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Research background: In Nigeria's local food system, staple foods, animal sourced foods, perishable foods such as fruits, and vegetables are important food products that are produced processed stored, transported and traded mostly by smallholder participants in the supply chain. COVID-19 pandemic compounds system's shock through the negative impact on health, employment and income. Food security and nutrition are outcomes of a food system linked to the interrelated interaction of the food supply chain, consumer behaviour and the food environment - biophysical, physical, economic, political, social cultural factors, opportunities and conditions. Strengthening the resilience capacity of participants have been ad hoc given the paucity of data necessary for targeted policy intervention. Purpose of the article: The paper examines the pattern of food insecurity of smallholder participants, the dynamics of their food insecurity and the role of resilience capacity.
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Background: Healthcare providers have been at the frontline of the response to the COVID-19 disease. Many of them have contracted the disease, and some of them already dead. This study assessed the knowledge, compliance with preventive measures and determined the relationship between knowledge and practice of preventive strategies to COVID-19 among nurses working in a selected hospital in South-South Nigeria. Materials and methods: A cross-sectional descriptive design guided the study. Census method guided the recruitment of all the 378 nurses in the hospital who met the study's inclusion criteria.
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Objective: To introduce the principle and method ofa-Sutte model, establish a a-Sutte model by using software R, compare the fitting and prediction effects of thea-Sutte model and multiple seasonal autoregressive integrated moving average model, SARIMA model and provides reference for the application of thea-Sutte model in epidemic prediction.
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Objective: To understand the epidemiological characteristics and explore source of infection of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases imported through an inbound air flight from Kenya to Guangzhou, China.
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The Parkrun, a community-based, shared leisure-time activity, allows people to come together to run, jog or walk, and interact socially, in park-like surroundings. Although the Parkrun started with only 13 participants in 2004, at Bushy Park, London, United Kingdom, it is now staged in 23 countries across the world, making it is a global 'social movement'. Growth has been driven by its inclusive policy, notably its focus on attracting people with traditionally low levels of physical activity. Other factors contributing to sustained interest are accessibility, the supportive social environment, the natural setting and the volunteer system. Parkrun offers opportunities beyond fitness: for socializing, creating a vibrant community life and supporting community involvement. All of which instil a sense of place in the participant and make for its popularity. Despite this, the Parkrun movement suffers from academic neglect with most sport literature focussing on mega events. This study seeks to partly address that gap by scrutinizing the four largest Parkrun events in South Africa, with a specific focus on data from 2019 and 2020, incorporating the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and allowing the voices of Parkrun participants, as recorded in the relevant blogs, to be heard.
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This article presents the results of the five waves of the National Income Dynamics Study - Coronavirus Rapid Mobile Survey (NIDS-CRAM) on food security between May 2020 and May 2021. Despite significant investments in social protection, food insecurity and household and child hunger remained stubbornly high. We conclude that given the protracted nature of the pandemic, slow economic recovery, household and child hunger have stabilised at higher levels than before the pandemic. The phasing out of emergency relief coupled with the constrained economic situation, are some of the reasons why levels of food insecurity and hunger are likely to remain high in the near future. Strict lockdown regulations also reduced employment and income from informal economic activities. Social support for vulnerable individuals and households remain an urgent priority. Continuing support targeted at households with children is particularly important given the dire consequences of enduring hunger for stunting, and on children's long-term development.
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In Africa, there is frequently an extreme need for nurses and other healthcare professionals. Overcrowding, a lack of administrative oversight, and a lack of resources are all problems in health settings. Health professionals may develop psychological damage referred to as "insufficient resource trauma" as a result of these difficulties, which can lower morale and motivation. Such trauma reduces the standard of treatment provided and causes professional "burn-out," a problem that has become more significant in the wake of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. One of the nurses who received training in PSBH-N in 2006 was promoted to the position of MoH Nursing Director by 2019. This nurse reflected on her personal experience and said, "The nurses trained in PSBH are among the top nurses in the country today," when she learned of the new PSBH training for MoH QAU employees. In order to train all 877 registered nurses and 373 licensed practical nurses (LPNs) in the nation during the following three to five years, the director requested that LeBoHA host PSBH-N workshops. The countrywide rollout's training and evaluation are now under progress. Priority setting may result from centralized, "top-down," problem-solving techniques that are not always appropriate for the district. A poll of healthcare professionals in South African hospitals revealed that administrators of hospitals were regarded as effective leaders if their leadership style encouraged engagement and problem-solving. An emphasis on a decentralised and egalitarian (equity-fostering) approach, where problem-solving is the duty of all health workers, is emphasized in a national quality assurance plan that includes PSBH.
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This is a brief account of a community project that the medical staff of an urban primary care institution carried out. The goal was to spread knowledge and raise awareness about COVID-19 prevention among the Ghanaian communities that are a part of the Manna Mission Hospital's catchment area in the Ledzokuku Municipality. It has been discovered that community-based health education has a larger effect on the prevention of newly emerging infectious diseases, resulting in a decrease in the occurrence of such diseases. The pandemic caused by COVID-19 is not an exception. Results of a community outreach effort carried out by employees of a Ghanaian urban primary care hospital were emphasised in this paper. Increased health education is required to raise community residents' understanding of COVID-19's impact on public health. This community outreach initiative has raised awareness of COVID-19 prevention and control, handwashing, and facemask use. Many patients who attended the hospital wore face masks, frequently washed their hands with soap and water while it was running, and frequently used alcohol-based hand sanitisers, all signs of increased awareness. To stop the spread of COVID-19 in their communities, the primary healthcare workforce has a crucial role to play.
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Background: Anxiety is one of the commonest mental health challenges facing medical students. Levels of anxiety have not been estimated among medical students in Zambia. Objectives: To estimate the prevalence of anxiety disorders and its associated factors among pre-clinical students during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Copperbelt province of Zambia. Materials and Methods: A sample size of 398 students was sampled using a 1 in 2 systematic random sampling technique. The Zung's Self-rating Anxiety Scale (SAS) was used to determine levels of anxiety. Adjusted Odds Ratios (AOR) and their 95% Confidence Interval (CI) are reported.
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These proceedings contains 114 articles that discuss building toward resilient health systems as the main topic of the first ASGCR plenary. Speakers stressed the significance of collaborations, adaptation, and innovation while highlighting crucial gaps that have appeared in the face of serious threats and emergencies like COVID-19, climate change, and political shifts. In order to close the gap between research and practice in cancer prevention and control in LMICs, this workshop covered evidence-based and cutting-edge solutions. The sometimes transient nature of many programs and initiatives was discussed, along with the difficulties of sustainability in the face of conflicting priorities and dangers to reliable health systems. Nevertheless, even as it discussed past failings, the event also recognised significant gains and started a conversation about resilient building patterns. The second plenary addressed equality in international cancer research, acknowledging the inequalities in the field's translational capacity. Research in LMICs has frequently led to important advances in cancer science, such as the early Burkitt lymphoma treatment trials in Uganda and the human papillomavirus immunisation trials in Costa Rica. The LMIC groups who contributed to these triumphs have frequently not received the rewards of this progress fairly. Inequities in cancer between high-income countries (HIC) and low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) also lead to research that fails to take into account the entire scientific worth of studies carried out in LMICs as well as the worldwide burden of disease. Established power imbalances that are frequently related to funding sources can hinder the development of HIC's career and local knowledge. To ensure the translation of research findings, suggestions included multisectoral stakeholder engagement across entire health systems, such as finance and education, as well as proper humility and listening on the part of HIC researchers and funders. Additionally, the chance for two-way information exchange and learning, respecting local knowledge, and developing trust to ensure successful relationships were noted. In turn, successful collaborations and active community involvement were considered as the way to effectively translate and disseminate research findings.
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The current COVID-19 pandemic has exposed the agricultural value chains in Nigeria to economic uncertainties with the livestock sector at the receiving end of the impact of the accompanying effects. The present study assessed the extent of the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on livestockfarmers. Aweb-based cross-sectional online questionnaire survey was conducted in randomly selected 12 States in Nigeria. Data gathered through the questionnaire included;respondents' demographic characteristics, knowledge and attitude regarding COVID-19 pandemic, extent of impact of the pandemic, farm activities severely affected and mitigation efforts made by the affected livestock farmers. Data obtained were analyzed using descriptive statistics, including frequency count, percentage, mean and confidence interval set at p<0.05. This study revealed that majority (73%) of the livestock farmers were aware of COVID-19 pandemic, 66% practiced intensive farming system while 62% were into poultry production. Knowledge and attitude of livestock farmers regarding COVID-19 revealed that 86% of the respondents believed that COVID-19 did not have a specific drug for treatment, 97% agreed with the principle of hand washing, 70% had hand washing stations on their farms while 59% believed that animals could be infected with the disease. Of the extent of the impact of COVID-19, 42% claimed to have had high blood pressure, 80% lacked funds to run their farms while 27% witnessed the loss of loved ones, 86% of the farmers were severely affected in marketing of their products and services;72%, 52% and 72% were affected in restocking, farm cleaning and transportation, respectively. As a result of the pandemic, 39% sought for loans and reduced labour, 24% stopped payment of salaries while 23% reduced the quantity and quality of feeds given to their animals. The present study highlighted the devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the livestock industry in Nigeria. Therefore, concerted efforts to ensure the survival of the livestock industry must be put in place by individuals and the government at large to salvage current situation and emergency preparedness protocol should be put in place in case of future occurrence.
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Introduction: COVID-19 is a novel infection caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2). This study was a descriptive analysis of COVID-19 during the first and second waves in Kwara State, North-Central Nigeria.
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Factors associated with COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy (which we define as refusal to be vaccinated when asked, resulting in delayed or non- vaccination) are poorly studied in sub-Saharan Africa and among refugees, particularly in Kenya. Using survey data from wave five (March to June 2021) of the Kenya Rapid Response Phone Survey (RRPS), a household survey representative of the population of Kenya, we estimated the self-reported rates and factors associated with vaccine hesitancy among non-refugees and refugees in Kenya. Non-refugee households were recruited through sampling of the 2015/16 Kenya Household Budget Survey and random digit dialing. Refugee households were recruited through random sampling of registered refugees. Binary response questions on misinformation and information were transformed into a scale. We performed a weighted (to be representative of the overall population of Kenya) multivariable logistic regression including interactions for refugee status, with the main outcome being if the respondent self-reported that they would not take the COVID-19 vaccine if available at no cost. We calculated the marginal effects of the various factors in the model. The weighted univariate analysis estimated that 18.0% of non-refugees and 7.0% of refugees surveyed in Kenya would not take the COVID-19 vaccine if offered at no cost. Adjusted, refugee status was associated with a -13.1[95%CI:-17.5,-8.7] percentage point difference (ppd) in vaccine hesitancy. For the both refugees and non-refugees, having education beyond the primary level, having symptoms of COVID-19, avoiding handshakes, and washing hands more often were also associated with a reduction in vaccine hesitancy. Also for both, having used the internet in the past three months was associated with a 8.1[1.4,14.7] ppd increase in vaccine hesitancy;and disagreeing that the government could be trusted in responding to COVID-19 was associated with a 25.9[14.2,37.5]ppd increase in vaccine hesitancy. There were significant interactions between refugee status and some variables (geography, food security, trust in the Kenyan government's response to COVID-19, knowing somebody with COVID-19, internet use, and TV ownership). These relationships between refugee status and certain variables suggest that programming between refugees and non-refugees be differentiated and specific to the contextual needs of each group.
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The enforcement of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic restrictions disrupted health services delivery and currently, there is a limited understanding regarding measures employed by health facilities to ensure delivery of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) services amidst the interruptions. We, therefore, designed a qualitative study to explore the measures for continuity of HIV services during the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions in Kampala, Uganda. This study was conducted at six large primary health care facilities in the Kampala Metropolitan area. Qualitative data were collected from anti-retroviral therapy (ART) focal persons and lay health workers namely linkage facilitators and peer mothers through key informant interviews (KIIs). Overall, 14 KIIs were performed, 10 with lay health workers and 4 with ART focal persons. Data were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using the content approach, and the results were presented as themes along with participant quotations. Five themes emerged to describe measures for continuity of HIV services. The measures included: (1) leveraging the use of mobile phone technology to support ART adherence counseling, psychosocial care, and reminders concerning clinic appointments and referrals;(2) adoption of novel differentiated service delivery models for ART like the use of motorcycle taxis and introduction of an individualized ART delivery model for patients with non-disclosed HIV status;(3) scale-up of existing differentiated service delivery models for ART, namely multi-month dispensing of antiretroviral drugs (ARVs), fast-track ARV refill, home-based ARV refill, peer ART delivery, use of community pharmacy model, and community client-led ART delivery model;and, (4) reorientation of health facility functioning to the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions characterized by the use of nearby health facilities for ARV refill and viral load monitoring, transportation of healthcare providers and flexible work schedules and reliance on shift work. We found several measures were adopted to deliver HIV care, treatment, and support services during the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions in Kampala, Uganda. We recommend the scale-up of the new measures for service continuity in the post-COVID-19 period.
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Background: Most of the studies that have informed the public health response to the COVID-19 pandemic in Kenya have relied on samples that are not representative of the general population. We conducted population-based serosurveys at three Health and Demographic Surveillance Systems (HDSSs) to determine the cumulative incidence of infection with SARS-CoV-2.
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Safe and effective vaccination remains the mainstay of control of COVID-19 because there is still no universally recommended treatment. This strategy is however being threatened by vaccine hesitancy and resistance due to fear of adverse events and safety concerns. It is, therefore, necessary to study post-vaccination adverse events (AE) in various populations and geographical areas. The objective of this study was to analyze the adverse events following COVID-19 vaccination in five major immunization centers of Kwara State Nigeria. A retrospective descriptive study of the adverse events following AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccination that were reported from five immunization centers of Kwara State, North-central Nigeria from March to July 2021 was carried out. Statistical Package for Social Science version 26 was used for analysis. Adverse event classification and severity were compared based on age, gender, and time to onset of adverse event and vaccine dose type using the Chi-square test. The incidence of COVID-19 vaccine AE was 1.6%. There was female predominance (51.6%) and a mean age of 41.6+or-13.7 years. Most of the AE (95.8%) were systemic and mild (81.1%) without a requirement for any therapeutic intervention. Fatal outcome was not reported in any of the AE and the time to outcome of AE was 2 days in most cases (45.3%). No significant association was found between the variables studied and the adverse event type and severity. The low incidence and mild nature of adverse events reported in this study will add to the body of knowledge regarding vaccine adverse events and may eventually impact vaccine uptake.
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Screening for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in emergency rooms of health facilities during outbreaks prevents nosocomial transmission. However, effective tools adapted for use in African countries are lacking. This study appraised an indigenous screening and triage tool for COVID-19 deployed at the medical emergency room of a Nigerian tertiary facility and determined the predictors of a positive molecular diagnostic test for COVID-19. A cross-sectional study of all patients seen between May and July 2020 at the Accident and Emergency of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital was conducted. Patients with any one of the inputs- presence of COVID-19 symptoms, history of international travel, age 60 years and above, presence of comorbidities and oxygen saturation < 94%- were stratified as high-risk and subjected to molecular testing for Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Data was obtained from the screening record book patterned after a modified screening tool for COVID-19, deidentified and entered into IBM-SPSS version 25.0. Binary logistic regression was conducted to determine significant predictors of a positive SARS-CoV-2 test. The level of significance was set at p < 0.05. In total, 1,624 patients were screened. Mean age (standard deviation) was 53.9+or-18.0 years and 651 (40.1%) were 60 years and above. One or more symptoms of COVID-19 were present in 586 (36.1%) patients. Overall, 1,116 (68.7%) patients were designated high risk and tested for SARS-CoV-2, of which 359 (32.2%) were positive. Additional inputs, besides symptoms, increased COVID-19 detection by 108%. Predictors of a positive test were elderly age [AOR = 1.545 (1.127-2.116)], co-morbidity [AOR = 1.811 (1.296-2.530)] and oxygen saturation [AOR = 3.427 (2.595-4.528)]. This protocol using additional inputs such as oxygen saturation improved upon symptoms-based screening for COVID-19. Models incorporating identified predictors will be invaluable in resource limited settings.
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Over past decades, there has been increasing geographical spread of Lassa fever (LF) cases across Nigeria and other countries in West Africa. This increase has been associated with significant morbidity and mortality despite increasing focus on the disease by both local and international scientists. Many of these studies on LF have been limited to few specialised centres in the country. This study was done to identify sociodemographic and clinical predictors of LF disease and related deaths across Nigeria. We analysed retrospective surveillance data on suspected LF cases collected during January-June 2018 and 2019. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to identify the factors independently associated with laboratory-confirmed LF diagnosis, and with LF-related deaths. There were confirmed 815 of 1991 suspected LF cases with complete records during this period. Of these, 724/815 confirmed cases had known clinical outcomes, of whom 100 died. LF confirmation was associated with presentation of gastrointestinal tract (aOR 3.47, 95% CI: 2.79-4.32), ear, nose and throat (aOR 2.73, 95% CI: 1.80-4.15), general systemic (aOR 2.12, 95% CI: 1.65-2.70) and chest/respiratory (aOR 1.71, 95% CI: 1.28-2.29) symptoms. Other factors were being male (aOR 1.32, 95% CI: 1.06-1.63), doing business/trading (aOR 2.16, 95% CI: 1.47-3.16) and farming (aOR 1.73, 95% CI: 1.12-2.68). Factors associated with LF mortality were a one-year increase in age (aOR 1.03, 95% CI: 1.01-1.04), bleeding (aOR 2.07, 95% CI: 1.07-4.00), and central nervous manifestations (aOR 5.02, 95% CI: 3.12-10.16). Diverse factors were associated with both LF disease and related death. A closer look at patterns of clinical variables would be helpful to support early detection and management of cases. The findings would also be useful for planning preparedness and response interventions against LF in the country and region.
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The outbreak of Covid-19 saw the loss of jobs which necessitates the need to embrace entrepreneurship, especially among women who are more economically marginalized in the labour market in Sub-Sahara Africa. The disease outbreak warrants the need to consume healthy food which many women especially those heading their households could not afford due to inactive economic engagement. This present study found the need to beam a searchlight on mediating role of entrepreneurship development on the economic growth of women in Nigeria. Data for the study came from a cross-section of Five hundred (500) women entrepreneurs, randomly selected to represent 71% of the total sample size. Structural equation modelling (SEM) technique was used to operationalize the study objectives and suppositions. Constructively, it was found that psychological indicators (PSYI) and knowledge of business practice indicator (KBPI) catalyzed entrepreneurship development in the area by 17.8% and 38.1% respectively. This strong affinity or association between the PSYI and KBPI indirectly resulted in over 100% growth in the economic status of women in the area. Hypothetically, PYSI and KBPI were mediated to economic growth through entrepreneurship development by 5% and 1% levels of probability which caused the rejection of the null hypotheses two and three. The study explicitly suggests that separating household and business income, and maintaining a separate business account, among others are the knowledge of business practice indicators;openness to change, and desire for self-independent among others are the psychological indicators, while the increase in the size of the inventory among others is the business performance indicator that stimulates entrepreneurship development;These led to higher formalization, and increases in capital investment as entrepreneurship development indices that stimulates economic growth. Thus, women entrepreneurs should be properly trained on the guiding principles of entrepreneurship development and practices. The study, therefore, recommends that government and non- governmental agencies should concentrate effort on training women to come near competence in their economic activities.
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In the past, much of extension worker's activities were done through face-to-face contacts - a tedious and time consuming approach. There is therefore, need to shift from this traditional method of reaching farmers to a more effective, faster and wider means to cover a wide spectrum of clientele. Hence, the study assessed the influence of mass media promoted agricultural programmes on arable crop production in Ezza North L.G.A of Ebonyi State, Nigeria. Multi-stage sampling technique was adopted in the selection of 120 respondents using structured questionnaire. Data collected using primary source were analysed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. The results showed that majority (72%) of the farmers were males with a mean age of 41 years, and a mean annual farm income of N380, 000. The major mass media available in the area were radio (98%) and television (92%). The most mass media promoted agricultural programmes in the area were One-Man-One hectare (97%), Covid-19 support loan (90%), and AGSMEIS loan (82%). With the coefficient of multiple determinations (R2) of 0.867, it was observed that mass media promoted agricultural programmes have significant influence on arable crop production in the study area. However, high cost of devices, inadequate capital, lack ICT skills, peer group influence, language barrier, cultural barrier, poor infrastructural development, policy inconsistency, time of programme broadcast, and limited coverage of media waves were identified as the major constraints in the use of mass media in enhancing arable crop production in the study area. The study recommended for improved agricultural extension services delivery to farmers on the effective utilization of mass media for agricultural production.