Oliver Ezechi

Biographic Data

ID6576723
NAMEOliver Ezechi
GIVEN NAMESOliver
FAMILY NAMEEzechi
SIGNATUREEZECHI O
AFFILIATIONSNigerian Institute of Medical Research
ORCID0000-0003-0688-3898
VERIFIEDYes
TOTAL WORKS37
TOTAL CITATIONS0
WORKS AS AUTHOR37
WORKS AS EDITOR0
FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR2003
LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR2026
H-INDEX0

  • Strategies to Promote HIV Self-Testing and Long-Acting Injectable PrEP Among Ghanaian Youth

    Open AccessGloria Aidoo-Frimpong, Abass Tando Abubakar et al.ARTICLEAIDS and Behavior2026

    Crowdsourcing is a participatory problem-solving approach that engages a large and diverse group of individuals to generate ideas or solutions. In HIV prevention, it provides a structured mechanism for involving youth in shaping intervention strategies. The Innovative Tools to Expand Youth-Friendly HIV Self-Testing and Long-Acting Injectable PrEP Uptake in Ghana (Y-FIT GH) National Open Call applied this method to generate youth-driven ideas to p…

  • Living in Fear

    Open AccessNoelle A Benzekri, Astou Diagne et al.ARTICLEAIDS and Behavior2026

    Dedicated studies to understand and explore HIV-related stigma among PWH in Senegal are essential for the development and implementation of effective stigma reduction strategies. The goals of this study were to understand the current challenges confronted by newly diagnosed PWH in Senegal and to explore the manifestations of HIV-related stigma using a mixed methods approach. We conducted a convergent mixed methods study among participants ≥ 18 ye…

  • Uptake of HIV Self-testing Among Adolescents and Young Adults in Nigeria

    Open AccessKadija M Tahlil, Audrey Pettifor et al.ARTICLEAIDS and Behavior2026

  • Age-related variations in mental health and wellbeing during the first wave of the Covid-19 pandemic

    Open AccessMorenike O Folayan, Roberto Ariel Abeldaño Zuñiga et al.ARTICLEFrontiers in Public Health2025

    Background: The COVID-19 pandemic substantially impacted mental health. This study explored age-related differences in the mental health and wellbeing of participants during the initial wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: Secondary analyses of data from 21,106 participants collected between July and December 2020 across 152 countries was conducted. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to determine the relationship between the de…

  • Improving training on hepatitis B research in Nigeria

    Open AccessMaria A Afadapa, Olufunto A Olusanya et al.ARTICLEPLOS Global Public Health2025

    We organized an Innovation Bootcamp for young people in Nigeria to develop strategies promoting the uptake of the hepatitis B birth dose vaccine among newborns, which remains low, with an estimated coverage of 52%. This event was a collaborative, cross-disciplinary capacity-building platform to generate creative solutions addressing barriers to Hepatitis B vaccine uptake. The purpose of this study was to describe the bootcamp activities that addr…

  • User-centered adaption of Peernaija , A novel mhealth application integrating medication reminders with virtual peer support and social/financial incentives to improve medication adherence

    Ifeoma Idigbe, Martin C Were et al.ARTICLEAIDS Care2025

    Youth living with HIV (YLWH) have high rates of virologic failure due to medication non-adherence. PEERNaija is a novel, gamified mobile health (mHealth) application designed with user-centered principles to improve medication adherence by integrating medication reminders with social and financial incentives, virtual peer social support and early clinic outreach for non-adherent YLWH in Nigeria. Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) were conducted to id…

  • Perceptions and management of diabetes and obesity among people living with HIV in Côte d’Ivoire

    Open AccessJean Jacques Koffi, Marie K Plaisy et al.ARTICLEBMC Public Health2025

    These results highlight the complexity surrounding the perceptions and management of T2DM and obesity among PLHIV in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire. In order to implement innovative and efficient intervention strategies to prevent and treat these metabolic conditions, cultural beliefs as well as socio-economic barriers must be addressed

  • Psychosocial experiences of pregnant and postpartum women living with HIV in Ibadan, Oyo State

    Open AccessFolahanmi Tomiwa Akinsolu, Abisola Lawale et al.ARTICLEBMC Public Health2025

    Pregnancy often intensifies psychological vulnerabilities in women living with HIV due to increased stressors such as health concerns, infant infection risks, and the management of special neonatal needs like prophylactic antiretroviral care. The study was conducted in four HIV treatment centres with participant selection based on the following criteria: an Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) score of 13 or above, gestational age between …

  • Music as a strategy to improve hypertension and stroke management

    Open AccessChukwuebuka C Okafor, Chidi Okafor et al.ARTICLEBMC Public Health2025

    The designathon produced various music genres, including afrobeats, rap, and R&B, with lyrics deemed feasible and socio-culturally appropriate. This suggests that music interventions tailored to Nigeria could enhance public awareness of hypertension and stroke prevention if scaled up

  • Health research mentorship in low-income and middle-income countries

    Open AccessEneyi E Kpokiri, Kamryn McDonald et al.ARTICLEBMJ Global Health2024

    INTRODUCTION: Research mentorship is critical for advancing science, but there are few practical strategies for cultivating mentorship in health research resource-limited settings. WHO/TDR Global commissioned a group to develop a practical guide on research mentorship. This global qualitative evidence synthesis included data from a crowdsourcing open call and scoping review to identify and propose strategies to enhance research mentorship in low/…

  • Prevalence and patterns of substance use in West Africa

    Open AccessGodwin Omokhagbo Emmanuel, Folahanmi Tomiwa Akinsolu et al.ARTICLEPLOS Global Public Health2024

    Introduction Substance use is a growing public health concern in West Africa, contributing to significant morbidity, mortality, and socioeconomic challenges. Despite the increasing prevalence, comprehensive data on the patterns and factors influencing substance use in the region remain limited. This systematic review and meta-analysis aim to synthesize existing research on the prevalence and patterns of substance use in West Africa, providing cri…

  • HIV-related stigma and psychological distress in a cohort of patients receiving antiretroviral therapy in Nigeria

    Open AccessBentley Akoko, Susan Regan et al.ARTICLEAIDS Care2024

    Psychological distress is increasingly recognized as a barrier to engagement in HIV care, resulting in poor HIV outcomes. HIV-related stigma is a potential driver of distress in people living with HIV (PLWH). We conducted a prospective cohort study in 288 PLWH who newly initiated ART in a Nigeria. We assessed overall stigma (range 40–160) and four stigma subtypes (personalized, disclosure, negative self-image, and public stigma) at enrollment, an…

  • Factors Associated with Healthcare Utilization Among Adults in Saudi Arabia During the Covid-19 Pandemic

    Open AccessBalgis Gaffar, Mir Faeq Ali Quadri et al.ARTICLESAGE Open2024

    To investigate factors associated with healthcare utilization by adults in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Based on Andersen’s Behavioral Model of Health Services utilization, we conducted logistic regressions to determine the relationship between predisposing factors (age, gender, education, employment status), need factors (critical medical needs), and enabling factors (insurance coverage, financial loss) on heal…

  • Economic and social determinants of health care utilization during the first wave of Covid-19 pandemic among adults in Ghana

    Open AccessMartin Ayanore, Martin Amogre Ayanore et al.ARTICLEBMC Public Health2024

    Economic and social factors were associated with low healthcare utilization in Ghana during the first wave of the pandemic. Investment or retirement loss and financial support loss during the pandemic had the largest effect on healthcare utilization. Further research is needed to understand the connection between concerns about food shortages, welfare losses during pandemics and healthcare utilization during pandemics in Ghana

  • Depression and perceived stress among perinatal women living with HIV in Nigeria

    Open AccessFolahanmi Tomiwa Akinsolu, Olunike Rebecca Abodunrin et al.ARTICLEFrontiers in Public Health2023

    Background: Pregnancy and postpartum periods are crucial stages for women's mental health, and women living with HIV are particularly susceptible to depression and psychological stress due to various factors. This study investigated the prevalence and associated factors of depression and perceived stress among women living with HIV during their perinatal period in Ibadan, Nigeria. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in three HIV treat…

  • Crowdsourcing to support training for public health

    Open AccessKadija M Tahlil, Ucheoma Nwaozuru et al.ARTICLEPLOS Global Public Health2023

    Crowdsourcing is an interactive process that has a group of individuals attempt to solve all or part of a problem and then share solutions with the public. Crowdsourcing is increasingly used to enhance training through developing learning materials and promoting mentorship. This scoping review aims to assess the literature on crowdsourcing for training in public health. We searched five medical and public health research databases using terms rel…

  • A multi-country study of the associations between HIV vulnerability status, perception of Covid-19 related stigma and post-traumatic stress symptoms during the first wave of the pandemic

    Open AccessMorenike O Folayan, Roberto Ariel Abeldaño Zuñiga et al.ARTICLEBMC Public Health2023

    Background This study investigated the associations between COVID-19 related stigma and post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS); and the associations between PTSS and COVID-19 related stigma, HIV status, COVID-19 status and key HIV population status. Methods This was a secondary analysis of data of 12,355 study participants generated through an online survey that recruited adults from 152 countries between July and December 2020. The dependent vari…

  • Challenges in conducting population-based seroepidemiology survey of Covid-19 in Lagos State, Nigeria

    Open AccessAdewale Kayode Ojogbede, Tajudeen Akanji Bamidele et al.ARTICLEBMC Public Health2023

    Population-based study is known to be a very essential type of study during and after a pandemic or epidemic, as it provides crucial information on the incidence, prevalence, and risk factors of the disease in question. There has been limited information about the challenges faced in conducting such surveys in Nigeria. In this paper, we will share our experience, and describe the challenges faced in conducting a population-based seroepidemiologic…

  • A multi-country survey on access to healthcare and treatment services among individuals with critical medical care needs during the first wave of the pandemic

    Open AccessMorenike O Folayan, Roberto Ariel Abeldaño Zuñiga et al.ARTICLEBMC Public Health2023

    We identified populations who had challenges with access to healthcare and obtaining medications used alternative medical care except for people living with HIV. Priority attention should be given to alternative medical care use during future health pandemics

  • A multi-country survey of the socio-demographic factors associated with adherence to Covid-19 preventive measures during the first wave of the Covid-19 pandemic

    Open AccessMorenike O Folayan, Roberto Ariel Abeldaño Zuñiga et al.ARTICLEBMC Public Health2023

    The study findings suggest that the individual socio-demographic factors-age, sex, employment status, education status and having a chronic disease - influence adherence to COVID-19 preventive measures. Findings further reiterate the need for health education and health promotion campaigns on preventive health measures to focus on subpopulations, such as younger males, students and retirees, that require targeted or unique messaging

  • Factors Associated With Experiences of Fear, Anxiety, Depression, and Changes in Sleep Pattern During the Covid-19 Pandemic Among Adults in Nigeria

    Open AccessMorenike O Folayan, Olanrewaju Ibıgbamı et al.ARTICLEFrontiers in Public Health2022

    Background Multiple facets of the pandemic can be a source of fear, depression, anxiety and can cause changes in sleep patterns. The aim of this study was to identify health profiles and the COVID-19 pandemic related factors associated with fear, depression, anxiety and changes in sleep pattern in adults in Nigeria. Methods The data for this analysis was extracted from a cross-sectional online survey that collected information about mental health…

  • Covid ‐19, economic problems, and family relationships in eight Middle East and North African countries

    Open AccessMaha El Tantawi, Morenike O Folayan et al.ARTICLEFamily Relations2022

  • Seroprevalence of Sars-CoV-2 in four states of Nigeria in October 2020

    Open AccessRosemary Audu, Kristen A Stafford et al.ARTICLEPLOS Global Public Health2022

    The observed epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2 in sub-Saharan Africa has varied greatly from that in Europe and the United States, with much lower reported incidence. Population-based studies are needed to estimate true cumulative incidence of SARS-CoV-2 to inform public health interventions. This study estimated SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence in four selected states in Nigeria in October 2020. We implemented a two-stage cluster sample household survey in fo…

  • Associations between Emotional Distress, Sleep Changes, Decreased Tooth Brushing Frequency, Self-Reported Oral Ulcers and Sars-Cov-2 Infection during the First Wave of the Covid-19 Pandemic

    Open AccessMorenike O Folayan, Roberto Ariel Abeldaño Zuñiga et al.ARTICLEInternational Journal of…2022

    This study assessed the association between emotional distress, sleep changes, decreased frequency of tooth brushing, and self-reported oral ulcers, and the association between COVID-19 status and decreased frequency of tooth brushing. Using a cross-sectional online survey, data were collected from adults in 152 countries between July and December 2020. Binary logistic regression analyses were conducted to determine the associations between depen…

  • Using a Syndemics Framework to Understand How Substance Use Contributes to Morbidity and Mortality among People Living with HIV in Africa

    Open AccessEmmanuel Peprah, Bronwyn Myers et al.ARTICLEInternational Journal of…2022

    Substance use is increasing throughout Africa, with the prevalence of alcohol, tobacco, cannabis, and other substance use varying regionally. Concurrently, sub-Saharan Africa bears the world's largest HIV burden, with 71% of people living with HIV (PWH) living in Africa. Problematic alcohol, tobacco, and other substance use among PWH is associated with multiple vulnerabilities comprising complex behavioral, physiological, and psychological pathwa…