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Background: Men with sex with men (MSM) may face obstacles in accessing culturally competent and quality healthcare services since current medical practice does not often promote discussing sexual habits. The coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has further affected this group. This study assessed the impacts of COVID-19 and the general challenges of MSM in Benue State, Nigeria. Materials and Methods: This study was a quantitative cross-sectional survey conducted across three geopolitical zones of Benue State using a multistage cluster sampling method to collect data from MSM. The data collected were analyzed using IBM-Statistical Package for Social Sciences (IBM-SPSS) version 25.0 for Windows IBM Corp., Armonk, New York. Result: More than half (59.2%) of respondents said they were not denied healthcare services, and 78.4% were not afraid to seek them. Most (88%) were comfortable seeking medical help, and 61.6% did not experience stigmatization from healthcare providers. Many (68.0%) were not exposed to violence after sharing their status with healthcare providers. About half (50.4%) said COVID-19 did not affect their general quality of life. Over half (51.2%) said there was a decline in access to resources like food and money during the pandemic, 49.6% experienced difficulties accessing HIV testing, and 52.0% could not access PrEP. More than half (53.6%) reported challenges getting viral load or other laboratory tests, but 57.5% had no trouble getting HIV medication prescriptions. Conclusion: The Federal Government, and the Ministry of Health, Nigeria, should support intervention programs, peer educators, and outreach workers providing services to MSM
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Background - Worldwide, tuberculosis (TB) is one of the top 10 causes of death. Drug resistant tuberculosis has lately become a major public health problem that threatens progress made in Tuberculosis (TB) care and control worldwide. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of Pre-extensive drug resistant TB among MDR TB in North Central of Nigeria. Methods - This study was conducted from October, 2018 to August, 2019 with 150 samples. In Nigeria, guidelines for DR-TB as recommended by WHO is followed. All the samples from the patients who gave their consent were transported to a zonal reference TB laboratory (ZRL). Results - Mean age was 38.6 ± 13.4 years with peak age at 35-44. Out of these 103 samples processed with LPA, 101(98%) were rifampicin resistant and 2 were rifampicin sensitive, 99(96%) were INH resistant and 4 (4%) were INH sensitive, 5(5%) were fluoroquinolone resistant, 98(95%) were fluoroquinolone sensitive, 12 (12%) were Aminoglycoside + Capreomycin resistant, 91(83%) were Aminoglycoside + Capreomycin sensitive. Conclusion - Multidrug resistant TB and its severe forms (Pre-extensive & extensively drug resistant TB) can be detected early with rapid tool- Line Probe Assay rapid and prevented timely by early initiation on treatment.
Subject(s)
Humans , Tuberculosis , Extensively Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis , Cell Line , Cost of IllnessABSTRACT
A defining feature of any university is its dedication to scholarly activities, leading to the generation of knowledge and ideas Research productivity is a measure of achievement of a scholar. The number of research publications in peer-reviewed journals is an important criterion for assessing productivity and prestige in the academia. Aims and Objectives: This cross-sectional descriptive study assessed the level of research productivity (RP) among junior faculty at the College of Medicine, University of Lagos, and investigated factors affecting their research output prior to the implementation of a 5-year training grant funded by the National Institutes of Health. Methods: Seventy junior faculty members attended a pre-program training, and the self-reported number of peer-reviewed publications (PRPs) was used as an indicator. Intrinsic and extrinsic factors influencing RP among the attendees were assessed and ranked. Results: The majority (42/70, 60%) of the respondents had <10 PRPs. The median (interquartile range) number of PRPs was 7 (318). A desire for the development of their personal skills, contribution to society, and personal research interests topped the list of intrinsic factors influencing RP. Work flexibility, research autonomy, and scholarly pursuits were the bottom three. A desire for promotion, respect from peers, and increased social standing were the top three extrinsic factors, while monetary incentives, employment opportunities, and the need to attend conferences were the lowest three. The top barriers to RP were lack of resources and lack of mentoring. Perceived older age, lack of time, and motivation were the lowest three barriers. Older age and professional cadre were associated with increased RP (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Among the participants, research output appears to be motivated primarily by a desire for personal development,promotion, and respect from peers. Lack of access to resources was the main barrier to increased RP. These factors may need to be considered when developing programs designed to promote RP
Subject(s)
Communication Barriers , Intrinsic Factor , Lakes , Nigeria , Publications , Research PersonnelABSTRACT
Aim: To determine risk factors for first-line antiretroviral treatment failure in HIV-1 infected children attending Jos University Teaching Hospital, Jos. Study Design: Retrospective cohort study. Place and Duration of Study: Paediatric HIV clinic at the Jos University Teaching Hospital, Jos, between February 2006 and December 2010. Methodology: Data on demographic, clinical and laboratory variables for 580 HIV-1 infected children aged 2 months to 15 years on antiretroviral therapy (ART) were analysed. A comparison of the data on children with and without treatment failure was made. Variables associated with treatment failure in a univariate analysis were then fit in a multivariate logistic model to determine the factors that were associated with treatment failure. Results: The rate of treatment failure among the children was 18.8%. Previous antiretroviral drugs (ARV) exposure for treatment, not receiving cotrimoxazole prophylaxis before commencement of ART and having severe immune suppression at HIV diagnosis were the factors independently associated with treatment failure. Children with previous ARV exposure for treatment were 4 times more likely to fail treatment compared to those without previous exposure (AOR=4.20 (1.93-9.15); p <0.001). Children who did not receive cotrimoxazole prophylaxis were twice more likely to develop treatment failure compared to those who did (AOR=2.26 (1.06-4.79); p=0.03) and children with severe immune suppression at HIV diagnosis were twice more likely to develop treatment failure compared to those without severe immune suppression (AOR=2.34 (1.47-3.72); p<0.001). Conclusion: HIV-infected children with previous ARV exposure for treatment and severe immune suppression should be monitored closely and given frequent adherence counseling to minimize the risk of treatment failure. Cotrimoxazole prophylaxis should be encouraged in HIV-infected children while they await commencement of ART, which may improve ART adherence and thus reduce the risk of treatment failure.
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Aim: To determine the factors associated with a low CD4 count among HIV-1 positive patients. Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: Adult HIV clinic at the Jos University Teaching Hospital, Jos, between October 2010 and April 2011. Methodology: Data on demographic, clinical and laboratory variables for 218 HIV-1 infected patients aged 20 years and older were analysed. A low CD4 cell count was defined as CD4 cell count <200 cells/ml based on the WHO criteria for severe immune suppression. A multivariate logistic regression modeling was fitted to determine the variables that were independently associated with a low CD4 count. Results: Of the 218 HIV-1 infected patients, 119 (54.6%) had a low CD4 count at enrolment. The odds of having a low CD4 count was: 7 times higher in patients with WHO clinical stage 3 or 4 compared to those with stage 1 or 2 (P<.001) and 4 times higher in those with HIV RNA viral load ≥4.6 log10 copies/ml compared to those with less (P<.001); but the odds of having a low CD4 count was reduced by 63% in those patients that were resident in Plateau State compared to those resident outside the state (P=.01). Conclusion: Our study patients were more likely to have a CD4 count <200 cells/ml which would suggest late presentation/ late HIV diagnosis and thus a delayed opportunity for timely access to HIV care and initiation of antiretroviral therapy. There is the need to intensify efforts in early routine HIV counseling and testing not only in health facilities in the cities but also in smaller towns and rural communities, so as to reduce the frequency of late HIV diagnosis with its potential implications.
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Background: Nonadherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) may encourage the development of resistance to antiretroviral drugs (ARVs). Poor adherence is known to be associated with ART failure which could compromise the benefits of ART in children. Therefore; it is important to identify the reasons why children on ART may fail to take their ARVs. In this study; we described the characteristics of human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) infected children with ART nonadherence as well as the reasons for their nonadherence. Methodology: A retrospective cohort study in which data on 580 HIV-1 infected children enrolled on ART between February 2006 and December 2010 at the pediatric HIV clinic of the Jos University Teaching Hospital; Jos; was analyzed. Subjects were aged 2 months to 15 years. Information on adherence was obtained by child or caregiver self-report. They also had repeated adherence counseling during each clinic follow-up visit and were taught the use of alarm clocks daily for reminding them of when the next ARV dose will be due. Results: There were 30 (5.2) children with non-adherence to ART. Among children with nonadherence; majority were: Children aged 1-10 years (76.7); males (53.3) and did not know their diagnosis of HIV (90.9). The odds of nonadherence was two times higher among children who failed first-line ART compared with those who did not (odds ratio [95 confidence interval]; 2.28 [1.03-5.02]; P = 0.04). The most common reason for nonadherence was: Forgot to take medications (46.7). Conclusion: The low rate of nonadherence to ART in this study could be attributed to repeated adherence counseling during each clinic follow-up visit and the use of alarm clocks daily for reminders on when the next ARV dose will be due