Disclosure Pattern and Its Determinants among Patients Attending Anti-Retroviral Clinics in a North Central Capital City in Nigeria.

Background: It has been observed that contributory factors such as unprotected sexual intercourse and vertical transmission of HIV to the unborn child during childbirth still occur among women living with HIV.HIV status disclosure has also been found to lead to improved access to HIV prevention and treatment programmes. Methodology: The study was a descriptive cross sectional study using quantitative and qualitative data collection tools. Four hundred patients were recruited for the study and systematic sampling was used to select respondents at each treatment centre. Data was collected using a semi-structured interviewer administered questionnaire and a patient focus group discussion (FGD) guide. Results: The age of the respondents ranged from 20 to 70 years and 75.5% of the respondents were females. More than three-quarters of respondents (77%) had disclosed their status to their partners. Status disclosure to sexual partners was higher among respondents who were currently living with their partners (87.1%, p=<0.001). Conclusion: The study recommended that Government, partners and multilateral agencies needs to consider establishing empowerment schemes for women and men living with HIV to enable them live economic viable lives and avoid using economic means as a determinant of status disclosure.

Rubella transmissibility and reproduction number (Ro): A critical appraisal of the prospects for its control in Nigeria.

Rubella is a highly contagious disease of public health importance that is endemic in Nigeria. Rubella with its devastating sequel, congenital rubella syndrome, is a neglected disease with no surveillance system in place and no national incidence figure in Nigeria. This article, therefore, seeks to do reviews of rubella transmissibility, its reproduction number and the prospects for its control in Nigeria. This is a review of literatures with triangulation of findings along the objectives and the use of available secondary data to analyse the prospects of rubella control in Nigeria. Data were analysed and presented with appropriate tables and charts. A number of factors can fuel rubella transmission causing increase in reproduction number, Ro.The high birth rate, poor rubella surveillance and non-inclusion of rubella vaccines in the routine vaccination schedule among others are some of the factors working against a good outlook for rubella control in Nigeria. The Nigerian government should control the growing population, ensure a robust surveillance for rubella and incorporate rubella-containing vaccine in the immunisation schedule for infants with regular vaccination campaigns for older children and adults.

Ownership and utilisation of long lasting insecticide treated nets following free distribution campaign in South West Nigeria.

INTRODUCTION: Malaria has proven to be the most horrendous and intractable amongst the health problems confronting countries in the sub-Saharan Africa. This study aims to determine the ownership and utilisation of long lasting insecticide treated nets following free distribution campaign in a state in South West Nigeria. METHODS: Multi-stage sampling technique was used to recruit 2560 households spread across the 16 LGAs of the state. Interviewer administered standardized questionnaire was used for the survey. Data analysis was done using Stata 10 software. RESULTS: Sixty eight point six percent (68.6%) of the households had at least one under-five child living in the household while 32.6% had at least one pregnant woman living in the household. A total of 2440 (95.3%) households received LLIN during the campaign. Overall, the utilization rate for all respondents was 58.5%. Despite the fact that 2440 households received LLINs during the campaign, only 84.3% of them were seen to have hung theirs during the survey. CONCLUSION: Coverage and ownership of LLINs increased significantly following the free distribution campaign. There was a discrepancy between net possession and net use with rate of use lower than possession. Post distribution educational campaign should be incorporated into future distribution campaigns to help increase net utilisation.