Background Neglected tropical diseases, such as soil-transmitted helminths and Schistosomiasis, are prevalent in sub-Saharan Africa, particularly Ogun State, Nigeria. School-based mass drug administration program is the primary control intervention, but the coverage and uptake of this intervention have been inadequate. This study aimed to investigate community perceptions of school-based mass drug administration programs for these infections in Ogun State, Nigeria, and identify the barriers to their uptake and coverage. Methodology/Principal findings The study used a qualitative research approach involving focus group discussions and in-depth interviews with community members and stakeholders engaged in neglected tropical disease control programs in Ogun State, Nigeria. A semi-structured questionnaire guided the exploration of ideas, and the data were analyzed using the QRS Nvivo 12 software package. The study found several barriers, such as the influence of parents, lack of sufficient knowledge, and side effects. The study recommended strategies such as improving community sensitization and engagement, drug distribution and performance, and enhancing partner collaboration and coordination to improve the school-based mass drug administration programs. Conclusions/Significance The study revealed correct perceptions of transmission but some misconceptions about disease causation, transmission, and drug safety. Participants expressed a desire for better sensitization campaigns and more assurances of their safety. The study recommends strengthening health education messages and increasing the visibility of on-site medical personnel. The findings have implications for improving the performance of these programs and reducing the burden of intestinal parasitic infections in the community. The study highlights the need for community engagement and education, health system support, and partner collaboration to successfully implement mass drug administration programs.

Background Neglected tropical diseases, such as soil-transmitted helminths and schistosomiasis, are prevalent in sub-Saharan Africa, particularly in Nigeria. Mass drug administration is the primary control intervention, but the coverage and utilization of these programs are often inadequate. This study aimed to investigate community perceptions of school-based mass drug administration programs for these infections in Nigeria and to identify the barriers to their utilization and coverage. Methodology/Principal Findings The study used a qualitative research approach, involving focus group discussions and in-depth interviews with stakeholders involved in neglected tropical disease control programs in Ogun State, Nigeria. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to guide the exploration of ideas, and the data were analyzed using the QRS Nvivo 12 software package. The study found several barriers such as poor drug acceptability, accessibility, and effectiveness, low knowledge and awareness of the diseases and control interventions, inadequate community engagement and involvement, and weak health system and partner support to the utilization and coverage of control interventions for soil-transmitted helminths and schistosomiasis. The study also identified recommendations for addressing these barriers, including community sensitization and engagement, improving drug distribution and effectiveness, strengthening health system support, and enhancing partner collaboration and coordination. Conclusions/Significance The study revealed correct perceptions of transmission but some misconceptions about disease causation, transmission, and drug safety. Participants expressed a desire for better sensitization campaigns and more assurances of their safety. To improve mass drug administration programs, the study recommends strengthening health education messages and increasing the visibility of on-site medical personnel. The findings have implications for improving the effectiveness of these programs and reducing the burden of intestinal parasitic infections in the community. The study highlights the need for community engagement and education, health system support, and partner collaboration to ensure the successful implementation of mass drug administration programs.

Background: Human papillomavirus (HPV) is responsible for most cervical cancer cases globally, with women living with HIV having a higher risk of persistent HPV infection and HPV-associated disease. The HPV vaccine is a promising tool to reduce cervical cancer rates, but its uptake among women living with HIV in Nigeria is unknown. Methods: A facility-based, cross-sectional survey was conducted with 1371 women living with HIV to assess their knowledge of HPV, cervical cancer, and the HPV vaccine as well as their willingness to pay for the vaccine at the HIV treatment clinic at the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, Lagos. To identify factors associated with the willingness to pay for the HPV vaccine, multivariable logistic regression models were developed. Results: This study found that 79.1% of participants had not heard of the vaccine, and only 29.0% knew its efficacy in preventing cervical cancer. In addition, 68.3% of participants were unwilling to pay for the vaccine, and the average amount they were willing to pay was low. Knowledge of HPV, the HPV vaccine, and cervical cancer and income were factors associated with the willingness to pay for the vaccine. Health workers were the primary source of information. Conclusions: This study highlights the lack of knowledge and low willingness to pay for the HPV vaccine among women living with HIV in Nigeria and emphasizes the importance of improving education and awareness. Factors associated with the willingness to pay, such as income and knowledge, were identified. Practical strategies, such as community outreach and school-based education programs, could be developed to increase vaccine uptake. Further research is needed to explore additional factors influencing the willingness to pay.

Background: Malnutrition in under-five children remains an issue of public health, especially in low and middle-income countries, and is associated with inadequate child development and poor survival. Recent public health intervention strategies for malnourished children allow for localized targeted supplementation with locally available materials to replace the imported Ready-to-Use-Supplementary-Food (RUSF) for the target group. Aims: The aim of the study was to develop a local supplementary food and determine its effects on hematological parameters of weanling rats. Material and Methods: The experimental study involved thirty weanling albino rats, grouped into groups A, B, and C, each consisting of ten rats. All the groups were acclimatized for fourteen days, thereafter, groups A and B were induced with moderate acute malnutrition (MAM) by feeding with only corn starch for fourteen days. Weight, tail length, and hematological parameters (hemoglobin level, white blood cell count) of all the weanling albino rats were determined and recorded as baseline values on the fourteenth day. Therapeutic food made from millet, soybean, and grasshopper blends was produced and fed to group A as the intervention, Group B was fed with corn starch only and group C was fed on normal rat pellets for twenty-eight days. Weight, tail length, and hematological parameters were determined and recorded at the end of the intervention. Results: Experimental group A had the lowest packed cell volume (PCV) value with a difference of 2.20 ± 0.56 %, the lowest hemoglobin (Hb) level with a difference of 0.58 ± 0.02 g/dL, the control group had the highest PCV, Hb, and RBC with values of 4.10 ± 0.5 %, 1.58 ± 0.21 g/dL, and 0.9 ± 0.05 x 106 µ/L respectively. Conclusions: With the evidence provided by the parameters assessed in the study, it can be concluded that the developed therapeutic food is efficacious in the treatment of malnutrition especially in weanling albino rats. Keywords: Moderate Acute Malnutrition (MAM), Ready-to-Use-Supplementary-Food (RUSF) Malnutrition, Complementary feeding, Animal studies.

Background: Human papillomavirus (HPV) is responsible for most cervical cancer cases globally, with women living with HIV at higher risk of persistent HPV infection and HPV-associated disease. The HPV vaccine is a promising solution to reducing cervical cancer rates, but its uptake among women living with HIV in Nigeria is unknown. Methods: A facility-based, cross-sectional survey was conducted with 1,371 women living with HIV to assess their knowledge of HPV, cervical cancer, and the HPV vaccine, as well as their willingness to pay for the vaccine at the HIV treatment clinic, Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, Lagos. Willingness to pay for the HPV vaccine was also assessed. Multivariable logistic regression models were developed to identify factors associated with willingness to pay for the HPV vaccine. Results: The study found that 79.1% of participants had not heard of the vaccine, and only 29.0% knew of its efficacy in preventing cervical cancer. Moreover, 68.3% of participants were unwilling to pay for the vaccine, and the average amount they were willing to pay was low. Knowledge of HPV, the HPV vaccine, cervical cancer, and income were factors associated with willingness to pay for the vaccine. Health workers were the primary source of information. Conclusion: The study found that 79.1% of participants had not heard of the vaccine, and only 29.0% knew of its efficacy in preventing cervical cancer. Moreover, 68.3% of participants were unwilling to pay for the vaccine, and the average amount they were willing to pay was low. Knowledge of HPV, the HPV vaccine, cervical cancer, and income were factors associated with willingness to pay for the vaccine. Health workers were the primary source of information.

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Background: Pregnancy can be a period of increased psychological susceptibility for women living with HIV. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and factors associated with depression and psychological stress among women living with HIV during their perinatal period in Ibadan, Nigeria. Methods: This study was a facility-based cross-sectional survey conducted in three HIV treatment centers. The study population consisted of women living with HIV 18 years and above who were pregnant or had given birth within the last two years. Data obtained were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Science version 25. Results: A total of 402 participants were eligible for this study. About 69.0% and 78.0% of the participants were depressed and had perceived stress respectively. Women who had positive partners (OR=0.60, 95% CI=0.20-1.30) were found to be significantly associated with perceived depression. Women who reported having a gestational age between 29-40 weeks (OR=0.054 95% CI = 0.006, 0.500) were found to be significantly associated with perceived stress. Factors associated with the co-occurrence of symptoms of depression and perceived stress were partner status, income level, family support, gestational age, and years on ART. Conclusions: Given the high prevalence of major depression, perceived stress, and the co-occurrence of depression and perceived stress among women living with HIV, mental health care should be incorporated into the routine maternal healthcare for all women, especially those living with HIV.