ObjectivesAfrica and other Asian low middle-income countries account for the greatest burden of the global road-traffic injury (RTI)-related head injury (HI). This study set out to describe the incidence, causation, and severity of RTI-related HI and associated injuries in a Nigerian academic neurosurgical practice.MethodsThis is a retrospective cross-sectional analysis of RTI-related HI from a prospective HI registry in an academic neurosurgery practice in Nigeria.ResultsAll-terrain RTI accounted for 80.6% (833/1,034) of HI over a 7-year study period. All age groups were involved, mean 33.06 years (SD 18.30), mode 21–30, 231/833 (27.7%). The male:female ratio was 631:202, ≈3:1. The road trauma occurred exclusively from motorcycle-and motor-vehicle crash (MCC/MVC), MCC caused 56.8% (473/833) of these; the victims were vulnerable road users (VRU) in 74%, and >90% belong in the low socioeconomic class. Using the Glasgow Coma Scale grading, the HI was moderate/severe in 52%; loss of consciousness occurred in 93%, the Abbreviated Injury Severity-head > 3 in 74%, and computed tomography (CT) Rotterdam score > 3 in 52%. Significant extracranial injuries occurred in many organ systems, 421/833 (50.5%) having Injury Severity Score (ISS) > 25. Surgical lesions included extensive brain contusions in 157 (18.8%); acute extradural hematoma in 34 (4.1%); acute subdural hematoma in 32 (3.8%); and traumatic intracerebral hemorrhage in 27 (3.2%), but only 97 (11.6%) received operative care for various logistic reasons. The in-hospital outcome was good in 71.3% and poor in 28.7%; the statistically significant (p < 0.001) determinants of this outcome profile were the severity of the HI, the CT Rotterdam score, and the ISS.ConclusionIn this study from Nigeria, RTI-related HI emanates from significant trauma to vulnerable road users and are caused exclusively by motorcycles and motor vehicles.

Objective The aim of the descriptive, cross sectional, questionnaire-based study reported here was to explore the causes of low productivity in non-communicable diseases research among postgraduate scholars and early career researchers in Nigeria and identify measures that could facilitate increased research output. Results The 89 respondents were masters-level, doctoral scholars and resident doctors who attended a workshop. Majorities of the respondents (over 70%) either agreed or strongly agreed that factors contributing to poor non-communicable diseases research productivity include a dearth of in-country researchers with specialized skills, inability of Nigerian researchers to work in multidisciplinary teams, poor funding for health research, sub-optimal infrastructural facilities, and limited use of research findings by policy makers. Almost all the respondents (over 90%) agreed that potential strategies to facilitate non-communicable diseases research output would include increased funding for research, institutionalization of a sustainable, structured capacity building program for early career researchers, establishment of Regional Centers for Research Excellence, and increased use of research evidence to guide government policy actions and programs. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s13104-019-4458-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Background The northeastern region of Nigeria has had a persistent increase in the number of internally displaced people due to insurgency. The disruption to the socioeconomic lives of the women in this region places them at a high risk of all forms of abuse from insurgents, security agents deployed to protect the people in the camps and host communities, and other members of the community. This study aims to assess the prevalence and pattern related to sexual and gender-based violence in selected states in northeast Nigeria. The study also assessed the availability and patronage of health-care services by survivors of sexual and gender-based violence and facilities for the prosecution of perpetrators of such violence. Methods A mixed methods study design was used. We obtained quantitative data using a semi-structured questionnaire and a facility checklist administered by interviewers to internally displaced people and workers at health facilities. Qualitative data were recorded in focus group discussions and in-depth interviews were used to collect data from internally displaced women, community leaders, security personnel, health workers in the camps and host communities, and staff of non-governmental and humanitarian organisations. Findings We included data from 4868 internally displaced people. About a third had experienced a form of sexual violence (1616 [33•2%]) while a fifth reported physical violence (997 [20•5%]). We noted that 1382 women (28•4%) had experienced socioeconomic violence and 1484 (30•5%) reported emotional violence, while about half reported harmful traditional practices (2297 [47•2%]). Experience of sexual and physical violence since displacement was reported by 123 (7•6%) and 36 women (3•7%), respectively. Perpetrators of sexual violence since displacement include Boko Haram insurgents (63 [51•5%]); 34 (27•3%) were unknown, 22 (17•8%) were members of the police and armed forces, 19 (15•4%) were intimate partners, and seven (5•8%) were relatives. Most women (30 [80%]) reported Boko Haram insurgents as perpetrators of physical violence followed by strangers (four women [12%]), men in the camp or host community (two women [5%]), and police and army (one woman [3%]). Overall, a third of women who experienced sexual violence (533 [33•0%]), and almost half those who reported physical violence (478 [48•0%]) sought care. We noted that 525 women (35•4%) and 511 women (37%) sought care for emotional and socioeconomic violence, respectively. Facility assessment showed that the basic facilities needed to manage sexual and gender-based violence and prosecute perpetrators were lacking in many health facilities and police stations in camps and host communities. Interpretation Interventions are urgently needed to improve the capacity of the health team and security personnel to better combat sexual and gender-based violence. Community-based committees for the prevention of such violence will also be of immense benefit in reducing the occurrence of the various forms of sexual and gender based violence. Fu...