Jos University Teaching Hospital (JUTH) is a Federal Tertiary Health Institution or Nigeria, established in 1975 and located in Jos, Plateau State. The acting chief medical director is Bupwatda Pokop Wushipba.
Background: Postnatal care (PNC) is essential for maternal and newborn health, but coverage alone may conceal delayed and incomplete follow-up. This study assessed maternal knowledge and patterns of PNC utilization in Ondo State, Nigeria. Methods: A cross-sectional survey of 330 mothers who delivered within the preceding 12 months was conducted in six Local Government Areas using multistage and systematic random sampling. Data were collected with an interviewer-administered structured questionnaire, including a 22-item PNC knowledge scale. Descriptive statistics, chi-square, Mann-Whitney U test, and multivariable binary logistic regression were performed in SPSS version 26.
Xeroderma pigmentosum (XP) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder resulting from mutations in nucleotide excision repair. It is characterised by severe photosensitivity, cutaneous pigment changes, malignant tumour development, and occasionally progressive neurologic degeneration. The aim is to report three cases of XP with cutaneous malignancies with emphasis on the importance of prevention of malignant transformation in these patients. Three adults within their 3rd and 4th decades with XP were managed for cutaneous malignancies: two males and one female, two of whom were siblings. Two had fungating lesions on the forehead, and one had multiple scalp lesions. The histology in all the three patients revealed squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). All underwent wide local excision, followed by full and split thickness skin grafting to cover the defects, except the one that had transposition flap at a second surgery, and were co-managed with a dermatologist. Skin malignancies especially SCC and basal cell carcinoma are common in the facial regions of patients with XP. Adequate education of the patients on the importance of protection from the ultraviolet radiation radiations will prevent malignant transformation, and early presentation with appropriate treatment will improve prognosis.
Background: Tetanus remains an important vaccine-preventable disease, particularly among women of reproductive age. However, limited evidence exists regarding knowledge of tetanus vaccination, uptake, willingness, and their associated factors among adolescent girls in North-Central Nigeria. Objective: to evaluate knowledge levels, tetanus vaccination uptake, and willingness to receive or boost tetanus vaccination, as well as to determine predictors of knowledge and willingness among adolescent girls in a suburban secondary school in North-Central Nigeria. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 183 female secondary school students using a semi-structured, self-administered questionnaire. Knowledge and willingness were assessed using predefined criteria. Factors associated with good knowledge and willingness were examined using bivariate analysis, while multivariable logistic regression was used to identify independent predictors. A sensitivity model examined the effect of perceived cost on predictors of willingness. Results: Only 56/183 (30.6%) participants demonstrated good knowledge of tetanus infection and prevention, while 24/114 (21.1%) had received adequate doses of tetanus toxoid vaccine. However, 144/183 (79.6%) were willing to receive or boost vaccination. Prevention of tetanus was the commonest reason for vaccination, while cost and ignorance were commonly reported barriers. Senior class was independently associated with good knowledge (aOR 4.68, 95% CI 1.88–11.60; p<0.001). Living ≥30 minutes from the nearest health facility (aOR 2.98, 95% CI 1.06–8.40; p=0.038) and maternal secondary education (aOR 0.19, 95% CI 0.04–0.97; p=0.046) predicted willingness. In sensitivity analysis, perceived cost was not independently associated with willingness, and the associations with maternal education and distance were attenuated and became non-significant. Conclusion: Knowledge and vaccination uptake were low despite high willingness. School-based vaccination and targeted education addressing knowledge gaps and perceived barriers may help translate willingness into uptake.
Advanced HIV disease (AHD) is of great concern in developing countries like Nigeria. Nigeria implemented an AHD package of care that includes rapid qualitative point-of-care (POC) CD4 testing to identify individuals with CD4 counts ≤200 cells/mm3, guiding further screening (e.g. TB lipoarabinomannan and cryptococcal antigen tests). However, the accuracy of this qualitative method compared to gold-standard quantitative CD4 testing via flow cytometry remains uncertain. We aimed to evaluate the agreement between POC qualitative CD4 testing and gold standard for detecting CD4 counts ≤200 cells/mm3 Data were collected retrospectively from records of individuals who had been screened for an AHD clinical trial from February to November 2024 at antiretroviral therapy (ART) clinics of 7 tertiary hospitals across 5 geo-political zones in Nigeria. Persons newly found to have acquired HIV or had interrupted treatment for at least 6 months were screened with a rapid POC qualitative CD4 assay as standard of care. Those with CD4 count ≤200 cells/mm3 according to the POC assay subsequently had quantitative CD4 testing as screening for the trial. A total of 430 participants with a mean age of 40.8 years (±13.9 SD) were enrolled. A slight majority were females, 226(52.6%), and the Lagos University Teaching Hospital had the most participants [206(47.9%)]. Thirteen participants also had tuberculosis, while 1 each was found to have Hepatitis B and cryptococcal meningitis respectively. The qualitative POC CD4 method correctly identified 336(78.1%) out of 430 participants as having CD4 ≤200 cells/mm3 while misclassifying 94 out of 430 participants that actually had CD4 >200 cells/mm3 based on the gold standard. The qualitative POC CD4 method provides a rapid and cost-effective alternative to the gold standard but shows limitations, particularly near critical thresholds (≤200 cells/mm3). These limitations may impact clinical decisions and outcomes, suggesting the need for confirmatory quantitative testing where feasible. Rapid qualitative methods should complement, not replace, quantitative CD4 testing, especially in resource-limited settings where accurate risk stratification for treatment decisions are critical. All Authors: No reported disclosures
Background: Accurate glucose measurement is central to effective glycaemic control in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). While central laboratory plasma glucose measurement remains the reference standard, point-of-care testing (POCT) glucometers are widely used in clinical practice because of their convenience and rapid turnaround time. Objective:This study compared the analytical performance of POCT glucose measurement with central laboratory glucose measurement among patients with T2DM. Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 100 confirmed T2DM patients attending the diabetes clinic of Jos University Teaching Hospital, North-Central Nigeria. Fasting venous plasma glucose was measured using the hexokinase method on a Cobas c111 analyzer, while capillary glucose was simultaneously measured using a standardized On-Call Plus glucometer. Data were analyzed using Pearson correlation and Bland–Altman agreement analysis. Result: The mean glucose values were 9.24 ± 4.98 mmol/L for POCT and 7.40 ± 4.13 mmol/L for laboratory measurement (p < 0.0001). A strong positive correlation was observed (r = 0.91, p < 0.0001). Bland–Altman analysis showed a mean bias of 1.9 mmol/L, with limits of agreement from −2.3 to +6.1 mmol/L, indicating a tendency for POCT values to be higher. Conclusion: POCT glucose measurement demonstrates good correlation with laboratory glucose but shows a positive bias. Regular quality assurance and periodic comparison with laboratory methods are essential to ensure safe clinical use.
