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Background Misuse and dependency of opioids especially codeine-containing products is of increasing global concern. Inappropriate use of opioids among healthcare students could affect quality of service and ethical conducts of these future professionals, thereby putting the society at risk. This study aimed to evaluate knowledge and perception of medical and pharmacy students in a Nigerian tertiary University on use of opioids with focus on codeine-containing products. Methods A cross-sectional survey among 335-medical and 185-pharmacy students from University of Ibadan, Nigeria, between September and December 2018, using a self-administered semi-structured questionnaire. Results A total of 178 (34.2%) in multiple responses had used opioid-containing products among the respondents, of this, 171 (96.1%) used codeine-containing formulation. Precisely, 146 (28.1%) of the students had used codeine-containing products before, of this, 16 (11.0%) used the products for non-medical or recreational purpose regarded as a misuse/abuse. In all, 201 (38.7%) had good knowledge of opioid use, with 51 (34.9%) among those who had used opioids and 150 (40.1%) among those who had not used opioids (X 2  = 1.186; p  = 0.276). Majority (469; 90.2%) had good perception of risks associated with opioid use; comprising (130; 89.0%) among those who had taken opioids and (339; 90.6%) among those who had not taken opioids before (X 2  = 0.304; p  = 0.508). Logistic-regression shows that students who experienced some side effects to be experienced again 22.1 [AOR = 22.1, 95% CI: (5.98–81.72)] as well as those pressured into using codeine-containing products 10.6 [AOR = 10.6, 95% CI: (1.36–82.39)] had more tendency of misuse. Conclusion There is a potential for misuse of codeine-containing products among medical and pharmacy students. Peer-influence and experience of some side effects are possible predictors of misuse among the students. Thus, healthcare students’ curriculum should incorporate preventive programme, while public education and policy that favours peer-support programme on medication misuse is advocated for healthcare students.

Vaccine preventable diseases (VPDs) are a leading course of child under-five mortality in sub-Saharan Africa. A target of 95% immunization coverage is necessary for the sustained control of VPDs. This study aims to determine the immunization status and its associated demo-graphic factors among children 12-59 months old in Akinyele Local Government area (LGA), Oyo State, Nigeria. A community-based cross-sectional study was carried out in one urban and one rural ward of Akinyele LGA. Fourhundred and forty-four (449) Under-five children were selected by multistage sampling technique. Data were collected from caregivers using interviewer administered questionnaires. Odds ratios at 95% CIand Chi square at 5% significant level were computed to identify the factors associated with non or partial immunisation. Multiple logistics regression at 5% significance level was done to determine the socio-demographic determinants of immunisation status. Overall, 449 children aged 12-59 months were surveyed of which 213(47.4%) were males and 236(52.6%) were from urban area. Overall, 365(81.3%) was fully immunized, 75(16.7%) was partially immunized and 9(2.0%) had never been immunized. Predictors of a child being partially or un-immunised were being in the fourth wealth quintile (AOR 7.9; 95%CI: 2.7-18.0), poorest wealth quintile (AOR 14.5; 95%CI 4.2-20.5), having a mother with no education (AOR 6.4; 95%CI: 2.9-14.1) and a mother that practiced Islam (AOR: 2.2; 95%CI: 1.3-3.7). Immunisation coverage was somewhat high but still suboptimal among the study population. Strategies that improve female literacy and those that target religious institutions may be effective in improving immunisation uptake.

Introduction Comprehensive sexuality education (CSE), recognized globally as a fundamental human right, offers a curriculum-based approach to teaching about the cognitive, emotional, physical, and social dimensions of sexuality. When implemented effectively, it improves health outcomes, and cultivates resilience, respect for diversity, and lifelong decision-making skills. Desire for CSE is critical to maximizing its benefits among adolescents. This study aimed to identify the sexual and reproductive health needs of adolescents in Ekiti State, Nigeria, and the determinants of desire for CSE among them. Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted among 1211 adolescents from three (rural, urban, and semi-urban) LGAs. A structured interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to collect data. Independent variables included adolescents’ sociodemographic characteristics (age, sex, location, school enrolment status), sexual and reproductive health needs, access to reproductive health services, and perceptions on youth-friendly clinic. The outcome variable was adolescents’ desire for CSE, defined as desire for sexuality on three or more of the following subject matters: functioning of sexual organs, prevention of unintended pregnancy, contraceptive use, management of sexual relationships, sexually transmitted infections, and prevention of sexual violence. The level of statistical significance was set at 5%. Results Adolescents’ average age was 15.9 ± 1.8 years, 630 (52.0%) were females, 601 (49.6%) lived in urban areas, while 465 (38.4%) had completed high school. Overall, 994 (82.1%) adolescents had received sexuality education, and 935 (77.2%) adolescents desired CSE. Totally, 497 (82.7%) adolescents in urban communities desired CSE compared to 132 (66.0%) in peri-urban and 306 (74.6%) in rural communities (Chi-square = 26.106, p ≤ 0.001). Also, 836 (84.1%) adolescents who had received any form of sexuality education desired CSE compared to 99 (45.6%) with no previous sexuality education (Chi-square = 149.90, p ≤ 0.001). Compared to rural dwellers, the odds of desiring CSE was higher among urban dwellers (aOR = 1.38, p = 0.060) but lower among those in peri-urban communities (aOR = 0.44, p ≤ 0.001). Adolescents who have ever received sexuality education had five times higher odds of desiring CSE (aOR = 4.98, p ≤ 0.001) compared to others. Conclusion Capacity-building trainings should be organized by governmental and non-governmental organizations to provide CSE for adolescents in Ekiti State, Nigeria.

The West African Ebola virus disease (EVD) epidemic of 2013–2016 was the largest on record, severely affecting Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone, and overwhelming public health systems. Following Nigeria’s successful containment of its domestic EVD outbreak in 2014, the African Union Support to Ebola Outbreak in West Africa (ASEOWA) mission deployed 196 Nigerian public health professionals, the largest single-nation contingent, to Liberia and Sierra Leone. This commentary reflects on that deployment, highlighting operational contributions, innovations, and the enduring impact of the mission on Africa’s public health security landscape. The Nigerian team strengthened Ebola Treatment Units (ETUs), surveillance, epidemiological investigations, laboratory testing, infection prevention and control (IPC), community mobilisation, and restoration of essential health services. Significantly, no responder infections occurred under Nigeria’s deployment. The mission reinforced African-led outbreak response and contributed to the evolution of regional security structures, including the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) and the African Union Volunteer Health Corps (AVOHC). A decade later, the deployment remains instrumental in shaping sustained public health workforce investments and integrated emergency preparedness systems across Africa.

[...]it provided comprehensive knowledge on the possibility for vertical transmission of the Zika virus between mother and child, as well as transmission via sexual relationships and blood transfusions. 2 Biobanked biological samples could be kept for indefinite periods, allowing for long-term retrospective research in the future. The implementation of biosecurity measures should be implemented at all stages from sampling to labelling, tracking, and handling of COVID-19 specimens and results. 7 Due to the highly infectious nature of COVID-19 samples, they could be targeted as weapons of bioterrorism, and biobank staff could be used to gain access to these samples. [...]regulations such as a Material Transfer Agreement similar to those used in Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus biobanks should be developed. Presently, COVID-19 vaccines such as Moderna, AstraZeneca, Pfizer, and Johnson & Johnson are being rolled out globally. 4 However, many countries have reported that these vaccines are inadequate to cover the variants circulating within their population. 10 Hence, prioritisation of certain populations may be needed during this period. [...]biobanking could provide essential information to influence the distribution of COVID-19 vaccines.

The Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2016 provides an up-to-date analysis of the burden of diarrhoea in 195 countries. This study assesses cases, deaths, and aetiologies in 1990–2016 and assesses how the burden of diarrhoea has changed in people of all ages. We modelled diarrhoea mortality with a Bayesian hierarchical modelling platform that evaluates a wide range of covariates and model types on the basis of vital registration and verbal autopsy data. We modelled diarrhoea incidence with a compartmental meta-regression tool that enforces an association between incidence and prevalence, and relies on scientific literature, population representative surveys, and health-care data. Diarrhoea deaths and episodes were attributed to 13 pathogens by use of a counterfactual population attributable fraction approach. Diarrhoea risk factors are also based on counterfactual estimates of risk exposure and the association between the risk and diarrhoea. Each modelled estimate accounted for uncertainty. In 2016, diarrhoea was the eighth leading cause of death among all ages (1 655 944 deaths, 95% uncertainty interval [UI] 1 244 073–2 366 552) and the fifth leading cause of death among children younger than 5 years (446 000 deaths, 390 894–504 613). Rotavirus was the leading aetiology for diarrhoea mortality among children younger than 5 years (128 515 deaths, 105 138–155 133) and among all ages (228 047 deaths, 183 526–292 737). Childhood wasting (low weight-for-height score), unsafe water, and unsafe sanitation were the leading risk factors for diarrhoea, responsible for 80·4% (95% UI 68·2–85·0), 72·1% (34·0–91·4), and 56·4% (49·3–62·7) of diarrhoea deaths in children younger than 5 years, respectively. Prevention of wasting in 1762 children (95% UI 1521–2170) could avert one death from diarrhoea. Substantial progress has been made globally in reducing the burden of diarrhoeal diseases, driven by decreases in several primary risk factors. However, this reduction has not been equal across locations, and burden among adults older than 70 years requires attention. Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

This study aimed to determine if implemented donor-funded health related-programs in Africa were sustained beyond the funding lifecycle and determine their facilitators and impeders. A systematic review was conducted after the documentation of a study protocol. A database search was done across three databases namely Google Scholar, PubMed, and Medline between January 27 and February 15, 2022. All peer-reviewed articles on sustainability of health interventions in Africa published between 2015 and 2021 that provided one or more context-relevant definitions of sustainability were included. Publications with no use of quantitative or qualitative methods and studies with no information on project evaluation after initial implementation were excluded. Screening of titles and abstracts was done, and the full texts of all relevant articles were retrieved. The risk of bias in systematic reviews (ROBIS) tool was used to assess the risk of bias in the systematic review. Overall, 4,876 articles were retrieved, and only nine articles were eligible for inclusion in the review following the removal of duplicates. Overall, sustainability was described in only three of the five regions in Africa. Donor-funded projects were sustained beyond the funding lifecycle in seven (77.8%) studies. Facilitators of sustainability in Africa included community ownership of the project through the engagement of community stakeholders in the design and implementation of such projects, use of locally available resources, sound infrastructure, and the constitution of interdisciplinary team to facilitate capacity building. Impeders to the sustainability of donor-funded projects included weak health systems exemplified in poor documentation and integration of records, lack of financial leadership, shortage of resources, political interference, poor feedback mechanism, and weak donor-community interactions. From the ROBIS tool, a low risk of bias existed in the studies included in the review. Although the included studies appropriately considered the review's research question, seven studies had a low risk of bias in the domains one to three, and two studies had high risk of bias in domain four. To derive maximum benefits from donor-funded health interventions, sustainability of such projects is key. During program planning phase, context-based facilitators of sustainability should be promoted, while impeders are immediately addressed.

Background and objective Despite the potential benefits the Internet offers, it is prone to excessive and uncontrolled use, thus resulting in a condition called Internet addiction (IA). This study aimed to describe the prevalence of Internet addiction (IA) among in-school adolescents in Ibadan, Southwest Nigeria. Materials and methods A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 632 adolescents using a two-stage sampling technique. IA was assessed using the 20-question Internet addiction test (IAT). Responses to each question ranged from \"0\" (i.e., \"never\") to \"5\" (i.e., \"always\"). Cumulative IAT scores > 50% suggested the presence of IA. Chi-square tests were conducted to determine the association between adolescents' characteristics and IA. Statistically significant variables were pooled into the binary logistic regression model. P-values < 0.05 were statistically significant. Results The mean age of the adolescents was 16.03 ± 1.26 years, and 347 (54.9%) were males. A total of 284 (44.9%) adolescents had IA: 174 (42%) accessed the Internet in both home and school settings (ᵡ = 4.103, p = 0.043), and 174 (42%) accessed the Internet at home only (ᵡ = 5.003, p = 0.025). Adolescents who accessed the Internet from both home and school settings had higher odds of developing IA (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 1.408, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.986-2.012, p = 0.060), as well as those who accessed the Internet from home settings only (AOR = 1.404, 95%CI = 1.010-1.953, p = 0.043). Adolescents who gained four to six hours of Internet connection weekly had two times odds of developing IA (AOR = 1.404, 95%CI = 1.010-1.953, p = 0.043), and those who gained more than six hours of Internet connection had more than three times odds of developing IA (AOR = 3.424, 95%CI = 1.937-6.053, p = 0.043). Conclusion To prevent IA, adolescents should develop self-control skills and self-regulation of Internet use. Likewise, Internet access should be restricted from both home and school settings, and adolescents' Internet access should be monitored and regulated from both home and school settings.