The Leprosy Mission International

BackgroundChildhood vaccine hesitancy is a significant public health concern. In Nigeria, it remains a major barrier to achieving optimal immunization uptake, contributing to preventable morbidity and mortality. Yet there remains a significant research gap on the synthesis of health communication strategies to address parental hesitancy to childhood vaccination. The primary aim and original contribution of the present review is to synthesize health communication strategies to address parental hesitancy to childhood vaccination in Nigeria.MethodThe review strategy was underpinned by the Population, phenomenon of interest and context (PICo) model. Hence, the population (parents, carers, or primary caregivers of children between the ages of 0 and 3 years), the phenomenon of interest (health communication strategies to address parental hesitancy to childhood vaccination), and the context (vaccine hesitancy). For qualitative studies, the PICo strategy, which is a modified version of PICO, was used. Boolean operators (AND/OR/NOT) were used to ensure rigor in adopting informed search terms. Six databases were searched for published articles between 2017 and March 2026. N = 12 studies met the inclusion criteria, and the relevant data were synthesized and analyzed using a thematic synthesis approach. The review protocol was pre-registered on the PROSPERO Registry (no. CRD420261303323).FindingsThe synthesized studies and analyses yielded the following main findings: (i) Media campaign strategies, (ii) State-sponsored communication strategies, (iii) Community-centered strategies, and (iv) Phone-based strategies.ConclusionChildhood vaccine hesitancy remains a major challenge in Nigeria. The review recommends that vaccine communication be culturally attuned and multi-channeled (e.g., embedding community-centered mechanisms—particularly those involving trusted religious and traditional leaders, media platforms, and mobile phone text messaging). It also recommends that vaccine communication be responsive to both structural constraints and community information need to address parental hesitancy to childhood vaccine uptake.

The importance of patient participation in designing and delivering services for persons affected by neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) has gained increasing recognition. Responding to this, persons affected by NTDs urged NTD-focused non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to take action. These NGOs are pivotal in addressing healthcare disparities and reaching marginalised communities. To address the insufficient progress on participation, a participatory initiative was launched to develop a tool designed to support NGOs in fostering inclusion and ensuring the meaningful engagement of affected persons in their organisational decision-making processes. This research used an iterative, mixed-methods approach involving stakeholder input, semi-structured interviews, and surveys across two phases. Phase 1 included exploratory workshops with persons affected by NTDs and NTD NGO employees which led to the development of a first draft of a self-assessment tool. Phase 2 involved piloting the tool in NTD NGOs. Data were gathered via pre- and post-pilot interviews and surveys. Thematic analysis was used for the qualitative data and descriptive analysis for the quantitative data. In phase 1, exploratory workshops revealed that meaningful participation involves creating environments where affected persons can openly share priorities and build their capacity. Workshop participants emphasised the need of inclusion at all stages of NGO activities. These insights informed the draft NTD Inclusion Scorecard (NISC), covering six domains. In phase 2, ten pilot sessions were conducted, feedback was gathered from 22 interviewees and 43 survey participants, focusing on the NISC’s usability and relevance. While feedback on the NISC was positive, participants highlighted the need for contextualisation, organisational commitment, and adding a communication domain to the NISC. The NISC is a self-assessment tool for NTD organisations, designed to enhance internal decision-making by fostering awareness of the importance of including the perspectives of persons affected by NTDs. By using the NISC, NGOs can identify gaps in inclusion and participation, improve their decision-making processes and provide services that are relevant and impactful for persons affected by NTDs. This tool provides insights that can guide NGOs in strengthening their role in promoting inclusion and increasing the effectiveness of their programmes.

Electrophysiological tests such as nerve conduction study (NCS) are regarded as the gold standard in identifying peripheral neuropathies. The study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic performance of screening clinical tests used in the field setting in detecting nerve involvement in newly diagnosed multibacillary (MB) leprosy and to assess their agreement with NCS. This cross-sectional study enrolled 40 newly diagnosed MB leprosy patients (age: 40.4 ± 12.9 years, 75% male, 45% Grade 2 disability) during 2022–23. Clinical assessments, including monofilament (MF) test, voluntary muscle testing (VMT) and nerve palpation (NP), were done. The Neuropack S1 EMG measuring equipment was used for NCS. There was a significant difference in the proportion of patients with nerve function impairment by clinical tests and by NCS (motor: 30% vs. 65%; sensory: 50% vs. 73%; P < 0.05 for both). Using the NCS as the gold standard, the MF test for the ulnar, median and sural nerves showed fair specificity (96%, 92% and 100%, respectively) but poor sensitivity (60%, 58% and 60%, respectively), which was also true for VMT in testing the ulnar, median and peroneal nerves (specificity: 100%, 97% and 100%, respectively; sensitivity: 32%, 37% and 5%, respectively). NP for the ulnar, median, tibial and peroneal nerves showed variable specificity (48%, 100%, 79% and 69%, respectively) and sensitivity (79%, 24%, 67% and 71%, respectively). The agreement between various clinical tests and NCS findings was moderate to weak. Clinical tests in the field setting have limited sensitivity and may fail to detect early nerve involvement in leprosy. The incorporation of NCS as a diagnostic tool enhances the detection of nerve impairment.

This review aimed to examine the extent of Bangladesh’s COVID-19 preparedness and control measures up to 20 January 2021, and to draw some lessons for informing the current and future pandemic responses in Bangladesh in light of Vietnam’s responses, which had successfully controlled the pandemic. We performed a content analysis of data to identify similarities and critical discrepancies in epidemiological features and COVID-19 responses between the two countries. Findings indicated that Vietnam reported lower COVID-19 incidence (15 cases per million) and death rate (0.4 cases per million) than Bangladesh, with 3,129 cases per million and a death rate of 46 cases per million. Vietnam reported only 35 deaths, with 22 older individuals (>60 years) compared with 7,950 deaths in Bangladesh, with the highest death rate in older people (45%). An integrated approach combined with widespread contact tracing, better health investment, vaccine development, and strong political commitment enabled Vietnam to control the disease and mitigate its impacts. In contrast, Bangladesh seemed to adopt inadequate and untimely measures in the same domains, potentially contributing to relatively high COVID-19 infections and death rates. To control COVID-19 or inform responses to future pandemics, Bangladesh and similar countries can learn eight lessons from Vietnam. Such transferable responses could prepare health systems and populations for an appropriate global response to the next potential pandemic.

The aim of the study was to determine the efficacy and safety of the bilateral suprazygomatic maxillary nerve block for cleft palate repair in children with congenital malformation, cleft palate. The study was carried out on 55 patients with primary cleft palate repair. The average age of the patients was 1 year 8 months6 months. Patients were divided into 2 groups. In the main group, general anesthesia, local anesthesia and bilateral suprazygomatic maxillary nerve block were performed. In the control group, general anesthesia and local anesthesia were performed. The severity of the pain syndrome in children was assessed according to the FLACC scale. In addition, the dose opioid analgesics (tramadol) was taken into account on the 1st day; satisfaction with anesthesia and analgesia. Results for the main group: FLACC indicators were kept longer at a low level; less consumption of opioid analgesics. No complications were observed on the bilateral suprazygomatic maxillary nerve block. The bilateral suprazygomatic maxillary nerve block for primary cleft palate repair in children provides a better quality of anesthesia, and, especially postoperative analgesia.