Are clients satisfied with communication with health workers? A study among pregnant women attending primary health care centers in Nasarawa State, Nigeria

An effective communication between health workers and clients is known to improve clients' perception, compliance, and treatment outcomes. The main objective of this study was to determine the level of client satisfaction with health workers'-client communication among pregnant women attending ANC in selected PHC facilities Nasarawa State. The study was a cross-sectional design conducted among 450 respondents consenting pregnant women during their ANC sessions. Data was collected using a structured, interviewer-administered structured questionnaire. Analysis was done using SPSS software version 20. Chi-square test and logistic regression were used for the test of significance. Results showed that 132 (29.3%) of the respondents were completely satisfied with client health worker communication. The elements of communication with the highest satisfaction were: explanation of condition to clients: 193 (42.9%); use of appropriate language: 189 (42.0%) and courtesy and respect by the provider: 188 (41.0%). Conclusion. Clients with a secondary level of education and more were more likely to be satisfied with communication with health workers. There is a need to carry out regular reorientation of PHC workers on communication with clients.

High-Complexity Plasmodium falciparum Infections, North Central Nigeria, 2015-2018

The mass migration that occurred during 2009–2013 and after the insurgency in northeastern Nigeria could have increased malaria incidence and Plasmodium falciparum genetic diversity in North Central Nigeria. To determine P. falciparum sequence diversity in this region, we screened 282 samples collected in regional clinics during 2015–2018 for Plasmodium spp. and, with positive samples, determined P. falciparum infection complexity and allele diversity using PCR. Of 34 P. falciparum–positive samples, 39 msp1, 31 msp2, and 13 glurp alleles were detected, and 88% of infections were polyclonal. We identified trimorphic and dimorphic allele combinations in a high percentage of samples, indicative of a high infection complexity in the study population. High genetic diversity is a catalyst for the evolution of drug-resistant alleles. Improved measures (e.g., better drug quality, diagnostics) are needed to control P. falciparum transmission and reduce the potential for the emergence of drug resistance in Nigeria.