negative effects were ameliorated following the intervention with tBHQ. Our results suggest that tBHQ protects the testis and preserves both steroidogenesis and spermatogenesis in DOX-treated rats through the suppression of oxidative stress, inflammation and apoptosis.

Prevalence and Predictors of Chronic Kidney Disease in a Semiurban Community in Lagos.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The prevalence of noncommunicable diseases like chronic kidney disease is on the rise in third-world countries. In Nigeria and most sub-Saharan African countries, there is dearth of community-based studies on prevalence and predictors of chronic kidney disease, prompting us to undertake this study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study, aimed at ascertaining the prevalence and predictors of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in a semiurban community in Lagos, Southwest Nigeria. The study's subjects were recruited from Agbowa community in Ikosi-Ejirin Local Council Development Area of Lagos state. The community was randomly selected. Questionnaires were used to obtain relevant information from the subjects. Body mass index, anthropometric measurements, and other relevant data were also collected. RESULTS: CKD was observed in 30 subjects given prevalence of 7.5% in the community. Nine out of the 30 subjects (30%) with CKD were males, while 21 (70%) subjects were females. The prevalence of CKD was significantly higher in the female population. 28 of the subjects with CKD were in stage 3, while 2 of the subjects with CKD were in stage 4. Age, hypertension, and hyperuricemia were significantly associated with CKD. Using multiple logistic regression analysis, 4 variables predicted CKD in the study population. These were age (P =0.01, OR = 0. 274, CI = 0.102 - 0.739), hypertension (p = 0.011, OR = 0. 320, CI = 0.132 - 0.773), hyperuricemia (p=0.001, OR = 0.195, CI =0.083 - 0.461), and female sex (p = 0.009, OR = 3.775, CI = 1.401 - 10.17). CONCLUSION: The prevalence of CKD in the population is low compared with other studies from other parts of the country, and the predictors included age, hypertension, hyperuricemia, and female gender. This is the first community-based study in Nigeria to identify hyperuricemia as a risk factor for chronic kidney disease in the country.

Prevalence of chronic kidney disease in Nigeria: systematic review of population-based studies.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to identify and discuss published population-based studies carried out in Nigeria that have information on the prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and have also used the Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative (KDOQI) practice guidelines in defining CKD, with emphasis on the performance of three estimating equations for glomerular filtration rate (GFR) - Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD), Cock-croft-Gault, and CKD epidemiology collaboration (CKD-EPI) creatinine equation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A systematic literature search was carried out in Google, MEDLINE, PubMed, and AJOL database, with the aim of identifying relevant population-based studies with information on the prevalence of CKD in a location in Nigeria. RESULTS: Seven cross-sectional population-based studies were identified. Two of the studies used the Cockcroft-Gault and observed a prevalence of 24.4% and 26%. Four of the studies used the MDRD and the prevalences observed were 12.3%, 14.2%, 2.5%, and 13.4%. One of the studies used the CKD-EPI equation and the prevalence was 11.4%. The male to female ratios of CKD prevalence in six studies were 1:1.9, 0.8:1, 1:1.6, 1:2, 1:1.8, 1:1.4, and the observed risk factors in the studies were old age, obesity, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, family history of hypertension, family history of renal disease, low-income occupation, use of traditional medication, low hemoglobin, and abdominal obesity. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of CKD was high but variable in Nigeria, influenced by the equation used to estimate the GFR. MDRD and CKD-EPI results are agreeable. There is a need for more population-based studies, with emphasis on repeating the GFR estimation after 3 months in subjects with GFR <60 mL/min/1.7 m2.