To achieve maximal protection against vaccine-preventable diseases, a child should receive all immunizations within recommended intervals. Clinic records of 512 Nigerian children were evaluated for timeliness in receiving vaccines and the completion rates of the schedule. About 30% of the children presented after four weeks of age for their first immunization; 18.9-65% of the children were delayed in receiving various vaccines compared to the recommended ages for receiving the vaccines. Only 227 (44.3%) children were fully immunized. Health education and mass mobilization of the community and health workers are recommended to improve the uptake of vaccines and to encourage timely receipt of vaccines.

Access to highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART) has improved the prognosis of Nigerian children infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV); thus, more children are surviving. Long-term exposure to HAART is potentially nephrotoxic. We therefore aimed at assessing the prevalence of renal disease in Nigerian children infected with HIV, who are on HAART. In this cross-sectional study, we studied children, aged ten months to 17 years, infected with HIV, attending the pediatric HIV clinics of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital. Demographic and clinical data were obtained by parental interview as well as from the medical records. Each child's urine was tested for albumin and microalbuminuria using multi test strips and mitral test strips, respectively. The serum creatinine level of each child was also estimated and used in calculating the glomerular filtration rate (GFR). Renal disease was defined as the presence of significant proteinuria of 1+ and above on dipstick or the presence of microalbuminuria of ≥20 mg and/or GFR <60 mL/min/1.73 m 2 . Of the 99 children recruited, 60 were males and 39 were females. The mean age of the children was 6.6 ± 3.5 years. All the children were on HAART and 85% had acquired the HIV infection by vertical transmission. The overall prevalence of renal disease was 16.2%. Microalbuminuria was seen in 11 children with renal disease (11.1%); 3 of them had significant proteinuria. GFR of less than 60 mL/min/1.73 m 2 was seen in five children (5.1%) with renal disease, but none had end-stage renal disease (GFR less than 15 mL/min/1.73 m 2 ). Renal disease was found to be significantly associated with advanced stage of HIV infection (P < 0.049). Our study showed that t he prevalence of renal disease in HAART-treated Nigerian children is high and majority of them are asymptomatic of renal disease, but in the advanced stages of HIV infection.

Introduction:It is well documented that Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) is the cause of cervical cancer which is a major cause of morbidity and mortality especially in low- and middle-income countries. Vaccines against HPV are available. In developed countries where the vaccines have been deployed, lack of information among the target population (adolescents) is a major contributor to suboptimal uptake. In Nigeria, the vaccine is yet to be provided in the national programme on immunization, which is free, but it is available for a fee. In this study we determined the effect of peer education on the knowledge of female adolescents about HPV, cervical cancer, its treatment and prevention.Methods:This was an intervention study. The knowledge and awareness of female students of four secondary schools were assessed using a pre-tested self-administered questionnaire prior to the training of some of the students (peers). The trained students delivered messages on cervical cancer and HPV using fliers containing key information (peer training) to their school mates in formal delivery in a class setting. The knowledge and awareness of students, post-peer training, was then assessed.Results:There were 1337 students who responded to the baseline questionnaire while 1201 responded to the post-peer training questionnaire. Awareness of cervical cancer, knowledge of risk factors and cause of cervical cancer was low prior to the peer training. There was statistically significant improvement in awareness about cervical cancer and in the knowledge domains following peer training. Mean knowledge score prior to training was 12.94 ± 9.23 and this increased significantly to 53.74 ± 10.69 following peer training p < 0.0001.Conclusion:Peer training is effective in improving knowledge and awareness of secondary school students about HPV and cervical cancer.

Delay in receipt of immunisation may result in a child being susceptible to vaccine preventable diseases for prolonged periods. Identification of factors which contribute to delay in receipt of immunisation will help in developing targeted interventions. This study examined prospectively factors contributing to delay in the commencement of infant immunisation in Benin City, Nigeria. This was a cross-sectional descriptive study of 153 consecutive mothers of infants presenting for their first immunisation at the Institute of Child Health Child Welfare Clinic of the University of Benin, Benin City. Reasons for not presenting in the first 24 hours were ascertained and associations between various factors and delay in commencement of immunisation were examined. Of the 153 mothers only 2 (1.3%) brought their babies for immunisation within 24 hours of birth while 66 (43.1%) brought their babies in the first week of life. The most cited reason (30.3%) for not presenting within 24 hours of birth was that BCG, one of the immunisations that should be given at birth is given only on a specific day. Mothers who did not know that immunisation should commence at birth (P=0.0054), those from low socioeconomic class (P=0.0056) and those with less than 12 years of schooling (P=0.0001) were significantly less likely to bring their babies for immunisation in the first week of life. Delivery outside of health facilities was also associated with later presentation for immunisation (P=0.0069). In conclusion, there is significant delay in the receipt of birth doses of immunisation. Change in clinic practices to enable daily immunisation as well as education of health care personnel on the importance of timely commencement of immunisation will ensure timeliness of receipt of birth doses of vaccines. ____________________________________________________________________________________

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