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Objective: Anaemia is a significant complication of human immunodeficiency infection, causing life-threatening symptoms and impairing quality of life. This study aimed to assess the prevalence, severity and associations of anaemia, with cluster of differentiation 4 (CD4+) cell count and use of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), in human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients. Material and Methods: Haemoglobin concentration, CD4+ count, HAART use and other factors were assessed in 372, adult HIV-infected out-patients; enrolled at a tertiary hospital in South-Eastern Nigeria. Anaemia was defined according to World Health Organisation criteria. Independent predictors were determined using bivariate analysis and enter method logistic regression analysis, at a p-value<0.05.Results: Prevalence of anaemia was 76.3% overall; 79.9% in females and 67.6% in males. Median CD4+ cell count was 609.50 (interquartile range 379) cells per microlitre (cells/μl). Females were more likely to be anaemic than males [odds ratio (OR)=1.88, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.07, 3.31; p-value=0.011]. Furthermore, the odds of being anaemic were higher in participants 50 years or older (OR 3.79, 95% CI 1.36, 10.55; p-value=0.023). A CD4+ count <200 cells/μl. Not being on cotrimoxazole preventive therapy and a low monthly household income were associated with higher odds of anaemia. Tenofovir- and abacavir-based regimens were associated with lower odds of anaemia compared to zidovudine. Conclusion: Gender and the age of patients were independent predictors of anaemia. Pre-treatment screening, and close follow-up monitoring for anaemia as well as increased access to less haematotoxic HAART regimens are needed.

Background Several studies have shown that the impact of maternal mental health disorders on newborns’ well-being in low and middle-income countries (LMIC) are underreported, multi-dimensional and varies over time and differs from what is reported in high-income countries. We present the prevalence and risk factors associated with common mental disorders (CMDs) among breastfeeding mothers whose infants were admitted to Nigerian tertiary care facilities. Methods This was a national cross-sectional study involving mothers of hospitalised babies from eleven Nigerian tertiary hospitals. We used the WHO self-reporting Questionnaire 20 and an adapted WHO/UNICEF ten-step breastfeeding support package to assess mothers’ mental health and breastfeeding support. Results Only 895 of the 1,120 mothers recruited from eleven tertiary healthcare nurseries in six geopolitical zones of Nigeria had complete datasets for analysis. The participants’ mean age was 29.9 ± 6.2 years. One in four had CMDs; 24.0% (95% CI: 21.235, 26.937%). The ages of mothers, parity, gestational age at delivery, and length of hospital stay were comparable between mothers with and those without CMDs. Antenatal care at primary healthcare facilities (adjusted odds ratio [aOR:13], primary education [aOR:3.255] living in the south-southern region of the country [aOR 2.207], poor breastfeeding support [aOR:1.467], polygamous family settings [aOR:2.182], and a previous history of mental health disorders [aOR:4.684] were significantly associated with CMDs. In contrast, those from the middle and lower socioeconomic classes were less likely to develop CMDs, with [aOR:0.532] and [aOR:0.493], respectively. Conclusion In Nigeria, the prevalence of CMDs is relatively high among breastfeeding mothers with infants admitted to a tertiary care facility. Prior history of mental illness, polygamous households, mothers living in the southern region and low or no educational attainment have a greater risk of developing CMDs. This study provides evidence for assessing and tailoring interventions to CMDs among breastfeeding mothers in neonatal nurseries in LMIC.

Background The postpartum period is associated with an increased risk of maternal mental disorders. The combined effect of having the mother's infant admitted to a tertiary hospital in a low-resource setting and the need to exclusively breastfeed the infant may exaggerate this risk. This study aimed to determine the breastfeeding support provided to mothers whose infants were hospitalised in Nigerian tertiary hospital nurseries and the prevalence of common mental health disorders among this population. Methods This was a national cross-sectional study involving mothers of hospitalised infants from eleven Nigerian tertiary hospitals between May and August 2022. To assess mothers' mental health and breastfeeding support, we utilised the WHO self-reporting Questionnaire 20 and an adapted WHO/UNICEF ten-step breastfeeding support package. Results Of the 1,120 mothers recruited from neonatal nurseries in the six geopolitical zones in Nigeria, only 895 had a complete dataset for analysis. The mean age of the mothers was 29.9 ±6.2; with 54.7% belonging to the low-socioeconomic class. Most of the mothers (835, 93.3%) received antenatal care, and 591: 66.0% were delivered at term. Overall, less than half (427; 47.7%) of the mother received optimal breastfeeding support. One in every four, 216; 24.0% of nursing mothers (95% CI: 21.235 to 26.937%) had common mental disorders (CMD). History of mental health disorders was reported in 41; 4.6% of the nursing mothers. Overall, the lowest performing areas of breastfeeding support were family-centred care (198, 22.1%), practical skill demonstration in the ward (n=279, 31.2%), and antenatal clinics (n=294, 32.8%). CMDs were statistically significantly associated with the healthcare provider's practical breastfeeding skill demonstration and the provision of storage facilities for breastmilkand family-centered-care. Across Nigeria's six geopolitical zones, there was an inverse relationship between optimal breastfeeding support and the proportion of mothers with CMDs. The northern zone provided better breastfeeding support and had fewer CMDs than the southern region of the country. Conclusion Common mental disorders are prevalent among nursing mothers in Nigerian tertiary hospital nurseries, and they are inversely related to breastfeeding support. Urgently required in tertiary hospitals for improved and sustainable breastfeeding practices are a focus on family-centred care and enhanced health workers’ practical breastfeeding support skills.

Background Exercise Induced Bronchospasm(EIB) is not equivalent to asthma. As many as 20%of school aged children are estimated to have EIB. In Nigeria, there is still a dearth of information on EIB as a clinical entity. This study determined the presence of EIB(using pre and post-exercise percentage difference in peak expiratory flow rate(PEFR) and associated factors such as age, gender, social class and nutritional status in primary school children in Nnewi, Anambra state, South-East Nigeria. The study also grouped those with EIB into those with asthma(EIBA) and those without asthma(EIBWA). Methods This was a community based cross-sectional study involving 6–12 year olds. The PEFR was taken at rest and after a 6 min free running test on the school play-ground using a Peak Flow Meter. A diagnosis of EIB was made if there was a decline of ≥ 10%. Those who had EIB were grouped further based on the degree of decline in post-exercise PEFR (a decline ≥ 10% < 25% → Mild EIB, ≥ 25% < 50% → Moderate EIB and ≥ 50% → Severe EIB) and then categorized as those with EIBWA/EIBA. Results EIB in the various minutes post-exercise was as follows: 19.2%(1stmin), 20.9%(5thmin), 18.7%(10thmin), 10%(20thmin), 0.7%(30thmin). Mild EIB accounted for the greater proportion in all minutes post-exercise and none of the pupils had severe EIB. Using values obtained in the 5thmin post-exercise for further analysis, EIBWA/EIBA = 84.1%/15.9% respectively. Mean difference in the post-exercise PEFR of EIB/no EIB and EIBWA/EIBA was -48.45(t = -7.69, p =  < 0.001) and 44.46(t = 3.77, p = 0.01) respectively. Age and gender had a significant association to the presence of EIB and 58% of the pupils with EIB were of high social class. The BMI for age and gender z-scores of all study subjects as well as those with EIB was -0.34 ± 1.21, -0.09 ± 1.09 respectively. Other features of allergy(history of allergic rhinitis: OR–5.832, p = 0.001; physical findings suggestive of allergic dermatitis: OR–2.740, p = 0.003)were present in pupils diagnosed with EIB. Conclusion EIB has a high prevalence in primary school children in Nnewi and the greater proportion of those with EIB had EIBWA. EIB therefore needs to be recognized as a clinical entity and stratified properly based on the presence or absence of asthma. This will help the proper management and prognostication.