Journal of Community Medicine & Primary Health Care

Prevalence and associated risk factors for hypertension among staff of a tertiary hospital in Ido-Ekiti, Nigeria

Ibikunle IO — 2026-07-31

Background: Hypertension is a significant risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. This study examines the prevalence of hypertension and its associated risk factors among staff of a tertiary hospital in Southwestern Nigeria.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in year 2024 among 382 consenting staff members of the Federal Teaching Hospital, Ido-Ekiti, Nigeria, after obtaining ethical approval. Data on demographic characteristics and risk factors for hypertension were collected using a modified version of the Global Lifestyles Questionnaire (GLQ). Statistical analyses were performed using IBM SPSS Statistics version 27.0. Binary logistic regression was employed to identify significant predictors of hypertension, with results presented as adjusted odds ratios (AORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

Results: Most respondents were clinical staff (79.9%). Overall prevalence of hypertension among the study participants was 22.5%, with a slightly higher prevalence in females (23.6%). Physical inactivity was significantly associated with hypertension (p = 0.031); inactive individuals were four times more likely to develop the condition (AOR = 4.223, p = 0.001). No significant associations were found between hypertension and smoking (p = 0.487), alcohol consumption (p = 0.212), or the intake of fast/processed foods (p = 0.722). Work-related stress showed a significant correlation with hypertension (p = 0.034), with a prevalence of 28.6% among highly stressed individuals compared to 14.9% among those reporting lower stress levels.

Conclusion: Physical inactivity and work-related stress are significant risk factors for hypertension among hospital staff. Targeted interventions should be implemented to reduce the risk of hypertension and improve overall staff well-being

The cause- and sex-specific burden of non-communicable diseases and attributable risk factors in Sudan: a population-level secondary analysis from GBD 2023

Mohd S — 2026-07-31

Background: Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide and represent a growing public health challenge in low- and middle-income countries, including Sudan. Recent estimates suggest that NCDs account for more than half of all deaths in Sudan; however, a comprehensive cause- and sex-specific estimate remains limited.

Methods: This study estimates and analyzes the burden of NCDs and the level-one attributable risk factors in Sudan for both sexes and all age groups, using data from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study 2023 (GBD 2023). A secondary analysis of publicly available data from the GBD platform (https://ghdx.healthdata.org/gbd-results-tool/) was conducted. Estimates of prevalence and mortality are presented as absolute counts, age-standardized rates and percentages with 95% confidence intervals (CI), stratified by cause and sex.

Results: In 2023, NCDs accounted for 34.2 million prevalent cases and were responsible for an estimated 170,466 deaths in both sexes in Sudan. Other noncommunicable diseases accounted for more than 27 million prevalent cases, while cardiovascular diseases were responsible for more than 60% of all NCD-related mortality in both sexes. Metabolic risk factors contributed to nearly 57% of NCDrelated deaths.

Conclusion: Given the current scenario of Sudan, NCDs control and preventive strategies must prioritize feasible, high-impact, gender-based interventions through a primary healthcare approach and effectively implement the WHO-recommended packages such as PEN and mhGAP in Sudan.

Parental willingness to vaccinate children against mpox among healthcare workers in southeastern Nigeria

Amuzie CI — 2026-07-31

Background: The success of childhood vaccination programmes depends on parental willingness, which is influenced by several factors. Understanding these determinants is essential for designing effective communication and uptake strategies. We assessed the prevalence and predictors of parental willingness to vaccinate children against mpox in Abia State, Nigeria.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 630 parents from May to July 2025, with eligible participants selected using a multistage sampling technique. An interviewer-administered structured questionnaire using the validated 7C scale of vaccination readiness was used to collect data. The primary outcome was parental willingness to vaccinate their children against mpox when the vaccine becomes available. Ethical approval was obtained before the study. Descriptive, bivariate, and multivariate analyses were conducted using IBM SPSS version 26. Statistical significance was set at 5%.

Results: The mean age was 44.3±8.5 years. The prevalence of parental mpox vaccine intentions among respondents was 93.7% (95% CI: 91.5% - 95.4%). High confidence was the highest-scoring psychological domain (72.7%). Predictors of parental willingness to vaccinate children against mpox included low educational attainment (AOR =3.06; 95 % CI = 1.04 – 9.02), prior COVID-19 vaccination (AOR =8.18; 95 % CI = 2.54 – 26.37) and high complacency (AOR =0.28; 95 % CI = 0.08 – 0.95).

Conclusion: The study demonstrates high parental willingness towards mpox vaccination, driven largely by confidence and reinforced by prior vaccination experience. Complacency remains a key barrier for some parents. Sustaining vaccine uptake will require strategies that reinforce trust, address complacency, and deliver inclusive, clear communication across educational groups.

Predictors of digital health technology adoption among nurses at public hospitals in Bangladesh

Alam MA — 2026-07-31

Background: Digitalizing the healthcare system presents significant challenges in nations like Bangladesh, where resources are extremely limited and there is a general hesitancy in technology adoption. The study aimed to assess the status of digital technology (DT) adoption among nurses in public hospitals across Bangladesh and to identify its predictors using the theory of planned behavior (TPB).

Methods: A cross-sectional study using a mixed-methods design was conducted in three levels of Bangladeshi hospitals during the first half of 2025. Quantitative data were gathered from 380 randomly selected nurses through face-to-face interviews. Qualitative data were collected via 16 in-depth interviews (IDIs) and 4 focus group discussions (FGDs)with various stakeholders.

Results: More than 80% of the surveyed nurses were female and Muslim, with a mean age of 39.1 years; 71.1% worked in a tertiary-level hospital. More than half of the nurses demonstrated poor knowledge (56.3%), attitude (54.2%), and practice (54.5%) regarding DT adoption, and 46.4% reported poor self-control. Statistical analysis using hierarchical regression and pathway analysis revealed that knowledge, attitude, motivation, and self-control had significant positive effects on DT practices (p<0.05). Key barriers to DT adoption included poor attitudes of nurses, inadequate organizational support, and a lack of policy-level emphasis on digital health. The poor capacity of nurses to adopt DT and inadequate logistics hindered services.

Conclusion: An integrated approach is essential to build nurses' capacity for DT adoption. Implementing a robust digital health policy and ensuring technology adoption at the user level is crucial for digital transformation in public healthcare settings.

A scoping review on Lassa fever in Nigeria and the implication for disabling hearing loss

Akinola MA — 2026-07-31

Background: Lassa fever (LF) affects thousands of Nigerians yearly, yet its long-term complications, particularly sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL), remain underrecognized. This scoping review collated current knowledge, socioeconomic consequences, and preventive strategies of LF-induced hearing loss in Nigeria.

Methods: We followed the Arksey and O'Malley framework and reported per PRISMAScR guidelines. PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus, African Journals Online, NCDC reports, and WHO fact sheets were searched for records (January 2000–June 2025) using terms including "Lassa fever" and "hearing loss." Eligible sources included English peerreviewed studies, surveillance reports, and policy/economic analyses. Two reviewers independently screened and extracted data, resolving disagreements by consensus. Thirty-six records were included. Formal risk of bias assessment was not conducted, consistent with scoping review methodology; methodological features were appraised narratively where relevant.

Results: Seven Nigerian and Sierra Leonean studies reported LF-associated hearing loss across 250 survivors and acute cases. Prevalence of self-reported and audiometrically confirmed SNHL ranged from 12.5–30.0% and 13.5–29.0%, respectively. Hearing loss was independent of acute-disease severity and persisted in 64.0% of cases. NCDC recorded 1,309 confirmed cases and 214 deaths in 2024, with spread across 34 of Nigeria's 36 states between 2018 and 2023. Global hearing-aid production meets only 3.0% of demand in low- and middle-income countries.

Conclusion: LF-induced SNHL is common but underrecognized. Scarce audiometric follow-up and limited long-term economic data remain critical gaps. Routine audiological screening within survivor care and investment in affordable hearing rehabilitation are urgent priorities

Perception of breast cancer risk and determinants of screening behaviors among female undergraduate students at a Nigerian private university

Akinwumi AF — 2026-07-31

Background: This study assessed perceived risk, breast cancer knowledge, screening attitudes and determinants of screening practices among students at Bowen University, Iwo, Nigeria.

Methods: A cross-sectional design was employed, and a multistage sampling method used to recruit 400 eligible respondents after obtaining ethical approval for the study. A pre-tested, self-administered, and semi-structured questionnaire was used for data collection between May and July 2022. Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (IBM SPSS Statistics, version 25). The primary study outcomes were respondents’ knowledge of breast cancer, attitude to breast cancer screening and screening practices. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were carried out at p<0.05.

Results: The mean age (±SD) of respondents was 20 ± 6.9 years, 49.0% of them were adolescents aged 15-19 years. Breast cancer risk perception rate was low (1.2%) among respondents, less than three-quarter (70.0%) possessed good knowledge of breast cancer but 82.3% of them had positive attitude towards screening while only 28.8% had ever screened. Determinants of breast cancer screening uptakes were respondents’ age (AOR=0.30; 95%CI=0.186-0.475), length of stay in school (AOR=0.42; 95%CI=0.266-0.646), family history of breast cancer (AOR=0.29; 95%CI=0.140-0.585) and attitude to screening (AOR=2.1; 95% CI=1.075-3.909).

Conclusion: Despite high breast cancer awareness, relatively good knowledge and positive screening attitude, risk perception and screening uptake were low among the respondents. Policy makers should design cost-effective breast cancer awareness campaigns, to correct the low-risk perception among female university students in Nigerian and improve screening practices through BSE among them.

Social norms informing contraceptive use among women living with HIV in ilala district, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Mgwalu U — 2026-07-31

Background: Women Living with HIV (WLHIV) make contraceptive choices within complex social contexts shaped by relational and community norms. The study aimed to examine how social norms influence contraceptive use decisions among WLHIV in the Ilala District, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

Methods: A cross-sectional qualitative study was conducted from May to June 2025 among 15 women of reproductive age living with HIV who attended Care and Treatment Clinics in Ilala District, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Data were collected through in-depth interviews, and participants were purposively selected using maximum variation sampling. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed inductively using NVIVO 14. Ethical approval was obtained, and all participants provided written informed consent.

Results: Fifteen WLHIV, aged 19–42, participated in the study. Most were married, with primary or secondary education, and engaged in various livelihoods. Contraceptive decisions were influenced by social norms from interpersonal, relational, and community levels. Gender roles limited reproductive autonomy and led to covert use. Peer networks provided both misinformation and support. Community stigma and family silence reinforced secrecy and restricted open discussion. Some women reported supportive partners, peers, and healthcare providers who aided open decision-making. Secrecy was a common, but not universal, strategy to manage social expectations about fertility, sexuality, and HIV.

Conclusion: Contraceptive decision-making among WLHIV is shaped by social and relational factors beyond access to services. Supporting reproductive autonomy requires addressing stigma, communication, and social relationships. More research across diverse settings is needed to understand how these factors affect reproductive experiences.

Predictors of quality of care among loss to follow-up adults returning to HIV care in Nigeria

Adelekan AB — 2026-07-31

Background : Loss to Follow-Up (LTFU) remains a major challenge for HIV programmes in sub-Saharan Africa, affecting treatment continuity and health outcomes. Although clinical and structural determinants of retention have been widely studied, limited evidence exists on how defaulted HIV adult patients returning to care perceive the quality of care (QoC) previously received. This study examined predictors of perceived QoC among HIV positive adults returning to HIV treatment in Nigeria after LTFU.

Methods: A secondary analysis was performed on a 2017 cross-sectional survey involving 438 consenting adults who returned to HIV care after LTFU in Nigeria. Data on demographics, stigma, access barriers, healthcare worker (HCW) interactions, and service satisfaction were collected using a structured questionnaire adapted from the Satisfaction with HIV/AIDS Treatment Interview Scale (SATIS). Bivariate analysis and multivariable logistic regression were performed using SPSS version 20, with statistical significance set at p<0.05.

Results: Out of the 438 study participants, 32.2% were diagnosed within 2 years of the study. Most participants (90%) reported good QoC before their most recent LTFU episode. Dissatisfaction with confidentiality, distrust in HCW competence, and poor ART counselling were associated with poor QoC. HCW friendliness (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]=42.04), satisfaction with ART counselling (AOR=141.45), and absence of prior stigma experiences (AOR=7.72) were associated with good QoC.

Conclusion: Healthcare workers and implementing partners in Nigeria and similar settings should strengthen provider–patient communication, improve respectful HIV service delivery, and reduce stigma within health facilities to support sustained retention of adults returning to HIV care after loss to follow-up.

Prevalence of multidrug-resistant phenotypes and antimicrobial resistance patterns in community-acquired respiratory pathogens in the Peruvian highlands during the cold season

Gómez P — 2026-07-31

Background: The Andean cold season (friaje) increases the incidence of acute respiratory infections (ARIs), thereby increasing the risk of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) due to inappropriate antibiotic use. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of multidrug-resistant phenotypes and characterize AMR patterns in community-acquired respiratory pathogens among residents of the Peruvian highlands during the 2025 cold season.

Methods: An observational cross-sectional study was conducted in Huancayo, Peru (3,250 masl). Through non-probabilistic convenience sampling, 100 oropharyngeal swabs were collected from symptomatic patients. Isolates were identified using selective media, and susceptibility was assessed via the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method per CLSI M100 guidelines. Data on self-medication and treatment adherence were gathered through structured questionnaires. Statistical analyses, including Chisquare and Fisher’s exact tests (p < 0.05), were performed using IBM SPSS v.29.0. The protocol was approved by the UNCP Ethics Committee (Code: CEI–UNCP–N° 064–2025).

Results: Mixed microbiota was identified in 68% of samples. Primary pathogens included Haemophilus influenzae (11%), Staphylococcus aureus (10%), and Streptococcus pneumoniae (4%). Klebsiella pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were isolated, posing a risk for multidrug resistance (MDR). Although high rates of selfmedication (51.9%) and treatment non-adherence (48.1%) were observed among carriers of resistant isolates, no statistically significant association with AMR was found (p > 0.05).

Conclusion: The detection of key respiratory pathogens with high AMR potential during the Andean friaje represents a significant public health challenge. These findings underscore the necessity for localized microbiological surveillance and targeted educational interventions to optimize antibiotic stewardship in vulnerable high-altitude populations.

Community-based supports and health outcomes of internally displaced children in banditry-affected communities of Sokoto state, Nigeria

Tarah UA — 2026-07-31

Background: Banditry-related insecurity in north-western Nigeria has resulted in widespread internal displacement, exposing children to malnutrition, communicable diseases, poor sanitation, psychological distress, and limited access to healthcare. This study explored caregivers' perspectives on community-based supports and health outcomes of internally displaced children in banditry-affected communities of Sokoto State, Nigeria.

Methods: A qualitative descriptive phenomenological study was conducted among caregivers of internally displaced children residing in five internally displaced persons (IDP) camps in Sokoto State between March and April 2023. Participants were purposively recruited, and in-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted until data saturation was achieved (n = 11). Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, translated where necessary, and analyzed inductively using Braun and Clarke's thematic analysis with NVivo 12. Trustworthiness was ensured through member checking, peer debriefing, reflexive journaling, and independent coding. Ethical approval was obtained for the study.

Results: Participants were female caregivers aged 18–51 years, most with little or no formal education. Four themes emerged: absence of structured community-based health programmes; severe resource constraints affecting child health; informal community coping and resilience; and priority needs for sustainable interventions. Caregivers relied on communal sanitation, mutual aid, food sharing, and spiritual coping; however, persistent shortages of food, water, sanitation, shelter, and healthcare services adversely affected child health outcomes.

Conclusion: Internally displaced children in banditry-affected communities face substantial health challenges compounded by inadequate community-based support systems. Strengthening sustainable, well-resourced community-based interventions integrated with formal healthcare services is essential to improve child health outcomes in displacement settings