Most times, pregnancy is considered a joyous event, but it also heightens a woman’s emotional and psychological state. Globally, some women suffer mental disorders, especially in developing nations. In Nigeria, there is evidence for a high prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress during pregnancy. Therefore, this study aimed to estimate the severity and factors associated with depression, anxiety, and stress among pregnant women in Port Harcourt, Nigeria. A facility-based cross-sectional survey was carried out in the two tertiary hospitals in Port Harcourt city between September and October 2022 using the Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale-21 (DASS-21). Univariate, bivariate, and multivariate analyses were performed using STATA 16. The proportional odds model (POM) was used, and the statistical significance was set at p ≤ 0.05. A total of 413 respondents participated in the study, of whom 9.5%, 26.6%, and 17.3% had at least moderate depression, anxiety, and stress, respectively. Marital status, educational levels, and employment status were significantly associated with depression. Marital status, religion, and trimester were significantly associated with anxiety, while age, marital status, educational level, religion, income, trimester, and previous abortions/miscarriages were significantly related to stress. This study showed evidence of moderate-to-extremely severe anxiety, stress, and depression, as well as factors associated with these disorders. Our findings have implications for strengthening mental health policies as they pertain to antenatal care.

Background: The use of face masks has been accepted and recommended globally as a tool for COVID-19 protection. The government of Nigeria made wearing of face masks compulsory in public places. However, no evidence has shown user compliance or knowledge. This study investigated the knowledge and utilization of face masks among the Nigerian population. Methods: This was a web-based cross-sectional survey conducted from July 2 to August 28, 2020, using a convenience sampling technique. This was in adherence to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) guideline of physical/social distancing. Data was collected using a pre-tested questionnaire. Descriptive statistics were used to present the results. Results:  A total of 811 respondents participated in the survey with the mean age of 36.93±12.17 years. Almost all the respondents 91.9% and 94% were aware that face masks can reduce the spread of COVID-19 and should be worn in the public respectively.  95.3% of the participants had used a face mask as a protection against COVID-19. Furthermore, 90.2% used face masks in the public, 53% used it when entering restricted places, 45.5% when with a suspected case and 30.7% used a mask due to fear of arrest/punishment. The majority of respondents used homemade masks (70%) and 71.2% reused their masks, but maintained poor cleaning culture. Conclusion: This study demonstrated adequate knowledge and utilization of face masks among the population. The homemade mask was mostly used. However, there was a poor mask cleaning culture among the population. There should be intensive public awareness campaigns through social and mass media on how to clean reusable face masks.

Introduction: Risk-based screening has been replaced by universal screening as the recommended course of care for gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). As of 2016, no state in Nigeria had implemented a policy of universal screening for GDM. This research aimed to assess findings from a universal screening programme and its implication for scaling up universal and early screening for GDM. Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted in Rivers State Nigeria between February 2017 and January 2020. Multistage sampling was used to recruit 9314 pregnant women from 30 primary, secondary, and tertiary health facilities in the state. An interviewer-administered structured questionnaire was used by trained healthcare workers to collect socio-demographic, obstetric and medical information. All study participants had a plasma glucose test on their first hospital visit and a diagnosis made using the World Health Organization (WHO) criteria. Data obtained was analysed using the IBM Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 23. Results: Most women [5683 (61.0%)] were aged 25-34 (mean 29.60 ± 5.64) years. The preva-

Introduction: Since the onset of COVID-19 pandemic there has been concerns about the imminent collapse of the health system if healthcare workers are physically, mentally, and socially affected to the point where service delivery is compromised. Therefore, this study investigated the fear, psychosomatic symptoms, and satisfaction of the Primary Healthcare Workers (PHCWs) during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Rivers State Nigeria. Methods: A facility cross-sectional survey was conducted involving the primary healthcare workers. Descriptive analysis of mean with standard deviation were reported for continuous variables, frequency and percentage were used to report categorical variables. Results: A total of 412 PHCWs participated in the study (mean age: 39.5±7.5). 223 (54.4%) were sure of going to work, while 260 (63.4%) were afraid of contracting the COVID-19 virus. However, 294 (71.7%) were not stigmatized and 256 (62.4%) were satisfied with their capacity for work. Also, 333 (81.2%), 357(87.3%), and 271(66.6%) were not satisfied with, transportation, money to meet their daily needs, and work environment, respectively. Perceived psychosomatic symptoms by respondents were chest pain (50.0%), stomach upset (38.0%), lump in the throat (40.0%), no feeling of hunger (52.0%), and shortness of breath (32.0%). Anxiety and stress symptoms experienced were inability to concentrate (38.2%), got angry easily (24.9%), worried (48.5%), low mood, anxiety, or depression (24.1%) and afraid of encountering security personnel on their way to work (67.6%). Conclusions: We observed perceived fears, psychosomatic, anxiety, and stress symptoms, as well as low satisfaction among the primary healthcare workers. We suggest that the government and health care agencies should put in place measures that will improve the psychological well-being and mental health of the PHCWs during the pandemic.

Background: The use of face masks has been accepted and recommended globally as a tool for COVID-19 protection. The government of Nigeria made wearing of face masks compulsory in public places. However, no evidence has shown user compliance or knowledge. This study investigated the knowledge and utilization of face masks among the Nigerian population. Methods: This was a web-based cross-sectional survey conducted from July 2 to August 28, 2020 using a convenience sampling technique. This was in adherence to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) guideline of physical/social distancing. Data was collected using a pre-tested questionnaire. Descriptive statistics of frequency with percentage were used to present responses.Results: A total of 811 respondents participated in the survey with the mean age of 36.93±12.17 years, out of which 43.8% were male and 56.2% were female. Christians were 94.6%, those employed were 84.7%, 61.1% attained tertiary education and 50.8% belonged to a household size of 3-5 persons. Almost all the respondents 91.9% and 94% were aware that face masks can reduce the spread of COVID-19 and should be worn in the public respectively. 95.3% of the participants had used a face mask as a protection against COVID-19. Furthermore, 90.2% used face masks in the public, 53% used it when entering restricted places, 45.5% when with a suspected case and 30.7% used a mask due to fear of arrest/punishment. The majority of respondents used homemade masks (70%) and 71.2% reused their masks.Conclusion: This study demonstrated adequate knowledge and utilization of face masks among the population. The homemade mask was mostly used. However, there was a poor cleaning culture of the mask among the population. There should be intensive public awareness campaigns through social and mass media on how to clean reusable face masks.