Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 5, 2025
Protocol and Guidelines for Point-of-Care Lung Ultrasound in Diagnosing Neonatal Pulmonary Diseases Based on International Expert Consensus
Published on: March 6, 2019
Challenges and recommendations for addressing under-five pneumonia morbidity and mortality in Nigeria
Chidi Okafor1, Abimbola Olaniran2, Elisabeth Darj3
1Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Institute of Public Health and Nursing.
Insights
Health providers in Nigeria perceive pneumonia as a major threat to child survival. Addressing contextual factors is crucial to reduce under-five pneumonia deaths and improve child health outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Public Health
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Pneumonia is a leading cause of mortality in children under five globally, particularly in Africa.
- Malnutrition and air pollution are significant predisposing factors for severe pneumonia.
- Nigeria faces a high burden of child mortality, with pneumonia being a major contributor.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore healthcare providers' perceptions of pneumonia as a cause of under-five mortality in Nigeria.
- To understand the views of nurses and pediatricians on pneumonia prevention and management.
Main Methods:
- Qualitative study design utilizing in-depth interviews and focus group discussions.
- Exploration of healthcare providers' perspectives on the pneumonia situation in Nigeria.
- Gathering insights on vaccinations and preventive strategies for childhood pneumonia.
Main Results:
- Two major themes emerged: provider anxiety and identified impediments to care.
- Four categories were identified: views on the current situation, policies, strategies, and suggestions for improvement.
- Healthcare providers highlighted contextual issues influencing pneumonia mortality in Nigerian children.
Conclusions:
- Contextual factors significantly contribute to pneumonia mortality among Nigerian children.
- Multi-level approaches are necessary to effectively address severe pneumonia and reduce child deaths.
- Understanding provider perspectives is vital for developing targeted interventions.
Background:
Pneumonia is a severe infection and one of the most common causes of mortality among children under five years of age, when not appropriately managed. Infection of the lungs by bacteria, viruses, or fungi and consequent inflammation may lead to cough and difficult breathing. Some of the key predisposing factors are malnutrition and air pollution. WHO reports that Africa has the highest burden of global child mortality, and 16% of all deaths in pneumonia, were children under five years of age in 2016.
Objectives:
This study aimed to explore how health providers perceive pneumonia as a cause of under-five mortality in Nigeria.
Methods:
A qualitative study design with in-depth interviews and focus group discussions was used to explore and understand nurses and pediatricians' views regarding the pneumonia situation, vaccinations, and preventive suggestions to reduce under five pneumonia deaths in Nigeria.
Results:
Two themes and four categories emerged: participant's anxiety over the situation, their views on impediments, current policies and strategies, and suggestions on addressing severe pneumonia.
Conclusions:
The results from this study highlight contextual issues playing major roles in pneumonia mortality among children in Nigeria, which will need approaches on several levels to address them.
More Related Videos
05:50International Expert Consensus and Recommendations for Neonatal Pneumothorax Ultrasound Diagnosis and Ultrasound-guided Thoracentesis Procedure
Published on: March 12, 2020
11:32Following in Real Time the Impact of Pneumococcal Virulence Factors in an Acute Mouse Pneumonia Model Using Bioluminescent Bacteria
Published on: February 23, 2014
Related Concept Videos
01:30Pneumonia V: Nursing management and Prevention
The nurse must practice strict medical asepsis and adhere to infection control guidelines to minimize healthcare-associated infections.
Enhance airway patency
Position the patient correctly to facilitate drainage of the affected lung segments. Manual or mechanical percussion and vibration can also be employed....
01:30Pneumonia III: Complications and Assessment
01:28Pneumonia IV: Management
Bacterial Pneumonia Treatment
For bacterial pneumonia, antibiotics serve as the cornerstone of therapy. Initial treatment often begins with empirical antibiotics, tailored to the anticipated causative organism and adjusted based on culture results. Key antibiotic choices include:
01:30Pneumonia I: Introduction
Risk Factors
Various factors influence the likelihood of developing pneumonia. Age plays a crucial role, with infants, children under two, and individuals over 65 at increased risk due to their...
01:30Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease-V: Nursing Management
Assessment
01:28International Nursing Organizations II
The WHO provides expert team support, including funding, vaccines, testing, and treatment tools at the country level to fight...