scholarly journals Risk factors for Lassa fever infection among survivors at the Federal Medical Center, Owo, Ondo State, Nigeria

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 128-134
Author(s):  
Olayinka Stephen Ilesanmi ◽  
Oluwatosin Temitope Owoeye-Lawal ◽  
Adewale Johnson Aro ◽  
Aanuoluwapo Adeyimika Afolabi ◽  
Adesola Olawumi Kareem ◽  
...  

Background and Aim: There is insufficient information about the successfully managed Lassa fever (LF) patients in Nigeria. This study aimed to utilize the One Health approach to identify the risk factors for LF infection among LF patients who were managed and on follow-up at the Federal Medical Center, Owo, Ondo State, Nigeria. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was done on 101 LF survivors who were managed and on follow-up at the Federal Medical Center. The data were collected using a semi-structured interviewer-administered questionnaire. The respondents were assessed for symptoms and factors that might have predisposed them to LF, and the data were analyzed with SPSS version 23 (IBM Corp., NY, USA). Those who had more than 3 identifiable risks were categorized as high risk. Descriptive statistics were done, and the association between sociodemographic characteristics and high risk was explored using Chi-square test. Results: The median age of the respondents was 33 years (8-85 years); 62 (61.4%) were male, and 93 (92.1%) have heard of LF before diagnosis. The perceived cause of LF infection among the respondents included the consumption of food contaminated by rats' feces among 57 (56.4%) persons, while 16 (15.8) attributed their infection to contact with LF-infected persons. Among the respondents with primary education and below, 5 (29.4%) were at higher risk for LF infection compared to 7 (8.3%) with secondary education and above (p=0.014). Conclusion: The mass media and other sources of information should be well-harnessed in the communication of risks and preventive practices for LF. Public information campaigns should be organized to discourage bush burning in affected communities.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Olayinka Stephen Ilesanmi ◽  
Oluwatosin Temitope Owoeye-Lawal ◽  
Adewale Johnson Aro ◽  
Aanuoluwapo Adeyimika Afolabi ◽  
Adesola Olawumi Kareem ◽  
...  

Abstract BackgroundThere exists paucity of information regarding successfully managed Lassa Fever (LF) patients. This study is aimed at determining the perceived risk factors for LF infection among patients who had been managed and on follow up at Federal Medical Centre, Owo, Ondo State. MethodsA cross sectional study of 101 LF survivors who had been managed and attending follow up clinic at Federal Medical Centre, Owo was done. Data were collected using semi-structured interviewer-administered questionnaire. Respondents were assessed for symptoms and factors that may have predisposed them to LF, and data analyzed with SPSS version 23. Those who had more than three identifiable risks were categorised as high risk. Descriptive statistics was done, and association between socio-demographic characteristics and high risk were explored using chi square test. ResultsThe median age of respondents was 33 years (range 8-85 years), 61.4% were males, 92.1% have heard of LF prior to being diagnosed, 55.9% heard through the mass media. The perceived cause of Lassa fever infection among respondents included consumption of food contaminated by rats’ feces among 57(56.4%) persons, while 16 (15.8) attributed their infection to contact with LF-infected persons. Among respondents with primary education and below, 5 (29.4%) had high risk of Lassa fever infection compared to 7 (8.3%) with secondary education and above (p=0.014). ConclusionMass media and other sources of information should be well harnessed in the communication of risks and preventive practices for LF. Health education should be intensified both in hospitals and schools to capture both young and old in LF prevention activities.


Blood ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 122 (21) ◽  
pp. 2374-2374
Author(s):  
Adam A. Rojan ◽  
Nadia Q. Rehman ◽  
Renee E. Funches ◽  
Federico Campigotto ◽  
Jonathan Webster ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a frequent complication in hospitalized cancer patients and is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Guidelines from major organizations recommend that all hospitalized patients with active malignancy receive pharmacologic thromboprophylaxis in the absence of bleeding or another contraindication. Nevertheless, reported rates of thromboprophylaxis use in hospitalized cancer patients have been low in several retrospective studies. We conducted a prospective cross-sectional study of hospitalized cancer patients at five academic hospitals to determine rates of thromboprophylaxis use and factors influencing the decision to administer thromboprophylaxis during hospitalization. Methods Administration of thromboprophylaxis to hospitalized cancer patients was assessed prospectively over consecutive days at five medical centers: University of Rochester, Johns Hopkins University, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, University of California at Davis, and the DC Veterans Administration Medical Center/George Washington University. Data collected included reason for admission, cancer type and stage, and treatment as well as established risk factors for VTE including elements of the Padua Scoring System (PSS). The American College of Chest Physicians recommends the utilization of the PSS to guide thromboprophylaxis of hospitalized patients and a score of ≥4 is considered high risk for VTE. Univariate analysis for association of risk factors with the use of pharmacologic thromboprophylaxis was performed with two-sided Fisher exact tests and univariate logistic regression. Multivariable stepwise logistic regression model was performed to assess the influence of risk factors on the probability of receiving pharmacologic thromboprophylaxis. Results Seven-hundred and seventy-five patients were included in the study with a mean age of 56.3 years. Four hundred and thirty-five patients were male (56%) and 423 had hematologic malignancies (55%). The primary reason for admission was for cancer therapy in 254 cases (33%). Five hundred and eighty patients were considered high risk for VTE (≥4) using the PSS. Pharmacologic thromboprophylaxis was prescribed in 392 patients (51%, range 29%-71%). Accounting for contraindications to anticoagulation, 74% (N=528) of all cancer patients received appropriate hospital thromboprophylaxis. Among the cancer patients without contraindications for anticoagulation, individuals hospitalized with solid tumors were significantly more likely to receive thromboprophylaxis than those with hematologic malignancies (OR 2.34, 95% CI 1.43-3.82, P=0.0007). Cancer patients admitted for cancer-directed therapy (i.e. chemotherapy or radiation) were significantly less likely to receive thromboprophylaxis than those admitted for other medical conditions (OR 0.37 95% CI 0.22-0.61, P<0.0001). Sixty-three percent of low risk cancer patients as determined by PSS received anticoagulant thromboprophylaxis. Contraindications for anticoagulation were evident for the majority of the 383 patients (N=247, 64%) who did not receive pharmacologic thromboprophylaxis such as 161 with severe thrombocytopenia (42%), 43 with active hemorrhage (11%), 15 with a history of hemorrhage (4%), 2 with heparin induced thrombocytopenia (0.5%), and 11 on comfort-measure-only care (3%). Among the 136 patients who did not receive anticoagulation, 58.8% were considered high risk by the PSS. Conclusions This prospective, cross-sectional, multi-center study demonstrated that appropriate pharmacologic thromboprophylaxis is administered to the majority of hospitalized cancer patients. Despite absence of established benefit, the majority of lower risk cancer patients receive thromboprophylaxis during hospitalization. Disclosures: Wun: Daiichi-Sankyo: Research Funding. Rickles:Leo: Research Funding. Streiff:Bristol Myers Squibb: Research Funding; Sanofi: Consultancy, Honoraria; Eisai, Daiichi-Sankyo, Boehringer-Ingelheim, Janssen HealthCare: Consultancy. Khorana:Leo, Sanofi: Research Funding. Zwicker:Sanofi: Research Funding.


BMJ Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (10) ◽  
pp. e037829
Author(s):  
Pian Hu ◽  
Azhu Han ◽  
Yan Hu ◽  
Yuqi Wen ◽  
Jingjing Liang ◽  
...  

IntroductionDespite the increase in the survival rate of high-risk infants (HRIs) worldwide, the prevalence of motor and neurodevelopmental sequelae in such newborns has not shown concomitant improvement. Meanwhile, there are few cohorts that explore factors related to the development of HRIs in China. Therefore, the Guangzhou High-Risk Infant Cohort (GHRIC) has been designed to examine the complex relationships among a myriad of factors influencing growth and development in such children.Methods and analysisThe GHRIC study is a prospective cohort study that by the year 2023 will enrol an estimated total of 3000 HRIs from Guangzhou Women and Children’s Medical Center (GWCMC) in Guangzhou, China. This study is designed to assess the growth and cognitive characteristics of HRIs and the risk factors affecting their development and prognoses. Data on risk factors, neurodevelopmental and cognitive-function evaluations, laboratory results, and specimens will be collected and analysed. Information on perinatal and clinical interventions for these infants will also be recorded during regular follow-up visits until age 6.Ethics and disseminationThe protocol for this study has been approved by the Research Ethics Committee of GWCMC, which accepted responsibility for supervising all of the aspects of the study (No. 2017102712). Study outcomes will be disseminated through conference presentations, peer-reviewed publications, the Internet and social media.Trial registration numberChiCTR-EOC-17013236


2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (4) ◽  
pp. 137-144
Author(s):  
Olufemi Samuel Amoo ◽  
Joseph Shaibu ◽  
Olumuyiwa Salu ◽  
Ifeoma Idigbe ◽  
Zaidat Musa ◽  
...  

Background: The current resurgence and transmission dynamics of Lassa fever (LF) within an endemic community in Nigeria calls for concern. Lassa fever virus is known to be transmitted from rodents to humans as well as from human to human. This study aims to compare the knowledge, attitude/practices and prevention of Community dwellers (CD) and Contacts of confirmed Lassa fever patients (CCP) with respect to LF in an endemic area in Nigeria.  Methodology: This is a comparative cross-sectional study conducted between 2018 and 2019 during an outbreak of LF disease in Ondo State, Nigeria. A total of 250 consenting CD and 104 CCP were randomly selected to participate in this study. They were administered semi-structured questionnaires which were analysed using SPSSv23. Lassa fever disease causative agents, mode of transmission and prevention as well as actions on response to Lassa virus infections were assessed among respondents. Data were analysed and presented using descriptive statistics at 95% confidence interval and (p<0.05) level of significance. Results: The gender distribution for CD was 116 males and 134 females while for CCP, it was 43 males and 61 females. Furthermore, radio (CD= 55.8%, CCP= 20.8%) and public health campaign (CD= 40.4%, CCP= 26.5%) were the major sources of information on Lassa fever among respondents. A larger fraction of CCP (12.5%) erroneously believe mosquitoes are the mode of transmission of Lassa fever compared to CD (4.2%).  Comparison also showed that higher proportion (60.6%) of CCP exhibits poor attitude/practices to Lassa fever infection compared to 4% of CD. Level of education for both CD and CCP respondents were statistically significantly associated with knowledge and prevention of Lassa fever. Conclusion: Comparatively, our study showed poor awareness on Lassa fever diseases, erroneous believes and need for positive attitudinal changes and practices towards LF prevention and control in affected communities. Keywords: Lassa fever, Lassa virus, Endemic area, Contact of Confirmed Patient, Community dweller.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yohannes Kebede ◽  
Yimenu Yitayih ◽  
Zewdie Birhanu ◽  
Seblework Mekonen ◽  
Argaw Ambelu

Abstract Background: The novel-coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) is currently a pandemic and public health emergency of international concern, as avowed by the World Health Organization (WHO). Ethiopia has become one of the affected countries as of March 15, 2020.Objective: This study aimed to assess the knowledge, perceptions, and practices among Jimma University medical center (JUMC) visitors in Jimma town.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 247 sampled visitors, from 20-24 March, 2020. Consecutive sampling was used to recruit participants. The study tools were adapted from WHO resources. The data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20.0. Descriptive statistics was used to describe the status of knowledge, perception and practices. Logistic regression was executed to assess predictors of dominant preventive practices.Results: of the 247 respondents, 205 (83.0%) knew the main clinical symptoms of COVID-19. 72.0% knew that older people who have chronic illnesses are at high risk of developing a severe form of COVID-19. About 95.1% knew that COVID-19 virus spreads via respiratory droplets of infected people while 77 (31.2%) of the respondents knew about the possibility of asymptomatic transmission. Only 15 (6.1%) knew that children and young adults have to involve preventive measures. Overall, 41.3% of the visitors had high knowledge.The majority, 170(68.8%), felt self-efficacious to control COVID-19. 207(83.3%) believed that COVID-19 is a stigmatized disease. Frequent hand washing (77.3%) and avoidance of shaking hands (53.8%) the were dominant practices. Knowledge status and self-efficacy (positively), older ages and unemployment (negatively) predicted hand washing and avoidance of handshaking.Conclusions: The status of knowledge and desirable practices were not sufficient enough to combat this rapidly spreading virus. COVID-19 risk communication and public education efforts should focus on building appropriate level of knowledge while enhancing adoption of recommended self-care practices with special emphasize on high-risk audience segments.


2020 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
pp. 73-80 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edmund Ndudi Ossai ◽  
Ogah Emeka Onwe ◽  
Nnaemeka Philips Okeagu ◽  
Amarachi Laura Ugwuoru ◽  
Thankgod Kelechi Eze ◽  
...  

Background: Lassa fever is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Objectives: This study aimed to determine the knowledge and preventive measures against Lassa fever among heads of households in Abakaliki metropolis, Southeast Nigeria. Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study. A four-stage sampling design was used to select 420 respondents from Abakaliki metropolis. A good knowledge of Lassa fever was determined by the proportion of respondents scoring ⩾50% in 15 variables. Good preventive practices against Lassa fever were determined by the proportion of respondents obtaining a score of ⩾50% in 12 variables. Results: The mean age of respondents was 34.1±9.4 years, and the majority (56.5%) were males. Major sources of information included television (66.4%) and radio (64.3%). A minority (11.0%) consume rats at present, while 86.7% knew that rats could transmit Lassa fever to humans. The majority (60.0%) had a good knowledge of Lassa fever, while 66.4% demonstrated good preventive practices. A predictor of good knowledge included being a consumer of rats, (adjusted odds ratio (AOR)=2.3; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.1–4.9). Predictors of good preventive practices included being in a low socio-economic class (AOR=2.1; 95% CI 1.3–3.6) and having a good knowledge of Lassa fever (AOR=10.2; 95% CI: 6.2–10.6). Conclusions: The majority of respondents had a good knowledge of Lassa fever and demonstrated good preventive practices against it. A good knowledge of Lassa fever was associated with good preventive practices. There is need for a good understanding of Lassa fever among the population, as this will improve preventive practices. Health workers have an important role to play in disseminating information concerning Lassa fever.


Crisis ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 37 (2) ◽  
pp. 130-139 ◽  
Author(s):  
Danica W. Y. Liu ◽  
A. Kate Fairweather-Schmidt ◽  
Richard Burns ◽  
Rachel M. Roberts ◽  
Kaarin J. Anstey

Abstract. Background: Little is known about the role of resilience in the likelihood of suicidal ideation (SI) over time. Aims: We examined the association between resilience and SI in a young-adult cohort over 4 years. Our objectives were to determine whether resilience was associated with SI at follow-up or, conversely, whether SI was associated with lowered resilience at follow-up. Method: Participants were selected from the Personality and Total Health (PATH) Through Life Project from Canberra and Queanbeyan, Australia, aged 28–32 years at the first time point and 32–36 at the second. Multinomial, linear, and binary regression analyses explored the association between resilience and SI over two time points. Models were adjusted for suicidality risk factors. Results: While unadjusted analyses identified associations between resilience and SI, these effects were fully explained by the inclusion of other suicidality risk factors. Conclusion: Despite strong cross-sectional associations, resilience and SI appear to be unrelated in a longitudinal context, once risk/resilience factors are controlled for. As independent indicators of psychological well-being, suicidality and resilience are essential if current status is to be captured. However, the addition of other factors (e.g., support, mastery) makes this association tenuous. Consequently, resilience per se may not be protective of SI.


2019 ◽  
Vol 15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bekalu Getachew Gebreegziabher ◽  
Tesema Etefa Birhanu ◽  
Diriba Dereje Olana ◽  
Behailu Terefe Tesfaye

Background: Stroke is a great public health problem in Ethiopia. According to reports, in-hospital stroke mortality was estimated to be 14.7% in Ethiopia. Despite this, in this country researches done on factors associated with stroke sub-types were inadequate. Objective: To assess the Characteristics and risk factors associated with stroke sub-types among patients admitted to JUMC. Methods and materials: A retrospective cross sectional study was conducted from May 2017 to May 2018 in stroke unit of Jimma University Medical Center. A total of 106 medical charts of patients diagnosed with stroke were reviewed. Checklist comprising of relevant variables was used to collect data. SPSS version 21 was employed for data entry and analysis. Chi-square test was used to point-out association and difference among stroke sub-types. The data was presented using text, tables and figures. Result: From a total of 106 patients, 67(63.2%) were men. The mean ± SD of age was 52.67±12.46 years, and no significant association was found. Of all the patients, 59(55.6%) had ischemic strokes and 47(44.4%) had hemorrhagic strokes. The most common risk factor in the patients was alcohol use with a prevalence of 69.9%. Of all the risk factors, only sex, cigarettes smoking and dyslipidemia were significantly associated to sub-types of stroke. Conclusion: Ischemic stroke was the most common subtype of stroke. Sex of patient, cigarette smoking and dyslipidemia are significantly associated with the two stroke subtypes.


2021 ◽  
Vol 80 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. 775.2-776
Author(s):  
C. W. S. Chan ◽  
P. H. LI ◽  
C. S. Lau ◽  
H. Y. Chung

Background:Cardiovascular (CVS) diseases are the leading cause of death worldwide and patients with rheumatic diseases have an increased CVS risk including stroke and myocardial infarction (MI) (1-3). CVS risk factors and CVS events are common in SpA (4). Delineating the CVS risk and the association with medications in patients with SpA would be useful.Objectives:The objective of this study was to delineate the CVS risk and the association with medications in patients with SpA.Methods:Patients with SpA and patients with non-specific back pain (NSBP) were identified in rheumatology and orthopedics clinics respectively. Clinical information and CVS events were retrieved. Incidence rates were calculated. Association analysis was performed to determine the CVS risk of SpA and other modifiable risk factors.Results:A total of 5046 patients (SpA 2616 and NSBP 2430) were included from eight centers. Over 56 484 person-years of follow-up, 160 strokes, 84 MI and 262 major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) were identified. Hypercholesterolemia was more prevalent in SpA (SpA 34.2%, NSBP 28.7%, P<0.01). Crude incidence rates of stroke and MI were higher in SpA patients. SpA was associated with a higher risk of MACE (HR 1.66, 95%CI 1.22-2.27, P<0.01) and cerebrovascular events (HR 1.42, 95%CI 1.01-2.00, p=0.04). The use of anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) drugs was associated with a reduced risk of MACE (HR 0.37, 95%CI 0.17-0.80, P=0.01) and cerebrovascular events (HR 0.21, 95%CI 0.06-0.78, P=0.02).Conclusion:SpA is an independent CVS risk factor. Anti-TNF drugs were associated with a reduced CVS risk in these patients.References:[1]Crowson CS, Liao KP, Davis JM, 3rd, Solomon DH, Matteson EL, Knutson KL, et al. Rheumatoid arthritis and cardiovascular disease. Am Heart J. 2013;166(4):622-8 e1.[2]Verhoeven F, Prati C, Demougeot C, Wendling D. Cardiovascular risk in psoriatic arthritis, a narrative review. Joint Bone Spine. 2020;87(5):413-8.[3]Liew JW, Ramiro S, Gensler LS. Cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in ankylosing spondylitis and psoriatic arthritis. Best Pract Res Clin Rheumatol. 2018;32(3):369-89.[4]Molto A, Etcheto A, van der Heijde D, Landewe R, van den Bosch F, Bautista Molano W, et al. Prevalence of comorbidities and evaluation of their screening in spondyloarthritis: results of the international cross-sectional ASAS-COMOSPA study. Ann Rheum Dis. 2016;75(6):1016-23.Disclosure of Interests:None declared.


Open Medicine ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 598-604
Author(s):  
Valentina Opancina ◽  
Snezana Lukic ◽  
Slobodan Jankovic ◽  
Radisa Vojinovic ◽  
Milan Mijailovic

AbstractIntroductionAneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage is a type of spontaneous hemorrhagic stroke, which is caused by a ruptured cerebral aneurysm. Cerebral vasospasm (CVS) is the most grievous complication of subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). The aim of this study was to examine the risk factors that influence the onset of CVS that develops after endovascular coil embolization of a ruptured aneurysm.Materials and methodsThe study was designed as a cross-sectional study. The patients included in the study were 18 or more years of age, admitted within a period of 24 h of symptom onset, diagnosed and treated at a university medical center in Serbia during a 5-year period.ResultsOur study showed that the maximum recorded international normalized ratio (INR) values in patients who were not receiving anticoagulant therapy and the maximum recorded white blood cells (WBCs) were strongly associated with cerebrovascular spasm, increasing its chances 4.4 and 8.4 times with an increase of each integer of the INR value and 1,000 WBCs, respectively.ConclusionsSAH after the rupture of cerebral aneurysms creates an endocranial inflammatory state whose intensity is probably directly related to the occurrence of vasospasm and its adverse consequences.


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