International Journal of TROPICAL DISEASE & Health

Peer-to-Peer Support Networks and Non-Communicable Disease Outcomes among Men in West Africa: A Critical Narrative Review and Strategic Public Health Framework

Ibrahim Sahr Momoh — 2026-09-23

Non-communicable diseases now account for a rising share of premature adult mortality in West Africa, and men carry a disproportionate part of that burden while remaining comparatively absent from screening, treatment and long-term follow-up. Peer-to-peer support, in which people who share a health condition or social position provide one another with informational, emotional, appraisal and practical assistance, has been proposed as a way of reaching men whom facility-centred services fail to hold. This critical narrative review examines whether the available evidence supports that proposition for West African men, and what a defensible strategic framework would look like. Literature published between January 2000 and 15 July 2026 was identified through PubMed, Europe PMC, PubMed Central, Crossref, the Directory of Open Access Journals, Semantic Scholar and Google Scholar, supplemented by citation tracking and searches of institutional sources. Evidence was appraised for design adequacy, measurement validity, contextual transferability and consistency, and synthesised thematically rather than study by study. Four findings emerge. Peer support produces modest and design-dependent improvements in behavioural and self-management outcomes in cardiometabolic disease, with weaker and less consistent effects on biomedical endpoints. Almost all sub-Saharan African evidence on peer and peer-adjacent models originates outside West Africa, and the West African record is dominated by nurse-led task-shifting and community-based screening rather than by peer-delivered care. Male-targeted delivery in barbershops, sports clubs, occupational groupings and faith settings is promising but has been tested overwhelmingly in high-income or Eastern and Southern African contexts. Sex-disaggregated outcome reporting is scarce enough that the specific claim that peer support improves outcomes among West African men cannot presently be verified. A four-domain framework covering reach, relational fit, clinical integration and system anchoring is proposed, with each component labelled according to whether it rests on established or hypothesised relationships. Priority research should establish sex-disaggregated cascade data, test male-tailored peer models against nurse-led comparators, and quantify the cost of peer infrastructure within existing primary care platforms.

Awareness of Health Professionals on Health Programs of Government and their Opinions on Future Actions of Government in Rivers State, Nigeria

Adaeze Chidinma Oreh — 2026-09-08

Background: The goal of healthcare governance is to improve the health status of citizens. Health professionals in Rivers State demonstrated varying levels of awareness of government health programmes, with 63.6% reporting awareness overall.

Aim: This study evaluated health professionals’ awareness of government health programmes, associated challenges, and future directions for government health action during the last quarter of 2025.

Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted among consenting health professionals using a questionnaire. The information obtained was collated and analysed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20.0 and presented in tables and graphs.

Results: A total of 893 health workers participated, comprising 429 (48.0%) males and 464 (52.0%) females, with a mean age of 35.73 ± 7.54 years. The participants included medical doctors (n = 228; 25.5%), nurses (n = 236; 26.4%), pharmacists (n = 109; 12.2%), medical laboratory scientists (n = 114; 12.8%), laboratory technologists (n = 133; 14.9%), and health administrators (n = 73; 8.2%). Overall, 568 (63.6%) were aware of government health programmes. Awareness was higher among medical doctors and nurses than among other professional groups, and the association was statistically significant (p < 0.001). Although information was available, many participants were uncertain about programme-related challenges, and a substantial proportion did not provide opinions on the government’s future direction in health. The main information sources were the workplace (n = 270; 30.2%), roadside banners/posters (n = 205; 23.0%), and social media (n = 182; 20.4%).

Conclusion: Participants expressed opinions on awareness, challenges, and future directions of government health programmes. These findings provide a resource that may inform improvements in health services in Rivers State.

Occurrence and Antimicrobial Susceptibility of Β-Lactamase –Producing Staphylococcus aureus Isolated from Semen of Men with Fertility Problems at Federal Teaching Hospital Owerri, Nigeria

Ogborogu, Veronica C. — 2026-09-08

Background: Staphylococcus aureus is known to severely compromise semen quality and sperm motility. The therapeutic challenge is compounded by the emergence of beta-lactamase-producing S. aureus strains, which confer resistance to first-line beta-lactam antibiotics, making effective treatment difficult and contributing to poor reproductive outcomes.

Aims: This study aimed to evaluate the occurrence and antibiotic sensitivity pattern of Staphylococcus aureus producing beta-lactamase among males with fertility problems at Federal Teaching Hospital Owerri.

Study Design: The study was a prospective hospital-based cross-sectional study.

Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted at the Fertility Clinic of Federal Teaching Hospital Owerri (FTHO) from May 2025 to October 2025.

Methodology: A total of 48 confirmed Staphylococcus aureus isolates were obtained from 125 positive semen cultures from males attending the fertility clinic at FTHO. The antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of the isolates were determined using the Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method, and Staphylococcus aureus producing beta-lactamase was detected using the penicillin disc diffusion zone-edge test.

Results: Thirty-three (68.8%) of the Staphylococcus aureus isolates were beta-lactamase producers. All 33 (100%) Staphylococcus aureus isolates producing beta-lactamase were resistant to penicillin but susceptible to Vancomycin. Twenty (60.6%) were susceptible to Levofloxacin and Ceftriaxone, while 10 (30.3%) were susceptible to Gentamycin and Imipenem.

Conclusion: Beta-lactamase positivity was high among the S. aureus isolates from these study participants. This finding reflects concerns about antimicrobial resistance and indicates the need for microbiological screening and susceptibility testing in this patient population to guide appropriate antibiotic therapy and reduce the risk of empirical treatment failure.

Factors Affecting Blood Glucose Level Among Diabetic Patients at Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Irrua, Edo State, Nigeria

O. Okojie Agatha Ilebalumen — 2026-09-12

Diabetes is an important non-communicable disease (NCD) that is rapidly attracting the attention of the international medical community and is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in both developing and developed countries. The study examined factors affecting blood glucose control among patients attending the diabetic clinic at Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Irrua, Edo State, Nigeria. The purpose of the study was to ascertain the factors affecting blood glucose control among patients attending the diabetic clinic at Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Edo State, Nigeria. A cross-sectional descriptive survey design was adopted for the study. A simple random sampling technique was used to select 278 patients. Data were collected using a researcher-structured questionnaire comprising three sections with 13 closed-ended items. The data were analysed using simple descriptive statistics and inferential chi-square statistics to test hypotheses at a significance level of p<0.05. The results showed a significant association between the mean age of ≥ 51 years and blood glucose control at a p-value ≤ 0.014. There was a significant association between respondents’ nutritional intake and patients’ blood glucose control. There was also a significant association between medication adherence and blood glucose control. It was observed that patients with a duration of illness of 7 years and above had uncontrolled blood glucose levels. In conclusion, there were significant associations between nutrition, medication, fluid intake, and blood glucose control, whereas educational level had no significant association with blood glucose control; however, a high educational level may be important for blood glucose control. Finally, it was recommended that the government should finance the treatment of diabetic patients by subsidising their medication, provide personal blood glucose monitoring kits, formulate and implement a policy statement on routine blood glucose monitoring for all, and create recreation centres to support exercise.

COVID-19 Vaccination Coverage and Associated Factors among Students at Peleforo GON COULIBALY University in Korhogo (Côte d’Ivoire)

Tanoh Amany Serge Raymond N’Krumah — 2026-09-14

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly affected global public health. COVID-19 vaccination was introduced as a major public health measure during the pandemic, yet uptake remained limited in several settings.

Aim: The objective of this study was to assess COVID-19 vaccination coverage among students at Peleforo GON COULIBALY University (UPGC) in Korhogo during the pandemic.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional, descriptive, and analytical study conducted from January to March 2024 among 401 students selected using a combination of convenience and simple random sampling methods. Data were collected using a questionnaire. Univariate, bivariate, and multivariate (logistic regression) analyses were performed using R software, with statistical significance set at 5%.

Results: COVID-19 vaccination coverage among UPGC students in Korhogo during the pandemic was 26.2% (95% CI: 21.9–30.8). The most commonly administered vaccines were Johnson & Johnson (43.8%) and AstraZeneca (24.8%), with a complete vaccination schedule of 55.2%. Multivariate analysis showed that COVID-19 vaccination was significantly associated with misinformation (rumours) about the COVID-19 vaccine (adjusted OR = 0.17; 95% CI: 0.10–0.28; p < 0.001), age above 25 years (adjusted OR = 2.24; 95% CI: 1.17–4.28; p = 0.014), and fear of COVID-19 during the pandemic (adjusted OR = 3.00; 95% CI: 1.16–9.46; p = 0.037).

Conclusion: The observed vaccination rate remained below the 70% target set by the WHO. It is important to strengthen information and awareness campaigns to increase vaccination coverage in universities and better prepare student populations for future health emergencies.

Assessment of Knowledge and Acceptability of HIV Self-testing among Antenatal and Postnatal Clinic Attendees at Karshi General Hospital, Abuja, Nigeria

Angel Onyinye Lota-Nwosu — 2026-09-26

Background: HIV self-testing (HIVST) is a promising complementary approach to facility-based HIV testing, particularly for improving privacy, convenience, and access to repeat testing among pregnant and postpartum women. However, limited knowledge and concerns about self-testing may affect its adoption. This study assessed knowledge and acceptability of HIVST among antenatal and postnatal clinic attendees at Karshi General Hospital, Abuja, Nigeria.

Methods: A facility-based descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 200 antenatal and postnatal clinic attendees. Participants were selected using stratified systematic sampling. Data were collected using a pre-tested, semi-structured, interviewer-administered questionnaire and analysed using SPSS version 26. Descriptive statistics were used to summarise participant characteristics and HIVST-related responses. Chi-square or Fisher's exact tests assessed associations between categorical variables, while multivariable logistic regression identified factors independently associated with good HIVST knowledge. Statistical significance was set at p < .05.

Results: Awareness of HIV/AIDS was high (97.5%), but only 41.5% of participants had heard of HIVST. Overall, 69.5% had poor knowledge of HIVST, while 30.5% had good knowledge. Knowledge was significantly associated with educational attainment (p = .031), occupation (p < .001), and monthly income/salary (p < .001). In the adjusted model, being a civil servant (AOR = 4.63, 95% CI: 1.53–14.07), having a monthly salary (AOR = 3.47, 95% CI: 1.38–8.76), and receiving a spouse/partner allowance (AOR = 2.20, 95% CI: 1.08–4.49) were independently associated with good knowledge. Despite limited prior exposure, 96.0% were willing to use HIVST if provided free of charge. Knowledge was not significantly associated with willingness (p = .702).

Conclusion: HIVST acceptability was high despite substantial knowledge gaps among antenatal and postnatal clinic attendees. Integrating targeted HIVST education, accessible distribution channels, and appropriate support into maternal health services could strengthen informed uptake and use of HIVST in this population.