Background: Peoples’ life and quality of health are usually dependent on the cultural practices and norms of the community. Objectives: This study investigated Female Genital Mutilation Practices and Associated Factors among Married Women in the Ebonyi State of Nigeria. Methods: The descriptive survey research design was adopted for the study. The study was conducted from August 2019 to January 2020.  Out of 260 questionnaires distributed, only 7 copies were discarded and a total of 253 women were drawn for the study through multi-stage sampling technique. Frequency, percentage, and logistics regression were the statistical tools used for data analysis. Results: The majority of the participants: aged 25-34 years (37.9%); Christians (76.3%); urban dwellers (50.2%); had tertiary education (36.4%); had 3-4 children (32.0%); and were in business (29.2%) respectively. The cultural practices regarding FGM among married women in Ebonyi State were high (60.5%). Also, the majority of the participants (67.7%) were circumcised. Age by birth, religious affiliation, location, level of education, number of children, and occupation were predictors of the cultural practice of FGM with obvious variations. There is no significant difference existed with respect to religious affiliation, level of education, number of children, and occupation (P-value>0.05) while the difference was observed on the age by birth and location (P-value<0.05). Conclusion: The high cultural practice of FGM is influenced by certain demographic predictors. Thus, there is a need for the Ebonyi State government in collaboration with other health agencies to adopt effective interventions, public health enlightenment, and mass education focusing on the negative consequences of FGM practices.

COVID-19 infection has continued to pose a very serious health threat to mankind globally despite all efforts geared toward curbing its spread. More worrisome recently is the report from different parts of the world on the re-infection of those treated and recovered with COVID -19 patients thus making containment of the virus even more difficult. Of more worrisome is the fact that the lung, a vital human organ is a major site being attacked by the virus even on re-infection cases. If quick action is not taken early enough, it may lead to the outright death of the patient. A lung infection, (Pneumonia) caused by COVID-19 has been discovered to be having a stunning effect on hospital systems and killing COVID-19 patients silently and it occurs even as the patient is asymptomatic. This paper examines the reasons for re-infection, Lacuna in the reviewed literature with regards to PCR test results, the effect of re-infection on the lungs, and implication for patients&rsquo; lung health. The papers summarized and concluded that it&rsquo;s a fact that re-infection occurs among patients accompanied by mild or severe symptoms having far-reaching implications for the patient&rsquo;s lung health. The paper recommends that the government at all levels should collaborate with WHO, CDC, and health policymakers to legally mandating, that every recovered patient should stay an additional 2weeks in the hospital for early detection of re-infection in order to avert any invasion and damage to the lungs thus ensuring lung health. Also, proper health education should be availed to the recovered patients to avoid any exposures or habits (different from the index disease) such as smoking that can pose dangers to the already fatigued lungs.

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INTRODUCTION: Mental health (MH) effect caused by climate change, particularly on adolescents and adults is a call for concern. This study aimed at exploring the effects of climate change on the mental health of Undergraduates of Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu-Alike, Ebonyi State. METHODS: An institutional based cross-sectional study was adopted. The population consisted of 10,000 students. The sample for the study consisted 216 undergraduates. The instrument for the study was a self-structured questionnaire titled: Effect of Climate Change on Mental Health (ECCMHQ). Data was analyzed using bivariate correlational analysis to determine the association of climate change with the effects of MH, while structural equation modelling was used to test the hypotheses. RESULTS: The findings showed that climate change was positively correlated with stress disorder (r = 0.25, p &lt;.01), anxiety (r = 0.32, p &lt;.01), depression (r = 0.26, p &lt;.01), trauma (r = 0.28, p &lt;.01), substance abuse (r = 0.30, p &lt;.01), suicidal ideation (r = 0.25, p &lt;.01), fatigue (r = 0.27, p &lt;.01) and suicidal guilt (r = 0.17, p &lt;.05). There was no evidence of a correlation between climate change and post trauma (r = 0.12, p =.45) and a negative correlation with trauma (r = -0.16, p &lt;.05). CONCLUSION: The study concluded that climate change can lead to tremendous mental health effects such as anxiety, PTSD, apocalypse, fear with their consequential chronic psychological dysfunctions. Nevertheless, challenges can be averted if an environmental health education intervention is urgently mounted by the university management.