Background: With increasing access to effective Anti-Retroviral Therapy (ART), the proportion of children who survive into later childhood with HIV has increased. Consequently, caregivers are constantly being confronted with the dilemma of 'if', 'when', and 'how' to tell their children living with HIV their status. We aimed to determine the prevalence and predictors of disclosure and explore the barriers caregivers face in disclosing HIV status to children living with HIV in Gombe, northeast Nigeria. Methods: We conducted a sequential, explanatory, mixed-methods study at the specialist Paediatric HIV clinic of the Federal Teaching Hospital Gombe, northeast Nigeria. The quantitative component was a cross sectional, questionnaire-based study that consecutively recruited 120 eligible primary caregivers of children (6-17 years) living with HIV. The qualitative component adopted an in-depth one-on-one interview approach with 17 primary caregivers. Primary caregivers were purposively selected to include views of those who had made disclosure and those who have not done so to gain an enhanced understanding of the quantitative findings. We examined the predictors of HIV status disclosure to infected children using binary logistic regression. The qualitative data was analysed using a combined deductive and inductive thematic analysis approach.

Background: Nigeria contributes 30% to the global sickle cell anaemia burden. Cholelithiasis occurs commonly in children with sickle cell anaemia and may remain undiagnosed, mimic abdominal vaso-occlusive crises or become complicated by calculus cholecystitis. Early identification of children with sickle cell anaemia who have Cholelithiasis reduces the chances of misdiagnosis, mistreatment and improves outcomes. There is limited knowledge about the prevalence of Cholelithiasis among Nigerian children with sickle cell anaemia. The present study aimed to determine the prevalence of Cholelithiasis in children with sickle cell anaemia in Gombe, northeast Nigeria. Methodology: This was a cross-sectional analysis of children with sickle cell anaemia being followed-up at the sickle cell centre of the Federal Teaching Hospital, Gombe, northeast Nigeria. We consecutively recruited 294 children aged 2-17 years while in steady state from June to November 2017. Quantitative data were collected from parents/caregivers via a researcher administered questionnaire and cholecystosonography performed after a minimum of 8-hour fast. Predictors of Cholelithiasis were examined using binary logistic regression. Results: The mean age of children with sickle cell anaemia was 9.0 ± 4.5 years. The prevalence of Cholelithiasis in children with sickle cell anaemia in steady state was 4.8%. Children aged 15-17 years had 12 times higher odds of having Cholelithiasis [AOR = 12.268 (95% CI = 1.3-112.8)]. Conclusion: The prevalence of Cholelithiasis in children with sickle cell anaemia though generally low, increases progressively with age to peak during middle to late adolescence.

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Background: HCV is a leading cause of liver cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma and liver failure related deaths among children, adolescents and adults worldwide. Sub-Saharan Africa suffers disproportionately from lack of access to both screening for HCV and treatment services with a resultant high rate of chronic hepatitis C related morbidity and mortality. Nigeria is considered among countries with high Hepatitis C burden and the national prevalence average in 2013 was estimated to be 2.2%. Routine screening for hepatitis C antibody in the country is however sub-optimal. The present study sought to determine the prevalence of hepatitis C antibody in adults and children. Methods: This was a cross-sectional analysis of adults and children tested for Hepatitis C at the Federal Teaching Hospital, Gombe; northeast Nigeria from January 2008 to December 2015. We consecutively reviewed results of Hepatitis C antibody tests performed using HCV ACON rapid immunoassay. Variables including age; sex, year test was performed and hepatitis C antibody status were analysed. Results: 6874 individuals tested aged 1-98 years; male: female ratio 1.4:1. HCV antibody was positive in 473 (6.9%). HCV antibody sero-positivity was associated with increasing age and was highest (18.0%) above 65 years. (p < 0.001) 282 (59.6%) with HCV antibody also tested for HBsAg. Dual seropositivity with HBsAg and HCV antibody was significantly higher among males (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Hepatitis C prevalence is high and increased with age to peak in the elderly. Dual HBV/HCV infection is highest in males.

Introduction: Worldwide, most people living with chronic HBV infection are in in low- and middle-income countries. Most of the burden of disease from HBV infection comes from infections acquired before the age of 5 years. Materials and Methods: Records of Hepatitis B surface and envelope antigen results of children and adults in Federal Teaching Hospital, Gombe between May 2000 and May 2015 were analyzed Results: 22,862 individuals were tested for Hepatitis B surface antigen. 19.5% (4456) tested positive. 24.7 % (3146) and 12.9% (1310) of males and females respectively were HBsAg positive. HBsAg Peak prevalence of 21.8% was in the age group 26-46 (2533) and the lowest prevalence in infancy (3.5%). Amongst males, the 19-25year age group had the peak prevalence of 28.6% and in females the age group 5-9 years constituted the highest (20.3%). 36% (1602/4456) of HBsAg positive children and adults were tested for HBeAg. 26.2% (420/1602) of individuals with HBsAg carriage were HBeAg. More males (307/1105) than females (113/495) were HBeAg positive but not statistically significant. (P=0.034). Prevalence of HBeAg was highest in infants (50%) and children 1-4 years (50%) age group and thereafter declined with increasing age. Females of the younger age group <1year, 1-4 years and 5-9 years and older age group, 56-65 and >65 years, compared to their male carriers of HBsAg had higher prevalence of HBeAg but these were not statistically significant. Conclusion: A fifth of HBsAg carriers were HBeAg positive and HBeAg positivity decreased with increasing age. Hepatitis B vaccination in Nigeria requires urgent strengthening. Keywords: Hepatitis, HBsAg, HBeAg Children, Adults, Nigeria.