Correlates of mother-to child-transmission of HIV infection in a tertiary hospital in Ebonyi state, Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: Nigeria has the largest global burden of HIV new infections in children despite global and national concerted efforts at the reduction of mother-to-child transmission of HIV. The goal of this study was to determine the associations between maternal characteristics, practices and mother-to-child transmission of HIV infection among mothers living with HIV. METHODS: This is a hospital-based descriptive cross-sectional study. Information was obtained using interviewer-administered questionnaire from the 240 participants. Data were analyzed with SPSS version 26, and P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: Out of the 240 mothers recruited, 129 (53.8%) were within 25-35 years of age, with a mean age of 31.08 ± 5.65. A total of 35 (14.6%) of the participants had at least a child with HIV infection. Maternal ART status before childbirth (AOR = 0.02, 95%CI = 0.01-0.05, P = < 0 .001) was the singular determinant of having a child with HIV infection. Mothers who delivered outside the health facility were about four-fold at risk of having an infected child (AOR = 3.89, 95%CI = 1.82-8.50, P = 0.070). CONCLUSION: The prevalence rate of mother-to-child transmission of HIV is high. Routine HIV testing services and the provision of accessible and affordable reproductive health services are recommended for all women of childbearing age.

Positivity Rate, Predictors, and Outcome of Paediatric Lassa Fever Disease (LFD) in a Lassa Fever Endemic State, South-East Nigeria.

Background: The pattern and case fatality rate of Paediatric Lassa fever disease (LFD) is not well documented even in Lassa fever endemic communities. Aim and Objective: This prospective observational study was aimed at determining the pattern and outcome of Paediatric LFD. Methodology: A total of 183 children that met the criteria for LFD suspects were subjected to the Lassa virus PCR test. The suspects that tested positive were recruited into the study and a structured questionnaire was used to collect information on socio-demographics. Results: Of the 183 LFD suspects that were tested, 24 of them were positive to Lassa virus PCR, giving a positivity rate of 13.1%. The mean duration of illness before hospital presentation was 8.54 ± 3.83 days. All the subjects had a history of fever. Abdominal pain and vomiting were the two highest presenting complaints after fever. Seven out of 24 children died during the study period, giving a case fatality rate (CFR) of 29.2%. Subjects who presented with convulsions and unconsciousness (OR =10.00, 95% CI= 1.2, 81.81, p=0.020), bleeding (OR =40.00, 95% CI= 12.96, 539.67, p=0.020), poor urine output (OR =40.00, 95% CI= 12.96, 539.67, p=0.020) were more likely to die of LFD compared to their colleagues without such symptoms. Conclusion: The positivity rate and case fatality rate of LFD in children were high. Public enlightenment on the common features of Lassa fever disease and the need to seek health care early for children with febrile illness is advocated.

Perception and utilization of insecticide-treated mosquito net among caregivers of children in Abakaliki, Nigeria.

Background: Malaria contributes significantly to under-5 morbidity and mortality in Sub-Saharan African countries including Nigeria. The rollback malaria (RBM) initiative and millennium developmental goal 6 are the programs targeted at reduction in malaria burden. The target year here is 2015; it would be needful to determine the impact of these programs on lives of at-risk population. Objectives: To determine caregivers' perception and utilization of insecticide-treated mosquito net (ITN) for their children/wards under 5 years of age. Methods: It was a cross-sectional, descriptive, hospital-based study conducted at Federal Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki, between April 1, 2014, and October 31, 2014. A structured questionnaire was used to assess caregivers' perception and utilization of ITN. Relevant information collected from the respondents included awareness of what ITN is and its use, ownership, source and utilization of ITN, and frequency of antimalaria use for febrile episodes. Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) Windows Program (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA) version 20.0 while the level of statistical significance was set at P < 0.05. Results: A total of 410 caregivers were interviewed; 362 (88.3%) were mothers. Three-hundred and eighty-four (93.7%) participants knew that ITN prevents mosquito bite that cause malaria infection, 81.2% (333/410) have at least one ITN in their homes, but only 215 (52.4%) use the ITN every night. Caregivers who used ITN regularly used antimalaria for their under-5 quarterly (34.9%) and rarely (33.9%). A significant relationship existed among socioeconomic class, knowledge of ITN, source of knowledge of ITN, frequency of anti-malaria use, and utilization of ITN. Conclusion: The study observed that awareness and ownership of ITN are high among study participants, but its utilization was suboptimal compared to RBM target for 2010 (80.0%). Health education and free distribution of ITNs should be further strengthened particularly among mothers of childbearing age and younger children.

RésuméArrière-plan: Le paludisme contribue de manière significative à sous-5 Taux de morbidité et de mortalité au Nigéria. Le programme Faire reculer le paludisme (RBM) et objectif de développement du millénaire 6 (OMD 6), ont été des programmes ciblés sur la lutte contre le paludisme fardeau. L'année cible 2015 est ici, il serait nécessaire de déterminer l'impact de ces programmes sur la vie des populations à risque. Objectif:évaluer les connaissances des intervenants en soins de santé et l'utilisation des MII pour leurs enfants/pupilles de <5 ans. Méthodes: Il s'agissait d'une étude basée sur l'hôpital descriptive effectuée dans FETHA entre avril et octobre 2014. Un questionnaire structuré a été utilisé pour évaluer les connaissances des intervenants en soins de santé et l'utilisation des MII. Critères utilisés comprenaient la conscience de ce que MII et son utilisation, la propriété, la source et l'utilisation des MII et de la fréquence de l'anti-malaria utiliser pour les épisodes fébriles. L'analyse a été effectuée à l'aide de SPSS version 20. Niveau de signification a été P < 0.05. Résultats: un total de 410 personnes soignantes ont été interviewés, 362 (88,3%) étaient des femmes. Trois cent quatre-vingt-quatre (93,7%) participants savaient qu'ITN empêche piqûre de moustique qui causent l'infection palustre, 81,2% (333/410) ont au moins une MII dans leurs foyers mais seulement 215 (52,4%) utilisent l'ITN chaque nuit. Les aidants naturels qui utilisaient régulièrement de MII utilisé contre la malaria pour leurs enfants de moins de cinq ans (34,9%) trimestriel et rarement (33,9%). Une relation significative existe entre la classe socio-économique, la connaissance de l'ITN, source de connaissance de l'ITN, la fréquence d'utilisation de lutte contre le paludisme et l'utilisation des MII. Conclusion: l'étude a observé que la sensibilisation et la propriété de l'ITN est élevée parmi les participants à l'étude, mais son utilisation est encore sous-optimale par rapport à faire reculer le paludisme Cible pour 2010 (80,0%). Mots clés: des moustiquaires imprégnées d'insecticide (MII), les connaissances, l'utilisation, le paludisme, les OMD, LA GESTION AXÉE SUR LES RÉSULTATS.