The use of hair samples in biomedical research is a rapidly growing field. High acceptability rates for hair collection have been demonstrated in multiple settings. Each setting may have unique issues and, to our knowledge, no previous study has assessed the acceptability of hair sampling for HIV-related research in Nigeria. This study aimed to assess the willingness to donate hair for research among people living with HIV (PLWH). A cross-sectional study was conducted among 381 PLWH in a tertiary institution in Southwest Nigeria, using convenience sampling. An interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to collect data from consenting participants, including a question on willingness to donate hair for research. The mean age of respondents was 42.1 -10.5 years and more than three-quarters of the respondents were females. Two hundred and eighty-eight (75.8%) respondents had at least a tertiary education. Only 51.4% of the respondents were willing to donate their hair for research. Possible sample diversion for rituals was the major (60.5%) reason cited for unwillingness to donate hair. In multivariate analysis, respondents with primary education or less exhibited a trend toward being more willing to donate hair than those with secondary education or more ( p = .091). Muslims were 1.7 times more willing to donate hair than Christians even after adjusting for other demographic covariates (95% confidence interval: 1.11-2.72); p = .016. There is a moderate willingness to donate hair for research among our population of PLWH in Nigeria. These results underscore the importance of cultural sensitivity and community education when introducing innovative HIV research techniques to new settings.

Genetic testing services for breast cancer are well established in developed countries compared to African populations that bear a disproportionate burden of breast cancer (BC). The objective of this study is to examine the knowledge of professional Nigerian women about BC genetics and their intentions to utilize genetic testing services when it is made available in Nigeria. In this study, 165 lecturers and 189 bankers were recruited and studied using a validated self-administered questionnaire. The respondents' mean age was 34.9 years (SD = 10.9), 6.5% had family history of BC, and 84.7% had limited knowledge of breast cancer genetics. The proportion of women with genetic testing intentions for breast cancer was 87.3%. Health care access (OR = 2.35, 95% CI, 1.07-5.13), religion (OR = 3.51, 95% CI, 1.03-11.92), and perceived personal risk if a close relative had breast cancer (OR = 2.31, 95% CI, 1.05-5.08) independently predicted testing intentions. The genetic testing intentions for BC were high despite limited knowledge about breast cancer genetics. Promotion of BC genetics education as well as efforts to make BC genetic testing services available in Nigeria at reduced cost remains essential.

Background Strategies to support adherence are constrained by the lack of tools to objectively monitor medication intake in low-resource settings. Pharmacologic measures are objective, but pharmacy refill data is more accessible and cost-efficient. This study compared short-term and long-term efavirenz (EFV) drug levels with pharmacy refill adherence data (PRA) and evaluated their ability to predict viral suppression among people living with HIV in Nigeria. Methods Paired hair and dried blood spot (DBS) samples were obtained from 91 adults living with HIV receiving 600 mg EFV-based antiretroviral therapy (ART) and EFV concentrations were measured via validated methods using liquid-chromatography-mass-spectrometry. PRA was estimated from pharmacy records, based on the number of days a patient collected medication before or after the scheduled pick-up date. PRA was categorized into ≤ 74%, 75–94% and ≥ 95%, defined as poor, medium and high adherence, respectively. HIV viral loads closest to the hair sampling time (within 6 months) were also abstracted. Receiver Operating Characteristics (ROC) curve analyses compared the ability of adherence metrics to predict viral suppression. Results Based on PRA, 81% of participants had high adherence while 11% and 8% had medium and poor adherence, respectively. The median (IQR) EFV concentrations were 6.85 ng/mg (4.56–10.93) for hair and 1495.6 ng/ml (1050.7–2365.8) for DBS. Of the three measures of adherence, hair EFV concentration had the highest Area Under Curve (AUC) to predict viral suppression. Correlations between EFV concentrations in DBS and hair with PRA were positive (r = 0.12, P = 0.27 and r = 0.21, P = 0.05, respectively) but not strong. Conclusions EFV concentrations in hair were the strongest predictor of viral suppression and only weakly correlated with pharmacy refill adherence data in Nigeria. This study suggests that resource-limited settings may benefit from objective adherence metrics to monitor and support adherence.

Background: Sickle cell disease affects about 112 per 100,000 live births globally. Leg ulcer is a major and clinically challenging complication of sickle cell disease. It affects about 1.0 -75 % of SCDs with exact prevalence unknown. This study aims to determine pooled prevalence of leg ulcer in sickle cell disease as well as evaluate moderating effects of single nucleotide polymorphisms, patient’s age and sex, geographical locations, treatment modalities and expression of plasma cytokines.Methods: A search strategy is developed using MeSH, text words and entry terms. Nine databases will be searched: PuMed, African Journal Online, Embase, Google Scholar, Scopus, Cochrane Library, CINAHL, Web of Science and ResearchGate. Only observational studies, retrievable in the English language will be included. The primary outcome is the proportion of leg ulcers in sickle cell disease. The effect size is prevalence. Identified studies will be screened and selected based on inclusion criteria using EndNote version 9. Quality scores and risk of bias for individual studies will be reported. Studies will be assessed for methodological, clinical, and statistical heterogeneity. Funnel Plots will be used to assess publication bias. Extracted data items will be arranged in Microsoft Excel before exporting them to CMA software for quantitative analysis. The random model computation for pooled effect size will be used. Results including pooled prevalence, standard error, 95 % CI and subgroup analysis will be presented in forest plots. Discussion: Ethical approval will not be required since this study is based on published data. This protocol will enable reproducible and accurate estimation of pooled prevalence of leg ulcers and effects of moderators in sickle cell disease. The data from such review will stimulate further research into leg ulcers in SCD. The final report of this study will be published in a peer-reviewed journal and the findings will be made available to various health experts that manage SCD patients especially haematologists.Trial Registration Number: This protocol is registered in PROSPERO; with registration number CRD42020213310.

Background: About 1.35 million people die annually worldwide due to road traffic accidents. Road traffic injuries cause considerable economic losses to individuals, their families, and to nations as a whole. About 93% of the world's fatalities on the roads occur in low-and middle-income countries, even though these countries have approximately 60% of the world's vehicles. Road Traffic Accidents constitute the third leading cause of trauma related deaths in Nigeria. It is a substantial public health problem that deserves a systematic review.Methods and Analysis: We developed a search strategy using MeSH, text words and entry terms. Nine databases will be searched, including PubMed, African Journal Online, Embase, Google Scholar, Scopus, Cochrane Library, CINAHL, Web of Science and ResearchGate. Only observational studies, retrievable in the English language will be included. The primary outcome is prevalence of road traffic injuries in Nigeria. The secondary outcomes include proportion of road traffic accidents in Nigeria, patterns, predictors and consequences of road traffic accidents in Nigeria. Identified studies will be screened and selected based on inclusion criteria using Rayyan QCRI screening tool, by independent reviewers with dual blinding. Data items will be extracted into predefined forms in Microsoft Excel before exporting to CMA version 3 for analysis. Every selected study will have their NIH quality scores and Cochrane risk of bias reported. Studies will be assessed for methodological and statistical heterogeneity. Publication bias will be assessed using Funnel Plots and test of asymmetry. Results will include forest plots, pooled prevalence with standard error, variance, relative weights assigned to studies and heterogeneity test. Further analysis will include subgroup analysis and meta-regression using both categorical and quantitative variables.Discussion: This protocol will enable a transparent, accurate and reliable method for determining pooled prevalence, standard error and 95% CI of road traffic injuries in Nigeria. Patterns and outcomes of RTA in Nigeria will also be assessed. Evidence generated by this protocol will likely inform policy on prevention of RTA in NigeriaTrial Registration Number: This protocol is registered with PROSPERO, with registration number CRD42021226956.