Background: Human Monkey Pox Virus (HMPV) infection is a zoonotic infection that is endemic in the Congo basin and West Africa. Its similarity to smallpox infection, increased susceptibility infection in human populations, lack of a definitive therapy and its potential for use as a bioterrorism tool underscores its public health importance. Objective: To describe the characteristics of HMPV infection in Plateau State, North Central Nigeria. Methods: This was a case study of HMPV infection occurring in two Nigerian adults, seen in 2018, at Bingham University Teaching Hospital in Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria. The cases involved two siblings, and these were the first reported cases in Plateau State of Nigeria, which has an estimated population of 3.5 million persons. The diagnosis was based on a combination of clinical features and positive PCR tests on samples from the skin lesions and blood. Results: The first case, a 20-year-old male, presented with a one week history of fever, headache, pain on swallowing and micturition, and generalised skin lesions. The second case is a 20 year old step brother of the first case, and the primary care provider to first case when he took ill. He also presented with a one-week history of fever, headache, pain on swallowing, and skin lesions which were less intense than in the first case. PCR assays of samples from the skin lesions and blood were positive in both cases. The other comorbidity in both cases was pharyngotonsillitis. Blood, throat, stool, and urine cultures for suspected sepsis and urinary tract infection were all negative. Both cases were admitted and discharged after receiving a course of antibiotics, antihistamine, Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs, and multivitamins. Universal precautions were observed. Conclusion: HMPV infection in our environment underscores the need to strengthen preventive health strategies against this infection. Keywords: Clinical presentation; Human Monkey Pox Virus; Nigeria.

Background: Umbilical cord care is an essential newborn care practice which determines newborn survival. Knowledge on cord care influences the choice of cord care practices. This study was therefore conducted to determine the umbilical cord care practices among mothers in Jos metropolis.Methods: A cross sectional study involving 119 study respondents who were selected by cluster sampling technique. Data was collected using a self-administered questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS version 23.0. At 95% confidence interval, a p value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant.Results: Thirty-nine (35.1%) of the respondents had poor knowledge of cord care while 48 (43.3%) and 24 (21.6%) had fair and good knowledge respectively. Majority of the respondents used methylated spirit for the last delivery 54 (76.1%), 5 (6.9%) used chlorhexidine gel while 11 (15%) used substances such as salt and vaseline. Respondents with tertiary education were more likely than those with secondary and primary education to use aseptic cord care (OR 0.07; 95%CI 0.008-0.740) and (OR 0.15; 95%CI 0.047-0.507) respectively. The mean cord separation time among respondents who used chlorhexidine gel was 6.6±2.8 days, this was longer than those who used other substances (4.8±1.5 days).Conclusions: More respondents used aseptic cord care practices, however, a good number used a combination of septic and aseptic methods which could still pose a risk of infection to the neonate. There is need for health interventions to increase the awareness of mothers on using single aseptic cord care practices in order to prevent neonatal sepsis and mortality.

Abstract:Family planning provides individuals and couples the ability to adequately space each pregnancy. Contraceptive uptake is still low in developing countries. This study aims to determine the proportion of women with unmet need for family planning in plateau State. Methods and materials: This was a cross sectional study, employing quantitative and qualitative data collection techniques. Multistage sampling technique was used to select 300 study participants across the three senatorial zones in Plateau State. A semi structured interviewer administered questionnaire was used to obtain information from study participants while a Focussed Group Discussion (FGD) guide was used to conduct FGDs among women. Data was analysed using SPSS version 23. Results: The mean age of respondents was 25.4 years. The proportion of women currently using any form of contraceptive was 36%. Fifty-six percent of the respondents had unmet need for family planning. Educational status and parity were statistically significantly associated with having unmet need for family planning. In the FDGs most women of lower parity narrated that they would like to limit and space their pregnancies but were not using family planning commodities for fear of infertility, back ache, headache and complication such as convulsion in pregnancy. Conclusion: The use of family planning commodities is low and unmet need for family planning high in Plateau State. Interventions such as health education targeting mothers may reduce the proportion of women with unmet need for family planning. This will enable women adequately space and limit their pregnancies and reduce maternal morbidity and mortality.

Background: Substance use is a Public Health problem with significant negative consequences on the physical, psychological and mental health of individuals with worse effects among adolescents. The objective of this study was to determine and compare the pattern and predictors of substance use among in-school adolescents in Public and Private secondary schools in Gombe LGA, Gombe State. Methods: It was a comparative cross-sectional study. Multistage sampling technique was used to select participants from both comparison groups. Data was collected using a pretested self-administered questionnaire. All data generated were collated and analysed using the IBM Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 23. Results: The proportion of students engaged in substance use were 17.9% and 18.9% in private and public secondary schools respectively, this was not statistically significantly different (P-value 0.830). There was a statistically significant difference in the level of health risk associated with substance use among respondent in public and private schools (P value 0.008). Furthermore, respondents in public schools who almost never participated in religious activities and those who occasionally participated in religious activities had 4.2 and 3.5 times more odds respectively of using substances compared to those who almost always participated in religious activities p value 0.007 (CI 1.497-12.008) and p value 0.008 (CI 1.398-9.183) respectively. In both schools, those who had friends that used substances were more likely to use them p value <0.001(OR 0.99; CI 0.039-0.232) for private and p value <0.001 (OR 0.108; CI 0.048-0.245) for public schools. Conclusion: This study has therefore implied that there is no difference in the proportion and pattern of substance use by adolescents in both private and public secondary schools, however, the level of health risk is more among those in private schools.

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<sec> <title>BACKGROUND:</title> The use of molecular amplification as-says for TB diagnosis is limited by their costs and cartridge stocks. Pooling multiple samples to test them together is reported to have similar accuracy to individual testing and to save costs. </sec> <sec> <title>METHODS:</title> Two surveys of individuals with presumptive TB were conducted to assess the performance of pooled testing using Xpert® MTB/RIF (MTB/RIF) and Xpert® Ultra (Ultra). </sec> <sec> <title>RESULTS:</title> A total of 500 individuals were tested using MTB/RIF, with 72 (14.4%) being MTB-positive. The samples were tested in 125 pools, with 50 pools having 1 MTB-positive and 75 only MTB-negative samples: 46/50 (92%, 95% CI 80.8–97.8) MTB-positive pools tested MTB-positive and 71/75 (94.7%, 95% CI 86.9–98.5) MTB-negative pools tested MTB-negative in the pooled test (agreement: 93.6%, κ = 0.867). Five hundred additional samples were tested using Ultra, with 60 (12%) being MTB-positive. Samples were tested in 125 pools, with 42 having 1 MTB-positive and 83 only MTB-negative samples: 35/42 (83.6%, 95% CI 68.6–93.0) MTB-positive pools tested MTB-positive and 82/83 (98.8%, 95% CI 93.5–100.0) MTB-negative pools tested MTB-negative in the pooled test (agreement: 93.6%, κ = 0.851; P > 0.1 between individual and pooled testing). Pooled testing saved 35% (MTB/RIF) and 46% (Ultra) of cartridges. </sec> <sec> <title>CONCLUSIONS:</title> Pooled and individual testing has a high level of agreement and improves testing efficiency. </sec>

Background: Modern contraceptives are relevant interventions in the reduction of maternal and child morbidity and mortality. Its uptake by females of reproductive age has been found to be influenced by male partners’ awareness and utilization. This study aimed to determine the awareness of contraceptives, utilization prevalence and sociodemographic predictors for use among males of reproductive age in Jos North.Methods: A cross sectional study involving 406 males of reproductive age who were selected by multistage sampling technique. Data was collected using an interviewer-administered semi-structure questionnaire and analysed using SPSS version 23.0. At 95% confidence interval, a p value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant.Results: There was a high awareness prevalence of contraceptives 378 (93.1%). However, the prevalence of current contraceptive use with partners was low 160 (42.3%). Respondents who were single were more likely to use contraceptives than those who were married or separated (OR 1.8; 95% CI 1.109-2.251). Those between the ages of 35-44 years also had a higher likelihood of using modern contraceptives than younger men (OR 2; 95% CI 0.410-2.436). Education, occupation and family size had no statistically significant association with contraceptive use among respondents.Conclusions: Despite the high awareness of modern contraceptives among respondents in this study, utilization with partners was low. Predictors of utilization were being single and being in the third decade of life. This could impact on increased risk for both maternal and child mortality. Male targeted contraceptive education is necessary at community levels to improve uptake.