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June 24th, 2022, a day that will be etched in today and future generations' textbooks as a historic day, the United States of America revoked the constitutional right to seek safe abortion care. Overturning Roe v Wade allowed the divided individual states to independently decide the legal parameters regarding abortion care. A decision that disproportionately effects the reproductive lives of women residing on the land of America. Given the systemic impacts of racism, neoliberalism and white supremacy, it is the Black, racialized and poor women who suffer terrible repercussions. In this commentary the authors begin by discussing the historical biopolitical perspective, colonial systems and longstanding impacts on racialized women's bodies in America. The discussion transitions to the implications of geopolitics at play nationally and cascading impacts globally, focusing on humanitarian and emergency settings. Using a medical humanities perspective, authors highlight the collision between politics and reproductive health policy and its implications on social determinants of health, such as women's education, employment, housing, racial and gender equity and wellbeing. Long standing advocates, community leaders and healers, leading scientists, birth attendants, doctors, nurses, allied health professionals/providers and humanitarian workers – and many others - are reminded and live the weight of the continuous battle of population control, stemming from the oppressive history of control and exploitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The poem "Liberté," by Natasha Amartey and Bassey Ebenso is presented. First Line: Committee for the Promotion of Virtue; Last Line: Equal, autonomous and free.

The article provides information on the efforts of civil society groups to address key struggles in relation to both community rights and climate change against fossil industry. It explores the Oilwatch International, a South-South network which took its first steps in Quito, Ecuador, in which groups and communities join the campaign of each other to express solidarity and exchange critical information. It highlights the protests in the U.S. in August/September 2011 on the proposed Keystone XL tar sand pipeline to connect the diggings in Canada to refineries in the U.S.

There are discrepancies in health care services for the poor and ethnic minorities in the United States. Within the past decade widespread concerns regarding the need to reform the nation's health care services, including the problem of human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immune syndrome (HIV/AIDS) among African Americans has continued. These inequalities have been the cornerstone of the U.S. Healthy People 2010 national priority objectives.(n1) The objectives focus on health and social outcomes such as low quality of life and mortality rates, poverty, lack of accessibility to and appropriateness of care, and the prevalence of certain degenerative conditions and infectious diseases. The dearth of preventive health services for the high-risk groups, particularly children, adolescents, young adults, and older African American adults undermines early intervention efforts, including prompt HIV/AIDS identification and diagnosis, prevention education, health promotion, effective substance abuse treatment, and counseling services. This work reviews the magnitude of HIV/AIDS among African Americans between 1996 and 1999 by race/ethnicity, gender, and age groups. It also addresses the major factors responsible for the continued upward trend in the distribution and rate of infectiousness of HIV/AIDS among African Americans. The study recommends and discusses culturally sensitive and ethnic-specific intervention strategies for the prevention and control of HIV/AIDS among African Americans. Key words: African American health disparities, ethnic minorities, health behavior change, health promotion, HIV/AIDS [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Provides information on a study that examined knowledge, attitudes, feelings and various high-risk behavioral factors that can impact the high HIV/AIDS incidence and prevalence among Afro-American women in specific urban centers and rural communities in the U.S. Methodology of the study; Results and discussion on the study.

Background: Studies have linked genetic susceptibility to prostate cancer (CaP) to African heritage and familial disease. Also, lifestyle factors, general and central obesity have been identified as risk factors for CaP. Aim: To assess the behavioral risk factors associated with CaP among West-African men and US West African immigrants. Methods: The cross-sectional study was conducted among 480 respondents recruited from Nigeria, Cameroon and the United States. The CaPTC Familial Project study instrument was used to collect data on the background information of respondents, country specific residence information, physical activity level, smoking and alcohol consumption pattern, family and personal history of cancer and other types of cancers and knowledge of CaP. Anthropometric measurements were taken. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 20. Results: Majority (85.6%) were recruited from Nigeria, 5.5% from Cameroon and 8.9% from the USA and the mean age is 48.2±9.9. About three quarters (74.4%) have been married only once while 10.8% have been married for about 2-5 times. Few (3.3%) of the respondent's wives had cancer and 0.2% had cervical cancer. Less than 1% of respondent's daughters had cancer, 4.6% of their uncles had cancer. Among the respondent's full brothers and sisters, 0.4% had cancer and 1.5% of their birth mothers had cancer. Also a few (2.3%) of respondent's fathers had cancer and 11.9% of their paternal grandparents had one type of cancer. About 17.2% of respondents have been diagnosed of a prostate condition and 5.9% were diagnosed of CaP with 47.1% of those with CaP are from Nigeria, 49.6% from the USA and 3.3% from Cameroon. One-quarter (25.6%) have smoked at least once in their lifetime, 2.5% smoke daily and the mean age at which smoking commenced is 26.6±19.4. More than half (55.4%) had consumed alcohol at least once in their lifetime and the mean age at which alcohol consumption started is 9.9±11.9. Only 9.8% had adequate knowledge about CaP and 61.0% poor knowledge. About a quarter (25.5%) were obese with 3.3% being morbidly obese. One-third (32.3%) are involved in moderate physical activity and 17.9% in rigorous physical activity. No significant difference (P = 0.492) was observed in the physical activity level from the different locations. However, a significant relationship was observed between alcohol consumption, smoking, body mass index and country of residence (P = 0.001, 0.035 and 0.001 respectively). Cigarette smoking and alcohol consumption (frequency and quantity) was significantly higher among respondents from the USA. Obesity was also significantly higher among the respondents from Nigeria and the USA. Although not statistically significant, family history of cancer was more among respondents from Nigeria and the USA. Conclusion: Obesity, smoking, alcohol consumption seems to be a common practice among respondents from Nigeria and USA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nigeria began administering COVID-19 vaccines on 5 March 2021 and is working towards the WHO's African regional goal to fully vaccinate 70% of their eligible population by December 2022. Nigeria's COVID-19 vaccination information system includes a surveillance system for COVID-19 adverse events following immunisation (AEFI), but as of April 2021, AEFI data were being collected and managed by multiple groups and lacked routine analysis and use for action. To fill this gap in COVID-19 vaccine safety monitoring, between April 2021 and June 2022, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in collaboration with other implementing partners led by the Institute of Human Virology Nigeria, supported the Government of Nigeria to triangulate existing COVID-19 AEFI data. This paper describes the process of implementing published draft guidelines for data triangulation for COVID-19 AEFI data in Nigeria. Here, we focus on the process of implementing data triangulation rather than analysing the results and impacts of triangulation. Work began by mapping the flow of COVID-19 AEFI data, engaging stakeholders and building a data management system to intake and store all shared data. These datasets were used to create an online dashboard with key indicators selected based on existing WHO guidelines and national guidance. The dashboard went through an iterative review before dissemination to stakeholders. This case study highlights a successful example of implementing data triangulation for rapid use of AEFI data for decision-making and emphasises the importance of stakeholder engagement and strong data governance structures to make data triangulation successful., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2023. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Objective: To examine trends in mental health care use for Black and Latinx children and adolescents., Method: Data from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey for 2010-2017 were analyzed to assess trends among youth ages 5-17 in use and expenditures for any mental health care, outpatient mental health care, and psychotropic medication prescription fills. Unadjusted trends for all youth and the subpopulation of youth reporting need for mental health care and disparities adjusting for need were examined., Results: Between 2010 and 2017, Black youth rates of any past year mental health care use decreased (from 9% to 8%), while White (from 13% to 15%) and Latinx (from 6% to 8%) youth rates increased. Among the subpopulation with need and in regression analysis adjusting for need, we identified significant Black-White and Latinx-White disparities in any mental health care use and any outpatient mental health care use in 2010-2011 and 2016-2017, with significant worsening of Black-White disparities over time. White youth were more than twice as likely as Latinx youth to use psychotropic medications, and Latinx-White and Black-White disparities in psychotropic medication prescription fills persisted over time. Black-White disparities existed in overall mental health expenditures (2016-2017) and outpatient mental health expenditures (2010-2011 and 2016-2017)., Conclusion: Affordable, ubiquitous access to mental health care for Black and Latinx youth remains an elusive target. Significant disparities exist in receiving mental health care despite reforms and policies designed to increase mental health care access in the general population. Additional outreach and treatment strategies tailored to the cultural, linguistic, and structural needs of youth of color are required., (Copyright © 2021 American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Structural racism plays a significant role in limited access to higher education, financial resources, employment opportunities, and high-quality healthcare for African Americans. The lack of healthcare equity and infrastructure has directly contributed to overall poor healthcare outcomes for the Black community. Studies have shown that adverse health outcomes such as sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are more prevalent in African Americans, regardless of their socioeconomic factors and lifestyles. For example, trichomoniasis, transmitted sexually by its etiological agent, Trichomonas vaginalis (T. vaginalis), predisposes those infected to co-infections with other STDs, such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), herpes, and other related infections. Our review showcases the impact of trichomoniasis on the health of the Black community with an emphasis on African American women. A critical examination of the socio-demographic history of Black people in the United States (US) is vital to illustrate the origin of past and current racial health disparities. Further, we expand the complex and nuanced conversation on the intersectionality of racism, health equity, and innovative epidemiological and biomedical research strategies needed to eradicate this global public health threat., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors have no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2021 National Medical Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

In 2018, an estimated 1.8 million persons living in Nigeria had HIV infection (1.3% of the total population), including 1.1 million (64%) who were receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART) (1). Effective ART reduces morbidity and mortality rates among persons with HIV infection and prevents HIV transmission once viral load is suppressed to undetectable levels (2,3). In April 2019, through the U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR),* CDC launched an 18-month ART Surge program in nine Nigerian states to rapidly increase the number of persons with HIV infection receiving ART. CDC analyzed programmatic data gathered during March 31, 2019-September 30, 2020, to describe the ART Surge program's progress on case finding, ART initiation, patient retention, and ART Surge program growth. Overall, the weekly number of newly identified persons with HIV infection who initiated ART increased approximately eightfold, from 587 (week ending May 4, 2019) to 5,329 (week ending September 26, 2020). The ART Surge program resulted in 208,202 more HIV-infected persons receiving PEPFAR-supported ART despite the COVID-19 pandemic (97,387 more persons during March 31, 2019-March 31, 2020 and an additional 110,815 persons during April 2020-September 2020). Comprehensive, data-guided, locally adapted interventions and the use of incident command structures can help increase the number of persons with HIV infection who receive ART, reducing HIV-related morbidity and mortality as well as decreasing HIV transmission., Competing Interests: All authors have completed and submitted the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors form for disclosure of potential conflicts of interest. No potential conflicts of interest were disclosed.

Purpose: To evaluate the central corneal thickness (CCT) of Africans in a glaucoma practice in a university teaching hospital in West Nigeria, Africa, and compare results with similar studies carried out in African American and Afro-Caribbean populations., Methods: CCT was measured by means of ultrasound pachymetry (pachymeter used was Micropach 200 P+ Pachymeter; Sonomed) in only African participants with either glaucomatous or healthy eyes. After instillation of topical anesthetic, 3 measurements of corneal thickness were taken, and the average thickness for each was calculated. The relationship between CCT and age was studied using correlation analyses and t tests. A total of 70 eyes were included for analysis., Results: The mean CCT of all participants was 532.00 microm. Glaucoma suspects and patients with glaucoma had corneas thinner than those of normal participants (527.36 and 536.91 microm, respectively); however, the difference was not significant (P = 0.296). Decreasing values of CCT were significantly related to older age (P = 0.002). Men had a significantly higher CCT than women (P = 0.035)., Conclusions: CCT values in African populations are less than those of whites. Decreasing values of CCT are significantly related to older age, and men have thicker corneas than women. There is a suggestion that CCT is lower in patients with glaucoma than in nonglaucomatous controls; however, the difference is not statistically significant. Comparing our results to other studies in literature, it seems that average CCT is similar between populations living in sub-Saharan Africa and African Americans and Afro-Caribbeans.