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Onchocerciasis caused by infection with Onchocerca volvulus is a disease of public health importance and is highly associated with disability. As Nigeria is aiming at eliminating onchocerciasis by 2030, there is a need to develop newer tools to map disease prevalence and identify environmental factors driving disease prevalence, even in places that have not been previously targeted for preventive chemotherapy. This study produced predictive risk-maps of onchocerciasis in Ogun State. Georeferenced onchocerciasis infection data obtained from a cross-sectional survey at 32 locations between March and July 2015 together with remotely-sensed environmental data were analyzed using Ecological Niche Models (ENM). A total of 107 field occurrence points for O. volvulus infection were recorded. A total of 43 positive occurrence points were used for modelling. ENMs were used to estimate the current geographic distribution of O. volvulus in Ogun State. Maximum Entropy distribution modeling (MaxEnt) was used for predicting the potential suitable habitats, using a portion of the occurrence records. A total of 19 environmental variables were used to model the potential geographical distribution area under current climatic conditions. Empirical prevalence of 9.3% was recorded in this study. The geospatial distribution of infection revealed that all communities in Odeda Local Government Area (a peri-urban LGA) showed remarkably high prevalence compared with other LGAs. The predicted high-risk areas (probability > 0.8) of O. volvulus infection were all parts of Odeda, Abeokuta South, and Abeokuta North, southern part of Imeko-Afon, a large part of Yewa North, some parts of Ewekoro and Obafemi-Owode LGAs. The estimated prevalence for these regions were >60% (between 61% and 100%). As predicted, O. volvulus occurrence showed a positive association with variables reflecting precipitation in Ogun State. Our predictive risk-maps has provided useful information for the elimination of onchocerciais, by identifying priority areas for delivery of intervention in Ogun State, Nigeria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recurrent cycles of fevers and chills are obvious symptoms for malaria disease usually necessitating treatment. However, some Plasmodium infections could be without symptoms, leading to late diagnosis and delayed treatment-seeking behaviours. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of asymptomatic malaria infections, and document associated prevention and treatment-seeking behaviours among literates in Abeokuta. A cross- sectional study design involving 309 attendees at the 2016 World Malaria Day Celebration event held at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta was conducted. Finger-prick blood samples were collected for Plasmodium parasite detection by malaria rapid diagnostic test (mRDT) and anthropometric indices such as weight, height and age were also collected to estimate Body-Mass-Index. An already pre-tested questionnaire was also used to collect information on malaria prevention and treatment-seeking behaviours. Data were analysed in SPSS 20.0 software. Results revealed that the prevalence of asymptomatic malaria was 7.4% (23/309), with no significant association between sex, febrile illness and Body Mass Index (p>0.05). Participants aged 15-25 years were more infected with malaria than other age groups. Only 58.3% of the participants have heard of Long Lasting Insecticidal Nets (LLINs) and about 78% do not have mosquito bed-net. Self-diagnosis for the disease was more common (60.8%) among the participants, compared to other measures; seeking laboratory test (26.5%) and clinical diagnosis (9.1%). A good proportion of the participants (73.1%) rely on Artemisinin-based Combination Therapy (ACT) drugs for treating malaria, although few others still rely on non-ACT drugs (17.8%), chloroquine (1.9%) and herbs (1.6%). Findings show existence of asymptomatic malaria. Also, access to and utilization of malaria prevention and control commodities is poor among the literates. There is thus a need to intensify efforts in addressing these concerns as we move towards eliminating the disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A survey was carried out to assess awareness, possession and use of insecticide-treated nets (ITN) by mothers in preventing malaria among children under 5 years old. Pretested questionnaires were administered by trained research assistants to women that have had a child in the last 59 months, irrespective of place of child delivery. Malaria was considered dangerous by almost all respondents (98.5%); the level of awareness of ITN as a malaria preventive tool was 75.1% while possession was 45%. Awareness and possession of ITN were positively and significantly influenced by high educational qualification of mothers and attendance of a public hospital for antenatal care. Hospitals were identified as the major source of awareness among respondents; women that delivered their babies in traditional birth home displayed least awareness (38.6%) and recorded low possession (10%). There was no significant relationship between ITN usage, birth order and age of child. Heat experienced while sleeping under ITN and problem of how to hang the net were major limitations identified in the use of ITN. The need to involve women receiving antenatal care outside the hospital in malaria control intervention is hereby recommended. Methods of bridging ITN possession and use needs to de developed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The control of schistosomiasis in Nigeria is mainly by mass treatment with praziquantel through the school system, with an absence of any provision for pre-school children. We therefore determined the prevalence and intensity of urinary schistosomiasis in pre-school children between the ages of 1-6 years in Ilewo-Orile a rural and endemic community, near Abeokuta, Nigeria as part of providing information on the neglected tropical diseases among this age group. Two urine samples were collected from each pre-school child. The samples were tested for microhaematuria using reagent strips and then processed and examined with a microscope for Schistosoma haematobium ova. Results: Of the 167 children examined 97 (58.1%) had infection, with no significant difference (P = 0.809) in infection rates between boys (57.1%) and girls (59.2%). Both prevalence and intensity of infection did not increase significantly with age (P = 0.732). The overall geometric mean egg count was 1.17 eggs/10 ml urine. There was no significant association (P = 0.387) between intensity in boys (1.16 eggs/10 ml urine) and girls (1.19 eggs/10 ml urine). 47.4% of the children had microhaematuria which did not increase significantly with age (P = 0.526). Focus group discussions with guardians and caregivers revealed that infection of pre-school children early in life was due to exposures through bathing in the stream by their mothers, while the older children would visit the stream for washing, fetching of water, bathing and swimming. Conclusion: Community participatory health education is needed in this community as a first step in reducing infection and transmission of the disease, while the rehabilitation and repair of the existing water borehole system in the community should be effected. The results of this study have shown that pre-school children also harbour infection and are a source of transmission of schistosomiasis in endemic communities. Planning and provision for their treatment should be considered in control programmes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]