Artificial-Intelligence-Based Models Coupled with Correspondence Analysis Visualization on ART-Cases from Gombe State, Nigeria: A Comparative Study.

Antiretroviral therapy (ART) is the common hope for HIV/AIDS-treated patients. Total commitments from individuals and the entire community are the major challenges faced during treatment. This study investigated the progress of ART in the Federal Teaching Hospital in Gombe state, Nigeria by using various records of patients receiving treatment in the ART hospital unit. We combined artificial intelligence (AI)-based models and correspondence analysis (CA) techniques to predict and visualize the progress of ART from the beginning to the end. The AI models employed are artificial neural networks (ANNs), adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference systems (ANFISs) and support-vector machines (SVMs) and a classical linear regression model of multiple linear regression (MLR). According to the outcome of this study, ANFIS in both training and testing outperformed the remaining models given the R2 (0.903 and 0.904) and MSE (7.961 and 3.751) values, revealing that any increase in the number of years of taking ART medication will provide HIV/AIDS-treated patients with safer and elongated lives. The contingency results for the CA and the chi-square test did an excellent job of capturing and visualizing the patients on medication, which gave similar results in return, revealing there is a significant association between ART drugs and the age group, while the association between ART drugs and marital status (93.7%) explained a higher percentage of variation compared with the remaining variables.

Seroprevalence of brucellosis among cattle slaughtered in three municipal abattoirs of Gombe state, Northeastern Nigeria.

AIM: A cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the seroprevalence of bovine brucellosis among cattle slaughtered at three municipal abattoirs of Gombe State, Nigeria. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 200 blood samples collected from slaughtered cattle of different breeds (Sokoto Gudali - 50, White Fulani - 102, Red bororo - 34, and Crossbreeds - 14), sex (males - 19 and females - 181), and from different locations (Billiri - 30, Yamaltu Deba - 50, and Gombe - 120) were screened for brucellosis using rose bengal plate test (RBPT), serum agglutination test (SAT), and microtiter agglutination test (MAT). RESULTS: Of the 200 serum samples analyzed, 7 (3.5%), 10 (5.0%) and 18 (9.0%) were positive by RBPT, SAT and MAT, respectively. The results showed no statistically significant association between sex and seropositivity to bovine brucellosis. However, seropositivity of bovine brucellosis was higher in females than in males. Similarly, no statistically significant association was observed between breed and occurrence of bovine brucellosis. Moreover, the prevalence of brucellosis was higher in Sokoto Gudali as compared with the other breeds. Based on the study locations, higher seroprevalence was observed in animals screened from Billiri as compared with those from other locations (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: The presence of Brucella abortus antigen in the sera of slaughtered cattle in Gombe state poses a significant public health risk. Therefore, it is important to carry out further epidemiological studies on fulani herdsmen and cattle herds in the study area, in order to explore the risk factors associated with the occurrence and perpetuation of brucellosis among cattle herds, ascertain the prevalence and status of the disease among both farms and nomadic herds.

HIV disclosure status and factors among adult HIV positive patients in a secondary health facility in North-Eastern Nigeria, 2011.

INTRODUCTION: Disclosure of HIV status especially to sexual partners is an important prevention goal. This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of HIV status disclosure and the factors associated with disclosure by HIV positive patients attending the adult Anti-retroviral therapy (ART) clinic in State Specialist Hospital Gombe (SSHG) a secondary health facility in north-eastern Nigeria. METHODS: We conducted a cross sectional study among adult HIV positive patients enrolled into the HIV/AIDS programme of SSHG. Study participant were sampled using a systematic random sampling. Interviewer administered questionnaire was used to collect data on socio-demographic characteristics, disclosure status and factors associated with disclosure. Data was analyzed using Epi-info software. RESULTS: Of the 198 (99%) respondents, 159 (80.3%) were females. The mean age of respondents was 32.9 years (SD ± 9.5). Sixty percent of the respondents were married. Most (97.5%) had disclosed their HIV status and majority (36.8%) disclosed to their spouses. Sixty four percent of the respondents had treatment supporter and spouses (42.9%) were their choice of a treatment supporter. Disclosure of HIV status was found to be associated with age < 40 years Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) 38.16; 95% Confidence Interval (CI) 2.42-602.61. Gender, employment status, educational level, duration of infection and marital status were not found to be significantly associated with disclosure of HIV status. CONCLUSION: Disclosure of HIV status was high in the study population. Spouses were the most preferred choice of persons to disclose HIV status to, and the most adopted as treatment supporter. HIV status disclosure is encouraged after diagnosis because of its importance especially among couples.