Predictors of Lassa fever diagnosis in suspected cases reporting to health facilities in Nigeria.
Ochu CL., Ntoimo L., Onoh I., Okonofua F., Meremikwu M., Mba S., Iniobong A., Nwafor O., Dalhat M., Ohonsi C., Arinze C., Esu E., Igumbor EU., Dan-Nwafor C., Ilori E., Adetifa I.
Lassa fever (LF) remains endemic in Nigeria with the country reporting the highest incidence and mortality globally. Recent national data suggests increasing incidence and expanding geographic spread. Predictors of LF case positivity in Nigeria have been sparsely studied. We thus sought to determine the sociodemographic and clinical determinants of LF positivity amongst suspected cases presenting to health facilities from 2018 to 2021. A secondary analysis of the national LF surveillance data between January 2018 and December 2021. Socio-demographic and clinical data of 20,027 suspected LF cases were analysed using frequencies and Chi-square statistics with significant p-value set at p