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Background: Informal Healthcare Providers (IHCPs), including Proprietary Patent Medicine Vendors (PPMVs), drug peddlers, traditional healers, and herbal drug sellers are often the first choice for malaria treatment, especially in urban slums. Unplanned urbanization significantly impacts malaria transmission by creating cities with inadequate safety nets and healthcare access, increasing reliance on IHCPs. While the World Health Organization recognizes IHCP's crucial role and emphasizes integrating them into formal healthcare for improved malaria care, they lack requisite training in malaria management and operate outside official regulations, raising concerns about the quality of care they provide. Understanding IHCPs' perceptions and practices is essential for their proper integration. This study explored the perceived malaria burden, IHCPs' competence in malaria treatment, and reasons for visiting IHCPs in various urban settlements from both community member and provider perspectives. Methods: This qualitative cross-sectional study was carried out in Ibadan and Kano metropolises. Eighteen Focus Group Discussions among 157 adult community members and twelve Key-Informant Interviews among PPMVs, drug peddlers, traditional healers and herbal drug sellers were conducted in these cities. Participants were drawn purposively from settlements—designated as formal, informal, and slum based on local definitions—in selected wards within the cities. Data were collected using pre-tested guides and analysed thematically. Results: This study reveals that malaria remains a significant health problem in these Nigerian cities. Patronage of IHCPs generally is driven by affordable treatment, perceived mildness of illness, and access to credit facilities. However, cultural belief was key to patronage of traditional healers and herbal drug sellers, largely among informal and slum residents. Furthermore, while IHCPs had a strong perceived competence in managing malaria cases, inadequate diagnosis and treatment were standard practices. Conclusions: IHCPs remain consistently patronized across urban settlements. IHCPs are continuously patronized in all urban settlement. Educating and equipping IHCPs with diagnostic tools, enhancing access to affordable healthcare, and raising public awareness is crucial for proper malaria management and promoting collaborations with formal healthcare providers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction and aim. Childhood hypertension is an important precursor to adult hypertension. This study was used to investigate blood pressure level and nutritional status of pupils in public primary schools that were benefitting from the National Home Grown School Feeding Programme in southwest Nigeria. Material and methods. A cross-sectional study conducted among randomly selected 40 public primary schools where feeding programme was on-going in Oyo and Ogun States. Pretested semi-structured questionnaire was used to obtain information from the pupils. Anthropometric measurements and blood pressure readings were assessed using relevant tools. Results. Some of the pupils (129; 41.6%) aged 10-15 years (p<0.0001) were stunted compared to those aged 5-9years (60; 11.3%). Undernutrition among pupils aged 10-15 years was 47.7%, which was significantly higher than (p<0.0001) among pupils aged 5-9 years, 18.5%. Overall, prevalence of hypertension among the pupils was 6.0%. No significant difference between male and female groups with regards to MUAC (p=0.115), blood pressure (p=0.302) and BMI-for-age (p=0.100). A significant association found between blood pressure and BMI-for-age (p=0.004). Conclusion. Prevalence of blood pressure among the pupils assessed suggests more presence of high blood pressure in the population of primary school pupils. School feeding programme could be an avenue to improve nutritional indices among the pupils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]