Background Following the COVID-19 pandemic, school closures were part of the global public health response to limit community spread of the virus. In recent times, there has been an emphasis on safe school re-opening. This concept is likely to differ between developed and developing country settings. There are however no published studies on barriers hindering safe school re-opening within developing country contexts. This study evaluates aspects of the school health program (SHP) in some selected Nigerian schools that might relate to the pandemic control during school re-opening. Methods In 2017, we conducted a cross-sectional survey of the SHP of 146 registered primary schools in Gwagwalada Area Council in Abuja, Nigeria. These schools provided services to about 54,562 students. We used direct observational methods and interviewer-administered questionnaires to assess the SHP of each school. We compare SHP characteristics that might relate to COVID-19 control in schools across government-owned (public) and privately-owned (private) schools using a pre-defined framework. Results Public school to pupil ratios was more than six times that of private schools. Only 6.9% of all surveyed schools employed qualified health personnel. Although 8 in every 10 schools conducted health talks for communicable disease control, the use of temporary isolation and school-based immunization were low at 1.4 and 2.7% respectively. Pipe-borne water access was present in 4 of 10 schools, with public schools having more limited access than private schools (p = 0.009). Similarly, less proportion of public schools had access to soap for handwashing (p < 0.001). Adequate classroom ventilation was present in 63% of surveyed schools, with private schools having more limited ventilation (p < 0.001). Conclusions Overcrowding and infrastructural deficits within developing country contexts represent barriers to safe school re-opening during the COVID-19 pandemic. In these settings, there needs to be tailored and innovative strategies which consider local practical realities when designing the COVID-19 control programs during school re-opening.

Introduction Snakebites are common and constitute an important health problem in many countries of the world, with the greatest burden occurring in rural areas of Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa. They were classified by the World Health Organization as category A of neglected tropical diseases. Most studies on snake envenoming in Nigeria were among adult populations with few among children. This study assessed the prevalence and outcome of snakebite among children in Federal Medical Centre, Birnin Kebbi. Methods This was a four-year retrospective study in which the medical records of patients with managed snakebite were reviewed. A study proforma was used to obtain information on socio-demographic characteristics, site of the bite, features of envenoming, pre-hospitalization intervention, hospital treatment, length of hospitalization, and outcome of treatment of the patients. Results There were 19 snakebite cases out of 5,195 admissions during the period under review, giving a prevalence of 0.0037 (3.7/1000) with a male:female ratio of 2:1. The majority (66.7%) of the children were aged between 11 and 15 years and the mean (± SD) age of the study population was 10.5 (± 3.3) years. The lower limb was the site of bite in 10 (55.6%) of the patients and clinical features included local pain (100%), local swelling of varying magnitude (16 (88.9%)), spontaneous bleeding eight (44.4%) among others. Ten (55.65%) patients presented after four hours of bite and the mean (±SD) duration of hospitalization was 2.11 (±0.58) days. Most (77.8%) received at least one form of pre-hospital care while only 66.7% received polyvalent anti-snake venin. The case fatality rate was 5.6% while 55.6% of patients signed against medical advice. Conclusion There was a low hospital prevalence of snakebite in children in the present study location with associated low mortality but a high rate of discharge against medical advice. Most of the patients had a pre-hospital intervention and anti-snake venin is not readily accessible.

Context: After thirty years of ratifying the child rights convention and nineteen years of the Child Rights Act, implementing child rights instruments remains challenging in Nigeria. Healthcare providers are well positioned to change the current paradigm. Aim: To examine the knowledge, perception, and practice of child rights and the influence of demographics among Nigerian doctors and nurses. Materials and Methods: A descriptive, cross-sectional online survey was done using nonprobability sampling. Pretested multiple-choice questionnaire was disseminated across Nigeria's six geopolitical zones. Performance was measured on the frequency and ratio scales. Mean scores were compared with 50% and 75% thresholds. Results: A total of 821 practitioners were analyzed (doctors, 49.8%; nurses, 50.2%). Female-to-male ratio was 2:1 (doctors, 1.2:1; nurses, 3.6:1). Overall, knowledge score was 45.1%; both groups of health workers had similar scores. Most knowledgeable were holders of fellowship qualification (53.2%, P = 0.000) and pediatric practitioners (50.6%, P = 0.000). Perception score was 58.4% overall, and performances were also similar in both groups; females and southerners performed better (59.2%, P = 0.014 and 59.6%, P = 0.000, respectively). Practice score was 67.0% overall; nurses performed better (68.3% vs. 65.6%, P = 0.005) and postbasic nurses had the best score (70.9%, P = 0.000). Conclusions: Overall, our respondents’ knowledge of child rights was poor. Their performances in perception and practice were good but not sufficient. Even though our findings may not apply to all health workers in Nigeria, we believe teaching child rights at various levels of medical and nursing education will be beneficial. Stakeholder engagements involving medical practitioners are crucial.

Background: Children are susceptible to Intestinal helminthiasis and can develop severe complications such as malnutrition, anaemia, chronic diarrhoea, and impaired cognitive performance, which can limit their potential. Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the clinical manifestations and intensities of intestinal helminthic infections among primary school children in Gombe, Nigeria. Methodology: This was a cross-sectional study that used a multistage sampling technique to study 350 pupils from 24 primary schools in Gombe, Nigeria, from 4thJuly 2018 to - 31stJanuary 2019. The means and standard deviations of quantitative variables such as age, height, and weight were computed. Stools were examined by the Direct method and Formol ether concentration methods. The prevalence of intestinal helminths, clinical manifestations, types and intensities of helminthic infections were determined, and Chi-square was used to test for the association at 95% confidence intervals. A p-value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Data was analysed using SPSS version 24. Results: The prevalence of intestinal helminthic infection was 23.7% (83/350). There was a significant association between intestinal helminths and blood in stools (OR= 15.400, p<0.001), abdominal pain (OR=1.889, p=0.023), pallor (OR=2.146, P = 0.027). More than half of the recorded infections (51.8%) were classified as light. Only, 2.4%, exhibited moderate infections, and there were no recorded cases of severe infection. Conclusions: Intestinal helminthic infection is a public health burden, especially in children. Abdominal pains, blood in stools, poor hand hygiene and pallor were significantly associated with intestinal helminthic infections. However, most of the infestations are of light to moderate intensity. Regular health education and provision of clean water with deworming of school children at intervals are highly recommended.