Transport fare and road traffic crashes in Nigeria: insights from a geographical analysis

Road traffic crashes (RTCs) are significantly high in Nigeria with serious social and health consequences. While existing studies on RTCs have mainly focused on the effect of socio-economic, environmental, human and mechanical factors to address the high rates, the relationship between road transport fares and RTCs has been glossed over in literature. Thus, this study examines the influence of road transport fares and other covariates on RTCs. Data on RTCs and the predictors between 2017 and 2022 were obtained from the records of the National Bureau of Statistics and the Federal Road Safety Corps. Spatial statistical techniques were used for the data analysis. RTCs vary across the country, and Northern Nigeria is the hot spot. Results from the spatial analysis show that road transport fares, population density, and illiteracy rate are significant predictors of RTCs. The study recommends striking a balance between fare affordability, the quality of service provided, and the implementation of effective transportation strategies.

Crosstalk between hypoxic cellular micro-environment and the immune system: a potential therapeutic target for infectious diseases

There are overwhelming reports on the promotional effect of hypoxia on the malignant behavior of various forms of cancer cells. This has been proposed and tested exhaustively in the light of cancer immunotherapy. However, there could be more interesting functions of a hypoxic cellular micro-environment than malignancy. There is a highly intricate crosstalk between hypoxia inducible factor (HIF), a transcriptional factor produced during hypoxia, and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) which has been well characterized in various immune cell types. This important crosstalk shares common activating and inhibitory stimuli, regulators, and molecular targets. Impaired hydroxylase activity contributes to the activation of HIFs. Inflammatory ligands activate NF-κB activity, which leads to the expression of inflammatory and anti-apoptotic genes. The eventual sequelae of the interaction between these two molecular players in immune cells, either bolstering or abrogating functions, is largely cell-type dependent. Importantly, this holds promise for interesting therapeutic interventions against several infectious diseases, as some HIF agonists have helped prevent immune-related diseases. Hypoxia and inflammation are common features of infectious diseases. Here, we highlighted the role of this crosstalk in the light of functional immunity against infection and inflammation, with special focus on various innate and adaptive immune cells. Particularly, we discussed the bidirectional effects of this crosstalk in the regulation of immune responses by monocytes/macrophages, dendritic cells, neutrophils, B cells, and T cells. We believe an advanced understanding of the interplay between HIFs and NF-kB could reveal novel therapeutic targets for various infectious diseases with limited treatment options.

Usutu virus: An emerging flavivirus with potential threat to public health in Africa: Nigeria as a case study

Usutu virus (USUV) is an arthropod-borne virus (arbovirus) of the flaviviridae family (genus Flavivirus) which belong to the Japanese encephalitis virus complex. Culex mosquitoes have been implicated in the transmission of this pathogen. The major susceptible hosts of USUV are migratory birds, thereby potentiating its ability to spread from one region to another globally. Nigeria has the largest economy in Africa with a significant percentage of the gross domestic product relying on the agricultural and animal production industry. This review explores the zoonotic potentials of the virus in Africa, especially Nigeria, with special focus on the devastating sequelae this might lead to in the future if necessary precautionary policies are not enacted and adopted to bolster the surveillance system for mosquito-borne viruses.

Detection of Alpha- and Betacoronaviruses in Frugivorous and Insectivorous Bats in Nigeria

The rise of bat-associated zoonotic viruses necessitates a close monitoring of their natural hosts. Since the detection of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV), it is evident that bats are vital reservoirs of coronaviruses (CoVs). In this study, we investigated the presence of CoVs in multiple bat species in Nigeria to identify viruses in bats at high-risk human contact interfaces. Four hundred and nine bats comprising four bat species close to human habitats were individually sampled from five states in Nigeria between 2019 and 2021. Coronavirus detection was done using broadly reactive consensus PCR primers targeting the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) gene of CoVs. Coronavirus RNA was detected in 39 samples (9.5%, CI 95%: [7.0, 12.8]), of which 29 were successfully sequenced. The identified CoVs in Nigerian bats were from the unclassified African alphacoronavirus lineage and betacoronavirus lineage D (Nobecovirus), with one sample from Hipposideros ruber coinfected with alphacoronavirus and betacoronavirus. Different bat species roosting in similar or other places had CoVs from the same genetic lineage. The phylogenetic and evolutionary dynamics data indicated a high CoV diversity in Nigeria, while host switching may have contributed to CoV evolution. Robust sentinel surveillance is recommended to enhance our knowledge of emerging and re-emerging coronaviruses.

Cross-national variations in COVID-19 outbreak in West Africa: Where does Nigeria stand in the pandemic?

Nigeria is currently the worst COVID-19 affected country in West Africa in terms of morbidity and mortality amid ECOWAS’s recent proclamation of the country as the region’s COVID-19 Response Champion. It is against this background that this paper analysed the geographical distribution of confirmed COVID-19 cases and fatalities in West Africa, with a view to understanding why Nigeria is at the heart of the pandemic in the sub-continent. The research relied on COVID-19 data and other health, demographic, transport, economic indicators from published sources. Pearson correlation technique and simple linear regressions were useful in discerning associations between COVID-19 and explanatory factors in West Africa. In order of importance, Nigeria, Ghana and Senegal were the top three on the morbidity list while Nigeria, Mali and Niger had the largest number of fatalities as at June 11, 2020. Results show that the population size and air traffic had significant impact on both COVID-19 morbidity and mortality in West Africa. In addition, Nigeria’s large population size and high air traffic volume did not only increase its susceptibility to the viral infection but also accounted for its being an outlier in the sub-continent. The study recommends that a cautious and gradual reopening of the borders should be considered by member states of the sub-region while behavioural avoidance measures are being enforced till a vaccine is found.

A Geographical Analysis of the African COVID-19 Paradox: Putting the Poverty-as-a-Vaccine Hypothesis to the Test

The poverty-as-a-vaccine hypothesis came to light following the wide circulation of the controversial British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) World Service post on the internet and social media. It was a theoretical response to what this paper has termed as "the African COVID-19 paradox" or what some have characterised as the "African COVID-19 anomaly" whose thesis is though Africa is the poorest continent in the world, yet it has some of the lowest COVID-19 infection and mortality rates globally. This paradoxical profile apparently contradicts earlier and grim projections by several international bodies on the fate of Africa in this global health crisis. Given this background, we specifically tested the validity of the hypothesis from a geographic perspective within the spatial framework of Africa. Data came from secondary sources. Evidence truly points out a significant negative relationship between COVID-19 and poverty in Africa and thus statistically supports the poverty-as-a-vaccine hypothesis. However, this does not confirm that poverty confers immunity against COVID-19 but it implicitly shows there are complex factors responsible for the anomaly. The main conclusion of the paper is that poverty has no protective immunity against COVID-19 in Africa and is therefore not tenable.

Geographical Distribution and Risk Factors of Low Birth Weight in Nigeria

BACKGROUND

Low birth weight (LBW) directly or indirectly accounts for 60% to 80% of all neonatal deaths globally, and it has become an issue of serious health concern with Nigeria with one of the highest infant mortality rates (74/1,000) in the world. Despite the severe health impact, little is understood on the geographical differences in maternal socioeconomic and environmental factors that affect LBW across the states in Nigeria.

METHOD

Using the spatial epidemiological approach, this study examined the geographical variations in LBW and associated risk factors in Nigeria with the aid of spatial statistics.

RESULTS

There was a regional LBW corridor in the extreme north with Yobe state with the highest prevalence rate. Maternal educational attainment and acute maternal malnutrition explained 65.4% (ordinary least squares model) and 70.5% (spatial error model, SEM) of the variation in the geographical pattern of LBW.

CONCLUSION

LBW remains an issue of serious health concern in Nigeria. The finding of this study would shed more light on the spatial epidemiology of LBW in Nigeria and also guide public health programs in curtailing the high prevalence rate of LBW.

RECOMMENDATIONS

The study recommends health education on nutrition in pregnancy and the need to improve health literacy among women so as to check the high LBW prevalence.

Geographical patterns and effects of human and mechanical factors on road traffic crashes in Nigeria

Road traffic crashes (RTCs) remain an issue of global concern particularly in Nigeria where over 80 percent of these crashes are accounted by human and mechanical factors (HM). Many geographic studies on RTCs, fatality and injury have largely focused on the spatial clustering and associative analysis of risk factors; with little known about the relative contribution of HM factors within the spatial context. Hence, this study applied a spatial approach to the effect of HM factors on RTCs, fatality and injury across the regions of Nigeria. The data for this study were obtained from the National Bureau of Statistics for the year 2017-2019 and were analysed using spatial analysis techniques such as Global Moran's I and spatial regression model. There was evidence of geographic clustering of RTCs, fatality and injury in Nigeria. On one hand, route violation and sleeping on steering were significant predictors in southern Nigeria while tyre burst was significant at the national level, in the north and rural areas. The use of mobile phone while driving was a significant predictor at the national level. On the other hand, overloading was associated with RTCs and injuries at the national level and northern Nigeria. Speed violation was a prominent risk factor across the country. The study, based on observed regional differentials, argues that extant laws and regulations on traffic safety should be strictly enforced to curtail RTCs in the country.

A retrospective cross-national examination of COVID-19 outbreak in 175 countries: a multiscale geographically weighted regression analysis (January 11-June 28, 2020)

Objective

This study retrospectively examined the health and social determinants of the COVID-19 outbreak in 175 countries from a spatial epidemiological approach.

Methods

We used spatial analysis to examine the cross-national determinants of confirmed cases of COVID-19 based on the World Health Organization official COVID-19 data and the World Bank Indicators of Interest to the COVID-19 outbreak. All models controlled for COVID-19 government measures.

Results

The percentage of the population age between 15-64 years (Age15-64), percentage smokers (SmokTot.), and out-of-pocket expenditure (OOPExp) significantly explained global variation in the current COVID-19 outbreak in 175 countries. The percentage population age group 15-64 and out of pocket expenditure were positively associated with COVID-19. Conversely, the percentage of the total population who smoke was inversely associated with COVID-19 at the global level.

Conclusions

This study is timely and could serve as a potential geospatial guide to developing public health and epidemiological surveillance programs for the outbreak in multiple countries. Removal of catastrophic medical expenditure, smoking cessation, and observing public health guidelines will not only reduce illness related to COVID-19 but also prevent unecessary deaths.