Mainstreaming the private health sector in the response to COVID-19: facility readinessassessment for screening services in Edo State, Nigeria.

INTRODUCTION: The COVID-19 pandemic presents an opportunity for the Nigerian health system to harness the potentials available in the private sector to augment the capacity within the public health system. This survey was carried out to assess private facility readiness in providing screening services in Edo State. METHODS: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study carried out among private facilities in Edo state. Facilities were selected using stratified sampling technique. Data was collected using adapted questionnaires and an observational checklist. Facility readiness was assessed using the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control recommendations for screening. Parameters were scored and overall scores were converted to proportions. Facilities that scored 70% and above were adjudged to be ready while facilities that scored 69% and below were adjudged to be not ready. RESULTS: A total of 252 health facilities were assessed, comprising 149 (59.1%) hospitals/clinics, 62 (24.6%) pharmacies and 41 (16.3%) laboratories. One hundred and forty-two (95.3%), 60 (96.8%) and 41 (100.0%) hospitals/clinics, pharmacies and laboratories, respectively had hand hygiene facilities. However, overall facility readiness assessment scores for screening services were low with only 51 (34.2%) hospitals/clinics, 2 (3.2%) pharmacies and 2 (4.9%) laboratories achieving high enough scores to be adjudged ready for screening services. CONCLUSION: Overall facility readiness of the private health sector to provide screening services in Edo State was assessed to be low. The government and facility owners will need to ensure that screening services are improved in all facilities to help mitigate community spread of COVID-19.

Knowledge, attitude, practices and associated factors of HIV/AIDS among adolescents in Ora Community, Edo State

Background: Adolescents constitute a significant proportion of the vulnerable group in the society and often engage in risky sexual behaviours which predispose to HIV/AIDS. Objective: To assess the knowledge, attitude,preventive practices of HIV/AIDS and its associated factors amongadolescentsin Ora community, Edo State.Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out among440 secondary school students selected by stratified sampling technique. Data was obtained with pretested interviewer-administered questionnaires.Results:Two hundred and forty-two(242; 55.0%) of the respondents were aged 10 ­14 years.Two hundred and seventy-one 271 (61.6%) ofthe respondentshad good knowledge of HIV/AIDS, while 291 (59.3%) had a positive attitude towards HIV/AIDS. Age15 ­19 years(p=0.001) malesex(p =0.049) and respondents in SS2 class (p=0.005) were significantly associated with knowledge.A negative attitude was recorded among139 (51.3%) students who had good knowledge. The relationship between knowledgeand attitude towards HIV/AIDS was statistically significant(p=0.01). Twenty-five(73.5%) of the sexually active respondents had poor preventive practiceregardingHIV/AIDS.Conclusion: More than half of the students had good knowledge and positive attitude towards HIV/AIDS while a majority of themwho were sexually active had poor preventive practices. Respondents aged 15­19 years, malesand in SS2class significantly had goodknowledgeof HIV/AIDS. Health education intervention programstargeted on the prevention of HIV/AIDS should be designed for Secondary School Students