Lassa Fever Outbreak in Southwestern Nigeria: The Ekiti State Response amidst Economic Recession
Aduayi Victor Adovi,
Ibikunle Oluwafunmilayo,
Fashola Adebayo Matthew,
Yusuf Musah,
Odu Olusola,
Oluwafemi Omoniyi Stephen,
Olomojobi Folakemi,
Ojo Simeon Olurotimi,
Omole Ayotunde,
Onwu Victor,
Bamidele Oni
Issue:
Volume 3, Issue 2, April 2017
Pages:
11-18
Received:
13 February 2017
Accepted:
22 February 2017
Published:
21 March 2017
Abstract: A confirmed case in a community requires prompt isolation of affected patients, good infection prevention and control practices, and rigorous contact tracing to stop outbreaks. This study depicts the highlights of the Ekiti state’s response to its first confirmed Lassa fever outbreak. The approach used was a coordinated, and integrated rapid implementation of Lassa control measures using multidisciplinary teams. After with approproprate political will, Emmergency funds were rapidly mobilized. Seven response teams were constituted to mount an effective and high quality response. The Lassa fever Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) and incident management system was activated to effectively coordinate the response. Clinical, epidemiological, laboratory data, surveillance records and hospital statistics were analyzed during the outbreak. Daily situation reports of the response activities were disseminated to all stakeholders. Throughout the outbreak, the state recorded one confirmed case and nine suspected cases. Their age ranges from 17 years to 53 years with the median age of 25 years. Seventy (70%) of the cases were males. The state recorded 2 deaths during the outbreak but all had negative Laboratory results. The 10 cases were detected from four LGAs across the state. Seventy percent of the cases presented with acute fever (>38°C) while 60% presented with bleeding tendencies. Other major symptoms and signs that were common among the cases were sore throat and severe headache, and generalized weakness and muscle pain. The lessons learned support the significance of intersectorial collaboration and political will in response to outbreak at the provincial or state. However, challenges to control efforts included inadequate local laboratory capacity and fear among health workers, panic response among the general populace as well as deficient emergency preparedness.
Abstract: A confirmed case in a community requires prompt isolation of affected patients, good infection prevention and control practices, and rigorous contact tracing to stop outbreaks. This study depicts the highlights of the Ekiti state’s response to its first confirmed Lassa fever outbreak. The approach used was a coordinated, and integrated rapid implem...
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Adherence to Antiretroviral Therapy and Associated Factors Among Adult ARV Users in Arba Minch Hospital, Southern Ethiopia
Issue:
Volume 3, Issue 2, April 2017
Pages:
19-26
Received:
14 June 2017
Accepted:
28 June 2017
Published:
21 July 2017
Abstract: The provision of Antiretroviral Therapy (ART), HIV/AIDS is becoming a chronic manageable disease; therefore to manage chronic disease, adherence to HIV medication is very important but a variety of other factors may complicate ART adherence that needs devotion from patients, provisions of health services and health care professionals, and having social support from the society. The purpose of this study was to determine the level of adherence to ART and associated factors among adult antiretroviral drugs (ARV) users. A cross sectional study was carried out at Arba Minch Hospital from March 5 to May 5, 2015. One month patients’ self-report and pharmacy refill records were used to assess adherence. Data were collected by a standard questionnaire after pre-tested and data abstraction format. The collected data were entered in to Epi-Info and it was exported in to SPSS for data analysis. Multiple logistic regressions analysis was applied and statistical significance test was declared at P-value <0.05 and OR with 95% CI. Based on patients’ self-report dose adherence, among the 428 study participants, the magnitude of adherence to ART in a month before interview was 77.10%. Multivariable analysis showed that, adherence was positively associated with sex (male) (AOR=3.03, CI (1.69-5.42)), free from substance uses (AOR=3.49, CI (1.80-6.77)), absence of side effect of drugs (AOR =2.61, CI (1.19-5.73)), ART schedule fit to daily routines (AOR= 2.93, CI (1.24-6.91)) and feeling comfort on taking ART drug in front of others (AOR=3.32, CI (1.54-7.16)). The ART adherence rate of this study was relatively low compared with WHO standard and others study in Ethiopia. Sex, feeling comfort on taking the ART drugs, ART schedule fit to daily routines, substance use and drug side effects were strong predictors of adherence.
Abstract: The provision of Antiretroviral Therapy (ART), HIV/AIDS is becoming a chronic manageable disease; therefore to manage chronic disease, adherence to HIV medication is very important but a variety of other factors may complicate ART adherence that needs devotion from patients, provisions of health services and health care professionals, and having so...
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