University of Abuja Teaching Hospital is a federal government of Nigeria teaching hospital located in Gwagwalada, Abuja, Nigeria. The current chief medical director is Nicholas Baamlong.
HIV/AIDS is a significant public health problem in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), accounting for 70
Microplastics pollution is a widespread environmental issue in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC), where factors such as urbanization, insufficient waste management, and coastal vulnerability may increase exposure risks. Microplastics can act as carriers for endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), but a comprehensive synthesis of region-specific evidence linking this contamination to reproductive health outcomes has been lacking. This systematic review examines the evidence regarding the impact of microplastics pollution on reproductive health across species in LAC, identifies contamination hotspots and exposure pathways, and highlights gaps in policy and research. Following PRISMA 2020 guidelines, we analyzed 30 peer-reviewed studies (2014-2024) from 12 LAC nations. Due to significant heterogeneity in study designs, populations, and outcomes, a narrative synthesis was conducted to integrate evidence from environmental monitoring, animal toxicology, and human biomonitoring studies. Risk of bias was assessed using design-specific tools. The evidence indicates widespread microplastics contamination in LAC, with notable hotspots in coastal Colombia (4.54 particles/m2), Argentine riverine systems (30 780 particles/m2), and Mexican groundwater (18.3 particles/L). Overall, 82% of assessed sites were classified as "Dirty" to "Extremely Dirty." Animal studies reported that microplastics exposure was associated with reproductive toxicity, including reduced sperm concentration and motility, ovarian fibrosis, and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)-like phenotypes. Human biomarker studies found elevated urinary bisphenol A (BPA) levels in pregnant women from Caribbean countries, correlating with altered gonadotropin ratios. Dietary intake, particularly from seafood and beverages, was identified as a primary exposure pathway, while inhalable particles in urban air posed additional risks. No LAC country has established enforceable microplastics thresholds for drinking water or standardized biomonitoring protocols. This systematic review suggests that microplastics pollution is prevalent in LAC environments and is associated with adverse reproductive outcomes in animal models. Preliminary human data indicate potential exposure-related endocrine effects, though causal inference is limited by the absence of direct microplastic exposure measurements and reliance on cross-sectional EDC biomarker studies. The findings underscore the need for expanded biomonitoring, harmonized research methodologies, and region-specific policy development to better understand and address potential public health implications.
Collective and individual trauma remain pervasive across many African societies due to armed conflict, terrorism, forced displacement, poverty, and historical injustices. This paper examines the role of psychotherapy in facilitating post-trauma recovery and social healing in Africa. Drawing on recent empirical and theoretical literature, the study adopts a conceptual-analytical approach to explore how psychotherapeutic interventions contribute to psychological stabilization, identity reconstruction, resilience building, and community cohesion. Evidence indicates that trauma prevalence among displaced populations in Africa remains significantly high, with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) rates exceeding 50% in some contexts (Nguyen et al., 2024). Psychotherapy, particularly trauma-focused cognitive behavioural therapy (TF-CBT), narrative exposure therapy (NET), and group-based interventions, has demonstrated effectiveness in reducing psychological distress and enhancing coping mechanisms. However, the African context requires culturally adaptive approaches that integrate indigenous healing systems, spirituality, and community participation. The paper argues that psychotherapy plays a dual role in both individual recovery and societal transformation by promoting reconciliation, trust rebuilding, and peacebuilding. It concludes by highlighting policy implications, including the integration of mental health services into primary healthcare systems, capacity building for community-based practitioners, and the need for culturally grounded therapeutic models.
Background: The incursion of Chikungunya (CHIKV) and Zika (ZIKV) viruses into Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) after 2013 created complex epidemics with high attack rates, severe complications, and persistent transmission. While individual aspects have been studied, a synthesized understanding of the interacting viral, ecological, and social drivers sustaining these arboviruses in the region remains lacking. Objectives: To critically synthesize evidence on the incursion and establishment of CHIKV and ZIKV in LAC through an integrative framework examining the interaction between viral adaptation and structural vulnerabilities. Design: Systematic review following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) 2020 guidelines. Data sources and methods: We systematically searched PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, and LILACS, supplemented by gray literature from PAHO, WHO, and CDC, for studies published between January 2013 and December 2025. Eligible studies included observational studies, surveillance data analyses, outbreak reports, modeling studies, and genomic epidemiology focusing on CHIKV/ZIKV incursion, transmission dynamics, establishment, burden, or socio-ecological determinants in LAC populations. Two independent reviewers performed screening, data extraction, and quality assessment using Joanna Briggs Institute tools. A critical narrative synthesis was conducted using the novel Structural Vulnerability and Pathogen Plasticity framework. Results: Eighteen studies met inclusion criteria. Pathogen plasticity—evidenced by multiple independent introductions, genetic variability, and cryptic transmission (e.g., an unreported 2017 ZIKV outbreak in Cuba uncovered through travel-genomic surveillance)—exploited profound structural vulnerabilities. These included weak surveillance systems (detection rates as low as 1%–6% for ZIKV), inadequate water and sanitation infrastructure driving a knowledge-practice gap (75.2% knowledge vs 30.7% adequate practices), and socioeconomic inequities that concentrated disease burden. Severe impacts were disproportionately borne by marginalized groups, quantified by a 9.0-year disparity in average Years of Life Lost between Black (22.0 years) and White (13.0 years) Brazilians with Chikungunya. Despite the epidemic’s waning, 58% of analyzed locations remain at high risk for future ZIKV outbreaks due to discrepancies between environmental suitability and population immunity. A critical geographical evidence bias was identified: 13 studies (72%) were conducted in Latin America (primarily Brazil and Colombia), while only 5 (28%) focused on the Caribbean region, limiting generalizability to smaller island states. Conclusion: The establishment of CHIKV and ZIKV in LAC represents a biosocial process wherein adaptable pathogens exploit and reinforce structural inequities. Achieving durable resilience requires integrated surveillance platforms that monitor both pathogens and social vulnerabilities, coupled with fundamental investment in water, sanitation, waste management, and equitable healthcare infrastructure to interrupt the vicious cycle of arboviral emergence. Trial registration: PROSPERO CRD420251242134 (available at: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/view/CRD420251242134 ).
Background: Child sexual abuse (CSA) is a major public health concern with serious physical, emotional, and social consequences. This study assessed the prevalence and pattern of CSA among senior secondary school students in Gwagwalada, Abuja. Methods: A mixed-method descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted from January to March 2025 among 270 adolescents selected through multistage sampling. Data were collected using structured questionnaires and in-depth interviews. Quantitative data were analyzed at a significance level of p ≤ 0.05, and thematic analysis was applied to qualitative responses. Results: The prevalence of CSA was 38.9% (105 students). The most commonly reported abusive act was being forced to expose their naked body. Perpetrators were mainly known to victims, including family members and neighbors, with most incidents occurring between ages 2–14, either at home or in public spaces. Significant associations were observed between CSA and age group, class level, living arrangement, parental education, parental occupation, and stigma. Key determinants identified were living arrangement, father’s occupation, and perceived stigma. Qualitative findings highlighted abuse occurring in trusted environments, involving coercion and threats, with non-disclosure driven by fear, shame, and blame. Conclusion: CSA is highly prevalent in Gwagwalada and linked to family and social vulnerabilities, requiring strengthened preventive and supportive interventions.
