Common hepatitis B virus genotypes among blood donors in Lagos, Nigeria.

Background: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is one of the public health diseases causing global health problems. It is a leading cause of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Blood transfusion is a major route of its transmission and screening of blood is suboptimal in our environment. Occult HBV infection describes the presence of HBV DNA in blood or liver tissue in patients who are hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) seronegative. This study documented the common genotypes of HBV a blood-borne infection in the population of blood donors in Lagos. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study carried out at the blood donor clinics of ten Lagos State Government-owned hospitals in Lagos State. A total of 1400 participants were recruited consecutively from November 2020 to June 2021. All participants' samples were screened using Diaspot Rapid Test Kit (RTK) and Dialabenzyme enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit. Furthermore, some of the plasma samples were used for HBV DNA extraction and genotyping using the real time-polymerase chain reaction. Statistical analysis was carried out using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software version 26 and P value was considered significant at ≤0.05. Results: The sero-prevalence of HBsAg using RTK and ELISA was 19.9% and 22.4%, respectively. The prevalence of occult HBV infection was 5.2%. A total of 278 and 313 HBsAg RTK and ELISA positive samples were obtained, respectively. HBV genotype result had A (46.6%) as the most prevalent followed closely by B (44.7%), E (23.8%), D (20.9%) and C (11.2%). Conclusion: HBV infection has a high prevalence among blood donors. ELISA is a more sensitive screening tool and its use should be advocated nationally. HBV genotype A is the most prevalent genotype from our study.

A cross-country qualitative study on contraceptive method mix: contraceptive decisionmaking among youth.

BACKGROUND: Youth ages 15 to 24, who comprise a large portion of sub-Saharan Africa, face a higher burden of unmet contraceptive need than adults. Despite increased international and national commitments to improving young people's access to contraception, significant barriers impede their access to a full range of methods. To further explore these barriers among youth in Kenya, Nigeria, and Uganda, we conducted a qualitative study to capture the challenges that affect contraceptive method decisionmaking and complicate youth access to the full method mix. METHODS: To understand factors that impact young people's contraceptive decisionmaking process across all three countries, we conducted a total of 35 focus group discussions with 171 youth ages 15 to 24 and 130 in-depth interviews with key stakeholders working in youth family planning. Questionnaires aligned with the High Impact Practices in Family Planning's elements of adolescent-friendly contraceptive services. Data were coded with MAXQDA and analyzed using a framework for contraceptive decisionmaking to identify relevant patterns and themes. RESULTS: In all three countries, youth reported that condoms are the most commonly sought contraceptive method because they are easiest to access and because youth have limited knowledge of other methods. Youth from diverse settings shared uncertainty and concern about the safety and side effects of many methods other than condoms, complicating their ability to take full advantage of other available methods. While most youth in Kenya, Nigeria, and Uganda reported at least moderate confidence in obtaining the information needed to help choose a method, and only a few youth reported that they are completely unable to access contraceptives, other barriers still present a major deterrent for youth, including cost, inconvenient facility hours and long wait times, and stigma from family, community members, and providers. CONCLUSIONS: Young people's ability to fully exercise their method choice remains limited despite availability of services, leading them to take the path of least resistance. Program implementers and policymakers should consider the diverse and often interconnected barriers that youth face in attempting to enjoy the benefits of a full spectrum of contraceptive methods and design multi-level interventions to mitigate such barriers.

Despite increased international and national commitments to improving young people's access to contraception, youth ages 15 to 24 face significant barriers to accessing a full range of contraceptive methods. This study conducted in-depth interviews with key stakeholders and focus group discussions with youth in Kenya, Nigeria, and Uganda to understand what factors impact youth's decision to use or not use certain contraceptive methods. In all three countries, youth reported that condoms are the most commonly sought contraceptive method because they are easiest to access and because youth have limited knowledge of other methods. Youth from diverse settings shared uncertainty and concern about the safety and side effects of many methods other than condoms. While most youth in Kenya, Nigeria, and Uganda reported at least moderate confidence in obtaining the information needed to help choose a method, other barriers like cost, inconvenient facility hours and long wait times, and stigma from family, community members, and providers still present a major deterrent for youth who want information on contraceptive methods. Program implementers and policymakers should consider the diverse and often interconnected barriers that youth face in attempting to enjoy the benefits of a full spectrum of contraceptive methods and design multi-level interventions to mitigate such barriers.

'Long COVID': persistent COVID-19 symptoms in survivors managed in Lagos State, Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: Coronavirus disease once thought to be a respiratory infection is now recognised as a multi-system disease affecting the respiratory, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, neurological, immune, and hematopoietic systems. An emerging body of evidence suggests the persistence of COVID-19 symptoms of varying patterns among some survivors. This study aimed to describe persistent symptoms in COVID-19 survivors and investigate possible risk factors for these persistent symptoms. METHODS: The study used a retrospective study design. The study population comprised of discharged COVID-19 patients. Demographic information, days since discharge, comorbidities, and persistent COVID-19 like symptoms were assessed in patients attending the COVID-19 outpatient clinic in Lagos State. Statistical analysis was done using STATA 15.0 software (StataCorp Texas) with significance placed at p-value < 0.05. RESULTS: A total of 274 patients were enrolled in the study. A majority were within the age group > 35 to ≤49 years (38.3%), and male (66.1%). More than one-third (40.9%) had persistent COVID-19 symptoms after discharge, and 19.7% had more than three persistent COVID-like symptoms. The most persistent COVID-like symptoms experienced were easy fatigability (12.8%), headaches (12.8%), and chest pain (9.8%). Symptomatic COVID-19 disease with moderate severity compared to mild severity was a predictor of persistent COVID-like symptoms after discharge (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Findings from this study suggests that patients who recovered from COVID-19 disease may still experience COVID-19 like symptoms, particularly fatigue and headaches. Therefore, careful monitoring should be in place after discharge to help mitigate the effects of these symptoms and improve the quality of life of COVID-19 survivors.

Assessment of use of psychoactive and other non-prescription drugs among students of selected tertiary institutions in Ekiti State South West Nigeria - A baseline study.

BACKGROUND: Substance abuse is causing increasing threats to the stability of young minds, from teenage to the older youths and is an issue of public health concern in Nigeria. This study was carried out to determine the prevalence of drug abuse among students of tertiary institutions in Ekiti State. METHODOLOGY: A comparative cross-sectional survey was carried out among students in tertiary institutions in Ekiti state with participants selected from Year 1 to Year 4. Data collection tool was the WHO questionnaire (STASSIS). Data was analysed to obtain descriptive and inferential data, Kruskal-Wallis test and chi square were used for analysis of variance and test of association. RESULT: The majority of the students reported low use of all the drugs (64-90.1%) though moderate to high use were reported for: alcohol 35.1%, marijuana 15.7%, heroine 15.3%, tobacco 13.8% and cocaine 10.2%. There was a significant association between student's moderate to high use and university type. Students in private universities reported more use, especially heroine. Difference in substance use across the four years surveyed was significant with final year students (400 level) showing highest use. CONCLUSION: Tertiary students in Ekiti state are low users of psychoactive substances with a prevalence of 60-91%. Moderate to high prevalence of 10-31% was reported with alcohol as the substance with highest usage. Substance use varied significantly with university type with highest prevalence in the private institution and students at different academic levels with final year students being the highest users.

Parent Perspectives on Addressing Emotional Health for Children and Young Adults With Juvenile Myositis.

OBJECTIVE: To assess parent perspectives regarding the emotional health impact of juvenile myositis (JM) on patients and families, and to assess preferences for emotional health screening and interventions. METHODS: Parents of children and young adults with JM were purposively sampled for participation in focus groups at the Cure JM Foundation National Family Conference in 2018. Groups were stratified by patient age group (6-12, 13-17, and 18-21 years), and conversations were audiorecorded, transcribed verbatim, and co-coded via content analysis, with subanalysis by age group. A brief survey assessed preferences for specific emotional health interventions. RESULTS: Forty-five parents participated in 6 focus groups. Themes emerged within 2 domains: emotional challenges, and screening and interventions. Themes for emotional challenges comprised the impact of JM on: 1) patient emotional health, particularly depression and anxiety; 2) parent emotional health characterized by sadness, grief, anger, guilt, and anxiety; and 3) family dynamics, including significant sibling distress. Subanalysis revealed similar themes across age groups, but the theme of resiliency emerged specifically for young adults. Themes for emotional health screening and interventions indicated potential issues with patient transparency, several barriers to resources, the facilitator role of rheumatology providers, and preferred intervention modalities of online and in-person resources, with survey responses most strongly supporting child/parent counseling and peer support groups. CONCLUSION: JM is associated with intense patient and family distress, although resiliency may emerge by young adulthood. Despite existing barriers, increasing access to counseling, peer support groups, and online resources with rheumatology facilitation may be effective intervention strategies.

Prevalence and perception of drug use amongst secondary school students in two local government areas of Lagos State, Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: Drug abuse, an excessive and persistent self-administration of a drug without regard to the medically or culturally accepted patterns, has been reported amongst teenagers and adolescents in various regions of the world. AIM: This study aimed to measure the prevalence of drug use amongst students of junior and senior secondary schools (aged 10-15 years). SETTING: This study was conducted at two local government areas in Lagos State. METHODS: The cross-sectional study was carried out in Ikotun or Igando local council development area (LCDA) and Ikoyi LCDA of Lagos State. Students were sampled using stratified random sampling with classes as strata and sampling performed by balloting. The modified WHO Model Drug Use Survey Questionnaire was distributed to the students for self-reporting. Ethical approval was received from district school boards. RESULTS: A total of 1048 students participated in the survey. In this study, alcohol had the highest lifetime drug prevalence rate (29.1%), followed by pharmaceutical opioids (9%). Gender, educational level, type of school management, and geographical economic distribution were found to be predictors of prevalence of drug use. This study demonstrated significant differences in the prevalence of tobacco and opioids use among students in private and public schools; and documented statistically significant differences in the prevalence of cocaine use between low income and high-income areas in two LCDAs in Lagos, Nigeria. CONCLUSION: Prevalence of lifetime, recent use, and current use of drugs among secondary school students in two LCDAs located in Lagos State, Nigeria were documented with alcohol as the drug with the highest prevalence.