Background: Active TB case finding (ACF) is a key strategy employed by the National Tuberculosis and Leprosy Control Programme (NTBLCP) to address the increasing gap in TB case finding in Nigeria. KNCV TB foundation Nigeria rolled out two high-impact ACF interventions; TB Surge and the Wellness on Wheels (WoW) campaigns from January 2020.Method: The TB Surge intervention supports the engagement of ad hoc staff for TB ACF. The WoW campaign employs a mobile diagnostic unit to deliver care to the doorstep of people at risk of TB. Data along the TB cascade are recorded for all clients using the CommCare app. Cochran-Armitage χ2 test for linear trend was used to assess the significance declining trends along the TB cascade.Results: There was a progressive decrease of respectively 63%, 64%, 73% and 72% in clinic attendance, presumptive TB identification, TB cases detected and treatment initiation for the TB Surge ACF intervention since the emergence of coronavirus; a similar decrease was noted for the WoW intervention. Trend analysis showed a significant decline in trends for both interventions for all variables (P < 0.001)Conclusion: The COVID-19 epidemic has impacted negatively on TB services in Nigeria. The TB programme could leverage some resources used to combat the epidemic such as digital health technology and funds, and work towards strengthening patient-centred approach to care to limit the challenges that COVID-19 presents to TB control.

BackgroundFemale sex workers (FSWs) have been identified as a core group in the transmission of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Young FSWs are particularly more vulnerable to HIV due to the combination of vulnerabilities associated with their youth and the sex work they engage in. This study aims to give more insight into HIV prevalence and sexual risk behaviour of young FSWs in Nigeria, by focusing on the differences between BB and NBB young FSWs.MethodsData was obtained from the Nigeria Integrated Biological and Behavioural Surveillance Survey (IBBSS) for high-risk groups conducted in 2010. IBBSS is a quantitative survey conducted amongst identified high-risk sub populations within Nigeria. HIV prevalence and risk behaviour data for young BB and NBB FSWs aged 15–24 years for nine states was extracted and analysed.ResultsA total of 1796 FSWs aged 15–24 years were interviewed during the survey, 746 (41.5%) were BB while 1050 (58.5%) were NBB. The HIV prevalence was higher among BB FSWs compared to the NBB FSWs (21.0% vs. 15.5%). BB FSWs reported less condom use with boyfriends and casual partners than NBB FSWs (26.3% vs. 45.5%) and (55.1% vs. 61.1%) respectively while risk of HIV infection due to injecting drug use was higher in NBB compared to BB FSWs (6.6% vs. 1.2%).ConclusionExisting and future interventions on HIV prevention should focus on empowering young FSWs with innovative and sustainable approaches aimed at improving their health and wellbeing.

The need to understand local HIV epidemics and linking the prevention and other interventions to evidences become very important for the success of HIV response. The objective of the study was to estimate the distribution of new HIV infections among adult population (15-49 yrs) and to identify the groups at highest risk of HIV infection in Nasarawa State Nigeria to inform HIV prevention programme planning and Implementation. The study was based on the Modes of HIV Transmission (MOT) incidence model recommended by the Joint United Nation's Programme on AIDS (UNAIDS). Persons aged 15-49 years were divided into independent groups based on their risky behaviours. Demographic, epidemiological and behavioral data were obtained for each risk group from available survey reports/documents and inputed into the UNAID's MOT Model spreadsheet.The model estimated that more than 45% of new infections would occur amongst persons who reported "low risk" sex. The Injecting Drug Users, Female Sex Workers (FSW) and Men having Sex with Men and their partners were estimated to contribute 20.7%. Persons reporting low risk sex practices, a sub-population that includes cohabiting or married sexual partners need to be targeted with appropriate HIV prevention interventions such as HIV Counselling and Testing, condom promotion, Interpersonal communications and other partner reduction strategies.

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BackgroundThe HIV prevalence among female populations involved in sex work in Nigeria has heightened interest in HIV prevention programming for this sub-population with brothel-based female sex workers (BB FSWs) having a prevalence of 27.4%, six times higher than the prevalence in the general population.Methods/designThe clusters in the randomized pilot trial will be brothels and female sex workers (FSWs) residing in the brothels will be the participants of the study. The participants will receive free condom distribution as well as HIV prevention messages on condom use and negotiation skills to increase self-efficacy in handling social and gender power plays within their environment. Twelve brothels will be randomized into experimental and control conditions with a minimum total sample size of 200 participants. Recruitment of participants will be carried out from within the brothels. The control condition will receive a standard intervention consisting of a minimum of six interactive sessions with peer educators (PE) engaging their peers through group discussions and one on one interaction using pre-designed HIV prevention messages. The experimental condition will receive the standard intervention as well as interactive sessions with the brothel leadership (chairladies and brothel managers) to facilitate consistent condom use and appropriate condom use policies, conditions, and messaging. Both interventions will be delivered over a maximum period of 16 weeks, and male and female condoms will be distributed during the intervention. Quantitative assessments will be carried out at baseline and at 16 weeks follow-up, and the pilot findings will inform feasibility of and sample size estimation for a phase III trial. The primary outcomes measured are recruitment rate attrition rate and adherence to the intervention. Consistent condom use outcomes by FSWs within the brothel with all partner types and enhanced self-efficacy for condom negotiation with all partner types will be the primary outcomes for the main study, and the feasibility of their measurement will be determined in this pilot trial.DiscussionThe manuscript describes the protocol for a pilot study to determine the feasibility of a behavioral intervention to improve consistent condom use among BB FSWs. The results of this pilot will inform a larger intervention for HIV prevention for this target group in Nigeria.Trial registrationThe Institutional Review Board (IRB) of the Institute of Human Virology, Nigeria; Protocol Number NHREC/10/15/2014a-026.